Patents by Inventor Douglas DuFaux

Douglas DuFaux 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).

  • Publication number: 20210069065
    Abstract: A pill cup assembly with first and second nestable cups where the first cup includes a flange extending from the upper perimeter edge and terminating in a free edge, the flange extending in a downward direction and spaced from the cup side wall and wherein the first cup is nestable within the second cup with the flange free edge locating within said second cup interior space when placed in the nested condition. The flange free edge contacts and forms a 360° barrier with the second cup to prevent pill material from escaping from between the cups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Brian D. Bell, Douglas Dufaux
  • Patent number: 9717651
    Abstract: A pill crushing apparatus for use with first and second nestable cups comprising a first cup holder which is moved linearly toward a second cup mounting surface holding a second cup. The first cup holder rotates relative to the rotationally fixed second cup. During the crushing process, the pills first may begin to crush against the linear load being applied thereto, and thereafter grind into a fine powder due to the rotational force of the first cup against the second cup. The first cup and second cup have different sidewall angles to promote pill crushing while inhibiting migration of the crush material to prevent the crushed material from reaching the open gap between the top perimeters of the nesting cups. Each cup includes a plurality of lugs having a curved profile configured to engage respective recesses on the cup holders. Each cup is fabricated through thermoforming or vacuum forming techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: First Wave Products Group LLC
    Inventors: Brian Hohl, Brian D. Bell, Douglas Dufaux, David Rowlands
  • Publication number: 20140217221
    Abstract: A pill crushing apparatus for use with first and second nestable cups comprising a first cup holder which is moved linearly toward a second cup mounting surface holding a second cup. The first cup holder rotates relative to the rotationally fixed second cup. During the crushing process, the pills first may begin to crush against the linear load being applied thereto, and thereafter grind into a fine powder due to the rotational force of the first cup against the second cup. The first cup and second cup have different sidewall angles to promote pill crushing while inhibiting migration of the crush material to prevent the crushed material from reaching the open gap between the top perimeters of the nesting cups. Each cup includes a plurality of lugs having a curved profile configured to engage respective recesses on the cup holders. Each cup is fabricated through thermoforming or vacuum forming techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Hohl, Brian D. Bell, Douglas Dufaux, David Rowlands
  • Publication number: 20130113151
    Abstract: A pill crusher pouch is constructed of a flexible sheet material having an open top and an open bottom, wherein the open bottom is dimensionally smaller than the open top, forming a funnel-like internal pouch cavity, and a crease near the bottom of the pouch that allows a user to easily fold the pouch to form a temporary seal that prevents crushed pill product from dispensing through the open bottom until the user unfolds the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas Dufaux
  • Publication number: 20080207354
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided. The golf ball includes a hollow metal core made from a work-hardened metal alloy. The golf also includes a mantle layer enveloping the metal core. The mantle layer may be made from a mixture of long-ball resin and soft-ball resin. The golf ball further includes a cover positioned about the mantle layer to protect the mantle layer. A method of manufacturing the golf ball is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas DuFaux, Timothy Owens
  • Publication number: 20080171616
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball (1) having one or more nanostructured materials, i.e., materials with at least one dimension in the 1-100 nm range. The nanostructured materials are present within the hollow metal core (3), a surrounding polymer layer (4), or both. More particularly, the golf ball (1) may include a sphere comprising a nanostructured steel, a polymer comprising a nanoclay material, or both, which improve durability and performance. The present invention is also directed to a method for making the improved golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas DuFaux, Timothy M. Owens
  • Publication number: 20080114519
    Abstract: A remotely controlled brake actuator system for use with a wheeled vehicle includes a remote wireless transmitter, a wireless receiving and control unit to receive signals from the wireless transmitter, a vehicle-mounted braking arrangement, and an electronic controller operative to process signals the wireless receiver receives and to deliver electrical signals to the braking arrangement. The system also may be configured to implement a method to set a security code in the transmitter and the receiver in order the signals generated are specific to a particular wheeled vehicle. The system may further include a braking force/pressure adjustment selector switch for setting a force/pressure of braking pressure or force applied to a vehicle's braking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas DuFaux, Matthew Geise
  • Publication number: 20080057332
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of hollow metal spheres is provided. The method includes stamping appropriately-shaped hemispherical components and subsequently laser welding of the hemispheres. Metal spheres made by the method of the invention are substantially uniformly symmetrical in their mass distribution, and can provide superior performance in applications, such as golf ball cores and light-weight ball bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Owens, Douglas DuFaux, Gary Bockman, Scott Brockman, Kenneth Hammond
  • Publication number: 20070266472
    Abstract: A clothing garment is constructed to include adjustable sections that allow for the convenient adjustment of length of sections of the garment so that the useful fitted lifetime of the outfit may be extended. Preferably the method of adjustment includes zippers, Velcro-type materials, buttons, snaps including metallic or plastic snaps, magnets, or any other mechanism that may be used to conveniently attach and detach sections of clothing from each other. The construction may be used on a wide variety of clothing articles, but is particularly useful for children's clothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas DuFaux
  • Publication number: 20070161434
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a hard sphere core or layer that exhibits a controlled vibrational response. The vibrational response may be controlled by tailoring the stiffness or damping of the sphere with at least one element, such as a groove(s) or any other type of indentation in the hard sphere core. The groove (or grooves) serves to locally reduce the wall thickness of the hollow metal sphere core, thereby reducing the stiffness of the core by allowing larger deformations under a load without significantly reducing the total mass of the core. This results in a golf ball that is legal for play and capable of drive distances essentially equivalent to those of currently available high performance golf balls, but that also maintains a high moment of inertia, allowing less hooks and slices during play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas DuFaux, Timothy Owens, Glenn Spacht
  • Publication number: 20070132599
    Abstract: A precipitation gauge for measuring liquid and frozen precipitation is provided according to the present invention that includes a support structure having at least one light sensor, or pair of electrodes, and at least one light source disposed thereon so that the light sensor may receive light that is emitted from the light source. The light sensor or light sensors and the light source or light sources generally extend a substantial height of the support structure. The light sensor or light sensors generate an output signal in response to the amount of light received from the light source. A microprocessor receives the output signal or output signals from the light sensor or light sensors and determines whether precipitation is present between the light sensor or light sensors and the light source or light sources. Based on the output signal or output signals, the microprocessor determines and displays the level of precipitation. The microprocessor may also determine the density of frozen precipitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas DuFaux, John Higgins
  • Publication number: 20060178232
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has a hard sphere core or layer that exhibits a controlled vibrational response. The vibrational response may be controlled by tailoring the stiffness or damping of the sphere with at least one element, such as a groove(s) or any other type of indentation in the hard sphere core. The groove (or grooves) serves to locally reduce the wall thickness of the hollow metal sphere core, thereby reducing the stiffness of the core by allowing larger deformations under a load without significantly reducing the total mass of the core. This results in a golf ball that is legal for play and capable of drive distances essentially equivalent to those of currently available high performance golf balls, but that also maintains a high moment of inertia, allowing less hooks and slices during play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Owens, Douglas DuFaux, Mark Elliott, Kris Turschmid
  • Patent number: D694900
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: First Wave Products Group, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Hohl, Brian D. Bell, Douglas Dufaux, David Rowlands
  • Patent number: D694901
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: First Wave Products Group, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Hohl, Brian D. Bell, Douglas Dufaux, David Rowlands