John A Willis

US Patent:

6827803, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

Mar 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/102119

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Raleigh NC 27614

International Classification:

B65H 6906

US Classification:

156157, 156285, 156286, 1563041, 1563046, 156502, 156580, 1565831

Abstract:

A belt press use a combination of vacuum and atmospheric pressure to provide the majority of the compressive force between platens. A first platen has a substantially rigid proximal side and a plurality of vacuum ports communicating therewith. The compressive force is generated by pulling a vacuum at the vacuum ports associated with the first platen while allowing atmospheric pressure to act against its distal side. Heat may be applied via at least one of the platens while generating the compressive force. Evolved gases are vented via the vacuum ports while applying the heat by continuing to pull the vacuum during heating. When the now-joined belt ends have cooled after the application of heat, the compressive force is relieved by ceasing the pulling the vacuum at the vacuum ports associated with the first platen. The second platen of the belt press may be similar to the first platen.

US Patent:

6968798, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

May 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/850218

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Anchor Concepts, Inc. - Zebulon NC

International Classification:

B63B021/32

US Classification:

114297, 114298

Abstract:

An anchor has a shank pivotally connected to a fluke structure via a pivot mount for rotation between locked and release configurations. The shank has a locking surface distal from the pivot mount engaging a portion of the fluke structure to resist the rotation in the locked configuration. An elastically deformable member couples the shank to the pivot mount and the rotation of the shank may require the deformable member to be elastically deformed and the locking surface to be displaced toward the pivot mount. A float may be attached to the shank at a position spaced away from the fluke structure. A pulling force component applied to the shank in a direction from the pivot mount toward the locking surface may provide greater resistance to rotation of the shank. Other anchor embodiments are also disclosed.

US Patent:

59749350, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Jun 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/105682

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Raleigh NC
Adrian J. Willis - Raleigh NC
George H. Stoner - Wilson NC
William J. Hayes - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Belt Equipment, Inc. - Zebulon NC

International Classification:

B26D 306

US Classification:

83870

Abstract:

An apparatus for variable length belt splitting includes a stepwise feeder which urges the belt, such as conveyor belt, forward in discrete steps and a reciprocating cutter disposed downstream from the feeder. The feeder preferably includes both a holding clamp and a feed clamp that is connected to, and is moved with respect to, the holding clamp by a feed actuator. The cutter preferably moves parallel to the holding clamp and is moved back and forth by a bi-directional ram. The cutter splits the belt edge to edge at a predetermined depth in length increments corresponding to the feeder's step length to a total length determined by the user. Optionally, the feeder and cutter are connected to a support structure which allows the feeder and cutter to be placed at an angle with respect to the path of the belt through the machine, thereby allowing for diagonal splits to be made with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt without stewing of the belt. Advantageously, some embodiments of the present invention allow for the belt to be split while maintaining the integrity of the reinforcing layers and the adhesion thereof to the main belt layers. The belt splitter allows for the belt to be split up to any distance selected by the user.

US Patent:

60417315, Mar 28, 2000

Filed:

Apr 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/300126

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

B63B 2132

US Classification:

114301

Abstract:

An anchor includes at least one plow-like fluke, a shank, and a float. The relative position of the float with respect to the center of gravity of the combined shank and fluke causes the anchor to assume a generally upright orientation quickly once the anchor is dropped in the water. One end of the shank is attached to the fluke and the float is attached to a rearward portion of the shank, with the float's center of buoyancy spaced away from the connection to the fluke. Upon being put in the water, the anchor quickly assumes a generally upright orientation, i. e. , shank up and fluke tip down. Once in the generally upright orientation, the anchor may gently rock side to side with a pendulum-like action, with the tip of the fluke preferably being the lowest point of the anchor, during its descent to the bottom. When the anchor reaches a soft bottom, the tip of the fluke penetrates the bottom and the momentum of the anchor causes at least a portion of the fluke to bury into the bottom in a generally upright orientation. This setting of the anchor may be achieved in most or all situations without dragging the anchor along the bottom.

US Patent:

20190374724, Dec 12, 2019

Filed:

Aug 22, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/548490

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Galen C. ROBERTSON - Apex NC, US
John Tyler Willis HAGLER - Chapel Hill NC, US
Robert W. TITKEMEYER - Wimberley TX, US

Assignee:

410 Medical, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

A61M 5/315
A61M 39/24
A61M 5/00
A61M 5/178
A61M 5/19
A61M 5/20
A61M 5/31
A61M 39/10
A61M 39/28
A61M 5/48

Abstract:

An infusion device includes a housing with an interior chamber sized and configured to hold at least a flange and plunger of a syringe, a trigger held by the housing, and a lever in communication with the trigger and including an upwardly extending cam with a cam path having an upper end. The cam is in communication with the flange of the syringe. In response to actuation of the trigger to dispense fluid from the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels upward above the syringe and longitudinally toward a dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger of the syringe in a first direction to dispense fluid from the syringe. To refill fluid into the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels downward and longitudinally away from the dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger in a second direction to intake fluid.

US Patent:

20170319783, Nov 9, 2017

Filed:

Jun 2, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/612668

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Galen C. Robertson - Apex NC, US
John Tyler Willis Hagler - Chapel Hill NC, US
Robert W. Titkemeyer - Wimberly TX, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/178
A61M 5/00
A61M 5/19
A61M 5/20
A61M 5/31
A61M 5/315
A61M 5/315
A61M 5/315
A61M 39/10
A61M 5/00
A61M 39/28
A61M 5/20
A61M 5/20
A61M 5/20
A61M 5/31
A61M 5/315

Abstract:

An infusion device includes a housing with an interior chamber sized and configured to hold at least a flange and plunger of a syringe, a trigger held by the housing, and a lever in communication with the trigger and including an upwardly extending cam with a cam path having an upper end. The cam is in communication with the flange of the syringe. In response to actuation of the trigger to dispense fluid from the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels upward above the syringe and longitudinally toward a dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger of the syringe in a first direction to dispense fluid from the syringe. To refill fluid into the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels downward and longitudinally away from the dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger in a second direction to intake fluid.

US Patent:

20170281875, Oct 5, 2017

Filed:

Jun 2, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/612709

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Galen C. Robertson - Apex NC, US
John Tyler Willis Hagler - Chapel Hill NC, US
Robert W. Titkemeyer - Wimberly TX, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/315
A61M 39/10
A61M 5/00
A61M 5/48
A61M 39/24

Abstract:

An infusion device includes a housing with an interior chamber sized and configured to hold at least a flange and plunger of a syringe, a trigger held by the housing, and a lever in communication with the trigger and including an upwardly extending cam with a cam path having an upper end. The cam is in communication with the flange of the syringe. In response to actuation of the trigger to dispense fluid from the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels upward above the syringe and longitudinally toward a dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger of the syringe in a first direction to dispense fluid from the syringe. To refill fluid into the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels downward and longitudinally away from the dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger in a second direction to intake fluid.

US Patent:

20160166761, Jun 16, 2016

Filed:

Feb 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/051456

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Galen C. Robertson - Apex NC, US
John Tyler Willis Hagler - Chapel Hill NC, US
Robert W. Titkemeyer - Wimberley TX, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/00
A61M 39/24
A61M 5/20

Abstract:

A kit of components for a medical infusion includes a syringe having a syringe body with a liquid chamber having a volumetric capacity in a range of 5 ml to 30 ml, large bore tubing having an inner diameter greater than 3 mm and less than or equal to 6 mm and a length in a range of 4 feet to 10 feet, a valve with an axially extending valve body with opposing first and second ends, and a package holding the syringe pre-attached to the valve body and the large bore tubing in a sterile condition to thereby provide components in a ready-to-use configuration for insertion of the syringe and valve into an infusion device. The valve body includes an inlet tube residing between the first and second ends of the valve body and an exit port on the first end of the valve body.