Patents Represented by Law Firm Merchant, Gould, Smith, Edell Welter and Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5923753
    Abstract: A cable trough is provided including a bottom portion and two upstanding sides extending from the bottom portion to define a cable pathway. The upstanding sides define an enlarged central portion of the cable trough, and the bottom portion including at least one exit trough portion. The exit trough portion can be centrally located, with a bypass pathway on either side. At least one separator wall is provided to separate the exit trough portion from each bypass pathway. A component flange is also provided extending from one of the upstanding sides. The cable trough can also include a cable storage pathway. Alternatively, two exit trough portions can be positioned on opposite sides of the cable trough adjacent each upstanding side, and on opposite sides of a central bypass pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Jon Haataja, Thomas Walter Kampf, Wayne Albin Johnson, Gary F. Nault
  • Patent number: 5922194
    Abstract: In a filter changing device with a flow path for the plastic in which one two or more filters can be inserted into the flow path as desired, the invention proposes to fit the filter support in such a way that it can assume a working back rinse and filter change position, in which, in the back rinse position, the plastic is caused to reverse its direction of flow through two interconnected flow channels without permitting air to penetrate into the filter changing device and in which there is free access to one of the filters in the filter changing positions. As the back rinse position can succeed a filter changing position, it is possible to clear the whole filter changing device of occluded air before a plastic processing plant starts production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Firma Kreyenborg Verwaltungen und Beteilgungen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Theodor Bruckmann, Ralf Simon
  • Patent number: 5921373
    Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Smart Carte, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
  • Patent number: 5923131
    Abstract: A compensating device for raster distortion is provided, which can compensate a raster distortion, preferably including an inner pincushion distortion, by a simple and inexpensive configuration. The compensating device comprises an electromagnet and a pair of permanent magnets. The electromagnet is disposed outside of a deflection yoke and at a center portion of a side of a beam-deflection area, and generates magnetic poles in the direction along the side. The pair of permanent magnets are disposed beyond the ends of the side, and generate magnetic poles aligned with the magnetic poles of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Akitsugu Ishii
  • Patent number: 5922832
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward melt-processable lactide polymer compositions, processes for manufacturing these compositions, and articles made from these compositions. The compositions include a first phase, which contains a polylactide-based polymer, and a second phase which includes elastomer. The elastomer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a polymer composition having an impact resistance of at least about 0.7 ft-lb/in. after the melt-processable polymer composition has been injection molded into bars and tested according to ASTM D256 (1993) method C. Preferably, the compositions also include a reactive compatibilizing agent. Methods of making these compositions and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jed Richard Randall, Christopher Michael Ryan, James Lunt, Mark Henry Hartman, Eric Stanley Hall, Jeffrey John Kolstad, David Roy Witzke
  • Patent number: 5923241
    Abstract: A potentiometer element housed in an anchoring body which is provided at the extremities of its walls with a plurality of lugs which are deformable angularly in order to hold the potentiometer element, also incorporating a control shaft wherein the insertion extremity of the shaft presents a groove which forms two elastic lugs which, when brought closer to each other permit the removal and replacement of said control shaft. The potentiometer element is also characterized in that, in the system of contacting the resistive track with the ends of the corresponding terminals, there are provided two or more protuberances which act as springs, and terminals present a notch so as to facilitate the bending and to reduce the recovery effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Aragonesa de Componentes Pasivos, S.A.
    Inventor: Santiago Cascan Garvalos
  • Patent number: 5923502
    Abstract: A magnetic head including a shielded MR element which incorporates a low reluctance path between the shields to reduce interference picked up by inductive reading of the shields. The low reluctance path is provided outside a conductive loop of material which includes the MR element and its associated leads. The low reluctance path may include a magnetic short between the two shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Christensen, Jodie Ann Christner, Earl Albert Cunningham, Jay Michael Mosbrucker
  • Patent number: 5921757
    Abstract: A piezoelectric fan comprises at least one piezoelectric element having a rectangular piezoelectric plate of large aspect ratio, made from a piezoelectric material, and conductive metal layers provided on both surfaces of the piezoelectric plate. At least one of the conductive metal layers has a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending parallel to the long side of the piezoelectric element and formed integrally with the conductive metal layers or as a separate member collectively. The reinforcing ribs increase the long side direction rigidity of the piezoelectric element. As a result, the long side direction or lateral mode resonance of the piezoelectric element can be suppressed, thus increasing the blow efficiency of the piezoelectric fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tsutsui, Keiichirou Takatou
  • Patent number: 5921246
    Abstract: A surgically enlarging method of microcaulia by which length and circumference of micropenis are simultaneously enlarged and expanded without incurring any deformation or side effect thereto, enabling the microcaulia patients to overcome the physical defect, shame and inferiority complex and thereby providing them with increased sexual self confidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventor: Kang-Seon Cho
  • Patent number: 5923427
    Abstract: A distance sensing system employs an optical triangulation system and a position sensitive device (PSD). The PSD generates a pair of current signals when a target reflects light from a light source back to the surface of the PSD. An automatic power control circuit is used to keep one of the current signals a constant value. The position of the reflected light spot on the PSD is linearly proportional to the other current generated by the PSD according to the formula:Y=C.times.I2Where Y is the spot position and C is a normalization constant. The signal I2 is processed to extract distance information relative to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Haozhe Dong
  • Patent number: 5922166
    Abstract: A method for constructing a laminate comprising two layers, including an acrylic homopolymer layer and a microporous PTFE layer wherein the acrylic layer is a felt and is pretreated by immersion into an adhesive solution and introduced to the PTFE layer and subjected to heat and pressure to form a laminate useful as a filtration material. A laminate useful as a filtration material is formed by the immersion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Dillon
  • Patent number: 5922618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dye-labeled antibody conjugate comprising an antibody conjugate and a cyanine dye. The dye-labeled antibody conjugate is prepared by polymerizing an antibody such as mouse IgG in phosphate buffer using a polyfunctional reagent such as dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidylpropionate), and stirring the antibody and a cyanine dye represented by Formula I . The dye-labeled antibody conjugate is more sensitive to antigens than conventional dye-labeled antibodies because it has many reactive sites to antigens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shigetou, Jinsei Miyazaki, Mahito Hirai
  • Patent number: 5918411
    Abstract: A plant protector constructed and arranged to provide a protective cover on the surface of the ground around a plant, formed of two identical separate semicircular half-sections which interlock at diametrically extending center wall sections to form a bowl-like structure with an upstanding outer wall, a flat bottom with drain openings, a center opening extending into each half-section to accommodate a plant stem, and an outer skirt depending from an upper edge of the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Duane Hadrava
  • Patent number: 5919470
    Abstract: Dermatological compositions described herein using from about 21 to about 40 wt-% urea with skin protectants of an oleaginous nature for treating a variety of dermatological conditions manifested by dry skin. The composition does not require use of traditional preservatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitalia Valdez, Albert Fleischner
  • Patent number: 5920335
    Abstract: A transfer member includes a dyeing layer transfer member, which has a lubricating heat-resistant layer on the reverse surface of a first base material and laminated layers of a parting layer and a dyeing layer on the obverse surface, an ink transfer member, having a lubricating heat-resistant layer on the reverse surface of a second base material and the laminated layers of an adhesive layer and an ink layer, an intermediate member having a functional layer on a third base material, and an image-receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Taguchi, Akihiro Imai, Atsushi Sogami, Yasuo Fukui, Masanori Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5920762
    Abstract: A integral magnetic head and suspension and method for making the same. The integral head and suspension are fabricated completely on silicon (Si) wafers using semiconductor processes. A N+ silicon layer is disposed over a P- silicon wafer. The N+ silicon layer and the P- silicon wafer are thermally oxidized to generate a bottom silicon oxide layer opposite the N+ layer side of the wafer and a top silicon oxide layer on the N+ side of the wafer, and to drive the N+ silicon into the P- silicon wafer. A layer of polysilicon is disposed over the silicon oxide layer on top of the N+ silicon layer and is then patterned to define the head structure and suspension structure as one piece. Then, a magnetic head is disposed on the polysilicon. Finally, the magnetic head and suspension are separated from the wafer by removing the first silicon oxide layer by a chemical etchant and the P- silicon wafer by selective etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randall G. Simmons, Joseph J. Fatula, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5920081
    Abstract: A structure of a bond pad to prevent probe pin contamination is disclosed herein a first conductor layer is formed on the substrate. A passivation layer including a titanium nitride layer, a silicon nitride layer, and a silicon oxide layer is formed on the first conductor layer. A photoresist layer is patterned on the passivation layer to define a contact hole, and then etching the passivation layer using the photoresist layer as a mask to form the contact hole. A second conductor layer serving as a top metal of bond pad harder than the first conductor layer is selectively deposited on the first conductor layer, and filled in the contact hole. The present invention can reduce a probe pin contamination so that extend the probe pin lifetime using this selective deposition technique to form the pond pad structure. Additionally, the structure can prevent the contact resistance between the probe pin head and the bond pad increasing, and reduce the probe pin overkill ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyn-Ren Chen, Chii-Ming Morris Wu
  • Patent number: 5920026
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electric percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, and the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both are nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and traverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave patter directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Roland Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Kenji Hirano, Masato Katsuda
  • Patent number: 5918644
    Abstract: An air conveying duct has a foam core sealed on the inside and reinforced on the outside. The duct absorbs noise and neither introduces impurities into the air nor collects impurities from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventors: C. William Haack, Michael T. Nixon
  • Patent number: 5919132
    Abstract: In the spectroreflectometry oxygenation measuring method and device, a light source produces a light beam having a spectral bandwidth including the wavelengths from 450 nm to 850 nm. A first optical system propagates the light beam from the light source to the fundus of a patient's eye, the light beam being reflected at least in part by the fundus of the patient's eye to produce a reflected light beam. A detector unit detects the spectral content of the reflected light beam and produces a signal indicative of this spectral content. A second optical system propagates an axial central portion of the reflected light beam along a predetermined propagation path from the fundus of the patient's eye to the detector unit. To that effect, the second optical system comprises a mirror defining an angle of 45.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Universite de Montreal
    Inventors: Jocelyn Faubert, Vasile Diaconu