Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Ellis, Venable & Busam
  • Patent number: 6142159
    Abstract: A barrette made of a single flat strip of PETG that is formed into a shape that will encircle and bind a braid of hair. The shape is formed such that the two ends of the flat strip join when in a closed position. The ends of the flat strip have teeth such that the two ends of the flat strip mate when the barrette is in a closed position. The interior of the barrette is provided with a row of teeth in order to grip the hair and prevent it from slipping through the barrette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Lisa Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6142910
    Abstract: A method and therapy software system for preventing computer operator injuries combines a computer with a software system and prevents or rehabilitates computer operator injuries resulting from the prolonged use of a computer keyboard or mouse associated with the computer by reminding said computer operator to perform physical therapy exercises that are designed to reduce the potential injuries that can result from prolonged uninterrupted use of a computer keyboard or mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: John A. Heuvelman
  • Patent number: 6129510
    Abstract: An impeller for a supercharger is described. The impeller comprises a body having a base and an air intake end wherein the body is adapted to mount to a drive assembly of the supercharger. Further, the drive assembly is able to drive and rotate the body. Precision made air vanes are attached to the body wherein the precision made air vanes and the body are able to be positioned within a volute chamber housing creating precision sealing gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Inventor: Allen L. Martin
  • Patent number: 6119993
    Abstract: A passive mountaineering chock or stopper is provided and which comprises of a prismatoid body having a first skewed hexagonal base, a second, parallel hexagonal base, and six lateral trapezoidal faces forming three opposed pairs of faces, each face with one side lying in the first skewed hexagonal base and an opposite side on each trapezoidal face lying in the second skewed hexagonal base, where lengths of the sides of the skewed hexagonal base substantially obey the following relationship: a first side has a length, a fourth side opposite the first side is slightly larger than the first side, a third side, immediately adjacent to the fourth side, is the same length as the second side, a sixth side, opposite the third side and adjacent the first side is slightly longer than the third and fourth sides, a fifth side, immediately adjacent the sixth side is the same length as the sixth side, and a second side, opposite the fifth side and adjacent the first and third sides, is longer than the fifth and sixth side
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventors: Gary S. Youngblood, Glen J. Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 6106490
    Abstract: An exercise and rehabilitation machine for strengthening the torso muscles and rehabilitating back injuries includes an optional leg support and an angled torso platform further having attached a plurality of vibrational therapy pads and body pads whereby the angled torso platform cradles and supports that portion of weight attributable to the upper body, or torso, of a user, and if the leg support is not used, the user supports that portion of weight attributable to the lower body with the user's feet against the bottom surface of a room, or otherwise, if the leg support is included, the user supports that portion of weight attributable to the lower body with the user's legs draped over the leg support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: George B. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6102459
    Abstract: The present invention is a vacuum valve assembly that creates vacuum on demand. The assembly has a body with a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, a fluid flow channel extending between the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port, a vacuum port, a low pressure channel extending between the vacuum port and the fluid flow channel, a sensing member receiving channel, the sensing member receiving channel extending between the fluid flow channel and the low pressure channel, and a flow occlusion chamber that intersects the fluid flow channel. There is a sensing member with a fluid flow regulation portion and a sensing portion. The sensing portion is adapted to be movably received by the sensing member receiving channel. The sensing member is movable from a closed position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventors: William V. Pabst, Bertrand S. De Pecker
  • Patent number: 6024374
    Abstract: A device, or attachment, that allows a person to manually transport small to medium-sized trailers that have a mechanism for receiving a trailer hitch. The device, which attaches to the flat bed portion of a standard dolly, comprises an angled trailer hitch that attaches to the topside of a first substantially flat plate at an obtuse angle with respect to a front end of the first flat plate. There is a second substantially flat plate that is generally parallel to the first flat plate both plates attach to each other at back ends, respectively. The two flat plates are separated by a distance that allows a third flat plate, typically a part of the dolly, to be inserted and secured between them. Once the device is attached to the dolly, a user engages the trailer hitch portion of the present invention to a trailer, and manually transports the trailer using the dolly as the mechanism for directing the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Delton Friesen
  • Patent number: 6018580
    Abstract: An automatic telephone number dialing circuit powered from a standard telephone network wire for storing telephone numbers using non-volatile memory including a one-touch dialing device that enables a user to automatically dial a plurality of telephone numbers that are pre-programmed in non-volatile read only memory of an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Leonard J Nellessen