Patents by Inventor Bruce Thomas

Bruce 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: 20050257899
    Abstract: A door assembly configured for installation into an opening of a recreational vehicle (“RV”), the door assembly including a master frame having spaced apart jambs, a header, and a sill. The header and sill further include respective tracks. The door assembly further includes a door that is coupled with at least one of the jambs and a retractable screen assembly coupled to the frame, the screen assembly including a cassette and a screen. The screen includes a pull bar operably slidably engageable with the upper and lower tracks and selectively retractable between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Allen Lee, Alan Dixon, Bruce Thomas
  • Publication number: 20050160027
    Abstract: A method for devising an option contract so that it is valued based on a pre-defined formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas
  • Publication number: 20050102168
    Abstract: A method for underwriting and adjusting loss experience based on the premiums paid for and the losses recovered from insurance and reinsurance policies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Thomas, Lester Preston
  • Publication number: 20050051280
    Abstract: A window incorporates at least one moving glass insert or sash slidable in first and second spaced apart tracks. An end of the insert or sash is coupled to an end of a spring biased rolled screen. As the insert or sash moves from the roll, the screen is extracted therefrom providing a continuously variable screened region in the window. The insert or sash can be positioned using a counterbalance or spaced apart latchable locations in the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Thomas, Kelly Nordgaard, Bryan Zacher, Alan Dixon, Allen Lee
  • Publication number: 20050022943
    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, fictional 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: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Thomas, Kelly Nordgaard, Bryan Zacher, Alan Dixon, Allen Lee
  • Patent number: 6801672
    Abstract: A color image is enhanced by removing noise. A wavelet transform is applied to a color image to generate sets of wavelet transform coefficients for multiple channels. Edge maps are produced for the channels from the sets of wavelet transform coefficients. An edge likelihood map is generated based on at least one edge map. The edge likelihood map is applied to the sets of wavelet transform coefficients to generate sets of filtered wavelet transform coefficients. A de-noised color image is reconstructed from the sets of filtered wavelet transform coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Bruce A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6640532
    Abstract: A lawn sweeper generally comprises a tow bar adapted to be connected to a draw bar of a lawn implement, a brush housing containing a plurality of brushes mounted for rotation, and a hamper assembly secured behind the brush housing. A hitch clevis assembly is used to secure the tow bar of the lawn sweeper to the draw bar of a lawn implement and is adjustable in that it allows for attachment at multiple discrete height settings. The preferred lawn sweeper can be easily and rapidly manipulated into an upright storage position, with the hamper assembly having a collapsible frame for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Brinly-Hardy Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Bogart, James D. Scobee, Bruce A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6585960
    Abstract: Silica compositions for abrasive systems in dentifrice formulations are disclosed. The silica abrasive system comprises (a) silica gels having a median particle size below 7 microns, a pH of from about 6 to about 11 and powder RDA's of from 100 to about 200 and (b) silica gels or precipitates having a median particle size of 7 microns or greater and powder RDA's of from 50 to about 180. Silica (a) is preferably prepared by contacting a hydrous silica gel with an alkaline medium. Dentifrice compositions comprising the abrasive system has an RDA of 150 or less and PCR's of at least 80 and up to about 150, and an REA of less than about 30 (as measured on the IU scale).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Michael Bruce Thomas, Michael Vance Ernest, Sandra Joan Kempske
  • Publication number: 20030108884
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for the detection of genetic expression in cells. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method of monitoring the transcriptional activity of genetic elements including genes in a cell and more particularly to a method of determining at a quantitative, semi-quantitative or qualitative level the transcriptional activity of selected genetic elements in a cell. The present invention is further directed to a method for analyzing run-on transcription in cells and cellular organelles such as a nuclei, mitochondria and/or chloroplasts. The present invention further contemplates the use of real-time detection analysis in an amplification assay for the determination of run-on transcription in a cell and/or cellular organelles such as a nuclei, mitochondria and/or chloroplasts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Norman Rice, Bruce Thomas Harrison
  • Patent number: 6565700
    Abstract: A rotatable cutting wheel is used to heat a polymer substrate as it is being cut. The cutting wheel has a heater and a thermocouple associated therewith, which are used to heat and control the temperature of the cutting wheel. The heat softens the substrate, making it easier to cut and reducing distortion caused by cutting. A cleaner cut also makes it more likely that polymer will be retained on reinforcement when the substrate is a reinforced polymer. A method of the invention comprises the steps of heating the cutting wheel and traversing the substrate with the heated cutting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas Choate
  • Patent number: 6517119
    Abstract: A retainer ring connector comprised of a ring situated between matching spokes on both the male and female members of a hose coupling. The ring is contained behind the outwardly extending spokes on the male member. When the male member is inserted into the female member, spokes on the inside of the female member pass between the spokes of the male member and are forced over the ring element which compresses sufficiently to allow the spokes to pass. After the spokes of the female member pass over the compressed ring member, the ring member expands and prevents the male and female members from disengaging and backing away from each other. The spoked retainer ring connector allows for complete rotational movement with preventing the male and female members from separating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Carrand Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bruce Thomas
  • Publication number: 20030023597
    Abstract: Methods and systems for initiating a project or requesting a project review. In one embodiment, a user accesses a project management display page from a project management site and selects a project initiation button or a project review button. Selecting project initiation brings forth a project information display page for receiving selected project information such as a project title, leader, category, and cost. Selecting project review brings forth a project review display page for receiving selected project review information. Selecting a send button after entering the project information automatically sends a portion of the project information to a selected recipient and a selected database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Pearl Ha, Eileen M. Conway, Bruce Thomas
  • Patent number: 6474927
    Abstract: A freight transportation container can accept standardized pallets and is suitable for the transportation by land, sea, or air. The size and construction of the container permits the loading and removal of freight by a conventional fork lift truck, and allows placement of the container in standard-sized trucks and aircraft. Lockdown lips formed on the bottom of the container secure the container to the floors of trucks and aircraft. The freight container also is part of a system for transportation whereby the freight can be loaded, inventoried, locked, and sealed at a customer's premises, and remain under the custody of one entity throughout shipment of the freight to the consignee. An empty freight container can be delivered to a customer's premises on a truck having a cab and removable trailer, so that the container and trailer can remain there for loading, and then later be picked up by the cab and taken to holding areas, other trucks, ships, aircraft, or directly to the consignee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventors: Allen C. McAdams, Bruce Thomas Bullion, III, William G. Cummings, James Harold Idell, Barry J. Atkins, Mark D. Yerger
  • Publication number: 20020157779
    Abstract: A rotatable cutting wheel is used to heat a polymer substrate as it is being cut. The cutting wheel has a heater and a thermocouple associated therewith, which are used to heat and control the temperature of the cutting wheel. The heat softens the substrate, making it easier to cut and reducing distortion caused by cutting. A cleaner cut also makes it more likely that polymer will be retained on reinforcement when the substrate is a reinforced polymer. A method of the invention comprises the steps of heating the cutting wheel and traversing the substrate with the heated cutting wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas Choate
  • Publication number: 20020135181
    Abstract: A retainer ring connector comprised of a ring situated between matching spokes on both the male and female members of a hose coupling. The ring is contained behind the outwardly extending spokes on the male member. When the male member is inserted into the female member, spokes on the inside of the female member pass between the spokes of the male member and are forced over the ring element which compresses sufficiently to allow the spokes to pass. After the spokes of the female member pass over the compressed ring member, the ring member expands and prevents the male and female members from disengaging and backing away from each other. The spoked retainer ring connector allows for complete rotational movement with preventing the male and female members from separating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Paul Bruce Thomas
  • Patent number: 6455252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA sequences, probes and primers specific to the Y chromosome of Equus caballus. The present invention also relates to methods of determining the sex of a horse, a equine fetus, and equine embryo or equine cells. The present invention further relates to a method for the isolation of Y-chromosomal DNA sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Wu Li Dance Company Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Wade, Bruce Thomas Harrison, Brian William King, Kenneth Clifford Reed, Kathleen Margaret Murphy
  • Publication number: 20020129466
    Abstract: A handle for a mop or other such cleaning instrument is hollow for flow of water from a hose attached to one end of the handle to the work-engaging portion at the other end. A manually operable control moves a stopper between three positions wherein flow through an opening in an internal partition in the handle is fully blocked, partially blocked or fully unblocked. The stopper has a total of three detent members in the form of rounded protrusions and a total of three recess for receiving the detents are formed in the partition. As the operating member is manipulated to move the stopper between its three positions, one detent engages a recess in the fully blocked position, two detents engage respective recesses in the partially blocked position and all three detents engage the three recesses in the fully unblocking position. The provision of three detents and three recesses adds to the stability and reliability of operation of the implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Paul Bruce Thomas
  • Patent number: 6438797
    Abstract: A handle for a mop or other such cleaning instrument is hollow for flow of water from a hose attached to one end of the handle to the work-engaging portion at the other end. A manually operable control moves a stopper between three positions wherein flow through an opening in an internal partition in the handle is fully blocked, partially blocked or fully unblocked. The stopper has a total of three detent members in the form of rounded protrusions and a total of three recess for receiving the detents are formed in the partition. As the operating member is manipulated to move the stopper between its three positions, one detent engages a recess in the fully blocked position, two detents engage respective recesses in the partially blocked position and all three detents engage the three recesses in the fully unblocking position. The provision of three detents and three recesses adds to the stability and reliability of operation of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Carrand Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bruce Thomas
  • Patent number: 6440397
    Abstract: Silica compositions for abrasive systems in dentifrice formulations are disclosed. The silica abrasive system comprises (a) silica gels having a median particle size below 7 microns, a pH of from about 6 to about 11 and powder RDA's of from 100 to about 200 and (b) silica gels or precipitates having a median particle size of 7 microns or greater and powder RDA's of from 50 to about 180. Silica (a) is preferably prepared by contacting a hydrous silica gel with an alkaline medium. Dentifrice compositions comprising the abrasive system has an RDA of 150 or less and PCR's of at least 80 and up to about 150, and an REA of less than about 30 (as measured on the IU scale).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co. -Conn.
    Inventors: Michael Bruce Thomas, Michael Vance Ernest, Sandra Joan Kempske
  • Patent number: D465929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Carrand Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bruce Thomas, Pieter Schouten