Patents Represented by Attorney James F. Duffy
  • Patent number: 5114369
    Abstract: A water safety system to be carried on the person of a water skier. The water safety system occupies a minimal packing envelope and includes a signal flag borne by an extendable flag pole. The flag and flag pole assembly are readily accessible to the skier and permit rapid display of the signal flag when a skier enters the water. Weighted floatation devices maintain the signal flag displayed above the water when the pole is unattended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Donald R. Coffey
  • Patent number: 5098138
    Abstract: A door and window supplemental security device prevents unauthorized entry through a closed or partly open door or window by bracing the door or window against a floor or window casement. The device is rapidly and easily released in the event of a fire or other emergency. It may be folded in half for transport to hotels. The device includes an axially translatable rod actuated by a manually operated over center mechanism disposed at one end of the rod to lock the rod in an axially extended position. Brace means is disposed at the other end of the rod for frictionally engaging a fixed surface upon axially extension of the rod. The brace means includes a pivotally attached component which pivots upon extension to effect the frictional contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Orville Vandewege
  • Patent number: 5096228
    Abstract: What has been disclosed herein represents an improvement in the existing system whereby identification cards are carried about the person in a manner in which, under the prior art, access to individual identification cards was difficult. The improvement comprises a non-slip finger engaging notch which permits the ready withdrawal of individual cards from card carrying cases without slippage between the fingers and the surface of the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Lester W. Rinderknecht
  • Patent number: 5094028
    Abstract: A termite blocking system which introduces a non-toxic, termite repelling, hygroscopic material, such as salt, into the pathway of subterranean termites. By ingesting the salt and coming into contact with the salt laden soil, the termites are repelled. If the termites persist in advancing through the treated soil, they will die of dehydration. The use of such materials provides a non-polluting barrier for inhibiting the advance of subterranean termites into a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Derrill L. Hume
  • Patent number: 5092223
    Abstract: An improved muzzle brake having a generally upward opening void from which escaping gases create a downwardly directed reaction force and a sloping face on which the propelling gases collide and expand and deflect to either side and upward of the muzzle brake to defeat the natural tendency of the muzzle of a weapon to climb and drift. Below the generally upward opening void, within the floor of the bore of the muzzle is a venturi trough in which a lowered pressure region of propelling gases is created by the high speed passage of the propelling gases down to the bore of the muzzle brake. This lowered pressure region within the venturi trough is still in excess of the environmental pressure exterior of the muzzle brake so that gases within the venturi trough escape through channels directed downwardly and to the left and right of the projectile path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Lee C. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5085075
    Abstract: A device which simulates a running bird, similar to a Road Runner. The device is an assembly of body, tail, neck and head. The tail and neck are pivotally coupled to the body and linked together so as to move together in a complementary fashion. The head is pivotally coupled to the end of the neck and is constrained to rotate about the end of the neck as the neck rotates about its pivotal coupling point with the body. Because neck and tail are linked together to move in complementary fashion, the assembly first simulates a bird with tail, neck and head in an erect, alert position. However, when subjected to a motive force, such as the wind, the tail and neck depress, the head extends forward and the assembly appears to be that of a bird rapidly advancing over the ground. Bird leg simulations add to the effect. Wind driven representations of legs further heighten the effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Ronald D. Baker
  • Patent number: 5083955
    Abstract: Apparatus for exerting a towing force on an aquatic recreational towing device in the initial stages of towing the device while a rider thereon positions himself for purposes of riding on and maneuvering the device as it is drawn over a water surface at high speed by a towing boat. The tow rope running between the towing boat and the towed device is coupled directly to the device in a manner which readily permits the rider to decouple the towing force from its direct application to the towing device and to interpose the rider between the tow rope and the towed device as an intermediary for transmitting towing forces from the tow boat to the towed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Donald G. Echols
  • Patent number: 5074124
    Abstract: The apparatus for creating a reduced temperature air surround about a refrigeration type air conditioner. The reduced temperature air surround is interposed between the air conditioner and the environment, ambient temperature air surround. The apparatus for creating the reduced temperature air surround is a water cooling system having mist-spray heads for ejecting a fine particulate water mist into the air surrounding the air conditioner. A valve actuates the mist-spray heads only at those times at which the air conditioner fan is actuated to draw air from the immediate vicinity of the air conditioner and pass that air over the condenser coils of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: John Chapman
  • Patent number: 5046387
    Abstract: This disclosure has been directed to those parts of hand tools utilized in gripping and manipulating the tool, most frequently and generically: the handle. The handles are fabricated of water resistant materials, provided with ergonomic enhancing curves, equipped with stress resistant inserts, and made multifunctional to increase their usefulness and productive efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Rodney D. Levake
  • Patent number: 5041815
    Abstract: What has been disclosed is a golf bag alarm system which actuates an alarm when a thief attempts to remove the golf bag without authorization. In a weight sensitive embodiment of the invention, even the attempt to remove a golf club from the bag will cause the alarm to be sounded. A second embodiment of the invention, sensitive to movement of the bag, will actuate an alarm when the bag is moved from its nominal resting position. The alarm system is portable and may be housed within the golf bag itself or within an associated golf cart. The battery which powers the golf cart may be utilized as the power source for the alarm system carried by the golf cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: Ross E. Newton
  • Patent number: 5027456
    Abstract: A gentle restraint for use in inhibiting a person from leaving a bed, either accidentally or intentionally. The restraining forces are provided by a resilient covering which yields and stretches in accord with the movements and position of a person lying in the bed under the restraint. The yieldable restraint is provided by a resilient, open mesh covering which permits the free passage of air and water vapor and therefore does not entrap heat about the body of the person restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Jewell Wadsworth
  • Patent number: 5006226
    Abstract: A fluidized, dry bed, ore concentrator in which a uniform air stream is utilized to fluidize ore particles within a region defined in part by two, moving, riffled surfaces. The particles are statically charged to enhance separation of particles within the fluidized mass. The less massive of the like-charged, fluidized particles are drawn off by a first riffled surface and denoted "tailings". The more massive, and valuable, of the particles are drawn off by the second of the two riffled surfaces and denoted as "fines".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Leo O. Burt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5000044
    Abstract: A pivoted float contains a solid-state inclinometer which produces sensitive electrical output responsive to angular displacement of the float from the direction of gravity. The float is capable of resolving very small changes in liquid level in a vessel, and thereby indicating or warning of small leaks from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventors: Dennis M. Duffy, Gary G. Small
  • Patent number: 5000339
    Abstract: A flip-top replacement gas cap for replacing conventional screw-on caps provided as original equipment with present day motor vehicles. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. The first is a manually actuated device. The second is a key actuated device. In both embodiments pressure relief valves are included to vent over-pressure within the gas tank and to bleed off pressure prior to opening of the flip-top cap. The key actuated emboidment includes a rachet cam assembly which permits the cap to be screw fastened to a motor vehicle gas filler vent but precludes the unscrewing of the cap thereafter. "Gas cap" is used herein as a generic descriptor for any closure cap used to seal a filler tube of a fuel tank or any other storage vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventors: Richard Wheat, William Thornton
  • Patent number: D315209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Lloyd J. Mann
  • Patent number: D315909
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Raymond F. Ward
  • Patent number: D315910
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Raymond F. Ward
  • Patent number: D315955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Lloyd J. Mann
  • Patent number: D316698
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventors: Steven D. Hensley, Barney D. Hensley
  • Patent number: D323397
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Inventor: Lloyd J. Mann