Douglas A Hopper

US Patent:

7578978, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

Oct 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/695038

Inventors:

Michael James Justin - St. Louis MO, US
James Clement Bishop - Columbia MO, US
Douglas L. Hopper - Maryville IL, US
Mark Joseph Fanning - Florissant MO, US

Assignee:

bioMérieux, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

B01L 9/00

US Classification:

422104, 422 63, 422 64, 422 65, 422 67, 422 99, 422100, 436 47, 436180

Abstract:

A carrier for holding up to N test sample devices as they are moved through a sample testing instrument. Each of the test sample devices are held in a receiving structure such as a slot in the carrier. The carrier also includes N optical interrupt positioning features, each placed in registry with one of the receiving structures (and thereby in registry with the test sample device). The instrument includes fixed optical interrupt sensors for detecting the position of the positioning feature as the carrier is moved through the instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the position features comprise voids formed in a rib on the lower surface of the carrier. The optical interrupt sensors are positioned below the path the carrier travels over, whereby as the carrier moves past the sensor the voids, and hence position of the test sample devices, are detected.

US Patent:

20030035712, Feb 20, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/830129

Inventors:

Douglas Hopper - Maryville IL, US
Gary Skaggs - Hartford IL, US
Gregory R. Maes - Fenton MO, US
Joel P. Harrison - Glen Carbon IL, US

International Classification:

B23Q007/00
B23Q005/34
F16H019/02

US Classification:

414/787000

Abstract:

A drive mechanism for providing reciprocating, liner motion for a movable work piece relative to a stationary work piece is provided. The drive system includes a motor rotating a drum in forward and reverse directions about a first axis. The motor and drum are fixedly mounted with respect to the stationary work piece, such as to a housing or other structure. The system further includes an elongate, substantially non-flexible cable having a first and second ends fixed with respect to the stationary work piece. The cable further includes an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends, with the intermediate portion being wound around the drum. First and second bearings are provided which are mounted to the movable work piece. The first bearing is positioned relative to the cable such that the intermediate portion of the cable is wound over the first bearing, and with the first bearing being positioned between the first end of the cable and the drum. The second bearing is positioned relative to the cable such that the intermediate portion of the cable is wound over the second bearing with the second bearing being positioned between the drum and the second end of the cable. Rotation of the drum in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions causes the cable to move the first and second bearings back and forth relative to the drum, thereby causing linear, reciprocating movement of the moveable work piece relative to the stationary work piece.

US Patent:

20080175760, Jul 24, 2008

Filed:

Feb 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/069252

Inventors:

Michael James Justin - St. Louis MO, US
James Clement Bishop - Columbia MO, US
Douglas L. Hopper - Maryville IL, US
Mark Joseph Fanning - Florissant MO, US

International Classification:

B01L 9/06

US Classification:

422104

Abstract:

A carrier for holding up to N test sample devices as they are moved through a sample testing instrument. Each of the test sample devices are held in a receiving structure such as a slot in the carrier. The carrier also includes N optical interrupt positioning features, each placed in registry with one of the receiving structures (and thereby in registry with the test sample device). The instrument includes fixed optical interrupt sensors for detecting the position of the positioning feature as the carrier is moved through the instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the position features comprise voids formed in a rib on the lower surface of the carrier. The optical interrupt sensors are positioned below the path the carrier travels over, whereby as the carrier moves past the sensor the voids, and hence position of the test sample devices, are detected.

US Patent:

56345534, Jun 3, 1997

Filed:

Mar 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/614679

Inventors:

Douglas A. Hopper - Edwardsville IL
Michael W. Miller - St. Louis MO

Assignee:

Hubbell Incorporated - Orange CT

International Classification:

H01H 2136

US Classification:

200336

Abstract:

A handle assembly for use with a circuit breaker includes an elongated shaft mounted through a hole in a cover of an enclosure containing a circuit breaker having an actuator lever movable between a plurality of different positions. The shaft is mounted to the cover to undergo rotational movement about, but not translational movement along, a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The outer end portion of the shaft extends outwardly from an exterior side of the cover, while an inner end portion of the shaft extends inwardly from an interior side of the cover into the enclosure, terminating at a location spaced from the actuator lever of the circuit breaker in the enclosure. The handle assembly also includes a handle attached to the outer end portion of the shaft so as to undergo rotation with the shaft. The handle is adapted for gripping to rotate the handle and therewith the shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, and a coupling mechanism for coupling with the actuator lever of the circuit breaker in the enclosure to move the actuator lever between the positions thereof upon rotation of the shaft by rotation of the handle. The coupling mechanism is mounted to the inner end portion of the shaft to undergo rotation with the shaft and translational movement relative to the shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof for adjusting the axial length of the handle assembly to reach respective actuator levers of circuit breakers when displaced at different distances from the cover of the enclosure.

US Patent:

D468165, Mar 16, 1999

Filed:

Jun 26, 1997

Appl. No.:

D/072978

Inventors:

Douglas A. Hopper - Maryville IL
Michael J. Schinsky - St. Louis MO

Assignee:

Hubbell Incorporated - Orange CT

International Classification:

1303

US Classification:

D13146

US Patent:

59513098, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Mar 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/033298

Inventors:

Douglas A. Hopper - Maryville IL

Assignee:

Hubbell Incorporated - Orange CT

International Classification:

H01R 1344

US Classification:

439142

Abstract:

A receptacle assembly includes a body adapted to receive a plug at one end, a cover, a hinge having a bifurcated end and pivotally mounting the cover to the body for movement between an open condition and a closed condition relative to the body and biasing the cover toward the closed condition, and position retention tabs formed on laterally spaced apart lugs defined on the bifurcated end of the hinge with each tab projecting outwardly therefrom and defining an arcuate-shaped shoulder such that the shoulders of the tabs and the body can retain a rod-shaped member therebetween for blocking movement of the cover from the open condition to the closed condition when the plug is not present at the one end of the body. The cover is also rotatable between an open position where the cover is removable from the body and a closed position where the cover is secured onto the body.

US Patent:

59045990, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Jul 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/902300

Inventors:

Michael W. Miller - St. Louis MO
Michael J. Schinsky - St. Louis MO
Douglas A. Hopper - Maryville IL

Assignee:

Hubbell Incorporated - Orange CT

International Classification:

H01R13/17

US Classification:

439827

Abstract:

An electrical connector pin device includes an elongated body and a wire spring insert. The body has an external surface and defines an axial bore and a radial slot therein. The radial slot extends radially outwardly from the axial bore to the external surface, opening at the external surface. The wire spring insert is disposed within the axial bore and radial slot of the body. The wire spring insert is movable between non-compressed and compressed conditions. In the non-compressed condition, a portion of the wire spring insert extends above the external surface of the body, while in the compressed condition, the wire spring insert is deformed by an annular wall of a sleeve of an external electrical receptacle and pushed below the external surface of the body and thereby generates a spring force creating contact pressure diametrically opposed to the annular wall of the sleeve of the receptacle so as to releasably retain the body within the sleeve of the receptacle.