Patents Represented by Attorney IPLM Group, P.A.
  • Patent number: 6904809
    Abstract: An integral trap magnetic flowmeter having an inlet in fluid communication with a sensing passage, the sensing passage intersecting a magnetic field, having electrodes for detecting a flow-dependent voltage induced by the passage of conductive liquid through the magnetic field, and having an outlet at an elevation such that the sensing passage volume normally remains filled with conductive liquid. By maintaining standing liquid in the sensing passage at a height sufficient to fill the sensing passage volume, the flowmeter's response may be made more rapid and more accurate, particularly during the early stages of a short duration liquid discharge. By providing an integral trap, installation errors may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Knud Torp Aundal
  • Patent number: 6902031
    Abstract: A safety device (100) includes a base (110), a handle (120) pivotally mounted on the base, a cleat (130) pivotally mounted on the base, and a cover (140) pivotally mounted on the base. A rope (99) is routed between the cleat and a bearing surface on the base, then between the cleat and a hub on the handle, then around the hub and between the hub and another bearing surface on the base, then between the cleat and the hub again. The handle may be squeezed against the base to control or limit descent along the rope, and in the event of excessively rapid descent, the device is urged toward a locked position relative to the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Capital Safety Group Emea
    Inventor: Bernard R. Ador
  • Patent number: 6899281
    Abstract: A product dispenser and carrier (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) includes a product (31, 131, 431, 531) operatively connected to a product carrier (21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521). The product dispenser and carrier (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) releasably attaches to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer to releasably operatively connect the product (31, 131, 431, 531) thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, Steven E. Lentsch, Brian A. Chute
  • Patent number: 6901293
    Abstract: Power source longevity monitor for an implantable medical device. An energy counter counts the amount of energy used by the implantable medical device. An energy converter converts the energy used into an estimate of remaining power source longevity and generating an energy longevity estimate. A voltage monitor monitors the voltage of the power source. A voltage converter converts the voltage monitored by the voltage monitor into an estimate of remaining longevity of the power source and generating a voltage longevity estimate. A calculator is operatively coupled to the energy converter and to the voltage converter and predicts the power source longevity using the energy longevity estimate early in the useful life of the power source and using the voltage longevity estimate later in the useful life of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Rogers, Donald R. Merritt, Craig L. Schmidt, Mukul Jain
  • Patent number: 6899238
    Abstract: A davit arm system includes a base that supports a davit arm and engages an underlying ground surface. The system components are preferably designed for arrangement in alternative ways to accommodate different installation environments, and/or for packaging in a bag that may be carried by a single person. The relative positions of the components are preferably adjustable relative to the base to further accommodate different applications. Yet another desirable option is to mount the davit arm on the support base in a manner that allows rotation about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. A winch is preferably mounted on the davit arm in a manner that counterbalances the davit arm relative to its vertical axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: D B Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry J. Austin, Travis P. Betcher, Weston L. Cutter, Patrick J. Novak
  • Patent number: 6887237
    Abstract: A method for treating tissue of a mammalian body in which the conductivity of the tissue is characterized. The amount of a conductive liquid to supply to the tissue is determined as a function of the conductivity of the tissue and injected into the tissue over an interval of time. Electromagnetic energy is supplied to the tissue to form a lesion in the tissue. A computer-readable memory and a radio frequency generator and controller utilizing such method are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 6883723
    Abstract: A product dispenser and carrier (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for attachment to a surface such as a dryer fin includes a plate member (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511) and a product carrier (21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521). The plate member (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511) attaches to the surface and the product carrier (21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521) releasably attaches to the plate member (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511). Product (31, 131, 431, 531) is operatively connected to the product carrier (21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Brian A. Chute, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Jamie W. Lerbs
  • Patent number: 6871674
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a use solution of a concentrate diluted, with a dilution rate of not more than 1:130, into a diluent flowing under pressure in a line. A normally-closed, user activatable valve is operatively coupled in the line allowing the diluent to flow in the line upon user activation. A flow regulator is operatively coupled in the line downstream of the valve, configured to maintain a constant flow rate for the diluent in the line. A constant flow rate pump having an inlet and an outlet is operatively coupled to the valve. The inlet is adapted to be operatively fluidly coupled to the concentrate. The outlet is fluidly coupled to the line downstream of the flow regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Thomas J. Batcher
  • Patent number: 6867664
    Abstract: Methods and devices for accelerating or delaying an electromagnetic signal. A rectangular waveguide phase shifter has a ferrite filled center section with a pair of magnetic bias lines placed on opposing sides of the waveguide, each bias line being adjacent to one of the two opposing sides. Each magnetic bias line creates a magnetic field in the ferrite filled center section. The resulting magnetic field in half of the center section has the same magnitude but is oppositely directed to the magnetic field in the other half of the center section. This ideally results in a zero magnetic field at the very center of the ferrite filled center section. A microwave signal propagates through the waveguide phase shifter in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. The amount of phase shift provided depends on the magnitude of the magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are controllable by adjusting the current passing through the bias lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventors: Joey Bray, Langis Roy
  • Patent number: 6854587
    Abstract: A tamale loading apparatus (10) includes a converging mechanism (61) and diverter wheels (83, 84) to position tamales (200) on a belt (24). The belt is run at a speed to fly the tamales (200) into a can (300) wherein the tamales are automatically loaded and it is no longer necessary to load the tamales (200) by hand into the cans (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Hormel Foods, LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Handel, Jeffrey J. Morrison
  • Patent number: 6855141
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the impedance in a circuit coupling a radio frequency electrode to a radio frequency generator to control the power supplied by the generator to the electrode during a treatment procedure. In the method, the impedance in the circuit is monitored over a length of time. An expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure is calculated from the monitored impedance and compared to a predetermined maximum impedance. The power supplied to the circuit is reduced if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance. A computer-readable memory and apparatus utilizing the method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Lovewell
  • Patent number: 6848596
    Abstract: An upright product outlet bag evacuation packaging (100, 200) includes a flexible, collapsible bag (101, 201) and a spout (116, 216) that contains and dispenses a liquid (118, 218). The bag (101, 201) includes a first wall (102, 202) and a second wall (104, 204) that are operatively connected by a seam (106, 206). When the bag (101, 201) is filled with liquid (118, 218), the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) are pushed away from one another thereby pulling a first side (109, 209) inward and causing an indentation (114, 214) to form. The indentation (114, 214) hinders flush contact between the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) as the bag (101, 201) progressively collapses as the liquid (118, 218) is dispensed. A housing (300, 400) for use with a dispenser may be used to create and reinforce the indentation (114, 214). The housing (300, 400) includes a cavity (303, 403) configured and arranged to receive the bag (101, 201).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Balz, Thomas P. Berg, John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6850803
    Abstract: A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve recharging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, and cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar Jimenez, Guillermo Echarri, John E. Kast, James E. Riekels, Mark E. Schommer
  • Patent number: 6840390
    Abstract: A container racking system for a plurality of refillable containers. A crate has a bottom and side walls arranged to secure the plurality of refillable containers in a position when the plurality of refillable containers are placed into the crate. The bottom of the crate has at least one opening positioned below at least one of the plurality of refillable containers. A rack holds the crate when it is desired to have the plurality of refillable containers available for refilling. The rack is capable of supporting the crate when the crate is placed on the rack. At least one member is positioned within the rack such that the at least one member protrudes through the at least one opening of the bottom of the crate when the crate is placed on the rack. In this way, at least one of the plurality of refillable containers is raised up from the bottom of the crate when the crate is placed on the rack making the at least one of the plurality of refillable containers readily available for refilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6828296
    Abstract: A UV cured floor finish can be removed from a floor by applying to the cured finish an inhomogeneous stripper composition containing at least one polar solvent, allowing the stripper composition to contact the finish for sufficient time to soften the finish, and removing the softened finish from the floor by mopping, vacuuming, mild abrasion or other measures that do not remove substantial portions of the floor. Preferably the polar solvent is denser than water and preferably the stripper composition has a diffusion rate through the cured finish greater than about 7×10−7 g/cm2/sec. Strippable floor finish kits can be manufactured by combining a UV curable floor finish composition and an inhomogeneous stripper composition containing at least one polar solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Olson, Bryan M. Anderson, Kim R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6824460
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing skin from a torso of an animal using a rotatable drum having a circumference. A gripper is positioned at a point on the circumference of the rotatable drum adapted to engage a portion of the skin causing the torso of the animal to rotate as the rotatable drum rotates. A sharp blade is positioned near the point on the circumference of the rotatable drum for cutting the skin from the animal. A dull blade is spaced a dull blade gap distance away from the circumference of the rotatable drum and a setback distance away from the sharp blade opposite from the gripper, the dull blade adapted to contact the skin of the animal as the animal rotates. An adjustment arm is coupled to the dull blade for controlling the dull blade gap distance. A controller is coupled to the adjustment arm for automatically adjusting dull blade gap distance in accordance with a predetermined profile for the dull blade gap distance which varies around the torso of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hormel Foods, LLC
    Inventors: William D. Young, Kent L. Simonson
  • Patent number: 6822030
    Abstract: Continuous coatings including floor finishes can be prepared using novel two part compositions and methods. The two part compositions comprise a solid particulate polymer part and a liquid coalescing agent part. A novel method of the invention involves contacting the coalescing agent with the polymer in a variety of coating methods including applying the polymer to the coalescing agent, applying the coalescing agent to the polymer or applying the coalescing agent and polymer simultaneously. The polymer and coalescing agent interact to form a continuous coating layer or finish layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Olson, Bryan M. Anderson, Robert D. P. Hei
  • Patent number: 6822063
    Abstract: A waterborne radiation curable coating composition containing at least one acrylate functional oligomer having a functionality greater than 3 and at least one vinyl ether oligomer having a functionality greater than 1 provides a cured coating resists deep scratches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Olson, Bryan M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6819977
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing and a method of dispensing an ingredient for a machine. An ingredient feed mechanism dispenses the ingredient to the machine. A controller is capable of controlling an amount of the ingredient delivered to the machine by varying an amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active. The controller has a demand mode which varies the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from the machine. The controller compares the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value and switches to a timed mode if the amount of time deviates from the reference value. The controller may have an initial training mode which measures the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active establishes the reference value based upon the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bruce Howes, Jr., Robert Eugene May, David Robert Howland
  • Patent number: 6820019
    Abstract: The invention is a device and method for determining the current status and remaining life of a power source in an implantable neurological tissue stimulator. The invention contemplates a method, performed in a system without human intervention, that includes the steps of assessing the power source voltage of the power source in an IPG, determining, using the power source voltage, where in the power source life cycle the power source is, and taking action in response to the determination of where in the power source life cycle the power source is. The invention also includes a device that embodies the method described above. The device, which is partially resident in an IPG and partially resident in an external device such as a programmer measures the power source voltage in the IPG, using the power source voltage determines where in the power source life cycle the power source is and takes appropriate action in response to the determination of where in the power source life cycle the power source is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kelly, Nathan A. Torgerson