Patents by Inventor James D. Smith

James D. Smith 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: 5344141
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved putter for use in the game of golf. The improved putter of the present invention includes a putter face defining a generally planar contact surface. Attached to the rear of the putter face is an elongate putter barrel defining a barrel axis passing through the center of the barrel aligned perpendicular to the planar contact surface. A connector is provided on the barrel to allow for connection of the putter barrel to a putter shaft. Thus, the shaft may gripped by a user in order to initiate motion of the putter face and barrel. The connector and shaft are preferably provided so that the moment of inertia about an axis passing through the center of the shaft is increased, thereby resisting rotation about the axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: James D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5185692
    Abstract: A system for restricting insertion removable disk drives in a computer to identified disk drives, having female connectors in the computer and male connectors on the disk drive. Each male connector has engaging members in recessed slots between conductive surfaces. Each female connector has spring-loaded contact members which are adapted to be engaged by the engaging embers. Each contact member has a first conductive area on one side which comes in electrical contact with a conductive surface of a male connector, and a second conductive area on an opposite side which is in electrical contact with the first conductive area. Contact connectors in the female connector are in continuous electrical connection to the computer. When an identified disk drive is inserted, the contact members are pushed back a predetermined distance so as to establish electrical contact between contact connectors and the second conductive areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: James D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5145307
    Abstract: There is disclosed a cargo vehicle which includes a cargo carrying surface which is elevatable between a ground engaging or loading position and an elevated or transporting position. Also disclosed is a releasable cargo retaining mechanism for use in conjunction with the cargo carrying surface for releasably retaining the cargo on such surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Airborne Express, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Smethwick, James D. Smith, Joseph C. Martin, Thomas R. Ross
  • Patent number: 4812721
    Abstract: In a magnet wire fabrication process in which the drawing of wire is "in-line" with the enameling process, it is often a requirement that the drawing machines be supplied with electrical power from the utility grid rather than relying on an "in-house," closely regulated supply of electrical power. In such cases, during voltage dips on the grid, the drawing machine motors will slow down while the wires continue to be pulled from the drawing machine at the same speed as before. A wire accumulator is interposed between the drawing machines and the enameling oven to prevent breakage of wire by providing an accumulation of wire to be used in the event of such a voltage dip. The present invention discloses an apparatus for controlling the various channels of the accumulator so as to provide roughly equivalent amounts of wire in each channel so that the integrity of all channels during a power dip is assured. A central operator control station for effecting the desired control is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Essex Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall C. Graham, James D. Smith, Jr., Jeffrey S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4808926
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a rod mill and flexible wire drawn and annealed from a stiff coil of rod in the rod mill are disclosed. The fault signals provided by an eddy-current tester are counted on a per unit time basis in order to permit the detection of rod mill problems before serious deterioration of the mill occurs. This is accomplished by direct observation of an increasing rate of fault signal occurrence. A totalized fault signal count is also provided to aid in detecting low quality wire. This is accomplished by direct observation of uniformly high levels of fault signals. A control function is disclosed whereby the rod mill is shutdown in the presence of a high rate of increase in fault signal occurrences. A "change coil" message may be sent upon detecting uniformly high levels of faults. Fault signals are stored and identified for purposes of traceability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Essex Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall C. Graham, James D. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4740756
    Abstract: The insulation of a plurality of grounded wires may be tested subsequent to fabrication and prior to spooling by use of a corresponding plurality of modular circuit boards installed in an AC/DC continuity tester having enhanced isolation features including on board DC power supplies and clock generators. A signal processor gathers fault data from each board and provides a fault count signal for each wire which may be printed out on a printer within the tester. Isolation between channels is enhanced by using a simple and compact test head having a plurality of rollers or sheaves separated by teflon spacers, all mounted on a common rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Essex Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall C. Graham, James D. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4462416
    Abstract: A pair of substantially common elevation tank compartments are provided including lower sump portions and a first tank compartment includes an inlet pipe portion for admitting drilling cuttings in a downward direction into the first tank compartment. The inlet pipe portion includes at least one lateral cleaning fluid jet and the first tank compartment includes additional horizontal cleaning fluid jets for directing jets of cleaning fluid through the drilling cuttings as they are admitted into the first tank compartment and subsequently directing jets of cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid and drilling cuttings within the first tank compartment below the liquid level therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Trinol Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: James M. George, James D. Smith
  • Patent number: 4300684
    Abstract: A unique triangular point for use by a glazier has a star shaped central opening such that a plurality of such points can be stacked in oriented relationship to one another, and can be retained by a cotter key having skewed legs such that the key is easily inserted in opposed notches of the aligned openings in the points, and such that the key can be twisted for removal when inserting the stack of points in a conventional point driver. A plastic retainer is also disclosed and is adapted to fit into the aligned openings of the stacked points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Fletcher-Terry Company
    Inventors: James D. Smith, Roger J. Salvas, Ralph B. Shaw
  • Patent number: 4292174
    Abstract: An improved combination filter-and-cooling apparatus incorporated within a dry-cleaning operation, wherein the cleaning fluid or solvent is filtered and cooled within substantially closed flow systems, the apparatus being defined by a dual-chambered housing having a water-cooling chamber and a filter chamber, the filter chamber being adapted to receive at least one filter through which the solvent passes before returning to the clothes-cleaning device, and the water-cooling chamber being defined by an annular water jacket which is provided with a continuous flow of water therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Inventors: James D. Smith, Richard Paul
  • Patent number: 4265071
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing closures from containers that are assembled in cases which are moved seriatum into position below multiple spindles arranged with respect to the container positions in the case. Each spindle has a non-rotatable internally threaded nut with a freely rotatable externally threaded screw therethrough, and a head unit for gripping a closure on the container. Axial displacement of the multiple spindles with respect to the containers causes the head unit of each spindle to grip a container only by its closure, if it has one thereon. Axial displacement of the screw with respect to the nut rotates the screw with sufficient torque to break any bond or seal securing the closure without need of holding the container to prevent its rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: James D. Smith, James A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4152102
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preparing shaped extruded food products are disclosed. The invention comprises providing nozzle extension means on conventional extrusion apparatus which includes an extrusion head adapted for the passage of a slurry of food particles therethrough, a first member positioned with respect to one end of the extrusion head and having a cutter edge which cooperates with the extrusion head to define an extrusion nozzle for the formation of the shaped food product, and a second member having a cutter edge and mounted for relative movement with respect to the extrusion head so as to cut off successive extrusions of the shaped food product formed at the nozzle. The nozzle extension means is positioned at the nozzle and cooperates therewith to receive the shaped extruded product as it is severed and to maintain the product in a predetermined spatial orientation with respect to the extrusion head subsequent to severance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Modern Maid Food Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Sasiela, James D. Smith
  • Patent number: D357292
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: James D. Smith