Patents by Inventor Mark A. Poland

Mark A. Poland 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: 7172127
    Abstract: A plastic sleeve for enveloping a store discount card of the type displaying a machine readable code, such as a bar code, on one surface thereof and typically retained on a user's keychain, from being inadvertently scanned by a bar code reader at the checkout counter of a store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Mark A. Poland
  • Patent number: 7169032
    Abstract: A crustacean shelling tool is employed to quickly and easily crack the underside of the tail shell of a crawfish, for example, to expose the meat contained therein for removal without damage and without loss of the associated succulent juices. The key-like tool includes a handle and an elongate rod extending therefrom. A longitudinal slit extends inwardly from a distal end of the rod to define upper and lower rod forks. An optional finger ring is attached to the handle of the tool by way of a short tether to prevent dropping or misplacement of the tool during the time required to remove and/or eat the meat from one shelled crawfish and to ready the next crawfish for shelling. In use, the lower rod fork of the tool is inserted into the open end of the tail shell such that the underside of the shell is guided into the longitudinal slit a desired distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Mark A. Poland
  • Patent number: 7014551
    Abstract: A crustacean shelling tool is employed to quickly and easily crack the underside of the tail shell of a crawfish, for example, to expose the meat contained therein for removal without damage and without loss of the associated succulent juices. The key-like tool includes a handle and an elongate rod extending therefrom. A longitudinal slit extends inwardly from a distal end of the rod to define upper and lower rod forks. An optional finger ring is attached to the handle of the tool by means of a short tether to prevent dropping or misplacement of the tool during the time required to remove and/or eat the meat from one shelled crawfish and to ready the next crawfish for shelling. In use, the lower rod fork of the tool is inserted into the open end of the tail shell such that the underside of the shell is guided into the longitudinal slit a desired distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Mark A. Poland