Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Henderson & Sturm LLP
  • Bracelet
    Patent number: 6286296
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bracelet comprising mutually connected links articulated through invisible pivot pins, the links are produced by moulding and the bracelet is mounted by mutually connecting the links by interlocking the pivot pins arranged on one of the links directly into the next link corresponding openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Aquillon
  • Outside mirror system
    Patent number: 6286967
    Abstract: An outside mirror system for a vehicle such as a car or truck comprising a mirror housing unit having a pair of reflective element rotatably mounted from a central point and rotatable between a position exposing a nighttime mirror and a position exposing a daytime mirror. The mirrors are attached in an I-beam configuration with a connecting beam provided between the two mirrors at a right angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Kenneth Cainion
  • High porosity three-dimensional structures in chromium based alloys
    Patent number: 6287446
    Abstract: The invention relates to metallic products and a process for producing these which allows, despite the complexity of their structure, for them to be produced in refractory alloys based on chromium. The chromium is deposited by electrolysis, this being carried out by means of a bath with high throwing power. The formation of the alloy with layers of other metallic constituents is obtained by thermal diffusion. The provision of aluminum is controlled in the form of particles by immersing, by spraying or “painting.” The structures according to the invention are particularly intended to be used as catalyst supports or filtering agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: S.C.P.S. Societe de Coneil et de Prospective Scientifique S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bugnet, Denis Doniat, Robert Rouget
  • Credit card swipe system
    Patent number: 6289315
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic credit card swipe system for the transportation industry. One embodiment has a currency conversion feature and a voice synthesizer that recites the fare in both the local language and a selected one of a number of foreign language options. The customer card swipe box is located in the passenger compartment and the driver control box is located in the front of the taxi readily accessible to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Michael F. Calvi
  • Steerable inflatable towable vehicle
    Patent number: 6283811
    Abstract: A steerable towable vehicle including a body member with a pair of fore-and-aft directed laterally spaced fins attached to the bottom surface. A towing line is attached to the bottom surface at a point centered between the fins adjacent the front of the fins. A passenger carried on the top surface of the body member can shift their weight to one side or the other of the towing line attachment point to selectively steer the vehicle to the right or left. Hand grips are provided to assist the passenger in effectively shifting their weight to steer the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Sportsstuff Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy L. Peterson
  • Method of manufacturing a maltose-rich syrup
    Patent number: 6284498
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a maltose-rich syrup, comprising the successive stages consisting of: (a) carrying out a liquefaction of a starch milk; (b) carrying out a saccharification of the liquefied starch milk in the presence of a maltogenic &agr;-amylase; (c) continuing the saccharification of the liquefied starch milk in the presence of a &bgr;-amylase and at least one debranching enzyme chosen from the group consisting of pullulanases and isoamylases with a view to obtaining a syrup which is rich in maltose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Roquette Freres
    Inventors: Catherine Fouache, Didier Delobeau, Bruno Quenon
  • Body supported percussive arrangement
    Patent number: 6284962
    Abstract: A body supported percussive arrangement (10) including a wrist worn percussive unit (11) and a wireless amplifier unit (12) which may either be worn on the user's torso or disposed at a remote location. The wrist worn percussive unit (11) includes a wrist watch casing shaped housing member (20) provided with a wrist strap arrangement (30) and containing a pick up coil (21) and a printed circuit board (22) which generate an acoustic signal in response to vibrations transmitted through housing member (20). The wireless amplifier unit (12) includes an amplifier speaker (41) contained within an amplifier housing member (40) having an on off switch (42), a volume control switch, and a two tiered LED graphic display responsive to both the amplifier volume setting and the acoustic signal generated by the percussive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventors: Maryann Gardner, Christopher Gardner
  • Emergency marine locator system
    Patent number: 6285281
    Abstract: A fail safe marine locator system (10) for vessels (40) equipped with a marine radio (30) having a dial arrangement (32) for selecting an emergency broadcast frequency upon which a verbal distress call can be transmitted through a radio microphone (34) having a transmit button (33) and including an interface unit (11) having a microprocessor (20) that is coupled to a GPS interface terminal board (23) that will download data from a GPS satellite (60) via a GPS receiver 61. The downloaded data will be processed by the microprocessor circuit board (22) to transmit a digital data signal representative of the vessels location onto a verbal distress call when the microprocessor determines that the dial arrangement (32) is set on an emergency broadcast frequency and the transmit button (33) on the microphone (34) has been depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Steven M. Gatto
  • Gargoyle style diverter for rain gutters
    Patent number: 6282844
    Abstract: A gargoyle style diverter construction (10) for rain gutters (100) wherein the diverter construction (10) includes a mounting unit (11) having a U-shaped mounting member (20) including a mounting plate element (24) and a pair of elongated legs (21), (22) which are formed integrally with a gargoyle style spout unit (12) which includes a bottom panel (31) and a pair of raised side walls (32), (33), which are disposed in a surrounding relationship to a group of fluid outlet openings (105) formed in the exterior side wall (104) of the rain gutter (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Simeon David Marable
  • Process for the separation and purification of lactic acid from a fermentation medium
    Patent number: 6280985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation and purification of lactic acid from a fermentation medium wherein the lactic acid is totally or partially in the form of a salt or salts. The lactic acid producing microorganisms are separated from the other components of the fermentation medium. This solution is concentrated and then acidified to a pH below or equal to 3. The acidified solution is passed over a cation exchange resin to give a fraction that has maximum of 25% lactic acid salts relative to the dry weight of the solution. This fraction is subjected to bipolar fractionating electrodialysis. The resulting lactic acid is further purified, concentrated and then recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Roquette Freres
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Caboche, Catherine Fouache, Jean-Christophe Choque, Pierrick Duflot, Eric Dubois
  • Inflatable shaded float
    Patent number: 6280271
    Abstract: An inflatable shaded float that includes a horizontal base upon which a number of users may sit or recline, a vertical support extending up from the base, and a horizontal canopy attached to the support to provide shade for a portion of the base. The base, support, and canopy are all inflatable so that the float may be entirely deflated to a compact package that is easily transported from one location to another. The support and canopy are shaped to give the appearance of the tail of a whale while making a dive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: SportsStuff, Inc.
    Inventor: LeRoy L. Peterson
  • Salad storage and drainage device
    Patent number: 6276555
    Abstract: A storage and drainage device (10) for the removal and collection of water (50) from freshly washed salad ingredients (100). The device (10) includes an upper lid member (30), a lower base member (20) defining a liquid reservoir (23) and an intermediate drainage member (40) that is dimensioned to be received within both the lid member (30) and the base member (20) in an invertible fashion. The drainage member (40) has an apertured floor panel (41) that will support salad ingredients (100) so that water (50) will flow by gravity into the liquid reservoir (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Pearl E. Edwards
  • Apparatus for hanging objects from the edge of a roof on a building having a gutter
    Patent number: 6273385
    Abstract: An apparatus for hanging objects such as bird feeders or planters on the edge of a building of a type having a gutter and drip guard thereon. An elongated member has a first end and a second end and an intermediate portion of the elongated member is operably supported by an upper edge of an outer wall of the gutter. An upwardly extending flange is operably attached to a first end of the elongated member and the upwardly extending flange is disposed between a drip guard and a first wall of the gutter closest to the edge of a roof. A hook is operatively attached to the elongated member at a place spaced from the flange for hanging objects therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: John D. Hambleton
  • Magnetic detachment system for prosthetics
    Patent number: 6273918
    Abstract: A magnetic detachment system 10 for prosthetics which includes a prosthetic sleeve member 20 having a dosed end 22 provided with a first magnetic member 23, a prosthesis unit 12 including a prosthetic socket member 30 having a closed end 32 provided with a second magnetic member 33, and a detachment unit 13 including a detachment member 60 having a generally flat head element 61 which can be interposed between the first and second magnetic members 23, 33 to separate the sleeve member 20 from the socket member 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: Jason R. Yuhasz, John Paolone, Jr.
  • Device and method for separating particles contained in a fluid
    Patent number: 6273264
    Abstract: A device for separating dense particles contained in blood or one or more proteins contained in blood plasma by utilizing a separating arrangement. The separation arrangement includes a feed duct, at least two discharge ducts, a pump for producing a pressure in order to introduce the blood or blood plasma into the separating device, a measuring device provided with the discharge ducts, and a control arrangement connected to the measuring device. The separation arrangement also includes a respective arrangement changing the cross section of at least one of the two discharge ducts and connected to the control arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Jean Denis Rochat
  • Immobilized maltogenic &agr;-amylase and its use in the manufacture of a maltose-rich syrup
    Patent number: 6274355
    Abstract: The invention concerns an immobilized maltogenic &agr;-amylase, which is adsorbed on particles of at least one porous substrate selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, acrylic resins and polystyrene resins. The present invention also relates to the use of such an &agr;-amylase for the preparation of a maltose-rich syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Roquette Freres
    Inventors: Pierrick Duflot, Catherine Fouache
  • Pulverulent sorbitol and its process of preparation
    Patent number: 6274778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pulverulent sorbitol, characterized in that it exhibits a hygroscopicity value, determined according to a test A, of less than 2%, preferably of less than 1.7%, and a specific surface, determined according to the BET method, at least equal to 2 m2/g, preferably at least equal to 2.2 m2/g, and also relates to its process of preparation. The invention also relates to compositions intended in particular for the food and pharmaceutical fields and to the use of the said pulverulent sorbitol in the preparation of tablets exhibiting a <<smooth in the mouth>> texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Roquette Freres
    Inventors: Franck Moraly, Erik Labergerie, José Lis, Philippe Lefevre, Frédéric Bouvier
  • Plastic bag carrier
    Patent number: D446453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: James W. Brenner
  • Inflatable shaded float
    Patent number: D446568
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Sportsstuff, Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy L. Peterson
  • Reversible mat
    Patent number: D446982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Welch Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard V. Block