Patents by Inventor John S. Thomas

John S. Thomas 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: 5496310
    Abstract: A guide instrument for cannulating a biliary duct with a flexible catheter, and a method of using the same as part of a laparoscopic cholangiographic surgical procedure. The guide instrument is provided as having a grasping forceps component formed of an elongate shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a first and a second end. A pair of jaws are positioned at the first end of the shaft and are mutually pivotally coupled thereat for movement between an opened and a closed orientation for selectively grasping the duct. An actuator positioned at the second end of the shaft is coupled in a drive relationship with the jaws for moving the jaws between the opened and closed orientations. An elongate, generally cylindrical guide tube is slidably supported along the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and is formed as having an internal catheter channel therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventors: Primo D. Exconde, John S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5373657
    Abstract: A sight apparatus is formed of a small housing having a curved top and an internally disposed chamber which is intended to be positioned generally at the location of a normal front sight as used with firearms intended for shooting remote targets. The housing incorporates a switchable light emitter such as an LED of substantial brightness which is positioned adjacent a small collimation chamber and exit aperture pointed parallel with the gun barrel axis toward the shooter's eye station. The brightness of this emitter output is selected with respect to the brightness of the ambient suround about the target so as to achieve enhanced brightness contour via physiological lateral inhibition within the shooter's eye. There then results a sharp sighting imagewhich represents gun tip positional data to the shooter. This data is available to the shooter even though both eyes are focused at the remote field of the target, generally at infinity, and defocused at the tip of the gun barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Progenics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Betz, John S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5279061
    Abstract: A sight apparatus is formed of a small housing having a curved top and an internally disposed chamber which is intended to be positioned generally at the location of a normal front sight as used with firearms intended for shooting remote targets. The housing incorporates a switchable light emitter such as an LED of substantial brightness which is positioned adjacent a small collimation portion and exit aperture pointed parallel with the gun barrel axis toward the shooter's eye station. The brightness of this emitter output is selected with respect to the brightness of the ambient suround about the target so as to achieve enhanced brightness contour via physiological lateral inhibition within the shooter's eye. There then results a sharp sighting image which represents gun tip positional data to the shooter. This data is available to the shooter even though both eyes are focused at the remote field of the target, generally at infinity, and defocused at the tip of the gun barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Progenics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Betz, John S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5240133
    Abstract: An article is disclosed comprising a lid engaged to a container by the formation of interlocking waves of lid material and container material at the junction of the lid and container. The interlocking waves are geometrically aligned relative to the interior of the container so as to maximize the burst strength of the container, and also to minimize the force required to peel the lid from the container. An unheated clamp head is used to clamp the lid structure immediately adjacent a heated seal head, the heated seal head being used to form the interlocking wave structure around the inside rim of the container. The clamp head prevents any melted portions of the container or lid from flowing to or towards the outside rim of the container, and thereby prevents the formation of similar interlocking waves about the outside rim of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: James River Paper Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5164208
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that engages a lid to a container by the formation of interlocking waves of lid material and container material. The interlocking waves are geometrically aligned relative to the interior of the container so as to maximize the burst strength of the container, and also to minimize the force required to peel the lid from the container. An unheated clamp head of the apparatus is used to clamp the lid structure immediately adjacent a heated seal head used to form the interlocking wave structure about the inside rim of the container, so as to prevent any melted portions of the container or lid from flowing to or toward the outside rim of the container, so as to prevent the formation of similar interlocking waves about the outside rim of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: James River II, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5160391
    Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein a lid is engaged to a container by the formation of interlocking waves of lid material and container meterial about the interior rim of the container. The interlocking waves are geometrically aligned relative to the interior of the container so as to maximize the burst strength of the container, and also to minimize the force required to peel the lid from the container. An unheated clamp head is used to clamp the lid structure immediately adjacent a heated seal head used to form the interlocking wave structure about the inside rim of the container. The unheated clamp head prevents any melted portions of the containter or lid from flowing to or towards the outside rim of the container. Interlocking waves of material are thereby prevented from forming about the exterior rim of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: James River II, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5034074
    Abstract: A method for joining a lid to a container includes the formation of interlocking waves of material at the location where the lid joins the container. The interlocking waves are geometrically aligned relative to the interior of the container so as to maximize the burst strength of the container and minimize the peel strength of the lid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Rampart Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5032213
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for heat sealing two thermoplastic parts by clamping the parts together with a cooled clamp so that the edges of the parts are exposed and melting the edges together by contacting them with a hot seal head wherein a layer of a protective material is interposed between the hot seal head and the parts to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Rampart Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4883190
    Abstract: The invention is a thermoplastic lid which utilizes a bellows action to prevent paneling in the thermoplastic container to which it is attached. The lid comprises a flange for attachment to the container and a recessed center portion which has a flex area comprising a raised ridge adjacent to the outer ridge of the center portion. The stiffness of the lid and the thickness of the flex area are no greater than the maximum which will allow the center portion of the lid to flex inwardly sufficiently to provide the minimum displacement of head space necessary to prevent paneling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Rampart Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4815590
    Abstract: A plastic bag for packaging articles including fresh meats and the like has an absorbent insert attached to the interior surface of the rear panel of the bag. The insert is generally rectangular and is attached to the rear panel along the side closest to the bag opening so that the insert cannot be dislodged when the bag is filled. The insert absorbs blood and other fluids in the meats to keep the package neat and clean and minimize the danger of leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Harry R. Peppiatt, John S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4742908
    Abstract: A bag for packaging and displaying meat or poultry has a front and rear thermoplastic panel joined at a fold line at the bottom of the bag. An absorbent pad, having a non-stick layer, an absorbent layer and a securing device, is positioned at the bottom of the bag. The pad extends over both the front and rear panels and is secured to the panels. An opaque printing is provided on the panels and corresponds generally to the position of the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Thomas, Jr., John R. Carr
  • Patent number: 4619361
    Abstract: A bag for packaging and displaying meat or poultry has a front and rear thermoplastic panel joined at a fold line at the bottom of the bag. An absorbent pad, having two impervious non-stick layers sandwiching a non-woven absorbent layer, is positioned at the bottom of the bag. The pad extends over both the front and rear panels and is thermally welded to the panels. An opaque printing is provided on the panels and corresponds generally to the position of the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4550439
    Abstract: A plastic bag has a front panel joined along its side edges to a rear panel with a gusset at one end of the panels. A handle is disposed within the gusset and connected to the panels by a triangular weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Harry R. Peppiatt, John S. Thomas
  • Patent number: D264889
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Wood Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Thomas, II