Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Brotz

Gregory R. Brotz 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: 7605189
    Abstract: A process for producing a strong, lightweight, pH-neutral phenolic foam by providing a novelac resin and a resole resin with a solid-state blowing agent activated at a specific time in a melt for the formation of a foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 7572239
    Abstract: A bath and its method of use are disclosed, such bath containing fluid and producing waves of sufficient size to provide exercise to a user, such bath having areas of movement in its bottom, the sequential movement of which causes such waves to move to cause the user to exercise his or her body by maintaining equilibrium in the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 7328813
    Abstract: A structure and kit and method of use are disclosed of a plurality of interegaging panels forming a plurality of open-topped compartments, such structure adapted for positioning within a bucket for storage of objects including bait fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Muskie Bucket Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Pfister, Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 7286993
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a speech translation system comprising a display upon which at least one word spoken by a user can be displayed. The speech translation system can include a holographic storage medium having a plurality of frames, each having data representative of at least one word in a source language. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more lasers positioned to direct a first beam of light to the display to generate a first modified beam of light leaving the display. This modified beam of light can be directed to the holographic storage medium to scan for a matching speech segment stored in the holographic storage medium. Upon detecting a match, some embodiments of the system can generate a translation of the speech segment by receiving a second modified beam of light from the holographic storage medium and carrying information representative of the translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Product Discovery, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 7018102
    Abstract: A dampening bearing support member having a plurality of bearings disposed between an object and a base with rheological medium disposed around the bearings, with the rheological medium being under the control of the user at times when it is desired to stiffen the rheological medium and limit or prevent movement of the bearings and the object in relation to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6978240
    Abstract: A speech translation system and method are disclosed utilizing a holographic storage medium having a plurality of frames therein, each frame containing one or more discrete speech wave forms thereon for comparison with a spoken word wave form to select a wave form of a second language of equivalent meaning which through a digital audio player can be made audible for speech translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6953128
    Abstract: A structure and kit and method of use are disclosed of a plurality of interegaging panels forming a plurality of open-topped compartments, such structure adapted for positioning within a bucket for storage of objects, baited fish or seedlings therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventors: Michael A. Pfister, Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6695299
    Abstract: An inexpensive disposable cutting board is disclosed having a tough plastic upper sheet on a lower base. In one embodiment the lower surface of the base has a tough plastic lower sheet thereon, making the cutting board reversible for two uses. The reversible cutting board can include a manually removable, lightly adhered cover sheet to protect the lower sheet from contamination when it is face down on a surface when the upper surface of the cutting board is being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Publication number: 20030192895
    Abstract: A structure and kit and method of use are disclosed of a plurality of interegaging panels forming a plurality of open-topped compartments, such structure adapted for positioning within a bucket for storage of objects, baited fish or seedlings therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Michael A. Pfister, Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6620178
    Abstract: A blood vessel grafting aid is disclosed for joining two blood vessels together, such grafting aid in one embodiment having a shaft with a centrally positioned plate thereon and a plurality of prongs extending from the shaft to engage into the vessels within the vessels' lumens with the ends of the vessels disposed against the centrally positioned plate which has apertures formed therein which plate, along with the prongs, aids in holding the blood vessels together. The grafting aid dissolves and is absorbed over time, leaving the blood vessels healed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Publication number: 20030130131
    Abstract: A craft that includes superconductive materials that are supported within the geomagnetic field of the earth by means of the Meissner effect. The craft is propelled by means of directing a current from a point to another therein which creates a propelling force thereon within such magnetic field as determined by the right-hand motor rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6478809
    Abstract: A suture member for joining the first and second sides of a cut in body tissue, such suture member having an elongated body member in one embodiment with a needle and thread member disposed at one end thereof and with externally activatable adhesive disposed on the suture member. The adhesive is activated by application of high-frequency radiation directed through the body tissue to retain the suture member securely in the body tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6474065
    Abstract: A multijunction thermoelectric actuator comprising a composite of a plurality of serially connected alternating electrically conducting material strips, P and N type semiconductors, for example, which actuator is operated by the passage of an electrical current across the composite and the connections or junctions of such strips. Depending upon the direction of flow of the current, a cooling effect takes place on one side of the composite or the other, and simultaneously a heating effect takes place on the other side causing the composite to bend toward the heated side. The strips can be constructed so as to overlap the adjacent strips and a programmable power supply can be used to provide different levels of electrical power at various positions along the composite yielding complex and controllable bending patterns of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6443616
    Abstract: A device for determining the melting point of a sample material utilizing an infrared sensor to measure the temperature of the sample material and photocells to detect changes in transmissivity of the sample material at its melting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6423017
    Abstract: A therapeutic stimulatory massage apparatus for receipt therein of a body portion, such apparatus containing a thixotropic fluid medium subject to selective increase in viscosity and increase in pressure at such areas of increased viscosity. Also, other therapeutic modes can be incorporated into the device of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6422551
    Abstract: A disposable cutting board is disclosed having a tough plastic upper sheet and a lower base made of papier-mâché. In use, when the upper sheet is pierced, liquid from the food being cut thereon passes through such cuts in the plastic sheet to the base, causing the papier-mâché base to disintegrate and rendering the cutting board unusable. The user is thus encouraged to dispose of the cutting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6318666
    Abstract: A craft that includes superconductive materials that are supported within the geomagnetic field of the earth by means of the Meissner effect. The craft is propelled by means of directing a current from a point to another therein which creates a propelling force thereon within such magnetic field as determined by the right-hand motor rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6270517
    Abstract: A suture assembly made of bioabsorbable material is disclosed having a central body member with a plurality of elongated lateral members extending therefrom, each lateral member having body tissue retention means such as provided from a plurality of barb members extending at an acute angle therefrom and/or an adhesive disposed thereon. The lateral members are inserted laterally into the two sides of a cut in body tissue, such lateral members each drawn into place, in one embodiment, by its attached thread member which is connected to a needle member at the end thereof. Also disclosed is a method for utilizing the suture assembly of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 6264675
    Abstract: A suture for joining the first and second sides of a cut in body tissue, such suture having an elongated body member with a needle and thread member disposed at one end thereof and retention structure which can include adhesive to retain such body member when drawn into place in the body tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Publication number: 20010004680
    Abstract: A therapeutic stimulatory massage apparatus for receipt therein of a body portion, such apparatus containing a thixotropic fluid medium subject to selective increase in viscosity and increase in pressure at such areas of increased viscosity. Also, other therapeutic modes can be incorporated into the device of this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz