Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Healey

Thomas C. Healey 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: 5335873
    Abstract: A cassette (10) has a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has an exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable into opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Raymond D. Hulbert, Andrew E. Dominesey, Thomas C. Healey, Joel R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5332169
    Abstract: A method of preventing clockspringing of a web wound inside a cassette (10) having a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has a exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable over opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Raymond D. Hulbert, Andrew E. Dominesey, Thomas C. Healey, Joel R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5314134
    Abstract: A light-tight cassette (10) has an anti-clockspringing method for preventing clockspringing of a wound roll of web material (14) within the cassette (10) during storage and shipment. The web material (14) is mounted on a tubular web core (12) arranged to rotate about an axis within the cassette (10). Cassette (10) has at least one end cap (22) having a tubularly shaped hub member (34). Hub member (34) has a diametrically extending bar (38) for receiving an anti-clockspring means comprising a fork (44) having a central member (52) comprising spaced anti-rotation arms (42,44) for receiving bar (38). Fork (44), moreover, comprises at least one flexible latch finger (46) that latchingly engages the end cap (22) and a flexible lock finger (48) that is wedged between and into an annular gap formed when the hub member (20) is inserted into the web core (12) for locking the web core (12) against rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Joel R. Shaw, Thomas C. Healey, Mark J. Morse
  • Patent number: 5275346
    Abstract: An improved light-tight web cassette 10 is disclosed for holding and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The web cassette 10 comprises a tubular core 12 onto which a roll of web 14 material is wound. A jacket 16 surrounds the web roll and is provided with side edges 18. A pair of end caps 22 is provided, each end cap 22 having a central openings 28 and a peripheral recess 24 for receiving the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 in light-tight relation. A core plug 34 is provided for each end cap 22 which is adapted, when pressed through the central opening 28 into the tubular core 16 to an assembled position, to press and hold the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 into the recesses 24 of the end caps 22 in light-tight relation. Core plugs 34, moreover, holds the end caps 22 against the end of core 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Dominesey, Clark E. Harris, Thomas C. Healey, Raymond D. Hulbert, Joel R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5261623
    Abstract: A cassette for wound web material has an anti-clockspringing mechanism for securing the web against movement during storage and shipment. The roll of web material is mounted on a tubular core (12) arranged to rotate with the roll of material within the cassette (10).The cassette (10) has a jacket (16), end caps (22), and core plugs (34) for securing the end caps (22) onto end edges (18) of the jacket cassette (10). Each of the end caps (22) has a plurality of radially extending spaced apart stop (32). The anti-clockspringing mechanism comprises an arm (56) on the core plug (34) movable between a core-blocking position in which the arm (56) extends into a space between two adjacent ribs (32) and is retained therebetween for preventing rotation of the web roll, and a core-unblocking position on which the arm (56) is disengaged from the ribs (32) for allowing web rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Dominesey, Clark E. Harris, Thomas C. Healey, Raymond D. Hulbert, Joel R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5161685
    Abstract: A light-tight enclosure for storing and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material wound about a hollow cylindrical core having open opposite ends. The enclosure comprises a flexible opaque bag with opposite sidewalls extending between opposing rearward and forward portions and opposing upper and lower portions. Each sidewall has a central aperture therein congruent with each core end. The rearward portion defines a closable opening for receiving the roll. A shallow neck portion projects from the forward portion to an end thereof defining an exit slot for dispensing the web material. A collar fits tightly inside each core end, with an annular flange thereon facing axially outward. An annular ring is attachable to each collar in spaced, inward-facing relation to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Julie D. Stone, Thomas C. Healey, Paul J. Szwejbka
  • Patent number: 5159373
    Abstract: In use with a photosensitive web roll located inside a light-tight container having an exit slot through which the web is withdrawable, a flexible enclosure is provided for light-shielding a leading end portion of the web extending from the roll through the slot and outside the container. The enclosure comprises a flexible, substantially rectangular, opaque sleeve adapted to enclose the web end portion. The sleeve includes opposing top and bottom walls disposed in adjacent, registered, facing relationship and extending between front and rear ends and opposite lateral sides thereof. The walls are light-tightly joined together along their front ends and lateral sides, but are left unjoined and separable along their rear ends to provide an opening therebetween through which the web end portion can be inserted into the sleeve toward the joined front ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Robert A. Huber, Michael A. Evans, Jaime I. Waldman, Thomas C. Healey
  • Patent number: 5145066
    Abstract: In use with a photosensitive web roll located inside a light-tight container having an exit slot through which the web is withdrawable, a flexible enclosure is provided for light-shielding a leading end portion of the web extending from the roll through the slot and outside the container. The enclosure comprises a flexible, substantially rectangular, opaque sleeve adapted to enclose the web end portion. The sleeve includes opposing top and bottom walls disposed in adjacent, registered, facing relationship and extending between front and rear ends and opposite lateral sides thereof. The walls are light-tightly joined together along their front ends and lateral sides, but are left unjoined and separable along their rear ends to provide an opening therebetween through which the web end portion can be inserted into the sleeve toward the joined front ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Robert A. Huber, Michael A. Evans, Jaime I. Waldman, Thomas C. Healey
  • Patent number: 5105604
    Abstract: A light-tight enclosure for storing and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material wound about a hollow cylindrical core having open opposite ends. The enclosure comprises a flexible opaque bag with opposite sidewalls extending between opposing rearward and forward portions and opposing upper and lower portions. Each sidewall has a central aperture therein congruent with each core end. The rearward portion defines a closable opening for receiving the roll. A shallow neck portion projects from the forward portion to an end thereof defining an exit slot for dispensing the web material. A collar fits tightly inside each core end, with an annular flange thereon facing axially outward. An annular ring is attachable to each collar in spaced, inward-facing relation to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Clark E. Harris, Julie D. Stone, Thomas C. Healey, Paul J. Szwejbka