Patents Represented by Law Firm Hubbard, Thurman, Tucker & Harris
  • Patent number: 5123345
    Abstract: The squeegee arm and screen frame portions of a tilt screen type screen printing machine are pivotally connected to specially designed rocker housings slidably movable along horizontal support rods. The rocker housings have portions which are not rotated by pivoting of the squeegee arm and screen frame, thus permitting such rocker housing portions to be horizontally driven along the support rods by rodless air cylinders mounted on the machine. Additionally, the nonrotatable portion of the screen frame rocker housing carries a horizontally disposed gear rack which can be operatively mated with a pinion drive gear portion of a rotatable fixture supporting a round item to be printed so that horizontal translation of the rack rotationally drives the fixture during the screen printing process. Because of the rocker housing design, upward tilting and horizontal movement of the screen frame does not disrupt the rack and pinion registry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Gary E. Wood
  • Patent number: 5121737
    Abstract: A gas fired convection cooking oven is provided with an improved air delivery and heat exchange structure for creating within the oven's cooking chamber a recirculating flow of heated air to cook food items supported therein. The structure includes a combustion box adapted to receive hot products of combustion from a gas burner, and extending into the cooking chamber through a lower portion of a vertical boundary wall thereof. Removably secured to the combustion box, and extending upwardly along the inner side of the boundary wall is a hollow baffle structure having a front mixing chamber communicating with the interior of the combustion box through spaced apart hollow legs with a discharge opening formed therebetween. Perforated skirt walls extending rearwardly from the mixing chamber define with the boundary wall a fan chamber which surrounds a motor-driven centrifugal fan impeller supported on the inner side of the boundary wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Garland Commercial Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Yencha, III
  • Patent number: 5121685
    Abstract: A can crusher apparatus is presented for crushing aluminum cans into a crushed relationship wherein the upper and lower circular end faces are generally unaltered and aligned in a co-planar position, the crushed pattern accomplished by the result of placing the can in a perpendicular position to an elongated rectangular crushing plate for creasing a center portion followed by moving a ram plate and can into contact with a vertical wall. The crushing motions of the crusher are achieved through dual cam and slot means cooperatively drivably connected to a force transfer block which imparts a predetermined relation translation motion of the plates in response to rotation of the transfer block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Inventor: John Turner
  • Patent number: 5120310
    Abstract: A nonreusable syringe is provided having an automatically retracting hypodermic needle to prevent accidental injury after injection or undesirable reuse of the syringe. The needle is retracted by a spring located behind the syringe piston and disposed to prevent reextension of the needle after use. A locking mechanism holds the needle in position for injection. The piston includes means to release the locking mechanism as injection is completed to automatically retract the needle into the syringe. The syringe tip seal is not in frictional contact with the needle, eliminating drag on the needle during retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Thomas J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5104429
    Abstract: A self-cleaning filtration system for removing particulate matter from a particulate laden gas flow includes a housing having an upper end opening for receiving the gas flow, a lower end opening communicating with the interior of a large particulate receiving container positioned beneath the housing, a vertical internal passage extending between the upper and lower end openings, and a vertically spaced plurality of side wall openings communicating with the internal passage. Coaxially supported within the internal passage is an open-ended, flexible tubular filter element through which the received gas flow downwardly passes. During filtration system operation, a major portion of the downwardly flowing gas is forced laterally through the filter element, and is flowed outwardly through the housing side wall openings as cleansed gas, while a minor, unfiltered portion of the gas flow is downwardly discharged into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Kinlau Sheet Metal Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurence O. Miller
  • Patent number: 5101558
    Abstract: A flashback inhibiting fuel fired infrared burner has a housing with a base wall, a side wall section extending outwardly from the base wall periphery, and a side opening positioned opposite the base wall. Retained in and covering the housing side opening is a foranimous burner plate structure. An air-fuel mixture supply pipe extends forwardly into the housing interior through a front end of the side wall section into a rear end portion of the housing interior and has an open outlet end. A discharge end portion of the supply pipe is received in an open front end portion of a flow reversing tube having a closed rear end. The supply pipe and flow reversing tube are laterally shrouded within the housing by an elongated baffle member having outlet openings formed in longitudinally extending front and rear wall portions thereof, the total cross-sectional area of the outlet openings in the front longitudinal wall portion being greater than that of the outlet openings in the rear longitudinal wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Grob, Richard N. Caron
  • Patent number: 5098127
    Abstract: An advertising insert is secured, page-like, within a magazine and comprises a folded-over rectangular jacket sheet having adhesively intersecured edge portions positioned opposite its fold line and adhesively secured to an edge flap of an anchor sheet bound into the magazine. The top sheet portion of the folded jacket has formed therein a perforation line positioned closely adjacent and extending parallel to the two intersecured jacket edges which, in turn, extend parallel to the central magazine fold axis. An advertising booklet is removably secured and concealed within the folded jacket, and has a fold axis extending transversely to the magazine fold axis. The concealed advertising booklet may be exposed for removal by tearing the jacket along its perforation line and outwardly folding its top sheet portion. Because the booklet-enclosing folded jacket is open along two of its four side edges it is not classified, under U.S. postal regulations, as an "envelope" or a "pocket".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Williamson Printing Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse S. Williamson, Frederick I. Reinbold, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5095813
    Abstract: A pair of cooperating heating and pressing plates for converting a ball of dough into a flat baked disc, such as a tortilla, are mounted between vertical side frames of a supporting frame structure. The one heating and pressing unit is fixedly mounted at an angle to the horizontal sufficient to insure the gravitational discharge of the baked tortilla. The movable plate is shifted by a manually operable cam. All elements of the apparatus are secured in position between the side frames by a plurality of manually operable bolts, thus permitting the rapid disassembly of the apparatus for cleaning purposes and the equally rapid reassembly of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Bakery Equipment and Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Escamilla, Elias Escamilla, III, Ralph DeLeon
  • Patent number: 5092731
    Abstract: A mechanized container handling system on a motorized refuse collection vehicle includes a horizontally extensible and retractable support structure having an outer end on which a container grasping assembly is carried, and a container elevating and dumping assembly for lifting the grasped container and dumping its contents into an elevated hopper opening of the vehicle. The support structure comprises telescoped inner, intermediate and outer sections interconnected by an extension scissors structure, the intermediate section being horizontally driven by a hydraulic actuator and the scissors structure being operative to responsively extend and retract the outer section. The container elevating and dumping system is driven by a hydraulic piston and gear system positioned between the upper ends of a pair of support tracks and drivingly connected to a pair of articulated container lifting force arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Rand Automated Compaction System, Inc.
    Inventors: Rickie W. Jones, Gerald F. Martin
  • Patent number: 5090492
    Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling subterranean wells comprises a plurality of radially adjacent cutting elements disposed in angularly spaced relationship on the end face of the drill bit. Behind each set of cutting elements, at least one stabilizing projection is formed on the drill bit. Such projection is of peripherally elongated configuration and is circumferentially aligned with one of the cutting elements so as to snugly enter and engage the side walls of the formation groove produced by the aligned cutting element, thus providing substantial resistance against lateral displacement or vibration of the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl W. Keith
  • Patent number: 5088257
    Abstract: An improved seal assembly provides a mechanical seal for a housing having a window panel of dissimilar material which prevents moisture from entering the housing or liquid escaping the housing over a wide range of temperature and environmental conditions, without loading the window panel to a stressful condition. The seal member is subject to a reduced level of radial force in a limited portion of the seal member across the seal groove and does not have to be pressed from all sides to maintain a seal while accommodating expansion and contraction. Positioning means stabilizes the panel to provide a uniform seal groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Loga, Ronald D. Biggerstaff
  • Patent number: 5086629
    Abstract: A scarf for wrapping around the neck or any other body portion comprises a longitudinally folded band of material which is transversely sewed to provide a plurality of pockets in the medial portion. The inner wall of each of the pockets is cut away and replaced by a thin sheet of material having greatly improved heat transmission properties. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet material is permeable to water vapor, but not to water. In another preferred embodiment, a pocket for ice particles is formed from the aforementioned vapor permeable, water impermeable, plastic sheet material and secured to the medial portion of the scarf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Exer Icer Towels, Inc.
    Inventor: Carroll M. Dibrell
  • Patent number: 5087273
    Abstract: An air freshening device used in conjunction with an air circulation system of a business or residential building for impregnating the air with an aromatic scent. The device comprises a rectangular envelope made out of an air permeable synthetic mesh containing a plurality of aromatic beads. The envelope has a fastener at one corner. It is affixed to the internal conduit of the air circulation system, preferably to the main air filter for the system. As air passes through the air permeable envelope, the aromatic beads volatize, saturating the air with a fragrant scent. The air is then transferred throughout the building via the normal conduit or duct system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Ward Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Lacy D. Ward
  • Patent number: 5085289
    Abstract: A resilient, torque-transmitting coupling is utilized to coaxially interconnect driving and driven shafts. The coupling has a hollow outer member whose interior surface circumscribes an axis and has a square cross-section. An inner member having a slightly smaller square cross-section is axially received in the outer member and defines therein a square cross-sectioned cavity which laterally circumscribes the inner member. The cavity is filled with a resilient urethane material which is bonded to the laterally facing surfaces of the inner and outer coupling members. Corner portions of the inner member cooperate with the flat interior side surface portions of the outer member to limit relative axial rotation between the inner and outer members to thereby torsionally stress the urethane essentially entirely in tension and compression, and to prevent torsional "spin-out" between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: John H. Chance
  • Patent number: 5084251
    Abstract: An instrument sterilization cassette, into which instruments to be sterilized may be placed on an internal support rack structure, has a housing defined by an open-topped base portion to which a lid portion is pivotally secured. Spaced series of flow openings are formed through the top and bottom side walls of the lid and base portions and permit a vertical throughflow of sterilizing fluid through the cassette, and across the instruments supported therein, when the lid portion is closed. An external latch structure is operative to releasably hold the lid portion closed, and is secured to perforated upper and lower plates slidably supported on the inner side surfaces of the top and bottom side walls of the cassette. By pulling the latch structure outwardly from the housing, the plate members are slidably moved in the same direction and their openings are moved into registry with the top and bottom side wall flow openings to permit a throughflow of sterilizing fluid through the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Akatheputhethu C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5078864
    Abstract: A compact, high flow rate reverse osmosis water filtration system suitable for home use has four primary operating components--a carbon sediment pre-filter assembly, a reverse osmosis filter assembly, a granulated activated carbon post-filter assembly, and a flow controller. These four components are operatively interconnected by lengths of flexible tubing provided with finger operable quick disconnect fittings which permit each element to be rapidly disconnected from and reconnected to the balance of the system without the use of tools of any sort. Each of the three filter assemblies is of a throw-away construction comprising a filter material permanently sealed within a housing structure. Filter changeout is thus easily and quickly achieved by the homeowner simply by disconnecting the particular filter assembly and discarding it, housing and all, and then quickly reconnecting a replacement filter assembly in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Whittier
  • Patent number: D322971
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries
    Inventors: Lloyd H. Tuggle, Michael Shoup, Jeffrey G. Sadler
  • Patent number: D324051
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd H. Tuggle, Jeffery G. Sadler
  • Patent number: D325330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries
    Inventor: Edward C. Barnhill
  • Patent number: RE33929
    Abstract: The annulus (20) around the fuel feed stud (8) which seals the rotor (14) of this central injection device is connected to a stowage compartment (40) for intake air by way of a ball bearing (7). In the case of the impeller (31, 35) driven rotor (14), the stowage air pressure counteracts the leakage fuel pressure in the annulus (20). By .[.adapting.]. .Iadd.adopting .Iaddend.the width of the opening of the stowage compartment (40), the stowage air pressure is adjusted to be equal to or slightly higher than the leakage fuel pressure, so that no fuel can flow out of the annulus (20). .[.To enrich the fuel of the air-fuel mixture in the higher load range, a width of opening of the stowage compartment (40) is provided where the stowage air pressure at the corresponding RPM's becomes smaller than the leakage fuel pressure and the rotor (14) delivers additional fuel. .].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Kwik Products International Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph Diener