Robert J Wheeler

US Patent:

6957620, Oct 25, 2005

Filed:

Dec 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/905370

Inventors:

Robert L. Wheeler - Indian Rocks Beach FL, US

International Classification:

B63B001/34

US Classification:

114 67A

Abstract:

A drag-reducing air chamber is formed under a watercraft when the watercraft is underway. Air enters into the air chamber when the watercraft is moving forward. Supplemental air is introduced into the air chamber by an air scoop mounted to the bow in a first embodiment and in side-mounted air scoops in another embodiment. A one-way valve in an air passageway between the air scoop and the air chamber prevents air from flowing from the air chamber to the air scoop. A pair of elongate rails depends from opposite sides of the hull and defines the sides of the air chamber. Shorter rails may be used in high-speed applications where the bow of the watercraft is lifted from the water.

US Patent:

6981460, Jan 3, 2006

Filed:

Dec 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/707590

Inventors:

Robert L Wheeler - Indian Rocks Beach FL, US
Walter Crowley - Oak Harbor WA, US

International Classification:

B63B 1/34

US Classification:

114 67A, 114288

Abstract:

A rigid concavity is formed in the underside of a hull of a water craft. Air enters into the concavity when the water craft is moving forward. Supplemental air is introduced into the concavity by an air scoop mounted to the bow. A one-way valve in an air passageway between the air scoop and the concavity prevents air from flowing from the concavity to the air scoop. A first stern plate mounted at a slight downward angle causes air to flow under the stern in the form of small bubbles and increases the back pressure presented to the flow of water and air through the concavity. A pair of adjustably mounted stern plates may also be provided on opposite sides of the motor to control the amount of back pressure. The airflow through the rigid concavity reduces drag so that the water craft can travel at higher speeds.

US Patent:

44448414, Apr 24, 1984

Filed:

Aug 9, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/406581

Inventors:

Robert D. Wheeler - Fairfield CT

Assignee:

Uniroyal, Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

B32B 1508

US Classification:

428339

Abstract:

An extruded AES film in which the AES contains 15-30% rubber having a thickness of 1 to 10 mils, and a laminate of such film to another material, such as a metallic or cellulosic base.

US Patent:

50071092, Apr 16, 1991

Filed:

Oct 20, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/425617

Inventors:

Robert L. Wheeler - Indian Rocks Beach FL

International Classification:

A42B 106

US Classification:

2 10

Abstract:

A flexible transparent lens that may be darkened to substantially block passage of bright sunlight is releasably or fixedly secured to the underside of a bill of an article of headwear such as a cap. In a first embodiment, buckles are affixed to the upper opposite corners of the lens and complemental snaps are affixed to the opposite rear corners of the bill. The lens follows the contour of the trailing edge of the bill when the snaps and buckles are engaged to one another. The top edge of the lens is spaced forwardly of its bottom edge when the lens is in its bowed configuration so that the bottom edge is closely spaced to the face of the individual wearing the head gear to thereby minimize the amount of sunlight reflected into the individual's eyes from reflective clothing and other sources of reflected sunlight. In another embodiment, the lens is riveted or stapled into position. In all embodiments, the lens may be clear or darkened.

US Patent:

40307026, Jun 21, 1977

Filed:

Aug 26, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/718013

Inventors:

William P. Ware - Charlotte NC
Robert D. Wheeler - Rock Hill SC

Assignee:

Thomas Industries of Tennessee, Inc. - Matthews NC

International Classification:

B65H 5900

US Classification:

2541344

Abstract:

Cable pull lines are pneumatically rodded through underground cable housing conduit comprising joined multipassage sections by attaching the free end of the pull lines to individual foam carriers inserted into each passage at one end of the conduit and forcing air through a manifold into said passages behind the foam carriers to simultaneously drive the carriers to the open exit end of the conduit. The pull lines have been previously uniformly wound on a reel and a brake is used to tension the reel as the pull lines unwind therefrom to keep the foam carriers in phase as they advance through the conduit and thereby to prevent air bypassing the leading foam carriers through gaps at the conduit section joints with resultant loss of driving pressure.

US Patent:

50552724, Oct 8, 1991

Filed:

Jan 13, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/297497

Inventors:

Robert D. Wheeler - Fairfield CT
Ronald J. Wierzbicki - New Milford CT
Edward H. Schulman - Trumbull CT
George T. Bertram - Newtown CT

Assignee:

Sealed Air Corporation - Saddle Brook NJ

International Classification:

C08F29900

US Classification:

422133

Abstract:

A method of producing a polyurethane foam comprising the steps of dissolving rapidly and substantially completely a non-condensible non-reactive gas in a liquid isocyanate component or a liquid polyol component or both while the isocyanate and polyol components are maintained separate from one another, while controlling the flow of the non-reactive gas to maintain a predetermined dissolved gas to liquid ratio, and while maintaining the component in which the nucleating agent is being dissolved under pressure sufficient to maintain the gas in solution and to hold substantially constant the dissolved gas to liquid ratio and mixing the previously separated isocyanate and polyol components together while reducing the pressure to nucleate the dissolved gas in the isocyanate and polyol components and while impinging liquid streams of the composition together thereby enhancing mixing and permitting the mixture to foam so as to form a fine celled polyurethane foam. An apparatus for producing the same is also provided.

US Patent:

58429573, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Aug 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/916965

Inventors:

Robert L. Wheeler - Indian Rocks Beach FL

International Classification:

A63B 21008
A63B 21072

US Classification:

482111

Abstract:

An aquatic exercise device for use by an exerciser standing in a natural or man-made body of water. The device includes containers that fill with water when immersed and which have drainage openings formed in them so that they drain when lifted out of the body of water. The exercise device may include a single container that is lifted from the body of water by a pulley and cable mechanism, or it may include a single container connected to a rigid bar, mid-length of the bar, or it may be provided in the form of a barbell or a dumbbell having water containers at opposite ends of a rigid bar. In all embodiments, the flow rate of water draining from the container or containers may be adjusted to a flow rate selected by the exerciser. In the barbell, dumbbell, and central container embodiments, the containers are rotatably and eccentrically mounted with respect to an elongate or short or medium length bar, respectively, so that they invert when initially immersed and return to their repose position when lifted from the body of water, aligning the drain holes of the containers in their respective proper positions so that the containers drain at the same rate when lifted out of the water. The size, number and location of the fill and drainage openings may be varied.

US Patent:

45327319, Aug 6, 1985

Filed:

Mar 25, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/478682

Inventors:

Robert Wheeler - Indian Rocks Beach FL

International Classification:

A01K 9104
A01K 9300

US Classification:

43 4313

Abstract:

A trolling depth adjusting device is disclosed which includes a vane having a forward corner with a first hole and the aftward corner having a second hole. The device further includes a principal line passing from the upward facing surface of the vane, slideably through the forward corner to the underside of the vane and then passing from the underside, slideably through the aftward corner and terminating in a lower end connected to a fishing hook. The device further includes a weight slideably mounting on the principal line and unique adjustable stop mounted on the principal line between the lower end thereof and the second hole in the vane. The weight forces the vane to slide downwardly on the principal line toward the stop when the tension between the trolling line and the hook is relatively low, causing the vane to be disposed at an acute attack angle with respect to the pulling force direction of the trolling line, enabling the vane to apply a downwardly directed reactive force on the trolling line as the vane is pulled through the water. The principal line forces the vane to slide upwardly when the tension between the trolling line and the hook is relatively high, causing the vane to become parallel with the pulling force direction of the trolling line, enabling the vane to apply a lower reactive force on the trolling line as the vane is pulled through the water. In this manner, the fish may be retrieved with less tension on the vane.