Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas R Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7386896
    Abstract: An accessory device for a spa has a top surface and a side wall. The spa includes an upper surface portion having an inner edge and outer edge. The upper surface portion is adapted to extend outwardly from an exterior perimeter of an top surface of a spa when positioned thereon. A least one flange portion extends inwardly from said inner edge of the upper surface. The flange member is adapted to be removably attached to the top surface of the spa. At least one support portion extends downwardly from the upper surface portion and has an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall is adapted to rest upon and be supported by a side wall of said spa when positioned thereon. The upper surface may function as a tray for holding objects in a location accessible to persons in the spa or may have a cavity formed therein which forms a bucket for holding objects in a location accessible to persons in the spa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Wade Spicer
  • Patent number: 7381915
    Abstract: An interconnectable 3-way switch system for electric cable wiring is provided for controlling a fixture. First and second switch enclosures each have an input port and an output port and a toggle switch. Each switch enclosure has a cam having cam arms movable between a first position where the arms electrically connect and close return bus cam contact points of adjacent return bus segments and a second position where the arms electrically connect and close a power bus cam contact point of a power bus segment to a return bus segment. The first switch enclosure has the cam arms in the first position and the second switch enclosure having the cam arms in the second position. Each switch enclosure has a segmented power bus, a segmented second power bus, a segmented return bus and a ground bus extending between input ports and said output ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Aslan Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Charles A Libby, II
  • Patent number: 7281941
    Abstract: A stripping and contact device for an insulation displacement connector is provided. The device has a body which has a cavity therein sized to receive an unstripped end of insulated electrical cable. A lid is pivotally connected to a body and moves around an axis of rotation between and open position and a closed position. Plural metallic contact plates, including a hot contact plate, a neutral contact plate, and at least one ground contact plate, are spaced apart and attached to the lid. When the lid is in open position the contact plates do not extend within said cavity and when the lid in a closed position the contact plates do extend within said cavity. A pair of insulating wedges is provided. A first wedge is juxtaposed between said hot contact plate and a ground contact plate. A second wedge is juxtaposed between a ground contact plate and a neutral contact plate. Angled surfaces on the wedges perform multiple functions during a closing operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Aslan Industries, Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Libby, II, Robert A. Libby, David E. Montgomery, Kyle Mason
  • Patent number: 7211751
    Abstract: A switch for selectively interconnecting wires of electric cable provides an enclosure having an input port and an output port and a toggle switch. A cam having cam arms is movable between a first position where the arms electrically connect and close contact points of return bus segments and a second position where the arms electrically connect and close contact points of a power bus segment and a return bus segment. A power bus extends in segments between the input port and the output port and has a main contact point selectively opened and closed by the toggle switch. The power bus has a power bus cam contact point selectively opened and closed by the cam. A return bus extends in segments between the input port and the output port and has return bus cam contact points selectively opened and closed by the cam. A ground bus extends between the input port and the output port. A second power bus and an auxiliary cam can be added for various three way switch wiring configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Aslan Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Charles A. Libby, II
  • Patent number: 7204696
    Abstract: This duplex receptacle will be factory installed in its own enclosure and sealed to provide safety and quick mounting. Both outlets can be constantly powered or one of the outlets can be wired for constant power and the other outlet controlled by a switch. Both applications can be performed by the internal bussing of the duplex receptacle and a cam within the receptacle housing. At installation, the installer will set the cam on the back of the receptacle according to the application desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Aslan Industries, Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Libby, II, Robert A. Libby
  • Patent number: 7199316
    Abstract: A multifunction switch for operating a device in a sealed container such as a flashlight includes at least one reed switch mounted at a location on an inner surface of the sealed container. A base plate is provided on an outer surface of the sealed container which has at least three detents. A sliding switch plate having an inner surface is juxtaposed with the outer surface of the base plate. The sliding switch plate inner surface has a securing device for removably securing and retaining the sliding switch in a desired position when the securing device is received by one of the detents. The sliding switch inner surface has at least one magnet mounted therein which operates one or more reed switches when at least one magnet slides over the location of the reed switch. A perimeter face plate is attached to the base plate to hold the sliding switch plate onto the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: W.T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Gorrie, Brian E. Probst
  • Patent number: 7144269
    Abstract: An electrical connector provides an electrical connection to an unstripped end of an insulated electrical cable of the type having an outer sheath within which an insulated hot wire, an insulated neutral wire, and a ground wire are enclosed. The connector has a body formed of an electrically insulating material and a cavity in a first body end sized to receive an unstripped end of the cable. A lid is pivotally connected to the body which is adapted to rotate around an axis of rotation between and open position and a closed position. A hot blade conductor, a neutral blade conductor, and at least one ground blade conductor are positioned in the lid. The blade conductors each have at least one downwardly depending blade and an outlet portion. The blades conductors are spaced apart. When the lid is in open position, the blades do not extend within said cavity. When the lid in a closed, the blades do extend within the cavity and make an electrical connection with the hot, neutral and ground wires of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventors: Robert A. Libby, Devin B. Decker
  • Patent number: 7128437
    Abstract: A temperature activated pressure relief mechanism for a flashlight or other battery containing device includes a watertight sealed flashlight housing which has an opening which extends from an outer surface to and inner surface of the housing. A metallic eyelet having an eyelet opening and having a cylindrical body sized to fit is placed tightly into the housing opening. A fusible plug of a suitable alloy material placed into said eyelet opening so that when said alloy material reaches the alloy melting point, said material will melt and flow at least partially out of the eyelet opening allowing gas pressure from within the sealed flashlight housing to vent to outside the sealed housing through the eyelet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: W. T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Storey
  • Patent number: 7128436
    Abstract: A flashlight lens cover has a generally cylindrical body member and a generally circular cap member which is pivotally connected to the body member. A spring member urges the cap member to an open position. When inward force is imparted to opposite sides of the body member, said sides move relatively closer together causing a first end and second end to move relatively further apart causing a retaining ledge of a latch member to be moved away from engagement with an edge portion of the cap causing the cap member to move to an open position until manually closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: W. T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bensinger, Brian E. Probst
  • Patent number: 7077376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve designed to be in series with a toilet water supply line and the inlet of a toilet tank so that water which is flowing into the tank must flow through the valve. The valve includes a shutoff spool that is actuated by an intensifier piston. When the water volume exceeds the tank capacity due to a failure of the float valve in the toilet supply tank, the shutoff spool is actuated by the intensifier piston allowing flow to the toilet to be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Devas, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Agnoni, James E. Bryan, David M. Lanzer
  • Patent number: 7056268
    Abstract: A free weight lifting bar includes a central bar member having opposite ends. A pair of a drop down plates, each having a top end and a bottom end, are attached at the top end thereof to opposite ends of the central bar member. A pair of handle members are adjustably attached to said central bar. A pair of weight bars are provided. One of the weight bars is attached to and extends outwardly from the bottom end of each of the pair of drop down plates. The weight bars are adapted to receive and secure a desired number of free weight. A pair of weight bar clamps are used to secure the free weights onto said weight bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Daniel W. Emick
  • Patent number: 7025471
    Abstract: A flashlight and attached lanyard strap includes a flashlight end having a generally cylindrical wall which has a notch therein. A folded lanyard strap held by a securing pin extends through a bridge opening into a notch chamber and extends outwardly away from the flashlight end through the notch. The arrangement allows the flashlight to be placed on a horizontal surface to shine light into the air (or onto a ceiling) and also allows movement of the lanyard without producing audible sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: W. T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Gorrie, Brian E. Probst
  • Patent number: 7014335
    Abstract: A flashlight having a flashlight head and an electrically conducting battery chamber battery chamber is provided. The flashlight head has a light emitting object positioned therein and the battery chamber is adapted to be removably attached to the flashlight head. The battery chamber is also adapted to receive and make an electrical connection with at least one cell. A wave spring is positioned between said electrically conducting battery chamber and the flashlight head and the wave spring is at least partially compressed when the battery chamber is attached to the flashlight head. An electrical connection is made between the cell positioned in the battery chamber and the light emitting object through said wave spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: W.T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Probst, Joseph E. Gorrie
  • Patent number: 7008355
    Abstract: A safety strap for lifting barbells and dumbbells includes a wrist strap which is wrapped around and secured to the wrist of a user. A tongue is attached to said wrist strap which extends toward an open palm of a hand of the user. The tongue has a plurality sleeves which may receive a lifting hook member. The lifting hook member has a central portion and a pair of hooks. Each hook has a connection point located on a line of pull, an angled portion extending inwardly away from said line of pull and closer to the palm of a user, a downwardly extending portion, and an arcuate portion having an approximate midpoint positioned on said line of pull. With this arrangement, a bar positioned on the pair of hooks will remain at the approximate midpoint of said arcuate portions when lifted by said pair of hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Daniel W. Emick
  • Patent number: 6939274
    Abstract: A dumbbell lifting device is used to lift a dumbbell having a central bar member and attached free weight plates or solid cast. The device includes a body member, a pair of handle members which extend upwardly and outwardly away from the body, a tube member rotatably attached to the body and a pair of spaced apart stem hooks attached to the tube member. The hooks removably attach and hold a central bar member of a dumbbell and allow said dumbbell to be lifted upwardly and downwardly by the handle members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel W. Emick
  • Patent number: 6893140
    Abstract: A flashlight is disclosed which includes a housing adapted to receive one or more battery cells and having a transparent lens on a forward end thereof. An LED light source connected to the cell is utilized in conjunction with collimating optics positioned adjacent the LED to refract rays of light from the LED forwardly. A first paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light from the collimating optics and to reflect the rays rearwardly and a second paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light reflected rearwardly from the first paraboloid reflector and to further reflect the rays forwardly through the transparent lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: W. T. Storey, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Storey, Brian E. Probst, Joseph E. Gorrie
  • Patent number: 6875214
    Abstract: A tendon anchor is used for attaching a tendon to a bone without sutures within a cylindrical bore drilled into the bone. The tendon anchor is adapted for insertion into the bore of a bone and has a generally elongated rectangular shape with opposite ends thereon. The tendon anchor has a transverse hole therein adapted to receive a central portion of the tendon and when the tendon anchor (with a tendon threaded into the hole therein) is inserted in the bore in the bone longitudinally, exerting force upon the ends of the tendon causes the tendon anchor to rotate to a partially transverse position within the bore thus forcing opposite end portions of the anchor into engagement with the cylindrical bore in the bone thereby securing the tendon in the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Robert S. Supinski
  • Spa
    Patent number: D527827
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Wade L. Spicer
  • Patent number: D579418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Aslan Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Kyle Mason
  • Patent number: D585834
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Aslan Industries Corproation
    Inventor: Kyle Mason