Patents by Inventor Robert Lamont Watson

Robert Lamont Watson 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: 6194664
    Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing a flexible cable has a series of alternating rigid and flexible segments that are fastened together to form a continuous support unit along most of the length of the cable. The rigid segments are preferably formed from stiff plastic while the flexible segments are formed from elastomeric material. The rigid segments typically have an elongated strip on one side of the cable, and a pair of front and rear, elongated tabs on the opposite side for clamping onto the cable. The strips and tabs have inner channels for accommodating the thickness of the cable between them. The flexible segments are soft but resilient sheet-like members that act as support hinges for the bend radii of the cable. Fasteners used to join the segments together. The cable is flexed at predefined flex points which are located adjacent to the flexible segments. The flex points do not move and are isolated between the fastened ends of the flexible segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Zamora, Robert Lamont Watson, Kenneth Robert Dust