Patents by Inventor Terry A. Rice

Terry A. Rice 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: 5730878
    Abstract: A waste-water treatment device that includes a coalescing plate separator (CPS) for receiving waste-water and for specific gravity separation of hydrocarbon fluids and particles having a lower specific gravity than water from the waste-water. The CPS includes a series of plates having holes formed in ridges, where the hydrocarbon fluids rise through the holes to the surface of the waste-water in the CPS. A skimmer skims off the hydrocarbon fluids from the surface of the waste-water in the CPS and stores these fluids in an oil/product recovery tank. A particle filter receives the waste-water from the CPS and filters out suspended solids from the waste-water. A granulated activated carbon filter receives the waste-water from the particle filter and removes organic hydrocarbons from the waste-water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Terry Rice
  • Patent number: 5651689
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly employs a connector position assurance device to detect and interlockably secure complete mating of a pair of electrical connectors. In one aspect of the present invention, the connector position assurance device has a yoke which traps a cantilevered beam to a locking member. In another aspect of the present invention, a connector position assurance device has a yoke and a flexible arm. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of mating, installing and disengaging a pair of electrical connectors and a connection position assurance device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Plyler, Terry A. Rice
  • Patent number: 5490802
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a terminal stuffer member for securely maintaining a plurality of terminal members within a connector body. The terminal stuffer member includes a plurality of flexible locking arm members. The connector body includes a plurality of openings adapted to slidably receive a corresponding plurality of terminal members therein. At least one wall portion of the connector body includes a plurality of recessed portions associated with the openings for the terminal members, with each of the recessed portions having a ramped portion associated therewith. When the terminal stuffer member is slidably inserted into a first, preloaded position, the locking arm members are slidably received within the recessed portions and therefore do not interfere with the openings into which the terminal members are inserted. Accordingly, the terminal members may be inserted into the connector body when the terminal stuffer member is in the preloaded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Plyler, Terry A. Rice, Chong H. Yi