Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Foster & Foster
  • Patent number: 5636843
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adding side or prop wagers to betting games, particularly the games of Blackjack and Poker. A Blackjack table is disclosed which comprises betting spots each of which comprises indicia describing a side or prop bet combination and odds offered for a wager against the combination. A video Blackjack machine is disclosed which is played with and without side or prop bets. A special Blackjack side or prop bet entry keyboard is disclosed. A video Poker machine is disclosed which is also played with and without prop bets. A special Poker side or prop bet entry keyboard is disclosed. The Poker keyboard is a subset of the Blackjack keyboard permitting Poker to be played with and without side or prop bets on the video Blackjack machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Carl Roberts
  • Patent number: 5632755
    Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Endo Vascular Intruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Nordgren, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5628414
    Abstract: A visual display rack apparatus includes a main support member, at least one lower support member, and at least one retention member. In a preferred embodiment, pairs of upper retention members and lower support members provide retaining spaces for holding containers adapted to store media on which music is recorded. One embodiment of the visual display rack apparatus is mountable to a portion of a upstanding wall. Another embodiment of the visual display rack apparatus allows it to stand alone on a substantially horizontal surface. The display rack apparatus can be made to hold all known types of music containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventor: Donald I. Heathcote
  • Patent number: 5628546
    Abstract: A dental patient's chair which is fully and completely adjustable which includes a foot control system that eliminates the need to manipulate any hand-operated control knobs or levers. The dental patient's chair includes a linkage assembly which allows the seat to pivot and move in the same manner as the human body when the human body articulates about the complex pivot created at the pelvic bone, the upper legs, and the lower part of the backbone. The dental patient's chair allows the patient's body to remain in the same position relative to the backrest and the seat of the patient's chair as the chair is articulated in a variety of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Dentech Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Boetzkes
  • Patent number: 5622188
    Abstract: Methods of artificially lining a vessel, especially an artery, of a medical patient to address the existence of a flow-inhibiting atheroma and to significantly alleviate the probability of restenosis, and the resulting products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Endovascular Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Plaia, Vincent A. Reger, Gregory N. Nordgren
  • Patent number: 5619774
    Abstract: A retaining apparatus for eyeglasses and the like having a main body portion with oppositely extending retaining clips integrally attached thereto. One retaining clip allows the retaining apparatus to be secured to a mounting structure, such as a sun visor in an automobile. The second retaining clip is resiliently displaced to allow an item to be held, such as a pair of eyeglasses, to be inserted into the second retaining clip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Xcell, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald J. Perry
  • Patent number: 5617955
    Abstract: A mining system and method for recovering gold and/or other heavy metals at multiple sites along a continuously hydrated ore processing route. The gold-bearing ore and primary or carrier water are dynamically and circuitously displaced to segregate the gold, and precipitate the gold particles into predetermined recovery sites along the flow path of the mix. The master stream of gold-sized ore-primary water mix is subdivided into several separate streams or substreams. The substreams are violent in nature, with one exception, and are typically contained in man-made canal-forming troughs having multiple recovery sites. Recovery sites comprise one or more drop slots. A downward draw caused by flow of secondary water in a conduit located below each slot enhances recovery. Each trough includes a dynamic segregation box having successive compartments across which a top layer of turbulent flow continuously occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignees: Peter Abt, Rennat Trust
    Inventor: Noel Tanner
  • Patent number: 5617072
    Abstract: A position signaling apparatus for indicating desired positioning of vehicle components. The signaling device, including a switch, is mounted to a first vehicle component, such as a tandem axel frame assembly or a portion of the vehicle frame adjacent to the fifth wheel assembly. A trigger mechanism is attached to a second vehicle component. The second vehicle component is adjacent and moves relative to the first vehicle component. The trigger mechanism actuates the switch upon achieving proper alignment of the respect vehicle components. The switch closes a circuit which sends a signal to the vehicle operator upon achieving the desired positioning of the vehicle components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Rockin' Chair Truckers Co.
    Inventor: Dennis D. McNeal
  • Patent number: 5599361
    Abstract: A method and a solid fuel product, such as briquettes and pellets, comprising carbon fines, in the form of heretofore discardable coke breeze and/or coal fines and/or revert materials, bound together chemically into smaller pieces to substantially prevent degradation and which constitutes a source of high heat without creating significant pollution or smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Covol Technologies, Inc
    Inventor: George W. Ford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5597225
    Abstract: An illumination system for a mountain bicycle is disclosed. The disclosed system comprises a long-term, high power battery pack encapsulated in an impervious jacket of compressible material, which combination is reliably and securely compression-fit into an open water bottle cage, in lieu of a water bottle, and electrically connected to a source of artificial light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: McKay H. Davis
  • Patent number: 5589118
    Abstract: Iron-rich-material waste products, such as electric arc furnace dust, are formed with an organic binder into discrete shapes, such as briquettes. The shapes can then be used in iron and steel making processes and the iron and heavy metal values in the waste product recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Covol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Ford, Jr., Richard C. Lambert, Russell G. Madsen
  • Patent number: 5586379
    Abstract: A modified beverage fill valve cam assembly and related methods are disclosed, which provide for a quick, inexpensive, and effective solution to fill valve cam rotational eccentricity. A supplemental support is provided for the camming end of the cam which eliminates sole reliance on cantilevered support and prevents eccentric cam rotation. The supplement support comprises an end plate having an interior cone-shaped projection with contiguous mates with corresponding cone-shaped recess formed in the end edge of the camming end of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Servi-Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry E. Nish
  • Patent number: 5582217
    Abstract: A pre-fill snift cam assembly and related methods are disclosed. The pre-fill snift cam assembly accommodates pre-fill evacuation of air from cans and bottles being processed by automatic filling equipment and causes the egress air from the containers (cans and bottles) to be discharged in a fashion other than from the fill valves into the beverage bowl, i.e., into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Servi-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry E. Nish, Cecil R. McCray
  • Patent number: 5582622
    Abstract: Bipolar battery cells, bipolar batteries, and related methods are disclosed. The disclosed bipolar plate comprises a composite of long carbon fibers and a filler of carbon particles and a fluoroelastomer. A fluoroelastomeric sealant for placement between adjacent cells is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Bipolar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. Lafollette
  • Patent number: 5582937
    Abstract: Bipolar battery cells, bipolar batteries, and related methods are disclosed. The disclosed bipolar plate comprises a composite of long carbon fibers and a filler of carbon particles and a fluoroelastomer. A fluoroelastomeric sealant for placement between adjacent cells is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Bipolar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. LaFollette
  • Patent number: 5575557
    Abstract: A motion sensor light apparatus comprises a lighting body, a mounting base for mounting the lighting body to a wall. The lighting body includes a decorative house for receiving a lamp bulb, and a light base extended downwardly from the bottom end of the decorative house as an integral part of the lighting body. The light base has a top rim, a conical base body extending coaxially and downwardly from the top rim and gradually reducing its diameter to define a conical shape, and a flat bottom end extending downwardly from the base body. The base body has an azimuthal aperture and installs therein a lens, a seat, and a motion sensor circuit board mounted on the seat. The seat has an azimuthal seat aperture superimposing to the aperture of the base body. The lens is adhered to the seat and positioned between the seat aperture and the aperture of the base body, and directs infra-red radiation from a human or vehicle object to an infra-red sensor of the motion sensor circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Merritway Electrical Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhao Y. Huang, E. Robert Kunzler
  • Patent number: 5573407
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for training a child to complete a toilet training experience. The invention includes an object placed in close proximity to a toilet appropriate for training the child. The invention also includes a device for emitting a musical sound. Upon successful completion of a toilet training experience, the child is provided a reward token, such as a coin. The child may then place the token into the object, which may comprise a piggy bank. In response to placement of the token into the object, the music emitting device generates a musical sound. The method allows the child to associate the object visually with the training experience and to associate the musical sounds audibly with the training experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Beverly Dunford
  • Patent number: 5571169
    Abstract: Methods of artificially lining a vessel, especially an artery, of a medical patient to address the existence of a flow-inhibiting atheroma and to significantly alleviate the probability of restenosis, and the resulting products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: EndoVascular Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Plaia, Vincent A. Reger, Gregory N. Nordgren
  • Patent number: RE35381
    Abstract: A ballistic optimizing system for use on a preferably bedded rifle comprising a movable weight element secured to the end of a rifle barrel such that said weight element can be moved axially along said barrel to change the effective weight applied for .Iadd.vibration .Iaddend.dampening purposes and having an indicator for indicating the relative position of said weight element on said barrel and further including an additional weight releasably secured to said movable weight element and ports through said weight element to allow gas escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Browning
    Inventor: Clyde E. Rose
  • Patent number: D378342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventors: Peter W. Stuart, Henry M. Armantrout