Patents by Inventor Michael Parra

Michael Parra 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: 20210205961
    Abstract: An elongated cam pin for use in a clamping assembly, the pin comprising a first half-round portion and a second half-round portion laterally offset from the first half-round portion, wherein the centers of the first and second half-round portions are spaced-apart a distance S along a diametral center line of the pin, wherein each of the half-round portions has a radius R and a diameter D equal to 2R, and wherein the ratio D/S is between approximately 2 and approximately 3. In one embodiment the ratio D/S is approximately 2.3. In some embodiments rotation of the cam pin within the clamping assembly is actuated by a shaft having a relatively short stroke length. In some embodiments the cam pin is rotatable within the clamping assembly through an arc of up to approximately 40°. In some embodiments the actuating shaft is movable within the housing of a compact locking apparatus to cause the clamping assembly to releasably engage a restraint cable in a self-gripping fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventor: Michael PARRAS
  • Patent number: 10953518
    Abstract: An elongated cam pin for use in a clamping assembly, the pin comprising a first half-round portion and a second half-round portion laterally offset from the first half-round portion, wherein the centers of the first and second half-round portions are spaced-apart a distance S along a diametral center line of the pin, wherein each of the half-round portions has a radius R and a diameter D equal to 2R, and wherein the ratio D/S is between approximately 2 and approximately 3. In one embodiment the ratio D/S is approximately 2.3. In some embodiments rotation of the cam pin within the clamping assembly is actuated by a shaft having a relatively short stroke length. In some embodiments the cam pin is rotatable within the clamping assembly through an arc of up to approximately 40°. In some embodiments the actuating shaft is movable within the housing of a compact locking apparatus to cause the clamping assembly to releasably engage a restraint cable in a self-gripping fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: PARRAS ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Michael Parras
  • Publication number: 20190255680
    Abstract: An elongated cam pin for use in a clamping assembly, the pin comprising a first half-round portion and a second half-round portion laterally offset from the first half-round portion, wherein the centers of the first and second half-round portions are spaced-apart a distance S along a diametral center line of the pin, wherein each of the half-round portions has a radius R and a diameter D equal to 2R, and wherein the ratio D/S is between approximately 2 and approximately 3. In one embodiment the ratio D/S is approximately 2.3. In some embodiments rotation of the cam pin within the clamping assembly is actuated by a shaft having a relatively short stroke length. In some embodiments the cam pin is rotatable within the clamping assembly through an arc of up to approximately 40°. In some embodiments the actuating shaft is movable within the housing of a compact locking apparatus to cause the clamping assembly to releasably engage a restraint cable in a self-gripping fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: Michael PARRAS
  • Patent number: 8534510
    Abstract: A closure for a container, and a container incorporating the same, that minimizes or eliminates leakage between the closure and the container holding the liquid. The closure provides a liquid sealing system that allows irregularly shaped closure tops to be used without sacrificing the effectiveness of the liquid seal. In one embodiment, the closure includes a plurality of struts disposed within an annular space that receives a neck portion of the container to create a seating plane that corresponds to a plane formed by the rim of the neck portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Michael Parra, Jeffrey Mayers, James David Faulkner, Elaine Casey, Bruce Cummings, Corrine Elstow, Sam Lucking, John Lamb
  • Publication number: 20110095058
    Abstract: A closure for a container, and a container incorporating the same, that minimizes or eliminates leakage between the closure and the container holding the liquid. The closure provides a liquid sealing system that allows irregularly shaped closure tops to be used without sacrificing the effectiveness of the liquid seal. In one embodiment, the closure includes a plurality of struts disposed within an annular space that receives a neck portion of the container to create a seating plane that corresponds to a plane formed by the rim of the neck portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Parra, Jeffrey Mayers, James David Faulkner, Elaine Casey, Bruce Cummings, Corrine Elstow, Sam Lucking, John Lamb
  • Publication number: 20070256538
    Abstract: This invention is a new and useful method and apparatus for counter-weighting a bass drum to prevent slippage while in use on hard, slick floors in a traditional rock or jazz-style percussion arrangement. This method and apparatus utilizes the weight of a percussion player sitting on his or her percussion stool or chair as a counter-weight to keep the bass drum from slipping forward as it is played by connecting the forward spurs on the front of the bass drum to the leg or center pole of a drum stool via an adjustable guy-strap system radiating from the center pole or leg of the stool in an arrangement designed with adjustments and hardware for ease of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Parra