Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Nelson

Thomas M. Nelson 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: 11911876
    Abstract: A system and method for producing an abrasive article includes a production tool configured to provide shaped abrasive particles to a resin coated backing. A first end and a second end of the production tool are spliced together to form a spliced area. The production tool includes a dispensing surface that includes a plurality of cavities formed between the first end and the second end and configured to receive and hold the shaped abrasive particles. The resin coated backing is configured to receive the shaped abrasive particles from the dispensing surface of the production tool and configured to receive further shaped abrasive particles to fill gaps in the shaped abrasive particles caused by an absence of the plurality of cavities in the spliced area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Ann M. Hawkins, Amelia W. Koenig
  • Patent number: 11021310
    Abstract: A container includes a multilayered composite film combination forming a bag defining a product fill opening. The multilayered composite film combination includes first and second polymer film inner and outer layers each having vacuum holding properties, and a third polymer film disposed between the first and second polymer films. The third polymer film has oxygen barrier properties. Product is packed into the container by coupling a fill spout of the container with a fill tube of a product filling apparatus, and oxygen is drawn from an inner cavity of the container. Fluidized product entrained in nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide gas is flowed through the fill spout of the container, and nitrogen is added into the inner cavity through the fill spout of the container. The fill spout of the container is sealed while a negative pressure is drawn within the inner cavity thereby immobilizing the product within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Torresak LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20190375572
    Abstract: A container includes a multilayered composite film combination forming a bag defining a product fill opening. The multilayered composite film combination includes first and second polymer film inner and outer layers each having vacuum holding properties, and a third polymer film disposed between the first and second polymer films. The third polymer film has oxygen barrier properties. Product is packed into the container by coupling a fill spout of the container with a fill tube of a product filling apparatus, and oxygen is drawn from an inner cavity of the container. Fluidized product entrained in nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide gas is flowed through the fill spout of the container, and nitrogen is added into the inner cavity through the fill spout of the container. The fill spout of the container is sealed while a negative pressure is drawn within the inner cavity thereby immobilizing the product within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20170001796
    Abstract: A container receives and holds product. The container includes a multilayered composite film combination forming a bag defining a product fill opening. The multilayered composite film combination includes first and second polymer film inner and outer layers each having vacuum holding properties, and a third polymer film disposed between the first and second polymer films. The third polymer film has oxygen barrier properties. Product is packed into the container by coupling a fill spout of the container with a fill tube of a product filling apparatus, and oxygen is drawn from an inner cavity of the container. Product is flowed through the fill spout of the container, and nitrogen is added into the inner cavity through the fill spout of the container. The fill spout of the container is sealed while a negative pressure is drawn within the inner cavity thereby immobilizing the product within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6986170
    Abstract: A fluid filled body padding for fall protection includes a flexible inner pouch holding a shock absorbing fluid. A flexible outer pouch encapsulates the inner pouch. A fluid interface is provided between the inner pouch and the outer pouch. The fluid interface serves to pressurize and rigidify the inner pouch containing the shock absorbing fluid when a localized force is exerted upon the outer pouch. This body padding is suitable for a variety of fall protection applications, such as hip protectors for senior citizens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5214739
    Abstract: A heating unit includes a frame and a substantially flat radiant heating surface supported by the frame. A generally parabolic trough with a reflective inner surface is mounted along one edge of the periphery of the heating surface, and contains an elongate heating element. Further, a reflective flap is hingedly mounted adjacent the trough but remote from the heating surface, disposed so that at least a portion of the radiant energy reflected out of the trough by the reflective inner surface is re-reflected by the flap, depending upon its angulation with respect to the heating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventors: Thomas M. Nelson, Per B. Arnt
  • Patent number: 4806931
    Abstract: A system is provided for the detection and recognition of pre-established sound patterns such as the various patterns produced by the sirens of emergency vehicles. The system includes a microprocessor which programmed with pre-established sequence detection algorithms corresponding to the different types of emergency vehicles sirens signal patterns which are to be recognized. A first omnidirectional microphone is coupled through a bandpass circuit to a trigger circuit to produce square wave signals representative of analog signals in the band of interest. At least two directional microphones are coupled through similar bandpass amplifier circuits to analog digital converters which produce a digital output representative of the strength of the signals received by the directional microphones. This directional information along with the output of the Schmitt trigger is supplied to the microprocessor which is used to control the signal lights at an intersection in response to the detected siren.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Richard W. Clark
    Inventor: Thomas M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4315748
    Abstract: An alphabetic device is set forth to facilitate an initial reading process by providing additional discrimination cues to letters of traditional written languages. Letters of a written language are reproduced on a substrate such as paper, plastic etc. and confined within a zone. The zone, also reproduced on the substrate, is made up of dots, dashes, or lines arranged in regular arrays. A different zone is used for each letter such that each letter is always associated with its characteristic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Jorge Frascara, Walter Jungkind, Carol J. Ladan, Thomas M. Nelson