Patents by Inventor Donald A. Thomas

Donald A. 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: 10767619
    Abstract: A closed system that captures energy derived from the head differential rather than open-water flows velocities while reducing potential environmental damages and costly maintenance due to bio-fouling. This energy density available in a tidal range is increased substantially via convergent “nozzles” to produce an optimal speed for power generations with the turbine sections, thereby significantly increasing the tidal energy captured by this system, even at sites where tidal energy is low (e.g., small to medium tide ranges, such as found along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: University of North Florida Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Kopp, Donald Thomas Resio, Michelle Ann Vieira, Abdallah Walid Mohamed Kamal El Safty
  • Patent number: 10722902
    Abstract: An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cycrete Pty, Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald Thomas, Michael Hogan, Jeffrey Shi
  • Publication number: 20200200142
    Abstract: A closed system that captures energy derived from the head differential rather than open-water flows velocities while reducing potential environmental damages and costly maintenance due to bio-fouling. This energy density available in a tidal range is increased substantially via convergent “nozzles” to produce an optimal speed for power generations with the turbine sections, thereby significantly increasing the tidal energy captured by this system, even at sites where tidal energy is low (e.g., small to medium tide ranges, such as found along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: University of North Florida Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Kopp, Donald Thomas Resio, Michelle Ann Vieira, Abdallah Walid Mohamed Kamal El Safty
  • Publication number: 20200171310
    Abstract: The vagus nerve and branches of the vagus nerve are stimulated below the laryngeal nerve branch bifurcation in order to induce desired parasympathetic responses, such as decreased heart rate, without also triggering any adverse sympathetic responses. Stimulating surfaces of an open field bipolar electrode are positioned on or inserted through the pleural membrane overlying the vagus nerve at a location having substantially no cardiac sympathetic fibers adjacent to the vagus nerve. The open field bipolar electrodes can be securable-wire, needle, plate, or any other type of electrode suitable for being secured to the pleural membrane using one or more fastening mechanisms. Electrical stimuli are generated by a stimulator connected to the stimulating surfaces of the open field bipolar electrode by one or more leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: JAMES WALTER, Donald Thomas, Scott Sayers, Sanjay Singh, Raymond Dieter
  • Patent number: 10646715
    Abstract: The vagus nerve and branches of the vagus nerve are stimulated below the laryngeal nerve branch bifurcation in order to induce desired parasympathetic responses, such as decreased heart rate, without also triggering any adverse sympathetic responses. Stimulating surfaces of an open field bipolar electrode are positioned on or inserted through the pleural membrane overlying the vagus nerve at a location having substantially no cardiac sympathetic fibers adjacent to the vagus nerve. The open field bipolar electrodes can be securable-wire, needle, plate, or any other type of electrode suitable for being secured to the pleural membrane using one or more fastening mechanisms. Electrical stimuli are generated by a stimulator connected to the stimulating surfaces of the open field bipolar electrode by one or more leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: James Walter, Donald Thomas, Scott Sayers, Sanjay Singh, Raymond Dieter
  • Publication number: 20200101994
    Abstract: A transportation dolly can have a frame, two axles pivotally coupled with the frame, each axle having two distal ends and a wheel assembly coupled at each distal end and a synchronous steering system. The synchronous steering system can include an intermediate link pivotally coupled with the frame, the intermediate link having a two distal ends, and a first push-pull rod coupling one of the two axles with the intermediate link, and a second push-pull rod coupling the other of the two axles with the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod is coupled to one distal end of the intermediate link and the second push-pull rod is coupled to the opposing distal end of the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod, the second push-pull rod, and the intermediate link provide counter phase synchronous pivoting of the two axles relative to the transportation dolly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Par-Kan Company, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Eckerley, George Donald Thomas Shoebridge, Elizabeth Claire Vinson
  • Publication number: 20200022575
    Abstract: A method is provided for observing structure and function of individual cells in a living human eye, comprising: using an adaptive optics optical coherence tomography (AO-OCT) system to image a volume of a retinal patch including numerous cells of different types, as for example, ganglion cells; using 3D subcellular image registration to correct for eye motion, including digitally dissecting the imaged volume; and using organelle motility inside the cell to increase cell contrast and to measure cell temporal dynamics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Donald Thomas Miller, Zhuolin Liu, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Furu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200010240
    Abstract: A modular container has identically molded sides pieces connected together at corner joints and separately molded, identical top/bottom pieces. The corner joints are formed by snap fit engagement of flexible locking tabs of one side piece with pockets on another side piece when the molded side pieces are serially connected together. The flexible locking tabs are biased oppositely to one another in alternating manner and each tab engages with a shoulder in the corresponding pocket to enable a zipper effect with respect to the assembly and disassembly of the corner joints. Two top/bottom pieces are secured by relative rotation to the assembled side pieces to form the container. An extension ring or divider can be used between upper and lower sets of the assembled side pieces to enable different container sizes. The component parts are molded with a degree of flexibility that enhances the assembly/disassembly of the corner joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Donald THOMAS, Anthony P. HABODASZ
  • Patent number: 10514020
    Abstract: A closed system that captures energy derived from the head differential rather than open-water flows velocities while reducing potential environmental damages and costly maintenance due to bio-fouling. The continuously derived energy system utilizes an offshore bladder in communication with both a primary onshore bladder and a supplemental onshore bladder. Tidal energy is captured by turbines as fluid is transferred between the bladders. In addition, the system continuously extracts energy by diverting fluid to and from the supplemental onshore bladder during periods of near-high-ride and near-low-tide, during which the pressure differential between the offshore bladder and the primary onshore bladder becomes inefficient for energy production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: University of North Florida Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Donald Thomas Resio, William T. Fletcher, Michelle Ann Vieira
  • Publication number: 20190282887
    Abstract: A head and neck restraint device for high performance race car drivers. The device includes a yoke, a collar and a pair of legs. The yoke and/or collar are adapted to pivotably articulate with respect to the legs. At least a portion of each leg can flex in response to force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Anthony STILES, Donald Thomas MYERS
  • Patent number: 10391382
    Abstract: A head and neck restraint device for high performance race car drivers. The device includes a yoke, a collar and a pair of legs. The yoke and/or collar are adapted to pivotably articulate with respect to the legs. At least a portion of each leg can flex in response to force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Stiles, Donald Thomas Myers
  • Patent number: 10220860
    Abstract: A wayside friction management system, and method for monitoring and controlling a wayside friction management system is described. The system comprises one or more wayside device for mounting with a track of a rail system. The wayside device comprises a delivery system connected to a reservoir comprising a friction control media, the delivery system for applying the friction control media from the reservoir to one or both rails of a track. The wayside device further comprises one or more data collection module located at or adjacent to the delivery system. The data collection module for collecting and transmitting data to a remote performance unit. The data may comprise performance information, track status information, information of an environment of the track, information of a train passing over the track, status of the one or more wayside device, or a combination thereof. The wayside device may comprise a power source operatively connected to one or more components of the wayside device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: L.B. Foster Rail Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Appleby, James Gavin Campbell, Donald Thomas Eadie, Petar Nedkov Gueorguiev, Michael Irwin Handler, Harold DeVillo Harrison, Kevin David Oldknow, Steven David Singleton, Jacob Matthew Welch, Walter Eric Spicker, William T. Urmson
  • Publication number: 20190060911
    Abstract: An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: CYCRETE PTY. LTD.
    Inventors: Donald Thomas, Michael Hogan, Jeffrey Shi
  • Publication number: 20190058536
    Abstract: A method of validating a signal received by a radio from a radio station includes determining a strength of the signal as received by the radio, ascertaining a frequency of the signal, and calculating a first distance between the radio and the radio station dependent upon the strength of the signal as received by the radio. A location and a broadcast range of the radio station are found in a database based on the frequency of the signal, A second distance between the radio and the radio station is computed based on a known location of the radio and the location of the radio station as found in the database. The radio station is validated only if the first distance and the second distance are within a margin of error and if the second distance is within the broadcast range of the radio station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: RAVIKUMAR RAMAN, PETRU SARCA, DONALD THOMAS, SHREE JAISIMHA
  • Publication number: 20180258783
    Abstract: A method according to disclosure may include removing only a portion of a used abradable material layer on a metal sealing surface of a first component that interacts with an abradable sealing element extending from a second component. The first and second component may be, in one example, vanes and rotor of a steam turbine, that sealingly move relative to one another in an operative state. The method includes thermal spray layer a new abradable material layer on the used abradable material layer, rather than completely removing the used abradable material and starting over on bare metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: David Charles Kirchhoff, Donald Thomas Blais
  • Patent number: 9923655
    Abstract: A radio includes a first tuner and a second tuner. A processor compares a first perceivable volume level of a station tuned by the first tuner to at least one second perceivable volume level of at least one background station tuned by the second tuner. The processor enables automatic volume knob changes using a pre-calibrated lookup table that associates a volume step of the volume knob with a difference between the first perceivable volume level and the second perceivable volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Shree Jaisimha, Donald Thomas, Kazuo Morita
  • Patent number: 9838053
    Abstract: A method of performing alternate frequency switching in a radio includes tuning the radio to a primary frequency. A candidate alternate frequency is identified. It is determined whether the candidate alternate frequency is a third order inter-modulation artifact. Tuning is switched from the primary frequency to the candidate alternate frequency only if it is determined in the determining step that the candidate alternate frequency is not a third order inter-modulation artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Donald Thomas, Jason Hingerton, Tatsuya Fujisawa, Jammie Chu, Shree Jaisimha, Robert Baillargeon
  • Patent number: 9751616
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to retain a rotor blade are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a rotor blade coupled to a rotatable hub of an engine system. The rotor blade includes a root, a flange and a blade. The root and the flange are disposed inside a cowling, and the blade is disposed outside of the cowling. The example apparatus also includes a retainer disposed inside the cowling adjacent the flange. The flange is to engage the retainer to retain the rotor blade with the engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Adrian Stanescu, Donald Thomas Powell
  • Publication number: 20170239775
    Abstract: A system for honing a shaft is provided. The system includes a rod having an axis and a head coupleable to the rod. The system also includes a drive motor coupleable to the rod such that the rod and the head are rotatable via the drive motor. The system further includes a linear actuator coupleable to the rod such that the rod and the head are translatable along the axis while being rotated via the drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Donald Thomas Blais, Todd Joseph Forg, John Matthew Sassatelli
  • Patent number: RE47395
    Abstract: A method for optimizing track performance is provided. The method involves measuring one or more track status data at one or more measurement sites of the track during a train pass through the one or more measurement sites. Followed by analyzing the one or more track status data against one or more baseline reference values to obtain a track status profile, and adjusting an operating parameter, a track parameter, or both the operating and track parameters, based on the track status profile, to optimize the track's performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: L.B. Foster Rail Technologies Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Oldknow, John Samuels, Donald Thomas Eadie, Dana Earl