Patents Represented by Attorney Brett J. Trout
  • Patent number: 5315977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the fuel to an internal combustion engine to reduce emissions of the engine. Means responsive to one or more operating conditions of the engine are provided for adjustably setting the maximum open position of a throttle of the engine so as to reduce and limit the maximum fuel volume flow rate to the engine. The operating conditions include the fuel flow rate called for by an accelerator, the condition of the transmission of a vehicle in which the engine is installed, the slope or incline on which the vehicle is located, the vehicle speed, and the speed and direction of any wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Dwayne Fosseen
  • Patent number: 5307601
    Abstract: A light-weight, high-strength beam member for use in concrete form assemblies. A sheet material is roll-formed into a hollow beam having a trapezoidal transverse cross section. In assembly, a plurality of beam members are attached to a supporting metal concrete forming structure in a parallel, spaced-apart relation. Sheeting or decking is attached to the plurality of beam members by hand driven nails which penetrate a top section of the beam members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Robert G. McCracken
  • Patent number: 5301495
    Abstract: A unidirectional drum roller for a baler of large cylindrical bales. A plurality of ramped steps extend longitudinally along the periphery of a substantially cylindrical drum. Each ramped step includes a steeply inclined leading edge portion and a gradually inclined following portion. The unidirectional construction provides a drum roller which has aggressive feeding action but allows a counter-rotating forming bale to slip past in the non-driven direction. The ramped steps are formed from a single sheet of material by die stamping so that there are no crevices or interstices on the drum roller to trap crop material and the drum roller is essentially self-cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Daryl W. Van Zee
  • Patent number: 5291964
    Abstract: An apparatus for centering a steerable wheel or wheels of a ground-travelling machine. The centering apparatus includes an electrically controlled hydraulic steering system for steering of a wheel or wheels which is operable in either a manual or automatic mode. A cam is mounted for pivotal movement in response to the steering direction of the wheel or wheels. A pair of switches are mounted adjacent the cam and are alternately actuated by the cam in response to pivotal movement of the wheel or wheels. When the automatic mode is selected, the corresponding one of the switches will act to control the hydraulic system so as to pivot the wheel or wheels to the centered position. Upon reaching the centered position, the cam will release the actuated switch thereby ceasing steering movement of the wheel or wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Groenenboom
  • Patent number: 5275764
    Abstract: An improved lamp assembly for a motor vehicle and a method for molding same is provided in which a one-piece lamp having one or more colors or reflective means integrated in a single lens panel and frame is molded in a single plastic injection process. In the process, one or more colored or reflective elements are placed between two mold segments, the mold segments are closed, and a plastic is injected into the mold cavity in bonding securement of the colored or reflective elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Siebolt Hettinga
  • Patent number: 5263423
    Abstract: A securement device for releasable attachment of a laptop computer or other article to a user's leg includes a table member and a pair of in-folding leg members, one each of which is attached for hinged movement relative to a corresponding side edge portion of the table member. Elastic webbing interconnects the free end portion of each leg member to a central portion on the underside of the table member. The securement device is centered on a user's leg and a pair of coacting straps are used to snugly encircle the user's leg to prevent pivotal movement of the securement device relative thereto and the leg members brace the table member to prevent displacement thereof as a result of ordinary unbalanced imposed forces. Elastic straps are provided whereby an article such as a laptop computer may be releasably attached to the supporting surface of the table member. The securement device allows a user of a laptop computer to stand and walk a few steps without displacing the laptop computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Rolf Anderson
  • Patent number: 5261687
    Abstract: An automatic hitch assembly for raising, positioning and coupling a tongue portion of a trailing vehicle to a drawbar portion of a pulling vehicle allowing for automatic coupling of the trailing vehicle with respect to the pulling vehicle while the driver remains in the pulling vehicle. A V-shaped guide member on the drawbar portion of the pulling vehicle is pivotal from an uncoupled substantially horizontal orientation, for receiving an elongated probe member on the tongue portion of the trailing vehicle during raising and positioning of the trailer vehicle, to a coupled substantially vertical orientation in which the V-shaped guide member is free from contact from the elongated probe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Bergman Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Bergman
  • Patent number: 5255612
    Abstract: A securement device for releasable attachment of a lapboard to a user's leg includes a table member and a pair of in-folding leg members, one each of which is attached for hinged movement relative to a corresponding side edge portion of the table member. Elastic webbing interconnects the free end portion of each leg member to a central portion on the underside of the table member. The securement device is centered on a user's leg with the leg members bracing the table member to prevent displacement thereof as a result of ordinary unbalanced imposed forces. When removed from a user's leg, the securement device folds to a compact storage position flush with the table member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventor: Rolf Anderson
  • Patent number: D345954
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Dico, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Wallace, Herbert O. Dixon, Jr.
  • Patent number: D347701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Wilian Holding Company
    Inventor: Robert G. McCracken