Patents by Inventor Robert F. Thomas

Robert F. Thomas 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: 11877984
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a metered stream of saliva solution includes a delivery tube for drawing a saliva solution from a solution source; a pumping and metering device connected to the delivery tube for pumping saliva solution from the solution source through the delivery tube and delivering the solution to a user mouth, the delivery tube having a delivery tube upstream segment for extending from the solution source to the device, and a delivery tube downstream segment extending from the device to a delivery tube free end for placement in a user mouth; and a mouthpiece mounted to the delivery tube free end for engaging and securely retaining the delivery tube free end within a user mouth until released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11348419
    Abstract: An apparatus and system utilized in a storm shelter to notify rescue personnel that a person is in the storm shelter and needs assistance to get out. The apparatus comprises a tubular member, a cap at the upper end of the tubular member, a mechanism at the upper end of the tubing to signal rescue personnel and a mechanism to move the tubular member upward. The signaling mechanism is a light source with apertures in the tubing to allow light to emanate outward, reflective material, florescent paint and/or an audible source. The moving mechanism comprises a threaded rod vertically supported by a base with a threaded nut that rotates on the rod to raise the tubular member or it comprises a lifting mechanism that raises the tubular member. The system has an opening in the upper wall of the shelter and a removable plug apparatus that plugs the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7731397
    Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in suspendable structures and assemblies such as linear lighting fixtures/luminaires that are intended to be suspended from ceilings or other such structures. The housings of the assemblies are designed to include at least one structural member with prestressing in at least along a major longitudinal axis over at least a portion of the length of the member. Once the structural member is incorporated into the housing and overall assembly, the housing and/or assembly is substantially planar and uniform once the assembly is suspended, making the assembly both stronger and more aesthetically appealing. Other embodiments showing extensions to the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Litecontrol Corporation
    Inventors: Robert F. Thomas, Jeremy W. Yon, Michael F. Danahy
  • Publication number: 20090290364
    Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in suspendable structures and assemblies such as linear lighting fixtures/luminaires that are intended to be suspended from ceilings or other such structures. The housings of the assemblies are designed to include at least one structural member with prestressing in at least along a major longitudinal axis over at least a portion of the length of the member. Once the structural member is incorporated into the housing and overall assembly, the housing and/or assembly is substantially planar and uniform once the assembly is suspended, making the assembly both stronger and more aesthetically appealing. Other embodiments showing extensions to the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Robert F. Thomas, Jeremy W. Yon, Michael F. Danahy
  • Patent number: 6935968
    Abstract: A telescoping golf club includes a tubular proximal shaft segment; a tubular intermediate shaft segment telescopically and slidingly fitting into the proximal shaft segment; a distal shaft segment telescopically and slidingly fitting into the intermediate shaft segment and including a shaft distal end; a club head fastened to the shaft distal end; and a shaft segment stop structure preventing the intermediate shaft segment from sliding entirely out of the proximal shaft segment and preventing the distal shaft segment from sliding entirely out of the intermediate shaft segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5087159
    Abstract: An end cutting milling tool designed for rotation about a cutting axis and having a cutting end and a base end adapted for engagement by a means for rotation, the tool having cutting blades provided within and located at an outer boundary defined by a surface of rotation about the cutting axis, the boundary having a diameter D2 at the cutting end and a spherical surface at the cutting end having a radius of curvature with an origin on the cutting axis, the radius of curvature having a magnitude, R1, that is greater than D2/2 and is less than 50 times D2, the boundary having a flank portion extending from the cutting end toward the base end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: A. S. Thomas, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4654221
    Abstract: This invention relates to an anti-sticking additive for cooking fats comprising a salt of an oxyacid of phosphorus, or mixtures thereof. The salts are of the formula MX, wherein M comprises an alkali metal, alkali earth metal, mixed alkali-other metal, or ammonium, and X comprises a hypophosphate, orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, metaphosphate, or other similar anions. The cooking fat composition containing such a salt resists thermal darkening and off-flavor development during use. A method for reducing sticking of food during cooking comprises cooking with a fat composition containing a salt of an oxyacid of phosphorus, or mixtures thereof, as an anti-sticking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Purves, Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4524085
    Abstract: Cooking fat compositions containing pretreated lecithin which resist thermal darkening are disclosed. The pretreatment, which comprises the addition of water to lecithin dissolved in a minimal amount of fat followed by heating and filtration, results in a decrease in the thermal discoloration of lecithin with no substantial reduction in its anti-sticking properties. This enables the use of lecithin at levels in fats higher than for untreated lecithin to improve the anti-sticking performance of the fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Purves, Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4106355
    Abstract: A ramp device used to reduce wear on trojan bar dogs mounted on the ends of a trojan bar and to reduce wear on wheel lugs driven by the dogs. The wheel lugs are attached to wheels used in moving a self-propelled irrigation sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Inventors: Jerry H. Cox, Robert F. Thomas
  • Patent number: D324334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Thomas, John R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: D326052
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Beechuk, Ronald J. Zamorski, Robert F. Thomas, William M. Hart