Patents Represented by Law Firm Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Patmore, Anderson & Citkowski, P. C.
  • Patent number: 5741040
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided to reciprocate an element with a motor rotating in one direction to produce forward and reverse motion by a drive wheel in contact with the obverse and reverse faces of the element. The element can take various forms such as a sliding door covering a vanity mirror in a vehicular sun visor, a sliding drawer or a pivoting door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Jay Roberts Company
    Inventors: Paul Gebauer, Jay R. White
  • Patent number: 5738231
    Abstract: A threaded tamper indicating closure-container package provides an indication of initial opening by how far the closure threads onto the container neck. In the original package condition the bottom of the closure skirt is adjacent a shoulder on the container. After the package has been initially opened and the closure reapplied, the bottom of the closure skirt is noticeably above the container shoulder. A word message such as "opened" can also be exposed on the container neck between the shoulder and the bottom of the closure skirt when the closure is reapplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5738723
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for forming metal tubing and, more particularly, brake tubing. The system includes a mill for rolling a metal strip into a tube so that at least a portion of the strip overlaps itself. The strip is then brazed so that the overlapping portions of the strip fuse together and form the tube. Thereafter, the tube passes through a cooling tunnel which cools the tube to a temperature such that the tube can be coated with a corrosion resistant material, such as a zinc based material. An inert gas, such as argon, and/or a reducing gas, such as hydrogen, is introduced into the cooling tunnel to prevent or remove oxidation of the tubing as it passes through the cooling tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Pilot Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Fleeman, Charles E. Emmons
  • Patent number: 5738313
    Abstract: A cable holder is disclosed for use in conjunction with a boat having a deck handrail and at least one support rail extending downwardly from and supporting the handrail. A cable holder includes an elongated body having a first and second end. A first hook is formed on the first end of the body which is dimensioned to fit over and be secured to the top rail of the boat. A second hook is formed on the second or opposite end of the body and is dimensioned to receive and support electrical cables of the type commonly used to electrically power boats when they are docked. A third hook is secured to a midpoint of the body and is dimensioned to releasably lock onto the support rail of the boat to prevent dislodgement of the cable holder from the boat rail. A fourth hook is optionally secured to the body to carry still further electrical lines, such as telephone lines and television cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Alvin F. Rinke
  • Patent number: 5738481
    Abstract: An improved universally actuable robot assembly including a pedestal support base and a body which is swivelably mounted and rotatably driven around the base. A main support arm extends substantially horizontally from the body at a generally centralized location and terminates in a first universally swivelable member which is mounted to a first face of a vertically orientated intermediate plate member. A selected number of linearly actuable driving arms extend from the body in parallel fashion relative to the main support arm and at preselected spaced apart distances. The driving arms each include a linearly actuable cylinder for adjusting an overall length of an associated driving arm. A linearly extending engaging member is secured to and extends from a second face of the intermediate plate member and the plate member is responsive to manipulative motion of the driving arms in a universal manner about a pivot point established by the main support arm to universally position the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Vincent Rogers
  • Patent number: 5735460
    Abstract: An air freshener assembly is disclosed comprising a rigid housing having an interior cavity, an exterior surface having a substantially planar portion and also having a plurality of apertures formed in the substantially planar exterior surface of the rigid housing. An insert containing a volatile fragrant material is disposed within the interior cavity of the rigid housing. A substantially rigid cover member having an upper decorative surface is attached to the substantially planar exterior surface of the rigid housing such that the cover member is supported substantially parallel to and spaced from the housing surface to permit volatilized aromatic gas emitted from the apertures to mix with ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: United Industrial Trading Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Eisenbraun
  • Patent number: 5735468
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus for atomizing fluid in a gas flow. The apparatus has a nozzle which fluidly communicates with a source of liquid, and a gas passage which surrounds the nozzle. The nozzle is formed such that it directs the liquid into the surrounding passage as a continuous, radial emanating sheet. The gas flowing through the passage impacts with the liquid sheet to produce a uniform cloud of atomized liquid droplets downstream of the nozzle. The apparatus may further have a reduced cross-sectional area of the passage in the vicinity of the nozzle to increase the gas velocity and enhance the atomization of the fluid. The nozzle may have a valve arrangement to selectively open and close the nozzle, and the passage may have a valve arrangement. A swirl mixing of the atomized liquid and gas may be provided downstream of the impact atomization of the fluid sheet in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Alan Patrick Casey
  • Patent number: 5736015
    Abstract: An electrical discharge machining apparatus is disclosed having a frame with a base and a vertical support secured to and extending upwardly from the base. A tank adapted to contain an electrolytic liquid is secured to the vertical support by an adjustment mechanism which enables the vertical position of the tank to be varied. A work holder is optionally pivotally secured to the top of the vertical support and movable between a work position in which the work support and work are aligned with the tank and an inspection position in which the work holder is laterally spaced from the tank. Electrical discharge electrodes are contained within the tank while a servo motor vertically moves the work support with its attached work against the electrodes to perform the machining operation. The electrical discharge apparatus is particularly suited for dental prosthesis applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Pilot Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Armentrout, Lesley A. Calvert, Lawrence Davies, John Jarchow, Michael Pulka, Jon Thomson
  • Patent number: 5735143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a diet earring for stimulating acupuncture points located on the human tragus used in a simple procedure to eliminate disadvantages of the conventional needle puncture process. The earring has a pressing member 1 and a retaining member 2 for engaging the outer surface and the opposite surface of the tragus 9, respectively, and a connecting member 3 provided with an appropriate resilient urging spring for connecting the above-mentioned members, thereby the earring being retained on the both surfaces of the tragus with a suitable pressure with the tragus interposed between the pressing and retaining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Ryuzo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5733092
    Abstract: This is a top-lifting rotary loader and system for cargo containers and is especially suited for loading and unloading double-stacking container well cars and single level railway cars, semitrailers, etc. This loader has a vertical pivot post about which turns a parallelogram linkage connecting a mast vertically supported on one or more wheels to revolve about the post and a second parallelogram linkage extending from the mast out to support a depending parallelepiped linkage frame pivotally supporting a loadspreader having depending aligning columns adjustable to align transversely both a railway and a highway vehicle, and cylinder or cam track means for lifting or lowering the the second parallelogram linkage arms to transfer a load. The loader can be automated to various degrees with cam tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Leonard D. Barry
  • Patent number: 5730476
    Abstract: For the purpose of decreasing the tightening torque necessary for a fastening nut in use for conduit coupling, the coupling assembly comprises a gripping member 40 formed as a conical spring member having a central opening formed as a waved circle, a plurality of gripping tabs formed away from each other by an equal angle such as 60.degree. along the inner periphery of the opening, each of the tabs formed as a curve having a curvature convex toward the center of the gripping member, and an end edge 44 of each tab in engagement with the periphery of a conduit with a minimum contact area therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Osamu Gouda
  • Patent number: 5727847
    Abstract: A linear actuator is used in an adjustable seat back recliner mechanism to provide infinitely adjustable operation. The actuator rod is maintained in its locked position by the contact of a lower friction surface of the rod with a friction surface on a lower clamp member. Upper clamp members are further seated against an upper surface of the actuator rod. When a sudden force is applied such as in a vehicle collision, an inertial locking element is swung upwardly into contact with the actuator rod to positively lock the actuator rod to the body of the actuator preventing any relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Maple Automotive Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Martone, Tyrone R. Secord
  • Patent number: 5726909
    Abstract: A continuous play broadcast system having a central computer with a master digital storage drive(s) containing a plurality of digitized files which represent a master library of musical selections and announcements. A plurality of end user computers are in communication with the central computer and contain respective subset quantities of digitized files which represent remote libraries. Each of the end user computers includes a display means, a digital to audio conversion means and an audio output means. Each end user computer further includes the ability to customize a continuous play output and to send requests to the central computer via the communication link. The central computer further includes an interface/update means and a compression circuit which is capable of updating the digitized audio files in the remote libraries of the end user computers at reduced time over desired intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas M. Krikorian
  • Patent number: 5722124
    Abstract: A fastener clip assembly for securing in a non-rotative fashion a first material to a second material includes a substantially planar and polygonal shaped base member and a plurality of four engaging members. The engaging members extend substantially upwardly from associated sides of the base. A laterally projecting angled tab portion extends from each engaging member to a next succeeding engaging member and both the angled tab portions and engaging member faces are provided with aligning apertured portions. Seating portions extend from the engaging members and secure the extending tab portions with their associated engaging member so that, in combination, the fastener clip exhibits an outwardly directed and resilient bias. The engaging members of the clip are resiliently biased so as to insert through a central opening in the second material and to locking engage the second material in a non-rotative fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: David M. Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 5722547
    Abstract: Tamper indicating closure and container assembly which prior opening of the assembly is indicated by exposing projections formed integrally with the closure with such projections remaining concealed in the originally closed position of the assembly. In one embodiment the tamper indicating features are associated with the label on the container and in another embodiment of the invention the tamper indicating features are associated with a pouring spout on a gable-top container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 5722546
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure and container package having push tabs formed in the closure to prevent rotation relative to the container until the push tabs are deflected radially inwardly to disengage from lock members on the container to permit unthreading rotation of the closure relative to the container. Simultaneous squeezing of the push tabs and rotation of the closure permit removal of the closure from the container. Also, a tamper indicating feature is associated with the push tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Briere
  • Patent number: 5720266
    Abstract: A fuel control system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a source of gaseous fuel and an intake passageway for fluidly connecting the air intake to the combustion cylinder. The control system includes a gas flow rate sensor which generates an output signal representative of the fuel flow rate to the engine as well as a mass air flow sensor which generates a signal representative of the mass air flow rate to the engine. A fuel valve is fluidly connected in series between the source of gaseous fuel and the air intake passageway. The fuel valve is actuated by an electrical pulse stream between an open and a closed position so that the duty cycle of the pulse stream is proportional to the amount of fuel supplied to the engine. In response to the fuel flow rate signal, the air flow rate signal and a target air/fuel ratio, the control system generates PID gain scheduling parameters relative to the duty cycle of the pulse stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi America, Ltd., Research and Development Division
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, George Saikalis
  • Patent number: 5721204
    Abstract: A paint stripping composition includes a peroxide, water and an organic solvent. The composition has a near-neutral pH. The solvents may include benzyl alcohol and/or cyclohexane dimethanol, and the peroxide may comprise hydrogen peroxide or urea peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Gage Products Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Maxwell, Michael E. Moore, Stephen R. Summerfield, David M. Tear
  • Patent number: 5718149
    Abstract: A bifurcated rack bearing assembly for a steering system includes a bearing member having a pair of bearing surfaces and which is pivotable within a base. The bearing member has a pair of curved riding surfaces which slide on a curved saddle surface of the base to permit the bearing surfaces to pivot into alignment coaxial with an axis of translation of the rack. The bifurcated rack bearing assembly can be substituted for the rack bearings of conventional steering systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Techco Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: D393003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Sam Nichols