Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Charles H. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7695210
    Abstract: A seam sealing applicator for dispensing chemical sealant into seams between adjacent sheets of flooring is comprised of a sealant reservoir mounted atop an improved seam sealer applicator tip. The applicator tip of the invention has an elongated, hollow, rigid plastic body with a pair of laterally projecting wings or flanges between its proximal end which receives the sealant reservoir and its opposite, distal sealant dispensing end. The distal end of the plastic body terminates in a flat face, preferably oriented at an angle of about seventy degrees relative to the alignment of the linear sealant delivery duct formed within the body. A thin, hollow, narrow metal insert is set into the distal end of the body. A keel or fin portion of the metal insert protrudes beyond the flat face and projects into a seam between adjacent sheets of flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Leo Martinez
  • Patent number: 7571753
    Abstract: A heat and sealant delivery nozzle is constructed for sealing seams between adjacent sheets of flooring. The nozzle of the invention is formed from separate, mating sealant feeding and hot air conducting members that fit to and are secured together. The two part construction of the nozzle produces first and second enclosed plenum chambers therebetween with a series of ducts and passages that preheat both the groove in the flooring that is to receive molten sealant, and the sealant itself. Furthermore, although the pattern of ducts, passages, and cavities within the finished nozzle is quite intricate, the ducts, passageways, and ports are formed without great difficulty due to the two part construction of the nozzle. Moreover, the nozzle is constructed so that the hot air does not mix with the sealant within an internal melting chamber, but rather makes contact with the molten sealant only when the sealant leaves the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Leo Martinez
  • Patent number: 7163466
    Abstract: An improved construction for a grip, such as a golf club grip, employs interchangeable placards that may be utilized upon identical sockets formed in a first mold. The placards are constructed with at least one, and preferably a plurality, of raised displays, such as display symbols in the form of letters, numbers, geometric designs, and other display figures. Any number of different placards may alternatively be mounted upon a socket to produce a grip according to the present invention. The socket and placard are positioned by means of positioning pegs on the underside of the mounting base of the placard. The positioning pegs are inserted into corresponding locator openings in the wall of the socket. The socket, together with the placard mounted thereon, is positioned in a second mold having a mold cavity larger than the mold cavity of the first mold in which the socket is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Philip L. Downey
  • Patent number: 7156890
    Abstract: A hubcap breather assembly is provided for a hubcap housing lubricated wheel bearings in an automotive vehicle. The breather assembly includes a resilient, annular collar that fits into an access opening in a hubcap end wall, a filter cartridge cup, and a filter cartridge lid which fit together to hold a filter therebetween in a filter cartridge chamber. The filter is a hydrophobic, gas-permeable, particular matter filter that is disposed within and extends entirely across the filter cartridge chamber. Ambient air entering the hubcap through the hubcap breather assembly is filtered to exclude both particulate matter and water before entering the wheel bearing chamber. The filter is preferably formed of three layers, including an outboard porous layer of sintered polypropylene plastic, an intermediate hydrophobic layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, and an inboard porous layer of sintered polypropylene plastic. The filter can be replaced by separating the filter cartridge lid from the filter cartridge cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Di-Pro, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Thompson, Matthew Messer, Kevin Carlson
  • Patent number: 7134932
    Abstract: A musical baby bottle is provided with an omnidirectional, gravity-operated switching mechanism for turning a musical player on and off, depending upon the orientation of the bottle. The infant nursing bottle of the invention employs a liquid container and a base containing the electrical switching mechanism releaseably attached to the bottom of the liquid container, such as by a threaded connection. A hollow cavity is defined within the structure of the base. The cavity has an inclined floor that slopes from the periphery of the cavity toward the axial center of the base. A detent recess is located at the axial center of the base and an electrical switch having a switch actuator is located at the detent. A sphere within the cavity rolls by gravity across the inclined surface of the cavity floor. The sphere lodges in the detent when the base and liquid container supported upon the base are oriented vertically upright, as when placed upon a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Raymond Carrasco, Maria Carrasco
  • Patent number: 7125487
    Abstract: A waste product separator includes a plurality of plate gussets which support a top cover plate. Each gusset has opposite ends with an interconnecting declining edge extending from the top plate to the roadway. The respective edges further support a first ramp and a second ramp. Each ramp includes elongated slots so that onrushing waste water flows through the first ramp followed by discharge through the slots of the second ramp. Collection sections are under the top cover plate and in the path of the oncoming rush of waste water and each section includes an oil absorption unit and a toxic waste or product unit so that the waste water must filter through these units to reach a discharge ramp. The units serve as a catch basin for retaining trash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Roy Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 7121004
    Abstract: A security door for a gate or building opening is formed of a metal frame that defines a pair of hollow stile frame members and upper and lower hollow transverse rail frame members. Each of the frame members has an inner face with an attachment flange projecting therefrom. Security receiving apertures are defined in the inner faces of the frame members. In the fabrication of the door a plurality of metal security bars are positioned relative to the hollow frame member so that the ends of the security bars project through the security bar receiving apertures and into the hollow frame members. The security bars pass over and reside in contact with the attachment flanges. The security bars are spot welded to the attachment flanges so as to permanently secure them to the door frame. Also, the frame itself is preferably formed from a single, elongated strip of metal that is roll formed and then bent at mitered corner cuts to create and delineate the stile and rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Columbia Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Curtis C. Shoup
  • Patent number: 7108222
    Abstract: A motion picture reel is provided with releaseably engageable and disengageable components including a pair of identical, laterally confining retaining members and a hub located therebetween. The retaining members and the hub are all separable from each other. Each retaining member has a prong with a catch on it and a latching member with a latch defined on it located diametrically opposite the prong. The latching members each have radially outwardly diverging side walls. The latching members fit snugly into truncated sector-shaped cavities formed between radial spoke partitions between the central core and the rim of the hub. Stiffening webs extended transversely across the hub between some of the spoke partitions and have apertures in them that allow passage of the prongs through the stiffening webs and into engagement with the latching lips of the latching projections beyond. The tips of the prongs are accessible for release through the open bases of the latching members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Circular Motion Products
    Inventor: Robert J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7104797
    Abstract: An endosseous dental implant system employs an implant member designed to be embedded into the jawbone of a patient at a location vacated by a missing tooth, and a mating abutment member. Both the abutment member and the implant member have mutually facing gingival ends. A socket of uniform, noncircular cross section throughout is defined into the gingival end of either the implant member or the abutment member while a post of corresponding cross-sectional configuration extends from the gingival end of the other member. At least one, and possibly a plurality, of transversely directed projections are formed on the post. These projections are small enough to allow the post to enter the socket in close fitting, seated engagement therewith, but large enough to create an interference fit between the post and the socket to obstruct twisting of the post within the socket. Apart from the transversely extending projections, the post has a uniform cross sectional shape and dimensions throughout its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Jeff Rassoli
  • Patent number: 7087092
    Abstract: An artificial hand includes a finger group which is pivotally connected to a thumb. The finger group and thumb are resiliently biased toward one another. The finger group and thumb have hooked articulated distal ends. When the artificial hand and the object are brought together, the finger-group and the thumb part to allow the object to pass into a capture zone. The articulated distal ends bend inwardly to assist in the passage of the object. Once in the capture zone the finger group and thumb close about the object thereby holding it is place. The hooked distal ends also serve to retain the object within the capture zone. In another aspect of the invention the finger group includes two finger subgroups which are also resiliently biased together to hold objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Samuel L Landsberger
  • Patent number: 7083291
    Abstract: A glare shield for the viewfinder of a video camera or the LCD screen of a video or digital camera is comprised of a hood that casts a shadow upon the viewfinder eyepiece or LCD screen to reduce the amount of ambient light falling upon the viewfinder eyepiece or LCD screen. The glare shield is formed of inexpensive materials and is collapsible so that it may be carried in a photographer's pocket or camera bag. It is readily attachable to and detachable from the a camcorder. The glare shield may be formed of adjustable components so that a single glare shield may be utilized on LCD screens of varying sizes. The glare shield of the invention is formed of materials that will not scratch or damage the photographer's eyeglass lenses or the structure of the camera or camcorder with which the invention is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: Peter Yong, Leo T. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7082656
    Abstract: A tool for beveling the end of a pipe is comprised of a hollow, tubular body having a central, longitudinal axis of rotation, an inboard coupling end, and an opposite outboard working end. A plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely directed latching pin bores of equal size are defined through the wall of the tubular body. A core member is disposed coaxially within the tubular body. The core member includes a beveling cutter head and a longitudinal stem having a radially inwardly directed, circumferential latch position groove. A transversely oriented latching pin is engaged in a selected one of the latching pin bores in the body and with the latch position groove of the core stem. This allows alternative selection of each of the latch position bores for insertion of the latching pin. The particular bore selected determines the longitudinal position of the core stem latch position groove within the body that will be aligned with the latching pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: C. Warren Duncan, Bill Glynn, Bruce Root
  • Patent number: 7080824
    Abstract: An improved chain motor drive controller is provided for a chain hoist. The system employs a position encoder including a position sensor located within the casing of the chain hoist to producing encoded electrical position signals. A motor pulley is mounted on the chain motor rotary drive shaft and is coupled by a cogged belt to rotate an encoder pulley that is mounted on the same shaft as the position sensor. A mechanical coupling is thereby provided entirely within the casing of the chain hoist to transmit rotary motion from the rotary drive shaft directly to the position sensor. Also, tracking circuitry, likewise located entirely within the chain hoist casing, receives electrically encoded destination signals and compares these to signals from the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: George & Goldberg Design Associates
    Inventors: David W George, Glenn R. Bracegirdle, Joseph Peppard, Thomas G. Booth, Christopher E. Guth
  • Patent number: 7080825
    Abstract: An improved chain motor drive controller is provided for a chain hoist. The system employs a position encoder including a position sensor located within the casing of the chain hoist to producing encoded electrical position signals. A motor pulley is mounted on the chain motor rotary drive shaft and is coupled by a cogged belt to rotate an encoder pulley that is mounted on the same shaft as the position sensor. A mechanical coupling is thereby provided entirely within the casing of the chain hoist to transmit rotary motion from the rotary drive shaft directly to the position sensor. Also, tracking circuitry, likewise located entirely within the chain hoist casing, receives electrically encoded destination signals and compares these to signals from the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: George & Goldberg Design Associates
    Inventors: David W George, Glenn R. Bracegirdle, Joseph Peppard, Thomas G. Booth, Christopher E. Guth
  • Patent number: 7021206
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for dispensing hot, dairy-based beverages has a self-contained refrigerated unit located above a venturi-type emulsification foaming head. The dispensing unit has particular applicability to the dispensation of foamy, hot milk for use in beverages such as cappuccino and nonfoamy, hot milk for use in beverages such as coffee latte, hot chocolate, and other hot dairy-based beverages. The refrigeration unit accommodates a “bag in box” cold milk storage container of the type widely used in food service establishments. The dispensing unit employs a pinch valve that avoids direct contact between the milk and the valve components. The refrigerated milk is stored above the level of the foamer head so that the flow of milk results partially from gravitational force on the milk, and is not totally dependent upon venturi suction created in the foamer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventors: Roland B. Eckenhausen, Steven C. Eckenhausen
  • Patent number: D513370
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Coaster Company of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Nobile
  • Patent number: D517664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Lloyd W. Hill
  • Patent number: D523078
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Bon S. Ong
  • Patent number: D530743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Bon S. Ong
  • Patent number: D639835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Leo Martinez