Patents by Inventor Aaron E. Thomas

Aaron E. Thomas 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: 5564471
    Abstract: A breakaway unit which is adapted for mounting in a fuel hose between a fuel dispenser and nozzle. The breakaway unit comprises male and female couplers which are normally locked in an assembled position, but which are releasable at a separation force produced when a vehicle drives away from the dispenser with the nozzle lodged in its fuel tank. The couplers include fuel passages which are adapted for connection to a fuel hose in series flow relation and valves disposed in the fuel passages and automatically shiftable from an open to a closed position when the couplers are separated. Fixed abutment lugs are formed on one of the couplers and are shaped to engage force fingers carried by the other coupler. Moveable lugs having ramped abutment surfaces are located on the fingers and engage ramped surfaces on the fixed abutment lugs to lock the couplers together. A sleeve is adjustably mounted on the force fingers to control the separation of the couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Dover Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Wilder, David K. Larson, Aaron E. Thomas