Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Pittenger & Smith, P.C
  • Patent number: 5922235
    Abstract: An individual bracket for holding and securing an object to the surface of a construction form for embedding the object in a settable material, such as concrete, and exposing the face surface of the object in the finished construction. The bracket has an outer configuration formed from a plurality of side and end perimeter members that defines a recess that correspond with the outer configuration of the object. The perimeter members have a flat outer surface extending at right angles to the form and an inwardly extending flange which is parallel and in contact with the form. An upwardly curved inner surface extends from the flange to the outer edge of the flat outer surface which forms one-half of a mold to form a grout line when two brackets are connected together. The actual mold can be any shape desired to provide the various types of grout lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventors: Samuel C. Scott, William C. Scott, III
  • Patent number: 5923731
    Abstract: A telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus which has a telephone line sensing means which determines whether an incoming telephone line is cut or busy and alerts a user as to the status of the telephone line. Other sensing means detect the presence of fire, smoke, water, or other designated conditions and transmits a representative alarm signal to the apparatus. Upon receipt of an alarm indication from one of the sensing means or a line cut/line busy condition from the telephone line sensing means, a processing means disconnects the telephone extensions at the location from the incoming telephone line, and executes a predetermined response. This response can be visual alarms, audio alarms or dialing a predetermined telephone number and transmitting a predetermined alarm message. The apparatus can be programmed as to which telephone numbers to call and messages to send.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Command Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. McClure
  • Patent number: 5900180
    Abstract: A disposable object form line for use in horizontal casting of building panels from settable material in which at least one side has an exposed face of embedded objects. The object form liner is comprised of a thin support sheet having an adhesive coating on one side. A closed cell plastic grid having ridges which define openings sized to fit the outer perimeter of the intended objects is provided. The grid is adhered to the adhesive coating on the support sheet. Retarder strips may be inserted in each opening to prevent contamination of the face of the object during the pouring process. The form liner is placed in the bottom of a horizontal mold. The objects, such as bricks, are positioned in the openings provided in the layout form liner and the settable material is poured into the mold to form a construction panel. After setting, the panel and disposable form liner are removed from the mold and the liner is stripped from the panel to expose the objects embedded in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: Samuel C. Scott, Mark Allison Scott
  • Patent number: 5898375
    Abstract: The invention includes a system for monitoring the performance of an automatic dosing siphon utilized in reservoir which is a part of a wastewater treatment system. The siphon includes a bell type cover, a fluid trap having one leg extending upward into the bell, and an outlet discharge pipe connected to said trap. A flow detect switch is located in the discharge pipe. Upon siphon activation the switch is opened and a countdown timer is reset. After draining the reservoir, the switch closes and the timer starts counting down a predetermined time period. If the siphon doesn't activate, time expires and an alarm is triggered. A second system utilizes a solenoid drain valve located above the outlet portion of the siphon trap such that upon time expiring the valve opens, the tank drains, and the timer resets. The valve automatically reprimes the siphon. The system continues to monitor the siphon and initiates an alarm upon subsequent siphon failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Fluid Dynamic Siphons, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5823726
    Abstract: In a void filler wherein the members are connected and coupled by means of a complementary slot, the slot is reinforced by sandwiching a reinforcing strip between the laminations of the void filler members so as to surround the area of the slot and prevent the member from folding and collapsing in this area. One or more reinforcing strips can be sandwiched between the laminations or sheets making up the void filler member with the grain of the reinforcing strip positioned perpendicular to the parallel flutes of the corrugated material forming the laminated sheets. The reinforcing strip can vary in size from surrounding the immediate area of the slot itself to having the same size as the laminated sheets. An embossed groove can be provided which is slightly larger then the reinforcement strip so that the thickness of the reinforcing strip will be absorbed between the laminations to prevent added thickness in the void filler member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Damage Prevention Company
    Inventors: James L. Woods, Robert F. Thomasino
  • Patent number: 5790202
    Abstract: An improved system for the integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system, comprising a source of an RF television signal, a TV tuner coupled to the RF signal source for demodulating the RF signal and producing baseband video and audio signals, a satellite antenna for receiving a data stream including direct broadcast satellite signals, a direct broadcast satellite tuner coupled to the satellite antenna for converting and demodulating the incoming signals to video and audio baseband output signals. An electronic program guide is included as part of the data stream received along with the direct broadcast satellite signals. A microprocessor is coupled to the direct broadcast satellite tuner for conditioning the electronic program guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Echostar Communications Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Kummer, Edmund F. Petruzzelli
  • Patent number: 5755095
    Abstract: An improved and easily adaptable system to provide secondary air for an internal combustion engine, including a single-cylinder engine unit having (i) a closed crankcase capable of experiencing pressure pulsations produced by the reciprocating motion of a piston in a cylinder, (ii) in the case of a four-cycle engine, a crankcase breather system including a breather assembly attached to a chamber integrally formed with the engine block, or, in the case of a two-cycle engine, an intake reed plate attached to the intake port of the engine, and (iii) an exhaust system including a catalytic converter. The secondary air supply system consists of an external secondary air pump, such as a diaphragm pump, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Paul S. Maurer
  • Patent number: 5734332
    Abstract: An identification device is provided which includes an inactive code carrier, such as a standing acoustic wave component, a frequency mixing section, and a double antenna input. Each of the antennas are tuned to a separate predetermined transmitted signal wherein the frequencies are different. The two separately received RF frequencies are mixed to produce an intermediate frequency having the sum or difference of the two received frequencies. The intermediate frequency is coupled to the standing acoustic wave device which applies a coded signal to the intermediate frequency. The intermediate frequency is then recombined with one of the original incoming RF frequencies to be retransmitted from the identification device. The mixer section can include a diode and a coil for matching the impedance of the incoming signal with the inactive code carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Micro Design AS
    Inventor: Steffen Kirknes
  • Patent number: 5729241
    Abstract: A cover for protecting a direct broadcast satellite antenna having a flange around the outside perimeter of the antenna. The cover is fabricated from a waterproof, flexible sheet material, such as marine grade vinyl. The cover is sized to have a margin extending approximately one-half of the width of the flange beyond the outside edge of the antenna. A "J clip" strip having one edge folded over in a "J" configuration and having a width approximately the same dimension as the flange of the antenna, is positioned along the outer face of the cover with the opposite edge of the strip aligned even with the edge of the cover. The strip is sewn or otherwise attached to the cover material to form the completed cover. A gap of approximately 6" can be provided along one portion of the perimeter of the cover to provide clearance for the supporting structure and ventilation to the inside of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Charles W. Ergen, Bruce A. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 5667190
    Abstract: A disposable bracket for holding and securing an object to the inside surface of a construction form for embedding the object and exposing its face surface in a settable material, such as concrete. The bracket has a plurality of perimeter members that corresponds to the outer edge configuration of the object. The perimeter members include an inwardly extending flange which supports the perimeter edge of the object. The bracket perimeter can be closed or open and can have cross reinforcing members, if desired. The cross-section of the perimeter members making up the bracket can include a curved convex outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly from the flange to a flat surface perpendicular to the flange. The perimeter member forms one half of a grout line mold formed in between adjacent objects embedded in the finished wall. The interior of the perimeter member can be hollow to allow flexure between the outer flat surface and the inner flange supporting the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventors: Samuel C. Scott, William C. Scott, III
  • Patent number: 5566621
    Abstract: An inclined elevator compreses a traveling chain, rope or cable with one or more push devices fixed to it at intervals.The elevator is intended for bicyclists or similar manned vehicles and is designed for installation in inclined streets, pedes-trian tracks or in separate tracks specially designed for the purpose.The elevator chain, cable or rope is running in a conduit with a slot for extension of the push device. The conduit is permanently installed on the ground. The push device is either running hidden inside the conduit on the ground, or, when in use, running on top of the conduit.During operation the bicyclist is sitting on the bicycle, and the bicycle is rolled, pushed and guided on its own wheels.The push device of the elevator can easily be adapted to wheelchairs, wheel wagons or similar vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventors: Jarle Wanvik, Stein Lovoll
  • Patent number: D401587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Echostar Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel L. Rudolph
  • Patent number: D412110
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Coverlay Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Cornwell