Patents by Inventor Thomas David Reid Ford

Thomas David Reid Ford 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: 11553825
    Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Paul Grandstrand, Alan Weeks, Jason Boyd Thorne, Thomas David Reid Ford, Claudia Joann Richardson
  • Publication number: 20220257078
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus, such as an upright vacuum cleaner, is provided wherein the upright section is moveable sideways about a pivot axis wherein the pivot axis is angled forwardly and downwardly. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is provided which is moveable sideways and is biased to the centered position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is moveable sideways and is provided with a detent mechanism to inhibit sideways movement when in the storage position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning apparatus is also provided which alternately uses a cleaning head adapted to receive a cloth or a traditional surface cleaning head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Boyd THORNE, Thomas David Reid FORD
  • Publication number: 20190216286
    Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Paul GRANDSTRAND, Alan WEEKS, Jason Boyd THORNE, Thomas David Reid FORD, Claudia Joann RICHARDSON
  • Publication number: 20170127903
    Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Grandstrand, Alan Weeks, Jason Boyd Thorne, Thomas David Reid Ford, Claudia Joann Richardson
  • Patent number: 9346569
    Abstract: A process for sequentially forming a plurality of enclosed containers (32) comprising a product, the process involving passing a continuous web (10), comprising a strip of container material having two opposing edges (4, 6), to a folding station (12), whereupon each open container is sequentially formed by folding the web, to bring into contact two contiguous edge portions (9a, 9b) from only one edge of the web, then sealing the two edges together to form a portion of the web into an open container, depositing the product onto the web so that it is held within the open containers, and then sealing the open containers to form the enclosed containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Reid Ford, James Robert Stirling Howarth, Adrian Michael Woodward
  • Patent number: 8945214
    Abstract: An assembly for implanting ocular implants into a mammalian eye is provided. The assembly generally includes a cannula having a curved distal end, an injector mechanism coupled to the cannula for linearly moving one or more implant segments in the cannula toward the curved distal end, and a rotator mechanism for rotating the cannula about a longitudinal axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Bhagat, Zoran Novakovic, Shawn Davis, David Mucientes, Thomas David Reid Ford, Richard Rhys Mathias
  • Publication number: 20140331445
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus, such as an upright vacuum cleaner, is provided wherein the upright section is moveable sideways about a pivot axis wherein the pivot axis is angled forwardly and downwardly. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is provided which is moveable sideways and is biased to the centered position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is moveable sideways and is provided with a detent mechanism to inhibit sideways movement when in the storage position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning apparatus is also provided which alternately uses a cleaning head adapted to receive a cloth or a traditional surface cleaning head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Boyd THORNE, Thomas David Reid FORD
  • Publication number: 20130133292
    Abstract: A process for sequentially forming a plurality of enclosed containers (32) comprising a product, the process involving passing a continuous web (10), comprising a strip of container material having two opposing edges (4, 6), to a folding station (12), whereupon each open container is sequentially formed by folding the web, to bring into contact two contiguous edge portions (9a, 9b) from only one edge of the web, then sealing the two edges together to form a portion of the web into an open container, depositing the product onto the web so that it is held within the open containers, and then sealing the open containers to form the enclosed containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas David Reid Ford, James Robert Stirling Howarth, Adrian Michael Woodward
  • Patent number: 7025349
    Abstract: Mail location apparatus for a postal meter is disclosed in which a required location of a mail piece to receive a postal indicium imprint is defined by guide walls which are engaged by adjacent edges of the mail piece when the mail piece is in the required location. A sensor is provided to provide an indication when the mail piece is in the required location. The sensor includes a sensor element having a face inclined to both guide walls. When a mail piece is inserted, a corner of the mail piece between the two edges of the mail piece engages the face of the sensor element and displaces the sensor element to output an electrical signal when the mail piece is in the required location with the edges thereof engaging the guide walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventors: Thomas David Reid Ford, Piers Harding
  • Patent number: 6752079
    Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a mail piece includes first and second elements, said elements having an open state in which the first element is spaced from said second element for insertion of a mail item therebetween into a required position and a closed state in which at least one of the first and second elements is displaced toward the other of the first and second elements to clamp the mail piece and further including mail piece retention means mounted on the first element and effective during displacement of the element to retain the mail piece in the required position to which it has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Collins, Thomas David Reid Ford, Christopher Michael Giles, Piers Sebastian Harding
  • Patent number: 6695497
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Patent number: 6447183
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Publication number: 20020114656
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Publication number: 20020001496
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: THOMAS DAVID REID FORD
  • Publication number: 20010020764
    Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a mail piece includes first and second elements, said elements having an open state in which the first element is spaced from said second element for insertion of a mail item therebetween into a required position and a closed state in which at least one of the first and second elements is displaced toward the other of the first and second elements to clamp the mail piece and further including mail piece retention means mounted on the first element and effective during displacement of the element to retain the mail piece in the required position to which it has been inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Peter David Collins, Thomas David Reid Ford, Christopher Michael Giles, Piers Sebastian Harding
  • Patent number: 6099107
    Abstract: An ink jet printer mechanism is disclosed in which a print receiving medium is supported in a clamp in a printing station and a print head is traversed through the printing station. A service station for the print head is provided adjacent the printing station and the print head is traversed to the service station between printing operations. The service station includes a carriage which is movable by a drive motor to bring capping and wiping elements into engagement with the print head. A mechanical linkage from the carriage opens the clamp when the capping element is aligned for engagement with the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventors: Thomas David Reid Ford, Piers Sebastian Harding, Stephen John Grimwade, Jonathan Kemp