Patents Represented by Attorney Leagre Chandler & Millard, LLP
  • Patent number: 6530530
    Abstract: The present invention provides decorative fountains, assemblies for fountains and decorative fountain kits. An assembly for a decorative fountain includes an overflow container defining a reservoir and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, a support surface defining one or more apertures and positioned over the reservoir for supporting a drinking vessel, a support conduit defining a passageway for fluid and having a first end fluidly connected to the outlet and an opposite end defining an aperture. A bottle inlet is in fluid communication with the support conduit and is configured to mate with an inlet opening defined through the base of the beverage container so that the aperture is in fluid communication with the vessel. A pump is disposed within the reservoir and is operable to pump fluid from the reservoir through the passageway and into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Crown Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6523795
    Abstract: A furniture leg wire management apparatus is configured for use with a furniture leg formed by opposite leg posts separated by a gap. The apparatus includes a legway defined by an elongated tubular body. The body includes a forward portion and opposite clamping arms that are resiliently deflectable toward each other. The clamping arms are deflected when the legway is pushed into the gap between the leg posts and provide an outwardly directed force to clamp the legway in this operative position. The tubular body further includes a central rib terminated in a rear flange. The central rib divides the legway into two wire/cable channels, while the rear flange cooperates with the clamping arms to define opposite elongated slots. The slots communicate with the two cable channels to provide an avenue to feed the wires/cables into a corresponding channel. The wire management apparatus further includes a decorative cover plate that is removably mounted on the legway to improve its aesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Gutgsell, Scott Schwinghammer
  • Patent number: 6525010
    Abstract: A composition for adding to an aqueous rinse which is applied to a ferrous metal surface after treatment of the ferrous metal surface with an aqueous acid solution is disclosed. The composition includes a base. The base is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the aqueous rinse to a value greater than 7.0 after the composition is added to the aqueous rinse. The composition also includes a salt of gluconic acid. The composition further includes a polyquaternium compound. An associated method for inhibiting stain formation on a ferrous metal surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Crown Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Peterson, Darren R. Bowman, Tucker D. Maurer
  • Patent number: 6450938
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices for depositing objects into tissue of an animal. The devices include a cannula having a proximal end and an opposite distal end insertable into tissue and. defining an exit aperture. The cannula has a sidewall between the distal and proximal ends and defines a passageway in communication with the exit aperture. A distal retaining tab extends from an inner surface of the cannula and is positioned across at least a portion of the passageway adjacent the exit aperture. The distal tab has a first closed position blocking the passageway and a second open position wherein the tab is urged towards the sidewall to allow an object to pass. The tab is resilient to return to the first position after the object passes. the tab. In some embodiments, the invention also includes a proximal retaining tab adjacent the proximal end of the cannula and positionable to block a portion of the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Promex, LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 6448211
    Abstract: A composition for adding to an aqueous rinse which is applied to a ferrous metal surface after treatment of the ferrous metal surface with an aqueous acid solution is disclosed. The composition includes a base. The base is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the aqueous rinse to a value greater than 7.0 after the composition is added to the aqueous rinse. The composition also includes a salt of gluconic acid. The composition further includes a polyquaternium compound. An associated method for inhibiting stain formation on a ferrous metal surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Crown Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Peterson, Darren R. Bowman, Tucker D. Maurer
  • Patent number: 6447477
    Abstract: A guide (100) is provided for biopsy and microtherapy which includes an introducer cannula (120) defining a lumen (125) sized to receive a diagnostic or therapeutic item therethrough and a lateral opening (124) in communication with the lumen (125) adjacent the first end (121) of the cannula (120). The invention also includes a solid tip (130) having an anatomically distal end (131) secured to the first end (121) of the cannula (120) and a proximal end (132) configured to pierce tissue. A ramp (135) is disposed within the cannula (120) at an end (136) of the lateral opening (124) adjacent the first end (121) of the cannula (120). The ramp (135) is inclined toward the lateral opening (124), whereby the item will be deflected through the lateral opening (124) as it advances within the lumen (125) and exits the cannula (120). In some embodiments, the item is a biopsy needle, ablation means or a radiopharmaceutical seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: EMX, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan T. Burney, David L. Schroeder, Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 6419641
    Abstract: A biopsy device includes a flexible distal portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site. The device includes a coring cannula with a wall defined between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween. The wall of the cannula defines a coring relief notch adjacent the distal end that has a length along a longitudinal axis of the cannula longer than a diameter of the coring cannula. A wire is slidably disposable within the lumen of the coring cannula and has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a sampling cavity adjacent the distal end. A wire relief notch is positioned adjacent the sampling cavity. The wire relief notch has a length along a longitudinal axis of the wire longer than a width of the wire relief notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Promex, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph L. Mark, Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 6416484
    Abstract: Bone marrow biopsy devices, assemblies and methods are provided for extracting bone marrow tissue samples. The assemblies include an outer cannula or biopsy needle and a biopsy extractor sized for insertion into the proximal end of the outer cannula. The biopsy needle includes a tapered portion at the distal end. The extractor includes a cannula and a distal working end. The distal working end has a diameter larger than the diameter of the tapered portion of the biopsy needle lumen. The working end includes a body portion adjacent the cannula and a cutting head having a cutting tip. A hinge is engaged between the body portion and the cutting tip. The hinge allows the cutting head to bend when pushed into the tapered distal end of the outer cannula allowing the cutting tip to sever the tissue sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Promex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Dan Ireland
  • Patent number: RE38709
    Abstract: An electrical raceway assembly for use with a structure is provided. The elongated raceway is engageable to the structure and has a length, a transverse base and a pair of opposite upstanding sidewalls extending along the length to define at least one channel configured for retaining electrical wires. A locking element secures and detachably engages the raceway to a surface of the structure. In one embodiment, the locking element includes a mounting plate, a stud, a core, and a locking lever. The stud has a threaded first end, an opposite second end, and a shoulder between the first and second end. The threaded first end is insertable through an opening defined in the mounting plate to engage a threaded hole in the surface of the structure. The core has a rounded outer surface and defines a thru-hole for receiving the second end of the stud. The locking lever includes a handle portion and a rounded camming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Gutgsell, Scott Schwinghammer, Burton L. Siegal
  • Patent number: D462535
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Lucci, Paolo Orlandini
  • Patent number: D477925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Ditto Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Lucci, Paolo Orlandini