Patents by Inventor Frank Brennan
Frank Brennan 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).
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Patent number: 7261199Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects such as containers to a processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, and at least one gripping member extending from each of the links. Each gripping member is movable relative to its respective link for gripping a container by the neck of the container. A guide structure is disposed on the link for mating a component of the processing station to the neck of the container for processing the container. The processing station may be a filler such as a rotary filler, a capper, or a rinser. Related individual links, conveying systems, and filler components are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7216758Abstract: A link is disclosed for a conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The link includes a body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. The body has a conveying surface and two opposed gripping members extending from the conveying surface. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm configured to be pivotable relative to the conveying surface when the gripping members move from the first position to the second position. The gripping arms are located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping members are in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. The link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position. Various other related options are disclosed, along with related conveyors.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7207434Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link has a conveying surface and at least one movable gripping member extending from the conveying surface of the link. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm having a pivot point, a gripping end spaced from the pivot point, and a cam follower extending outward from the gripping arm between the pivot point and the gripping end. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. Each link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7055677Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and related links, are disclosed. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link also has a body, a cam follower member, and at least one gripping member. A gear drive mechanism may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and the gripping member. The cam follower member is movable to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Gear-drive mechanisms of various designs may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and gripping member.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7055676Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and a related link are disclosed. The link may include a link body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, each link body having a conveying surface. At least one gripping member is movably secured to the link body and has a gripping arm extendable from the conveying surface of the link body. Each gripping member is moveable between a first opened position and a second gripping position. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link body during transport. Various options for link designs are disclosed, including slidable and/or pivotable designs.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7036658Abstract: Various conveyor designs suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction and various related link designs are disclosed. The conveyor may include a plurality of the connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, a conveying surface, and at least one gripping member moveable along at least a portion of length of the link from a first position to a second position. The gripping member when in the first position is disposed below the conveying surface of the link, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed above the conveying surface of the link for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Various designs of gripping members and related elements are disclosed, including spring loaded, cam driven, rack and pinion, and overhead designs. Various elements of the disclosed designs may be combined in various ways to form numerous link and conveyor options.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Patent number: 7021453Abstract: Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
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Publication number: 20050284731Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects such as containers to a processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, and at least one gripping member extending from each of the links. Each gripping member is movable relative to its respective link for gripping a container by the neck of the container. A guide structure is disposed on the link for mating a component of the processing station to the neck of the container for processing the container. The processing station may be a filler such as a rotary filler, a capper, or a rinser. Related individual links, conveying systems, and filler components are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2004Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103605Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and a related link are disclosed. The link may include a link body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, each link body having a conveying surface. At least one gripping member is movably secured to the link body and has a gripping arm extendable from the conveying surface of the link body. Each gripping member is moveable between a first opened position and a second gripping position. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link body during transport. Various options for link designs are disclosed, including slidable and/or pivotable designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2003Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103599Abstract: Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2003Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103606Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link has a conveying surface and at least one movable gripping member extending from the conveying surface of the link. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm having a pivot point, a gripping end spaced from the pivot point, and a cam follower extending outward from the gripping arm between the pivot point and the gripping end. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. Each link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103603Abstract: A link is disclosed for a conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The link includes a body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. The body has a conveying surface and two opposed gripping members extending from the conveying surface. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm configured to be pivotable relative to the conveying surface when the gripping members move from the first position to the second position. The gripping arms are located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping members are in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. The link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position. Various other related options are disclosed, along with related conveyors.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103604Abstract: Various conveyor designs suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction and various related link designs are disclosed. The conveyor may include a plurality of the connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, a conveying surface, and at least one gripping member moveable along at least a portion of length of the link from a first position to a second position. The gripping member when in the first position is disposed below the conveying surface of the link, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed above the conveying surface of the link for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Various designs of gripping members and related elements are disclosed, including spring loaded, cam driven, rack and pinion, and overhead designs. Various elements of the disclosed designs may be combined in various ways to form numerous link and conveyor options.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2003Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Publication number: 20050103602Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and related links, are disclosed. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link also has a body, a cam follower member, and at least one gripping member. A gear drive mechanism may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and the gripping member. The cam follower member is movable to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Gear-drive mechanisms of various designs may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and gripping member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
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Patent number: 6126627Abstract: The adjustable ankle brace of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-7 is generally composed of a first sheet and of a second sheet. Such ankle brace can be also referred to as a spat and can be worn over a shoe or an athletic shoe. Overall, the ankle brace of the present invention is formed of a piece of flat material, where the flat material is fit over the foot or shoe such as to leave three openings when in place, namely a first opening for a heel, a second opening for the toes and a third opening for the shin of the leg. A completely disengageable zipper or fastener is provided between the second opening and the third opening such that after completely opening the zipper or fastener, the second opening and the third opening form a combined opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: X Wraps Designs L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Brennan
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Patent number: D403776Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1998Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: X Wraps Designs L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Brennan
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Patent number: D412581Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: X Wraps Designs L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Brennan