Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Harper

Thomas L. Harper 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: 10723554
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for an intake and transport system. A computing system can identify a physical object based on an attribute associated with the physical object. The computing system can determine a storage location of the physical object in the facility based on the attribute. In response identification of the physical object computing system can transmit an identifier to an autonomously controlled cart. The identifier corresponds to at least one of the attribute or the storage location. In response to receipt of the identifier activating an autonomously controlled cart can generate an indicator to indicate that the physical object is to be placed in the autonomously controlled cart. The autonomously controlled cart can autonomously navigate to the storage location in response to determining that the threshold capacity has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: William Ross Allen, Richard Montgomery Blair, II, Thomas L. Harper
  • Publication number: 20190061593
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide vehicle systems comprising: a housing; a wheel system comprising at least one axle extending between at least two wheels positioned on opposite sides of the housing and supporting the housing; a mobile product distribution system comprising: a product movement system maintained within the housing; and multiple bay doors formed in the housing and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align while products are distributed from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles; wherein the product movement system extends between the multiple bay doors and is configured to transport the products from each of the inbound vehicles, through the housing and to at least one of the outbound vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, William R. Allen, Richard M. Blair, II
  • Patent number: 10137816
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide vehicle systems comprising: a housing; a wheel system comprising at least one axle extending between at least two wheels positioned on opposite sides of the housing and supporting the housing; a mobile product distribution system comprising: a product movement system maintained within the housing; and multiple bay doors formed in the housing and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align while products are distributed from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles; wherein the product movement system extends between the multiple bay doors and is configured to transport the products from each of the inbound vehicles, through the housing and to at least one of the outbound vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, William R. Allen, Richard M. Blair, II
  • Publication number: 20180282075
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for an intake and transport system. A computing system can identify a physical object based on an attribute associated with the physical object. The computing system can determine a storage location of the physical object in the facility based on the attribute. In response identification of the physical object computing system can transmit an identifier to an autonomously controlled cart. The identifier corresponds to at least one of the attribute or the storage location. In response to receipt of the identifier activating an autonomously controlled cart can generate an indicator to indicate that the physical object is to be placed in the autonomously controlled cart. The autonomously controlled cart can autonomously navigate to the storage location in response to determining that the threshold capacity has been satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: William Ross Allen, Richard Montgomery Blair, II, Thomas L. Harper
  • Publication number: 20170225902
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide vehicle systems comprising: a housing; a wheel system comprising at least one axle extending between at least two wheels positioned on opposite sides of the housing and supporting the housing; a mobile product distribution system comprising: a product movement system maintained within the housing; and multiple bay doors formed in the housing and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align while products are distributed from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles; wherein the product movement system extends between the multiple bay doors and is configured transport the products from each of the inbound vehicles, through the housing and to at least one of the outbound vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, William R. Allen, Richard M. Blair, II
  • Patent number: 8124059
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and compositions by which introducing PO4?3 ion at particular stage in the preparation of aluminum/zirconium solutions surprisingly results in significantly improved zirconium molecular weight stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Summit Research Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, Allan Rosenberg, Shailesh Mehta
  • Publication number: 20100150856
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and compositions by which introducing PO4?3 ion at particular stage in the preparation of aluminum/zirconium solutions surprisingly results in significantly improved zirconium molecular weight stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SOMERVILLE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. d/b/a SUMMIT RESEARCH LABS
    Inventors: Thomas L. HARPER, Allan Rosenberg, Shailesh Mehta
  • Patent number: 7731943
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and compositions by which introducing PO4?3 ion at particular stage in the preparation of aluminum/zirconium solutions surprisingly results in significantly improved zirconium molecular weight stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Summit Research Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, Allan Rosenberg, Shailesh Mehta
  • Patent number: 7198663
    Abstract: An aqueous wood preservation composition containing inorganic polymers of one or more of the following metals is disclosed; aluminum (approximately 3.8%–7.0% as Al2O3), zirconium (approximately 5.25%–9.1% as ZrO2), copper (approximately 0.7%–8.8% as CuO) and a fixing agent such as acetic acid or sodium acetate. The pH is adjusted to be between 2.0–4.0 using an inorganic base such as copper carbonate. The invention includes wood and cellulose fibers treated by the composition of the present invention as well as methods of preserving wood and cellulose fibers using the compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sommerville Acquisitions Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, Boris Reznikov, Allan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: RE40589
    Abstract: An aqueous wood preservation composition containing inorganic polymers of one or more of the following metals is disclosed; aluminum (approximately 3.8%-7.0% as Al2O3), zirconium (approximately 5.25%-9.1% as ZrO2), copper (approximately 0.7%-8.8% as CuO) and a fixing agent such as acetic acid or sodium acetate. The pH is adjusted to be between 2.0-4.0 using an inorganic base such as copper carbonate. The invention includes wood and cellulose fibers treated by the composition of the present invention as well as methods of preserving wood and cellulose fibers using the compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sommerville Acquisitions Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Harper, Boris Reznikov, Allan Rosenberg