Patents by Inventor Donald R. Gaines

Donald R. Gaines 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: 4782610
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for displaying a sign, including a sign frame and one or more lights disposed on the frame, with each light including one or more electrical conductors for conducting electric current thereto from an electric power source. The display assembly includes an electrical conductor associated with the frame and connectable to the electric power source, a light socket interconnectable with the frame and having a socket opening for receiving the light inserted therein, a connector interconnectable with the light socket and having at least one electrical conductor disposed for electrical contact with the electrical conductor on the light when the light is inserted into the light socket and the light socket is interconnected with the conductor. The electrical conductor on the connector is interconnectable in electrical contact with the electrical conductor on the frame in order to establish electrical communication between the light and the electric power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Marketing Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: David U. Hillstrom, Donald R. Gaines, Donald L. Gaines, John E. Chandler
  • Patent number: 4751623
    Abstract: An illumination device according to the present invention generally includes a housing, electrical plug prongs, a connector portion associated with the housing for receiving and electrically contacting a light bulb, and a heat sensitive electrical circuit for conducting electrical current from an electrical outlet or other electrical power source to a light bulb received within through the connector portion of the illumination device. Preferably, the heat sensitive electrical circuit includes a bimetallic strip or other heat sensitive mechanism that automatically interrupts the flow of electrical current through the connector portion of the night light when the temperature sensed by the bimetallic strip exceeds a predetermined temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Novo Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, William T. Piett
  • Patent number: 4549504
    Abstract: The temperature controller employs a single thermistor temperature sensor providing an analog signal indicative of engine system temperature. The analog signal is compared with a plurality of separate threshold temperatures to produce a multiplicity of separate temperature signals representing different temperature ranges across the operating temperature spectrum of the engine system. These separate temperature signals are processed through digital logic gating circuitry to provide sequentially occurring outputs on parallel output leads. The sequentially occurring outputs sequentially activate different heat dissipating mechanisms within the engine system to maintain a substantially constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Evans Products Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Donald L. Gaines
  • Patent number: 4447094
    Abstract: A sealed bearing prepacked with lubricant, and provided with a sealing shell press-fitted over the bearing outer member or housing. The sealing shell has a radially disposed end flange holding the terminal flange of a bellows seal made of elastomeric material and having another end in the form of a garter flange resiliently engaged with the peripheral surface of the inner member of the bearing. Preferably, the sealing shell is made of two half-shells, for facility of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: O & S Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William H. Trudeau, Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan
  • Patent number: 4225260
    Abstract: A joint assembly having a socket member, a stud member, and restrainer elements constructed and arranged to prevent the socket and stud members from pivoting relative to each other in one plane containing the longitudinal axis of the stud member while permitting the members to pivot in a plane at a right angle to such one plane and containing such axis and permitting the stud member to rotate on such axis with respect to the socket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Donald R. Gaines
  • Patent number: 4189249
    Abstract: A replacement torque rod assembly for field and maintenance installation which includes ball joint assemblies, each having a housing rod extending therefrom to position in butting relation after being cut to a dimension to span a predetermined distance for assembly and a telescoping sleeve overlying the abutting ends and welded to said ends to provide a rigid torque rod for field installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4076344
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a ball and socket type joint of the type using split bearing inserts interposed between a ball and a socket which includes interdigitally engaged bearing inserts installed in the assembly under the pressure of an elastic memory ring to provide the bearing load and a wear take-up, including clearance openings for lubricant dimensioned and positioned to coincide with access grooves to insure lubricant distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4057304
    Abstract: A resilient coupling assembly having a housing with a generally cylindrical bore therein, a shank with a generally cylindrical portion received in the bore, and a bushing of an elastomeric material interposed between the housing and the cylindrical portion of the shank. A plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing inserts are interposed between the housing and the cylindrical portion of the shank and each received in a bearing retainer passage extending generally radially through the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4003667
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly having a ball stud member received in a socket member. The ball of the stud member is retained in a recess of the socket member by a bearing ring urged to bear on the ball by a pair of elastic load rings. A seal received on the socket member defines a lubricant reservoir which is supplied with grease through a grease fitting carried by the socket member. A plurality of passages defined in part by various grooves in the load ring and portions of the bearing ring interconnect the lubricant reservoir, grease fitting and interface of the bearing ring with the ball of the stud member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 4003666
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly having a ball stud member received in a socket member. The ball of the stud member is retained in a recess in the socket member by a main bearing ring, a pair of wear rings, and a pair of load rings. A lubricating grease is supplied to the interface of the ball of the stud member with the bearing and wear rings by a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending generally axially across the bearing and wear rings. The grooves in the wear rings communicate with lubricant reservoirs defined by the housing member in cooperation with a cover and a flexible seal member adjacent opposed polar regions of the ball of the stud member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 3981065
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a hollow rubber bushing between two radially spaced elements of a bearing. The final space to be occupied by the bearing is considerably smaller than the "at rest" dimension of the bushing. It is necessary to provide a radial compression during movement of the inner member into the proper position. The apparatus provides for a positive support for the outer bearing member and a positive but retractable support for the bushing, the retractable support being cammed away from the center of the assembly as the carrying element for the inner bearing member is forced through the bushing while expanding the bushing radially to receive the inner bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Jon M. Smallegan, William H. Trudeau
  • Patent number: 3960457
    Abstract: A ball joint wear detector having an indicator cap carried by a cover underlying a ball of a ball stud member received in a housing member. The indicator cap has a fixed reference surface on an outer ring thereof and a movable indicator surface on a center cup in which an actuator is received which is yieldably urged into engagement with a polar portion of the ball by a membrane of resilient material interconnecting the cup and the outer ring of the indicator cap. When the ball joint is in use, the extent of the axial displacement of the ball relative to the housing due to in-service wear of the ball joint is indicated by the displacement of the indicator surface relative to the fixed surface of the indicator cap which may be visually observed from the exterior of the ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company (Michigan)
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, Bronko F. Jelenic
  • Patent number: D287408
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Inventor: Donald R. Gaines