Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Black

Thomas D. Black 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: 20240148402
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clamp arm pivotable relative to an ultrasonic blade, an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector, an acoustic waveguide having a distal portion extending along an axis, a clamp arm closure assembly comprising a body configured to actuate in order to drive the pivoting of the clamp arm, and a clamp arm clocking assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly is capable of driving rotation of the clamp arm about the axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm clocking assembly includes a rotating body pivotally coupled with the clamp arm, a translating drive extending through the articulation section, and a rotation driver assembly. The rotation driver is in communication with the translating driver to convert translational motion of the translating driver into rotational motion of the rotating body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Clark, Morgan R. Hunter, Brian D. Black, Thomas B. Remm
  • Patent number: 11911064
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clamp arm pivotable relative to an ultrasonic blade, an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector, an acoustic waveguide having a distal portion extending along an axis, a clamp arm closure assembly comprising a body configured to actuate in order to drive the pivoting of the clamp arm, and a clamp arm clocking assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly is capable of driving rotation of the clamp arm about the axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm clocking assembly includes a rotating body pivotally coupled with the clamp arm, a translating drive extending through the articulation section, and a rotation driver assembly. The rotation driver is in communication with the translating driver in order to convert translational motion of the translating driver into rotational motion of the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Clark, Morgan R. Hunter, Brian D. Black, Thomas B. Remm
  • Patent number: 8511292
    Abstract: The present invention addresses problems not resolved by conventional hand-held clay target throwers by providing a clay target throwing device comprising two unique main components that, both separately and upon combination, provide for a significantly improved hand-held clay target thrower device. The first main component is a unitary rear-loading flexible wire headend. The second main component is a specially formed handle including a self-cocking block component and an impact backstop structure. Together the combined flexible wire headend and handle provide an easy-to-use, efficient, effective, comfortable, and weather-resistant hand-held self-cocking and controlled release clay target throwing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: WingOne LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Black, Gerald B. Black
  • Publication number: 20120210989
    Abstract: The present invention addresses problems not resolved by conventional hand-held clay target throwers by providing a clay target throwing device comprising two unique main components that, both separately and upon combination, provide for a significantly improved hand-held clay target thrower device. The first main component is a unitary rear-loading flexible wire headend. The second main component is a specially formed handle including a self-cocking block component and an impact backstop structure. Together the combined flexible wire headend and handle provide an easy-to-use, efficient, effective, comfortable, and weather-resistant hand-held self-cocking and controlled release clay target throwing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Wing One, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Black, Gerald B. Black