Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michael A. Mann
  • Patent number: 6361192
    Abstract: A light source enhancing lens assembly 10 has a carrier 20, a light source 30 carried by the carrier 20, a first lens 40 which refracts and diffuses light emitted from the light source 30 and a second lens 70 to defocus and further distribute the light emitting from the first lens 40. The light source 30 is inserted into the first lens 40, so that light from the LED is refracted within a first bore 48 and diffused by a frosted first outer surface 60 of the first lens 40. The first lens 40 inserts into a second bore 40 of the second lens 70. Light from the first lens 40 is further defocused by a series of parallel, spaced apart lens sections 82 located on the second outer surface 78 of the second lens 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Global Research & Development Corp
    Inventors: David A Fussell, James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6361412
    Abstract: The invention applies to a process and rotary point crush truer device to dress grinding wheels with profiled working surfaces with a rotary truer where the grinding wheel and rotary truer to whose surfaces are applied a material of greater hardness than the grinding wheel to be dressed, allowing the grinding wheel and rotary truer to run with the same circumferential speed and, at the same time, the grinding wheel and the rotary point crush truer device to press together under high pressure. It is the task of the invention to create a possibility of a simple means to avoid the abrasion in the above mentioned process of crush dressing with different surface speeds between the grinding wheel and the rotary truer, and thus to achieve long tool life of the dressing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6344716
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for use with plural, low voltage loads such as a string of Christmas lights is disclosed comprising groups of lights placed electrically in a series circuit but the lights within each group are in parallel, preferably with a semiconductor device in parallel with each group to limit current and voltage in the group. By suitable choice of bulb, group size and number of groups, a light string can be fashioned that that uses about one third the power with much less heat production and without loss of brightness. The semiconductor device can consist essentially of diodes such as two silica diodes on either side of a Zener diode, or a custom bipolar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ventur Research & Development Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6310549
    Abstract: The present invention is a wireless security system. Each alarm sensor contains three magnetoresistive sensors and that are capable of detecting the three-dimensional vector of a magnetic field. Preferably, the sensors detect the orientation of the door or window based upon the earth's magnetic pole. The three-dimensional vector output of the magnetoresistive sensors is received by a microprocessor on-board the alarm sensor. The microprocessor continuously compares the magnetoresistive sensors output with the maximum allowable position of the door or window. If the magnetoresistive sensors output exceeds the maximum allowable position, the microprocessor will signal an alarm, which is transmitted to the network controller via a transmitter on-board the alarm sensor. If an intruder attempts to disable or override a sensor, the alarm sensor will transmit a tamper signal to the network controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Digitech International
    Inventors: Jon Loftin, Richard Crane, Jerry Crane
  • Patent number: 6308700
    Abstract: The invention applies to a diamond dresser consisting of a rotary symmetric body on whose circumference and/or face is applied randomly distributed diamond particles. It is the task of the invention to use simple means to reduce the abrasion on the circumference of the dresser, and thus to achieve a substantial increase in the operational life of the dresser. The invention holds that closely-spaced radial running grooves that stretch to the circumferential edge of one face of the dresser in which oblong diamonds are inserted and fastened, or that in the circumferential edge tightly-spaced radial recesses are formed into which oblong diamonds are inserted and fastened. These oblong diamonds are radially arranged and their ends protrude beyond the circumference of the rotary symmetric body. The oblong diamonds substantially reduce abrasion to the circumference of the rotary symmetric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: DR Kaiser Co.
    Inventor: Tjark Lierse
  • Patent number: 6305591
    Abstract: A container for holding an orthodontic retainer. The container comprises a front wall, an opposing back wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a bottom wall and a lid to define a cavity capable of holding an orthodontic retainer. The lid is hingedly attached to the back wall so the lid is not also easily lost. In a first preferred embodiment, a string is connected to the container that allows the user to hang the container from his neck. In a second preferred embodiment, a clip is formed in the back wall so that the user can attach the container to his clothing, much like an electronic pager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Janice M Jones
  • Patent number: 6292965
    Abstract: A mattress with two bands running across its faces to increase firmness and body weight distribution. These bands are composed of panels of a highly resilient material fastened to panels of non-resilient material. The resilient panels are positioned where the greatest load concentrations are likely to be when the mattress is in use. The resilient panels are oriented to stretch in a direction parallel to the major dimension of the band and, as they are stretched, increase in tension in proportion to the load. The greater the load, the greater the tension on the resilient panels and the firmer the mattress becomes in response to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Dwain P Gambrell
  • Patent number: 6286626
    Abstract: An automated system for changing the motor oil in an engine. The system includes a drain plug having a plurality of channels coupled with tubing that extends to a reversible pump. Tubing extends from the pump to both a used oil container and a new oil container. Check valves positioned at the entrance of each container restrict flow so the oil can flow only to the used oil container and only flows from the new oil container. Preferably, both containers are located in the trunk of the vehicle for easy access. In use, the pump is engaged to draw the used motor oil from the engine into the used oil container. Next, the pump is reversed to draw fresh oil from the new oil container into the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Larry D Evans
  • Patent number: 6280694
    Abstract: A system and method is described having a single reaction vessel using superheated steam optionally augmented by oxygen for reducing nitrogen oxides present in a wide variety of organic compounds. Reduction takes place quickly when a steam/oxygen mixture is injected into a fluidized bed of ceramic beads. Reducing additives are metered into the reaction vessel and/or provide energy input to reduce nitrates to nitrogen. The speed of the fluidizing gas mixture agitates the beads that then help to break up solid wastes and to allow self-cleaning through abrasion thereby eliminating agglomerates, and the oxygen, when used, allows for some oxidation of waste by-products and provides an additional offset for thermal requirements of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Studsvik, Inc.
    Inventor: J Bradley Mason
  • Patent number: 6275022
    Abstract: A passive voltmeter for high voltage transmission lines that accurately measures and displays a wide range of voltages. A d'Arsonval type meter movement is preferably used in conjunction with the voltmeter wherein the scale contains a linear range and a compressed, nearly-logarithmic range. A circuit controls the pointer so that the deflection is linear for a low range of voltages while a high range of voltages is deflected in a compressed manner. The term “compressed” means that the display is scaled in a logarithmic manner although not a true logarithmic function. The circuit comprises one or more parallel branches with a meter movement and a resistor in the first branch; each additional branch, if more than one, contains a resistor and at least one diode connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Walter S Bierer
  • Patent number: 6269589
    Abstract: A planter capable of attachment at a vertical surface to a tree trunk or utility pole. The planter comprises at least one segment having an arcuate inside wall to conform to the central tree trunk or pole. Each segment extends partially around the circumference of the tree or pole. Segments may be interconnected using any one of four alternative fasteners: the first fastener is a resilient cable wrapped around a tree trunk with each segment having a pair of hooks to attach it to the cable; the second fastener interconnects segments using a pair of latches having holes therethrough with a bolt that is secured through the holes; the third fastener also interconnects segments by each segment having a pair of pins extending from the outer wall and near the end walls with a gasket having complementary holes securing the segments; and the fourth fastening means interconnects the segments using interlocking female and male edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Curtis J Bouler
  • Patent number: 6260308
    Abstract: Mechanism for covering a greenhouse has rotating shaft upon which a flexible cover is wound. The shaft travels along an arch or bow truss with the cover being wound upon or released from the shaft to uncover or cover the greenhouse. Two rotating shafts are provided on opposite sides of the roof ridge and each are attached to two sets of cables. One set of cables serving to pull the covers and a second set serving to apply tension to the covers during the covering and uncovering process. A counter weight or spring anchored to the floor is used with the second set of cables to assure adequate tension is applied to the covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Jaderloon Company INC
    Inventor: Donald F Looney
  • Patent number: 6258067
    Abstract: A middle ear fluid aspirator comprised of a syringe assembly that provides suction through the creation of negative pressure therein and a needle having an angled region that permits the operation of the aspirator while maintaining visual contact with the tympanic membrane and a needle safety assembly whereby the penetrating portion of the needle is not capable of damaging the ossicular structures of the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank C Hill
  • Patent number: 6257740
    Abstract: A lamp having a light bulb connected to a base insertable into a light socket in such a way that insertion breaks an electrical circuit between two spring terminals inside the socket and reestablishes it through the lead wires on the light bulb. The light bulb has a filament and two lean wires connected to the filaments. The filaments extend from the bottom of the base and are bent outwardly and upwardly around the base. The bulb with its base are insertable into the light socket. Wires from a source of electricity enter the socket and form electrical terminals, one on either side of the socket. Two spring terminals within the socket are biased toward each other and will conduct when supplied with an electrical potential unless separated. A protrusion on the base of the light bulb separates the spring terminals. Thus, in a light string where the lights are electrically in series, removal of a light bulb of the present invention will not cause the string to go out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: James W Gibboney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6254243
    Abstract: A method for making polymeric reflectors and parabolic reflectors in particular. The reflector is made by forming a series of layers (12, 14, 16, 18, and 20) that are progressively thinner with the final polymeric layer (20) being about one millimeter in thickness. The reflector is then coated with a reflective layer (22) by vapor deposition. To make a parabolic reflector, the layers are spun cast at a constant, preselected rate throughout the process, including during the curing of each layer. Layer formation is made in a controlled, particulate-free environment and additives can be used to increase stiffness, decrease weight, and reduce stresses during curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Walter A. Scrivens
  • Patent number: 6250040
    Abstract: A screen door made of foamed, closed-cell, solid-core polyvinyl chloride includes two rails and two stiles connected together to form a rectangular frame having an opening. A groove is milled into the frame around the opening. The screen that is to cover the opening is fastened to the frame by pressing it with a spline into the groove. The rails and stiles are connected using dowels in addition to adhesives, or, alternatively, using screws and traditional mortise and tenon joints. Holes are drilled into the stiles and then screws are driven into the rails from within the holes. The holes are then filled with foamed plastic plugs over the screws. The screen door can be cut and trimmed at the job site to fit it to the particular door frame, removing up to about an inch from each edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Guerry E Green
  • Patent number: 6250413
    Abstract: A motor mount for securing a motor to the frame of a go-cart includes a mounting plate and a clamp. The mounting plate is designed to be attached to the motor and then to remain with the motor as an adaptor for quick attachment to the clamp. The clamp grips the frame of the go-cart with a base and a body pivotally attached to each other at one end and releasibly attachable to each other at the other end by a single bolt. When the bolt is removed, the clamp can be opened and removed from the frame. The mounting plate is slidably receivable within a track formed in the body and locked in place until the motor is to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Gilbert H Horton
  • Patent number: 6243898
    Abstract: The present invention is a mattress having a centrally located cut-out portion that has an insert that fits therein. The combination of the mattress and insert provides a flat surface on which a bed ridden person can lie. The insert is removable from the cut-out portion so that a bed pan may be placed therein. The cut-out portion is designed to support the bed pan, so that the bed pan is within the boundaries of the mattress. Once the bed pan is in position, the bed ridden person may comfortably perform their excretory functions while maintaining a certain degree of discreteness and dignity. Once these functions have been performed, the bed pan is removed and the insert is repositioned. The present invention also comprises a first fitted sheet and a second fitted sheet. The first fitted sheet surround the mattress and extends within the cut-out portion, while the second fitted sheet surrounds the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Danese C Ruff
  • Patent number: D448151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Alvin Thomas Outlaw
  • Patent number: D453905
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Tony Chen Heng Cheng