Patents by Inventor Bryan Thurston

Bryan Thurston 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: 7086886
    Abstract: A locking connector system includes a first body having a rotatable collar mounted thereon and a second body configured to mate with the first body, including one or more components configured to control the breakaway force of the first and second bodies. The first and second bodies include telescopingly engaged body portions and axially mating contacts. The connector system further includes an annular collar encircling the telescoping body portions and rotatively held on the first body and a spring inside the collar. The ends of the spring are confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relative to the first body. Axially aligned tabs are provided on the collar and the second body for latching the first body and the second body together through a predetermined range of forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Alden Products Company
    Inventors: Constance E Thurston, legal representative, Bryan A. Thurston, deceased
  • Publication number: 20050059284
    Abstract: A locking connector system includes a first body having a rotatable collar mounted thereon and a second body configured to mate with the first body, including one or more components configured to control the breakaway force of the first and second bodies. The first and second bodies include telescopingly engaged body portions and axially mating contacts. The connector system further includes an annular collar encircling the telescoping body portions and rotatively held on the first body and a spring inside the collar. The ends of the spring are confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relative to the first body. Axially aligned tabs are provided on the collar and the second body for latching the first body and the second body together through a predetermined range of forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Bryan Thurston, Constance Thurston
  • Patent number: 6776638
    Abstract: A breakaway locking connector system includes a first body having a rotatable collar mounted thereon and a second body configured to mate with the first body and automatically disengage from the first body when a predetermined force is applied to the connector system. The first and second bodies include telescopingly engaged body portions and axially mating contacts. The connector system further includes an annular collar encircling the telescoping body portions and rotatively held on the first body and a spring inside the collar. The ends of the spring are confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relative to the first body. Axially aligned tabs are provided on the collar and the second body for latching the first body and the second body together through a predetermined range of forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alden Products Company
    Inventor: Bryan A. Thurston
  • Publication number: 20040018764
    Abstract: A breakaway locking connector system includes a first body having a rotatable collar mounted thereon and a second body configured to mate with the first body and automatically disengage from the first body when a predetermined force is applied to the connector system. The first and second bodies include telescopingly engaged body portions and axially mating contacts. The connector system further includes an annular collar encircling the telescoping body portions and rotatively held on the first body and a spring inside the collar. The ends of the spring are confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relative to the first body. Axially aligned tabs are provided on the collar and the second body for latching the first body and the second body together through a predetermined range of forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Alden Products Company
    Inventor: Bryan A. Thurston
  • Patent number: 5750947
    Abstract: A rotary electric switch having push-in wire terminals includes a hollow plastic housing having a recessed base and a cover, the base having a plurality of wire receiving openings. A plurality of resilient stationary contacts are positioned in the base, each resilient stationary contact being generally Z-shaped and having a locking tongue at one end, an intermediate arm, and a spring finger at the opposite end from the locking tongue. Each resilient stationary contact is positioned in the base with its locking tongue overlying a wire receiving opening in a side wall in the housing. A rotatable contactor is mounted in the base between the spring fingers of the resilient stationary contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Bryan A. Thurston
  • Patent number: 5728982
    Abstract: A miniature rotary electric switch having push-in wire terminals comprises a housing which is about 1 inch in length, 1 inch in width and 0.2 inches in thickness and which includes a plurality of wire receiving openings. A plurality of Z-shaped stationary contacts are positioned inside the housing and a rotatable contactor is disposed inside the housing for selectively contacting the stationary contacts. Each stationary contact is positioned to overlie at least a portion of one of the wire receiving openings for locking engagement with a wire to be inserted therethrough. Each stationary contact includes a locking tongue, a spring finger and an intermediate arm, the intermediate arm linking the locking tongue to the spring finger. The locking tongue is connected to the intermediate arm at a first bend and the intermediate arm is connected to the spring finger at a second bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Bryan A. Thurston, Robert J. Carreiro
  • Patent number: 5512001
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a sound generating mechanism for generating realistic vehicle engine sound and a smoke generating mechanism for generating simulated smoke vapors. The sound generating mechanism and the smoke generating mechanism are simultaneously actuatable by moving an accessory, such as a spoiler, on a cab portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignees: Stephen Schwartz Design, Design Lab
    Inventors: Michael Kent, Thomas P. Hamilton, Stephen Schwartz, Henry Sharpe, III, Ralph Beckman, Bryan Thurston