Patents by Inventor Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank 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: 20100072791
    Abstract: A vehicle head restraint system for a vehicle seat has a support rod with a lateral portion. A head restraint is moveable relative to the lateral portion in a fore/aft direction. A first locking plate and a second locking plate are each moveably mounted to the head restraint to engage the support rod to lock the head restraint relative to the support rod. A rotary link is pivotally connected to the head restraint and interconnects the first and second locking plates. A biasing member is mounted to at least one of the first and second locking plates to bias the head restraint towards a retracted position. An actuator on the head restraint moves one of the first and second locking plates. The rotary link moves the other of the first and second locking plates for disengaging the first and second locking plates from the support rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stefan Brunner, Thomas Frank
  • Publication number: 20100015155
    Abstract: A method to treat conditions associated with A? peptide activity both prophylactically and therapeutically is described. The method employs humanized antibody fragments that specifically bind human A? peptide between amino acid positions 13-28, wherein the antibody fragments are covalently attached to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Kelly Renee Bales, Thomas Frank Bumol, Chi-Kin Chow, Ronald Bradley Demattos, Ryan John Hansen, Uma Kuchibhotla, Jirong Lu, Peter Colon McDonnell
  • Patent number: 7646865
    Abstract: A telephone handset that includes both a speaker and a secondary flux coil is provided. The secondary flux coil provides improved inductive coupling between the handset and a hearing aid. Due to the wiring configuration of the handset, the speaker and the secondary flux coil can be independently filtered, thus providing means for independently optimizing the performance of both the speaker and the secondary flux coil. Suitable filters include both passive circuits and digital signal processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: MWM Acoustics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Todd Welsh, Alan D. Michel, Michael Thomas Frank, John Charles Baumhauer, Jr., Larry Allen Marcus
  • Publication number: 20090259533
    Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided to trade compensation credit(s) in a customer price incentive scheme funded through advertisement. A secondary market for rewards is established through advertisement spend from a set of disparate category advertisers (e.g., brand advertisers and product advertisers). Market liquidity is injected through an advertisement component that directs a portion of advertisement spend to issue tradable compensation credit(s) at a initial offering price. A trade platform facilitates commercialization of compensation credit(s) among a set of registered advertisers: A regulatory component provides governance and establishes pricing of traded compensation credit(s), while a brokerage component facilitates negotiation among traders. Disparate advertisers can be joined for trading based at least in part on advertiser intelligence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian James Utter, Thomas Frank Bergstraesser, Alexander G. Gounares
  • Publication number: 20090259532
    Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate intrinsically targeted, dependable peer-to-peer referral and compensation within an intent-compensation scheme. The referral system synergistically exploits trust mechanisms existing among a referring agent and a referred agent in order to generate high-quality referrals based on a determination of commercial intent from the referred agent. In exchange of conveyed intent at a time of a transaction with a referred agent, system platform directly compensates both the referred agent and the referring agent. Compensation of the referred agent is ensured via tracking mechanism that can identify a referral originating device. Information associated with referral(s) is scoped through privacy profiles, and referral/compensation integrity is maintained via an antifraud component and a tracking component that can identify referring and referred agents. Compensation can be funded trough advertisement spend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Bergstraesser, Brian James Utter, Kamal Jain
  • Publication number: 20090246021
    Abstract: A wind turbine pitch control system is disclosed that provides a pulsed torque to the blade pitch actuator if continuous torque fails to adjust the blade pitch angle to a commanded pitch angle. This invention provides a cost-effective way to increase peak torque capability for existing wind turbines that have problems, under certain operating conditions, moving blades per the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frank FRIC, Negel Ernesto MARTIN, Bryan J. TROISE
  • Patent number: 7581921
    Abstract: A control system for a rotary machine is provided. The rotary machine has at least one rotating member and at least one substantially stationary member positioned such that a clearance gap is defined between a portion of the rotating member and a portion of the substantially stationary member. The control system includes at least one clearance gap dimension measurement apparatus and at least one clearance gap adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly is coupled in electronic data communication with the measurement apparatus. The control system is configured to process a clearance gap dimension signal and modulate the clearance gap dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Patrick Lee Jansen, Gary R. Barnes, Thomas Frank Fric, James Patrick Francis Lyons, Kirk Gee Pierce, William Edwin Holley, Corneliu Barbu
  • Publication number: 20090155440
    Abstract: Use as a salt enhancer and flavour of S- or O-carboxyalkylated amino acids and peptide compounds of formula I and consumables or flavour compositions comprising such compounds. Method of flavouring consumables, in particular of replacing sodium from said consumables by employing said compounds while using a reduced salt content, or enhancing the salty taste of salt at a given salt concentration. Novel compounds of formula I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: GIVAUDAN SA
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Hofmann, Andreas Dunkel
  • Publication number: 20090146479
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a headrest for supporting the head of a seat occupant. The seat assembly includes a seat back, a support post disposed on the seat back, a headrest being moveably disposed on the support post, and a latch mechanism moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The headrest is simultaneously moveable in multiple directions when the latch mechanism is disposed in the unlatched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Klaus Boes, Markus Schmid, Thomas Frank, Achim Tscherbner
  • Patent number: 7540156
    Abstract: A combustion liner for a gas turbine combustion system is provided. The combustion liner comprises a combustion zone between an inlet end and an exhaust end. The combustion liner comprises a one-piece casting construction. The combustion liner is formed from a nickel-based superalloy having strength characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Roger Brown, Thomas Frank Fric, Thomas Edward Johnson, Anne Elizabeth Kolman
  • Publication number: 20090130282
    Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) that provide a kokumi flavour to consumables and flavour compositions, and to consumables and flavour compositions comprising such compounds. Enzymatic methods to prepare the compounds are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GIVAUDAN SA
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Hofmann, Andreas Dunkel
  • Publication number: 20090114905
    Abstract: In order to increase the lifetime of organic electrical or electronic components, the invention provides an organic electrical or electronic component comprising at least one organic functional layer, wherein the component contains an (e-v) quenching substance for singlet oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: Clemens Ottermann, Jorn Pommerehne, Klaus Bonrad, Thomas Frank, Marcus Bodesheim
  • Publication number: 20090069551
    Abstract: A compound of the Formula (I) wherein A is selected from the group consisting of —CH?CH—CO—CH3 and —CH2CH2—CO—CH3. The compounds are useful as flavorants in compositions such as foodstuffs, beverages, confectionery, medicinal preparations, dentifrices and mouthwashes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Hofmann, Bernd Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20080292066
    Abstract: A telephone handset that includes both a speaker and a secondary flux coil is provided. The secondary flux coil provides improved inductive coupling between the handset and a hearing aid. Due to the wiring configuration of the handset, the speaker and the secondary flux coil can be independently filtered, thus providing means for independently optimizing the performance of both the speaker and the secondary flux coil. Suitable filters include both passive circuits and digital signal processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MWM Acoustics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Todd Welsh, Alan D. Michel, Michael Thomas Frank, John Charles Baumhauer, JR., Larry Allen Marcus
  • Publication number: 20080275496
    Abstract: A retrievable medical filter which can be placed in a blood vessel or other body passage. The filter has improved structural features for enhancing its filter effectiveness and to facilitate its retrieval from the body passage. The filter has a longitudinal spine with struts extending from each longitudinal to form filter baskets. The ends of the spine to which the struts are attached may be rings with serpentine cuts in the rings to make them expandable. The struts can extend circumferentially as well as radially outwardly to provide a structure which can be radially compressed without bending the struts in a tight radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: James A. Fleming, Thomas Frank Kinst, James H. Silver
  • Publication number: 20080275489
    Abstract: A medical filter intended for placement inside a tubular body passage such as a blood vessel of a patient, the medical filter having an end member at one end of the longitudinal axis of the filter. The end member supports a retrieval element and a plurality of struts defining a first filter cone proximate to the end member and a second filter cone distal from the end member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Kinst, James A. Fleming
  • Publication number: 20080268123
    Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of O-alkylated sulphur-containing amino acids or peptides that provide an onion flavour to consumables and flavour compositions, and to consumables and flavour compositions comprising such compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: GIVAUDAN SA
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Hofmann, Andreas Dunkel
  • Publication number: 20080248175
    Abstract: The invention relates to gamma-glutamyl and beta-asparagyl peptide compounds of formula (I) that provide a kokumi flavour to consumables and flavour compositions, and to consumables and flavour compositions comprising such compounds. Enzymatic methods to prepare the compounds are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: GIVAUDAN SA
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Hofmann, Andreas Dunkel
  • Publication number: 20070292260
    Abstract: A control system for a rotary machine is provided. The rotary machine has at least one rotating member and at least one substantially stationary member positioned such that a clearance gap is defined between a portion of the rotating member and a portion of the substantially stationary member. The control system includes at least one clearance gap dimension measurement apparatus and at least one clearance gap adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly is coupled in electronic data communication with the measurement apparatus. The control system is configured to process a clearance gap dimension signal and modulate the clearance gap dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Patrick Lee Jansen, Gary R. Barnes, Thomas Frank Fric, James Patrick Francis Lyons, Kirk Gee Pierce, William Edwin Holley, Corneliu Barbu
  • Patent number: 7125298
    Abstract: A user worn man overboard beacon that provides multiple indication means to alert a ship to an overboard crew person and to assist in locating the crew person. The beacon device is contained in a housing attached to the clothing of the sailor and is activated upon contact with seawater. A battery powers the multiple indicators contained in the housing, which include a high intensity strobe light to provide a visual indication, an x-band radar patch antenna to transmit a radar signal indication that can be detected by the ship's radar system, and an acoustic transducer to project an acoustic signal indication that can be detected by the ship's sonar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas A. Frank