Patents Represented by Attorney Warren B. Kice
  • Patent number: 5469509
    Abstract: A circuit for coupling a 2- or 4-channel audio deck to 2- or 4-speakers in a car stereo audio system to increase the signal level output without raising the supply voltage or increasing the noise. The circuit comprises unity gain inverting and non-inverting amplifiers each connected in one of four channels, with the outputs combined to provide left and right channel outputs for series connection, respectively, to the left and right channel speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Monster Cable International, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Navone, Richard L. Clark
  • Patent number: 5421414
    Abstract: A hanger assembly used to support tubing, such as a siphon string, and other tools beneath the surface of a wellbore within casing or production tubing. The assembly includes a setting mechanism having first and second sleeves responsive to increased pressure for moving relative to one another for activating a slip assembly and sealing element. The setting mechanism is connected to reeled tubing by a quick disconnect device defining a passage for permitting fluid flow from the surface of the wellbore to the setting mechanism to provide hydraulic activation. The disconnect device is responsive to increased pressure within the passage for disconnecting the reeled tubing from the setting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Lane, Rufus Mullins, Jr., Ronald C. Sadlin, Colby M. Ross
  • Patent number: 5407958
    Abstract: Therapeutic and preventive compositions that treat dull, dry and rough skin, improve skin smoothness and elasticity, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, prevent acne and promote renewed skin vibrance. The compositions include an alpha hydroxy acid and a preservative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: BeautiControl Cosmetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinger L. Heath, Clifton R. Sanders, John H. Murphy, Rhonda Atkins
  • Patent number: 5404377
    Abstract: A communication system for simultaneously transmitting data and audio signals via a conventional audio communications channel using perceptual coding techniques is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a first artificial neural network (NN) at an encoder monitors an audio channel to detect "opportunities" to insert the data signal such that the inserted signals are masked by the audio signal, as defined by the "perceptual entropy envelope" of the audio signal. Under the control of the first NN a data signal containing, for example, an ID or serial number, is encoded as one or more whitened direct sequence spread spectrum signals and/or a narrowband FSK data signal and transmitted at the time, frequency and level determined by the first NN such that the data signal is masked by the audio signal. The audio signal is combined with the spread spectrum and/or the FSK data signal(s) to form a composite signal, which is transmitted to one or more receiving locations via the audio channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Donald W. Moses
  • Patent number: 5402310
    Abstract: An apparatus for docking a data processing unit in which a guide plate extends over a portion of the floor of a housing for receiving the bottom of the unit. Two guide members are disposed at the respective ends of the guide plate for receiving corresponding surfaces formed on said unit. Each of the guide members defines a guide surface that increases in size in a direction toward the rear wall for engagement by the corresponding surfaces of the unit to gradually center and lock the unit in the housing as the unit is inserted into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark B. Penniman
  • Patent number: 5328043
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of baby bottles having disks for sealing the apertures of the baby bottles when the bottles are not in use. More specifically, this invention relates to a particular baby bottle that provides a slot at the base of the baby bottle for temporarily storing a sealing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Sharon Ray
  • Patent number: 5305780
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve including a valve member movable between open and closed positions to control fluid flow. A body member is provided which receives a piston operatively connected to the valve member for operating same. The piston defines a first chamber in the valve body extending above the piston and a second chamber extending below the piston. System fluid is introduced into the chambers and the differential fluid pressure in the chambers applies a loading force to the piston, and therefore to the valve member in its closed position. When the system pressure, and therefore the pressure in the chambers, exceeds a predetermined amount the pressure in one of the chambers is vented, causing the piston to move to an open position and permit opening movement of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Dresser Industries
    Inventor: Ying-San Lai
  • Patent number: 5297201
    Abstract: A system for preventing the remote detection and decoding of computer data from RF or conducted signal emissions is disclosed. A simulator is coupled to the computer for emulating signal emissions in order to mask the computer signal emissions. The simulator includes an emulation generator coupled to the computer to radiate signals that fully emulate those radiated by the computer to be protected. The emulated signal emissions are synchronized with the computer signal emissions by a special control unit which receives timing instructions from the computer. A random sequence generator randomizes and convolutes the sequence of the emulated signal emissions so that the composite signal emissions formed by the computer and the simulator cannot be decoded to render meaningful data indicative of that being processed by the computer. The simulator is coupled with a computer to be protected by connection to the I/O interface port of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignees: J.D. Technologies, Inc., Haynes and Boone, L.L.P., Feferman & Rehler, L.L.P.
    Inventor: John H. Dunlavy
  • Patent number: 5285850
    Abstract: A well completion system and method in which reeled tubing is connected in the completion string which includes a safety valve and a sliding sleeve valve. A straddle assembly is provided within the sliding sleeve valve for sealing against axial flow of fluid and isolating a lateral fluid flow path. A stinger assembly is provided which is insertable within the straddle assembly and connectable to the reeled tubing to lock the reeled tubing relative to the straddle assembly and the sleeve valve. The sliding sleeve valve functions to selectively control the lateral flow of production fluid into the production string for upward flow through the safety valve and the reeled tubing to the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Russell I. Bayh, III
  • Patent number: 5283401
    Abstract: A manual control device for selectively actuating one or more switches in a multiswitch system. The device is utilized in cooperation with a video entertainment system, multimedia game device or other type system requiring a hand-actuated control apparatus. The device includes a housing, a plurality of switches disposed in the housing and being actuatable upon engagement, a switch actuator mounted in the housing and a plunger forming with said switch actuator a fulcrum to limit movement of the actuator in a manner to provide selective engagement and actuation of the switches, while permitting simultaneous engagement and actuation of selective pairs of the switches to provide different outputs. The device is operable to actuate switches individually or in adjacent pairs. The device is capable of both direct and tilt methods of operation such that in the tilt method the tilting movement for switch actuation is less than that required in the direct method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Charles J. Schmucker
  • Patent number: 5265952
    Abstract: An operator work station including a plurality of desk modules located adjacent a wall or walls and defining one or more continuous work surfaces. The modules include a standard desk module, an end, or stand-alone, module and a corner module. An opening is formed through one of the walls in a predetermined relationship with the work surface modules, and a housing for receiving a monitor is pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis relative to said opening to adjust the monitor relative to the work surface modules for viewing. The work surface modules can be configured to provide one or more continuous work surfaces along one wall, around a corner and along another wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Greshem, Matthew D. Hern
  • Patent number: 5244046
    Abstract: A coiled tubing service unit and method for oil and gas wells including a string of components extending above ground in coaxial alignment with said well and including an injector for injecting coiled tubing into the well and a sealing unit for preventing the flow of pressurized oil and gas from the well. The sealing unit is adapted to be disconnected from the string of components and removed from the coaxial alignment to permit a relatively large-diameter tool assembly to be inserted therein. The sealing unit can then be repositioned and connected in the string of components and the coiled tubing can be reinserted into the string, connected to the tool and driven into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm N. Council, William H. McCormick
  • Patent number: 5222736
    Abstract: A game board supplied with removable indicia for altering the configuration of the game board to facilitate the playing of multiple games. A sloped surface for rolling a ball is disposed between an outer annulus having a top face and a circular disk concentric therewith having a top face and a scalloped vertical wall for receiving the ball, wherein the top faces of the annulus and the disk receive the removable indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Tom E. Workman
    Inventors: Tom E. Workman, Sidney V. Bryan
  • Patent number: 5200687
    Abstract: An energy storage system for use in a receptacle having terminals connected to conductors for establishing an electric circuit. The energy storage system includes one or more batteries disposed in an abutting relationship and connected together by a metal clip. A tab extends from the clip for engaging an external power source and another tab extends from the clip to a terminal of one of the batteries to supply a charging current to the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Victor Technologies AB
    Inventors: Jonas Lindblom, Erik Johnsson
  • Patent number: 5184671
    Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger and a method of controlling same in which a first chamber and plurality of additional chambers are formed in a housing. A particulate material is supported in all of the additional chambers and air is introduced to each of the additional chambers to fluidize the material. Particulate material is introduced into one of the chambers and the chambers communicate to permit the material to flow between the chambers. Heat is extracted from one or more of the other additional chambers and the material upon exceeding a predetermined height flows from the other additional chambers to the first chamber before discharging via the first chamber externally of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Alliston, Walter R. Campbell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5174539
    Abstract: A bracket for mounting components in a housing in which a first set of two legs extend from and substantially perpendicular to one surface of a plate and a second set of at least two legs extend from and perpendicular to the opposite surface of the plate. The bracket is connectable to the floor of the housing to support a first component at a predetermined height in said housing and is reversible to support a component of a greater height than the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Tandy Corporation
    Inventor: John P. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5156206
    Abstract: A connector for connecting tubing to a component in a downhole well completion system in which a sub is provided for connection to the component and a sleeve extends over a portion of the sub to define a mandrel for receiving the tubing. A plurality of locking slips extend in windows provided through the sub and are forced into locking engagement with the reeled tubing as the sleeve is advanced over the sub to transfer axial and torsional loads from the component to the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Don C. Cox
  • Patent number: 5146994
    Abstract: A packing assembly which is connectable to reeled tubing and which can be inserted in and pushed through a wellbore tube by the reeled tubing. The packing assembly is hydraulically set in a locking and sealing position in the wellbore by fluid introduced from the reeled tubing and, after use, is hydraulically released and removed from the wellbore. An actuating apparatus is provided for hydraulically actuating the packing assembly and can be converted in a manner to pull the packing assembly from the wellbore. Prior to the removal of the packing assembly from the wellbore, the wellbore fluid pressure is equalized across the packing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignees: Otis Engineering Corporation, Shell Western E&P, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Pleasants, Pat M. White, Ronald J. Fischer, Robert D. Harrison, Jr., John R. Setterberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: D355087
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Vineyard, Inc.
    Inventor: J. David Billingsley
  • Patent number: D363841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: BBA Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Aagje M. T. Nourse