Patents by Inventor Peter H. Hines

Peter H. Hines 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: 11897090
    Abstract: A tool including a wrench attached to an elongate shaft to open and close a subterranean stop and waste valve. The wrench may be removably coupled to the shaft by way of an attach mechanism. Sometimes, the attach mechanism can be configured to couple with the distal end of a commercially available valve actuation tool. The instant tool can couple with the actuating handle of the stop and waste valve at a plurality of orientations of the tool's handle with respect to the valve's handle. A preferred wrench includes anti-stiction structure to facilitate insertion and retraction of the wrench with respect to an access port for the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Peter H. Hines
  • Patent number: 9763810
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed relating to a mechanical vacuum socket pump used to establish a vacuum in a socket of an artificial limb. In one case, the pump includes a housing within which two pistons coaxially reciprocate. A surface of each of the pistons is linked hydraulically, such that driving one piston causes movement of the other piston through a hydraulic chamber. One piston is also linked to a pneumatic chamber such that movement of that piston draws air from a limb socket or expels air to the atmosphere upon movement of the piston's pneumatic surface. The surface area of the hydraulic surface of this piston is significantly less than the surface area of the pneumatic surface, so a small volumetric displacement of hydraulic fluid may cause a large displacement of air. Thus, the pump efficiently pumps air with minimal compression and extension of the pump as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE LP
    Inventor: Peter H. Hines
  • Publication number: 20160058583
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed relating to a mechanical vacuum socket pump used to establish a vacuum in a socket of an artificial limb. In one case, the pump includes a housing within which two pistons coaxially reciprocate. A surface of each of the pistons is linked hydraulically, such that driving one piston causes movement of the other piston through a hydraulic chamber. One piston is also linked to a pneumatic chamber such that movement of that piston draws air from a limb socket or expels air to the atmosphere upon movement of the piston's pneumatic surface. The surface area of the hydraulic surface of this piston is significantly less than the surface area of the pneumatic surface, so a small volumetric displacement of hydraulic fluid may cause a large displacement of air. Thus, the pump efficiently pumps air with minimal compression and extension of the pump as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Peter H. Hines