Patents Represented by Attorney McDonald Hopkins LLC

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  • Coupler for towed vehicles
    Patent number: 7871098
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other examples associated with a hitch ball coupler are described herein. In one example, a coupler includes a body and a cap. The body and cap are pivotally connected on a first end. The body includes a first recess and a shoulder. The cap is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position. The cap includes a second recess that selectively forms a socket with the first recess, and an arm extending from a second end that engages the shoulder when the cap is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Cequent Trailer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Drake, Kevin Rabska
  • Differential pressure switch
    Patent number: 7855345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a field adjustable pressure switch that incorporates a manually adjustable differential to set the pressure level for the trip point for the pressure switch used in conjunction with a submersible sump pump system requiring trip levels corresponding to the desired water level in the sump well for operation of the pump motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Stevens Pump Company
    Inventors: James E. Stevens, Geoffrey M. Stevens, Bill Irwin, Leung Wai Tat Raymond
  • Screen device and method of making the same
    Patent number: 7850010
    Abstract: The present invention provides a screen for separating materials according to particle size. The screen has a body, a plurality of fingers, and a plurality of rods. The fingers may be integrally formed with the body. The rods are supported within the body and extend within the fingers to provide structural stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Tylinter, Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Takev
  • Flexibly labeling peptides
    Patent number: 7842280
    Abstract: A solid phase peptide synthesis method for synthesizing a peptidyl contrast agent is disclosed. In one example, the method includes synthesizing an amino-chelator loaded resin, coupling of the amino-chelator loaded resin to the C-terminus and/or backbone of a peptide, cleaving the amino-chelator-peptide from a resin, and chelating a lanthanide metal to the amino-chelator-peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Mark D. Pagel, Byunghee Yoo
  • Method for a watertight connection in a water service
    Patent number: 7832076
    Abstract: An improved seal and method for providing a watertight compression joint connection between a valve or fitting and a flare end of a copper tubing in a water service. The improvement includes an O-ring seal on a bull nose end of a valve and a frictional material inserted into straight AWWA threads on a male inlet or outlet of the valve to sealingly engage a flared end of the copper tubing to the bull nose end and to frictionally engage a flare nut with the tubing back onto the matching bull nose end of the valve when screwing the flare nut onto the male threads of the valve, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nee Corp.
    Inventor: Neal William Fischer
  • Door handle and lock illuminating device
    Patent number: 7832887
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with illuminating door handles and door lock mechanisms are described herein. In one embodiment of a door-illuminating device for illuminating a locking mechanism that is secured to a door and illuminating a door handle that is secured to the door, the device includes a housing, a light source, a source of power, a first opening in the housing, and a second opening in the housing. The housing is secured to the door and the light source and power source are secured within the housing, where the power source is in electrical communication with the light source. The first opening may selectively direct light emitted from the light source to the locking mechanism, and a second opening may selectively direct light emitted from the light source to the door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lock Lights LLC
    Inventor: Matt Battle
  • Screen assembly for separating material according to particle size
    Patent number: 7810648
    Abstract: The present invention provides a screen assembly having a base, a screen box having a screen medium and a pair of mutually opposed bearings, a shaft having a pair of eccentric journals that are rotatably supported in the respective pair of mutually opposed bearings, and at least one articulated suspension assembly having a first leg having a first torsion joint and a second torsion joint, a second leg having a third torsion joint and a fourth torsion joint, and a third leg having a first end pivotably secured to the second torsion joint and a second end pivotably secured to the third torsion joint, for pivotally interconnecting the screen box and the base to dampen vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tylinter, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Takev, Florian Festge, Rudiger Heinrich
  • Surge brake actuator
    Patent number: 7806240
    Abstract: A surge brake actuator having a coupler housing telescopically engagable with an actuator housing is provided. The surge brake actuator incorporates an improved reverse lockout assembly that prevents movement of the coupler housing with respect to the actuator housing during reverse movement of a towing vehicle. The reverse lockout assembly is capable of moving to an operating position upon forward movement of the towing vehicle. A breakaway cam effectuates actuation of a braking system of a towed vehicle if the towing vehicle breaks away from the towed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Trailer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Walstrom, Eric Anderson, Todd Krzanowski, Matt Block, Kawa-She-Quoen Okerlund
  • Apparatus and methods for retaining pins and bushings
    Patent number: 7798034
    Abstract: A retention assembly for a jack is disclosed. The retention assembly includes a housing, a bushing, a shaft, a gear, a pin, and a spring. The housing includes a housing aperture, into which the bushing is positioned. The shaft, which includes a shaft aperture, extends through the bushing such that the portion of the shaft defining the shaft aperture is positioned within the housing. The gear, which includes a gear aperture, is positioned on the shaft such that the gear and shaft apertures align to accommodate the pin. The spring is positioned on the shaft and within the housing such that a first end of the spring applies a force to the bushing to retain the bushing in the housing aperture and a second end of the spring engages the pin to retain the pin within the shaft and gear apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Trailer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Drake
  • Golf club training device
    Patent number: 7789764
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for a golf club and training device. The golf club may be approved for on the course play by the United States Golf Association (USGA). An embodiment of a training device for a golf club includes a handle having a grip where the handle is coupled to a golf club head. The head has an internal alignment device and may include a contact plate, a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate has a first upper surface including a top alignment marking and the bottom plate has a second upper surface including a bottom alignment marking. The top plate may include an attachment aperture for attaching an external alignment device. The external alignment device may include a laser, an alignment guide, a weight, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: TW Golf LLC
    Inventors: Todd Wilson, David Rocheleau
  • Fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location
    Patent number: 7766035
    Abstract: A fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location is disclosed wherein the valve body includes and integral valve element retaining region. Preferably, the valve body and integral valve element retaining region are die cast as a one-piece component. More specifically, the fluid jet includes a die cast one-piece valve body having a valve element retaining region extending longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body, at least one fluid passage extending longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body and in fluid communication with at least a portion of the valve element retaining region, and at least one fluid-exiting aperture through the valve body in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Metaldyne, LLC
    Inventor: Jose Correa Neto
  • Self-cleaning litter box
    Patent number: 7762213
    Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box is disclosed which provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box is configured to use a cartridge which may include a litter compartment and a waste compartment. In another embodiment, the cartridge may be non-compartmentalized. The cartridge may be disposable, thus eliminating the need for the user to clean the litter tray and handle heavy litter containers. In other embodiments, the system includes a rake assembly configured with a drive assembly that is protected from contamination. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the self-cleaning litter box is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lucky Litter LLC
    Inventors: Alan Jay Cook, Kristin William Grube, Thomas Edward Devlin, Jeff Reed Greason, Karl Thatcher Ulrich, Nathan Thatcher Ulrich, Chi Lam Yau
  • Pin retention and assembly system for locking differential
    Patent number: 7758462
    Abstract: A pin retention and assembly system that is used with vehicles, such as, off-road vehicles is provided. The pin retention and assembly system has modular locking pins engaging a collar positionable about a bearing journal of a differential housing. Channels are formed in the bearing journal for receiving the locking pins. The channels aid in maximizing the size of the bearing journal. The locking pins engage the collar to lock the differential housing. In an embodiment, the locking pins and locking apertures in the differential housing are orientated asymmetrically causing the number of locking pins to be independent to the apertures in the side gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Metaldyne, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Veldman, Jeffrey L. Lubben, Zhipeng Han, Greg Sabourin
  • Bearing cap with weight reduction features
    Patent number: 7753592
    Abstract: Bearing caps and methods for manufacturing bearing cap are disclosed. Bearing cap includes a body that comprises an abutment surface, a bearing surface, an exterior surface, and a recess portion. The abutment surface provides for the bearing cap to be coupled to an engine along a flat and even surface. The bearing surface provides for the bearing cap to at least partially capture the bearing shaft to secure the bearing shaft when the bearing cap is abutted to the engine. The recess portion extends into the body of the bearing cap from the exterior surface to reduce the weight of the bearing cap. The recess portion can be located anywhere along the exterior surface and be any shape and dimension that retains sufficient structural integrity of the bearing cap to secure the balance shaft to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Metaldyne Corporation
    Inventor: Jose Correa Neto
  • Wiring connector
    Patent number: D617284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Consumer Products
    Inventor: Gregory Rotenberg
  • Pin adaptor
    Patent number: D620451
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Consumer Products
    Inventors: Jerry Corless, Gregory Rotenberg
  • Pin adaptor
    Patent number: D620452
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Consumer Products
    Inventors: Jerry Corless, Gregory Rotenberg
  • Pin adaptor
    Patent number: D620453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Cequent Consumer Products
    Inventors: Jerry Corless, Gregory Rotenberg
  • Beverage container holder
    Patent number: D620732
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Spectrum Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Albert A. Andrews
  • Water float
    Patent number: D632354
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sew Many Great Things, LLC
    Inventor: Cindy Perry