Patents Represented by Law Firm Duckworth, Hobby, Orman, Allen, & Pettis
  • Patent number: 4062494
    Abstract: A rotatable head sprinkler apparatus incorporates a lower bearing seal between a swivel device for connection to a source of water under pressure, and a spindle connected through said swivel device to a self-powered rotary sprinkler head of the type used for irrigation. A bearing washer is formed into the swivel device and forms a coupling for a protective seal which prevents the entry of trash, or the like, into the area between the seal and the wear washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Senninger Irrigation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Healy
  • Patent number: 4058406
    Abstract: A cementitious composition for the molding of relatively light-weight, heat-insulative, nailable, structural units such as bricks, blocks, roof decking, etc. The composition comprises an inorganic cementitious settable admixture within which is incorporated a significant proportion of a waste polyethylene consisting substantially of polyethylene derived from the reclamation of cellulosic fiber from fiberboard to which a polyethylene coating material was previously adhered. Additionally, the composition comprises a significant proportion of industrial waste commonly termed stack dust and/or fly ash as aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Inventor: Dante A. Raponi
  • Patent number: 4057742
    Abstract: A system for automatically turning on vehicle road lights responsive to the operation of the vehicle windshield wipers. The vehicle windshield wiper switch is connected by an electrical circuit to the road light switch of the vehicle. A first diode circuit connects the windshield wiper switch to the headlight actuation position of the road light switch so that a diode allows the headlight switch to override the vehicle light connection through the windshield wiper switch. A second diode circuit is connected to the first diode circuit and prevents the headlights from being disengaged through the windshield wiper switch when the parking lights are actuated. Heavier wiring between the battery and the ignition and between the ignition and the windshield wiper switch is required along with a heavier fuse and an auxiliary switch disengaging the windshield wiper headlight circuit when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Inventor: Ernest W. Binegar
  • Patent number: 4055852
    Abstract: A pocket sized disposable rain protector including a thin flexible plastic canopy with a window or viewing port, wherein the plastic canopy is dimensioned and configured to at least partially surround the head, shoulders and entire human torso down to about the knees. The plastic sheet from which the canopy is made is treated with a cohesion inhibitor in the form of an electrostatic charge placed on opposite surfaces of the plastic sheet to permit easy opening of the protector. The protector is fitted over the top of and partially supported by the user's head and upon being folded will slip into a pocket size envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Inventor: William E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 4055991
    Abstract: A liquid gauge mechanism of the type primarily designed to be used in containers utilized for maintaining or growing plants therein wherein the casing of the gauge mechanism is at least partially submerged within the root system and surrounding liquid so as to indicate the level of liquid within the container. An indicator element is movably disposed within the hollow container of the gauge mechanism and has indicia formed thereon so as to be viewable through the casing of the indicator means. The level of liquid within the container is the same as the level of liquid within the casing. The indicator element being floatable within the casing serves to position the indicia thereon in aligned relation with a window or viewing portion through the casing so as to indicate the level of the liquid relative to the root system of the plant maintained within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Kapsura, Inc.
    Inventor: Willie Earl Bridwell
  • Patent number: 4051857
    Abstract: An improved dental floss holder for simplifying and improving personal dental hygiene. The improvement comprises a cog and tooth structure whereby the strip of dental floss may be angularly oriented by the user to facilitate placement of the floss between each of his tooth pairs. This angular orientation is accomplished by linear movement of a slide member operatively connected to the dental floss holding head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Inventor: James B. Zambito
  • Patent number: 4051997
    Abstract: A mail reminder device of the type designed to be mounted on a mailbox, comprising a signal including an attachment plate and an indicator movably attached thereto and a flag retractor including an axle and an actuating arm, both the signal and the flag retractor disposed in operative position on the mailbox, whereby one may visually determine whether or not the mailbox has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: James W. Donofrio
    Inventor: Steve Garcia
  • Patent number: 4050595
    Abstract: An accessory to be removably or fixedly attached to a boat trailer and including a support assembly having a casing means attached to the frame of the boat trailer. A cradle frame is disposed and configured to be slidably mounted within the casing of the support assembly and be positioned for longitudinal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat trailer by activation of a positioning means including a winch and interconnected cable structure. Dimension and configuration as well as disposition of the cradle is such as to force it to extend outwardly from the rear of the boat trailer on which it is mounted for the purpose of delivering a boat to the surface of the water and/or retrieving it therefrom without getting the wheels or like running gear of the trailer submerged within the water itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignees: Leon M. Bussard, C. Ed Smith
    Inventor: Leon M. Bussard
  • Patent number: 4050365
    Abstract: An air distribution assembly primarily designed to distribute conditioned air, for cooling or the like within a defined space such as a truck body or railroad car. The assembly includes an air conduit of elongated or otherwise predetermined configuration extending along a wall surface of the defined space and including one or more vents formed therein. Each one of the vents is defined by a flap removably disposed from the air conduit itself so as to define an aperture from which the conditioned air is distributed from the conduit into the defined space. Connection elements each comprising two connector portions are mounted on the air conduit for removable attachment to the wall surface of the defined space and also mounted in removable, interconnecting relation between the vent flap and the surrounding edge of the aperture defined by the vent flap so that the various flaps can be displaced or disposed in closed relation thereby regulating the distribution of air within the defined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: Ever-Wear Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene J. Freeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4048876
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement for an adjustable open end wrench of the type comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw having a rack gear coupled thereto. A helical gear is coupled between the rack gear and the stationary jaw for driving the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw. The rotational axis of the helical gear is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rack gear and the direction of motion of the movable jaw. This acute angle is substantially equal to the pitch axis of the helical gear teeth, whereby tangential sections of the helical gear teeth which are in sliding communication with the rack gear teeth are substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the movable jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Inventor: William A. Cagle
  • Patent number: 4046221
    Abstract: A support for saddles or the like includes a pair of rails, each extending substantially parallel one with respect to the other. The support includes a first pair of support legs, which are pivotably mounted at one end of the two rails and are connected so as to be movable together while pivotable on the pin. A second pair of support legs is attached to the opposite end of said rail pair, and includes a double-action pivot hinge which allows the second leg pair to be folded inward toward each other and then pivoted downward against the support rails, such that the entire support may be folded into a compact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Inventor: Neal M. Edenfield
  • Patent number: 4044706
    Abstract: This invention relates to a trailer guide for visually assisting the driver in manually operating the steering mechanism of a vehicle-trailer combination during travel in the reverse direction. The indicator comprises a frame for being coupled to the steering mechanism of the car and two spaced pivots coupled to the frame. A first longitudinal indicator is pivotally coupled to the first pivot and a second longitudinal indicator is pivotally coupled to the second pivot. One end of the first longitudinal indicator is movably coupled to an adjacent end of the second longitudinal indicator such that the combination of the first and second longitudinal indicators will predict the movement of the motorized vehicle and the trailer coupled thereto when the combination is moving in a reverse direction and the steering mechanism is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Inventor: Chester C. Gill
  • Patent number: 4043337
    Abstract: This invention relates to a dental syringe for coupling between a water outlet and shower head. An adapter having a main passageway therein is furnished for coupling between the water outlet and the shower head for passing water therebetween. A main diverter valve is coaxially within a main passageway through the adapter for coupling the water under pressure to the shower head when the main diverter valve is in a first position, and diverting the water under pressure to the dental syringe when the diverter valve is in a second position. The dental syringe is coupled to a flexible conduit which is in turn coupled to the shower head adapter. The dental syringe includes a secondary control valve axially rotatable within a syringe passageway for controlling the volume of water expelled from the outlet port of the syringe. A combination holder and shield is coupled to the flexible conduit for storing the dental syringe therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Inventor: Wilfred G. Baugher
  • Patent number: 4043046
    Abstract: An edge finding or indexing probe for locating an edge surface of an article positioned adjacent thereto. The edge finding device includes a housing having a first cylindrical cavity therein defined by a first cavity axis coaxially therethrough and a first cavity radius. A locating element includes a first cylinder defining a first circumferential surface for communicating within the first cylinder cavity of the housing. The locating element further includes a second cylinder defining a second circumferential surface for communicating with the edge surface of the article positioned adjacent thereto. The algebraic sum of the radius of the first cylinder plus the radius of the second cylinder is equal to the radius of the first cavity, whereby the localizing element moves within the first cavity to locate the edge surface along an extension of the first cavity axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Inventor: Charles F. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4041582
    Abstract: A container for sea burials is made of paperboard treated and reinforced for holding a corpse and has openings therein located to prevent the entrapment of air and thereby allow the container to sink more rapidly. The container has concrete members with straps for attachment to the corpse located therein to reduce the buoyancy and to hold the corpse to the floor of the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Inventor: John P. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 4041649
    Abstract: An alignment device of the type primarily intended for use in combination with an ophthalmic cylinder surfacing machine to insure proper optical axis alignment of the lens blank, to the lap, as it is being ground. The device includes a base member which is fitted into the lap-retaining table of the surfacing machine and a top member which is fitted onto the pins of the pin holder of the machine. An open circuit including an audible or visual signal is mounted within the base member, and electrical contacts for the circuit are disposed on the base's upper surface. Corresponding electrical contacts are disposed on the bottom of the top member so that when the top is placed in contiguous, overlying relationship to the base, if the alignment of the machine is properly adjusted, the electrical circuit will be completed resulting in either an audible or visual signal to the operator that the machine is ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Practical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4041892
    Abstract: A book marker for books of the type having front and back covers includes an endless elastic band for encircling one of the covers and at least one marking strip joined to the elastic band for marking preselected pages of the book between the covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Inventor: Mary V. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4040208
    Abstract: A flower pot of the type having a cavity therein and a top opening communicating with the cavity and peripheral holes at the bottom thereof is provided with a rigid wire member extending along the side of the cavity and through the holes, the wire member having a generally U-shape with a bridging portion across the top thereof for anchoring the plant above the top opening of the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Inventor: Fred England
  • Patent number: 4038964
    Abstract: A combined solar energy collector includes a trough having a generally parabolic cross section, the trough having a reflective inner surface adapted to receive and reflect direct and indirect solar radiation. A flat plate solar collector extends along the apex line of the parabolic cross section, the flat plate collector having means therein defining a circuitous path for a fluid passing therethrough. Means, such as a glass enclosure surrounding the flat plate collector, admits shortwave solar radiation into the flat plate collector and reduces longwave heat reradiation therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Inventor: George F. Drew
  • Patent number: 4040006
    Abstract: A warning system designed to be interconnected between a towing vehicle such as a conventional automobile and a trailer or like device comprising a towed vehicle wherein the warning system includes a circuit defined by electrically connected elements. Such elements include an indicator member which could be an audible alarm connected to a power source which in turn is electrically interconnected to one or more sensing arms mounted on the towed vehicle. The circuit is further defined by being electrically grounded to a conductive portion of the frame of the towing vehicle such that engagement between one of the sensing arms and a conductive portion of the frame of the towing vehicle causes a completion of the circuit and activation of the alarm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Inventor: Robert W. Kimmel