Patents by Inventor Tom Rankine

Tom Rankine 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: 12243405
    Abstract: Examples provide a temperature-sensitive alert device that monitors temperatures associated with a heating device, such as an oven, stove, or cooktop. The alert device changes the status of the heating device from an off status to an on status if the temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. The alert device initiates an alert if the heating device remains turned on for a period of time which exceeds an expected amount of time. The alert can include an audible sound and/or a visual alert, such as a flashing light. A user can select a snooze function to turn off the alert for an alert delay time without disabling the alert device. When the delay time expires, the alert resumes. The alert device includes a dual component device enabling a first component monitoring a cooktop to synchronize with a second alert device monitoring another heating device, such as a detached oven or stove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Hearo Technologies
    Inventors: James Edward Carr, Myke Bates, Tom Rankin, David Hamilton, Zak Turner
  • Patent number: 6490950
    Abstract: A set of driver bits for Robertson screw fasteners includes driver bits (10a-d) whose shaft bodies (12a-d) have distinctive markings thereon corresponding to respective sizes of working tips (14a-d) of the driver bits. These distinctive markings are consistent throughout a family of sets. In one embodiment the distinctive marking are different colors, with each different color corresponding to a working-tip size. The colors are applied only to shaft bodies (36a-d) of some of the driver bits by plating the shaft bodies with zinc layers (22) and then dying the outer surfaces of the zinc layers with color dye (24). This coloring is carried out before the shaft bodies are connected to their respective working tips. Once the outer surfaces (20) of the shaft bodies are thusly colored, the respective working tips are swaged to the shaft bodies to thereby form color-coded Robertson driver bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Ray-Griffin, Inc., Robertson, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Ray, Tom Rankin
  • Publication number: 20010010833
    Abstract: A set of driver bits for Robertson screw fasteners includes driver bits (10a-d) whose shaft bodies (12a-d) have distinctive markings thereon corresponding to respective sizes of working tips (14a-d) of the driver bits. These distinctive markings are consistent throughout a family of sets. In one embodiment the distinctive marking are different colors, with each different color corresponding to a working-tip size. The colors are applied only to shaft bodies (36a-d) of some of the driver bits by plating the shaft bodies with zinc layers (22) and then dying the outer surfaces of the zinc layers with color dye (24). This coloring is carried out before the shaft bodies are connected to their respective working tips. Once the outer surfaces (20) of the shaft bodies are thusly colored, the respective working tips are swaged to the shaft bodies to thereby form color-coded Robertson driver bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Ray-Griffin, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Ray, Tom Rankine