Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Thompson

Joseph M. Thompson 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: 8821897
    Abstract: The present invention provides viral adjuvants for enhancing an immune response to an immunogen. In particular embodiments, the viral adjuvant is an alphavirus adjuvant or a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viral adjuvant. Also provided are compositions comprising the viral adjuvant and an immunogen, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the viral adjuvant or compositions of the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response against an immunogen in a subject comprising administering the immunogen and a viral adjuvant of the invention to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Robert E. Johnston, Joseph M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8376435
    Abstract: A seating and console system for use in a seating row and configurable between a seating configuration and a console configuration. The system comprises a seat including a seat base and a seat back, and a console mounted to an opposite side of the seat back. The seat back rotates between a first position to provide the seating configuration and a second position to provide the console configuration that divides the seating row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian R. Dexter, Jeffrey T. Stout, Gregory N. Brncick, Alan G. Greene, Steven D. Lepley, Joseph M. Thompson, Robert C. Fitzpatrick, Michael J. Burns, David J. Spykerman, Michael R. Catlin
  • Publication number: 20110064772
    Abstract: The present invention provides viral adjuvants for enhancing an immune response to an immunogen. In particular embodiments, the viral adjuvant is an alphavirus adjuvant or a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viral adjuvant. Also provided are compositions comprising the viral adjuvant and an immunogen, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the viral adjuvant or compositions of the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response against an immunogen in a subject comprising administering the immunogen and a viral adjuvant of the invention to the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Robert E. Johnston, Joseph M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7862829
    Abstract: The present invention provides viral adjuvants for enhancing an immune response to an immunogen. In particular embodiments, the viral adjuvant is an alphavirus adjuvant or a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viral adjuvant. Also provided are compositions comprising the viral adjuvant and an immunogen, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the viral adjuvant or compositions of the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response against an immunogen in a subject comprising administering the immunogen and a viral adjuvant of the invention to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Robert E. Johnston, Joseph M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100156128
    Abstract: A seating and console system for use in a seating row and configurable between a seating configuration and a console configuration is disclosed. The system comprises a seat including a seat base and a seat back; and a console mounted to an opposite side of the seat back. The seat back rotates between a first position to provide the seating configuration and a second position to provide the console configuration that divides the seating row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Brian R. Dexter, Jeffrey T. Stout, Gregory N. Brncick, Alan G. Greene, Steven D. Lepley, Joseph M. Thompson, Robert C. Fitzpatrick, Michael J. Burns, David J. Spykerman, Michael R. Catlin
  • Publication number: 20080279891
    Abstract: The present invention provides viral adjuvants for enhancing an immune response to an immunogen. In particular embodiments, the viral adjuvant is an alphavirus adjuvant or a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viral adjuvant. Also provided are compositions comprising the viral adjuvant and an immunogen, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the viral adjuvant or compositions of the invention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response against an immunogen in a subject comprising administering the immunogen and a viral adjuvant of the invention to the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Robert E. Johnston, Joseph M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6752443
    Abstract: A load floor system (10) for a vehicle with a seat assembly, a structural member under the seat assembly, and a floor space adjacent the seat assembly. The load floor system (10) includes a retractable panel coupled to the structural member, a first link coupled to the retractable panel, and a second link coupled to the retractable panel (14). The retractable panel (14), the first link, and the second link cooperate as a portion of a four-bar mechanism to translate the retractable panel from a retracted position under the seat assembly to an extended position over the floor space thereby forming a load floor (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Thompson, Rick A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6715813
    Abstract: An arcuate spring is coupled between a fixed vehicle member and a movable vehicle member with a pivot connection between the members interposed between the ends of the spring such that, as the movable member is moved from a first position, the axis of the pivot connection is located outside of a line intersecting the ends of the spring, thereby holding the movable member in a first position. When the movable member is moved to a second position, the pivot connection lies between the spring and a line connecting the end points of the spring to provide a bias force which holds the movable member in a second position. In one embodiment, the over-center spring is integrated with a grab handle for holding the grab handle in a deployed or retracted position. In another embodiment, the spring is associated with a vehicle panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology
    Inventors: Joseph M. Thompson, Paul C. Schutter, John A. Hall
  • Publication number: 20040036304
    Abstract: An arcuate spring is coupled between a fixed vehicle member and a movable vehicle member with a pivot connection between the members interposed between the ends of the spring such that, as the movable member is moved from a first position, the axis of the pivot connection is located outside of a line intersecting the ends of the spring, thereby holding the movable member in a first position. When the movable member is moved to a second position, the pivot connection lies between the spring and a line connecting the end points of the spring to provide a bias force which holds the movable member in a second position. In one embodiment, the over-center spring is integrated with a grab handle for holding the grab handle in a deployed or retracted position. In another embodiment, the spring is associated with a vehicle panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph M. Thompson, Paul C. Schutter, John A. Hall
  • Patent number: 6050202
    Abstract: A storage divider includes a first frame which has one edge pivotally mounted to the floor of the vehicle and a second frame pivotally mounted to the first frame member remote from its connection to the vehicle floor. Together the frames move from a co-planar collapsed stored position to a raised position elevating a storage platform positioned on the second frame above the floor area of the vehicle while leaving the floor area of the vehicle open for additional storage. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second frame includes one edge with extensions which hook into sockets mounted to the sidewalls of the vehicle for holding the storage divider in an extended use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Thompson