Patents Represented by Law Firm Griffin, Branigan and Butler
  • Patent number: 5000434
    Abstract: An insert track (30) of an insertion machine comprises a continuous elastomer belt (32) which travels a horizontal plate 9101) and proximate a plurality of insert station hoppers (52H-57H). The plate (101) has an upper surface (103) formed from an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene. The plate (101) is sandwiched in a friction fit between the insertion machine frame (100) and a track front edge guide (105). The plate carries a track rear edge guide (104). In its friction fit the plate (101) is slidable for selectively changing the width of the track from the track front edge guide (105) to the track rear edge guide (104). The track front edge guide (105) has a bridge member (112) connected thereto proximate each insert station (52-57). Each bridge member (112) extends above and across the width of the belt (32). Each bridge member (112) has a drag strip (113) suspendedly connected thereto proximate the midpoint of the belt (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Gary VanderSvde, Paul Beatty, Ren Roxas
  • Patent number: 5000563
    Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is intended for observation and treatment of a patient, in particular for ophthalmological cases. Such apparatus includes an arrangement (10) for ophthalmological observation and treatment, means (12) for effecting positioning and adjustment of said arrangement (10), an underframe (14) for supporting the means (12) and said arrangement (10) as well as a head rest system (16). In this apparatus the means (12) comprises jointed means permitting rotation of the arrangement (10) around a horizontal axis. The apparatus is applied for observing and treating the eyes of a patient who may be seated or recumbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Lasag AG
    Inventors: Heinz Gisel, Paul Batscher
  • Patent number: 5000843
    Abstract: There is provided between a concentrate tank and a membrane filter a circulating line which consists of a feed line and a return line. It is also possible to use an ultrafilter as the membrane filter. There is provided a leveling tube connected by respective pipes to the concentrate tank at top and bottom portions thereof, respectively. A buoy floats within the leveling tube and a position of this buoy is detected by means of transparency of the leveling tube itself or photosensors in order to detect a degree of concentration of the culture fluid progressing within the concentrate tank. There may be provided multi-stage circulating lines each connecting the associated concentrate tank to the associated membrane filter so that the culture fluid can be transferred during the process of concentration from the stage of the largest volume treatment to the state of the least volume treatment in order to concentrate the culture fluid more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eitaro Kumazawa, Takao Hatai, Seiji Ishida, Atushi Baba, Masahiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4999823
    Abstract: The watch case (1) of this invention includes a caseband-bezel (2) of plastic material overlaid with a metal cap (5). The cap is a metallic leaf formed to match the relief of the bezel (15) and caseband (16) which it overlays. The cap is secured to the caseband-bezel by glue preferably located in a receptacle (33) provided within the thickness of the caseband and extending at least partially along the periphery of said caseband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: ETA S.A. Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Laurent Grosjean
  • Patent number: 4998744
    Abstract: A child's seat comprising a bottom, armrests, a backrest and footrests, as well as means for mounting the seat on a bicycle. The bottom is provided with a forward extension adapted for attachment to a rear fork of the bicycle by means of a clamping member. The seat is characterized by a substantially U-shaped bracket rotatably attached to the bottom and containing the footrests. Said bracket has forked elements adapted to coact with clamping members attached releasably to the fork legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Joannes Drexler
  • Patent number: 4998624
    Abstract: Carbonaceous components are separated from particulate coal containing inorganic solids by agitating and aerating the coal, agglomerating oil and water to form agglomerates of carbonaceous components of the coal and oil with air trapped in the agglomerates. The air trapped in the agglomerates makes them buoyant so that they collect at the surface of the water, for easy removal, while inorganic residual solids collect at the bottom of the water. The inorganic solids containing coal comprise previously formed agglomerates which are broken down by the agitation to form a slurry. In the latter case the process is for removal of inorganic solids which were not removed during the initial agglomeration. The agitation may be accomplished by a stirrer, impeller or a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Limited
    Inventors: C. Edward Capes, Richard D. Coleman, Joseph L. S. Croteau, William L. Thayer
  • Patent number: 4997289
    Abstract: Here is disclosed an overtape-sealed comprising a paper tube, having longitudinally opposite open ends one and/or both of which is covered and sealed with a twofold overtape wherein the overtape is bonded to the paper tube with adhesive having penetrated the outermost layer of the paper tube so that a release resistance established between the overtape and the outermost layer of the paper tube is higher than a release resistance of an inner layer not penetrated by said adhesive with respect to said outermost layer and thereby unsealing of the paper bag can occur along a boundary between the outermost layer and the inner layer or along the inner layer itself of the paper bag in proximity of said boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Ohishi Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sasaki, Kaoru Teshima
  • Patent number: 4998184
    Abstract: A hard plastic reflector (1) is mounted on a receiving member (4) by a joining assembly which comprises a first joining member (5) mounted on the receiving member and a second joining member (6) of plastic which flatly overlaps and lies on a wide side surface of a wall member (2) of the reflector. The overlapping portion of the wall member and the second joining member define overlapping openings (12, 13) or recesses in which a sleeve (16) of elastic material having an elongated fastening device (17) extending therethrough is positioned. The elongated fastening device presses axially, on the sleeve, or extends a bore in the sleeve outwardly, sufficiently so that an outer surface of the sleeve engages surfaces defining the openings and an inner surface of the sleeve engages the elongated fastening device in a compressed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Hans-Henning Honig
  • Patent number: 4995871
    Abstract: Here is disclosed a needle detacher for syringe adapted to detach a needle after use for injection or blood-collecting from the associated syringe cylinder for easy and safe disposal, comprising a container main body, a lid assemble consisting of inner and outer lids, a needle chute opening formed through the outer lid, and a needle trap opening defined by the inner and outer lids so that a syringe cylinder or the outer lid may be forcibly rotated with the needle neck being held in the needle trap opening to detach the needle from the syringe cylinder and then the needle may be received through the needle chute opening into the container main body, wherein the needle chute opening is adapted to be closed by the inner lid which is slidable with respect to the outer lid so that the needle neck can be held by the inner lid cooperating with the outer lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sasaki, Aguri Tanaka, Hiroyuki Inagaki, Tatsuo Suzuki, Kenji Asakura
  • Patent number: 4996676
    Abstract: The miniature electric clock includes a base plate (28) bearing a motor (11), a going train (21) and time displaying hands (82,100), and a back cover-caseband (10) bearing electrical and electronic elements (7,9) resting on a printed circuit (3) itself fastened to the back cover-caseband. Electrical couplings (15,17) between the motor and the printed circuit are established when the back cover-caseband is united with the base plate. If the clock includes an alarm arrangement other electrical couplings (129,127) are likewise established between the alarm mechanism (66, 88) and the printed circuit when the back cover-caseband is united with the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: ETA S.A. Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Pierre-Andre Noirjean
  • Patent number: 4996055
    Abstract: A deodorant has the genus butyric acid bacteria and the genus Bacillus subtilis as effective components and is used for deodorizing the excrement of various animals and other sources of foul odors. The combined use of the genus butyric acid bacteria and the genus Bacillus subtilis makes it possible to deodorize the sources of foul odors by decomposing hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, mercaptan, etc., contained in the sources of the foul odors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Kurasawa Optical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Morio Kurasawa
  • Patent number: 4995731
    Abstract: A method for measuring a heat transfer coefficient between a heat transfer element and a fluid comprising a measurement of a calorific value by placing the heat transfer element into the fluid and charing the heat transfer element with electricity. A calorific value of a particular surface of the heat transfer element is the true calorific value of the entire heat transfer element, since the particular surface of the heat transfer element is thermally insulated from a residual surface of the heat transfer element so as to prevent a heat transfer of the residual surface of the heat transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoshige Hori, Kensuke Itoh
  • Patent number: 4995872
    Abstract: An expandable catheter and bridge device for use in endoscopic/cystoscopic procedures utilizing a laterally flexible tubular catheter includes a longitudinally expandable section, and further comprising a rigid bridgelike handle structure to facilitate catheter maneuvering and deployment manipulation. The catheter tube is insertible through a passage of an endoscopic instrument while the catheter's expandable section is expanded in length through the coaction of manually applied tension and the expanding means disposed in one of the catheter-encircling ends of the bridge-like handle structure as the catheter is drawn therethrough. At the other catheter-encircling end, the bridge-like handle structure is secured to a passage entry of the endoscopic instrument. The bridge-like handle structure is provided with a snap-in cradle fitting to securely hold a syringe which can be connected to the end of the catheter tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Janice J. Ferrara
  • Patent number: 4991476
    Abstract: In a forage harvester having a motor driven sharpening stone driven back and forth along a path parallel to the axis of a rotating cutterhead to sharpen the knives of the cutterhead, and a door which normally prevents access to the knives, a control circuit is provided for controlling the opening of the door, the movement of the sharpening stone to sharpen the knives, and the closing of the door after the knives have been sharpened. The circuit is controlled by switches located at an operator's control panel and accessible to the operator while he is in the driver's seat of the harvester so that the operator does not have to leave his driving position to accomplish the knife sharpening operation. The circuit includes visual indicators located on the control panel for indicating the status of the circuit during the entire operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark K. Chow, John R. McClure
  • Patent number: 4991455
    Abstract: A power shift transmission is operably controlled by a microprocessor that will effect a deceleration of the vehicle at relatively high speeds by effecting a downshifting of the transmission in response to a sensing of the rate of rotation of the output shaft such that the gears in the transmission are selected so that the transmission and/or the vehicle engine becomes a load for decelerating the vehicle. The microprocessor does not effect a downshifting of the transmission whenever the sensed rate of rotation of the output shaft would cause an overspeeding of the engine in the lower gear. The microprocessor runs a strategy determination check prior to entering a high speed deceleration routine to determine if a more efficient deceleration routine would be more effective, as based upon the pre-sensed rate of rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventor: Garth H. Bulgrien
  • Patent number: 4993041
    Abstract: An optically pumped laser comprising a securing arrangement (14) for the bar assuring, on one hand, the rigid interconnection of the bar (4) and the framework (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) by gripping the former and in bearing on the latter and, on the other hand the thermal insulation of the lateral faces of the bar. The securing arrangement (14) is obtained from an elastically deformable fitting of plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Sidler, Jean-Charles Poli
  • Patent number: 4993007
    Abstract: The watch case of this invention includes a caseband-back of plastic material, a metallic bezel and a packing to assure impermeability between the caseband-back and the bezel. A first annular seat extending radially into the bezel receives an annular protuberance integrally formed with the caseband in a manner such that the caseband-back and bezel become inseparable. At the same time a packing is compressed into a second seat to render impermeable the discontinuity between the caseband-back and the bezel. Assembly of the caseband-back to the bezel is effected by ultrasonic vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Leonhard Meister
  • Patent number: 4991504
    Abstract: The ink duct is separated by at least one separating wall which is fastened to the base and is formed from two metal plates (4, 5), fastened at a distance from each other and between which a plastic intermediate plate (6) is mounted with a tight fit and so that it can be displaced and tilted and is guided by a pin (17) which is fastened between the plates and passes through an oblong hole in the said intermediate plate (6). This intermediate plate (6) has a front edge (6a) which has the shape of an arc of a circle corresponding to the periphery of the ink duct cylinder. In the use position, it is pressed against this periphery by two spring pins (9,10; 12,13) which act on its rear edge so as to ensure a leaktight contact with the said ink duct cylinder. A positioning pin (18), which is fastened to the said plate (6), allows it to be pulled into the withdrawn position, where it may be locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: De la Rue Giori S.A.
    Inventor: Raffaele Fina
  • Patent number: 4991454
    Abstract: A control mechanism for an electronically controlled power shift transmission is disclosed wherein the shift pattern for the control mechanism includes an upshift and downshift path of movement for each of the forward, neutral, and reverse positions through which the control lever is movable. The control lever is biased toward a no-shift sub-position for each position of movement of the lever. A latching mechanism engageable when the control lever is in the neutral position does not restrict movement of the lever between the upshift and downshift subpositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventor: Garth H. Bulgrien
  • Patent number: D315530
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Swatch SA
    Inventor: Jean Robert