Patents by Inventor Fred Collins

Fred Collins 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).

  • Publication number: 20150267997
    Abstract: A sight assembly for mounting to a weapon is provided. A holographic optical element and a light source are provided in a fixed angular configuration with respect to one another, but may be adjusted either together or individually in a horizontal or vertical direction. A mirror or lens may also be provided. An adjustment mechanism is provided where a shaft includes at least two portions wherein the two portions of the shaft of the screw have different pitch directions and/or pitch dimensions allowing for slight adjustment the assembly. The light source is typically a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The wavelength of the VCSEL is controlled by controlling the current it is given. The assembly further allows for perceived image distance adjustment using parallax mismatch. Further, a chassis is provided for holding holographic elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
  • Publication number: 20150223418
    Abstract: A light-weight, modular, adjustable vertical hydroponic growing system and method of Native American design for cultivation plants and beneficial soil organisms (BSO's) in symbiotic combination. Forest-like arrays of fully rotatable and demountable grow tubes are suspended within climate-moderating greenhouses, optionally from conveyor tracks. The tubes are filled with light-weight, porous 100% in-organic grow media predominately comprised of expanded volcanic or recycled glass granules. The grow tube arrays are provided with an insulated, overhead-mounted fertigation distribution system delivering metered intermittent flows from insulated mixing and holding tanks. The flows are recycled via an insulated return piping system to maintain cool fertigation temperatures near those of natural ground water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Fred Collins, Don Hertel
  • Patent number: 9061195
    Abstract: A swing training shirt for training a user to perform proper swings can include a shirt body configured to fit closely against a body of the user and sleeves configured to fit closely about the user's arms. A side of the sleeves can be selectively engaged and disengaged from the shirt body to restrain movement of the user's arms away from the user's torso. The swing training shirt can allow the user to maintain the user's arms in sync with a rotation of the user's torso during execution of swings; thereby allowing the user to synchronously control and coordinate movement of the user's torso and arms during swings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Fred Collins
  • Publication number: 20150068095
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting an accessory to a rail of a weapon including a base portion, a first side portion configured to engage a first side of a rail of the weapon, and a second side portion configured to engage a second side of the rail. The first side portion has an opening defined therein. A movable clamping member is disposed in the opening in the first side portion so as to be movable between a clamping position where it secures the device to the rail and a retracted position. A clamping lever is pivotally interconnected with the first side portion for movement between an open position and a closed position. A link interconnects the clamping lever and the clamping member such that moving the lever from the open position to the closed position moves the clamping member from the retracted position to the clamping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Michael L. Marino, Lamoyne (Jack) Durham
  • Publication number: 20150029567
    Abstract: A holographic weapon sight folds for storage or to position where a portion of the sight is out of the way when not in use. Certain embodiments include a readout beam source mounted to the stationary base of the sight and the source directly illuminates a hologram plate supported in a pivotally mounted hologram support when the sight is in a position intended for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
  • Patent number: 8935875
    Abstract: A pivoting mount for a weapon accessory includes a base configured to attach to a weapon, an upper member, and a pivot shaft pivotally securing the upper member to the base. The upper member pivots between a use position and a storage position. The mount includes a first damping element disposed between the shaft and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Mike Carlson, Stephen Michael Shubeck
  • Publication number: 20140137457
    Abstract: A pivoting mount for a weapon accessory includes a base configured to attach to a weapon, an upper member, and a pivot shaft pivotally securing the upper member to the base. The upper member pivots between a use position and a storage position. The mount includes a first damping element disposed between the shaft and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Mike Carlson, Stephen Michael Shubeck
  • Patent number: 8438965
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting an accessory to a rail of a weapon includes a base portion and first and second side portions. One side portion is movable to grip the rail. An elongated connecting member has a first end engaging the first side portion and a second end connected to a camming device. The camming device engages the second side portion and pulls the elongated connecting member to move the side portions to an engaged position. A locking mechanism locks the camming device in the closed position. The locking mechanism includes a locking element that is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The locking element has an engagement portion that selectively engages the camming device when the locking element is in the lock position thereby locking the camming device in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Alan Charlton, Mike Carlson, Michael L. Marino
  • Patent number: 8438773
    Abstract: A mount for mounting an accessory to a weapon has a base portion and an upper portion each with fore-aft axes. A first and a second link interconnect the upper portion and the base portion for articulation between a use position and a storage position. The upper portion in the use position is disposed above the base portion and the upper portion in the storage position is disposed to a side of the base portion. The fore-aft axis of the base portion and the fore-aft axis of the upper portion are parallel to one another in both the use position and in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Carlson, Alan Charlton, Fred Collin, Michael L. Marino
  • Patent number: 8424234
    Abstract: A mount for mounting an accessory to a weapon includes a base portion with a forward edge and a rearward edge with a fore-aft axis extending therebetween. The fore-aft axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon when attached thereto. An upper portion of the mount has a mounting surface for receiving an accessory. A pivot interconnects the base portion and the upper portion. The pivot has a pivot axis for rotation of the upper portion with respect to the base portion between a use position and a storage position. The upper portion in the use position is disposed above the base portion and in the storage position is disposed to a side of the base portion. The upper portion has a first edge that is a forward edge in the use position and a rearward edge in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Carlson, Alan Charlton, Fred Collin, Michael L. Marino
  • Patent number: 8365773
    Abstract: Our valve device, which is used to purge air from a plumbing system, includes a unitary, elastomeric body comprising top wall, a circumferential wall connected to the top wall, and a housing with a cavity that is accessed through a pair of ports. A closure element is moveably disposed within the cavity and responds to fluid entering one port to close the other port. An adjustable strap detachably wrapped around an exterior of the circumferential wall holds our device securely to an open end of a riser conduit of the plumbing system during testing for leaks. The circumferential wall has at least two wall sections of different diameters to accommodate different sized conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Vansell, Fred Collins, Richard Getze, Patrick Drayer
  • Publication number: 20110296731
    Abstract: A mount for mounting an accessory to a weapon includes a base portion with a forward edge and a rearward edge with a fore-aft axis extending therebetween. The fore-aft axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon when attached thereto. A upper portion of the mount has a mounting surface for receiving an accessory. A pivot interconnects the base portion and the upper portion. The pivot has a pivot axis for rotation of the upper portion with respect to the base portion between a use position and a storage position. The upper portion in the use position is disposed above the base portion and in the storage position is disposed to a side of the base portion. The upper portion has a first edge that is a forward edge in the use position and a rearward edge in the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Carlson, Alan Charlton, Fred Collin, Michael L. Marino
  • Publication number: 20110296732
    Abstract: A mount for mounting an accessory to a weapon has a base portion and an upper portion each with fore-aft axes. A first and a second link interconnect the upper portion and the base portion for articulation between a use position and a storage position. The upper portion in the use position is disposed above the base portion and the upper portion in the storage position is disposed to a side of the base portion. The fore-aft axis of the base portion and the fore-aft axis of the upper portion are parallel to one another in both the use position and in the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Carlson, Alan Charlton, Fred Collin, Michael L. Marino
  • Publication number: 20110067287
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting an accessory to a rail of a weapon includes a base portion and first and second side portions. One side portion is movable to grip the rail. An elongated connecting member has a first end engaging the first side portion and a second end connected to a camming device. The camming device engages the second side portion and pulls the elongated connecting member to move the side portions to an engaged position. A locking mechanism locks the camming device in the closed position. The locking mechanism includes a locking element that is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The locking element has an engagement portion that selectively engages the camming device when the locking element is in the lock position thereby locking the camming device in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: OptiFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collin, Alan Charlton, Mike Carlson, Michael L. Marino
  • Publication number: 20090230343
    Abstract: Our valve device, which is used to purge air from a plumbing system, includes a unitary, elastomeric body comprising top wall, a circumferential wall connected to the top wall, and a housing with a cavity that is accessed through a pair of ports. A closure element is moveably disposed within the cavity and responds to fluid entering one port to close the other port. An adjustable strap detachably wrapped around an exterior of the circumferential wall holds our device securely to an open end of a riser conduit of the plumbing system during testing for leaks. The circumferential wall has at least two wall sections of different diameters to accommodate different sized conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Vansell, Fred Collins, Richard Getze, Patrick Drayer
  • Patent number: 7343936
    Abstract: A coupling used during testing of a water line including an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe connected by the coupling. A removable barrier disk prevents water from flowing through the connected pipes until after testing, when the disk is then detached from the body member of the coupling. A piercing assembly interacts with a groove near the perimeter of the disk to initiate a tear that propagates along the groove as the disk is pulled away from the body member of the coupling. The piercing assembly is attached to the disk by a fulcrum element offset with respect to a center of the planar disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collins, Albert A. Amparan, Mark J. Cataldo
  • Publication number: 20070102054
    Abstract: A coupling used during testing of a water line including an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe connected by the coupling. A removable barrier disk prevents water from flowing through the connected pipes until after testing, when the disk is then detached from the body member of the coupling. A piercing assembly interacts with a groove near the perimeter of the disk to initiate a tear that propagates along the groove as the disk is pulled away from the body member of the coupling. The piercing assembly is attached to the disk by a fulcrum element offset with respect to a center of the planar disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Fred Collins, Albert Amparan, Mark Cataldo
  • Patent number: 7089964
    Abstract: A coupling used during testing of a water line including an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe connected by the coupling. A removable barrier disk prevents water from flowing through the connected pipes until after testing, when the disk is then detached from the body member of the coupling. A piercing assembly interacts with a groove near the perimeter of the disk to initiate a tear that propagates along the groove as the disk is pulled away from the body member of the coupling. The piercing assembly is attached to the disk by a fulcrum element offset with respect to a center of the planar disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collins, Albert A. Amparan, Mark J. Cataldo
  • Patent number: 5771937
    Abstract: A device for plugging a pipe includes a resilient, hollow body member that expands with the application of internally applied pressure to block the pipe. The body member has at one end a conical shaped wall with an apex that points inward. At ambient pressure, the diameter of the body member is less than the diameter of the pipe into which it is inserted. The diameter of the body member increases as the internal pressure increases, and the length of the conical shaped wall decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Collins
  • Patent number: D590933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Vansell, Fred Collins, Richard Getze