Patents Represented by Law Firm Hopkins & Thomas
  • Patent number: 5595291
    Abstract: There is provided a basket type container 11 having a handle portion 12 for carrying a plurality of bottles 14. The container 11 has side walls 18 and end panels 24, 25. There are also retention panels 15 extending between the side walls 18 and the handle portion 12 for holding the bottles in the container 11 and preventing removal. Lines of weakening may be provided to disable the retention panels 15 and allow access to the bottles 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Riverwood International Limited
    Inventor: Emanuel Negelen
  • Patent number: 5594176
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scan assembly for use in inspecting downhole gas pipes comprises a sensor section which rotates in relation to an end section that remains essentially level forming a rotating interface. The sensor section includes at least one ultrasonic transducer for transmitting interrogating pulses into a pipe wall and for receiving return pulses that are analyzed for determining the maintenance and repair needs of the gas pipe. Provided in the scan assembly is a rotary transformer for magnetically coupling signals, such as return pulse data or power, across the rotating interface of the scan assembly. The rotary transformer includes a primary winding on one section of the scan assembly and a secondary winding on another section of the scan assembly. The primary windings and secondary windings associated with respective sections of the scan assembly can be placed in parallel or concentric relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Karl F. Kiefer
  • Patent number: 5590759
    Abstract: Fire alarm extension apparatuses (30, 100) permit actuation of a fire alarm pull switch (11, 21) by persons with a handicap by lowering the position at which the fire alarm pull switch (11, 21) can be actuated. The fire alarm extension apparatuses (30, 100) each comprise a clip (33, 133) for attachment to a pull lever (14, 24) of the fire alarm pull switches (11, 21). An elongated member (32, 132) is attached to the clip (33, 133) for permitting movement of the clip (33, 133) and the pull lever (14, 24) while at a position remote from the pull lever (14, 24) in a direction to permit actuation of the fire alarm pull switch (11, 21). In a first embodiment (30), the elongated member (33) is a flat rigid shaft which is mounted to a wall (31) via a mounting block (36) and is guided by dual parallel rails (37a, 37b) situated on the mounting block (36). Further, the lever (14, 24) is engaged by a C-shaped clip (33), and the shaft (32) has a T-shaped handle (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: J. Riley Hawkins, Nicole E. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5590839
    Abstract: Carts successively installed in a transfer station, receives a cotton module from above and are successively transported by a tractor into a conveyor assembly which feeds the carts successively toward a stationary feeder head where the cotton of each module is removed progressively as the cart is passed under the feeder head fluffing the cotton and delivering it to a plenum chamber. An auger, which sweeps laterally over the empty portion of the cart forming a temporary bottom for the chamber delivers the fluffed cotton to an air box separator in which rocks and stones are removed by gravity and a suck pipe removes the fluffed cotton to convey it to the gin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Tommy H. Condrey
  • Patent number: 5592092
    Abstract: A pipe proximity warning device is operable for both cross-line and in-line digging operations to provide a warning to an operator that the bucket of a backhoe is in close proximity to a trace wire on a plastic pipe. The in-line system comprises two sensors located on the bottom of the bucket for detecting a signal on the trace wire. The distance to the wire is determined based upon a ratio of the signals detected by the two sensors. The cross-line system also has two sensors and also employs a ranging system that disables a geometry tracker when the bucket is outside an operable range of distances to the trace wire. From the angles of the boom, stick, and bucket, the geometry tracker determines the horizontal distance x and vertical distance z to the trace wire, both of which may be displayed to an operator in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Mark V. Mechler
  • Patent number: 5588330
    Abstract: A gear shifting device includes a frame, a shifting lever with a positioning pin pivotably attached to the frame, a locking member pivotably attached to the frame for preventing the positioning pin from falling when the shifting lever is in a Parking position, an actuator for operating the locking member and a hand-operated locking disengageable mechanism. The hand-operated locking disengageable mechanism has a disengaging member slidably attached to the frame for moving the locking member to the unlocked position, a compression spring for applying repulsive force on the disengaging member, a core pin removably attached to the frame so as to oppose the disengaging member, the core pin being rotatable between its locked position and unlocked position by aid of a tool and a lid member removably attached to the frame so as to cover the core pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Fujikiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kataumi, Yoshihiro Takikawa
  • Patent number: 5588586
    Abstract: There is provided an interlocking arrangement for coupling two pieces 10, 11 of paperboard. Projecting portions 17 on one piece 10 and openings on the other piece 11 engage as the pieces are urged together. Parallel sided flaps 20 hinged to said one piece 10 and tongues 24 on said other piece 11 are provided on the pieces with said tongues 24 being pushed past the flaps 20 when the pieces are moved together. The free ends of the tongues 24 are bent back slightly and the flaps 20 engage below the bent back ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Ltd.
    Inventor: Emanuel Negelen
  • Patent number: 5588266
    Abstract: A continuous sidelight threshold and door sill assembly for use with entryways having at least one fixed sidelight panel and a hinged door panel comprises an extruded aluminum frame having an elongated channel and a sloped sill. A vertically adjustable threshold cap is shorter than the channel is configured to fit in and be selectively positioned at a predetermined location along the channel. A separate panel cap is also configured to fit in the channel and be selectively positioned therealong. The assembly is universally adaptable to be used either with left handed, right handed, or double sided sidelight door entryways simply by positioning the threshold cap and the panel cap at respective appropriate locations along the channel. A removable paint shield is provided to protect the threshold cap from paint during construction of a building in which the assembly is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: J. Charles Headrick
  • Patent number: 5586604
    Abstract: A multiple tandem castering aerator assembly is provided for mounting to the rear portion of a commercial lawnmower deck. The assembly comprises a set of tandem castering aerator wheel assemblies having a pair of vertically moveable pivot plates that bear a weighted wheel and a spiked aerator wheel assembly. The aerator wheel assembly has four curved tines and is rotatably mounted between the pivot point of the pivot plate and the weighted wheel. The assemblies caster behind and follow a moving lawnmower and the weighted wheel provides sufficient force for driving the aerator wheel tines into the ground for aeration of the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Leonard F. Postema
  • Patent number: 5586170
    Abstract: A system of the subject invention includes a mobile telecommunications switching office (MTSO), several base stations and mobile units. The base stations serve respective sectors or cells to establish radio communications with mobile units in their sectors or cells. The base stations are connected to the MTSO which performs switching to establish call connections between mobile units and/or between units served by an external network to which the MTSO is connected. The MTSO uses dynamic channel allocation to designate base stations to serve a call connection in active mode and in standby mode for a particular channel. Therefore, if communication with the base station serving a call connection in active mode is disrupted by a building, terrain or an equipment failure, for example, the MTSO can set the base station currently in active mode to standby mode, and can set the base station currently in standby mode, to active mode to serve the call connection on the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Tau Lea
  • Patent number: 5579755
    Abstract: A barbecue grill cart assembly is disclosed, the assembly having a plurality of legs which are partially fastened together at their lower ends by a shelf and secured at their upper ends by a grill containment surface. The upper grill containment surface has a rectangular middle section with a portion removed for receiving a grill, and at least one side shelf extending towards the front of the grill cart assembly at an angle greater than 0.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5579847
    Abstract: A compact lawn aerator comprises a rigid frame having a hitch for releasibly fastening the frame to the back of a self-propelled mower. An elongated axle is secured to the under side of the frame and a set of aerator wheels are rotatably mounted at spaced intervals along the axle. Each of the aerator wheels has a generally disk-shaped hub from the periphery of which four spikes radiate. Each spike initially projects from the hub along a radius but curves along its length in the direction of rotation of the wheel. The spikes are tapered to a sharpened point and their curve is determined so that, as the wheel rotates, the ends of the spikes pierce the soil at substantially right angles and the shank of the spikes slip into the ground progressively through the pierce point. This greatly reduces the force needed to drive the spikes into the ground, thus reducing the weight and size of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Leonard F. Postema
  • Patent number: 5575113
    Abstract: A guard rail structure includes first and second vertical tubes, two first support members each mounted on one distal end of the first vertical tube, and two second support members each mounted on one distal end of the second vertical tube. Two first fastener members are each mounted on an associated first support member and two second fastener members are each rotatably mounted on an associated second support member. Two first horizontal tubes each have a first distal end mounted in an associated first fastener member. Two second horizontal tubes each have a first distal end mounted in an associated second fastener member, and a second distal end slidably received in an associated first horizontal tube. Two eccentric members each include a plug securely mounted in the second distal end of an associated second horizontal tube and each include an eccentric shaft extending from the plug thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Li-chu C. Huang
  • Patent number: 5575643
    Abstract: An orthodontic tool is described wherein an elastic band can be easily stretched into a triangular shape and attached over the hooks of an orthodontic apparatus attached within a mouth. The tool can be operated with a single hand and the rubber band can be stretched and placed over a first hook and then partially released from the tool. The second end of the rubber band is placed over a second hook in the mouth and the rubber band is completely released from the tool which is then removed from the mouth. The tool comprises two stationary L-shaped ends and one L-shaped end movable from the two stationary ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: William F. Green
  • Patent number: 5574223
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scan assembly is adapted to efficiently scan a surface and cross-section of a wall of an elongated cylindrical object. The ultrasonic scan assembly has a rotatable sensor section capable of rotating as the scan assembly is advanced axially along the elongated cylindrical object. In operation, the scan assembly is advanced in an axial direction along elongated cylindrical object, and the sensor section of the scan assembly is rotated so as to create a helical scan pattern. For at least a portion of the cylindrical object, the angular velocity of the sensor section is modulated. As a result, that portion of the cylindrical object is scanned at more than one scan rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Karl F. Kiefer
  • Patent number: 5573682
    Abstract: An improved nozzle for reducing overspray in high temperature supersonic plasma spray devices comprises a body defining an internal passageway having an upstream end and a downstream end through which a selected plasma gas is directed. The nozzle passageway has a generally converging/diverging Laval shape with its upstream end converging to a throat section and its downstream end diverging from the throat section. The upstream end of the passageway is configured to accommodate a high current cathode for producing an electrical arc in the passageway to heat and ionize the gas flow to plasma form as it moves along the passageway. The downstream end of the nozzle is uniquely configured through the methodology of this invention to have a contoured bell-shape that diverges from the throat to the exit of the nozzle. Coating material in powder form is injected into the plasma flow in the region of the bell-shaped downstream end of the nozzle and the powder particles become entrained in the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Plasma Processes
    Inventors: George P. Beason, Jr., Timothy N. McKechnie, Christopher A. Power
  • Patent number: 5572816
    Abstract: The sign (10) includes a plurality of elongated louvers (170) arranged parallel to one another in a cylindrical array to form a carousel (30) of louvers rotatable about a central axis (15). Each louver (170) is rotatable about is own length to display different images, with the images of adjacent louvers being coherent to form a progressive coherent image about the carousel, and the louvers are turned on their own axes in timed relationship with respect to one another, either simultaneously or progressively, to change the images. Sign (10) has a circular frame (30) which is rotatably supported on a support base (20). Frame (30) has twelve panel frames (36) which are interconnected to form one rigid circular frame assembly (30) about central axis (15). Three drive wheel assemblies (70) are provided for rotating advertising sign (10) about central axis (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Multimedia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Taz L. Anderson, Jr., Todd W. Stalder
  • Patent number: 5573210
    Abstract: A pipe hanger (10, 110, 210) comprising hanger rail(s) (16, 116, 216) secured at one end to a floor joist (18) so as to depend downwardly from underneath the floor structure, a first bracket member (20a, 120a, 220a) having at least one longitudinal bore through which the hanger rail(s) is received and a notch (24, 124, 224) formed in one surface of the bracket member thereof. In communication with each longitudinal bore of the bracket member is a latching mechanism (26, 126, 226) which secures the bracket member to the hanger rail(s) such that the bracket member can freely move along the hanger rail(s) in one direction but is prevented from moving along the hanger rail(s) in the opposite direction without actuating a lever on either side of the bracket member. A second bracket member (20b, 120b, 220b) which is identical to the first, but rotated 180.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Randall R. Hendrix
    Inventors: Randall R. Hendrix, William H. Tittle
  • Patent number: D375818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: William R. Fischer
  • Patent number: D375998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Brenda Gore