Patents by Inventor Todd A. Simson

Todd A. Simson 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: 6478187
    Abstract: A vending machine is housed in a light, yet sturdy enclosure made of an external sheet metal shell and an internal seamless plastic liner between which a volume of expanded synthetic foam material is injected. One or more good-holding magazines are removably held within the enclosure. A keypad, alpha-numerical display and card reader are packaged in the door closing the front of the enclosure. A driving motor module and a coin acceptor are removably mounted against the inside liner. Due to the absence of complex or delicate structure, the machine can be serviced, cleaned and sanitized within minutes. A pair of vending machine, one holding snack food, the other beverage cans are coupled to work together and dispense combinations of items from a single control panel. Both the beverage and snack food holding magazines are driven from the same type of motor module mounted inside the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventors: Anton K. Simson, Frank Ruskin, Henri J. A. Charmasson, Todd A. Simson
  • Patent number: 6247256
    Abstract: A set of simple and economical components is used to transform an existing back lighted sign into a self-propelled scrolling banner display. Only two structural parts are used, and the electro-mechanical components are limited to a step-down transformer, a rectifier circuit, a pair of motors, and a switch and voltage step-down diode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventors: Todd A. Simson, Anton K. Simson
  • Patent number: 5826377
    Abstract: A mechanism for the powered opening and closing of household panels such as windows and doors comprises a worm drive screw, small enough to be mounted within and along the upper track of a sliding panel. A nut threaded on the drive screw moves axially along the screw when the screw is rotated. Motion of the nut is transmitted to the panel by means of a coupling bolt, slidingly mounted within a cavity in the top of the panel. The bolt slides up to engage the nut for powered operation, and slides down to disengage from the nut during manual operation. The position of the bolt can be secured through locking means. A resilient, dielectric transmission accouplement between the drive screw and the motor provides electrical and vibrational isolation, and scalability. A second extendible bolt mounted on an opposite end of the frame hinders pitch deflection of the panel during powered operation. Worm gearing and a solenoid based brake locks the motor and the position of the nut when no power is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventors: Anton K. Simson, Todd A. Simson