Patents by Inventor Michael A. Hicks
Michael A. Hicks 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: 20110155197Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for an assembly use with a wall where the assembly is selectively adjusted between a stored position, an awning position, and a screen room position. The assembly includes a bag configured to be removably attached to the wall, a canopy configured to be deployed from the bag, at least one base assembly attached to one of the bag or the wall, a plurality of poles removably attached to the at least one base assembly for supporting the canopy, and at least one sidewall removably engaging an edge of the canopy where the at least one sidewall is deployed in the screen room position. The bag is configured to receive at least one of the canopy, the plurality of poles, and the at least one sidewall, when the assembly is in the stored position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2009Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: DOMETIC LLCInventors: Michael Hicks, Angelica Beaty
-
Publication number: 20110089184Abstract: The invention herein is a method or system of displaying encased media on a wall. Many types of collectible media can be graded by a third party for condition and encased to preserve the item. Given multiple companies who grade either comic books, or sports cards, or even coins, they have similar yet slightly different sized cases for the media. My invention allows a display to be created which will fit multiple different sizes of a particular media in one display, one at a time. The invention involves a system of fixtures attached to a frame which deliver frictional force to opposing side edges of the encased media to secure the media for display in a vertical orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventor: James Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20100198380Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal are described. An example apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal includes an input to receive the digital audio signal, which includes data from a broadcast or a stored digital program signal. The example apparatus also includes a detector to receive the digital audio signal from the input and determine whether the received digital audio signal is uncompressed as received at the input; a decoder to receive the digital audio signal from the detector when the digital audio signal is compressed as received at the input and identify any first program-identifying code in an auxiliary field of the compressed digital audio signal; and a code reader to receive the digital audio signal from the detector when the digital audio signal is uncompressed as received at the input and receive the digital audio signal from a decompressor when the digital audio signal is compressed as received at the input.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: John C. Peiffer, Michael A. Hicks, David H. Wright, Paul M. Mears, Venugopal Srinivasan, Daozheng Lu, Paul C. Kempter
-
Patent number: 7742737Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying broadcast digital audio signals include structure and/or function whereby the digital audio signal is provided to processing structure which is configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal. Preferably, such processing structure is disposed in a dwelling or a monitoring site in an audience measurement system, such as the Nielsen TV ratings system.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC.Inventors: John C. Peiffer, Michael A. Hicks, David H. Wright, Paul M. Mears, Venugopal Srinivasan, Daozheng Lu, Paul C. Kempter
-
Publication number: 20090325828Abstract: A device configured for converting energy includes a first surface, a second surface configured for moving with respect to the first surface during operation of the device, and a coating disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The coating includes a first layer of a ceramic alloy represented by the general formula AlMgB14—X, wherein X is present in an amount of from 0 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ceramic alloy and is a doping agent selected from the group of Group IV elements and borides and nitrides thereof, and a second layer disposed on the first layer and including carbon in a gradient concentration. The coating has a hardness of from 10 to 20 GPa and a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.12.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Eaton CorporationInventors: Lyudmila Mikhaylovna Solovyeva, Kyle S. Jansson, Alaa AbdelAzim Elmoursi, Dong Zhu, Robert Milner, Earl Eugene Daugherty, Clifton Baxter Higdon, Kamel Abdel-Khalik Elagamy, Aaron Michael Hicks
-
Patent number: 7556079Abstract: An awning assembly includes an awning and support arms and rafters that are adapted to support the awning from a backing structure both when the awning is in an extended position and when it is in a retracted position. The support arms and rafters are mounted to the backing structure in a manner that allows for the positions of the support arms and rafters to be readily converted as the awning is extended and retracted. Additionally, the manner in which each rafter is joined to a respective support arm allows for the convenient rearrangement of the rafters and support arms to facilitate supporting of the awning in both the extended and retracted positions. A cooperative awning assembly, on which the awning is wound and unwound, and locking device are provided to lock the awning in place. The awning assembly, in a particular embodiment, is applied to a pop-up trailer.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Dometic, LLCInventors: Michael Hicks, Brandon Moore
-
Patent number: 7396064Abstract: A collapsible enclosure is appended to a vehicle, such as a cargo type trailer, for example, for the purpose of providing living space in association with the vehicle. The vehicle includes a ramp that offers ingress to and egress from the interior of the vehicle through an access opening in the body of the vehicle for loading and unloading the vehicle, and the collapsible enclosure is appended to the vehicle at the access door opening and the ramp. Access to the interior of the collapsible enclosure can be had from the interior of the vehicle through the access opening. The size of the collapsible enclosure is adjustable so that the enclosure may be used with vehicles having ramps and access openings of different sizes. The ramp, which can be supported in a position substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle rests, serves as the floor of the additional living space that is created within the collapsible enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventor: Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20080142167Abstract: An awning assembly includes an awning and support arms and rafters that are adapted to support the awning from a backing structure both when the awning is in an extended position and when it is in a retracted position. The support arms and rafters are mounted to the backing structure in a manner that allows for the positions of the support arms and rafters to be readily converted as the awning is extended and retracted. Additionally, the manner in which each rafter is joined to a respective support arm allows for the convenient rearrangement of the rafters and support arms to facilitate supporting of the awning in both the extended and retracted positions. A cooperative roller mechanism, on which the awning is wound and unwound, and locking device are provided to lock the awning in place. The awning assembly, in a particular embodiment, is applied to a pop-up trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: DOMETIC CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Hicks, Brandon Moore
-
Patent number: 7281560Abstract: An awning assembly includes an awning and support arms and rafters that are adapted to support the awning from a backing structure both when the awning is in an extended position and when it is in a retracted position. The support arms and rafters are mounted to the backing structure in a manner that allows for the positions of the support arms and rafters to be readily converted as the awning is extended and retracted. Additionally, the manner in which each rafter is joined to a respective support arm allows for the convenient rearrangement of the rafters and support arms to facilitate supporting of the awning in both the extended and retracted positions. A cooperative roller mechanism, on which the awning is wound and unwound, and locking device are provided to lock the awning in place. The awning assembly, in a particular embodiment, is applied to a pop-up trailer.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventors: Michael Hicks, Brandon Moore
-
Publication number: 20070239765Abstract: A computing device comprises a memory to store a first version of an extensible Markup Language (XML) message, a receiver to receive a second version of the XML message, a processor and a display interface. The display interface provides a user interface having a first control, a second control and a third control. The first control is to cause the processor to merge the second version with the first version to produce a third version of the XML message. The second control is to cause the processor to replace in the memory the first version with the second version of the XML message. The third control is to cause the processor to reject the second version of the XML message.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LPInventors: Timothy Bolger, Anirudh Yadav, Terry Jensen, Robert Mizote, Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20070152453Abstract: An emergency backup power generation system includes a housing comprising a main body portion, a top cap, and a bottom cap. Inner and outer surfaces and the main body portion, the top cap, and the bottom cap define a generally hollow interior volume within the inner surface. A shaft within the housing is substantially perpendicular to the top cap and the bottom cap about a rotational axis. A plurality of air guides affixed to the outer surface of the housing are adjacent openings in the main body portion to admit and direct moving air. One or more vanes are coupled to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. An electrical generator is coupled to the shaft such that the electrical generator is operable to generate electrical power when moving air impinges on the vanes to thereby cause the shaft to rotate within the interior volume of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2005Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventors: Michael Hicks, Larry Meyers
-
Publication number: 20060184961Abstract: Signature-based program identification apparatus and methods for use with digital audio and/or video systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods develop signatures of digital audio and/or video content from a digital data stream at two or more sites and compare the signatures to one another to identify the content.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2005Publication date: August 17, 2006Inventors: Morris Lee, William Schilp, Michael Hicks, Ronald Schwerer, David Wright, Kevin Deng
-
Patent number: 7077458Abstract: An awning assembly having two ends is adapted to be mounted on a first structure that is extendable from a second structure for rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation extending between the two ends, the awning assembly having a generally horizontal orientation when in use. An intermediate support for the awning assembly is adapted to be attached to the first structure at a location between the two ends of the awning assembly. The intermediate support includes a curved supporting surface that supports the awning. Alternatively, the intermediate support can include two brackets that are adapted to be spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of rotation of the awning assembly and at least two support rollers mounted at their opposite ends to the brackets so as to provide a supporting surface. The curved supporting surface and supporting rollers can comprise concave supporting surfaces that are generally congruent with the outer surface of the awning assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventors: Dale G. Malott, Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20060113813Abstract: A collapsible enclosure is appended to a vehicle, such as a cargo type trailer, for example, for the purpose of providing living space in association with the vehicle. The vehicle includes a ramp that offers ingress to and egress from the interior of the vehicle through an access opening in the body of the vehicle for loading and unloading the vehicle, and the collapsible enclosure is appended to the vehicle at the access door opening and the ramp. Access to the interior of the collapsible enclosure can be had from the interior of the vehicle through the access opening. The size of the collapsible enclosure is adjustable so that the enclosure may be used with vehicles having ramps and access openings of different sizes. The ramp, which can be supported in a position substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle rests, serves as the floor of the additional living space that is created within the collapsible enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2005Publication date: June 1, 2006Applicant: Dometic CorporationInventor: Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20060032592Abstract: An awning assembly includes an awning and support arms and rafters that are adapted to support the awning from a backing structure both when the awning is in an extended position and when it is in a retracted position. The support arms and rafters are mounted to the backing structure in a manner that allows for the positions of the support arms and rafters to be readily converted as the awning is extended and retracted. Additionally, the manner in which each rafter is joined to a respective support arm allows for the convenient rearrangement of the rafters and support arms to facilitate supporting of the awning in both the extended and retracted positions. A cooperative roller mechanism, on which the awning is wound and unwound, and locking device are provided to lock the awning in place. The awning assembly, in a particular embodiment, is applied to a pop-up trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2004Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: Dometic CorporationInventors: Michael Hicks, Brandon Moore
-
Publication number: 20050072531Abstract: A roll awning having a cover member journalled within an enclosure. An aperture is provided in the enclosure and an awning fabric extends from the cover member through the aperture. The aperture is movable so that it follows the portion of the awning fabric extending through the aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventor: Michael Hicks
-
Patent number: 6874559Abstract: A roll awning having a cover member journalled within an enclosure. An aperture is provided in the enclosure and an awning fabric extends from the cover member through the aperture. The aperture is movable so that it follows the portion of the awning fabric extending through the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventor: Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20050048121Abstract: Anhydride polymers that release active or activatable agent(s) have pre-selected properties such as molecular weight, flexibility, hardness, adhesiveness, and other valuable properties. The polymers are suitable for use in compositions, formulations, coatings, devices, and the like that benefit from the controlled release of an agent(s) over a period of time. The polymers are prepared by a process involving various alternative and sequential steps that allow the design a priori of products with specific characteristics. The polymers are suitable as delivery systems, either by themselves, as compositions, formulations or devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Polymerix CorporationInventors: Anthony East, Alan Letton, Suseela Kanamathareddy, Bryant Pudil, Stephen Goodrich, Michael Hicks, Karen Giroux, Yun Choe
-
Patent number: 6840568Abstract: A slide-out room and awning assembly for a recreational vehicle. The assembly includes a roll enclosure for attachment to an exterior side wall of the vehicle, a roll rotationally journalled within the roll enclosure, a slide-out room for extension from the exterior side wall, an elongated trough attached to the slide-out room, and an awning fabric attached at a proximate edge to the roll and attached at a distal edge to the elongated trough. When the slide-out room is in a retracted position, the awning fabric is wrapped around the roll. When the slide-out room is in an extended position, the awning fabric is extended from the roll over a top wall of the slide-out room at a downward slope from the roll to the trough such that debris and liquid flow into the trough.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventors: Alejandro Carrillo, Michael Hicks
-
Publication number: 20040210922Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying broadcast digital audio signals include structure and/or function whereby the digital audio signal is provided to processing structure which is configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal. Preferably, such processing structure is disposed in a dwelling or a monitoring site in an audience measurement system, such as the Nielsen TV ratings system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: John C. Peiffer, Michael A. Hicks, David H. Wright, Paul M. Mears, Venugopal Srinivasan, Daozheng Lu, Paul C. Kempter