David A Wheeler

US Patent:

7275652, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Oct 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/680545

Inventors:

Jeffrey M. Morris - Buffalo Grove IL, US
David C. Wheeler - Barrington IL, US

International Classification:

A47G 19/22

US Classification:

220212, 220719, 220780, 220713, 2202545, 229404, 2299061

Abstract:

A cup lid for use with a drinking cup containing a liquid, the drinking cup having a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base, the sidewall including an inner surface, a top end, and a rim extending along the circumference of the top end. The cup lid comprises a first part lying in a first plane and having a top surface and a center axis, means on said first part for releasably mounting the first part to the top end of the cup to form a substantially liquid tight seal between the cup lid and the cup, a second part depending radially outwardly from the first part and lying in a second plane, the second part having means for movement relative to the first part, compartment means between the cup and the cup lid for bifurcating the liquid in the cup into one portion and a second portion, the one portion comprising means for facilitating the flow of liquid into the compartment means and the second portion for facilitating the flow of liquid out of the compartment means, the first part and the second part further comprise aperture means for permitting the liquid contained in said one portion to flow out of the compartment means and out of the drinking cup. The second part comprises baffle means for substantially shielding the liquid in the one portion from substantial interference with the liquid in the second portion during any lateral movement of the cup whereby any spillage of the liquid out of the cup is substantially minimized.

US Patent:

40276252, Jun 7, 1977

Filed:

May 14, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/572481

Inventors:

David C. Wheeler - Barrington IL

International Classification:

A01K 2900

US Classification:

119 1

Abstract:

A commode for use by pets is adapted to contain litter material and includes an opened mouth rigid base having a disposable container, such as a plastic bag, nested within the hollow interior of the base, the base supporting from below an opened mouth box containing the litter material. A closure in the form of a slidable tray supports the litter material from below and is adapted to close a lower opening in the box, the closure being movable to an open position to enable used litter material to fall under the force of gravity through the lower opening and into the disposable container. When the closure is moved to its closed position, it effectively seals the open disposable container within the base so that the used litter material may be stored therein for relatively long periods of time. The lower opening in the box is substantially smaller in size than the mouth of the disposable container, and in one embodiment of the invention, the box includes inner and outer walls with the inner walls sloping inwardly and terminating in the lower opening. A wiping blade removes used litter material from the closure as it is moved to its open position and serves to retain the litter material within the box.

US Patent:

D3405540, Oct 19, 1993

Filed:

Jun 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/902042

Inventors:

David C. Wheeler - Barrington IL

US Classification:

D30129

US Patent:

60160276, Jan 18, 2000

Filed:

May 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/858235

Inventors:

Thomas A. DeTemple - Champaign IL
James Frame - Champaign IL
David J. Wheeler - Urbana IL
J. Gary Eden - Mahomet IL

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL

International Classification:

H01J 116

US Classification:

313356

Abstract:

A microdischarge lamp formed in a one piece integral substrate, preferably a silicon wafer, via micromachining techniques commonly used in integrated circuit manufacture. The lamp includes a micromachined cavity area for enclosing discharge filler, such as mercury vapor. The one piece substrate includes one or more semiconductor regions which act as electrodes for the lamp. A light transmissive cap seals the cavity area. Selection of particular aperture to length ratios for the cavity area permits the lamp to be operated either as a positive column or hollow cathode discharge. Hollow cathode discharge has been demonstrated at pressures of up to about 200 Torr. The small aperture of the cavity area, of about 1 to 400 micrometers, enable the electrons in the discharge to be ballistic. In addition, the small dimensions permit discharges based upon resonance radiation, such as the 253 nm line of atomic mercury.

US Patent:

61948330, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Oct 22, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/177196

Inventors:

Thomas A. DeTemple - Champaign IL
James Frame - Champaign IL
David J. Wheeler - Urbana IL
J. Gary Eden - Mahomet IL

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL

International Classification:

H01J 1704

US Classification:

313631

Abstract:

A microdischarge device having a gas or vapor contained in a microcavity and in electrical contact with a semiconductor substrate, preferably a silicon wafer. A preferred structure includes successive cathode substrate or film, dielectric, and conductive anode layers with the anode and dielectric layers penetrated by a plurality of microcavities to allow electrical contact between the discharge medium and the substrate cathode layer. A hollow cathode structure includes a microcavity that penetrates the cathode. An optical waveguide network may be used in addition to collect and concentrate emission from groups of individual microcavities. The small aperture of the cavity area, of about 1 to 400 micrometers in diameter, enable the electrons in the discharge to be ballistic under certain conditions and permit the gas pressure to exceed one atmosphere. In addition, the small dimensions permit resonance radiation, such as the 254 nm line of atomic mercury, to be extracted efficiently from the discharge volume. Also, these discharges are able to produce transient molecular species, such as the XeI excimer species, on a continuous basis.

US Patent:

41132068, Sep 12, 1978

Filed:

May 16, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/797290

Inventors:

David C. Wheeler - Barrington IL

International Classification:

B64B 140

US Classification:

244 31

Abstract:

Lighter-than-air apparatus includes a thin, pliable air-tight outer envelope disposed in overlying relationship over a light-weight, coarse-opening inner frame of a spherelike shape. The envelope includes a sealable opening therein, so that the envelope can be at least partially evacuated to render the apparatus lighter than air. A vacuum pump is provided and is connected in fluid communication with the opening for controlling the quantity of air contained in the envelope to determine the amount of lifting energy. In one form of the invention, an outer frame is disposed within the envelope and surrounding the inner frame, and the outer frame is composed of a stiff, rigid open-mesh material with the openings in the inner frame being smaller in size than the opening in the outer frame.

US Patent:

61393843, Oct 31, 2000

Filed:

Jun 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/344134

Inventors:

Thomas A. DeTemple - Champaign IL
James Frame - Champaign IL
David J. Wheeler - Urbana IL
J. Gary Eden - Mahomet IL

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL

International Classification:

H01J 902

US Classification:

445 24

Abstract:

A microdischarge lamp formed in a one piece integral substrate, preferably a silicon wafer, via micromachining techniques commonly used in integrated circuit manufacture. The lamp is formed by defining an anode separated from a semiconductor cathode, and then micromachining a hollow cavity penetrating the anode, dielectric and cathode. The hollow cathode is formed in the semiconductor and is filled with a discharge medium and sealed to complete the formation process. The lamp includes a micromachined cavity area for enclosing discharge filler, such as mercury vapor. The one piece substrate includes one or more semiconductor regions which act as electrodes for the lamp. A light transmissive cap seals the cavity area. Selection of particular aperture to length ratios for the cavity area permits the lamp to be operated either as a positive column or hollow cathode discharge. Hollow cathode discharge has been demonstrated at pressures of up to about 200 Torr.

US Patent:

20140305953, Oct 16, 2014

Filed:

Apr 15, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/862839

Inventors:

David C Wheeler - Barrington IL, US
Jeffrey M. Morris - Lincolnshire IL, US

International Classification:

A47G 19/22

US Classification:

220711

Abstract:

A cup lid comprising a first part lying in a first plane and having a top surface and a second part depends radially outwardly from said first part and lies in a second plane. Means on the second part and traversing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second part for preventing the tearing of the second part during the movement of the second part. First container means on the second part and second container means on the second part contiguous to the first container means. Barrier means mounted on the second part for impeding a portion of the liquid in the cup from flowing directly out of the drinking aperture. Latching means on said cup lid located near the center axis of rotation of the cup lid.