Patents by Inventor J. Spears

J. Spears 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: 11897917
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of forming and manipulating bioconjugates. Particularly, but not exclusively certain embodiments relate to methods of reversible carbon-carbon bond bioconjugation using aldol based chemical reactions at physiological conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The University of York
    Inventors: Martin A. Fascione, Richard J. Spears, Robin Brabham, Darshita Budhadev, Tessa Keenan
  • Publication number: 20200317723
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of forming and manipulating bioconjugates. Particularly, but not exclusively certain embodiments relate to methods of reversible carbon-carbon bond bioconjugation using aldol based chemical reactions at physiological conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Martin A. Fascione, Richard J. Spears, Robin Brabham, Darshita Budhadev, Tessa Keenan
  • Patent number: 10310717
    Abstract: Techniques for reporting problems within an organization include presenting choices to a worker through a menu-based interface. The choices may indicate conditions or problems and may be organized in levels such that selection of a first choice in one level determines choices presented in a subsequent level. The choices may include a type of problem and/or a severity of the problem. A report may contain information identified by the worker's selected choices, and a support person indicated as a recipient for the report may be identified based on the selections and a mapping that relates possible choices selected by a worker to support personnel. The support person may provide corrective instructions to the worker to resolve the problem. Aggregation of reports may identify of systemic problems within the organization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Steven J. Spear
  • Publication number: 20150346963
    Abstract: Techniques for reporting problems within an organization include presenting choices to a worker through a menu-based interface. The choices may indicate conditions or problems and may be organized in levels such that selection of a first choice in one level determines choices presented in a subsequent level. The choices may include a type of problem and/or a severity of the problem. A report may contain information identified by the worker's selected choices, and a support person indicated as a recipient for the report may be identified based on the selections and a mapping that relates possible choices selected by a worker to support personnel. The support person may provide corrective instructions to the worker to resolve the problem. Aggregation of reports may identify of systemic problems within the organization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Steven J. Spear
  • Patent number: 8029240
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade balancing apparatus may include a tube member defining an inner cavity, a plurality of weights, and a biasing member. The tube member may be for the insertion into a cavity of a rotor blade. Each of the weights may be adapted to be slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, and slide-ably removed from the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade in order to balance a rotor blade. The biasing member may be for biasing weights, which have been slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, towards an end of the tube member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew H. Cawthorne, Steven J. Spear, Christopher J. Cline
  • Publication number: 20110002785
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade balancing apparatus may include a tube member defining an inner cavity, a plurality of weights, and a biasing member. The tube member may be for the insertion into a cavity of a rotor blade. Each of the weights may be adapted to be slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, and slide-ably removed from the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade in order to balance a rotor blade. The biasing member may be for biasing weights, which have been slide-ably inserted into the inner cavity of the tube member within a cavity of a rotor blade, towards an end of the tube member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: MATTHEW H. CAWTHORNE, STEVEN J. SPEAR, CHRISTOPHER J. CLINE
  • Patent number: 7635069
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a beverage includes a dispenser configured to be mounted to a shaft. The shaft is surrounded on a lower portion by a base. The dispenser is arranged having a number of discharge ports mounted in a 360-degree orientation. The discharge port arrangement allows a number of operators to distribute beverage without interfering with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: David J. Spears
  • Patent number: 7448855
    Abstract: A droop stop mechanism for a helicopter rotor blade includes a pair of opposing stops disposed on opposite sides of the blade's flap hinge. An interposer is mounted at the end of an arm on a rotatable shaft for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the hinge. A torsion spring disposed concentrically about the shaft has a first end that is fixed and a second end coupled to the shaft to bias the interposer to a position disposed between the stops, thereby limiting blade droop. A weight is attached to the shaft such that, with rotation of the rotor, centrifugal forces acting on the weight cause the shaft and arm to rotate so as to overcome the bias of the spring and urge the interposer out from between the stops, thereby allowing greater blade droop. The spring and shaft are sealed in a canister for protection from the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven R. Carbaugh, Steven J. Spear
  • Publication number: 20060054554
    Abstract: A method and apparatus creates gas-enriched fluid that is used to treat wastewater. In one embodiment, the wastewater is withdrawn from a supply of wastewater to be treated, and the wastewater is delivered in an atomized manner to a vessel pressurized with gas to form gas-enriched wastewater. The gas-enriched wastewater is then delivered to the supply of wastewater to be treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: J. Spears, Richard Crilly, Ray Rydman, James Gessert, Steve Myrick
  • Patent number: 6688767
    Abstract: A self-aligning dynamic hinge sleeve for attachment to a pitch hinge in a position that places the hinge sleeve in contact with a pitch bearing. The hinge sleeve is comprised of an inner race, a middle race and an outer race, wherein the middle race is an elastomeric material, or another soft material, that bonds the inner and outer races together and allows the inner race and outer race to rotate with respect to each other. As the pitch hinge transmits forces and moment to a pitch shaft, the dynamic hinge sleeve aligns with a pitch bearing secured onto the pitch shaft. This results in a self-aligning pitch bearing rotor that significantly reduces the level of peak that loads upon a bearing and thereby permits the use of self-lubricating bearings in a rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward G. Schellhase, Frank A. Smith, Jr., Steven J. Spear
  • Publication number: 20030108258
    Abstract: A self-aligning dynamic hinge sleeve for attachment to a pitch hinge in a position that places the hinge sleeve in contact with a pitch bearing. The hinge sleeve is comprised of an inner race, a middle race and an outer race, wherein the middle race is an elastomeric material, or another soft material, that bonds the inner and outer races together and allows the inner race and outer race to rotate with respect to each other. As the pitch hinge transmits forces and moment to a pitch shaft, the dynamic hinge sleeve aligns with a pitch bearing secured onto the pitch shaft. This results in a self-aligning pitch bearing rotor that significantly reduces the level of peak that loads upon a bearing and thereby permits the use of self-lubricating bearings in a rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Edward G. Schellhase, Frank A. Smith, Steven J. Spear
  • Publication number: 20020036012
    Abstract: The present application discloses a hose reel apparatus for use in lawn and gardening care.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker
  • Patent number: 6338360
    Abstract: A hose reel carrier includes a wheeled structure having spaced apart side walls and a top wall covering a receptacle; a hose reel is rotatably mounted between the side walls and is rotated by a hand crank operated outside one of the side walls; a reciprocating hose guide carried on support rods is also driven by the crank; a fluid connection is provided through the other side wall to supply fluid to a hose carried on the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Ames True Temper Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker
  • Patent number: 6328361
    Abstract: A garden tool of the type having a shaft handle includes a tool with a handle socket provided with an array of teeth to interengage an array of teeth formed on a lug fastened on the handle shaft so that when the end of the shaft is inserted into the handle socket on the tool, the teeth of the socket will mesh with the teeth of the lug to anchor the shaft in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Spear
  • Publication number: 20010039963
    Abstract: A hose reel carrier includes a wheeled structure having spaced apart side walls and a top wall covering a receptacle; a hose reel is rotatably mounted between the side walls and is rotated by a hand crank operated outside one of the side walls; a reciprocating hose guide carried on support rods is also driven by the crank; a fluid connection is provided through the other side wall to supply fluid to a hose carried on the reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker
  • Patent number: D449143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, John R. Grishaber
  • Patent number: D449914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker
  • Patent number: RE37442
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a portable hose cart assembly capable of stacking, yet having circular hose reel end flanges. The portable hose cart assembly utilizes a supporting frame structure constructed and arranged to be nested on top of a similar supporting frame structure. The supporting frame structure is also constructed and arranged such that a similar supporting frame structure can be nested on top of the supporting frame structure. A hose reel structure for receiving and supporting a length of hose is rotatably mounted within the supporting frame structure. Circular end flanges are fixed to the ends of the hose reel structure. A handle structure movable between a stacking position and an operating position is connected to the supporting frame structure. The handle structure has a locking mechanism such that the handle structure may be secured in the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker, Rudy F. Planthaber, Eric D. Bennett
  • Patent number: D452759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, John R. Grishaber
  • Patent number: D460343
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Spear, Steven F. Brooker, Bryan Ritchie