Patents Represented by Attorney Robert E. Howard
  • Patent number: 7207122
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying lap siding including a main body chassis, a lap siding clamp member, an exposure rod, and a lap siding rest platform. The main body chassis includes a main body base plate with a siding clamp rod support member and a siding backing member positioned opposite and substantially parallel to the siding clamp rod support member. The siding clamp includes a threaded siding clamp rod which adjustably engages the siding clamp rod support member, and has a clamping head attached to its inner end. The exposure rod extends substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the main body base plate. The lap siding rest platform is substantially parallel with the main body base plate and is attached to the exposure rod in a manner adapted to allow for vertical adjustment thereof to a predetermined height above the main body base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 7207906
    Abstract: A collapsible basketball return device including pairs of front and rear vertical telescoping posts. Lower and upper horizontal telescoping side support arms extend between a lower portion of each of the front and rear posts. Lower and upper horizontal telescoping end support arms extend between the lower portions of each of the front posts and each of the rear posts, respectively. A net is suspended from the telescoping posts and forms a tunnel in its lower portion that slopes toward and beyond the front of the device when in its fully erected mode. The net is open at its top and the outer end of the tunnel is attached to a discharge chute aimed at the user. The discharge chute is attached to the front telescoping posts by telescoping and rotatable chute support arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: David G. Gregory
  • Patent number: 7194877
    Abstract: A multiple entry locking system including a U-bolt shackle having slotted legs. Various link members are adapted to be inserted through the slots in the U-bolt shackle legs. Each of the link members have first and second ends, and each of the link members have at least one lock shackle opening passing therethrough adjacent one of the ends thereof. Each of the lock shackle openings is adapted to receive the shackle of a lock. Stop members located adjacent the other of the first and second ends are adapted to prevent withdrawal of the link member through its slot in the direction of the lock shackle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventor: Scott W. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 7181888
    Abstract: An interconnected double hull construction for the basement of a building. The double hull construction includes a plurality of interior wall boards attached to the interior face of the foundation walls in a manner adapted to provide communication between air passageways located behind the wall boards and the ambient air within the basement. A plurality of secondary floor slabs are placed over the primary floor slab. A plurality of spacer members located between the primary floor slab and the secondary floor slabs are adapted to provide a plurality of interconnecting passageways. An air exhaust system is adapted to draw ambient air from within the basement through the air passageways and/or through the plurality of interconnecting passageways and exhaust the air from the structure. Sump pump means are provided for gathering water from within the basement and exhausting the water from the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: George Facaros
  • Patent number: 7178840
    Abstract: A dome clamp for retaining the dome lid of a tanker truck in a closed position. The dome clamp includes an upper tube, right and left clamp members, and a vertically adjustable locking means adapted to be movable from an unextended position out of contact with a dome lid to an extended position in contact with a dome lid. Each of the right and left clamp members have downwardly extending legs having claw members extending inwardly from a lower portion thereof, and arms extending inwardly from an upper portion thereof. The arms are positioned within the upper tube, and are attached to spring means for urging the right and left arms towards each other in an unloaded condition. The spring means allows the right and/or left arms to be moved away from each other in a loaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas W. Veach
  • Patent number: 7114465
    Abstract: A pet operated ball thrower including a base, a fulcrum post attached at its lower end to the base, a throw arm pivotally attached to the upper end of the fulcrum post, a ball receiving receptacle attached to the throw arm adjacent its outer end, a treadle pivotally attached at its lower end to the base, and an attachment member pivotally attached at its lower end to the treadle and pivotally attached at its upper end to the throw arm. A pet is trained to jump on the treadle to cause the outer end of the throw arm and attached ball receiving receptacle to be rapidly moved upwardly, thereby tossing the ball from the receptacle into the air for retrieval. The pet is trained to replace the retrieved ball into the receptacle, thereby allowing repeated tossing and retrieving of the ball by the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventor: Dana S. Winter
  • Patent number: 7076816
    Abstract: The combination of a towel or blanket and a flexible carrying case integral therewith. The carrying case is attached at a portion of its inner surface to the towel or blanket in an upper portion thereof. The carrying case is adapted to permit the towel or blanket to be stuffed inside during transport and storage of the towel or blanket, and adapted to receive a pillow when the towel or blanket has been withdrawn from the case for use. The towel or blanket additionally includes slip cover pockets located at one or both ends and adapted to be placed over the end or ends of a lounge chair. The towel or blanket further includes pockets for storing items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventors: Tina Marie Nielsen, Larry M. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7073996
    Abstract: A two-piece crank hanger set including a left crank arm having a tubular crank spindle attached thereto and a right crank arm having at least one chain sprocket wheel attached thereto. The crank spindle extends through a bicycle crank tube. Bearing cups are removably attached to both ends of the crank tube. Bearing retainers having tapered roller bearings engage the bearing cups. A tubular stop member is held in place on the outer end of the crank spindle by a spline mechanism. A preload and attachment bolt passes through the right crank arm and chain sprocket wheel and into threadable engagement with a threaded inner surface of the outer end of the tubular crank spindle. The preload and attachment bolt is tightened to preload the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Eduardo A. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7059692
    Abstract: An improved tool box adapted to be positioned onto a joist or beam. The tool box has a central passageway extending between and through its front and rear walls. At least two web cross members extend between the side walls of the central passageway. Each of the web cross members have a plurality of generally rectangular shaped cutouts positioned along a common longitudinal axis, each of the cutouts communicating with each other. Each cutout has a width that is greater than the width of that cutout located immediately above it. The cutouts form upper joist receiving raceways. A lower joist receiving raceway is formed by the first and second bottom edges of the web cross member and that portion of the side walls of the central passageway located below the bottom edges of the web cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: William F. Glenn
  • Patent number: 7020918
    Abstract: A cushion set for positioning a human body, including a face support cushion, a spacer block cushion, an upper torso support cushion, a lower torso support cushion, a calf support cushion and a bolster. The face support cushion is generally in the shape of an inverted ā€œUā€ having a generally inverted U-shaped opening passing therethrough. The upper torso support cushion is adapted to be releasably attached to the face support cushion, the lower torso support cushion is adapted to be releasably attached to the upper torso support cushion, the calf support cushion is adapted to be releasably attached to the lower torso support cushion, and the bolster is adapted to be releasably attached to the calf support cushion. The spacer block cushion is adapted to be releasably attached to the underside of the face support cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Ronald E. Tinsley
  • Patent number: 6981453
    Abstract: A portable massage table including two abutting table top sections hingedly connected together. Each top section has a pair of legs pivotally attached thereto. A truss member is hingedly connected to one of the top sections. Table support cables extend from each of the outer corners of one of the top sections to the diagonally opposite corner of the other top section through the truss member. First leg support cables extend from a mid-portion of the inner end of the top sections to the lower half of each of the legs attached to that top section. Second leg support cables extend from each of the corners of the top sections to a mid-portion of the adjacent leg. Third leg support cables extend from the top of each leg to the top of the adjacent leg of the adjacent table top section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Ronald E. Tinsley
  • Patent number: D512349
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: James A. Stubblefield
  • Patent number: D513644
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventors: Randal J. Ruzicka, Jeffrey D. Schloss
  • Patent number: D515726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventors: Randal J. Ruzicka, Jeffrey D. Schloss
  • Patent number: D515805
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Kathleen W. Jones
  • Patent number: D522207
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: David G. Gregory
  • Patent number: D528462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas S. Bonn
  • Patent number: D532072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Donald H. Price
  • Patent number: D534235
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventor: Donald H. Price
  • Patent number: D536054
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Donald H. Price