Patents by Inventor David A. Parks

David A. Parks 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: 6016943
    Abstract: Injection molded components for off-road recreational and utility vehicles such as an ATV's, snowmobiles and the like. In one embodiment, the invention provides a rack having a fiber-filled plastic resin body. The body has an overall thickness substantially less than its width and length, and includes a generally flat, horizontal top having a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is defined by a flange extending downwardly the flange having a thickness that is substantially less than its height to define a downwardly extending reinforcing rib, which also provides a point of attachment for straps such as bungee cords. Preferably the rack includes integrally molded transverse reinforcing ribs extending across the slots, the reinforcing ribs having a top surface which is recessed downwardly from the top surface of the rack. In another embodiment, the invention provides an injection molded foot rest for an off-road recreational or utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell D. Johnson, Michael A. Klein, Matthew David Parks, Mark Thomas Karl, Patrick Johnson, Tim Spahr, Jeff Sajna, Craig Andrews, Kenneth Terry Higgins, Robert A. Lowery, Keith D. Ruby, Alton Mitchell, Rhonda L. Davis
  • Patent number: 5831501
    Abstract: A solenoid type magnetic trip assembly for a molded case circuit breaker includes an armature biased against an adjustable stop by a tension spring to set the initial gap for the magnetic trip, so that the spring bias remains constant for the full range of the initial gap. The armature includes an elongated armature element mounted by a frame to slide longitudinally along a pair of guide rails. The frame defines a trip surface axially aligned with the elongated armature element which engages a trip arm on a trip bar to trip the circuit breaker in response to a predetermined level of overcurrent. A bimetal providing a thermal trip function is cantilevered from a support spaced from the trip bar by the armature, but has a terminal portion at the free end projecting toward the trip bar and through which the elongated armature element of the armature extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Kolberg, David A. Parks, Kimberley Morris
  • Patent number: 5736325
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosis of susceptibility to alcoholism or the pathological effects of alcoholism based on detection of a genetic marker in an individual. The present invention is directed generally to methods and associated compositions and kits for detecting the presence of arylsulfatase A (ASA) pseudodeficiency (PD) mutations in humans. Detection of these mutations has been surprisingly found to be a strong indicator for susceptibility to alcoholism and/or susceptibility to alcohol's pathological effects, as well as an important marker in evaluating the likelihood of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Algene LLC
    Inventors: Paul Manowitz, Ronald D. Poretz, David Park, Michael Ricketts
  • Patent number: 5613275
    Abstract: An adjusting knob assembly includes a knob member having a knob and an axially extending shaft. A support bracket has an aperture defined in part by a gapped ring section formed by a pair confronting arcuate fingers. The shaft and the aperture have complimentary, longitudinally extending, circumferentially distributed flat surfaces, which provide discrete angular positions for the shaft when the complimentary flat surfaces are in register. Preferably, the gap between the confronting fingers is sized, and the arcuate fingers have a compliance sufficient that the shaft may be passed laterally through the gap and snapped into the aperture. Any one of a plurality of interchangeable cam members can be press fit on to the end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Kolberg, David A. Parks, Kimberley Morris, James R. Schachner
  • Patent number: 5530205
    Abstract: Rectangular bus bars alternatively engaged in either of a pair of crossed slots in a support block secured in a panel board are locked in place by a locking device incorporated in a cylindrical terminal portion of each bus bar. The locking device includes an expandable ring seated in a circumferential groove in the cylindrical terminal portion. A pair of actuating pins are urged radially outward in diametrically opposed bores to wedge the expandable ring against the support block, by a tapered screw threaded into a central longitudinal bore in the terminal portion of the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Arthur D. Carothers, Glen C. Sisson, Michael J. Erb
  • Patent number: 5493085
    Abstract: A terminal connection for a flat stab of an electrical switch includes a spring clip which retains a nut in alignment with an aperture in the flat stab. The spring clip is fabricated from a strip of resilient electrically conductive material and has a top wall with a central aperture, side walls extending downward from the top wall and having slots therein, an end wall extending downward from the top wall and a bottom wall cantilevered forward from the bottom of the end wall under the top wall and between the side walls. A square nut is retained in the spring clip with its tapped hole aligned with the aperture in the top wall and with either an aperture or a depression in the bottom wall. The fastener assembly clips onto the end of the flat stab with the stab between the nut and the top wall of the spring clip. A screw passed through the apertures in the top wall and the flat stab engages the nut to secure a conductor to the stab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Kolberg, David E. Little, David A. Parks
  • Patent number: 5412167
    Abstract: A locking device is insertable into a cover opening adjacent to a handle of an electrical switch to occupy the space in the cover opening for resisting movement of the handle. The locking device has two pivotally connected members. The pivotal movement of the members creates a collapsed condition or an expanded condition for the locking device. The pivotal members have a transverse opening which are alignable relative to each other when the locking device is in its expanded condition. The locking device is inserted into the cover opening when the pivotal members are collapsed. In a first embodiment, a handle shroud member has an opening for receiving the handle and a second member has leg means along its base for engaging an undersurface around the cover opening when the locking device is in its expanded condition. In a second and a third embodiment, both pivotal members have leg means for engaging undersurfaces around the cover opening when the locking device is in its expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mueller, Glen C. Sisson, James G. Maloney, David A. Parks, Arthur D. Carothers, William E. Beatty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5304765
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being moved from the on position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being moved from the on position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou
  • Patent number: 5270564
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being placed in the off position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being placed in an off position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou
  • Patent number: 5142112
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being placed in the off position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being placed in an off position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou
  • Patent number: 4973927
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker is provided with a two piece cradle assembly having a cradle portion and a heat-treated portion. The heat-treated portion forms the latch and reset surfaces. The cradle portion is integrally formed from a pair of spaced apart cradle-shaped arms joined together by a connecting portion. The heat treated portion is securely fastened to the connecting portion to form the two piece cradle assembly. A hold down slidably carries a handle barrier with respect to the cover and closes a centrally located aperture in the cover for all handle positions. The handle barrier prevents arc products resulting from a separation of the main contacts from escaping through the centrally located aperture in the cover. Stops are provided in one or both directions to prevent misalignment of the handle barrier with respect to the operating handle. A cover interlock is also provided to prevent the cover from being removed when the circuit breaker is in an "on" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur D. Carothers, David A. Parks, Richard E. White, William G. Eberts
  • Patent number: 3994760
    Abstract: A stretching frame and vacuum former having an identical geometric shape with the vacuum former being proportionally reduced in peripheral dimensions, permits a stretched molecularly-oriented, light-polarizing, organic film having a uniform direction of polarization to be bonded to a substrate without distorting the direction of polarization. The method is practiced by supporting the molecularly-oriented, light-polarizing, organic film in contact with the edge of the vacuum former with the vacuum former being located substantially equidistant from the stretching frame and then a vacuum is applied to the chamber of the vacuum former to draw the film down onto the optical element. By utilizing a stretching frame and vacuum former having identical geometry, the uniform direction of polarization is not distorted by uneven stretching of the organic film as it is drawn down into contact with the glass element by the reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: American Optical Corporation
    Inventor: Ernest David Park