Patents Represented by Law Firm Hubbard, Thurman, Turner, Tucker & Harris
  • Patent number: 5026293
    Abstract: A modular interactive connector unit is provided which has a base block with an array of male pins on one side and opposed female pins on the other side for interconnection between an electronic control assembly for an automotive engine and a wiring harness otherwise intended for direct connection to the electronic control assembly. The base block contains an array of contact points and adapter points which correspond with the control circuits in the electronic control assembly. Circuit completing electrical adapters from the adapter arrays on the base member support a board element having spaced apart arrays of adapter points for insertion of a circuit altering device in selected control circuits. A cap protects the board elements. The circuit altering devices alter the voltages read by the electronic control assembly to enhance performance of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Automotive Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5001877
    Abstract: An interior wall partition trim assembly for providing a decorative trim molding at the ceiling-wall junction and corners together with a decorative chair rail trim member for trimming walls and corners intermediate the ceiling and floor, the combination of ceiling trim splice members shaped to fit supportingly inside the abutted ends of elongated hollow ceiling trim moldings and chair rail trim splice members shaped to fit inside the abutted ends of hollow chair rail trim members to position the respective abutted ends in even registration when fastened to a ceiling junction and wall, respectively. The splice members and mounting fasteners are accessible for mounting or demounting by pivotable decorative panels on each ceiling and chair rail trim member which close to hide the respective splice members and fasteners. Right angled corner cap junction members have ceiling trim molding insert adapters. Right angled chair rail corner bodies have chair rail trim member insert adapters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Inventor: Troy C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 4995121
    Abstract: A compact bidet assembly having external adjustment is mounted to the rear undersurface of a seat of a conventional toilet. A body having a fixed element connected to a source of water by means of flexible tubing hidden under the seat has an adjacent rotatable element and internal passageway leading to a nozzle. The nozzle rotates in response to a hidden control rod having a handle extended just beyond the seat edge and aligned to indicate the directional position of the nozzle, the nozzle being rotatable in a vertical arc to about 15 degrees above horizontal (seat down) to at least 30 degrees below horizontal. A control valve assembly provides water preadjusted for temperature and pressure to the bidet assembly by off-on control with the initial surge of warmup water being diverted to the bowl under the seat. An alternate control valve assembly is provided to replace the sink faucet assembly one mode supplying water through a diverter valve to the bidet and another mode diverting water to the sink faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Douglas J. Barker
  • Patent number: 4991407
    Abstract: An auger type ice flaking machine has an evaporator section defined in part by a vertically oriented flaker barrel with closed upper and lower ends, and a knurled longitudinally intermediate exterior side surface positioned within an annular hollow jacket structure externally and coaxially mounted on the barrel and having an outlet opening positioned adjacent its upper end and communicating with the accumulator portion of an associated refrigeration circuit. Spirally wrapped tightly around the knurled surface is a coiled length of refrigerant tubing having an open lower end, and an upper end connected to the outlet of the expansion valve portion of the refrigeration circuit, adjacent coils of the tubing being longitudinally spaced apart. During operation of the machine, refrigerant is flowed downwardly through the tubing, into the jacket interior, and then upwardly through the jacket and outwardly through its outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mile High Equipment Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Alvarez, Tom N. Martineau, Steven D. VanderBurgh
  • Patent number: 4987681
    Abstract: A hand-held cordless grass/weed trimmer having a plurality of detachable hub assemblies holding the cutting element by compression, and a rake-like guard member for the rotating cutting element which prevents large size obstacles from entering into the cutting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold L. Sepke
  • Patent number: 4982866
    Abstract: A bi-stable hinge unit (10) of elastic material connects two inflexible end portions (12, 13) to take up two stable positions on either side of an intermediate unstable position. The hinge unit (10) comprises two equal elements (14, 15), each of which having two cantilever arms (18, 20), linked to each other by two folding lines (22) acting as a "living" hinge. A triangular rigid plate (16) is arranged between and defined by said folding lines (22). The elements (14, 15) are arranged substantially parallel to each other with a distance therebetween and forming the main hinge line between said end portions (12, 13). By swinging the end portions (12, 13) toward each other along the main hinge line, the four cantilever arms (18, 20) will start to deflect and act as springs and the two triangular plates (16) will rotate through approximately 180.degree. in a plane normal to the elements (14, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Firma Creanova AG
    Inventor: Louis A. Krawagna
  • Patent number: 4976609
    Abstract: A flashback inhibiting fuel fired infrared burner has a housing with a base wall, a side wall section extending outwardly from the base wall periphery, and a side opening positioned opposite the base wall. Retained in and covering the housing side opening is a foranimous burner plate structure. An air-fuel mixture supply pipe extends forwardly into the housing interior through a front end of the side wall section into a rear end portion of the housing interior and has an open outlet end. A discharge end portion of the supply pipe is received in an open front end portion of a flow reversing tube having a closed rear end. The supply pipe and flow reversing tube are laterally shrouded within the housing by an elongated baffle member having outlet openings formed in longitudinally extending front and rear wall portions thereof, the total cross-sectional area of the outlet openings in the front longitudinal wall portion being greater than that of the outlet openings in the rear longitudinal wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Grob, Richard N. Caron
  • Patent number: 4974501
    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 well depends. Cooking liquid may be drained from the wells for filtration purposes by a valved drainage conduit system having an open outlet end. Filtered cooking liquid may be returned to the upper frypot portions, or their depending cold wells, through a valved supply conduit system connected to the outlet of a height-adjustable filtration pump disposed within a lower rear portion of the housing. An open-topped, wheel supported overflow pan nestingly receives an open-topped cooking liquid receiving container and may be rolled into the housing directly beneath the frypots to receive cooking liquid drained therefrom, the receiving container having a filtration structure supported on its bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Grob, John M. Kinch
  • Patent number: 4974631
    Abstract: A dome pressure maintaining valve and circuit for maintaining dome fluid pressure in a pilot operated relief valve is presented wherein the dome pressure in the relief valve is prevented from dropping below a preset value even when inlet pressure at the relief valve drops to zero. The dome pressure maintaining valve incorporates a compact check valve and a back flow relief valve with the two components integrated into one piston embodiment, the valve having in communication with a body bore inlet and an outlet. The circuit provides inlet fluid flow in communication with a piston valve chamber through a passage from the inlet port through the piston under the poppet check valve and through multiport and exterior piston valve ring groove means to the outlet port when the inlet fluid pressure is greater than the outlet fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Axelson, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Snyder
  • Patent number: 4974579
    Abstract: An induced draft, fuel-fired upflow furnace is provided with a compact, high efficiency heat exchanger having horizontally spaced apart inlet and outlet manifold structures which are innerconnected by a horizontally spaced series of vertically serpentined, relatively small diameter flow transfer tubes. Larger diameter inlet flow tubes are positioned beneath the balance of the heat exchanger, extend parallel to the transfer tubes, and have upturned discharge ends connected to the underside of the inlet manifold. The heat exchanger is configured so that its total vertically facing peripheral surface area is considerably larger than its total horizontally facing peripheral surface area, thereby significantly reducing undesirable outward heat loss through the vertically extending furnace housing side walls upon burner shut off and increasing the overall efficiency rating of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Shellenberger, William T. Harrigill
  • Patent number: 4975245
    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: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Archer Aire Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil L. Archer, M. Keith Cox
  • Patent number: 4974499
    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 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventors: Paul H. Sanderson, Richard C. Serkland
  • Patent number: 4974621
    Abstract: A quick set-up tent is formed from a flexible cover structure which internally carries a collapsible support structure defined by pivotally interconnected, telescopable pole members which, in their retracted positions, may be pivoted inwardly against one another to form an axially foreshortened pole bundle about which the collapsed cover structure may be conveniently wrapped to orient the tent in a compact cylindrical storage and transport configuration. The cover structure is defined by a floor section to which stake loops are attached for securing the floor section to the ground in a relatively taut configuration, and a wall section formed by at least three mutually angulated wall portions intersecuring at side edge juncture areas along which the pole members are extendable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Larry Lerma
  • Patent number: 4972867
    Abstract: A safety structure for detecting fluid leakage from a valve having an exposed end of a rotatable valve stem connected to a valve element within the valve for rotating the valve element between an open and a closed position. The safety structure comprises a jacket, and an elongated handle extension disposed within the jacket for rotation about its axis. The handle extension includes an end which extends outward from the jacket for turning the handle extension. The jacket terminates in an annular flange which is attached to the valve in an isolating configuration having the exposed end of the valve stem covered, and the handle extension connected to valve stem via a slot on the lower end of the handle extension and a pair of opposed flats on the covered end of the rotatable valve stem over which the slot extends for transferring the rotation of the handle extension to the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: J. O. Ruesch
  • Patent number: 4973086
    Abstract: A records management kit for use in setting up and maintaining a cross-referenced, easily enterable, file folder--based document filing and retrieval system comprises a file guide book, an index sheet, a series of file folders, and a series of file folder labels. The file guide book has a series of tabbed page sets each including a main category page and subsequent subcategory pages. Each main category page has subcategory headings and associated file indicia marks printed thereon which correspond to similar information printed on the associated subcategory pages. The pages of the file guide book are color and indicia--keyed to the file folder labels and are also keyed to category, subcategory and file indicia information printed on the file index sheet together with an expanded listing of specific document types relating generally to the various categories and subcatergories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventors: Donald D. Donnelly, Nora J. Donnelly
  • Patent number: 4972824
    Abstract: Various representative commericial cooking devices are disclosed wherein a recirculating flow of heated air, at a food cooking temperature, is created within a housing in which a horizontally disposed food support and cooking member, such as a perforated metal plate, a solid griddle plate or a metal broiling grate, is positioned. A plenum structure is utilized to convert a portion of the continuously recirculated air into a spaced series of relatively high velocity heated air impingement jets which are caused to laterally diffuse and at least slightly overlap prior to striking at least one side surface of the food support structure. In this manner, each food support structure side surface subjected to such diffused jet impingment is evenly blanketed with heating air to thereby very uniformly transfer heat from the air to the food support structure, and thus to the food supported thereby, at an accelerated rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Welbilt Corporation
    Inventors: Clement J. Luebke, Gerald W. Sank, Frank A. Slade
  • Patent number: 4974128
    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 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: Robert B. Prickett
  • Patent number: 4967541
    Abstract: An inverted horizontal wrapping machine is provided with an article infeed system which includes a horizontal feed trough with an open exit end positioned closely adjacent the inlet end of the wrapping material tube being continuously formed by the machine's forming box. Offset to one side of the trough is a looped drive chain structure which is rotated in an essentially horizontal plane. A spaced series of flag-type pusher members are pivotally secured to the chain structure for movement therewith, the flag portions of the pusher members along the inner side of the chain structure being swept through the trough to slide articles therein sequentially into the tube inlet. As each pusher flag reaches the exit end of the trough, a first cam element upwardly and rearwardly pivots the flag to disengage it from its associated article, and the pivoted flag is then moved horizontally away from the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Lakey
  • Patent number: D315085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold L. Sepke
  • Patent number: RE33562
    Abstract: A composition useful, inter alia, as a fuel, is based on ethyl alcohol denatured with methylisobutyl alcohol and kerosene, which is mixed with xylenes and isopropyl alcohol. The xylenes and isopropyl alcohol act with the denaturizing agents to raise the flash point above that of ethyl alcohol alone and also to mask the odor and color the flame, thus making the composition safer for use as a charcoal lighter or as a fuel for e.g. patio lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Alcofuels, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Badger