Patents by Inventor Thomas S. Heibel

Thomas S. Heibel 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: 7661891
    Abstract: A disc shaped, unitary body with a flat top surface mates against a tripod head. An upper side annular surface defines a fanned array of threaded bores on radial axes for receiving and supporting extension rods leading to suction cup fasteners. A lower side surface of frusto-conical contour, converging downwardly, depends from the upper side surface and defines a fanned array of threaded bores on axes angled outwardly and downwardly. A bottom face is a planar ring that defines vertical bores distributed around the ring. A central cavity wall is configured as an upwardly tapering conic frustum, connected at its lower end to an inside edge of the bottom wall. The cavity wall defines a fanned array of threaded bores on axes angled inwardly and downwardly. The top of the cavity wall defines a countersink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas S. Heibel
  • Publication number: 20080277540
    Abstract: A generally disc shaped, unitary body is configured with a flat top surface for mating against a tripod head. An upper side annular surface defines a fanned array of threaded bores on radial axes for receiving and supporting extension rods leading to suction cup fasteners. A lower side surface of frusto-conical contour, converging downwardly, depends from the upper side surface and defines a fanned array of threaded bores on axes angled outwardly and downwardly. A bottom face at the lower end of the lower side surface is a planar ring that defines vertical bores distributed around the ring. A central cavity wall is configured as an upwardly tapering conic frustum, connected at its lower end to an inside edge of the bottom wall. The cavity wall defines a fanned array of threaded bores on axes angled inwardly and downwardly. The top of the cavity wall defines a countersink suited to receive the head of a tripod head mounting fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas S. Heibel
  • Patent number: 7448812
    Abstract: A base plate (10, 50) broadly separates suction cups (12) on the bottom face of the base plate for attaching the base plate to a vehicle. A camera-mounting stud (14) extends from the base plate to mount a camera. The keeper plate (16) captures the enlarged head of a camera-mounting stud (14) under a dome (18). Multiple rivets secure the keeper plate to the top face of the base plate, reliably sandwiching the stud head against loss. A camera can be mounted on the threaded shaft of the stud, and the suction cups secure the base plate to a vehicle. Elongated extension rods (26) and swivel rods (30) separate the camera from the base plate. Flexible tethers connected to the camera can restore three-point stability to reduce camera movement while the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas S. Heibel
  • Patent number: 6715395
    Abstract: A pursuit vehicle carries a remote targeting device in a suitable position to identify a target area on an inflated tire of the pursued vehicle and a launcher for a projectile suited to puncture an inflated tire of a pursued vehicle, from a position trailing the pursued vehicle. The projectile launcher launches the projectile when suitably triggered. An electrically operated, remote triggering device selectively causes the projectile launcher to launch the projectile at the identified target area, puncturing and thereby disabling the tire of the pursued vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas S. Heibel