Patents Represented by Law Firm Bean, Kauffman & Snyder
  • Patent number: 5863027
    Abstract: A control device is mounted in association with a hook suspended by a chain from an electrically operated hoist and includes a hand grip fitted with control switches controlling lowering and raising movements of the hook and a mounting device for removably mounting the hand grip horizontally adjacent the hook and for vertical movement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart R. Pattison
  • Patent number: 5847625
    Abstract: A power divider directional coupler comprised of coupled transmission line sections at the beginning of each of a plurality of subdivided transmission lines wherein each subdivided transmission line has a unique characteristic impedance, even mode impedance and odd mode impedance. The coupled transmission line sections are shorted and function as quarter-wave transformers providing a center frequency electrical transmission phase of 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: TX RX Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Marlin R. Gillette
  • Patent number: 5845587
    Abstract: A work station includes a work surface supported on a base via a pair of parallelogram linkages for vertical movement between upper and lower positions, while undergoing horizontal displacements towards and away from an operator; a monitor supporting surface mounted on the upper end of a standard having a lower end upstanding from the base. The work surface is formed with a through opening elongated in the direction of the horizontal displacements thereof, wherein parallel edges of the through opening slidably engage with the standard to constrain the work surface against horizontal movement transversely of the direction of its horizontal displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Signore, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander N. Ditonto
  • Patent number: 5839764
    Abstract: An air line connector includes a hose block having first and second passageways disposed in flow communication; a connector block having third and fourth passageways disposed in flow communication; a pivot member having opposite ends rotatably received within the second and third for pivotally connecting the hose and connector blocks; a connector member having one end rotatably received within the fourth passageway; first and second attaching arrangements for connecting the ends of the pivot member to the hose and connector blocks to prevent separating movement of such blocks axially of the pivot member; and a third attaching arrangement for connecting the connector member to the connector block. The first attaching arrangement may include a locking pin supported by the hose block for engagement with the pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Dynabrade, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Heidelberger
  • Patent number: 5833202
    Abstract: A mechanical fastening system is disclosed in which standard micro-optical elements are initially mounted on respective one-piece frames which in turn may be secured in position on a mounting plate. Each frame has a platform to which at least three legs are flexurally joined along respective hinge axes. In one embodiment, the legs include corresponding spherical segments for point-contact with the mounting plate. In another embodiment, the legs include corresponding foot portions connected by a ball-joint for three-degrees of rotational freedom. The one-piece frames may be efficiently manufactured by laser beam cutting or punching a steel sheet. The proposed fastening system enables uni- or multi-dimensional layouts to be created using automatic placing and fastening technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Leica AG
    Inventor: Andreasch Wolfgang
  • Patent number: 5826956
    Abstract: In the combination of a file drawer having a pair of spaced-apart vertical side walls formed with recessed guide channels extending lengthwise of each side wall between front and rear ends of the file drawer; and a follower having a body portion sized to be received within the file drawer with a pair of spaced side edges thereof arranged adjacent the side walls and a pair of guide members upstanding from said body portion adjacent the side edges and sized and arranged for receipt within the guide channels and for movement lengthwise thereof; the improvement comprising a mounting opening extending through one of the side walls in alignment with the guide channel thereof, the opening being sized to permit at least a portion of one of the guide members to project outwardly therethrough to a degree sufficient to accommodate installation of the follower within the file drawer by inserting the follower into the file drawer to assume a starting position with the body portion arranged at an angle of other than 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Signore, Incorporated
    Inventor: Allen Norton
  • Patent number: 5823862
    Abstract: A dual action sander having a manually manipulated housing, a motor supported by the housing, a motor shaft balancer driven by the motor for rotation relative to the housing about a drive axis, a balancer shaft carried by the motor shaft balancer for rotation relative thereto about a second axis radially offset relative to the drive axis and for mounting a sanding device, a latch pin slidably supported by the motor shaft balancer for movement in alignment with the drive axis between unlatched and latched positions, the latch pin having a first end and a second end with the first end being engageable with the balancer shaft when the latch pin is in latched position for preventing rotation of the balancer shaft relative to the motor shaft balancer about the second axis, a manual operator carried by the housing for engagement with the second end of the latch pin and being movable to force the latch pin into latched position, and a spring for biasing the latch pin for movement towards the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Dynabrade, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Heidelberger
  • Patent number: 5825457
    Abstract: A keratometer includes illuminating optics centered along a common measurement axis in alignment with a patient's cornea and with area detection means of the keratometer. A conical reflector is positioned with its apex facing a source of collimated light, such that light incident upon the conical reflector is divided into rays expanding radially outward from the measurement axis. A frusto-conical reflector surrounds the conical reflector to receive the radially expanding rays and redirect them along the measurement axis as an annulus of light large enough to pass around the area detector to a mire ring occluder and refractor which pass a refined converging annulus of light to the cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Leica Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Luce, Joseph L. Zelvin
  • Patent number: 5816792
    Abstract: A fuel burning system comprises a burner in communication with a burner supply pipe having an automatic two-stage regulator valve for controlling the pressure of fuel gas delivered to the burner. The burner supply pipe is normally fed by a primary supply pipe delivering collected digester or landfill gas through an automatic three-way valve, however a secondary supply pipe carrying natural gas may be selected by the three-way valve for communication with the burner supply pipe. The regulator valve and three-way valve are electrically connected to a standard ignition module by a pressure-sensitive switch to detect the presence of digester or landfill gas in the primary supply pipe. When sufficient gas pressure exists in the primary supply pipe, the three-way valve is operated to permit delivery of the digester or landfill gas to the burner supply pipe and the regulator valve is held in its high stage setting for burning this primary fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Roberts-Gordon, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan W. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5810649
    Abstract: A tool guide for sharpening woodcarving and lathe tools comprises a holder frame having an adjustable clamping member for clamping a portion of a tool against an inner surface thereof, and an adjustable foot member removably connected to the holder frame by a downwardly extending central rod for engaging a work surface which is coplanar with or parallel to a nearby abrasive sharpening surface. The foot member includes an arcuate surface which may be arranged to engage the work surface for sharpening tools having a U-shaped cutting edge profile, and a pair of arc ends which may be arranged to engage the work surface by inverting the foot member for sharpening tools having a straight cutting edge profile. A pair of side rods are spaced on opposite sides of the central rod, whereby distal ends of the side rods and central rod define an angular profile for sharpening tools having a V-shaped cutting edge when the foot member is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Barbara Oar
    Inventors: Ross C. Oar, Eric J. Oar
  • Patent number: 5812311
    Abstract: A microscope with a C-shaped stand (1) for examining large-sized, disk-shaped objects (9), such as semiconductor wafers, comprises a base plate (2), a vertical portion (3) extending from the base plate, and a limb portion (4) extending forwardly from the top of the vertical portion. To achieve an ergonomic sitting position of an observer (B) and to be able to inspect the entire object surface, the vertical portion (3) has a forwardly opening slot-shaped recess (10) into which the object partially enters when it is at a rearmost position. The recess (10) is geometrically designed so as not to impair the stability of stand (1). In addition or as an alternative, a horizontally movable specimen stage (5) of the microscope includes a rearwardly opening recess (14) for partially receiving the vertical portion (3) when the stage is at its rearmost travel limit. The recess (14) may be U-shaped or specifically configured to correspond to the shape of the vertical portion (3 which it receives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Leica AG
    Inventor: Karl Kragolnik
  • Patent number: 5808526
    Abstract: A comb-line filter incorporating a plurality of bandpass resonators set off center between ground planes is provided with input and output coupling means comprised of dual notching resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Tx Rx Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Kaegebein
  • Patent number: 5805464
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the placement of mass adjustment on a work piece by a centrifugal balancer includes a device incremented by pulses representing angular displacement of the work piece derived from a device responsive to system drive motor rotation and the drive motor-to-work piece rotation ratio for providing the angular position of the work piece relative to a reference point on the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dynamics Research Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne B. Cameron, Roger J. Morella, Jr., Aaron C. Clarke, Daniel J. Pilsbury
  • Patent number: 5797481
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed as including an unique supporting framework featuring a horizontally elongated spine (12); legs (32) for supporting spine (12); posts (34) upstanding from legs (32); and an elongated rail (18) supported by posts (34) and arranged above and in a horizontally offset relationship relative to spine (12). Spine (12) serves to support one or more modular conveyor units (66), rail (18) serves to support one or more diverse art devices (48) required to be associated with conveyor units (66); and posts (34) serve to support a side panel (24) to extend lengthwise of spine (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Hi-Speed Checkweigher Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Uber, Carl A. Matson, Eugene A. Helmetsie
  • Patent number: 5797331
    Abstract: A mechanism for use in controlling vertical movement of a surface, such as a table top, supported for movement between upper and lower vertical positions, including a counterbalance mechanism for counterbalancing at least part of the weight of the surface and/or a weight placed thereon, and a brake mechanism for releasably retaining the surface in a selected vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Weber Knapp Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Watt
  • Patent number: 5791579
    Abstract: An overload prevention clutch assembly features input and output members connected by a coupling member, which is resiliently deformable under the control of threaded fasteners to vary the torque which may be transmitted between the input and output members across the coupling member. The fasteners serve to mount the coupling member on the output member, whereupon the coupling and output members cooperate to mount the input member in assembled relationship therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Julian J. Raphael, Neil S. Pennington
  • Patent number: 5790993
    Abstract: A futon frame includes a seat having a pair of electric motors mounted at opposite sides thereof for driving a pair of pinions arranged to engage inclined toothed racks mounted on each side of the frame for automatically and continuously adjusting the seat and a hingedly connected back between a sofa position and a bed position. Follower pins fixed relative to the seat are arranged to slidably engage matching guide surfaces above the toothed racks. The back is connected to opposite sides of the frame by a pair of link arms pivotal at each point of connection. A motor controller is mounted to the underside of the seat for connecting a user interface to the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Bed Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Roma, James D. Stuart
  • Patent number: 5791263
    Abstract: A mounting assembly is disclosed for mounting an auxiliary device, such as a keyboard support or work surface, for vertical movement relative to a support, such as a desk top. The assembly permits upwardly directed movement of the auxiliary device while releasably constraining downwardly directed movement relative to the support, and includes a linkage assembly coupled with a brake assembly fixed relative to the support. The auxiliary device is released for downwardly directed movement by manually operated paddle coupled with the brake assembly and movable with the auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Weber Knapp Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Watt, Donald R. Pangborn
  • Patent number: 5793525
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a viewing angle of a microscope is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment thereof, a bent eyepiece tube includes a prism on a first optical axis thereof for redirecting an object image to a second optical axis of the tube on which a magnifying eyepiece is aligned. The eyepiece tube is mounted on the microscope for rotation about the first optical axis by a collar, and a spring plunger carried by the tube is biased for respective engagement with a pair of opposing recesses in the collar to releasably secure the eyepiece tube in predetermined rotational positions corresponding to a pair of different viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Leica Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Sabin, Christopher L. Wyatt, Mark R. King
  • Patent number: D402034
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Leica Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Holbl, Paul J. Klock