Patents by Inventor Thomas Ford

Thomas 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).

  • Publication number: 20240110149
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-naturally occurring C. autoethanogenum adapted to electrolyzer off-gas feedstock conditions that possess increased growth rates when compared to naturally occurring naturally occurring C. autoethanogenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Leah Renae FORD, Michael Thomas GUARNIERI, Michael G. RESCH, Lauren Rae MAGNUSSON
  • Publication number: 20220395427
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a massage gun to a massage cane includes a support platform for supporting the massage gun, the support platform comprising a fastening mechanism for fastening the massage gun to the support platform. The apparatus also includes a base for attaching the apparatus to the massage cane. The apparatus further includes a separating structure for connecting the base to the support platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Hunter Thomas FORD, Robert FERER, Grant Amaral DRAPER
  • Publication number: 20200329930
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Adam UDY, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWES, Wenxiu GAO, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Thomas FORD, Owen R. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10702108
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Adam Udy, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, Jason Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Thomas Ford, Owen R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10101988
    Abstract: A dynamic firmware update process includes finding an updated version of a dynamic data-object in firmware memory. A callback handle for an in-use version of the dynamic data object in use by a consumer is identified. The consumer of updated version of dynamic data object is notified using the callback handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: Thomas Ford, Derek Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20150355897
    Abstract: A dynamic firmware update process includes finding an updated version of a dynamic data-object in firmware memory. A callback handle for an in-use version of the dynamic data object in use by a consumer is identified. The consumer of updated version of dynamic data object is notified using the callback handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Ford, Derek Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8626424
    Abstract: An engine control system of the present disclosure comprises a target speed module and a coupling module. The target speed module determines a target speed of a vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle and at least one of an accelerator input and a speed control input. The coupling module controls coupling of an engine system and a drive system of the vehicle based on the speed and the target speed. The engine system transfers torque to the drive system when coupled and does not transfer torque to the drive system when decoupled. In other features, the engine control system further comprises a torque control module that controls torque output by the engine system based on the coupling of the engine system and the drive system, the speed, and the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jayson S. Schwalm, Steven Thomas Ford, John J. Koenig
  • Patent number: 8601128
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating computer hardware resources of a hard partition of a computer server system to one or more soft partitions. In response to a partitioning request, a nucleus firmware instance of a hard partition may be configured to launch a separate firmware instance corresponding to each requested soft partition, and to allocate partitionable hardware resources of the hard partition to the soft partitions by allocating the hardware resources to each separate firmware instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Ford, Khoa D. Nguyen, Richard D. Powers
  • Patent number: 8595362
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subdividing a hard partition of a computer server system into one or more soft partitions using partition management programming installed within firmware of the server system. The partition management firmware may be disposed at least partially on a central service processor and may be programmed to present generic interfaces, so that operating systems do not require modification to interface with the partition management programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Ford, John A. Morrison, Michael S. Allison, Richard D. Powers
  • Patent number: 8375606
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Ford
  • Publication number: 20120210610
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: THOMAS FORD
  • Patent number: 8166676
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Ford
  • Patent number: 8082543
    Abstract: A computer system is provided that comprises a processor and firmware in communication with the processor, the firmware having updatable components and an arbitrator. The arbitrator manages conflicts between error handling and firmware updates performed within the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas Ford
  • Publication number: 20110227013
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS FORD
  • Patent number: 7963051
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having a opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Ford
  • Publication number: 20110145412
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subdividing a hard partition of a computer server system into one or more soft partitions using partition management programming installed within firmware of the server system. The partition management firmware may be disposed at least partially on a central service processor and may be programmed to present generic interfaces, so that operating systems do not require modification to interface with the partition management programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas FORD, John A. Morrison, Michael S. Allison, Richard D. Powers
  • Publication number: 20110145411
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating computer hardware resources of a hard partition of a computer server system to one or more soft partitions. In response to a partitioning request, a nucleus firmware instance of a hard partition may be configured to launch a separate firmware instance corresponding to each requested soft partition, and to allocate partitionable hardware resources of the hard partition to the soft partitions by allocating the hardware resources to each separate firmware instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas FORD, Khoa D. NGUYEN, Richard D. POWERS
  • Publication number: 20110035135
    Abstract: An engine control system of the present disclosure comprises a target speed module and a coupling module. The target speed module determines a target speed of a vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle and at least one of an accelerator input and a speed control input. The coupling module controls coupling of an engine system and a drive system of the vehicle based on the speed and the target speed. The engine system transfers torque to the drive system when coupled and does not transfer torque to the drive system when decoupled. In other features, the engine control system further comprises a torque control module that controls torque output by the engine system based on the coupling of the engine system and the drive system, the speed, and the target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jayson S. Schwalm, Steven Thomas Ford, John J. Koenig
  • Publication number: 20100260590
    Abstract: A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having a opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Ford
  • Patent number: 7414088
    Abstract: A method comprising forming and grafting polymers on carbon nanotubes, a functionalized product and product dispersion produced by the method, a method of forming composites from the functionalized carbon nanotubes, and the composites produced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University
    Inventors: Warren Thomas Ford, Shuhui Qin