Patents by Inventor William J. Hanson

William J. Hanson 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: 7438727
    Abstract: A locking shoulder joint adapted to be attached to a user's shoulder, generally comprising a rotor provided with a plurality of radially positioned pins, that rotates relative to a stator, and a cam provided with one or more plungers adapted to engage said rotor pins to releasably lock said rotor in position selected by said user, all of which act to move a humeral member in a direction corresponding to a flexion/extension direction of the shoulder joint; and a yoke coupled to an axle for moving the humeral member in a direction corresponding to an abduction/adduction direction of the shoulder joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: T. Walley Williams, III, William J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5448999
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a muscle of a patient who is fitted with a myoelectric prosthetic device. The apparatus has an array of electrodes for testing the muscle over a wide area during a short period of time. The electric signals from the contraction are amplified, filtered, and converted to a digital signal. The digital signals are sent to a computer which causes a display to show one or more of the signals. A prosthetist uses the results to determine how to place the electrode in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Liberty Mutual
    Inventors: Peter R. Teare, William J. Hanson, Matthijs Smits
  • Patent number: 5341813
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a muscle of a patient who is fitted with a myoelectric prosthetic device. The apparatus has an array of electrodes for testing the muscle over a wide area during a short period of time. The electric signals from the contraction are amplified, filtered, and converted to a digital signal. The digital signals are sent to a computer which causes a display to show one or more of the signals. A prosthetist uses the results to determine how to place the electrode in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
    Inventors: Peter R. Teare, William J. Hanson, Matthijs Smits
  • Patent number: 5317273
    Abstract: A portable hearing protection device evaluation apparatus which can be taken into the field to measure noise attenuation of a muff type hearing protection device under actual working conditions is provided. The apparatus includes two miniature microphones, one positioned inside a muff near the ear, the other positioned outside the muff to detect the noise in the environment. These two microphones simultaneously receive input signals which are provided to circuitry which determines and displays a single number output representing the noise attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Liberty Mutual
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, Peter R. Teare
  • Patent number: 5249242
    Abstract: Briefly, the invention provides a method of enhancing pixel data from a raster image to improve the appearance of the rendered image by modifying morphological artifacts which normally occur in raster image systems. The method commences by applying a window to a portion of the raster pixel data from the raster images to define a block of raster pixel data having a predetermined area. The pattern of the block of raster data within the window is then compared with a plurality of predetermined patterns representing morphological artifacts. A determination is made from the comparison whether a substantial match exists between the block of raster data within the window and one or more of the plurality of predetermined patterns. In the event of a match the block of raster data is modified to provide an enhanced block of raster pixel data free of said morphological artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, Richard I. Love, R. Daniel Putman
  • Patent number: 5207095
    Abstract: A pneumatic or hydraulic pressure sensor is connected in parallel with the vehicle braking system and the sensor is connected to a computer system which periodically samples the sensor output. Other sensors can be used to detect other quantities such as engine speed, vehicle speed, wheel rotation or transmission speed, and other brake units and their outputs can also be periodically sampled. Under control of the computer, the samples are stored on a magnetic disk. The computer can then be instructed to interrogate the samples stored on the disk to produce charts of various quantities versus time which objectively indicate driver performance. The device can also be used to synchronize individual brake units in a multiple brake vehicle by simultaneously displaying the brake pressures in each brake unit, thereby enabling the relative application timing of the brake units to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
    Inventors: Peter R. Teare, William J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5066517
    Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing the permanence of printed images. A substrate with a heated, fused toner image is passed by a PTFE powder coated roller for selective contact therewith by a pivotable engagement bar. The PTFE particles are adhered only to the desired imprinted areas and not to the non-printed and non-selected areas of the substrate. The powder is dispensed on a selective basis to the surface of the substrate. The invention also includes the method for enhancing the permanence of a printed image on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: AcuPrint, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders
  • Patent number: 5030977
    Abstract: Magnetic signal level control apparatus for a printer or copier. A continuous sampling of the magnetic characteristics of a reference mark results in constantly adjusting to maintain the specified quality of magnetically readable characters on printed documents. A controller generates a signal which is applied to the developer of the printer to control application of magnetic ink or toner to the photoconductor and consequently to the paper. The invention also includes the method for controlling magnetic signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: AcuPrint, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, Richard I. Love, Gerard L. Kappenman
  • Patent number: 4869921
    Abstract: A method of preventing smudging of indicia printed on a surface by selective application of an amount of coating material to lubricate the contact with surfaces abrading the printed indicia or to provide physical separation from abrading surfaces, and thus prevent smearing. The coating material is preferably a Teflon micropowder that is applied by dispensing controlled amounts through a plurality of apertures adjacent the surface of a piece of paper on which indicia has just been printed by a non-impact printer such as a laser printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Pierce Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Gabel, Ronald R. Surva, William J. Hanson, Mary B. Burke
  • Patent number: 4779558
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing smudging of indicia printed on a surface by selective application of an amount of coating material to lubricate the contact with surfaces abrading the printed indicia or to provide physical separation from abrading surfaces, and thus prevent smearing. The coating material is preferably a "Teflon" micropowder that is applied by using impulse devices to dispense controlled amounts of the micropowder from a container, with the dispensed micropowder being transferred to, and passing through a plurality of apertures adjacent the surface of a piece of paper on which indicia has just been printed by a nonimpact printer such as a laser printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Pierce Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Gabel, Ronald R. Surya, William J. Hanson, Mary B. Burke
  • Patent number: 4072414
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which a transparency light image is projected through a screen having a plurality of opaque regions. At least a portion of the opaque regions have a light reflecting surface on one side thereof and a light absorbing surface on the other side thereof. The screen is positioned so that the light reflecting surfaces of the opaque regions form a visual image of the transparency light image being projected therethrough. Incident light rays are absorbed by the absorbing surfaces of the opaque regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4034701
    Abstract: An apparatus in which a quantity of particles is stored for being dispensed gradually therefrom. The particles remain stored therein when the apparatus is stationary, and are discharged therefrom when the apparatus undergoes oscillatory movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1972
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Davidson, William J. Hanson, Stephen K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4002187
    Abstract: A fly shuttle loom shuttle box is provided with a solid elastomer binder attached at both ends in place of a conventional pivoted, rigid-backed binder. In one modification there is attached to the end of the binder a pivoted extension which permits use of dagger fingers in the normal position on a loom. The greater force exerted by the binder results in improved shuttle deceleration when it enters the shuttle box. This also eliminates picker stick over throw when accelerating the shuttle, which permits, when in proper adjustment, in some cases elimination of picker stick loom side bumper and check strap without, of course, eliminating their useful functions. As there is a considerable amount of heat developed by the flexing of the solid elastomer, it is desirable to provide for ventilation in the form of a few relatively large holes in the elastomer near its center and adjacent to the leather face of the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: J. P. Stevens & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Stahl, William J. Hanson
  • Patent number: D340297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: William J. Hanson