Patents by Inventor Michael F. Mullins

Michael F. Mullins 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: 5878802
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting and locking tubular elements in preselected angular relationships. The connector assembly includes a pair of clevis having tube engaging elements at one end and three clevis rings at the other. The clevis rings of each clevis are interengaged and define a bore. The bore has a plurality of grooves therein. Locking elements, including a locking pin and a locking plug are inserted in the bore. The locking pin and locking plug each have a pair of opposed raised ribs and a pair of opposed resilient locking arms that engage the grooves in the bore. Detents on the ends of the resilient arms engage a space between the interengaged clevis rings to secure the locking elements in place. The tubular elements can be interconnected in a system of frames to suspend function and decorative panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Children's Factory
    Inventors: Michael A. Richter, Michael F. Mullins, Ron L. Reeves, Dale Emge, Robert Tanner
  • Patent number: 5722477
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting and locking tubular elements in preselected angular relationships. The connector assembly includes a pair of clevis having tube engaging elements at one end and three clevis rings at the other. The clevis rings of each clevis are interengaged and define a bore. The bore has a plurality of grooves therein. Locking elements, including a locking pin and a locking plug are inserted in the bore. The locking pin and locking plug each have a pair of opposed raised ribs and a pair of opposed resilient locking arms that engage the grooves in the bore. Detents on the ends of the resilient arms engage a space between the interengaged clevis rings to secure the locking elements in place. The tubular elements can be interconnected in a system of frames to suspend function and decorative panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Children's Factory
    Inventors: Michael A. Richter, Michael F. Mullins, Ron L. Reeves, Dale Emge, Robert Tanner