Patents Represented by Law Firm Hubbard, Thurman, Turner and Tucker
  • Patent number: 4901794
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for anchoring of equipment within the interior bore of a section of a subterranean well conduit, and particularly for insertion of such equipment. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical housing and a conically tapered surface around the exterior of the housing which is radially larger at its upper end and tapered to a radially smaller lower end. A seal body is provided which is carried exteriorly around the housing and has its interior tapered end reverse to that of the conically tapered surface around the housing and which is selectively longitudinally movable relative to the housing from a first, unset position on the conduit section to a second, set position on the conduit section and radially expandable during the movement relative to the housing. Anchoring means are carried exteriorly around the body for securing the apparatus to the conduit section against upward and downward movement of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Baugh, Sidney K. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4901212
    Abstract: A decorative trim lighting system comprises an elongated, extruded plastic retaining strip which is formed in a laterally folded configuration and is adhesively securable along an exterior edge portion of a building. A series of support tab members are insertable between the folded side portions of the retaining strip, at longitudinally spaced intervals along the strip, and are frictionally gripped and retained by the facing side portions of the strip. The tabs have outer end portions which support the light elements of a decorative light string along the building portion edge. The retaining strip may be left in place on the building when the light string and associated support tabs are removed, and permits rapid and easy reinstallation of the light string. Additionally, the spacing between the individual light elements may be easily adjusted simply by sliding their support tabs along the length of the retaining strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Robert B. Prickett
  • Patent number: 4899869
    Abstract: A multi-flight conveyor for transporting food articles is formed in its entirety from metals and plastic materials that are approved for use in food processing. Each conveyor flight frame comprises a ladder like structure wherein two stainless steel side rails are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced support rods formed of a lubricious plastic material. A stainless steel drive shaft is journalled at one end of the conveyor in sealed bearings. All of the rods and the drive shaft are then enclosed in a stainless steel wiremesh endless belt, which is supported and lubricated by the plastic support rods. All flights are substantially identical, except for length, and are detachably rigidly secured in a vertically stacked array which is angularly adjustable relative to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Bakery Equipment & Service Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4899649
    Abstract: A multi-frypot, deep fat frying assembly is formed by operatively interconnecting a filtered, multiple frypot cooking module with one or more nonfiltered, multiple frypot cooking modules, each module having headered cooking fluid supply and drain piping systems disposed within its outer housing. To form the ganged frypot assembly, the module housings, with appropriate side panels removed, are placed in a side-by-side orientation and the adjacent headered piping systems are connected to one another to form in the assembly common supply and drain headers. The filtered module is provided with a roll-out, self-contained filter unit which may be moved into and out of the filtered module housing directly beneath its frypots, the filter unit having a cooking fluid receiving container which carries a filter pump that may be quick-connected to the supply header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Grob, John M. Kinch
  • Patent number: 4898247
    Abstract: An earth scraper attachment adapted to be drawn by a farm tractor or other vehicle having a vertically adjustable three point hitch has an elongated frame with a front tongue portion connectable to the hitch with a specially designed hitch connection member. A rear end portion of the frame is supported on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the frame by a pair of wheels whose heights relative to the frame may be selectively and independently adjusted. Depending from a longitudinally central portion of the frame is an earth scraping blade which is supported on the frame for pivotal motion about a generally vertically extending axis, and may be locked in a selected pivotally adjusted position. A laterally spaced series of downwardly extending earth ripping teeth are supported beneath the frame forwardly of the scraping blade and are used to rip and loosen the earth prior to operation thereon by the scraping blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Inventor: Hendrix W. Springfield
  • Patent number: 4897923
    Abstract: A flexible line trimmer is provided with an automatic line feeding cutting head portion which utilizes a generally U-shaped, centrifugally actuated balancing arm member to maintain the free end cutting length of the line at a predetermined length during trimmer operation. The balancing arm is rotatably mounted within the head by means of a coil spring element which is installed on one of the leg portions of the balancing arm and press-fitted into a plastic pocket portion of the head to serve as a bearing for the balancing arm. The outer end of the spring-carrying leg has a transverse pigtail portion which may be selectively sized to predeterminably vary the controlled cutting length of the line. The opposite leg of the balancing arm, which is engaged by the line during trimmer operation, is received within spool flange notches when the arm is in its line locking position to prevent undesirable bending of the arm due to cutting line forces thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Imack L. Collins
  • Patent number: 4898151
    Abstract: Cooking oil contained in a fuel-fired deep fat frypot is heated utilizing a recirculating flow of combustion gas produced by an induced flow fuel-air burner. A squirrel cage type centrifugal fan draws a fuel-air mixture inwardly through the burner into an inlet chamber in which the combustion gas is formed. The hot combustion gas is discharged from the fan into a supply chamber, flowed from the supply chamber into and through external heating passages extending rearwardly along the opposite exterior side surfaces of the frypot, and then enters an external heating passage extending along the rear frypot wall. From this rear passage the combustion gas is drawn forwardly through generally triangularly shaped heating tubes extending horizontally through the frypot cooking zone, into and through a return plenum, into the fan where it is mixed with a fresh supply of combustion gas from the inlet chamber, and is then discharged into the supply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: Clement J. Luebke, Frank A. Slade, Gerald W. Sank, James T. Grob, George M. Price, Elbert M. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 4896685
    Abstract: A decorative baby hair piece has a decorative adornment of embroidered ribbon attached to a lace backing element or a large bow without the backing element and a hair lock attached with glue to the decorative adornment. The hair lock includes two elongated, flexible, plastic strips having ends laser welded together and opposite ends left open. The open ends facilitate positioning baby hair between opposing surfaces of the two strips. Elongated male and female flexible plastic elements having corresponding lock forming shapes are formed integrally with the two strips and coact when pressed together to form a zipper type lock. Thus, with baby hair positioned across the male and female locking elements and the plastic strips pressed together to zip lock the locking elements together, the hair and the strips are simultaneously locked together for securing the decorative baby hair piece to the baby's hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Globestar, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary D. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 4893667
    Abstract: Light admitting window coverings are provided with apertures which are formed in a covering such as a vertical blind louver. The louver is formed of opposed panel portions with a transparent film or sheet sandwiched therebetween to provide for sufficient light transmission and visibility through the louvers in the closed position but without permitting convective heat transmission through the window covering. The blind louvers may be formed with an insulating air space between the opposed louver panel portions and the transparent film or sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventor: William F. Dunn
  • Patent number: 4894207
    Abstract: A recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization device includes a housing having a chamber therein. A corrugated, perforated jet curtain plate is disposed within the chamber and partially defines an air supply plenum positioned outwardly of the chamber, the plenum having an electric heating element operatively positioned therein. Spaced apart from the jet curtain plate within the chamber is a nonperforated deflector plate which extends parallel to the jet curtain plate and may be of a flat or corrugated configuration. A blower is connected to the housing and creates therein a recirculating flow of heated air which sequentially flows into the air supply plenum across the heating element, outwardly in a forward direction through the perforations in the jet curtain plate and into the housing chamber, back into the blower, and then into the air supply plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Archer Aire Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil L. Archer, M. Keith Cox
  • Patent number: 4893676
    Abstract: Subterranean oil and gas producing formations are fractured at vertically spaced intervals utilizing perforating guns forced down the well casing in tailing off "trains" comprising tamping and spacing water columns respectively positioned above and below each perforating gun, a perforation plugging slurry positioned below the spacing water column, and a concentrated proppant slurry column positioned below the perforation plugging slurry column. The perforation plugging and proppant slurry columns are sealed at their upper and lower ends by specially designed gel plug seals each comprising a short column of strong gel solution in which a spaced pair of casing size rock salt balls are disposed to provide the seal with structural reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Gilman A. Hill
    Inventor: Gilman A. Hill
  • Patent number: 4893545
    Abstract: An aircraft armament mounting system includes an elongated support plank member which is insertable transversely through the aircraft cabin area so that a central portion of the plank is disposed within the cabin area and its opposite end portions project outwardly from the aircraft. This central portion is anchored to the aircraft, and outer tip portions of the plank are pivotable between extended and inwardly folded positions. A pair of rocket launchers are mounted on downwardly projecting support structures secured to the outer ends of the plank tip portions, the support structures having integral adjustment mechanisms which permit vertical and horizontal adjustment of the rocket launcher firing axes. Supported on the underside of the plank end portions, inwardly of the foldable tip sections, are a pair of machine gun pods supported on specially designed shock absorbing gun mounts which carry a pair of machine guns provided with electrically driven charging assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventors: Paul H. Sanderson, Richard C. Serkland
  • Patent number: 4890548
    Abstract: A deep fat fryer structure includes a floor mounted housing having an upper internal portion in which a side-by-side pair of large capacity metal frypots are operatively supported, each of the frypots having an upper, heated cooking portion from which an unheated cold well depends. Cooking fluid may be drained from the wells for filtration purposes by a valved drainage conduit system having an open outlet end. Filtered cooking fluid may be returned to the upper frypot portions through a valved supply conduit system having a flexible inlet end portion extendable below the frypots. An open-topped, wheel-supported container may be rolled into the housing directly beneath the frypots to receive cooking fluid drained therefrom, and has a cooking fluid filtration element supported on its bottom wall directly over a drain sump depending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Grob, John M. Kinch
  • Patent number: 4889049
    Abstract: An improved wringer device is provided for squeezing water from a cloth or chamois when fed between a pair of adjacent rollers. Each roller is made from thermoformed plastic, or molded elastomeric material with an outer surface defining a plurality of axially aligned curvilinear hill and valley surfaces. The hill surface of one roller meshes with a valley surface of the adjacent roller to assist in feeding the cloth through the rollers and to maximize efficiency by minimizing required cranking force. The device includes a first support member for mounting to a wall, a second roller support member selectably connected to the first member, and a third roller support member fixedly secured to the second member, a pair of rollers with substantially parallel axes and each supported between the second and third support members, and a crank interconnected with one of the rollers to drive that roller, which then drives the other roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventors: Stephen R. Foster, Thomas R. Oschmann
  • Patent number: 4889056
    Abstract: A generally circular cover for closing a hatch opening in a railroad car hopper is connected to a diametral support bar for limited pivotal movement to provide uniform gasket loading between the cover member and the hatch coaming. One end of the support bar is hinged to the hopper roof and the opposite end includes a cam surface and laterally projecting retaining pins for engagement with a latch member. The latch member has a somewhat channel shaped portion pivotally connected to a link which, in turn is also pivotally secured to the hopper roof. The link includes opposed trunnion portions which are engageable with the cam surface to forciby engage the support bar to hold the hatch cover closed. The latch member includes open ended slots which are engageable with the retaining pins in such a way that the latch member will not disengage from the support bar when the latch member is swung to the release position if fluid pressure within the car hopper is sufficient to force the cover toward an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Stewart
  • Patent number: 4887379
    Abstract: A fishing tackle box is secured to the underside of a bass boat pedestal seat by mounting structure that permits the box to be pivoted relative to the seat between a latched stowage position in which the box is positioned entirely beneath and closely adjacent the underside of the seat, and a use position in which the box is positioned outwardly adjacent the side edge periphery of the seat for ready access by a fisherman sitting in the seat. The mounting structure includes a pivotal mounting member intersecured between the seat and box, and a latch member pivotable between a latching position in which its engages the box and holes it in its stowage position, and a release position permitting the pivotally mounted box to be swung outwardly to its use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Dan W. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4887959
    Abstract: A furnace employing a plurality of spaced burners, a carryover tube passing adjacent the burners, a hot surface igniter at one end of the carryover tube, a flame sensor at the other end of the carryover tube and an ignition control for controlling actuation of the hot surface igniter and the flow of combustible gas to the carryover tube and main burners, the ignition control being responsive to the flame sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. Shellenberger
  • Patent number: 4887931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for towing of a fluid containing tubular conduit above a sea bed floor and within a body of water, such as an ocean or river. First and second inflatable sealing elements are placed within the interior of the conduit with each of the sealing elements being movable from an unexpanded to an expanded position to effect a sealed interior section of the conduit. A movable pig is placed within the section and between the sealing elements and is activatable to displace fluid within the section when the sealing elements are in sealed relation to the conduit. A valve means is provided for discharge of the fluid out of the section during movement of the pig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Frisby, George E. Conover
  • Patent number: 4887189
    Abstract: A panel mounted aircraft cockpit instrument is provided with a specially designed illuminating section which is used to light the instrument without causing interference with the operation of night vision equipment in the cockpit. An infrared light-filtering illuminating section is removably secured within a front-accessible recessed portion of the instrument and includes a sealed, filtered housing in which one or more incandescent bulbs are disposed. Each bulb is resiliently supported within its housing using a resilient, electrically resistive yet relatively highly heat conductive supporting material. Heat generated by the bulb is conducted outwardly through its supporting material into a metal heat sink portion of the housing and then externally dissipated therefrom. The illuminating structure may be easily and quickly removed and replaced without the necessity of removing the instrument or gaining access to the rear of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Executive Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Garrett
  • Patent number: D306118
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Inventor: Raul Guerrero