Patents Represented by Attorney Alex Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7748524
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a paint brush and preventing a discharge of harmful and flammable vapors. In a first embodiment, a housing has vertical front, side and rear walls that have upper edge portions in a common horizontal plane for providing a seat for a seal. The common upper of the housing are sealed by a soft resilient cellular seal and a cover that engages the housing. The cover and resilient cellular seal have aligned apertures for receiving in a pass through sealing relationship a handle of a paint brush. In a second embodiment, a cylindrical housing has an open top portion which is sealed by threadably engaging a cover with a resilient cellular seal therebetween. The cover and resilient cellular seal cover have aligned apertures for receiving in a pass through sealing relationship a handle of a paint brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Edward Ruzumna
  • Patent number: 7621897
    Abstract: The combination of a squeezable bottle containing an ophthalmic fluid and a detachable applicator apparatus for efficiently spraying the ophthalmic fluid to an eye. The applicator apparatus includes a body having an inlet end portion for attaching the applicator apparatus to the bottle and an outlet end portion for centering the applicator apparatus on the eye, a circular outer planar flange portion extending outwardly in covering relationship from said body circular outlet portion to limit the intrusion of the outlet end portion into the bony orbital ocular opening which surrounds the eye; and a soft resilient seal for sealing a nozzle when the applicator apparatus is not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph J. Berke
  • Patent number: 7458600
    Abstract: A carrier mounted on a cart for transporting a bag or a sack containing loose or granular materials. The carrier is comprised of a pair of jaws having gripping surfaces for retaining an upper portion of a bag or sack and a handle for carrying the bag or sack in a slightly elevated position or by dragging on a surface. In a first aspect of the invention, the gripping surfaces are formed by shearing and bending a plurality of triangular tabs in metal strips which are attached to the jaws. In a second aspect of the invention, the carrier is attached to a 2-wheel cart in a manner which allows the carrier to be used in combination with the cart or detached and used independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph J. Berke, Charles T. Michael
  • Patent number: 7421765
    Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing vault and urn system for use in a memorial service and/or interring the cremated remains of persons and/or pets. The vault and urn are weatherproof and tamperproof closures that prevent unauthorized access to the cremated remains. The urn can be used alone or in combination with the vault. The vault and urn are covered with materials capable of resisting deterioration for extended periods of time. In one embodiment, the vault simulates the appearance of a traditional gravestone mounted on a concrete or mounted side-by-side with a second simulated traditional gravestone for holding the remains of a husband and wife, a pet and its owner or close friends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Patrick G. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 7401614
    Abstract: A brush saver for cleaning and preserving the useful life of a paint brush comprising a transparent body for enclosing and suspending a paint brush and a solvent in a sealed vertical orientation, and a removable top cap for engaging the handle of the paint brush and preventing the bristles of the paint brush from being distorted. In a preferred embodiment, a handle of the paint brush extends upwardly out of the brush saver and the bristles of the paint brush are enclosed with the solvent in the brush saver. The brush saver may also have a permanent magnet on the side of the body for attaching the saver on a paint can, an absorbent open cell pad in the interior of the body and a removable cap on a side of the body for adding and removing solvent from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Edward Ruzumna
  • Patent number: 7353525
    Abstract: A durable, reliable high performance drive and method for digitizing, storing and retrieving data from a disk. In a first embodiment, at least one disk and components for spinning the disk, and digitizing, writing and reading data from the disk are covered with a 0.1 to 4 microns thick ultra low friction and wear, structurally amorphous carbon coating eliminating the need for a lubricant for sliding and rotating components. In a second embodiment the components for spinning the disk, and digitizing, writing and reading data from the disk are enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing and the housing is filled with a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Mark A. Dorbeck, Frank Sykora, Ali Erdemir, Osman Eryilmaz
  • Patent number: 7318606
    Abstract: A soft resilient comfort cushion and method for promoting the use of a safety belt by a pregnant woman, said comfort cushion comprising: a resilient soft elongated cushion having tapered end portions, a length which is sufficient to span a groin region of said pregnant woman below a fetal abdominal bulge, a width which is near or about the width of said safety belt and a thickness which is sufficient to prevent discomfort to a pregnant woman by preventing the pressure and rubbing of the safety belt on the groin and lower abdominal regions of the pregnant woman. In a first embodiment of the invention, the soft resilient cushion has a cellular polymer core, a cover for enclosing the core and a pair of straps for attaching the comfort cushion to a restraint system belt. In a second embodiment, the comfort cushion is an inflatable cushion with a pair of straps for attaching the comfort cushion to a restraint system belt. In a third embodiment, the comfort cushion is an integral part of a restraint system belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph J. Berke
  • Patent number: 7278674
    Abstract: A cover for enclosing a cargo box of a pick-up truck which is manufactured from an inventory of common parts. The cover is a pair of rectangular panels pivotally connected with a hinge for rotation about a transverse axis on the cargo box. Each of said panels is bounded by a pair of slender spaced apart side members, a slender inner transverse member and a slender spaced apart outer transverse member. The transverse and side members are cut from unspecified lengths of extruded stock to conform to the length and width of the cargo box. End portions of the transverse and side members are joined with molded plastic elbows to form outer corners. The hinge is covered with a thin rubber seal to prevent water from entering the cargo box. A plurality of slender longitudinal support members between the side members are joined to the inner and outer transverse members with S-clip fasteners. A safety latch limits the opening of an improperly latched cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: 7250016
    Abstract: An apparatus for manually uncoupling a V-belt drive from an active power source. The apparatus is mounted on the end of a pulley of the V-belt drive and is comprised of a tapered member connected to the output shaft of the power source for engaging in holding relationship the pulley of said V-belt drive; a retractor member attached to the pulley; and a toggle linkage for displacing the retractor member relative to the tapered member to disengage the pulley from the tapered member. The toggle linkage includes a first pair of diverging toggle links and a second pair of crossing toggle links having end portions pivotally connected to end portions of said first pair of toggle links. The second pair of toggle links is mounted in a sleeve for rotation about an axis having a fixed relationship to the tapered member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas H. Petit
  • Patent number: 7237279
    Abstract: A method for dispensing a household liquid, such as soap, shampoo, dish washing detergent and bath oil through an outlet of a household water system. The liquid dispensing system comprises a household water system having an outlet, a storage unit for storing at least one liquid operatively connected to the household water system, and a control for connecting and disconnecting the storage unit to the household water system. In a first aspect of the invention the liquid is introduced into the household water system by a venturi. In a second aspect of the invention, the storage unit is positioned above an outlet of the household water system and is introduced by gravity. The control is normally biased to an “off” position. This invention can be utilized for showers, bathtubs, laundry tubs and sinks. The method is comprised of the steps of dispensing the liquid through the household water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph J. Berke, Charles T. Michael
  • Patent number: D540737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: D562727
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph J. Berke, James W. Grey
  • Patent number: D569627
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventors: Hayley Goldenthal, Alex Rhodes
  • Patent number: D575566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph J. Berke, Jason J. Berke
  • Patent number: D581713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph J. Berke
  • Patent number: D581857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: D581858
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: D581859
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: D581860
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Donald E. Bogard
  • Patent number: D640339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Steven B. Goldenthal