Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Ward

Thomas F. Ward 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: 20240059377
    Abstract: A shallow water anchor system includes a motor, a four-bar linkage displaceable by the motor between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a ground spike coupled with the four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage maintains an orientation of the ground spike regardless of a position of the four-bar linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas F. WARD, Joseph M. LASSANDRO, III
  • Publication number: 20230125631
    Abstract: A canopy extension system is cooperable with a support structure and includes a canopy arm securable pivotably to the support structure and a roller arm securable pivotably to the support structure. A roller is secured on the roller arm. A canopy is connected to the canopy arm at a distal end, is connected adjacent the support structure at a proximal end, and is connected to the roller between the distal end and the proximal end. A variation connects the canopy arm to a radar arch or the like with a spring-biased secondary canopy arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: John SHOTWELL, Thomas F. WARD, Justin BOGGS, Matthew HESS
  • Patent number: 11364800
    Abstract: A throttle pedal assembly comprises a base, a pedal pivotably mounted on the base, and a gear box coupled to the pedal. The gear box has a throttle wheel with a plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations and the gear box has a plurality of throttle cable mounting locations. A throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations, and the throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable mounting locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Marine Acquisition (US) Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas F. Ward, Mark Douglas Petro-Roy, David Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20200070656
    Abstract: A throttle pedal assembly comprises a base, a pedal pivotably mounted on the base, and a gear box coupled to the pedal. The gear box has a throttle wheel with a plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations and the gear box has a plurality of throttle cable mounting locations. A throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations, and the throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable mounting locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas F. Ward, Mark Douglas Petro-Roy, David Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9783384
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bi-modal roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the bi-modal roller. The bi-modal roller includes two ends and a rolling outer surface. The rolling outer surface is divided into a convex portion and concave portion. The concave portion includes at least one concave curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The concave portion is configured to, when a film physically contacts the concave portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition. The convex portion includes at least one convex curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The convex portion is configured to, when the film physically contacts the convex portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Ward
  • Publication number: 20160289035
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bi-modal roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the bi-modal roller. The bi-modal roller includes two ends and a rolling outer surface. The rolling outer surface is divided into a convex portion and concave portion. The concave portion includes at least one concave curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The concave portion is configured to, when a film physically contacts the concave portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition. The convex portion includes at least one convex curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The convex portion is configured to, when the film physically contacts the convex portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas F. Ward
  • Patent number: 5871100
    Abstract: Batteries are displayed for consumer purchase in a package which provides a means for spacing an electronic article surveillance sensor from the batteries contained within the package. By spacing the sensor away from the metal case of the batteries the interference typically caused by metal in close proximately to an electronic article surveillance sensor is eliminated. Two ways of accomplishing the spacing of the sensor from the batteries are disclosed. The first is a strip of cardboard placed between the surveillance sensor mounted on the side of the box and the batteries. The second is a specially designed box which has a box panel which divides the box into two compartments: one to hold the batteries and a second which creates a space between the batteries and the side of the box on which a surveillance sensor is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Ward
  • Patent number: 5823350
    Abstract: Batteries are displayed for consumer purchase in a package which provides a means for spacing an electronic article surveillance sensor from the batteries contained within the package. By spacing the sensor away from the metal case of the batteries the interference typically caused by metal in close proximately to an electronic article surveillance sensor is eliminated. Two ways of accomplishing the spacing of the sensor from the batteries are disclosed. The first is a strip of cardboard placed between the surveillance sensor mounted on the side of the box and the batteries. The second is a specially designed box which has a box panel which divides the box into two compartments: one to hold the batteries and a second which creates a space between the batteries and the side of the box on which a surveillance sensor is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Ward
  • Patent number: 5586657
    Abstract: A blister pack, particularly adaptable for use with batteries, is designed to incorporate a space for holding an electronic article surveillance sensor. The package consists of a blister of clear thermoformed plastic which has a thermoformed recess which holds the displayed product. The blister is then heat-sealed to a paperboard backing card which forms the backing of the blister pack. In order to incorporate the sensor the cavity of the blister is made deeper so the product is spaced away from the cardboard blister. This space is filled by a thin thermoformed thermoplastic tray. The tray has a surface which engages and supports the product, such as batteries, and a second surface which engages the card and a third surface which is spaced from the batteries towards the card which supports the electronic article surveillance sensor out of engagement with the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Ward, Grant W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5311989
    Abstract: The plastic blister of the package has a lip which is bonded to a stiff backing card to define a space for retaining one or more batteries. Portions of the blister overlie the positive and negative terminals of the batteries to prevent the rotation of the battery within the package. The portions overlying the negative terminal have protrusions which extend inward toward the negative terminal battery. The protrusions are formed so as to engage more tightly battery features of larger size, or to come into greater contact with certain batteries. These "progressive retention" features ensure rotation-preventive engagement with the positive contact nubbins. Thus, batteries of slightly differing size or end configuration will be retained by one or more retention features, as the size and configuration of the battery packaged within the blister is varied. Similarly, the portions of the blister engaging the positive end resiliently engage the negative terminal of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Ward, Joseph R. Kuehn, Stephen B. Studee
  • Patent number: 4747491
    Abstract: An easily accessible container is disclosed having a wrapping material wrapped around products or product holders and further having a pull tab for ease of removing the material. The pull tab may further act to bind ends of the wrapping material prior to removal of the material by consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Ward
  • Patent number: 4696402
    Abstract: A novel package having a perforated tear strip with openings capable of firmly binding at least one side of individual product units and a means for enclosing and securing the other side of the individual product units in order to prevent the product units from engaging in motion sufficient to dislodge themselves. As the tear strip is torn back, product units are released individually and the undispensed product units remain securely in place. Such novel packaging is easily opened, is space efficient and can be made visually appealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Harmon, Thomas F. Ward, Robert W. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 4091186
    Abstract: A spring contact is compressed against and electrically connected to a terminal of a dry cell battery, and the spring-like compressive force between the contact and the terminal is maintained by an adhesive. The spring contact and adhesive may be used with both single cell and multicell batteries. The spring may be situated between two cells of a multicell battery, with the adhesive adhering the two cells together and maintaining the spring-like compressive force between the contact and the terminals of the adjacent two cells. The terminal which is electrically connected with the spring contact may be a thin foil of metal, and the inner surface of the foil may serve as the negative electrode of a cell; the foil may be a metal selected from the group consisting of a zinc, magnesium, lead, aluminum and alloys thereof. The spring contact may have a burr where it electrically connects with the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: ESB Incorporated
    Inventors: John J. Ott, Thomas F. Ward, Richard D. Cyr