Patents Represented by Law Firm McKinney, Stringer & Webster
  • Patent number: 5713423
    Abstract: A drill pipe (10, 100, 220, 200, 210, 250) is disclosed which includes a cylindrical pipe section (12), a box end (14), a pin end (16) and a hydraulic hose assembly (202, 18) or tube (212, 90, 260) inserted between the box and pin ends and extending within the cylindrical pipe section. All, or the majority of drilling fluid passes through the hydraulic hose assembly (202, 18) or tube (212, 90, 260). The interior surface of the cylindrical pipe section (12) may or may not be exposed to the drilling fluid but any corrosion generated by metal-to-fluid contact is generally trapped between the hose or tube and the pipe section. The reduced volume of the hydraulic hose assembly (202, 18) or tube (212, 90, 260) relative to conveying the drilling fluid through the interior of the cylindrical pipe section reduces significantly the waste of drilling fluid, allows the fluid to be pressurized more rapidly to initiate drilling operation, and limits fluid spill damage to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Scott Martin, Brent G. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 5695380
    Abstract: A new and improved adjustable object-holding accessory for dolls and other toy figures, comprised of interlocking straps (10 and 10'), one strap being releasably fastened around the hand of a toy figure and the other strap being releasably fastened around the object to be juxtaposed to the hand of the toy, the interlocking portions of the straps (10 and 10') being positioned at or near the palm of the toy's hand, thus enabling the doll or other toy figure to appear to be holding the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Juanita A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 5692567
    Abstract: A portable oil recovery apparatus especially for use at de-pressurized wells. It is simple and inexpensive to build and to operate. The apparatus is small and lightweight enough so that it can be transported in a pickup truck for easy movement between well sites, and it can be installed by only two people. The apparatus employs a simple pulley system which dips a string of cups repeatedly into the well bore just deep enough to reach the oil and not deep enough to collect any water. Thus, little or no water is mixed with the recovered product, and no tubing or rods are necessary. The pulley system is automatically operated and requires little supervision and maintenance. The dipping cups are generally cylindrical, each having a central longitudinal tube extending therethrough by which the cup is supported on the string. Each cup has a lid with a plurality of depending fingers which extend down into the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: August K. Doner
  • Patent number: 5685431
    Abstract: A packaging system for clutch sets. The system includes a box provided with several packing sheets of compressible foam which can be custom fitted to the clutch set components. The packaging system allows several sizes of clutch sets to be securely packaged in the same size box, and the compressible foam provides a lightweight means for stabilizing the components during shipping or storage. The outside of the box is unmarked except for a label on one side for a bar code or other information. The system includes a sleeve like wrapper with a hole in the side to reveal the label on the side on the box. The outside of the sleeve is imprinted with a brand name and other trade dress. This allows a bearing manufacturer to maintain an inventory of various sizes of pre-packaged clutch sets, along with an inventory of preprinted sleeves. Then, upon receipt of an order from a retail customer, the time necessary to complete the private label packaging of the clutch sets is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: L & S Bearing Co.
    Inventors: Hyrum Chambers, Randy James Millikan, Claude Rappaport
  • Patent number: 5682956
    Abstract: A dual-member pipe joint having an outer member and an inner member which is disposed coaxially within the outer member. Both the outer member and the inner member have a pin end and a box end. The pin end of the outer member is threadable to the box end of another outer member. The pin end of the inner member is geometrically shaped. The box end of the inner member forms a recess which conforms to the geometric shape of the pin end of the inner member. The box end of the inner member nonthreadably receives the pin end of another inner member in "slip-fit" connection. "Slip-fit" means the pin end of the inner member slides into the box end of a like inner member and forms a connection that is capable of transmitting torque. The advantage of this dual-member pipe joint is that both the inner and outer members of a pipe joint may be connected to a drill string in a single action with just one connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur D. Deken, Cody L. Sewell
  • Patent number: 5656315
    Abstract: A method for impregnating porous material with a liquid flavoring. The porous material comprises embossed sheets or disks of porous absorbent material, each of which is dispensed automatically onto a conveyor. Each individual disk is squirted automatically with a selected amount of liquid flavoring and then immediately packaged automatically. The selected amount of flavoring is less than the amount required to supersaturate the disk. Thus, by a passive capillary action, or "wicking" effect, dispersal of the flavoring liquid throughout the disk continues during the packaging step. This method reduces the amount of flavoring which is wasted in conventional impregnation methods. Further, the use of the capillary action to complete the saturation process allows the packaging to be commenced prior to completion of the saturation process and thereby substantially increases the speed with which the process can be completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Food Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Tucker, John J. Fisher, Kenneth A. Marchetti
  • Patent number: 5653323
    Abstract: A clutch release bearing assembly with an internal bearing assembly. An internal bearing assembly is positioned on the transmission shaft of a vehicle. The internal bearing assembly is a tubular sleeve and has perforations in it for holding ball bearings. A tubular collar rides over the internal bearing assembly. A conventional clutch release bearing assembly rides over the inner collar. The conventional clutch release bearing and the inner collar slide up and down the transmission shaft on the internal bearing assembly. The internal bearing keeps the conventional bearing assembly centered on the transmission shaft and provides free movement with only minimal clearance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: L & S Bearing Co.
    Inventor: Claude Rappaport
  • Patent number: 5645255
    Abstract: An articulating clamp assembly for attaching a traffic control device to a mast arm upright pole or other support member. The clamp assembly includes a saddle clamp which adjustably attaches to the vertical elongate member on the bracket of a traffic signal. Either a cable clamp or a tenon clamp can be included for attaching the assembly to the mast arm or pole. The cable clamp includes inner and outer tubular members which are rotatable relative to each other, and of course the anchor plate of the cable clamp can be positioned anywhere along the length of the mast arm or pole and anywhere around the circumference. Similarly, the tubular end of the tenon clamp can rotated relative to the mast arm for proper positioning. The mast arm clamp and the saddle clamp are joined by a pair of serrated rings which permit a wide range of rotational adjustment between the two clamp members. Thus, the articulating clamp assembly of the present invention permits multiple adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Pelco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Parduhn
  • Patent number: 5644876
    Abstract: A modular medical gas services unit with multiple medical gas outlets supported at the same level on the column. The unit preferably comprises a hollow column with an internal space for housing the gas conduits and power lines. The medical gas supply outlets are mounted so that their longitudinal axes extend radially from the vertical axis of the frame, and the longitudinal axes of adjacent outlets intersect to form an acute angle. In this way, the horizontal dimensions of the column can be minimized while the number of medical gas outlets at the desired height is maximized. In one embodiment, the column is pentagonal in cross-section providing five planar support surfaces for five medical gas outlets. In another embodiment, a square column is equipped with angled outlet panels, each supporting two medical gas outlets. Thus, though the frame is four-sided, as many as eight medical gas outlets can be mounted at the same height on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Gaddis-Walker Electric, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Walker
  • Patent number: 5596164
    Abstract: A detonator assembly wherein the electrical leads are attached to an electrical connector which maintains the ends of the leads in non-conductive, waterproof condition and which permits the leads to be spliced to another pair of electric leads without any splicing tools. The length of the electrical leads is selected to permit the assembly to be inserted in a booster charge so that the electrical connector is contained entirely within the throughbore in the booster charge. Packaging for such detonator assemblies includes at least one tray integrally formed of fire retardant material. The detonator assemblies fit snugly in parallel elongate recesses in the top of the tray so that when the tray is tipped or inverted the detonators will remain in position. The detonator assemblies are arranged in alternating fashion so that the detonator ends of adjacent assemblies are at opposite sides of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Clipmate Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin H. Waldock
  • Patent number: 5585591
    Abstract: A detonator assembly wherein the electrical leads are attached to an electrical connector which maintains the ends of the leads in non-conductive, waterproof condition and which permits the leads to be spliced to another pair of electric leads without any splicing tools. The length of the electrical leads is selected to permit the assembly to be inserted in a booster charge so that the electrical connector is contained entirely within the throughbore in the booster charge. Packaging for such detonator assemblies includes at least one tray integrally formed of fire retardant material. The detonator assemblies fit snugly in parallel elongate recesses in the top of the tray so that when the tray is tipped or inverted the detonators will remain in position. The detonator assemblies are arranged in alternating fashion so that the detonator ends of adjacent assemblies are at opposite sides of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Clipmate Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin H. Waldock
  • Patent number: 5533355
    Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary conduits. The secondary conduits are connected between primary conduits by means of multi-tiered inlet and outlet manifolds. Each manifold comprises a three-way "T" or end member and at least one and probably several four-way connecting members. Each of the end members has one inlet and at least one and preferably two outlets. Each connecting member has one inlet and at least two and preferably three outlets. The inlets and outlets of the end members and connecting members are configured to interconnect interchangeably in male-female fashion. Elbow units are used to connect the ends of the secondary conduits with the inlets and outlet of the end members and connecting members. Thus, only two types of components are necessary to build heat exchange units having any number of secondary conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Climate Master, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Rawlings
  • Patent number: 5484021
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a window in well casing. First, using coiled tubing, a two stage whipstock is set in the well casing through the production tubing. Next, a jointed milling assembly is inserted through the production tubing, also using the coiled tubing. The travel of the mill is guided by the two stage guide surface of the whipstock, and the joint in the milling tool allows the direction of the mill to change. Thus, the mill impinges on the well casing at a relatively acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing reducing the likelihood that the mill will bite into the guide surface of the whipstock instead of the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Charles D. Hailey
  • Patent number: D370825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: A. Philip Parduhn
  • Patent number: D373947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: A. Philip Parduhn
  • Patent number: D376091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Arliss G. Heglin
  • Patent number: D376723
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Aco, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Asner
  • Patent number: D379756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Pelco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Parduhn
  • Patent number: D396506
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Juanita A. Morrison
  • Patent number: D402415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: W. Troy Widgery