Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Christopher L. Makay
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Patent number: 6045068Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating liquids or slurries includes first and second nozzles each having an inlet coupled to a liquid or slurry source and an outlet. A first vortex nozzle rotates a first liquid or slurry stream received from the first nozzle and delivers a first rotated liquid or slurry stream into a chamber. A second vortex nozzle rotates a second liquid or slurry stream received from the second nozzle and delivers a second rotated liquid or slurry stream into the chamber. The first and second vortex nozzles are positioned in an opposed relationship to collide the first rotated liquid or slurry stream with the second rotated liquid or slurry stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Inventor: Clifford L. Ashbrook
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Patent number: 6036053Abstract: A pump control apparatus includes a pump coupled at an inlet to a water source and at an outlet to a first dispensing valve and a carbonator via a check valve. A power source is coupled to the pump, and a controller regulates the delivery of power from the power source to the pump. Responsive to a fill signal received from the carbonator, the controller activates the power source to deliver power to the pump at a first predetermined power level. Alternatively, the controller activates the power source to deliver power to the pump at a second predetermined power level in response to a dispense signal received from the first dispensing valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.Inventors: Darren W. Simmons, Mark E. Bewley
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Patent number: 5980036Abstract: An eyeglass device includes a frame supporting first and second lenses therein. The frame includes support hooks and latch assemblies that permit the securing of third and fourth lenses to the frame over a respective first and second lens. Alternatively, an auxiliary frame is fastened to the frame using securing members attached to the auxiliary frame, the frame, or both the auxiliary frame and the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: World Precision Instruments, Inc.Inventor: Charles I. Solomon
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Patent number: 5974825Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a product source, a housing that defines a cooling chamber and has dispensing valves mounted thereon, helically-shaped product lines for communicating product from the product source to the dispensing valves, a water line positioned in the bottom of the cooling chamber for communicating water to the dispensing valves, a refrigeration unit mounted over the cooling chamber that includes an evaporator coil extending into the cooling chamber, and an agitator mounted over the cooling chamber for circulating unfrozen cooling fluid along a circuitous path about the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber contains a cooling fluid, a portion of which freezes about the evaporator coil during the operation of the refrigeration unit to form a frozen cooling fluid slab. The agitator drives unfrozen cooling fluid circuitously about the exterior surface of the slab and through a channel, formed by the interior surface of the slab, to facilitate heat exchange.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.Inventors: Darren Simmons, David N. Money
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Patent number: 5970421Abstract: A processing system implements a method for establishing spatial coherences among features of an object. The processing system begins by measuring at least one physical property of the object at a plurality of different locations to construct at least one data field. Second, the processing system digitizes the data within the data field. Third, the processing system arranges the data within the data field into a matrix. Fourth, the processing system creates a target dichotomy matrix from the matrix. Fifth, the processing system transforms the data within the matrix to develop transformation matrices. Sixth, the processing system develops base dichotomy matrices from the transformation matrices. Seventh, the processing system creates a full description set of matrices utilizing the base dichotomy matrices. Eighth, the processing system creates a matrix that establishes spatial coherences among features of the object utilizing the full description set of matrices.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Target Strike, Inc.Inventor: Emil Y. Ostrovsky
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Patent number: 5954235Abstract: A dispensing valve mounting assembly includes a housing having a beverage syrup inlet communicating with a beverage syrup outlet and a first mixing fluid inlet and a second mixing fluid inlet communicating with a mixing fluid outlet. The dispensing valve mounting assembly further includes a beverage syrup valve assembly disposed in the housing. The beverage syrup valve assembly is movable from a first position that interrupts communication between the beverage syrup inlet and the beverage syrup outlet to a second position that permits communication between the beverage syrup inlet and the beverage syrup outlet. The dispensing valve mounting assembly still further includes an inlet switch assembly disposed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Inventors: Alfred Augustus Schroeder, Craig Cloud, Adrian Michael Romanyszyn
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Patent number: 5943632Abstract: An apparatus for detecting irregularities in a ferrous pipe includes a magnetizing coil for inducing a magnetic field in the ferrous pipe. Inspection sensors measure changes in the induced magnetic field and produce signals representative of those changes. An analog-to-digital converter digitizes the measured signals representing the changes in the induced magnetic field. A processor compares the signals to a threshold value, and, when a signal exceeds the threshold value, the processor stops the inspection process to locate an irregularity in the ferrous pipe. The processor further processes the signals according to frequency to classify the signals by type of irregularity in the ferrous pipe. A screen and/or printer displays the frequency processed signals according to type of irregularity in the ferrous pipe.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1996Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Oilfield Equipment Marketing, Inc.Inventors: Brian Wade Edens, Chester Wayne Pape
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Patent number: 5937579Abstract: A door opener includes a motor in mechanical communication with a door, a first gas source for powering the motor, and a control system interposed to the first gas source and the motor. The control system includes a first pilot valve communicating with the first gas source at an inlet port and the motor at a motor port. The first pilot valve also communicates with a first flow control valve at an exhaust port. The first flow control valve regulates the speed of the door during closing and communicates with the first pilot valve at an inlet port and communicates with the atmosphere at an exhaust port.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Inventors: Gary L. Baczewski, Dennis Aguilar
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Patent number: 5932937Abstract: A power control system includes a sensing device, a switch, a controller, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The sensing device determines whether a first predetermined condition or a second predetermined condition has occurred. The controller closes the switch responsive to a signal received from the sensing device indicating the occurrence of the first predetermined condition and opens the switch responsive to a signal received from the sensing device indicating the occurrence of the second predetermined condition. When the switch is open, the first circuit is enabled to apply power to the controller and prevent the application of power to a device. When the switch is closed, the second circuit is enabled to apply power to the controller and permit the application of power to the device.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.Inventor: Mark E. Bewley
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Patent number: 5930958Abstract: An insulated concrete form system for constructing the walls of a structure including a multiplicity of insulated concrete form units. Each insulated concrete form unit includes a body, a tenon and a mortise positioned at opposing ends of the body, and at least one opening extending substantially vertically through the body. Each insulated concrete form unit may further include at least one cavity extending through the body for receiving concrete. Each insulated concrete form unit is stacked vertically on one another to form a column. Thus, an insulated form system features a series of adjacent columns that are joined together to form the walls of a desired structure. In particular, adjacent columns are joined by offsetting the vertical height of one column relative to an adjoining column. Accordingly, each mortise and tenon from one insulated concrete form unit of one column joins in an offset manner with the mortises and tenons of at least two concrete form units from an adjacent column.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Starfoam Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Elmer Gene Stanley
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Patent number: 5893170Abstract: A convertible visor has a bill including a first bill covering attached to a second bill covering with a bill stiffener therebetween. The bill stiffener permits the reversing of the bill to display either the first bill covering or the second bill covering as the exterior of the visor. A headband attaches to the bill and includes a first headband covering attached to a second headband covering. The first and second headband coverings define an enclosure therebetween that contains a headband stiffener. Furthermore, the first and second headband coverings are rotatable about the headband stiffener to permit the display of either the first headband covering or the second headband covering as the exterior of the visor.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Texace CorporationInventor: Irene E. Garza
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Patent number: 5836481Abstract: A dispenser housing includes an enclosure that receives a dispenser therein. The enclosure includes an opening that permits access to the dispenser. The dispenser housing further includes a first access member, a second access member, and a valve casing. The first access member is secured to the enclosure and is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position that provides access to the dispenser. The valve casing is secured to the enclosure and is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position that provides access to the dispenser. The second access member is positioned proximate to the first access member and is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position that provides access to the dispenser. The second access member includes a light source that illuminates the dispenser when the second access member resides in its second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.Inventors: Darwin L. Strohmeyer, John T. Hawkins, Jr.
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Patent number: 5829646Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing ice includes a bin and a shroud that contains a recess for housing a wheel. The shroud mounts to a front wall of the bin and includes a chute that communicates exterior to the bin. The shroud further includes a curved plate that directs ice into the recess so that the wheel can raise the ice to the chute. A plate mounts at an angle sloping downward towards the front wall of the bin to direct ice onto the curved plate of the shroud. A discharge chute assembly mounts to the ice bin and communicates with the chute of the shroud to permit the delivery of the ice exterior to the bin. A gear motor drives the wheel to facilitate the lifting of the ice to the chute of the shroud. Alternatively, in a combination ice and beverage dispenser, the plate mounted within the bin is replaced with a cold plate mounted within the bin at an angle sloping downward towards the front wall of the bin.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Lancer Partnership, LtdInventors: Alfred A. Schroeder, Bennet Gibbon Credle, Richard Logue Laughlin
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Patent number: 5822955Abstract: A grip for grasping bags includes a member constructed from a suitably pliable material, such as silicon rubber or neoprene. The member has a durometer of hardness from 30 to 50. The grip further includes first and second supports positioned adjacent to the member. The first and second supports have teeth to assist in grasping.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Packaged Ice, Inc.Inventors: John Woosley, Alfred A. Schroeder, Perry McGuar, Thomas J. Chadwell
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Patent number: 5806089Abstract: A convertible visor has a bill including a first bill covering attached to a second bill covering with a bill stiffener therebetween. The bill stiffener permits the reversing of the bill to display either the first bill covering or the second bill covering as the exterior of the visor. A headband attaches to the bill and includes a first headband covering attached to a second headband covering. The first and second headband coverings define an enclosure therebetween that contains a headband stiffener. Furthermore, the first and second headband coverings are rotatable about the headband stiffener to permit the display of either the first headband covering or the second headband covering as the exterior of the visor.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: TexaceInventor: Irene E. Garza
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Patent number: 5801721Abstract: A printing system includes a scanner, a graphics computer, and a printer. The scanner optically scans an image and reduces it to a series of pixels represented in gray scale. After the scanner finishes converting the image into pixels, the graphics computer converts the gray scale representations of each pixel into a pixel conveying uniform density color information. The graphics computer then outputs the uniform density pixels to a print control system of the printer. The print control system receives the uniform density pixels and controls a printhead to print a reproduction of the image on a substrate suspended within the printer. Alternatively, the print control system controls a pair of printheads positioned on opposite sides of the substrate suspended within the printer to print a reproduction of the image on one side of the substrate and a mirror of the image on the opposite side of the substrate such that the images are in registry.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1994Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Signtech U.S.A. Ltd.Inventors: James Gandy, Jubayer Ahmed, Don Ray Janysek
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Patent number: 5751308Abstract: A substrate guide and tensioning apparatus utilized with a printing system ensures the substrate does not flex or curl during printing to eliminate color mismatch among printed pixels. The printing system includes a scanner, a graphics computer, and a printer. The scanner optically scans an image and reduces it to a series of pixels represented in gray scale. After the scanner finishes converting the image into pixels, the graphics computer converts the gray scale representations of each pixel into a pixel conveying uniform density color information. The graphics computer then outputs the uniform density pixels to a print control system of the printer. The print control system receives the uniform density pixels and controls a printhead to print a reproduction of the image on a substrate suspended within the printer.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1995Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Signtech USA., Ltd.Inventors: James Gandy, Jubayer Ahmed, Don Ray Janysek
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Patent number: 5743433Abstract: A carbonator and plain water booster includes a tank and a bladder mounted within the tank that separates the tank into a carbonated water chamber and a plain water chamber. The carbonated water chamber connects to a water source and a CO.sub.2 source to facilitate the forming of carbonated water, while the plain water chamber connects only to the water source. The pressure of the carbonated water and CO.sub.2 gas within the carbonated water chamber expands the bladder into the plain water chamber, resulting in the pressurizing of the water within the plain water chamber. That pressurization allows the dispensing of plain water with a beverage syrup at a pressure sufficient to maintain a proper mix ratio between the plain water and the beverage syrup.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: John T. Hawkins, W. David Vinson, Thomas L. Guy, III, Samuel Durham
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Patent number: D414269Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Inventor: Pam Franklin
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Patent number: D419009Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.Inventor: Nicholas Mohat