Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Hughes

Stephen 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: 5964061
    Abstract: A corner connector for a door having frames and stiles seating a panel therewithin includes a bracket providing a channel in which is a generally planar body portion and a door mounting member so as to slidably movable on the bracket in a direction generally parallel to the sidewalls of the bracket. The door mounting member has a body portion, an engaging portion extending outwardly of the channel for engagement with a door supporting surface, and a threaded fastener seated in the body portion which has a head bearing on an end wall of the bracket which has an aperture smaller than the head of the fastener. This provides access for a tool to engage the head of the fastener to adjust the spacing between the mounting member and the bracket end wall and thereby the distance which the engaging portion extends from the bracket. The fastener also transfers loads from the door mounting member to the bracket end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Stephen J. Hughes, Bernard H. Robbins
  • Patent number: 5893533
    Abstract: A device for attaching an experiment carrier to a space station handrail is provided. The device has two major components, a clamping mechanism for attachment to a space station handrail, and a pointing carrier on which an experiment package can be mounted and oriented. The handrail clamp uses an overcenter mechanism and the carrier mechanism uses an adjustable preload ball and socket for carrier positioning. The handrail clamp uses a stack of disk springs to provide a spring loaded button. This configuration provides consistent clamping force over a range of possible handrail thicknesses. Three load points are incorporated in the clamping mechanism thereby spreading the clamping load onto three separate points on the handrail. A four bar linkage is used to provide for a single actuation lever for all three load points. For additional safety, a secondary lock consisting of a capture plate and push lock keeps the clamp attached to the handrail in the event of main clamp failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: The United Stated of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Stephen J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5673516
    Abstract: A rigid corner connector for a door having a frame with stiles and rails seating a panel therein, includes a bracket having a generally planar body portion with perpendicular sidewalls defining a channel and having inwardly extending lips along an intermediate portion. An end wall extends between the sidewalls at one end thereof, and an end flange at the other end extending in the opposite direction and having tabs engaging the rail thereon. The sidewalls also have outwardly extending side flanges adjacent their ends, and the side flanges adjacent the end flange have a tab engageable in the end of the stile. The other side flange has a tab engageable in a slot in the wall of the stile. A roller mounting member is slidably seated in the bracket for sliding movement on the bracket and it transfers loads to the end wall. A roller is rotatably mounted on the mounting member, and a detent tab seated in a channel in the roller mounting member limits the movement of the mounting member on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Stephen J. Hughes, Bernard H. Robbins
  • Patent number: 5233724
    Abstract: A cushioned stop member is provided for attachment to a sliding panel for limiting movement of that panel relative to opposed abutment surfaces on a similar panel; this allows a series of sliding panels to be used in self aligning manner. The stop member has a base part with a flat surface suitable for securement to a flat surface of the sliding panel and retaining elements projecting outwardly from the base part. These retaining elements hold a resilient cushioning member which is an interference fit on the retaining elements and which has opposed side surfaces which can engage on the opposed abutment surfaces of the other panel in a cushioned manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Stanley Acmetrack Limited
    Inventors: Andre T. Lei tert, Stephen J. Hughes