Patents by Inventor Robert K. Hughes, Jr.

Robert K. Hughes, Jr. 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: 20100135722
    Abstract: A traffic control assembly for marking roadways or other marking areas is shown generally having a base, a stake, a pin, a collar, and a flexible marker that extends substantially vertically from the base when in a non-impacted and non-deformed state. The pin passes through pin holes in the stake, collar, and marker when the traffic assembly is installed. The traffic control assembly has fewer parts and is thus easier to install and replace. The pin is in contact with the base to provide support to the stake and prevent it from listing when the assembly is struck by a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100094900
    Abstract: Defining a content package having media files and table of contents (TOC) data. The content package includes physical representation data and logical representation data for the media files (e.g., stored in the TOC data). Computing devices store, download, and play back the media files based on the data in the content package. Presentations (e.g., collections of files) within the content package are available for extraction based on a configuration of a media player. The media files are provided for presentation to a user of the computing device, or for storage by the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 7607870
    Abstract: A rotary tube notching apparatus capable of operable attachment to a powered rotational drive device such as a drill, is comprised of a surface mountable tube support assembly capable of alternately receiving straight or bent tubing; a height adjustable carriage assembly pivotally mounted to the tube support assembly to enable offset notching, and a shaft assembly rotatably mounted to said carriage assembly for receiving a cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7519616
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to providing timing references to multimedia objects that are reference by a separate document that contains elements that particular reference the multimedia objects. The elements are associated with other elements that may be part of another external document. The elements of the external document are grouped in time containers that describe when the elements are to be rendered, which describes when the elements of the separate document are to be rendered, and describes when the multimedia objects are to be rendered. Other documents may receive rendition timing from association with the separate document. An event listener element may be included in the external document that is responsive to events affecting elements in the separate document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Hayes, Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090022559
    Abstract: A rotary tube notching apparatus capable of operable attachment to a powered rotational drive device such as a drill, is comprised of a surface mountable tube support assembly capable a length of straight tubing to be notched; a height adjustable carriage assembly slidably mounted to the tube support assembly to enable offset notching, a turret assembly rotatably mounted to the carriage assembly to enable angled notching, and a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted within said turret assembly for receiving a cutting tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 7077599
    Abstract: A roadway marker has a pair of ramps, each inclining upward from a base toward the other. A slot is located between the ramps. On end of the slot is closed, while the other end of the slot has a pair of tabs that partially close the slot, leaving a gap between them. A flexible marker strip protrudes upward from the ramps and has a lower portion extending into the slot. The marker strip having a thickness less than the gap to enable the marker strip to be inserted into the slot from an end of the slot. The lower end of the marker is bent and extends into a lateral leg of the slot to prevent upward movement of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6732673
    Abstract: An anchor system for flexible marker posts comprises an anchor that receives a post before the anchor is driven into the ground. In one version of the anchor system, a V-shaped configuration folded along two longitudinal side axes and one lower lateral axis. This version has front and rear plates, and the rear plate has and combines with two flanges to define a narrow pocket that receives the post. The post is secured in the pocket by deforming the pocket with punches. The anchor is retained in the earth by mechanical interference and friction. Additional embodiments include plates that are pre-bent into a V-shape, tabs for maintaining separation of the plates, and a one-piece anchor having a V-shaped lower portion and coplanar, horizontal, upper surfaces connected to the upper edges of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Flexstake, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Hughes, Sr., Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6633725
    Abstract: A source image is encoded into a base layer and an enhancement layer. The base layer represents a standard definition portion of the source image and the enhancement layer represents a high-resolution portion of the source image. The base layer is stored on a first data storage track of a storage medium, such as a DVD, and the enhancement layer is stored on a second data storage track of the storage medium. The first data storage track may be a default camera angle track and then second data storage track may be a second camera angle track. The data is formatted such that a standard definition device will not read the enhancement layer data. A high-resolution decoding system decodes the base layer and the enhancement layer simultaneously to generate a high-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert K. Hughes, Jr., James H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6604485
    Abstract: An anchor system for flexible marker posts comprises an anchor that receives a post before the anchor is driven into the ground. In a first embodiment, a flat, rectangular plate of mild steel is folded into a U-shape with parallel upper and lower plates. The lower end of a post is placed within the anchor, and the anchor is driven into the earth with a bladed driver, the anchor bending into a V-shape along an axis defined by the blade of the driver. The anchor retains the post with friction, and the anchor is retained in the earth by mechanical interference and friction. Additional embodiments include plates that are pre-bent into a V-shape, tabs for maintaining separation of the plates, and a one-piece anchor having a V-shaped lower portion and coplanar, horizontal, upper surfaces connected to the upper edges of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Flexstake, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Hughes, Sr., Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5599132
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing easily replaceable reflective surfaces for highway barricade barrels. A plurality of plastic bands are provided for securing around the exterior surfaces of the barricade barrels. The plastic bands have outer sides through which a plurality of holes extends. Strips of a reflective tape are secured to the outer sides of the plastic bands. The reflective tape has an adhesive backing which is used for securing the tape to the outer sides of the plastic bands. Mechanical fasteners are passed through the holes to fasten the plastic bands to the barricade barrels. The bands are fastened to the barrels with reflective surfaces of the reflective tape facing outward, away from the barricade barrels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Flexstake, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5439311
    Abstract: A bendable marker for use in areas where the marker is required to be flexible is provided with a base and a marker post which are joined together by a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve has a plurality of evenly spaced ribs which extend longitudinally along the sleeve from an upper end to a lower end. The ribs are evenly spaced apart with a groove being formed between each of the ribs. The ribs protrude from both the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible sleeve. If the marker post is struck, the flexible sleeve allows the marker post to bend relative to the base. The ribs strengthen and enhance the resiliency of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Flexstake, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5277146
    Abstract: A flexible sign post for use along roadsides which allows a sign to be deflected when hit by a passing object. The sign post consists of a number of mounting brackets which are spaced apart and secured to a substantially rigid vertical sign post. Each mounting bracket has a mandrel over which an elastomeric sleeve is fitted.A number of substantially rigid braces are connected to the mounting brackets by the elastomeric sleeves. The sign can then be attached to the ends of the braces in a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Flexstake, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5077801
    Abstract: A foreground music sound system includes at least one complementary array of speakers (12) comprising a bass frequency speaker (20) and a plurality of microspeackers (14-18). The complementary speaker array may be designed to provide full frequency response with substantially uniform sound coverage for a wide variety of acoustic environments. A current amplifier (25) is responsive to a music signal input and a microphone signal input to directly drive the speakers. The amplifier (25) is a high current, low impedance amplifier so that it is capable of driving a large number of speakers, without the need for matching transformers at each speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4953218
    Abstract: A foreground music sound system includes at least one complementary array of speakers (12) comprising a bass frequency speaker (20) and a plurality of microspeakers (14-18). The complementary speaker array may be designed to provide full frequency response with substantially uniform sound coverage for a wide variety of acoustic environments. A current amplifier (25) is responsive to a music signal input and a microphone signal input to directly drive the speakers. The amplifier (25) is a high current, low impedance amplifier so that it is capable of driving a large number of speakers, without the need for matching transformers at each speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.