Patents Represented by Attorney Manfred M. Warren
  • Patent number: 4686927
    Abstract: A negatively buoyant tether cable management apparatus for use with a remotely-operated underwater vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cable climbing assembly, a depth sensor and a controller coupled to the climbing assembly and formed to actuate the climbing assembly to climb the tether cable when the cable management apparatus has been lowered to a predetermined depth. The climbing assembly includes a pair of powered, ribbed belts which are wrapped at least partially around the periphery of the tether cable at an acute angle to the cable. As the tether cable is lowered further, the climbing assembly climbs to maintain the depth and passes the tether cable out below or beyond the climbing assembly to enable maneuvering of the remotely-operated underwater vehicle with respect to the negatively buoyant cable management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Deep Ocean Engineering Incorporated
    Inventors: Graham S. Hawkes, David C. Jeffrey
  • Patent number: 4687218
    Abstract: For a wheelchair, an improved handrim assembly includes a wheelrim with circumferentially spaced-apart slots formed through the wheelrim and anchor tab members loosely mounted through the slots. The anchor tabs have enlarged heads on the outer side of the rim and narrower neck portions which extend radially inward of the wheelrim. Fasteners mounted through apertures in the anchor tab necks extend transversely from the anchor tabs and are rigidly connected to portions to a handrim. Each of the slots in the wheelrim is longer in the circumferential direction than in the transverse direction, and the neck portions of the anchor tabs are flat-sided to bear against the long sides of the slots, thereby reducing shear stresses on the tab neck portions and the wheelrim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Motion Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: James Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4679516
    Abstract: A sailboard assembly is disclosed which has a body on which the user stands, a mast, boom and sail assembly for propulsion of the board. The mast-boom-sail assembly is mounted to the board by a mast mounting assembly which permits limited angular displacement of the mast about a generally normal orientation to the board for maneuvering of the center of pressure of the sail and yet provides support of the mast above the board upon release of the boom. The sailboard assembly also preferably includes a steering assembly having a rudder and foot-operated turntables that are used to turn the rudder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Inventor: Terry V. Friesen
  • Patent number: 4679426
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of a chemical substance in a test sample based on a technique of waveform distortion analysis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a waveform generator that generates a periodic signal, an antenna probe that transmits the signal into the test sample and receives from the test sample a corresponding periodic signal, the waveform of which has been distorted or otherwise transformed by the chemical, and a detector circuit that quantifies the transformation of the signal to determine the concentration of the chemical in the test sample. The waveform shape and frequency are selected so that the transformation is particularly responsive to the presence of a selected chemical substance, so that the magnitude of the distortion or transformation of the signal is directly related to the concentration of the selected chemical substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Inventors: Milton E. Fuller, Gary S. Fletcher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4671186
    Abstract: An automatic, rail-based passenger and cargo transportation system which is particularly well suited for use as a moderate speed people mover is disclosed. The system includes a rail structure on which passive carrier cars are movably supported from opposite sides of the rail. In one aspect a plurality of drive wheels are rotatably mounted to the rail assembly and span across the width of the rail structure so as to drive the carrier cars along the rail in opposite directions on opposite sides of the rail. In another aspect of the invention, the carrier cars are cantilever supported from the sides of the rail so as to cause gravity biasing of the cars inwardly such that a shoe is forced into driving engagement with alternating toothed and smooth drive wheels mounted in the rail framework and sufficiently spaced so that only one toothed drive wheel interengages with the shoe assembly at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: Jan K. Kunczynski
  • Patent number: 4671187
    Abstract: To detect impending deropement of a wire haul rope from supporting sheaves in an aerial tramway system, there is provided a magnetic assembly having sufficient field strength to support itself in a predetermined position by reason of attraction to the wire haul rope when running normally in the sheaves. When the wire haul rope begins to run off one of the sheaves toward an impending deropement, the magnetic assembly will fall from its armed position to a substantially moved position. The magnetic assembly carries at least one position-responsive switch which interrupts a detection circuit when the magnet moves to the moved position. The interruption of the detection circuit is utilized to detect the location of the potential deropement and to terminate tramway operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: Jan K. Kunczynski
  • Patent number: 4669934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a latch assembly for a cargo bar of the type having at least two relatively displaceable members. A pivotally mounted handle is used to extend the members in opposite directions to engage in compression the opposite walls of a cargo container. The latch assembly includes housing having a latch element which is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin to the housing. The latch element is biased toward a latched position at which the latch element is in latching engagement with the handle of the extending bar assembly. The pivotal mount for the latch element is provided with clearance to enable displacement of the latch element relative to the pivot pin, and the housing is formed with a cap portion positioned proximate the latch for support of the latching force on the latch upon displacement of the latch relative to the pivot pin. The latch assembly also includes a ramp formed toward the base of the latch element to provide a method for easy release of the latch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
    Inventor: Warren R. Wisecarver
  • Patent number: 4662079
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming customized footwear, such as shoes, boots or inner bladders for shoes or boots, and particularly an athletic shoe or boot, is disclosed in which an impression of the foot is used to make a positive mold, around which the shoe, boot or bladder is constructed. In the improved process a range-of-motion measuring apparatus is used to accurately determine the neutral position of the bone structure of the rearfoot complex of the foot. The foot is maintained in that position by means of the apparatus while the impression or casting of the foot is being made. The process provides a shoe, boot or inner liner or bladder therefor which will evenly support the foot in a neutral position. The range-of-motion measuring apparatus includes a beam generating laser that is directed toward a mirror mounted on the leg of the person being fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventors: Peter M. Graf, Richard M. Stess
  • Patent number: 4659436
    Abstract: A metallic substrate which is to be electroplated with a metal other than copper for use in high stress applications, such as band saw blades, is given improved resistance to stress fracture by electroplating with copper from an alkaline solution prior to the noncuprous metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Augustus Worx, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin A. Kaylor
  • Patent number: 4658733
    Abstract: A haul rope grip assembly for an aerial tramway is disclosed which is suitable for both detachable and permanent gripping of the tramway haul rope. The assembly includes a gripping head having a pair of relatively spaced apart converging haul rope gripping surfaces oriented for gravity biasing of the surfaces into wedging engagement with the haul rope under loading of the grip. Additionally, the assembly includes a jaw positioned proximate the surfaces and formed to apply supplemental force to the haul rope in a direction tending to further wedge the haul rope between the gripping surfaces. The jaws are also formed to unwedge the haul rope upon movement from a closed to an open position. In the detachable grip assembly, a pair of independently movable jaws pivotally mounted and actuated by levers are biased closed with leaf springs that are spaced apart to allow for a hold down sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventor: Jan K. Kunczynski
  • Patent number: 4655673
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing tactile feedback information to the operator of a remotely operated manipulator assembly, such as a robot arm, by mechanically coupling a vibration sensitive transducer to said assembly and audibly reproducing the transducer output for operator listening. The use of an accelerometer as a vibration sensitive transducer is disclosed as well as techniques for cancelling environmental noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignees: Graham S. Hawkes, Sylvia A. Earle
    Inventor: Graham S. Hawkes
  • Patent number: 4650249
    Abstract: The invention comprises an ergonomic support system for a person in a seated position comprised of torso support platform, a seat, a shin support platform all supported by a main frame generally the size of a common chair, related attachments for facial and arm supports, further includes a pelvic tilt seat for the system to allow alignment of the body and unimpeded movement of the arms and pelvis and a healthy and comfortable position of the spine.The support platforms are preferably padded and shaped to fit the users body telescoping legs for distance adjustment coupled to a pivotal joints for angular adjustment and sliding joints for height and lateral adjustment provide flexibility for these platforms to adjust to an individual body in various positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventor: Hector Serber
  • Patent number: 4647007
    Abstract: An automatic valve operator provides manual override for selective manual and powered displacement of a valve. The valve operator includes a drive motor, a transmission assembly, and an axially shiftable coupling shaft for selective engagement or disengagement from the transmission assembly. Shifting the coupling shaft displaces electrical switches which substantially simultaneous de-energizing of the valve operator drive motor. The coupling shaft is maintained operatively in connection to the valve, during the axial shifting thereby permitting manual displacement of the valve independent of the transmission and motor. Adjustable limit switch actuating collars and a reversible electrical connector assembly also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Inventor: Peter Bajka
  • Patent number: 4645406
    Abstract: A container loader and transport assembly is disclosed which includes a horizontal bed formed for support of a container thereon during transport of the container and loader formed for lifting the container onto the bed from a support surface and lowering the container from the bed to the support surface. The loader is movably mounted to the bed and preferably includes a movable carriage and a lifting mechanism mounted to the carriage. The loader is formed to lift the container and lower it while maintaining the container in substantially horizontal orientation and preferably the carriage is mounted for translation on a pair of extensible rails that can be extended and retracted from an end or from the sides of the container support bed. A method for employing the motor and transport assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Inventors: Augustus J. Cooper, John S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4635674
    Abstract: A diverter valve for a swimming pool/spa system is disclosed which has a lubricated seal assembly for the diverter portion of the valve. Valve lubrication is accomplished without valve disassembly. A method for minimizing the diameter of a valve body for a valve having a selected one of three, five, six or seven ports while still permitting the valve to be used with standard plumbing fittings is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Inventor: Peter Bajka
  • Patent number: 4621747
    Abstract: An apparatus for charge-wise dosing a metered volume quantity of liquid medium to be supplied continuously under delivery pressure, comprising a pair of serially connected cylinder-and-piston assemblies of different diameters the cylinder blocks being arranged axially relatively to each other, forming a composite housing; a supply conduit for the flowing medium connected to the smaller diameter cylinder block and a filling nozzle connected to the larger diameter cylinder block and containing a discharge opening; a tube operating as a piston member for reciprocation in the composite housing, which tube is in direct communication with the smaller diameter cylinder block and connected to the larger diameter cylinder block via a passage provided in the larger diameter piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Tebel Machinefabrieken B.V.
    Inventors: Ype Y. van der Velde, Athanasius A. Bootsma
  • Patent number: 4621621
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inventive valve assembly (24) for coupling a respirator jacket (26) to a household vacuum cleaner (28). The respirator jacket is used to assist a human user (22) in breathing. One embodiment includes a fixed first conduit (48) and an oscillating second conduit (44) which moves on a rocker arm (62) into and out of fluid communicating position with the first conduit. A cam assembly (72) having two arcuate cam surfaces (A1, B1) is adjustable to vary the duration during which the conduits are in fluid communication. Also adjustable is the frequency of oscillation of the second conduit. The duration and frequency are independently adjustable. Reference numerals used in this Abstract highlight the Detailed Description and Drawings, and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is much more broadly defined by the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: John P. Marsalis
  • Patent number: D288245
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Intermatic Electronics Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas E. Corder, Keith M. Mullins
  • Patent number: D288893
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Martin C. Epstein
  • Patent number: D291299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Deep Ocean Engineering Incorporated
    Inventor: Graham S. Hawkes