Patents by Inventor Steven T. O'Brien

Steven T. O'Brien 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: 6093051
    Abstract: A conductive element for a low voltage outdoor light fixture including a body having first and second ends; a wire piercing element proximate the first end of the body, the wire piercing element extending out of the wire support surface; a light bulb mount proximate the second end of the body; at least one ear protruding from the body, wherein each of the ears forms an aperture with the body, the aperture opening towards the second end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6004154
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a lamp contact supported by the fixture and a lamp electrically connected to the lamp contact. The light fixture also includes an electrical supply cable for delivering electrical power to the lamp contacts and lamp. The light fixture also includes a breakaway cable connector connected to the light fixture by a tab and a cable connector receiver formed in the fixture for receiving and mechanically restraining the cable connector. The lamp contacts are electrically connected to the cable when the cable is positioned on the light fixture and the cable connector is broken off of the light fixture and snapped into the cable connector receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5979013
    Abstract: The present invention provides for noise reduction during operation of a portable blower by reducing the noise or acoustic energy escaping from the inlet of the blower housing. The noise reduction is achieved in one respect by placing sound absorbing material in a plenum attached to the inlet opening of the blower housing. Other features of the preferred plenum include louvered openings and angled engagement members to draw the plenum tightly against the blower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beckey, Steven R. Porter, Rodney D. Lund, Chadwick A. Shaffer, Steven J. Svoboda, Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5007855
    Abstract: A cable connector for a low voltage electrical system. A preferred connector (22) includes a pair of electrically conductive jumper elements (62a, 62b) with a pair of spaced sharp protrusions (66) that are electrically connected. The preferred connector (22) includes a cap (52) consisting of electrically resistive material with means for engaging the jumper elements (62a, 62b). The preferred cable connector (22) includes a base (24) consisting of electrically resistive material with a plurality of channel-like cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) for accepting low voltage electrical cables (36, 38). The base (24) is sized so as to nest within cap (52) and the cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) are sized so as to receive the sharp protrusions (66) so that the cables (36, 38) are penetrated by the protrusions (66) and the base (24) nests within the cap (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steven T. O'Brien, Jay J. Kakuk
  • Patent number: 5001611
    Abstract: A deck light (20) including a post (22), cap (24) and lamp/lens assembly (26). Lamp/lens assembly (26) independently attaches to post (22) and cap (24) so that lamp/lens assembly (26) can be removed and separately attached to a deck member; or, alternatively, either post (22) or cap (24), or both, can be attached to lamp/lens assembly (26) and the combination can be attached in a variety of ways to the deck. Preferably, lamp/lens assembly (26) is about 31/2 inches wide and about 11/2 inches deep so that it (either alone or in combination with post (22) and/or cap (24) can be flush mounted to various deck members in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment, a stake (100) can be attached to the bottom of post (22) so that fixture (20) can even be used as a stake light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Beachy, Jay J. Kakuk, Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4814961
    Abstract: A light fixture (10) including a bulb/lens assembly (12), a hollow post (14) and a ground stake (16). An assembly ring (18) having inner and outer "fingers" (104 and 106, respectively) securely connects the bulb/lens assembly (12) to the post (14). Bulb/lens assembly (12) includes a lens (28) which carries a plurality of louvers (40, 42 and 44). Some of the louvers include legs (46, 50) and slots (60, 62) so that the distance between the louvers can be adjusted to vary the appearance of light fixture (10) and the amount of light produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steven T. O'Brien, Jay J. Kakuk, Robert W. Beachy
  • Patent number: D310577
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jay J. Kakuk, Joseph J. Walto, Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: D314833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Beachy, Steven T. O'Brien, Jay J. Kakuk, Anthony N. Pink
  • Patent number: D389936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steven T. O'Brien, Anthony N. Pink
  • Patent number: D389937
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steven T. O'Brien, Anthony N. Pink
  • Patent number: D389938
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Anthony N. Pink, Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: D394725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Anthony N. Pink, Steven T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: D395726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Anthony N. Pink, Steven T. O'Brien