Patents by Inventor Thomas O. Mills

Thomas O. Mills 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: 5615247
    Abstract: A security device for the protection of cargo transport containers for use in the cargo transport industry. Once activated, the device notifies a security company that a break-in has taken place through the use of a cellular phone network. The security device utilizes a pair of cables exposed to the outside of the cargo transport container. In use, the cables are threaded through the door handles of the cargo transport container. Once the cables are joined on the outside of the cargo transport container, the device is armed. The security device becomes secure once a security code is entered by a user. Once the security code is entered and the cables are connected, the cargo doors may not be opened unless done by an authorized person. Should the pair of cables become disconnected or cut during transport of the container, the device will transmit a high frequency signal to a security company via a cellular telephone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas O. Mills
  • Patent number: 4467850
    Abstract: A machine and method for cutting notches with rounded inner corners in wood pallets. The completed notches are made in one pass through the machine as the pallet passes over three successive stages of cutting. The first stage makes six vertical cuts for each notch, the inner four cuts to the depth of the notch and the outer cuts decreased in depth by the radius of the rounded corner and the outer cut being laterally separated from the adjacent deeper cut by a distance also equal to the radius of the rounded corner. The second stage, with a horizontal cut removes the wood between the inner four cuts and the third stage cuts out the rounded corner with a horizontally positioned radius cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Thomas O. Mills
  • Patent number: 4319931
    Abstract: The method of notching the stringers of a ready-made pallet by a machine which has a first step which makes four vertical cuts in the stringers as the pallet passes by with the outer two cuts forming the sides of the notch; a second step which makes a horizontal cut in the stringers, intersecting all four vertical cuts, first cutting free a section of the notch between the middle two vertical cuts allowing the saw blade arbor to pass through the stringers while cutting free the two outside sections of the notch area to form a complete notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Inventor: Thomas O. Mills
  • Patent number: 4132253
    Abstract: A notching machine including a first cutting stage which makes four vertical cuts in the stringer, the outer two cuts defining the sides of the notch. The second cutting stage of the machine makes a horizontal cut which first separates a portion of the stringer between the inner two cuts thereby allowing the drive shaft of the second-stage cutting blade to pass through the partially formed notch and cut away the remaining portions of the stringer between the outer two cuts to define the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Inventor: Thomas O. Mills