Patents by Inventor Samuel M. Drake

Samuel M. Drake 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).

  • Aircraft bag-rack with an illuminated handrail
    Patent number: 5422794
    Abstract: A bag-rack mounted on an aircraft ceiling has a handrail secured to a recessed lower front portion thereof by a mount which also spaces the handrail from the bag-rack. The handrail is dimensionally shaped to conform to the inner surface contours of a user's hand and the recessed portion is curved to accommodate the back of the user's hand when reach into the recessed area to grip the handrail. The handrail also has an electroluminescent panel light mounted in a channel therein. The channel and light are positioned so that the light illuminates the recessed portion of the bag-rack and back-illuminates the handrail. The back-illumination of the handrail and the color contrast between the bag-rack and handrail provide visual differentiation between the handrail and bag-rack as well as other nearby structures enabling the user to more easily discern the handrail from other vehicle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel M. Drake
  • Aircraft bag-rack with an illuminated handrail
    Patent number: 5347434
    Abstract: A bag-rack mounted on an aircraft ceiling has a handrail secured to a recessed lower front portion thereof by a mount which also spaces the handrail from the bag-rack. The handrail is dimensionally shaped to conform to the inner surface contours of a user's hand and the recessed portion is curved to accommodate the back of the user's hand when reach into the recessed area to grip the handrail. The handrail also has an electroluminescent panel light mounted in a channel therein. The channel and light are positioned so that the light illuminates the recessed portion of the bag-rack and back-illuminates the handrail. The back-illumination of the handrail and the color contrast between the bag-rack and handrail provide visual differentiation between the handrail and bag-rack as well as other nearby structures enabling the user to more easily discern the handrail from other vehicle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel M. Drake