Patents by Inventor John A. Hoffman

John A. Hoffman 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).

  • Publication number: 20090205845
    Abstract: A method for extinguishing fires includes the steps of loading an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) onto a transport aircraft and carrying the UAV to an altitude and location in proximity to a fire area. The UAV is launched from the transport aircraft and guided over the fire area using controllable fixed or deployable aerodynamic structures operably connected to the UAV. Once over the appropriate location, the UAV releases fire extinguishing or retardant material onto the fire or anticipated fire path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Fire Termination Equipment, Incorporated
    Inventor: John A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5875499
    Abstract: The toilet with a deflector shield covering the flush nozzle to deflect a portion of the flush water. The deflected water flows downward to wet the bowl in the area beneath the flush water nozzle. The undeflected water flows onto a ledge at the upper end of the bowl and flows around the bowl where it gradually falls off the ledge and wets the remaining portion of the bowl. Both a foot pedal and a hand lever are provided for flushing the toilet and a cable is used to couple the foot pedal to the hand lever. The hand lever is operably connected to the flush water valve as well as the bowl discharge opening closure member to open both for flushing of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hoffman, Kenneth J. Hall, John R. Selina, John M. Antos
  • Patent number: 5318275
    Abstract: A mechanism for multiplying rotation. The mechanism includes two armatures of differing lengths which rotate about different centers of rotation. The armatures are coupled together such that a rotation of one armature will produce a multiplied rotation in the other armature. The multiplying mechanism has particular application with a valve assembly of the type used in self-contained sanitary systems of recreational vehicles. The valve assembly includes a seal element having a sealing lip directed toward generally inward and downward of a fill opening a valve blade in the holding tank. The sealing lip terminates in a downwardly and outwardly oriented flange. The valve blade is actuatable through two movements. The first movement moves the valve blade generally vertically into and out of engagement with the seal element. The second movement moves the valve blade generally horizontally to a position out of registry with the fill opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Sargent, John A. Hoffman, John M. Antos, Kevin B. Chlebek
  • Patent number: 4769860
    Abstract: A portable toilet comprises a spout via which accumulated waste contents are dumped at a suitable sanitary disposal station. The disclosed embodiment of portable toilet comprises separably mounted seat and holding tank sections which cooperatively define a storage housing for the spout when it is not in use. For dumping the two sections are separated. The spout is rotatably mounted in an aperture in the top wall of the holding tank and is swung from its stored position and a cap at the end of the spout is unscrewed. A vent valve is also provided in the top wall of the holding tank and it is manually operated by the person dumping the holding tank so as to vent the head space during dumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Sargent, John M. Antos, John A. Hoffman, John T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 4641383
    Abstract: A portable toilet comprises a spout via which accumulated waste contents are dumped at a suitable sanitary disposal station. The disclosed embodiment of portable toilet comprises separably mounted seat and holding tank sections which cooperatively define a storage housing for the spout when it is not in use. For dumping the two sections are separated. The spout is rotatably mounted in an aperture in the top wall of the holding tank and is swung from its stored position and a cap at the end of the spout is unscrewed. A vent valve is also provided in the top wall of the holding tank and it is manually operated by the person dumping the holding tank so as to vent the head space during dumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Sargent, John M. Antos, John A. Hoffman, John T. Cameron
  • Patent number: 4359948
    Abstract: A means for interconnecting stringers is disclosed. More particularly, a knock-down pallet constructed from a plurality of interconnected stringers is disclosed. The interconnecting means and knock-down pallet is particularly useful in providing a system whose individual stringers are easily attachable by hand without requiring the assistance of any tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Paul Judy & Associates
    Inventors: Paul E. Judy, John A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4217668
    Abstract: A portable toilet of the type having two vertically stacked sections, the lower section (12) being a holding tank, and the upper section (14) including a toilet bowl (22), a water tank (26) for storage of water for flush purposes, and flush apparatus (32) for flushing the toilet bowl. Handles (78) and (80) are provided for separately carrying the lower section (12) and the upper section (14), the handles being arranged so that they form a unitary handle for carrying the toilet (10) without the need of a clasping mechanism for holding the sections together. An improved flush apparatus (32) including the flush bulb (84) is provided so that priming of the flushing system is unnecessary. A valve assembly (46) is mounted within the confines of the lower section (12) by providing a planar member (58) that is a part of the valve body (56) and can be inserted through an opening (72) in the top wall of the lower section (12) for attachment to the top wall within the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Sargent, John A. Hoffman, John M. Antos, Arthur W. Henke
  • Patent number: 4180876
    Abstract: A portable toilet that has a lower holding tank with an inlet port in the top wall, and removably supported thereon an upper unit that contains a toilet bowl with an oulet port in registry with said inlet port, a flush water storage tank and flush means for discharging flush water from the storage tank into said bowl. Improved features include apparatus in the adjacent top and bottom walls of the holding tank and upper unit for releasably clamping them together, a discharge spout for the holding tank located between the adjacent walls so that the outlet of the spout is in a cavity in the bottom wall of the upper unit above the liquid level of the holding tank, and a valve-and-nozzle assembly and associated flexible conduit from the flush pump which is constructed and arranged to press fit all of the components together and mount them in proper location with respect to the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Frank T. Sargent, John M. Antos, Arthur W. Henke, John A. Hoffman, Erin J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 4171588
    Abstract: A plastic carrying case is disclosed along with the method of manufacture and the mold tool. The carrying case is particularly suited for transporting and storing a fishing rod and reel, and is comprised of two plastic members which may be interlocked by a snap fit. A first plastic member includes an elongated tubular section to receive a rod and an enlarged, essentially tubular section to receive the reel. A second plastic member includes an enlarged, essentially tubular section having snap-fit interlocking surfaces which cooperate with complementary surfaces on the enlarged section of the first member to maintain the two plastic members in interlocked relationship when desired. The method of manufacture includes extruding a tube of thermoplastic material between the opened sections of a blow mold, closing the molds, and inflating the tube to a blown product conforming to the shape of the internal mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: E-Z Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Hoffman, Orlando Bessey
  • Patent number: D257385
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1980
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Frank T. Sargent, John M. Antos, Arthur W. Henke, John A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: D262051
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Thetford Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Sargent, John A. Hoffman, John M. Antos