Patents by Inventor Kirk Carter

Kirk Carter 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: 11897743
    Abstract: The industry-standard corkscrew has numerous flaws resulting in broken corks—even in the hands of a professional. The present invention is a radical departure from the traditional corkscrew apparatus. The opener generally consists of the handle and an internally threaded half-pipe. The half-pipe slides between the cork and the bottle, wherein the series of threads engage the cork. Rotating the handle causes the threads to bore deeper into the neck of the bottle until the handles meets the lip of the bottle, and then lift the cork out of the bottle until it disengages and falls away from the opener. It should be appreciated that the elegance of the opener resides in its simplicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Kirk Carter, Nicholas Robert Pierce
  • Publication number: 20210387839
    Abstract: The industry-standard corkscrew has numerous flaws resulting in broken corks—even in the hands of a professional. The present invention is a radical departure from the traditional corkscrew apparatus. The opener generally consists of the handle and an internally threaded half-pipe. The half-pipe slides between the cork and the bottle, wherein the series of threads engage the cork. Rotating the handle causes the threads to bore deeper into the neck of the bottle until the handles meets the lip of the bottle, and then lift the cork out of the bottle until it disengages and falls away from the opener. It should be appreciated that the elegance of the opener resides in its simplicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Kirk Carter, Nicholas Robert Pierce
  • Patent number: 11130666
    Abstract: The industry-standard corkscrew has numerous flaws resulting in broken corks—even in the hands of a professional. The present invention is a radical departure from the traditional corkscrew apparatus. The opener generally consists of the handle and an internally threaded half-pipe. The half-pipe slides between the cork and the bottle, wherein the series of threads engage the cork. Rotating the handle causes the threads to bore deeper into the neck of the bottle until the handles meets the lip of the bottle, and then lift the cork out of the bottle until it disengages and falls away from the opener. It should be appreciated that the elegance of the opener resides in its simplicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Kirk Carter, Nicholas Robert Pierce
  • Publication number: 20200290856
    Abstract: The industry-standard corkscrew has numerous flaws resulting in broken corks—even in the hands of a professional. The present invention is a radical departure from the traditional corkscrew apparatus. The opener generally consists of the handle and an internally threaded half-pipe. The half-pipe slides between the cork and the bottle, wherein the series of threads engage the cork. Rotating the handle causes the threads to bore deeper into the neck of the bottle until the handles meets the lip of the bottle, and then lift the cork out of the bottle until it disengages and falls away from the opener. It should be appreciated that the elegance of the opener resides in its simplicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Kirk Carter, Nicholas Robert Pierce
  • Patent number: 8141846
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gate valve between chambers includes a valve housing defining a flow path. A male valve portion is rotatable on a fixed axis in the housing. The male valve portion including a first male mating surface positioned at a first angle less than perpendicular to the axis. A female valve portion is fixed in the valve housing for receiving the male portion. The female valve portion including a first female mating surface positioned at a second angle matching the first angle. An o-ring seals the male valve portion to the female valve portion when the male valve portion is rotated into the female valve portion. A polished surface contacts the o-ring when the male valve portion is rotated. When the male valve portion is rotated into the female valve portion the o-ring is compressed thereby sealing the gate valve and closing the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Gehrig, Kirk Carter, Kenneth W. Harrison, Dalny Travaglio
  • Publication number: 20090302257
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gate valve between chambers includes a valve housing defining a flow path. A male valve portion is rotatable on a fixed axis in the housing. The male valve portion including a first male mating surface positioned at a first angle less than perpendicular to the axis. A female valve portion is fixed in the valve housing for receiving the male portion. The female valve portion including a first female mating surface positioned at a second angle matching the first angle. An o-ring seals the male valve portion to the female valve portion when the male valve portion is rotated into the female valve portion. A polished surface contacts the o-ring when the male valve portion is rotated. When the male valve portion is rotated into the female valve portion the o-ring is compressed thereby sealing the gate valve and closing the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: GNB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Gehrig, Kirk Carter, Kenneth W. Harrison, Dalny Travaglio
  • Patent number: 6477376
    Abstract: A method for optimizing and simplifying the process of designing cell sites for mobile communications systems using uplink parameters. The method integrates a wide variety of propagation models and other utilities to provide solutions to a the most important cell design criteria. The method renders complex calculations in a usable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Carter