Patents by Inventor Brian Maki

Brian Maki 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: 10377395
    Abstract: An uncoupling lever for a railcar has first, second, and third lever members slidably connected to each other for relative motion along their lengths. The second and third lever members are urged apart from one another along their lengths with a biasing member. The uncoupling lever has a handle configured for manual operation of the uncoupling lever, and a hook configured for actuating a lock of a coupler of the railcar. One of the handle and hook is operatively connected to the first lever member and the other of the handle and hook is operatively connected to the third lever member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: IRECO, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Maki
  • Publication number: 20180281827
    Abstract: An uncoupling lever for a railcar has first, second, and third lever members slidably connected to each other for relative motion along their lengths. The second and third lever members are urged apart from one another along their lengths with a biasing member. The uncoupling lever has a handle configured for manual operation of the uncoupling lever, and a hook configured for actuating a lock of a coupler of the railcar. One of the handle and hook is operatively connected to the first lever member and the other of the handle and hook is operatively connected to the third lever member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Maki
  • Publication number: 20080007418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a proximity-triggered handrail cueing system with automatic attention capture for providing visual and auditory cues that automatically and involuntarily (subconsciously) attract attention to the handrail. The system includes a hand railing (i.e. handrail or grab bar) constructed from translucent or transparent plastic tubing, a series of lights mounted inside the railing, along the longitudinal axis, one or more auditory speakers built into the railing or railing brackets, and a proximity detector (e.g. photoelectric sensor) and controller that activates the lights and speakers whenever a person approaches the railing. The speakers can be used to issue a verbal prompt to hold the handrail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Maki, Philippe Corbeil, Carol Scovil
  • Patent number: 7140456
    Abstract: A cutting auger has a main auger blade and a front subsidiary coaxial blade each having a drive core and a helical auger flight carried on the drive core for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive core with a cutting edge at an axial end face of the auger flight, such that when rotated the cutting edge cuts a hole equal in diameter to the helical flight and the helical flight carries the cut material away from the cutting edge. The second auger blade having a smaller diameter than the first, is shorter than the first and is arranged with the helical turns thereof in opposed angular direction. A planetary drive system is arranged to rotate the first and second cutting augers in opposed direction with the first driven at a slower angular velocity than the second so as to balance the torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Brian Maki
  • Publication number: 20050000736
    Abstract: A cutting auger for example for ice has a main auger blade and a front subsidiary coaxial blade each having a drive core and a helical auger flight carried on the drive core for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive core with a cutting edge at an axial end face of the auger flight such that when rotated the cutting edge cuts a hole equal in diameter to the helical flight and the helical flight carries the cut material away from the cutting edge. The second auger blade having a smaller diameter than the first and is shorter than the first and is arranged with the helical turns thereof in opposed angular direction. A planetary drive system is arranged to rotate the first and second cutting augers in opposed direction with the first driven at a slower angular velocity than the second so as to balance the torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Brian Maki