Patents by Inventor Michael R. Stevens

Michael R. Stevens 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: 9044627
    Abstract: An automatic self-contained fire suppression system and method are provided herein. Stovetop fires are a well known residential and commercial hazard. The fire suppression system described mounts on a back wall or back splash above the stove mount. By mounting on the back wall, the system is free from interconnections with apparatus mounted above the stovetop, such as hoods, microwave ovens, lights, fans, and vents. Using a hopper containing fire suppressing matter, a power spring, drive shaft, and a bladed spinner, fires suppressing powder is distributed over the stovetop surface. The fire suppression action is triggered automatically via failure of a heat sensitive frangible link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: WilliamsRDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent W. Williams, Michael R. Stevens, Preston N. Weintraub, Donald W. Murray
  • Patent number: 7610966
    Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a bracket, a housing, extinguisher containers and a directing member such as a ramp. The fire extinguisher is designed to be located above a stove and beneath structure, such as microwave oven and vent. Such structure typically has low clearance relative to the stovetop and the burners thereon. The housing and containers are suspended from the bracket. Each container has a fire extinguishing powder and an initiator for breaching a container wall. One of the containers is directly positioned over a burner on the stovetop. The other container is offset laterally from another burner on the stovetop. The ramp is used to direct the fire extinguishing powder of this container onto the burner. The ramp is maintained in a stowed position by a fusible link, which gives way when a fire is present on the second burner causing the ramp to fall to a deployed position before the respective container discharges its powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston N. Weintraub, Don Murray, Michael R. Stevens
  • Patent number: 7472758
    Abstract: A fire extinguisher has a container filled with a fire extinguisher material. One wall of the container has tear-open segments that breach the container when opened and allow the fire extinguisher material to exit the container. An initiator forces open the tear-open segments. The initiator has a cup that is coupled to the container wall. The cup contains combustible material and is closed by a cap. The cap is bonded to the cup to form a strong initiator housing. A fuse exits the initiator to the outside of the container wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Stevens, Preston N. Weintraub
  • Patent number: 7255844
    Abstract: A method of producing high quality GaN powder by combining high purity gallium and high purity ammonia in a tube reactor under controlled conditions. A reaction between the ammonia and gallium under the controlled conditions produces a porous gallium melt and to a full reaction, yielding high purity crystalline GaN powders with a stoichiometric nitrogen concentration and a hexagonal wurtzite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents
    Inventors: Fernando A. Ponce, Rafael Garcia, Abigail Bell, Alan C. Thomas, Michael R. Stevens