Patents by Inventor Paul D. Higgins

Paul D. Higgins 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: 6769551
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a rack operable to mount computer components therein. The rack includes multiple rack rails supported by a top support and a bottom support that define a rack space for housing components. The rack rails have both a first and second standard interface. The first standard interface facilitates the housing of components within a dedicated portion of the rack space while the second standard interface facilitates the housing of at least one component within a non-dedicated portion of the rack space. A component bracket is detachably coupled to a selected portion of the second standard interface of a rack rail. The component bracket supports a component within a portion of the non-dedicated portion of the rack space. The component bracket includes at least one hook and at least one latch mechanism that tool-lessly secures the component bracket to the second standard interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Terrence Q. E. Rafferty, Jason T. Runkle, Corey D. Hartman, Paul D. Higgins, Tiffany J. Williams
  • Publication number: 20040016708
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a rack operable to mount computer components therein. The rack includes multiple rack rails supported by a top support and a bottom support that define a rack space for housing components. The rack rails have both a first and second standard interface. The first standard interface facilitates the housing of components within a dedicated portion of the rack space while the second standard interface facilitates the housing of at least one component within a non-dedicated portion of the rack space. A component bracket is detachably coupled to a selected portion of the second standard interface of a rack rail. The component bracket supports a component within a portion of the non-dedicated portion of the rack space. The component bracket includes at least one hook and at least one latch mechanism that tool-lessly secures the component bracket to the second standard interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Del Products L.P.
    Inventors: Terrence Q. E. Rafferty, Jason T. Runkle, Corey D. Hartman, Paul D. Higgins, Tiffany J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6445177
    Abstract: A chip-detector assembly has a housing and a probe. The probe is adapted to be coupled to the housing. The chip-detector assembly also includes a locking mechanism comprising a locking ring and a sleeve member. The locking ring is fixedly coupled the housing, and includes a plurality of elongated tangs arranged circumferentially around the ring. The sleeve member is fixedly coupled to the probe, and includes a plurality of contact surfaces that form an outer circumference of the sleeve member. The tangs engage the sleeve-member contact surfaces when the probe is coupled to the housing. The engagement of the tangs and the contact surfaces inhibits the probe from disengaging from the housing once the probe and the housing are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Vibro-Meter S.A.
    Inventor: Paul D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6309154
    Abstract: A torque-limiting assembly includes a collar, a locking ring, and a sleeve member. The collar is co-axially and rotatably coupled to a fitting. The locking ring is non-rotatably coupled to the collar, and includes a plurality of elongate tangs arranged circumferentially around the ring. The sleeve member is non-rotatably and co-axially coupled to the fitting, and has a plurality of contact surfaces that form an outer circumference of the sleeve member. Torque is applied to the collar by way of a plurality of substantially flat surfaces disposed along an outer circumference of the collar. The torque is transferred to the locking ring by way of the fixed geometric relationship between the collar and the ring. The locking-ring tangs securely grasp the sleeve-member contact surfaces when the applied torque is below a predetermined amount, and thereby transfer a substantial entirety of the applied torque to the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Vibro-Meter S.A.
    Inventor: Paul D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6297741
    Abstract: A chip detector includes a probe having a locking portion and a housing that receives the probe. The housing comprises two lugs. The lugs engage a corresponding pair of slots defined in the locking portion when the probe is fully inserted in the housing. In particular, a first contact surface on the locking portion abuts a first sidewall on the lug when the probe is fully inserted, thereby securely coupling the probe to the housing. A second contact surface on the locking portion abuts a second sidewall on the lug when the probe is fully inserted, thus preventing the probe from rotating in relation to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Vibro-Meter S.A.
    Inventor: Paul D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 5416463
    Abstract: A portable electronic bar code reader having an improved mechanism for producing sounds. The mechanism includes two piezoelectric disks, each positioned in a separate Helmholtz resonator tuned to a predetermined acoustic frequency at which the piezoelectric disks resonate. The mechanism also includes electronic circuitry for exciting the two piezoelectric disks at the predetermined frequency. The Helmholtz resonators are placed within the bar code reader and drive separate sound channels that are connected to opposite laterally directed sides of the bar code reader. When the piezoelectric disks are driven in phase at the predetermined frequency, the acoustic energy emitted from the two Helmholtz resonator combines in phase in the place where the user is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Intermec Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Higgins, Jr., Gary P. Gray, Herbert T. Chaudiere
  • Patent number: 4815645
    Abstract: A guide for garden hose to guide the hose during movement over the lawn. The guide has a nonuse condition fully retractable below the lawn level, and in use includes a roller elevated above the lawn level for engaging a hose moving thereover. Detent structure maintains the guide roller in the elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Paul D. Higgins