Patents Represented by Attorney David L. Ray

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  • Sliding gate line blind
    Patent number: 5232199
    Abstract: A sliding gate line blind for preventing fluids from traveling downstream from the blind including a body for connection to a pipeline, the body being open to the atmosphere and having an inner portion and an outer portion, the body having an entrance passage and an exit passage, an axially expanding gate assembly slidably received in the body for selectively sealing and opening the pipeline, the expanding gate assembly including two planar surfaces having openings therein for alignment with the entrance passage and the exit passage to permit flow through the pipeline and sealing surfaces for alignment with the entrance passage and exit passage to stop flow through downstream from the sliding gate line blind, and an actuator for moving the expanding gate assembly within the body to selectively seal and open the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: James R. Thrasher
  • Process for the production of thermoplastic levee gates
    Patent number: 5217557
    Abstract: A levee gate and the process for the production thereof. The levee gate of the invention includes a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material with a rectangular sleeve located on one edge of the thermoplastic material, the rectangular sleeve being a portion of the rectangular sheet fused to the rectangular sheet. The process for the production of the levee gate includes extruding a cylindrical tube of thermoplastic material, inflating the cylindrical tube as it is extruded to provide an inflated length of tube, flattening the inflated length of tube without fusing the opposed walls of the tube to each other, and continuously fusing a portion of the opposed walls together to form a seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: John F. Hogan
  • Warehouse system
    Patent number: 5215421
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a warehouse system in which containers are stored on a gravity chute system inclined at an angle with the horizontal sufficient to overcome the kinetic coefficient of friction between the chute and a container placed thereon and may overcome the static coefficient of friction between the chute and a container placed thereon. The warehouse system includes a receiving system, a storage system, a shipping system, and an inventory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Charles E. Smith
  • Pneumatic slide hammer
    Patent number: 5210918
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pneumatic slide hammer for removing a plug from a tube or other structure including a percussive piston, a housing for containing the percussive piston and for connecting to the plug to be removed from a structure, and a slidable cylindrical valve for controlling the flow of air under superatmospheric pressure to force the percussive piston against to impact against the housing and force the plug from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventors: Walter E. Wozniak, Terry C. Ernst
  • Automatic braking wheelchair
    Patent number: 5203433
    Abstract: An automatic braking wheelchair having an automatic braking assembly which automatically locks one or both wheels of a wheelchair when the patient attempts to rise. The automatic braking assembly includes a movable seat, a locking bar connected to the movable seat having a cavity therein for receipt of the axle, and a locking member rigidly connected to the hub of the wheel which is received in the cavity of the locking bar to selectively lock the hub and wheel in a stationary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Grady A. Dugas
  • Emissions eliminator blind
    Patent number: 5201344
    Abstract: A pipe blind including a plate for connecting to the end of a pipe, the plate having an outer edge and two parallel faces, the plate having at least one channel therein, the channel being located in the interior of the plate and having an exit port and an entrance port, the entrance port being located on one of the faces of the plate and the exit port being located on the edge of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Inventor: Larry G. Lacouture
  • Fluorogypsum waste solidification material
    Patent number: 5174972
    Abstract: A process, and the product produced thereby, for the preparation of a waste solidification material from hardened fluorogypsum as a by-product of the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid by reacting fluorospar with sulfuric acid, removing hydrogen fluoride from the reaction product, slurrying the by-product with water, placing the slurried by-product fluorogypsum in settlement ponds until the fluorogypsum hardens, the hardened fluorogypsum having a pH of greater than about 5 to about 13, including heating the hardened fluorogypsum to evaporate substantially all water physically mixed with the fluorogypsum and further heating the fluorogypsum to reduce the water chemically bound to calcium sulfate in the fluorogypsum to form about 0.5% to about 9% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: David G. Azar
  • Wrap band safety brake
    Patent number: 5159996
    Abstract: A safety brake which can be used in conjunction with a conventional drum brake having internal brake shoes to increase the braking force provided by the drum brake. The safety brake of the invention includes an external brake shoe which extends around the outside of the brake drum and contacts the exterior surface of the brake drum. The safety brake of the invention operates on the exterior of the brake drum at the same time the internal brake shoes operate on the interior of the brake drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Reynold J. LeBlanc
  • Needle guard
    Patent number: 5156426
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hand held tool for connecting to an injection port of an intravenous administration set used to infuse a patient with an intravenous solution having apertures therethrough for receiving and removing the cover of a needle connected to a syringe and a handle for grasping by the user which is remote from the injection port, and a method for handling syringe needle covers during the injection of solutions into an injection port of an intravenous administration set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Alice M. Graves
  • Decurling bar cover
    Patent number: 5154688
    Abstract: Curl removing bars are employed in prior art paper processing such as paper coating to remove the curl from paper stored on a supply or storage roll. The curl removing bar is usually aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the supply or storage roll. The curl removing bar is subject to wear due to the friction of the paper sliding over the bar. The invention provides a curl removing bar assembly including a ceramic cover which rests upon or is fastened to a curl removing bar for preventing frictional wear of the curl removing bar. The ceramic cover contacts the sheet material to remove the curl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Inventor: Brent A. Boyd
  • Dental filler applicator
    Patent number: 5151030
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tool for applying a filling material to a tooth cavity or other surface including a housing for grasping by the hand of the user, a vibrator contained within the housing for vibrating the housing, a brush for applying or shaping and molding cavity filler material, and an elongated brush holder connected to the housing and to the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Robert I. Comeaux
  • Method for limiting movement of a boom
    Patent number: 5141119
    Abstract: The method of the invention includes moving a control stick to fix the boom in the desired position, and then locking the stick in the desired position so that the operator cannot move the stick. The apparatus of the invention includes a bracket connected to the cab of the crane for receipt of a control stick, and a lock for connecting the control stick to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: James D. Milazzo
  • Remote controlled sludge removal system
    Patent number: 5138741
    Abstract: A movable oil and oil sludge removing apparatus which can be inserted into the manhole of a crude oil storage, the apparatus including a platform, a pump connected to the platform, two drive assemblies connected to the platform, tracks connected to each drive assembly to drive the drive assemblies, a motor for driving the drive assemblies, and an auger apparatus connected to the platform for cutting the sludge and channeling the sludge to the pump intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Henry W. Allen
  • Hydraulic drive assembly
    Patent number: 5120200
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hydraulic drive assembly including a driven member having a hydraulic pump located therein for selectively circulating liquids within the driven member, a drive shaft connected to the driven member for turning the drive shaft of the hydraulic pump, and a control member for selectively varying the flow of fluids from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: James A. Carter, III.
  • Safety device operable by a passenger of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 5090514
    Abstract: A safety device for an automobile including an electrical switch operable by a passenger in an automobile, the switch having a closed position and an open position, the switch having an engine control circuit for stopping the automobile engine, a brake circuit for applying the brakes of an automobile to stop the automobile, and an emergency flasher light actuating circuit for activating the emergency flashing lights of an automobile when the switch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventor: Harry D. Wright
  • Adjustable hunter's tree stand
    Patent number: 5090506
    Abstract: A hunter's tree stand which is adjustable to fit tree trunks of various diameters including a platform for supporting a hunter in the standing or sitting position, the platform having a rear edge for gripping a tree trunk, a pair of frame members for straddling a tree trunk connected to the platform, a blade member for gripping a tree trunk, and a rod for moving the blade member away from and toward a tree trunk, the rod being connected to the frame members and the blade member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventors: Cleve W. Womack, Renard R. McGuffee
  • Turf plug catcher
    Patent number: 5069293
    Abstract: This is an apparatus having a flat bottom and generally vertical walls for enclosing and containing plugs of turf discharged from a turf aerating machine. The apparatus includes a pan having a generally flat bottom and generally vertical side walls extending upwardly from the flat bottom. The pan is pivotally connected to the turf aerating machine by a hydraulic lifting apparatus, and the pan is located sufficiently close to the aerating machine to receive plugs of turf discharged from the turf aerating machine. The pan has a tilting apparatus connected thereto which allows the pan to be tilted to dump turf plugs collected therein when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas E. St. Romain
  • Gun sight for shooting moving target
    Patent number: 5067244
    Abstract: A gun sight attached to the rear end of the gun barrel near the eye of the shooter including a semi-circular ring through which the shooter can observe a flying target. Two horizontal arms are attached to the sight for alignment parallel to the earth and with a target traveling through the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Fredrick N. Montalvo
  • Self sealing domed sewer cover assembly
    Patent number: 5062735
    Abstract: A self sealing sewer cover assembly including a dome shaped removable cover for preventing flammable and/or toxic gases from being discharged from a sewer, and for preventing the ignition of gases in a sewer by flames and sparks in the area adjacent to the sewer inlet. The cover assembly may be inserted into the inlet to a sewer. the apparatus of the present invention provides a water barrier between gases contained in the sewer and the ambient air adjacent to the sewer inlet which prevents the flow of gases from the sewer to the ambient air surrounding the sewer inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Carl J. Gaudin
  • Solar powered warning light
    Patent number: D324347
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Lloyd E. Williams