Patents Represented by Law Firm Dunlap & Codding
  • Patent number: 5564256
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus having a springable base with attached arms which support a wrapping material. The spaced apart arms extend upward and outward from the perimeter of the springable base, which is flexible to assume an arched posture and a flat posture. In response to downward pressure on a central area of the springable base, the springable base snaps from the arched posture into the flat posture. When the springable base is in the arched posture, the arms and wrapping material are in an open position to receive an item to be wrapped. The arms and wrapping material move into a closed position when the springable base assumes the flat posture. The wrapping apparatus may be constructed with or without an upper skirt of wrapping material. The wrapping material may be inside the arms, outside the arms or may envelope the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5564257
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically wrapping a sheet of material about a bouquet of flowers. A sheet of material having spaced apart defined first and second portions is placed against a support member, such as a prepared table top, and the bouquet is positioned on the sheet with the first and second portions of the sheet extending on right and left sides, respectively, of the bouquet. The first sheet portion is then moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet, and the second sheet portion is moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet and to extend over part of the first sheet portion. The two sheet portions may be secured together by a bonding material, or the first and second portions of the sheet of wrapping material can themselves act as a bonding material by application of appropriate heat sealing, sonic welding, vibratory welding, and similar methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Fantz, Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig
  • Patent number: 5564567
    Abstract: A method for preparing a plant package assembly for delivery to a predetermined location and for transporting the plant package assembly thereto. The plant package assembly comprises a plurality of floral groupings disposed within floral containers. Each floral container is bondingly connected at its base to a support surface by a bonding material disposed on the floral container base, the floral container positioned in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5564347
    Abstract: An apparatus mounted to an enclosure housing of a water entrained ash hopper for dislodging ash pluggages across an ash discharge opening in the ash hopper to maintain passage of ash from the ash hopper. The apparatus comprising a plate rotatably and sealingly connected to the enclosure housing, and a cylinder, mounted to the plate. The cylinder mounted to the plate such that a rod assembly extending from the cylinder is angularly disposed through the plate toward the ash discharge opening so as to be selectively extendable through a selected area of the ash discharge opening along an arc-shaped path. The piston movable from a retracted position to an extended position such that the rod extends into the ash discharge opening to dislodge ash pluggages disposed across the ash discharge opening. The rod assembly adapted to convey a stream of high pressure fluid against the ash pluggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry E. Kuennen, Ronald G. Madron, Gary M. Crisp
  • Patent number: 5561894
    Abstract: Method for providing a decorative cover by providing a flower pot, positioning a sleeve about the floral grouping with a portion of the sleeve extending along a portion of the flower pot, disposing a sheet of material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot; and positioning a collar about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot with a portion of the sleeve and the sheet of material being disposed between the collar and the flower pot whereby the collar secures the sleeve and the sheet of material to the flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig, William F. Straeter, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5562798
    Abstract: A sleeve forming method and apparatus where sleeves are formed by use of overlapping webs. The webs are twisted in one direction to form a seal at one side of a sleeve and later twisted in the opposite direction to form the seal at the opposite side of a sleeve, such that all of the sleeves are oriented in the same direction, such as with the large openings of the sleeves facing upwardly and the smaller openings of the sleeves facing downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Frank Craig
  • Patent number: 5561965
    Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5562210
    Abstract: A floral arrangement wrapped with a sheet of material. The sheet of material has a bonding material disposed thereon for crimping the sheet about the floral grouping. The sheet also has a pull tab with a bonding material thereon for gripping the sheet and holding the sheet in a crimped position about the floral arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5560181
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for covering portions of an object having an outer peripheral surface with a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of the lower surface by wrapping the sheet of material about portions of the outer peripheral surface and positioning the sheet of material so that the pressure sensitive coating either contacts portions of the outer peripheral surface of the object and is bonded thereto or contacts overlapping portions of the sheet of material and is bonded to other adjacent portions of the sheet of material having the pressure sensitive coating thereon or overlapping portions of the sheet of material are bonded by the pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5560488
    Abstract: A decorative plant assembly and a method for making such including a flower pot or other pot or plant container, a sheet of material having an opening formed through a portion of the sheet of material and a bonding means for holding the sheet of material in a position about the outer peripheral surface of the pot. When placed about the pot, at least a portion of the sheet of material engages a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot. At least a portion of the bottom of the pot means is exposed through the opening in the sheet of material. A portion of the sheet of material may extend away from the upper end of the pot means to form a skirt. The sheet of material when extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot may further comprise a plurality of folds. The sheet of material may further comprise a tubular extension extending from the lower surface of the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: Southpac Trust International, Inc., The Family Trust U/T/A
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5557882
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a floral grouping, preferably an orchid, with a wrapper which may be a sheet of material, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover. The wrapper is preferably constructed from a laminated material made up of at least a waxy layer and a support layer which are superposed upon each other and connected or laminated to each other. A second waxy layer may be connected or laminated to the other surface of the support surface. The waxy layer is made from a waxed paper or waxed tissue. The wrapped floral grouping may also contain a shredded material for cushioning the blooms of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weber
  • Patent number: 5558432
    Abstract: A drum mixer having a combined heating-mixing zone which receives aggregate from both ends. The drum mixer includes a rotatable drum having an inlet end and a discharge end. Within the drum, a drying zone extends from the inlet end to a combustion zone and a mixing zone extends from the combustion zone to the discharge end. A cylindrical, tubular combustion housing is mounted in the combustion zone to define the heating-mixing zone between the drum and the combustion housing. The inner periphery of the combustion housing defines a combustion chamber into which the flame of a burner assembly is directed. The heating-mixing zone communicates with the drying zone, the combustion chamber, and the mixing zone. Aggregate is introduced into the drying zone and is urged toward the combustion zone as the drum is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: George W. Swisher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5557806
    Abstract: A weight-lifting glove having a support strap which is attachable to the bar of a weight to be lifted. The glove includes a glove member and the strap. The glove member has a palm side, a back side, a wrist end, a glove opening at the wrist end, four finger stalls and a thumb stall. Further, a sleeve is provided on the palm side of the glove member. The strap has a free end, an attached end and a running portion. With the hand inserted into the glove member, the running portion of the strap is brought from the wrist through the sleeve to angularly cross the palm side of the glove member. Then the strap is wrapped around the weight-lifting bar or other object to be gripped. Fastener strips are provided on the strap for releasably and adjustably securing the strap around the object to be gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: OK-1 Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Caswell, Richard K. Davis
  • Patent number: 5554248
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a livestock feeder for retaining hay so that livestock can consume the hay without trampling thereon is disclosed which includes forming a plurality of leg members and a plurality of retainer members connectable to the leg members. The retainer members are fabricated of a polymeric material having angular deflection characteristics and memory so that the retainer members can be angularly deflected by pressures exerted thereon and restored to a substantially non-deflected position when such pressures are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Joe L. Payne
  • Patent number: 5554359
    Abstract: A composition comprising a lysosomotropic agent, and optionally phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and/or methylxanthines for increasing synthesis of melanin in a human melanocyte thereby enhancing pigmentation of the human skin. Use of this composition promotes tanning of the human skin and increases photoprotection from ultraviolet radiation. An organ culture system comprising viable human foreskin samples which may be used to test the effects of agents on human skin, including pigmentation enhancers on human skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventor: Bryan B. Fuller
  • Patent number: D373746
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374204
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: D374414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.,
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: D374640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignees: The Family Trust U/T/A, Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon S. Shryock