Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. O'Connor

Kenneth M. O'Connor 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: 10786830
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, composition and method employing a dust mitigation coating that also mitigates or repels water, ice, and other liquids. Techniques to coat the surfaces of equipment and items with these dust, liquid, and ice mitigation coatings, minimizing or eliminating mission problems caused by dust, liquid, or ice accumulation, particularly in outer space or on another planetary body or moon. Further, the dust mitigation coatings should exhibit a Lotus-like effect, making the coated surfaces ultra-hydrophobic. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the functioning of terrestrial-based equipment and systems where dust, liquid, or ice accumulation is a problem, such as in hospitals and other health contexts to prevent contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Sharon A. Straka, Mark M. Hasegawa, Kenneth M. O'Connor, Victoria J. Stotzer
  • Patent number: 5255821
    Abstract: A transportable environmentally safe chemical dispense module including a rigid structure forming an environmentally secure work chamber having at least two passageways for human ingress and egress, a containment chamber formed at the bottom thereof beneath a liquid-permeable floor, a container for supply chemicals, a dispensing unit and associated piping for withdrawing chemical from the supply container, passing it through a filtration systems and into a holding container, and dispensing it to a piping interface in a wall of the enclosure. Internal electrical wiring and associated monitoring and control apparatus are likewise connected to a service interface formed in a wall of the enclosure. Other features such as air purifiers, alarm systems, emergency showers, and eye wash sprays for accommodating the safety of both worker and environment are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Systems Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Hall, Jon P. Goodbread, Kenneth M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5090871
    Abstract: A junction assembly with leak detection means comprising a pair of mating surfaces forming the junction of two fluid conduits, means forming an annular containment chamber in at least one of the surfaces circumscribing the conduit passageway, a pair of spaced apart O-ring seals respectively disposed on opposite sides of the containment chamber, a fluid sensor extending into the containment chamber for sensing the presence of unwanted fluids therein due to the failure of an O-ring seal and a control system for responding to an output signal generated by the sensor to deactivate the system in the event of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Systems Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl E. Story, Kenneth M. O'Connor