Patents by Inventor Stephen E. Thomas

Stephen E. 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).

  • Publication number: 20250146192
    Abstract: An overall process of providing information needed for a circular loom to produce articles of clothing on demand is disclosed. Initially body data or measurements are generated for a person by scanning with a camera or other image capture device or estimated based on user-input body parameters. Measurements are extracted from the body data which are then processed with linear regression and other parameter extraction techniques. The extracted measurements are then processed. The resulting panel shapes are used to automatically produce the article of clothing as woven output with the loom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: UNSPUN, INC
    Inventors: Stephen E. THOMA, Oras PHONGPANANGAM, Kevin P. MARTIN, Brian J. GORMLEY
  • Patent number: 6102549
    Abstract: A portable lighting system comprised of a plug-in lamp and a rechargeable power pack having a single phone jack and two parallel circuits to the battery. When upright, a discharge circuit containing a mercury switch connects the battery to the lamp. When inverted, the discharge circuit is opened and the parallel circuit containing a diode allows current to only pass into the battery from the jack coupled to a battery charger. The system will provide light to table surfaces for commercial use such as restaurants, retirement homes as well as in private homes, such as for swimming pool areas and nurseries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5909954
    Abstract: A reflective shade for an electric table lamp includes a conventional frustrum shape but with removeable translucent plastic disks spanning the top opening for reflecting the light back down toward the table top and for transmitting colored light for creating an ambiance in the environment. The disks attached to the shade are supported on a cylindrical chimney and the lower disk may fit within the chimney to center the shade on the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5537090
    Abstract: A truck tire/wheel assembly detection system in which the moving thermal dynamics of a truck are measured before cooling off, by passing over and around contact or non-contact thermometers directed toward the tire/wheel assembly and transmits the approximate temperature of each tire/wheel assembly to a computer which will compares the output data and identifies each abnormally overheated tire/wheel assembly and print out location on rig and other information that may be required. A modem controlled by the computer is used to advise other interested parties of rig condition at this check out point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4764853
    Abstract: An imitation candle type of table lighting fixture contains one or more rechargeable batteries. While the lamp is in its holder, the battery is continously coupled to the small light bulb. The battery is recharged by removing the candle from the holder and plugging it into a recharging unit having a phone plug extending into a jack centered in the bottom of the candle. The insertion of the plug into the jack opens the light bulb circuit and forms a charging circuit through the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4761577
    Abstract: A wheel mounted hub containing an electrical generator which is pivotally supported in arms of a yoke. The yoke and generator have an offset center of gravity, tending to give the yoke and generator a pendulum-like behavior within the housing. During wheel rotation, the generator tends to remain along a gravitational line of force, forcing a small wheel associated with the generator to turn against the hub. Around the outer periphery of the yoke, yet within the hub housing, is a circuit board which carries a power utilization circuit, so that the electrical path between the generator and the utilization circuit is very short. The circuit board may carry auxiliary circuits such as a current limiter, a generator disengaging circuit, a daylight deactivating circuit and a circuit for allowing operation regardless of direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4644203
    Abstract: A generator assembly characterized by a pair of plates driven in opposite directions, and a pair of generators each engaged with one of the rotating plates. The generators are attached to a generator support bearing supported by a central shaft that is rigidly attached to a first plate and which is rotatably coupled to a second plate. A third plate and a drive gear are used to rotate the second plate in a direction opposite to that of the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4539496
    Abstract: A generator assembly characterized by a hubcap and an elongated arm attached at a first end to a central portion of the hubcap such that it may freely rotate therein. A generator is attached to the second end of the arm which is operative to produce electrical power as the hubcap rotates. Because of the generator's offset position there is a "step-up" effect of the mechanical power supplied to the generator, thus increasing the electrical power developed by the generator. The elongated arm can also be attached to the wheel lugs of the wheel by a suitable frame, or may be manufactured as an integral part of a wheel or hubcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4531112
    Abstract: A tire pressure transmitting apparatus characterized by an elongated antenna having a first end coupled within a wheel and a second end biased towards the wheel such that the antenna is positioned substantially within the circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force being exerted on it. As the wheel rotates, centrifugal force causes the second end of the antenna to move to a transmitting position within the void of the tire. The antenna is safely biased to a non-transmitting position as the wheel stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Inventor: Stephen E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4429232
    Abstract: A generator characterized by a circular track attached to the relieved circumferential surface of a wheel, a carriage coupled to the track by rotary bearings, a generator supported by the carriage, and a clutch wheel coupling an armature of the generator to the track. The track, which preferably has a T shaped cross section, has a driving surface which causes the clutch wheel to rotate when there is relative motion between the track and the carriage and/or between the carriage and the air within the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4405872
    Abstract: Both a method and an apparatus for generating electrical energy from the rotation of a wheel are disclosed. The apparatus is disposed within a pneumatic tire of a non-magnetic wheel and includes a non-magnetic support track circumferentially attached around the wheel, at least one coil positioned along the track, a magnet slidably engaging the track, and an actuator attached to the magnet for developing a drag upon the magnet to cause relative motion between the magnet and coil as the wheel is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Inventor: Stephen E. Thomas