Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lisa D. Velez
  • Patent number: 6763947
    Abstract: An improved flotation separation apparatus for separating and classifying diverse, liquid-suspended solids having a plurality of high volume air bubble infusers. Each infuser includes a circular cavity defined by an interior circumferential wall. A plurality of stationary impinging plates projecting from the interior circumferential wall into the circular cavity and equally spaced circumferentially in series therealong. An injecting stream of water and air impinges upon the impinging plates in series to repeatedly create, divide and subdivide air bubbles as the injection stream transverses the series of impinging plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: George C. Brooks
  • Patent number: 6748873
    Abstract: A multi-configurable portable desk or table companion that is adjustable to permit it to be folded for transport and configured to one of a desk state, podium state, easel state, music stand or artist table state. The desk companion can be used also to support a laptop. The multi-configurable portable desk companion includes two arm members angularly adjustable via a lever-operated adjustment clamp and a multi-positionable desktop surface angularly adjusted by a lever-operated adjustment clamp. The two arm members are coupled to a collapsible tripod leg assembly to vary the height of the multi-positionable desktop surface. Furthermore, the multi-configurable portable desk or table companion is adapted to be used as a table tray, night stand, or other furniture for use in the home or office.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Dolhman Brown, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6748889
    Abstract: A pressure foot assembly for minimizing puckering or bunching of quilt or fabric when being sewn or during other contour sewing. The assembly includes a non-rotating or non-walking pressure foot that has a laterally displaced inner foot from the inner feed dog of the machine. The assembly may include a rotating or “walking” pressure foot recessed under the base and outer pressure foot. The assembly includes a cloth guide to laterally limit the movement of the fabric in the direction of the inner foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventors: John D. Martelli, Sandra F. Chandler
  • Patent number: 6746178
    Abstract: A sewage drain receptacle for underground sewage systems for campgrounds or RV parks that includes a hose resting seat coupled to the top orifice of a drain line and a sewage cap for closing the top orifice. The hose resting seat extends along a portion of the length of the drain line and serves to cradle a bottom of a sewage hose so that it is prevented from being lodged into the sewage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald M. Hensley, Jerry C. Hensley
  • Patent number: 6745711
    Abstract: A pressure foot for minimizing puckering or bunching of biasing fabric and a cloth item, garment or quilt when being sewn or finished. The pressure foot includes a laterally displaced inner foot displaced from the inner feed dog of the sewing machine and a bias guide between the inner and outer feet. The pressure foot is adapted to be used alone or in combination with a bias binder sewing aid that automatically folds the biasing fabric. The pressure foot and bias binder sewing aid form a kit for sewing biasing fabric to an unfinished edge of a cloth item, garment, quilt or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: John D. Martelli
  • Patent number: 6712969
    Abstract: A method of phosphorous reduction in stormwater runoff using iron humate, such as in the form of a filter, a layered filter bed, a stacked wall or a liner. The stormwater (fluid) runoff is sent to a fluid retention area such as a retention pond, wetland reservoir or the like where the runoff is filtered through iron humate. While the runoff is filtered, the iron humate absorbs or chemically retains the phosphorous in the runoff to produce filtered runoff with a reduced level of phosphorous. In an alternate embodiment, the runoff can be pumped from a retention pond into a iron humate filter where the runoff is filtered. In another alternate embodiment, the iron humate filter may be placed in a trench below ground to intercept and filter groundwater flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Larry Madrid
  • Patent number: 6681793
    Abstract: A top-entry ball valve assembly that includes top and bottom camming plates which are coupled to top and bottom shoulders of the ball valve member. The camming plates include a first pair of opposing camming corner-surfaces to displace the spring-biased valve seat from the perimeter of the ball valve member when it is rotated between open and closed positions. The plates further include a second pair of opposing camming corner-surfaces to fully retract the spring-biased valve seat when being serviced so that the retraction tool can be inserted to hold the seats in place with little or no damage to the forward end of the seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Jeff Mike
  • Patent number: 6653790
    Abstract: A gas lamp system and method for lighting the system which utilizes a sparkless flame starter in close proximity to the torch to create a flame. The system further includes a safety control circuit which activates the sparkless flame starter and subsequently actives a gas valve to deliver the gas to the torch after the sparkless flame starter has been energized. The sparkless flame starter is a low-voltage device such as a glow coil which is also arcless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Marty Willamor, Joseph E. Jefferson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6638393
    Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus for the manufacture improved structural panel with synthetic ingredients, such as vermiculite and fibers. The improved structural panel achieves enhanced lateral and surface integrity by the use of fibers within the core of the structural panel and adhesives and smooth materials (such as foil) as a surface coating. The apparatus is particularly suited for manufacture of the structural panel at low cost and high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Enviro-Ply International, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Lehan
  • Patent number: 6638005
    Abstract: A coaxial wind turbine apparatus which includes a pair of rearward-mounted, spring-loaded fins to orient the air inlet opening to face the direction of the oncoming wind and close a damper panel or shutter array at the air inlet opening during very high wind conditions. Thereby, the pair of rearward-mounted, spring-loaded fins stabilizes the apparatus during strong ambient wind conditions and minimizes damage to the rotating turbine wheel in the presence of a strong wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Holter, Eric G. Holter
  • Patent number: 6626449
    Abstract: A double-castered wheel trailer having a pair of lockable caster wheels. The lockable caster wheels are adapted to be locked for a trailing mode of operation and a backing mode of operation. The double-castered wheel trailer further includes a multi-planar adapting hitch-to-trailer coupler. The multi-planar adapting hitch-to-trailer includes a horizontal pivot member adapted to be secured to a pair of hitch balls and pivot in a horizontal plane about the towing vehicle. Further included is a vertical swivel member coupled to the horizontal pivot member and the trailer frame to independently rotate the trailer frame about said horizontal pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Donald B. Hazen
  • Patent number: 6619521
    Abstract: An umbrella supporting apparatus comprising a harness having shoulder straps, a waistband and a back-mounted umbrella support assembly which allows the canopy of the umbrella to be adjusted in two different planes. The back-mounted umbrella support assembly includes a support plate mounted to the waistband and has a plurality of spaced key holes defining a first set of vertically displace positions or angles. The assembly also includes a rotatable support bracket rotatably mounted to the support plate and a hollow rod coupled to the rotatable support bracket for supporting a shaft or pole of an umbrella. A locking lever is resiliently coupled to the rotatably support bracket. In operation, the rotatable support bracket is adapted to be rotated left or right and locked or secured to one of the spaced key holes via the locking lever to vertically offset the hollow rod from vertically upright or align the hollow rod vertically upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Ronnie Hadley
  • Patent number: 6595398
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted wheelchair rack assembly with lifting capabilities for transporting a folded wheelchair at the rear of a vehicle. The rack assembly integrates a jack assembly into a stationary L-shaped frame coupled to the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the jack assembly is coupled to a telescopic T-joint member wherein actuation of the jack assembly moves a vertical casing of the T-joint member along a vertical strut member of the L-shaped frame. The vertical strut member has a longitudinal opening or channel which has a length that defines a continuous range for lifting or elevating or, alternately, lowering the T-joint member and a folded wheelchair strapped to the T-joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Succession of Edmond E. Himel, Jr.
    Inventor: Edmond E. Himel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6582002
    Abstract: A golf cart dashboard for use with a golf cart which integrates into the center of a dashboard faceplate a waste receptacle assembly for storing trash or refuse. The waste receptacle assembly has integrated therewith a beverage holder rack. The waste receptacle assembly include a removable receptacle housing and a rotatable waste receptacle which rotates to and from a closed position and an open position about the receptacle housing. The dashboard may further include driver's side and passenger's side dashboard compartments or glove boxes and designated areas for storing golf balls and tees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hogan, Raymond L. Moats
  • Patent number: 6576829
    Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument which includes a housing suspended from the bottom end of the barrel which houses the percussive impact sensor. The percussive impact sensor includes transducer. The arrangement of the percussive impact sensor and the housing maximizes the distance of the transducer from the percussion head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Hart
  • Patent number: 6547560
    Abstract: An orthodontic bite jumping device for use in the treatment of malocclusion or overbite, having a telescoping limiting assembly to prevent an inner cylindrical member from being completely pulled-out of an outer tube as a patient opens their mouth very wide. The outer tube is adapted to be mounted to an upper jaw or maxilla and the inner cylindrical member is concentrically disposed in the outer tube and adapted to be mounted to a lower jaw or mandible. The telescoping limiting assembly limits the distance the inner cylindrical member can slide out of the outer tube via a pair of notches and an L-shaped resilient lever arm. The first notch is formed in close proximity to a free end of the outer tube. The second notch is formed in close proximity to a free end of the inner cylindrical member and has a rear blocking surface and a forward descending slope or ramped surface to a bottom of the rear blocking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Juan F. Vazquez
  • Patent number: 6546844
    Abstract: A tortilla warming appliance for warming one or more tortillas in a manner similar to a toaster. The tortilla warming appliance comprises a collapsible tortilla cage for each tortilla and a push-down, pop-up, arc-shaped cradle assembly slidably coupled in a respective tortilla cage. The cradle assembly has a concave center section, which defines an arc that approximates a curved perimeter edge of the tortilla. Furthermore, the width of the front and back tortilla cage wall is greater than the diameter of a commercially available tortilla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Alberto Trevino
  • Patent number: 6538623
    Abstract: A wearable and mobile multi-media data collection tool kit for creating an electronic investigation record. The wearable and mobile multi-media data collection tool kit includes an electronic multi-media “Case” file for processing a plurality of multi-media data collection input streams of multi-media investigation information into an electronic case file record, a man-to-machine visual interface or display integrated with the electronic multi-media case file for visually conveying the contents of the input streams of the multi-media investigation information. The took kit further includes a plurality of multi-media data collection tools for inputting the plurality of multi-media data collection input streams of the multi-media investigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Pirooz Parnian, Franklin Dee Martin, William E. Conrad, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6530170
    Abstract: A secure fishing pole and reel locking assembly comprising a pole holder rack and a reel cover which is adapted to be mounted to a wall and locked. When the reel cover is locked, the reel cover locks the fishing poles in the pole holder rack and covers the reels. The reel cover is adapted to be locked via a pad lock or other locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: James D. Sweeney
  • Patent number: D487851
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Robert J. Ramoski