Patents by Inventor Keith P. Johnson

Keith P. Johnson 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: 12246262
    Abstract: Support rails are provided for pinball machine playfields that provide mechanical support as well as light-emitting elements, such as LEDs, that generate additional light for illuminating the playfield and/or decorative features affixed to the rails. At least a portion of the support rail is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material to facilitate transmission of light from lighting elements below or enclosed by the rail. The support rails can be provided with various grooves, channels, and holes to facilitate mounting of the rails to a playfield or an existing support rail, using nuts and bolts, screws, brackets, and the like. The lighted support rails provide both mechanical stability to the playfield, as well as additional illumination and optional mounting locations for decorative features and/or game mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Inventors: Eric M. Meunier, Daniel E. Molter, Keith P. Johnson, Duncan F. Brown
  • Publication number: 20220105423
    Abstract: Support rails are provided for pinball machine playfields that provide mechanical support as well as light-emitting elements, such as LEDs, that generate additional light for illuminating the playfield and/or decorative features affixed to the rails. At least a portion of the support rail is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material to facilitate transmission of light from lighting elements below or enclosed by the rail. The support rails can be provided with various grooves, channels, and holes to facilitate mounting of the rails to a playfield or an existing support rail, using nuts and bolts, screws, brackets, and the like. The lighted support rails provide both mechanical stability to the playfield, as well as additional illumination and optional mounting locations for decorative features and/or game mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Eric M. Meunier, Daniel E. Molter, Keith P. Johnson, Duncan F. Brown
  • Patent number: 9700783
    Abstract: A drop target bank assembly including: a plurality of drop target units mounted next to each other on a drop target bank bracket; wherein each of the plurality of drop target units includes: a target; a trip mechanism; a reset mechanism; and a sensor; wherein the trip mechanism is configured to move the target from a first position to a second position; wherein the reset mechanism is configured to move the target from the second position to the first position; wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether the target is at the first or second position; and wherein the trip mechanism and the reset mechanism in a drop target unit are individually activated independent of other drop target units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: JJ PINBALL LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Hurtado, Keith P. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150367228
    Abstract: A drop target bank assembly including: a plurality of drop target units mounted next to each other on a drop target bank bracket; wherein each of the plurality of drop target units includes: a target; a trip mechanism; a reset mechanism; and a sensor; wherein the trip mechanism is configured to move the target from a first position to a second position; wherein the reset mechanism is configured to move the target from the second position to the first position; wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether the target is at the first or second position; and wherein the trip mechanism and the reset mechanism in a drop target unit are individually activated independent of other drop target units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Roberto Hurtado, Keith P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5454174
    Abstract: An extensometer includes a first element and second element to be set at a predetermined distance apart, with a coupling for setting and holding the two elements at the predetermined distance apart. The coupling is movable by the action of a biasing force to an engaging disposition in which it engages with the two elements to set and hold the two elements at the predetermined distance apart, and the coupling moves under action of the biasing force to a disengaged disposition in which it no longer holds the two elements at the predetermined distance apart upon removal or sufficient relaxation of the applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Instron Limited
    Inventors: Christopher R. Lewington, Keith P. Johnson