Patents by Inventor Virginia Houston-Howland

Virginia Houston-Howland 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: 9250041
    Abstract: A carrier garment configured to carry protective panels on a user's torso allows adjustment of the carrier garment and the protective panels to accommodate a wide range of bust and torso sizes, from flat-chested to full figured bust and torso lines. Embodiments allow quick adjustment back to a flat configuration to accommodate rifle protection plates that require the carrier and the underlying panels to be flat. Various embodiments can be locked to ensure that the garment retains its adjusted shape. A shaping point and/or a slit can be provided to assist in shaping stiff materials. Embodiments include a plurality of attachment points to which a lower end of an adjustment lanyard can be attached. A lining or inner layer can be included, and can be configured to adjust in shape with the outer garment. The outer garment and/or the liner or inner layer can include a protective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: WARWICK MILLS INC.
    Inventors: Charles A. Howland, Virginia Houston Howland
  • Publication number: 20150082507
    Abstract: A carrier garment configured to carry protective panels on a user's torso allows adjustment of the carrier garment and the protective panels to accommodate a wide range of bust and torso sizes, from flat-chested to full figured bust and torso lines. Embodiments allow quick adjustment back to a flat configuration to accommodate rifle protection plates that require the carrier and the underlying panels to be flat. Various embodiments can be locked to ensure that the garment retains its adjusted shape. A shaping point and/or a slit can be provided to assist in shaping stiff materials. Embodiments include a plurality of attachment points to which a lower end of an adjustment lanyard can be attached. A lining or inner layer can be included, and can be configured to adjust in shape with the outer garment. The outer garment and/or the liner or inner layer can include a protective material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Charles A. Howland, Virginia Houston Howland
  • Patent number: 7799563
    Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed where carrier fiber is used to enable the assembly of two and three dimensional structures of autologous tissue. Tissue is harvested from the donor, integrated with a carrier fiber, and assembled into complex forms rapidly. The structures can be tailored to the requirements of a specific medical procedure. The tissue is kept live and viable during extracorporeal assembly and the finished structure is emplaced in the donor's body. The use of a carrier fiber leader for pre-threading integration and assembly machines facilitates machine set up, drawing of the tissue into the process, and rapid integration and assembly of the multi-dimensional structures. Assembly can include providing tissue and fiber leaders extending from the structure for attaching the structure in place. The carrier fiber either is bio-absorbed as new tissue forms, or forms a bio-compatible substructure for the patient's native tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Warwick Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Howland, Virginia Houston-Howland, Jennifer K. White
  • Publication number: 20050118716
    Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed where carrier fiber is used to enable the assembly of two and three dimensional structures of autologous tissue. Tissue is harvested from the donor, integrated with a carrier fiber, and assembled into complex forms rapidly. The structures can be tailored to the requirements of a specific medical procedure. The tissue is kept live and viable during extracorporeal assembly and the finished structure is emplaced in the donor's body. The use of a carrier fiber leader for pre-threading integration and assembly machines facilitates machine set up, drawing of the tissue into the process, and rapid integration and assembly of the multi-dimensional structures. Assembly can include providing tissue and fiber leaders extending from the structure for attaching the structure in place. The carrier fiber either is bio-absorbed as new tissue forms, or forms a bio-compatible substructure for the patient's native tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Warwick Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Howland, Virginia Houston-Howland, Jennifer White
  • Patent number: D737018
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Warwick Mills Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A Howland, Virginia Houston-Howland, Carina Morand