Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brian J. Coyne
  • Patent number: 5226231
    Abstract: A tool for joining plastic pipe and fittings that provides for a quarter turn rotation of a pipe fitting while simultaneously pulling a free end of a longitudinally aligned pipe section into the fitting. The tool includes an inner ring that slips over a free end of a pipe section and is secured thereto by inwardly directed mounting screws, and an outer ring coaxially circumposed about, and rotatably connected to, the inner ring. A detachable semicircular partial collar fits snugly about the outer ring and reversibly attaches to a pair of outwardly directed nibs positioned on opposite sides of the outer ring in a plane that bisects the pipe section. A crossbar is mounted between a pair of lugs attached to a central portion of the partial collar. A handle is pivotally mounted above a yoke and chain that encircle and grasp the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Marcel De Leebeeck
  • Patent number: 5152155
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling refrigeration containers using pressurized liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The container has upper and lower compartments with a longitudinal distribution pipe located in the upper compartment which extends substantially the length of the container. The pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide is distributed through the distribution pipe in the upper compartment through a plurality of apertures located in the longitudinal distribution pipe which causes an accumulation of carbon dioxide snow in the upper compartment. The refrigerated gas cools the sidewalls of the lower compartment by passing through serpentine passages contained within those sidewalls. There are also switchable cooling vents which, when opened, allow refrigerated gas to pass from the upper compartment directly into the lower comparment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shea, Michael G. Batchelor
  • Patent number: 5058311
    Abstract: A method is described for destroying moles, voles, gophers and other underground tunnelling animals. The point of joinder of an exit passageway from a tunnel is located. The soil overlying an adjacent portion of tunnel is removed. Netting, preferably plastic netting with grid dimensions one-half by five-eighths inch, is laid on the bottom surface of the exposed portion of tunnel. Soil is loosely packed over the netting to encourage burrowing animals to use the tunnel and become entangled in the netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Inventor: Erik E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5044324
    Abstract: This invention is for wood fiber crumbles, and a method for making the same, for use as an animal litter, a petroleum spill absorbent, floor sweeping material, and mulch. Grists of an assortment of types of wood are combined and admixed, dried, moisturized, pelletized, and ground to form crumbles. Depending upon the selection types of wood utilized, the crumbles are capable of rapidly and efficiently absorbing animal excretions and petroleum, minimizing unpleasant odors, restricting the growth of microorganisms, repelling insect pests, and adding or removing nitrogen to soil when used as a mulch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Mountain Cat, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Morgan, Bill E. Williams
  • Patent number: 4978056
    Abstract: In a system of packaging of foodstuffs in containers of rectangular horizontal section, each open-topped container is sterilized, filled, and closed with a sterilized closure. The closure is of a laminate including a thermoplastics layer of sufficient thickness to fill an internal discontinuity of the container mouth during heat-sealing of the closure to the container. In making the closure, a portion of laminate is partially severed to form a flap and the laminate is clamped around the flap and drawn to form a shallow dish, to the inside of the base of which is heat-sealed a diaphragm including a pull tab. The thermoplastics layer is on a reflective metal layer and incorporates infrared-absorbing particles and infrared-reflective particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventors: Martin F. Ball, Ian M. Vokins
  • Patent number: 4950293
    Abstract: A prosthetic ligamentary device consists of one or two longitudinal elements of relatively inelastic material and an element of relatively elastic material. When the longitudinal elment (s) is or are subjected longitudinally to an anatomical tensile force, it or they extend (s) to a limited degree by transversely compressing the relatively elastic element, until the force is incapable of compressing the latter element further, whereupon the device becomes inextensible by the force. Two devices can be combined to form a cruciate ligament prosthesis for a knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Beacon, Raymond C. Wadey
  • Patent number: 4936181
    Abstract: A harp is provided for mounting on a swinging door. The harp includes a centrally disposed opening and a plurality of musical strings stretched over the opening. A plurality of mallets is provided for striking the strings when the door undergoes swinging motion, thereby emitting musical tones. Each mallet includes a stiff rod having a mallet head at one end, bearings mounted in tandem on a stiff on a shaft are provided into which the rods insert for oscillatory movement of the mallet heads about the shaft. In contrast to door harp of the prior art, the harp can be mounted on a door with its strings tilted away from horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventor: John W. Marron
  • Patent number: 4834657
    Abstract: An apparatus for choosing a punishment for a child, and a method of its use, are disclosed. An assortment of adhesive-backed decals designating various punishments is provided. Decals selected from the assortment by the parents are positioned around a base wheel. The child spins a knob and pointer that are centrally and rotatably mounted on the base wheel. When the knob and pointer come to rest, that punishment is imposed as indicated by the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventors: Jose R. Gonzalez, Connie J. Vaughan, Mary Jo R. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 4735423
    Abstract: A flexible shield mountable on the rump of a user's body to protect the user from incurring bruises and abrasions while sliding down a hill. The shield comprises a skid plate and adjustable straps for releasably attaching the skid plate to the rump of the user. The skid plate is preferably a sheet of flexible plastic, substantially rectangular in planform, having a smooth posterior surface for sliding on snow or ice, and having its lower portion bifurcated by a vertical slit to facilitate walking with the shield in place. A waist strap is inserted through slits in the left and right upper corners of the skid plate. Left and right leg straps secure the lower portion of the skid plate to the user's legs. A crotch strap is inserted through a slit in a flap in the lower central portion of the skid plate, the two ends of the crotch strap passing between the legs and being connected to the ends of the waist strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Inventor: Lynn Foss
  • Patent number: 4631856
    Abstract: A holder for storage of fishing rigs. The rigs consisting of a pretied hook, a leader, a lure, a length of rubber tubing and a swivel tied to the end of the leader. The holder is provided with a storage compartment for storing lead used to weight down the rig. The body is provided with a blade for the purpose of cutting fishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Perry A. Born
  • Patent number: 4611848
    Abstract: An improved sliding cover assembly for converting the open body of a truck, or the like, to a closed body. The assembly comprises an articulated-type cover slidably mounted in a pair of parallel tracks of C-shaped cross-section, each of the said tracks having a lengthwise coextensive channel communicating with the interior space of the open body. The cover includes a plurality of rectangular panels successively disposed adjacent to one another and extending across said open body. Each panel includes a first semi-cylindrical edge portion and a second, semi-cylindrical edge portion having a radius larger than the radius of the first edge portion, said first edge portion being concentric with, and rotatably received by, said second edge portion of the adjacent panel, the successive panels preferably being alternately wide and narrow, whereby the cover may be wound into a space-saving rolled configuration for storage when the cover is slid to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Inventor: Frank S. Romano
  • Patent number: 4453335
    Abstract: A fishing lure is disclosed that emanates an audible sound as the lure is drawn through water. Sound is generated by the oscillatory movement of a ball in a bore within the lure, in response to movement of water through the bore. The rate of oscillation, and thus the pitch of the sound, can be adjusted by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph M. Smith
  • Patent number: D279946
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Inventor: James O. Willburn
  • Patent number: D320801
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: American Eco-Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. McIntosh