Patents by Inventor Susan Nichols

Susan Nichols 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: 20220074593
    Abstract: A combination device (10) includes a lighter assembly (12) and a candle maintenance device (14). The lighter assembly (12) includes an assembly body (16) and a lighting system (18) that is coupled to the assembly body (16). The lighter assembly (12) can be a rechargeable lighter assembly. The lighting system (18) can be a flameless lighting system. The candle maintenance device (14) is removably coupled to the assembly body (16). The candle maintenance device (14) can include a wick lifter (36), a wick trimmer (38), and a flame snuffer (40). The assembly body (16) can include an outer surface (216S), and the candle maintenance device (14) can be removably coupled to the outer surface (216S) of the assembly body (16). Alternatively, the assembly body (16) can define an insert chamber (22), and the candle maintenance device (14) can be removably positionable within the insert chamber (22). At least one of the assembly body (16) and the candle maintenance device (14) can be formed from non-plastic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Patent number: 8205399
    Abstract: A portable dwelling for use on the ground is disclosed having an enclosure with an interior space so dimensioned to receive an adult human being in a reclined or laying position and in an upright sitting position within the interior space. The enclosure has a plurality of surfaces between the interior space and an exterior space capable of maintaining dryness of the interior space in the event of a rainfall. Wheels are attached to the enclosure to facilitate movement of the enclosure along the ground. The enclosure has a mass capable of being moved along the ground via the wheels by the single adult human being, and has an exterior profile so dimensioned to allow the enclosure to be moved along a sidewalk of a city without completely obstructing a navigable portion of the sidewalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Susan Nichols Ralston
  • Patent number: 8167777
    Abstract: A support block for supporting the weight of a user above a support surface during exercise includes a support body having a first side, a second side and a support edge. In one embodiment, the first side and/or the second side can be substantially planar and/or can have a substantially similar configuration as one another. The support edge can be substantially orthogonal at least one of the first side and the second side. The support edge includes a curved first section that rollingly contacts the support surface while the support body supports part of the weight of the user above the support surface. The support edge can form at least approximately a 30 degree arc of a circle. In another embodiment, the support body includes a beveled edge positioned between the first side and the support edge. In one embodiment, the support body can be formed substantially from an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20110107690
    Abstract: A portable dwelling for use on the ground is disclosed having an enclosure with an interior space so dimensioned to receive an adult human being in a reclined or laying position and in an upright sitting position within the interior space. The enclosure has a plurality of surfaces between the interior space and an exterior space capable of maintaining dryness of the interior space in the event of a rainfall. Wheels are attached to the enclosure to facilitate movement of the enclosure along the ground. The enclosure has a mass capable of being moved along the ground via the wheels by the single adult human being, and has an exterior profile so dimensioned to allow the enclosure to be moved along a sidewalk of a city without completely obstructing a navigable portion of the sidewalk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Susan Nichols Ralston
  • Publication number: 20080164745
    Abstract: A body support (10) for supporting a user above a support surface (12) includes a support member (16) that is formed from a resilient material. The support member (16) includes a substantially flat first surface (18) and a substantially flat second surface (20) that is angled relative to the first surface (18). One of the first surface (18) and the second surface (20) can have a continuously curved perimeter. The first surface (18) has a first surface area and the second surface (20) has a second surface area that can be similar to the first surface area. The support member (16) includes a third surface (22) having a first region (23) that is approximately perpendicular to the first surface (18) and the second surface (20), and a second region (25) that is non-perpendicular to both the first surface (18) and the second surface (20). The support member (16) can be substantially symmetrical relative to a latitudinal plane (28) that is positioned between the first surface (18) and the second surface (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20080096740
    Abstract: A support block for supporting the weight of a user above a support surface during exercise includes a support body having a first side, a second side and a support edge. In one embodiment, the first side and/or the second side can be substantially planar and/or can have a substantially similar configuration as one another. The support edge can be substantially orthogonal at least one of the first side and the second side. The support edge includes a curved first section that rollingly contacts the support surface while the support body supports part of the weight of the user above the support surface. The support edge can form at least approximately a 30 degree arc of a circle. In another embodiment, the support body includes a beveled edge positioned between the first side and the support edge. In one embodiment, the support body can be formed substantially from an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20070220673
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Patent number: 7137157
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20060162073
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Patent number: 7069607
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Patent number: 6961969
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20050241067
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20050125901
    Abstract: A head support (10) includes a resilient body section (16) having a body interior (20) and an outer layer (22), and a plurality of raised projections (18) that are positioned on the outer layer (22). The projections (18) extend away from the body interior (20). In one embodiment, the projections (18) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the outer layer (22) so that the projections (18) inhibit relative movement between the outer layer (22) and a surface (14) when the projections (18) are in contact with the surface (14). In another embodiment, the outer layer (22) has a first side (24) that generally faces the surface (14) and a second side (26) that is substantially opposite the first side (24). The body section (16) has a length (30), a maximum height (36) and a width (34). The width (34) is less than at least one of the length (30) and the maximum height (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventor: Susan Nichols
  • Publication number: 20050003173
    Abstract: A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Susan Nichols