Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Horton

Thomas C. Horton 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: 11978337
    Abstract: A thermostat and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor, memory, and a camera. To improve convenience, the thermostat may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the thermostat may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network and, under certain conditions, the thermostat may provide a video feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S. Horton, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 9090391
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin P. Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8794458
    Abstract: A container for storing matter provides a container body having a resilient flange protruding outward therefrom to form a seal between the container body and a mating closure. The resilient flange is deflected by the inner surface of the mating closure to form a first releasable seal between the closure and the container body. The resilient flange includes an aspect ratio of length divided by thickness. A second releasable seal is formed in some embodiments between the upper edge of the side wall and the closure when the mating closure is positioned on the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8544666
    Abstract: A container system for storing material includes a container and a mating closure having a tamper-evident ring frangibly attached to the closure. The container includes a neck having a container thread and an annular rim for engaging the tamper-evident ring when the closure is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the neck includes one or more retaining structures for engaging the tamper-evident ring during retort sterilization processing, packaging, shipping or handling. The retaining structure in some embodiments includes one or more ramps having multiple inclined surfaces. Each inclined surface is oriented at an acute angle between about five and about forty-five degrees such that the tamper-evident ring can slip past the retaining structure when a threshold removal torque is applied. A method of sealing a container using a tamper-evident container system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton
  • Publication number: 20130134057
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8376179
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20120067892
    Abstract: A container system for storing material includes a container and a mating closure having a tamper-evident ring frangibly attached to the closure. The container includes a neck having a container thread and an annular rim for engaging the tamper-evident ring when the closure is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the neck includes one or more retaining structures for engaging the tamper-evident ring during retort sterilization processing, packaging, shipping or handling. The retaining structure in some embodiments includes one or more ramps having multiple inclined surfaces. Each inclined surface is oriented at an acute angle between about five and about forty-five degrees such that the tamper-evident ring can slip past the retaining structure when a threshold removal torque is applied. A method of sealing a container using a tamper-evident container system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton
  • Publication number: 20080073310
    Abstract: The invention is a closure system comprising a container having a finish and a land located at the top of the finish. The outer wall of the finish, just below the land, is vertical and the land slopes downwardly, toward the outside of the container, at an angle of between about 1° and 10°. A band, adapted to be received onto the finish of the container, has a top portion and an annular lip extending inwardly therefrom. A disk, adapted to be inserted between the band and the container land, has a raised peripheral bead, the underside of the bead presenting a downwardly facing channel containing a gasket material. The ratio of the widths of the channel:land is in the range of about 2:1 to 1:1. When the disk is inserted into the band, a hook portion on the annular lip engages the top and inside edge of the bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister, Thomas W. Osip, Marc S. Velmer
  • Patent number: 7347337
    Abstract: A feeding bottle including an upper and lower circular-shaped cylindrical body portion having a first radius, a generally triangular-shaped cylindrical body portion intermediate the cylindrical upper and lower body portions, wherein said generally triangular body portion includes a first and a second planar wall and an arched third wall defined by a third radius perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis to provide a “V-shaped” section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company - Mead Johnson & Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Schultheis, Thomas C. Horton
  • Patent number: 4720771
    Abstract: An assembly including a lower heat sink and an upper heat sink which allows for affixation of a semiconductor to a circuit board with automatic soldering equipment and also provides the lower heat sink and upper heat sink sandwiching the semiconductor therebetween for firm, cushioned connection during assembly and for dissipating heat during semiconductor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas C. Horton
  • Patent number: D538179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Nancy Teppen
  • Patent number: D538180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Nancy Teppen
  • Patent number: H2199
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Thomas Osip
  • Patent number: H2200
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Joseph E. Schultheis
  • Patent number: D756778
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister
  • Patent number: D762118
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister
  • Patent number: D762476
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister
  • Patent number: D762479
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister
  • Patent number: D790343
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Marc S. Velmer, Thomas C. Horton, Patrick E. McCallister