Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas R. Shaffer, Esq.
  • Patent number: 6575482
    Abstract: A pull cart for removably securing and transporting an elongate object. The pull cart includes a frame, a pair of spaced-apart wheels rotatably attached to the frame, a handle attached to the frame and an elongate object holder. The elongate object holder includes a first finger, a second finger and a third finger. The first finger and the second finger are arranged as a pair of spaced-apart fingers and are located on the opposite sides of the elongate object. The third finger is longitudinally spaced from the first finger and the second finger. The elongate object holder also includes a tension spring adapted to move at least one of the first finger and the second finger relatively closer to the elongate object so that the first finger, the second finger and the third finger are each in contact with the elongate object and the elongate object is removably held onto the pull cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel F. Dombroskie, Michael Hrapowicki
  • Patent number: 6425463
    Abstract: A lifting device for transporting items of personal property between floors of a building is provided which includes an a vertically adjustable outer frame, a pair of vertically adjustable spaced apart guide rails attached to the outer frame, a lift container having guide members positioned thereon to guide the lift container along said guide rails and to allow the lift container to move vertically along said guide rails, and a drive mechanism including a motorized drive pulley, a plurality of idler pulleys and drive belt. The drive belt is connected at one end to a top wall of said lifting container and is connected at an opposite end to the bottom wall of said lifting container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Frederick Kenneth Broyan
  • Patent number: 6196950
    Abstract: An exercise device is disclosed for exercising hamstring muscles, adductor/abductor muscles, quadriceps or gluteus maximus muscles of a user. The device includes a base member having a generally flat upper surface portion adapted to receive and support a bottom of a foot of the user. A back member is attached to the base. A heel yoke is attached to the back and is adapted to receive the heel of a foot of the user. A roller arm mechanism is attached to the back and a roller member is attached to the roller arm. The roller member is adapted to contact a top of the foot of the user to secure the device to the foot. Weight plates may be easily attached to and removed from the device to provide a desired resistance for a particular exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel W. Emick
  • Patent number: 6186839
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed which has a terminal block having threaded screw opening provided in a first surface thereof. The screw opening has a pair of longitudinally extending groves on opposite sides of a cylindrical side wall of the screw opening. The terminal block also has a cable opening on a surface adjacent the first surface. The cable opening extends longitudinally into the screw opening. A screw member is provided having a threaded outer surface. The screw member is provided with a generally diamond shaped compression member which is rotatably mounted to a shaft provided on the first end of the screw member. The diamond shaped compression member has two rounded corners provided on a long axis of the member in such a manner that when the first end of the screw member is inserted into the screw opening, the two rounded corners of the compression member slide in and are guided by the longitudinally extending groves as the screw member is threaded into the screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: W. T. Storey Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Storey, Wesley H. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6182394
    Abstract: A plant watering device is disclosed which includes a planter tray having an upper surface for supporting potted plants. The planter tray has a plurality of legs depending downwardly from the upper surface with the upper surface located above a bottom wall of a water container. The water container has an open top, closed side walls and a closed bottom wall which define a reservoir to receive water or water mixed with plant food. The water container includes deep recessed pockets in the bottom wall of the water container positioned to receive and support the legs of the planter tray when the planter tray is in a lower watering position. The water container also includes shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall of said water container positioned to receive and support the legs of the planter tray when the planter tray is in an upper drainage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Louis M. Bassler
  • Patent number: 5975938
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided which has a body having a opening therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable of the type having at least two individually insulated conductors which are encased in an outer sheath. A pair of arm members are pivotally connected opposite sides of the body which are adapted to rotate between and open position and a closed position. A pair of electrically conducting blade members are attached to said arm members. When the arm members are in an open position the blade members do not extend within said cavity and when the blade members are in a closed position said blade members do extend within said cavity. An electrical output is located on the body and electrical pathway provides an electrical connection between said blade members and the electrical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Robert A. Libby
    Inventor: Robert A. Libby
  • Patent number: 5934464
    Abstract: A container is disclosed for fishing lures or other objects. The container includes an outer tube having a cylindrical side wall and one closed end and one open end. The cylindrical side wall has an elongated opening therein and the outer tube has recess therein. The container also includes an inner tube which is rotatably mounted within the outer tube. The inner tube has a cylindrical side wall and also has one closed end and one open end. The open end of the inner tube is sized for longitudinal insertion into the open end of said outer tube. The side wall of the inner tube also has an elongated opening therein and inner tube has a rib thereon which cooperates with the recess to longitudinally hold the inner tube within the outer tube. Rotation of the inner tube to a rotational position where the elongated opening of the inner tube is in alignment with the elongated opening of the outer tube provides a substantial area of access to the interior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Peter V. Vargo
    Inventors: Peter V. Vargo, John V. Vargo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5841209
    Abstract: An industrial truck, in particular a fork-lift truck, has a driving axle which is fixed to the industrial truck at two mounting locations at least. A rotor of an electric propulsion motor is disposed within an axle housing (3a, 3b, 3c) of the driving axle. At least at one end, the rotor of the propulsion motor is mounted rotatably on a bearing bracket (17) fixed to the axle housing. The bearing bracket (17) is detachably fixed to the axle housing (3a, 3b, 3c) and the mounting locations (1, 13) are disposed on the axle housing (3a, 3b, 3c). In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing bracket (17) exhibits an offset form and in the axial direction the area of the bearing bracket (17) fixed to the axle housing (3a) is a greater distance from the rotor (10) than the area of the bearing bracket (17) on which the rotor (10) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Still GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Appeldorn
  • Patent number: 5816366
    Abstract: In a method for operating an industrial truck, a load-lifting member (1) is moved up and down vertically on a lift mast (2). A discrete control signal is provided to control the vertical speed of the load-lifting member (1) by at least one single or multistage switch. In switching on and then holding the switch (13) in the on position, the load-lifting member (1) is first accelerated from zero to a first vertical speed value (V.sub.1) and after the passage of a period of time T.sub.1, it is accelerated to a second higher vertical speed value (V.sub.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Yves Briday, Vincent Dubroca
  • Patent number: 5785551
    Abstract: An electrical box is pre-wired with a duplex receptacle, a light switch, a junction or the like. The box has a number of connectors, each having electrical contacts. The connectors receive complementary plugs having terminals which make an electrical connection between the pre-wired box and the conductors of the electrical cable. The plug is attached to an unstripped end of an electrical cable, preferably by crimping to engage through the sheathing and conductor insulation. The connectors are pre-wired for a range of functions and are labeled with indica symbolizing the function assigned to the connector. During construction, preferably prior to installation of a wall panel, electrical cables are run from a power source to locations designated to receive an electrical box. A hole is made in the wall and the previously installed cable is located and pulled out through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Robert A. Libby
  • Patent number: 5752583
    Abstract: An industrial truck having a lifting slide which is moveable up and down on a lifting framework is disclosed. The lifting framework is fixed to at least one vertical load chain by at least one chain connecting piece. The load chain is at least partly guided in a chain guide which has an opening on at least one side. With this arrangement, the load supporting chain does not damage or soil other components of the industrial truck when travelling over irregularities in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Still GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schonewald
  • Patent number: 5750165
    Abstract: A method of processing an ESL (extended shelf-life) refrigerated potato product (various cuts) is disclosed. The product is acid blanched when pasteurized and then "seeded" with lactic acid starter culture. The prepared product line has desirable organoleptic qualities and can be stored at refrigerated temperatures typical of commercial retail stores (30.degree.-56.degree. F.) as well as the home refrigeration system. The products have been proven to be pathologically safe when exposed to extended periods of temperature abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Dale E. Erway
  • Patent number: 5699757
    Abstract: A swivel-blade internal combustion engine which produces gas pressure energy for two-cycle and four-cycle operation is disclosed. The engine includes a reciprocating shaft (24) and a reciprocating element (9) supported on the reciprocating shaft. The reciprocating element (9) has a working surface adapted and positioned to receive the gas pressure energy for producing an oscillating pendulum moment in the reciprocating element. The working surface of the reciprocating element preferably has a trapezoidal shape which is rounded on the head. A rocker arm system (16) is provided for converting the pendulum moment into the torque of a crankshaft. The rocker arm system includes a swing arm (21) fixed solidly on the reciprocating shaft (24) and an articulated connecting rod (20) connected to the swing arm and to the crankshaft through which the pendulum moment is passed to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventors: Georg B. Wollny, Marian Chmiel
  • Patent number: 5678659
    Abstract: An order picking truck, in particular a high-lift order picking truck, is equipped with a driver's stand (3), a load-picking fork (5) and a wall (11) separating the driver's stand (3) from the load area. The fork (5) is secured on an initial lift device (7, 8, 9, 10) so that it can be moved up and down relative to the driver's stand (3). According to the invention, an additional lift device (17, 18, 20) is provided with which a load on the fork can be raised beyond the highest position of the initial lift device. The fork has two-part fork tines (12, 13) which each have a load picking upper part (13) and a lower part (12) secured to the initial lift device. Each two-part fork tine includes a scissor construction (19) guiding the upper part (13) of the tine parallel with the lower part (12) of the tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Wagner Fordertechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Vetter, Kurt Walter
  • Patent number: 5562019
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive system including a pump (1) and consumers (6, 8) which can each be actuated by a directional control valve (5,7) is disclosed. Each directional control valve (5, 7) is assigned a pressure compensator (9, 10) which can be controlled by a signal difference formed from a load pressure signal and a delivered pressure signal. The load pressure signal is derived from the highest of the load pressures occurring downstream of the directional control valves (5, 7), and the delivered pressure signal is derived from the pressure upstream of the directional control valves (5, 7). To limit the driving force and driving moment of at least one of the consumers, the signal difference across the pressure compensator (9) of at least one consumer (6) can be influenced by a controllable pressure output signal of an infinitely variable pressure control valve in such a way as to adjustably limit through-flow across the pressure compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Kropp
  • Patent number: 5555786
    Abstract: In a rotary press cutter for the production of envelope blanks, a flexible foil cutting die (8) is used. The leading edge of the foil cutting die (8) is anchored against a leading face (20) of the rotary punching roller (10), and the trailing portion of the foil cutting die (8) extends without creasing over a rounded outer portion of the blade anchorage slot, to be held against the outer periphery of the punching roller (10) by magnetic attraction from inset magnet means (15). The leading edge of the foil cutting die is preformed to provide a location and anchorage flange (24) which is bent without creasing to an obtuse angle to the remainder of the foil, with a radiussed junction between the flange (24) and the remainder of the foil. A unique structure of the magnet means (15) provides very strong adhesion of the body of the foil cutting die (8) to the punching roller (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Magnaflex Systems Limited
    Inventor: Roy W. Fuller
  • Patent number: 5549543
    Abstract: A laparoscopic defogging apparatus for regulating and maintaining the temperature of a lens and end portion of the laparoscope is disclosed. A receptacle is provided which contains a first sterile fluid at a sufficient depth to allow the lens and end portion of the laparoscope to be placed in thermal contact with the first sterile fluid. A container is provided into which the receptacle is placed, which container is adapted to receive and contain a second sterile fluid at a sufficient depth to provide thermal contact with at least a part of the receptacle side wall portion. A heating device is provided to heat the sterile fluids whereby the laparoscope is maintained at a constant desired temperature, thereby preventing lens fogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Il G. Kim
  • Patent number: D454205
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Wade L. Spicer