Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John K. Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6170359
    Abstract: A micro tube cap opening device includes a tubular holder, a lifting bar and a mounting sleeve. The holder has a well supported by a sidewall of the holder and open at a first end thereof for receiving therein a tube body of a micro tube. The mounting sleeve is attached on and along the sidewall of the holder. The lifting bar is slidably mounted by and through the mounting sleeve to undergo movement between a retracted position and an extended position. A first end of the lifting bar in the retracted position is disposed adjacent to the first end of the holder and adjacent to a cap of the micro tube in a closed position interference fitted into the tube body of the micro tube when the tube body of the micro tube is disposed within the well of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Michael Hoffman
    Inventor: David Asa
  • Patent number: 6170798
    Abstract: A fluid detection and shutoff actuation apparatus includes a rotatable plate mountable over a shaft of a shutoff valve, a linear actuator spaced from the plate, a trigger disposed between the actuator and plate, a fluid detector, and a control mechanism connecting the fluid detector to the actuator for activating it in response to detection of a fluid at a location monitored by the detector. The actuator is movable between extended and retracted positions toward and away from the plate. The plate rotates with the shaft between first and second positions in which the shutoff valve is respectively in opened and closed conditions and the plate is biased by a coil spring to rotate from the first to second position and change the valve from the opened to closed condition. The trigger is connected to the actuator and is pivotally movable toward and away from the plate in respond to movement of the actuator between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Chris C. Johnson, Charles A. Wende
  • Patent number: 6167983
    Abstract: A process for production of a tube profile element having a swaged closed head end includes the steps of chamfering an unswaged end of a tube profile element having a first diameter to provide a chamfered end on the tube profile element having a chamfer angle of less than 45° relative to a longitudinal axis of the end portion of the tube profile element, supporting the tube profile element in a retaining tool such that an end portion of the tube profile element having the unswaged chamfered end thereon extends beyond the retaining tool, providing a swage tool having a negative die capable of swaging the end portion of the tube into a swaged closed head end having a maximum second diameter larger the first diameter of the unswaged end of the tube, and moving the swage tool toward the end portion of the tube and swaging the unswaged chamfered end of the tube, by the negative die of the swage tool, into the swaged closed head end of the tube profile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: W. Lottgers GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Wunderlich, Frank Fingerhut
  • Patent number: 6050588
    Abstract: A fifth wheel ball hitch latching assembly includes a housing, a funnel mounted within the housing and defining a conical-shaped passage for guiding movement of a ball hitch into the funnel through an open bottom end thereof toward an open top end thereof as the housing is lowered onto the ball hitch, a shaft mounted in the housing to undergo movement along a longitudinal axis of the housing between raised and lowered positions, the shaft having a lower end extending through the open top end and into the passage of the funnel and biased toward the lowered position, a pair of latch dogs extending through slots in the funnel and being movable away from and toward the longitudinal axis of the housing between retracted and extended positions, a linkage pivotally connecting the shaft with the latch dogs such that movement of the shaft between the lowered and raised positions causes the latch dogs to correspondingly move between the retracted and extended positions such that insertion of the ball hitch through the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Douglas W. Kissack
  • Patent number: 6047699
    Abstract: A ventilator and trach holder device includes a main attachment body and at least one and, preferably, a pair of spaced apart attachment tab members. The main attachment body includes a central panel, a pair of spaced apart first connection members, a pair of spaced apart second connection members and a plurality of patches of complementary mateable hook and loop fastener material. The first and second connection members and central panel provide the main attachment body with a H-shaped configuration and the patches are complementary to and mateable with one another such that the main attachment body may be wrapped around a ventilator circuit component and held in place by fastening the patches to one another. Each attachment tab member includes opposite first and second ends and a pair of patches of complementary and mateable hook and loop fastener material. The first end of the attachment tab member is mounted to the central panel of the main attachment body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Ryatt Corporation
    Inventors: Sadie Ryatt, Stacie Orr
  • Patent number: 6032522
    Abstract: A vehicle tire inspection apparatus includes a flat plate, a flexible bladder containing a quantity of fluid, and transducers on the plate. The plate is made of a transparent yieldable resilient bendable material capable of transmitting an inflated vehicle tire footprint and of undergoing a deflection in response to the supported weight on the tire applied thereon. The bladder is supported on the top side of the plate and has an upper opaque portion of a first color, a lower transparent portion and an enclosed interior cavity. The fluid contained within the cavity is of a second color different from the first color of the upper bladder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Synergos, LLLP
    Inventors: Alfred L. Clark, Frank S. Barnes, Richard Frey, Tom Gormley
  • Patent number: 5996574
    Abstract: An overflow pan assembly includes a pan, cap, pair of first handles and pair of second handles. The pan has a lower cooking chamber formed by a bottom wall and annular shaped lower side wall and an upper reservoir chamber formed above the lower cooking chamber by an annular shaped upper side wall and annular shaped ledge extending between and interconnecting the lower side wall and upper side wall. The cap has an inner splash chamber inside the cap formed by a top wall and annular shaped side wall and an outer catch chamber outside the cap formed by the side wall of the cap and upper side wall and ledge of the pan. The first handles are mounted to the upper side wall of the pan opposite one another. The second handles are mounted to the side wall of the cap opposite one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Dennis G. Loyd Trust
    Inventors: Dennis G. Loyd, Lois B. Loyd
  • Patent number: 5927343
    Abstract: A hose fender device includes a clamp mechanism and a deflector member. The clamp mechanism is adapted to be received over an end portion of a hose adjacent to a connector provided on the hose for attaching an appliance thereto. The deflector member includes a pair of opposite arms. Each of the arms has first and second ends. The first ends are attached to respective opposite sides of the clamp mechanism. The opposite arms extend from their first ends in a flared divergent relationship to one another to the second ends thereof being free ends. In such manner, the opposite arms together define a substantially triangular-shaped protected area therebetween and extending rearwardly of the connector of the hose. The clamp mechanism is adjustably movable between an open position and a selected one of a plurality of closed clamping positions which adapts the device for securement to hoses of different diameter sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: John V. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5868554
    Abstract: A flexible plunger apparatus includes an elongated flexible member having a pair of opposite end portions and a longitudinal length extending between the opposite end portions, with the flexible member being adapted to flex in transverse relationship to its length and to undergo free movement through a hollow tubing of a well. The apparatus also includes a physical barrier producing mechanism attached to and extending between the opposite end portions of the flexible member for substantially separating gas under pressure in the tubing below the lower end portion of the flexible member from a slug of liquid in the tubing above the upper end portion of the flexible member. The physically barrier producing mechanism is carried along the interior surface of the tubing in a substantially sealing relationship therewith as the flexible member undergoes free movement through the tubing of the well in response to the pressure of the gas and opening of the tubing of the well at the earth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventors: Jeff L. Giacomino, Bruce M. Victor
  • Patent number: 5846171
    Abstract: In a competitive balance exercise game played by two participants an elongated game device is employed in the form of an elongated rod having a pair of opposite end portions and a middle portion disposed between and integrally connected with the opposite end portions, and a pair of gripping sleeves each disposed over and attached to one of the opposite end portions of the rod. The material of the rod can vary from being relatively inflexible or stiff to semi-rigid and semi-flexible so that it will bend during play of the game. Each gripping sleeve is long enough to receive both hands of the participant and is comprised of a substantially rubber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Roger R. Hollowell
  • Patent number: 5845743
    Abstract: A post step gripping device, includes a flat planar platform for receiving the feet of a user, a horizontal support shaft attached by brackets and an intermediate support member to a first end of the platform, a pair of opposite arms pivotally attached to and slidably movable along the support shaft for attaching the device to a post, and a brace mounted to the bottom of the platform and a pair of angled plates attached to the pivotal connection of the arms to the support shaft for securing the platform in a substantially transverse position relative to the post. The brace, the angled plates and the arms operate in conjunction with the weight of the platform and/or the weight of the user standing on the platform to secure the device to the post. The device may also include a step member pivotally attached to an opposite second end of the platform and having a substantially U-shaped bar for receiving a foot of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: George A. Dechant
  • Patent number: 5842620
    Abstract: A belt-mounted tool holder device includes a support plate defining a pair of spaced apart slots for receiving therethrough a belt of a wearer, a holder member fixedly attached to the support plate and extending outwardly therefrom, and a cup attached to an outer end of the holder member for receiving a portion of a tool therein. An inner end of the holder member is fixedly attached to one of the opposite sides of the support plate below the spaced apart slots defined by the support plate. The holder member extends outwardly from the support plate at an angle lying within a range of from about 15.degree. above to about 15.degree. below a line extending perpendicular to the support plate. The cup is attached to the outer end of the holder member and has a bottom wall and an annular sidewall attached to a periphery of the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom. The annular sidewall defines an interior cavity and a top opening for receiving the portion of the tool into the interior cavity of the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Stavros A. Koudakis
  • Patent number: 5839524
    Abstract: A quick release locking drill rod includes a hollow sleeve having opposite first and second end portions and components for quick release locking the first end portion of the sleeve of one rod to the second end portion of the sleeve of another rod. The first end portion of the sleeve of one rod receives therein the second end portion of the sleeve of another rod. The quick release locking components connect the first end portion of the sleeve of one rod to the second end portion of the sleeve of another rod and include an internal cross pin and pair of diametrically opposed L-shaped slots. The internal cross pin is disposed in the first end portion of the sleeve and is spaced inwardly from the open first end. The internal cross pin spans the first diameter and has opposite ends attached to opposite sides of the first end portion of the sleeve. The diametrically opposed L-shaped slots are defined in respective opposite sides of the second end portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Paul C. Sanford
  • Patent number: D425581
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Frank Philbern