William Hopkins Thornton

US Patent:

42315727, Nov 4, 1980

Filed:

Sep 29, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/947074

Inventors:

William S. Thornton - Lafayette LA

International Classification:

A63B 6100

US Classification:

273 29A

Abstract:

A target for practicing the game of tennis which includes a frame having an opening through which a tennis ball may be driven by a player, the frame being adapted to be detachably mounted in an upright operative position on an installed tennis net so as to extend upwardly from the upper edge of the net, the frame being attached to the upper ends of a pair of downwardly depending, laterally spaced posts which are arranged to be interwoven within the meshes of the net with a hook being also provided on the upper ends of the posts for overlying hooking engagement with the upper edge of the net together with a spring between the upper end of each post and the frame for yieldingly urging the frame into the upright position so that when struck by a tennis ball, the force of the ball is absorbed by pivotal movement of the frame against the urging force of the springs.

US Patent:

48343528, May 30, 1989

Filed:

Nov 12, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/119711

Inventors:

William Thornton - Lafayette LA

International Classification:

B25B 102

US Classification:

269 6

Abstract:

A spring clamp with a lower clamping jaw, an upper clamping jaw, a first handle portion extending rearwardly from and integrally connected with the lower clamping jaw, a second handle portion extending rearwardly from the upper clamping jaw, the upper clamping jaw having a slide-housing integrally connected to the second handle portion, and an L-shaped bracket having a first leg portion having a free end for sliding cooperation with the slide-housing and a second leg portion extending at right angles to another end of the first leg portion. The slide-housing has a first cooperating means and the first leg portion has second cooperating means, the first and second cooperating means being operatively associated to allow for the sliding movement of the first leg portion with respect to the slide-housing and for preventing the escape of the first leg portion from sliding engagement with the slide-housing means. The L-shaped bracket may be oriented in two different states so that smaller and larger workpieces may be accomodated and clamped between the second leg portion and the lower clamping jaw. In the first state, the free end of the first leg portion faces away from the lower clamping jaw, while in the second state the free end faces toward the lower clamping jaw.

US Patent:

54717752, Dec 5, 1995

Filed:

Dec 16, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/167340

Inventors:

Wilber S. Hoyt - Lafayette LA
William S. Thornton - Lafayette LA

International Classification:

G09F 900

US Classification:

40601

Abstract:

An outdoor pull-down signboard is provided which is adaptable to existing sign support columns by being mounted above and in-front-of the existing signs and in some cases utilizes the reader board panels extracted from the existing signs. A frame for retaining and rapidly replacing picture panels covers all or a portion of the signboards face and further provides a transparent panel covering a reader board portion is also provided.

US Patent:

51885123, Feb 23, 1993

Filed:

Jun 10, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/712948

Inventors:

William S. Thornton - Lafayette LA

International Classification:

B63H 300

US Classification:

416112

Abstract:

A helicopter blade pitch control system allows blade pitch to be controlled with regard to the degree of rotational position of the blade with respect to the direction of travel and also the degree of pitch. The invention provides an improved arrangement wherein speed paddles attach to rotor blades can change in pitch around the circle of rotation of the blade and also the amount of pitch change can be adjustably changed by the pilot. The apparatus includes a cylindrical member surrounding the rotor of the helicopter and being static with respect thereto so that variable pitch speed paddles connected to and forming a part of the blade assembly and which carry rotating foot members track the upper surface of the cylindrical member changing the pitch of the blade as it moves through a 360 degree rotation. The pitch is maximized when the blade moves rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel and the pitch collapses to a horizontal pitch when the blade moves forwardly, in the same direction of travel as the craft.

US Patent:

47067659, Nov 17, 1987

Filed:

Aug 11, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/895669

Inventors:

Ernie J. Lee - Lafayette LA
William L. Thornton - Carencro LA

Assignee:

Four E Inc. - Lafayette LA

International Classification:

E21B 1026

US Classification:

175334

Abstract:

A drill bit assembly comprised of a pilot bit and a plurality of add-on reamer sections which are sized to progressively increase the diameter of the hole in measured increments. Both the pilot bit and the reamer sections have two cutter elements which take advantage of the bi-center concept and both use knife edged cutters instead of teeth to drill the hole.

US Patent:

20150020469, Jan 22, 2015

Filed:

Jul 19, 2011

Appl. No.:

14/233340

Inventors:

William Thornton - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Tarkett GDL - Lentzweiler

International Classification:

E04F 15/02
E04F 15/22

US Classification:

524031, 525861, 525881

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a flooring system base unit (), made of a resilient material, and comprising a first portion () having a first surface () which, in use, contacts the floor to cover, and a second surface (), opposite to said first surface (), a second portion () set above said first portion (), at least one space () provided on said second surface () of said first portion () and provided by a side edge of said second portion (), anchoring means provided through said first and second portions () to anchor said base unit () to the floor to cover.