Patents by Inventor James J. MacDonald

James J. MacDonald 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: 8178805
    Abstract: A shaft of a rotary switch, for example, useful as a control for an appliance, such as a washing machine, incorporates an LED at the end of the shaft and projecting light laterally from the shaft to provide an indication of the rotary position of the corresponding knob with respect to printed indicia on a console. The LED may be powered by slip rings incorporated into the rotary switch and communicating directly with line power as controlled by the limiting resistor and the shaft may include a controlled breakage feature providing LED conductors that are recessed within the shaft in the event of shaft breakage to reduce the chance of operator contact with line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Larson, Juan J. Barrena, James J. MacDonald, Jr., Mark A. Romo, Andy W. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20100181174
    Abstract: A shaft of a rotary switch, for example, useful as a control for an appliance, such as a washing machine, incorporates an LED at the end of the shaft and projecting light laterally from the shaft to provide an indication of the rotary position of the corresponding knob with respect to printed indicia on a console. The LED may be powered by slip rings incorporated into the rotary switch and communicating directly with line power as controlled by the limiting resistor and the shaft may include a controlled breakage feature providing LED conductors that are recessed within the shaft in the event of shaft breakage to reduce the chance of operator contact with line voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Eric K. Larson, Juan J. Barrena, James J. MacDonald, JR., Mark A. Romo, Andy W. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6486121
    Abstract: Fabric softener compounds having the formula: [RC(O)]nN+(R1)mX− wherein each R in a compound is a C6-C22 hydrocarbyl group, preferably having an IV from about 70 to about 140 based upon the IV of the equivalent fatty acid, n is a number from 1 to three on the weight average in any mixture of compounds, each R1 in a compound is a C1-3 alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group, the total of n and the number of R1 groups that are hydroxyethyl groups equaling 3, n+m=4 and X is a softener compatible anion, preferably methyl sulfate, the compound, or mixtures of such compounds, having (a) either a Hunter “L” transmission of at least about 85, typically from about 85 to about 95, preferably from about 90 to about 95, more preferably above about 95, if possible, (b) only non-detectable levels, at the conditions of use, of odorous compounds selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl acetate, which should be, less than about 5, preferably less than about 3, and more preferably less
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Errol Hoffman Wahl, Toan Trinh, Eugene Robert Carr, James J. MacDonald, Zaiyou Liu, Alex Haejoon Chung
  • Publication number: 20010004635
    Abstract: Fabric softener compounds having the formula: [RC(O)]nN+(R1)mX−wherein each R in a compound is a C6-C22 hydrocarbyl group, preferably having an IV from about 70 to about 140 based upon the IV of the equivalent fatty acid, n is a number from 1 to three on the weight average in any mixture of compounds, each R1 in a compound is a C1-3 alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group, the total of n and the number of R1 groups that are hydroxyethyl groups equaling 3, n+m−4 and X is a softener compatible anion, preferably methyl sulfate, the compound or mixtures of such compounds, having (a) either a Hunter “L” transmission of at least about 85, typically from about 85 to about 95, preferably from about 90 to about 95, more preferably about 95, if possible, (b) only non-detectable levels, at the conditions of use, of odorous compounds selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl acetate, which should be less than about 5, preferably less than about 3, and more preferably less than abou
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: ERROL HOFFMAN WAHL, TOAN TRINH, EUGENE ROBERT CARR, JAMES J. MACDONALD, ZAIYOU LIU, ALEX HAEJOON CHUNG