Patents Represented by Attorney Julian Caplan
  • Patent number: 5256982
    Abstract: A radiographic film retaining device for holding a film packet while producing a radiographic image of selected teeth of a patient's mouth is disclosed. The retaining device includes a substantially thin bite portion configured for placement between upper and lower teeth of the patient's mouth and a retaining structure positioned distally of the bite portion. The retaining structure has a film packet gripping structure for holding the film packet lingually adjacent the selected teeth when the bite portion is gripped between the upper and lower teeth. The retaining structure comprises a narrow extension of the bite portion. The film packet gripping structure includes a slit formed and extending through the retaining structure from the distal end thereof toward the bite portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy G. Willis
  • Patent number: 5249695
    Abstract: For tent-type paperboard containers as well as other containers, a spout fitment is attached surrounding a hole in the container. The fitment spout has internal threads and an external flange which seals around the hole and is fixed to the container by thermal means, adhesive or the like. The cap has a top disk from which an externally threaded skirt depends. The exterior of the skirt has gripping ribs to assist in screwing and unscrewing the cap. The lower edge of the skirt seals against a sealing membrane on the spout. Surrounding the skirt is a tamper-evident band attached to the lower edges of the ribs by frangible bridges. The tamper-evident band has locking means engaging complementary locking means on the fitment. Thus, the cap cannot be unscrewed without removing the tamper-evident band. By unique design, the fitment and cap may be molded in one mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5236167
    Abstract: A pedestal stand for supporting an object with a post, such as an artificial tree with a trunk, substantially upright on a support surface. The pedestal stand includes first and second planar leg members slidably interconnected to form a hub with a socket. Each leg member includes first and second opposite legs which extend radially from the hub and are adapted to rest on the support surface. A receptacle is adapted and shaped to snugly receive the post. The receptacle is slidably and concentrically nested in a substantially upright position within the socket and is readily removable from the socket. In another aspect of the invention, the disassembled pedestal stand and a collapsed artificial tree are enclosed in a package for shipping. The leg members lie in juxtaposition to each other in the package, and the ends of the trunk substantially abut the ends of the package. The receptacle is disposed on the butt end of the tree trunk preventing the butt end from rupturing the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Winward International Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick C. Tai, Johannes P. Juffermans
  • Patent number: 5233884
    Abstract: A connection between a drive member and a driven member comprises a first nickel titanium alloy wire interconnecting the drive member and a rigid link and a second nickel titanium alloy wire connecting the rigid link and the drive member. Such a wire, when properly heat treated, has a high tensile and also a high compressive strength while at the same time the wire will bend readily if there is misalignment between the longitudinal movements of the drive and driven members. Thus the assembly functions as a two-ball joint drive line similar to that used in automobiles. A preferred usage is in driving the plunger of a syringe in a dosage metering system from a moving machine element where the syringe bore and direction of movement of the machine element may be slightly out of alignment. Wear of the syringe seals is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: Jerry E. Rochte
  • Patent number: 5232125
    Abstract: A cap composed of a snap-on, tamper-evident closure differing from others of this general type is formed with a central sleeve. The bottom of the sleeve is closed off by a removable plug. The exterior of the closure is formed with a bead. The water dispenser is provided with an adapter consisting of an open-bottom outer sleeve into which the neck of the container with the closure in place thereon fits. Centrally disposed in the outer sleeve is a dispenser tube. When the container is inverted its neck is inserted in the outer tube. As the neck and cap are lowered, the dispenser tube enters the cap sleeve and attaches to the plug. Continued lowering of the container causes the plug to slide out of the tube so that liquid in the container flows out through the dispenser tube into the dispenser. When the container is lifted, the plug (which has been attached to the dispenser tube) is pulled back into its original sealed position. The plug and cup are at all times discrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5224797
    Abstract: A rotatable apparatus for placing lengths of flexible pipe and cable a distance beneath the surface of the ground leaving the soil substantially intact. The pipe laying apparatus includes a shaft having an exterior, a plurality of cutting bits removably mounted on the shaft and a device for securing the cutting bits on the shaft. The cutting bits each have a base, a tool bit, and an attachment device to prevent any rotation by the cutting bits relative to the shaft. The tool bits have a leading cutting edge, a cutting surface extending from the leading cutting edge, and an inclined surface separating the cutting surface and the base. As the shaft rotates, the leading cutting edge and the cutting surface cut through the soil and push it in towards the inclined surface, which in turn displaces the soil in an axial direction. The pipe laying apparatus also includes a plurality of spacers removably mounted to the shaft separating the cutting bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Donald R. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 5221114
    Abstract: A flexible connector is used to connect a source of liquid to a dispenser so that the position of the dispenser may be adjusted or the line leading to a fixed dispenser may be adjusted. A typical use is in connecting underground pipe to a sprinkler head, but the invention may be used in other installations. Examples are to provide a connector for a light-weight, non-kink garden hose; sewer pipe fittings and ABS drain pipe. A very flexible tubing, such as light vinyl tubing, is encased in a tough outer protective tubing, such as convoluted tubing. At either end is a fitting into which the flexible tubing fits. A bushing inside the fitting expands the end of the flexible tubing and thus retains it within the body of the fitting. The end of the protective fitting is received in a counterbore in an end of the fitting. The upper end of the fitting may be attached to a sprinkler head or other device and hence may be shaped with an internal thread, an external thread, or a smooth cylindrical shape for a slip fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Inventor: Frank M. Parker
  • Patent number: 5216690
    Abstract: A grounded metallic shield which comprises an electrode enclosing the filament leads and emitters of an e-Gun in a high vacuum chamber of the type used in melting and casting metals and other materials and evaporation sources. The shield is spaced from the filament leads and emitters a distance in the order of the electron mean free path for the pressure uses within the high vacuum chamber. The structure and method of use thereof suppresses or eliminates arc-downs or glow discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Charles W. Hanks
  • Patent number: 5213224
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, a conical wall having external ratchet teeth. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A conical lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The cap skirt threads are double pitch and slightly over 360.degree. in length. When the cap is applied to the neck it snaps on in two stages. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5197343
    Abstract: A driven member has flat parallel top and bottom surfaces over at least a portion of its length. A motor actuated drive roller is mounted between two parallel, spaced side plates between which the driven member reciprocates and bears against the driven member. Back-up rollers engage the drive roller to prevent the pinion from backing away from the driven member. A spring-mounted pressure roller bears against the side of the driven member directly opposite the drive roller. As the motor turns the drive roller, the latter frictionally engages the driven member and causes the latter to move linearly without the backlash characteristic of rack and pinion mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Jerry E. Rochte
  • Patent number: 5192129
    Abstract: A light reflector for use with a lighting fixture substantially concave in one plane of intersection and disposed in a direction parallel to an elongated light source comprising a central section optionally intersected by other light reflecting planes and a pair of arcuatte wing sections positioned on opposite sides of the central section. The light reflector may be formed of a light reflective material or coated with light reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: Luisito A. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 5190178
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, external ratchet teeth arranged in two diametrically opposed quadrants. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has opposed quadrants having internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges. The tear tab constitutes an orientation means to properly locate the cap on the neck so that an axial downward push on the cap engages the internal and external threads and internal and external ratchet teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co
    Inventor: Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5174465
    Abstract: A fitment and cap therefor are integrally molded with lugs interconnecting the part. The fitment has a flange to be attached to a container and an internally threaded spout. The cap has an externally threaded skirt. The lugs are diametrically spaced and interconnect the bottom edge of the skirt and upper edge of the spout. After molding, force is applied to break the lugs and snap the skirt inside the spout, the threads slipping past each other and inter-engaging. A temper-evident band extends around the skirt and is connected thereto by frangible bridges. At diametrically spaced locations vertically projecting fingers extend down from the tamper evident band and are received in sockets on the fitment flange shaped so that the band fingers prevent unscrewing the cap without removing the tamper-evident band. A pull tab and thumb tab assist the consumer in removing the tamper evident band so that the cap may be unscrewed from the fitment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5170905
    Abstract: A thin walled container of the type used to package dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese and other products is provided with an out-turned serrated container lip surrounded by an outward-spaced tamper-evident band, the lower edge of which is connected to the container by plural frangible bridges. The closure has a flange having an in-turned locking bead which engages the container lip and is held in place by the tamper-evident band. To open the container, the tamper-evident band is torn away by breaking the bridges, whereupon the closure may be separated from the container lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventor: Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5169198
    Abstract: A flat, open handle clips onto the end of a bag such as, for example, a shrink-wrap plastic bag, for frozen poultry or similar frozen food items. The handle has an elliptical ring at one end through which the end of the bag fits, and is provided with flexible converging fingers to retain the bag within the ring once it is inserted. The gripping portion of the handle which the fingers of the user grip is at the opposite end. Relatively flexible arms interconnect the gripping portion and the ring. To strengthen the handles and also to guide the bag toward the ring after its end has been inserted in the opening in the handle, guides are provided. In one form of the invention the guides extend inwardly from each arm, then bend obliquely to merge with the retaining fingers. In another form of the invention the guides are thin ears which have rounded inner edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Volk Investment Co.
    Inventors: Donald J. Volk, Steven J. Volk, Daniel J. Volk
  • Patent number: 5163575
    Abstract: A thin-walled, wide mouth molded plastic container is provided with a tamper evident band initially molded as a straight-walled cylinder spaced outwardly of the lip of the container and connected thereto by a frangible horizontal bridge. The upper edge of the cylindrical band extends above the level of the container lip. Subsequent to molding and preferably before capping, the band is curled inward by application of a curling tool. The container lid is axially applied, the outer edge of the lid displacing the curled band outward. The resilience of the band and bridge permits outward deflection and immediate restoration of the curl to its initial position. The curl prevents removal of the lid without fracture of the bridge and removal of the tamper-evident band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Cup Snap Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Rawson Chenault
  • Patent number: 5160026
    Abstract: A toolbox has a tray having compartments accessible from one side slidably received in a casing. The casing has one side closed and the opposite side formed with one or more openings. When the casing is slipped over the tray so that its closed side covers the tray compartments, the box may be carried or stored without tools, etc., falling out of the tray. When the casing is reversed, access to the tray compartments is obtained through openings in the casing. The tray may be slid out of the casing sufficiently so that with the engine hood raised, the rear end of the box rests on the cowling or other rear portion of the engine compartment and the forward end rests on the front end of the vehicle. To accommodate such positioning, a leg may be pivotally attached to the bottom of the forward end of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Daniel F. Marsh
  • Patent number: 5145364
    Abstract: Dental clasps are removable secured to teeth in part by wire ears engaging the natural undercut of the teeth and in part by engagement with buttons adhered to the teeth. Clasps are modified for the above purpose and also form combinations to engage different areas of teeth to correct various occlusions. Preferably the clasps are encased in molded plastic appliances which fit a single arch or a portion thereof or fit both arches. The plastic appliance preferably does not cover the occlusal surfaces; hence the patient's mouth may close to a more normal position. The buttons are shaped to facilitate installation of the appliance, as by tapering the outside surface of the button or the slot in the button which receives the clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: M-B Orthodontics, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin G. Martz, Robert D. Brining
  • Patent number: 5142732
    Abstract: An attachment for an industrial vacuum machine is installed in the vacuum hose line and preferably supported by a boom on such machine. The attachment separates bulky items from finer materials passing through the hose. The separator includes a vacuum-tight casing containing baffles, a downward sloping bottom and a rotary vacuum air-tight valve which may be rotated to discharge bulk material into an underlying bin, truck or car without rehandling. Materials enter the separator chamber through a hose discharging into one side and exit through a second hose leading to the vacuum machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Henry J. Davis
  • Patent number: RE34232
    Abstract: This improved cattle stanchion discloses an essentially coplanar and rectangular frame for automatically locking and manually releasing the heads of cattle. The frame unit consists of three vertical bars and two essentially horizontal bars, the top of which being slightly arched upwardly to form an apex over the center of the frame while the bottom bar is slightly arched downwardly to form a nadir under the center of the frame. These arches define an arc of travel for the central pivotally mounted vertical bar with an annular ring extension around the top arch of the frame. The annular ring cooperates with a locking mechanism consisting of pairs of elliptical latching sleeves mounted linearly apart and above the frame unit on a horizontal bar which may be operated by an attendant to either lock or unlock the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: John A. Da Silveira