Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Klaas Law O'Meara & Malkin
  • Patent number: 6393995
    Abstract: An aerial ropeway wherein oppositely located first and second sheave trains are supported on a crossarm wherein first and second sheave train supporting apparatus are pivotally mounted at fixed spaced apart locations on the crossarm and the first and second sheave train supporting apparatus are each pivotally connected to an elongated member extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Poma of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Mugnier
  • Patent number: 6391387
    Abstract: A sealant dispensing system is disclosed which is capable of applying sealant material to irregularly shaped, i.e., non-circular, closure members. To accomplish this, the closure member is loaded onto a rotary chuck in a conventional manner. The sealant applying gun, however, is moveable relative to the end. In this manner, through a combination of rotation of the closure member and movement of the gun, the gun is able to follow the outline of a closure member of any shape. In order to allow non-circular closure members to be loaded onto a chuck, the chuck must first be stopped. After the closure member is loaded, chuck rotation is then initiated. In order to allow this selective chuck rotation, the chuck may be attached to a servo motor. An electromagnet may be located in proximity to each chuck of the sealant dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Preferred Machining Corporation
    Inventors: Clinton W. Rutledge, Tracy J. Fowler
  • Patent number: 6386438
    Abstract: A carton blank having an outer layer of a relatively rigid material, a first inner layer of a relatively rigid material superposed over a portion of the outer layer and a second inner layer of a relatively flexible layer of a fluid impervious material is provided with first and second weakened portions so that, after a carton has been formed from the carton blank, filled with a desired material and sealed, the first weakened portion may be broken to form a flip top lid which when moved in an arcuate path will gradually sever the second weakened portion to form an opening in the carton so that an amount of the desired material may be removed from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Walsh, Robert L. Conatser, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Patent number: 6378571
    Abstract: A system for strengthening containers in a high-speed filling operation is disclosed. The system includes a supply tank having an intake line connected to a source of liquefied gas. A solenoid-driven injector apparatus positioned at an angle to the containers is connected via another intake line to the supply tank. A back pressure regulator controls the pressure within the supply tank and the injector apparatus. A liquid level control valve within the supply tank prevents liquefied gas from entering the back pressure regulator. Upon sensing the presence of a container, a sensor actuates a solenoid which opens an injector valve, allowing liquefied gas within a chamber to forcibly flow through an outflow line into the container. The solenoid is then deactivated, closing the injector valve and blocking the liquefied gas within the chamber from entering the outflow line. The injector apparatus also includes a heater positioned adjacent to the outflow line and an adjustment device for the injector valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Schultz, Christopher S. Derks, Elizabeth J. McTeer
  • Patent number: 6364137
    Abstract: A portable display rack having a tubular steel frame, a plurality of shelves, and at least one pair of baskets removably attached to the left and right sides of the frame. The display rack has a left side display area and a right side display area which extend substantially from the basket on each side to almost the bottom of the frame. Each display area is adapted to retain a plurality of signs and to display one of the signs. Each of the signs may advertise a specific brand of a manufacturer's product. A first sign holder adapted to display a first upper sign is removably attached to the upper end of the frame. The display rack may further include a second sign holder removably attached to the first sign holder which is adapted to display a second upper sign therein. The display rack may further include shelf strips, lockable casters, and a kick-plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Ted W. Glauth, Randall D. Guenther
  • Patent number: 6363787
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness of a coating adhered to a substrate. An electromagnetic acoustic transducer is used to induce surface waves into the coating. The surface waves have a selected frequency and a fixed wavelength. Interpolation is used to determine the frequency of surface waves that propagate through the coating with the least attenuation. The phase velocity of the surface waves having this frequency is then calculated. The phase velocity is compared to known phase velocity/thickness tables to determine the thickness of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho LLC
    Inventors: Nancy M. Carlson, John A. Johnson, David M. Tow, John B Walter
  • Patent number: 6360794
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a fluid into a container has a carriage movably associated with a holding mechanism along an axis. A piston is attached to the carriage and a cylinder is slidably attached to the piston along the axis. The cylinder has a hole formed therein that extends along the axis. A needle extending along the axis is attached to the piston and passes through the cylinder hole. The needle has a first operative position relative to the piston when the needle is retracted within the cylinder and a second operative position relative to the piston when the needle extends from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventor: Terry D. Turner
  • Patent number: 6352096
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a laminate comprising a relatively rigid material having an inner surface with at least one portion thereof comprising a central body portion and wherein the central body portion of a relatively flexible material, preferably fluid impervious, is secured to the central body portion of the relatively rigid material and the relatively flexible material has opposite edge portions not secured to other portions of the inner surface and to carton blanks formed therefrom. In some instances strips of another relatively flexible material are secured to the opposite edge portions but are not secured to the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6332488
    Abstract: Apparatus having laminating rolls for laminating continuous strips of different kinds of material together wherein all of the continuous strips enter the nip between the laminating rolls from one side of a plane tangent to each of the laminating rolls at the nip. Also, apparatus having rotary cutting and creasing rolls located before the laminating rolls form most of the cut lines for the carton blank without changing the continuity of a continuous strip of a relatively rigid material so that it can be pulled through the laminating rolls. In those instances wherein two carton blanks are formed at the same time, scrap removal apparatus is provided for removing scrap located between the two carton blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6325255
    Abstract: In a fluid flow restrictor, the amount of fluid flow restriction increases in response to higher dispensing system pressures and decreases in response to lower dispensing system pressures. In this manner, a relatively consistent flow rate of fluid being dispensed can be maintained regardless of fluctuations in system pressure. Variable resistance is provided by changing the length of the fluid flow path or by changing the cross-sectional area, and, thus, the volume of the fluid flow path, or by changing both the length and the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Quoin Industrial, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lane, James R. Gemmell
  • Patent number: 6305265
    Abstract: Pump apparatus according to the present invention may comprise a pump body having a bore therein and a piston mounted within the bore so that the piston may be reciprocated within the bore between first and second positions. A sleeve seal assembly mounted to the pump body contacts the piston as the piston moves between the first and second positions. A piston seal assembly mounted to the piston contacts the bore in the pump body and is located on the piston so that the piston seal assembly does not contact the sleeve seal assembly as the piston is reciprocated between the first and second positions within the bore of the pump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho LLC
    Inventors: Dennis N. Bingham, Russell L. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6298549
    Abstract: A device having two elongated members pivotally connected at one end portions thereof and locked together at the other end portions thereof so that at least portions of at least two relatively rigid articles are enclosed therein and apparatus and method for moving the device from an opened position to a closed position forming an enclosure to contain the portions of the at least two relatively rigid articles. In a preferred embodiment, the two relatively rigid articles comprise radiant heating tubing and a wire mesh supported on a bed of particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Peter G. Mangone, Jr.
  • Patent number: D449785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Craig Guthrie, Ray A. Toms, Patrick B. Edson
  • Patent number: D450243
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Ray A. Toms, Marilyn Quinn, Patrick B. Edson, Laura L. Sankey, Joseph R. Haake
  • Patent number: D450589
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Haake, Patrick B. Edson, Steph H. Goss
  • Patent number: D451024
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Ted W. Glauth, Randall D. Guenther
  • Patent number: D454503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Linwood Riddick, III, Diane Erdahl, Karl Reisig, Kathleen Eagleton, Ray Alan Toms, Patrick B. Edson
  • Patent number: D455961
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Patrick B. Edson, Ambryn Headley, Joseph R. Haake, Frank L. Shriver
  • Patent number: D456706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Terrance E. Rhodes, Joseph R. Haake, Ray A. Toms, Michael C. Cruz
  • Patent number: D463289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Haake, Patrick B. Edson, Steph H. Goss