Patents by Inventor Frank O'Brien

Frank O'Brien 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).

  • Publication number: 20020061374
    Abstract: An axially extending tubular composite member having a plurality of plies and extending along a longitudinal axis has at least three plies with selectively structured fiber components in each ply and an internal impact resistant beam having a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section positioned between two of the plies. Typically an inner ply has at least one biaxial fiber component, an intermediate ply has at least an axial fiber component that typically is combined with two further fibers to form a triaxial fiber component. Another ply typically has a woven fiber component. A further ply having a biaxial component either replaces the ply of woven fiber or is disposed beneath it over the intermediate ply. A surface veil having fiber and an excess of resin material typically covers at least the innermost or outermost surface of the composite member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: FRANK O'BRIEN, PETER A. QUIGLEY, STEPHEN C. NOLET
  • Publication number: 20020003571
    Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a video display assembly. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing incorporating a reflective element. The reflective element has a rearward field of view when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in a vehicle. The mirror assembly further includes a mirror-mounting portion, which is adapted to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of the vehicle, such as a windshield portion or a header portion. The mirror casing is adjustable about the mirror-mounting portion for adjusting the rearward field of view of the reflective element. The video display assembly includes a video screen which is incorporated in a video display housing. The video display assembly also includes a display-mounting portion, which is adapted to mount the video display assembly at the interior portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Frank O'Brien, Robert L. Bingle, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 6332332
    Abstract: A roof-mounted evaporative air conditioner is disclosed. The air conditioner includes a housing defined by a base which conforms to the pitch of the roof and includes an outlet for air to flow from the housing into ductwork; a plurality of vertical side walls having water absorbent panels that define an inlet for air to flow into the housing; and a top wall. The air conditioner further includes a water distribution system for supplying water to the panel(s) and a fan assembly for drawing air into the housing via the panel(s) so that the air is cooled by evaporating water in the panel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Timothy Frank O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6004900
    Abstract: A composite article and a method of manufacture for a composite article which includes an outer layer having optically-light coloration, thereby providing an outermost surface ready for application of visually-distinct sublimation print are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Fiberspar, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank O'Brien, III
  • Patent number: 5979433
    Abstract: A heater for heating a stream of air has a burner assembly to heat the stream as it flows along a flow path and a primary heat assembly positioned in the flow path and coupled to the burner assembly for conducting gaseous combustion products. The primary heat exchange assembly has an array of U-shaped heat exchange tubes for conducting hot combustion products generated by the burner assembly to an array of second U-shaped heat exchange tubes for combustion products discharged from the first heat exchange tubes, the second tube having a smaller diameter than the first and being positioned in the space defined by the array of first U-shaped heat exchange tubes. Combustion products leaving the primary heat exchange assembly are passed through a secondary heat exchange assembly before being exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Brivis Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy Frank O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5312470
    Abstract: This disclosure depicts a feeder or bushing where the heat transfer members or fin shields have outwardly disposed surfaces with a ceramic coating bonded to those surfaces. The heat transfer surfaces also are in direct contact with and adjacent to the discharge wall of the feeder where they act as support members to support the discharge wall. This combination is especially useful in designing feeders or bushings with a greater number of orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Frank O'Brien-Bernini, Jay W. Hinze
  • Patent number: 4084967
    Abstract: A photographic element comprises a support having thereon a binder containing numerous vesicles, each vesicle comprising a matrix of lipid membranes containing rhodopsin and one of(a) metal cations or(b) materials selected from the group consisting of chelatometric materials, colorimetric reagents for said metal cations, materials which are caused to react by the presence of said metal cations to form a gas or a visible reaction product, and materials which form elemental metal through redox reactions with said metal cationsInside the vesicles and the other (a) or (b) outside the vesicles. On imagewise exposure to light, the metal cations flow through the vesicles and react with the above material in the exposed areas only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David Frank O'Brien