Patents by Inventor Donald C. Grome

Donald C. Grome 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: 6580418
    Abstract: A joystick produces a control input signal in response to a pivotal displacement of a control handle about any of a plurality of axes. Corrected signals for each of orthogonal “X” and “Y” axes are provided in response to a pivotal displacement of the control handle about a center point disposed within a housing. Rotation of the control handle about the center point is enabled through use of a pair of members having spherical exterior surfaces sharing a common center. The member includes a hemispherical-shaped shell coupled to the control handle shaft, and an end cap defining a spherical surface disposed at the end of the control handle shaft. The control handle shaft extends into the housing through an opening defined in an upper portion of the housing. The opening provides a bearing surface adapted to slidingly engage the spherical upper surface of the hemispherical-shaped shell. The housing further includes a lower portion with a receiver adapted to slidingly engage the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Kurt T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5052593
    Abstract: A battery-operated apparatus for dispensing comestibles has a housing to which a comestibles-receiving barrel is removably connected. A removable piston is nonrotatably slidable within the barrel and pushed through the barrel by a piston rod nonrotatably connected to the piston and slidably received within the housing. The piston rod has external screw threads over a substantial portion of its length which are engaged by internal threads of an encircling drive nut. A drive member rotatably mounted in the housing and having a through-bore for slidably receiving the piston rod is provided for rotating the drive nut. The piston rod and the drive nut constitute a reversible assembly so that, following use, the barrel and the piston may be removed from the housing for cleaning and the piston rod with the drive nut thereon may be removed from the housing, turned upside-down, and reinserted into the housing ready for another use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Paul P. Kolada, Rainer B. Teufel
  • Patent number: 5020189
    Abstract: A door closure mechanism for use upon a door of a cabinet includes a housing formed from two co-mating first and second members, a drive cam rotatably mounted within the housing, a cam follower mounted within the housing for reciprocating movement relative to the drive cam, and a coil spring mounted within the housing for resiliently biasing the cam follower in a reciprocal manner against the drive cam. The drive cam is formed with cam surfaces which radially engage the cam follower so as to control the relative reciprocal movement of the cam follower with respect to the drive cam. As a safety feature, ther is provided a set of spring pre-load clips which engage the ends of the coil spring so as to prevent full decompression of the coil spring in the event of a housing failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Kurt H. Lundstedt, William Olson
  • Patent number: 4825759
    Abstract: An ADC coffee maker has a brewed coffee container and a cold water compartment surrounding part of the brewed coffee container located in a single housing. The coffee maker housing includes an upper housing member made from a thermoplastic material and a lower housing made from a thermoplastic material and forming the lower part of the brewed coffee container, such lower part being closed by a stainless steel warmer plate. A cold water fill port is located adjacent the upper end of the brewed coffee container. A uniquely constructed brew basket is provided and a uniquely constructed lid that covers the brewed coffee container and the fill port is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: WearEver-ProctorSilex, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Joseph F. Moore, Terry L. Myers, Thomas J. Ryan, Kenneth E. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: D307857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Terry L. Myers, Thomas J. Ryan, Kenneth E. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: RE34473
    Abstract: An ADC coffee maker has a brewed coffee container and a cold water compartment surrounding part of the brewed coffee container located in a single housing. The coffee maker housing includes an upper housing member made from a thermoplastic material and a lower housing made from a thermoplastic material and forming the lower part of the brewed coffee container, such lower part being closed by a stainless steel warmer plate. A cold water fill port is located adjacent the upper end of the brewed coffee container. A uniquely constructed brew basket is provided and a uniquely constructed lid that covers the brewed coffee container and the fill port is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ryan, Donald C. Grome, Joseph F. Moore, Kenneth E. Wilkinson, Terry L. Myers