Patents Represented by Law Firm Hurt, Richardson, Garner, Todd & Cadenhead
  • Patent number: 4978077
    Abstract: A conventional meat grinder contains a chopper knife and a chopper plate, the chopper knife rides on the inner surface of the chopper plate and directs the bone fragments, sinews and gristle inwardly toward the central portion of the chopper plate as it chops the meat. The central portion of the chopper plate has a funnel-shaped, frusto-conical central passageway within which the bone fragments, gristle and sinews and collected and are urged outward, first passing through the frusto-conical passageway and out the small end of the passageway, into opposed discharge channels which passes through the hub of the plate and communicates with a discharge tube whose distal end is closed or partially closed by a removeable stopper or adjustable clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick H. Huebner, Joseph G. Sebranek, Dennis G. Olson, Eugene A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4974504
    Abstract: Dead animal material, such as offal, is in subsequent steps and in a continuous manner comminuted in a comminuter, pumped to a pre-heating/sterilization installation by a pump, heated to the sterilization temperature in a number of successive tubular heat exchangers and, for some time, kept at the sterilization temperature in a long tube, reduced in pressure in a sluice system fed through a cyclone and finally further processed to the desired end product. The heat exchangers and the tube are connected to one another to a long closed tube through which the material flows in a plug flow. Vapors set free in the cyclone are used for the first pre-heating of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Stork Duke B.V.
    Inventor: Oscar E. D. Walraven
  • Patent number: 4971507
    Abstract: Storage system for pallets, which is constructed from columns connected to one another by longitudinal and transverse girders. Channels for the storage of pallets are obtained in each compartment at different supporting levels. Mounted on the transverse girders in the longitudinal direction of each channel are rails on which a driven carriage can be moved through the channel in the longitudinal direction. The rails are mounted such that the wheel tracks are outside the dimension of the pallets. The carriage is equipped with wheel carrying arms at locations corresponding to the rail tracks and outside the pallet width and with a fork at such a height that the prongs can be inserted into the insertion orifices of the pallets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Magcon Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus G. A. Weggelaar
  • Patent number: 4972192
    Abstract: A constant amplitude Doppler producing radar reflector for simulating a moving target. A plurality of dihedral reflectors having equal radar cross sections are rotated axially at equal rotational speeds. The dihedral reflectors are separated laterally and in the direction towards the illuminating radar by a distance which keeps the radar returns from the two reflectors in phase quadrature. With the radar cross sections of the reflectors being equal, the return signals to a linearly polarized radar maintains constant amplitude as the dihedral reflectors rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventor: Joesph A. Bruder
  • Patent number: 4971154
    Abstract: A harrow assembly adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle in either a working mode or a transport mode. The harrow assembly includes front and rear offset disc harrow units pivoted at one end portion. Each offset disc harrow unit includes a transport wheel assembly, each assembly having a pair of opposed, spaced transport wheels arranged on either side of the respective harrow units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Rome Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. McKemie
  • Patent number: 4968534
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnating a porous web with a chemical. The impregnating method includes applying a vacuum to one side of the web sufficient to evacuate air from the web, applying impregnating chemical into the web in a selected pattern on the same side of the web, followed by drying the web. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber for evacuating air from the web, a manifold for applying the impregnating chemical into the web located on the same side of the web as the vacuum chamber and a stencil for restricting the application of the chemical to selected areas of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: NPD Corp.
    Inventor: Lawrence S. Bogardy
  • Patent number: 4958638
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring simultaneous physiological parameters such as heart rate and respiration without physically connecting electrodes or other sensors to the body. A beam of frequency modulated continuous wave radio frequency energy is directed towards the body of a subject. The reflected signal contains phase information representing the movement of the surface of the body, from which respiration and heartbeat information can be obtained. The reflected phase modulated energy is received and demodulated by the apparatus using synchronous quadrature detection. The quadrature signals so obtained are then signal processed to obtain the heartbeat and respiratory information of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Sharpe, Joseph Seals, Anita H. MacDonald, Scott R. Crowgey
  • Patent number: 4956948
    Abstract: An improved gutter-downspout connection unit to be used in connecting a conventional gutter to a conventional downspout in rain water removal systems which is generally anvilar in structure comprising an upper body having first and second upper body sides and first and second end pieces with at least one of the end pieces having a smooth curvature which downwardly and inwardly converges towards the other end piece wherein the upper body sides and the end pieces adjoin each other along common edges such that the upper edges of the upper body sides and the end pieces form a common edge defining a top opening, and the lower edges of the upper body sides and the end pieces form a common edge defining a bottom opening substantially opposite the top opening, such that and debris and water contained in the conventional gutter will follow a curved path from the gutter to the downspout thereby making the gutter-downspout connection unit essentially clog-resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventor: Richard Hart
  • Patent number: 4953567
    Abstract: A prophylactic device used in connection with a telephone which provides a telephone user with protection from indirect contact with previous users including a sleeve for covering the telephone receiver while in use and a detachable hand covering portion for avoiding direct hand contact with a telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: Dale Ward
  • Patent number: 4954519
    Abstract: Substituted isocoumarins, their use in inhibiting serine proteases with trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like and elastase-like specificity and their roles as anticoagulant agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Powers, Chih-Min Kam, Steven W. Oweida, David N. Ku
  • Patent number: 4952398
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved chemical composition for the treatment of water which is particularly adapted to provide increased biocide activity. By biocide is meant in particular an algacide, a bacetericide and a fungicide. The composition is also suitable for the disinfection of animal breeding places an the cleansing of soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Jean Tapin
  • Patent number: 4951782
    Abstract: A foldable sawhorse is disclosed having a main set of leg members with a beam across the upper edges thereof, and a shorter, supporting set of leg members pivotally secured to the main leg members. Strut members extend between the main and supporting legs on each side of the sawhorse, the struts being foldable as the sets of leg members are folded together, the legs and struts assuming a nesting relationship for presenting a thin, folded profile for storage and/or transport. The center support beam is vertically aligned with the midpoint of the open legs to evenly distribute the weight between the uneven length sets of leg members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Paul B. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4950042
    Abstract: An elementary optical Givens rotation device is disclosed comprising a monolithic integrated optical circuit including crossed waveguides, interdigitated electrode means associated with the crossed waveguides at their crossing point, and electro-optic phase shifter means lying upstream and downstream of the interdigitated electrode means with respect to one of the waveguides. Two mutually coherent, transverse magnetic input light signals are guided simultaneously into each waveguide. A voltage applied to the interdigitated electrode means induces a diffraction grating thereby forming transmitted and diffracted light waves in output sections of the respective waveguides. Phase shifter means include means for applying voltages to each phase shifter which are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign so that the transmitted and diffracted waves combine in phase in one waveguide and combine 180.degree. out of phase in the other waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas K. Gaylor, Erik I. Verriest, Mir M. Mirsalehi
  • Patent number: 4948682
    Abstract: Electrode material for use in a storage battery half-cell containing a suspension, storage battery half-cell having an electrode of such material and a storage battery comprising such a storage battery half-cell.Described is an electrode material for use in a storage battery half-cell of the type in which a suspension of particles of active material circulates. Upon charging such a half cell the electrode material according to the invention prevents the formation of a strongly adhering precipitate of active material, such as zinc, on the electrode material. The electrode material comprises for that purpose, at least at its surface, an electrically conducting ceramic material. The invention also concerns a storage battery half-cell comprising such electrode material and a storage battery comprising one or more storage cells each comprising two of such half cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Stork Screens, B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter J. Sonneveld
  • Patent number: 4948186
    Abstract: A lifting device is employed to support a roll of paper wrapped around a core, the lifting device including a flat support plate having an open central portion. A pair of spaced opposed upstanding loops or links are welded by one side to the plate and the loops. Opposed rods welded to the plate guide the core portion over the loops and rods. A continuous woven fabric web or strap, formed with overlapping end portions, is received through the two loops so that the strap can extend up through the core and protrude out of the other end of the core. The rods guide the core into an appropriate seated position on the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Carolina Slings Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Pruitt
  • Patent number: 4945727
    Abstract: A hydraulic shape memory alloy actuator is provided comprising a uniaxial shape memory alloy wire constructed of Nitinol. The actuator utilizes a pair of hydraulic cylinders in fluid communication with each other, each cylinder containing a hydraulic piston. The first hydraulic piston is moved from a first position to a second position when the wire, connected at one end to the piston and its other to a fixed point, changes from a martensitic to an austenitic state upon heating. The second hydraulic piston responds to the movement of the first hydraulic piston by moving from a rest position to an operating position. Upon cooling the wire to change it from the austenitic state back to the martensitic state, the first piston returns to its original position, with a biasing means being provided to return the second piston to its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventors: Charles A. Whitehead, Kenneth M. Groom
  • Patent number: 4946212
    Abstract: A lifting device is employed to support a roll of paper wrapped around a core, the lifting device including a flat support plate having, in its central portion, a single upstanding loop or link welded by one side to the plate. A shallow cup-shaped core cap or sleeve with an open central portion fits over and surrounds the loop so that a portion of the other side of the loop protrudes through the central portion of the cup. The ends of the loop are spaced inwardly from the sides of the cup. A continuous woven fabric or strap, formed with overlapping end portions, is received under the outer side of the loop, the overlapping end portions forming a lower bight, received between the loop and the inner perimetrical edge of the cup. The cup fits into the end of the core and the sling extends up through the hollow core so that its outer end portion protrudes outwardly of the upper end of the core for being received on a cargo hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Carolina Slings Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Pruitt
  • Patent number: 4946239
    Abstract: An optical isolator for improving the isolation between an optical source and a transmission link in an optical communications system. The optical isolator comprises a tapered lens including a core region and surrounding cladding material. The core region can be fabricated from graded or step index glass and the cladding can be fabricated from glass or polymer material. The core region can also be fabricated from graded or step index polymer material with the cladding fabricated from polymer material. An opaque disk of carbon-filled epoxy is deposited on the large diameter end of the optical isolator to further enhance isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff P. Garmon
  • Patent number: 4945546
    Abstract: A chemical laser comprising means for producing metal trimers, means for dissociating halogen molecules, a reaction chamber, and means for delivering the metal trimer and halogen atoms into the reaction chamber to form electronically excited metal dimer molecules in sufficient concentration to create a population inversion and laser amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gole, James R. Woodward, Stephen H. Cobb
  • Patent number: D311456
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: A. Joel Grossbart