Only four patents were awarded Utah inventors by the United States Patent Office for their inventions of mechanical and chemical devices. Two of the patents have been assigned to Utah universities.
- Gordon A. Tibbitts, and Paul Pastusek, both of Salt Lake City. A drag-type drill bit for boring an earth formation with a method of reducing pressure loading of the cutters. Assigned to Baker-Hughes, Inc., Salt Lake City. Filed Nov. 14, 1991. Patent 5,172,778.- Stephen C. Jacobsen, and Fraser Smith, both of Salt Lake City. A robotic grasping apparatus comprising a fixed finger, a moveable thumb, and a moveable finger. Assigned to University of Utah Research Foundation, Salt Lake City. Filed Aug. 6, 1990. Patent 5,172,951.
- Sandra M. Charlson; Steven J. Kotula, and Michael R. McCloy, all of Salt Lake County. A tool for use in aligning, supporting, fastening together and sealing adjacent sections of a mandrel having a curved outer surface. Assigned to Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, Del. Filed Oct. 25, 1990, a division of patent 5,022,845. Patent 5,173,315.
- Ronald L. Bruening, Orem; Bryon J. Tarbet, Highland; Reed M. Izatt, and Jerald S. Bradshaw, both of Provo. Compositions and processes for removing, separating and concentrating desired ions from solutions using sulfur and aralkyl nitrogen containing ligands bonded to inorganic supports. Assigned to Brigham Young University, Provo. Filed Aug. 9, 1991. Patent 5,173,470.