Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Engel

Stephen M. Engel 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: 4952755
    Abstract: A safety plate for electrical outlets includes a cover plate having apertures therein for receiving the prongs of an electrical plug. A pair of slidable panels also having apertures for the prongs of a plug, are mounted to the back of the cover plate, and are held in place by a back plate. The back plate has a pair of holes therethrough corresponding to the receptacles of an electrical wall outlet, so as to allow a close fit between the receptacles and the slidable panels. A spring biases the panels so as to misalign the panel apertures with the cover plate apertures, such that there is no direct opening between the cover plate apertures and the receptacle apertures. A tab projects from each slidable panel through an opening in the side of the cover plate, to allow the user to push each independent panel against the bias of the spring and align the panel apertures with the cover plate apertures, and thereby allow insertion of an electrical plug therethrough into the receptacle apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventors: Stephen M. Engel, Wallace W. Weiger
  • Patent number: 4798916
    Abstract: A safety plate for electrical outlets is disclosed which includes a cover plate having a pair of openings for access to the receptacles of an outlet. A pair of slidable panels with apertures for the prongs of a plug, and are mounted to the back of the cover plate and held in place by a back plate with corresponding apertures. A spring biases the panels to misalign the panel apertures from the back plate apertures, such that there is no direct opening to the electrical contacts in the receptacles. The prongs of a plug may be used to slide a panel to align the apertures to access an outlet. A raised portion on each panel fits slidably within the cover plate opening and is flush with the prong surface, so that oversize plugs may be used with the safety plate. A gasket along the back perimeter of the cover plate seals any air leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Inventors: Stephen M. Engel, Wallace W. Weiger
  • Patent number: 4323897
    Abstract: A system which in response to a received signal, alters the transmit chareristics in a manner that cannot be predicted by any enemy attempting to jam the target detecting device and has no effect on the inherent probability of detecting a target. Any signal passed by the threshold of the receiver is processed and fed to the pulse repetition frequency generator and will randomly change the pulse repetition frequency of the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1970
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert A. Creighton, Stephen M. Engel