Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Allen

Thomas J. Allen 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: 20240089796
    Abstract: A Link 16 terminal. The Link 16 terminal includes a red enclave. The red enclave comprises a Link 16 radio. The Link 16 radio is configured to send commands to Link 16 modems. The commands specify time slots when operations in the commands should be performed by the Link 16 modems. The Link 16 terminal further includes a black enclave physically separated from the red enclave. The black enclave includes a Link 16 modem configured to receive commands from the Link 16 radio. The Link 16 terminal further includes a communication channel configured to facilitate communication between the red enclave and the black enclave. The Link 16 radio is configured to dynamically adjust when commands are sent to the Link 16 modem with respect to time slots specified in the commands based on latency between the Link 16 radio and the Link 16 modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Jon E. Stearn, Sean K. Parker, Charles A. Wolfe, Peter C. Camana, Stuart N. Shanken, Thomas J. Allen
  • Patent number: 11084624
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a food container that including a base, a perimeter wall and first, second and third protrusions. The protrusions are spaced apart from each other and coupled to the wall and the base. Each of the first, second and third protrusions defines a respective support surface that extends radially inward from the wall, a recess in the base and a recess in the wall. Each of the support surfaces is configured to support non-recessed portions of a base of another food container in a stacked configuration. Each of the recesses in the wall and the base are configured to receive a support surface of the other food container in a nested configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas J. Allen
  • Patent number: 9710783
    Abstract: A storage array includes one or more tiers including a plurality of roller pairs and at least one motor for spinning each roller pair. Plates are positioned between each roller pair. A horizontal nudge is positioned above each plate moves tires horizontally within the storage array. A tire is moved longitudinally within the storage array by causing a roller pair bearing the tire to spin followed by lifting the plate below the tire, thereby causing the tire to roll forward or backward within the storage array. The storage array may be coupled to a distribution system including a plurality of channels including a planar or concave bottom surface over which tires roll and vertical sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. Accelerators, brakes, junctions, and elevators may be positioned in channels in order to control movement of tires through the distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas J. Allen
  • Patent number: 9600799
    Abstract: A storage array includes one or more tier including a plurality of roller pairs and at least one motor for spinning each roller pair. Plates are positioned between each roller pair. A horizontal nudger is positioned above each plate moves tires horizontally within the storage array. A tire is moved longitudinally within the storage array by causing a roller pair bearing the tire to spin followed by lifting the plate below the tire, thereby causing the tire to roll forward or backward within the storage array. A controller coupled to actuators for the plates and the horizontal nudger invokes movement of tires in and out of the storage array and within the storage array according to a storage, retrieval, and inventory management program. Tires may include electronically readable chips that are detected by sensors at a front edge of the storage array that are coupled to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas J. Allen
  • Patent number: 9466047
    Abstract: A storage array includes one or more tier including a plurality of roller pairs and at least one motor for spinning each roller pair. Plates are positioned between each roller pair. A horizontal nudger is positioned above each plate moves tires horizontally within the storage array. A tire is moved longitudinally within the storage array by causing a roller pair bearing the tire to spin followed by lifting the plate below the tire, thereby causing the tire to roll forward or backward within the storage array. A controller coupled to actuators for the plates and the horizontal nudger invokes movement of tires in and out of the storage array and within the storage array according to a storage, retrieval, and inventory management program. Tires may include electronically readable chips that are detected by sensors at a front edge of the storage array that are coupled to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas J. Allen
  • Patent number: 8167621
    Abstract: A training device is described for perfecting the art of forcibly opening a door in an emergency. The training device has a frame and a door placed in the frame. A dead bolt is mounted in the door and protrudes from the door in a locked position relative to the frame. A vise is attached to the frame. The vise has a movable jaw mounted on a block and a stationary jaw, and means for tightening the movable jaw against the dead bolt. The dead bolt protrudes from the door between the stationary and movable jaw. A method of using the training device causes the door to pivot and the dead bolt to move off of the vise, thus simulating an actual forced opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Red Barn Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Allen