Patents Represented by Attorney Kenneth J. Hovet
  • Patent number: 6235656
    Abstract: A cluster tool includes a block which is formed with an inner high vacuum chamber, at least two loadlock chambers that are in fluid communication with the high vacuum chamber, and at least two slot valves for selectively isolating each loadlock chamber from the high vacuum chamber. The cluster tool also includes a high vacuum pump that is connected to the high vacuum chamber and a water pump comprising a refrigeration unit and a cryoplate. The cryoplate is cooled by the refrigeration unit and projects into the high vacuum chamber between the loadlock chambers. Selective operation of the slot valves allows a single water pump to serve a plurality of loadlock chambers. Each loadlock chamber includes a refrigerated platen that projects into the loadlock chamber, a heat lamp assembly that radiates into the loadlock chamber, and a tray for holding the wafer therein. The platen has a cooling system for selectively cooling the wafer, and selective radiation of the heat lamp assembly degasses the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Andrew Peter Clarke
  • Patent number: 6223446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a small, simple and easy-to-use elevation checking and measuring device that can also be used to measure points to the same level as a known point. The invention comprises a primary housing and secondary casing which contain tape measuring blades. The primary housing has opposing sidewalls each of which may include a vertical slot. The slots are designed to mate with projections extending from the secondary casing. The slots and projections provide alternative angular orientations of the housing and casing when connected together. The primary housing contains level indicators to determine when it is held level. It also includes a light source that illuminates a target at the end of the primary housing blade. Maintaining the beam on the target while using the level indicators to achieve a horizontal orientation of the primary assembly, thereby permits a user to make quick and accurate grade or height measurements with the tape measure blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Mark A. Potter
  • Patent number: 6182938
    Abstract: A housing is provided which attaches to a wall and includes mechanisms for releasable attachment to a wall hanging such as a calendar. The housing may have a decorative facade and includes a depressible button which operates through a spring biased J-shaped rod or flexible strips to move a clasp member out of an elongated slot in the bottom of the housing. The slot accommodates an edge portion of a wall hanging. Securement occurs when the button is released and the spring bias or inherent flexibility of the strip member frictionally engage the wall hanging edge. Alternatively, the wall hanging edge may include an engagement aperture. In such case, the clasp member will pass through the aperture and suspend the wall hanging in the housing slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Guy B. Wright
  • Patent number: 6113940
    Abstract: A transdermal structure is provided for delivering cannabis chemical(s) to one's bloodstream. The structure comprises a backing layer which carries the cannabis chemical(s). The chemicals are contained in a film on the backing layer or within a cavity formed in the backing layer. Alternatively, an opening in a secondary layer that overlies the backing layer may be used to create the cavity. The structure is applied to one's skin so that the cannabis chemicals are in contact with the skin. A polymer material which is mixed with the cannabis and placed in the cavity or a membrane over the cavity may be used to control the flow of cannabis chemical(s) into the bloodstream. In an alternative embodiment, a porous material impregnated with cannabis chemical(s) may be used to hold the chemical(s) in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Brooke, Cal C. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 6102725
    Abstract: A battery housing electrical connector assembly that utilizes a pair of plates with these plates to be lockingly connected together in an interlocked position. The locking together is achieved through the use of a pair of plug type electrical connectors each of which matingly connects with an opening. A connecting arrangement between the two plates is achieved by one plate being moved in a lineal direction with the other plate. There being at least one auxiliary electrical connector in the form of a protruding pin connected between the first plate and the second plate. The plate that does not have the protruding pin has an electrical contact which is to be moved transversely to the lineal direction to be either in contact with the protruding pin to achieve an electrical connection or to be spaced from the protruding pin not achieving an electrical connection. The battery housing is to also include an illuminatable display panel upon which is to be imprinted informative indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: George N. Panagiotou
  • Patent number: 6101835
    Abstract: A water cooler is provided having a cabinet with water spigots and a door for accessing a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit includes a freezer compartment and may also include an icemaker. The cabinet interior contains a water reservoir which is supplied with water from a water bottle inverted in the top of the cabinet. Alternatively, the reservoir may be provided with an external source of water. In such case, an E-Coli sanitization module and a particulate water filter are provided. Cooling is effected with a compressor unit, condenser unit, an expansion valve and the refrigeration unit--all of which are interconnected with a closed loop coolant line. Predetermined segments of the coolant line are used to create freezing temperatures in the freezer compartment and non-freezing temperatures in a storage area, selected water lines and the reservoir. The condenser unit includes a condenser coil section which may be wrapped with ambient water for producing a supply of hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: OSO Technologies
    Inventors: Otto R. Butsch, Charles J. Helton, Otto R. Butsch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6070571
    Abstract: An outdoor portable grill is provided having a cooking assembly comprising a food support, a handle for the food support and a handle holder interconnecting the food support with the handle. A support assembly is also provided comprising a upstanding slider post extending from an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket is used to secure the post to an outdoor heat source fixture such as a campground grill or fire pit ring. The handle holder is provided with an engagement opening having multiple inner edges that engage corresponding surfaces on the slider post. The weight of the food support causes the edges to frictionally engage the post exterior. This action allows the food support to be locked into an infinite variety of vertical and radial positions. The handle is pivotally attached to the handle holder for enabling the handle to be rotated against the food support for compact storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: James H. Bradbury
  • Patent number: 6009584
    Abstract: A thin card-like housing that incorporates a retractable brush and other useful implements. The brush has a base with an outer edge from which bristles extend. The base includes a deflectable web portion having a rib extending through an actuation opening in the housing. Manual engagement of the rib is used to move the brush from an outwardly extended operative position to a retracted storage position within the housing. The web portion includes wedge parts that releasably engage detent structures inside the housing. The detent structures are positioned to correspond to the storage and operative positions of the brush. The housing interior also includes guide posts that extend through guide openings in the brush base to facilitate brush alignment and movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: 5946768
    Abstract: A workstation on wheels comprising a housing having a shelf dividing the housing interior into an upper and lower chamber. The shelf supports a vacuum unit that draws air from the lower chamber and exhausts it into the upper chamber. The lower chamber is provided with a vacuum outlet to which is connected an inelastic ductwork. The ductwork includes a nozzle for receiving air and solid materials from a floor surface. The air and solid materials flow through the ductwork and into a bag or bin in the lower chamber where the solid materials are accumulated. The ductwork is rotatable about the vacuum inlet and may be a one-piece L-shaped structure. Alternatively, it may be longitudinally adjustable by multiple interconnecting duct parts or by telescoping segments. The ductwork includes an housing duct to which is connected a valved flexible conduit for providing an auxiliary vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Michael D. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5933893
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tool housing is provided having an implement that is rotatably stowable in an individual housing opening. The opening includes a separate lock plate that engages the end surfaces of a pivot plate that extends from an inner end portion of the implement. The end surfaces are angularly oriented to permit the lock plate to not only secure the implement in a storage mode, but also secure the implement in predetermined angular orientations for convenience of use. A spring biased plunger, flexible bands and spring members operate between the housing and implement to automatically move a portion of the implement out of the housing opening to a predetermined access orientation. Thereafter, a user may readily grasp the implement and rotate it to the desired use position. When scissors are being used with a flex strip between the scissors handles, a bumper part coacts with the lock plate to hold the handles together for storage against the flexural bias of the flex strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: 5927548
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing an alcohol-glycerine disinfecting gel or liquid for use by doctors and nurses. The dispenser consists of a main housing which mounts a pumping mechanism for pumping out an alcohol-glycerine disinfecting gel from a replaceable, disposable supply-cartridge releasably mounted in the main housing. Since the main housing is small enough to fit within a person's hand, the doctor or nurse may dispense the contents of an alcohol-glycerine disinfecting gel simply by squeezing the two parts together. The dispensing of the gel is applied directly onto the fingers of the same hand that has squeezed the main housing to have caused such dispensing to occur. Owing to the small size of the main housing, the dispenser of the invention may be worn on-the-person, such as by the waist-belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: James Villaveces
  • Patent number: 5927580
    Abstract: A quick release connector system is provided for interconnecting a frequently used portable accessory item with a support body. The system utilizes a clasp having a back wall spaced apart from a stationary wall. The stationary wall includes an enlarged opening from which extends a slot. A deflectable wall overlies the enlarged opening. A connector part forms the quick release connection with the clasp. It is attached to the portable accessory item via a post with an enlarged head. The post has a diameter less than the width of the slot and the head has a diameter greater than the width of the slot, but less than the enlarged opening. When the deflectable wall is flexed away from the enlarged opening, the head of the connector part will pass through the opening and slide behind the slot as the post is moved into the slot. The enlarged head behind the slot will prevent axial disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Terence P. Ward-Llewellyn
  • Patent number: 5909959
    Abstract: A compact assembly for mixing two or more fluids comprising a housing having interior serpentine flow channels. The channels are defined by alternating upward and downward extending partitions. The tip end of each partition is offset from respective interior surfaces of the housing top and bottom walls. Each offset defines a curved passage which interconnects the channels and forms a continuous zigzag flow path through the housing. Fitted within the channels are preformed static mixing units to provide additional mixing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Horst Gerich
  • Patent number: 5893631
    Abstract: A compact flashlight is provided having a base with an interior recess for permitting reciprocable movement of a disk battery. The base includes a bulb having a first lead that extends along the bottom of the interior recess. A second diverging lead extends from the bulb to an area along an upper side of the recess. The battery overlies the first lead so that electrical contact is made with the bottom portion of the battery. A carrier overlies the battery and includes a boss portion extending into an opening of a cover that encloses the base. Forward thumb pressure on the boss portion moves the battery from a bulb-off to a bulb-on position when the battery comes into electrical contact with the second diverging lead. This results in illumination of the bulb. The carrier is provided with resilient members extending outwardly from the back end of the carrier. The resilient members engage a corresponding detent in the housing and maintain the battery in an off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: D443520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Joico Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paula M. Patricola
  • Patent number: D443604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: David R. Levine
  • Patent number: D407977
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Joico Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Farris
  • Patent number: D409832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: D413985
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventors: Floyd E. Martin, Michael O. Lucero
  • Patent number: D434624
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden