Patents by Inventor Francis J. Thornton

Francis J. Thornton 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: 5419708
    Abstract: A printed circuit card having first and second major surfaces joined by four minor surfaces and having I/O pads on either or both the major surfaces and on at least one of the minor surfaces.The printed circuit card can be formed from a stack of insulating layers, one or more of which has a pattern of conductive lines disposed thereon. Selected ones of these conductive lines terminate in respective I/O pads positioned on one of said major card surfaces. By providing separate additional I/O pads on one of the edges or minor surfaces of the card additional conductive lines can be placed on the cards and terminated.There is also disclosed a mating triplex connector socket for the improved card. This triplex connector comprises an elongated housing having a slot or recess therein for receiving the edge of the printed circuit card. Spring contacts are positioned along the walls and bottom of the recess for mating with and contacting the I/O pads positioned on the major and minor surfaces of the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Robert W. Koss, Francis J. Thornton
  • Patent number: 4486744
    Abstract: A device for indicating the flow of gases includes a vertically extending conduit section in which is disposed a ball. The ball seats on a lower seat at zero or minimum gas flow, and on an upper seat at maximum sensed gas flow. The upper seat is configured to permit essentially unrestricted gas flow when the ball is seated on it.Electrical means are associated with either the bottom seat and/or the top seat and co-acts with the ball to sense either minimum gas flow or maximum gas flow, and generate a signal responsive thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Pratt, Francis J. Thornton