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).
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Patent number: 5496310Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 1994Date of Patent: March 5, 1996Inventors: Primo D. Exconde, John S. Thomas
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Patent number: 5373657Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 19, 1993Date of Patent: December 20, 1994Assignee: Progenics CorporationInventors: Robert C. Betz, John S. Thomas
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Patent number: 5279061Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 15, 1992Date of Patent: January 18, 1994Assignee: Progenics CorporationInventors: Robert C. Betz, John S. Thomas
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Patent number: 5240133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 1991Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: James River Paper Company, Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 5164208Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 1991Date of Patent: November 17, 1992Assignee: James River II, Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 5160391Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 1991Date of Patent: November 3, 1992Assignee: James River II, Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 5034074Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 29, 1990Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Rampart Packaging Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 5032213Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 1989Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: Rampart Packaging Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 4883190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 15, 1988Date of Patent: November 28, 1989Assignee: Rampart Packaging, Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 4815590Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 27, 1987Date of Patent: March 28, 1989Assignee: Paramount Packaging CorporationInventors: Harry R. Peppiatt, John S. Thomas
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Patent number: 4742908Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 27, 1986Date of Patent: May 10, 1988Assignee: Paramount Packaging CorporationInventors: John S. Thomas, Jr., John R. Carr
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Patent number: 4619361Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 3, 1984Date of Patent: October 28, 1986Assignee: Paramount Packaging CorporationInventor: John S. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 4550439Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 20, 1983Date of Patent: October 29, 1985Assignee: Paramount Packaging CorporationInventors: Harry R. Peppiatt, John S. Thomas
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Patent number: D264889Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1980Date of Patent: June 8, 1982Assignee: Wood Products, Inc.Inventor: John S. Thomas, II