Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Rogers, P.C.
  • System for forming a decorative cover for a plant having substantial horizontal growth
    Patent number: 6662494
    Abstract: A decorative cover for use with a plant having substantial horizontal growth is provided, as well as methods of making and using same. The decorative cover includes a base in which the plant can be disposed and a decorative border connected to and extending from the base. The decorative border has a curvilinear, undulating configuration which permits the decorative border to hold, support and cushion individual leaves and petioles of the plant to prevent damage thereto and to accommodate horizontal growth of the leaves and petioles of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Michael J. King
  • Method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping
    Patent number: 6662497
    Abstract: A method for providing a decorative cover for a floral grouping wherein the decorative cover is provided with card holder assembly for securing a card to the decorative cover, and a design indicia bearing portion which extends above the remainder of the decorative cover and thereby enhances the visual aesthetic effect of the decorative cover. The decorative cover is formed from a sheet of material having a design indicia, the sheet of material having an opening extending therethrough wherein the opening is offset from a central portion of the sheet of material in a direction generally away from the indicia bearing portion of the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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