Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James G. O'Neill
  • Method and apparatus for oil/water de-emulsification
    Patent number: 5714048
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining the effects of centrifugal force and electrostatic coalescence of water droplets in an integral containment vessel to de-emulsify water in oil type emulsions, without utilizing chemicals or applying heat to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Jerry M. Edmondson
  • Crude oil emulsion treating apparatus and method
    Patent number: 5707510
    Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Process Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Patrick Berry
  • Beverage container holder and blank therefor
    Patent number: 5704671
    Abstract: A cardboard or plastic blank having an elongated main body, an enlarged head portion, an elliptical opening formed in the enlarged head portion and a pair of elongated wing portions, connected to the main body, adjacent the elliptical opening. The elongated wing portions include outer securing elements that allow the wings to be secured together while the main body is folded to form a beverage container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventors: Saskia J. van der Wal, Jurjen van der Wal
  • Photo mouse pad and method of making
    Patent number: 5696536
    Abstract: A mouse pad having a transparent top layer with a scratch resistent upper surface thereon, is secured to a resilient backing in such a manner that a pocket is formed between the resilient backing and the top layer to allow material having visual information thereon to be inserted and removed from the pocket via an opening formed through the resilient backing. The present invention also provides a method for forming mouse pads having pockets therein, by first printing on at least one side of a top surface layer, laminating a series of layers of different material together and die cutting the mouse pad and an opening through all the layers except the upper surface layer to allow access to the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Kevin M. Murphy
  • Computer mouse pad and item holder
    Patent number: 5692815
    Abstract: A mouse pad and item holder having a top surface with a mouse tracking surface, that may be a textured surface or a separate mouse pad held in a recessed area, is supported by a shaped base having a number of openings formed between a bottom surface of the base and the top surface of the holder to allow various items to be inserted into and removed from drawers, dispensers, trays and the like, movably held in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Kevin M. Murphy
  • Endoscopic instrument lock
    Patent number: 5662613
    Abstract: A locking device for use in a trocar inserted into a body cavity. The locking device includes an enlarged head that may be easily grasped and recognized by a surgeon during complicated surgery and an elongated shaft portion secured to the enlarged head, which is conformable to a gas opening in the trocar for quick and easy insertion into the gas opening, by turning the enlarged head. The locking device has coarse self-tapping threads formed only on an upper portion of the elongated shaft, adjacent to the enlarged head to enable the locking device to be quickly turned into a locking position for any type of instrument passing through the trocar into the body cavity. The outer and of the elongated shaft contacting the instrument must be blunt and soft to prevent damaging or marring the instrument against which it is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Denis C. Astarita
  • Christmas tree watering funnel with indicating system
    Patent number: 5661926
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a water supply in a stand supporting a Christmas tree is provided. A rigid funnel body comprises integrally formed top, center, and bottom portions. The funnel has a frusto-conical cross-section that tapers from the top portion to the bottom portion. A flexible coupling is integrally formed between the portions of the funnel to hold them in a desired angular relationship. An indicating system is affixed to the top portion of the funnel. The indicating system indicates when the water supply in the stand has fallen below a desired minimum level. A water level device at the bottom portion of the funnel is coupled to the indicating device by a connecting member. The water level device actuates the indicating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Hugh A. Granger
  • Accurately controlled portable nebulizer
    Patent number: 5653223
    Abstract: A hand held, single use, gas mixture discharge unit is provided for existing nebulizers to enable them to be adapted for use as a portable gas flow source for a nebulizer. The nebulizer includes an external downwardly extending base having a gas conduit extending therethrough for connection to a standard oxygen delivery tank, or to a hand held gas mixture discharge unit where it operates a valve in a controlled manner to deliver accurately metered quantities of nebulized liquid type medication to the patient, in substantially any circumstance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Michael D. Pruitt
  • Flashlight replacement for vehicle ashtray
    Patent number: 5645340
    Abstract: A flashlight assembly for use in a vehicle to replace an ashtray. The flashlight includes a front handle portion conformable to the opening of an ashtray and when inserted into the ashtray opening, in place of the ashtray, blends in with the vehicle console or dashboard. The flashlight is slidably or pivotably mounted in the ashtray opening, and is easily removable from the ashtray opening, for use by an operator or others, as needed. A charging contact may be added to the ashtray opening for recharging a rechargeable flashlight, or batteries held within the flashlight, when the flashlight is inserted fully into the ashtray opening contacting the charging contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Orren L. Colton
  • Adjustable cane with built-in pickup means
    Patent number: 5636650
    Abstract: A cane having a handle, and a trigger means slidably held in a hollow body of the cane adjacent to the handle. An upper portion of the cane is telescopically mounted in a lower portion so as to adjust the length of the cane, and the slidable trigger means is actuated so as to rotatably move a holding arm outwardly from a slotted opening within a hollow bottom portion of the cane, towards a support foot of the cane to pick up remote objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Steven H. Kroeze
  • Dispenser system with collapsible pouch
    Patent number: 5634572
    Abstract: A dispenser system having a substantially large pouch (20) for holding a substantially large amount of viscous food product for dispensing from a dispenser (122). The pouch is formed so as to include a tear strip (38) to open a funnel-shaped, centrally disposed outlet spout (24) and to be sealingly held in the dispenser. The pouch may include a pair of alignment/holding openings (32, 34) formed on either side of the outlet spout for aligning the pouch in a preferred position in the dispenser, so that a piston-type extruding member (136) may pressurize and dispense predetermined size shots of viscous food product therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lane, Jr., Steven D. Davis, Chester F. Robards, Jr.
  • Collapsible dispenser pouch
    Patent number: 5632416
    Abstract: A pouch for holding viscous food product for dispensing from a specific hand held or similar type dispenser, is formed so as to include a tear strip to open a funnel-shaped, centrally disposed outlet spout formed to be sealingly held in the specific dispenser. The pouch includes a pair of alignment/holding openings formed on either side of the outlet spout for securing the pouch in a fixed position in the dispenser. The invention also includes head seal tooling having a pair of heated jaws which are brought together to simultaneously form the bottom seal of a top unfilled, pouch and the outlet spout and angularly disposed top seals of a filled lower pouch, while at the same time forming perforations for the tear strip, the pair of openings in the lower pouch and cutting-off the formed, filled and sealed lower pouch from the upper pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: W. A. Lane, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lane, Jr., Steven D. Davis
  • Disposable flasher unit
    Patent number: D379437
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Roger J. Flaherty
  • Boomerang shaped pillow and cover
    Patent number: D382163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Annette S. Hartney
  • Toilet seat having a built-in collapsible urinal
    Patent number: D384139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Robert K. Tribolet
  • Carrier plate for ribbed style cups
    Patent number: D386194
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Portable infant's hair washing seat
    Patent number: D386318
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventor: Rene M. Smith
  • Dispenser pouch
    Patent number: D386398
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Sink furring
    Patent number: D387144
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Roger J. Flaherty
  • Combination letter opener and staple remover
    Patent number: D388306
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Alan Vaught