Patents Represented by Law Firm Gifford, Groh, Sprinkle, Patmore and Anderson
  • Patent number: 5455400
    Abstract: A work tank for machine tools for receiving the machining fluid comprising a fixed part and a movable part which retracts to move the tank away from the work area when it is necessary to remove a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bommeli, Andre Oberson
  • Patent number: 5433234
    Abstract: A cane or walking stick includes a grasping mechanism and optionally includes prongs for providing the user with traction in ice or snow. The preferred embodiment includes a scissor action grasping mechanism that is controlled by the user of the cane. The grasping mechanism is disposed at the lower end of the cane, while the handle for controlling the grasping mechanism is strategically provided by the handle of the cane. The jaws of the grasping mechanism may be optionally foldable from a stored, out-of-the-way position to an extended position for use. To provide traction, the ends of the jaws may be provided with grips such as prongs. Similarly, the end of the cane may also be provided with a prong, and the prong may be retracted for indoor use on floors and the like and for use out- of-doors during warm weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Samuel Lapere
  • Patent number: 5420388
    Abstract: Tool-holder (5) makes it possible to rotate a tool at high speed around its axis of symmetry. Its tapered end (26) is engaged in the tapered bore (16) provided in the spindle (6). In a bore of suitable shape a clamp (2) is engaged, adapted to secure the electrode tool end (1) rigidly. An injection chamber (28) communicates with the bore and is connected by radial channels (27) to a fluid inlet. The clamp (2) has radial grooves to bring the cooling fluid (25) from the injection chamber (28) to the surface of the tool (1). A sealed circuit (12,13,15) channels the liquid; it is connected by an input channel of small diameter which passes through the spindle body (10) to a small liquid inlet in the mobile element of the machining head or in the intermediary fixing element mounted on said mobile element. An annular seal (14) of small diameter is mounted in the spindle body around said channel (11').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies
    Inventor: Roger Girardin
  • Patent number: 5413094
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the noise of coughs and sneezes by placement over the nose and mouth of the user. The apparatus has a core with a recessed portion to fit over the mouth and nose of the user and the core is made of a noise reducing material. A cover surrounds the core and has a section of absorbent material positioned over the recessed portion of the core. The noise reducing material of the core is a foamed resin. Vent holes are provided on the cover to allow the air forced into the core to exit the core and for the removal of moisture. A strap is attached to the cover to allow the user to wear the apparatus about the user's person until upon need, the apparatus is placed over the mouth and nose to reduce the noise of a cough or sneeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: Edward McBrearty
  • Patent number: 5410119
    Abstract: A wire cutting electroerosion machine with upper and lower machining heads on cross slide systems for taper machining. The upper and lower machining heads spray a dielectric liquid at the machining zone. A reservoir and filter elements are used to recycle the liquid and resupply the liquid to the machining zone. An enclosed enclosure means is used to reduce temperature variations during machining by enabling dissipation of the heat given off and to facilitate uniform temperature distribution throughout the equipment by achieving thermal equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies S.A.
    Inventor: Hans Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5410117
    Abstract: At least one machining parameter of an electrode-wire EDM machine, cutting according to a predetermined trajectory, is varied when the electrode-wire reaches the apex of an angle or approaches an arc. The strategy consists of the following stages:1) calculation of the locations along the trajectory or path at which these variations must be started;2) stopping of relative electrode-wire movement and the work-piece, when the wire reaches one of these points;3) gradual and stepped variations of the parameter up to a final designated value or until a predetermined number of steps have been performed;4) resumption of wire-part relative movement, with the new parameter value over a computer predetermined distance, and5) variation of the parameter in the opposite direction so as to return it to its initial value.The step durations are slaved to changes of a factor giving an image of the conditions existing in the machining slot, around a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Reynier, Jean-Michel Bosson, Lorenzo Crivelli
  • Patent number: 5407240
    Abstract: A door locking mechanism for locking a first slidable door to a second door. A base member is mounted to a side of the second door and is positioned parallel the first door. A hinge member is mounted to the base member so as to pivot about a vertical axis. A receiving member is mounted to a face of the first door so as to be engageable by the hinge member. The hinge member includes a slidable tab portion with a downwardly extending tab. The hinge member is rotated away from the base member and the tab portion is slid downward to engage the locking mechanism within the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas J. Andre, Donald L. Kerr
  • Patent number: 5403150
    Abstract: A turbocharger having a heat insulating system whereby an aluminum bearing housing, its internal components including bearing assemblies and lubricating oil are insulated from the heat of the turbine. The insulating system includes three basic component parts. The first component part is a partially convoluted backplate interconnecting the bearing housing and the turbine housing. The second component part is an insulator situated next to the backplate and the third component part is a heat shield provided between the turbine wheel and the insulator. Between the backplate and the bearing housing is defined a cavity near the turbine shaft. Oil slingers are provided on the shaft within the cavity to create an oil-air mist when the shaft is rotated, thereby enhancing cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert McEachern, Jr., J. W. Brogdon
  • Patent number: 5397163
    Abstract: A suspension arrangement for example for an article of furniture such as a chair comprising a base portion and a support surface portion movable relative thereto has cable hang members by which the support surface portion is suspended on the base portion. Two or more cable hang members are arranged functionally in series at each suspension location and the series-connected hang members are at least approximately of the same hang length. The mounting locations of the hang member ends which are opposite to the support surface portion and of the hang member ends which are opposite to the base portion are connected together by a frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventor: Christoph Puerner
  • Patent number: 5392695
    Abstract: An improved breadmaking machine for adjusting at least one operating parameter of the machine in response to the atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperature existing outside the machine. Signals representative of the atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperature are inputted to the breadmaker by a sensor, potentiometer, switch block assembly, or by manual entering means. The signals are read by a controller which initiates a program to determine at least one correction value for adjusting the operating parameters of the machine in response to the pressure and temperature inputs. The controller is connected to the parameters, such as a heater element, kneading motor and blower motor and adjusts the operation of the parameters according to the calculated values of the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Circulair, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric F. Junkel
  • Patent number: 5385329
    Abstract: A flow control valve having a piston and valve element connected together by a portion of a spring also connected to a pressure relief mechanism. Also disclosed is an alternative embodiment featuring a passage delivering metered flow from an input passage to a low pressure end of a piston and then through a pressure sensing means from the low pressure chamber to an output passage. A valving sub-assembly is movable to substantially suppress the flow rate ripple by bypassing a dominant portion of the flow rate ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Techco Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5381632
    Abstract: A flashing system is provided for a chimney. The flashing system includes an elongated base flashing which is generally L-shaped within cross section thus having two generally planar legs which intersect each other along a mid-line of the base flashing. One leg of the base flashing is attached to the roof so that the other leg of the base flashing extends upwardly from the roof along one side of the chimney. An elongated and generally planar counter-flasher is then secured to the chimney above the top edge of the base flashing so that the counter-flashing overlaps the other leg of the base flashing. Ceiling caulk is also provided between the counter-flashing and the chimney in order to seal the counter-flashing to the chimney against the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Matthew Damron
  • Patent number: 5379910
    Abstract: A threaded closure and container arrangement having complementary annular surfaces on the closure and container which engage each other during threading and unthreading to guide the closure and container into axial alignment and to shape the relatively flexible neck opening of the container into an accurate circular shape so that complementary sealing surfaces are brought into accurate engagement with each other and so that the complementary surfaces maintain an axial force tending to maintain the closure and container in sealing relationship during at least initial unthreading movement of the closure from a fully closed position on the container
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5376473
    Abstract: A fuel cell system in which first partition members are arranged in a substantially parallel pair, with opposite end faces thereof placed in tight contact with contact surfaces of columns. One cell is placed on the pair of first partition members. Second partition members are placed between the cell and the columns such that end faces of the second partition members are in tight contact with the contact surfaces of the columns. Then, a further pair of first partition members is stacked on the cell and second partition members. This construction is repeated to form a cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Akagi
  • Patent number: 5375374
    Abstract: A combination manual and electric door opener having a bracket mounted to a door frame at a hinged side of the door. An electric motor is connected to the bracket and in turn connects to a threaded rod. A threaded nut is positioned around the threaded rod. Connected to the threaded rod is a cam arm. Upon engagement by the motor, the threaded nut rotates in a translational direction along the threaded rod. The cam arm is pivoted about a pivot point fastened to the top of the doorway and engages a closed door. The door is thus pivotally acted upon until it is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: Harry Rohraff, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5377170
    Abstract: A timer which measures the duration of a first of two consecutive contractions and also measures the elapsed time period between the beginning of said first contraction and the beginning of a second of two consecutive contractions and which displays successive pairs of first and second contractions and which also compares the most recent time measurement values to a user programmed target time and further alerts the user when a measured time is less than said programmed target time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventors: Randy W. Blaylock, John Kidd
  • Patent number: 5376366
    Abstract: An isopropyl alcohol gel having use as a rubbing composition and having antiseptic properties. The isopropyl alcohol gel of the present invention comprises a polymer, water, isopropyl alcohol and a polymer neutralizing agent. The polymer is dispersed in water to create a thick phase. The preferred polymer is a carbomer resin that forms a slightly gelatinous mass through hydration of the polymer. The selected amount of isopropyl alcohol is added by dispersion to the polymer-water phase. The mixture is allowed enough time to fully hydrate. A neutralizing agent is thereafter added to neutralize the activity of the polymer. The neutralizing agent is preferably tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine. The resulting product is in homogenous heavy clear gel form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: John Petchul
    Inventors: John Petchul, Rosemary Gaudreault
  • Patent number: D354610
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Shawky Hassan
  • Patent number: D354667
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Joseph D. Rundell
  • Patent number: D355656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Enco Group
    Inventor: R. Scott Coppersmith