Patents Represented by Attorney Mueller Smith & Okuley, LLC
  • Patent number: 8104606
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly for conveying a product to one or more product operations includes a conveyor belt rotating about a drive roller assembly and an end return roller assembly. A pair of spaced apart side frames supports the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and an inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Don A. Rogers, Rick A. Musick
  • Patent number: 8043631
    Abstract: A composition for delivering a tumor therapeutic agent to a patient includes a fast-release formulation of a tumor apoptosis inducing agent, a slow-release formulation of a tumor therapeutic agent, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. An apoptosis-inducing agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be administered before or concomitantly therewith. Nanoparticles or microparticles (e.g., cross-linked gelatin) of the therapeutic agent (e.g., paclitaxel) also may be used. The nanoparticles or microparticles may be coated with a bioadhesive coating. Microspheres that agglomerate to block the entrance of the lymphatic ducts of the bladder to retard clearance of the microparticles through the lymphatic system also may be employed. This invention also uses drug-loaded gelatin and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles and microparticles to target drug delivery to tumors in the peritoneal cavity, bladder tissues, and kidneys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Jessie L. S. Au, M. Guillaume Wientjes
  • Patent number: 8002109
    Abstract: A drive roller assembly for engaging a conveyor belt assembly for movement of a conveyor belt includes a sandwich assembly of components including a pair of outer annular scalloped wheels for engaging a conveyor belt for its movement, a rectilinear drive shaft running through the drive nut, and bolt assemblies to hold the sandwich assembly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Don A. Rogers, Rick A. Musick
  • Patent number: 7975829
    Abstract: An improved conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations is disclosed. Such conveyor assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Don A. Rogers, Rick A. Musick
  • Patent number: 7938448
    Abstract: The mobile vehicle detailing system is a system for detailing a motor vehicle adapted for mounting the rear of a truck or van. The mobile vehicle detailing system has a water storage tank that has outlets for filling buckets and water containers and provides a source of water. A surround box, in which is disposed the water storage tank, has an integral front section that extends between the front seats of a van or truck and provides storage for files and receipts. A pressure washer, generator and storage box are mounted on a sliding platform that can be pulled out from the vehicle for easy access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventors: John Schatz, Kevin Schatz
  • Patent number: 7926277
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a condenser of the type having a housing inside of which is disposed a bundle of water tubes, a steam inlet for steam to flow inside the housing for contacting the tube bundle for cooling, and having a stagnant air zone during operation wherein any air in-leakage preferentially collects and condensate in the air zone becomes subcooled. A trough or drain is placed beneath the stagnant air zone for collecting subcooled condensate from the stagnant air zone. Collected subcooled condensate is transported from the trough or drain in a pipe to said steam inlet. The transported condensate is injected with an injector for contacting with steam entering the condenser, whereby the injected condensate is heated by the steam for expelling dissolved oxygen in the injected condensate. Advantageously, the condenser is fitted with an array of temperature sensors at the stagnant air zone for determination of its presence and/or size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph W. C. Harpster
  • Patent number: 7920926
    Abstract: Implant apparatus and method for effecting a controlled heating of tissue within the region of dermis of skin. The heater implants are configured with a thermally insulative generally flat support functioning as a thermal barrier. One surface of this thermal barrier carries one or more polymerically encapsulated heater resistor segments with a lead assemblage exhibiting a 4-point topology. Each of the encapsulated heater segments may be thermally associated with a metal thermal spreader dimensioned in correspondence with and aligned with the heater segments. The implants are located within heating channels at the interface between skin dermis and the next adjacent subcutaneous tissue layer such that the heat spreaders are contactable with the lower region of dermis. During therapy a conformal heat sink is positioned against the skin above the implants and a slight tamponade is applied through the heat sink to assure a proper form of conduction heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Apsara Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Philip E. Eggers, Andrew R. Eggers, Eric A. Eggers
  • Patent number: 7912660
    Abstract: System and method for detecting partial discharge arcing phenomena in a power network distribution system which employs a mobile receiving assemblage including a wideband antenna, a computer controllable wideband radio receiver deriving an amplitude detected output and a global positioning system providing system position data. The amplitude detected outputs are digitized and treated with a digital signal processor based analysis including fast Fourier transforms extracting narrowband signal frequencies that are harmonically related to the network fundamental frequency. The narrowband signal frequencies are analyzed for peak amplitudes which are summed to derive maintenance merit values related to the arcing phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Exacter, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Anderson, John W. Beal, David S. Ellis, John Lauletta
  • Patent number: 7888536
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to novel methods for making discrete polyethylene compounds selectively and specifically to a predetermined number of ethylene oxide units. Methods which can be used to build up larger dPEG compounds (a) containing a wider range of utility to make useful homo- and heterofunctional and branched species, and (b) under reaction configurations and conditions that are milder, more efficient, more diverse in terms of incorporating useful functionality, more controllable, and more versatile then any conventional method reported in the art to date. In addition, the embodiments of the invention allow for processes that allow for significantly improving the ability to purify the intermediates or final product mixtures, making these methods useful for commerial manufacturing dPEGs. Protecting groups and functional groups can be designed to make purification at large scale a practical reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Quanta BioDesign, Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul D. Davis, Edward C. Crapps
  • Patent number: 7828797
    Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for carrying out electrosurgical procedures interstitially. Elevated temperature fluid such as steam generated by an instrument born electrosurgical cutting arc is evacuated through an intake port located adjacent the cutting electrode. Instrument cannula surface heating caused by transport of the heated fluid is isolated. Such thermal isolation is provided by a thermal shield which may be configured as an enveloping sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Intact Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Philip E. Eggers
  • Patent number: 7818925
    Abstract: A stay-in-place concrete footings form is used for forming a concrete footing between a spaced-apart pair of the stay-in-place concrete footings forms. Each concrete footing form is elongate and has a cavity inside the form. Each form has a pair of elongate sides wherein openings are formed in the elongate sides to permit water to flow into the cavity. Each form has a dovetail pin or dovetail slot formed along the lengthwise extent of both sides of the form. The dovetails permit clamps, having a mating dovetail slot or dovetail pin, to be clamped to the form for anchoring the form to the ground with a stake carried by the clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan Benedict
  • Patent number: 7775296
    Abstract: An improved portable, ground stabilized, drop hammer assembly for impacting a ground surface and adapted to be removably coupled to a driven host transport apparatus is composed of a drop weight, a frame including a sidewall, bottom plate and a host transport apparatus engagement assembly, and a power assembly for vertically reciprocatingly moving the drop weight to impact the ground surface. A shock absorbing element is carried either the frame assembly close to the ground surface or by the drop weight at its end close to the ground. Such shock absorbing material absorbs any movement by the drop weight into the frame assembly close to the ground surface to prevent damage to the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Patrick H. Webber
  • Patent number: 7765860
    Abstract: A method for measuring road surface friction of a road surface uses a vehicle that moves across the road surface wherein (1) an auxiliary independent wheel assembly is towed behind the vehicle and is in contact with the road surface, an auxiliary wheel of the wheel assembly is freely rotatable by movement of the vehicle and is one or more of toed in or toed out with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle so as to create an isolated axial force on the auxiliary wheel: (2) the axial force on the auxiliary wheel is measured while the vehicle moves across the road surface, and the measured axial force is correlated with the road surface friction. The independent wheel assembly is load isolated from the weight of the towing vehicle and the independent wheel assembly is loaded by placing ballast thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Donald R. Halliday
  • Patent number: 7757840
    Abstract: An improved conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations is disclosed. Such conveyor assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Don A. Rogers, Rick A. Musick
  • Patent number: 7743061
    Abstract: Method for carrying out the text content search of a document database utilizing multi-node nets. The nodes of these nets are associated with interactions and are loaded with initially selected criteria, whereupon a potential or distance function calculation is carried out with respect to each document of the database and those criteria containing nodes. The created nets are displayed with document symbols geometrically located with respect to the nodes and interaction lines in correspondence with the computed potentials to provide for an interactive visual evaluation of the search by the user. Such evaluations then may be employed to refine node contained criteria toward useful rule-based nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Proximate Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dumont M. Jones, Vadim M. Koganov
  • Patent number: 7738946
    Abstract: System, method and apparatus wherein a probe employing non-imagining optics is utilized in conjunction with a fluorescing (e.g., nanocrystal) tracer at the body of a patient. Excitation components within the probe working end are utilized to excite the nanocrystals to fluoresce at wavelengths in the near infrared region, such fluorescent energy is homogenized by interacting with involved tissue to provide a uniform fluorescing intensity over the surface of a photo-detector. Initialization and background determination procedures are described along with a technique for determining statistically significant levels of fluorescing activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Actis, Ltd.
    Inventors: Marlin O. Thurston, Helen Thurston, legal representative, Karl W. Olson
  • Patent number: 7731378
    Abstract: A lighted hair accessory includes a power source; one or more light emitting devices in electrical connection with the power source; and a switch interposed between the power source and the light emitting devices. A hair accessory configured to secure a bunch of hair is fitted with the power source, light emitting devices, and switch for the hair accessory to selectively display light by activating the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew T. Dutcher
  • Patent number: RE42036
    Abstract: A powered towing vehicle having steering wheels and a wheeled trailer is connected to the vehicle for its towing. The wheels of the trailer are connected to a source of power for generating forward and rearward movement of the trailer. These wheels also are connected to a source of power for turning such wheels in order to steer the trailer. These wheels further are connected to a sensor to sense the position of the trailer wheels as they are being steered. The steering wheels of the towing vehicle also are connected to a sensor to sense the position of the vehicle wheels as they are being steered. The trailer steering wheel sensor is displayed to an operator of the vehicle so that the vehicle operator knows the relative position of each of the steering wheels. The trailer steering power source is connected to the vehicle so that an operator of the vehicle can remotely steer the wheels of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Ben N. Dillon
  • Patent number: D631901
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: United McGill Corporation C
    Inventors: Patrick J. Brooks, Shawn Michael Fortner, Andrew N. Czerpak
  • Patent number: D650022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Recreation Supply, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal L. Lundquist