Patents by Inventor Thomas K. Heaton

Thomas K. Heaton 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: 8258705
    Abstract: System and method are provided for controlling emergency lighting where emergency lights turn on when main source of power goes out for controlling emergency lighting to conserve energy utilized by the emergency light, while maintaining good visibility of the emergency lighting. Solid state lighting, such as LED, is used within an emergency light to add light in blue wavelength region matching the light output to the most sensitive of wavelength response of the human eve to increase color perception and allows faster response time. Electrical current to the device and light output are reduced while LED light tends to increase its blue wavelength component as it is dimmed thus increasing effective light output. After a predetermined time, the light is purposefully dimmed to conserve energy and to allow the eye to slowly and safely adjust to the new lighting conditions. By reducing electrical current, energy storage batteries may be smaller than for similar unit that maintains constant light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Jamey L. Butteris, Thomas K. Heaton, Michael A. Starinki
  • Publication number: 20100277070
    Abstract: System and method are provided for controlling emergency lighting where emergency lights turn on when main source of power goes out for controlling emergency lighting to conserve energy utilized by the emergency light, while maintaining good visibility of the emergency lighting. Solid state lighting, such as LED, is used within an emergency light to add light in blue wavelength region matching the light output to the most sensitive of wavelength response of the human eve to increase color perception and allows faster response time. Electrical current to the device and light output are reduced while LED light tends to increase its blue wavelength component as it is dimmed thus increasing effective light output. After a predetermined time, the light is purposefully dimmed to conserve energy and to allow the eye to slowly and safely adjust to the new lighting conditions. By reducing electrical current, energy storage batteries may be smaller than for similar unit that maintains constant light output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Jamey L. Butteris, Thomas K. Heaton, Michael A. Starinki
  • Patent number: 7147348
    Abstract: A lighting fixture that is adjustable to allow the emitted light to be aimed and focused to suit the application. The adjustable lighting fixture has a housing having an inner surface. First and second mounting arms extend from the inner surface. A reflector has upper and lower surfaces. First and second mounting members extend from the upper surface and are connected to the first and second mounting arms. A first aperture in the reflector receives a first lamp. The first lamp is movable along a first longitudinal axis through the first aperture to focus the emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas K. Heaton, Marilyn R. Merced, Ana S. Bermudez, Catherine R. Washburn, Joseph S. Wegrzyn
  • Patent number: 7093957
    Abstract: A reflector for a lighting fixture that provides a uniform level of lighting. The reflector has a first arcuate portion having a first upper surface and a second arcuate portion having a second upper surface. A first aperture in the first arcuate portion is adapted to receive a first lamp. A second aperture in the second arcuate portion is adapted to receive a second lamp. First and second mounting members on the first and second upper surfaces are adapted to be connected to a lighting fixture housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hubbell incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas K. Heaton, Marilyn R. Merced, Ana S. Bermudez, Catherine R. Washburn, Joseph S. Wegrzyn
  • Patent number: 6082031
    Abstract: Internally illuminated emergency signs are typically placed in elevated locations which are awkward for electricians to reach, yet must be securely mounted. It is therefore difficult and time-consuming to make wiring connections after the mounting operation is completed. In order to facilitate both quick and easy wiring of the sign, and secure mounting thereof, an improved canopy features a projecting bracket which slips into a slot in a side or top of the sign housing, and engages over horizontally extending screws. Rapid, yet secure mounting of the sign is achieved by cantilevering the sign on the bracket, if side mounting is used, or by use of a locking pin, if top mounting is used. The locking pin keeps the screws from sliding laterally with respect to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Dual-Lite Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Heaton, David A. Evarts
  • Patent number: 6050013
    Abstract: In an exit sign, a cover member for an emergency exit sign has a pair of hook members on its bottom wall and a pair of resilient spring finger members on its top wall. The hook members are dimensionally sized and appropriately positioned to engage catch members on an exit sign housing while the spring finger members resiliently snap fit within spaced apart apertures in the top wall of the exit sign housing thereby retaining the cover member in its closed position. A pair of flexible straps secure the cover member to the exit sign housing to keep them in assembly when the cover member is in its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Dual-Lite Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Heaton, David Evarts
  • Patent number: D627916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Jamey L. Butteris, Thomas K. Heaton, Michael A. Starinki, Steven G. Holscher, David J. Hatcher, Anthony Brunelli
  • Patent number: D679759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony L. Brunelli, Thomas K. Heaton