Patents by Inventor Walter J. Steffan

Walter J. Steffan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4784346
    Abstract: A fishing reel body with a fish line spool has an electric motor assembly mounted thereon having a circuit operated by a control level. This lever extends between opposite ends of the reel body and has a finger engaging portion extending outwardly for manual engagement by a fisherman. The lever has a first position wherein the finger engaging portion extends outwardly radially from the fish line spool. This first position comprises a deenergized condition of the motor. The lever has a second position wherein the finger engaging portion is angled upwardly relative to its first position. This second position comprises a locked-on energized condition of the motor. The lever also has a third position wherein the finger engaging portion is angled downwardly relative to the first position. This third position comprises a manually held energized condition of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 4613086
    Abstract: A base frame supports a hopper for receiving grain to be ground and made into bread. An inverted cone-shaped grinding head on the shaft is supported at the bottom of the hopper and cooperates with a base member having a recess corresponding in shape to the grinder. The cone-shaped grinding head is spaced from the base to form a grinding area and grinding is accomplished by upright surface grooves in the base member and grinding teeth on the grinding head. The grinding head has an inlet passageway leading to the grinding area and the base member has outlet means at the top of the grinding area to discharge ground grain which is forced upwardly by centrifugal force as well as the augering action of the grinding surface. The shaft supports a mixing arm at the bottom thereof having an angle bend which provides simultaneous mixing and kneading of ingredients into bread dough. The bread dough making apparatus is combined with apparatus for driving food processing attachments such as a blender and meat grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventors: Michael J. Granum, Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 4598878
    Abstract: A rotatable drive output is provided for a fishing reel and has a connecting gear for establishing a rotatable connection between the fishing reel spool shaft and the drive output. This drive connection is provided at the end of the reel opposite from the manually operating handle and is operably connected to an electric motor mounted on the reel or in a remote location with a flexible cable drive. In some embodiments, a microswitch is mounted on the reel body and is associated with a manually operable pivotal lever capable of operating the switch in an arrangement which causes engagement of the gear output and connecting gear prior to closing of the switch. In another embodiment, a fish line spool of the reel is provided that is hollow and the electric drive motor is supported in the hollow portion of this spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Inventor: Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 4095347
    Abstract: A support rod is adjustably secured to a gauge body which is counterweighted at its lower end such that it will hang upright in a pendulum arrangement when the rod is inserted in the muzzle end of a gun barrel. A vertically adjustable sighting target is mounted on the sighting gauge. A holder attachment having radially adjustable chuck-type jaws and arranged to support a lens is adapted to be mounted on the front of a telescope gunsight. The lens brings the sighting target into focus through the telescope. The holder attachment supports a first removable insert at its front end which has the lens therein, and this attachment is arranged to support a second insert on the other end having a peep-hole therethrough for more precisely aligning the telescope with the indicia on the sighting target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Inventor: Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 4080950
    Abstract: A ball is delivered into the constricted space between, and thereby gripped frictionally by, a fixed pad and a confronting surface of a wheel which is driven at a speed predetermined to propel the ball therefrom at a selected velocity. The line on which the ball is propelled between the pad and wheel is adjustable about a horizontal axis and the speed of the wheel is variable so as to adjust the trajectory of the thrown ball. Further, the pad may be mounted above or below the wheel to reverse the spin on the ball and thus afford a variety of practice conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Jo Paul Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Paulson, Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: 4026261
    Abstract: A football is projected with rotation on its longitudinal axis, in the manner of a forward pass, when it is fed into the space between, and thereby gripped frictionally by, the laterally spaced, confronting surfaces of a pair of driven wheels which confronting surfaces move in a forward, football throwing direction but in planes which extend forward angularly to opposite sides of the line on which the football is projected, the planes forming an included acute angle with each other. The speed and direction of football rotation may be varied by adjusting said angular relationship, and the speed of forward projection of the football may be varied by adjusting the rotational speed of the wheels. By adjusting said confronting surfaces to a common plane and feeding a football into the space therebetween such that said surfaces grip the football below its longitudinal centerline, the football is projected therefrom with rotation on its transverse axis, in the manner of an end-over-end kick-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: Jo Paul Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Paulson, Walter J. Steffan, Tommy L. Smith
  • Patent number: RE30703
    Abstract: A ball is delivered into the constricted space between, and thereby gripped frictionally by, a fixed pad and a confronting surface of a wheel which is driven at a speed predetermined to propel the ball therefrom at a selected velocity. The line on which the ball is propelled between the pad and wheel is adjustable about a horizontal axis and the speed of the wheel is variable so as to adjust the trajectory of the thrown ball. Further, the pad may be mounted above or below the wheel to reverse the spin on the ball and thus afford a variety of practice conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: JoPaul Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Paulson, Walter J. Steffan
  • Patent number: D300451
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Walter J. Steffan