Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dunlap, Codding & Rogers, P.C.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • In situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6534008
    Abstract: An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to by physically removed from one apparatus to another. Each treatment step occurs within the same reaction compartment. The reaction conditions of each reaction compartment for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide. The reagents are preferably held in a reagent dispensing strip similar to a “blister pack”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Angros
  • Method of containing a botanical item
    Patent number: 6530193
    Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The upper portion may be detachable from the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Flat sleeve convertible to a decorative container
    Patent number: 6523305
    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: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, Paul Fantz
  • Floor covering removal apparatus
    Patent number: 6523906
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus for removing floor coverings. The apparatus has a main frame supported by wheels and includes a scraper blade mounted on the front of the frame and a rotary cutter assembly mounted underneath the frame with controls whereby the scraping blade is used independently of the rotary cutters and the rotary cutters are use independently of the scraping blade, and wherein the rotary cutters may be moved from underneath the frame to one side of the frame for ready access to the cutter members of the rotary cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Tommie J. Holder
  • Enhanced oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density UV-accessible aerogel photocatalyst
    Patent number: 6524536
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density, UV light accessible aerogel photocatalyst is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a photocatalytic reactor system broadly comprising a photocatalytic reactor cell, a UV light source, and a pump to force the contaminated air stream through the photocatalytic reactor cell. The photocatalytic reactor cell includes glass cell. A catalyst bed formed of a titanium dioxide aerogel is provided in the glass cell whereby a high fraction of the titanium dioxide aerogel is accessible to UV light and gas. The catalyst bed is exposed to UV light from the UV light source and a contaminated air stream is introduced into the photocatalytic reactor cell such that the air stream passes through the catalyst bed causing oxidation of the contaminants of the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Gerard K. Newman, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Lance Lobban
  • Method of covering a flower pot
    Patent number: 6523327
    Abstract: A plant packaging method of providing a tubular sleeve having a lower portion and an upper portion detachable from the lower portion and disposing the tubular sleeve about a potted plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • System for forming a decorative cover for a plant having substantial horizontal growth
    Patent number: 6523303
    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: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Michael J. King