Patents by Inventor Stewart McMillan

Stewart McMillan 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: 10518117
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a series of moveable vanes that extend inwardly from a peripheral wall of a base. The inner side of the vanes extends between ? and ? of the diameter of the central channel. The vanes rotate between a linear position, in which the vanes are generally parallel to the direction of the channel, and a vortex position, in which the vanes are significantly angled with respect to the direction of the channel. In the linear position, smooth bore linear flow is produced. In the vortex position, any of a range of fog patterns are produced. An externally mounted controller connects to the vanes and enables a firefighter to change the shape of the nozzle's spray without interrupting the flow. The controller and base have a series of pins that slide in a spiral groove and cause the shaper to move axially with respect to the base when the shaper is rotated about the base. Radial stems that ride in a circumferential slot translate that axial movement into rotation of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TASK FORCE TIPS LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Steingass, William D. Walker, Erin L. Roark, John L. Christos, Kimberly A. Hale, Stewart McMillan
  • Publication number: 20170100616
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a series of moveable vanes that extend inwardly from a peripheral wall of a base. The inner side of the vanes extends between ? and ? of the diameter of the central channel. The vanes rotate between a linear position, in which the vanes are generally parallel to the direction of the channel, and a vortex position, in which the vanes are significantly angled with respect to the direction of the channel. In the linear position, smooth bore linear flow is produced. In the vortex position, any of a range of fog patterns are produced. An externally mounted controller connects to the vanes and enables a firefighter to change the shape of the nozzle's spray without interrupting the flow. The controller and base have a series of pins that slide in a spiral groove and cause the shaper to move axially with respect to the base when the shaper is rotated about the base. Radial stems that ride in a circumferential slot translate that axial movement into rotation of the vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT W. STEINGASS, WILLIAM D. WALKER, ERIN L. ROARK, JOHN L. CHRISTOS, KIMBERLY A. HALE, STEWART MCMILLAN
  • Patent number: 9295863
    Abstract: A new haptic flow indicator has a spinner that is mounted for rotation and provides a discernable haptic feedback to a firefighter when liquid flow through the indicator falls in a selected range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TASK FORCE TIPS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stewart McMillan, David J. Kolacz
  • Patent number: 9138754
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a base nozzle with one size or type of orifice and one or more auxiliary nozzles with a different size or type of orifice that a firefighter can easily see. A firefighter can swing the auxiliary nozzle into series with the base nozzle to change the flow. A springy element biases a locking element on the auxiliary nozzle from a retracted position toward an extended position in which it locks the auxiliary nozzle in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TASK FORCE TIPS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert W. Steingass, Stewart McMillan, Gene Spencer, David J. Kolacz
  • Publication number: 20150246254
    Abstract: A new haptic flow indicator has a spinner that is mounted for rotation and provides a discernable haptic feedback to a firefighter when liquid flow through the indicator falls in a selected range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TASK FORCE TIPS, INC.
    Inventors: Stewart McMillan, David J. Kolacz
  • Publication number: 20130256427
    Abstract: A new firefighting nozzle has a base nozzle with one size or type of orifice and one or more auxiliary nozzles with a different size or type of orifice that a firefighter can easily see. A firefighter can swing the auxiliary nozzle into series with the base nozzle to change the flow. A springy element biases a locking element on the auxiliary nozzle from a retracted position toward an extended position in which it locks the auxiliary nozzle in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TASK FORCE TIPS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert W. Steingass, Stewart McMillan, Gene Spencer, David J. Kolacz
  • Publication number: 20050133618
    Abstract: A telescoping waterway for adjusting the height of a firefighting monitor is disclosed. The telescoping waterway includes a hollow outer tube, a hollow inner tube within the hollow outer tube, and an actuator that moves the hollow inner tube relative to the hollow outer tube, wherein the hollow inner tube can be maintained in at least one intermediate position between a retracted position and a fully extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Steingass, Stewart McMillan, Larry Shepard
  • Patent number: 6354320
    Abstract: A firefighting monitor having an acceleration sensitive shut off valve that responds to acceleration of the monitor to reduce water flow through the monitor. The acceleration sensitive shut off valve is self-contained and requires no contact with an external surface or device. The valve closing speed may be modulated by a dampener device that slows the rate at which the valve closes to avoid damage from water hammer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Task Force Tips, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kolacz, Ross Mack, Stewart McMillan, Robert W. Steingass