Patents by Inventor Michael C. Thuma

Michael C. Thuma 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: 6874650
    Abstract: A stackable container, including side walls extending upwardly from a bottom wall and defining an open-top, enclosed space therein, and rigid support members spaced about the bottom wall, the rigid support members having a vertical height. The side walls are tapered outwardly so as to be stackable in a nesting relationship within a similar container with a stacking offset less than the support members vertical height whereby the support members are supported on aligned rigid support members of the similar container. Outwardly tapered stress-relieving triangular corner surfaces extend upwardly between 130° and 140° from corners of the bottom wall and connect to side walls to form each junction of the bottom wall with two side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Home Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Welsh, Michael C. Thuma, Laura Morris
  • Patent number: 6793991
    Abstract: A portable ironing pad that comprises a flexible laminate structure that includes a coated cotton cover layer, a foam layer, a fiber pad layer, and a rubber mesh layer. The layers are superimposed upon one another and are secured together along the peripheral edges thereof by a stitched welting. A storage pouch is stitched to one end of the ironing pad for receipt of the folded ironing pad therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Home Products International
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Larry Hauser, Carla De Young
  • Publication number: 20040121095
    Abstract: A portable ironing pad that comprises a flexible laminate structure that includes a coated cotton cover layer, a foam layer, a fiber pad layer, and a rubber mesh layer. The layers are superimposed upon one another and are secured together along the peripheral edges thereof by a stitched welting. A storage pouch is stitched to one end of the ironing pad for receipt of the folded ironing pad therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Home Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Larry Hauser, Carla De Young
  • Publication number: 20040118737
    Abstract: A stackable container, including side walls extending upwardly from a bottom wall and defining an open-top, enclosed space therein, and rigid support members spaced about the bottom wall, the rigid support members having a vertical height. The side walls are tapered outwardly so as to be stackable in a nesting relationship within a similar container with a stacking offset less than the support members vertical height whereby the support members are supported on aligned rigid support members of the similar container. Outwardly tapered stress-relieving triangular corner surfaces extend upwardly between 130° and 140° from corners of the bottom wall and connect to side walls to form each junction of the bottom wall with two side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Welsh, Michael C. Thuma, Laura Morris
  • Publication number: 20040074858
    Abstract: A collapsible clothes drying rack, including X-shaped collapsible frames and a plurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames. A clip has a head with annularly spaced fingers extending through aligned holes in pivotally connected frame arms. The fingers of each clip define an annular inner space and a generally annular outer surface area. The fingers have a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced from the head a distance equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. Rod ends extend into the space between the clip fingers. Locking arms are similarly pivotally secured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of the rods. Clamps slide over the other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot, with hooks extending from the clamps. A removable drying support surface is provided with connectors on the corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Carla DeYoung, Larry Hauser, Thomas Welsh
  • Patent number: 6588620
    Abstract: A knockdown, or collapsible, hamper including a frame formed from two generally U-shaped supports with bottom portions and upstanding members. The bottom portions are pivotally connected and positioned perpendicularly with respect to one another for assembly of the hamper. A plurality of rings are affixed to the frame and held in place by notches in the upstanding members of the U-shaped supports. A bag is positioned inside the frame and ring structure to complete the hamper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Home Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Larry Hauser, Carla De Young, Edward John Rohr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6050833
    Abstract: A glare filter for a computer monitor having a support element with a first side and a second side, and a frame with a first side and a second side. The first side of the frame is pivotably connected to the first side of the support element, and the second side of the frame is pivotably connected to the second side of the support element. The glare filter also has a filter medium secured to the frame and at least one clip for removably attaching the support element to the computer monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Fellowes Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Howard L. Danzyger, Michael C. Thuma, James F. Caruso, Ann Marie Conrado, Brian J. Woodard, Karenann Brow
  • Patent number: 6027242
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus that employs mixing blades that are capable of producing rotational mixing action and a vertically oscillating mixing action so that the blades are moveable within the apparatus from an area of a relatively larger volume to an area of a relatively smaller volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: 24th & Dean
    Inventor: Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: 6012837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blender that employs a combination of mixing blades and a stirring bar that are capable of producing rotational mixing action and rotational stirring action. The invention includes mixing blades which are in communication with a drive source for the production of rotational movement and the use of a gear reduction transmission to provide rotational stirring action that operates at a slower rate of speed than the mixing blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: 5836562
    Abstract: A mounting device for removably attaching a support apparatus to a work surface, the support apparatus having a first mounting bracket with a first attachment plate and a second mounting bracket with a second attachment plate. The mounting device comprises a first clamp slidably connected to the first mounting bracket and a second clamp slidably connected to the second mounting bracket. Each clamp has a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall. The first attachment plate is positioned between the first and third walls of the first clamp, and the second attachment plate is positioned between the first and third walls of the second clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Fellowes Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Howard L. Danzyger, James F. Caruso, David C. Brown, Michael C. Thuma, Michael J. Anguiano
  • Patent number: 5782039
    Abstract: A two-section portable gate carries a rotatable control handle at an upper surface thereof for purposes of installation and removal of the gate in a doorway. When the handle is rotated to an extended state, the two sections of the gate can be moved relative to one another to fill the opening in the doorway. When the handle is moved to an intermediate position, the gate sections are locked together and further relative movement is not possible. When the handle is moved to a closed or locked position adjacent to an upper surface of the gate, the gate sections are forced apart a predetermined distance thereby creating normal forces, and in turn frictional forces, which lock the gate into position in the doorway and resist its removal. Spring loaded bumpers can be used on edges of the gate sections to take into account non-square openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: BRK Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Scherer, David C. Brown, Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: 5781945
    Abstract: A portable, foldable bed rail adapted for use with an associated bed having a mattress thereon includes a rail member having first and second substantially identical, mirror image end rail portions and a central rail portion. The end rail portions are hingedly mounted to the central rail portion by respective rail hinge members having parallel axes of rotation. The end rail portions are foldable toward one another adjacent to the central rail portion for storage. The end rails each include a support member having a support leg. The support members are independently hingedly mounted to a respective one of the end rail portions by support hinges. The support hinges have parallel axes of rotation and are rotatable in a direction transverse to the rail hinge members. Each of the support hinge members is independently movable toward and away from its respective end rail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: BRK Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Scherer, Michael C. Thuma, David Corbett Brown, Brian James Woodard, Michael Scott Garner
  • Patent number: D550875
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: NTM Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Paul Mann
  • Patent number: D550876
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: NTM Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Paul Mann
  • Patent number: D480872
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Home Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Welsh, Michael C. Thuma, Laura Morris
  • Patent number: D391792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: BRK Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Scherer, Michael C. Thuma, Ann-Marie Conrado
  • Patent number: D399936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: BRK Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Scherer, David C. Brown, Robert Saul Gelick, Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: D406047
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Craig S. Scherer, Michael C. Thuma
  • Patent number: D698694
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Suncast Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Torrence Anderson, Michael R. Vogler
  • Patent number: D714066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Suncast Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Torrence Anderson, Michael R. Vogler