Patents Represented by Law Firm Fuller, Ryan, Hohenfeldt & Kees
  • Patent number: 5173247
    Abstract: Recovery apparatus to remove silver from solution including use of plastic chips such as are commonly used as packing materials to support scrap metal parts such as washer hole stampings in the flow path in a container between the inlet and outlet of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Inventor: Gunter Woog
  • Patent number: 5173348
    Abstract: A table edging system for application to the edge of a foldable banquet table. The edging system includes extruded edging pieces applied to the table edge along each of the four sides of the table, and four molded corner pieces, one for application to each of the four corners. Each extruded edging piece is formed of a first flat portion, designed to contact the underside of the table. A second portion connects with the first portion at a point spaced apart from either side edge thereof and is positioned substantially normal to the first plane. A third portion also connects with the first portion at one of the side edges thereof. The third portion is positioned in a plane substantially parallel to but offset from the first portion. The length of the third portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the table edge. At the upper edge of the third portion is a tapered flange to overly the top surface of the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Gevaert, Robert L. Blank
  • Patent number: 5170125
    Abstract: A tester is adapted to plug in or otherwise connect to an ignition control module under test. The tester includes an LED in series with a resistor. The series circuit is connected between a battery and a contact in the connector which provides the control module with an electric load in substitution for the ignition coil primary associated with the vehicle engine. If, after the tester is connected to the ignition control module and to a battery, the LED is turned on bright, it is one indication of a failed switching transistor in the module. The tester is provided with a flexible lead terminating in a contact which is touched to a predetermined terminal of the ignition control module. If the LED flashes on and off in correspondence with the terminal being touched, it is an indication of the control module being capable of processing ignition timing signals and of the switching transistor in the module being good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventor: James F. Bates, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5167191
    Abstract: An upright shelf unit with cantilevered shelves for mounting to the carriage of a mobile storage system. The shelf unit is assembled from a pair of end uprights mounted to the carriage and spaced apart from each other, and at least one interior upright mounted to the carriage between the end uprights, to form pairs of adjacent uprights. Each of the uprights has slots formed therein to accommodate a plurality of shelves. Each shelf has hooks at each end for engaging with the slots of an upright at each end. The interior upright is constructed of a pair of channels facing together. Welded between the two channels is a trapezoidal gusset and above that a rectangular reinforcing member, both having the same thickness. The top end of the gusset and the bottom end of the reinforcing member butt together about halfway up the upright. The width of the reinforcing member and the top end of the gusset are approximately the width of the channels, the thickness being the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Muth
  • Patent number: 5163490
    Abstract: A rotatable wood planing apparatus that includes a cylindrical planing knife body provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, forwardly inclined, radially outwardly opening channels for holding knives. Parallel to each of the knife holding channels is an adjoining channel for holding a clamping means such as a gib for clamping said knives in the channels. The rear surfaces of the knife-holding channels and the forward surfaces of the knife-clamping channels are in planes that converge outwardly. A knife-holding clamp is provided to securely hold the knife in a desired position. The knives can accurately be fitted and secured into the clamps prior to insertion into the knife-holding channels.Means such as bolts or screws adjacent the rear of the knife-holding channels are provided for retaining the clamp and knife combination in the channel. A gib or wedge is fitted in the clamping channel to lock the clamps and knives in place upon elevation of the gib in its channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Jackson Lumber Harvester Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Meis
  • Patent number: 5163594
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a web accumulator, at least one pneumatic cylinder actuator has a chain loop connected to opposite ends of its piston rod. Translation of the chain in response to pressurizing the cylinder causes the chain to drive two spaced apart axle shafts in the same rotational direction. An arm is fastened to each axle shaft and there is a row of rollers on each arm and a roller on each axle shaft. Web is threaded in loops back and forth between rollers on the respective arms. When the web infeed rate to the accumulator and the outfeed or rate at which the web is drawn out by a web consuming device are equal, the regulated air pressure to the actuator drives the arms apart to thereby accumulate a long length of web. When web infeed is interrupted while outfeed or draw persists, the arms are pulled toward each other and they pay out the stored length of web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5159793
    Abstract: A non-progressive wall system is composed of versatile and interchangeable panels and other components. The wall system panels may be opaque or transparent. The panels comprise superstructures that are pivotable about base assemblies. In the vertical attitude, the tops of the superstructures are releasably coupled to ceiling rails by upper glide assemblies. The panels are rigidly interconnected to each other by panel connectors that slide within the superstructures between storage and installed positions. The wall system further comprises corner posts that provide two, three, or four way junctions for the panels. A door module may be installed at any desired location in the wall system. Decorative covers over the working parts provide a neat and attractive appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Krueger International Inc.
    Inventors: L. Scott Deugo, Andrew Mansfield, Michael Salzman, Bernhard von Huene, Eberhard von Huene
  • Patent number: 5152320
    Abstract: A diverter valve for controlling a fluid flow without the sudden hammering pressure changes normally found in fluid control systems, and a method for assembling the valve. The valve includes a modular valve body with two substantially identical sections, each with a valve seat, oppositely arranged. The valve body also includes a T-shaped connecting section connected between the end openings of the two other sections. A valve stem shaft in the valve body has a two valve plugs facing together, with the two valve seats between the valve plugs, so that each valve plug moves against the flow of the fluid to a closed position. A valve actuator shifts the valve stem shaft axially between first and second positions so that first one plug is closed, and then the other. The second valve plug is removably attached to the shaft by means of a tube connected to the second valve plug. This tube slides over one end of the valve stem shaft until it contacts a shoulder, and attaches to the valve stem shaft in that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Tri-Clover, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Zimmerly
  • Patent number: 5152858
    Abstract: A splicing device for label webs mechanically holds the leading end of the new web and is rapidly transferred to splicing position and accelerated into the running speed of the web while the rotational speed of the web supply spool that is associated with the leading end of the replacement web is initially gradually adjusted to the running speed of the label web. The leading end of the replacement web and the trailing end of the expiring web are glued in an overlapping manner. The splicing device has two identically constructed multi-functional drums which are arranged to function alternately and are equipped with a gripper, cutter, free running deflector roller and pressure application device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Horst Winter
  • Patent number: 5153395
    Abstract: A switch operated to an open circuit condition by a closed lid of an automatic clothes washing machine. The switch housing is comprised of two parts which mate with each other and with the specially configured switch operating shaft for inhibiting entry of liquids into the switch contact chamber of the housing by splashing or by capillarity. A vent tube leads from the housing and, in effect, accepts air resulting from the air in the housing expanding when the switch is warm and which allows back flow of that air into the housing when the air in the housing cools. The tube prohibits pressure developing in the housing which is negative with respect to ambient atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Controls Corp.
    Inventors: Spencer C. Schantz, Mike Lehn, Dave Falcon, Steve Lovas
  • Patent number: 5150782
    Abstract: Bottles which have a central conical recess and a radially extending groove in their bottom are transported on carriages with a rotary table which carries vertical circumferentially spaced apart shafts 7 through a closed orbital path. A mounting plate 37 fastens to each shaft 7 and has an upwardly extending journal 36 concentric to the shaft. A flange bushing 58 rotates on the journal and sleeve 57 is pressed concentrically on the bushing and roates thereon. The upper end of the sleeve 57 has a truncated conical centering element 22 fastened to it. A bottle support disk 23 has a central hole which is concentric to the conical centering element 22. A frictionally driven wheel 17 is fastened to sleeve 57. A ring plate underneath bottle support ring 23 is fastened to support plate 24 and carries a spring 22 which presses an alignment element 9 upwardly toward the bottom of a bottle on the support ring 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Stefan Richter
  • Patent number: 5146734
    Abstract: An underwater weed cutter comprises a generally W-shaped object which is cut out of a plate or sheet of metal and is configured similar to two scythes whose opposite ends are joined together to form a unitary object which has a line attached to it to provide for pulling it along the bottom of a body of water to shear off and collect underwater weeds. The weed cutters are configured such that the outside or convex boundary of one of them is complementary in shape to the inside or concave boundary of another of them so that there is no metal waste developed between the cutters when they are being cut from the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Paul, J. Smyczek
  • Patent number: 5147023
    Abstract: Method and installation for converting multi-track flow of containers into a single track flow, wherein an infeed conveyor is slanted relative to the horizontal plane, an intermediate conveyor is slanted at the same angle and so is a discharge conveyor. The intermediate conveyor is at least as wide as the infeed conveyor and abuts onto it. The discharge conveyor is arranged parallel and lateral to the intermediate conveyor. There is a cross-over plate between the infeed and intermediate conveyors. The advanced containers are first pushed onto the cross-over plate by the containers coming in on the infeed conveyor and they remain abreast of each other as they are then pushed onto the intermediate conveyor, whereby they are gradually accelerated to a speed which is lower than the speed of the discharge conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Theodor Meindl
  • Patent number: 5147342
    Abstract: An assembly for handling a collection container for urine or another body fluid employs a generally rigid body with a holder end and a handle end. The holder end receives and supports the collection container in an upright position to receive the fluid. The handle end forms a structure for the user to hold the supported collection container in an outwardly extended position away from the user's hand. The handle structure also includes a cover for the container. After using the handle structure to position the container for collection of the fluid, the user can then use the cover as a lid to close the collection container. The body of the handle/holder can include a pre-weakened region along which the dual handle/cover can be separated from the holder to free the cover for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventors: Patricia B. Kane, June G. Halvorson
  • Patent number: 5142836
    Abstract: A wall panel which provides the attractive look of a tiled wall, but also includes a flat area without grout lines for accepting wallpaper or other decoration. The unit includes sheets of vacuum formed material, having formed in one face thereof a plurality of substantially identical regular polygonal shapes, such as squares, each of these shapes being generally immediately adjacent the neighboring shapes, so that the appearance of grout lines is formed between the adjacent shapes. At least one generally rectangular flat area is formed in the material, that flat area having one dimension substantially greater than the largest dimension of any one of the shapes. The width of the flat area is no larger than the largest dimension of any one of the shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Design House, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Kearns
  • Patent number: 5139206
    Abstract: A wire prefeeder has a tower standing on a base. A horizontal upper shaft is mounted fixedly to the upper end of the tower and a plurality of pulleys are on the shaft. A carriage is adapted to in the tower and another horizontal lower shaft which has a plurality of pulleys and is mounted to the carriage in parallelism with the upper shaft. A wire infeed device is driven with an electric motor. Wire feeds to a dancer pulley after which it is looped around the upper and lower pulleys in succession and departs tangentially from a pulley on its way to a wire processing machine which draws the wire. The carriage rises when there is an instantaneous increase in wire tension and an electric signal is produced whose magnitude corresponds to the amount of carriage movement. The motor responds to the signal by changing the motor and wire infeed speed to pay out wire at a rate which keeps the tension in the drawn wire constant. A new type of clamp is provided for coupling a wire reel to a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Mechtrix Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Butler
  • Patent number: 5137136
    Abstract: A device for centering and aligning vessels, such as bottles in a bottle treating machine handles bottles that have bottom and/or sidewall recesses for being engaged by detents or alignment elements in response to swiveling of the bottle where a centering ring of a bottle support is connected through its housing to an auxiliary control arrangement in the bottle transport table while the bottle support plate which is arranged in the housing is supported so as to be freely rotatable and possesses a cylindrical friction rim against which a friction element such as a closed loop belt interfaces for driving the rim rotationally, the friction element extending through the housing of the bottle supporting assembly features a lateral access opening which allows the rim to be engaged during the time that the particular model is in the alignment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Heinz Humele
  • Patent number: 5135145
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bike carrier with rotary mounting means to adjust the angle of the support arms. A wide base with diverging frame portions provides support for heavy mountaineer bikes. Soft sleeves on the support arms have recesses to position several bikes in spaced relationship. In one embodiment rigid tubular arms fasten the rack to the gap between the roof and door of a van or wagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Hannes, Ervin L. Severson
  • Patent number: D328822
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: D331388
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventors: Dean L. Dahnert, Marvin L. Runge