Patents by Inventor Debra L. Smith

Debra L. Smith 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: 5681668
    Abstract: A battery shield for a storage battery includes first and second members which are dimensioned to fit around the battery, forming a shield structure, that is open at its top and encloses the battery on all four sides and on the bottom, forming a heat shield for protecting the battery from hot temperatures, the first and second members being hinged to a common base and are adapted to be pivoted about respective hinges outwardly away from another to an open position to facilitate installation of a battery in the shield and to then be moved upwardly and toward one another, in the manner of a "clamshell", to a closed position for enclosing the battery within the battery shield, the bottom of the storage battery having a plurality of transverse channels therein extending between opposing sides for permitting air flow around the bottom of the storage battery when the battery is enclosed within the battery shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Globe-Union, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Reed, Thomas J. Dougherty, Mark S. Inkmann, Debra L. Smith, Michael T. Reher
  • Patent number: 5552642
    Abstract: A protection system for motor vehicles includes a control circuit including a switching device which is connected between cells of the battery and operable between a first condition in which the voltage provided at the battery terminals insufficient to start the vehicle and a second condition in which the voltage provided at the battery terminals sufficient to start the vehicle, the switching device being operated between the first and second conditions by a control signal that is generated by a portable signal transmitting device which is remotely actuatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Globe-Union, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, Debra L. Smith, Ann L. Roche, David A. Thuerk, David J. Novak
  • Patent number: 5543248
    Abstract: A battery shield for a storage battery includes first and second members which are dimensioned to fit around the battery, forming a shield structure, that is open at its top and encloses the battery on all four sides and on the bottom, forming a heat shield for protecting the battery from hot temperatures, the first and second members being hinged to a common base and are adapted to be pivoted about respective hinges outwardly away from another to an open position to facilitate installation of a battery in the shield and to then be moved upwardly and toward one another, in the manner of a "clamshell", to a closed position for enclosing the battery within the battery shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, Mark S. Inkmann, Debra L. Smith, Michael T. Reher
  • Patent number: 5284720
    Abstract: The explosion attenuating vent cap for storage batteries according to the present invention features an electrolyte drain and baffle design adapted for maximizing return to the battery of any liquid which may enter the vent from vibration, tilting, overheating, overcharge and the like. The vent barrel(s) include a step to assist in closure of the fill openings, and baffles within the vent prevent accumulation of electrolyte within the cap. The arrangement of the entrance to the gas escape passage (leading through an explosion attenuation device such as a disc of microporous polymer) is located on the center lines of the barrel and at the highest possible location within the vent to minimize the intrusion of electrolyte into the attenuation material. This location of the entrance prevents accumulation of electrolyte at that location. Preferably, the vent cap is of the ganged variety, i.e. useful for simultaneously capping three or more fill openings of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Thuerk, Debra L. Smith, Thomas J. Dougherty, Randy K. Hulsebus