Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Pratt

Thomas A. Pratt 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: 7605720
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting, sequencing, and presenting traffic events to viewers. This may involve using a prioritizing scheme that estimates the proximity or relevance of the event to the viewers by associating the event with a geographic zone and the viewer with a localized service area served by a particular distribution points of the television content distribution system. In some cases, for each localized service area, zones are given priority values that are used when prioritizing the relevance of traffic events associated with those zones. For viewers in a given localized service area, a first zone may have a higher priority than a second zone, such that in prioritizing traffic events, events associated with the first zone are given a higher priority than events occurring in the second zone. Different zone priority schemes may be associated with a given localized service area at different times of day, week, or year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: The Weather Channel, Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Menzies, Jr., Chris McClellan, Robert L. Martin, Thomas A. Pratt, Bradley Shawn Grant, Catherine A. Wurst
  • Patent number: 6520736
    Abstract: An improved method of towing an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The method includes attaching a cable to the vehicle to be towed, lowering a tiltable carrier bed into a hinged position, moving the automotive vehicle to be towed partially onto the carrier bed, moving the tiltable carrier bed from the hinged position to a straight position, and moving the automotive vehicle to be towed onto the tiltable carrier bed such that both axles of the automotive vehicle are supported by the tiltable carrier bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20010038785
    Abstract: An improved carrier which includes a hinged bed in order to decrease the load or approach angle on vehicle to be towed. The carrier also includes a lock which can hold the bed in a flat or planar position as a conventional straight deck, and a cable guide which directs the tow cable along the surface of the articulated bed to avoid contact with the vehicle to be towed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt
  • Patent number: 6276890
    Abstract: An improved carrier which includes a hinged bed in order to decrease the load or approach angle on vehicle to be towed. The carrier also includes a lock which can hold the bed in a flat or planar position as a conventional straight deck, and a cable guide which directs the tow cable along the surface of the articulated bed to avoid contact with the vehicle to be towed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt
  • Patent number: 4421337
    Abstract: A bicycle and method of making same are provided wherein such bicycle has an improved system associated with its front and/or rear wheel which in each instance allows large and abrupt vertical movement of the wheel associated therewith while allowing the frame and bicycle rider to remain comparatively free of such movements. The bicycle may also be provided with an improved support structure for its pedal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt
  • Patent number: D281633
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt
  • Patent number: D281634
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pratt