Patents by Inventor Ralph J. Brooks

Ralph J. Brooks 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: 6718570
    Abstract: A convertible couch bed that consists of a frame (20) that has a pair of opposed ends (22) with each end having a horizontal upper surface (24), an arm (26) and a plurality of legs (28). The frame includes a pair of lower longitudinal supports (30) and a upper longitudinal support (32) attached between the ends. A mattress support structure (34) is positioned between the ends and sustained by the lower longitudinal supports and a mattress (36) is positioned on the support structure forming a comfortable seat for sitting on the front portion. An upholstered top (38) covers the rear portion of the mattress and is attached to the frame with a piano hinge (44). An upholstered back (48) is attached to the top allowing the back to fold upward in accordion fashion and rest upon the frame thereby permitting conversion of the couch into a bed by exposing the entire mattress therefore forming a bed suitable for sleeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ralph J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 6531096
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for opening a vial lid with respect to its respective container includes the lid having a tamper evident tape applied over a top surface of the lid with the ends of the tape being adhered against the outer side walls of the vial container below a juncture of the lid and the container outer wall. The tape has a score on each side in the area adjacent to the juncture. The apparatus includes a device for opening the lid by lifting the lid with respect to the container by a sufficient elevation to ensure that the tape score is substantially completely separated. A second device places a downwardly depending flange of the lid in an overlapped position with respect to an upper end wall of the container after the lid has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Capitol Vial, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Deveney, Ralph J. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20030014814
    Abstract: A convertible couch bed that consists of a frame (20) that has a pair of opposed ends (22) with each end having a horizontal upper surface (24), an arm (26) and a plurality of legs (28). The frame includes a pair of lower longitudinal supports (30) and a upper longitudinal support (32) attached between the ends. A mattress support structure (34) is positioned between the ends and sustained by the lower longitudinal supports and a mattress (36) is positioned on the support structure forming a comfortable seat for sitting on the front portion. An upholstered top (38) covers the rear portion of the mattress and is attached to the frame with a piano hinge (44). An upholstered back (48) is attached to the top allowing the back to fold upward in accordion fashion and rest upon the frame thereby permitting conversion of the couch into a bed by exposing the entire mattress therefore forming a bed suitable for sleeping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Ralph J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 4338988
    Abstract: An automatic tire chain for driver operated vehicles includes a chain device that is moved to the road contact surface of a tire from a position adjacent thereto by means of a spring mechanism placed under tension when the chain is held away from the road contact surface of the tire. A pair of rings, one being fixed to the wheel and the other being slideably mounted thereon are provided with indexing slots. The slideable ring has a chain affixed thereon and is moved relative to the fixed ring by an operator activated engaging mechanism mounted on the vehicle. The engaging means engages the indexing slots and moves the slideable ring relative to the fixed ring while the vehicle moves along the road at a speed less than 10 miles per hour placing the chain adjacent to the road contact surface of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Inventors: Ralph J. Brooks, George F. Mannices