Patents by Inventor Blake W. Rhein

Blake W. Rhein 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: 6962659
    Abstract: An oil skimmer for removing oil floating on surfaces of bodies of water. The oil skimmer includes a support frame, respective drive pulley and guide pulleys rotatably mounted to the support frame on respective shafts, and a drive train which rotatively drives the drive pulley and guide pulleys. A skimmer hose in the form of a loop to which oil adhere floats on the body of water and is driven by the drive pulley through the guide pulley onto and off the surface of the body of water carrying adhered oil. A skimmer hose scraper disposed between the drive and guide pulleys removes the oil from the skimmer hose into a collection receptacle. The drive and guide pulleys comprise replaceable, quick changing inner and outer pulley halves that sandwich respective central hubs therebetween to space the pulley halves to fit skimmer hoses of different cross-sectional sizes. The central hubs with attached drive and guide pulley halves are affixed to the drive shafts using a quick release nut which threads to the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Skimtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake W. Rhein, Frances L. Deley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040164014
    Abstract: An oil skimmer for removing oil floating on surfaces of bodies of water. The oil skimmer includes a support frame, respective drive pulley and guide pulleys rotatably mounted to the support frame on respective shafts, and a drive train which rotatively drives the drive pulley and guide pulleys. A skimmer hose in the form of a loop to which oil adhere floats on the body of water and is driven by the drive pulley through the guide pulley onto and off the surface of the body of water carrying adhered oil. A skimmer hose scraper disposed between the drive and guide pulleys removes the oil from the skimmer hose into a collection receptacle. The drive and guide pulleys comprise replaceable, quick changing inner and outer pulley halves that sandwich respective central hubs therebetween to space the pulley halves to fit skimmer hoses of different cross-sectional sizes. The central hubs with attached drive and guide pulley halves are affixed to the drive shafts using a quick release nut which threads to the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Blake W. Rhein, Frances L. Deley
  • Patent number: 6264027
    Abstract: A repair kit for a media storage case includes a pair of repair tabs that each include top and side attachment plates, an abutment plate, a replacement pin, and an adhesive strip. The repair tabs are attachable onto the lid of a media storage case to replace the function of one or both ears that have broken away from the lid of the media storage case. The adhesive strip provided on each repair tab adheres the repair tab to the lid. The replacement pins of the repair tabs restore pivotable movement of the lid with respect to the base. The abutment plates retain the replacement pins in pivotable engagement with corresponding holes formed in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Blake W. Rhein, Frances L. Deley, Jr.