Patents by Inventor James D. Thackrey

James D. Thackrey 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: 5127654
    Abstract: A stationary, ground level target having an opening giving controlled clearance for the head of a set of golf clubs. Made of thin metal easily bent so as to see from the damaged target where it has been hit, or of flexible plastic so as to spare clubhead finish, both versions have a flat mock ball on the downswing side for aiming; the clubhead passes under the simulated ball which is located directly above the sweet spot path. An optimal platform contains a slot to hold the target for indoor practice; the target can also be placed upright in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4782966
    Abstract: A prescription vial which counts cyclically, through a window in the cap, how many times it has been opened/closed that day. The construction is unique in that the principal parts can be formed with straight strokes of the forming press, thus they are suitable for mass production. Spring fingers on an index plate extend past the sealing disc to ride on the upper flank of the closure threads. The fingers touch the thread at a flat helical angle. When the cap is rotated in one direction the index plate and fingers move with it; in the other direction the cap turns but the fingers will not pass an abutment on the thread, so force the index plate to turn inside the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4628161
    Abstract: A tilt switch using a conductive liquid such as mercury to bridge a gap inside the sealed switch. In operation, the pool of mercury is held in a local depression and does not flow but rather distorts in shape enough to reach a ring-shaped second terminal which is spaced from and surrounds the mercury pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4555697
    Abstract: An alarm intended to alert the operator of dangerous equipment, such as the driver of an automobile, when his head tilts as from drowsiness or sleep. Intended to be of utmost convenience so as to encourage its use, the device is gripped between the teeth by a mouthpiece. Vibration concomitant with making the sound it emits is partially transmitted through the bone structure of the head, reducing the needed noise level and so the disturbance of nearby persons. The preferred embodiment is sensitive to tilt in any direction, and may be stored inverted in which position it tolerates large tip angles without sounding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4489834
    Abstract: A medicine bottle and cap, the cap containing a window through which one of several index marks, preferably serial numbers, is visible. The index marks are on a member nesting inside the cap and equipped with spring fingers set at an angle on a skirt. During opening of the bottle, this marked member is prevented from rotating as the cap is unscrewed, thus indexing the index marks. During closing, frictional forces cause all parts to rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4341384
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining how squarely a golf club face is presented to the ball near and at the point at which the club face makes contact with the ball. Collimated light from outside the clubhead arc on the target line-of-flight strikes a reflective patch fixed to the club face. The reflected beam is picked up by sensors, each of which if struck by light switches on an adjacent marker light. Thus the path followed by the reflected beam during one stroke is marked in lights for study or playback. As few as one or as many as thousands of sensors may be used, with suitable adjustment to the optics. If the marker lights turned on are right or left of target it indicates a non-square blow. Information about clubface loft angle during the stroke is obtained from the starting and stopping point of the line of marker lights. Opening or closing the clubface near the contact point results in the line of marker lights being other than vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey
  • Patent number: 4165858
    Abstract: A gate valve in which a threaded movable rod supports a cam that serves as a mounting for first and second floating valve plates that are disposed back to back, which valve plates when the cam is in a first position may be moved adjacent to first and second valve seats. The rod at all times has a portion thereof encircled by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve has at least one slot therein defined by first and second legs that are angularly disposed relative to one another. The sleeve also has guide means therein to prevent the first and second valve plates from pivoting from positions where they are substantially parallel to the first and second valve seats. A protuberance is secured to the rod and engages the slot. When the protuberance is in the first leg of the slot the first and second valve plates are in first positions and may be moved into and out of the path of flow of fluid through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1979
    Inventor: James D. Thackrey