Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mills Law Firm PLLC
  • Patent number: 6405415
    Abstract: A body towel clip for releasably preventing separation of overlapping portions of a towel wrapped around the torso of a user, includes a pair of pivotally interconnected clamp members having barbed jaw portions interengaging in a clamped position to securely fasten overlapping towel end, the jaw portions including interengaging barbs which resist gravitational separation and activity separation of the towel ends and distribute reactive forces along the jaw to prevent damage to the pivotal connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Susan J. Meeks
  • Patent number: 6399185
    Abstract: An organic substrate for controlling vegetation is manufactured from recycled waste paper, cotton fiber and cotton gin waste, and gypsum. The recycled waste products are combined to form a slurry mixture for processing by conventional paper making machinery into a substrate that may be used in sheet form or comminuted pieces to control weed growth in horticultural applications and serve as a carrier substrate for germinating seeds and growing select vegetation species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy D. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6399136
    Abstract: A coffee concentrate shelf stable for extended periods at ambient temperatures includes an aseptically packaged coffee concentrate of coffee and water obtained through a cold extraction process and processed under ultra high temperature and time conditions having an F0 value in the range of about 1 to 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Arthur W. Watkins, Jr., Elaine T. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6397778
    Abstract: A pet bed for a caged enclosure includes a support bedding platform that is suspended by a pair of chain linkages from opposed walls of the enclosure and above the floor thereof so as to permit normal periodic cleaning of the floor and provide a dry bedding area for the pet. The linkages may be connected to a common wall for the compact stowing of the bedding platform during non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Brenda Tripp
  • Patent number: 6394019
    Abstract: An anti-capsizing watercraft for propulsion over rough water includes three flotation members radially and circumferentially spaced connected with a hub member and an occupant platform rotatably connected with said hub member whereby at least two floatation members support the craft during rolling movement in the rough water with the occupant platform maintaining a stable level orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: John F. West
  • Patent number: 6393993
    Abstract: A monorail switching system for guided vehicles includes a main guideway mounted below the transportation monorail that engages a vertically shiftable keel assembly carried by the vehicle. For entrance/exit junctions, a secondary guideway defines the junction path is selectively engaged by lowering the shiftable keel from control by the main guideway. The plural guideways permit vehicles to travel in concert notwithstanding selective revision at the junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Eugene A. Reese
  • Patent number: 6393879
    Abstract: A T-bar lockable linkage is deployed between the gunnels and forward seating or casting area of a marine craft and effective to limit opening of an array of side and central storage containers including a telescoping cross bar assembly that is connected to mounting brackets at the sides of the front boat deck. The mounting brackets include universal connectors that allow self alignment of the cross bar assembly, notwithstanding varying boat configurations or installation inaccuracies. The cross bar assembly includes a slotted slidable hub that may be aligned with a forward anchorage location, preferably an existing pedestal base for a swivel boat seat. The cross bar assembly includes matching holes aligned with a medial slot in the hub. A front anchor is releasably attached to the front pedestal base and slidably receives a center locking bar. With the center locking bar in place, the front anchor is conditioned against removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: J. Mark William
  • Patent number: 6391035
    Abstract: A surgical clip removal instrument having operative surfaces at the distal jaws that directly compress the legs of a latched surgical clip and upon limited closure movement differentially elongate the clip legs to achieve an unlatched condition. Upon release of the jaws, the inherent resiliency of the clip outwardly biases the legs while maintaining contact with the jaws, allowing removal of the clip from the surgical site in a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy Appleby, Matthew Rowland Shute
  • Patent number: 6378844
    Abstract: A manual well puller includes a lower slotted bracket that slides over the upper end of a well casing, a lower roller assembly for vertically guiding withdrawal of the well pipe, and an outwardly inclined support arm carrying rotatable guide wheels for enabling a repair to horizontally withdraw the well pipe thereby avoiding direct vertical lifting of the pipe and attached pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Russell A. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6378139
    Abstract: A lounging and sleeping stocking includes a stocking body having a loose fit with the leg and foot of a user to provide a warm, loose fitting. Infinitely adjustable closure is provided at the upper end of the stocking to allow the stocking to be lightly secure for walking short distances and to prevent warm air from escaping while not being so tight as to reduce the circulation of blood to the legs and feet of the user. An anti-slip sole is provided for preventing the use from slipping and possibly falling on uncarpeted, smooth surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Patricia A. Mazzaglia
  • Patent number: 6363697
    Abstract: A foal weaning gear for wear by a nursing mare to deny access by a foal includes a protective pad disposed over the mammary glands and resiliently held in position by a plurality of adjustable straps providing continuous triaxial resilient biasing of the protective pad throughout normal physical activities of the mare without requiring ongoing adjustment during the weaning period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Allen Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6347705
    Abstract: A medication container includes a labeled separator disc segmenting medications in a prescription into an upper volume and a lower volume. The lower volume contains sufficient medication to enable reordering of the prescription without interruption. After the upper volume is depleted the disc is removed and the label information may be used for reordering via mail, telephone or personal purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventor: William R. Futrell
  • Patent number: 6336542
    Abstract: A unidirectional conveyor roller for use in a pre-existing conveyor roller system includes a cylindrical roller body supported on a shaft by ball bearing assemblies. A roller clutch bearing between the roller body and the shaft limits relative rotation to a single direction. An internal spring mechanism allows the shaft to be temporarily retracted for facilitating installation on the conveyor roller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Edwin Arthur Mintonye, II
  • Patent number: 6321551
    Abstract: An indoor ice rink facility is provided with a dehumidifier coil connected with the ice rink refrigeration coils in a secondary refrigerant loop and a reheat coil coupled with the primary refrigerant loop for maintain the ice sheet and controlling the humidity of the facility in a single system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas J. Backman, James F. Roomsburg
  • Patent number: 6322302
    Abstract: An improved snap buckle tool for opening and closing a snap buckle of the type used in combination with a flexible strap member to adjust the tension thereof is disclosed. The snap buckle tool comprises an elongated handle member integrally formed with a generally C-shaped head member. An elongated slot divides the terminal end of the head member into a pair of parallel tines which engage a snap buckle to alternately manipulate the snap buckle from a closed condition to an open condition to adjust the tension of the strap. The slot is disposed at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle member to facilitate use of the tool against a surface of a shipping container to gain a mechanical advantage in opening and closing the snap buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas E. Horton
  • Patent number: 6319144
    Abstract: This invention is a table type game that requires both billiard skills and bowling skills to play. Scaled down bowling lanes, gutters, pins and approach are provided. The scaled down bowling balls are regulation size billiard balls that are struck and driven by regulation size billiard cues. The approach is covered with a billiard table type felt material and is raised approximately ¼ inch above the lane to allow the billiard balls to replicate the sounds of a bowling alley during play. Standard bowling scoring is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Vernon Hasty
  • Patent number: 6306324
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing packaging material and sheets, such as disposable food containers or seedling-breeding containers from straws, comprising pulverizing into powder, with 20-50 mesh; stirring the powder of straw, a binder, a lubricant and water in weight parts of 70-88, 0.3-1.0, 0.05-1 and 10-20 respectively, at ambient temperature for 5-15 minutes under 50-80 rpm to obtain a mixture, and thermal molding the mixture at a temperature of 100-150° C., and under a pressure of 20-250 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Changrong Wang
  • Patent number: 6289819
    Abstract: A paint ball land mine capable of propelling standard caliber paint balls during simulated war games is disclosed. The present paint ball land mine is designed to simulate the function of a U.S. military Claymore anti-personnel mine for purpose of marking participants as out of the competition in the simulated war game. The paintball land mine includes a cylindrical discharge tube configured to receive a pyrotechnic charge in the form of a 12 gauge shotgun blank round and/or a .38 caliber blank round. In a preferred embodiment a firing pin is pivotally attached in operative relation to the pyrotechnic charge and spring-biased into contact therewith. A trigger mechanism including a trip pin fixedly attached to a trip wire is interposed between the pyrotechnic charge and the firing pin. When a participant comes into contact with the trigger mechanism the paintballs are propelled at a velocity up to 200 feet per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel W. Dolderer
  • Patent number: 6286963
    Abstract: Telescopes have many accessories including astrophotography devices. A finely threaded accessory ring of conventional diameter is provided on these telescopes with the accessories being screwed thereinto with the constant danger of cross-threading. The present invention is threaded into the accessory ring of the telescope and on to the mating threads of the accessories. Through the use of the adapter of the present invention, the male adapter includes an outwardly projecting locking pin and the female adapter includes a mating, generally L-shaped locking slot to allow slide-on and twist locking and twist and slide-off unlocking. This can be accomplished in one to two seconds versus ten to twelve seconds to install and seven to eight seconds to remove accessories using the conventional thread-on, thread-off method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Kendall Nelson
  • Patent number: D457968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Corbo