Patents by Inventor Frank Mills

Frank Mills 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: 9505518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container and a blank for forming a container. In particular, the invention relates to a container for receiving a food product and having an improved hermetic seal to allow modified atmosphere packaging techniques to be used to extend the life of the container contents. The improved seal is achieved by avoiding or sealing gaps which can be present around the closure of the container. The container may comprise a container body with a plurality of walls formed by body panels of a folded blank such that each corner of the container opening is formed at the end of a fold line between two adjacent body panels of the blank. The invention also relates to a method for forming such a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: COLPAC LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Mills, Samantha Moore
  • Patent number: 8935928
    Abstract: An integrated power and refrigeration system is disclosed that includes a first subsystem configured to provide cooling air using a reverse-Brayton cycle using compressed air and a second subsystem configured to provide power by accepting a first portion of the compressed air from the first subsystem, heating the accepted first portion of the compressed air to form hot compressed air, and using the hot compressed air to drive a turbine that is coupled to a power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Mills
  • Publication number: 20140027501
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container and a blank for forming a container. In particular, the invention relates to a container for receiving a food product and having an improved hermetic seal to allow modified atmosphere packaging techniques to be used to extend the life of the container contents. The improved seal is achieved by avoiding or sealing gaps which can be present around the closure of the container. The container may comprise a container body with a plurality of walls formed by body panels of a folded blank such that each corner of the container opening is formed at the end of a fold line between two adjacent body panels of the blank. The invention also relates to a method for forming such a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: COLPAC LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Mills, Samantha Moore
  • Publication number: 20130166045
    Abstract: A command interface of a machine including a plurality of different control elements each of which generates a different control command when actuated by a user, wherein the plurality of control elements are arranged for actuation by a user and are categorized into different groups including: a first group of control elements including control elements that are most similar, according to a first similarity criterion, to a target control element specified by the user in a prior request; and a second group of control elements including a first additional control element that is dissimilar, according to the first similarity criterion, to the target control element specified by the user in the prior request, and that, when actuated by a user, specifies in a new request the first additional control element as a target control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: The University Court of the University of Edinburgh
    Inventors: Andrew Sherlock, Frank Mill
  • Publication number: 20130105110
    Abstract: An integrated power and refrigeration system is disclosed. The integrated system includes a solution comprising an absorber fluid and a working fluid that can be selectively dissolved into the absorber fluid. The integrated system also includes a first subsystem configured to extract heat from an external cooling load by pumping the solution through a vapor absorption cycle and a second subsystem configured to provide power by accepting a first portion of the solution from the first subsystem, extracting at least a portion of the working fluid from the accepted solution, heating the extracted working fluid, using the heated extracted working fluid to drive a turbine that is coupled to a power generator, and then returning the extracted working fluid and the remaining accepted solution to the first subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Mills
  • Publication number: 20130086927
    Abstract: An integrated power and refrigeration system is disclosed that includes a first subsystem configured to provide cooling air using a reverse-Brayton cycle using compressed air and a second subsystem configured to provide power by accepting a first portion of the compressed air from the first subsystem, heating the accepted first portion of the compressed air to form hot compressed air, and using the hot compressed air to drive a turbine that is coupled to a power generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank MILLS
  • Patent number: 8050420
    Abstract: An integrated seat speaker includes a cushion, a seat frame defining a first internal air volume, and a speaker enclosure defining a second internal air volume. The second internal air volume is acoustically coupled to the first internal air volume through an air passageway, thus producing a continuous acoustical air volume. An acoustic sealing member is disposed between the enclosure and the frame. The frame includes a closure feature at one end for isolating a portion of the first internal air volume. The cushion includes an outer surface, and the speaker enclosure is enclosed within the seat cushion and at least partially concealed by the outer surface. A method optimizes the acoustical performance of a speaker assembly by acoustically coupling an internal air volume defined by a speaker enclosure to another internal air volume defined by a seat frame to create a continuous acoustical air volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Close, Matthew R. Kirsch, Frank A. Mills, Rainer A. Glaser, James B. Milnar
  • Publication number: 20110210162
    Abstract: A container for receiving a food product is formed from a shaped blank of paper, paperboard, cardboard or a similar material. A hinge arrangement comprising at least two and preferably three parts is provided between one of the side walls and one of the end walls to allow the partially formed container to be moved easily between a flat configuration suitable for transportation or storage and an erect configuration for receiving a food product. In the erect configuration one part of the hinge arrangement is sandwiched between another part of hinge arrangement and the end wail. In the flat configuration these two parts of the hinge arrangement lie in substantially the same plane. An integral lid may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Neil Goldman, Franks Mills, Philip Wright
  • Patent number: 7950569
    Abstract: A container for receiving a food product is formed from a shaped blank of paper, paperboard, cardboard or a similar material. A hinge arrangement comprising at least two and preferably three parts is provided between one of the side walls and one of the end walls to allow the partially formed container to be moved easily between a flat configuration suitable for transportation or storage and an erect configuration for receiving a food product. In the erect configuration one part of the hinge arrangement is sandwiched between another part of hinge arrangement and the end wail. In the flat configuration these two parts of the hinge arrangement lie in substantially the same plane. An integral lid may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Colpac Limited
    Inventors: Neil Goldman, Frank Mills, Philip Wright
  • Publication number: 20100127054
    Abstract: A container for receiving a food product is formed from a shaped blank of paper, paperboard, cardboard or a similar material. A hinge arrangement comprising at least two and preferably three parts is provided between one of the side walls and one of the end walls to allow the partially formed container to be moved easily between a flat configuration suitable for transportation or storage and an erect configuration for receiving a food product. In the erect configuration one part of the hinge arrangement is sandwiched between another part of hinge arrangement and the end wail. In the flat configuration these two parts of the hinge arrangement lie in substantially the same plane. An integral lid may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Neil Goldman, Franks Mills, Philip Wright
  • Publication number: 20090196432
    Abstract: An integrated seat speaker includes a cushion, a seat frame defining a first internal air volume, and a speaker enclosure defining a second internal air volume. The second internal air volume is acoustically coupled to the first internal air volume through an air passageway, thus producing a continuous acoustical air volume. An acoustic sealing member is disposed between the enclosure and the frame. The frame includes a closure feature at one end for isolating a portion of the first internal air volume. The cushion includes an outer surface, and the speaker enclosure is enclosed within the seat cushion and at least partially concealed by the outer surface. A method optimizes the acoustical performance of a speaker assembly by acoustically coupling an internal air volume defined by a speaker enclosure to another internal air volume defined by a seat frame to create a continuous acoustical air volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Close, Matthew R. Kirsch, Frank A. Mills, Rainer A. Glaser, James B. Milnar
  • Publication number: 20040238403
    Abstract: A container for receiving a food product and folded from a blank, the container comprising a main body defining an opening for receiving the food product and a circumjacent flange (11), and the surface of the blank forming the inner surface of the container having a plastics coating such that a plastics film can be heat sealed to the flange to create a substantially airtight container for the food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Philip Wright, Frank Mills, Neil Goldman
  • Patent number: 5239791
    Abstract: A fully-adjustable coping assembly capable of conforming to a wide variety of parapets, walls, and other structures is disclosed. Embodiments of the assembly comprise two toothed, interconnected elements which not only telescope as necessary but, when connected, form an internal gutter as well. The elements may be made of PVC or other non-metal if desired to facilitate on-site cutting and fitting. Complementary cover and splice plates also are disclosed for coupling discrete sections of the coping assembly. The cover and splice plates themselves can be interconnected to seal the entire assembly and provide another internal gutter for redirecting fluid away from the protected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Southern Aluminum Finishing Company
    Inventors: R. Frank Mills, Jr., James N. McClatchey
  • Patent number: 4682782
    Abstract: An over-the-counter shopping cart having an improved panel structure for selectively defining a baby leg hole closure and baby seat back. The panel structure includes a sheet panel serving as an improved support for the baby and a support for supporting small articles in the rear portion of the basket, when desired. In the leg hole closure arrangement, the panel structure provides two panels overlying the leg holes. Selective disposition of the panel structure in either of the two desired dispositions is facilitated by the novel arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Tote-Cart Company
    Inventor: Frank Mills