Patents Represented by Attorney Karen M. Gerken
  • Patent number: 4912871
    Abstract: An artificial crab lure in the configuration of a natural crab body being formed entirely as a unitary member of a soft resilient molding. The crab body is defined by a center body portion, a pair of eyes, front claws and a plurality of legs. An integral shank portion projects outwardly from the center body and is adapted to have the straight portion of a hook passed therethrough. The claws, legs and shank are adapted for up and down, side to side, and rotational movements with respect to the center body portion such that the crab body, when placed in water, simulates the movement of a living crab. The molding may be colorized by dyes and pigments, and may have light-reflective particles randomly dispersed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Todd M. Brady
  • Patent number: 4903870
    Abstract: A dispensing closure characterized by a cap base member adapted to be associated with a container, and a cap lid member mounted on the cap base member for rotation with respect to the cap base member. The cap lid member is adapted to assume a closed position, wherein it closes off a first dispensing opening formed in the cap base member, and is intended to be rotated upwardly with respect to the cap base member from the closed position to an open position wherein the first dispensing is uncovered. A second dispensing opening is formed in the cap lid member, overlying the first dispensing opening when the cap lid member is in the closed position. The second dispensing opening is normally closed off and sealed by means of a spout member which is rotatably mounted on the cap lid member. The spout member is adapted to be rotated from the latter closed position to an open position wherein a longitudinal passage in the spout member is aligned with the second dispensing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Polytop Corporation
    Inventor: Donald La Vange
  • Patent number: 4888702
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system controller particularly adapted for utilization with a photovoltaic power system including a photovoltaic array, system battery, load and, optionally, an auxiliary generator. The controller utilizes a microprocessor to monitor various parameters of the system and to perform system control functions. The microprocessor is provided with a plurality of setpoints corresponding to desired system parameters for utilization as reference points for the conducting of control functions. The setpoints are adapted to be easily field adjustable to cover a wide range of parameters. The controller is particularly suited for adaption to an entire spectrum of system designs merely by replacing the programmable memory component of the controller. The controller derives its power from a tap off the system battery and is designed to withstand the harsh environment associated with remote site locations. All of the control functions are temperature compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Integrated Power Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Gerken, Robert A. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4884842
    Abstract: A body supporting chair in the form of a generally U-shaped seat member rotatably mounted upon a central support post by support means allowing the seat member to assume operative and inoperative positions with respect to the support post. The seat member is adapted for oscillatory movement with respect to the support means, and is intended to be adjusted vertically with respect to the support post. The support post is mounted on a base member for supporting the chair on a horizontal support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Sarah Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 4874383
    Abstract: Disclosed are hypodermic syringes having special safety features for preventing the user from inadvertently pricking himself with the needle. In the preferred embodiment the barrel of, for example, a syringe is provided with a sleeve that can be drawn out over the needle and firmly locked into position to prevent accidental contact of the user with the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: R. David McNaughton
  • Patent number: 4863390
    Abstract: A ground connector for securing a ground conductor with respect to a vertical support post. The connector includes a body member, a hook member and fastening means for securing the body and hook members to the support post. The body member is provided with a hook-like formation for receiving the conductor, and is adapted to be associated with the hook member. The hook member is intended to be disposed around the support post, and the fastening means is adapted to secure and to urge the body member into engagement with the support post such that the conductor directly contacts the post. The body member is specifically designed to accept conductor of various sizes. The hook member and the body member are particularly configured to engage support posts of square and round cross-section. The body member may be adapted to receive more than one conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventors: Robin P. Cera, Ross H. Davies
  • Patent number: 4846495
    Abstract: A suspension component assembly including a top plate assembly for mounting relative to a spring assembly of a vehicle and a saddle. The top plate assembly having a top plate and an alignment member having locating means for accurately receiving a nib of the spring assembly. The top plate having a slot or a recess on its underside for receiving the alignment member. The recess allowing movement of the member for adjustment of squareness of an axle of the vehicle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Adjustment means associated with the top plate allows the location and holding of the alignment member at a desired location relative to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Peter Laidely
  • Patent number: 4833857
    Abstract: A spacer member for positioning and retaining steel reinforcing bars in a concrete structural member such as a round-column. The spacer member is defined by a circular, ring-like main body section having a plurality of outer extensions and a plurality of interior projections. Each of the outer extensions has a remote edge adapted to abut the inner surface of a form for the structural member. Each of the interior projections is separated from next adjacent interior projections by a space, into which a reinforcing bar is intended to be inserted. The spaces are provided at least at every 45 degree and 60 degree intervals along the circle formed by the body member. The reinforcing bars are adapted to be securely tied in their respective spaces by means of securing means that is adapted to be wrapped around the bar and around a hook-like formation formed on the interior projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventor: Charles F. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4831277
    Abstract: A power system specifically adapted to provide DC power for powering a DC load at a remote site under severe environmental conditions, such as is found at remote gas pipeline locations. The power system includes a slow speed heat engine adapted to be powered by fuel, preferably taken directly from the gas pipeline, the supply of which is controlled by means of a pressure regulator. The engine is adapted to be directly coupled to an oversized, slow speed three-phase alternator so as to produce AC power, which is subsequently rectified to DC power output for powering a load in the range of 500 to 5,000 watts. The engine is particularly adapted to be started with a hand crank or a portable starter, and is provided with ceramic main bearings, an oversized lubrication system, redundant independent ignition systems and a highly superior cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Nicholas S. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4826170
    Abstract: In the game of Liar's Dice, a unique gaming box is used including a first closed compartment, a second shaking compartment, and a third holding compartment. The first closed compartment has a number of dice permanently sealed therein, such that when the box is shaken a continuous rattling of dice is audible. This allows a player to taken any of the active dice in the shaking compartment and place them in the holding compartment. When the box is shaken, the other players cannot audibly discern how many of the active dice are being shaken at one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Overman Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Herman Rattai
  • Patent number: 4811680
    Abstract: A deck hatch assembly for marine craft is formed in the upper deck surface of the marine craft on the port and starboard sides. A submerged surface is integrally formed in the upper deck surface, being provided with a hatch opening surrounded by a raised peripheral ridge. The raised ridge, together with the submerged surface and the upper deck surface, forms a drain channel for directing water away from the stern of the marine craft. A pivotably mounted hatch cover is provided for normally sealing and closing off the hatch opening. The hatch cover may be raised upwardly from the bulkhead of the marine craft toward the stern for the purpose of providing ventilation to below deck compartments and for allowing access to the upper deck surface from below deck areas. A pair of gas spring assemblies is provided for positively and automatically retaining the hatch cover in the closed, or any one of a number of open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Donzi Marine Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Genth
  • Patent number: 4809595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for refining foodstuffs, adapted for implementation in a process wherein foodstuff is fed into a depressurized environment and refined therein, whereupon the refined end-product, and any waste matter separated during the process, are both drawn off. The plant comprises an environment in which a vacuum is created and maintained, such as will house conventional types of machinery which refine the foodstuff, separate any waste matter, and collect the end-product which is then drawn off by a pump. Such a plant serves in particular for extracting juice and purse from fruit, vegetable, and market garden produce in general, as well as for reducing meat of all kinds to a paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventor: Camillo Catelli
  • Patent number: 4805729
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure characterized by a curved back wall and top and bottom planar surface members which together define a front opening. A speaker member, a horn member and a tweeter member are adapted to be mounted within the front opening. At least the curved back wall is made from wood of a specified range of thicknesses and of a particular range of radii of curvature to achieve increased power output for the speaker and enhanced quality of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Bart A. Wascom
  • Patent number: 4803825
    Abstract: A beam chair for supporting, positioning and retaining a reinforcement bar is a concrete structural member and, in particular, in a concrete structural member such as a beam or slab. The beam chair is defined by a horizontal support surface which, together with first and second vertical support members, define an open cavity for receiving a longitudinally oriented reinforcing bar and wherein the bar is adapted to be supported by the horizontal support surface. The second vertical support member is provided with an upper side extension having a remote edge. The first and second vertical support members are provided, respectively, with first and second depending members which terminate in lower edges. A lower side extension projects from the second depending member parallel to the upper side extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Charles F. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4800702
    Abstract: A steel placement member adapted for supporting and locating a reinforcing steel bar in a concrete structural member formed by placing concrete in an area defined by a horizontal bottom surface and a vertical perimetrical surface. The steel placement member is defined by a tubular body having a channel formed in one end for receiving the end of a reinforcing bar. The opposite end of the tubular body is provided with a plate member lying perpendicular thereto and being adapted to abut the vertical perimetrical surface. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate member is provided with a vertically depending arrow member which is adapted to rest against the horizontal bottom surface. The steel placement member, with the plate member abutting the vertical surface and the arrow member resting against the bottom surface, supports the reinforcing bar within the channel and locates the reinforcing bar a desired distance inside the vertical surface and above the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventor: Charles F. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4793425
    Abstract: A roller-reamer stabilizer having a plurality of roller cutters mounted in recesses in the supporting body such that each roller is free to rotate in its own bearing blocks. The cutters and bearing blocks are provided with air bleed lubrication and cooling from a central bore in the supporting body as is common and well known in the art. The present invention deals with the supporting body of a roller-reamer stabilizer of the near bit type and in particular one that would be used in the mining blast hole drilling industry. This supporting body is characterized by having a profiled lower end having maximum diameter outer surfaces separated by minimum diameter relief areas. The maximum diameter surfaces are, respectively, aligned with the cutters and extend upwardly from near the lower surface of the body to encompass the lower bearing blocks. The minimum diameter relief areas extend further up the body and terminate level with the upper bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventor: Kenneth M. White
  • Patent number: 4783099
    Abstract: A conduit system for the flow of a fluid medium therethrough wherein the system is made up of a plurality of elongated conduit segments connected by means of fittings, such as straight connectors, elbows, T's or the like. The conduit segments are composed of opaque material and the fittings are composed of transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Inventor: Oscar P. Muser
  • Patent number: 4781650
    Abstract: A light weight, fitted prosthetic garment comprising in combination a generally cylindrical body-encircling member on each side of the top front of the body-encircling member is a rounded flap corresponding to the two breast positions of the wearer; on the inside of each rounded flap is a pocket member for holding artificial breast members; attached at the top of each rounded flap is a shoulder strap each looped back and each attached at the rear of the body-encircling member, said shoulder straps being spaced at the rear at approximately the same distance apart as at the front of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Isabelle A. Budd
  • Patent number: 4776475
    Abstract: A child resistant dispensing closure of the type comprising a cap member and a spout member. The cap member is provided with an exterior skirt, a top surface having an elongated groove formed therein, and an interior skirt. The interior skirt is provided with a cap locking bead adapted to engage a container locking bead provided on the neck of a container for rotatably mounting the cap member on the neck of the container. The elongated groove has a dispensing opening and an open area formed therein, and the interior skirt is provided with an interruption at the location of the open area so as to maintain the area unobstructed. The container locking bead is also provided with an interruption. The spout member includes an elongated body having a longitudinal dispensing passage therein and adapted to be mounted at one end in the elongated groove for rotation with respect to the cap member. The spout member is provided with a depending locking prong adapted for insertion into the open area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Polytop Corporation
    Inventor: Donald La Vange
  • Patent number: D300021
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Donzi Marine
    Inventor: William D. Riley