Patents Represented by Law Firm Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & Doody
  • Patent number: 6935390
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fluid transfer between a fixed marine production platform and a work vessel (eg. jack up barge). The method includes positioning the work vessel next to the production platform and then adjusting the elevational position of the vessel relative to the production platform so that the deck of the production platform and the deck of the work vessel or at about the same elevational position. A bridge truss spans between the deck portions of the production platform and work vessel, the truss having interconnected truss members and a planar surface that enables flexible hoses to be supported by the truss. The truss further includes a plurality of piping spool pieces that span across the truss. Ends of the spool pieces have quick connect fittings that enable the spool pieces to be quickly connected to the piping system of the production platform and work vessel. The gap between the production platform and the work vessel are spanned with the truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: John P. Williamson
  • Patent number: 6935500
    Abstract: An improved fabric bulk bag with pallet combination, of the type having wall portions, a top portion, and a floor portion, all defining a space for storing bulk therein, and in a first embodiment providing a pair of channels, substantially parallel in relation, secured along the outer surface of the floor portion, each channel having two open ends; a substantially elongated rigid support member insertable into each channel, for receiving the tines of a forklift, while providing a stable pallet foundation for the bag when the bag is positioned atop another filled bag. A bulk containing portion of the floor of the bag extending between the two support members when the bag has sufficient bulk, so that the portion filled with bulk defines a continuous support surface between the two support members and together define a continuous support across the floor of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel R. Schnaars
  • Patent number: 6935250
    Abstract: An improved elevating table apparatus provides a plurality of at least three telescoping legs that support a table top having an underside and an upper surface that provides a work surface upon which can be placed computers, office equipment and the like. A gear cluster is provided at the top of each leg that includes a plurality of gears, preferably bevel gears, that are engaged during use. Each leg has a hollow interior that holds a generally vertically extending, externally threaded rod, the rod having an upper end portion with a gear that forms a part of the gear cluster and a lower end portion that threadably engages a section of the leg. A single crank provides a drive shaft with a gear that forms a part of one of the gear clusters. A plurality of connecting linkages or connecting rods are provided that connect a center of the gear clusters to each of a pair of side gear clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Baker Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger E. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6932889
    Abstract: A point of use water purification unit for continuously and completely purifying water at all point of use for removing all chemicals, killing all microorganisms; the device having a computer monitored and controlled system for degassing, super heating and exploding water into a vacuum chamber, condensing the steam in a counter current cold brine apparatus and stored in a holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Robert R. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 6926085
    Abstract: Apparatus for a method of cutting pipes underwater comprising jetting a jacket down over the pipe, blowing mud out from between the pipe and the jacket so the annulus between the pipe and the jacket is substantially filled with water and/or air, and performing the cutting operation from within the pipe, wherein the jacket has the features mentioned herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Louis E. Schaefer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6926144
    Abstract: An improved fabric bulk bag, of the type having wall portions, a top portion, and a floor portion, all defining a space for storing bulk therein, and further providing a pair of channels, substantially parallel in relation, secured along the outer surface of the floor portion, each channel having two open ends; a substantially elongated rigid U-shaped support member insertable into each channel, the upper wall of the member contacting the outer surface of the bulk bag, and the two arms of the U-shaped member providing a travel space through the channel for receiving the tynes of a forklift, and allowing the tynes to contact the upper wall of the member when the bag is lifted; the two arms of the member also providing a stable pallet-like foundation for the bag when the bag is positioned atop another filled bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel R. Schnaars, Jr., Matthew D. Schnaars
  • Patent number: 6923275
    Abstract: A process for underbalanced drilling into multiple coal and shale formations, and dewatering the drilled formations, which includes drilling a first borehole through several coal seams to a certain depth, defined as a cased borehole; lowering an upstock on the end of a carrier string to the depth of the upper coal seam; lowering a drill string in the carrier string, and angling off of the upstock, to drill a lateral or horizontal borehole within the coal seam; repeating the process for the second coal seam; setting a packer in place above the first coal seam in the annulus between the cased borehole and the carrier string; forming perforations in the wall of the carrier string below the packer; retrieving the upstock from the carrier string; lowering an electrical submersible pump to the bottom of the principal borehole, defined as a sump portion of the borehole; collecting methane gas from the two coal seams through the annulus between the second drill string and the carrier string to the surface; pumping wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Gardes
  • Patent number: 6923762
    Abstract: An improved instrument for viewing subcutaneous venous structure, known as a VENOSCOPE, which includes a clamshell housing, having a first fixed arm extending therefrom, and a second movable arm captured by upper and lower portions of the housing; a first high intensity plurality of white and red LEDs positioned at the end of the first arm, and a second high intensity plurality of high intensity red and white LED positioned at the end of the second arm, and a battery positioned within the housing for selectively provided electrical energy to the red and white LEDs, so that a more defined and intensely illuminated field of visualization between structures below the skin and the surrounding subcutaneous tissue is defined. Additional embodiments include a tube or handle connected to a head having multiple arms or a single arm with multiple LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Frank C. Creaghan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6921736
    Abstract: A heterogeneous catalytic system for RCM is recyclable, shows reactivity, tolerates functional groups and performs with dienes and highly hindered substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Nolan, Laleh Jafarpour
  • Patent number: 6915815
    Abstract: A fluids management apparatus is disclosed herein that enables management of multiple volumes of different fluids when drilling and/or producing oil and/or gas with an oil and gas well drilling platform. The apparatus includes a structural, transportable frame that has upper and lower reservoir sections, each with a plurality of tanks for holding fluid. The upper reservoir section is easily lifted and transported, such as by crane. A docking station on the lower reservoir section is receptive of the upper reservoir section. A piping system enables a selected fluid volume contained in a tank of the upper reservoir section to be selectively transmitted to a selected tank of the lower reservoir section. The lower reservoir section has its own piping system that enables a user to withdraw fluid from any selected one of its tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel W. Ness
  • Patent number: 6913611
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating the rectosigmoid during surgery, to move the rectosigmoid to a pre-determined position, which includes a cannula portin, having a rounded and flexible tip, an inflatable balloon surrounding at least a portion of the cannula; the balloon inflatable with water, gas, or dye; a cone at a first end of the cannula for sealing around the opening of the anus; a stylet insertable in the cannula opening to provide partial rigidity to the cannula; and a syringe lock for introducing the fluid into the balloon, so as to provide a soft yet somewhat rigid device for allowing gentle manipulation of the recto-sigmoid during surgical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Gerard Cappiello, Mimi Cappiello
  • Patent number: 6906495
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring power does not require direct electrical conductive contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Splashpower Limited
    Inventors: Lily Ka Lai Cheng, James Westwood Hay, Pilgrim Giles William Beart
  • Patent number: 6903532
    Abstract: A starting circuit for an induction motor is provided whereby a stationary rotor flux is established then a stored charge supplied to a motor winding in order to provide a starting torque. Before applying a mains power supply to the motor after the starting torque has been applied, a back EMF is sensed, directly or indirectly, to provide an indication that the rotor is turning before the mains supply is connected to the motor. This provides a reliable and simple method for ensuring that a mains supply may be safely connected to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John T. Boys, Udaya K. Madawala
  • Patent number: 6900764
    Abstract: A radiating antenna capable of generating or receiving radiation using a plurality of feeds and a dielectric resonator is disclosed. The purpose of using multiple feeds with a single dielectric resonator antenna is to produce several beams each having a ‘boresight’ (that is, a direction of maximum radiation on transmit, or a direction of maximum sensitivity on receive) in a different direction. Several such beams may be excited simultaneously to form a new beam in any arbitrary direction. The new beam may be incrementally or continuously steerable and may be steered through a complete 360 degree circle. The invention may be combined with an internal or external monopole antenna so as to cancel out the antenna backlobe or otherwise resolve the front/back ambiguity that arises with this type of dielectric resonance antenna. When receiving radio signals, electronic processing of such multiple beams may be used to find the direction of those signals thus forming the basis of a radio direction finding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: antenova Limited
    Inventors: Simon P. Kingsley, Steven G. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 6896785
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for carrying out plasma electrolytic oxidation of metals and alloys, forming ceramic coatings on surfaces thereof at a rate of 2-10 microns per minute. The process comprises the use of high-frequency current pulses of a certain form and having a given frequency range, combined with the generation of acoustic vibrations in a sonic frequency range in the electrolyte, the frequency ranges of the current pulses and the acoustic vibrations being overlapping. The process makes it possible to introduce ultra-disperse powders into the electrolyte, with the acoustic vibrations helping to form a stable hydrosol, and to create coatings with set properties. The process makes it possible to produce dense hard microcrystalline ceramic coatings of thickness up to 150 microns. The coatings are characterised by reduced specific thickness of an external porous layer (less than 14% of the total coating thickness) and low roughness of the oxidised surface, Ra 0.6-2.1 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Isle Coat Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Sergeevich Shatrov, Victor Iosifovich Samsonov
  • Patent number: 6896265
    Abstract: A casino game comprising one or more decks of standard playing cards and a layout which designates a first area for the placing of community cards and a second area composed of a plurality of betting areas. The object of the game being to make a good poker hand of 5 cards being composed of players' individual cards in conjunction with community cards. A further object of the game is to win the “Pot” bets by holding the highest poker hand. The preferred game apparatus includes a single deck of standard playing cards and a layout that provides betting areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: T. Christian A. Schlumbrecht
  • Patent number: 6896447
    Abstract: A vortex induced vibration suppressor and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body that is a flexible member of a polymeric (e.g., polyurethane) construction. A plurality of helical vanes on the body extend longitudinally along and helically about the body. Each vane has one or more openings extending transversely there through. A longitudinal slot enables the body to be spread apart for placing the body upon a riser, pipe or pipeline. Tensile members that encircle the body and pass through the vane openings enable the body to be secured to the pipe, pipeline or riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Weldon Taquino
  • Patent number: 6883919
    Abstract: An achromatic flat-panel projection display comprises a video projector 2a, a condensing lens (26) and a tapered transparent slab spreading the image input from the projector over the area of th slab. To compensate for dispersion in the slab a dispersive prism is used at the input edge of the slab, whose dispersion cancels out the dispersion of the slab. The prism can be a separate part of simply a bevel in the input edge, i.e. the thick end of the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Cambridge Flat Projection Displays Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Robert Leigh Travis
  • Patent number: 6880642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of plugging and abandoning a well includes using a plug apparatus and installing bentonite elements in an oil well production casing having a bore. The plug apparatus is lowered into the production casing bore to a selected elevation using a slick line or the like. The apparatus has a tool body and slip dies that are movably mounted upon the tool body to move between extended and retracted positions. Afer the tool body is positioned at a selected location within the casing bore, tension is applied to the slick line to move the slip dies to an extended position wherein the slip dies engage the casing and secure the tool body in a desired location. The casing bore is then displaced with water above the tool body. Bentonite elements are then dumped into the water filled wellbore. The bentonite elements are allowed to swell to form a plug. The tool body can be retrieved from the casing bore if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventors: Jonathan Garrett, Joseph LeRouge, Michael Taylor
  • Patent number: PP15863
    Abstract: This new and distinct variety of hybrid dessert banana plant has both Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana in its pedigree. Its Latin name is Musa acuminata×balbisiana group AABB. AA representing two genomes of M. acuminata and BB representing two genomes of M. balbisiana. It has the following unique combination of desirable features: 1. A high level of resistance to Mycosphaerella fijiensis, causal fungus of the black Sigatoka (black leaf streak) disease. 2. A tall plant height. 3. A strong root system that makes it a hardy plant resistant to strong winds or weevil attach (corm borer Cosmopolites sordidus). 4. Fruit bunch sizes that are frequently greater than 20 kg. 5. Ripe fruit has a very good taste, flavor and texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fundación Hondurefia de Investigación Agricola
    Inventors: Mark Rowe, Phillip Ray Rowe