Patents by Inventor Thomas Marsden Smith

Thomas Marsden Smith 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: 8539995
    Abstract: Coupling locks, attachment modules, and docking devices allow for re-filling, filling and/or emptying of containers in a manner that is insulated against the environment. An attachment module includes a coupling lock and a locking clamp, where the coupling lock includes a pipe nozzle and a closing flap. A first clamping element is located on an outer side of the pipe nozzle to engage with a second clamping element by means of the locking clamp to create a temporary connection. A docking device includes the first coupling lock or the attachment module, and a second coupling lock, complementary to the first coupling lock. When the closing flaps of the first and second coupling locks are brought into contact with each other, they can be pivoted from a closed position, where they lock the transfer channel formed by the pipe nozzles, around a shared axis into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: GEA Pharma Systems AG
    Inventors: Thomas Marsden Smith, Peter Lais, Martin Koch
  • Publication number: 20100084049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling lock for the re-filling, filling and/or emptying of containers, in particular in a manner which is insulated against the environment, with a locking side and a container side, comprising a pipe nozzle and a closing flap which rests in it and which can be pivoted around an axis, containing a front side which faces towards the locking side in the closed position, wherein the pipe nozzle has a first end on the locking side and a second, opposite end on the container side, as well as an inner and an outer side, and wherein the closing flap is located on the first end and wherein furthermore, a first, in particular circumferential, clamping element is located on the outer side of the pipe nozzle, which is suitable and designed for the purpose of the combined engagement with the second clamping element by means of a locking clamp in order to create a temporary connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Niro GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Marsden Smith, Peter Lais, Martin Koch