Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Roger
  • Vapor sensing instrument for ultra trace chemical detection
    Patent number: 6558626
    Abstract: A detector for detecting vapors emitted from energetic compounds includes a housing, a pump and a sensing assembly. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and an enclosed sensing volume there between. The pump communicates with the housing for moving a carrier gas sequentially through the enclosed sensing volume at a predetermined flow rate. The sensing assembly senses the vapors of the energetic compound delivered by the carrier gas as the carrier gas passes through the housing. The sensing assembly includes a sensing unit constructed of an amplifying fluorescent polymer, a source of excitation, a light detector, and a convertor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Nomadics, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Aker, Colin J. Cumming, Mark E. Fisher, Michael J. Fox, Marcus J. laGrone, Dennis K. Reust, Mark G. Rockley, Eric S. Towers
  • Method of applying a containment border to an analytical plate
    Patent number: 6555384
    Abstract: An analytic plate such as a microscope slide or a diagnostic plate and kit having the slide or plate, the slide or plate having a containment border for containing a liquid, histological or other biological sample. The containment border is substantially transparent and is substantially flush with the surface of the slide or plate for containing the liquid, histological or other biological sample disposed thereon and thereby preventing spreading or migration of the sample across the slide or plate. The containment border is preferably comprised of a polysiloxane coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Angros
  • Decorative grass formed of polymeric materials having a texture and appearance assimilating paper
    Patent number: 6555198
    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: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for packaging a potted plant
    Patent number: 6546699
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is placed in a cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Method of wrapping a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6546695
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material, or both, and a detaching element such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The wrapper may further comprise an additional strip of bonding material for bonding an informational card or label to the wrapper. After the wrapper is wrapped about the floral grouping, a portion of the wrapper may be removed by using the detaching element, thereby leaving a portion of the wrapper wrapped or bound about the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Method for packaging a potted plant
    Patent number: 6546700
    Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is placed in a cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Craig, Joseph G. Straeter, Donald E. Weder
  • Package and method of packaging
    Patent number: 6546701
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Frank Craig
  • Sleeve with a triangular lower end
    Patent number: 6546669
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve having a triangular lower end for covering a pot or floral grouping. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion and may have a non-linear or linear upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Decorative assembly for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6543184
    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: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 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
  • Decorative grass formed of cloth and polymeric film
    Patent number: 6544620
    Abstract: Decorative grasses formed from a material constructed of a layer of cloth and a layer of polymeric film wherein at least a portion of the layer of polymeric film is laminated to the layer of cloth, as well as methods for forming same, are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Floral sleeve having a decorative pattern
    Patent number: 6539667
    Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system including a floral sleeve having a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have a lower portion sized to cover a pot and an upper portion which can surround a plant disposed in the pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the upper portion is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The decorative pattern has a non-linear upper boundary which gives the sleeve the appearance of having a non-linear upper edge or skirt extending from the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of covering a potted plant
    Patent number: 6539668
    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: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method of covering a pot or floral grouping with a sleeve having a curvilinear lower end
    Patent number: 6539666
    Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a curvilinear lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or nonlinear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve, the curvilinear lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Boat trailer apparatus and methods of use
    Patent number: 6540245
    Abstract: A collapsible trailer apparatus and methods of use and more particularly to a boat trailer having a boat storage space below a rigid frame. The boat trailer may also be collapsible and can be used to transport boats of varying sizes and shapes between lakes and camps without the need to empty the boat of any contents. The collapsible boat trailer can be broken down into a plurality of smaller components that are readily stored and transported. The present invention also particularly pertains to a boat trailer apparatus which may be collapsible and which is uniquely suited for short distance motorized vehicle towing. The collapsible boat trailer apparatus can be quickly disassembled without the use of bulky and/or numerous tools into lightweight sub-components for convenient storage and transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Lester Shankle, Joseph J. Sorocco, Jr.
  • Composition for providing an abrasion resistant coating on a substrate with a matched refractive index:2
    Patent number: 6538092
    Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions as well as methods of making and using said compositions, having improved stability which, when applied to a variety of substrates and cured, form transparent coatings having abrasion resistant properties and a matched refractive index to that of the substrate. The compositions comprise an aqueous-organic solvent mixture containing a mixture of hydrolysis products and partial condensates of an epoxy-functional silane, a carboxylic acid functional compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, multifunctional carboxylic acids, anhydrides, and combinations thereof, a metal oxide composite colloid, a colloidal silica material, and a tetrafunctional silane. The coating compositions of the present invention may further include a mixture of hydrolysis products and partial condensates of one or more silane additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: SDC Coatings, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl W. Terry, Bryan S. Lembo
  • Method for forming a cover about a flower pot
    Patent number: 6536186
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to fit a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: SouthPac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Manufactured home foundation
    Patent number: 6536170
    Abstract: A foundation system for a manufactured home utilizing a plurality of elongated footings extending transversely of the home and support blocks which may be pushed along the footings into proper position for attachment to the structural beams of the manufactured home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph H. Stuever
  • Method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6536185
    Abstract: A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping. The method includes the, step of providing a decorative covering assembly comprising a header assembly and at least one sheet of material detachably connected to the header assembly. The header assembly is secured to a holder assembly such that the decorative covering assembly is supported by the holder assembly and at least one sheet of material can be detached from the header assembly. At least one sheet of material is detached from the header assembly and is disposed about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide a decorative covering for the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Sonny K. Burnside
  • Packaging material
    Patent number: 6534136
    Abstract: A packaging material for use in filling baskets and protecting articles. The packaging material includes a flexible bag having an exterior surface and an interior surface and a mass of individual, thin, flexible strips of material intertwined with one another to form a cohesive, resilient tuft. The mass of individual, thin, flexible strips are bondingly are disposed in the bag and bondingly connected to the interior surface of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l. Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Lapel pin/eyeglass holder
    Patent number: D473813
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventors: Jacklyn A. Titus, Kay L. Johnson