Patents by Inventor Mark E. Thouin

Mark E. Thouin 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: 7089131
    Abstract: An inspection and verification system includes an inspection fixture for inspecting a finished part prior to its placement in a shipping container. The inspection fixture signals a processor that the finished part has “passed” or “failed”. A finished part that passes is placed in the shipping container, which is locked in a loading position on the weighing platform of an electronic scale. If the weight of the finished part does not match a standard finished part weight, the part is rejected, the shipping container is removed and quarantined, and a new shipping container is locked in the loading position. When the weight of the finished part matches the standard weight, the part is accepted and it remains in the shipping container. When the processor receives a number of “accept” signals equal to a standard shipping container quantity, it releases the shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Thouin, Gary Wayne Funkhouser
  • Publication number: 20030182009
    Abstract: An inspection and verification system includes an inspection fixture for inspecting a finished part prior to its placement in a shipping container. The inspection fixture signals a processor that the finished part has “passed” or “failed”. A finished part that passes is placed in the shipping container, which is locked in a loading position on the weighing platform of an electronic scale. If the weight of the finished part does not match a standard finished part weight, the part is rejected, the shipping container is removed and quarantined, and a new shipping container is locked in the loading position. When the weight of the finished part matches the standard weight, the part is accepted and it remains in the shipping container. When the processor receives a number of “accept” signals equal to a standard shipping container quantity, it releases the shipping container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark E. Thouin, Gary Wayne Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 6116655
    Abstract: The frangible card with a sealed compartment has a top sheet and a bottom sheet made from a synthetic, polymeric, plastic material, both sheets being substantially rigid and being sized and shaped substantially in the form of a conventional credit card, and thus being adapted for transport on or about the person in a wallet or billfold. An information storage medium, such as paper, film, or magnetic storage media, is interleaved between the top and bottom sheets. The top and bottom sheets are sealed around their periphery, preferably by ultrasonic welding, defining a sealed compartment. The top and bottom sheets are opaque in order to preserve the information stored in the sealed compartment in privacy. The top and bottom sheets are scored along one edge, so that access to the compartment is gained by breaking the card along the scored edge. Paper money or other flat valuables may be stored in the compartment with the information storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: Mark E. Thouin, Kevin R. Cleghorn