Patents by Inventor H. Earle Branker

H. Earle Branker 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: 4528706
    Abstract: A mattress comprises a body portion and a head portion longitudinally spaced from the body portion. The head portion is longitudinally bifurcated to provide relatively movable, upper and lower sections. The upper section is hingedly coupled to the body portion along a hinge axis substantially coplanar with the planar top surface of the body portion. The upper portion can be rotated through an angle of approximately 180.degree. about the hinge axis from a first portion overlying the lower section to a second position overlying the body portion top surface. Additionally, the upper section may be located in any desired angle between the first and second positions. In this manner, the mattress has a wide variety of functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Inventor: H. Earle Branker
  • Patent number: 4397382
    Abstract: A coin operated meter has a housing with a coin box, coin return and clock mechanism located within the housing. The clock mechanism is wound by the successive insertion of coins within the meter. An escrow support mechanism within the housing selectively retains releaseably at least one escrow coin in the housing, directs the escrow coin to the coin box or returns the escrow coin to a parker. A programming mechanism actuates the escrow support mechanism in response to movement of the clock mechanism to selectively and automatically pass the escrow coin to the coin box. An escrow release mechanism permits return of the escrow coin when the parker returns to the meter prior to the expiration of the prepaid time. The escrow release mechanism is coupled to an escrow lock to prevent unauthorized release of the escrow coin. In this manner, the retention of the escrow coin automatically permits the meter to charge a higher parking rate fee for overtime parking without monitoring by the local authorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Inventor: H. Earle Branker