Patents by Inventor Michael J. Steeves

Michael J. Steeves 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).

  • Filter plug tray
    Patent number: 5452984
    Abstract: A filter plug tray includes a housing having a loading port which cooperates with external loading and unloading stations, a feed conveyor for conveying filter plugs across the loading port, and expandable filter plug constraining means positioned in the housing to contain the filter plugs in a desired orientation and alignment. The constraining means includes a flexible band wound under tension on a reel rotatably mounted the housing. The flexible band unwinds as plugs are loaded into the tray and winds onto the reel to urge plugs to the loading port as plugs are unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Frederick Porter, Larry W. Shepherd, Joseph J. Sprouse, Jr., Michael J. Steeves