Patents by Inventor Paul W. Thomas

Paul W. Thomas 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: 4135793
    Abstract: A backup support arrangement is provided against which a film strip, carrying a magnetic sound track adjacent one edge, is biased by a sound recording/playback transducer in a multipurpose photographic film cassette having a sound capability. The support arrangement engages the side of the film strip opposite the side carrying the magnetic sound track and is resiliently mounted in a manner such that the force imparted upon the backside of the film strip is distributed so that a significantly greater biasing force is imparted upon the backside of the film strip adjacent the edge carrying the magnetic sound track than upon the remainder of the film strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Paul W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4103569
    Abstract: A programming cam indexing mechanism in which a rotatable programming cam, provided with a peripheral traction surface and a concentric inwardly facing track having one or more notches therein to define indexed programming positions, is rotatably driven by a capstan coupled with a drive shaft, the capstan being supported by a latch member pivotal on the drive shaft axis. The latch member is integrally formed to define a follower bracket and tab engageable with the inwardly facing track surface on the programming cam to hold the capstan in engagement with the peripheral traction surface thereof but to allow the capstan to swing away from driving engagement with the traction surface when the follower bracket tab drops into the positioning notches. A spring biasing means is provided by which the follower bracket tab is moved into the notches to latch the programming cam in any one of the indexed positions. Movement out of the notches is effected by solenoid activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Paul W. Thomas
  • Patent number: D475879
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Paul W. Thomas