Patents Represented by Attorney James D. Givnan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6237823
    Abstract: The carrier includes a main member supported rearwardly adjacent a vehicle by a coupler of the carrier inserted into the receiver of a vehicle mounted trailer hitch. The main member includes a curved portion extending transversely and rearwardly away from a straight segment of the main member disposed transversely of the vehicle-centerline. A swing arm is carried by a pivot at the extremity of the curved portion of the main member. A plate on the swing arm carries a lock assembly for securing the swing arm to and in parallel relationship with the main member during travel. A safety lanyard prevents accidental displacement of a locking pin inserted into the main member. The pivot is located adjacent the swing arm supported container and avoids extreme forces being imparted to the main member both in the travel position and a remote position permitting access to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Ironwood Pacific, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Stewart, Ryan K. Cox
  • Patent number: 6229447
    Abstract: An indicator assembly includes a conduit segment located in place along a gas supply line served by a pressurized tank. A pressure actuated switch of the assembly closes upon sensing gas pressure in the conduit segment to close a circuit including a battery and an indicator to signal a user that the supply line is pressurized which can occur when proper shut down procedure is not accomplished or a faulty control valve. A bleed valve on the conduit segment permits venting of a pressurized gas line. A check valve of the assembly prevents erroneous activation of the indicator by residual gas trapped in the supply line after shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventors: C. Gene Hand, Paul M. Redhead
  • Patent number: 6216536
    Abstract: A plate mounted turntable is carried on the trailing end of a ski and rotatably supports a carrier having a rotary position sensor thereon. The carrier additionally supports an arm assembly which includes wheels or a skid for penetration of a snow surface. A portion of the rotary position indicator remains fixed during arcuate travel of the carrier and attached arm assembly in response to lateral loads applied to the arm assembly during ski travel. Resilient members ensure arm assembly contact with a snow or other surface and return of the carrier to a neutral position in the absence of lateral loads. A lock maintains the arm assembly in a raised, inoperative position. Signals produced by the rotary position sensor, during lateral arm movement, are conducted to a data logger for storage therein and for ultimate downloading to a personal computer. Signals produced by the sensor indicate both extent of lateral movement of the arm assembly as well as duration of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Karl J. Manseth
  • Patent number: 6213987
    Abstract: A guide of the device is engageable with a hypodermic syringe barrel for secure placement thereon. A slide carried by the guide includes a shroud extensible from a stowed position adjacent the barrel forward over the end of a used syringe needle. The guide and an elongate slide therein embody locking means retaning the slide in an extended position after syringe use. A rib on the slide is provided at one end with a finger contactible surface for convenient slide positioning. The guide includes inwardly turned flanges to further support the slide against lateral displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventors: Michael N. Hirsch, Jack P. Rosoff, Ali Salem
  • Patent number: 6202864
    Abstract: A lock for the retention of articles such as box wrenches supported in place on a holder and including a barrier closely overlying the articles. Posts on the barrier include flexible segments for insertion into openings for locked engagement with the holder to retain the barrier in proximate the articles to prevent article removal from the holder. The flexible segments may be fractured by a purchaser for access to and removal of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory R. Ernst, Dylan G. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6161492
    Abstract: A trolling plate having first and second plate members joined in hinged fashion with one of the trolling plates moveable to a trailed inclined position in the presence of boat propulsion system backwash associated with speeds in excess of trolling speeds. Spring components reposition the trailing inclined plate member upon resumption of reduced boat speed and reduced backwash forces. Trailing of the plate member during high backwash force avoids trolling plate damage and, in some trolling plate assemblies avoids undesired unlatching of the trolling plate from an operative vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: William B. Dyer
  • Patent number: 6135381
    Abstract: A holder for a length of cord or rope is of unitary construction having a main body from which projects a hand grip which terminates in a hook-shaped support for the several runs of cord or rope supported thereon. The close proximity of the hand grip to the cord runs permits retention of the runs against slipping by contact with a user's finger. The main body additionally defines an opening through which the cord or rope end segment is entrained with the segment additionally being received within grooves in the main body defining a retainer around which the cord segment is routed to effect holder attachment to the segment. An arm on the main body serves to permit temporary placement of the present holder on a support surface to permit convenient positioning of the holder and cord thereon at a work site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: William R. Teson
  • Patent number: 6123367
    Abstract: A drainage system for emptying a holding tank of a vehicle includes upright telescopic members for attachment to the vehicle outlet. Ninety degree elbows are joined in a swiveled manner and are carried by the upright tubular members and are in communication with inclined telescopic tubular members terminating in communication with the inlet of a sanitary waste system. Couplings of the present system include bayonet inlets having multiple O-rings in place thereon for sealing engagement with a bayonet outlet. The upright telescopic tubular members permit positioning of the inclined tubular members at an incline to ensure optimal drainage. Additionally the upright tubular members permit the inclined tubular members to be swung about an upright axis to facilitate attachment to a sanitary system inlet. A modified form of the system includes an elbow equipped with a bayonet inlet with multiple O-rings for coupling with the vehicle horizontal outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: Valdon V. Miller
  • Patent number: 6098343
    Abstract: A gutter attachable to wall structure of a building for the reception of moisture and the discharge of same harmlessly to an exterior wall surface. The gutter includes a rear wall for disposition below a sill pan mounted in a door or window opening of the building structure. Extensions on the ends of the gutter also receive moisture from sill pan or structural surfaces of the building. Moisture from a sill pan is directed toward openings in a front wall of the gutter located above an exterior wall surface of the building structure. A trim plate conceals the openings. The extensions include convergent walls to avoid interference with the wall covering material later applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventors: Glenn E. Brown, Gregory A. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 6092655
    Abstract: A wrench socket holder includes a post structure on which may be received a wrench socket. A flexible arm adjacent the post carries a boss which seats in a recess commonly found in internal socket walls and otherwise utilized for drive stud retention. A resilient member extends intermediate the post and arm to urge the latter toward engagement with a socket thereon to insure retention of the socket against all but intentional removal. A base of the socket holder may be shaped for sliding engagement with an elongate guideway or an elongate surface for the reception of several socket holders. A modified form of socket holder dispenses with a resilient member and relies on resiliency of the arm for socket retention. A multitude of socket holders may be supported by a common base on which several semicircular socket receptacles are formed with the holders preventing undesired socket separation from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Gregory R. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6092656
    Abstract: Wrench sockets are supported on an elongate base by socket holders. A locking member restricts axial displacement of each socket preventing socket separation from each holder. Arms on the locking member protrude into the sockets to contribute to socket retention as do edge surfaces on the locking member. Flexible arms secure the locking member to the base while permitting socket removal upon displacement by the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Gregory R. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6070370
    Abstract: An expanse of thermoplastic flashing material is provided with a flap of like material. Upon flexing of the flashing to accommodate corner surfaces of a roof structure, the flap may be heat welded to same to shape the flashing to correspond to the surfaces of the corner. A modified form of the flashing includes a trapezoidal flap heat welded to the flashing expanse and having an extension thereon for securement to an underlying portion of the flashing expanse subsequent to shaping of the flashing to an outside corner of a roof structure. Sloping walls may be sealed as well as vertical, perpendicular walls may be accommodated by the modified flashing. A still further flashing modification includes first and second flaps particularly suited for abutment with vertical intersecting wall surfaces with the flaps being permanently secured to an expanse of flashing by heat welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Matthew Locke
  • Patent number: 6047504
    Abstract: A connector plate for joining, in a biased manner, structural members of a building and including first and second plates in overlapped relationship with each plate adapted for individual securement to a structural member being joined. A tapered insert serves to impart tension to at least one of the plates so as to draw the attached structural member toward the remaining member. Supplemental tensioning members engage misaligned openings in the plates to further tension one of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Charles Dusenberry
  • Patent number: 6039513
    Abstract: A separator for removing pellets from an air flow has a screen inclined to the path of the pellets and which deflects the pellets toward a pellet discharge member for subsequent delivery to a hot melt glue tank. The screen is detachably carried by an air outlet of the separator which, in turn, is detachably mounted on the separator. In a modified air outlet, stacked screens of decreasing aperture cross section are removably secured in place by a bayonet lock on the screens and air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: R. Thomas Law
  • Patent number: 6039178
    Abstract: A holder for elongate hand tools includes sets of notched rail members disposed in convergent fashion on a supporting surface such as the bottom wall of a tool chest drawer. Each set includes a rail member mounted in parallel with a sidewall of the drawer or other supporting surface while another rail member is inclined to the first mentioned rail member and sidewall of the drawer. Similarly disposed rail members of the second set effect efficient utilization of drawer space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Gregory R. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6036406
    Abstract: A truck is equipped with a grass seed hopper from which seed is fed into a blower pressurized conduit air flow by an air lock feeder at a first station. A motor with speed control drives the feeder and determines the rate of seed discharge. A tank on the truck permits the pumped flow of tank contents, water and/or fertilizer, into the conduit carried pressurized air flow. Organic material carried by the truck is conveyed forward by a moving floor toward augers which feed the organic material to a powered mixer for breaking up of the material to ensure passage of loose material into a rotary feeder at a second station. The feeder discharges into a mixing chamber whereat grass seed, discharged from the pressurized conduit, mixes with the organic material for subsequent discharge onto a ground surface via a flexible hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Rexius Forest By-Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Arlen L. Rexius
  • Patent number: 6030584
    Abstract: An apparatus defines a chamber into which hazardous gas is discharged. Disposed about the hazardous gas discharge flow are nozzles from which oxygen flows for mixing with the hazardous gas. A structure within the chamber receives the hazardous gas and oxygen and defines an area in which a reaction occurs therebetween. The structure includes perforate components which deter the formation of gas pockets and diminish the risk of explosion. The hazardous gas mixed with oxygen is subsequently directed toward baffles on which may be deposited matter precipitating from the combined oxygen and hazardous gas. Prior to discharge from the apparatus, the gas and oxygen mixture may be subjected to a filter for further removal of matter. Both hazardous gas and oxygen flows are induced through the apparatus by a source of reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Innovative Engineering Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Samir S. Shiban
  • Patent number: D440852
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Gregory R. Ernst
  • Patent number: D418329
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas J. Voight, Jr.
  • Patent number: D430252
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: David F. Grove