Patents by Inventor Tom Edwards

Tom Edwards 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: 7921713
    Abstract: A test fixture for testing a motor vehicle suspension, brake components and wheel components on a motor vehicle sub-frame is provided. The test fixture can include a lower frame attached to a base surface and be dimensioned for the motor vehicle sub-frame to be attached thereto. An upper frame oppositely disposed to the lower frame and dimensioned to attach to the sub-frame is also included. A shaker system is attached to the base surface and is operable to provide a predetermined vertical displacement profile to the sub-frame. A motor is attached to an axle assembly on the sub-frame and is operable to rotate a wheel component at a predetermined rate of rotation. A non-contact gap sensor is included and can be attached to the sub-frame and detect or monitor movement between a first sub-frame component and a second sub-frame component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Alan Czoka, Tom Edward Stubblefield
  • Publication number: 20100126262
    Abstract: A test fixture for testing a motor vehicle suspension, brake components and wheel components on a motor vehicle sub-frame is provided. The test fixture can include a lower frame attached to a base surface and be dimensioned for the motor vehicle sub-frame to be attached thereto. An upper frame oppositely disposed to the lower frame and dimensioned to attach to the sub-frame is also included. A shaker system is attached to the base surface and is operable to provide a predetermined vertical displacement profile to the sub-frame. A motor is attached to an axle assembly on the sub-frame and is operable to rotate a wheel component at a predetermined rate of rotation. A non-contact gap sensor is included and can be attached to the sub-frame and detect or monitor movement between a first sub-frame component and a second sub-frame component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Alan Czoka, Tom Edward Stubblefield
  • Publication number: 20090183744
    Abstract: A hand-held dispensing device for dispensing a substance, the device comprising: a dispenser incorporating: i) a dispenser body defining a dispensing chamber for holding the substance; ii) an outlet in communication with the dispensing chamber; iii) a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the contents of the dispensing chamber through the outlet and iv) an actuating member resiliently mounted for movement relative to the dispenser body, against the action of a biasing member, to actuate the dispensing mechanism; the dispenser being operably connected to a handle for manual sliding movement relative to the handle from a non-use position, in which the handle covers the outlet, to an operative position, in which the outlet is uncovered; the device further comprising a locking assembly for releasably locking the dispenser body to the handle in the operative position to prevent said manual sliding movement of the dispenser body, whereby a user may grasp the handle and effect manual movement of the actuating m
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Graham Hayton, Tom Edward Walker, David Gary Cottle, Philip Walsh, Philip Beardsall
  • Patent number: 7342881
    Abstract: The backpressure flow control mechanism is widely used in telecommunications network. Actions of the flow control scheme are not instantaneous in that latency always exists between action and reaction, resulting in a flow control round trip time. This flow control round trip time causes ambiguity in determining the amount of traffic in transit. The invention monitors the amount of traffic which is on the way toward the queue during the past period of the round trip time, thus eliminating the ambiguity. A more precise control of traffic flow is possible, realizing reduction of storage space in the queue by one half. In one embodiment, the invention keeps a historical record of flow control signals sent back during the most recent flow control round trip time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jason Sterne, Tom Edward Davis
  • Patent number: 7144084
    Abstract: A chair having a metal rod frame back assembly where the frame includes generally horizontal top, bottom and middle members and spaced apart generally vertical side members. Two seat brackets are welded to the middle and bottom members and attach to a seat board and two rod segments are welded to the side members. The seat board is covered with foam and upholstery. The back frame may be covered with springy mesh to give a thin elegant, yet comfortable back structure. Alternatively, foam is glued to a structural material and the material and foam combination and the frame are covered with upholstery. Arms and armrests are attached to the seat board and the seat and back assemblies with arms are mounted to a pedestal connected to a five spoke base riding on casters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons, Rick Rimer, Odie Eaves, Brian Yeckering, Gary Schmitt, John Stevens
  • Patent number: 7094164
    Abstract: A trajectory detection and feedback system is described. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched tile object into flight, and/or one or more observers in the area The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. A non-intrusive machine vision system may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. After the system has evaluated a plurality of shots by the player, the system may provide 1) a diagnosis of their shot consistency, 2) a prediction for improvement based upon improving their shot consistency and 3) a prescription of actions for improving their consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Pillar Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Marty, Ridge McGhee, Tom Edwards
  • Patent number: 7032869
    Abstract: A decorative chair base having a metal substructure, a single molded plastic cover and a plurality of decorative inserts. The metal substructure has a central hub and radiating leg portions. At the extended ends of the leg portions are sleeves for mounting casters. The plastic cover also has a central hub and leg portions. The central hub of the cover fits over the central hub of the substructure and each leg portion of the cover overlays a leg portion of the substructure. Each leg portion of the cover has a raised end section, and a recess and there is a raised section surrounding the hub portion. An insert is mounted in each recess so as to be flush with the raised portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons, Gary Schmitt, Brian Yeckering, Odie Eaves, Rick Rimer
  • Patent number: 6981743
    Abstract: A chair or other seating unit comprises a seat, a backrest, and an adjustable lumbar support, the adjustable lumbar support comprising a lumbar pad and a position adjustment means. The position adjustment means comprises a vertical adjustment means for mounting the lumbar support pad to the back rest, a substantially stationary support means that receives the vertical adjustment means, and a tension adjustment means, that releases the tension between the vertical adjustment means and the substantially stationary support means to allow the lumbar support to be positioned, and that increases the tension to hold the lumbar support means in a preferred selected position. The stationary support means is fixedly secured to the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons
  • Publication number: 20050264084
    Abstract: A chair having a metal rod frame back assembly where the frame includes generally horizontal top, bottom and middle members and spaced apart generally vertical side members. Two seat brackets are welded to the middle and bottom members and attach to a seat board and two rod segments are welded to the side members. The seat board is covered with foam and upholstery. The back frame may be covered with springy mesh to give a thin elegant, yet comfortable back structure. Alternatively, foam is glued to a structural material and the material and foam combination and the frame are covered with upholstery. Arms and armrests are attached to the seat board and the seat and back assemblies with arms are mounted to a pedestal connected to a five spoke base riding on casters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons, Rick Rimer, Odie Eaves, Brian Yeckering, Gary Schmitt, John Stevens
  • Publication number: 20050258320
    Abstract: A decorative chair base having a metal substructure, a single molded plastic cover and a plurality of decorative inserts. The metal substructure has a central hub and radiating leg portions. At the extended ends of the leg portions are sleeves for mounting casters. The plastic cover also has a central hub and leg portions. The central hub of the cover fits over the central hub of the substructure and each leg portion of the cover overlays a leg portion of the substructure. Each leg portion of the cover has a raised end section, and a recess and there is a raised section surrounding the hub portion. An insert is mounted in each recess so as to be flush with the raised portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons, Gary Schmitt, Brian Yeckering, Odie Eaves, Rick Rimer
  • Publication number: 20050121958
    Abstract: A chair or other seating unit comprises a seat, a backrest, and an adjustable lumbar support, the adjustable lumbar support comprising a lumbar pad and a position adjustment means. The position adjustment means comprises a vertical adjustment means for mounting the lumbar support pad to the back rest, a substantially stationary support means that receives the vertical adjustment means, and a tension adjustment means, that releases the tension between the vertical adjustment means and the substantially stationary support means to allow the lumbar support to be positioned, and that increases the tension to hold the lumbar support means in a preferred selected position. The stationary support means is fixedly secured to the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons
  • Patent number: 6886746
    Abstract: A retail terminal and/or a method of operating a retail terminal having a first weight scale associated therewith includes the step of weighing an item by using the first weight scale. The method also includes the step of producing a first output signal dependent upon the weighing step. The first output signal includes a first weight signal and a first noise signal. Moreover, the method includes the step of estimating the first noise signal to produce an estimated first noise signal. Yet further, the method includes the step of subtracting the estimated first noise signal from the first output signal. A retail checkout terminal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Tom Edwards
  • Publication number: 20040257991
    Abstract: The backpressure flow control mechanism is widely used in telecommunications network. Actions of the flow control scheme are not instantaneous in that latency always exists between action and reaction, resulting in a flow control round trip time. This flow control round trip time causes ambiguity in determining the amount of traffic in transit. The invention monitors the amount of traffic which is on the way toward the queue during the past period of the round trip time, thus eliminating the ambiguity. A more precise control of traffic flow is possible, realizing reduction of storage space in the queue by one half. In one embodiment, the invention keeps a historical record of flow control signals sent back during the most recent flow control round trip time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jason Sterne, Tom Edward Davis
  • Publication number: 20030081608
    Abstract: The method applies to a telecommunication network having IP packet-supporting capabilities when said network includes a load distribution processing function which is either centralized or distributed and by means of which a load distribution function is applied to sets of paths between network nodes and/or sets of links (Lk1, Lkp) of network trunks (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Peter Irma August Barri, Bart Joseph Gerard Pauwels, Tom Edward Davis, Olivier Didier Duroyon, Chad William Kendall, Predrag Kostic, Robert Nesbitt, Robert Elliott Robotham
  • Publication number: 20030073518
    Abstract: A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and/or one or more observers in the area. The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and/or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Pillar Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Marty, Ridge McGhee, Tom Edwards
  • Patent number: 6364317
    Abstract: This invention relates to an arrangement for sealing a closed chamber in which equipment is to be replaced and especially to a chamber in which equipment is to be replaced while the chamber is to be maintained closed. The arrangement includes a channel filled with a fluid, such as water, and a skirt arranged to extend into the fluid to form the seal. As the skirt extends down into the liquid, a portal space is formed at the opening in the chamber and the opening preferably includes a gate for closing the chamber from the portal space and the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Tom Edward Estep, Ronald P. Hoffman, James R. Hunter, Jean Joseph Muller, Germain Schilz, Carl E. Vorhees, James M. Wiggins, Jean Francois Woll
  • Patent number: D437631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Mico Designs Ltd.
    Inventor: Tom Edward Robbins
  • Patent number: D439635
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mico Designs Ltd.
    Inventor: Tom Edward Robbins
  • Patent number: D511914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons
  • Patent number: D499908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: HON Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Edwards, Errol Pearsons