Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Sears

Lawrence A. Sears 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: 5789868
    Abstract: A timed photocell switching circuit is disclosed which senses a light-to-dark transition and applies power to a lamp load for a preset period of time. After the preset period has expired the timed photocell circuit turns the lamp load off for the remainder of the night until a dark-to-light transition resets the circuit after which it can be triggered for another timing cycle. Once the light-to-dark transition triggers the timing cycle the ambient light level cannot disrupt the circuit. In addition, the circuit can be reset regardless of its timing position by momentarily cycling power to the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: The Lamson & Sessions Co.
    Inventor: Lawrence Sears
  • Patent number: 5222799
    Abstract: A lighting strip for illuminating domestic stairways at the stair riser and stair tread that is both safe and relatively inexpensive. The device provides a lighting strip for supplying low level lighting in staircases or the like having, a means for providing a low level regulated voltage output from an ac voltage supply, a plurality of light means, a housing means for receiving and holding the light means, and the housing means is adapted to be installed under the juncture of a stair riser and stair tread, and connector means connects the light means to the low level voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Diamond Stairlight Industries
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Sears, Gary Van Beek
  • Patent number: 5151017
    Abstract: A control for a hydromassage pump motor and pump controls the speed thereof at one of a plurality of predetermined speeds. The control includes a high voltage motor power control which is connected to the AC lines and to the motor to affect energization thereof and a low voltage user interface. The low voltage user interface is powered by a low cost, small, limited energy power supply which limits the current to the user interface and which provides electrical isolation from the AC lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Sears, John T. Wall