Patents by Inventor Robert L. Smith

Robert L. Smith 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: 6021572
    Abstract: The invention is a hand-held self defense weapon having a protected stabbing point. The stabbing point is covered by a retractable cover. The cover may be slidably retracted into a body cavity by the pressure of the contacting object on a cover thrusting surface. The stabbing point, which is rigid to a grippable handle, is exposed by the retracting cover. An alarm is switched internally by the motion of the cover, eliminating manually switching by the user during emergencies. After use, the stabbing point is retained in a point guide which also acts to retain body tissue captured from the body penetrated. The configuration and dimensions of the weapon are such as to be comfortably carried in a person's hand and naturally employed in natural self-defense actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 6017005
    Abstract: A pipe hanging system supports a section of pipe on a flat mounting surface formed on a generally flat roof. The system includes a base having a substantially flat base lower surface cooperating with the flat mounting surface for distributing a load over a region of the flat mounting surface which is sufficiently large to maintain the maximum unit load per unit area within an acceptable limit. The base has at least one opening formed therein. A post has an end which is received within the opening and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the base. A cross-member is attached to the post and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the post. A threaded rod is attached to and downwardly depending from the cross-member.A yoke supports the section of pipe and is attached to the threaded rod for accommodating vertical adjustment of the yoke and the section of pipe, and for allowing limited relative transverse movement between the yoke and the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Portable Pipe Hangers, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 6002340
    Abstract: A configurable remote controller for remotely sensing the status(es) of one or more electrically-powered target systems and for altering the status(es) of the target systems in response. In one embodiment, the remote control device is coupled to a preexisting communication channel established between a command system and one or more target systems. A system administrator transmits control instructions over the pre-existing communication channel to the remote controller. The remote controller receives and processes the control instructions as well as senses for a change in the status of at least one of the target systems. If a change in status is detected, then the remote controller alters the status in accordance with the control instructions. The change can be a lowering of the voltage level in which disconnecting the one target system from the power source can be considered a form of altering the status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5987115
    Abstract: A call servicing system facilitates the servicing of customer calls by service agents. The call servicing system includes local customer switches, local agents switches, a network switch, and an Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) server. The local customer switches direct calls to and from the customers and the local agent switches direct calls to and from the service agents. Remote service agents connect to the local agent switches using a single standard telephone line. The network receives a call from one of the customers, detects information from the customer call, and routes the customer call to a remote service agent over the single standard telephone line. The ACD server receives the detected information from the network switch, determines that the remote service agent can service the customer call, and controls the network switch to route the customer call to the remote service agent over the single standard telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Robert W. Petrunka, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5886186
    Abstract: The subject invention features substituted N-heteroaromatic compounds, libraries of substituted N-heteroaromatic compounds, and methods of synthesis thereof. For example, the present invention provides methods for synthesizing substituted N-heteroaromatic compounds, and is particularly amenable to the generation of libraries of substituted N- heteroaromatic compounds by combinatorial chemistry. The methods of the invention generally feature the reaction of O-linked heteroaromatic N-oxides with nucleophiles to produce substituted N-heteroaromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Versicor, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Smith, Gnanasambandam Kumaravel, Donald E. Kuhla
  • Patent number: 5829718
    Abstract: A pipe hanging system supports a section of pipe on a flat mounting surface formed on a generally flat roof. The system includes a base having a substantially flat base lower surface cooperating with the flat mounting surface for distributing a load over a region of the flat mounting surface which is sufficiently large to maintain the maximum unit load per unit area within an acceptable limit. The base has at least one opening formed therein. A post has an end which is received within the opening and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the base. A cross-member is attached to the post and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the post. A threaded rod is attached to and downwardly depending from the cross-member. A yoke supports the section of pipe and is attached to the threaded rod for accommodating vertical adjustment of the yoke and the section of pipe, and for allowing limited relative transverse movement between the yoke and the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Portable Pipe Hangers, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5685508
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for hanging pipe including a portable weight distribution base (26), a frame (20) attachable to the base an adjustable yoke (40) attachable to the frame for suspending the pipe (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Portable Pipe Hangers, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5610368
    Abstract: A bulkhead mounting plate for EMI filter units formed along three of its edges into alternating fingers. The fingers can grip the inside and outside surfaced of an edge port or a notch in a box. The plate is shaped by a right angle bend of a fourth edge and perforated with precision mounting holes appropriate to any specified application. Fingers on the mounting plate are dimpled to concentrate spring pressure between them and the box to improve the efficiency of electrical contact of the filter to be mounted on the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Spectrum Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5550175
    Abstract: A solvent-free hot melt process, for preparing a non-thermosettable, pressure-sensitive adhesive from a tackified non-thermoplastic hydrocarbon elastomer. The process employs a continuous compounding device that has a sequence of alternating conveying and processing zones. The processing zones masticate and mix materials in them. Non-thermoplastic elastomers having high molecular weight may be readily compounded into adhesives in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Bredahl, Harold Leverty, Robert L. Smith, Richard E. Bennett, David J. Yarusso, Daniel C. Munson, Anthony R. Plepys
  • Patent number: 5539033
    Abstract: A solvent-free hot melt process, for preparing a non-thermosettable, pressure-sensitive adhesive from a tackified non-thermoplastic hydrocarbon elastomer. The process employs a continuous compounding device that has a sequence of alternating conveying and processing zones. The processing zones masticate and mix materials in them. Non-thermoplastic elastomers having high molecular weight may be readily compounded into adhesives in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Bredahl, Harold W. Leverty, Robert L. Smith, Richard E. Bennett, David J. Yarusso, Daniel C. Munson, Anthony R. Plepys
  • Patent number: 5508614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a test circuit and method for testing for short circuits in an MR head, merged MR head or piggyback MR head without contacting either of the shield layers. This is accomplished by a bridge circuit which employs part of the components of the head. The bridge circuit has four consecutively arranged branches which are interconnected by four consecutively arranged terminals. The first terminal comprises the substrate or one of the write pads and the second and fourth terminals comprise the first and second read pads. A signal generator is connected across the first and third terminals and a detector, such as a differential amplifier, is connected across the read pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Glen A. Garfunkel, Donald E. Horne, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5504115
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds which inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase (FTase) and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for inhibiting farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Deana, deceased, S. Jane deSolms, Samuel L. Graham, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5448793
    Abstract: A window cleaning device of the type having a handle, a head attached to the handle and a sponge mounted in a longitudinal channel in the head of the washer is provided. A net-like web envelops the sponge. The cleaning device includes an improved stiffener having an elongate body provided with a pair of shoulders extending along the body on both sides thereof. A plurality of protrusions are integrally formed with and extend outwardly from the shoulders on both sides of the elongate body. The stiffener has a pair of flanges one located at each end of the elongate body for locating the body in the channel and preventing movement of the body in the channel. The protrusions act to compress multiple portions of the sponge between the ends of protrusions and the channel walls which creates a plurality of highly compressed areas at these points adjacent less compressed areas between the highly compressed areas into which excess sponge can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Mallory Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Mallory, Richard McFadden, Gary Stover, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5371914
    Abstract: A window cleaning device of the type having a handle, a head attached to the handle and a sponge mounted in a longitudinal channel in the head of the washer is provided. A net-like web envelops the sponge. The cleaning device includes an improved stiffener having an elongate body provided with a pair of shoulders extending along the body on both sides thereof. A plurality of protrusions are integrally formed with and extend outwardly from the shoulders on both sides of the elongate body. The stiffener has a pair of flanges one located at each end of the elongate body for locating the body in the channel and preventing movement of the body in the channel. The protrusions act to compress multiple portions of the sponge between the ends of protrusions and the channel walls which creates a plurality of highly compressed areas at these points adjacent less compressed areas between the highly compressed areas into which excess sponge can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Mallory Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Mallory, Richard McFadden, Gary Stover, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5362906
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to farnesyl pyrophosphate analogs which inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase (FTase) and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention, and methods for inhibiting farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neville J. Anthony, Ta-Jyh Lee, Robert L. Smith, Gerald E. Stokker
  • Patent number: 5352705
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds which inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase (FTase) and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for inhibiting farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Deana, deceased, S. Jane deSolms, Samuel L. Graham, Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: D353865
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Pro-Down, Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: D366401
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Robert L. Smith
  • Patent number: RE36481
    Abstract: Novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and are represented by the following general structural formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1##
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Inamine, Otto D. Hensens, David R. Houck, Ta J. Lee, Robert L. Smith, Wasyl Halczenko, George D. Hartman, Gerald E. Stokker
  • Patent number: RE36520
    Abstract: Novel 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are useful as antihypercholesterolemic agents and are represented by the following general structural formula (II): ##STR1##
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Smith, Wasyl Halczenko, George D. Hartman, Gerald E. Stokker, Edward S. Inamine, Otto D. Hensens, David R. Houck, Ta Jyh Lee