Patents by Inventor Michael Wheatley

Michael Wheatley 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: 11957032
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen J. Etzkorn, Michael L. Steiner, Kevin W. Gotrik, Luke A. Schroeder, Nicholas A. Johnson, John A. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10428966
    Abstract: A hydrant includes a hydrant body defining an internal cavity; an upper stem positioned within the internal cavity; a lower stem positioned within the internal cavity; and a stem coupling securing the upper stem to the lower stem, the stem coupling comprising a coupling body defining a main bore that is circular in radial cross-section and sized to receive the upper stem and the lower stem; and a plurality of ribs, each rib extending radially outward from the coupling body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Channell, Michael Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20180223507
    Abstract: A hydrant includes a hydrant body defining an internal cavity; an upper stem positioned within the internal cavity; a lower stem positioned within the internal cavity; and a stem coupling securing the upper stem to the lower stem, the stem coupling comprising a coupling body defining a main bore that is circular in radial cross-section and sized to receive the upper stem and the lower stem; and a plurality of ribs, each rib extending radially outward from the coupling body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Channell, Michael Wheatley