Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Africa

Thomas J. Africa 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: 20210353476
    Abstract: A method of securing a pediatric patient to a patient transport apparatus includes providing an adult harness, coupling the adult harness to the patient support and the frame, providing a pediatric restraint assembly, and coupling the pediatric restraint assembly to the adult harness wherein the pediatric restraint assembly moves with the adult harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, James K. Galer, Justin Raymond, Bradley Sommer, Nicole L. Schriemer, Thomas J. Africa, Alison Adams Zdan Shields, Annali V. Evling, Sherry L. Jones, Lauren C. Angell
  • Patent number: 10542815
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to define an inner cavity therebetween. The body has a pair of opposed side surfaces, each side surface extending between the back surface and the front surface. The backpack includes at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer and a releasable fastener that is openable to provide access to the inner cavity or closable to block access to the inner cavity. The fastener extends at least partially across the front surface and both side surfaces. At least part of the releasable fastener on the side surfaces, at a position away from an outer perimeter of each side surface, extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Michael A. Lorenz, Thomas J. Africa
  • Patent number: 9694616
    Abstract: The present invention provides a calendar desk pad, comprising a base member, a plurality of monthly calendar pages bound to the base member, wherein the calendar pages have at least one perforation or fold line located between the days or weeks on the calendar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Megan M. Meyer, Thomas J. Africa, Sherry L. Jones, Edward P. Busam, Lisa K. Brooks, Danielle L. Osborne
  • Patent number: 9580209
    Abstract: A storage component including a cover and an easel coupled to the cover. The easel includes a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together, wherein the easel is movable between a substantially flat configuration wherein the first and second portions are generally flat and coplanar, and a propped configuration wherein the first and second portions are arranged in a non-coplanar configuration and the first portion is oriented at an angle relative to the cover. The first portion of the easel in the propped configuration is configured to support an item thereon for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Megan Blume, Taryn Yost, Kathryn Hayes, Thomas J. Africa, Ross Worden
  • Publication number: 20160023494
    Abstract: The present invention provides a calendar desk pad, comprising a base member, a plurality of monthly calendar pages bound to the base member, wherein the calendar pages have at least one perforation or fold line located between the days or weeks on the calendar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Megan M. Meyer, Thomas J. Africa, Sherry L. Jones, Edward P. Busam, Lisa K. Brooks, Danielle L. Osborne
  • Publication number: 20150374105
    Abstract: A backpack including a body having a back surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a back of a wearer when the backpack is worn. The body further includes a front surface at least partially spaced away from the back surface to define an inner cavity therebetween. The body has a pair of opposed side surfaces, each side surface extending between the back surface and the front surface. The backpack includes at least one shoulder strap coupled to the body and positionable over a shoulder of a wearer and a releasable fastener that is openable to provide access to the inner cavity or closable to block access to the inner cavity. The fastener extends at least partially across the front surface and both side surfaces. At least part of the releasable fastener on the side surfaces, at a position away from an outer perimeter of each side surface, extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Michael D. Rowe, Michael A. Lorenz, Thomas J. Africa
  • Patent number: 8833800
    Abstract: The present invention provides a calendar desk pad, comprising a base member, a plurality of monthly calendar pages bound to the base member, wherein the calendar pages have at least one perforation or fold line located between the days or weeks on the calendar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Acco Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Megan M. Meyer, Thomas J. Africa, Sherry L. Jones, Edward P. Busam, Lisa K. Brooks, Danielle L Osborne
  • Publication number: 20130213825
    Abstract: A storage component including a cover and an easel coupled to the cover. The easel includes a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together, wherein the easel is movable between a substantially flat configuration wherein the first and second portions are generally flat and coplanar, and a propped configuration wherein the first and second portions are arranged in a non-coplanar configuration and the first portion is oriented at an angle relative to the cover. The first portion of the easel in the propped configuration is configured to support an item thereon for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Mead Products LLC
    Inventors: Megan Blume, Taryn Yost, Kathryn Hayes, Thomas J. Africa, Ross Worden
  • Publication number: 20120175865
    Abstract: The present invention provides a calendar desk pad, comprising a base member, a plurality of monthly calendar pages bound to the base member, wherein the calendar pages have at least one perforation or fold line located between the days or weeks on the calendar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Megan M. Meyer, Thomas J. Africa, Sherry L. Jones, Edward P. Busam, Lisa K. Brooks, Danielle L. Osborne
  • Patent number: 7252452
    Abstract: A binder including a binder body including a front cover and a rear cover directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together, and a panel located on an outer surface of the binder body to thereby form a pocket between the panel and the binder body. The panel has a free edge located adjacent to a mouth of the pocket. The mouth faces an outer edge of the binder body, and the free edge of the panel is located a variable distance from the outer edge of the binder body along the length of the free edge such that the pocket has a variable width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Africa, Erik N. Sabin
  • Patent number: 7165788
    Abstract: A binding wrapper including a first generally stiff end component, a second generally stiff end component spaced apart from the first end component, and a connecting component extending between the first and second end components. The connecting component includes at least a portion of elastic material, and the first and second end components are releasably attachable together such that the wrapper is formable into a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher M. Smith, Phillip H. Neal, Thomas J. Africa, Kate O'Hara
  • Patent number: 7021853
    Abstract: A body and pouch combination including a body having a front cover and a rear cover pivotally coupled together. The front cover has a generally flat, planar outer surface having a body attachment structure located thereon. The combination includes a pouch that can cooperate with the body attachment structure to removably attach the pouch to the outer surface, the pouch having an inner storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Lindsay R. Hall, Thomas J. Africa, Mark R. Stockstill
  • Publication number: 20040253046
    Abstract: A binder including a binder body including a front cover and a rear cover directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together, and a panel located on an outer surface of the binder body to thereby form a pocket between the panel and the binder body. The panel has a free edge located adjacent to a mouth of the pocket. The mouth faces an outer edge of the binder body, and the free edge of the panel is located a variable distance from the outer edge of the binder body along the length of the free edge such that the pocket has a variable width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas J. Africa, Erik N. Sabin
  • Patent number: D548455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan
  • Patent number: D548462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Raluca A. Vescan, Jeff Stewart
  • Bag
    Patent number: D548963
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan
  • Bag
    Patent number: D548964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan
  • Bag
    Patent number: D548965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan
  • Bag
    Patent number: D548966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan
  • Bag
    Patent number: D553349
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Leedsworld, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Aliberti, Elizabeth Tracy, Thomas J. Africa, Aaron A. Cornaby, Linda Morgan, Jeff Stewart, Raluca A. Vescan