Patents Represented by Attorney Michael P. Breston
  • Patent number: 6331337
    Abstract: The method of this invention concerns bonding side-to-side glass or plastic building blocks to obtain decorative and/or functional modular sub-assemblies, walls, panels, floors, windows, skylights, etc., using flexible, light-weight, elongated, adhesive tape strips to adhesively bond together at least portions of complementary block side surfaces to construct multi-tier building block units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Inventors: Bryan Woodrow Osborn, Jay Dwain Etheredge
  • Patent number: 6203248
    Abstract: A bottom-founded offshore structure in relatively shallow waters is protected against sliding. It uses at least one pile and a suction pump inside the pile. The pile has a length-to-diameter ratio such as to achieve sufficient pile imbedment with the selected suction pump. A dedicated pile lowering and lifting device lowers and lifts the pile as needed. Guides allow the pile's vertical motion and limit its rotational motion during imbedment and extraction. A stop device limits the vertical motion of the pile's top rim during pile extraction. The pile is reusable, light weight, easy to install and to extract, self-contained, and economical in relationship to its high holding power when imbedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Atwood Oceanics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Childers, David Rowan, Alan Quintero
  • Patent number: 5987900
    Abstract: The system for prechilling the ambient water, derived from a pressurized source of ambient water, that is needed by an existing beverage dispenser machine and by an existing ice maker machine, includes a heat exchanger positioned outside of the dispenser machine. This heat exchanger receives the cold waste waters being discharged during use by both machines. A heat exchange tubing is immersed inside the heat exchanger for precooling, in heat exchange relationship, the needed ambient water with the cold waste water inside the heat exchanger. The prechilled ambient water is supplied to the ice machine for producing ice to fill the dispenser's bin, and the ice is supplied to the bin of the dispenser machine for cooling the dispenser's cold plate and for dispensing chilled beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Maximicer, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff L. Love
  • Patent number: 5894817
    Abstract: The pet carrier includes a garment having a pair of left and right side panels extending from a center bottom panel. Each panel has forward and rear leg openings. The opposite ends of a shoulder strap are releasably attached to linking device on the panels' edges. By unhooking the shoulder strap only from the tail side linking device, the carrier is turned into a collarless leash for the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Kathy Manuel
  • Patent number: 5738043
    Abstract: The small animal carrier comprises left and right side panels, and a bottom panel defining therebetween a neck opening, a tail opening, a pair of unrestrained lateral front leg openings, and a pair of lateral unrestrained rear leg openings symmetrically positioned on both sides of the bottom panel. A pair of opposite handles extend outwardly and upwardly from the mid sections of the left and right side panels for hand carrying the animal. Detachable closure means are provided on the longitudinal edges of the side panels to serve as a leash and as a shoulder strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Kathy Manuel
  • Patent number: 5575523
    Abstract: The visor includes a shade and a distinct coupler for pivotably and detachably coupling the shade to the fixed arm or shaft supporting the rear view mirror. The shade is sized to block out the direct low-incident sun rays passing through the windshield in the direction of the driver's eyes, so that they become shaded from the blinding bright light, especially during sunrises and sunsets. The dimensions of the visor are also selected so as not to significantly reduce the driver's vision of the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Theodore F. Keller
  • Patent number: 5555734
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for exchanging heat between one fluid and another fluid by using a heat exchanger, and circulating at least the one fluid through a fluid flow channel within a body made of a material which is a good heat conductor as well as a good conductor of electric current, so that the fluids become in heat exchange relationship through the walls of the body. The improvement includes insulating the body from electric current flow therethrough, so that, in use, the tendency for progressive precipitation of solid particles from the fluids onto the wetted surfaces of the body is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Maximicer
    Inventors: Daniel L. Welch, Jeff L. Love
  • Patent number: 5497332
    Abstract: This invention involves transducing and monitoring the power being delivered by an electric generator to a power bus by using a monitor which includes an embedded microprocessor in the memory of which are stored reference digital numbers that correspond to the generator's nominal power, and to the components of the nominal power including output power. The generator's voltage and current signals are sensed and then shaped for use by the microprocessor wherein they are digitized into a first set of digital numbers. Preferably, the first set of digital numbers is converted into pulse-width modulated (PWM) square-wave signals, which are demodulated into DC current signals that are indicative of the power and the components of power being delivered by the electric generator to its power bus. The microprocessor digitizes the square wave signals into a second set of digital numbers, and calculates from the first and from the second sets of digital numbers real time digital numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Automatic Terminal Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Allen, Robert L. Spaw
  • Patent number: 5454599
    Abstract: The score card has a front surface displaying a series of numbers arranged from a base line L into rows and columns. The numbers are derived from multiplying a known number F by a series of integers 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . N. Each number, when selected by the user, provides a running score. The score card is illustrated for use with an automatic teller machine ("ATM") which is controlled by an ATM card. The numbers on the surface of the score card are multiples of the base dollar amount dispensed by the ATM. The method of using the score card involves selecting a first score A.sub.1 =N.sub.1 xF by counting N.sub.1 rows from the base line L, wherein N.sub.1 is a first known multiplying integer, selecting a second score A.sub.2 =(N.sub.1 +N.sub.2)F by counting N.sub.2 rows from A.sub.1, wherein N.sub.2 is a second known multiplying integer, and finally selecting a third score A.sub.3 =(N.sub.1 +N.sub.2 +N.sub.3)F by counting N.sub.3 rows from A.sub.2, where N.sub.3 is a third known multiplying integer, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventors: Eleanor D. Totz, Andrew B. Totz
  • Patent number: 5442914
    Abstract: The SMA-CDS engine uses shape-memory-alloy (SMA) means which include at least one stack of conical-disc-springs (CDSs) mounted on a perforated tube. Each CDS has a zero axis, a martensite mode, and an austenite mode. A support structure mounts the CDSs on a tube so as to allow each CDS to reciprocate along the tube's outer wall and to deflect within a predetermined deflection range. A drive shaft is attached through a coupler to the stack of CDSS. Heating and cooling means cyclically heat and cool the stack of CDSs thereby causing each CDS thereof to cyclically transform in response to the heating from its said martensite mode into its said austenite mode, and in response to the cooling to return to its said martensite mode, and during each such transformation cycle each CDS deflects within the predetermined deflection range and generates martensite deflection forces and austenite extension forces of different magnitudes which result in a resultant force that causes the drive shaft to reciprocate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: George K. Otsuka
  • Patent number: 5379603
    Abstract: Prechilling the tap water with the cold waste water from an ice machine is achieved by using an insulated, elongated casing, which encloses a reservoir housing a heat exchanger made of a relatively long tubing of copper to provide a relatively long path of travel for the tap water. The heat exchanger is in the form of a coil followed by a substantially straight tube within and surrounded by the coil's turns. A hollow member, closed at one end, is spaced from the straight tube. The coil's turns surround the hollow member and the straight tube. Preferably, the hollow member is mounted over and is spaced from the straight tube to form there between an elongated chamber. In use, the tap water flows downwardly in the coil and upwardly through the straight tube. The cold waste water flows through the elongated chamber into the reservoir, thereby progressively and continuously increasing the temperature of the waste water and correspondingly decreasing the tap water's temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventors: Daniel L. Welch, Jeff L. Love
  • Patent number: 5280937
    Abstract: The front-driven, wheeled framework has a rear frame, at least one rotatably mounted rear wheel on the rear frame, and a forward frame. The forward frame is pivotably attached to a steering frame. A single front wheel is mounted on the steering frame. A limb-operated driving means rotates the front wheel through a transmission means. A steering means steers the propelled front wheel in response to a steering force and independently of the driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis Needham
  • Patent number: 5267719
    Abstract: The hanger for hanging an object, such as a picture frame, or the like, that carries a laterally-extending flexible wire, has a lower body portion, provided with longitudinal slits forming prongs for snubbing the wire within the prongs, and an upper body portion having an opening for accepting a nail therethrough, or a peg for securing the hanger to an upright surface. The resilient prongs are made from a springy metal blank having two slits. The prongs snuggly receive the wire between the lower ends of the prongs to provide a sufficient resilient wedging and snubbing action on the wire by the prongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Theodore F. Keller
  • Patent number: 5205172
    Abstract: The interface gauge includes at least one transducer for sensing the interface between two media within a reservoir. An elongated flat member has at least one transverse bore. A transducer is loosely contained within the bore. Conductors connect the transducer to a signal comparator and logic network for monitoring an impedance change in the transducer in response to a change in the interface within the reservoir. The gauge can replace conventional mechanical dipsticks in factory made dipstick tubes for crankcases and automatic transmissions in order to monitor oil and transmission fluid levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Roni K. Doak
  • Patent number: 5176712
    Abstract: The endoprosthesis is adapted for insertion into a socket formed within the medullary canal of a patient's bone. It comprises an elongated stem defining a proximal region, a distal region, and a tip. A soft porous pad extends distally from the stem tip. The pad has a thickness greater than two millimeters. The distal region is preferably biocompatible, porous, soft, resilient, deformable, and tissue-ingrowth promoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Tranquil Prospects Ltd.
    Inventor: Charles A. Homsy
  • Patent number: 5157986
    Abstract: The novel cover is designed to insulate the steering wheel mounted on the hub portion of a steering wheel column of a vehicle. The rear panel has a center hole sized to substantially capture the hub portion of the steering wheel column. A slit extends downwardly from the center hole. The opposite edges of the slit spread apart to allow the steering wheel to easily slide into and out of the cover. The thermally-insulating cover is made of a flexible and easily deformable laminated material of a synthetic polymer weave fabric, containing an amide (nylon) group --CONH-- as a recurring part of its chain, which is superimposed on and suitably bonded with resin to a thermally insulating foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Theodore F. Keller
  • Patent number: D369661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Joe A. Taylor
  • Patent number: D371607
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Joe A. Taylor
  • Patent number: D375167
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Joe A. Taylor
  • Patent number: D408545
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Joe A. Taylor