Patents by Inventor Douglas P. Collins

Douglas P. Collins 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: 8235190
    Abstract: Beverage holders adapted to attach to the upwardly extending arms of the handle assembly of a wheeled piece of luggage are described herein. The holders are adapted to twist and pivot when holding a cup with a beverage contained therein to maintain the axis of the beverage cup in a position generally orthogonal with a flat ground surface. The mechanism permitting the pivoting typically comprises a pair of opposing suspension arms that are fabricated of an elastomeric polymer that has sufficient tensile strength to support a beverage cup filled with a beverage but also has a sufficiently low flexural modulus to permit the cup to pivot when the angle of the handle assembly relative to the ground is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: FLI, LLC
    Inventors: Karen Porte, Douglas P Collins, Kenneth W House
  • Patent number: 7854096
    Abstract: Embodiments of door protectors are described. One typical embodiment comprises front and rear corrugated cardboard panels that are draped over a door by way of one or more pieces of saddle tape that join the panels along their respective top edges. A plurality of folds, perforations and cutouts are provided on the faces of the panels to permit access to the door's hardware. Accordingly, the door can be operated in a traditional manner while providing impact and damage protection to the door. The panels include a plurality of widthwise folds that permit the door protector to be folded for transport and storage. In variations, the edge straps are provided often comprised of hook and loop material to both secure the protector in a folded configuration and to an associated door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventors: Michael B. Brisbois, Richard A. Brisbois, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P Collins
  • Patent number: 7766168
    Abstract: Containers which may be worn by a user and into which small refuse items and other materials can be inserted for temporary storage or for later disposal using one or more fingers of one hand, are described. In one embodiment, a hollow body having a closed end and an open screw cap cooperate to hold a deformable septum having a slit or perforation such that small items may easily be inserted into the body through the slit wherein they are securely enclosed until the body is detached from the cap. The contents can then be disposed of in an acceptable manner or otherwise used. In another embodiment of the invention, the screw cap and septum are replaced by a cover closed at one end and having a slit or opening having radially disposed arms in the closed end for introducing materials into the hollow body through the slit. Larger containers may be set into cup holders for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Piopodco, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Thrapp, Douglas P. Collins, Kenneth W. House
  • Patent number: 7448173
    Abstract: Embodiments of door protectors are described. One typical embodiment comprises front and rear corrugated cardboard panels that are draped over a door by way of one or more pieces of saddle tape that join the panels along their respective top edges. Note: need to mention the Edge Tape and its function, as well. A plurality of folds, perforations and cutouts are provided on the faces of the panels to permit access to the door's hardware. Accordingly, the door can be operated in a traditional manner while providing impact and damage protection to the door. In variations, the rear faces of the panels that contact the door's surfaces are lined or coated with non-abrasive material, such as EPE foam, a towel liner, or a non-abrasive coating. The panels include a plurality of widthwise folds that permit the door protector to be folded for transport and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Brisbois, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080128304
    Abstract: Embodiments of door protectors are described. One typical embodiment comprises front and rear corrugated cardboard panels that are draped over a door by way of one or more pieces of saddle tape that join the panels along their respective top edges. Note: need to mention the Edge Tape and its function, as well. A plurality of folds, perforations and cutouts are provided on the faces of the panels to permit access to the door's hardware. Accordingly, the door can be operated in a traditional manner while providing impact and damage protection to the door. In variations, the rear faces of the panels that contact the door's surfaces are lined or coated with non-abrasive material, such as EPE foam, a towel liner, or a non-abrasive coating, The panels include a plurality of widthwise folds that permit the door protector to be folded for transport and storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Brisbois, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Publication number: 20070267402
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an oven having a flexible and retractable door is described. The oven door is adapted to move from a closed position wherein it effectively closes an open side of the oven chamber and an open position wherein the door is retracted into the body of the oven, typically below the oven chamber. In variations, an electric motor is provided to selectively move the oven door between the open and closed positions. In other variations, the oven includes an oven rack that is moveable between extended and retracted positions by way of a second electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Gary V. Harned, Kim A. Williams, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Patent number: 7227101
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an oven having a flexible and retractable door is described. The oven door is adapted to move from a closed position wherein it effectively closes an open side of the oven box and an open position wherein the door is retracted into the body of the oven, typically below the oven box. In variations, an electric motor is provided to selectively move the oven door between the open and closed positions. In other variations, the oven includes an oven rack that is moveable between extended and retracted positions by way of a second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventors: Gary V. Harned, Kim A. Williams, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Patent number: 7064296
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an oven having a flexible and retractable door is described. The oven door is adapted to move from a closed position wherein it effectively closes an open side of the oven box and an open position wherein the door is retracted into the body of the oven, typically below the oven box. In variations, an electric motor is provided to selectively move the oven door between the open and closed positions. In other variations, the oven includes an oven rack that is moveable between extended and retracted positions by way of a second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Culinary Logic, LLC
    Inventors: Gary V. Harned, Kim A. Williams, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Patent number: 6964577
    Abstract: The present invention is a dual stage latch assembly with a cam follower pin mounted on a spring-tensioned arm, especially useful for vacuum test fixtures for printed circuit boards. The arm is spring-loaded on both sides, so that the arm is always biased to the upright and neutral position, regardless of which direction the arm is pivoted. A catch is provided to define the path of the cam pin and to hold the cam in certain positions. The cam pin follows a defined path around the catch, creating a first closed stage, a first release position, a second closed stage and a final release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Everett Charles Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins, Frank M. Dodge, Kevin L. Van Liere, Jason A. Hoyt