Patents by Inventor Michael Simmons

Michael Simmons 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: 7138810
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence E. Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia L. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20060119236
    Abstract: A vertical height adjustment mechanism for a dish rack includes a slide member fixedly mounted relative to a support member, a housing secured to the dish rack, and a latch member. The housing includes a central guide channel that slidably receives the slide member. The latch member includes a support leg, an actuating arm and an intermediate portion joining the support leg and actuating arm. The sliding element includes an end portion that receives and retains the support leg of the latch when the dish rack is in the raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Harry Dickson, Kory Gunnerson, Kristen Hedstrom, Mark Palm, Michael Simmons, Daniel Teteak, Chad Thomas, Wayne VanLandingham, Rodney Welch, Karl Wendt, Jeffrey Williams
  • Publication number: 20060103390
    Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) module includes a plug portion, a probe receiving portion and an AFCI test actuator for initiating a test of an AFCI protected circuit. More specifically, the plug portion includes a plurality of prongs configured to matingly engage with a standard three-prong receptacle. With this construction, upon engaging the plug portion with a AFCI protected receptacle, manipulation of the AFCI test actuator will cause a properly operating AFCI device to trip, i.e., terminate power to the AFCI protected receptacle. The module can also be provided with an AFCI circuit. The module can then be employed to protect an electrical device that is plugged into an unprotected circuit. The probe receiving portion is adapted to interconnect and expand the testing capabilities of a standard receptacle tester or, alternatively, be interconnected with various test probes associated with standard voltage testers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, David Groene
  • Publication number: 20060045798
    Abstract: A system provides for high level disinfection or sterilization of an endoscope having a first portion adapted for immersion and a second portion not adapted for immersion. The system includes a container having a first basin sized and adapted to receive the first portion of the endoscope for immersion, a separate and adjacent second basin sized and adapted to receive the second portion of the endoscope, a wall between the first basing and the second basin, and a trough in an upper portion of the wall between the first basin and second basin through which a tube connecting the first portion of the endoscope and the second portion of the endoscope may extend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Su-Syin Wu, Josh Hagerman, Michael Simmons, Idemudia Ehigiato, Scott Godfrey
  • Publication number: 20050184074
    Abstract: Containers, lids, and sleeve structures are disclosed. Particularly, sleeve structures configured for insulating, stabilizing, or both insulating and stabilizing a container are disclosed. Further, a sleeve structure including a plurality of circumferentially adjacent, longitudinally extending sections and a sleeve structure including one or more frustoconical regions are disclosed. Containers, lids, and sleeve structures including at least one stabilizing feature are disclosed. Assemblies including a lower container, associated lid and sleeve structure, wherein at least one of the lower container, the lid, or the sleeve structure includes at least one stabilizing feature for engaging at least a portion of a sleeve structure associated with an upper container, wherein the upper container is positioned longitudinally above and is substantially aligned or centered with respect to a lower container, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, Jack Simmons, John Simmons, Tom Simmons, David Simmons
  • Publication number: 20050104610
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia McDonald
  • Patent number: 6847219
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence E. Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia L. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20050005951
    Abstract: A float mounting plate is provided for a dishwasher to limit the level of water in the dishwasher tub. The float has a stem extending downwardly through a stand pipe in the bottom of the tub and into a switch bracket which houses the water level control switch. A tab is provided on the switch bracket which is adapted to extend around the float stem, thereby slidably retaining the retainer ring of the stem for engagement and disengagement with the switch, and limiting lateral or horizontal movement of the stem. In one embodiment, the tab is integrally formed with the bracket, with a living hinge allowing the tab to pivot between open and closed positions. In a second embodiment, the tab snap fits onto the bracket to capture the float stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Thomas, Brook Beaston, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 6545984
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the topology of a CDMA network with respect to both neighbor and target lists is disclosed. The method first defines a language that creates an input source file for communicating the layout of the CDMA network. The language expresses the sector-neighbor list relationships of all sectors in the CDMA network. Next, the method parses and builds a directed graph from the input source file to perform topology analysis of the CDMA network. The method then analyzes the input source file and directed graph for possible errors in the network layout that will lead to dropped calls. The method renders a report to the user about those error conditions and emits a file to be used as input into the CDMA database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Steven Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20030063475
    Abstract: A retractable light system is concealed beneath a vehicle and is exposed when desired to provide rearward lighting from the vehicle. A holding frame having a rotating shaft is attached to the undersurface of the vehicle by a bearing or bracket and supports lights that rotate between a first position where the lights are retracted beneath the undersurface of the vehicle and a second position where the lights are extended below the vehicle and provide rearward lighting. The rotational mechanism for moving the lights to the deactivated and activated positions may include a motor coupled to the holding frame by a cable. Guards may be provided on the light system to protect the lights from damage. The holding frame may be attached to an accessory trailer hitch beneath the vehicle rather than directly to the vehicle. And, the retractable light system may be activated or deactivated by a remote control device such as a key chain remote.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20030013376
    Abstract: A method for assisting a child to overcome a fear with a plaything, comprising the steps of providing a dispensing component, fixing in a tangible medium a story written for helping a child to confront and overcome a fear, providing access to the story in combination with the dispensing component, and directing an end user to read the story and to dispense using the dispensing component at select intervals during such reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: MS Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Larson, Katherine Larson, Robert Lawrence, Julie A. Fream, Douglas Graham, Janet Graham, Michael Simmons, Stacey Simmons, Charles P. Hines
  • Publication number: 20020112286
    Abstract: The aid for movement of a patient comprises a unitary tubular member of blown plastics sheeting having first and second open ends, and a unitary seamless flexible web extending substantially continuously and uniformly from the first end to the second end, the tubular member being arranged to lie flat under the weight of the patient such that opposed portions of an inner face of the web are in sliding contact with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Helen Upton, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 5685516
    Abstract: A wall hanger is disclosed for securing an object having a suspension element to a surface. In its basic embodiment, the wall hanger comprises a first and second portion and restrictive mechanism. The first portion has opposing first and second sides, a top and bottom, and a first bore substantially normal to the sides which is adapted to receive the shaft of a fastener. About the first bore on the second side is an annular seating region to accommodate the head of the fastener such that the head of the fastener presses against the seating region when the first portion is in a mounted position. The second portion has opposing third and fourth sides, a top and bottom, and a second bore larger than the head of the fastener such that the fastener passes through it. The first and second portions are contiguous at the bottom when in the mounted position such that the second side faces the third side to define an intermediate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: D247854
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Edmund Scientific Company
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, Peter W. Bressler