Patents Examined by Terry Lee Melius
  • Patent number: 6223370
    Abstract: A mattress having an anti-roll off feature is disclosed. The mattress has an innerspring unit having an array of coiled compression springs separating opposed parallel surfaces, wherein the surfaces are covered by a webbing made of a nonwoven polypropylene, and wherein the outer periphery of the webbing has horizontally disposed rigid foam planks wrapped and held in place by the webbing. The foam planks are formed from polyethylene foam. Additionally, vertically disposed rigid polyethylene foam planks with cross members are situated within the innerspring unit between the compressions springs at the periphery of the innerspring unit. The foam planks with cross members provide the support needed to achieve the anti-roll off feature. In an alternative embodiment, rigid polyethylene foam cylinders are placed within the rows of compression springs at the periphery of the innerspring unit to provide support at those locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Chattam & Wells Mattress Company
    Inventor: Earl Sanderson Kluft
  • Patent number: 6223364
    Abstract: A multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus for assisting persons when entering and exiting a vehicle is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention is realized as having an electrically actuated rotator for rotating a support member about a substantially vertical axis, an electrically actuated extension arm for moving the electrically actuated rotator and the support member along a plane having a vertical component, and an electrically actuated slide tray for moving the electrically actuated extension arm, the electrically actuated rotator, and the support member along a substantially horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Patent number: 6223982
    Abstract: A mailbox post includes a movable joint, an elastic element connected to said post at two locations, one on each side of the joint, supportive against tension force between the two locations and connected to the post at a third location between the two locations, supportive against twisting force on the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Tristram C. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6223369
    Abstract: Multiple varieties of patient support surfaces are presented with a common modular assembly primarily including a perimeter chassis and integrated upper support element. Perimeter bolsters provide relatively firmer support for gently prompting a patient towards the center of the bed, without obstructing regular entry and egress. The added stability facilitates safer transfers and better sitting at the edge of the bed. Pressure redistribution air cylinders (turned either longitudinally or laterally) are captured by shaped, slotted inner bolsters aid underside arches of an integral foam topper. All such features work collectively to cradle and surround the air cylinders. The resulting interlocking, integrated design provides flexible progressive support while maximizing structural integrity. Different arrangements of air cylinders and static or dynamic performance thereof, either non-powered or powered, permit different embodiments to be created using the same modular assembly approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund K. Maier, Richard W. Raburn, Mark D. Chastain
  • Patent number: 6219862
    Abstract: A device (10) for movement/transport of, in particular, a handicapped person (12), including a transport device such as a patient lifter or lifting unit with a holder (16) in which a slide rail (20), from which attachments for a carrying sling (14) extend, moves under gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Horcher GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Horcher, Stefan Horcher
  • Patent number: 6220602
    Abstract: A seal arrangement (40) between relatively movable components (42,48) includes at least one magnet (54) on a first component (48) and at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42). A clearance (55) is defined between the at least one magnet (54) on the first component (48) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42). Springs (58) bias the at least one magnet (54) on the first component (48) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42) towards each other. The at least one magnet (54) on the first component (42) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42) are arranged to repel each other against the spring (58) to control the clearance (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: John R Webster, David S Knott
  • Patent number: 6219949
    Abstract: A door reminder for hanging on a doorknob for delivering a message comprising a hanger, a flap and at least one electronic device to be actuated by the flap. The hanger is provided with a hanger opening for hanging the door reminder on the shank of the doorknob. The flap is rotatably and horizontally mounted on the hanger above the hanger opening and the flap is provided with a flap opening such that the doorknob can pass through the flap opening when the flap is rotated towards the surface of the hanger hanging on the shank of the doorknob through the hanger opening with the hanger located between the door and the flap. The flap is maintained at an operative angle of approximately 30 degrees above the front surface of the hanger by an urging component when the flap is not moved. Preferably the door reminder includes two electronic devices, one light emitting and one sound emitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Simon Pang
  • Patent number: 6219863
    Abstract: An assembly, including a first support structure having a first removable support member and a set of first slats supported for receiving and supporting a first body supporting element, a second support structure having a second removable support member and a set of second slats supported for receiving and supporting a second body supporting element, with the first and second removable support members removed, a connector assembly engagable with the first and second sets of slats and with the first and second support structures, the connector assembly and the first and second sets of slats for receiving and supporting a body supporting element different from the first and second body supporting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Dwayne D. Loberg, Walter M. Viveiros
  • Patent number: 6219948
    Abstract: There is provided a self-powered display unit for displaying at least two consecutively changing images to be viewed by a viewer, the unit including a housing having at least one window-like opening; at least one lenticular panel mounted in the housing behind the window-like opening, the lenticular panel having front and rear faces, the focal length of the lenses being substantially equal to their width; at least one displaceable, lightweight, substantially planar indicia carrier in the form of a replaceable film or sheet disposed inside the housing; an edge of the indicia carrier at least indirectly freely abutting against a cam; a high-efficiency, low-energy consumption, battery-powered DC drive including a DC motor coupled to the cam for periodically displacing the indicia carrier for a distance at least equalling the distance between two adjacent lenses of the panel, and a guide facilitating smooth reciprocating movement of the indicia carrier in juxtaposition with the rear face of the lenticular panel, w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: M.V.T. Multi Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Itzchak Bar-Yona
  • Patent number: 6216490
    Abstract: A bracelet comprises at least one electronic display unit. The or each display unit has a display (9) having a plurality of display elements arranged in a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet and/or arranged in a sequence lying substantially around the perimeter of the display. The bracelet has control circuit (15) to control the display elements so that the characters displayed by the display elements appear to move along the sequence of display elements with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Philip J. Radley-Smith
  • Patent number: 6216295
    Abstract: An adjustable bed is provided having a lower frame (1) and an upper frame (3) mounted for longitudinal movement on the lower frame. A supporting surface (7, 8, 9, 10), including a back support member (7), is connected to the upper frame for pivotal movement about a transverse axis. The back support (7) is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism comprising two pairs of pivotally interconnected arms (17, 19), one of each pair being also pivoted to the lower frame (1) and the other arm of each pair being pivoted to the upper frame (3). The pivotal interconnections (18, 20) between the arms bear on the underside of the back support members, and a drive mechanism (13, 14, 15, 16) produces longitudinal movement of the upper frame with respect to the lower frame and, simultaneously, vertical movement of the pivotal interconnection (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Stephen Pearson
  • Patent number: 6216298
    Abstract: A travel pillow having an arch-shaped padded cushion surrounding an inner perimeter containing less padding so that the head of a child may be placed within the larger arch for support, with said cushion contained within a cover having two straps extending downward below the waist of the user to form two end points which attach to each other with one placed under and one over the child's seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Maria Connie Oliveira
  • Patent number: 6216379
    Abstract: A device is provided for filing a developed X-ray film such as a developed dental X-ray film. The filing device is formed of a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet has scale marks applied thereon, and is arranged such that a particular site, such as a tooth, in the X-ray film can be diagnosed using the scale marks. The filing device makes it possible to determine with precision and ease the size, relative position or the like of the particular site without removal of the X-ray film from the filing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: NIX Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6216294
    Abstract: A device for positioning patients for diagnostic and therapeutic uses having, in particular a horizontally disposed bearer element for the patient (i.e., such as a table). In addition, at least one inflatable or pump-up-able cushion is provided with which the position of the patient, or specific regions of the patient's body, can be altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Storz Medical AG
    Inventor: Othmar Wess
  • Patent number: 6217031
    Abstract: Sealing arrangement for a rolling bearing exhibiting at least one row of rolling elements 7 between a first ring 1 or 2 and a second ring 2 or 1 which are concentric and radially separated from one another by an annular space 11, at least on one side of the bearing, this arrangement comprising, on the said side of the bearing, an elastic seal 18 fixed to the first ring 1 or 2 and exhibiting a first lip 19 pressing against a bearing surface situated on the second ring inside the said annular space. The said first bearing surface 20 exhibits the overall shape of a cone frustum orientated in such a way that its extension towards the aforementioned side of the bearing approaches the said first ring 1 or 2, and that the said first lip 19 is shaped in such a way that the force with which it presses against the said first bearing surface 20 increases if the pressure inside the rolling bearing increases, for example when lubricating the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: RKS S.A.
    Inventors: Denis Catalano, Franqois-Xavier Jorrot, Pierre Bourchois-Jacqurt
  • Patent number: 6212810
    Abstract: A pole system for displaying picture frames includes a pole, mounting devices for holding the pole in a vertical position, and a plurality of sliding elements movable along the length of the pole to positions selected by the user. Each sliding element includes a connector adapted to engage a sawtooth bracket, wire, hole or other structure on the back of a picture frame. A plurality of frames can be displayed from the pole, the spacing between each of them and their relative rotational position about the pole being easily and quickly changed by the user. In the most preferred embodiment, the mounting devices include brackets for suspending the pole in a spaced apart relationship from an office furniture panel, and the sliding elements are spring steel plates with a pair of openings adapted to fit over the pole when the plate is bent into a curved position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Intercraft Company
    Inventor: Joseph W. Jones
  • Patent number: 6212805
    Abstract: A panel includes a sheet of light permeable, preferably optically clear transparent material and a transparent or translucent design superimposed on or forming part of a transparent or translucent base pattern. The design is visible from one side of the panel and a mirror image of the design is visible from the other side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illuminated is provided on either side or both sides of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Contra Vision Limited
    Inventor: George Roland Hill
  • Patent number: 6212710
    Abstract: The folding vehicle bed assembly includes a housing member that can be connected to a vertical support wall and a bed frame that can be stored within the housing member or extended for use. A movable support lever provides a first pivotal connection to the bed frame to enable the bed frame to rotate when moved from an operative horizontal position to a vertical storage position. A second pivotal connection is attached to the end of the bed frame adjacent to the vertical support wall and above the height of a mattress. A motor assembly is connected to the second pivotal connection to drive it parallel to the vertical support wall and to rotate the end of the bed frame about the second pivotal connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Jones
  • Patent number: 6212908
    Abstract: A jewelry ring having a main ring with two half-ring segments, where each of the ring segments has its own design. The design of the first ring segment is more prominent than the design of the second segment and is typically displayed to an outside viewer. However, when, for security or any other reason, the wearer rotates the ring, the second half with the less prominent design is displayed, concealing the more prominent design of the first half without alerting a robber that a more prominent design is hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Yianni Melas
  • Patent number: 6213881
    Abstract: A damper device includes a casing, a rotor partly housed in the casing, a viscous fluid filled in the casing around the rotor, and a torque generator for generating a torque during a rotating stroke of the rotor. The torque generator includes a fluid torque adjuster for producing a relatively large torque in at least a terminal range of the rotating strokes in normal and reverse directions of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Tok Bearing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirozumi Sasa, Kenji Takahashi