Patents by Inventor KIMBERLY A. HALE

KIMBERLY A. HALE 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: 10518117
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a series of moveable vanes that extend inwardly from a peripheral wall of a base. The inner side of the vanes extends between ? and ? of the diameter of the central channel. The vanes rotate between a linear position, in which the vanes are generally parallel to the direction of the channel, and a vortex position, in which the vanes are significantly angled with respect to the direction of the channel. In the linear position, smooth bore linear flow is produced. In the vortex position, any of a range of fog patterns are produced. An externally mounted controller connects to the vanes and enables a firefighter to change the shape of the nozzle's spray without interrupting the flow. The controller and base have a series of pins that slide in a spiral groove and cause the shaper to move axially with respect to the base when the shaper is rotated about the base. Radial stems that ride in a circumferential slot translate that axial movement into rotation of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TASK FORCE TIPS LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Steingass, William D. Walker, Erin L. Roark, John L. Christos, Kimberly A. Hale, Stewart McMillan
  • Publication number: 20170100616
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a series of moveable vanes that extend inwardly from a peripheral wall of a base. The inner side of the vanes extends between ? and ? of the diameter of the central channel. The vanes rotate between a linear position, in which the vanes are generally parallel to the direction of the channel, and a vortex position, in which the vanes are significantly angled with respect to the direction of the channel. In the linear position, smooth bore linear flow is produced. In the vortex position, any of a range of fog patterns are produced. An externally mounted controller connects to the vanes and enables a firefighter to change the shape of the nozzle's spray without interrupting the flow. The controller and base have a series of pins that slide in a spiral groove and cause the shaper to move axially with respect to the base when the shaper is rotated about the base. Radial stems that ride in a circumferential slot translate that axial movement into rotation of the vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT W. STEINGASS, WILLIAM D. WALKER, ERIN L. ROARK, JOHN L. CHRISTOS, KIMBERLY A. HALE, STEWART MCMILLAN