Patents by Inventor Tom Stephens

Tom Stephens 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: 20210204614
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of smoking tobacco. In particular, the present disclosure relates to smoking substitute systems and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking substitute system. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute system having at least two different modes of operation. The present disclosure also relates to an improved housing design. The present disclosure further relates to a smoking substitute device with an improved housing design. The present disclosure yet further relates to smoking substitute systems having at least two independent display elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kate Ferrie, Edward Ross SHENTON, Christopher LORD, Med BENYUEZZAR, Jonathan Stephen MARCHBANK, Peter LOMAS, Tom Stephen SUDLOW
  • Patent number: 10518304
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for the production of aluminum rods from aluminum bars, aluminum wires from aluminum rods, and aluminum wires from aluminum bars are disclosed and described. Annealing steps are not needed or required in the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Herrin, Thomas Noell Wilson, Clinton E. Watkins, Emory Barber, Tom Stephens
  • Publication number: 20160354816
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for the production of aluminum rods from aluminum bars, aluminum wires from aluminum rods, and aluminum wires from aluminum bars are disclosed and described. Annealing steps are not needed or required in the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Herrin, Thomas Noell Wilson, Clinton E. Watkins, Emory Barber, Tom Stephens
  • Patent number: 9440272
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for the production of aluminum rods from aluminum bars, aluminum wires from aluminum rods, and aluminum wires from aluminum bars are disclosed and described. Annealing steps are not needed or required in the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Herrin, Thomas Noell Wilson, Clinton E. Watkins, Emory Barber, Tom Stephens
  • Patent number: 8594822
    Abstract: Electronic supervision may be provided. First, a stock number may be sent to a database server. The stock number may correspond to an electrical cable. In response to sending the database server the stock number, specification information corresponding to the product may be received from a database stored on the database server. The specification information may be, for an electrical cable, a number of wires, a weight per thousand feet, and a diameter. Next, product production may be monitored to determine faults occurring during production. Monitoring the production may include displaying a data monitoring screen to production personnel. The data monitoring screen may provide data regarding the product and product comparison against a standard maintained within the database for the product. Fault data corresponding to the determined faults occurring during the production may be saved to the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Jackie McGuinn, Tom Stephens, Steve Wilson, Stephen Logan, Mike Crumpler, Alon Stewart, Hugh Butler
  • Publication number: 20120078409
    Abstract: Electronic supervision may be provided. First, a stock number may be sent to a database server. The stock number may correspond to a product comprising, for example, an electrical cable. In response to sending the database server the stock number, specification information corresponding to the product may be received from a database stored on the database server. The specification information may comprise, for an electrical cable, a number of wires, a weight per thousand feet, and a diameter. Next, product production may be monitored to determine faults occurring during production. Monitoring the production may comprise displaying a data monitoring screen to production personnel. The data monitoring screen may provide data regarding the product and product comparison against a standard maintained within the database for the product. Fault data corresponding to the determined faults occurring during the production may be saved to the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Jackie McGuinn, Tom Stephens, Steve Wilson, Stephen Logan, Mike Crumpler, Alon Stewart, Hugh Butler
  • Patent number: 8078303
    Abstract: Electronic supervision may be provided. First, a stock number may be sent to a database server. The stock number may correspond to a product comprising, for example, an electrical cable. In response to sending the database server the stock number, specification information corresponding to the product may be received from a database stored on the database server. The specification information may comprise, for an electrical cable, a number of wires, a weight per thousand feet, and a diameter. Next, product production may be monitored to determine faults occurring during production. Monitoring the production may comprise displaying a data monitoring screen to production personnel. The data monitoring screen may provide data regarding the product and product comparison against a standard maintained within the database for the product. Fault data corresponding to the determined faults occurring during the production may be saved to the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Jackie McGuinn, Tom Stephens, Steve Wilson, Stephen Logan, Mike Crumpler, Alon Stewart, Hugh Butler
  • Publication number: 20090164850
    Abstract: Electronic supervision may be provided. First, a stock number may be sent to a database server. The stock number may correspond to a product comprising, for example, an electrical cable. In response to sending the database server the stock number, specification information corresponding to the product may be received from a database stored on the database server. The specification information may comprise, for an electrical cable, a number of wires, a weight per thousand feet, and a diameter. Next, product production may be monitored to determine faults occurring during production. Monitoring the production may comprise displaying a data monitoring screen to production personnel. The data monitoring screen may provide data regarding the product and product comparison against a standard maintained within the database for the product. Fault data corresponding to the determined faults occurring during the production may be saved to the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Jackie McGuinn, Tom Stephens, Steve Wilson, Stephen Logan, Mike Crumpler, Alon Stewart, Hugh Butler
  • Patent number: 6922985
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an engine with an exhaust catalyst and an oxygen sensor upstream of the catalyst and an oxygen sensor downstream of the catalyst, a method for detecting whether the catalyst has aged. Over a test block period of time, the method periodically obtains upstream data points from an oxygen sensor located upstream of the catalyst and from and oxygen sensor located downstream of the catalyst. Absolute differences are calculated between consecutive pairs of the upstream data points and the downstream data points. A ratio between the sums of absolute differences is then calculated, and the ratio is used to determine whether the catalyst has aged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Jason E Wielenga, Bill Leisenring, Douglas M Stander, Dave Carlson, Mark J Poublon, Chris J Booms, Tom Stephens, Craig Summers, Danny K Schuelke, Richard K Moote
  • Publication number: 20040139732
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an engine with an exhaust catalyst and an oxygen sensor upstream of the catalyst and an oxygen sensor downstream of the catalyst, a method for detecting whether the catalyst has aged. Over a test block period of time, the method periodically obtains upstream data points from an oxygen sensor located upstream of the catalyst and from and oxygen sensor located downstream of the catalyst. Absolute differences are calculated between consecutive pairs of the upstream data points and the downstream data points. A ratio between the sums of absolute differences is then calculated, and the ratio is used to determine whether the catalyst has aged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Jason E. Wielenga, Bill Leisenring, Douglas M. Stander, Dave Carlson, Mark J. Poublon, Chris J. Booms, Tom Stephens, Craig Summers, Danny K. Schuelke, Richard K. Moote
  • Patent number: 6425612
    Abstract: A symmetrical gravity operated gate latch for fastening a two way gate and arranged to be manually released easily from either side of the closed gate to permit swinging movement and opening of the gate in either direction. The gate latch including a means for swinging the free end of the gate shut, thereby securing itself through inertia and gravity. The free end of the gate including a striker bar which passes through the striker slot and through the first of two pivotally mounted flappers. The second flapper is positioned so said flapper may not pivot out of the housing, thereby securing the striker bar between the flappers until one of the flappers is rotated inward to release the striker bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Tom Stephens Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 5226690
    Abstract: An irrigation wheel for movably supporting an irrigation pipe of a center pivot irrigation system, and including a central hub plate defining a central opening around the wheel axis of rotation. A pair of parallel, spaced annular rim plates of frustoconical configuration extend concentrically around the hub plate and wheel axis of rotation, and are fixed relative to the hub plate by circumferentially spaced spoke rods. The spoke rods are bent at their inner ends so as to define, in their overall configuration, an open space around the center of the wheel and extending out to the rim plates. The rim plates are unconnected to each other, except for the connection afforded by the spoke rods, which extend from the rim plates inwardly to the central hub plate and are connected to the central hub plate. Each rim plate has an inner edge, and has an outer edge which is spaced a greater radial distance from the wheel axis of rotation than is the inner edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Taylor E. Clark
    Inventors: Goebel Clark, deceased, Taylor E. Clark, Irwin E. Clark, Tom Stephens