Patents by Inventor John B. Moetteli

John B. Moetteli 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: 6121898
    Abstract: A traffic law enforcement system having two or more enforcement units and at least one central computer connected via network devices. The enforcement units are spaced apart a given distance and each has a license plate reader. The central computer receives inputs from two not necessarily adjacent enforcement units, including identifying indicia, such as license plate numbers of passing vehicles. The enforcement units and the central computer cooperate to calculate an average velocity of a vehicle which passes between two not necessarily adjacent enforcement units by using the inputs of a) minimum-travel-time-drivable distance between enforcement units which transmitted matching identifying indicia, b) posted speed limit data between enforcement units which transmitted matching license plate numbers, and c) time lapsed between the transmission of the matching identifying indicia to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 6036310
    Abstract: A pair of eyeglass frames are provided having two wrap-around temple portions, and a temple-portion adjustment mechanism. The two wrap-around temple portions pivotally attach to the frame. Each wrap-around temple portion includes a substantially straight portion and a resilient, wrap-around portion connected thereto. The curved portion has a bias to wrap around a wearer's ear. The temple-portion adjustment mechanism includes a beam which may rigidize a selected length of the corresponding wrap-around temple portion. The wearer selects the length rigidized by sliding the beam along an axis of the straight portion. Sliding the beam in a first axial direction draws a length of the wrap-around portion into engagement with the beam and counteracts the bias in the curved portion. This straightens and rigidly supports the selected length of the curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 5924329
    Abstract: A device for manipulating a workpiece in space includes a fixture, a stanchion assembly, a manipulation mechanism, an actuation mechanism, and a reaction mechanism. The fixture has an end onto which the workpiece affixes. The stanchion assembly has an upper and a lower end. The manipulation mechanism connects the fixture and the upper end of the stanchion assembly. The lower end of the stanchion assembly mounts, via probe and a socket, to a structure. The actuation mechanism operably connects to the manipulation mechanism, and moves the fixture in space. The reaction mechanism provides a point through which force inputs into the actuation mechanism may react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 5347892
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved socket retainer device for a thin-wall drive portion of a wrench having an inner and outer drive portion. A resilient spring is placed within an elongated slot which is machined in the drive portion of the wrench. The outer edge of the slot is deformed such that the resilient spring is held firmly in place at its ends, the middle portion of the resilient spring being allowed to deflect and frictionally engage sockets when the socket is attached to the drive portion of the wrench. One embodiment of the present invention defines an s-shaped resilient spring and another defines two opposed resilient springs. The design results in lower fabrication and assembly costs and improved socket retention ability without compromising the strength of the drive portion of the wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 5203813
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low entry force connector socket having a cage with a wire basket formed within it by contact wires which are fixed to the cage in notches on the end rims thereof, and which wires are rotationally offset within the cage to form the wire basket for engaging a connector pin. The wires are mounted in the cage by being hooked on notches provided in the end rims of the cage, and are moved to their rotationally offset orientations in a series of stages, following which they are fixed in position and the external portions of the socket are mounted to enclose the cage while a tool pin is positioned in the wire basket to establish the desired connecting force of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Airborn, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Fitzsimmons, Mark S. Glasmeire, John L. Grant, Jean L. Meek, William J. Merritt, John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 5172823
    Abstract: A combination dustpan and trapdoor receptacle closure having a handle and hinge means to allow pivotal mounting on the receptacle such that removal of the closure from the receptacle isn't necessary in order to deposit refuse in the receptacle and such that the hands need not come into direct contact with the possibly soiled closure surface in order to access the inside of the receptacle, said closure further characterized by a spade-like edge to aid in the movement of refuse toward the central area of the closure when said closure is removed from the receptacle and used as a dustpan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 4773327
    Abstract: An ink metering blade to control the thickness of an ink film along a fountain roll in a printing press. The blade has a plurality of metering segments which are movable relative to each other by flexing the blade. The flexible construction of the blade is promoted by having slots separating metering segments. The slots are filled by seal members which block a flow of ink through the slots. The seal members are ineffective to transmit force between metering segments of the blade to enable the positions of the metering segments to be accurately adjusted relative to each other. The seal members have a narrow seal section which is disposed in the space between the metering segments and a relatively wide mounting section which is disposed beneath a metering segment. The mounting section may be connected with a metering segment by adhesive. However, a second or backing blade or member may be used to hold the seal members in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: AM International
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 4602534
    Abstract: An improved socket wrench (300) is provided which includes a first pawl (318) sliding on a first slide surface (312) and a second pawl (320) sliding on a second slide surface (314). At least one of the slide surfaces is not perpendicular to a radial line from the axis of rotation (27") of the drive member (302) intersecting the plane of the slide surface when the slide surface is least distant from the rotational axis. This provides an increase in the number of pawl engagements per revolution over that possible with only a single pawl. A square drive to hex drive adapter (380) and a hex drive to square drive adapter (400). Finally, retainer spring (414) is used to frictionally engage sockets on a breaker bar (260).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: 4520697
    Abstract: An improved socket wrench (10) is provided which has an aperture (48) extending entirely through the drive portion of the wrench to permit the wrench to be used on spark plugs or deep set bolts or nuts without the need for an extension or long sockets. The socket wrench (10) includes a head (22) with an aperture (26) therethrough having ratchet teeth (30) thereon. A drive member (32) is mounted for rotation relative to the head and defines a slide surface (50) facing the ratchet teeth on the head. A pawl (54) is positioned between the slide surface and head with the pawl having two sets of ratchet teeth (58, 60). Each set of ratchet teeth on the pawl is engagable with the ratchet teeth on the head dependent upon the position of a resilient spring (85) moving in a curvilinear notch (67). A quick release mechanism is provided which includes a cylindrical portion (132) with depending resilient legs (134).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Inventor: John B. Moetteli
  • Patent number: D895931
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: John B. Mötteli