Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Roger
  • Microresonator-based tuned optical filter
    Patent number: 6661950
    Abstract: A novel tuned coupled-microresonator filter with a known transfer function. This transfer function may be used, along with the filter's output signal, to extract the original input signal. The quality factor of manufacturable microresonators typically exceeds 106 and permits the attainment of exceptionally high resolution in a small, physically-rugged, environmentally-protected package. In addition, the properties of the resonator and coupling optics lend themselves to low cost production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nomadics, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian N. Strecker
  • Accordion-type plant cover with attached skirt and methods
    Patent number: 6658792
    Abstract: A flower pot cover comprising a base and a skirt. The base has an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface having accordion pleating formed in at least a portion thereof. An opening intersects the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space. The skirt extends from the base and is substantially non-contractible and non-expandable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
    Patent number: 6655086
    Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed curved bottom. The sleeve may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Scented decorative grass having an appearance simulating the appearance of cloth
    Patent number: 6656593
    Abstract: Scented decorative grasses having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such scented decorative grasses from materials wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance and/or texture of cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative assembly for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6655085
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter, Michael J. King, Franklin J. Craig, Michael R. Klemme
  • Process for manufacture of printed circuit boards with thick copper power circuitry and thin copper signal circuitry on the same layer
    Patent number: 6651324
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing printed circuit boards which is useful in the formation of printed circuit boards containing both areas of thick conductive traces and areas of fine resolution conductors in a single conductive layer, and printed circuit boards formed from such a process. A conductive core is first fabricated containing areas of thick conductors on a relatively thin conductive base. The conductive core is then bonded to a sublayer such as “prepreg” with the thick conductive areas adjacent to the sublayer in order to form a relatively flat laminate. Proper bonding typically requires the use of high resin “prepreg” sublayer. In the alternative, an additional inner layer of pure resin cab be inserted between the conductive core and the insulating sublayer prior to bonding. After bonding, the conductive surface of the laminate is formed into printed conductor traces by methods known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Viasystems Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Pedretti, Ken Varley
  • Plant sleeve having an expandable portion
    Patent number: 6647663
    Abstract: A sleeve comprising a lower portion preferably having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a floral grouping or plant. The sleeve may have a protective upper portion which can be detached from the lower portion of the sleeve once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve has a plurality of horizontally and diagonally positioned expansion elements for allowing expansion of the base portion and/or skirt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Cover forming method with downward pivoting forming members
    Patent number: 6647695
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for covering a flower pot with a sheet of material. The apparatus includes a supporting platform, a pot receiving opening formed through the supporting platform and a plurality of forming members radially arranged around the pot receiving opening. The plurality of forming members are designed and disposed such that upon insertion of the flower pot and the sheet of material into the pot receiving opening the forming members pivot in a downward direction and form the sheet of material around an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot. The forming members are also upwardly biased so as to assist in ejecting the covered flower pot in an upward direction from the pot receiving opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative grass formed of polymeric materials having a matte or textured finish simulating the texture and appearance of paper
    Patent number: 6649242
    Abstract: Decorative grasses having a texture and/or appearance assimilating the texture and/or appearance of paper are disclosed, as are method for making such decorative grasses from materials wherein at least one surface of the materials is modified to assimilate the texture and/or appearance of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Adjustable weapon auxiliary mount
    Patent number: 6648287
    Abstract: An adjustable weapon auxiliary mount for mounting devices of different diameters, one at a time, to a rail of a weapon. The adjustable weapon auxiliary mount is provided with a base, a device clamp and a rail clamp. The base has a first end, an opposed second end, and a clamping surface formed therebetween. The device clamp is mounted to the base. The device clamp is provided with a clamping member having a clamping surface facing the clamping surface of the base and spatially disposed therefrom so as to define a receiving space for receiving one device and securely gripping the device. The clamping surfaces of the clamping member and the base are configured to securely grip, one at a time, devices having varying diameters within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Tactical & Rescue Equipment, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Donald W. Wooten, Robert M. Wohlfeld
  • Method for making curled decorative grass having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper
    Patent number: 6645408
    Abstract: Curled decorative grasses having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof are disclosed, as are methods for making such curled decorative grasses from materials wherein at least a portion of one surface of the materials is modified to simulate the texture or appearance of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Wrapping material having an extension for design indicia for wrapping flower pots and floral arrangements and methods
    Patent number: 6640493
    Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or for forming a flower pot, comprising a sheet of material, an extension of the sheet of material attached to the sheet of material, the extension having design indicia thereon, wherein the sheet of material is sized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or contain a floral arrangement or potted plant. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement, a flower pot, and to form a flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l. Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Lisa A. Straeter
  • Flower pot wrapper
    Patent number: 6640492
    Abstract: A wrapper for flower pots. The wrapper is a sheet of material with each segment having a lower portion sized to surround a sidewall of the flower pot and an upper portion detachable from the lower portion via a detaching element such as perforations. The sheet of material can be formed about the flower pot and the adjacent edges of the segment joined and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of covering a potted plant
    Patent number: 6637154
    Abstract: A plant packaging method providing a tubular sleeve having excess material therein and attaching the sleeve to a potted plant via a bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Folded corrugated decorative grass formed of paper and metallized film
    Patent number: 6638584
    Abstract: The present invention discloses folded corrugated material for producing segments or strips for use as Easter grass, packing material and the like or for use as flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Edge scan sensor for web guiding apparatus
    Patent number: 6635895
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of an edge of a moving web of material travelling along a predetermined travel path. the sensor system comprising a transmitter/receiver assembly, a beam reflector assembly and sensor signal processing. The transmitter/receiver assembly is positioned adjacent to the travel path of the moving web of material. The transmitter/receiver assembly has a transmitter transmitting a light curtain across at least a portion of the travel path, and a receiver receiving a shifted light curtain transmitted across at least a portion of the travel path and generating video output signals indicative of the position of the edge of the moving web of material. The beam reflector assembly is also positioned adjacent to the travel path of the moving web of material such that the travel path passes between the transmitter/receiver assembly and the beam reflector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Fife Corporation
    Inventors: Md. M. Haque, Jim Yates, Darcy Winter, Steven Schmidt, Dale Hueppelsheuser, Greg A. Storie
  • Floral sleeve having an extendable skirt and methods
    Patent number: 6634137
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion and skirt portion. The sleeve may have an upper protective sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed thereby allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. The sleeve has a plurality of folds comprising expansion for allowing portions of the base portion to expand, and portions of the skirt portion to extend angularly, when a pot is disposed within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Rapid method of detection and enumeration of sulfide-producing bacteria in food products
    Patent number: 6632632
    Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. A plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 4 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. A visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective in about 4 hours to 17 hours at 30° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Colifast AS
    Inventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
  • Floral sleeve having an extendable skirt and methods
    Patent number: 6629385
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion and skirt portion. The sleeve may have an upper protective sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed thereby allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. The sleeve has a plurality of folds comprising expansion for allowing portions of the base portion to expand, and portions of the skirt portion to extend angularly, when a pot is disposed within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Channelizer drum and handle
    Patent number: D481965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Flexolite
    Inventors: Corey Feit, John L. Garavaglia, III