Patents by Inventor Gary A. Minker

Gary A. Minker 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: 7579783
    Abstract: An insertable flashlight adapter device for use in an ordinary flashlight having a lamp includes a disc-like shaped housing unit. Electronic circuitry is disposed within the housing unit for selectively operating the flashlight in at least three different modes. The electronic circuitry has a voltage comparator for determining which one of the at least three different modes the flashlight is being operated. The electronic circuitry also has logic and control means for selectively interrupting current to the flashlight lamp so as to cause the at least three different modes of operation. The logic and control means includes a first timer for monitoring a first time interval between mode changes in the voltage comparator and a second timer for monitoring a second time interval between a power-ON and power-OFF state of the flashlight lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventors: Michael P. Millard, Gary A. Minker
  • Publication number: 20080238342
    Abstract: An insertable flashlight adapter device for use in an ordinary flashlight having a lamp includes a disc-like shaped housing unit. Electronic circuitry is disposed within the housing unit for selectively operating the flashlight in at least three different modes. The electronic circuitry has a voltage comparator for determining which one of the at least three different modes the flashlight is being operated. The electronic circuitry also has logic and control means for selectively interrupting current to the flashlight lamp so as to cause the at least three different modes of operation. The logic and control means includes a first timer for monitoring a first time interval between mode changes in the voltage comparator and a second timer for monitoring a second time interval between a power-ON and power-OFF state of the flashlight lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Michael P. Millard, Gary A. Minker
  • Patent number: 7229346
    Abstract: A finger-mounted tool device includes a finger-gripping sleeve formed of a hollow body tube and an abrading member. The hollow body tube is formed of a spirally wrapped progression of a spring material to provide an expanding and gripping nature and is bi-directional in use for fitting securely and comfortably onto any size of a user's finger. The abrading member has an abrasive surface and a backing surface. The backing surface is attached to the body tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Gary A. Minker
  • Patent number: 7182076
    Abstract: A spark-based igniting system for internal combustion engines includes a cylinder, at least one piston, a combustion chamber, a spark insert, and a RF energy source. The piston is disposed within the cylinder for moving slidably between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The combustion chamber is formed in fluid communication with the piston. The spark insert is disposed in a top surface combustion face of the piston. The RF energy source is formed on the cylinder and adjacent to the combustion chamber for generating spark ignition energies to the spark insert to cause igniting of air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber when the piston reaches near the top dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: Gary A. Minker
  • Patent number: 6653541
    Abstract: A drumstick capable of varying the physical characteristics of an impact of the drumstick to a surface thereby varying the sound that the drumstick can produce when playing percussive type impact musical products is disclosed. The drumstick includes an outer, hollow rigid tube-like body member including a handle portion adapted to be held by the hand of a user. A pliable tube-like membrane structure is positioned within the outer hollow body member, the pliable structure changing its shape during use of the drumstick. A liquid medium is located within the pliable structure, the pliable structure being shaped to restrict the liquid to the handle portion of the drumstick, and as a rotational force/motion is applied by a user to the drumstick, the liquid is forced outwardly toward a striking area of the drumstick thereby resulting in a change of balance of the drumstick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Gary A. Minker
  • Patent number: 6377184
    Abstract: A cost-effective transmission line safety monitoring system which detects and tracks acoustic and chemical anomalies along a transmission line to determine if a destructive event is present. One or more sensors, each enclosed in a weather-resistant container, are attached to an antenna and installed as part of the antenna transmitting system on a tower, building top or hill. The acoustic signatures and gas purity deviations are detected and transmitted to a remote master processing center where, via the use of packaged software, the signals are continuously compared to an existing library of acceptable and non-acceptable signatures for pattern matches. An operator, using a PC in a simple WINDOWS® format, may assign newly acquired signatures to the library for future operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Gary A. Minker