Patents by Inventor Craig A. Castle

Craig A. Castle 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: 5245872
    Abstract: A device for measuring force of bending of a head-flexure assembly by a given amount characterized by the distance between a clamping surface for one end of the flexure and the plane (recording surface) in contact with the head at at the other end of the flexure. The device includes a load cell with a cell reference surface adjustably supported on a cell base which is slidably mounted on a main base. Adjustment of the location of the cell reference surface with respect to the clamp surface is achieved by a shaft threaded into the load cell with a first thread and threaded into the main base with a second thread so that by turning the shaft, the distance between the two reference surfaces can be very accurately adjusted. When the load cell is deformed by application of the head loading force to the cell reference surface, a signal from the load cell actuates a mechanism maintaining the cell reference surface in its initial location thereby maintaining the initial flexion of the flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventors: William L. Cooper, Frank E. Russo, Craig A. Castle, Robert S. Smith
  • Patent number: 5237864
    Abstract: A device for measuring force of bending of a head-flexure assembly including a load cell with a cell reference surface slidably mounted on a base having a reference surface, a shaft threaded into theload cell with a first thread and threaded into the base with a second thread so that by turning the shaft, the distance between the two reference surfaces can be very accurately adjusted providing that the device can be calibrated to an accuracy of less than ten milligrams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventors: Craig A. Castle, William L. Cooper, Robert S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4547894
    Abstract: An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplifying the output of the speaker, the horn also having an output opening. A saliva barrier is removably mounted to the output opening of the horn for precluding penetration of saliva into the horn, the barrier having a first end which is telescopically received within the output opening of the horn and the second end having a mouth formed on a bias to the longitudinal axis of the mounting and a microporous membrane sealing the mouth. The mouth of the mounting has an elliptical shape which has been found tends to increase speaker volume. Moreover, the telescopic mating of the mounting and the horn provides a saliva barrier which is easily replaceable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon M. Benson, Craig A. Castle
  • Patent number: 4502151
    Abstract: An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplifying the output of the speaker, the horn also having an output opening. A saliva barrier is removably mounted to the output opening of the horn for precluding penetration of saliva into the horn, the barrier having a first end which is telescopically received within the output opening of the horn and the second end having a mouth formed on a bias to the longitudinal axis of the mounting and a microporous membrane sealing the mouth. The mouth of the mounting has an elliptical shape which has been found to increase speaker volume. Moreover, the telescopic mating of the mounting and the horn provides a saliva barrier which is easily replaceable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Castle, Jon M. Benson, Theodore H. Toch