Patents by Inventor Donald C. Brown

Donald C. Brown 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: 9011263
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight mechanical golf tee device includes a tee box, a golf ball reservoir that includes a container for a plurality of golf balls and a ball stop. The golf ball reservoir is connected to the tee box. The portable mechanical golf tee device includes a tee activation mechanism that is connected to the tee box and upon user actuation, the tee activation mechanism actuates a tee mechanism, the tee mechanism provides placement of the golf ball from the golf ball reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Jesse E. Durgin
  • Publication number: 20140004966
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight mechanical golf tee device includes a tee box, a golf ball reservoir that includes a container for a plurality of golf balls and a ball stop. The golf ball reservoir is connected to the tee box. The portable mechanical golf tee device includes a tee activation mechanism that is connected to the tee box and upon user actuation, the tee activation mechanism actuates a tee mechanism, the tee mechanism provides placement of the golf ball from the golf ball reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Jesse E. Durgin
  • Patent number: 6908331
    Abstract: An insulation stripping connector for providing an electrical connection to a wire having a pair of outer legs and a pair of inner legs, with the inner legs forming a wire slot therebetween. The outer legs and inner legs are sufficiently flexible in order to enable the wire slot to open in response to the insertion of a wire into the wire slot. Each of the outer legs is notched, thereby increasing their flexibility and enabling the wire slot to open wider in order to accommodate a large range of wire sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20040077208
    Abstract: An insulation stripping connector for providing an electrical connection to a wire having a pair of outer legs and a pair of inner legs, with the inner legs forming a wire slot therebetween. The outer legs and inner legs are sufficiently flexible in order to enable the wire slot to open in response to the insertion of a wire into the wire slot. Each of the outer legs is notched, thereby increasing their flexibility and enabling the wire slot to open wider in order to accommodate a large range of wire sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6607184
    Abstract: An articulating fence post and gating system, which resiliently articulates from an upright position, perpendicular to the ground, to a flattened position, parallel with the ground, is described. The gating system comprises at least one resiliently articulating fence post, where the posts are connected by strands of fencing material. The gating system may be disposed with a standard stationary fence or an articulating fencing system. The gating system of the present invention avoids damage from a collision between farm equipment, such as a mobile irrigation system, and the fence by having the gating portion resiliently articulate, from an upright position to the ground, in order to allow the mobile equipment to run over the gate portion without breaking fence posts or snapping strands of fencing material. Once the equipment completely rolls over the gated portion of the fence, the gated portion automatically returns to its upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20020070378
    Abstract: An articulating fence post and gating system, which resiliently articulates from an upright position, perpendicular to the ground, to a flattened position, parallel with the ground, is described. The gating system comprises at least one resiliently articulating fence post, where the posts are connected by strands of fencing material. The gating system may be disposed with a standard stationary fence or an articulating fencing system. The gating system of the present invention avoids damage from a collision between farm equipment, such as a mobile irrigation system, and the fence by having the gating portion resiliently articulate, from an upright position to the ground, in order to allow the mobile equipment to run over the gate portion without breaking fence posts or snapping strands of fencing material. Once the equipment completely rolls over the gated portion of the fence, the gated portion automatically returns to its upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6343778
    Abstract: A fencing system which can resiliently articulate from an upright position, perpendicular to the ground, to a flattened position, parallel with the ground, is described. The fence system comprises at least two fence posts, where at least one fence post is a resiliently articulating fence post, and where the posts are connected by strands of fencing material such as barbed wire. The strands of fencing material are kept taut across the fence system by a tensioning system. The articulating fence posts include a shaft that supports the strands of fencing material, and an isotropically flexible member which is attached to the bottom end of the shaft. The fence system of the present invention avoids damage from a collision between farm equipment, such as a mobile irrigation system, and the fence by having the fence resiliently articulate, from an upright position to the ground, in order to allow the mobile equipment to run over the fence without breaking fence posts or snapping strands of fencing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6190212
    Abstract: A premold body forms an assembly to receive male conductors for molding into a plug. The plug to be used with a female receptacle outlet such as for 120 volt AC current. The body firmly holds blades or blades and a ground pin. By using the premold support the assembly may be assembled automatically, saving time and money in cycle time. The assembly may then be simultaneously crimped to more than one wire. The assembly is more reliable holding the conductors against being dislodged or having wild strands, particularly when molded into an outlet plug. The assembly saves labor and material cost and provides greater reliability over the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Heyco, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Michael Y. Shulman
  • Patent number: 5888105
    Abstract: A multi-station female blade receptacle stamping has female blade receptacles. Each receptacle is three sided, having a longitudinal opening. There is a flat side and curved side. The metal is resilient so that the curved side releases from the plastic when molded into a multi-outlet receptacle. In the multi-outlet receptacle, each female blade receptacle is supported against unwanted flexure and biased against a received blade, providing full surface contact on one side of the receptacle. The sides of the female blade receptacle do not fatigue in use. The multi-station female blade receptacle is economical of metal and adapted for automated crimping. The structure of the receptacle enables one size receptacle to serve blades of various widths and thicknesses. Molding multi-station female blade receptacle stampings into a multi-outlet receptacle saves crimping of multiple parts and can be effected in prior art molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Heyco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Suzanne V. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5616041
    Abstract: A female connector has a folded pair of arms with a pair of juxtaposed slots apposed to a pair of perpendicular arms form the same spine. The arms flex to blade open width when molded into a receptacle. The arms are strong and resilient and flex free of the molding plastic. In cold temperatures there is only a small surface contact between the arms and the molded plastic allowing the arms to flex to receive blades unimpeded by the plastic. An extension cord for outdoor use with the female connector can receive 15 amp or 20 amp plug blades in temperatures at least as low as -10.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Suzanne V. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5603638
    Abstract: A housing for female receptacles in a molded female receptacle plug has a body and cover to receive female receptacle connectors. The housing is a premold for the receptacle plug. Female receptacles may be engaged in the housing and simultaneously crimped to wires in a cord set. The body and cover are interengagable. They can be snap fit or slide fitted together with female receptacle crimp ends on necks extending through the housing safe from mold plastic flashing in molding, when load bars are conventionally engaged into blade openings in the housing. The assembly of the housing and female receptacle is automatable with labor and material economies obtained in the molding and from automatable assembly and simultaneous crimpability of the engaged female receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Suzanne V. Hickey, Yook K. Chan, Henry F. Skoczylas, Michael Shulman
  • Patent number: 5586920
    Abstract: A stamped metal female blade receptacle is three sided, having a longitudinal opening. There is a flat side and curved side. The metal is resilient so that the curved side releases from the plastic when molded into a plug. In a plug, the receptacle is supported against unwanted flexure and biased against a received blade, providing full surface contact on one side of the receptacle. The sides of the receptacle do not fatigue in use. The receptacle is economical of metal and adapted for automated crimping. The structure of the receptacle enables one size receptacle to serve blades of various widths and thicknesses.The receptacles can be provided, integral on a stamping strip and alternately folded over, to be parallel to each other for machine crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 5556308
    Abstract: The present invention is a metal blade formed of folded strips (13, 14) for an assembly of electrically conductive contacts in a printed circuit board, adapted to access line current, such as in a 120 V AC outlet. The assembly may be used in various ways such as an intermediate in the making of molded plugs. The blades are adapted for fabrication in a progressive stamping operation and for automation in use from a roll or hopper. A blade of the present invention has resilient tabs (21) and spaced away sharp edge fingers (16). The tabs are formed to snap engage in a tapered slot (26) in a printed circuit board with the sharp edges (17) of the fingers (16) in electrical contact with a printed circuit and to hold its engagement even before being soldered. Each of the folded strips includes pad (12) and a section of a bubble (15) formed to prevent flashing of plastic during a molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, N. Steven Dwarica, Suzanne V. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5443400
    Abstract: A multi-station stamped metal conductor in a multi-outlet receptacle enables the simplified molding of the receptacle with less parts and wire connections. The conductor has articulated stations coinciding with the individual outlets, each station having a female receptacle with an appropriate pin or blade opening. The conductors are easily held in position for molding of the receptacle. Each conductor requires only a single crimped conductor wire serving all of the stations. The molding may be done without change to prior art molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Brown, Suzanne V. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5273298
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved compartmentalized carrier and storage device for baseball and softball team equipment for its easy transport and use. The carrier is comprised of two separate enclosures which are detachably combined, the first for storage of the team equipment and the second for lining the base lines and distances of the bases for standardized field playing conditions. The carrier is wheeled for easy transport and for forming the straight base lines of the playing field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5234355
    Abstract: A premold cap and core with its specific configuration saves labor and material in the making of heavy duty female connectors. The premold core and cap receive female receptacles that are crimped to lead cable. The premold then is cast into a female connector. The female receptacles are capped in place held in insets in the core. The cap is hollow and receives the core locking the female receptacles in place. The cap replaces the prior art fiber disk and presents polarized openings for polarized male pins with flag-like ends. The engaged male pins on a male connector are rotated so that the flag-like end are beneath the polarized openings and cannot be disengaged without rerotation of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Sosinski, Donald C. Brown, Suzanne V. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5217388
    Abstract: A progressive stamping strip for electrical parts is provided with a spaced away wire safety crimp. The stamping strip may be used to automatically crimp leads to both the electrical part and the wire safety crimp. The wire safety crimp is severed from the stamping strip separate from the electrical part. The wire safety crimp retains the wires together and retains them in the plug. The present invention provides an electrical part with a wire safety crimped on a lead, as well as a molded plug with the wires protected against exposure from the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 5176545
    Abstract: A progressive stamping strip for electrical parts is provided with a spaced away wire safety crimp. The stamping strip may be used to automatically crimp leads to both the electrical part and the wire safety crimp. The wire safety crimp is severed from the stamping strip separate from the electrical part. The wire safety crimp retains the wires together and retains them in the plug. The present invention provides an electrical part with a wire safety crimped on a lead, as well as a molded plug with the wires protected against exposure from the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Heyco Stamped Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 4354727
    Abstract: Contact portions of a metallic contact strip for an electrical cord connector having mirror-symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry include a plurality of contact portions aligned in the longitudinal direction of the contact strip. Each contact portion is defined by a pair of complementary slits through the material of the contact strip to define a central contact portion and side contact portions. The central and side contact portions are deformed in opposite directions to receive the blade of a connection plug therebetween in 3-point contact. The ends of lengthwise-adjacent slits fall on a transverse line and are displaced from each other in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: Heyman Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Donald C. Brown
  • Patent number: D507815
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: True Temper Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Hedrick, Donald C. Brown, Jr., Graeme Horwood