Patents by Inventor James L. Kitchens

James L. Kitchens 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: 6603385
    Abstract: A protective device for minimizing fire danger in the use of electrical circuits comprises a unit having a mechanically biased conductive element in series with the circuit, and maintained in position under tension by a fusible material such as a Cerro alloy having a yield point at a selected temperature threshold. When overheating at some other point in the circuit results in a rise of temperature at the protective device, the yielding of the fusible material allows the conductive element to spring free, opening the circuit and cutting off the current. This arrangement is useful in a male plug integral to or separate from an extension cord or power cord, in conjunction with circuit breaker systems, in a in-circuit device, and in electrical appliances and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Safety Thermal Components, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Kitchens
  • Publication number: 20010012732
    Abstract: A protective device for minimizing fire danger in the use of electrical circuits comprises a unit having a mechanically biased conductive element in series with the circuit, and maintained in position under tension by a fusible material such as a Cerro alloy having a yield point at a selected temperature threshold. When overheating at some other point in the circuit results in a rise of temperature at the protective device, the yielding of the fusible material allows the conductive element to spring free, opening the circuit and cutting off the current. This arrangement is useful in an male plug integral to or separate from an extension cord or power cord, in conjunction with circuit breaker systems, in a in-circuit device, and in electrical appliances and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: James L. Kitchens
  • Patent number: 6204747
    Abstract: A protective device for minimizing fire danger in the use of electrical circuits comprises a unit having a mechanically biased conductive element in series with the circuit, and maintained in position under tension by a fusible material such as a Cerro alloy having a yield point at a selected temperature threshold. When overheating at some other point in the circuit results rise of temperature at the protective device, the yielding of the fusible material allows the conductive element to spring free, opening the circuit and cutting off the current. This arrangement is useful in an male plug integral to or separate from an extension cord, in conjunction with circuit breaker systems, in a in-circuit device, and in electrical appliances and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: James L. Kitchens
  • Patent number: 4883225
    Abstract: A fail-safe thermostat for vehicular cooling systems is positioned in a junction leading to an internal coolant passageway, a radiator passageway and a bypass passageway. An open housing seated in the junction supports a fixed central rod extending into the wax filled interior of a movable cylindrical member which controls the position of the interior segment of a main valve. Expansion of the wax forces the cylindrical member in a first direction against a compression spring. Fusible alloy is disposed in the coupling between the cylindrical member and the main valve, and melts at a specific temperature range in excess of the normal range. When this occurs the coupling is released in such a way that the spring forces the valve member to a second limit position opposite to the direction of expansion. A bypass closure member at one end of the cylindrical member may be used to close the bypass passageway concurrently with increased temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: S.T.C., Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Kitchens