Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Ira S. Dorman
  • Radiant electric heater
    Patent number: 6603100
    Abstract: A radiant electric heater (2) comprises a dish-like support (6) having a base layer (8) of thermal insulation material. At least one heating element (10) is supported relative to the base layer. A temperature-responsive device (16) has a rod-like component (18) secured at one end at a peripheral region of the dish-like support (6) and extends without support partly across the heater over the at least one heating element (10). Restraining means (30) is provided at a free end region (28) of the rod-like component (18). The restraining means (30) has a first portion (32) thereof secured in the base layer (8) of thermal insulation material and a second portion (34) thereof at least partially surrounding and spaced from the rod-like component (18) to allow limited relative movement between the rod-like component and the second portion of the restraining means (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventors: Peter Ravenscroft Wilkins, George Anthony Higgins
  • Display device
    Patent number: 6594929
    Abstract: A circular sealed panel 1 includes transparent walls 10-13 separated by spacer rings 14-16 to form intervening sealed chambers 18-20. The chambers are filled with different colored translucent liquids leaving colorless air spaces in each chamber. The panel is supported on friction rollers 2 and 3, one of which is driven by a motor to rotate the panel. The spacer rings 14-16 are formed with cup-like recesses 32 which collect air from the top of each chamber and release it towards the bottom of the chamber so that colorless volumes of air continuously travel upwardly through the chambers thereby presenting continuously moving shapes and color combinations to an observer looking through the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Trevor Butcher
  • Head control
    Patent number: 6593910
    Abstract: A head control comprises a control plate (13) operable by a user with his head and biasing means (9, 11) for biasing the control plate to a predetermined orientation. A joystick control (19) is operably connected to the control plate (13) such that movement of the control plate by the user is communicated to the joystick control (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Robert George Hester
  • Mixing apparatus including a container and a mixing device with a releasably connected reciprocating head
    Patent number: 6582117
    Abstract: Mixing apparatus includes a container for liquid and semi-liquid materials such as paint, and a mixing device in the container, the device having a planar mixing head disposed substantially parallel to the bottom wall of the container and a limb which extends substantially perpendicularly from a peripheral edge region of the mixing head adjacent to the container side wall. A coupling, located in the container, provides releasable connection to an external handle by which the mixing device is reciprocated vertically to agitate and mix the contents of the container. The mixing head may be of triangular, square, substantially circular, with opposed flanges, Y-shaped, or cruciform configuration, and the handle may have a flattened end for use in removing a lid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher Roy Rogers, Richard Tipton Smith
  • Heart activity detection apparatus
    Patent number: 6580942
    Abstract: Activity of an animal heart is detected with an apparatus comprising a housing (20) within which is contained electronic circuitry (32, 34, 36, 38, 40), a power supply (46) for the circuitry, and an indicator (42, 44) connected to the circuitry which can be operated by the circuitry to generate an alerting signal detectable by a user. In addition there is a pair of sensors (28) electrically connected to convey to the circuitry electrical signals detected by the sensors. The circuitry is operative to analyse signals received from the sensors, and upon determination that such signals are electrocardiographic signals derived from a heart beat to cause the indicator (42, 44) to operate so as to generate an alerting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Healthcare Technology Limited
    Inventor: Richard John Willshire
  • Inspiratory muscle training device with variable loading
    Patent number: 6554746
    Abstract: An inspiratory muscle training device comprises a chamber having an opening for the passage of air to be inhaled and exhaled, and an inlet permitting air to be inhaled to enter the chamber and to pass to the opening. A one-way exhaust valve permits exhaled air entering through the opening to escape from the chamber, and another valve is provided to resist the entry of air to be inhaled into the chamber, the latter valve serving to vary the degree of resistance in dependence upon the volume of air that has passed through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventors: Alison Kay McConnell, Michael Peter Caine, Graham Keith Lacy
  • Step motor control for accommodating friction load variation
    Patent number: 6555987
    Abstract: Gradually increasing and decreasing the friction torque feedforward term in time, prior to and immediately following intended motion, respectively, reduces the effects of variations in Coulomb friction load in an open loop step motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiberco Incorporated
    Inventor: Albert C. Leenhouts
  • Body support system
    Patent number: 6547330
    Abstract: A body support system comprises a seat (3) including a base (19) and a seat member (21). The seat member (21) is slidably mounted on the base (19). A back support (7) is pivotable relative to the seat, and a connecting member (25) extends between the back support and the seat member (21) so as to urge the seat member to slide relative to the base (19) towards the back support as the back support is pivoted towards an in-line arrangement with the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Easy Care Products Limited
    Inventor: Robert George Hester
  • Motor tracking control system
    Patent number: 6548977
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and software control methodology tracks motor position in a motor drive system. High power consumption position transducers, such as inductive sensors or optical encoders, can be controlled in a variable active duty cycle mode to reduce power and yet maintain motor position information while the main power is off. A lower power battery backup circuit is implemented as a secondary power source, and is automatically brought in operation when the main power supply is disabled. A dedicated control circuit operates during AC power outages, and the circuit average power can be controlled to a minimal rate, based on the rate of change of motor position. The motor can be externally driven, up to a defined limit speed, without losing its actual position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Seiberco Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung D. Vu, Ralph W. Horber
  • Method and apparatus for measuring the composition and other properties of thin films utilizing infrared radiation
    Patent number: 6485872
    Abstract: The composition, free carrier concentrations, and other properties of thin films and graded layers embedded in film stack structures are measured by the method of the invention, which is based upon the application of two novel algorithms to extract the composition of a measured layer independently of the confounding effects of additional layers, and which can be effected even when calibration samples are not available with the same layered structure as the samples to be measured. The method uses sample model-based analysis algorithms to extract the dielectric function of the layer to be measured, combined with model-based analysis to relate the composition of the layer to its dielectric function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Rosenthal, Sylvie Charpenay, Victor A. Yakovlev
  • Timber decking
    Patent number: 6484467
    Abstract: Decking boards 2 are secured to timber joists 1. The opposing side faces of the boards are provided with longitudinally-extending recesses 7 which include slots 8 into which T-shaped spacers 11 are inserted at intervals to ensure uniform spacing between the boards. During laying the exposed front edge of each board is fastened by nails 10 inserted through the inclined face 9, the rear edge of the boards being held by the spacers 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Brian Richard Crout
  • Rheometer
    Patent number: 6481267
    Abstract: A rheometer incorporates a blade (1) mounted for rotation about an axis (2). The blade is of twisted form such that it has first and second regions. A first region of the blade (1) substantially at the axis of rotation (2) has a first angle formed by its surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation such that the surface of the blade in the first region extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. A second region of the blade spaced from the axis of rotation has a second angle, different to the first angle, formed by its surface with respect to the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Stable Micro Systems Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Martin Iles, Ian David Bateson, James Alfred Walker
  • Garment with quick-release fastener
    Patent number: 6443804
    Abstract: A fastener for securing brassiere straps includes a hooking component attached to one of the straps and a linking component attached to the other strap. The hooking component has a substantially rigid body, with a fulcrum element at one end, a handle element at the other end, and a hook element therebetween. Elevating the body promotes disengagement of the hook and link elements, and thereby mutual release of the brassiere straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: David J. Grunwald
  • Footwear fastenings
    Patent number: 6438871
    Abstract: An item of footwear has an opening 4 for insertion of a wearer's foot and a pair of rigid fastening elements 10 and 11 for drawing together opposite sides of the opening. The first element 10 has a screw thread 14 to receive a bead 15, and the free end of the second element 11 is bent orthogonally and formed into a U-shaped hook 16. When the wearer has placed his/her foot into the boot the element 10 is placed over the mouth of the hook 16. By applying gentle finger pressure the bead 15 is caused to ride over the shank of the second element 11 so that the hook 16 embraces the first element 10 and engages behind the bead 15. The tension in the fastening can be adjusted by screwing the bead 15 along the thread 14. The fastening is easy to engage and disengage when the wearer's fingers are cold or when wearing heavy gloves, yet the fastening is secure enough to be used with snowboarding or ski boots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Steven John Culverwell
  • Asymmetric radiant electric heater with multiple heating zones
    Patent number: 6420684
    Abstract: An asymmetric radiant electric heater has multiple heating zones which can be arranged in a plurality of configurations. The heater comprises a dish-like support having two orthogonal axes of symmetry, a base of thermal and electrical insulation material in the dish-like support, a first heating element and a second heating element supported adjacent one another on a major surface of the base and forming an asymmetric arrangement in the dish-like support, a terminal block secured at a fixed location at an edge of the dish-like support, and a wall arrangement of thermal insulation material supported on the base and comprising a peripheral wall extending around the heater and a dividing wall, integral therewith, extending between the adjacent first and second heating elements to form at least two asymmetric heating zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: George Anthony Higgins
  • Method and apparatus for mixing materials in a bag with a movable plunger
    Patent number: 6416212
    Abstract: Building materials such as concrete, mortar and plaster are placed in a bag which is suspended in a bottomless drum. A handle is used to move a plunger up-and-down through the bottom of the drum such that the plunger repeatedly moves part of the bag upwardly through the materials contained in the bag to cause mixing thereof. The drum is rotationally indexed with reciprocal movements of the plunger, which also moves laterally. The plunger has an interchangeable head having a leading face which is inclined with respect to the direction of lateral movement on the upward stroke, and at least one inclined downwardly-facing facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher Roy Rogers, Richard Tipton Smith
  • Automobile air freshener assembly
    Patent number: D465019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Aromate Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Henry Wu
  • Bottle
    Patent number: D467183
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Watson Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Lionel Chew
  • Stand base
    Patent number: D476177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: James R. Hennessey
  • Scale
    Patent number: D478293
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo (Albstadt) GmbH
    Inventor: Zlatan Medugorac