Patents Represented by Law Firm Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Patmore, Anderson & Citkowski
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 5719076
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes a layer of hydrogenated semiconductor alloy material has the hydrogen content of that semiconductor layer optimized by the inclusion of a hydrogen-rich body of reservoir material in the device. Migration of hydrogen from the reservoir to the semiconductor layer provides and maintains an optimum hydrogen content in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: United Solar Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Subhendu Guha
  • Patent number: 5718357
    Abstract: A syringe as disclosed having an elongated cylindrical tube open at both a first and second end. The first open end of the tube provides both a filling and dispensing opening for the contents of the tube. A cylindrical piston is slidably mounted within the tube and has a first axial end facing the fill and dispensing opening and a second axial end facing the opposite or second opening. The piston has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tube so that an annular clearance space is formed between the tube and the piston. A wiper extends radially outwardly from the second end of the piston and frictionally engages the cylindrical internal surface of the tube. In practice, when the syringe is filled, air is compressed through the annular opening and deflects the wiper such that the air escapes out of the syringe tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Courtaulds Aerospace
    Inventor: Nguyen Thai Dang
  • Patent number: 5716361
    Abstract: Improved bone cutting guides enable a surgeon to better gauge required resection characteristics. In one embodiment at least a portion of the guide is transparent, thereby enabling the user to optimize cut estimates and to visualize the resection as it is being performed. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the outer surface of the body is shaped to interact with another bone or prosthetic element associated with a joint, thereby enabling the device to function both as a trial and as a cutting guide. In this embodiment as well the guide may be at least partially transparent to improve visualization. Although primarily intended for use in femorat-side knee arthroplasty, the invention is applicable to any procedure which might benefit from improved bone-cutting accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Michael A. Masini
  • Patent number: 5711345
    Abstract: Methods and machining apparatus for indexing and forming spool and pinion shafts for use in a rotary control valve of a power steering system are disclosed. In particular, the methods include forming a contoured spool shaft extension on an end of a spool shaft and a complementary rosette on an end of a pinion shaft, and forming spool and pinion shaft holders having complementary rosettes and contoured ends, respectively, to permit accurate mounting of the spool and pinion shafts during subsequent machine operations. The machining apparatus includes a workpiece holder which rotates the spool or pinion shaft at a predetermined speed and a cutting assembly which moves a cutting tool into and out of contact with the workpiece at three times the speed of rotation of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Techco Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5706855
    Abstract: In a device for monitoring the valve stroke of a valve that is pneumatically or hydraulically driven and comprises a valve body that is actuated by means of a pressure spindle (16), in particular, a diaphragm valve, a control spindle (20) is effectively connected to the pressure spindle (16). A control element (38) is arranged on the control spindle (20) in order to actuate a measuring element that serves as a signal transmitter for the valve position. The control element (38) has a control surface (40) that is inclined relative to the actuating axis (z) of the control spindle (20), and a displacement transducer (36) that measures the respective distance from the control surface (40) which corresponds to the valve position is arranged on the valve.This device makes it possible to monitor continuously the valve stroke over the entire range of movement of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventor: Martin Heiniger
  • Patent number: 5704483
    Abstract: A foldable shipping container or tray made of a single blank and preassembled to be unfolded into an open top tray having foldable leg structures depending from the corners of the bottom of the container to engage the outside upper corners of a like container or partition members protruding above the sides of a like container to maintain the containers in alignment with each other in their unfolded condition with the leg structures being foldable relative to the remainder of the container in either its folded or unfolded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Shoreline Container Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory I. Groh
  • Patent number: 5704178
    Abstract: The use of rubber fragments from discarded tires in building panels, including panels suitable for house construction. A rubber panel is constructed of metal frame members, using a metal mesh on the interior for structural strength and support, and ground up rubber fragments which may contain strands of steel or other metal or fibre reinforcing materials present in tires. These fragments are mixed with an appropriate glue and bonded together to ensure the structural integrity of the panel. Different types of panels are made wherein a window or door frame is mounted at a suitable location. The method of manufacturing a rubber panel includes the steps of preforming a metal frame with mesh covering enclosed area, mixing an appropriate glue with shredded vehicle tires to form a mixture, place the mixture over the mesh, clamping the panel and placing it under pressure by a press and maintaining the pressure until the glue has set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Angelo Ciao
  • Patent number: 5701782
    Abstract: A press as provided for stamping parts from a sheet of stock material. The press includes a frame having a fixed platen secured to the frame against movement. A movable platen is movably mounted to the frame between a closed position in which the movable platen is spaced from the fixed platen by a distance sufficient to receive the sheet of stock material between the platens, and a closed position in which the stock material is sandwiched between the platens to form the part. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame about an axis parallel to the axis of movement of the movable platen. A plurality of cam members on the drive wheel engage cam followers on the movable platen during rotation of the wheel in order to move the movable platen between its retracted and its closed position. Each cam member includes a dwell portion which retains the movable platen in its closed position for a predetermined angular rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Filippo D. Padula
  • Patent number: 5700089
    Abstract: In an electrical resistive-load battery testing system, apparatus and methods disclosed for independently monitoring and reacting to both the temperature of the load and the power actually consumed by the load. The signals derived by the temperature and power monitoring aspects of the invention may be used for any useful purpose including visual and/or audible indicators to alert an operator that the system has exceeded predetermined operating levels. The load may be of a carbon-pile construction, though other loading arrangements are possible. The load-temperature monitoring aspect to the invention includes an optical sensor supported to receive thermal radiation from the load, and output an electrical signal representative of the level of radiation emitted by the load. Means connected to receive the electrical signal from the optical sensor are further provided to perform an operational function if the level of radiation emitted by the load exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Ferret Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. McKinnon
  • Patent number: 5699730
    Abstract: A bag squeezing apparatus for breaking up bridging of material being delivered from the bag. A pair of jaws are sequentially operated to impact opposite sides of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Chem Financial, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Ogier, Garry O'Donnell
  • Patent number: D388532
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Marc H. Wander
  • Patent number: D388911
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: William R. Byxbee, Jr.
  • Patent number: D389325
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: President Tuxedo Rental, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Kedzior
  • Patent number: D389365
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fun-Time International, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Lipson
  • Patent number: D389366
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fun-Time International, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Lipson
  • Patent number: D389367
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fun-Time International, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Lipson