Patents Represented by Law Firm Kokjer, Kircher, Bowman & Johnson
  • Patent number: 5647719
    Abstract: The present invention is a towing device for two-wheeled vehicles. An elongate channel member is positioned on, and is attached to, a wheel-lift extending from the rear of towing vehicle. The elongate channel member has first and second elongate portions, hingedly and releasibly attached to each other. The elongate channel member, for supporting a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, has components for attaching to the lift assembly. The controllable lift assembly of the towing vehicle may be lowered so that the towing device serves as a ramp upon which the motorcycle can be easily rolled. The lift assembly is lifted to place the towing device, with motorcycle thereon, in towing position. A plurality of straps and/or bands are utilized to hold the motorcycle in place on the channel members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Donald R. Bowlen
  • Patent number: 5645377
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating confined material such as buried waste or areas of contaminated earth by injecting a plurality of high velocity jets of treating fluid into the material over a limited depth in multiple direction from each of a plurality of injection holes. The high velocity jets remain stationary, but the arrangement of the jets emanating from an injection hole in multiple directions produces a result similar to a rotating jet but with increased penetrating force. The jets are operated sequentially over the limited depth of each injection hole to treat a layer of the material and are then moved and again operated sequentially over another limited depth of each injection hole to provide treatment of the material by layers. This allows effective treatment of material surrounding each injection hole without substantial interference from treating fluid flowing through the material from a previously treated hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Christensen Boyles Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kauschinger, Scott T. Evans
  • Patent number: 5643420
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating chemical production plant process condensate such that a contaminant-rich stream and a relatively pure aqueous stream is separately recoverable from the condensate, wherein the contaminants are substantially removed from the condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/rectification tower. The tower overhead is then condensed, and any non-condensed gases are subjected to water scrubbing to further recover contaminates from the non-condensed gas. A portion of the condensed overhead and scrubbing water containing contaminates is returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance being withdrawn as a concentrated stream for reuse in the plant. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with existing low pressure equipment, avoiding costly major modifications, and is particularly adapted to use in conjunction with ammonia and methanol plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Farmland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan D. Holiday
  • Patent number: 5636982
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for acoustically enhancing cooling of molten liquid. In one embodiment, a cement plant has a mill in which raw materials are mixed and ground into a powder, a kiln in which the powdered raw material undergoes a calcining process and is converted into a molten liquid known as clinker, a cooler for cooling and solidifying the clinker, and a finishing mill for grinding and mixing the clinker with gypsum and/or other raw materials. The clinker cooler has a transport mechanism for transporting clinker from an inlet end to an outlet end and a plurality of fans, located below the transport mechanism, for blowing air up through the transport mechanism and into the bottom surface of the clinker bed. The clinker cooler has one or more horns positioned on the roof of the cooler for emitting acoustic energy into the cooler. A controller controls activation of each horn independently, such that each horn may be operated continuously or intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Santschi, C. Thom Martin
  • Patent number: 5632791
    Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the couture of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The top sleeve comprises a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner grove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinout G. Oussoren, Jack T. Clements
  • Patent number: 5632674
    Abstract: A grain bin structure for storing, conditioning, and drying grain having a floor, side walls, and a roof. The side walls are formed with a plurality of horizontal and vertical corrugations formed integrally therein and within a common circumferential plane. The vertical corrugations function as stiffeners and as vertical air conduits to dispense pressurized air about the periphery of the bin. Optionally, conduit tubes may be located within the vertically disposed corrugations to further channel air flow. These conduits are formed with an inner wall substantially flush with the interior of the horizontal corrugation, thereby maintaining a low silhouette while maximizing a cross-sectional area within each conduit to avoid undue restriction of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: George E. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5630691
    Abstract: A rotary airlock valve is provided with a ring seal. The airlock includes a tapered tubular housing formed about a longitudinal axis. The housing includes inlet and outlet ports to receive and discharge the material. The housing further includes end plates at opposite ends thereof which rotatably support opposite ends of a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly rotates within the housing about the longitudinal axis. The rotor includes multiple vanes with shrouds on opposite ends thereof. Seal rings are mounted upon inner surfaces of the end plates and biased towards outer surfaces of the shrouds to maintain a sealed relation between the shrouds and end plates. An expandable biasing tube is mounted proximate the seal rings to bias each seal ring toward and against the shroud. Each biasing tube is hollow to receive a predetermined amount of pressurized air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: MAC Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Newbolt
  • Patent number: 5626320
    Abstract: An instrument mounting bracket for the control yoke of an aircraft. The mounting bracket includes a main body having a C-shaped configuration which is intended to receive the yoke. Mounted to the main body is a presser plate which acts in conjunction with the main body to grip the yoke therebetween. The main body also includes a pair of threaded attachment holes, with one hole being normal to the plane of the C-shape and the other being within such plane. Either hole may receive a threaded shaft having an enlarged section. An extension arm which includes a mount for the instrument is provided with a through hole for the threaded shaft. Passing the shaft through the extension arm and tightening it within one of the attachment holes secures the extension arm to the main body, and permits angular adjustment of the arm with respect to the body. The extension arm may thus be positioned such that the instrument mount is located in front of the yoke handles, readily accessible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Garmin Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Burrell, Christopher J. Hanshew
  • Patent number: 5617959
    Abstract: A shoe rack is provided that includes a pair of side frames configured in a substantially rectangular shape. Each side frame includes a plurality of V-shaped support members containing two intersecting support bars. Each support bar within a support member includes a recess at its base to receive one support rod and recesses at the opposite end of each support member to receive a second support bar. The second support bar is moved between the recess pair in upper support members to the recess pair in the lower support members depending upon the alignment of the shoe rack horizontally or vertically. Each side frame includes a plurality of support members to support a plurality of rod pairs for storing a large number of shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Lynk, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Klein, Chris Serslev
  • Patent number: 5611400
    Abstract: A method of plugging holes, in particular the plugging of drill holes in earth. The method consists of inserting an auger, having a bit at the lower end and a central rod about which is formed a helical land, into the drill hole and rotating the auger to cause material to be conveyed upward and out of the drill hole. As the auger is moved downward this will cause any plugs or debris within the hole to be removed. After the auger has been inserted to a sufficient depth the rotation of the auger is reversed, and bentonite or other plugging material is poured into the drill hole about the auger. The reversed rotation of the auger will cause the plugging material to be conveyed downward along the drill hole and compacted at the bottom. As the drill hole is filled with compacted plugging material the auger is slowly removed to form a consistent reliable plug of the plugging material. A second method utilizes a tubular capsule filled with coarse ground sodium bentonite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventors: Melvyn C. James, Maurice L. James
  • Patent number: 5611537
    Abstract: The invention relates to a board game based on wines and the wine regions of the world. The board game has a plurality of zones through which players move in accordance with the throw of a die or dice to gain assets in the wine industry; players with sufficient assets being enabled to proceed to a further zone. The winner is the player who first accumulates enough assets to purchase a special property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Rodney B. Burtt
  • Patent number: 5611170
    Abstract: A fishing tackle box has a built in light for use in night fishing. The tackle box has a main body, a hinged lid and three fold-out trays. The light is carried on the end of a flexible arm which allows the light to be adjusted to the desired position and orientation. The arm and light may be stored in a trough in the upper tray of the tackle box. In the storage position, the light aligns with an opening in the end of the lid so that when the tackle box is closed and is being carried, the light shines through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventors: John P. McGuff, William Bray
  • Patent number: 5611680
    Abstract: A spool assembly which provides for field adjustment of the column length in a pumping system such as that used in gasoline dispensing. The spool assembly is installed between a submersible electric pump and a discharge head. The spool assembly includes a head spool, a base spool and a column pipe which connects the head and base spools. The spools have electrical connectors which automatically make electrical connection to supply power to the submersible pump motor. A liquid flow path is provided through the spool assembly and is isolated from the electrical circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Marley Company
    Inventors: Dorsey D. Small, Diane E. Aitken
  • Patent number: 5603751
    Abstract: A gas filtration system which includes a primary separator for removing a majority of a particulate material from a gas stream. The primary separator discharges a filtered gas stream which retains a portion of the particulate material. The filtered gas stream from the primary separator is delivered to a secondary particulate source which introduces additional particulate material into the filtered gas stream to produce a conditioned gas stream containing primary and secondary particulate material. The output of the secondary particulate source is delivered to a secondary filter which removes the primary and secondary particulate material from the conditioned gas stream to output the resulting gas stream, substantially void of particulate material. The conditioned gas stream contains a minimum amount of particulate material necessary to achieve optimal efficiency and operating life within the secondary separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Mac Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross A. Ackerson
  • Patent number: 5600924
    Abstract: A structure is provided with base platform connectors which may be mounted on concrete pilings and which may join multiple floor rafters. Corner columns are connected to the top of certain platform connectors. The corner columns include vertical beams having a modified C-shaped cross-section to allow the sheeting to be attached directly thereto. Each corner column includes two vertical beams affixed back-to-back with spacers therebetween. A knife plate projects from the top of each column and is received within a lower end of a rafter. Hip and valley rafters include support beams having a modified open C-shaped cross-section. Each support beam receives purlins which provide a flat surface on the top and bottom sides thereof for receiving sheeting. Main frame rafters and wall columns are provided between the hip and valley rafters and are formed from support beams having a straight C-shaped cross-section to receive the purlins and exterior studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Gordon L. Forsberg
  • Patent number: D377728
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lynk, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Klein, Chris Serslev
  • Patent number: D378002
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Michael Hung
  • Patent number: D378136
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: George E. Miller, Jr.
  • Bed
    Patent number: D378963
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Cinna
    Inventor: Pascal Mourgue
  • Patent number: D379094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Diamant Boart, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Kingsley, Donald L. Rohrs