Patents Represented by Law Firm Pearne, Gordon, McCoy & Granger
  • Washing machine with improved anchoring means for the washing assembly
    Patent number: 6029480
    Abstract: A washing machine in which the washing assembly (3) is anchored to the stationary structure (1) by means of anchoring devices (2), each one of which includes at least two elastic elements (10, 20) arranged in series and enclosed in a rigid housing (50). Firmly secured to first end portions (11, 21) of the elastic elements (10, 20) there are rigid elements (14, 24) that extend inside the respective elastic elements (10, 20) and have their free end portions in the shape of hooks (15, 25) defining the anchoring points of the device (2). The free end portions (15, 25) protrude from apertures (33, 43) provided in mutually opposed bottom portions (32, 42) of the housing (50) against which are capable of abutting the second end portions (12, 22) of the same elastic elements (10, 20). As a result, the latter are subject to a variable extent of compression during the washing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Electrolux Zanussi S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Colombera
  • Awning with rail mounted rafter
    Patent number: 6029732
    Abstract: A retractable awning assembly for mounting to a wall having a relatively thin outer skin such as the side wall of a recreational vehicle includes a rail attached to the wall and having a longitudinally extending channel which is C-shaped in cross-section, a roller, a flexible canopy having an inner edge connected to the channel and an outer edge secured to the roller, a pair of upper mounting brackets attached at opposite ends of the rail, and a pair of arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller and operable to move said roller between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall. Each of the arm assemblies has a support arm with a lower end secured to the wall and a rafter arm with an inner end attached to the upper mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale G. Malott
  • Method for analyzing bubble jet from a ship
    Patent number: 6026758
    Abstract: Distribution pattern of bubbles produced from a bubble jet of a ship is analyzed by approximating the bubbly flow as a continuous flow of a gas phase and treating the bubbles as diffusing particles dispersing in a flow of the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Hiroharu Kato
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takahashi, Yuki Yoshida, Hiroharu Kato
  • Oxidation oven
    Patent number: 6027337
    Abstract: An oxidation oven for use in the production of carbon fibers from a polyacrylonitrile precursor fiber. The oven has an oven chamber formed by sides and ends. At least one of the ends has a first opening and a second opening. The product passes through the openings for treatment in the oven chamber. The oven is also provided with a first nozzle adjacent the first opening and a second nozzle adjacent the second opening. Each nozzle is effective for discharging air from an air flow pathway into the oven chamber and forming an air curtain at the opening to which it is adjacent. An air bar defines the air flow pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: C.A. Litzler Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Rogers, Edward T. Albus, Philip S. Sprague, Richard J. Wimberger
  • CDMA cellular radio transmission system
    Patent number: 6028852
    Abstract: A base station transmits, in addition to a pilot channel, signals which are multiplexed with pilot symbols inserted in the respective signals in communication channels. As the transmission of the pilot channel as a reference signal for coherent detection is unnecessary with high power so as to attain high reliability, the pilot channel can be transmitted with low power by means of weight in comparison with the communication channel, so that interference with the communication channel of any other station is reduced. Moreover, accurate coherent detection can be made from the pilot symbol inserted in the communication channel on the mobile station side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Miya, Masatoshi Watanabe, Osamu Kato
  • Flexible tubing
    Patent number: 6024131
    Abstract: A method of forming a flexible spiral-wound tube includes the steps of spiral wrapping at least two webs of material in an overlapping relationship about a mandrel to form a multi-ply tube and advancing the tube along the mandrel and off a reduced diameter portion of the mandrel at a forward end of the mandrel. Advancement of the tube along the mandrel includes rotating the tube as the tube longitudinally moves such that the tube advances in a spiral manner. The method further includes the step of retarding movement of the tube along the reduced diameter portion of the mandrel by providing frictional resistance between the tube and the mandrel to form folds or pleats in the tube so that the tube becomes extremely flexible. The flexible spiral-wound tube has a uniform pattern of generally diamond-shaped folds therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Electrolock, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Lester, Steven P. Schmitt
  • Rubber composition and method of incorporating silica filler
    Patent number: 6025428
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the effects of silica fillers in tire tread rubber compounds includes the use and ordered addition of both dispersing and coupling agents during the rubber mixing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary L. Day
  • Arrangements provided for determining the type of textiles in the washload of clothes washing machines
    Patent number: 6023950
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine is provided with a wash tub (1) and a rotating arm (2) accommodated within the wash tub and adapted to contain washload items and capable of being driven so as to rotate both at high and low rotating speeds. A pressure switch (3) is arranged within an appropriate air chamber connected with the intake thereof at a location (4) situated below the lower level (5) of the wash tub. An inlet and shut-off (6) governs the water supply from the water delivery mains to the wash tub. The inlet and shut-off is arranged to detect average soaking characteristics of the washload items placed in the drum by first measuring their overall capacity of absorbing a defined amount of water, and then processing the measured capacity on the basis of the weight of the washload items, the weight being known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Eletrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici S.P.A.
    Inventor: Silvio Battistella
  • Device for transferring and mixing pulverulent products
    Patent number: 6024482
    Abstract: A machine (3) provided with an elevator chassis (8), a body (12) swinging round a vertical axis and extended on two opposite sides by a distribution chute (16) and by a plate (11) adapted to grasp a powder-filled jar (1). The plate (11) can rotate in order to bring about the mixing of the powder in the jar, as well as during the emptying phase in order to improve the efficiency thereof. The body (12) swings in order to invert the jar and allow its content to escape by the chute (16). It is thus possible to transfer the powder from one transportation path (2) to another (20) in a purely automatic manner and without any hazard if the powder is dangerous or toxic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventor: Jacques Heyraud
  • Radio receiving apparatus for receiving communication signals of different bandwidths
    Patent number: 6026129
    Abstract: A received signal obtained from an antenna is subjected to high-frequency amplification. The amplified signal is supplied to a first bandpass filter, which extracts only signals of all the channels of a communications system concerned while filtering out other radio signals. The extracted signals are frequency-converted by using a local oscillation frequency, and only a desired wave is passed by a second bandpass filter. The desired wave is supplied to a sample-and-hold circuit, which performs sampling according to the bandwidth-limiting sampling theorem. A resulting discrete signal is supplied to an I-axis-component and Q-axis-component separating circuits, where the polarity of sample values is inverted for every other clock pulse with respect to each of the I and Q axes to thereby effect Hilbert transform. Resulting two orthogonal components on a phase plane are supplied to a complex coefficient filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen-ichiro Ohta, Kazunori Inogai, Hiroaki Sudo, Fujio Sasaki
  • Retractable door/window awning
    Patent number: 6021835
    Abstract: A retractable awning assembly includes a roller, a flexible canopy having an inner edge secured to a wall and an outer edge secured to the roller, and a pair of arm assemblies operable to move the roller between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall. Each arm assembly includes a support arm and a rafter arm. The support arm includes telescoping inner and outer tubes, a bracket rigidly secured at an intermediate position along the inner tube, and a rearward facing button lock for automatically locking the tubes in extended relation. The rafter arm includes telescoping inner and outer tubes and a laterally inward facing button lock for automatically locking the tubes in extended relation. The support arm outer tube has an upper end operably connected to the roller and the support arm inner tube has a lower end pivotally secured to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale G. Malott
  • Method of making semiconductor device
    Patent number: 6022777
    Abstract: When a control gate electrode 7 is processed using a control gate electrode processing mask 8, the control gate electrode 7 in a region where the floating gate electrode 4 has been removed is partially left. Because of the presence of the left control gate electrode 7, the gate electrode interlayer insulating film 6 and gate insulating film 3 below the control gate electrode 7 are not dug in the region where the floating gate electrode 4 has been removed. Therefore, when the floating gate electrode 4 is removed, the semiconductor substrate is not dug. In this way, since the semiconductor substrate 1 is not dug, the semiconductor memory device can be manufactured stably and precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Takahashi
  • Retractable door/window awning
    Patent number: 6021834
    Abstract: A retractable awning assembly includes a roller, a flexible canopy having an inner edge secured to a wall and an outer edge secured to the roller, and a pair of arm assemblies operable to move the roller between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall. Each arm assembly includes a support arm of fixed length and a rafter arm of variable length. The support arm includes a tube and a bracket rigidly secured at an intermediate position along the tube. The rafter arm includes telescoping inner and outer tubes and an inward facing button lock for automatically locking the tubes in extended relation. The support arm has an upper end operably connected to the roller and a lower end pivotally secured to the wall. The rafter arm has an outer end pivotally connected to the support arm bracket and an inner end pivotally secured to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: White Consilidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale G. Malott
  • Low profile balloon feeding device
    Patent number: 6019746
    Abstract: A low profile gastrostomy feeding device having a bolster portion, a balloon member, and tubular member extending between the bolster portion and the balloon member. The bolster portion includes an anti-reflux valve, a closure member, an inflation valve housing, and a cap retainer portion. An inflation lumen and a feeding lumen are provided by the tubular member. The inflation lumen curves as it passes through the bolster portion from the tubular member to the inflation housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Medical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Picha, Anthony J. Szpak
  • Apparatus and method for adjusting temperature compensated quartz oscillator
    Patent number: 6020791
    Abstract: The frequency of a quartz oscillator having a trimmer 2, a quartz oscillator 3 on which its temperature characteristic is printed in the form of a bar code 6, and a storage device 4 is adjusted to a predetermined frequency, and the temperature at that time is measured by a noncontact temperature sensor of a frequency adjusting device 10, and is written into the storage device 4. The temperature characteristic of the quartz oscillator is read by a bar code reader 21, and optimally suited temperature compensating data is selected from among a plurality of pieces of temperature compensating data stored in advance in a temperature-compensating-data writing device. Further, a frequency deviation between the temperature at the time of adjustment and a standard temperature is calculated, and the temperature compensating data including that frequency deviation is stored in the storage device 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Watanabe, Takehiko Hayashi
  • Debris cutter for sprocket drive
    Patent number: 6019443
    Abstract: In a track-driven tractor, stationary cutter blades are fixed to a chassis of the tractor and cooperating rotating cutter blades are fixed to a sprocket hub of the tractor. The cutting blades are operable to cut refuse entrained between the sprocket and the chassis, which tends to wrap around the associated hub, so as to avoid the build-up of refuse on the hub which otherwise can lead to unnecessary wear of the sprocket, the hub, and an assembly forming a seal between the hub and the chassis, as well as unnecessary fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Lawn mower
    Patent number: D420365
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Leijonberg Gunnar
  • Refrigerated display case
    Patent number: D421028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Grandi Impianto S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luciano Valboni, Antonio Bolzicco, Ennio Pippia
  • Letter organizer
    Patent number: D421062
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Sheldon H. Goodman
    Inventors: Sheldon H. Goodman, Karen L. Gail
  • Letter organizer
    Patent number: D421273
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sheldon H. Goodman
    Inventors: Sheldon H. Goodman, Karen L. Gail