Patents Represented by Attorney Donald R. Schoonover
  • Patent number: 8348842
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and/or controlling a glycemic state of a subject, comprising a housing device having one or more chambers, extendable and retractable sensors, extendable and retractable catheters, insulin reservoir, neuroprotective agent reservoir, release mechanism for releasing insulin and neuroprotective agent into the subject, and a control mechanism with a processor for receiving and analyzing outputs from the sensors and for controlling the release mechanism, a clock mechanism for providing logging and/or circadian information to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei
  • Patent number: 8328222
    Abstract: An anti-sway, tongue-weight equalizing hitch for a trailer having a hitch ball socket; a shank structured for releasably connecting to a towing vehicle; a hitch head secured to the shank and having a longitudinal axis, a hitch ball with a tow axis on the longitudinal axis; an elevating mechanism for adjusting the relative elevations of the hitch head and the trailer tongue; a leveling mechanism for vertically-orienting the tow axis; right and left spring bars mounted to the hitch head to pivot about opposing right and left rearwardly-tilted stabilizing axes disposed in opposing vertically-oriented pivot axis planes spaced laterally and equidistantly outwardly from the longitudinal axis; and right and left suspension mechanisms tensionally suspending distal ends of the spring bars wherein distal ends thereof are normally spaced laterally and equidistantly outwardly from the respective vertical-oriented pivot axis planes in an equilibrium configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacting Company
    Inventors: Leslie Roeber, Paul Choquette
  • Patent number: 8276930
    Abstract: A tow bar having a towing portion with multiple interchangeable towing assemblies each structured to be releasably connectable to towing vehicles having different types and/or sizes of towing hitch apparatus; a towed portion with a body member connected to a pair of rearwardly-extending legs each with a rear connector releasably connectable to a baseplate connector of a towed hitch apparatus of a towed vehicle, at least one of the legs being pivotally connected to the body member; an attaching portion structured to releasably connect each interchangeable towing assembly to the body member; and a storage mechanism structured to releasable secure the tow bar to a baseplate connector of the towed hitch apparatus of the towed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Jay Hesse, Neil Wagner, Douglas Prokop
  • Patent number: 8132825
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch apparatus for connecting a kingpin to a towing vehicle includes a mounting mechanism having plate and skirt portions with an opening for ingress and egress of the kingpin, and a clamping mechanism having opposing first and second clamp elements. A first resilient device biases first and second lever arms of the respective first and second clamp elements to displace the first and second clamp elements into an opened configuration. Direct contact of the kingpin with the first and second clamp elements pivotally and positively displaces the first and second clamp elements from the opened configuration to a closed configuration to cooperatively capture the kingpin therebetween. A biased locking mechanism is releasably retained in an unlocked configuration and locks the first and second clamp elements in the closed configuration. In a modified embodiment, the first and second clamp elements are connected together to also pivot relative to each other about a common third pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Paul Choquette, Leslie Roeber
  • Patent number: 8128116
    Abstract: A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James Huston, Steven Goodman, David Merchant, Leslie Roeber, Neil Wagner
  • Patent number: 8056919
    Abstract: A tow bar having telescoping tow bar legs connected to a head member which is structured to be releasably securable to a towing hitch member of a towing vehicle; aft leg connector mechanisms structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to a towed vehicle; and a latching mechanism, including latching portions structured to releasably retain the tow bar legs in a stored configuration, and locking portions structured to releasable lock the tow bar legs in a deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James Huston, David Merchant, Steven Goodman, Leslie Roeber, Neil Wagner
  • Patent number: 8024032
    Abstract: A system for analyzing signals representative of a subject's brain activity in a signal processor for information indicating the subject's current activity state and for detecting or predicting a change in the activity state. One preferred embodiment uses a method for estimating the Hurst parameter to perform real-time analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG) or electrocorticogram (ECoG) signals from a subject patient for information indicative of or predictive of a seizure, and to complete the needed analysis at least before clinical seizure onset. The preferred system then performs an output task for prevention or abatement of the seizure, or for recording pertinent data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei
  • Patent number: 7988630
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and/or controlling a glycemic state of a subject, comprising a housing device having one or more chambers, extendable and retractable sensors, extendable and retractable catheters, insulin reservoir, neuroprotective agent reservoir, release mechanism for releasing insulin and neuroprotective agent into the subject, and a control mechanism with a processor for receiving and analyzing outputs from the sensors and for controlling the release mechanism, a clock mechanism for providing logging and/or circadian information to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei
  • Patent number: 7988179
    Abstract: A tow bar having orthogonally-articulated towed-vehicle connectors includes a body element; a first connector element secured to and extending forwardly from the body element, the first connector element being structured to releasably connect the body element to a towing hitch arrangement of a towing vehicle; at least one tow bar leg having a fore end connected to the body element, and an aft end extending rearwardly from the body element; and a second connector element secured to and extending rearwardly from the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg, the second connector element being orthogonally-articulated and structured to releasably connect the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg to a towing hitch arrangement of the towed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Goodman, David Merchant, James Huston, Les Roeber
  • Patent number: 7976050
    Abstract: A tensioning device for connecting a trailer to a spring bar of a load-compensating apparatus includes a body unit for securement to a frame member of a trailer; a reel unit having an off-center hub portion with a slot and rotatively secured to the body unit about a pivot axis; a rotation-limiting element which limits rotation of the reel unit to approximately 180° about the pivot axis; a linked chain having a proximal end thereof releasably secured to the slot of the off-center hub portion and a distal end thereof connected to the spring bar of the load-compensating apparatus; a latching element including a biased latch pin; and a lug and removable handle for rotating the reel portion to, and the latching element releasably locks the reel portion in, a chain-tensioned configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Steven Goodman, David Merchant, James Huston, Les Roeber
  • Patent number: 7966156
    Abstract: A method and system for intrinsic timescale decomposition, filtering, and automated analysis of signals of arbitrary origin or timescale including receiving an input signal, determining a baseline segment and a monotonic residual segment with strictly negative minimum and strictly positive maximum between two successive extrema of the input signal, and producing a baseline output signal and a residual output signal. The method and system also includes determining at least one instantaneous frequency estimate from a proper rotation signal, determining a zero-crossing and a local extremum of the proper rotation signal, and applying interpolation thereto to determine an instantaneous frequency estimate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Mark G. Frei, Ivan Osorio
  • Patent number: 7959180
    Abstract: A tow bar including a pintle hitch, telescoping tow bar legs pivotally connected to a head member, a lunette ring fixedly or pivotally connected to the head member, leg connector mechanisms releasably connecting the tow bar legs to a vehicle to be towed, and a latching mechanism including latching portions structured to releasably retain the tow bar legs in a stored configuration and locking portions with cammed release mechanisms wherein the locking portions are structured to releasable lock the tow bar legs in a deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James Huston, David Merchant, Steven Goodman, Leslie Roeber, Neil Wagner
  • Patent number: 7959179
    Abstract: A tow bar having a towing hitch member with a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a towed vehicle; a head member with a lunette ring releasably connectable to the pintle hitch; first and second tow bar legs with proximal ends pivotally connected to, and extending rearwardly from, the head member; towed connector elements releasably connecting distal ends of the first and second tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and an equalizer member structured to maintain the first and second tow bar legs at equiangular orientations relative to the head member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David Merchant
  • Patent number: 7942435
    Abstract: A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James Huston, Steven Goodman, David Merchant, Leslie Roeber, Neil Wagner
  • Patent number: 7917222
    Abstract: A cerebral and/or interface system has a housing mechanism configured to be at least partially spaced in a cavity formed in the subject's skull; an attaching mechanism for attaching the housing mechanism to the subject's skull; a sealing mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between the housing mechanism and the subject's skull; a control mechanism spaced within the housing mechanism; a communication mechanism with one or more sensors embedded in the subject's brain connecting the control mechanism to the subject's brain; and a power source spaced within the housing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Plint Hills Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei
  • Patent number: 7887639
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and decontaminating an air distribution system includes a sources separately containing a first fluid and a second fluid, a pressurizing system for separately pressurizing the first and second fluids, a distribution subsystem for separately conveying the first and second fluids to a plurality of injectors that convert the first and second fluids into a foam-like substance before injecting the foam-like substance into the air distribution system. The apparatus includes a control system for controlling the pressure and flow rate of the first and second fluids, and a system for removing the foam-like substance from the air distribution system after the foam-like substance has cleaned and decontaminated the air distribution system. A method for cleaning and decontaminating an air distribution system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas R. Ratliff, Darrel Lathrop
  • Patent number: 7883402
    Abstract: A golf game operable by data processing apparatus by one or more players comprising a video golf game having various scoring features emulating a corresponding feature of a golf game played on an actual golf course; a rank-assigning element for responsively assigning a virtual military ranking for each of the one or more players for each scoring feature of the video golf game as playing of the video golf game progresses; and an interface element interconnecting the rank-assigning element in communication with the video golf game. The virtual military ranking of each of the one or more players playing the video golf game is promoted or demoted based on his golfing scores as playing of the video golf game progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: William E. Peiser
  • Patent number: D630026
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Michael J. McKernan
  • Patent number: D650400
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David Merchant, Steven Goodman, James Huston, Les Roeber
  • Patent number: D658097
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Choquette