Patents by Inventor Alan B. Staples

Alan B. Staples 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: 4582609
    Abstract: A new filtration device which floats in a body of the liquid to be filtered and which makes use of a bed of granular buoyant filtration media. The device comprises buoyancy means for giving the device sufficient buoyancy to float in the body of liquid; flow-defining structure attached to the buoyancy means and defining a flow path through which liquid may flow upwardly from the body of liquid; porous retaining means disposed across the defined flow path for holding a bed of buoyant filtration media against the force of liquid flowing upwardly through the path; and outlet means in communication with said flow path for conveying filtered liquid away from the filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John S. Hunter, III, Alan B. Staples