Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Crippen

Thomas E. Crippen 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).

  • Publication number: 20220126746
    Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a body, a first connecting end and a second connecting end on opposing sides of the body, wherein the first and second connecting ends are coupled to a securing member which is used to restrain the cargo. One or more load sensors are coupled to the first connecting end and/or the second connecting end. A controller is coupled to the one or more load sensors. The controller is configured to receive tension information from the one or more load sensors. The controller includes a transmitter capable of transmitting the tension information to a remote device. The controller may include a database to store the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael C. Rainone, Samuel A. Sackett, Adam C. Vance, Scotty J. Bammel, Thomas E. Crippen, Brook Grisham
  • Publication number: 20220080876
    Abstract: A cargo restraint system a locking ring coupled to an extension tube, wherein the locking ring comprises an annular body and one or more tabs extending from the annular body. The cargo restrain system also includes a locking tube coupled to the main body. The locking tube comprises one or more grooves complementary to the shape and size of the tabs on the locking ring. The grooves of the locking tube inhibit rotational movement of the locking ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michael C. Rainone, Samuel A. Sackett, Adam C. Vance, Scotty J. Bammel, Thomas E. Crippen, Brook Grisham
  • Patent number: 11208027
    Abstract: A cargo restraint system a locking ring coupled to an extension tube, wherein the locking ring comprises an annular body and one or more tabs extending from the annular body. The cargo restrain system also includes a locking tube coupled to the main body. The locking tube comprises one or more grooves complementary to the shape and size of the tabs on the locking ring. The grooves of the locking tube inhibit rotational movement of the locking ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Rainone, Samuel A. Sackett, Adam C. Vance, Scotty J. Bammel, Thomas E. Crippen, Brook Grisham
  • Patent number: 11180070
    Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a body, a first connecting end and a second connecting end on opposing sides of the body, wherein the first and second connecting ends are coupled to a securing member which is used to restrain the cargo. One or more load sensors are coupled to the first connecting end and/or the second connecting end. A controller is coupled to the one or more load sensors. The controller is configured to receive tension information from the one or more load sensors. The controller includes a transmitter capable of transmitting the tension information to a remote device. The controller may include a database to store the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Rainone, Samuel A. Sackett, Adam C. Vance, Scotty J. Bammel, Thomas E. Crippen, Brook Grisham
  • Patent number: 10814773
    Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a body, a first connecting end and a second connecting end on opposing sides of the body, wherein the first and second connecting ends are coupled to a securing member which is used to restrain the cargo. One or more load sensors are coupled to the first connecting end and/or the second connecting end. A controller is coupled to the one or more load sensors. The controller is configured to receive tension information from the one or more load sensors. The controller includes a transmitter capable of transmitting the tension information to a remote device. The controller may include a database to store the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventors: Michael D. Rainone, Samuel A. Sackett, Adam C. Vance, Scotty J. Bammel, Thomas E. Crippen, Brook Grisham
  • Patent number: 8438957
    Abstract: A torque wrench includes a main beam having a distal end and a proximal end, a drive element disposed at the distal end of the main beam, a stationary beam having a distal end fixedly secured to the main beam at a first location on the main beam, and having a proximal end, and a displacement sensor assembly disposed at a second location associated with the main beam and with the stationary beam to detect an amount of displacement of the main beam relative to the stationary beam. The displacement sensor assembly includes an actuating element secured to one of the main beam or the stationary beam and a sensor rigidly secured to the other one of the main beam or the stationary beam and responsive to the actuating element. An electronic component is configured to generate a torque measurement based on the generated electrical signal, and store at least one of the generated electrical signal and the torque measurement for a several positions of the main beam relative to the stationary beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Brown Line Metal Works, LLC
    Inventors: James Wener, Michael D. Rainone, Thomas E. Crippen
  • Publication number: 20110132158
    Abstract: A torque wrench includes a main beam having a distal end and a proximal end, a drive element disposed at the distal end of the main beam, a stationary beam having a distal end fixedly secured to the main beam at a first location on the main beam, and having a proximal end, and a displacement sensor assembly disposed at a second location associated with the main beam and with the stationary beam to detect an amount of displacement of the main beam relative to the stationary beam. The displacement sensor assembly includes an actuating element secured to one of the main beam or the stationary beam and a sensor rigidly secured to the other one of the main beam or the stationary beam and responsive to the actuating element. An electronic component is configured to generate a torque measurement based on the generated electrical signal, and store at least one of the generated electrical signal and the torque measurement for a several positions of the main beam relative to the stationary beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: BROWN LINE METAL WORKS, LLC
    Inventors: James Wener, Michael D. Rainone, Thomas E. Crippen
  • Patent number: 7367250
    Abstract: A digital beam-type torque wrench has a main beam and a stationary beam having a distal end thereof fixedly attached at or near a distal end of the main beam. A sensing assembly is disposed generally at a proximal end of the main beam and includes a displacement sensing element carried by the proximal end of the stationary beam and a sensing element actuator disposed on said main beam. The sensing element actuator and sensing actuator cooperate to generate a variable output voltage, whose magnitude is proportional to the amount of flexure of the main beam upon application of torque upon a rotating element by the wrench. In one embodiment, the sensing assembly comprises a potentiometric rotary position sensor including an arcuate rack gear coupled to the main beam and engaged with a pinion gear coupled to the stationary beam, with rotation of the pinion gear in turn causing rotation of a potentiometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Brown Line Metal Works, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Rainone, Thomas E. Crippen
  • Patent number: 5181930
    Abstract: A beam adapted for implantation within a bone is able to support bending and torsional loading forces applied thereto. The beam has a stiffness defined by a modulus elasticity, which stiffness varies along the length of the beam to match the corresponding stiffness of the cortical bone adjacent the beam after implantation within the bone. The beam is made from an elongated core formed of continuous filament carbon fibers embedded in a thermoplastic polymer matrix with the carbon filaments extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam. Encasing the core is a filler molded to the core, which filler is made up of the same thermoplastic polymer as the core but contains no reinforcing carbon fibers. The filler provides the prosthesis with a shape generally conforming to the desired shape of the final prosthetic implant. A sheath formed of carbon reinforced filament fibers embedded in the thermoplastic polymer is wound in spiral formation around the filler and molded thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Dumbleton, Ruey Y. Lin, Casper F. Stark, Thomas E. Crippen