Patents by Inventor John A. Ayres

John A. Ayres 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: 6068381
    Abstract: A back lighting device is formed as an assembly of a frame, light waveguide, lamp and terminal assembly and a diffuser sheet. In one embodiment, the lamp and terminal assembly is received in a pocket through a rear opening in the frame and includes terminals having leg portions that are seated on seat portions in the pocket that optimally align a lamp member of the lamp and terminal assembly with an edge of the waveguide to provide optimum light transmission into the waveguide. The diffuser sheet covers the rear of the waveguide and extends across the rear opening of the pocket to limit the escape of light from the pocket and the waveguide to the rear of the back lighting device. The diffuser and frame are preferably molded of a white glass filled material that provides good diffusion of light reflected therefrom and reflects a maximum amount of diffused light back into the waveguide for transmission through a front surface for back lighting of a liquid crystal display or other light receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 6046583
    Abstract: A miniature crossed coil gauge is provided having an oriented rare earth magnet fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft for supplying a magnetic flux directed transverse to the shaft axis. The gauge housing provided by an upper and lower bobbin surrounds the magnet and supports the rotary shaft. A first and second coil are wound about the gauge housing in a crossed coil orientation encircling the magnet. A flux ring is disposed around the first and second coils axially aligned with respect to the magnet. The magnet has sufficient strength and the flux ring is mounted in sufficiently close proximity to the first and second coils to redistribute the flux supplied by the magnet so that the magnetic flux measured at the surface of the coils is substantially increased relative to the magnetic flux density measured with the flux ring removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ayres, David L. Ehle, Michael E. Salmon, Craig A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 6001210
    Abstract: A back lighting device includes a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, a light module having a lamp member encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces, a specular reflective material applied about the waveguide lower surface, and a light extracting material applied about the waveguide upper surface. The waveguide can be mounted in a user specific frame to allow high volume usage of a common waveguide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 5947578
    Abstract: A back lighting device includes a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, a light module having a lamp member encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces, a specular reflective material applied about the waveguide lower surface, and a light extracting material applied about the waveguide upper surface. The waveguide can be mounted in a user specific frame to allow high volume usage of a common waveguide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 5810927
    Abstract: The temperature of ink applied to a substrate during printing is controlled by directing air of controlled temperature at the ink by means of an ink temperature controlling device (9). The device comprises a fan (11) and a heater (12) for heating the air propelled at the ink by the fan. The device may include a sensor (22) for monitoring the temperature of the ink in which case the sensor may be operably connected to the fan and/or heater to form a closed loop system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignees: Frank Ball Limited, John Ayres
    Inventors: John Ayres, Frank Ball
  • Patent number: 5686832
    Abstract: A miniature crossed coil gauge is provided having an oriented rare earth magnet fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft for supplying a magnetic flux directed transverse to the shaft axis. The gauge housing provided by an upper and lower bobbin surrounds the magnet and supports the rotary shaft. A first and second coil are wound about the gauge housing in a crossed coil orientation encircling the magnet. A flux ring is disposed around the first and second coils axially aligned with respect to the magnet. The magnet has sufficient strength and the flux ring is mounted in sufficiently close proximity to the first and second coils to redistribute the flux supplied by the magnet so that the magnetic flux measured at the surface of the coils is substantially increased relative to the magnetic flux density measured with the flux ring removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ayres, David L. Ehle, Michael E. Salmon, Craig A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 5678912
    Abstract: A three-piece instrument cluster assembly including a circuit board, a light sheet assembly and a retainer for retaining the circuit board and light sheet assembly. The light sheet assembly is positioned between the circuit board and retainer. The instrument cluster assembly is provided with at least one alignment element and corresponding alignment receivers for mating engagement with each corresponding alignment element for aligning the circuit board, the light sheet assembly and the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ayres, Michael E. Salmon
  • Patent number: 5575479
    Abstract: A projectile impact indicating target for sport shooting includes a frame, a projectile impact sensor mounted on the frame for sensing projectile impact, and an impact indicator releasably restrained by the projectile impact sensor for indicating projectile impact with the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 5569514
    Abstract: Sand-based biodegradable articles, such as planar frangible targets and formed three-dimensional tableware and food containers, are disclosed. The articles are made formed of a mixture of sand and a decomposable binder, the binder preferably comprising by weight 30-40% starch, 20-30% salt, 1-3% oil and water. The articles are preferably coated with a decomposable waterproof sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ayres
  • Patent number: 5442338
    Abstract: A miniature telltale module which combines a plurality of telltale functions into one unit and provides reduced cost per function. The module uses a miniature rotary actuator, a series of interconnected images and a single light source. The actuator allows a wide tolerances at the inputs while still precisely selecting the image positions. The actuator has a unique locking device (or brake) which automatically engages when power is removed. This feature allows the control circuitry to select an image with a momentary pulse and then remove the power from the actuator. Power consumption is thereby minimized since no power is required by the device except when changing the image to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ayres, David L. Ehle
  • Patent number: 5317119
    Abstract: A disposable food container formed of sand and a decomposable binder. The disposable food containers are suitable for holding, storing and exposing food to heat in both conventional and microwave ovens. The decomposable binders contain 20 to 40% by weight of a binder selected from the group consisting of starch, grain flours and mixtures thereof, 20 to 30% by weight salt, 1 to 3% by weight oil and water. The containers are covered with a coating to prevent the transmission or absorption of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Nu-Tech & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ayres
  • Patent number: 5108677
    Abstract: The method includes the steps of mixing the sand and the decomposable binder to form a dough-like consistency, forming the dough-like mixture into a sheet. Cutting the sheet into silhouette shapes and then drying the shapes to form a rigid article suitable for a variety of purposes. The preferred article is coated with a decomposable waterproof sealant. Method of forming planar frangible targets as well as formed three-dimensionsl tableware and food containers are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Inventor: John Ayres
  • Patent number: 4921250
    Abstract: A frangible article for use as a target or a projectile is disclosed which is formed of a mixture of sand and decomposable binder shaped and cured to create a rigid, durable article which will fracture upon impact. Several preferred binder compositions and the method of forming a frangible target are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: John A. Ayres
  • Patent number: 4034730
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with exhaust means and a carburetor including a fuel bowl, means are provided for delivering fuel to the fuel bowl at a pressure varying in response to the output signal of an air-fuel ratio sensor in the exhaust means to maintain a substantially constant air-fuel ratio to the engine. The fuel supply means may comprise, for example, an electric fuel pump whose input power is varied according to the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Ayres, William H. Holl