Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Gries

Thomas A. Gries 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).

  • Publication number: 20090164680
    Abstract: An access, monitoring and communication device and method for at least one protected local area of buildings, rooms or properties is described. The device includes at least one master unit having the following components: a monitor, a camera, a loudspeaker, a microphone, at least one function key, a controller, a memory and a signal and data transmission device with a network interface for signal transmission to and from at least one distant station via an IP network. As an additional component, the master unit comprises a reader for reading ID numbers stored on ID cards as an identification feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe, Thomas Gries
  • Publication number: 20090039619
    Abstract: A tow hitch comprises an elongated tubular shank of rectangular cross-section having four side walls; and at least one tow ball mounted to an adjacent side wall of the shank with a mounting shank extending from a base of the tow ball through a first hole in the adjacent side wall and a second hole in a side wall opposite the adjacent side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gries
  • Publication number: 20080215766
    Abstract: An access, monitoring and communication device and method for at least one protected local area of buildings, rooms or properties is described. The device includes at least one master unit having the following components: a monitor, a camera, a loudspeaker, a microphone, at least one function key, a controller, a memory and a signal and data transmission device with a network interface for signal transmission to and from at least one distant station via an IP network. As an additional component, the master unit comprises a reader for reading ID numbers stored on ID cards as an identification feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe, Thomas Gries
  • Publication number: 20060153828
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pO157 plasmid-specified polypeptide found in E. coli EDL933 and other E. coli that binds to and cleaves C1-esterase inhibitor, and antibodies specific for the polypeptide. Also disclosed are methods employing the polypeptide for diagnosing enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection, identifying potential inhibitors of its activity, and reducing viscosity of material containing glycosylated polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rodney Welch, Wyndham Lathem, Thomas Grys
  • Patent number: 6887410
    Abstract: A parallel spinning process, in particular for filaments, e.g. for textile or industrial applications, made from polymers such as, for example, PET or PA, in each case having a thread interlacing device between two godets for each individual thread, the godets being moved in relation to one another during the piercing or feeding operation in such a way that each individual thread is automatically threaded into its interlacing device associated therewith, and the angle of wrap in the operating mode is at least from 85° to at most 200°, preferably from 175° to 185°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Kress, Thomas Gries
  • Patent number: 6736624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spinning device in which liquid polymer is guided through a polymer line with a first heating jacket to a spinning pump with a second heating jacket. From said spinning pump, the polymer is transported through several lines to spinning packets and extruded through spinnerts to form filaments. The lines that are connected downstream of the spinning pump, the spinning packets and the spinnerets are located in at least one spinning housing through which heating fluid flows. There is a distance of 5 mm between the spinning housing through which the heating fluid flows and the first and second heating jackets and the spinning pump, to obtain thermal decoupling. According to a method for heating the spinning device, vaporous heating fluid is guided out of a first reservoir into the spinning housing, and heating fluid is guided out of a second reservoir into the first and/or second heating jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Tietze, Heinz-Dieter Beeck, Thomas Gries, Werner Mrose, Richard Prehler
  • Publication number: 20030074774
    Abstract: A parallel spinning process, in particular for filaments, e.g. for textile or industrial applications, made from polymers such as, for example, PET or PA, in each case having a thread interlacing device between two godets for each individual thread, the godets being moved in relation to one another during the piercing or feeding operation in such a way that each individual thread is automatically threaded into its interlacing device associated therewith, and the angle of wrap in the operating mode is at least from 85° to at most 200°, preferably from 175° to 185°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Kress, Thomas Gries
  • Publication number: 20030071440
    Abstract: A one-piece pintle hitch is disclosed. The one-piece hitch utilizes an integral drawbar that may be engaged with a conventional receiver assembly such as installed along the underside of a vehicle. The one-piece pintle hitch avoids the use of prior art mounting plates that bolt to one another. Accordingly, the problems associated with threaded fasteners such as loosening, fracturing, and corrosion, are eliminated. In addition, the one-piece pintle hitch utilizes a unique configuration along its bar portion that results in a significant reduction in weight and materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Buyers Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gries, Mark J. Saltzman
  • Publication number: 20030062708
    Abstract: A one-piece pintle hitch is disclosed. The one-piece hitch utilizes an integral drawbar that may be engaged with a conventional receiver assembly such as installed along the underside of a vehicle. The one-piece pintle hitch avoids the use of prior art mounting plates that bolt to one another. Accordingly, the problems associated with threaded fasteners such as loosening, fracturing, and corrosion, are eliminated. In addition, the one-piece pintle hitch utilizes a unique configuration along its bar portion that results in a significant reduction in weight and materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Buyers Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gries, Mark J. Saltzman
  • Patent number: 6146566
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and device for the spinning of polyamides including transporting vapor through at least one round spinning nozzle casing (5) using an exhaust device (14, 15) that is positioned under at least one round spinning nozzle plate (10).In this process, the vapor is injected tangentially into the upper portion of the applicable spinning nozzle casing (5) and is conducted downward through at least one helical groove (7), which is arranged along the exterior of the applicable spinning nozzle unit (6). The vapor at the lower end of the spinning nozzle unit (6) is conducted against a circular, horizontally positioned groove (8), where it undergoes a change in the direction of flow toward the spinning nozzle plate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Beeck, Thomas Gries, Andreas Mueller
  • Patent number: 6139043
    Abstract: A one-piece pintle hitch is disclosed. The one-piece hitch utilizes an integral drawbar that may be engaged with a conventional receiver assembly such as installed along the underside of a vehicle. The one-piece pintle hitch avoids the use of prior art mounting plates that bolt to one another. Accordingly, the problems associated with threaded fasteners such as loosening, fracturing, and corrosion are eliminated. In addition, the one-piece pintle hitch utilizes a unique configuration along its bar portion that results in a significant reduction in weight and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Buyers Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gries, Mark J. Saltzman
  • Patent number: 5788333
    Abstract: In hydraulic or mechanical systems, remote controllers are used to actuate and then control the systems. For instance, in dump vehicles, a controller controls a hydraulic or mechanical actuator that is used to raise and lower the bed during the dumping cycle. A locking safety feature is provided on such a controller to assure that accidental or too rapid of dumping does not occur. This controller provides stops that prohibit additional actuation of the bed absent override. The locking safety feature includes a button within the knob that allows for one-handed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Buyers Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Saltzman, Thomas A. Gries
  • Patent number: 5620218
    Abstract: An improved apparatus having a bumper-frame assembly suitable for light towing vehicles is disclosed. The invention can be utilized for attaching a pintle hook or receiver hitch to the rear end portion of the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Buyers Products Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Saltzman, Thomas A. Gries
  • Patent number: 5196579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of perfluoroethercarboxylic acids from the crude product of the electrochemical conversion of these acids or of one of their soluble salts to perfluorinated ethers, in which the perfluoroethercarboxylic acids and their esters contained in the crude product are separated off with the aid of a solid basic alkali metal salt or its solution and converted, by reaction of the resulting salts with a strong acid, to the corresponding perfluoroethercarboxylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hoechst AG
    Inventors: Thomas Gries, Klaus-Dieter Ginzel, Frank Ebmeyer
  • Patent number: 5091589
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of fluorinated ethers of the formula (I)F.sub.3 C(CF.sub.2).sub.2 --O--CF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 --O).sub.n CHFCF.sub.3 (I)where n is an integer from 10 to 60, from the compounds of the formula(II)F.sub.3 C(CF.sub.2).sub.2 --O--CF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 --O).sub.n CF(CF.sub.3)COF (II)where n has the above meaning, by reaction with alkali metal hydroxide at temperatures of 90.degree. to 160.degree. C. and in the absence of solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Meyer, Ralf Stapel, Hariolf Kottmann, Thomas Gries
  • Patent number: 4996368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the stabilization and purification of perfluoropolyethers of the general formulae (I) or (II) ##STR1## in which R=--F or --C.sub.a F.sub.2a+1R'=--F or --C.sub.b F.sub.2b+1n,m=0,1, . . . or 12, n being identical with or different from m, 1.ltoreq.n+m.ltoreq.15a,b=1,2, . . . or 10, a being identical with or different from b ##STR2## in which R"=--C.sub.f F.sub.2f+1R"'=--C.sub.g F.sub.2g+1X=--F or --CF.sub.3c,d,e=integers such that the molecular weight of the perfluoropolyether is between 200 and 2000, where c, d and e may be identical or different and the units [C.sub.3 F.sub.6 O].sub.c, [C.sub.2 F.sub.4 O].sub.d, and [CFXO].sub.e may be randomly distributed along the molecular chain of the perfluoropolyether,or of mixtures of perfluoropolyethers of this type. The process comprises heating the perfluoropolyethers or mixtures thereof to 150.degree.-360.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Gries