Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Hovey,Williams, Timmons & Collins
  • Patent number: 6161580
    Abstract: A pulsator comprises a first circuit having a first outlet (2) and a second outlet (3), connected alternatively to a first pressure level and a second pressure level, respectively. Furthermore, the pulsator comprises a second circuit, which comprises a first inlet (17a, 17b) connected to the first pressure level, a second inlet (18a, 18b) connected to the second pressure level, and valve members (19a, 19b) for its adjustment by a short connection of a control inlet (26a, 26b) of the valve members to the second pressure level between a first stable position at which the first inlet is connected to a first chamber (10) at the same time as the second inlet is connected to a second chamber (11) or a second stable position at which the first inlet (17b) is connected to the second chamber (11) at the same time as the second inlet (18a) is connected to the first chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Agri AB
    Inventor: Leif Borje Johannesson
  • Patent number: 6162024
    Abstract: A preferred constant horsepower, variable volume hydraulic pump (10) includes a wobble plate (22) coupled with interior end of the pump drive shaft (18) configured for sequentially stroking a plurality of pistons (28,30) received in respective cylinders (42,44) included as part of a nonrotatable barrel (24). A shifting mechanism (74) axially shifts the barrel (24) in accordance with the output pressure in order to change the stroke length of the pistons (28,30) in the cylinders (42,44) and thereby change the flow rate through the pump (10). The shifting mechanism (74) is configured to lower the flow rate as the output pressure increases in order to maintain a constant horsepower demand for maximizing the flow volume for a given horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Bruzek
  • Patent number: 6161721
    Abstract: The preferred medicament dispensing cell (10) for use in an automatic dispensing machine (12) includes dual rotary platens (20,22). A storage platen (20) delivers medicament units (14) such as tablets and capsules from a storage section (86) to a discharge platen (22) in the discharge section (88) to deliver the units (14) to an outlet (50). In preferred forms, the platens (20,22) are sloped toward the respective peripheries in order to induce spreading of the units (14) into a single file for accurate counting during dispensing. The preferred embodiment also includes a discharge gate assembly (24) for receiving a medicament unit (14) in a gage chamber (108) to define the width of the discharge channel (110) leading to the outlet (50), and further includes an arcuate metering wall (26) shiftable into and out of the passage (84) between the storage and discharge sections (86,88) for metering medicament units (14) into the discharge section (88).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Scriptpro LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Kudera, Lawrence E. Guerra, Ronald A. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6160095
    Abstract: Testing methods are provided for determining whether given candidate compounds are effective for regulating NF-.kappa.B, JNK and apoptosis cell activities. The methods involve forming a mixture including a compound such as a proteinaceous specie containing two death effector domains (DEDs) or structural or functional homologs and analogs thereof, the candidate compound and a binding target capable of specifically binding to at least one of the DEDs. This mixture is incubated under conditions such that, but for the presence of the candidate compound, the cell activity takes place to a determinable extent. After incubation, the activity is determined and is compared with the determinable extent thereof in the absence of the candidate compound. The assays may be carried out intracellularly or in a cell-free assay. Methods for altering NF-.kappa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignees: University of Washington, Stowers Institute for Medical Research
    Inventors: Preet M. Chaudhary, Leroy Hood
  • Patent number: 6158128
    Abstract: Meat and poultry scissors are disclosed as including a pair of swingably interconnected blades fixed to respective thumb and finger handles. The blades are flat and the thumb handle presents a thumb-receiving opening defined about an axis that is oblique relative to the respective blade, while the finger handle presents a finger-receiving opening defined about an axis that is perpendicular to the respective blade. In addition, the blades are different lengths, with the longer blade having a blunt outermost, distal end and a cutting edge that is spaced from the distal end. The end of the shorter blade presents an outermost distal end that is spaced generally the same distance from the end of the long blade as the cutting edge of the long blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Bernard G. Huff
  • Patent number: 6158394
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling the position of an animal in a space (1) having a floor in order to facilitate the performance of an animal-related action. The floor comprises at least one primary floor portion (10), at which it is desirable that the animal stands during the performance, and at least one secondary floor portion (11), at which it is desirable that the animal does not stand during the performance. The apparatus comprises an activatable device (14) provided to enable a wobbling movement of the secondary floor portion (11) upon activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Agri AB
    Inventor: Michael J. Street
  • Patent number: 6158253
    Abstract: The highly stretchable, seamless sock conforms to the underlying portion of the body when donned so that there are no undesirable wrinkles or thicknesses in fabric (e.g., ribs, seams, etc) which might cause focal pressure on the foot or leg. The sock comprises a receptacle having an open upper end an opposite, closed toe end. The receptacle includes a toe section that projects from the toe end and is configured to receive the toes of the wearer, a leg section that is adjacent the leg end and is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the leg of the wearer, a foot section extending between the leg section and toe section of the receptacle, and a heel section extending partly around the circumference of the receptacle between the foot and leg sections. These sections of the receptacle are knitted of a common high-stretch corespun yarn and are configured to cause the yarn to stretch when the sock is donned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Knit-Rite, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Svoboda, H. Darrel Darby, Jeffrey C. Dalbey
  • Patent number: 6158201
    Abstract: A mower conditioner includes a rotary style cutter bed and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioning rolls spaced rearwardly from the cutter bed. Crop flow is improved in the machine by a laterally extending conveying roller located between the cutter bed and the nip defined by the conditioning rolls. In particular, the conveying roller serves to lift cut crop up from the cutter bed and convey the crop rearwardly to the nip. This ensures that the cut crop moves in a steady stream from the cutter bed to the conditioning rolls, and thereby reduces the risk of cut crop being thrown forwardly by the cutters. A downwardly open area is preferably defined between the conveying roller and the cutter bed to provide a space through which dirt and debris can drop out of the machine. The conveying roller preferably has a rotational axis that is lower than the rotational axis of the lower conditioning roll and generally vertically aligned with the substantially planar cutting zone defined by the cutter bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Martin E. Pruitt, Kurt Graber, Cecil L. Case, Michael L. O'Halloran
  • Patent number: 6154884
    Abstract: A composite wader (10) adapted to be worn by a fisherman includes a breathable upper section (12) together with a lower leg-receiving non-breathable section (14). The section (14) includes a pair of tubular legs (44, 46) each extending from a mid-thigh region of the wearer to the ankle region; in preferred forms, the legs (44, 46) include integral foot-receiving sections (60, 62). The upper section (12) is connected to the section (14) and extends upwardly to envelope the waist and trunk region of the user. Conventional suspenders (16) are used to maintain the waders in place. Provision of the breathable upper section (12) affords significant comfort to the wearer, while the lower non-breathable section (14) has superior durability qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: J.D. Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James B. Dehner
  • Patent number: 6156479
    Abstract: Anti-reflective coating compositions having improved etch rate, inter alia, are prepared from certain acrylic polymers and copolymers, such as, glycidyl methacrylate reacted with non-polycyclic carboxylic acid dyes and non-polycyclic phenolic dyes, all light absorbing at a wavelength of 193 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Brewer Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim D. Meador, Kelly A. Nowak, Gu Xu
  • Patent number: 6155485
    Abstract: A preferred medicament dispensing station (10) includes a computer (16) with a bar code reader (18) and a printer (20) coupled therewith. When filling a prescription from a supply container (12) of a medicament, the bar code reader (18) scans the bar code (28) on the container (12) and a computer (16) compares the bar code data with prescription data to determine a match before activating a printer (20) to print a prescription label (30) for the prescription. The preferred station (10) also includes databases (26) including an attribute database and a language database. The computer (16) activates the printer (20) to print medicament indicia on the prescription label (30) representative of physical attributes of the medicament including a word description (32) such as the shape, color pattern, color, scoring and form and an image (34). The computer (16) is operable also to prompt the printer (20) to print prescription data on the same label or on a second label in a second language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Scriptpro LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Coughlin, Christopher J. Thomsen, Claire P. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 6152666
    Abstract: The thread (15) of a wood or the like screw has pairs of V-shaped recesses (22, 23) in the edge of a selected intermediate length of the thread (17). Each pair defines a W-shaped cutout (19, 20, 11). The cutouts (19-21) extend into only a part of radial width of the thread (15). There are only about five cutouts (19-21) at each convolute (17) of the limited length. The lengths of the thread portion (16) at the tip and the thread portion (18) at the head (13) of the screw are devoid of the cutouts. Each cutout defines a cutting tooth (24) which facilitates the driving of the screw into the workpiece. The recesses (22, 23) provide cavities for fibrous debris generated by the respective tooth (24). When the screw is in place, the teeth (24) are pressed axially toward the thread produced in the workpiece to reduce the loosening tendency of the installed screw. The disposition and size of the cutouts (19-21), is about three cutouts per one convolute so as not to unduly impede the torque strength of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignees: Uli Walther, Gerda Walther, Mirco Walther, Thorsten Walther
    Inventors: Uli Walther, Mirco Walther, Thorsten Walther
  • Patent number: 6151747
    Abstract: A brush bumper (10) is configured to attach to a perimeter ridge (18) of a brush (12). The brush bumper (10) includes a band (22) and a hang tab (24). The band (22) includes a substantially elastic wall (38), which presents an outer face (40), and defines a circumferentially extending channel (52). The hang tab (24), integrally formed with the band (22), includes a pair of opposed recesses (56,58) defining a hanging slot (54). The band (22) is coupled with the brush (12) by inserting the perimeter ridge (18) of the brush (12) into the channel (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignees: Robert D. Newman, Robert D. Newman, Jr.
    Inventors: Robert D. Newman, Robert D. Newman, Jr., Buford J. Guittar
  • Patent number: 6152536
    Abstract: A round bale moving trailer is disclosed as including a mobile frame and a pair of bale support cradles carried by the frame. The cradles have the same bale support capacities and are consequently capable of supporting an equal number of similarly dimensioned bales. Each of the cradles is supported on the frame for swinging movement between a bale-carrying position and a bale-unloading position. A control mechanism is provided for synchronizing swinging movement of the cradles. The illustrated control mechanism includes a single hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly coupled between the cradles in such a manner that extension and retraction of the assembly causes equal and simultaneous shifting of the cradles. The assembly is connected to a diamond-shaped linkage assembly which limits the ends of the assembly to equal shifting in relatively opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Robert E. Krinhop
  • Patent number: 6153229
    Abstract: Stable aqueous glycerin iodine concentrates are provided which are adapted for dilution in water to yield germicidal iodine use solutions. The concentrates include from about glycerin, iodine, and iodide ion. Preferably, the concentrates further include one or more additives such as compatible wetting agents, hydrotropes, thickening agents, additional emollients and buffering systems. The quantities of iodide ion and iodine are such that the ratio of iodide ion to iodine is from about 0.5:1 to about 6:1. The concentrates are stable for a period of at least about 3 months at room temperature and are dilutable at a ratio of 1 part concentrate with from about 2-80 parts water. The concentrates can be formulated to give very low free iodine values as concentrates which dramatically increase in diluted use solutions to values which are from about 2 to about 300 times greater than the free iodine in the concentrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: West Agro, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Foret
  • Patent number: 6152035
    Abstract: A magnetic support plate for cladded steel and steel-backed polymer stamping/blocking and embossing graphic arts dies is provided in which a non-ferrous, rectangular support member (14, 114, 214) made up of a plate (26, 126, 226) has a die mounting surface (24) for complementally receiving the graphic arts die assembly (12). The plate (26, 126, 226) has a series of elongated recesses or cavities (28, 128, 228) in one face thereof, with each of the cavities being provided with two rectangular magnets that are located in spaced relationship one from another. The two magnets within each cavity are disposed in positions with the magnetic north and south poles thereof opposite one another. A ferro-magnetic component (36) in the form of a steel plate or strip is provided within each cavity in bridging, contacting relationship to both of the magnets within each cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Universal Engraving, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Scholtz, Fred F. Duarte, Dennis F. Hendrix
  • Patent number: 6149694
    Abstract: A fuel product derived from waste products and processes for using and forming the products are provided. Broadly, the fuel product comprises a self-sustaining body formed from a homogenous mixture including solid components derived from livestock waste (e.g., swine manure) and a second waste product different from the livestock waste (e.g., sawdust or paper). The mixture has a moisture content of from about 10-40% by weight and the formed body has a bulk density of from about 20-40 lbs/ft.sup.3. The mixture or formed body is heated to a temperature of at least about 800.degree. F. in order to produce at least about 5000 BTUs of energy per pound of mixture or body heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Northwest Missouri State University
    Inventors: John C. Redden, Jr., Robert E. Bush, Jason W. Helton, James H. Teaney
  • Patent number: 6150986
    Abstract: A transponder for, for example, domestic animals can receive high frequency energy and transmit information of an antenna (L.sub.x, L.sub.y, L.sub.z) and has a storage capacitor (C.sub.5) for storing received energy, which is used for transmitting on the antenna. In order to make the antenna less sensitive to the geometric direction of the received high frequency energy, it has a plurality of antenna coils (L.sub.x, L.sub.y, L.sub.z), that are arranged in an angle to each other, e.g. perpendicularly to each other. Monitoring circuits (LD.sub.x, LD.sub.y, LD.sub.z, 1) can detect the energy received on each coil and compare the detected values to each other and can, for issuing information, use that coil on which the largest energy has been received. Thereby, the transmission can be made in a direction which is considerably more optimal than a direction which otherwise would be obtained in a more random fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Agri AB
    Inventors: Ola Sandberg, Lars Andersson
  • Patent number: D434328
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Blitz U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Larry L. Chrisco, Charles L. Forbis
  • Patent number: D434989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Mike S. Evans, Scott King, Howard S. Ryan