Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Eugene Stephens & Associates
  • Patent number: 5970889
    Abstract: An insulated steel shell safe has a lip extending inward around an inner periphery of a door opening; and a molded resin liner, inserted into the steel shell through the door opening, is connected to the lip to form an interior of the safe. The liner has a face flange seated against the front face of the lip and outwardly extending ribs engaging a rear face of the lip. This supports the liner within the shell by engagement of the face flange and the ribs with the lip while insulation material is poured through a back wall of the shell into the space between the shell and the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: John D. Brush & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Shaffer, Leland E. Emery
  • Patent number: 5958133
    Abstract: A crystal-growing machine (10) includes a furnace chamber (12) and two loading chambers (14 and 16) that permit simultaneous processing operations. At least one of the two loading chambers (14 and 16) includes a lifting mechanism (36) for pulling a crystal (40) from a melt (20) in the furnace chamber (12). A positioning mechanism (60) disengages one of the loading chambers (14 and 16) from the furnace chamber (12) for cooling the crystal (40) in an evacuated environment and engages the other of the loading chambers (14 and 16) for simultaneously recharging the melt (20) or starting growth of another crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Anatoli S. Boulaev
  • Patent number: 5957801
    Abstract: A coil spring preload system is applied to a parallel-axis differential having a thrust block interposed between ends of axles splined to side gears within the differential. A pair of spring plates are interposed between the thrust block and the side gears, and the spring plates retain preload coil springs arranged in sectors between the thrust block and planetary gears of the differential. The spring plates are retained against rotation relative to the differential housing, preferably by piloting against the planetary gears. U-shaped access openings in the spring plates to allow application of C-clips retaining axle ends within the differential are preferably closed by filler plates having the same thickness as the spring plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Torsen Inc.
    Inventor: Noel R. Barnes, II
  • Patent number: 5950723
    Abstract: A temperature controlled chuck (20) includes a heating unit (24) and a cooling unit (34). A first cavity (30) separates the heating unit (24) from a wafer substrate (18), and a second cavity (50) separates the cooling unit (34) from the heating unit (24). A first fluid delivery system (60) conducts fluid to the first cavity (30) to facilitate exchanges of heat between the heating unit (24) and the substrate (18). A second fluid delivery system (70) conducts fluid to the second cavity (50) to facilitate exchanges of heat between the heating unit (24) and the cooling unit (34). A control system (90) raises the temperature of the substrate (18) by increasing power to the heating unit (24) and by evacuating fluid from the second cavity (50) and lowers the temperature of the substrate (18) by reducing power to the heating unit (24) and by conducting fluid to the second cavity (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: CVC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian Heimanson, Thomas R. Omstead
  • Patent number: 5946954
    Abstract: A door bushing system includes bushings formed as part of a molded resin door jamb in an insulated steel shell safe door. The mold for the door jamb is designed to form as many bushings as are required and can also form stubs or sleeves for mounting other safe components. The bushings can support parts of such components as combination locks, key locks, and door handles. The combination lock and the handle have spindles whose opposite ends have identical configurations to facilitate assembly. The spindles are also made from resinous material to reduce heat transmission and to allow attachment by insert molding. Because the bushings are installed automatically with the door jamb, this door bushing system eliminates the need for separate installation of bushings after assembly of the door, ensuring proper alignment and reducing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: John D. Brush & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Leland E. Emery, Kelvin H. Wildman, David A. Nowicky
  • Patent number: 5934267
    Abstract: A heater member is molded in, or otherwise appropriately form-fitted around or into, the hand grip of a bow. The heater member is energized by batteries located within a carrier in the form of an elongated container that includes, at one end, an adapter for cooperating with the stabilizer fitting of the bow. The carrier is received and supported by the bow's stabilizer fitting so that it extends with its longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the front of the bow. At the distal end of the carrier, a weighted, removable and adjustable counterbalance element is provided. The mass and position of the counterbalance element can be varied to meet the counterbalance requirements of the archer. In a preferred embodiment, the heater member uses wire-wound or etched foil electrical resistance heating elements encased in a sheet of flexible insulator material that has a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing to facilitate attachment of the heater member to the bow's hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Scott M. Briner
  • Patent number: 5934031
    Abstract: Wind resistance of a window mounting tilt sash between a pair of jamb liners is increased by braces that attach to frame sides of the jamb liners at the check rail region of the window. The braces have a profile that fits a frame side profile of the jamb liners, including brace channels that receive and support shoe channels of the jamb liners. The braces help the jamb liners resist deformation in response to wind force and significantly increase the wind resistance of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard S. deNormand
  • Patent number: 5936829
    Abstract: A chuck body mounts a substrate within a vacuum chamber. Contiguous portions of the substrate and the chuck body form a heat-transfer interface. An intermediate sealing structure seals the chuck body to the substrate independently of any contact between the chuck body and the substrate and forms a separately pressurizable region within the vacuum chamber. A control system promotes flows of gas through a periphery of the heat-transfer interface within the separately pressurizable region for controlling gas pressures at the heat-transfer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: CVC Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehrdad M. Moslehi
  • Patent number: 5930023
    Abstract: Printed electrochemical display cells are arranged in layer form with two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer occupying distinct areas of a substrate. An electrolyte layer overlaps most of one electrode layer but contacts a smaller portion of the other electrode layer, which is made of a thin film. When activated, an electrochemical reaction progressively increases the area occupied by the electrolyte layer and progressively decreases the area occupied by the thin-film electrode layer. The thin-film electrode layer recedes at a boundary in common with the electrolyte layer and provides an irreversible indication of change at a rate governed by the electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Wisconsin Label Corporation
    Inventors: Chauncey T. Mitchell, Jr., Gerrit L. Verschuur, Mark A. Shadle, David M. Good, Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 5923096
    Abstract: An all-electric vehicle control system arranges operator interface controls at a console between a pair of seats, either of which can be used by an operator. The console controls include a joystick arranged in communication with an electronic motor control system for driving and regeneratively braking the vehicle wheels. The joystick is also in communication with an electronic servo amplifier and an electric servo actuator that steers the vehicle electromechanically and provides a closed loop feedback circuit for steering control. Electromagnetically actuated brakes are interposed between drive wheels and electric drive motors and are energized automatically whenever the vehicle rolls to a stop, thereby holding the vehicle still. The console also includes a dynamic brake switch that can energize the electromagnetic brakes for decelerating the vehicle in conjunction with regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Manak Dynamics Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Richard T. Manak
  • Patent number: 5923425
    Abstract: A grazing incidence interferometer includes an extended light source for limiting spatial coherence of reference and test beams. A test plate is oriented at a grazing incidence to the test beam so that a first portion of the test beam is reflected from the front surface of the test plate, a second portion of the test beam is reflected from the back surface of the test plate, and the two test beam portions are sheared with respect to each other. The spatial coherence of the test beam is related to the lateral shear between the first and second test beam portions to significantly reduce contrast of an interference fringe pattern between the front and back surfaces of the test plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Tropel Corporation
    Inventors: Paul G. Dewa, Andrew W. Kulawiec
  • Patent number: 5917096
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new process for the preparation of .beta.-caryophyllene alcohol, in which the sesquiterpene fraction at 110-120.degree. C./6 mmHg in Chinese pinus massoniana oleoresin composition undergoes isomerization in the presence of sulfuric acid as catalyst and the .beta.-caryophyllene alcohol is thus prepared through separation, re-crystallization and purification of the residue from the bottom of the vessel for the preparation of isolongifolene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Research Institute of Chemical Processing and Utilization of Forest Products
    Inventor: Hongjun Liu
  • Patent number: 5912759
    Abstract: An electrochemical display cell has a layered construction including two electrode layers separated by a dielectric layer. Concentric openings are formed in the dielectric layer and one of the electrode layers exposing a designated portion of the other electrode layer. An electrolyte layer overlaps the one electrode layer and the designated portion of the other electrode layer. When activated, current flow cascades through the openings in the one electrode layer and the dielectric layer to the designated portion of the other electrode layer supporting an electrochemical reaction that erodes the designated portion revealing underlying visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Wisconsin Label Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Good, Mark A. Shadle, Gerrit L. Verschuur, Chauncey T. Mitchell, Jr., Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 5909282
    Abstract: Thickness variations of semiconductor wafers are measured by interfering two beams of infrared light that are relatively modified by reflections from opposite side surfaces of the wafers. Non-null interferometric measurements are made by illuminating the wafers with diverging beams and subtracting errors caused by varying angles of incidence. Null interferometric measurements are made of both thickness variations and flatness. Infrared light, which can transmit through the wafers, is used for measuring thickness variations; and visible light, which cannot transmit through the wafers, is used for simultaneously measuring flatness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Tropel Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew W. Kulawiec
  • Patent number: 5909281
    Abstract: An interferometer (10) employs diffractive optics (30 and 40) for measuring errors in test surfaces (14) that differ from planes and spheres. A beam of light (28) having a planar shape is separated into two portions (32 and 34). One of the diffractive optics (30) can be used to reshape the second portion (34) of a beam of light (28) into a non-planar shape along a path of grazing incidence to the test surface (14), and the other diffractive optic (40) can be used to further reshape the second portion (34) back into a planar shape in common with the first portion (32) of the beam of light (28). The two planar beam portions (32 and 34) are recombined to produce an interference pattern (44) representing the errors in the test surface (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Tropel Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bruning
  • Patent number: 5901540
    Abstract: A garden tool that includes a rake and a shovel rake for picking up and placing fallen leaves, twigs, branches, grass clippings, and other debris into a transport container such as a wheelbarrow, garbage bag, or trash can. The rake has prongs pointing in two directions so that the rake can gather leaves when in a raking position, but can also hold leaves against the shovel rake when in a placement or transport position. The prongs can each be carried on individual tines of the rake or can be carried in pairs, one prong facing in each direction. The handle of the shovel rake pivots on the handle of the rake so that it rests on top of the handle when the rake is used to collect leaves. After debris is gathered, the user places the shovel rake on one side of the leaves to be moved, swings the rake to the far side of the leaves to be moved, lowers the rake, and draws the rake toward the shovel rake. The user then picks up the shovel rake, the leaves being held in place by the rake as gravity acts on the rake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: James A. Vella
  • Patent number: 5902466
    Abstract: A sputtering apparatus for depositing a thin film (66) of magnetic material on a substrate (26) is modified to include a plate-shaped electromagnet (34, 44, or 70) for orienting magnetic domains within the film (66). The electromagnet (34, 44, or 70) has conductive windings (38; 46, 48, and 50; or 72) that are arranged for producing a magnetic field (42 or 52) within a plane (60) corresponding to a surface of the substrate (26). Field strength vectors (68) vary in absolute magnitude between points located along a first axis (62), but have substantially uniform components of magnitude at the same points measured in a common direction along the first axis (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: CVC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Gerrish, Paul H. Ballentine, Dorian Heimanson, Alan T. Stephens, II
  • Patent number: 5896296
    Abstract: A simple wire probe is positioned between work stations of a multi-spindle automatic screw machine so that, when the spindles of the machine are indexed, the probe is contacted by the distal end of a properly-sized workpiece and a signal is sent to a conventional programmable logic controller ("PLC"). At the initiation of each cyclical indexing of the machine's spindles, an electronic timing "window" is opened in the PLC and, so long as the signal is received from the probe while the timing window is open, the PLC permits the machine's cyclical operations to continue. If, however, no signal is received during the preset time interval, indicating a "short part", the PLC is programmed to stop the machine drive and to provide a sensible indication (e.g., a flashing light) to call to the attention of the machine operator. The location of the probe does not limit the normal use or operation of any tool at any work station of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Buell Automatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Corwin, III, Gary L. Nettleton
  • Patent number: 5887722
    Abstract: A bandoleer package and method for the making thereof in which bandoleer packages can be used to hold objects that are dimensioned or relatively thick without the usual risk of damage to the object caused by burst rollers. The preferred embodiment is made by forming a tube from a first web around a card cut from a secondary web and an object to be packaged, heat sealing the tube to itself to form a bottom seam of the package and a top seam of a previous package, then bonding the edges of the tube to the card. By bonding the edges to the card, the dimensioned object is kept away from the edges, thus preventing crushing of the object by burst rollers. The second web is preferably coated with a material that facilitates bonding to the first web material. In the preferred embodiment, the first web and the coating are formed from resinous materials, such as polyethylene; but any suitable materials can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: American Creative Packaging
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Albrecht, Hector L Vega, Donald A. Guth
  • Patent number: 5889591
    Abstract: Toric surfaces are mounted on a transparent support plate and measured at grazing incidence using a pair of leading and following diffractive optics for diffracting a test beam with respect to a reference beam. The leading diffractive optic diffracts rays of the test beam through various diffraction angles so that after passing through the transparent support plate, the rays strike the toric surface at a constant grazing angle. The following diffractive optic further diffracts the rays of the test beam through other diffraction angles into realignment with the reference beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Tropel Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bruning