Patents by Inventor William Shaffer

William Shaffer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240119405
    Abstract: Systems, method and computer readable medium are provided for automated storage and retrieval. User authentication information is received via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device. The user identity is verified based upon the authentication information and previously stored authentication data. Order information is retrieved for an order associated with the user following the verifying of user identity, the order information indicating one or more locations for items associated with the order. Instructions are transmitted to initiate a physical opening of at least one of the dynamic storage and retrieval device and at least one static storage location to enable the user to retrieve at least one item of the order, the static storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Edward Durkee, Stuart William Clark, Colin Holmes, Jason D. Shaffer, Mark R. Ibbotson, John Suarez
  • Patent number: 11946271
    Abstract: An umbrella base includes an elongated receiver and a weighted housing coupled to and at least partially surrounding the elongated receiver. The weighted housing includes a bottom surface configured to be placed directly on an underlying surface and an opposite top surface. A retention system is supported on the weighted housing. The retention system includes one or more retractable straps mounted to the weighted housing, and a fastener device coupled to a free end of each of the one or more retractable straps and configured to releasably attach to outdoor furniture. The fastener device is adapted to selectively extend outwards from the weighted housing via the one or more retractable straps so that when the fastener device is attached to the outdoor furniture the weighted housing weighs down the outdoor furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Patio Leash LLC
    Inventors: Robert William Shaffer, Christie L. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20240084933
    Abstract: A fitting includes a fitting body defining a hole; and an indicator assembly comprising a fastener extending through the hole, a first indicator mounted on the fastener, and a second indicator mounted on the fastener, the fastener defining a fastener axis; wherein the second indicator is axially in between the first indicator and the fitting body upon the fastener being oriented in a first position, and wherein the second indicator is radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the first indicator upon the fastener being oriented in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan Cameron Belen, Matthew William McNamara, Jeffrey Brian Shaffer, Ronald Pound
  • Publication number: 20230036000
    Abstract: An umbrella base includes an elongated receiver and a weighted housing coupled to and at least partially surrounding the elongated receiver. The weighted housing includes a bottom surface configured to be placed directly on an underlying surface and an opposite top surface. A retention system is supported on the weighted housing. The retention system includes one or more retractable straps mounted to the weighted housing, and a fastener device coupled to a free end of each of the one or more retractable straps and configured to releasably attach to outdoor furniture. The fastener device is adapted to selectively extend outwards from the weighted housing via the one or more retractable straps so that when the fastener device is attached to the outdoor furniture the weighted housing weighs down the outdoor furniture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert William Shaffer, Christie L. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10745940
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, an access door, an electromechanical latch mechanically coupled to the cabinet and configured to mechanically engage and disengage the access door, and a switch assembly operable to control the electromechanical latch. The switch assembly includes a lock mechanically coupled to the cabinet and extending into the cabinet, a cam mechanically coupled to a rotatable portion of the lock within the cabinet, and a switching element mounted within the cabinet proximate the cam and configured to be mechanically engaged and actuated by the cam when the cam rotates into contact with the switching element, wherein the switching element is electrically connected to the electromechanical latch and is further configured to control the electromechanical latch in response to actuation by the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Timothy Francis Barbour, Dominic S. Biondo, Mark Gerard Surra, Stephen William Shaffer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200200339
    Abstract: An LED strip assembly for a light fixture includes a PCB strip having a front and a rear extending between a first side and a second side. The PCB strip has LEDs mounted to the front of the PCB strip and powered by a power circuit. The PCB strip has a power pad at the front of the PCB strip electrically connected to the power circuit. The LED strip assembly includes a power connector terminated to the PCB strip. The power connector includes a power wire assembly having a power wire. The power connector includes an LED strip contact having a base mounted to the power pad and a connecting wall extending from the base. The connecting wall has a mating interface coupled to the power wire assembly to electrically connect the power wire to the LED strip contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Mostoller, Jeffrey William Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20190352934
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, an access door, an electromechanical latch mechanically coupled to the cabinet and configured to mechanically engage and disengage the access door, and a switch assembly operable to control the electromechanical latch. The switch assembly includes a lock mechanically coupled to the cabinet and extending into the cabinet, a cam mechanically coupled to a rotatable portion of the lock within the cabinet, and a switching element mounted within the cabinet proximate the cam and configured to be mechanically engaged and actuated by the cam when the cam rotates into contact with the switching element, wherein the switching element is electrically connected to the electromechanical latch and is further configured to control the electromechanical latch in response to actuation by the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Francis Barbour, Dominic S. Biondo, Mark Gerard Surra, Stephen William Shaffer, JR.
  • Patent number: 9912288
    Abstract: A solar junction box for a solar panel having at least one photovoltaic cell and a foil electrically connected to the at least one cell includes a housing having a base and walls defining a cavity. The base has at least one foil opening configured to receive the foil. A protection device is received in the cavity. A terminal is received in the cavity. The terminal has a diode contact terminated to the protection device. The terminal has a foil contact configured to be terminated to the foil. The terminal has a cable contact terminated to an electrical cable. The cable contact has insulation displacement contact (IDC) beams terminated to the electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Mostoller, Jeffrey William Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9673542
    Abstract: A poke-in electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity and a poke-in wire channel open to the cavity. The wire channel receives an electrical wire during a poke-in termination. The housing has a bottom with an opening. A poke-in electrical contact is received in the cavity and held by the housing. The poke-in electrical contact includes a base and an arm extending from the base. The base extends through the opening at the bottom for surface mounting to a circuit board. The base has a generally planar solder pad exposed at the bottom for soldering to the circuit board. The arm has a poke-in beam engaging the electrical wire when poked-in to the corresponding wire channel. The arm is movable to a clearance position to release the poke-in beam from the electrical wire to allow the electrical wire to be removed from the wire channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald Francis Decker, Matthew Edward Mostoller, Jeffrey William Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20160380586
    Abstract: A solar junction box for a solar panel having at least one photovoltaic cell and a foil electrically connected to the at least one cell includes a housing having a base and walls defining a cavity. The base has at least one foil opening configured to receive the foil. A protection device is received in the cavity. A terminal is received in the cavity. The terminal has a diode contact terminated to the protection device. The terminal has a foil contact configured to be terminated to the foil. The terminal has a cable contact terminated to an electrical cable. The cable contact has insulation displacement contact (IDC) beams terminated to the electrical cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Mostoller, Jeffrey William Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20150136255
    Abstract: A pipe is disclosed. The pipe may comprise an inner wall, an outer wall coupled to the inner wall and including a plurality of corrugation crests and a plurality of corrugation valleys, and a plurality of slits positioned within the corrugation valleys, wherein the slits may be evenly spaced relative to each other around an entire circumference of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Seth HARDING, William Shaffer, Kris Sayre
  • Publication number: 20070196175
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler is disclosed for interconnecting leaching chambers to create a serpentine pathway for a leaching field. A coupler can connect a first leaching chamber and a second leaching chamber. The coupler can comprise a mating feature and an adjustment feature. The mating feature can be used to mate the coupler between the first leaching chamber and the second leaching chamber. The mating feature can include a swivel connector matable to an end of one of the chambers. The adjustment feature can adjust the angle between the first chamber and the second chamber between a range of angles. The adjustment feature can include a swivel connector. The range of angles can be particularly chosen to be about 45°. More particularly, the range of angles can be about 22.5° in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Kristen Hedstrom, Terrance Gray, William Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20070039218
    Abstract: A lightweight, easily portable, convertible billboard display has three panels rotatably connected to each other in parallel fashion. The billboard display can be used as a vertically standing three panel display or, when two of the panels are connected by a removable connection component, as a three dimensional triangular display. Informational display items can be removably attached to the display panels. In addition, pockets, variously located within each panel, allow for the insertion and display of and full access to multi-page display items, mounted directly on the billboard display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventor: William Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20050218653
    Abstract: An annular gasket for affecting a watertight seal between two sections of corrugated pipe. The gasket comprises a seating portion dimensioned to fit within an annular recess in one of the mated sections of corrugated pipe, and a sealing portion integrally molded with the seating portion. The sealing portion includes a first shoulder portion, a second shoulder portion, and an arcuate surface extending between the first and second shoulder portions. The mass of the seating portion is less than the mass of the sealing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: William Shaffer, William Andrick
  • Publication number: 20050114241
    Abstract: This invention provides computer systems and methods for providing centralized employee stock plan administration. The systems and corresponding methods provide the display of an administrator's dashboard interface screen including therein an administrator's dashboard interface that provides at least one metric according to user's entitlement. The metric associated with at least one employee stock plan of a company may be processing statistics for workflow requests, processing statistics for reporting requests, plan activity for particular employee stock plans, and plan statistics for particular stock plans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Hirsch, Alex Rosenthal, William Shaffer, Murat Gurses
  • Patent number: 6739809
    Abstract: A cutting point for a drill including a body having a periphery. The cutting point includes a leading cutting lip and a trailing cutting lip and a central chisel edge extending between the leading and trailing cutting lips and defining two symmetrical drill point halves. Each drill point half includes a primary relief surface, a secondary relief surface and a third relief surface. The third relief surface is inclined at an angle greater than the secondary relief surface and the secondary relief surface is inclined at an angle greater than primary relief surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20030053873
    Abstract: A cutting point for a drill including a body having a periphery. The cutting point includes a leading cutting lip and a trailing cutting lip and a central chisel edge extending between the leading and trailing cutting lips and defining two symmetrical drill point halves. Each drill point half includes a primary relief surface, a secondary relief surface and a third relief surface. The third relief surface is inclined at an angle greater than the secondary relief surface and the secondary relief surface is inclined at an angle greater than primary relief surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: William A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5512743
    Abstract: A satellite-borne system for the detection of near earth objects. The system periodically captures two images of the celestial sphere about the earth using a pair of linear arrays of optical detectors oriented so that the detectors image lines on the celestial sphere that are separated at each pixel in azimuth by the same angle. The position of the linear detectors is varied for each orbit of the earth by the satellite such that the entire celestial sphere can be imaged. The images produced by the two detector arrays are temporarily stored in memory until they can be processed using frame difference signal processing techniques. The results from the frame difference signal processing are transmitted to a ground station for further processing. The processing on the ground can include object classification, orbit tracking (using a time sequence of differenced frames), and earth collision determination and warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William A. Shaffer, Martin J. McHugh, Dexter Wang