Patents by Inventor Michael E. Brown

Michael E. Brown 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: 10912154
    Abstract: A concrete heating system for electrically melting snow and ice. The concrete heating system generally includes a heating device for embedding in conductive concrete, the device having a spacing member and a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending outward at an angle from the spacing member along its length. The device also includes a first electrode near the first end of the spacing member, and a second electrode extending outward from the spacing member at the second end. The plurality of conductors conduct an electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode when the concrete heating device is embedded in conductive concrete and the power source applies a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 10844534
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying clothes, including a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet; a drying chamber mounted for rotation in the housing and having a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet and a gas pressure; an air flow path through the housing and the drying chamber and having an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet; heating means for heating air flowing through the path and juxtaposed between the housing inlet and the chamber inlet, the heating means including one of a heat exchanger, a resistance style heating element and a gas burner; fan means having an on condition and, when in the on condition, for moving air through the air flow path and being juxtaposed between the chamber outlet and the housing outlet; and flow impeding means juxtaposed at or before the chamber inlet and being for impeding air flow in the air flow path, the flow impeding means configured to impede the air flow in the path whereby, when the fan means is in the on condition, the gas pressure in the chamber is more than trivia
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Publication number: 20200081514
    Abstract: A method may include, in a chassis configured to provide a common hardware infrastructure to one or more modular information handling systems inserted into the chassis: determining if a save operation is occurring at a time when one or more power supply units are capable of delivering power to the chassis; and delaying power sequencing of the one or more power supply units until the save operation has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. BROWN, Marshal F. SAVAGE, Aaron M. RHINEHART, Kyle E. CROSS, Michael W. DANIELE, Jitendra G. JAGASIA
  • Publication number: 20190329977
    Abstract: A container includes a base and a wall disposed about and attached to the base. The wall defines a rim spaced from the base, as well as a compartment extending between the base and the wall. A lid having an inner surface and an outer surface is coupled to the wall for covering the compartment. The container has a diverter bar for separating the compartment into at least two sections in a first position. The diverter bar has a body that extends between body ends, with the body releasably engaging the wall in the first position. A retainer attaches to the lid for receiving the diverter bar and securing the diverter bar to the lid to define a storage position. A lip extends outwardly from the body whereby the lip engages the retainer in response to the diverter bar being in the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Janet M. Sofy, Michael E. Brown, Todd M. Lajewski
  • Patent number: 10400385
    Abstract: A drying machine for drying clothing includes: a housing; a drum configured to receive clothing; a guide apparatus for guiding air in a path through the drum; an air moving apparatus to pull air through the guide apparatus and drum; a heating apparatus for heating air and having on and off conditions; a heat capacitor for storing and releasing heat to air when the heating element is in its off condition and the drum is rotating; power means for components of the drying machine; including at least the drying compartment assembly, rotation means, guide apparatus, air moving apparatus, heating apparatus, and control apparatus; a control apparatus for controlling at least one of the drying compartment assembly, the rotation means, guide apparatus, the air moving apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the power means; and restrictor means for restricting the air flow whereby the drum pressure is lower than ambient air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 10387257
    Abstract: A firmware update of multiple processing nodes in an information handling system may include writing updated firmware images to reserve memory partitions associated with each node, rolling all nodes back to the existing firmware images if writing of an updated firmware image fails, booting each node into the updated firmware image stored on its associated reserve memory partition if writing of updated firmware images succeeds, booting each node into the updated firmware image stored on its associated reserve memory partition, rolling all nodes back to the existing firmware images if booting of an updated firmware image fails, copying the updated firmware images from reserve memory partitions associated with each node to the respective working memory partition associated with each node if booting of updated firmware images succeeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Senthil Kumar, Marshal F. Savage, Ashok N. Potti
  • Patent number: 10361948
    Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS) and a switching system for preventing communication loops in an IHS. The method includes identifying, via a controller, at least one stacking port in a first switch of a first chassis. The first switch is in communication with a second switch of a second chassis via a first link. At least one stacking port is configured as an unblocked port. Port blocking and unblocking actions are determined for the at least one stacking port. The at least one stacking port is configured based on the determined port blocking and unblocking actions and a determination is made if the first chassis is a root bridge chassis having at least one uplink port. In response to the first chassis being a root bridge chassis, a first uplink port in the first switch is configured as an unblocked port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee E. Ballard, Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 10266984
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying clothes, including a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet, a drying chamber mounted for rotation in the housing and having a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet and a gas pressure, an air flow path through the housing and the drying chamber and having an air flow inlet with an entry air flow, an entry air flow rate and an air flow outlet, heating means for heating air flowing through the path and juxtaposed between the housing inlet and the chamber inlet, fan means having an on condition, an exit air flow and an exit air flow rate and, when in the on condition, being for moving air through the air flow path and being juxtaposed between the chamber outlet and the housing outlet; flow impeding means juxtaposed at or before the chamber inlet and being for impeding air flow in the air flow path, the flow impeding means configured to impede the air flow in the path whereby, when the fan means is in the on condition, the gas pressure in the chamber is more than trivially lower tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Publication number: 20180254985
    Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS) and a switching system for preventing communication loops in an IHS. The method includes identifying, via a controller, at least one stacking port in a first switch of a first chassis. The first switch is in communication with a second switch of a second chassis via a first link. At least one stacking port is configured as an unblocked port. Port blocking and unblocking actions are determined for the at least one stacking port. The at least one stacking port is configured based on the determined port blocking and unblocking actions and a determination is made if the first chassis is a root bridge chassis having at least one uplink port. In response to the first chassis being a root bridge chassis, a first uplink port in the first switch is configured as an unblocked port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: LEE E. BALLARD, MICHAEL E. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20170268159
    Abstract: A drying machine for drying clothing includes: a housing; a drum configured to receive clothing; a guide apparatus for guiding air in a path through the drum; an air moving apparatus to pull air through the guide apparatus and drum; a heating apparatus for heating air and having on and off conditions; a heat capacitor for storing and releasing heat to air when the heating element is in its off condition and the drum is rotating; power means for components of the drying machine; including at least the drying compartment assembly, rotation means, guide apparatus, air moving apparatus, heating apparatus, and control apparatus; a control apparatus for controlling at least one of the drying compartment assembly, the rotation means, guide apparatus, the air moving apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the power means; and restrictor means for restricting the air flow whereby the drum pressure is lower than ambient air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 9175434
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying clothes, including a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet; a drying chamber mounted for rotation in the housing, having a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet and having a gas pressure; an air flow path through the housing and the drying chamber and having an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet; heating means for heating air flowing through the path and being juxtaposed between the housing inlet and the chamber inlet; fan means having an on condition and, when in the on condition, for moving air through the air flow path and being juxtaposed between the chamber outlet and the housing outlet; and flow impeding means juxtaposed between the chamber inlet and the housing inlet and being for impeding air flow in the air flow path, the flow impeding means configured to impede the air flow in the path whereby, when the fan means is in the on condition, the gas pressure in the chamber is at least 3 inches less than the apparatus for drying clothes without said flow impeding mean
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MEBIP, LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 8979430
    Abstract: A moisture responsive device is described having a moisture responsive element comprising at least a moisture responsive formation of a first material in association with a less moisture responsive formation of a second material, in that the first material has a greater tendency to absorb moisture and to increase in volume as a result than the second material, the two formations being so mechanically arranged together that such swelling tends to cause mechanical deformation of the moisture responsive element; and an actuation member optionally of flexibly resilient material in mechanical association with the moisture responsive element so that distortion of the moisture responsive element in the presence of moisture tends to mechanically distort the actuation member and thereby cause the actuation member to change between at least a first functional state and a second functional state. A method of use, especially in irrigation control, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 8827041
    Abstract: Carrier car door assemblies respectively comprising a carrier car comprising a body, a door, a drive mechanism, a driven mechanism, and a magnetic release mechanism are disclosed herein. The carrier car travels along a track system between teller and customer stations to transport materials there-between. The door is connected to the body and movable between a door-closed position and a door-open position. The drive mechanism is connected to the body and to the driven mechanism so that the drive and driven mechanisms synchronously move between respective door-closed positions and door-open positions. The magnetic release mechanism is connected to the driven mechanism and moves from a magnetically coupled state to a magnetically de-coupled state when a user manually moves the door from the door-open position to the door-closed position. The magnetic release mechanism in the magnetically coupled state synchronously moves with the driven mechanism between door-closed and door-open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Christopher L. Michael
  • Patent number: 8707297
    Abstract: A method for updating firmware comprises executing a native operating system change management program that acts cooperatively with a firmware update package to update a firmware program in the information handling system. An apparatus comprises an information handling system running an operating system. An operating system change management program in a memory of the information handling system acts cooperatively with the operating system and a firmware update package to update a firmware program in the information handling system. Another method for updating firmware comprises building a firmware update package that is executable in a change management program running in a native operating system on an information handling system, and storing the firmware update package in a repository available to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Matthew L. Domsch
  • Patent number: 8627581
    Abstract: A drying machine includes a housing; a drying compartment assembly including a drum having a drum pressure; a guide apparatus for guiding air in a path; an air moving apparatus for moving air through the guide apparatus; a heating apparatus for heating air moving through the guide apparatus; power means for providing power to components of the dryer including at least the drying compartment assembly, guide apparatus, air moving apparatus, heating apparatus, and control apparatus; a control apparatus for controlling at least one of the drying compartment assembly, the guide apparatus, the air moving apparatus, the heating apparatus, the power means; and, restrictor means for restricting the air flow rate through the guide apparatus entering the drum whereby the drum pressure is more than trivially lower than ambient air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 8533333
    Abstract: The routing of requests in a shared hosting environment. The shared hosting environment includes a network farm of servers, each capable of processing the request corresponding to the host name. When a request is received, a router determines whether or not there is already a host name affinitization of subset of the servers to the host name corresponding to the request. If so, the message is dispatched to one of those affinitized servers. If not, one or more of the servers are affinitized to the host name to create a subset of affinitized server(s) for that host name. Different host names may have different subsets of servers that they are affinitized to. Over time, the affinitization may be terminated as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Won Suk Yoo, Anil K. Ruia, Michael E. Brown, William James Staples, Himanshu Kamarajbhai Patel
  • Patent number: 8489564
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for registration in a de-coupled environment or system may include providing an identity of a spawned component to a manager. The method, system and computer program product may also include taking a predetermined action in response to the spawned component failing to report its status to the manager after a preset time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark P. Bonacci, Michael E. Brown, Fred T. Clewis, Victor S. Leith
  • Patent number: 8256997
    Abstract: A blower assembly for a pneumatic carrier transmission system including a first blower for supplying air; a second blower for exhausting air, wherein the first and second blowers are connected in series; and a dual passageway connecting device connected to and in communication with the first and second blowers, the dual passageway connecting device comprising a connecting tee having a tee inlet, a first tee outlet in communication with the tee inlet, and a second tee outlet in communication with the tee inlet, a first valve connected to and in communication with the first tee outlet, a first passageway connected to and in communication with the first valve, a second valve connected to and in communication with the second tee outlet, and a second passageway connected to and in communication with the second valve, wherein the first blower is operable to supply air through the first passageway and the second blower is operable to exhaust air through the second passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: E.F. Bavis & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120222049
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for registration in a de-coupled environment or system may include providing an identity of a spawned component to a manager. The method, system and computer program product may also include taking a predetermined action in response to the spawned component failing to report its status to the manager after a preset time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARK P. BONACCI, MICHAEL E. BROWN, FRED T. CLEWIS, VICTOR S. LEITH
  • Patent number: D690069
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: HMS Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Janet M. Sofy, Michael E. Brown, Matthew B. Norton