Patents by Inventor Michael E. Hornak

Michael E. Hornak 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: 6266491
    Abstract: A camera frame assembly or other apparatus has a flash unit having a self-oscillating charging circuit. The camera frame assembly is used with a filmstrip and a battery. The camera frame assembly has a film scrolling chamber and a battery compartment joined to the film scrolling chamber. The flash unit is joined to the chamber, in the camera frame assembly. The flash unit has near and far battery contacts coupled to the circuit. The contacts define an active battery station within the compartment configured to receive the battery in electrical series with the circuit via the contacts. At least one of the battery contacts is biased inwardly to restrain the battery within the active battery station. A battery grip is disposed in the compartment exterior to the near battery contact. The battery grip defines a standby battery station that is spaced from the near contact sufficiently to isolate the standby battery station from the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Carducci, Douglas H. Pearson, Michael E. Hornak
  • Patent number: 6198881
    Abstract: In a method for loading a camera frame assembly having an flash circuit powered by a battery, a battery is placed in a battery compartment of a camera frame assembly. Film is scrolled in the camera frame assembly. The scrolling generates a static charge on the camera frame assembly. The static charge is dissipated. During the scrolling and dissipating, the battery is retained within the battery compartment, but is isolated from the flash circuit. Following the dissipating, electrically conductive contact is established between the battery and the flash circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Carducci, Douglas H. Pearson, Michael E. Hornak, Jeffrey A. Solomon