Patents by Inventor Howard Thomas
Howard Thomas 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).
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Publication number: 20090003958Abstract: An anchor lock for use in restraining cargo on a land or air transport vehicle is supported on a track mounted on the vehicle, the track having slots formed therein. The device has a center piece forming s lock plate with a bottom portion which matingly fits into one of the slots of the track. The bottom portion of the lock plate is retained in the slot by springs positioned between the lock plate and the side plates which urge the bottom portion of the lock plate against the track. With the bottom portion of the lock plate in the slot, lateral movement of the lock plate along the track is restrained. The top portion of the lock plate has a handle which is used to draw the bottom portion away from the track to facilitate the repositioning of the lock plate along the track. The slotted track has inwardly extending flanges on its opposite sides. A side plate is attached to each of the sides of the lock plate in opposing relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Knox Howard Thomas, Leone Thomas H.
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Patent number: 7416167Abstract: A winch assembly is designed so that it can be slidably supported on the side rail of a vehicle. The winch assembly has side walls and a top plate. Slots are formed between the top plate and the side walls. A first bar runs between the side walls at substantially the same elevation as the top plate. A second bar runs between the side walls at an elevation below that of the first bar. A space is formed between the top plate and the first and second bars. The vehicle has a side rail running there around on which the winch assembly is supported. The side rail has a U-shaped bottom piece and a U-shaped top piece which run around the vehicle side walls. A cross member runs between the opposite sides of the cargo compartment The side frame has a U-shaped bottom piece with an arm extending there from, this arm being fitted into a slot in the deck of the vehicle located between the deck and the cross member.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Ancra International, LLCInventor: Howard Thomas Knox
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Publication number: 20080143057Abstract: A protective sleeve for protecting a ratchet cap or winch from damage or deterioration due to dirt of moisture is fabricated of a sturdy yet elastic material, which may be rubber. The sleeve is cylindrical in form and has circular grooves, which run parallel to each other formed on the inner surface of the sleeve. Cylindrical bars separate the grooves from each other. Mating grooves to those formed on the sleeve are formed on the ratchet cap or winch. The sleeve is installed in position on the cap or winch by forcing it into position over the cap or winch with the bars of the sleeve installed in the grooves of the cap or winch and the bars of the cap or winch installed in the grooves of the sleeve. This provides for firm retention of the sleeve in its installed position and permits relative rotation between the elements of the ratcheting member, yet the sleeve can readily be removed from its installed position without damage thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Howard Thomas Knox, Thomas H. Leone
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Publication number: 20080104811Abstract: A ratchet buckle has a mandrel around which a strap for securing cargo or the like is wound. A handle assembly is connected to the mandrel through ratchet wheels and is manually driven up and down to tighten the strap. The handle assembly is divided into an outer section, which is manually driven up and down, and an inner section, which is connected to the mandrel. The two sections are connected together so that the driving of the outer section effects driving of the inner section. A spring operates to urge detents on the inner section into the ratchet wheels. Torsion springs are connected between the inner and outer handle sections. The inner and outer sections as well as the torsion springs are supported on a bolt and interconnected by lugs on one section and slots in the other section, which are driven together by spring washers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventors: Ward C. Burrows, Howard Thomas Knox
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Publication number: 20080095069Abstract: A communication system comprises functionality for measuring call quality in connection with a user termination of a call. Specifically, a call quality estimator (119) comprises a termination processor (201) which determines a user call termination for a call. In response to the detection, a quality estimator (203) determines a termination call quality measure for a call quality at the user call termination. For example, an error rate in a time interval of duration between 10 seconds and 60 seconds before the detection of the call termination may be determined. A transmit controller (205) then transmits the termination call quality measure to a call quality processor (117). The call quality processor (117) may statistically process the termination call quality measures from a plurality of calls to evaluate performance of the cellular communication system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Howard Thomas, Trevor Hanna
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Publication number: 20070210966Abstract: Antennas using nonwoven geotextiles with embedded metallic or other wave carrying fibers are described herein. The geotextiles antennas are designed to be an internal, integral part of the nation's infrastructure. Geotextile antennas are flexible and easily conform to natural and manmade surfaces such as exterior building surfaces, for example, roads, roofs and bridges. Geotextile antennas are considerably less vulnerable to damage and probably much less expensive than the current, highly vulnerable and costly cell towers. In particular, geotextiles used in roads are especially well protected by the asphalt pavement above. The fabric-based conformal antenna enhances the usefulness and reliability of the communication infrastructure which is exceedingly vulnerable to vandalism, terrorism and natural disasters.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Howard Thomas, Andrew Sivulka, Lloyd Riggs, David Elton
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Patent number: 7213842Abstract: An agricultural tractor or other work vehicle having an operator's station is described. A steering column assembly is mounted in the operator's station and has a steering shaft disposed in a steering shaft barrel. The steering column assembly is adapted to both tilt and telescope. A left hand forward-neutral-reverse lever is mounted in a housing. A key is mounted on the steering shaft barrel and a first housing half is journaled on the steering shaft by way of a bushing. The first housing half has a plurality of lever support bolsters and a plurality of fastener bosses. A second housing half is disposed on the steering shaft barrel and has a plurality of lever support bolsters, a keyway and a plurality of fastener bosses. One of the first or second housing halves has a groove around a peripheral edge thereof, the other of the first or second housing halves has a tongue around a peripheral edge thereof. Similarly, one of the first or second housing halves has a circular lip at an end of each fastener boss.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Howard Thomas Uehle, Adam Joe Shuttleworth
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Publication number: 20070010273Abstract: A base station (105) comprises a notification processor (117) to transmit notification information of calls of a call service to remote terminals. The call service can be a GSM Voice Group Call Service (VGCS). The notification processor (117) comprises a BCCH processor (303) which notifies active calls for the call service to remote terminals in a first set of allocated radio blocks (201, 203) on a broadcast channel. A VGCS processor (307) determines that a new call is initialised, and in response the notification processor (117) replaces a notification for an existing call with a notification for the new call in at least one radio block of the first set of allocated radio blocks (201, 203).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2005Publication date: January 11, 2007Inventors: Howard Thomas, James Aldrich, Edward Crane
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Patent number: 7120437Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting carriers to be measured by a subscriber unit (301,303, 501). The subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) is served by a communication system and is operable to measure carriers in a frequency band, which typically belongs to a different communication system. The apparatus comprises a performance processor (329) for determining a measuring performance characteristic of the subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) related to the measurement performance of the subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) when measuring in the frequency band. The apparatus furthermore comprises a carrier subset selector (331) for selecting a subset of carriers in the frequency band to be measured by the subscriber unit. The subset of carriers is selected dependent on the measuring performance characteristic. The invention is applicable to dual 2nd and 3rd generation cellular communication systems such as GSM/UMTS.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Maya Benson, Howard Thomas
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Publication number: 20060210000Abstract: A wireless communication system (200) comprises one or more communication networks supporting communications for a plurality of communication units on a shared communication resource. An identification function (144) identifies interference within, or non-availability of, a portion of the shared resource; and a communication adaptation function (142), responsive to a resource-responsible agent (140) that is triggered when interference is identified, reduces a level of interference or makes a portion of the shared resource available for use. A communication unit and a method of sharing a communication resource are also provided. In this manner, a mechanism identifies and targets those resource irresponsible users for automatic adjustment of their performance attributes to minimise interference in one or more communication networks.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2004Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventor: Howard Thomas
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Patent number: 7076985Abstract: A wire winding machine has a winding wheel that includes a central core having an adjustable outside dimension. A central member and a plurality of outer members are connected with linkages that allow the outside dimension to be adjusted. At least one of the outer members is moveable once a desired amount of wire has been wound so that the wound wire can be removed in an axial direction relative to the winding wheel. In a disclosed example, an end member of the winding wheel cooperates with at least the one outer member to move it into a first position for receiving the wire and releasing it to be moveable a second position for removing the wound wire from the central core of the winding wheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Inventor: Howard Thomas Rex
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Patent number: 7079838Abstract: This invention relates to a communication system (200), user equipment (201,211) and method of performing a conference call. The communication system (200) employs discontinuous transmission and has a plurality of user equipment (201, 211, 213, 215) and a fixed network (205, 207, 208). It further comprises a speech metric processor (225) for determining if speech is originating at the user equipment. The system also comprises a silence descriptor frame generator (229) which generate silence descriptor frames if no speech is originating and a conference call processor (231) for determining if a call involving the user equipment is a conference call. Furthermore the communication system comprises means (229, 239) for suppressing silence descriptor information of the silence descriptor frames if the call is a conference call. The invention is applicable to cellular mobile radio communication systems such as UMTS.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Howard Thomas, Gerry Foster
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Patent number: 6955733Abstract: A new machine control method and system for registering pro-produced webs into a converting line producing disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, pants, feminine hygiene articles or a component thereof. The pre-produced web can include a multiplicity of pre-produced objects spaced on the web at a pitch interval in the web direction. The pre-produced web being manipulated in order for the pre-produced object of the web to be registered in relation to a target position constant. The present invention includes three embodiments, where the first embodiment is expressed as a generic claim. The first embodiment includes a closed-loop feedback registration system; the second and third embodiments, in addition, include an open-loop feedforward phasing system. In addition, the third embodiment uses a machine vision system to recognize any element of a complex pre-produced object (e.g., colorful graphics).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Charles Phillip Miller, Michael S. Kolodesh, Douglass Scott Henry, Michael Joseph Lamping, Jon Kevin McLaughlin, Terry Howard Thomas
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Publication number: 20050124328Abstract: This invention relates to a communication system (200), user equipment (201,211) and method of performing a conference call. The communication system (200) employs discontinuous transmission and has a plurality of user equipment (201, 211, 213, 215) and a fixed network (205, 207, 208). It further comprises a speech metric processor (225) for determining if speech is originating at the user equipment. The system also comprises a silence descriptor frame generator (229) which generate silence descriptor frames if no speech is originating and a conference call processor (231) for determining if a call involving the user equipment is a conference call. Furthermore the communication system comprises means (229, 239) for suppressing silence descriptor information of the silence descriptor frames if the call is a conference call. The invention is applicable to cellular mobile radio communication systems such as UMTS.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventors: Howard Thomas, Gerry Foster
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Publication number: 20050117576Abstract: A distributed network access system in accordance with the present invention includes at least an external processor and a programmable access device. The programmable access device has a message interface coupled to the external processor and first and second network interfaces through which packets are communicated with a network The programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table that is utilized to route packets communication between the first and second network interfaces. In response to receipt of a series of packets, the packet header filter in the programmable access device identifies messages in the series of messages upon which policy-based services are to be implemented and passes identified messages via the message interface to the external processor for processing. In response to receipt of a message, the external processor invokes service control on the message and may also invoke policy control on the message.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2004Publication date: June 2, 2005Applicant: MCI, Inc.Inventors: Dave McDysan, Howard Thomas, Lei Yao
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Publication number: 20050075074Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting carriers to be measured by a subscriber unit (301,303, 501). The subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) is served by a communication system and is operable to measure carriers in a frequency band, which typically belongs to a different communication system. The appratus comprises a performance processor (329) for determining a measuring performance characteristic of the subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) related to the measurement performance of the subscriber unit (301, 303, 501) when measuring in the frequency band. The apparatus furthermore comprises a carrier subset selector (331) for selecting a subset of carriers in the frequency band to be measured by the subscriber unit. The subset of carriers is selected dependent on the measuring performance characteristic. The invention is applicable to dual 2nd and 3rd generation cellular communication systems such as GSM/UMTS.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: Maya Benson, Howard Thomas
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Patent number: 6846545Abstract: A material to reduce the effects of trauma received from the impact of a projectile. One embodiment is a needle-punched, non-woven material including at least one type of ballistic fibers selected and oriented to provide a cushioning effect and maintain a high compressive restitution constant. A percentage of the fibers are oriented with at least their ends lying approximately perpendicular to the fabric plane and/or oriented to lie in a waveform generally along or parallel to the fabric plane. This enables the ends of the fibers lying perpendicular to the fabric plane to cushion the impact from the projectile by dissipating energy through compressional resistance, and the fibers along the fabric plane to reduce energy through dispersal along fiber lines, thereby reducing the trauma resulting from an impact.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Auburn UniversityInventor: Howard Thomas
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Publication number: 20040243389Abstract: Method of and apparatus for selecting one or more characters of an ideographic language including: data processing means operatively associated with data storage means, display means, and a plurality of selection means; the data storage means being operable for storing image data representing a plurality of images corresponding to the characters and selection data corresponding to a sequence of indicia belonging to a predetermined set of indicia for identifying each character, the selection means being operatively arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with one another and each being operable for selecting one of the indicia or one of the characters, the display means being operable for displaying symbols corresponding to the indicia and a predetemined number of the characters corresponding to the image data in a format which mimics the fixed spatial relationship of the selection means; the data processing means being operable to select a set of indicia and the characters for display on the display means, tType: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Ronald Howard Thomas, Gregory John Litster, Russell Jeffrey Taylor
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Patent number: 6823429Abstract: A shared memory parallel processing system interconnected by a multi-stage network combines new system configuration techniques with special-purpose hardware to provide remote memory accesses across the network, while controlling cache coherency efficiently across the network. The system configuration techniques include a systematic method for partitioning and controlling the memory in relation to local verses remote accesses and changeable verses unchangeable data. Most of the special-purpose hardware is implemented in the memory controller and network adapter, which implements three send FIFOs and three receive FIFOs at each node to segregate and handle efficiently invalidate functions, remote stores, and remote accesses requiring cache coherency. The segregation of these three functions into different send and receive FIFOs greatly facilitates the cache coherency function over the network. In addition, the network itself is tailored to provide the best efficiency for remote accesses.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1999Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Howard Thomas Olnowich
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Publication number: 20040211806Abstract: An Epinephrine Pen carrying case is for carrying the medicine that is used by highly allergic individuals. The case is versatile in that it provides many ways to transport the medicine safely.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Ardoth Wilkerson, Howard Thomas Wilkerson