Patents Represented by Attorney Dennis G. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 6982498
    Abstract: An underwater hydro-electric farm comprising a plurality of electrical generator assemblies arranged in an array on a bottom surface of a body of water within an ocean current path to take generate power from a kinetic energy caused by the flow of the underwater current. Each assembly is installed in a cradle, which is anchored with a pile driven system to the bottom surface. Each assembly is a modular system allowing for easy swapping out of an assembly under water. Generated power is transmitted to a land based facility directly to or through an intermediate transfer station. Generator portion may have internally or externally supported field windings. Various configurations of propellers may be used, some with channels or solid vanes and another being a spiral shaped propeller. All water exposed surfaces of the generator and propeller portions are coated with a non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling and water specific protective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: John E. Tharp
  • Patent number: 6980088
    Abstract: A restaurant table turn control and display system for providing real-time communication to staff personnel throughout key areas of a restaurant, comprising two or more monitoring consoles, each having a restaurant layout display having indicia representative of tables available for seating in the restaurant and for communicating to the staff other requirements or needs; a touch screen for activating desired status changes on the system; LED bulbs arranged in an underlying relationship to the indicia on the restaurant layout or software driven images depicted on the display screen, which can be a combination monitor and touch screen; and a controller circuit with programmable circuitry for operating and controlling the system, including providing status changes and communicating such status changes simultaneously to other monitoring consoles electrically operatively connected to said monitoring console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: RSDS Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Stambaugh
  • Patent number: 6976720
    Abstract: An extendable vehicle cargo floor assembly consisting of a semi-rigid material panel base fixed to the vehicle cargo floor, the base having a grooved top surface, a pair of “U” channels fixed to the vehicle cargo floor, and a semi-rigid material panel deck having a grooved bottom surface, the base and deck being mounted with each of their edges mounted within the channels. The base is fixed to the cargo floor and the deck slides on the base with reduced friction due to the grooved, contacting surfaces in a first embodiment and low friction strips in a second embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Bequette
  • Patent number: 6971978
    Abstract: An exercise machine making use of the body weight of an exerciser as a load weight thereof comprises a horizontal base, a vertical bar member, an upper rocking bar member, a lower rocking bar member, a connection bar, a seat pad, a back pad, a handle, a pivoting cross member (V bar) and cushioning members. Unlike a conventional exercise machine, the exercise machine is composed of no weights. The vertical tube bar member is affixed to the base. The position of the upper rocking bar member can be adjusted by adjusting the pivoting position of the connection bar via the shuttle and two key pins. The exerciser can use the machine by sifting, kneeling, or standing on the seat pad of the machine for doing the muscle-building exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Matthews Production Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Brian Hyder
  • Patent number: 6972118
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for the industrial production of a new form of hydrogen, oxygen and other gases. The invention includes a pressure resistant piping system filled with a gas compressed to a desired pressure. A magnetic field within the piping system is generated using electric power. The gas is circulated through the electric arc causing the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hadronic Press, Inc.
    Inventor: Ruggero Maria Santilli
  • Patent number: 6968883
    Abstract: Multi-application head for fiber strips, consisting of a spool carrier (1), on which a plurality of spools are attached (2) as suppliers of the application strips (3), which are fed separately into the proximity of the application area (4), where they pass through a feed port, passing through guide combs (5 and 6) which position them according to a collateral distribution and through rollers (7 and 8) which drive each one of the strips (3) towards the application area (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Manuel Torres Martinez
  • Patent number: 6955006
    Abstract: A blended fish chum system using dry fish food modified for buoyancy to either provide for a desired floating characteristic or a desired sinking characteristic. Fish oil is added to the fish food used for floating characteristics and fish oil is added to the fish food used for sinking characteristics. A starter fish chum comprising sinking fish food to which crustacean oil is added, is mixed with the combination of sinking fish food and fish oil. The floating fish food mixture, which has been dried, is blended with the sinking fish food mixture, which has also been dried, to form the blended fish chum. The mixture ratio is varied to achieve desired floating or sinking characteristics of the resultant blend. The resultant blended fish chum is added to a self regulating mesh bag with its clip/draw string, which is vacuum sealed to ensure freshness and long term dry, non-refrigerated storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Samuel J. Hastings
  • Patent number: 6941564
    Abstract: A disk insertion position setting device that can be compactly arranged. First and second sliding members 31 and 32, with disk contacting parts 39 and 41, are provided in a manner enabling sliding in directions that intersect a central line O of a disk insertion direction F. Sliding members 31 and 32 are urged by a spring 33 in directions in which disk contacting parts 39 and 41 approach central line O. A rotating member 34 is disposed in a rotatable manner between sliding members 31 and 32. By means of rotating member 34, the sliding of sliding members 31 and 32 in synchronization in mutually opposite directions is allowed and the sliding of just one of either sliding member 31 or 32 alone is restricted. A compact arrangement is realized by the use of sliding members 31 and 32 that slide in directions that intersect central line O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Shinwa Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Shimozaki
  • Patent number: 6926872
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing crude oil, or oil-base or water-base liquid waste into a clean burning combustible gas via a submerged electric arc between at least one pair of consumable electrodes, which have a geometry permitting the operation for at least one month prior to their replacement, are completely contained inside a pressurized vessel, and have copper holders that are placed at a minimal possible mutual distance so as to minimize the power loss in the propagation of electricity through the electrodes, while having the other dimensions essentially unrestricted to maximize life. The invention is complemented with three optional recirculating flows substantially through the electric arc: i) a flow of the produced combustible gas; ii) a flow of the liquid feedstock; and iii) a flow of a liquid additive rich in a substance missing in the liquid feedstock for the production of the combustible gas with desired features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hadronic Press, Inc.
    Inventor: Rugerro Maria Santilli
  • Patent number: 6927309
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing novel sulfur compounds, molecular compounds containing the same as the component compound, and so on. The above aim is achieved by using sulfur compounds of the general formula (I) wherein Rs are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-6 alkenyl, optionally substituted aryl, chloro, or bromo; m is an integer of 0, 1, or 2; and Z is a group represented by any of the general formulae (II) to (V) (wherein R and m are each as defined above; W is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; and Y is a direct bond, C1-3 alkylene, or phenylene).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryu Sato, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6895713
    Abstract: A vertical plant stand that is free standing or can be supported by burying its lower end in a base plant pot or in the ground. Pots can be angularly stacked along a central elongate member or hook style appendages can protrude from the central elongate member to mount tilted plant pots. Multiple vertically and/or radially spaced-apart appendages can be included to mount tilted pots like tree branches. The stand can also be configured for mounting a table top to the stand for making an end table, coffee table of other table design. Instead of a table top, a top plant pot may be provided at the upper end of the central elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: William Charles Warren
  • Patent number: 6866756
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrolyzer for electrolyzing water into a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The electrolyzer is adapted to deliver this gaseous mixture to the fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The electrolyzer of the present invention comprises one or more supplemental electrode at least partially immersed in an aqueous electrolyte solution interposed between two principle electrodes. The gaseous mixture is generated by applying an electrical potential between the two principal electrodes. The electrolyzer further includes a gas reservoir region for collecting the generated gaseous mixture. The present invention further discloses a method of utilizing the electrolyzer in conjunction with the fuel system of an internal combustion engine to improve the efficiency of said internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Dennis Klein
  • Patent number: 6852958
    Abstract: Container designed to contain a product having to be heated by applying microwaves, the container having a side wall (10) and an end wall (12) formed by a base or a lid and means (10A) for limiting the penetration of the microwaves through the side wall (10), compared with the penetration of the microwaves through a central region of the end wall (12). Advantageously, the container according to the invention further comprises means (12A) for concentrating the microwaves in a central region of the end wall (12), the said means being formed by an excess thickness of a dielectric material, the dielectric constant of which is at least equal to 1.5, preferably greater than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Microondes Energie Systèmes
    Inventors: Alain Germain, André-Jean Berteaud, Mostafa El Haba, Patrick Mahe
  • Patent number: 6843965
    Abstract: A sports figure shaped fan for ventilation grills comprising a caricature formed in the shape of a sports figure. The fan is attached to a ventilation grill and the arms are extended and rotate when subjected to a back draft from the air flow of the ventilation system. The rotation mimics a throwing action of the sports figure. The fan also includes a reservoir and access to the reservoir for inserting one of a scenting agent, a deodorizing agent and a combination thereof, in the reservoir located in a designated portion of the caricature. The designated portion of the sports figure caricature is sufficiently permeable on either side of the reservoir so that a vapor is dispersed by the movement of the air flow. Another embodiment includes the lighting of a portion of the sports figure when a telecommunication signal is received by a cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Matulevich
  • Patent number: 6837930
    Abstract: A continuous ceramic composite plating apparatus for producing long doctor materials having pinch rollers for continuously straightening out long doctor materials plated from a take-up reel(s) by a method comprising a degreasing step, rinsing step, acid immersion, rinsing step, electroless ceramic composite nickel plating step, plating solution collection step, rinsing step, and drying step between a first step of supplying continuously the long doctor blade base materials held on the reels spirally while the blade surface is maintained in a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the solution for uniformly plating the long doctor blade material wherein a higher concentration of a ceramic fine powder is deposited on a top surface of the long doctor blade material, and a final step of taking up continuously the blade base material(s) on the corresponding take-up reel(s); and a straightening furnace for baking through which the straightened plated blades pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Mitsuru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6831201
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide methods for producing highly pure 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone monoethers advantageously in industrial production. In a process for producing a compound represented by Formula (1) (wherein, R1 and R2 are each independently halogen, alkyl having 1 to 8 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 8 carbons; m and n are each independently 0 or an integer of 1 to 4; and R3 is alkyl having 1 to 8 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 8 carbons, cycloalkyl having 3 to 8 carbons or optionally substituted aralkyl), (1) a pH adjustment is carried out twice or more in the purification process, (2) an excessive amount of alkyl halide used is removed, (3) a solvent, such as water, containing 0.05 ppm or less of iron components is used, (4) tanks with corrosion-resistant layers over the inner walls are used, (6) a chelating agent is added, and (7) a means of drying with mechanical stir is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Katsuura, Tomoya Hidaka, Yutaka Takashina, Yasuo Ohnuki
  • Patent number: 6827389
    Abstract: A cover for the bed of a truck/trailer including a plurality of cover segments carried by and secured to a frame secured to the portion of the truck/trailer surrounding the bed. Each of the segments being secured to and overlying the frame and a trough is formed between adjoining segments to channel water away, with the trough passing through slots in the frame and extending beyond the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Brian Pandorf
  • Patent number: 6823635
    Abstract: A spacer/support having a body portion, a surface engaging portion and a securement to attach the body portion to a weldment plate in tilt-up construction is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the securement includes a plurality of fingers that can snap onto the head of a Nelson stud. A second embodiment is equipped with a flat head that can be secured to the weldment plate using an adhesive. The length of the spacer/support may be adjusted manually by cutting the body to length or by rotating one threaded member relative to a second to accommodate different thicknesses of walls. The spacer/support is preferably plastic but may be metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventors: Todd M. Schulze, Clayton E Schulze
  • Patent number: 6820390
    Abstract: A spacer support having a body portion, a surface engaging portion and a securement to attach the body portion to a weldment plate in tilt-up construction is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the securement includes a resilient clip that can snap onto a Nelson stud. One or more shelves on the support spacer prevent longitudinal movement of the Nelson stud. The length of the spacer support may be adjusted manually by cutting the body to length or by rotating one threaded member relative to a second to accommodate different thicknesses of walls. The spacer support is preferably plastic but may be metal. In another embodiment, a clamp secures an elongate body portion to a weldment plate projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Todd M. Schulze
  • Patent number: D498403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtech Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Satnam Singh