Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Finch
Thomas E. Finch 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: 7121575Abstract: A motorcycle trailer with an aerodynamic storage compartment and a two-wheel independent suspension. Swing arm suspensions for the wheels include swing arms pivotally mounted to the trailer above the wheel axle, wherein the swing arms are supported by wheel suspension shock absorbers. A suspension spring supported hitch design enables the motorcycle to rapidly move up and down independently of the trailer pitch velocity to reduce affecting the motorcycle. The aerodynamic storage compartment, the wheel suspension, and the suspension spring supported hitch help maintain a smooth ride for the motorcycle pulling the trailer and reduce the aerodynamic drag and associated fuel consumption and rear tire wear of the motorcycle, and the motorcycle aft frame fatigue.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Inventor: Thomas E. Finch
-
Patent number: 6543854Abstract: An improved leg rest hinge structure for a wheelchair that is both strong and easily manipulated. The hinge structure includes a hinge post inversely mounted to a hinge cap which retains the leg tube and foot plate of the leg rest. The hinge post is removably and rotationally inserted into a cylindrical socket fixed to the frame of the wheelchair. A flat land is formed on the exterior circumference of the cylindrical socket that engages either a matching land formed on the underside of the hinge cap or a spring loaded pivot plate fixed on the hinge cap adjacent the hinge post. The structure provides a rugged single post hinge point and an easily manipulated mechanism for releasing the leg rest for rotating it to the side and out of the way.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Teftec CorporationInventor: Thomas E. Finch
-
Patent number: 6527340Abstract: A tilt seat mechanism for a wheelchair that includes a base frame and a seat frame that are nested and parallel in a first position and separated and angled in a second position. The seat frame is rotated about a pivot on the base frame by an electrically driven jackscrew. The drive linkage comprises a crossbar connected to the end of the jackscrew and a pair of tee-head connecting links that move with the crossbar. The ends of the crossbar move in channels on the base frame and pivotally connect to the tee-head links. The connecting links are pivotally attached to a bracket fixed on the seat frame. As the jackscrew turns it moves the crossbar and connecting links out from a closed position. This movement results in the lifting of the seat platform to a reclining position with respect to the horizontal base frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Teftec CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Finch, James E. Finch
-
Patent number: 6220616Abstract: An arm rest assembly for a wheelchair movable between a lowered position suitable for resting an arm thereon and a raised position suitable for gaining access to the seat of the wheelchair. The arm rest assembly comprises two generally parallel arm elements, each of which are pivotally attached to the wheelchair frame at a point adjacent to the back of the wheelchair. The lower arm element is linked to the upper arm element by way of a sliding pin positioned within a longitudinal slot in the upper arm element. One end of the longitudinal slot includes an angled segment into which the sliding pin falls when the arm rest assembly is in a lowered position. This angled segment of the slot locks the two arm elements into a parallel configuration and prevents their rotation with respect to the attachment points on the wheelchair.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Teftec CorporationInventor: Thomas E. Finch
-
Patent number: 5823723Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the securement of the wheels of a wheeled vehicle, such as a power wheelchair, to the floor or bed of a transport vehicle having tension connection anchors in the floor respectively vertically below the desired position of the wheels, comprises a hubcap securable to each wheel, a connector plate slidably mountable on each hubcap and a tensile connection such as a strap, cable, chain or the like adjustably secured between each connector plate and a vertically adjacent tension connection anchor.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: TEFTEC CorporationInventor: Thomas E. Finch
-
Patent number: 5809612Abstract: A assemblage for mounting a caster wheel on a depending stationary post on a wheeled load carrier comprises a body element having a cylindrical chamber concentrically surrounding the support post. The body element has a bracket for mounting a caster wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis. A vertical stack of washers surround the support post and alternate ones of such washers are secured to the support post and rotatable within the cylindrical chamber while the remainder of such washers are co-rotatable with the body element about the axis of the support post. The cylindrical chamber is filled with a lubricating fluid to a sufficient depth to cover all abutting surfaces of said washers, thereby providing viscous fluid shearing resistance to shimmying movement of the caster wheel relative to the support post. To maintain the friction between the support post and body element independent of the amount of load, anti-friction thrust bearings are provided between the support post and the body element.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: TEFTEC CorporationInventor: Thomas E. Finch
-
Patent number: 5772237Abstract: A suspension system for the ground engaging powered and/or caster wheels of a power wheelchair utilizes three links, two of which are universally pivotally connected between the frame of the wheelchair and a wheel mounting transaxle housing or subframe so that the wheels can tilt relative to the frame of the wheelchair in a vertical plane. A third link is connected between the vehicle frame and the wheel mounting structure which can only pivot in a vertical plane, thus restraining the wheels from any lateral displacement relative to the vehicle frame. Fluid cylinders operable between the links and the vehicle frame provide cushioning of the frame and also, by subtraction of fluid from the fluid cylinders, can lower the entire frame of the wheelchair relative to the ground engaging wheels to permit the wheelchair and occupant to drive into the side door opening of a conventional van.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Teftec CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Finch, James A. Finch
-
Patent number: 5722501Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle having two primary ground engaging wheels operatively connected to a driving motor by an automatic transmission and to a steering motor by a shiftable bevel gear which permits opposite variations in rotational speed of the ground engaging wheels.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1996Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Teftec CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Finch, James A. Finch
-
Patent number: 5299760Abstract: An improved S-duct for turbo-jet engined aircraft. The present invention allows a high volume of high energy air to traverse the S-duct at a high pressure recovery ratio.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1992Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignee: The Dee Howard CompanyInventors: Thomas E. Finch, Enrico Cavatorta, William Paschal
-
Patent number: 5275248Abstract: A power-driven and steered wheelchair comprises a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted in laterally-spaced relationship to a frame carrying a seat for an occupant and supporting the power source and a transaxle transmission for imparting parting both driving and steering power to the ground-engaging wheels. Steering is accomplished by employing separate planetary drive mechanisms for each of the primary ground-engaging wheels and imparting rotation in opposite directions to the ring gears of such planetary drive mechanisms to effect the rotation of one wheel at a greater speed than the other wheel in either a forward or rearward direction, thus producing power steering of the wheelchair.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1993Date of Patent: January 4, 1994Inventors: Thomas E. Finch, James A. Finch
-
Patent number: 5097661Abstract: To eliminate the fish-mouth geometry at the downstream portion of a thrust reverser fitted jet engine which results from the formation of substantially arcuate notches when the thrust reverser doors are stowed, moveable flaps are positioned in close proximity to the doors such that when the doors are in their stowed position, the flaps would fill, at least partially, the arcuate notches to effect a substantially planar exit opening, thereby substantially eliminating the fish-mouth geometry. Moreover, the flaps can be used to effect a uniform thickness for the exit opening of the jet engine by each having a shape corresponding to that of the corresponding arcuate notch; and the principal outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the flaps provide continuity with the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces, respectively, of the doors, with the ends of the flaps have trailing edge which have thicknesses similar to those of the trailing edges of the doors.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1989Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: The Dee Howard CompanyInventors: Jean-Pierre Lair, Etienne Fage, Thomas E. Finch