Patents by Inventor Robert J. Hughes

Robert J. Hughes 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: 5765715
    Abstract: A drinking cup and a cup holder having mating radially extending flanges and tabs permitting the cup to be inserted into and removed from the holder in one rotative position of the cup and in a second rotative position of the cup permitting engagement of the flanges and tabs to secure the cup and holder together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5761909
    Abstract: A device is provided for modifying the temperature of a breathing or other as supplied through a conduit. A heat exchanger is mounted in-line with the conduit. A thermoelectric device has first and second thermally conductive plates separated by at least one thermoelectric couple. The first thermally conductive plate is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger. A phase change material is in thermal contact with the second thermally conductive plate. A voltage is applied to the thermoelectric couple(s) to maintain the first and second thermally conductive plates at different temperatures. The phase change material changes from a first phase to a second phase at a phase change temperature that is selected to be between the different temperatures of the first and second thermally conductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert J. Hughes, Kenneth Price, Dennis McCrory, Billy Courson, Joseph Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5722090
    Abstract: A back-reinforced two-piece upper torso assembly for an articulated diving uit. The upper torso assembly includes a lower hollow rigid body of rounded shape for housing a diver's upper trunk, an upper hollow rigid body of rounded shape for housing a diver's head and being seated upon the lower hollow rigid body, and a clamping and sealing mechanism releasably coupling the upper hollow rigid body to the lower hollow rigid body about adjacent seated portions thereof so as to form a watertight joint therebetween wherein the upper hollow rigid body can rotate relative to the lower hollow rigid body. The upper torso assembly also includes a reinforcement structure connecting the upper hollow rigid body to the lower hollow rigid body along adjacent rear portions thereof so as to permit a lifting load applied to the assembly during water entry and exit to transfer to the lower hollow rigid body in such manner as to avoid stressing the watertight joint therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5669155
    Abstract: A suction drum dryer, for knitted fabrics and the like, is provided with an adjustable width bellows mechanism for masking side margins of the drums not occupied by the fabric web. Ambient air draw into the suction drums is thus caused to flow substantially exclusively through the material to be processed. Significantly improved operating efficiencies are realized, as well as significantly higher production output from a given piece of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Tubular Textile LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Hughes, Michael S. Leonard, William C. Hardin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5655275
    Abstract: A mechanical compressive shrinkage machine, especially for tubular and open width knitted fabrics, and of the type comprising feeding and retarding rollers cooperating with entry side and exit blades forming a compressive shrinkage zone between the rollers, is provided with novel and improved adjusting mechanisms. For each of the blades, there is a separate adjusting mechanism, each comprising, at each side of the machine, an in-line fluid cylinder, a technician-accessible independent adjustment, and a rotatable eccentric. The rotatable eccentrics on each side are carried by a common shaft, which is accessible externally and provides an operator-controlled adjustment. After initial setup of the machine by a skilled technician, adjustment of the machine by the production operator is effected by rotation of a control shaft, effecting simultaneous movement of the control linkage at opposite sides of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Tubular Textile LLC
    Inventors: Earl S. Allison, Robert J. Hughes, Barry Defoy Miller
  • Patent number: 5003701
    Abstract: A masonry clip used to align successive courses of bricks when laying an internal wall comprising an extension attached to form a right angle to a retainer leg with a slot cut into the extension to permit the visual alignment of the clip tied to a guide line on predetermined marks on expendable furring strips set in place behind the wall being laid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventors: Robert J. Hughes, Robert C. Williams