Patents by Inventor Ralph Spencer

Ralph Spencer 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).

  • Publication number: 20050150811
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a product, in which the product includes a plurality of sides and a top. The method includes the steps of providing a wrapping material adjacent the product for wrapping the product. When wrapping the top of the product, a first upper corner of the product is engaged by the wrapping material. The wrapping material is laid across the top of the product from the first upper corner to a second upper corner of the product. The second upper corner is engaged by the wrapping material, whereby the wrapping material is secured across the top of the product. The wrapping material may also be laid across the top of the product from a third upper corner to a fourth upper corner and engage the third and fourth corners. The sides of the product may be wrapped before or after the top of the product is wrapped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: John Spencer, Ralph Spencer
  • Publication number: 20050139155
    Abstract: An apparatus for coloring landscape material, including a frame and a drum rotatably mounted on the frame. The drum includes a longitudinal centerline and a wall that defines a chamber. A plurality of projections are formed on an inner surface of the wall in the chamber. A colorant delivery system includes a dispensing structure extending into the chamber and defines outlets for emitting colorant. The outlets are generally offset from the drum longitudinal centerline. The colorant delivery system delivers colorant to the chamber, and the landscape material is tumbled in the chamber by the projections when the drum rotates. A method for coloring landscape material is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: John Spencer, Ralph Spencer
  • Patent number: 6202933
    Abstract: A transaction card carrying encrypted information for verifying that the card has not been forged comprises a card stock, a magnetic stripe storing account information, a printed or embossed account number and a barcode. It is possible, using conventional point-of-sale terminal equipment and magnetic stripe reading and barcode scanning hardware, to determine whether the account information on the transaction card has been forged. This is done by extracting the account number from the magnetic stripe using a magnetic stripe reader or by entering it manually, decrypting the information stored on the barcode and comparing the decrypted information to a representation of the account number information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ernst & Young U.S. LLP
    Inventors: Ralph Spencer Poore, Richard E. Overfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6006826
    Abstract: An ice rink installation having polymer plastic heat transfer piping imbedded in a substrate, such as concrete. The polymer plastic heat transfer piping extends throughout an ice rink and includes a tubular body having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The tubular body has a wall thickness of less than 8.5% of its inner diameter. In order for the tubular body to remain sufficiently robust with such thin walls, a plurality of vanes are positioned on either the exterior surface, the interior surface or on both surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventors: Ralph Spencer Goddard, Bradley John Spencer Goddard, William Robert Ullrich
  • Patent number: 4094350
    Abstract: A screw and complementary screw driver for use in relatively inaccessible places where, with conventional tools, difficulty would be encountered in locating the screw on end of screw driver in axial alignment therewith. Screw driver has a generally V-shaped screw engaging means having a root portion extending from screw driver stem, and a transverse portion interconnecting root portion with an oblique portion, the oblique portion extending obliquely to transverse portion. Screw has bridge portion with clearance passage extending under bridge portion to accept the V-shaped means, passage having clearance at inner and outer ends for insertion and removal of screw driver. Stop member is threaded onto outer end of oblique portion to draw screw driver into axial alignment with screw and to maintain screw on end of screw driver for all inclinations of screw driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Inventor: Ralph Spencer Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4091708
    Abstract: A screw and complementary screw driver for use in relatively inaccessible places where, with conventional tools, difficulty would be encountered in locating the screw on end of screw driver in axial alignment therewith. Screw driver has a generally V-shaped screw engaging means having a root portion extending from screw driver stem, and a transverse portion interconnecting root portion with an oblique portion, the oblique portion extending obliquely to transverse portion. Screw has bridge portion with clearance passage extending under bridge portion to accept the V-shaped means, passage having clearance at inner and outer ends for insertion and removal of screw driver. Stop member is threaded onto outer end of oblique portion to draw screw driver into axial alighment with screw and to maintain screw on end of screw driver for all inclinations of screw driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Inventor: Ralph Spencer Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4066394
    Abstract: Washing of clothes is effected in the presence of an insoluble substrate having bonded thereto an insoluble inorganic cation-exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive
    Inventor: Ralph Spencer Leonard
  • Patent number: 4033244
    Abstract: A screw and complementary screw driver for use in relatively inaccessible places where, with conventional tools, difficulty would be encountered in locating the screw on end of screw driver in axial alignment therewith. Screw driver has a generally V-shaped screw engaging means having a root portion extending from screw driver stem, and a transverse portion interconnecting root portion with an oblique portion, the oblique portion extending obliquely to transverse portion. Screw has bridge portion with clearance passage extending under bridge portion to accept the V-shaped means, passage having clearance at inner and outer ends for insertion and removal of screw driver. Stop member is threaded onto outer end of oblique portion to draw screw driver into axial alignment with screw and to maintain screw on end of screw driver for all inclinations of screw driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Inventor: Ralph Spencer Jacobson