Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Higgins

Joseph M. Higgins 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: 7030758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a folding door brace to prevent unwanted entry of an intruder. The present invention is a folding, portable door brace that may be easily installed and removed on a wide variety of door types. The door brace also has a motion sensor and an alarm to alert any occupants of the room to any attempts to open the door. A number of interchangeable foot pads are provided to allow the door brace to be used with a variety of different floor surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Blockit & Lockit Systems
    Inventors: Harvey K. Markegard, Joseph M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6439131
    Abstract: A freight vehicle adapted to be convertible from highway to railway use and vice versa including a trailer having multiple railway wheels and highway wheels pivotally connected to the underside of the trailer and with the wheels being extendible for operational use and retractable for storage and multiple indentations formed in the roof of the vehicle for receiving the retracted highway wheels of a trailer stacked thereabove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 5290379
    Abstract: A temporary sign panel is made by placing sheets of used newspaper on a flat surface to form a first layer, fixing two edges of the first layer to the surface, and covering the layer with a flour and water paste. A second layer of newspaper is placed on the first, with the sheets staggered so lines between sheets do not coincide. Two edges of the second layer are fixed to the surface, and the second layer is covered with flour and water paste. Next, a third layer of newspaper is placed over the second, staggered so no lines between sheets coincide. The paste is allowed to dry, then the panel is removed from the surface, and the entire panel is painted with an exterior grade of house paint. The resulting panel can be painted with the desired sign, and the panel is stiff enough for normal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 4765569
    Abstract: The specification discloses a passive restraint system for high speed vehicles utilizing inflatable bags placed in the backs of the seats of the vehicle. The bags are connected by headers to a manifold which communicates with the exterior of the vehicle and, when open, allows air at high speed to enter and inflate the bags. A relief valve is provided in the cabin to open moments before the bags inflate to remove any danger of pressure shock from the rapid inflation of the bags and to, in some cases, aid in the inflation thereof. In some applications, an optional compressed air and/or compressed gas supply is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Inventor: Joseph M. Higgins
  • Patent number: D427886
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Blockit & Lockit Systems
    Inventors: Harvey K. Markegard, Joseph M. Higgins
  • Patent number: D431997
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Blockit & Lockit Systems
    Inventors: Harvey K. Markegard, Joseph M. Higgins