Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Parker

Thomas G. Parker 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: 12110267
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for separating mixtures of polyols, in particular mixtures of two of more different vicinal diols having close boiling points, thus making them difficult or impossible to separate using conventional distillation techniques. The polyol mixture is reacted with an aldehyde or ketone acetalization agent to form one or more acetals as corresponding acetalization reaction products. The acetalization reaction products are more easily separable either from each other (such as via distillation) or from an unreacted vicinal diol (such as via extraction, settling, or other phase separation). After separation, hydrolysis is performed on the acetalization reaction products to recover the vicinal diols as separate, purified components. The methods provide cost-effective processes for separating different polyols originally formed in admixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dennis J. Miller, Carl T. Lira, Lars Peereboom, Scott F. Parker, Thomas D. Dionise, William G. Killian
  • Patent number: 5580083
    Abstract: A cover for an air bag unit is disclosed having a patterned tear seam therein defined by a partially bonded material same as the cover material. Apparatus for forming the cover includes a thin shell mold having an inner surface that is heated to melt thermoplastic material cast thereon. A powder box adapted to contain thermoplastic material therein for distribution onto the thin shell mold carries a gasket having a shape corresponding to the tear seam shape. The powder box and gasket are adapted to be connected to the thin shell mold for forming a sealed footprint on the inner surface during distribution of the cast material against heated surface portions of the thin shell mold to form a thermoplastic cover with a narrow gap therein conforming to the desired tear seam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Parker
  • Patent number: 5447328
    Abstract: An instrument panel has an integral door cover for concealing a supplemental inflatable restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment. The door cover includes a flap that is an integral part of a flexible plastic skin of the instrument panel. The plastic skin is cast in a special mold with a raised apexed rib that forms grooves outlining the flap that have a thin tear seam at their bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Davidson Textron
    Inventors: Peter J. Iannazzi, Thomas G. Parker
  • Patent number: 5372379
    Abstract: A cover normally concealing a safety air bag is adapted to rupture to form an opening for air bag deployment into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The cover is formed of plastic material that tends to become embrittled and fragment when torn or pierced below a certain ambient temperature. A heater is provided behind the cover that is adapted to heat the rupture area in the event of air bag deployment. A heater control operates the heater to maintain this critical area above the fragmentation temperature when the vehicle is being operated at low ambient temperatures that would cause plastic embrittlement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Parker
  • Patent number: 4323602
    Abstract: A combined water repellent and preservative for wood prepared in a concentrate for mixing with water and utilizing 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Parker
  • Patent number: RE37540
    Abstract: An instrument panel has an integral door cover for concealing a supplemental inflatable restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment. The door cover includes a flap that is an integral part of a flexible plastic skin of the instrument panel. The plastic skin is cast in a special mold with a raised apexed rib that forms grooves outlining the flap that have a thin tear seam at their bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Iannazzi, Thomas G. Parker