Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Rogers, P.C.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Decorative grower's containers and methods for using same
    Patent number: 6625928
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for growing a plant in a grower's container having an aesthetically pleasing appearance without the use of a decorative container cover when a grown plant contained in the grower's container is on display. The apparatus and method include providing a grower's container, cleaning at least a portion of the grower's container to provide a clean area on which a decorative sticker is applied, disposing growing medium and a floral grouping in the floral grouping retaining space of the decorative grower's container, feeding and watering the floral grouping until it matures to a size desired for marketing, and the decorative grower's container so that the decorative pattern disposed thereon is visible when on display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Thermoplastic flower pot with a thin skirt
    Patent number: 6618990
    Abstract: A flower pot cover constructed of a material for providing a decorative cover for an item, such as a floral grouping. The flower pot cover comprises a base portion and a skirt portion. The base portion has an upper end, a lower end, a bottom having a first thickness and a continuous sidewall extending generally between the upper and lower ends of the base portion. The skirt portion is positioned circumferentially about the upper end of the base portion and extends a distance therefrom. The skirt portion is substantially flexible and has a third thickness which is less than the first thickness of the bottom of the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion cooperate to provide the flower pot cover with a shape sustaining configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio V. Alcazar, Donald E. Weder
  • Synthetic decorative grass simulating spanish moss and method for making same
    Patent number: 6605170
    Abstract: Curled decorative grasses and methods for producing same are disclosed wherein the curled decorative grasses have improved bulk and simulate Spanish moss in color and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative assembly for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6598342
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for supporting a floral grouping utilizes a shape sustaining floral holding material, a sheet of material and a band. The decorative assembly is formed by a method which includes the steps of forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the floral holding material with a forming device such that an upper end of the floral holding material remains substantially uncovered, and thereafter securing the sheet of material about the floral holding material with a band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Method for wrapping a floral grouping with a sleeve having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth
    Patent number: 6598372
    Abstract: Flexible polymeric materials having a cloth-like appearance suitable for use in the formation of flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materials are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern and methods for producing same
    Patent number: 6596352
    Abstract: A method for making decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern which constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. Printed designs or materials and/or embossed materials can also constitute a portion of the decor of the decorative grass. The method includes slitting a material having a three-dimensional pattern on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof and then cutting the slit material into segments of a predetermined length to provide the decorative grass having a three-dimensional pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Synthetic glycosulfopeptides and methods of synthesis thereof
    Patent number: 6593459
    Abstract: A new class of synthetic glycosulfopeptides (GSPs) which have one or more sulfated tyrosine residues and a glycan linked to the peptide, the glycan preferably including a sialyl Lewisx group or a sialyl Lewisa group. In a preferred version the GSPs have an O-glycan comprising a &bgr;1,6 linkage to a GalNAc. The present invention further contemplates in vitro methods of the synthesis of these GSPs without the use of the cells and methods of their use in vivo as powerful anti-inflammatory antithrombotic, or anti-metastatic compounds. The invention also contemplates a method of synthesizing oligosaccharides by cleaving the glycan from the GSP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Richard D. Cummings, Rodger P. McEver
  • Bending an optical fiber into a backplane
    Patent number: 6594435
    Abstract: A right angle bend mount for bending an optical fiber into the plane of a circuit board. The mount includes a base and a cover that is pivotably connected to the base by a hinge. A clamp is formed by a first pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover adjacent the hinge. This clamp fixedly grips a ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A second pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover forms another clamp. This clamp fixedly grips a non-ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A bent portion of the optical fiber between the ferrule portion and the gripped non-ferrule portion is disposed in a non-gripping gap between the base and the cover when the base and the cover are closed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Viasystems Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. A. M. Tourné
  • Automatic stock trading system
    Patent number: 6594643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically trading real investment items desirably on at least one trading exchange based on predetermined conditions. The present invention includes a data interface for receiving investment data identifying at least one item capable of being traded and containing information uniquely associated with the item. An individual trading computer receives predetermined trading criteria for making a trade. The individual trading computer receives the investment data and the predetermined trading criteria. The individual trading computer then analyzes the investment data with the trading criteria and outputs a trade request signal desirably with no manual intervention in response to the analysis determining that the item should be traded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Charles C. Freeny, Jr.
  • Ribbon formed of cloth and polymeric film
    Patent number: 6588149
    Abstract: Ribbon material 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: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Bench
    Patent number: D479920
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventors: Harold L. Ware, Dennis R. Beecham
  • Swing
    Patent number: D480224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventors: Harold L. Ware, Dennis R. Beecham