Patents Represented by Law Firm Gerstman & Ellis, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 4990928
    Abstract: A portable antenna including a housing, a radiator having its proximal end located within the housing and its distal end located outside of the housing, an electrical cable connected to the housing, and a support member coupled to the housing. The support member extends generally in the opposite direction of the radiator and has a portion for insertion and retention between the side window and door frame of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Herbert R. Blaese
  • Patent number: 4982851
    Abstract: A pallet rack comprises a least one pair of spaced, parallel rails and at least one wheeled cart mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails and defining a load-carrying area. By this invention a cross brace extends between the rails, being positioned to support the bottom of a weak or poorly placed pallet placed on the rails adjacent the front end. The cross brace defines a space adjacent each of the rails to permit the front end of the cart to roll to the front end of the rails between the cross brace and each rail. The cart comprises a pair of wheel-carrying side members positioned parallel to the rails, plus transverse support members connecting the side members. The transverse support members are spaced from the cart front end by a distance sufficient to allow the front end of the cart to roll between the cross brace and each rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Anthony N. Konstant
  • Patent number: 4980695
    Abstract: An inside antenna is provided comprising a housing, a capacitor and an inductor located within the housing and cooperating to form an LC network, a radiator connected to the inductor, and a coaxial cable with its central conductor tapped to a selected location of the inductor. The capacitor is formed by a radiator plate to which the radiator and inductor are connected and a ground plate. A set screw is carried by the housing and engages the ground plate so that movement of the set screw varies the position of the ground plate relative to the radiator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventor: Herbert R. Blaese
  • Patent number: 4972835
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator includes electrodes coupled to a patient's heart, a sensing system having inputs connected to the electrodes for sensing cardiac electrical signals from the atrial and/or ventricular channels, means for storing a charge, and means for delivering a shock to the heart. The sensing system includes switched capacitor means for amplifying the cardiac electrical signal with non-binary gain changing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Ventritex, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Carroll, Benjamin D. Pless
  • Patent number: 4971058
    Abstract: A cardiac therapy method with duration timer is disclosed, using an implanted cardiac pulse generator. A patient's heartbeat is sensed and the intervals between heartbeats are averaged. The number of temporary storage bins, in the form of RAM locations, are provided, including a sinus bin, a low rate tachycardia bin, a high rate tachycardia bin, and a fibrillation bin. The storage bin corresponding to the cardiac rhythm band of the determined average heartbeat interval is incremented. A maximum count limit is assigned to each storage bin. When the first bin reaches its maximum count limit, a diagnosis of the patient's cardiac rhythm is provided. Upon detection of a tachycardia, a duration timer is started and the tachycardia is treated in accordance with a programmed routine. If sinus is detected during the predetermined time period, then the duration timer is cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Ventritex, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Pless, Phillip L. Ball, Eric Fain, Richard Luceri
  • Patent number: 4970003
    Abstract: A water softening system is provided including a service step, a regenerating step and a rinse step. The service step includes introducing relatively hard water into the inlet, through an ion exchange resin and out the outlet to a service location. The regenerating step includes introducing a brine solution into the inlet, through the resin and out the outlet to drain. Prior to the service step, an automatic rinse step is provided by which an amount of the relatively hard water is introduced into the inlet, through the softening medium and out of the outlet to drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventor: Stanley F. Rak
  • Patent number: 4969465
    Abstract: A cardiac therapy method is disclosed, using an implanted cardiac pulse generator. A patient's heartbeat is sensed and the intervals between heartbeats are averaged. The number of temporary storage bins, in the form of RAM locations, are provided, including a sinus bin, a low rate tachycardia bin, a high rate tachycardia bin, and a fibrillation bin. The storage bin corresponding to the cardiac rhythm band of the determined average heartbeat interval is incremented. A maximum count limit is assigned to each storage bin. When the first bin reaches its maximum count limit, a diagnosis of the patient's cardiac rhythm is provided. Upon detection of a tachycardia, a duration timer is started and the tachycardia is treated in accordance with a programmed routine. If sinus is detected during the predetermined time period, then the duration timer is cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Ventritex, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Pless, Phillip L. Ball, Eric Fain
  • Patent number: 4969569
    Abstract: A disposable oven pan is formed of stamped aluminum sheet material having a bottom, side walls and a rim at the periphery of the side walls. A pair of handles are fastened to the rim at opposed locations. Stabilizing bars bridge the connection points of each handle. A pair of support-legs extend from below the handle connection points, adjacent the outside of the side walls and under the bottom of the pan for providing structural support to the pan and for providing legs to raise the pan above a table so that heat can be applied to the bottom of the pan to keep the food contained therein warm. The handles, stabilizing bars and support-legs are formed of steel, enabling the aluminum sheet to be relatively thin yet supportive of relatively heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Industrial Precision Products
    Inventor: Gary P. Anders
  • Patent number: 4967747
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator includes electrodes coupled to a patient's heart, sensing circuitry having inputs connected to the electrodes for sensing cardiac electrical signals, charging means for storing a charge, and discharge means for delivering a shock to the heart. The sensing circuitry includes switched capacitor gain/filter means for providing an output signal which is transient-free during a gain change operation and which maintains a constant filter bandwidth for each gain setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Ventritex, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Carroll, Benjamin D. Pless
  • Patent number: 4968031
    Abstract: A pinball machine having a first ramp on a play field. The first ramp is positioned so that pinballs may be propelled up the ramp to fly through space before landing again on the play field. Preferably, a second ramp is positioned on the play field to receive at least some of the flying balls launched up the first ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Data East Pinball, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Edwin Cebula, John L. Lund
  • Patent number: 4965913
    Abstract: A strap for glasses with forms a loop about each temple bar for retention thereto. By this invention, an enlargement is defined in the outer portion of each temple bar loop, to inhibit removal of a sliding member carried on the temple bar loop from its sliding relation with the temple bar loop, so that the sliding member cannot be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Joseph Sugarman
  • Patent number: 4957011
    Abstract: A testing system for determining accelerated weathering characteristics of various items such as fabrics and paint samples. Rack means are provided for carrying samples to be tested. A source of irradiation of the inner-facing surfaces of the samples carried on the rack is also provided, along with a blower system for directing a stream of air through the rack. In accordance with this invention, a generally conical member is positioned in the stream of air to redirect the stream outwardly in a generally conical flow path. The generally conical flow path is positioned by the conical member to flow across the inner-facing surfaces of the samples carried on the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Atlas Electric Devices Co.
    Inventors: James V. Huber, Kurt P. Scott, Rudolph J. Leber
  • Patent number: 4949719
    Abstract: A method for cardiac defibrillation is described, for use with an implanted defibrillator. A patient's R-waves are sensed to detect the R-R intervals. If an arrhythmia is detected, the charging of a capacitor is commenced. Determination are made whether the arrhythmia is still in progress and whether the capacitor is charged a predetermined amount. If the arrhythmia is not still in progress, the charging is discontinued. If the arrhythmia is still in progress and the capacitors are charged a predetermined amount, another R-R interval is detected and if the R-R interval is shorter than a selected amount, a shock is delivered to the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Ventritex, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Pless, Phillip L. Ball
  • Patent number: 4941877
    Abstract: A balloon catheter in which its inflatable and collapsible balloon is of larger diameter than adjacent portions of the catheter body. The balloon defines transition zones at the respective ends which are of fluted shape. Thus, the balloon can assume a collapsed position in which the collapsed transition zones collapse in a substantially star-shaped cross section rather than in a flat-collapsed configuration. Central portions of the catheter follow suit on collapse of the balloon, to avoid the undesired "winging" phenomenon in balloon catheters, particularly PTCA catheters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Cordis Corporation
    Inventor: Fausto Montano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4936580
    Abstract: A pinball machine defines a play field pivotally carried by a housing to permit pivoting of the play field upwardly to a repair position from a lower, operating position. The housing carries on its lower side a metal bracket defining a downwardly facing base. A retaining aperture is defined in the base of the metal bracket. The support arm is carried by the housing and is pivotable whereby an outer end of the support arm can engage the retaining aperture when the play field is in its repair position, to reliably hold the play field in the repair position. The support arm preferably defines a longitudinally projecting tab of narrower width than the rest of the support arm, the aperture being proportioned to receive the tab while the outer end of the rest of the support arm bears against the base of the bracket when the play field is in the repair position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Data East Pinball, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Patent number: 4920980
    Abstract: In a catheter which comprises a tubular body having a bore, a wire member is loosely positioned in the bore. The wire member is secured to the catheter at a position adjacent the distal end, such position being radially spaced from the axis of the catheter. The wire member extends through the bore and out of the proximal end of the catheter, so that the distal end of the catheter can be bent by pulling the wire member. The wire member may also be connected at the distal end of the catheter to an electrode, so that the wire member serves both as a bending control member and as the means for electrical connection with the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Cordis Corporation
    Inventor: Stefan A. Jackowski
  • Patent number: 4920881
    Abstract: The method for cooling a hot web by passing it across a rotating thermally conductive chill roller having a circulating coolant therein. In accordance with this invention, one introduces as a coolant to the chill roller a liquid refrigerant at a temperature and pressure permitting the refrigerant to exist in liquid form, the temperature being also above the dew point of the ambient atmosphere. Likewise, the boiling point of the refrigerant at the desired temperature and pressure is low enough to cause heat to be absorbed by the chill roller substantially by vaporization of the liquid refrigerant. One then withdraws refrigerant vapor from the chill roller, and typically refrigerates it to reform the liquid phase for return to the chill roller. Typically, chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Webquip Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard I. Tafel
  • Patent number: 4915240
    Abstract: A pallet rack comprises at least one pair of spaced, parallel rails and first and second wheeled carts mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails, the wheels of first and second carts respectively rolling on the same rolling surfaces. The front wheels of the second cart are positioned between the front and rear wheels of the first cart. As the result of this, the second cart can roll between a first, vertically overlying position relative to the first cart, and a second position where most of the second cart is spaced along the rails from the first cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Konstant Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony N. Konstant
  • Patent number: 4906251
    Abstract: An additive for gasoline comprises a polyoxyethylene sorbitol polyoleate. It may be provided to the gasoline, which is typically gasohol, as a dispersion in a gasoline - miscible solvent to typically provide an additive concentration in the gasoline of 100 to 1000 p.p.m. The additive acts to prevent formation of a separate alcohol-water phase in the gasoline by making the phase more readily dispersable in the gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Gold Eagle Co.
    Inventors: Otto A. Weil, Gerald G. Smith
  • Patent number: RE33397
    Abstract: A disposable oven pan is formed of stamped aluminum sheet material having a bottom, side walls and a rim at the periphery of the side walls. A pair of handles are fastened to the rim at opposed locations. Stabilizing bars bridge the connection points of each handle. A pair of support wires extend from the handle connection points, adjacent the outside of the side walls and under and adjacent the bottom of the pan for providing structural support to the pan. The handles, stabilizing bars and support wires are formed of steel, enabling the aluminum sheet to be relatively thin yet supportive of relatively heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Gary P. Anders