Patents by Inventor Paul D. Miller

Paul D. Miller 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: 6270659
    Abstract: A fuel filter for an engine includes a housing having an interior space and is assembled into a fuel flow path between a source of fuel and the engine. The housing includes a passageway which has an inlet aperture which is used to control the delivery of fuel to either the engine or back to the source of fuel. The housing also includes a return-fuel passageway which is in flow communication with the interior space and is adapted to couple to the source of fuel. A filter cartridge is installed within the housing and includes an end cap with an air vent tube having an inlet opening. The air vent tube is designed so as to assemble into the passageway, so as to plug the inlet aperture. Once the inlet aperture is plugged by the air vent tube, the flow entrance to the passageway is raised from the inlet aperture to the inlet opening of the air vent tube. The plugging of the inlet aperture by the air vent tube allows fuel to be delivered to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismail Bagci, Byron A. Pardue, Paul D. Miller, Charles W. Hawkins, Wayne N. Harrington
  • Patent number: 6241579
    Abstract: System and method for locating and polishing a stain or protrusion on a surface. The stain or protrusion may be located by placing a plastic film between a portion of a human hand and the surface. The stain or protrusion may then be removed and/or polished by applying an applicator containing a plastic flexible tool to the stain or protrusion. The applicator may include a body made of flexible or compressible material having a cavity into which the plastic flexible tool is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Auto Wax Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Miller, III, Dennis L. Dehn
  • Patent number: 6237628
    Abstract: A water drain valve for use in cooperation with a fuel filter having a water separation capability includes a valve housing, a flow-control piston disposed within the valve housing, a first sealing grommet defining a water flow path into the valve housing, a second sealing grommet defining an air flow path out of said valve housing and a spring-biased control lever assembled to the valve housing and cooperating with the flow-control piston so as to rotate the piston from a drain valve normally-closed condition to a drain valve normally-pen condition. The valve housing is a unitary casting having a sidewall defining first and second flow apertures, one of which receives the first sealing grommet and the other of which receives the second sealing grommet. The flow-control piston includes a first part-spherical portion which includes a water drain passageway therethrough leading to a drain opening which is defined by the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Miller, A. Caner Demirdogen, Dwight S. Suiter
  • Patent number: 6210306
    Abstract: A collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks for providing an exercise device which may be hidden in the sleeping compartment of a semi-truck. The collapsible exercise walking device for semi-trucks includes a treadmill assembly. The treadmill assembly has a pair of opposite ends. The treadmill assembly is adapted for a person walking in place thereon. The treadmill assembly has a handle member rotatably coupled thereto such that the handle member may be selectively moved to a collapsed position. A rail assembly slidably moves the treadmill assembly. The rail assembly comprises a pair of elongate brackets. Each of the brackets is spaced and oriented generally parallel to each other. Each of the brackets is removably coupled to a floor of the sleeping cabin. Each of the brackets has a rail member thereon. The rail members generally face each other. A plurality of wheels is each coupled to one of the ends of the treadmill assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Paul D. Miller
  • Patent number: 6045693
    Abstract: A fluid filter for assembly onto a filter head includes a combination of features such that the assembly of the fluid filter onto the filter head establishes radial flow paths within the fluid filter. The filter head includes an externally threaded outer wall and includes an annular inner wall which defines a flow opening. The inner wall is shaped with a protruding portion and a substantially horizontal bearing surface. The fluid filter includes an enclosing outer shell and a filtering element positioned within the outer shell. A support spring is positioned in the base of the outer shell so that it is axially positioned between the outer shell and the filtering element. An internally threaded nutplate is assembled to the outer shell and threadedly engages the externally-threaded outer wall of the filter head. An inner seal is positioned between the nutplate and the primary filtering element and is designed so as to define a hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Miller, A. Caner Demirdogen, Byron A. Pardue
  • Patent number: 5996810
    Abstract: A fluid filter assembly which is constructed and arranged to threadedly mount onto an engine block mounting base includes an enclosing outer shell, a filtering element positioned within the outer shell so as to define an annular clearance space between the outer shell and the filtering element. A nutplate is assembled to the outer shell so as to close the outer shell and provide an internally-threaded mounting portion for attachment to the engine block mounting base. The sidewall which defines the threaded mounting portion is free of any flow openings therethrough. A seal arrangement including an inner seal positioned between the nutplate and the filter element and an outer seal positioned between the engine block mounting base and the nutplate is provided as part of the fluid filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Bounnakhom, Dwight S. Suiter, A. Caner Demirdogen, Paul D. Miller, Mike B. Lanius
  • Patent number: 5992395
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system having a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle, a vapor recovery system operatively associated with the fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation, and a hydrocarbon vapor sensor associated with the vapor path for sensing the fuel vapors in the vapor path, wherein when the vapor sensor does not sense fuel vapor during the fueling operation, the fuel dispenser determines the vehicle contains an onboard vapor recovery system. Once a vehicle having an onboard vapor recovery system is detected, the vapor recovery system is either shut off or adjusted during the fueling operation to minimize fugitive emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc
    Inventors: Hal C. Hartsell, Jr., Edward A. Payne, Paul D. Miller, Mark B. Tucker
  • Patent number: 5983925
    Abstract: A dirt free valve with a valve (12) of assorted sizes inside of a molded casing (16) with inlet (24) and outlet (26) to accomodate various sized pipe for the flow of different materials, with drainage holes in the bottom (20) and a cover (10) that can be removed by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Paul D. Miller
  • Patent number: D440579
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D415169
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D415501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D415777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D416916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D417226
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D420684
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D421612
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D422285
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D422604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D426555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix
  • Patent number: D429740
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Amy H. Wilson, Paul D. Miller, Cheryl Felix