Patents by Inventor William A. Barr

William A. Barr 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: 6470585
    Abstract: A marking device is disclosed to enable the placement of an indicator mark on one side of a sheet of material to mark the approximate periphery of a stationary object. The device consists of a base containing at least one inking transfer with a marking surface raised above the base surface. Multiple flexible self-hinges, each having a width, a thickness, a first end and a second end extend, from the first end, at an angle from the first surface of the base. Each of the self-hinges as a contact pad, positioned parallel to the base and adjacent to the second end of the self-hinge. The self-hinges extend from the base a distance sufficient to prevent the sheet material from contacting the inking transfer without the application of sufficient pressure to compress the self-hinges. In one embodiment, the base contains positioned to receive the self-hinges and contact pads during compression. The second surface of the base has affixing members to enable the base to be positioned on the item to be marked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Publication number: 20010027612
    Abstract: A marking device is disclosed to enable the placement of an indicator mark on one side of a sheet of material to mark the approximate periphery of a stationary object. The device consists of a base containing at least one inking transfer with a marking surface raised above the base surface. Multiple flexible self-hinges, each having a width, a thickness, a first end and a second end extend, from the first end, at an angle from the first surface of the base. Each of the self-hinges as a contact pad, positioned parallel to the base and adjacent to the second end of the self-hinge. The self-hinges extend from the base a distance sufficient to prevent the sheet material from contacting the inking transfer without the application of sufficient pressure to compress the self-hinges. In one embodiment, the base contains positioned to receive the self-hinges and contact pads during compression. The second surface of the base has affixing members to enable the base to be positioned on the item to be marked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 6300868
    Abstract: A park system alarm is provided which is energized when operation of the park mechanism fails to open the park system switch, even though the shift lever is in the park position, and the driver initiates the process of opening his or her door. An external alarm is also energized through the park system switch and a seat switch if the driver leaves his normal driving position when the shift lever is not in park and when the shift lever is in park but the park system is broken or maladjusted. A put-in-park alarm is energized through the park system switch, a gear switch, and a door switch if the driver initiates the process of opening his or her door with the shift lever in any position except park. A seat switch circuit causes the parking pawl to engage the parking gear if the driver leaves the vehicle without placing the shift lever in park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 6226882
    Abstract: An easy to use and accurate marking device enables the placement of an indicator mark on one side of a sheet of material to mark the periphery of an object. A marking line located within the base transfers a marking substance to the material upon contact. A recess within the base contains a contact pad that is moveable within the recess. The pad is maintained a predetermined distance from the base plate, when not under pressure, by a spring between the contact pad and the recess. At least one retaining member prevents removal of the contact pad from the base plate while permitting contact pad movement within the recess. At least one holding member, such as flanges forming a friction fit, is used to secure the base plate to the stationary object. A portion of the body of the marking device can be notched, giving a thinner cross-sectional thickness and placing at least a portion of the recess into the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 6124789
    Abstract: A park system alarm is provided which is energized when operation of the park mechanism fails to open the park system switch, even though the shift lever is in the park position, and the driver initiates the process of opening his or her door. An external alarm is also energized through the park system switch and a seat switch if the driver leaves his normal driving position when the shift lever is not in park and when the shift lever is in park but the park system is broken or maladjusted. A put-in-park alarm is energized through the park system switch, a gear switch, and a door switch if the driver initiates the process of opening his or her door with the shift lever in any position except park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 5926088
    Abstract: A put-in-park alarm which is energized whenever an automatic shift vehicle is stopped but the shift lever is not in park. The put-in-park alarm is energized when the driver moves his door handle in a door opening direction. Not only is the alarm energized but the door cannot be opened until the shift lever is moved to park whereupon the signal is deenergized, but the door is unlocked upon a second movement of the handle in a door opening direction. The invention includes a broken/maladjusted alarm which is different from the put-in-park alarm but produces substantially similar results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 5760683
    Abstract: A put-in-park alarm which is energized whenever an automatic shift vehicle is stopped but the shift lever is not in park. The put-in-park alarm is energized when the driver moves his door handle in a door opening direction. Not only is the alarm energized but the door cannot be opened until the shift lever is moved to park whereupon the signal is deenergized, but the door is unlocked upon a second movement of the handle in a door opening direction. The invention includes a broken/maladjusted alarm which is different from the put-in-park alarm but produces substantially similar results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 5581233
    Abstract: A put-in-park alarm which is energized whenever an automatic shift vehicle is stopped but the shift lever is not in park. The put-in-park alarm is energized when the driver moves his door handle in a door opening direction. Not only is the alarm energized but the door cannot be opened until the shift lever is moved to park whereupon the signal is deenergized, but the door is unlocked upon a second movement of the handle in a door opening direction. The invention includes a broken/maladjusted alarm which is different from the put-in-park alarm but produces substantially similar results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 5015991
    Abstract: An alarm system which signals to the driver a first alarm whenever he opens a vehicle door and the selector lever of an automatic transmission is not in its full park position. The system signals to the driver and also to persons external to the vehicle a second different alarm whenever, in addition, the driver leaves his seat and the selector lever is not in its full park position or the parking pawl fails to properly engage the parking gear even though the selector lever is in its proper park position. A manual switch may be operated to selectively disconnect the alarms, with an automatic operator being provided to close this switch should it accidently be left in its open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4668020
    Abstract: The invention overcomes the problem of a cocking valve in a pressure control unit for use in a vehicle braking system. The valve is provided with a body assembly defining an external cylindrical surface slidably engaging the internal surface of a valve chamber, the engaged cylindrical surfaces having sufficient axial extent as to positively prevent said valve from cocking or moving laterally out of a co-axial position with a movable valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4640554
    Abstract: The invention overcomes the problem of a cocking valve in a pressure control unit for use in a vehicle braking system. The valve is provided with a body assembly defining an external cylindrical surface slidably engaging the internal surface of a valve chamber, the engaged cylindrical surfaces having sufficient axial extent as to positively prevent said valve from cocking or moving laterally out of a co-axial position with a movable valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4613189
    Abstract: The invention overcomes the problem of a cocking valve in a pressure control unit for use in a vehicle braking system. The valve is provided with a body assembly defining an external cylindrical surface slidably engaging the internal surface of a valve chamber, the engaged cylindrical surfaces having sufficient axial extent as to positively prevent said valve from cocking or moving laterally out of a co-axial position with a movable valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4576261
    Abstract: Sudden accidental unintended movement of an automatic transmission into reverse with the engine running is prevented by modifying the usual control rod to provide a cam surface so positioned thereon that as the control rod is moved a predetermined distance from reverse towards park a spring loaded member engages the cam surface and both restrains unintended movement of the control rod back to reverse and positively drives the control rod into its full park position as soon as the parking pawl aligns with a space between teeth of a parking gear. The mechanism may be assembled as original equipment in conventional transmissions or added to existing transmissions with little or no modification in design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignees: William A. Barr Memorial Trust, Barr-Scarlett Trust, Barr-Truitt Trust
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4549745
    Abstract: A fifth wheel coupler having a jaw which is positively driven by a mechanism in response to the movement of a king pin in a coupling direction. The jaw and the mechanism are yieldably connected so as to permit the mechanism to be operated by the oncoming king pin to the full extent of the movement of both, after the jaw has been prevented from further movement due to engagement with an obstruction on the king pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4518066
    Abstract: Sudden accidental or unintended movement of an automatic transmission into reverse with the engine running is prevented by substituting for the usual unitary control rod a two part arrangement, one being movable by the shift lever and the other being movable by a spring separator from the shift lever but arranged to exert a force only in the direction of a parking pawl and never in the reverse direction against any member connected to the detent plate. Thus it is impossible for a yielding cam spring to ever drive the linkage unexpectedly into reverse should a driver carelessly position a shaft lever between its reverse and park positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4509624
    Abstract: A parking brake for automatic transmissions increases the safety of such brakes by arranging the cam, control rod, pawl and lost motion spring so that whenever the shift lever is not moved to its full park position with the engine running, the lost motion spring exerts a force on the mechanism blocking return thereof to reverse position while urging the mechanism in the direction of its park position, thereby preventing the vehicle thought to have been parked from suddenly moving in reverse possibly injuring anyone standing behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: William A. Barr
  • Patent number: 4455036
    Abstract: A king pin for a tractor trailer coupling is disclosed. The king pin is substantially conventional except that the lower flange thereof, which is presently standardized to have less diameter than the upper part of the king pin, is made predeterminedly larger than the upper part so that it cannot be received in the usual recess at the upper end of the coupler jaw when closed, or when the jaw is opened the flange positively prevents the jaw from closing. Thus a trailer can never be towed at all by partial seating of the flange of a misaligned king pin in the upper recess of a closed jaw as now can occur with a standardized king pins resulting in unexpected and dangerous separation of the tractor and trailer on the open highway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Inventor: William A. Barr