Patents by Inventor Michael Ford

Michael Ford 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: 20260055240
    Abstract: A composition for printing a three-dimensional siloxane structure includes a siloxane monomer having at least one silane functional group, a chain transfer agent, a hydrosilylation catalyst, a radical initiator, and a photo-oxidizing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventors: Sijia Huang, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: 12486443
    Abstract: A polymer composite having shape-morphing capabilities where the composite comprises a liquid crystal elastomer and liquid metal inclusions to improve thermal and/or electrical conductivity. The liquid metal inclusions are metals such as Gallium, alloys of Gallium, eutectic alloys, and other metals that have low melting points. The composite is soft and stretchable, while still retaining the shape-morphing characteristics of the liquid crystal elastomer. The composite is an electrical insulator, yet conductivity can be induced through mechanical pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Carmel Majidi, Michael Ford
  • Publication number: 20240384035
    Abstract: A composition for forming a siloxane elastomer material includes a siloxane monomer having at least one silane functional group, a hydrosilylation catalyst, and a radical initiator. A curing accelerator for converting a thermal-curable siloxane resin to a radiation-curable siloxane resin includes a radical initiator and a photosensitizing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael FORD, Jeremy M. LENHARDT
  • Publication number: 20240027253
    Abstract: A device may include a flask for holding liquid. The flask may include liquid sensors for determining a fill level of the liquid in the flask. Control circuitry may be obtain readings from the sensors and determine the fill level of the flask by applying one or single-threshold conditions for elevated fill levels and a multiple-threshold condition when determining that the fill level of the liquid is at a bottom fill level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Tony Chand, Michael Ford, Ravi Shrestha, Jonathan Sylvain
  • Publication number: 20220098461
    Abstract: A polymer composite having shape-morphing capabilities where the composite comprises a liquid crystal elastomer and liquid metal inclusions to improve thermal and/or electrical conductivity. The liquid metal inclusions are metals such as Gallium, alloys of Gallium, eutectic alloys, and other metals that have low melting points. The composite is soft and stretchable, while still retaining the shape-morphing characteristics of the liquid crystal elastomer. The composite is an electrical insulator, yet conductivity can be induced through mechanical pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Carmel Majidi, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: 10952534
    Abstract: A modular shelf system having spaced apart upright subassemblies that each include multiple recesses conductive support standards, which are configured for receiving a low voltage current and illuminating the LED arrays of shelf fixtures that span adjacent upright subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Product Miniature, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: 10939756
    Abstract: The present application provides, in one embodiment, a modular shelf system having spaced apart upright subassemblies that each include a first and second removable support standard recessed within. The system further provides at least one shelf fixture configured to be removably mounted to at least one of the support standards in each of a first and second upright subassemblies selected. The shelf may receive retail product trays via snap-fit fasteners. And, a variably configurable hanger bar may support the modular shelf system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Product Miniature, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Publication number: 20190387902
    Abstract: A modular shelf system having spaced apart upright subassemblies that each include multiple recesses conductive support standards, which are configured for receiving a low voltage current and illuminating the LED arrays of shelf fixtures that span adjacent upright subassemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Publication number: 20190387875
    Abstract: The present application provides, in one embodiment, a modular shelf system having spaced apart upright subassemblies that each include a first and second removable support standard recessed within. The system further provides at least one shelf fixture configured to be removably mounted to at least one of the support standards in each of a first and second upright subassemblies selected. The shelf may receive retail product trays via snap-fit fasteners. And, a variably configurable hanger bar may support the modular shelf system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: 10259621
    Abstract: A container (10) to dispense a liquid such as sauce. The container (1.0) has a resilient deformable body (11) that may be compressed to dispense the liquid from the interior (55) of the body (11). Mounted on the body (11) is a cap (37) that is movable along a path (axis 13) between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the upper opening (38) is open to allow the liquid to be dispensed. Preferably the path is linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Cutts, Michael Ford, Lynne Morrison, James Brennan, Stuart May, Matthew Cormack
  • Publication number: 20180099790
    Abstract: A container (10) to dispense a liquid such as sauce. The container (1.0) has a resilient deformable body (11) that may be compressed to dispense the liquid from the interior (55) of the body (11). Mounted on the body (11) is a cap (37) that is movable along a path (axis 13) between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the upper opening (38) is open to allow the liquid to be dispensed. Preferably the path is linear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Cutts, Michael Ford, Lynne Morrison, James Brennan, Stuart May, Matthew Cormack
  • Patent number: 9815598
    Abstract: A container (10) to dispense a liquid such as sauce. The container (1.0) has a resilient deformable body (11) that may be compressed to dispense the liquid from the interior (55) of the body (11). Mounted on the body (11) is a cap (37) that is movable along a path (axis 13) between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the upper opening (38) is open to allow the liquid to be dispensed. Preferably the path is linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Cutts, Michael Ford, Lynne Morrison, James Brennan, Stuart May, Matthew Cormack
  • Publication number: 20160214770
    Abstract: A container (10) to dispense a liquid such as sauce. The container (1.0) has a resilient deformable body (11) that may be compressed to dispense the liquid from the interior (55) of the body (11). Mounted on the body (11) is a cap (37) that is movable along a path (axis 13) between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the upper opening (38) is open to allow the liquid to be dispensed. Preferably the path is linear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew CUTTS, Michael FORD, Lynne MORRISON, James BRENNAN, Stuart MAY, Matthew CORMACK
  • Publication number: 20150121236
    Abstract: A director receives trigger data collected from a plurality of nodes, where the trigger data indicates a status of a node. The director processes the trigger data to add a display destination indicator and a display screen location indicator. A multicaster receives the processed data from the director and transmits the processed data based on the display destination indicator. A receiver includes a visual stimuli database and receives the transmitted data from the multicaster. The receiver associates the transmitted data with a selected visual stimuli to create a semiotic representation of the status of the node and transmits the semiotic representation to a display. The display receives and displays the semiotic representation in accordance with the display screen location indicator to represent the status of the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Terrence M. PECK, Michael FORD, William N. HAMEL
  • Publication number: 20140278497
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a document indicating information and a charge, identifying a patient in response to a determination that a portion of the information matches a portion of information of a plurality of candidate patients, and determining an eligibility of the patient for a payor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Medical Reimbursements of America, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Smitherman, Derek Lawless, Michael Chance, Jason Miller, Michael Ford, Lyle Beasley, Brian Niederhauser, Chad Powers, Beth Grones
  • Patent number: 8539125
    Abstract: A combined USB flash drive cap audio device is provided. In at least one embodiment, a thumb drive cap includes: a portable housing defined as a USB cap for a portable USB storage thumb drive; a female USB connector interface defined within the portable housing and configured to receive and electronically couple to a male USB connector on the portable USB storage thumb drive; a control unit disposed within the portable housing and configured to enable audio playback through the thumb drive cap of audio data stored on the connected portable USB storage thumb drive; and a plurality of user interface buttons disposed upon the portable housing and through which the thumb drive cap is controlled by a user for audio playback and audio record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Ford, Sarah Ford
  • Patent number: 8499988
    Abstract: A vehicle roof rack assembly comprises a pair of rails defining retention channels therein. A locking slot is disposed on an inboard surface of the rails and is in communication with the retention channels. The rook rack assembly further comprises a crossbar having a rotatable locking cam with retention tabs. The locking cam is designed to frictionally engage the locking slot during rotation and the retention tabs are adapted to extend into the retention channels, thereby securing the crossbar to the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Travis S. Garland, Michael Ford, Scott Aaron Ford
  • Patent number: D899237
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Product Miniature, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: D904176
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Product Miniature, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford
  • Patent number: D904177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Product Miniature, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peck, Craig Fluegge, Michael Ford