Patents Represented by Law Firm Litman, McMahon and Brown
  • Patent number: 5749628
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable chair arm with a rotatable armrest includes an armrest support member extending upwardly from a chair seat and an armrest housing telescoped onto the support member. An armrest pad member is pivotally connected to a top end of the housing. A manually operated ratchet mechanism is engaged between the housing and the support member to releasably retain the housing in a selected vertical position on the support member. A spring ball detent mechanism is engaged between the armrest pad member and the housing and releasably retains the pad member in a selected pivotal position relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Fixtures Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bobbie L. Synder, C. Thomas Bradley, Paul W. Horner
  • Patent number: 5749075
    Abstract: A method for providing prepaid Internet Access and/or long distance including the distribution of specialized calling cards, each with a unique PIN number associated therewith. Each card entitles a recipient to limited access to the Internet, free or low cost Internet access software, and/or time limited long distance calls. The cards can be a sponsor promotion in which the card holder is automatically hot-linked into the sponsor's Internet home page where he or she is given a "guided tour". An "Enhanced Entry Server" (EES), verifies the PIN number, provides the Internet and/or long distance access and times the sponsor paid Internet access or calling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Interactive Media Works, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Adrian Toader, Jose Valdez
  • Patent number: 5743524
    Abstract: A seal card game is provided which includes a set of individual play cards each having symbol combinations printed thereon and concealed under break-open windows. A plurality of the individual playing cards include symbol combinations which qualify their holders for advanced level play. The seal card includes a break-open window which conceals the identity of a seal winner, who is then entitled to play a next level. A plurality of advanced play levels are provided on the seal card and each level includes a plurality of windows. Each level includes a symbol which enables the previous player to proceed and other symbol combinations which identify other players who are entitled to play at the next level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventor: Charles A. Nannicola
  • Patent number: 5741029
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for fluidically interconnecting first and second piping runs and includes a body with first and second end sections each forming a respective receiver for receiving a piping run end. A body transition section is provided for interconnecting the first and second sections. A retainer assembly includes a retainer strap which can mount annular clamps on one or both of its ends for attaching the piping runs to the adapter. The body sections include notches or crimps which facilitate effective connections between the piping ends and the body sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5740952
    Abstract: Binoculars having a neck strap and a pair of connectors removeably connecting opposite ends of the neck strap to a body of the binoculars. Each connector including a male member and a female member with associated structural members permitting each male member to be used with only one female member. Each male member being fixedly joined to opposite ends of said strap. Each of said connectors being low profile when the members are joined and appearing to be an integrated and structural part of the binoculars body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Bushnell Corporation
    Inventor: Claus O. Huckenbeck
  • Patent number: 5735213
    Abstract: A printing press programmable logic conversion apparatus and method involves the replacement of a series of OEM relay logic printed circuit boards with a single programmable logic controller or PLC. The PLC is connected into a rack which includes a plurality of male edge connectors attached together and spaced apart to replace the OEM PC boards. The PLC is preprogrammed to emulate the replaced OEM PC boards such that, by removing the OEM PC boards and simply plugging in the PLC rack in their place, an older press can be converted to PLC control within a matter of minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Bryan L. Bury
  • Patent number: 5736631
    Abstract: A system for impact analysis of soil surfaces includes a Clegg impact hammer, an accelerometer mounted on the hammer, an analog to digital converter to digitize the deceleration signal of the accelerometer, and a computer to store the digitized curve samples and to calculate selected impact parameters from the curve samples. The apparatus includes a notebook computer and additional components all of which are portable to enable storage of a great number of curve samples and calculation of the impact parameters for a large number of test points in the field immediately after each hammer drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Turf Diagnostics & Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Dixon, Stephen B. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5733612
    Abstract: An artificial flower arrangement kit including a flower matching template with separate, full scale pictorial representations of the flowers to be utilized in the kit and a matching numeral associated with each pictorial representation wherein the matching numeral corresponds to a placement numeral associated with a placement marking on a placement template. The placement template is sized for placement on an upper surface of a foam block into which the flowers are to be inserted through the placement template. The pictorial representations are preferably arranged on the matching template in ascending order corresponding with the order in which the flowers are to be inserted into the mounting block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Richard Michael Garry
  • Patent number: 5733094
    Abstract: A cart for storing and transporting granular material comprises a storage bin having sidewalls which converge inwardly and downwardly to a trough and a sump. The trough extends across a portion of the bottom of the storage bin and opens into the sump which extends at least partially below the trough. A drag auger is rotatably secured in the trough. An unloading auger assembly is secured to the storage bin and extends from the sump, upward along the front left corner of the bin and therebeyond. A lower portion of an auger of the auger assembly extends into the sump. Grain stored in the bin flows by gravity into the sump where it is advanced out of the bin by the unloading auger assembly. The drag auger may be independently engaged to advance grain to the sump which would not otherwise advance to the sump by gravity feed alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Dew Eze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Bergkamp, Richard Jacobs
  • Patent number: 5730291
    Abstract: A protective display for a card-type item with a backing card includes a base and a frame assembly. The base includes a field portion generally surrounding the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a panel and a plurality of rails extending forwardly therefrom and generally forming the boundary of a view area for receiving the display item. The rails form notches for receiving the backing card edges whereby the display item is retained on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Michael L. Smallwood
  • Patent number: 5730227
    Abstract: A hitching device for attachment to a three-point hitch of a tractor has a frame removably coupled to and extending between the draft links of the three-point hitch. The frame has a horizontal member adapted to allow attachment of an implement. The horizontal member is disposed at a location that is below the draft links and that is forward of the ends of the draft links so that the horizontal member is closer to the tractor than the ends of the draft links. An alternative embodiment of hitching device includes an elevated hitch ball on top thereof for accommodating a fifth wheel trailer hitch. A pair of tine receiving slots are positioned in the two lowermost corners of the alternative hitching device frame for receiving a respective pair of rearwardly extending fork lift tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: George A. Hund
  • Patent number: 5730652
    Abstract: An adjustable damper for controlling air flow from one area to another includes a rectangular frame forming an opening with a number of movable vanes positioned to selectively close off or open up the opening. Positioned between each pair of vanes in the frame is a stationary pitot-static sensing vane. Each pitot-static sensing vane can also be shaped as an air foil and includes an upstream chamber connected to a ram air input aperture and a downstream chamber connected to a downstream static aperture. Each of the chambers is connected to one portion of a pressure sensing instrument, such as, for example, a diaphragm type differential pressure sensor, in order to sense air flow velocity across the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Tomkins Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Van Becelaere
  • Patent number: 5730653
    Abstract: An adjustable damper for controlling air flow between portions of a building includes a plurality of vanes positioned in a frame opening, which vanes are selectively, simultaneously rotatable between open and closed positions. A reversible motor and an actuating linkage on one side of the damper drives a first vane axle about an axis, and a vane linkage on the opposite side, rotates the other vanes along with the first vane. The actuating linkage includes a shaft which is offset from the first vane axis, which shaft is turned by the motor between open and closed positions. A linkage arm pivotally connects the shaft and the vane axle and the linkage arm is bent at an angle such that, when the shaft is rotated to the closed position, the linkage arm is rotated to an over center position in which it securely latches the vanes in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Tomkins Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Van Becelaere
  • Patent number: 5729347
    Abstract: A wavelength measurement system is provided which allows the very accurate measurement of wavelengths in a relatively small predetermined range. A transmission ratio is formed consisting of the power of an optical signal which has passed through a thin-film interference filter divided by the power of a control signal. A table look up is performed in a stored transmission ratio wavelength table. The system is also used in a self stabilizing laser, and a spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Vincent So
  • Patent number: 5722844
    Abstract: A junction system is provided for an electrical cable and a capillary tube at a wellhead. The junction system includes a conduit subsystem, a head casing assembly and a plurality of connector assemblies located within the head casing assembly. The connector assemblies are mounted within the head casing assembly and each connects the conductors of a power cable device lead and a power cable source lead. The head casing assembly includes an insulator and an inert liquid for sealing and insulating the electrical connections therein. The head casing assembly is mounted exteriorally of the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Leo Bryce Schraeder
  • Patent number: 5722540
    Abstract: A can stacking method includes inserting a can stacker insert between each pair of cans in a stack. Each insert has a maximum side to side dimension which is slightly less than the diameter of the cans being stacked and a thickness which is preferably equal to or greater than the combined depth of the peripheral flanges surrounding the top and bottom ends of each can. Each insert, due to its combined thickness and diameter, serves to prevent the cans in the stack from shifting horizontally relative to each other, thus maintaining the can stack in vertical alignment. The inserts can be made in a variety of decorative shapes and styles and can also incorporate indicia such as advertising and inspirational or humorous messages, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: C&L Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda S. Laird, Larry E. Haney, Cynthia Huggins, Jesse A. Huggins
  • Patent number: 5722191
    Abstract: A craft hoop assembly for securing material on which a craft is to be performed comprises an inner hoop or ring having an outer surface and a split outer hoop or ring having an inner surface which is positionable in circumscribing alignment with the inner ring such that the inner surface of the outer ring generally abuts against the outer surface of the inner ring. A bead is integrally formed on either the inner surface of the outer ring or the outer surface of the inner ring. A corresponding groove is formed in the opposing surface of the inner or outer ring respectively. Projections, ridges or bumps are integrally formed on the inner surface of the outer ring or the outer surface of the inner ring or both to increase the gripping effect of the rings on fabric secured therebetween. The projections are preferably formed on said bead. The projections may be randomly arranged or arranged in specific patterns to enhance the gripping effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Elliott Morgan
  • Patent number: 5720751
    Abstract: A set of tools for use in seating a spinal rod in a rod receiving channel in a head of an open ended spinal surgery implant such as a bone screw, hook or transverse connector wherein each of the tools comprises an implant holder for grasping, holding or engaging an implant, and a pusher assembly including a pusher bar advanceable relative to the implant holder to drive, push or force a spinal rod into the rod receiving channel of an implant held by the implant holder. The implant holders are of various configurations to facilitate holding or grasping of different types of implants or to accommodate different situations relating to the location of the implant. The pusher assembly is adapted for interchangeable use with each of the various implant holders. The pusher assembly is threadingly secureable to each of the implant holders and includes a pusher bar having an elongate slot extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: Roger P. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5720502
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a preprinted chart, or, in the case of software, a programmed screen display, on which is displayed front and back silhouettes of a patient. Alongside the silhouettes are provided a number of series of icons which illustrate various patient conditions, such as burn, cut, bruise, etc. with each icon series color coded to indicate pain intensity. A 24 hour row and column pain intensity time chart is provided which is also pain intensity color coded. A veterinary version of the pain intensity chart is provided for animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: John R. Cain
  • Patent number: 5718379
    Abstract: A fountain having a submersible motor and a pump secured to a frame so as to have a relatively low profile such that the entire unit is submersible in a relatively shallow pool. The pump motor is supported at a front end to the frame and along with its shaft generally extends horizontally. The pump is secured to the frame generally in front of the motor. An impeller mounted in a first pump chamber draws water into the first pump chamber through an intake opening on a rear wall of the pump housing. The water is directed out a side of the first pump chamber, through a first pump chamber discharge passageway and back through a pump return passageway and into a second pump chamber. The water is then directed out of the pump housing through a discharge opening on a front wall thereof which is aligned with the intake opening. The water is then directed through a piping assembly which is secured to the front wall of the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Air-O-Lator Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas D. Cramer