Patents Represented by Attorney Richard E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5438982
    Abstract: An endotracheal tube adapted for aerosol generation at the distal end thereof and which is a modification of existing endotracheal tubes. The improved tube incorporates first and second conduits along the length thereof in order to deliver a liquid to be aerosolized and a high velocity gas at the distal end of the endotracheal tube so as to create an aerosol within the lungs. The distal end of the gas conveying catheter is configured to direct the high velocity gas transported therethrough across the pathway of the liquid solution exiting the distal end of the first conduit to facilitate the creation of an aerosol for high efficiency delivery of the liquid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Neil R. MacIntyre
  • Patent number: 5434435
    Abstract: A trench gate lateral MOSFET structure has the voltage supported along side walls and the bottom surface of the trench. With narrow source and drain mesa regions that are optimally doped, a uniform electric field is obtained vertically in the mesa regions and horizontally at the bottom of the trench, allowing a relative high doping level in an N-drift region resulting in specific on-resistances well below those of conventional lateral MOSFETs at a high breakdown voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: B. Jayant Baliga
  • Patent number: 5433441
    Abstract: An improved golf putter featuring a two piece cylindrical clubhead comprising a rod constructed from a hard material and fastened inside a thin walled tube cast from soft, malleable material such as copper. The club and clubhead are designed so as to improve balance, efficiency, and feel, and to impart initial forward rotational spin to the golf ball. The shaft is connected to the clubhead in such a manner as to align the shaft with the center of the clubhead, thereby maximizing the size of the "sweet spot," and to create a lie angle of between 65 and 76 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventors: Christopher K. Olsen, Charles Tomasino
  • Patent number: 5422640
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device to allow a handicapped person with limited or no use of the hands to use a personal computer. The device includes a base which includes an inclined support onto which a computer keyboard is positioned. A support arm extends generally upwardly therefrom and is articulated for inward and vertical pivotable movement. A pointer is mounted on the support arm which is adapted to be articulated horizontally so as to position the nose end thereof adjacent a computer key to be depressed. The pointer is manipulated by the face of the operator who turns his head in the direction in which he desires the pointer to horizontally move, and the pointer is actuated outwardly by imparting a breath into a breath port of the pointer. The breath is detected by a pressure sensor transducer which actuates a solenoid in order to extend the nose thereof to depress a desired computer keyboard key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: Vincent L. Haley
  • Patent number: 5421468
    Abstract: A high speed cable hoist system for conventional dockside container handling cranes of the type comprising a frame and a movable boom extending laterally therefrom. The high speed cable hoist includes a hoist cable speed enhancing system which comprises a frame having a stationary sheave set positioned at the bottom thereof and a vertically movable sheave head positioned above the stationary sheave set and adapted for vertical movement within the frame. Each of a plurality of hoist cables from the conventional hoist drums extend between and wrap around two or more sheaves in each of the sheave set and sheave head, respectively, and terminate. The sheave head may be selectively actuated by suitable actuating means in order that the speed of extension or retraction of the plurality of cables by the hoist drum may be increased by motivating the sheave head either toward or away, respectively, from the stationary sheave set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Conquip International, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Wright
  • Patent number: 5417091
    Abstract: A casual/dress sport sock having a leg-covering portion and a foot-covering portion wherein the knitting stitch pattern of the sock is reversed in the medial area of the leg-covering portion. Thus, the casual/dress sport sock in its extended position comprises a right side out foot-covering portion, a right side out lower area of the leg-covering portion, and a wrong side out upper area of the leg-covering portion. When cuffed, the sock comprises a uniform aesthetic knitting stitch pattern wherein the cuff portion, the lower area of the leg-covering and the foot-covering portion of the sock are all presented in right side out condition when worn on the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Knit-Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander W. Moser
  • Patent number: 5415162
    Abstract: A breath-actuated dry powder medicament inhalator device having a housing and a conduit mounted within the housing defining an air passageway therethrough having an aperture in the sidewall thereof. A blister-type strip of sealed containers arranged in a matrix of rows and columns wherein the columns extend generally diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the strip is secured in a two-piece cage adapted for being rotatably mounted around the conduit of the inhalator device. Advancement means are provided for rotatably moving the two-piece cage and blister strip contained thereby in a generally helical pathway relative to the conduit so as to successively advance each of the sealed containers of the blister strip into registration with the conduit aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Glaxo Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Casper, Malcolm E. Taylor, Frank A. Leith, David H. Leith, Maryanne G. Boundy
  • Patent number: 5410901
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus employing stepped overlap apertures disposed in adjacent overlap rings. The rings are arranged so that the diameters of the stepped apertures are sequentially decreasing. The apertures form a generally flat advancing metal tape into a cylindrical tube having overlapped edges. Typically, the cylindrical tube is used as a metal guard about a cable core. Each aperture is generally circular but one quadrant of the circle contains a step whereby the diameter of the aperture increases. The final tubular configuration of generally circular cross-section of the metal tape about the cable core is developed in the final smaller diameter overlap rings which bring together the two overlapped metal edges of the metal tape. Then, the metal tape passes to finishing rings which press the two engaged overlapped edges so that these edges now stay together as a longitudinal overlapped seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp.
    Inventors: John J. Robblee, William D. Bohannon, Jr., Kevin C. Ewing
  • Patent number: 5410151
    Abstract: A fiber optic probe is disclosed for use as a signal collector and illuminator in Near Field Scanning Microscopy (NSOM) and Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (PSTM) and the like. The tip of the probe is designed to reduce local mode coupling in favor of optical scattering as the primary signal transduction mechanism in order to maximize resolution. The optical fiber used is of sufficient numerical aperture to allow efficient capture and transfer to a detector of photons scattered at the probe tip. Further, the rate of taper between the probe tip and the transmission fiber is controlled to minimize signal loss in the transition as well as to minimize signal loss when the probe is used as an illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp.
    Inventor: Eric L. Buckland
  • Patent number: 5404801
    Abstract: A barbecue grill including a lower housing, heating means and food support means positioned within the lower housing, an upper housing or hood adapted to enclose the lower housing, a smoke exhaust means provided in said upper and/or lower housing for allowing smoke to escape from within the barbecue grill, and a filter positioned within the smoke exhaust means for removing contaminants from smoke passing therethrough into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Robert B. Holland
  • Patent number: 5400812
    Abstract: Cleaning apparatus 10 comprises an enclosed washtank 12 and a screen loading unit 13. A pump is arranged to deliver high pressure heated water to an internal screen cleaning nozzle arrangement 14 and a ring-shaped external screen cleaning nozzle arrangement 15 which nozzle arrangements 14, 15 are arranged in a gap 19 between a screen support skid 16 and an entry screen support skid 17. The nozzle arrangement 14 is arranged to direct a spray of water outwardly; the nozzle arrangement 15 is arranged to direct a spray of water inwardly. In use, a cylindrical printing screen to be cleaned is pushed into the apparatus whilst high pressure heated water is being delivered by the internal and external nozzle arrangements 14, 15. As each portion of the screen is disposed opposite the gap 19, between support skids 16 and 17, that portion of the screen is washed on its inside and outside by water directed from the nozzle arrangements 14 and 15 respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Technijet Limited
    Inventor: David W. MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 5383478
    Abstract: A low tar cigarette product and method of use which enhances the sensory impact of low tar and low nicotine cigarettes in order to increase their acceptability and reduce the likelihood that smokers will exhibit compensatory smoking during use thereof. The novel cigarette utilizes an irritant selected from the group consisting of one or more constituents from black and/or red pepper, capsaicinoids, and mixtures of the foregoing in the tobacco thereof. Subsequent to igniting the tobacco and inhaling from the cigarette, the irritant creates respiratory tract sensations in a user substantively similar to those obtained by inhalation of tobacco smoke from a conventional cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Jed E. Rose, Frederique M. Behm
  • Patent number: 5377999
    Abstract: A guided split packing ring comprising a split in the circumference of the annular body defining a nose at one end and a cavity at the other end for matingly receiving the nose therein. The annular body of the packing ring defines a slightly enlarged outside diameter having an interference between about 0.025 to 0.035 inches when the packing ring is positioned in a hydraulic cylinder so as to urge the ends of the split into sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Gorman Company, Inc.
    Inventor: G. W. Gorman
  • Patent number: 5376151
    Abstract: Disclosed is an original approach to solving the environmental problem associated with the use of Cr-based metallized azo dyes to deliver black shades on natural and synthetic substrates. This invention affords methods for both the synthesis of metallized dyes and the generation of black dyeings using those dyes without employing metals designated as priority pollutants at any stage in either method. The key element of the disclosure is the use of black 1:2 Fe complexes of azo dyes in lieu of currently used Cr-based complexes which are based on environmentally unfriendly priority pollutant metals without compromising the desirable high fastness properties of the latter complexes, an accomplishment heretofore assumed unachievable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Harold S. Freeman, Abraham Reife, Jolanta Sokolawska-Gajda
  • Patent number: 5368616
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of decreasing air pollution from burning a combustible carbonaceous material, wherein the combustible carbonaceous material comprises an admixture of a non-combustible binder material, such as clay, and a combustible carbonaceous substance in the form of chunks of briquettes, in a natural draft furnace. The method comprises burning the chunks of briquettes, wherein said briquettes have been prepared by mixing about 60 to about 90 parts combustible carbonaceous particles, such as coal, with 40 to about 10 parts non-combustible binder material, such as clay, in a sufficient amount of water to obtain a moldable mixture, molding the mixture into a briquette form, allowing the briquette form to dry, preferably at a temperature above about room temperature from about 2 to about 6 days to form dried briquettes, preferably about 2 to about 25 cm on a side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Acurex Environmental Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Natschke, Christopher C. Lutes, Jeffrey V. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5353665
    Abstract: An automated container closure opener for screw-type bottle or container caps, lids, caps, covers and the like comprising a housing having a base portion and a relatively vertically movable top portion operatively connected thereto by at least one telescoping shaft. A first motorized drive is provided for actuating the telescoping shaft so as to vertically move the top portion of the housing relative to the base portion, and a second motorized drive is provided for rotatably actuating a bottle cap engagement member which depends from the top portion of the opener housing. A circuit serves to actuate the first motorized drive to lower the bottle cap engagement member from an inoperative position adjacent the top portion of the housing into engaging contact with the cap of a bottle and to then deactuate the first motorized drive and actuate the second motorized drive to at least partially remove the cap from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: William D. Heebner
  • Patent number: 5354780
    Abstract: A method of therapeutically administering certain BZ.sub.1 specific trifluorobenzodiazepines in order to maximize the BZ.sub.1 effects and minimize the BZ.sub.2 effects on the human central nervous system in order to maximize the anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects and minimize the ataxic and incoordination effects of the drug. Also, a method of sublingual administration of trifluorobenzodiazepines and certain other compounds in order to decrease unwanted dealkylated metabolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: Everett H. Ellinwood, Samir K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 5348035
    Abstract: A crutch harness assembly including a belt element adapted to be secured around a waist of the user, two loop-like strap elements connected to the belt element and each adapted to surround and engage a respective upper leg portion, and a strap means connected to each of the loop-like strap elements and adapted for engaging a corresponding crutch adjacent the upper end of said crutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: John S. Fisher
    Inventor: Jerry Porter
  • Patent number: 5341680
    Abstract: A driver measure system aids in determining the physical requirements of a disabled driver in order to modify a van or other vehicle to his or her specific needs. The driver measurement system comprises a frame including tracks for positioning a wheelchair and a control assembly which includes a steering wheel and hand controls. Force adjustment and measurement mechanisms for the steering wheel and hand controls enables a trained technician to evaluate the functional driving ability of the disabled driver. The simulator also provides a structural reference framework for taking anthropometric measurements. The measurements obtained are used to prepare a specification or "mobility prescription" for modifications and adaptive driving equipment needed to customize a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: NC Dept. of Human Resources, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
    Inventors: Edwin D. Smart, Julie N. Dezern, William B. Pendleton, Kenneth C. Pearson, Allison M. Blui, James R. Machen, David E. Mehaffey, Edmund H. Machen, Edgar B. Montague
  • Patent number: D356930
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Grasche USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Fritz-Guenter E. Grass