Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John G. Gilfillan
  • Patent number: 6752439
    Abstract: A prior art security seal is molded one piece thermoplastic having a flag for receiving indicia such as serial number and so on and a strap extending from the flag. A locking socket depends from the flag at the junction with the strap. One or more projections extend from the flag from a surface opposite to the socket. The flag is too small for certain implementations which require a flag for receiving large labels. A large flag capable of receiving such labels is attached to the seal via the seal flag and projection. The flag has a channel for receiving the seal flag in an axial direction parallel to the plane of the flags and an opening for receiving the one or more projections, the opening having a contour that matches that of the projection(s). Snap fit latches secure the seal at flanges thereof as the projection(s) is inserted in the opening in a direction normal to the plane of the flags. The seal flag is releasably held in two normal directions to the large flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: George Albert Lundberg, Rui Pedro Henriques
  • Patent number: 6746056
    Abstract: A fluid coupling device employs a male spherical member with a fluid receiving bore and a female housing. The spherical member abuts two axially spaced Teflon ring seats between the member and the housing in the housing chamber. The ring seats reduce friction between the member and the housing and axially retain the member in the housing with no metal to metal contact. A first O-ring provides fluid sealing between the spherical member and housing inner wall in the chamber. A hose receiving nipple member with a fluid receiving bore has a threaded concave end with a peripheral region that engages the first O-ring to hold the O-ring against the spherical member, one of the ring seats and housing chamber wall to seal the interface between the spherical member and housing. The nipple member has a flange which abuts the housing to limit squeezing action on the O-ring to ensure sufficient contact of the O-ring and mating surfaces to obtain a good seal without creating excessive friction loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Strahman Valves, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 6705647
    Abstract: A fluid coupling device employs a male spherical member with a fluid receiving bore and a female housing. The spherical member abuts two axially spaced Teflon ring seats between the member and the housing in the housing chamber. The ring seats reduce friction between the member and the housing, and axially retain the member in the housing with no metal to metal contact. A first O-ring provides fluid sealing between the spherical member and housing inner wall in the chamber. A hose receiving nipple member with a fluid receiving bore has a threaded concave end with a peripheral region that engages the first O-ring to hold the O-ring against the spherical member, one of the ring seats and housing chamber wall to seal the interface between the spherical member and housing. The nipple member has a flange which abuts the housing to limit squeezing action on the O-ring to ensure sufficient contact of the O-ring and mating surfaces to obtain a good seal without creating excessive friction loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Strahman Valves, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 6698806
    Abstract: An elongated channel protector has an end wall that precludes axial displacement of the protector along an elongated rail car plug door operating handle in one direction. Angle shaped members extend from the protector laterally for engaging a cover appurtenance on the door for precluding axial displacement of the protector in the opposite direction. A pair of legs depend from the protector side walls and have aligned holes for receiving a bolt seal. Tubular elements surround the holes to protect the seal head and locking body. The seal is seated beneath the handle which is covered by the protector locking the protector to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Transguard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence N. Brammall, Craig B. Hamilton, Stanley Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6668694
    Abstract: An anvil blanket is molded urethane sheet material and formed with a plurality of interlocking fingers at mating opposing blanket ends and includes a depending projection which mates with a channel in the anvil about which the blanket is wrapped. A urethane insert having a hardness greater than the blanket material is molded embedded in the blanket to form a portion of the fingers and a portion of the projection depending from the fingers. A woven fiberglass fabric provides support for the blanket and which fabric is molded to the blanket. The insert has a durometer greater than that of the blanket to minimize the formation of surface recess defects at the projection which might otherwise occur due to the increased thickness of material at the projection. The insert may have other properties different than that of the blanket material including rebound, modulus, and cut and tear strength among others for resisting the formation of blanket surface defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Robud, a Florida Partnership
    Inventors: Kenneth Ray Neal, Stephen Kenneth Warll
  • Patent number: 6612214
    Abstract: A molded anvil blanket is formed with a projection depending at each end, the ends for abutting when wrapped about the anvil, the anvil having a transverse channel for receiving the projections. The projections mate to form a common recess enclosed by a metal angle member secured to each projection. The angle member and projections have a transverse slot for mounting the blanket end and projections on a pneumatic mechanism attached to the anvil. The mechanism includes an air cylinder secured to the anvil in a radial anvil bore. The cylinder has a shaft which extends in response to pressurized air. A spring attached to the air cylinder and to a T-bar which releasably engages the blanket common recess normally biases the projections locked into the channel in a fail safe mode. The activated air cylinder lifts the projections out of the channel so the blanket ends can be manually released from the anvil by sliding the T-bar out of engagement with the projections via the slots in the projections and angle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Robud
    Inventor: Kenneth Ray Neal
  • Patent number: 6565065
    Abstract: An adaptor is for a rising disc valve which has a handle for rotating a stem in a housing bore having a shoulder and which displaces a disc valve member which seals against a frusto-conical housing seat spaced from the shoulder. A stack of Belleville -steel springs is between the disc member and the ring seal. An interface ring is between the springs and the ring seal. As the disc member is seated in its valve seat, a ring at the attachment member abuts the shoulder. The attachment member can no longer axially displace and compressively loads the springs as the disc member is further axially displaced to the valve closed state. The compressive load on the ring seal expands the seal radially outwardly against the housing bore and radially inwardly against the piston shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Straham Valves, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 6540273
    Abstract: One end of a stranded steel cable is attached to a cast zinc seal housing having a chamber in which a steel sleeve with a tapered bore is positioned. The sleeve in one embodiment is fixed to the housing in the chamber or may be displaceable and captured in the chamber in a further embodiment. A serpentine clip locking member captured in the housing chamber resiliently radially grips the a second end of the shackle inserted into the sleeve bore and wedges and locks to the cable and sleeve when the shackle is withdrawn. The sleeve precludes damage to the softer zinc housing by the locking member when the locking member is displaced in the housing chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the one end of the cable exits the housing in a plane different than where the second end enters the chamber to enhance ease of insertion of the second end into engagement with the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Transguard Industries
    Inventors: Terrence N. Brammall, Jeffrey A. Brimmer, Carlos Pinho, Richard Gnoinski, Craig B. Hamilton, Richard Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 6519982
    Abstract: A bolt seal protector includes a V-shape or trapezoidal shape set of side and front walls. A set of transverse walls are attached to the side walls in the interior space defined by the side and front walls and include bolt shank receiving apertures. The transverse walls are attached to the side walls by projections. Top and bottom walls may be provided to enhance security. Flanges may be attached to the side walls. The flanges may extend inwardly or outwardly relative to the interior space at the top and bottom side wall edges. The transverse walls are recessed for receiving the bracket of a hasp of a keeper bar assembly which hasp is received between the transverse walls. Slots are provided in the side walls to receive a keeper bar handle and to provide clearance for hasp bracket fasteners and the like. Different thickness walls and flange shapes are provided for a given security need. Different embodiments are disclosed including a tool for use with certain of the embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Trans-Guard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence N. Brammall, Jeffrey Eugene Warner, Rodney Ridenour, William J. Neely
  • Patent number: 6513751
    Abstract: A plurality of core mounting outer ring members are each rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner ring member having cam surfaces in the outer surface. A rotating drive shaft has radial pistons and rotates the inner ring member by frictional engagement of the pistons displaced by an inflatable bladder. A plurality of strips in one embodiment are between the bladder and the pistons for providing increased torque on the inner ring member. The outer ring member has a first annular array of bores with core gripping balls resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A second array of bores in the outer member receive larger core gripping balls which freely displace in the bores. Ramp camming grooves are in the outer surface of the inner ring member, the larger gripping balls are engaged with the grooves and are forced into gripping engagement with the received core when the inner ring member is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Convertech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michel
  • Patent number: 6511108
    Abstract: A tote bin seal for securing sheet material lids via aligned lid apertures includes a flange forming an ID flag attached to a locking device having a hollow core body at one body end and two semi-circular arrays of tangs at the other body end, the tangs formed of stems and reverse hooks or barbs. The body is somewhat oval with a rectangular central portion, the tangs depending from each arcuate end of the oval. Each of the tangs and the body have an interior axially extending triangular stiffening rib. An insert with a head and a bifurcated shank is attached to the flange opposite the body and may be sheared from the flange for insertion into the body core. The shank forms a locking opening which captures a web in the body core for securing the insert locked to the body. The insert prevents the tangs from compressing inwardly to open the seal. The flange has a living hinge so it can be folded over to permit reading ID data from the flange in stacked bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: John K. Roessner, III, Richard Dreisbach, George Albert Lundberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6494508
    Abstract: A filament seal for use with stranded or solid metal or thermoplastic filaments comprises a segmented housing defining a chamber in which a locking insert element is positioned, the insert comprising a thin circular disk of hardened stainless steel with a plurality of radially inwardly extending resilient cantilevered fingers each terminating with a tapered sharp pointed tip in abutting or closely space relationship defining a space substantially smaller than the diameter of the filament. The inserted filament bends the fingers and is softer than the insert, the tips digging into the filament during use. When the filament is withdrawn, the finger tips dig further into the filament severing it. If the filament is rotated in an attempt to thread the filament out of the insert, the insert rotates with the filament due to the digging action of the tips into the filament, precluding filament withdrawal from the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Richard Dreisbach, George Albert Lundberg, Jr., Carlos Pinho
  • Patent number: 6491328
    Abstract: A robust rigid block forming a fastener and tamper evident seal attaches a cover to a tote bin. The seal is formed partially into a C-shaped locking device for insertion into aligned bores in the tote bin cover and bin. The C-shaped device is inserted to an insertion position and then displaced to a locking position with the legs of the device overlying the cover and bin members at the bores fastening the cover to the bin and capable of withstanding high shock loads. A locking element connected to the device by a frangible web has a camming surface that engages an edge of the cover for camming the device during insertion of the element in the bores to the insertion position at which time the web is fractured. The element has a flange plate attached to the element body by a weak web for selective removal of the plate. A resilient tang is attached to the element for engaging a mating locking recess in the body for locking the element to the device and to the bin and cover in the insertion position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventor: Richard C. Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 6449808
    Abstract: A flag seal comprises a thermoplastic socket, flag and shackle molded one piece. A metal locking tang element may optionally be molded into the socket. The shackle has a weakening groove. A finger gripping loop member extends about the flag both of which are flexible for receiving a finger. The gripping loop member provides enhanced finger gripping of the seal to pull on the seal to fracture the seal at the shackle weakening groove with an increased tensile load than otherwise possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Robert Zappa, George Albert Lundberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6405932
    Abstract: A retrofit automatic temperature controlling apparatus and kit is attached to a prior art steam-cold water mixing valve assembly to produce mixed cold water and steam as hot water at a controlled temperature. An adjustment screw is added to the prior art valve assembly to limit the displacement of a steam poppet valve which is opened by a retrofitted piston. Cold water is redirected to a retrofit temperature control assembly having a mixing chamber for receiving the cold water. A water and steam receiving conduit terminates in the mixing chamber and has fluid isolated sections for receiving steam and cold water with a sleeve valve member for selectively coupling the steam and cold water sections to the mixing chamber. The sleeve valve member is operated by a temperature sensing device in the outlet hot water chamber. A disc member separates the mixing chamber and outlet hot water chamber with small passages which promote mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Strahman Valves, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Palmer
  • Patent number: 6407666
    Abstract: An electrical connector is for use with a cylindrical member having an electrically conductive coating which can be damaged. The connector comprises a steel stamped ring with a terminal extending from the ring. Three like contacts overly the central opening of the ring and are bent for abutting the received cylindrical member in resilient sliding ohmic engagement regardless of the insertion or withdrawal direction of the member without destructive damage to the member coating. The contacts are relatively stiff to provide vibration resistant engagement with the member. The ring is supported in a slot in a housing to further stiffen the connector and the contact engagement with the member which completes a circuit which if broken is sensed and transmitted as a tampered condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Transguard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Debrody, Jeffery Eugene Warner, Craig B. Hamilton, Jeffery Alan Brimmer
  • Patent number: 6402084
    Abstract: A plurality of core mounting outer ring members are each rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner ring member having cam surfaces in the outer surface. A rotating drive shaft has radial pistons and rotates the inner ring member by frictional engagement of the pistons displaced by an inflatable bladder. The outer ring member has a first annular array of bores with core gripping balls resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A second array of bores in the outer member receive larger core gripping balls which freely displace in the bores. Ramp camming grooves are in the outer surface of the inner ring members, the larger gripping balls engaged with the grooves and forced into gripping engagement with the received core when the inner ring member is rotated. The spring loaded balls provide initial friction load between the core and outer ring members so that the ramp balls can operate to grip the core upon rotation of the inner ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Convertech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michel
  • Patent number: 6390519
    Abstract: A housing has a rotor receiving chamber with filament receiving bores lying in a plane normal to the rotor axis of rotation, a rotor being rotatably received in the chamber. The rotor and housing have complementary locking shoulders for axially locking the rotor in the chamber. The rotor has a pair of filament receiving bores aligned with the housing filament receiving bores. The rotor has an annular rib in the plane of the bores defining upper and lower rotor sections. The locking shoulders are in the lower section of the rotor and are located between the plane and the closed end of the chamber, at which end the rotor and housing have a complementary ratchet and pawl mechanism for allowing only one way rotation of the rotor relative to the housing for securing the filament to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Dreisbach, Carlos M. Pinho
  • Patent number: D455945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: TransGuard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Gilbert, William Neely, Brandon Walker, Rodney Ridenour
  • Patent number: D462600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: TransGuard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Gilbert, William Neely, Brandon Walker, Rodney Ridenour