Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Donald S. Dowden
  • Patent number: 8215082
    Abstract: A substantially flat roof has elongated log-shaped members arranged horizontally in adjacent, side-by-side relation. Each log-shaped member has a contoured upper surface, and the contoured upper surfaces of adjacent members define a space between them that tapers from a maximum width at the highest elevation of the contoured surfaces to a minimum width where the contoured surfaces of adjacent log-shaped members are closest together. Elongated inserts are arranged between the contoured upper surfaces. Each insert has a wide portion that abuts an adjacent pair of the contoured upper surfaces at a relatively high elevation, and tapers to a narrow portion that abuts the contoured surfaces at a relatively low elevation substantially at the ends of the adjacent pair of log-shaped members. Rain falling on the roof drains by gravity from the contoured upper surfaces to the inserts and along the inserts towards their narrow portions and falls from the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Alejandro Stein
  • Patent number: 8122657
    Abstract: Hollow metal “logs” each extending usually horizontally are arranged in adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart relation to form, or be part of, a wall or roof. Rigid insulating members are inserted between the logs. Each insulating member is shaped to fit around a log on either side of the insulating member. Each insulating member has a pair of outer faces respectively on either side of the wall or roof and lying substantially in respective planes parallel to the axes of the logs. The insulating members abut one another and collectively surround the logs and insulate the wall or roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Alejandro Stein
  • Patent number: 8099917
    Abstract: A U-shaped rigidifying member cooperates with parallel metal “logs” each usually extending horizontally. A curved portion of the U wraps halfway around a first log, and first and second legs respectively descend in parallel from opposite sides of the curved portion. The legs are substantially tangent to a second log. This structure is repeated with the U-shaped members overlapping and inverted or otherwise oriented to shed rain, and forms all or part of a wall or sloping roof of a building. The U-shaped members are secured to each other and to the logs to form a continuous structural ensemble that is aesthetically pleasing, even without additional interior and exterior sheathing. It is moreover strong and highly resistant to an external force having a horizontal component parallel to the plane of the wall or roof. The rigidifying members can alternatively be J-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Alejandro Stein
  • Patent number: 8074413
    Abstract: A foundation for a building superstructure has a number of hollow foundation tubes laid horizontally on the ground and susceptible to degradation over time by contact with the ground. Each tube is protected by one or both of the following: (1) a reinforcement housed within the tube, shaped conformably to the interior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground; and (2) a membrane surrounding the tube, shaped conformably to the exterior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground. The tubes are arranged to form the footprint of a small building. In completing the building superstructure, other tubes, which need not have the same protection, are stacked on the foundation tubes. Degradation of the foundation tubes over time because of their contact with the ground is rendered inconsequential by the reinforcement or prevented by the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Alejandro Stein
  • Patent number: 7163378
    Abstract: An embedding element (11) for embedment in the root of a wind turbine rotor blade (15) of a fibre composite material, said embedding element being elongated and having a first end portion (1) and a second end portion (2) and provided with fastening means, eg a threaded hole, a threaded rod or the like in its first end portion (1). Between its two end portions (1, 2) the embedding element (11) is provided with a first longitudinal lateral face (14) extending substantially concavely in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the embedding element, and with a second longitudinal lateral face (16) facing opposite the first lateral face (14) and extending substantially correspondingly convexly in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Casper Kildegaard
  • Patent number: 6832430
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a multicolored interior member is provided in the present invention. Said manufacturing method comprises a base member and a surface member attached on a surface of said base member comprising; forming concave groove(s) in preset portion(s) of said base member, tucking said surface member into said concave groove(s) to form parting line, covering said surface member attached on one side from said parting line with a masking member, forming an engaging flange at the end edge of said masking member, inserting said engaging flange into the crevice of said parting line to fix said masking member, and then coating said surface member attached on the other side from said parting line with a different color from the color of the surface member attached on one side from said parting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Nagoya OilChemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ogawa, Norihiko Kioka
  • Patent number: 6827891
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a plastic molded material having uniform foamed structure at a low price. To attain said object, a method comprising; mixing particle containing 30 to 70% by weight of water in thermoplastic resin, heating and melting said thermoplastic resin in which said particles containing water are mixed under a high pressure, releasing said high pressure to form foamed structure and cooling to solidify said foamed thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Shiraishi Central Laboratories Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Hasegawa, Takashi Korenaga
  • Patent number: 6813944
    Abstract: The flow sensor comprises a semiconductor device (1) on which a heat source and, symmetrically thereto, two temperature sensors are arranged. The semiconductor device (1) is arranged on an exterior side of a tube section (2), and a liquid, the flow velocity of which has to be measured, is led through the tube section (2). The temperature sensors and the heat source are in thermal contact with the exterior side of the tube section (2). It has been found that such an assembly allows to carry out flow measurements with high accuracy and sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mark Rainer Hornung, Ralph Steiner Vanna
  • Patent number: 6816438
    Abstract: A clock has a face for telling time, a light for illuminating the face, and a switch for controlling the light. The switch cannot be used for turning the light on when the clock is stored. This conserves the clock battery by preventing accidental discharge of the battery when the clock is stored, for example in a suitcase. A magnifying lens is automatically moved to an optimal position relative to the clock face to magnify the face when the clock is deployed to display the time. The magnifying lens can also be used independently to magnify, and optionally illuminate, another object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Noel E. Zeller
  • Patent number: 6797934
    Abstract: An optical transient sensor circuit includes a photodiode in series with a MOS feedback transistor connected across a voltage difference. An inverting amplifier having its input connected to the common connection between the photodiode and the MOS feedback transistor and its output connected to an output-node for a measure of the incoming irradiance. A charge/discharge circuit, having an input connected to the output of the inverting amplifier, having an output connected to the gate of the MOS feedback transistor and having a first and second output for half-wave rectified and thresholded contrast encoding measures of positive and negative irradiance transients. A capacitor connected between a constant potential and the gate of the MOS feedback transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignees: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Universitat Zurich
    Inventors: Jörg Kramer, Rahul Sarpeshkar
  • Patent number: 6794034
    Abstract: A phenolic resin composition in which the phenolic resin can be smoothly cured at a low temperature while inhibiting the generation of free formaldehyde and trapping free phenol. An epoxy compound is dispersed or dissolved as a hardener in an aqueous phenolic resin solution. The epoxy compound functions not only as a hardener for the phenolic resin but as a trapping agent for free phenol. The phenolic resin has been sulfoalkylated and/or sulfialkylated so as to have improved hydrophilicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Nagoya OilChemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ogawa, Seinosuke Horiki, Takehiko Kajita, Kuninori Itou
  • Patent number: 6794419
    Abstract: A method of recycling a molded resin consisting mainly of a thermoplastic resin which comprising adding as a recycle aid agent a rubber-like material (material) which is compatible with the thermoplastic resin as the main component of the molded resin, is moldable after having been mixed with the resin, and has the property of improving impact strength. By this method, impact strength and flame retardancy are recovered or improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Suzuka Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6779712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow sensor comprising a substrate with integrated heat source and temperature sensors. Solder bumps are arranged on the heat source and the temperature sensors and the substrate is attached to the outside of a tube using flip chip technology. Preferably, the outside of the tube is structured for being wetted at appropriate positions by the solder. This allows to assemble the sensor easily and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Christoph Kleinlogel, Ralph Steiner-Vanha, Felix Mayer
  • Patent number: 6779395
    Abstract: A device for measuring the flow of a fluid has a primary duct and a bypass arranged in series to the primary duct. The bypass has a first section and a second section. A baffle plate with a hole for the passage of the fluid is arranged in the first section. The second section comprises two parallel secondary ducts. In the first section, a turbulent flow dominates, while the flow in the second section is primarily laminar. If the turbulent effects in the bypass are sufficiently strong, the ratio of the flows in the primary duct and the bypass can be substantially independent of the fluid properties and of the flow rate. By using two parallel secondary ducts in the second section, high flow rates and therefore strongly turbulent effects can be achieved without exceeding the measuring range of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark Hornung, Jens Kubasch, Moritz Lechner, Felix Mayer
  • Patent number: 6763955
    Abstract: A holder for receiving and retailing tools, writing utensils, kitchen utensils and the like elongated articles (42) comprises a housing with an elongated slit (2, 3) for receiving the articles (42). Each slit (2, 3) is defined by a flexible lip (9 to 24) projecting from the respective elongated sides of said slit, and which are adapted to abut both sides of the article(s) in question. The holder comprises several rows of lips (9 to 24) extending substantially in parallel, where the lips are arranged in pairs opposite one another and present a mutually complementary, substantially wavy shape. The crests (25) and troughs (26) of each pair of lips (9 to 24) engage one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Raaco International A/S
    Inventors: Anders Keis, Tore Hermansen
  • Patent number: 6763710
    Abstract: To measure the flow in a liquid, the liquid (1) is led in a duct (2) along a flow sensor (3). The flow sensor (3) is integrated together with a processing and control circuit on a semiconductor substrate. It comprises a heating and, symmetrically thereto, two temperature sensors. The flow is determined from the temperature difference between the temperature sensors and/or from the power dissipation of the heating. For calibrating the sensor, a valve (4) is provided by means of which the duct (2) can be interrupted. This arrangement allows a flow measurement of high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Andreas Martin Haeberli
  • Patent number: 6750522
    Abstract: A sensor is described for measuring the parameters of a fluid, in particular for detecting substances in a gas. It comprises a measuring section (4) on a semiconductor chip (1), which is protected by a housing (3). A partition wall (12) of the housing (3) divides the semiconductor chip (1) into two parts (1a, 1b). The first part (1a) is connected to the outside by means of openings in the housing and carries the measuring section. The second part (1b) is covered by a hardened sealing material (11). The sealing material (11) protects the semiconductor chip (1) from undesired environmental influences. The dividing wall (12) forms a capillary between the chip and the housing, the capillary action of which draws in the sealing material and the end of which stops the sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Felix Mayer, Mark Hornung
  • Patent number: 6744389
    Abstract: The A/D-converter with optional analog preprocessing comprises two analog inputs (I1, I2), wherein a converter (1, 2) is connected to each input for generating a first and a second digital value (D1, D2) respectively. These are fed to a table (3) for generating a lookup value (D). A decimation filter (4) processes several such lookup values and generates an output value (O). With this arrangement the table can be kept comparatively small while it is still possible to reach high resolution and precision. The A/D-converter is especially suited for applications where two or more analog signals have to be combined and digitized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Andreas Martin Haeberli, Urs Martin Rothacher, Felix Martin Mayer-Friedrich
  • Patent number: 6735902
    Abstract: A tape (1) with germinating units (9) comprising growth-suited parts of a plant, such as seeds, meristems or the like parts (10), which are able to develop into plants in the tape (1).The tape and the germinating units comprise at least one or two, respectively, biodegradable material layers (2, 4), such as paper, and are suited for a mechanical bedding out with the plants vertically arranged in a furrow in the ground. The tape (1) comprises furthermore a mixture (5) of a carrier (12) and additives permanently or loosely bound to said carrier in each germinating unit (9). The additives are suited for protecting the plant (10) against undesired effects and for controlling the moisture conditions about the plant and the development and growth of said plant in the tape (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Bentle Products AG
    Inventor: Poul Henrik Ahm
  • Patent number: D643773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Khione Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Nora L. Kehoe, Karin J. McCarthy