Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 6595164
    Abstract: An improved unified cooling system for an internal combustion engine that generally includes a cylinder head and a cylinder block, in which the cylinder head and cylinder block are maintained at different operating temperatures despite using only a single coolant pump. The coolant pump pumps fresh coolant through the cylinder head and cylinder block. Coolant valves, which may be thermostatic valves or electrically actuable proportional valves, lie downstream of the cylinder head and cylinder block and individually control the amount of coolant flowing through the cylinder head and cylinder block so as to maintain a lower operating temperature for the cylinder head than for the cylinder block. Coolant is directed, in various configurations, through any or all of an oil cooler, a heat exchanger for a heater for a vehicle interior, and a coolant radiator, before being directed back to the coolant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Behr Thermot-Tronik GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kunze, Peter Leu, Petra Röser, Eike Willers
  • Patent number: 6251322
    Abstract: The invention provides synthetic polymeric fibers which have utility as temporary acquisition/distribution absorbent structures and permanent storage/distribution absorbent structures in a wide range of absorbent products such as diapers, feminine napkins, and adult incontinent pads. These fibers are short, highly distorted, and bulky characterized by lengths between 2 and 37 mm, short-range distortion factors between 5 and 70, long-range distortion factors between 0.05 and 0.9, and single fiber bulk factors between 0.5 and 10.0. They may or may not have capillary channels on the surface. The advantages of these materials are their increased absorbency, reduced wet collapse at low densities, reduced rewet, reduced loss of liquid under pressure, and their ability to be desorbed by distribution materials such as capillary channeled fibers or by conventional storage materials such as fluff pulp or superabsorbent polymer fiber or powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bobby Mal Phillips, Shriram Bagrodia
  • Patent number: 6234399
    Abstract: To detect the capability to function of a thermostatic valve of a cooling system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the actual temperature of the internal combustion engine, the ambient temperature and the actual temperature at the outlet of a coolant radiator are measured and evaluated in such a way that a malfunction of the thermostatic valve can be detected thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Behr Thermotronik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Peter Leu
  • Patent number: 6232732
    Abstract: In a method for braking an electric drive motor, especially a drive motor for driving a grooved drum of a winding head of a bobbin winding machine which motor is loaded for braking in a direction opposite to a rated nominal current with a braking current, the instantaneous thermal load of the drive motor is detected and the strength of the brake current is selected as a function of this thermal load of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Rolf Haasen, Ferdinand-Josef Hermanns, Hans-Günter Wedershoven
  • Patent number: 6228892
    Abstract: An antiallergic agent which is characterized in containing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one represented by the following formula [I] and an optically active substance and a salt thereof as an effective component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanari Tominaga, Eiji Nishiyama, Michio Hagiya, Nobuto Koyama, Ikunoshin Kato
  • Patent number: 6226838
    Abstract: A device for opening slivers (4) for feeding an OE spinning device (3), comprising a sliver feed device defining a sliver clamping position (7), a rotating opening roller (8) having a circumference with spirally extending combing elements (9, 24) for engaging at the clamping position (7) into a sliver being fed by the sliver feed device. In order to improve the opening of the sliver, a support roller (13, 28, 29) also having spirally extending combing elements (14, 24, 25, 26) is arranged in the direction of fiber feeding after the clamping position (7) with its combing elements (14, 24, 25, 26) extending into the intermediate spaces between the spirally extending combing elements (9, 24) of the opening roller (8) and rotates counter to the opening roller (8) for combing sliver therewith in a common effective range (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Raasch
  • Patent number: 6224293
    Abstract: A vibration generator includes a weight member, a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation extending longitudinally therethrough and having a mounting area on which the weight member is mounted, and a positioning arm disposed in engagement with the weight member on the shaft and rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to both the shaft and the weight member. The mounting area engages the weight member and prevents movement of the weight member relative to the shaft in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation but permits movement of the weight member relative to the shaft in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation and coplanar with the circumferential direction. The weight member also defines an elongate positioning slot and the positioning arm includes an axially extending portion disposed through the positioning slot for slidable movement within the positioning slot during rotation of the positioning member relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Compaction America, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6221121
    Abstract: A filter chamber (8) for the vacuum system of a textile machine (1) comprises connection conduits (14, 15) between a vacuum source (7) and a suction conduit (9) running the length of the machine. A filter 10 is arranged inside the filter chamber (8) at an interval from the wall (13) of the filter chamber to divide the filter chamber (8) into a dirty-air area (18) and a clean-air area (17). The filter element (10) comprises at least two filter elements, a relief element (11) and a collector element (12). The relief element (11) is disposed in the filter chamber (8) at a spacing from the wall (13) of the filter chamber such that a primary component of the flow (16) of suction air from the conduit (14) to the conduit (15) for the vacuum source (7) moves parallel to or at an acute angle (I) to the relief element (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Detlef Schelter, Michael Spitzer
  • Patent number: 6214072
    Abstract: A filter comprising (i) a filter bag formed of a filter medium comprising glass fibers, the fibers being fixed to one another at crossover points by a ceramic binder coating, and (ii) a transversely adjustable support member to which the filter medium is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Menardi Mikropul, LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Käppeler, Wolfgang Peukert, Mike Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6209304
    Abstract: A device for producing spun yarn by means of an airflow acting in the area between a sliver guide and a spindle (13) on fibers of a non-twisted sliver (10) drafted and delivered by a drafting arrangement in order to twist the fibers. Thereafter, the sliver (10) is passed through the spindle (13). Outside of an imaginary center line (9) of the traveling sliver (10), the sliver guide is arranged such that the fibers are passed along the inward lying surface of the sliver guide. The sliver guide comprises fiber guide elements (16) spaced apart from each other, which permit the free passage of a core fiber bundle. An improved spinning process, along with high productivity and increased yarn strength is possible by means of the device of the invention. The spinning device can be manufactured and operated cost-effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Helmut Feuerlohn, Liberto Coll-Tortosa, Frances Roig Munill, Thomas Weide, Jose Antonio Tomero-Garcia, Oliver Schulze
  • Patent number: 6189692
    Abstract: A protective furniture shipment and storage bag is formed as an envelope comprised of inner and outer transparent film layers with protective cushioning foam elements sandwiched therebetween at opposite ends of the envelope to define a furniture viewing window longitudinally between the foam elements. Such bags are fabricated by sandwiching foam elements in spaced relation between two essentially coextensive transparent film layers, folding the sandwiched components along the longitudinal fold line, and heat sealing or otherwise attaching the folded film layers and foam elements at the opposite ends to form the aforedescribed envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Robert L. Campbell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6175408
    Abstract: An apparatus detects foreign substances in strand-like textile material, such as slivers or yarn, using a white-light LED. The color detection is effected over more than two color support points whereby the detection of foreign substances in the textile material is improved. The apparatus is preferably operated in combination with a yarn cleaner in spinning or bobbin winding machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Herbert Henze, Olav Birlem
  • Patent number: 6168409
    Abstract: Apparatus for making two component fibers or continuous filaments which includes a pre-die plate having first openings through which a component flows to aligned second openings in a die juxtaposed the pre-die plate, and a flexible tube member extending from the first openings into the second openings to accommodate any misalignment of the first openings relative to the second openings without adversely affecting the flow of the two fiber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Rosaldo Fare
  • Patent number: 6164774
    Abstract: A combination eyeglass frame and attachment frame which includes two pairs of magnets, one pair being mounted on the inside surface of the temples of the eyeglass frame and the other pair being mounted at the ends of the attachment frame. The attachment frame is provided with a bridge member and wire members which mechanically support and hold the attachment frame magnets in place, and the attachment frame bridge member and wire members are positioned relative to the attachment frame magnets to engage the bridge member and upper edge portion of the eyeglass frame, respectively, when the attachment frame is mounted in place on the eyeglass frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: United Syntek Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan M. Cate
  • Patent number: 6148464
    Abstract: An inexpensive, portable golf ball cleaning device which provides a readily accessible means for cleaning a golf ball at any time and at any point on the golf course. The golf ball cleaning device includes a ball cleaning pad removably attachable to a golfer at a position which is readily accessible and convenient for wiping a golf ball on the pad yet does not interfere with the golfer's swing. In the preferred embodiments, the golf ball cleaning pad is a water absorbent material retained at a lightweight, waterproof backing which extends outwardly and upwardly to form a curved bottom portion or storage space at the bottom end of the backing. In the second preferred embodiment, the backing includes side walls extending from the bottom portion to the top of the backing. In the third preferred embodiment, the backing includes side walls having a lip or front wall for removeably retaining the water absorbent material at the backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Shioda
  • Patent number: 6059701
    Abstract: An apparatus for exercising the lower back muscles of a user includes a frame, an arrangement mounted to the frame for resisting forward movement of the user's hips while maintaining the user's gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles in a relatively relaxed condition, a lever assembly mounted to the frame in a disposition for engagement by the upper back of a user for backward and forward user induced movement of the lever assembly for exercise of the user's lower back muscles and a resistance assembly operatively connected to the lever assembly for resisting the user induced exercise movement with a predetermined resistive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Cline Children Class Trust
    Inventors: Gerald Stephen George, Michael Millard Luquette
  • Patent number: 6058936
    Abstract: A roll of sheet material is disclosed for use in medical and/or athletic wrapping of a body part. The roll includes a hollow, cylindrical, core with a sheet of plastic film wound thereupon. The axial dimensions of the core and film are limited so that the core and the film can be supported in an open hand between the thumb and the middle and ring fingers, and between the index finger and the little finger. The method of wrapping the body part includes wrapping the film from the core around the body part by moving the roll from a first location to a second location with one hand, transferring the roll from that hand to the second hand such that the second hand engages the roll between the thumb and the middle finger at opposite axial ends, continuing wrapping the body part by moving the second hand with the roll partially around the body part back to the first location, at which point the roll is transferred to the first hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: John Nick Miller
  • Patent number: D436258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: Charles Donaldson
  • Patent number: D442883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Finch Fabricating & Plating, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Finch
  • Patent number: D443530
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Leslie G. Mann