Patents by Inventor Laird E. Johnston

Laird E. Johnston 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).

  • Publication number: 20020104932
    Abstract: A refuse bag holder comprising a pair of relatively moveable bag-supporting members that expand to spread the open end of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and retract toward each other to release the filled bag. The bag holder a frame has a pair of tubular members of inverted U-shape in the upright position of the frame. The bight portions of the U-shaped frame members can be moved toward and away from each other, and serve as bag-top supporting members for the material surrounding the open end of a plastic refuse bag. The open end of an empty refuse bag is pulled upwardly between the bight portions, and then draped loosely over them while they are close enough together so that the plastic bag material is slack. The bight portions can then be expanded to spread the bag top and hold it open for receiving refuse. In the case of paper bags, the bag-supporting members also include removable tension members, in the form of flat, elongated blades of resilient material, that project from the bight portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Laird E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4329961
    Abstract: An engine driven fuel injection pump has a cam and pump plungers movable relative to the cam to translate the contour of the cam into a sequence of pumping strokes. A timing control mechanism, used to vary the rotative position of the cam as a function of engine operation, includes a control piston mounted in a cylinder and connected to the cam to control the position thereof whereby to advance and retard the relative timing of the pumping strokes. Movement of the control piston is controlled by hydraulic fluid supplied from a source of fluid under a pressure correlated with the operating speed of the associated engine. The control piston is slidable between a power piston biased by a resilient means in one direction and actuated in the opposite direction by hydraulic fluid from the source of fluid under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Laird E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4329962
    Abstract: An engine driven fuel injection pump of the type having a cam ring and an advance timing control mechanism to adjust the angular position of the cam ring has an eccentric cam pin effecting an operative interconnection between the cam ring and the advance piston of the timing control mechanism. An externally accessible adjusting means is used to rotate the eccentric cam pin so as to shift the position of the cam ring relative to the advance piston, as necessary, to effect correct static timing of the pump to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Laird E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4159834
    Abstract: A passive three-point lap and shoulder belt system has the outboard ends of the lap and shoulder belts mounted on the vehicle body door respectively adjacent the hip and shoulder of the occupant. A retractor mounted on the body generally adjacent the inboard hip of the occupant winds a control belt which is connected with the lap and shoulder belts at the juncture of their inboard ends to establish the lap and shoulder belts in their occupant restraining positions when the door is closed. A door mounted belt stiffener is encased within the lap belt and includes a plurality of stacked abutting elements normally hingedly movable relative one another to allow the lap belt to fall limp across the occupant lap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Miller, Laird E. Johnston, John T. Valus, Thomas M. Powell
  • Patent number: 4064652
    Abstract: A door hold-open mechanism operatively connected to an upper door hinge member and including a combination latch wheel and detent plate, a detent plunger operable with the detent plate and a latch segment operable with the latch wheel, the arrangement adapted to provide a conventional two-position opening operation upon partial actuation of a door handle, or a predetermined number more than two hold-open positions upon full actuation of the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Laird E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 3934644
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system utilizing a remotely located radiator and cooling fan permitting the vehicle engine to be enclosed by insulating material for reducing noise. The radiator in the preferred embodiment illustrated is mounted horizontally in an air passage formed partially by the passenger compartment roof. A fan is located below the radiator for drawing air therethrough when the vehicle is idling. The fan is powered by a hydraulic motor which receives pressurized coolant from the engine water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Laird E. Johnston