Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John K. Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6243533
    Abstract: A multiple hair setting roller heating and facial steaming apparatus includes a housing, an enclosure, a heating module, a heating element, at least one outlet and a hood. The housing defines a receptacle for receiving and holding a quantity of a desired liquid and defines a platform. The enclosure has an open bottom and defines an interior chamber. The enclosure is mounted to and extends downwardly from the platform of the housing and into the receptacle of the housing below the surface of the quantity of liquid in the receptacle such that air is captured in the interior chamber of the enclosure. The heating module is mounted to the platform of the housing and extends downwardly therefrom within the interior chamber of the enclosure. The heating module has a passage and an inlet extending below the open bottom of the enclosure so as to provide direct flow communication of liquid from the receptacle of the housing to the passage of the heating module bypassing the interior chamber of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Madison Star LLC
    Inventor: Paule Stern
  • Patent number: 6237155
    Abstract: A light reflective hat includes a crown contoured for covering a part of a user's head when the hat is worn and having a rear side with an interior edge of a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration defining a gap allowing the crown to be expanded and contracted, a rear light reflective strip attached to and extending along the interior edge of the rear side of the crown in a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration about the gap, a visor attached at a rear peripheral edge to a lower edge of and along a front side of the crown such that the visor extends outwardly from the front side of the crown, and a front reflective strip attached to and extending along the front peripheral edge of the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Howard Seegar
  • Patent number: 6219846
    Abstract: A bib assembly includes a first body comprised of a substantially flexible sheet-like material in a substantially unfolded condition, a twist tie member connected to an upper edge portion of the first body for removably securing the first body to a neck of a user such that the first body covers a front portion of the user, a second body including a folded flexible sheet of material separate from the first body and adapted to be unfolded for use in wiping debris from hands and around the mouth of the user, and a cuff along a lower edge of the first body for removably receiving and securing the second body to the first body. The second body further includes a rupturable package containing the folded sheet of material of the second body in an interior chamber of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: William D. Toole
  • Patent number: 6217468
    Abstract: A hockey puck includes three separate generally pie-shaped inner core segments, a pair of protuberances on each of a pair of opposite sides of each inner core segment, and an outer enclosure generally cylindrical in configuration and defining three pie-shaped compartments that respectively surround and separately contain the inner core segments in spaced relations from one another. The outer enclosure has pairs of apertures in each of a pair of opposite faces thereof such that the pairs of protuberances on opposite sides of the inner core segments protrude through the pairs of apertures in opposite directions and substantially the same distance outwardly from the opposite faces of the outer enclosure so as to define glider elements protruding from the opposite faces of the outer enclosure for slidably engaging a hockey playing surface and supporting the outer enclosure and inner core segments in a spaced relationship above the hockey playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Daryn Goodwin
  • Patent number: 6213618
    Abstract: A lighting device convertible between reading light and pen light configurations uses only a single off/on light actuating switch in either configuration. The lighting device includes a main body, pivoting arm, hinge, light generating element, batteries and switch member and button. The main body has opposite front and rear ends and defines a recess at the front end. The pivoting arm has opposite front and rear ends. The hinge pivotally mounts the rear end of the pivoting arm to the rear end of the main body to allow pivotal movement of the pivoting arm between an erect position angularly spaced from the main body, the reading light configuration, and a lowered position adjacent to the main body, the pen light configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lumatec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Dobbin, Bjarki Hallgrimsson, David Ball, Peter Altman
  • Patent number: 6210296
    Abstract: A portable tennis scorekeeper device includes a portable body attachable to an article of apparel or insertable within a pocket of an article of apparel worn by a tennis player and a scoreboard applied to a side of the portable body. The scoreboard includes a middle region and a pair of opposite side regions. The middle region includes a first portion having a plurality of numbers and letters associated with points scored in a game of a tennis match, a pair of tracks extending along opposite sides of the first portion, second and third portions each disposed on a side of one of the tracks opposite from the first portion and having a plurality of numbers associated with points scored in a tiebreaker of the tennis match, and a pair of markers each mounted to and for undergoing movement along one of the tracks and alignable with the numbers and letters of the first, second and third portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Wendell J. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 6203039
    Abstract: An independent suspension system for a vehicle includes a pair of wheel-supporting axle beams extending in oblique relationships to longitudinally-extending opposite sides of the vehicle chassis which permit independent vertical pivotal movements of the axle beams that allow extended ranges of vertical travel of the vehicle wheels supported on one ends of the axle beams, a pair of radius arms pivotally connected at opposite ends to the chassis sides and to the one ends of the axle beams adjacent to their connections to the wheels so as to control fore and aft movement of the axle beams during their vertical pivotal movements and to maintain the wheels close to true vertical alignment with a vertical reference over their extended range of vertical travel, a pair of torque links pivotally interconnected at opposite ends to the chassis sides and other ends of the axle beams to counteract rotational forces introduced to the axle beams by the acceleration and braking of the vehicle, and a pair of air bags disposed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Marvin J. Gorden
  • Patent number: 6196324
    Abstract: A casing differential pressure based control method used in conjunction with a gas-producing well includes the steps of sensing current sales line pressure and well casing and tubing pressures and changing or switching an A valve between open and close states based on differences between selected pairs of these current pressures relative to preset minimum differentials between the same pairs of these pressures. Open Differential Pressure determines when to open the A valve and initiate gas sales. Open Differential Pressure is the preset minimum pressure difference by which the casing pressure exceeds the sales line pressure. Close Pressure determines when to close the A valve and terminate gas sales. Close Pressure is the preset minimum pressure of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Jeff L. Giacomino, Bruce M. Victor
  • Patent number: 6196399
    Abstract: A multiple clothesline hanger holder device includes an elongated body made of a substantially rigid material and with a longitudinal length greater than a transverse width thereof. The elongated body is rigid or fixed in a configuration wherein it is folded towards itself along its longitudinal length. The elongated body includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is tubular-shaped defining a channel extending the longitudinal length of the elongated body. The upper portion has a lower side, a pair of opposite open ends and a pair of spaced apart opposite lower edges defining a longitudinal slot therebetween extending along the lower side and the longitudinal length between the opposite open ends providing an entry to the channel such that a clothesline may be inserted through the slot and into the channel of the tubular-shaped upper portion resulting in the clothesline extending through the upper portion and in opposite directions from the opposite open ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Rose Marie Y. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 6196354
    Abstract: A portable tree stand assembly includes a support bracket structure, a seat, a platform and a seat and platform position adjustment arrangement. The support bracket structure is attachable to a supporting tree. The support bracket structure has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. The seat is pivotally mounted to the upper end portion of the support bracket structure. The platform is pivotally mounted to the lower end portion of the support bracket structure. The seat and platform position adjustment arrangement interconnects the seat and platform to a middle portion of the support bracket structure extending between and interconnecting the upper and lower end portions thereof. The seat and platform position adjustment arrangement is adjustable to movably place and retain the seat and platform in a substantially parallel relation to one another and in respective level positions for a range of lean angles of the supporting tree to which the support bracket structure is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Tod E. Anthony, Michael Schirer
  • Patent number: 6193299
    Abstract: A side tarpaulin tightener for tensioning a tarpaulin to a mounting structure includes a tension lever-hook module and an adjustment unit. The tension lever-hook module has a tension lever pivotally articulated about a first pivot axis and a hook pivotally articulated about a second pivot axis on the tension lever being spaced apart from and parallel to the first pivot axis. The adjustment unit is pivotally articulated about the first pivot axis on the tension lever and has a base element attached on the tarpaulin and an elongated rod at one end being pivotally coupled to the tension lever at the first pivot axis thereof and at an opposite end being connected to the base element such that a tensioning movement can be transmitted to the tarpaulin as a result of an upward movement of the hook and an opposite downward movement of the adjustment unit relative to the hook in response to an upward closing pivotal movement of the tension lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Franz Miederhoff OHG
    Inventor: Johannes Than
  • Patent number: 6193596
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a bivalve shellfish (10), particularly a scallop, which is to be processed to recover an edible portion. A shell shape complement (30) has at least a partially complementary shape such as a concavity or recess to fit with at least a part of the shape or profile of the shellfish (10) such as the projecting part (18) at the hinge region (11). Moving means (40) rotates the shellfish relative to the shell shape complement (30) while the shellfish is maintained in contact with the shell shape complement (30) by biasing means operative to bias the shell shape complement (30) against the circumference (15) of the shellfish as the shellfish is rotated by the moving means (40) until a fit of the shellfish (10) with the complement is achieved. A sensor (45) is located within the concavity to sense and signal the achievement of the fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sasakat Pty Ltd
    Inventor: John Trevor Adcock
  • Patent number: 6194199
    Abstract: A cell scraper device includes a pair of elongated handles, a blade and a pair of spaced apart pivotal joints. The handles enable a user to hold and to operate the device. Each handle has a pair of opposite ends and a longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends. The handles are spaced apart from and disposed along one another and movable in opposite directions along their longitudinal axes. Each joint, such as a pivotal ball type or a living hinge type, pivotally joins the blade to one of a pair of adjacent ends of the handles such that the blade is pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position upon corresponding movement of the handles in the opposite directions along their longitudinal axes. The blade in the closed position is disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of each handle and on a side of the handle such that the blade and handles are positioned for insertion into and removal from a culture flask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: David Asa
  • Patent number: 6194655
    Abstract: An electromagnetic interference shielding assembly includes an enclosure and top and bottom covers. The enclosure has interconnected walls arranged in a polygonal configuration to surround an electronic component on a circuit board. Each wall has upper and lower portions extending in opposite directions. The enclosure has upper and lower releasable attachment arrangements respectively formed in the upper and lower portions of the walls and releasably engaged with the top and bottom covers. The upper and lower attachment arrangements are substantially mirror images of one another and define upper and lower annular channels that are open respectively from above and below. Each of the top and bottom covers has a main portion and side portions attached to and extending from the main portion and arranged in a polygonal configuration matching that of the walls of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Leader Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lange, Sr., William A. Lange, II, Louise M. Lange, Deborah L. Clements
  • Patent number: 6193483
    Abstract: A full flow tubing stationary valve pump apparatus includes an cuter annulus barrel, an inner working barrel positioned in radially inwardly spaced relation from the outer annular barrel to define a vertical flow annulus therebetween, an elongated inner plunger disposed within and vertically movable by upstrokes and downstrokes relative to the inner working barrel, a lower intake valve assembly disposed within and supported by the outer annulus barrel below the inner plunger, and an upper discharge valve assembly disposed within and supported by the outer annular barrel below the inner plunger and above the lower intake valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Clarence Michael
  • Patent number: 6185829
    Abstract: A sensor structured as a two-part oscillator is employed in a device for measuring the position of a movable operating member of a machine, such as a plunger in a glassware forming machine. The plunger is attached on a piston rod of a piston/cylinder unit cooperating with the measuring device for the continuous measurement of the position of the plunger during its stroke. The first part of the sensor is a resonance circuitry formed of a coil and a capacitor. The capacitor has first and second capacitor elements stationary relative to one another and a third capacitor element movable with the piston rod relative to the first and second elements. The resonance circuitry is disposed in the cylinder of the unit such that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuitry is variable in proportion to the change of capacitance of the capacitor in response to the change of the position of the piston rod relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Hartmut Geisel
  • Patent number: 6186487
    Abstract: A shock absorbing post assembly includes an outer tube, inner shaft, guide elements, and spring member. The outer tube has an exterior surface with circumferential portions along an outer cylinder encompassing the outer tube and outer races formed longitudinally between opposite ends of and spaced apart circumferentially about the outer tube. The outer races are within the outer cylinder between and inwardly of the circumferential portions of exterior surface. The inner shaft is received in and partially extends above the outer tube and has an exterior surface with circumferential portions along an inner cylinder encompassing the inner shaft and inner races formed longitudinally between opposite ends of and spaced apart circumferentially about the inner shaft in alignment with outer races of the outer tube so as to provide pairs of aligned outer and inner races. The inner races are within the inner cylinder between and inwardly of the circumferential portions of the exterior surface of the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Donald A. Kesinger
  • Patent number: 6182946
    Abstract: A hoist assembly includes a casing, a pulley mechanism and a latch mechanism. The casing has a pair of identical mating front and rear casing halves. The casing has an aperture formed therethrough and an interior chamber formed therein between said front and rear casing halves. The aperture receives a fastener member therethrough for supporting the casing on a tree at a predetermined height. The casing also has a centering recess formed therethrough in communication with the aperture for receiving a portion of the fastener member therein for balancing the casing thereon. The pulley mechanism includes a pulley and a cable. The pulley is rotatably mounted to and disposed within the interior chamber of the casing. The cable is entrained about the pulley and extends downwardly through the interior chamber and spaced apart openings defined at a lower end of the casing to exteriorly of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Darin Rutherford
  • Patent number: 6179442
    Abstract: A Christmas star light device includes sets of first and second elongated members. Each first elongated member has a straight portion terminating at a first end of the first elongated member with the first end having a first cross-sectional size, an angled portion merging from the straight portion and terminating at a second end of the first elongated member with the second end having a second cross-sectional size greater than the first cross-sectional size, and slots defined on and spaced apart along the first elongated member between the opposite ends thereof for receiving and mounting light elements on the first elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: S & S Stars, LLC
    Inventor: Stan Schurle
  • Patent number: D439016
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher S. Syran, Warner A. Bonner