Patents by Inventor Thomas Anthony Braun

Thomas Anthony Braun 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: 7546857
    Abstract: A container insert having at least two primary pieces, wherein one of the pieces includes keying features that may be replaceable with other pieces having different keying features. A related single piece container insert includes multiple keying features formed on the interior and exterior surfaces of the container insert. A related coupling assembly includes a venting system that vents a fluid into the container after a valve in the coupling assembly, which is positioned in the container contents flow path, has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Richard Chadbourne, Thomas Anthony Braun, Charles Peter deCler, Brian J. Blenkush
  • Publication number: 20080011785
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for removing contents of a container from an opening in the container. The coupling assembly includes a container insert coupled to the container opening, the container insert including an insert passage, and an insert vent path extending through the container insert. The coupling assembly also includes a unit including a unit cavity, a valve assembly positioned axially therein, and a unit vent path. When the unit is coupled to the container insert, the insert vent path mates with the unit vent path to create a complete vent path extending from within the container to a vent port on the unit, and the valve assembly opens to place the insert passage in fluid communication with the first unit cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Braun, Gary James Harris
  • Patent number: 6161578
    Abstract: A high flow low spill quick coupling valve assembly is used to connect to pressurized, large diameter fluid lines. The valve assembly includes a female coupling and a male coupling, each of which defines a fluid passageway. The female coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a female coupling valve. The female coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a female coupling spring which is isolated from the female coupling fluid passageway. The male coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a male coupling valve. The male coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a male coupling spring which is isolated from the male coupling fluid passageway. Both male and female coupling valves are fluid pressure balanced to minimize the connecting force and opening force. The male coupling is inserted into the female coupling and is engaged with the female coupling to open the fluid passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Braun, Brian J. Blenkush
  • Patent number: 6082401
    Abstract: A high flow low spill quick coupling valve assembly (40) is used to connect to pressurized large diameter fluid lines. The valve assembly includes a female coupling (44) and a male coupling (42), each of which defines a fluid passageway. Both male and female coupling valves are fluid pressure balanced to minimize the connecting force used to lock the valve assembly and the disconnecting force used to unlock the valve assembly. The fluid spillage or leakage is minimized. All spring members (80, 104) in the valve assembly are isolated from the fluid passageways. The valve assembly also includes a plurality of static seals between inner and outer bodies of the male coupling and between an inner body and a fluid conduit adaptor of the female coupling, or between the end surfaces of the inner and outer bodies of the male coupling and between the end surfaces of the inner body and the fluid conduit adaptor of the female coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Braun, Brian J. Blenkush
  • Patent number: 6024124
    Abstract: A high flow low spill quick coupling valve assembly is used to connect to pressurized, large diameter fluid lines. The valve assembly includes a female coupling and a male coupling, each of which defines a fluid passageway. The female coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a female coupling valve. The female coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a female coupling spring which is isolated from the female coupling fluid passageway. The male coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a male coupling valve. The male coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a male coupling spring which is isolated from the male coupling fluid passageway. Both male and female coupling valves are fluid pressure balanced to minimize the connecting force and opening force. The male coupling is inserted into the female coupling and is engaged with the female coupling to open the fluid passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Braun, Brian J. Blenkush
  • Patent number: RE44310
    Abstract: A container insert having at least two primary pieces, wherein one of the pieces includes keying features that may be replaceable with other pieces having different keying features. A related single piece container insert includes multiple keying features formed on the interior and exterior surfaces of the container insert. A related coupling assembly includes a venting system that vents a fluid into the container after a valve in the coupling assembly, which is positioned in the container contents flow path, has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Richard Chadbourne, Thomas Anthony Braun, Charles Peter deCler, Brian J. Blenkush