Richard M Stephens

US Patent:

7574966, Aug 18, 2009

Filed:

Nov 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/982072

Inventors:

Richard J. Stephens - Valley Center CA, US
Horst B. Krippner - Vista CA, US

International Classification:

A47B 11/00

US Classification:

1081571, 108 38, 108156, 248188

Abstract:

A portable voting booth for a user to erect at a voting place when needed and disassemble thereafter for transportation and storage includes a base portion and a plurality of legs for assemble onto the base portion. The base portion defines a plurality of leg-receiving bores for receiving hollow tubular end portions of the plurality of legs. The base portion also includes leg-gripping components within the bores for gripping the tubular end portions in order to restrain the legs from falling out of the leg-receiving bores under influence of gravity. The leg-gripping components of one embodiment include four resiliently deformable, axially extending fingers within each of four leg-receiving bores, the fingers resiliently deforming so that they fit axially into the tubular end portions to bear radially outward against the inwardly facing inner walls of the tubular end portions for leg-restraining purposes.

US Patent:

52848256, Feb 8, 1994

Filed:

Aug 17, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/901546

Inventors:

Richard B. Stephens - Del Mar CA
Frederick H. Elsner - Carlsbad CA

Assignee:

General Atomics - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B05D 302
B05D 512

US Classification:

505 1

Abstract:

A superconducting structure is provided comprising a substrate, a superconductor coating supported by the substrate and a diffusion barrier positioned between the superconductor coating and the substrate to inhibit diffusion of contaminants from the substrate to the superconductor coating. The coating is a ceramic oxide having superconducting properties. The diffusion barrier may likewise be a ceramic oxide, but differs in its specific composition to provide it with a peritectic decomposition temperature greater than the superconductor coating. Accordingly, the diffusion barrier exhibits substantially lower atomic mobility than the superconductor coating during manufacture of the superconducting structure, thereby preventing contamination of the coating by the substrate.

US Patent:

48286850, May 9, 1989

Filed:

Jun 24, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/066076

Inventors:

Richard B. Stephens - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

General Atomics - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B03B 100
B03C 100

US Classification:

209 11

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for separating at least one superconductive phase from a multiphase material which may contain multiple superconductive phases and a normal phase by the use of diamagnetic force. A material containing multiple phases is pulverized into granules approximately the grain size of a selected superconductive phase and is then subjected to a force to cause movement of the particles in a particular direction. The selected superconductive phase is made superconducting by cooling the material below its transition temperature. Diamagnetic force is then generated by an applied magnetic field which deflects and separates the superconducting granules but has substantially no effect on the nonsuperconducting granules. Conversely, the selected superconductive phase has a magnetic field applied to it and then is made superconducting to cause a separation. Several specialized apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed wherein adjustments to a gravitational or other force and the diamagnetic force can be made to provide efficient separation and classification.

US Patent:

52064867, Apr 27, 1993

Filed:

Mar 28, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/678896

Inventors:

Richard J. Stephens - Escondido CA
Harry H. Boucher - Dallas TX

Assignee:

Election Data Corporation - St. Charles IL

International Classification:

G07C 1300

US Classification:

235 51

Abstract:

A data recorder includes a unitary housing such as comprised of a molded plastic having an open upper portion, a removable lower cover, and a data card receiving arrangement at one end thereof. The data card receiving arrangement includes a narrow slot of precisely fixed dimensions for preventing the insertion of more than one data card at a time. Disposed within the housing are various flat template members arranged in a layered array, with each template having a plurality of spaced apertures therein. Upon full insertion of a data card in the data recorder, the leading edge of the card urges a forward-biased mask member to the full aft position for aligning the apertures of the various layered members allowing the tip of a stylus to be inserted through aligned apertures in the mask and template members to permit severing of chips or punch portions from the data card, which may be either scored or unscored. The recorder includes a seal/lock arrangement and means for removing a hung-up card without disassembling the recorder. Several telescoping stylus designs are contemplated, one employing a trigger mechanism which activates a pointed, inner telescoping member when a predetermined force is manually applied to the stylus, causing the inner member to pierce the data card and remove a chip therefrom in a manner which provides an aural and tactile indication to the user that the data card has been punched.

US Patent:

42576440, Mar 24, 1981

Filed:

Apr 2, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/025883

Inventors:

Richard E. Stephens - Lakeside CA

International Classification:

B60N 102
B62B 1100

US Classification:

296 65R

Abstract:

A wheelchair tie-down apparatus is provided for use on buses, vans, and other vehicles with emphasis in the public transportation area. The tie-down apparatus comprises three elongated coffers arranged to define a wheelchair bay, each of these coffers having hinged lids which open to expose an extendable, length-adjustable, flexible strap which is connected to a structural member of the wheelchair and then all three straps are cinched down through use of the length adjustment mechanism.

US Patent:

51518198, Sep 29, 1992

Filed:

Jul 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/558600

Inventors:

Richard B. Stephens - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

General Atomics - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 502
B64G 154

US Classification:

359350

Abstract:

A barrier supported by an object, such as a satellite or missile for use in space, for scattering a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range of wavelengths which range is within, but does not necessarily fully include, the range of about 0. 2 micron to about 11 microns and emanating from a distant source of such radiation. The barrier includes a non-metallic layer formed by a large number of first components and large number of second components with each of the second components spacing adjacent ones of the first components. The first components have a relative high index refraction and the second components have a relatively low index of refraction. The optical thickness of at least a majority of the first and second components is within an order of magnitude of the wavelength of the radiation and both of the components are transparent at the wavelength of the radiation. The layer has a thickness between 0.

US Patent:

51496810, Sep 22, 1992

Filed:

May 14, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/523221

Inventors:

Tihiro Ohkawa - La Jolla CA
Richard B. Stephens - Del Mar CA
Albert J. Lieber - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

General Atomics - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B32B 900

US Classification:

505 1

Abstract:

A pre-existing superconductor ceramic which is bonded to a substrate is passed through a relatively short heating zone to melt the ceramic superconductor. As the superconductor is subsequently cooled after it has passed through the heating zone, a temperature gradient is established along the superconductor which causes the melted crystals to renucleate and grow along and parallel to the temperature gradient. The resulting crystalline structure exhibits improved superconducting properties when the superconductor is placed in the presence of a magnetic field. For appropriate applications, the substrate can be formed as a wire.