Patents by Inventor Charles J. Engle

Charles J. Engle 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: 4438923
    Abstract: A basketball goal unit for use with a basketball backboard including a rigid backboard mounting frame adapted to be securely mounted to said backboard and a goal mounting frame configured for cooperative interengagement with the backboard mounting frame. A goal is carried by the goal mounting frame and a pivot shaft interconnects the goal mounting frame with the backboard mounting frame to permit pivotal rocking movement of the goal and goal mounting frame about a transverse pivot axis in response to the goal being struck or slapped or hung from, as by a player during a "dunk" shot. A curved leaf spring provides resilient coupling between the goal mounting and backboard mounting frames to permit resilient movement of the goal about the pivot axis, and a double-acting shock absorber provides damped coupling between said goal mounting and backboard mounting frames during this pivotal rocking movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Gared Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Engle, Robert A. Boitano
  • Patent number: 4320896
    Abstract: A basketball goal-backboard unit comprising a backboard of glass, a rigid frame surrounding the backboard, a shock-absorbing assembly comprising a front plate and a rear plate disposed in registering relationship forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of the backboard. Cushioning panels are snugly disposed between the backboard adjacent faces of the front and rear plates and the backboard, and with the basketball goal incorporating a mounting element disposed on the forward face of the front plate. A single bolt interengages the basketball goal mounting element, the front and rear plates, and the cushioning panels. A fluid cylinder may be presented rearwardly of the backboard, being mounted upon the frame, and having a piston operatively engaged at the rearward plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Gared Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Engle, Robert A. Boitano
  • Patent number: 4148217
    Abstract: A method for evaluating foam-producing surfactants by measuring the resistance to the flow of a gas, for example, nitrogen, through a standard sand pack containing a solution of the surfactant. The resistance is also measured when the sand pack contains water, thereby allowing the surfactant solution's resistance factor to be determined. The resistance factor for a surfactant solution is defined as the ratio of the maximum pressure drop observed across the sand pack when the pore space was filled with the surfactant foam to the maximum pressure drop when the sand pack was filled with water and was being displaced by a gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Charles J. Engle
  • Patent number: 4085800
    Abstract: A noncondensible gas is used to preheat a portion of a permeable strata prior to plugging thereof by steam containing a surfactant. Once the desired portion of the permeable strata is plugged, steam without a surfactant is utilized for production of oil from the less permeable oil-bearing formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Engle, John H. Runnels