Patents by Inventor William A. Thomas, Jr.

William A. Thomas, Jr. 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: 11952897
    Abstract: A system for remotely operating a machine, such as a mine vehicle, includes at least one first emitter for emitting a first signal corresponding to a first zone adjacent to the machine. A transmitter is provided for receiving the first signal emitted by the emitter, the transmitter being adapted for issuing commands for controlling the machine and also indicating the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. A controller is also provided for controlling the machine based on the control signals from the transmitter based on the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: J.H. FLETCHER & CO.
    Inventors: Craig Matthew Collins, Billy Davis Goad, Jr., Robert William Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10640173
    Abstract: A boat mooring assembly for mooring a boat to a dock includes a rod that comprises a plurality of nested sections so that the rod is selectively extensible. A pair of couplers is coupled singly to a first end and a second end of the rod. The couplers are configured to couple singly to a boat cleat and selectively to one of a dock cleat and a dock post to couple the boat to the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: William Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6779757
    Abstract: A preform is joined to converging surfaces of a structure, such as an airfoil, to form a structural edge. The preform has a body having an acute-angle edge at one end and connecting areas extending from the opposing end for connecting the preform to converging planar elements of a wing or other similar structure. In several embodiments, the acute angle of the preform generally matches the angle relative to converging ends of the planar elements, the preform forming the outer end of smooth, continuous outer surfaces after assembly. The connecting areas may be connected to interior or exterior surfaces of the elements, depending on the orientation of the preform and elements. In another embodiment, the entire preform is placed between the outer ends of the elements for aligning and supporting the elements at the desired location and angle relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6497940
    Abstract: An improved transparent media for ink printing is described. The media is a phase change ink recording media comprising: a polyethylene terephthalate support; a 1-15 mg/dm2 lower receptor layer coated on the support wherein the lower receptor layer comprises: silica with a particle size of no more than 0.3 &mgr;m and a polymer; wherein the total weight of the polymer and the silica is 82-97%, by weight, silica and 3-18%, by weight, polymer. The media also comprises an optional upper receptive layer comprising a matrix polymer, an inorganic particulate material and a soft polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: AGFA Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Richard Roy Jones, Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allan Apple, John Thomas Chandler, Jr., Jose A Siqueira
  • Patent number: 6309709
    Abstract: An improved transparent media for ink printing is described. The media is a phase change ink recording media comprising: a polyethylene terephthalate support; a 1-15 mg/dm2 lower receptor layer coated on the support wherein the lower receptor layer comprises: silica with a particle size of no more than 0.3 &mgr;m and a polymer; wherein the total weight of the polymer and the silica is 82-97%, by weight, silica and 3-18%, by weight, polymer. The media also comprises an optional upper receptive layer comprising a matrix polymer, an inorganic particulate material and a soft polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Richard Roy Jones, Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allan Apple, John Thomas Chandler, Jose A. Siqueira
  • Patent number: 6193366
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media. The apparatus has at least one solid phase change ink and a solid null image element. A printing head melts the solid phase change ink to form a molten phase change ink and melts the solid null image element to form a molten null image element. The molten phase change ink and the molten null image element are deposited, in an imagewise pattern, onto a transfer surface. A cooling mechanism cools the molten phase change ink and the molten null image element in the imagewise pattern to form a malleable phase change ink and a malleable null image element in the imagewise pattern on the transfer surface. The malleable phase change ink and the malleable null image element are transfered to a media from the transfer surface in the imagewise pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allen Apple, C. Wayne Jaeger, Stephen M. Kroon
  • Patent number: 6086700
    Abstract: An improved transparent media for ink printing is described. The media is a phase change ink recording media comprising: a polyethylene terephthalate support; a 1-15 mg/dm.sup.2 lower receptor layer coated on the support wherein the lower receptor layer comprises: silica with a particle size of no more than 0.3 .mu.m and a polymer; wherein the total weight of the polymer and the silica is 82-97%, by weight, silica and 3-18%, by weight, polymer. The media also comprises an optional upper receptive layer comprising a matrix polymer, an inorganic particulate material and a soft polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Richard Roy Jones, Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allan Apple, John Thomas Chandler, Jose A. Siqueira
  • Patent number: 5756226
    Abstract: An improved transparent media for ink printing is described. The media is a phase change ink recording media comprising: a polyethylene terephthalate support; a 1-15 mg/dm.sup.2 receptor layer coated on the support wherein the receptor layer comprises: silica with a particle size of no more than 0.3 .mu.m and a polymer; wherein the total weight of the polymer and the silica is 82-97%, by weight, silica and 3-18%, by weight, polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Esteban Valentini, Richard Roy Jones, Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allen Apple
  • Patent number: 5754209
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus for recording a gradient image on transparent media comprising: at least one solid phase change ink; a solid null image element; a heating system capable of melting the solid phase change ink to form a molten phase change ink and capable of melting the solid null image element to form a molten null image element; a printing head capable of receiving the molten phase change ink and the molten null image element and depositing them in an imagewise pattern onto a transfer surface; a transfer surface capable of receiving the imagewise pattern; a cooling mechanism for cooling the molten phase change ink and the molten null image element in the imagewise pattern to form a malleable phase change ink and a malleable null image element in the imagewise pattern on the transfer surface; a media; a transfer mechanism capable of transferring said malleable phase change ink and said malleable null image element in said imagewise pattern on said transfer surface to said media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Jule William Thomas, Jr., Bernard Allen Apple
  • Patent number: 5128671
    Abstract: A hand-held joystick has spaced-apart groups of accelerometers and is free to move or rotate on multiple axes. Each group has, for example, three mutually perpendicular accelerometers, with each one producing an electrical signal responsive to linear acceleration along one axis. The signals are combined to derive a definition of acceleration of the joystick along the three mutually perpendicular linear axes and/or rotation about these axes. The combined signal is used by an electrical control system which provides input to a device being controlled. The signal to the device under control is responsive to the motion of the joystick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace and Defense Company
    Inventor: William A. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4101086
    Abstract: Groove and corner having a side wall intersecting the groove in a textile yarn package tube results in the provision of an improved method for tying-up yarn to the yarn package tube and for forming a transfer tail, and in the further provision of apparatus for practicing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William A. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4022392
    Abstract: Apparatus for assisting an operator in doffing a yarn package from a textile winder, the yarn being wound on a hollow tube; the hollow tube in turn being mounted on and rotatively locked on a winding mandrel of the winder and having an end portion of the tube extending axially outwardly of the end of the winding mandrel. The apparatus comprises an abutting member for insertion within the extending tube end portion for abutment against the winding mandrel end and a series of gripping members concentric with the abutting member and actuatable for expanding radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the inside surface of the tube end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William A. Thomas, Jr., James C. Baugh, Jr.