Patents Represented by Law Firm Rockey, Rifkin and Ryther
  • Hand attached cue rest
    Patent number: 5449325
    Abstract: A cue rest has a guide (1) adapted to guide the striking end of a cue, and alternative holders (2, 3) for attaching the guide (1) either to a player's hand or to a conventional rest. One of the holders (2) is in the form of a clip (12) shaped an to fit onto the thumb of the player. The other holder (3) is in the form of a sleeve (115) which fits onto an arm of a convent rest. Each holder (2, 3) has a vertical post (10, 100) on which sleeve of the guide (1) is vertically adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventors: Paul J. Dransfield, Ewan Le Marquand
  • Reel-type slot machine with supplemental payoff
    Patent number: 5449173
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a wildcard symbol is provided at a stop position of one of the reels in a typical reel-type slot machine. In addition to the usual spin and payoff cycle of such a machine, the appearance of the wildcard on the pay line is used to trigger a supplemental pay off under certain circumstances. During the supplemental pay off sequence, the reel on which the wild symbol appears is caused to shake or jitter while coins fall into the trough as if money were being shaken off a tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, William A. Gwiasda
  • Seatbelt buckle safety sheath
    Patent number: 5442840
    Abstract: A seatbelt buckle safety sheath to prevent the inadvertent releasing of the seatbelt buckle by young children. Specifically, the seatbelt buckle safety sheath is made of a resilient material and frictionally encompasses the female portion of the seatbelt buckle. The resilient material of the safety sheath imposes a compressive force substantially greater than the normal force required to release the seatbelt buckle from a fastened condition. Thus, an adult can compress the resilient material to activate the seatbelt buckle release button, while a child will be prevented from accomplishing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Craig B. Ewald
  • Process and apparatus for solid phase polymerization of polymers
    Patent number: 5440005
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the solid phase polymerization of polymers wherein cold amorphous polymer is introduced to a crystallizer. Hot heat transfer liquid is employed in the crystallizer for heating the polymer through indirect heat exchange to crystallize the polymer. The crystallized polymer is discharged to a reactor for solid phase polymerization, and then passed from the reactor to a cooler. Cold heat transfer liquid is employed in the cooler to cool the polymer through indirect heat exchange. A forced recirculation closed-loop system for the heat-transfer liquid is provided between the crystallizer and the cooler whereby the heat recovery process is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Hosokawa Bepex Corporation
    Inventor: Ilya Pikus
  • Apparatus for delivering bulk foods
    Patent number: 5437393
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling, sorting, apportioning, packaging and dispensing bulk food products is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a dispenser which is connected to a reservoir containing a supply of a dry, granular foodstuff. The dispenser receives and dispenses a predetermined portion of the foodstuff from the reservoir through a dispensing opening. In one embodiment, a predetermined portion of the foodstuff is received by the dispenser by rotating a manually operated rotatable member. The reservoir is rotatably attached to a mounting rack, the rotation of the reservoir permitting access to its interior to fill it with foodstuff to be dispensed. A plurality of dispensing systems, each containing a different foodstuff, can be juxtaposed to form a foodstuff dispensing bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: System Feed Inc.
    Inventors: Steen Blicher, Logan Langballe
  • Wicket dam and lifting jack
    Patent number: 5433555
    Abstract: The arrangement includes a downstream jack pivotably mounted about an axis in the floor of the dam and a rotating abutment member carried by the wicket for receiving an end of a jack piston rod. The jack is restored to an end angular orientation when the piston rod is moved away from the abutment member. This end angular orientation is determined by the axis joining the end upright position of the abutment member and the end down position of the abutment member. The piston rod of the jack and the abutment member are provided with a coupler for ensuring their engagement. The jack body is fitted with a sealing apparatus pivotably mounted about the same axis in the floor of the dam and out of which the jack body is easily removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Nancy Brac de la Perriere
    Inventor: Louis Parizot
  • Drain system for slant top video game cabinets
    Patent number: 5431492
    Abstract: The invention consists of a slant top cabinet for a video game where the video monitor is located beneath a door. The side edges of the door mate with gutters such that liquid spilled into the seam of the door will drain into the gutters away from the monitor. A rubber seal is attached to and surrounds the monitor such that liquid spilled on the screen or game top will drain into the rubber seal. The rubber seal includes a port that connects to a conduit for draining liquid from the rubber seal away from the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne H. Rothschild, Gregory J. Tastad
  • Nozzle drive control system and method for ink jet printing
    Patent number: 5432541
    Abstract: A drive control system is disclosed which automatically maintains nozzle drive voltage within a proper range. The control system monitors the state of the "intermediate satellites" positioned between ink drops used for printing. When these satellites are neither forward nor backward merging, a first cardinal point designated C(L) is identified. A second cardinal point, C(H), is determined when the drop breakoff point stops decreasing, relative to said nozzle, with increasing nozzle drive voltage. From the two cardinal values, a desired operating range for a particular ink can be computed and the control system automatically set. The computed value is essentially independent of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Videojet Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Pickell, Robert I. Keur, James E. Clark
  • Palladium catalyst systems for selective hydrogenation of dienes
    Patent number: 5430163
    Abstract: A catalyst precursor is provided that is useful in the selective hydrogenation of olefinic unsaturation in polymers or copolymers. The precursor comprises a palladium salt that is complexed with a complexing agent selected from the group consisting of organic phosphates, dialkylidene acetones, and tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxides. The catalyst precursor may be used in batch, step-wise addition, or continuous systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: DSM Copolymer
    Inventor: Robert T. Patterson
  • Resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine
    Patent number: 5425318
    Abstract: A resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine designed to effectively place seed at a consistent depth and at consistent spacing. The attachment may be of any geometrical configuration having a length adequate to firm the seed in the opened furrow and is mounted in a position trailing the discharge end of a seed boot. The resilience of the seed firming attachment being variable and having a control mechanism to ensure that sufficient force is applied to the seed to firm it into the soil at the desired planting depth. By controlling the amount of flex, the proper seed planting depth and firming will be accomplished in a variety of soil and moisture conditions. The seed firming device is also variable so that the amount of down pressure will not modify the depth desired and obtained by the furrow opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: J & K Keeton Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene G. Keeton
  • High efficiency filtration particulate and smoke evacuator system
    Patent number: 5423779
    Abstract: The high efficiency filtration particulate and smoke evacuator of the present invention comprises a housing, a filtration means, a nozzle inlet and an air outlet. The filtration means includes a pre-filter to remove particles of intermediate size in conjunction with an odor filter. An ultra low penetration air filter is utilized (ULPA) to remove particles from the air flow down to particles of at least 0.01 microns or larger. Use of the ULPA filter helps to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases by limiting the size of unfilterable particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Charles R. Yeh
  • Fractional branching reel-type slot machine
    Patent number: 5423541
    Abstract: A method of implementing desired odds for a reel-type slot machine is disclosed. All of the possible reel stop combinations are assigned to unique terminal nodes in a fractional branching tree stored in a ROM. The tree comprises a main tier, a plurality of lower tiers and a plurality of terminal nodes. Each of the tiers has a number of entries which lead either to a lower tier or to a terminal node. A random number generator is used to select entries on each tier until a terminal node is selected. The reel stop combination assigned to the terminal node is then displayed on the pay line and an award is paid based on a pay table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Neil D. Nicastro, Timothy J. Durham
  • Bolt-together blast wheel
    Patent number: 5423715
    Abstract: The bolt-together wheel consists of a pair of side plates separated from one another by cylindrical spacers. The spacers are connected to the side plates by shearable bolts where the head of the bolt will shear off when a predetermined torque is applied thereto. The predetermined torque is selected such that the bolt head will shear after the bolt securely fixes the spacers to the side plates. As a result, the bolt does not extend from the side plate such that wear on the blast wheel is reduced. After the bolt head shears, it can be machined to provide a uniform, smooth surface that further minimizes wear. Finally, the edges of the side plates can be provided with tapered faces to reduce the impact force of rebounding shot and the wear resulting therefrom and to direct the rebounding shot away from the interior of the blast wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: The Wheelabrator Corporation
    Inventor: George Schloetzer
  • Method and apparatus for affixing an endoluminal device to the walls of tubular structures within the body
    Patent number: 5423851
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for affixing an endoluminal device to the walls of tubular structures within the body is disclosed which utilizes incremental inflation of a balloon cuff to deploy radially projecting barbs attached to the cuff within a plurality of recesses. At lower levels of cuff pressure, the engagement of the outer surface of the cuff with the tubular structure temporarily holds the device in place without tissue damage because the outer extremity of the barbs do not extend beyond the cuff's outer surface. If the device requires repositioning, then the cuff is easily deflated and moved to a new location and is again partially inflated. Once the location of the device has been found to be optimal, the cuff is fully inflated so as to deploy the barbs to permanently fix the device in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Shaun L. W. Samuels
  • Ink jet printer control system responsive to acoustical properties of ink
    Patent number: 5424766
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for an ink jet printer. The control system employs acoustic transducers to determine the velocity of sound in the ink and in a reference chamber containing only fresh ink. By comparing the two measurements it can be determined when to add additional solvent to the system to maintain solids concentration substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Videojet Systems International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Anderson
  • Storage system for cryogenic fluids
    Patent number: 5421161
    Abstract: A relief valve is provided in the dip tube line that provides a fixed back pressure of 2-3 psi. When the economizer valve on the economizer circuit opens, the back pressure in the dip tube is the head pressure plus the 2-3 psi created by the relief valve. This pressure creates a path of least resistance through the economizer circuit such that the demand of product will draw gas from the gas head via the economizer line until the pressure falls below the valve set at the regulator. Once the pressure falls below the valve set at the regulator, the regulator closes the economizer circuit and liquid will be drawn through the dip tube. Because the relief valve prevents flow back into the tank, an orifice is provided to allow back flow of the cryogen from the withdrawal line to the tank once delivery of product is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Valley Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith W. Gustafson
  • LNG delivery system
    Patent number: 5421162
    Abstract: Liquid natural gas is pumped into a main tank until the main tank is completely filled with liquid. Once filled, high pressure gas is pumped into the main tank. This high pressure gas forces the liquid from the main tank into an overflow tank until the liquid level in the main tank reaches a predetermined level. High pressure gas is then pumped through the main tank to the overflow tank until the LNG in the overflow tank is saturated at a pressure slightly higher than the pressure needed at the use device. Once the desired pressure is achieved the delivery of LNG to the delivery system is stopped. LNG is initially delivered from the overflow tank to the use device as a high pressure gas. Some of the high pressure gas being delivered from the overflow tank is diverted from the use device to saturate the LNG in the main tank at the desired pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Valley Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Gustafson, Duane Preston
  • No loss fueling system for natural gas powered vehicles
    Patent number: 5421160
    Abstract: The fueling station consists of a vacuum insulated storage vessel for storing a large quantity of LNG at low pressure. The LNG is delivered to one of two relatively small volume fuel conditioning tanks where the pressure and temperature of the LNG can be raised or lowered as dictated by the needs of the system, The pressure and temperature in the fuel conditioning tanks are raised by delivering high pressure natural gas vapor thereto from a high pressure bank. The temperature and pressure can be lowered by venting natural gas from the fuel conditioning tanks and/or delivering LNG thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Valley Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Gustafson, George W. Kalet
  • Snare drum
    Patent number: 5419230
    Abstract: This disclosure is of a novel drum, specifically a snare drum which is capable of producing a definite pitch or note. The prior art drums did not produce a definite or definitive pitch. This disclosure is of a drum and the process of assembling it with a seamless shell, the skin being held tautly over the machined bearing surfaces of said shell. The drum may be tuned to other definite pitches by a tuning mechanism between the lugs on the hoop holding the skin firmly against the bearing surface of the shell and tuning lugs attached to the shell. The lugs in the shell holding the tuning means are also made of metal to enhance the tonal response of the seamless shell. The snare bed is enlarged both in width and depth and is a part of a machined bearing surface to also enhance the tonal response of the snare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ocheltree, Tom Wilson
  • Method and apparatus for correcting printing distortions in an ink jet printer
    Patent number: 5420624
    Abstract: Printing distortions caused by ink stream/charge tunnel misalignment, charge tunnel mis-dimensioning or a variation in drop spacing or changes in ink resistivity are corrected by measuring the actual induction co-efficients for a particular printer. For this purpose, charge sensors located along the ink stream or adjacent the ink catcher detect induced charges from which the induction co-efficients are calculated by a programmable controller. These co-efficients are used to adjust the charge tunnel voltages to reduce or eliminate printing distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Videojet Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Braun, Bruce Ortquist, Robert I. Keur