Patents by Inventor Michael Saunders Sommer

Michael Saunders Sommer 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).

  • Dual path helical ramp
    Patent number: 6866616
    Abstract: A dual path helical ramp consisting of a wire rail formed as a helix, a straight rail, a closed transparent cylindrical wall rail, and a ball. The helical rail extends between a first elevation where the ball enters or exits the ramp to a second, lower elevation where a ball exits or enters the ramp. The straight rail extends through the center of the helical rail for the length thereof. The cylindrical wall rail extends outside of the helical rail for the length thereof. The helical rail is joined at either end of the straight rail and the straight rail is joined at either end of the cylindrical wall rail, thereby forming two elevations. The helical rail is dimensioned such that the distance between it and straight rail and it and wall rail is less than the diameter of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Saunders Sommer
  • Cubical maze module
    Patent number: 6568679
    Abstract: A cubical maze module, counterintuitive in operation, consisting of a hollow cubical box having six transparent walls with eight circular openings of the same diameter; the walls defining four tortuous conduits, each extending from and between a circular opening, eccentrically located, in the center of one quadrant of a wall, and a circular opening, eccentrically located, in the center of one quadrant of an adjacent wall; the tortuous conduits forming passageways for a ball. No matter which side is up, on a horizontal surface, the ball is always able to traverse a plurality of tortuous conduits, under gravity, while not able to traverse one or two other tortuous conduits, as the module is manipulated about the three-dimensional axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Saunders Sommer
  • Dual path helical ramp
    Publication number: 20030036466
    Abstract: A dual path helical ramp consisting of a wire rail formed as a helix, a straight rail, a closed transparent cylindrical wall rail, and a ball. The helical rail extends between a first elevation where the ball enters or exits the ramp to a second, lower elevation where a ball exits or enters the ramp. The straight rail extends through the center of the helical rail for the length thereof. The cylindrical wall rail extends outside of the helical rail for the length thereof. The helical rail is joined at either end of the straight rail and the straight rail is joined at either end of the cylindrical wall rail, thereby forming two elevations. The helical rail is dimensioned such that the distance between it and straight rail and it and wall rail is less than the diameter of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Saunders Sommer