Patents by Inventor William C. Lai

William C. Lai 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: 9315623
    Abstract: A soluble n-type copolymer that is useful in electronic and photonic devices. Embodiments of the invention include an n-type copolymer having a soluble n-type perylene copolymer having base formula A, where R is a backbone segment, where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, fluorinated alkyl, functionalized alkyl, aryl, fluorinated aryl, and functionalized aryl, and where n ranges from about 2 to 50,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William C. Lai, Alfred Baca, Benjamin Harvey, M. Joseph Roberts, Heather Meylemans
  • Patent number: 9082983
    Abstract: A thin film transistor having a solution-processed n-type copolymer semiconductor material. A thin-film transistor (TFT) device including, an organic TFT device having at least one substrate, at least one gate electrode, at least one electrically-insulating dielectric material, at least one drain electrode, at least one source electrode, and at least one n-type solution-processable semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Alfred G. Baca, William C. Lai
  • Patent number: 5690555
    Abstract: A golf ball teeing device and associated cage for catching a golf ball it from the teeing device includes a manually actuated trough for teeing one ball after another in succession on a tee to be hit. A cage catches the balls that are hit, and a ball return mechanism returns the balls to the teeing device. The returned balls line up in a row in alignment with a ball entrance of the teeing device. One ball at a time is fed to a ball cavity in the teeing device. The person using the teeing device actuates an elongate trough that is associated with the ball cavity to pivot downwardly allowing the ball in the ball cavity to roll down the trough. A guide on the distal end of the trough sets the ball on a tee, and the trough can then be returned to its ready position in which a new ball is fed to the ball cavity. After hitting the teed ball, the user again actuates the trough to tee the next ball that is to be hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: William C. Lay
  • Patent number: 5611539
    Abstract: A game system includes two uprights formed of three telescoping sections. The lower section extends into a base which is positioned into the supporting surface or related ground. A plurality of securing structures are positioned along the length of each upright to receive a net. The net has at least two elastically-deformable straps extending away therefrom for securing the net to the uprights for use at least two sports. Alternate game structure may be secured to the upright, including a tetherball, a soccer ball, a soccer net, a golf ball receiving net, and a baseball practice structure. Also, net-securing structure may be secured to one of the uprights to receive a net for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Watterson, William C. Lay, John Frodsham, John C. Heath, William T. Dalebout
  • Patent number: 4938478
    Abstract: A ball hitting practice device comprising a planar base, a vertical pedistal of an longated flexible first member having a specially prepared molded ball fixedly attached to the terminal end and the other end being telescopically inserted into a second elongated rigid tubular member, a safety lock at the end of the first member to prevent it from being removed from the top of the second member, an adjustable lock on the first and second members adapted to secure the first member at the desired height, and a coil spring the top end of which is fixedly attached to the bottom of the second member and the bottom end being fixedly attached by a bolt to the planar base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Inventor: William C. Lay
  • Patent number: 4883272
    Abstract: A multi-purpose ball expelling apparatus which can be used with repeated operations for the training of baseball fielders, batters and pitchers comprising in combination a special netted frame in which a ball can be thrown, collected and pass into a special ball expelling machine which can be adjusted to expell the ball as a grounder, pop-fly or straight pitch. An inverted U-shaped frame is in a generally vertical plane and has a net stretched tightly across it. A brace is connected to each side leg of the U. A rectangular frame is supported in a generally horizontal plane by the U-shaped frame and braces. A second net is also stretched tightly across the rectangular frame. The rectangular frame downward somewhat toward its front edge to direct a ball into the expelling machine. A third net is attached to the top of the U-shaped frame and hangs loosely down to the net on the rectangular frame. This third net has a rectangular opening which serves as a baseball pitching target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: William C. Lay
  • Patent number: 4830371
    Abstract: A new type of baseball and softball practice hitting device which is easily adjusted for use in training young ball players comprising a planar base to which is attached vertical sections, the top end of the pedistal being fixedly attached to a baseball or softball, and the bottom end of said vertical pedistal being fixedly attached to a coil spring which in turn is attached to a pivoting member which permits the pedistal to be inclined to the side, back or front depending on the desired position of the ball and then locked in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Grand Slam, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Lay
  • Patent number: 4681318
    Abstract: A new type of baseball and softball hitting practice device which is easily adjusted for use in training young ball players comprising a planar base to which is attached a vertical pedestal, the pedestal having a first vertical resilient member having a ball fixedly attached to the terminal end and having the other end adapted to fitting into the end of a second resilient tubular member in telescopic manner, the bottom end of the second tubular member being fixedly attached to a coil spring which in turn is attached to a pivoting element which permits the pedestal to be inclined to the side, back or front depending on the desired position of the ball and then locked in that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Grand Slam, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Lay