Patents by Inventor Eugene A. Kester

Eugene A. Kester 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: 6076935
    Abstract: A photographic lighting dome (10) for holding and directing a light source having a housing (11) of flexible material, the housing (11) having an inner perimeter (12) surrounding a central opening (13), and an outer perimeter (14). There are a plurality of flexible support rods (20), each support rod (20) having a connecting end (24) and a releasable end (26). A central hub (18) having a plurality of support rod attachment fixtures (42) is positioned in the central opening (13) of the housing (11), where each fixture (42) is configured for receiving the connecting end (24) of one of the plurality of support rods (20). A plurality of channels (22) are formed in the housing (11), extending from the housing central opening (13) to the outer perimeter of the housing (14), each channel (22) being shaped to receive one of the plurality of support rods (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Eugene A. Kester
  • Patent number: 5205448
    Abstract: A camera and photographic equipment transport system (10) is provided, having a camera bag assembly (12) and a removable belt assembly (14) for transporting the camera bag assembly (12) about a user's waist. The camera bag assembly (12) has a main enclosure (16) with a lid flap (42) which opens away from the user for providing unobstructed access to the main enclosure (16). An attachment strap (78) is threaded through a plurality of supporting loops (38, 76) for firmly attaching the camera bag assembly (12) to the belt assembly (14), and Velcro panels (40, 74) are provided for preventing shifting therebetween. A pair of attachment terminating straps (30) further attaches the camera bag assembly (12) to the belt assembly (14). The camera bag assembly (12) is prevented from sagging by a reinforcement plate (36) within a back wall (34) of the camera bag assembly (12). A plurality of dividers (120), (122) are optionally provided for compartmentalizing the main enclosure (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Photoflex, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Kester, Hans M. Wain
  • Patent number: 4717103
    Abstract: The present invention in its preferred embodiment, is a collapsable and automatically assemblable shock corded tripod stand (10) constructed of a tetrahedral spider element (18) which acts as the interface between three support legs (12,14 and 16) and vertical member (20). The legs (12, 14, and 16) and the vertical member (20) are formed from multiple first tubes (22) and second tubes (24). The force which holds the device in place and provides the impetus for the automatic assembly is tension provided by a first shock cord (48) and a second shock cord (50). The first shock cord (48) passes from the outermost tube (24) of the first leg (12), through the spider (18), and extends to the outermost tube (24) of the second leg (14). The secon shock cord (50) passes from the outermost tube (24) of the third leg (16), through the spider (18), and extends to the uppermost tube (64) of the vertical member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Photoflex Products
    Inventors: Eugene A. Kester, Scott P. Reeves, Danny Zemanek
  • Patent number: 4712756
    Abstract: The present invention in its preferred embodiment, is a collapsable and automatically assemblable shock corded tripod stand (10) constructed of a tetrahedral spider element (18) which acts as the interface between three support legs (12,14 and 16) and a vertical member (20). The legs (12, 14, and 16) and the vertical member (20) are formed from multiple first tubes (22) and second tubes (24). The force which holds the device in place and provides the impetus for the automatic assembly is tension provided by a first shock cord (48) and a second shock cord (50). The first shock cord (48) passes from the outermost tube (24) of the first leg (12), through the spider (18), and extends to the outermost tube (24) of the second leg (14). The second shock cord (50) passes from the outermost tube (24) of the third leg (16), through the spider (18), and extends to the uppermost tube (64 ) of the vertical member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Photoflex Products
    Inventors: Eugene A. Kester, Scott P. Reeves, Danny Zemanek