Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Thomas

Bruce E. Thomas 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: 20110139379
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a door panel and a window assembly. The window assembly includes a first frame operably coupled to a second frame. A movable panel is operably coupled and selectively movable in a channel defined by a leg and a wall of the first frame and a leg of the second frame. A fixed panel and a window screen can also be operably coupled between the first frame and the second frame. At least one of the frames include a basin that empties into a drainage opening to prevent the build up of moisture within the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Bryan P. Zacher, Bruce E. Thomas, Allen E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110108209
    Abstract: A door incorporating at least one movable glass insert or window sash slidably disposed in at least one track thereof. An end of the insert is coupled to an end of a spring biased roll of screen. As the insert moves from the spring biased roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the door. The insert can be positioned using a counterbalance, spaced apart latchable locations in the door, frictional engagement, or through the tension force of the biased roll of screen. A catch mechanism is disposed on the movable glass insert to detachably couple the glass insert to a portion of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thomas, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Bryan P. Zacher, Alan M. Dixon, Allen E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20090115203
    Abstract: A door incorporating at least one movable glass insert or window sash slidably disposed in at least one track thereof. An end of the insert is coupled to an end of a spring biased roll of screen. As the insert moves from the spring biased roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the door. The insert can be positioned using a counterbalance, spaced apart latchable locations in the door, frictional engagement, or through the tension force of the biased roll of screen. A catch mechanism is disposed on the movable glass insert to detachably couple the glass insert to a portion of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thomas, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Bryan P. Zacher, Alan M. Dixon, Allen E. Lee
  • Patent number: 7007439
    Abstract: A storm door has first and second elongated, partly curved lock receiving openings formed in respective elongated edges. Each opening is filled in part with a molded hollow insert with an external periphery which matches a periphery of the respective opening. A lock mechanism has a housing with an external periphery that matches, at least in part, an internal periphery of a respective insert. An actuating port in the housing has a central axis, which extends parallel to the respective edge, through the door through which extends a rotatable actuating shaft. An external handle can be attached to the shaft. An unused insert can be closed with a slidably engaging cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company of South Dakota, Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar Dale Larson, Allen E. Lee, Bryan P. Zacher, Bruce E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040231801
    Abstract: An exterior door incorporates at least one moving glass insert or sash slidable in first and second spaced apart tracks. An end of the insert is coupled to an end of a spring biased rolled screen. As the insert moves from the roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the door. The insert can be positioned using a counterbalance or spaced apart latchable locations in the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Larson Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thomas, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Bryan P. Zacher, Alan M. Dixon, Allen E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040084157
    Abstract: An exterior door incorporates at least one moving glass insert or sash slidable in first and second spaced apart tracks. An end of the insert is coupled to an end of a spring biased rolled screen. As the insert moves from the roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the door. The insert can be positioned using a counterbalance or spaced apart latchable locations in the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thomas, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Bryan P. Zacher, Alan M. Dixon, Allen E. Lee
  • Patent number: 6655108
    Abstract: A storm door has first and second elongated, partly curved lock receiving openings formed in respective elongated edges. Each opening is filled in part with a molded hollow insert with an external periphery which matches a periphery of the respective opening. A lock mechanism has a housing with an external periphery that matches, at least in part, an internal periphery of a respective insert. An actuating port in the housing has a central axis, which extends parallel to the respective edge, through the door through which extends a rotatable actuating shaft. An external handle can be attached to the shaft. An unused insert can be closed with a slidably engaging cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Oscar Dale Larson, Allen E. Lee, Bryan P. Zacher, Bruce E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6618998
    Abstract: An exterior door incorporates at least one moving glass insert or sash slidable in first and second spaced apart tracks. An end of the insert is coupled to an end of a spring biased rolled screen. As the insert moves from the roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the door. The insert can be positioned using a counterbalance or spaced apart latchable locations in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thomas, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Bryan P. Zacher, Alan M. Dixon, Allen E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20020092264
    Abstract: A storm door has first and second elongated, partly curved lock receiving openings formed in respective elongated edges. Each opening is filled in part with a molded hollow insert with an external periphery which matches a periphery of the respective opening. A lock mechanism has a housing with an external periphery that matches, at least in part, an internal periphery of a respective insert. An actuating port in the housing has a central axis, which extends parallel to the respective edge, through the door through which extends a rotatable actuating shaft. An external handle can be attached to the shaft. An unused insert can be closed with a slidably engaging cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Oscar Dale Larson, Allen E. Lee, Bryan P. Zacher, Bruce E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4501072
    Abstract: A dryer for printed material and the like including a frame structure with upper and lower heater panel assemblies vertically movably mounted therein. Each heater panel assembly includes a plurality of quartz tube heat lamps. The heater panel assemblies are reciprocated between open and closed positions by a pneumatic cylinder. An air handling system includes a drying air subsystem, a cooling air subsystem and an exhaust system. A control system includes an infrared detector for determining the temperature of printed material in the dryer and automatically adjusts the output of the heat lamps to maintain a predetermined web temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Amjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Cecil T. Jacobi, Jr., Charles G. Maupin, James B. Woodsmall, William J. Brown, Bruce E. Thomas, Walton D. Owens, Robert J. Cunningham, Rocky D. Smith