Patents Represented by Law Firm McCaleb, Lucas & Brugman
  • Airflow distribution system for discharging air from a thin plenum, and oven employing same
    Patent number: 4892030
    Abstract: An airflow distribution system for discharging air from a thin plenum chamber into a relatively larger space such as a discharge duct or the work chamber of an industrial oven. A distribution plate separating the chambers has discharge openings arranged in pairs, having diagonally oriented louvers sufficiently closely spaced to direct individual air streams toward one another where by combine as a resultant air stream flowing transversely outwardly from the distribution plate. The louvers are illustrated as circular or rectangular tabs partly punched from the plate in forming the discharge openings and are adjustable by bending to vary the direction and volume of the resultant air streams. Among the examples disclosed are industrial ovens and air discharge ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: The Grieve Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas V. Grieve
  • Riveting process and apparatus
    Patent number: 4885836
    Abstract: Improved process and apparatus for assembling component parts by means of rivets or similar fasteners in which computer controlled robotic machining centers present selected tools in predetermined special position on opposing sides of the components which are held stationary in a fixture. The robots prepare the rivet holes at multiple selected locations, followed by repositioning of roboticly controlled tools at each hole location for the installation of the fasteners. Throughout hole preparation and fastener installation novel end effectors maintain a symmetrical balance of forces on the components in a manner which avoids stressing and deformation of the components, holding fixture and end assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: IMTA
    Inventors: Giovanni B. Bonomi, Luigi Giacomini, Christiano Bonomi, Carmine Aresa, Valerio Frigo
  • Display assembly for automatic can vending machine
    Patent number: 4886325
    Abstract: An in-door mounted shadow-box type display assembly for use in can vending machines by which the various items available for selection are visually displayed to the customer and identified by indicia which coordinate with the article designating indicia of the machine's selection system. The assembly comprises a unitary frame adapted to be mounted within the interior of the vending machine's front door, behind a transparent area of the door's front panel. Plural display openings or sockets are provided in a planar display panel associated with the frame for receiving full size cans in upright display position. Such openings accept the vertical can dimension, but are smaller than the diameter thereof so that only a chordal segment of each can is exposed to customer view. Springs or similar elastic members are used to engage and hold the cans in their display openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Rock-Ola Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Donald C. Rockola, Shuja Hague
  • Cycle computer with improved switch and push-button arrangement to facilitate resetting
    Patent number: 4881187
    Abstract: A cycle computer has a pair of push-buttons connected respectively to a mode switch and to an on/off switch. Sequential actuation of the mode switch places the computer selectively in one of a plurality of Modes including a "stop watch" mode. Alternate actuation of the on/off switch, while in the stop watch mode, turns the stop watch function on and off. Simultaneous depression of both push-buttons, while the computer is in stop watch mode, resets the stop watch mode and at least two other modes. To facilitate resetting under poor visibility conditions, or when it would be unsafe to divert the rider's attention from the road or other traffic, the push-buttons abut along a common line and have a shared recess straddling that line which can be located by feel alone, enabling the push-buttons to be depressed simultaneously with one thumb while both rider's hands safely grip the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventor: Robert Read
  • Airflow distribution system for discharging air from a thin plenum, and oven employing same
    Patent number: 4869155
    Abstract: An airflow distribution system for discharging air from a thin plenum chamber into a relatively larger space such as the work chamber of an industrial oven. A distribution plate separating the chambers has discharge openings arranged in pairs, having diagonally oriented louvers sufficiently closely spaced to direct individual air streams toward one another where they combine as a resultant air stream flowing transversely outwardly from the distribution plate. The louvers are illustrated as circular or rectangular tabs partly punched from the plate in forming the discharge openings and are adjustable by bending to vary the direction and volume of the resultant air streams. The example disclosed is an industrial oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: The Grieve Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas V. Grieve
  • Cyclist's shoe and the like with separately adjustable diagonal and transverse straps for independent instep and forefoot fit control
    Patent number: 4845864
    Abstract: A cyclist shoe comprises a sole and an upper. The upper has a vamp with a variable throat located between side panels. Separately adjustable inner and outer straps have releasable hook and pile connections. Opposite end portions of each strap are secured to the side panels. The inner strap extends across the throat and along one side panel in a diagonal direction for primarily fitting the shoe to a cyclist's instep. The outer strap comprises a relatively large, flexible panel covering a substantial portion of the vamp around the throat. It extends across the vamp and the side panels in a transverse direction for primarily fitting the shoe to the cyclist's forefoot. A free end of the inner strap is exposed through a window in the outer strap enabling adjustment of the inner strap independently of the outer strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventor: William Corliss
  • Display hook structure
    Patent number: 4832298
    Abstract: An improved hook structure for use with crossbar grid merchandise display systems capable of snap-fit engagement with pairs of adjacent horizontal grid crossbars or wires at selected lateral positions; the hook structures being slidable along the crossbars and characterized by a narrow dimensioned hook section composed of a sandwich assembly of two identical parallel metal hook plates disposed on opposite sides of and integrated with an interposed base end of a wire display rod. The metal sandwich structure so formed, permits interlocking back-to-back application of a pair of hook structures when sharing the same pair of grid crossbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Athena Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek N. G. Metcalf
  • Phase adjusting mechanism
    Patent number: 4832658
    Abstract: A phase adjusting mechanism in which input and output shafts, rotatable at like speeds and directions, are positively intercoupled by helical spline members constructed and arranged so that a female spline member is shiftable axially relative to a male spline member to counter rotate the shafts through a limited range of relative adjustability and in which support of adjacent opposed ends of the shafts is effected by an internal backbone support extending coaxially between the shafts to provide thrust and radial bearing support therefor. Adjustment members for shifting the spline members are provided along with an indicator mechanism for indicating the degree of shaft phase adjustment. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the adjustment mechanism in selected positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Candy Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert V. Hendershot, Bertel S. Nelson
  • Shaft support system
    Patent number: 4832659
    Abstract: A phase adjusting mechanism in which input and output shafts, rotatable at like speeds and directions, are positively intercoupled by helical spline members constructed and arranged so that a female spline member is shiftable axially relative to a male spline member to counter rotate the shafts through a limited range of relative adjustability and in which support of adjacent opposed ends of the shafts is effected by an internal backbone support extending coaxially between the shafts to provide thrust and radial bearing support therefor. Adjustment members for shifting the spline members is provided along with an indicator mechanism for indicating the degree of shaft phase adjustment. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the adjustment mechanism in selected positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Candy Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Bertel S. Nelson
  • Signal detector for cycle computer with releasable strap frame mounting
    Patent number: 4825156
    Abstract: A signal detector for a cycle computer comprises a head, a sensor supported by the head, and a flexible strap having one end connected to the head. The head includes a housing having a curved abutment surface shaped to bear against the curved abutment surface of a support tube such as a leg of a bicycle fork or a rear stay tube. The head has a strap-guiding surface defining one wall of a strap-receiving passageway extending completely through the housing and tangent to the curved abutment surface. The passageway has a strap entrance portion adjacent the curved abutment surface and a strap exit portion remote from it. The strap has transverse teeth along the inside surface facing inwardly into the passageway when the strap extends through it. In the embodiment disclosed, the head is molded of plastics material and includes an integral pawl in the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventor: Robert Read
  • Method of fabricating a rear fork assembly for a bicycle and drop out bracket therefor
    Patent number: 4813591
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a rear fork assembly for a bycycle includes the steps of: (1) making seat stay tubes and chain stay tubes and drop outs as separate components with universally pivotable, abuttable joints between the stay tubes and mating portions of the drop outs; (b) clamping these components at a predetermined angular relationship; and (c) welding the joints to fix them in that predetermined angular relationship. In one embodiment, the joints are ball and socket type and the seat stay tubes are connected to the seat tube through an inverted U-shaped yoke and a straight yoke tube with modified ball and socket type joints at the top and bottom of the yoke. In another embodiment, the seat stay tubes are connected directly between the drop outs and the yoke tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventors: Clifford F. Mueller, George Herzovi
  • Apparatus and method for feeding powdered materials
    Patent number: 4813818
    Abstract: A vacuum assisted feeding apparatus for delivering finely pulverized particulate materials, such as powdered metal, is disclosed in which a material holding hopper has a feeder tube extending into a lower disposed filling chamber subject to sub-atmospheric pressures to effect vacuum assisted gravity flow of the powder material into the filling chamber. Powder in the filling chamber is vacuum/gravity fed to a mold cavity until the cavity is filled, whereafter powder is accumulated in the filling chamber until the discharge end of the feeder tube is occluded by the powder to disrupt the feeding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Inventor: Michael Sanzone
  • Multilumen manometer catheter
    Patent number: 4809710
    Abstract: A catheter for making pressure measurements in a sphincter canal. The example illustrated is for an anal sphincter canal. It has an inflation tube and water-perfusion tubes or lumens in a unitary, elongated body. A balloon or cuff is inflatable through the inflation tube. The body has a section in which the water-perfusion tubes are helically wound about the inflation tube which is centrally located. The water-perfusion tubes have side openings communicating with the lumens therewithin. These side openings are positioned along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis. Examples are shown where these side openings are located in one, two or four quadrants of the catheter surface, at different axial levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Williamson
  • Adjustable bicycle seat post
    Patent number: 4807856
    Abstract: A seat post is axially slidable in a mounting tube member secured in a bicycle-type seat tube or mast. The seat post is biased upwardly by a main spring within the mounting tube member which as an enlarged collar at the top end. The collar supports lock mechanism including a floating gear, a floating latch member, a toggle lever and a supplemental spring. In a locked position, the gear engages the seat post rack, and gear teeth on the latch member lock the gear against rotation. A cable connects the toggle lever to a release handle on the handlebar. Actuation of the handle unlocks the gear from the seat post rack. In another embodiment, the gear is omitted and the latch member engages the seat post rack directly. In another embodiment, the toggle lever is omitted and the cable moves the latch member directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Gary Teckenbrock
  • Method and apparatus for applying liquid and dry lawn treatment materials
    Patent number: 4798325
    Abstract: A self-contained, hand-operated, compact applicator for dispensing liquid and/or dry lawn care products is disclosed in which dry treatment materials are broadcast from a hopper in response to manual propulsion of the applicator over the terrain and liquid materials, stored in a tank carried by the hopper, are pressurized by electrically powered pump means and dispensed via plural valve operated spray nozzles selectively controlled by the operator to effect regulated and uniform application of dry and liquid treatment materials either contemporaneously or independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignees: Robert F. Parmley, Marino D. Floreani
    Inventor: Robert E. Block
  • Bicycle seat post clamp mechanism
    Patent number: 4789172
    Abstract: Bicycle seat post clamp mechanism comprising a locking shoe supported in a seat stay tube for movement to and from a locking position engaging the seat post. The locking shoe has a pair of beveled rear cam faces and a rear extension with a through hole. A pair of clamp members, each with a through hole and a beveled cam face, are supported in diametrically spaced circular openings in the wall of the seat stay tube, and extend along a horizontal axis transverse to the seat post. An adjusting screw extends through the clamp members. Tightening the screw draws the clamp members together causing the cam faces to move the locking shoe forwardly into its locking position against the seat post. The locking shoe and clamp members have circular cross-sections of a size small enough to be inserted through the openings in the seat stay tube and then to be assembled therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventor: Cliffod F. Mueller
  • Artificial flower with inflated blossom
    Patent number: D298809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: CTI Industries Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Davis
  • Burglar bar
    Patent number: D299757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: John Sterling Corporation
    Inventor: Richard G. Kluge
  • Men and boys undergarment
    Patent number: D302623
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: T. Jack Robinson
  • Food serving carton
    Patent number: D305304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: P. Freetly's, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip McCaleb