Patents Represented by Attorney Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & North, L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8231944
    Abstract: A silicone polymer gel/coating which can be sprayed from an aerosol can preferably has a viscosity of 2,000-5,000 cps. and provides a moisture resistant coating of preferably 20-30 mils to protect components in telephone installation and maintenance applications. It is preferably sprayed from a can using Spray Actuator OTP 0025. It preferably includes a molecular sieve. It can also be used as a tire shine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AB Specialty Silicones, LLC
    Inventor: Carolyn J. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8226325
    Abstract: A transportable wave suppressor and sediment collection (WSSC) system, including a method of installing same, the system installed to suppress wave action and provide land restoration along the shore of a body of water, such as a coastline, which includes a plurality of interconnected sections of the system, each section including a base, a forward wall, and a rear wall, having a plurality of fluid flow pipes extending from the forward wall to the rear wall, for allowing water including sediment to flow into the pipes at the forward wall and exit the pipes at the rear wall. There is further provided a one-way valve member at the rear wall exit of each pipe, so that water carrying sediment cannot return through the pipe as the wave action recedes from the coastline. There is provided a flow opening including a weir between multiple sections so that water can flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Webster Pierce, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8225873
    Abstract: An oil well pumping apparatus for pumping oil from a well to a wellhead provides a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of the oil well. A working fluid is provided that can be pumped into the production tubing. A prime mover is provided for pumping the working fluid. A flow channel into the well bore enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area. A pumping mechanism is provided on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including upper and lower spur gear or gears. The upper spur gear is driven by the working fluid. The lower spur gear is rotated by the first spur gear. The upper and lower spur gears are connected with a common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Raymond C. Davis
  • Patent number: 8214993
    Abstract: A method of servicing a pipe bundle or riser bundle employs a specially configured hoist having a rail that supports multiple lifts. A selected satellite pipe/conduit of the pipe bundle is both lifted and pulled horizontally in order to remove it from a plurality of supports that hold the satellite pipes together in spaced apart positions. During removal of a satellite pipe, the lifts elevate, then travel with and hold the pipe as it moves horizontally away from the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Coastal Cargo Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Don M. Zemo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8215499
    Abstract: A pipeline pig support rack apparatus includes a frame having a plurality of supports mounted thereon, each extending upwardly from the frame. Each pipeline pig support includes clamps that are comprised of first and second u-shaped members that are attached with a hinge. A bolted connection opposite the hinge is provided for holding the u-shaped members together in a closed position when securing a pipeline pig. Lifting eyes on the frame are provided for enabling the frame, its pig supports and any contained pipeline pigs to be lifted as a unit. A basket receptacle optionally is provided that receives the frame. The frame and basket receptacle are each independently liftable. The basket receptacle prevents spillage of hazardous materials that might be residing upon the pigs after they have been used to clean a particular pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Integris Rentals, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Pierre L. Olivier
  • Patent number: 8215396
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gulfstream Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Phil Barbee
  • Patent number: 8215316
    Abstract: A smoking article provides a purchased, as-built cigar that can be disassembled to form multiple cigars, enabling a consumer to make his or her own cigars using custom tobacco filler. The as-built cigar is capped as part of its construction, preferably at one end or at both ends. A smoker removes the cap or caps to enable smoking of the as-built cigar or disassembly into layers. Each layer can then be rolled with a smoker's custom tobacco. The inner layer contains tobacco filler. Upon disassembly, the inner layer and tobacco filler can be smoked. Alternatively, the inner layer can be pulled apart at a provided serration to discard the tobacco filler and then filled and rolled with a smoker's custom tobacco filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8201627
    Abstract: A double swivel for use with a top drive power unit supported for connection with a well string in a well bore to selectively impart longitudinal and/or rotational movement to the well string, a feeder for supplying a pumpable substance such as cement and the like from an external supply source to the interior of the well string in the well bore without first discharging it through the top drive power unit including a mandrel extending through double sleeves which are sealably and rotatably supported thereon for relative rotation between the sleeves and mandrel. The mandrel and sleeves have flow passages for communicating the pumpable substance from an external source to discharge through the sleeve and mandrel and into the interior of the well string below the top drive power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kip M. Robichaux, Terry P. Robichaux, Kenneth G. Caillouet, Donny Logan
  • Patent number: 8202172
    Abstract: A child's rocking toy provides a body, the body having a lower convex surface and an upper concave surface with a peripheral edge. The upper concave surface has a lower portion with a seat and a seating surface. A handle, handles or a steering wheel is mounted to the upper concave surface at a position next to the peripheral edge. The seating surface is placed in a position well below the peripheral edge and closer to the bottom of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Francis E. LeJeune
  • Patent number: 8202253
    Abstract: A catheter insertion apparatus with visual indication of needle penetration of a blood vessel and placement of the catheter cannula within the blood vessel, using blood vessel pressure to indicate needle penetration by the presence of blood within a transparent chamber within the apparatus and the displacement of a plunger to create a negative pressure on the cannula and thus allowing blood to be visible within the catheter hub thereby indicating the introduction of the cannula into the blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Toby J. Wexler
  • Patent number: 8196650
    Abstract: For use with a top drive power unit supported for connection with a well string in a well bore to selectively impart longitudinal and/or rotational movement to the well string, a feeder for supplying a pumpable substance such as cement and the like from an external supply source to the interior of the well string in the well bore without first discharging it through the top drive power unit including a mandrel extending through a sleeve which is sealably and rotatably supported thereon for relative rotation between the sleeve and mandrel. The mandrel and sleeve have flow passages for communicating the pumpable substance from an external source to discharge through the sleeve and mandrel and into the interior of the well string below the top drive power unit. The unit can include a packing injection system and novel seal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Mako Rentals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kip M. Robichaux, Terry P. Robichaux, Kenneth G. Caillouet
  • Patent number: 8191285
    Abstract: A soccer shoe absorbs and stores energy from the foot at foot-strike and return some of this energy to the object being struck. The shoe may also cushion the foot, leg and body; provide foot stability and motion control; reduce fatigue; extend the float time of a runner and increase the jump height of the wearer. The shoe is intended to absorb, store and return energy to the object struck, which would otherwise be lost using the existing shoe components and inserts. The shoe has a vertical component that extends around the periphery of the front of the shoe and another component (horizontal) that extends longitudinally from the front of the shoe towards the back of the shoe, at least to about the middle of the shoe, and preferably proximate the heel of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: J. Edward Perron, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8187236
    Abstract: A device for irrigating cerumen from one's ear canal, which includes a universal adaptor affixed to the spout of a lavatory faucet (one which allows the cold and hot to be mixed); a flow line extending from the adaptor; a valve on the adaptor, which when opened allows for adjusting the temperature and force of flow by feeling the flow at a nozzle on the second end of the flow line; a cup for placement over the ear to contain the water flow; a double loop within the cup to mount a first loop to a tragus portion of the outer ears for directing fluid flow from the nozzle into the ear canals, a second loop engaged around a probe to limit the depth the nozzle is able to enter the ear canal; and a return line for returning water and debris collected from the ear canal into the lavatory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Ronald J. French
  • Patent number: 8186353
    Abstract: A tracheotomy tube apparatus that can be contained in a generally flat or collapsed condition for easy transport in a purse or wallet provides a planar sheet member having upper and lower surfaces, the sheet member being flexible so that it can be formed into a tracheal tube shape. The sheet member includes a flange that has a connector for attaching it to the neck area of a patient. The flange can be fitted with a string or cable that can be used to encircle the patients neck and tie the flange to the patients neck. The kit can include a generally flat package that contains the planar sheet member and a small disposable cutting instrument or scalpel. During use, the planar sheet member provides a section that is curled or rolled into the shape of a cone or tube that can be placed into a surgically formed opening in the patients trachea. The flange holds the formed tracheal tube in the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Francis E. LeJeune
  • Patent number: 8176878
    Abstract: A semi-rigid animal head enclosure with a handle effective in muzzling and controlling a fractious animal using a lead passing through a portion of the enclosure and secured thereto or in corporation with a special capture stick having a lead forming a loop secured to the enclosure, one end of the stick and loop passing through the head enclosure and encircling the neck of an animal the stick having a method for releasing the lead from the capture stick, removing the stick from enclosure allows the lead to be secured to the head enclosure thus maintaining the enclosure over the head of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Toby J. Wexler
  • Patent number: 8177985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of oil and water, in particular through the action of a polymeric material on oil/water emulsions (including oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Galip Akay, John Vickers
  • Patent number: 8177549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus processing materials including medical waste, municipal waste, along with other wastes, and processing materials; the apparatus comprising an elongate pressure vessel of generally cylindrical configuration having an inlet end, and an end cap for the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Craig Gordon Boots, Robert D. Bartlett, Ryan J. Bright, Mark C. Woodin
  • Patent number: 8171993
    Abstract: A method of hydraulic fracturing of an oil producing formation includes the provision of a heating apparatus which is transportable and that has a vessel for containing water. A water stream of cool or cold water is transmitted from a source to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at ambient temperature. The mixer has an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source and an outlet that enables a discharge of a mix of cool or cold water and the hot water. After mixing in the mixer, the water assumes a temperature that is suitable for mixing with chemicals that are used in the fracturing process, such as a temperature of about 40° -120° F.+(4.4 - 48.9° C.+). An outlet discharges a mix of the cool and hot water to surge tanks or to mixing tanks. In the mixing tanks, a proppant and an optional selected chemical or chemicals are added to the water which has been warmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Heat On-The-Fly, LLC
    Inventor: Ransom Mark Hefley
  • Patent number: 8166670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lint from air that is discharged from a clothes dryer uses a lint filtration housing mounted on the frame of the clothes dryer, the filtration housing having an interior that contains a filter for removing lint from the dryer exhaust air flow stream. The housing provides an influent fitting for transmitting heating exhaust air from the drying chamber to the housing interior. An ambient air supply enables ambient air to be added to the filtration housing interior. One or more vanes is provided that create an annular vortex within the filtration housing interior. The flow of the annular vortex within the filtration housing interior can be between about 500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. A flow line transmits pre-heated air from the filtration housing interior to the dryer interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Pellerin Milnor Corporation
    Inventor: Russell H. Poy
  • Patent number: D661747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Huet, Jr., Terri Huet, Christopher Montgomery, Kristie Moser, Deslonde Valley