Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Fields

Thomas W. Fields 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: 11597476
    Abstract: A mooring loop is operative to secure a movable device such as a ship in connection with a bollard or other fixed structure. The exemplary mooring loop includes a continuous rope segment that includes at least one coil or a plurality of coils. The rope segment defining the mooring loop includes an inner core surrounded by an outer jacket. A plurality of controlled failure points are included in the rope segment. The failure points enable the rope segment to permanently elongate in response to an applied tension force at a level above a working range, which elongation is visibly observable. The controlled failure point is defined between segmented ends of a severed inner core such that only the outer jacket is located at the controlled failure point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields
  • Publication number: 20220063768
    Abstract: A mooring loop is operative to secure a movable device such as a ship in connection with a bollard or other fixed structure. The exemplary mooring loop includes a continuous rope segment that includes at least one coil or a plurality of coils. The rope segment defining the mooring loop includes an inner core is surrounded by an outer jacket. A plurality of controlled failure points are included in the rope segment. The failure points enable the rope segment to permanently elongate in response to an applied tension force at a level above a working range, which elongation is visibly observable. The controlled failure point is defined between segmented ends of a severed inner core such that only the outer jacket is located at the controlled failure point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields
  • Patent number: 9056656
    Abstract: A mooring loop is provided for use with connecting a mooring line to a bollard. The mooring loop may stretch and function as a time delay fuse when excessive loads are applied to the mooring line. The mooring loop is comprised of a reactive fiber component in the shape of a continuous loop that includes a plurality of at least one of: an undrawn hydrophobic polymer fiber or a substantially undrawn hydrophobic polymer fiber. At least two jackets are in surrounding relation to portions of the reactive fiber component. The at least two jackets include respective end portions which overlap. As the mooring loop stretches, a visual indicator on an end portion of one of the jackets pulls out of and away from the end portion of the other one of the jackets. The visual indicator serves as a warning that excessive loads are being applied to the mooring line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields
  • Publication number: 20130139741
    Abstract: A mooring loop is provided for use with connecting a mooring line to a bollard. The mooring loop may stretch and function as a time delay fuse when excessive loads are applied to the mooring line. The mooring loop is comprised of a reactive fiber component in the shape of a continuous loop that includes a plurality of at least one of: an undrawn hydrophobic polymer fiber or a substantially undrawn hydrophobic polymer fiber. At least two jackets are in surrounding relation to portions of the reactive fiber component. The at least two jackets include respective end portions which overlap. As the mooring loop stretches, a visual indicator on an end portion of one of the jackets pulls out of and away from the end portion of the other one of the jackets. The visual indicator serves as a warning that excessive loads are being applied to the mooring line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields
  • Patent number: 8365646
    Abstract: A securing device is provided comprised of a reactive fiber component and at least one of a terminating fiber component and an initiating fiber component. The reactive fiber component includes at least one of the following: an undrawn polymer fiber and a substantially undrawn polymer fiber, wherein the first reactive fiber component is operative to stretch responsive to a load. The terminating fiber component is in a compressed state and is operative to elongate to a length at which the terminating fiber component is operative to prevent further stretching of the first reactive fiber component responsive to the load. The initiating fiber component is operative to break responsive to a predetermined force and permit the first reactive fiber component to stretch responsive to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields
  • Publication number: 20110061519
    Abstract: A securing device is provided comprised of a reactive fiber component and at least one of a terminating fiber component and an initiating fiber component. The reactive fiber component includes at least one of the following: an undrawn polymer fiber and a substantially undrawn polymer fiber, wherein the first reactive fiber component is operative to stretch responsive to a load. The terminating fiber component is in a compressed state and is operative to elongate to a length at which the terminating fiber component is operative to prevent further stretching of the first reactive fiber component responsive to the load. The initiating fiber component is operative to break responsive to a predetermined force and permit the first reactive fiber component to stretch responsive to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas W. Fields