Patents Represented by Law Firm Palmatier & Sjoquist
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Patent number: 5884974Abstract: An ergonomic arm support for supporting the forearm during typing, keying, or assembly operations. The arm support includes an armrest pivotally mounted on a slide or a shroud for sliding the armrest to and away from a base which is secured to a table or chair. The slide or shroud is pivotally mounted in the base such that the armrest, which is pivotal relative to the slide or shroud and slidable to and away from the base, is also rotatable about the base to provide for a wide range of fluid motion for the forearm. The armrest further includes a plurality of roller bearing arrangements for facilitation of the slide or shroud and arm support. The roller bearing arrangements engage the slide or shroud proximate to the housing to provide for the fluid movement of the slide or shroud. A shroud may also be provided for enclosure of the roller bearing slide arrangement to prevent inadvertent engagement between an individual and/or the individual's clothes and the slide.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Industrial ErgonomicsInventors: Jeffrey D. Bergsten, Donald A. Bergsten
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Patent number: 5881420Abstract: A tool for clamping against the interior of a chimney flue having a scissors jack mechanism for adjustably clamping into various size chimneys. A seal plate for sliding over the shaft of the clamping device and for tightly sealing against the interior chimney flue walls. A cleaning brush mechanism affixed to the end of a tubular member, sized to slide over the clamping shaft for cleaning the interior of a chimney.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Inventor: Mark Bruckelmyer
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Patent number: 5881928Abstract: A liquid dispensing gun having a dispensing limiter and a fill limiter which are utilized to regulate the volume of liquid dispensed to an animal. The liquid dispensing gun also includes an interchangeable cone and a shaft having a t-handle, a piston, a locking mechanism, and a plurality of positioning notches adapted for engagement to the dispensing limiter and fill limiter. A cylinder having a quick release end cap is engaged to the cone and a spring is positioned within the cylinder and engaged to the piston and to the cone for providing a spring assisted dispensing gun which minimizes the stress and/or fatigue to the hand and/or arm of a user. The dispensing gun is preferably adapted for use as a drench gun providing a user with the ability to utilize one hand on the dispensing gun and the free hand to control an animal during the introduction of drench to an animal.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: John D. RegisterInventors: John D. Register, Mark O. Snyker, Mike W. Horvath, Thomas G. Skulley
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Patent number: 5879233Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing duplicate card games such as blackjack and poker. In operation, after shuffling an appropriately sized deck, each player is supplied with an identical first hand. From there, each player plays against the dealer or house directly and against each other indirectly. To ensure parity, the shuffled deck is duplicated in its exact order for each player so that each player uses the same identically ordered cards when playing against the dealer or house. Depending on how each player plays, the initially dealt cards (e.g., call, hold, etc.), the relative skill level between players may be measured. After each round played, the deck is reshuffled. A running total for all participants is maintained and each player may wager against the dealer or house in the normal fashion. The apparatus includes a processing unit connected to a plurality of displays each of which includes associated control buttons.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Inventor: John R. Stupero
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Patent number: 5876420Abstract: An improved medical instrument with a releasable lock interposed between the handles of the medical instrument to hold the jaws in closed position to grip an object. The lock has at least one flexible finger and a plurality of movable sleeves that allow one hand operation to selectively lock and release the jaws without substantial lateral displacement of the object. A plurality of locking stops is provided so that the jaws may be held closed at a variety to tensions, to accommodate a variety of objects.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: InnomedicaInventors: Thomas J. Noll, Daryl Kiefer, Michael C. Chappuis, Robert C. Collins
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Patent number: 5874809Abstract: A constant light output ballast circuit capable of regulating lamp current to a substantially constant level independent of the number of fluorescent lamps on load. The circuit incorporates a power factor control circuit and an electronic ballast circuit having a secondary winding on its output transformer. The voltage on the secondary winding, which is proportional to the ballast circuit's output voltage, is fed back to the power factor control circuit to regulate the DC output voltage supplied to the electronic ballast circuit and thereby maintain a constant lamp current.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Inventor: Thomas E. Hagen
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Patent number: 5871182Abstract: A modular tubing support and constrainment device for supporting and constraining tubing comprising a plurality of modular support trays, a module connector portion and a clamping portion. The modular support trays each incorporate a bottom portion for supporting the tubing and side constrainment portions to significantly constrain the amount of snaking by the tubing. The modular support trays further incorporate a plurality of apertures which are used by the module connector portions to connect and join the modular support trays into a continuous single unit. The apertures are also used by the clamping portion so that the clamping block may be secured to the modular support tray. The clamping block has an arcuate bore therethrough that is sized to fit snugly about and constrain the tubing. The bore may be lined with an elastomeric material to provide extra tube gripping potential.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1997Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Fluoroware, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Jeffrey J. McKenzie
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Patent number: 5865346Abstract: An above-ground or below-ground, self-contained, fully-enclosed, unattended fueling apparatus for dispensing fuel in return for payment and accepting payment by credit-card or cash and providing primary and secondary fuel containment to protect the environment against overfills and spills consists of a reinforced concrete slab base, a concrete secondary containment vessel anchored to the slab base, a removable reinforced concrete cover closing the secondary containment vessel, a primary containment tank suspended from the cover, a fuel pump, and a credit-card reader. The containment vessel and slab with suspended tank being formed remote from the site of installation.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1997Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Inventor: William M. Del Zotto
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Patent number: 5865374Abstract: A rotary spray fluid apparatus anchorable to a car wash structure which has an elongate body portion with a side inlet and a rotatable hollow shaft extending therethrough defining an annular space with fluid transfer region, a pair of sealing regions and a pair of bearing regions. The shaft has a port adjacent the side inlet extending into an axial passageway in the shaft to flow to a spray head. Each sealing region has a pair of sealing rings. One ring of each pair of sealing rings is sealed to the body portion and the other is sealed to the rotatable shaft. A spring positioned in the fluid transfer region of the annular space provides an axial compressive force to maintain engaging faces of the sealing rings together as the shaft is rotated thereby sealing the annular space relative to the fluid flowing to the spray head.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1996Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Inventors: Terrance G. Barta, Gregory L. Barta
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Patent number: 5851250Abstract: A filter element for an air cleaner including a filter medium which has a plurality of basic filter units and is integrally formed of a porous sintered material produced by sintering powdered synthetic resin.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Toyoda Boshoku Corporation & Denso CorporationInventors: Hiromichi Sugie, Tsuyoshi Minari, Yasunari Arai, Yukihisa Horikoh, Kouji Kume, Hirotsugu Kojima
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Patent number: 5851054Abstract: An ergonomic arm support for supporting the forearm during typing, keying, or assembly operations. The arm support includes an armrest pivotally mounted on a slide or a shroud for sliding the armrest to and away from a base which is secured to a table or chair. The slide or shroud is pivotally mounted in the base such that the armrest, which is pivotal relative to the slide or shroud and slidable to and away from the base, is also rotatable about the base to provide for a wide range of fluid motion for the forearm. The armrest further includes a plurality of roller bearing arrangements for facilitation of the slide or shroud and arm support. The roller bearing arrangements engage the slide or shroud proximate to the housing to provide for the fluid movement of the slide or shroud. A shroud may also be provided for enclosure of the roller bearing slide arrangement to prevent inadvertent engagement between an individual and/or the individual's clothes and the slide.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Industrial Ergonomics, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Bergsten, Donald A. Bergsten
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Patent number: 5850579Abstract: A pan/tilt device consists of a pan motor and a tilt motor on a motor mount structure, a camera mount structure rotatable by the pan motor about the pan axis, a camera bracket on the camera mount structure rotatable by the tilt motor along the tilt axis. A pair of concentric drive shafts extend from the motor mount structure to the camera mount structure to accomplish the pan and tilt functions. The pan/tilt device is capable of remote operation over a computer network.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1997Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: ADDCO, Inc.Inventors: Gordon M. Melby, Paul Cobian
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Patent number: 5837180Abstract: A composite sanitary fitting in which an inner body portion is secured within a overmolded stiffening sleeve which provides strength and rigidity to the fitting. The main body is comprised of a plastic such as PFA and the outer stiffening sleeve is comprised of a more rigid durable plastic such as PEEK. The main body portion has a flange portion which at the connecting end. The stiffening sleeve has an U-shaped portion extends around three sides of the flange locking the sleeve on the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Fluoroware, Inc.Inventors: James C. Linder, Jeffrey J. McKenzie
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Patent number: 5837888Abstract: A process for measuring the vapor transmission rate characteristics of a test material by first measuring the vapor transmission through a test chamber and sample material and subsequently repeating the measurement with the test material adjacent the sample material. By subtracting the first measured transmission rate reciprocal from the second measured transmission rate reciprocal, a value is determined which is the reciprocal of the vapor transmission rate characteristic of the test material.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Modern Controls, Inc.Inventors: William N. Mayer, Stephen D. Tuomela, Guss L. Krake
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Patent number: 5833073Abstract: A device for storing and transporting electronic devices such as semiconductor chips, comprising: a frame having a top side, a bottom side, a periphery, and a window within the periphery, a thin film covering the window, the thin film having on its top surface an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being adapted to hold a plurality of electronic devices, the electronic devices being attachable to the adhesive layer at any location on the thin film within the window, and the electronic devices being uncovered, a recess in the bottom side, and a raised flange around the window on the top side wherein the raised flange of one of the devices mates with the recess of another device, thereby allowing the devices to be stacked. The adhesive properties of the adhesive layer may be greatly reduced by exposure to electromagnetic radiation such as heat (infrared) or ultraviolet, thereby releasing the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1997Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Fluoroware, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schatz, Robert J. Nentl
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Patent number: 5833224Abstract: A jar clamp for stabilizing a jar so as to prevent slipping and twisting of the jar during opening of the jar, for freeing both hands so that they may be free to work at opening the jar lid, and for accommodating a wide array of jar diameters. The jar clamp incorporates a second elongate arm that is hingedly attached to a first elongate arm. A seat having a central strut as well as upper and lower cross bars is affixed to the first arm. The seat further incorporates rubberized padding and angled end portions on the upper and lower cross bars. A rubber or elastic rubberized strap is provided that is affixed to the second arm and releasably secured to the first arm.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1997Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Inventor: Mark D. Holte
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Patent number: 5823406Abstract: A mobile filling unit mounted on a wheeled base and having one or more pumping systems and liquid dispensing heads. Each of the pumping systems has a metering turret containing a number of adjustable rods, the rods being adjustable to limit the stroke of a reciprocable drive motor, the drive motor being directly connected to a reciprocable pump, so that the volume delivered by the pump is controllable to any of a number of predetermined values equal to the respective settings of the adjustable rods in the metering turret.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Neupak, Inc.Inventor: Terence P. Roberts
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Patent number: 5823558Abstract: A load frame which mounts on a trailer between the trailer hitch connection and the trailer frame front cross member. The load frame is a wishbone-shaped structural unit which mounts to the trailer frame front cross member with a pivoting saddle on the two rear legs of the wishbone. The load frame includes a spindle mount connected to a wheel assembly and a retracting arm for engaging a retracting apparatus to adjust the relationship between the wheel assembly and the trailer frame. The spindle mount includes a suspension mechanism and a pivoting connection for the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes a spindle member which is slidably and rotatably attached to the spindle mount. A tire is rotatably attached to the wheel assembly. The tire extends downwardly from the spindle mount to roll along the ground and support a portion of the tongue weight of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Inventor: William A. Shoquist
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Patent number: D401388Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1996Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Lumitech, Inc.Inventors: Michael Knight, Richard Harolde
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Patent number: D405900Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Inventor: Lesa Driscoll