Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Thornton

Thomas E. Thornton 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: 5566692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package for dispensing cut brushed dental floss and more particularly the present invention relates to a dispensing package for cut brushed dental floss that allows the removal of a single floss one at a time. The novel dispensing package of the present invention consists of an internal control card with an apex fold line and a rear portion on the opposite side of the apex. The cut brushed floss is placed on the control card in a manner where the floss section of the cut brushed floss is in a zigzag folded position on the interior of the control card, the brushed section is on the face portion of the control card and the threader section is led over the apex to the rear portion which holds the brushed section on the face of the card. The package having the loaded card inside has an opening to permit removal of a single cut brushed floss therefrom, one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas E. Thornton
  • Patent number: 4815429
    Abstract: A compression ring is provided for mounting in an annular groove formed in a piston head utilized in an internal combustion engine. The ring includes an inner section positionable within the groove and an outer section protruding from the groove for sliding sealing engagement with the wall of the cylinder in which the piston head is reciprocally mounted. The ring inner section is provided with opposite side surfaces. Each side surface includes a first segment extending inwardly from the outer section and being in substantially parallel relation with an adjacent side wall of the groove in which it is accommodated. The ring side surface also includes a second segment which is angularly disposed relative to and extends inwardly from the first segment and is in continuous spaced relation with the adjacent side wall of the groove. The distance between the first segments of the ring inner section side surfaces are less than the distance between the side walls of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Combustion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Thornton