Patents Represented by Law Firm Neuman, Williams, Anderson & Olson
  • Shaving composition
    Patent number: 4994265
    Abstract: A shaving composition comprising at least about 10 wt % aloe vera product, a cosmetically acceptable film forming agent, a cosmetically acceptable lubricity agent, and a cosmetically acceptable preservative. The shaving composition of the invention may be in the form of either a liquid or a gel. The composition can be used without prior application of water to the area to be shaved and can be packaged in a variety of forms which make it especially suitable for travelers, campers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Aloe Scientific Labs
    Inventor: Blanca A. White
  • Film advancing and rewinding mechanism
    Patent number: 4992811
    Abstract: A motorized film winding and rewinding mechanism includes a take up drum for advancing a film and a motor to drive the take up drum. A spool for rewinding a film is connected to the take up drum through a series of gears so that it rotates in such a manner to allow transfer of film between the spool and the take up drum. A second system of gears that includes a floatable subgear system that moves between first and second positions connects the motor to the take up drum. A lever moves the floating subgears system from the first position to the second when the film reaches the end of the roll to change the path through the gear system and rotate the take up drum and spool in the opposite direction so that the motor rewinds the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Keystone Camera Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Fridman
  • Grip enhanced basketball
    Patent number: 4991842
    Abstract: A grip enhanced substantially spherical sports ball is disclosed which includes a plurality of recesses on the exterior surface of the ball separated from one another by a network of interconnected ridges. Each recess has a polygonal open side at the exterior surface of the ball and a wall converging from the open side to a bottom wall. Each ridge in the network has a narrow outer surface. The enhanced grip allows players to dribble, pass and shoot basketballs more accurately and for longer distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Charles O. Finley
  • Universal crayon sharpener
    Patent number: 4991299
    Abstract: The invention provides a single, universal crayon sharpener capable of accommodating many different sizes of crayons or other similar marking instruments. The invention includes asymmetrical sharpening slots and cutting flanges which cooperate with an internal guide wal to ensure the proper placement and sharpening of a large range of crayon sizes. The use of asymmetrical sharpening slots and cutting flanges, and an internal guide wall, in addition, permits the efficient reinforcement of the sharpener to resist the forces and stresses generated during the sharpening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Binney & Smith Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Dietterich, Gregory C. Yehl, Harry J. Lidle, Jr.
  • Electrical connectors
    Patent number: 4992053
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed including two complementary insulating members which form a block of substantial thickness, with openings therethrough, elongated conductive slugs in the openings and resilient wadded conductor buttons retained at and contacting each end of each slug and each having a resiliently compressive portion protruding from the block for axial compressive electrically conductive connection to an adjacent component such a circuit board, for connecting components which are to be spaced apart by a substantial dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Labinal Components and Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Lindeman, Saeed U. Zafar
  • Metering valve
    Patent number: 4991819
    Abstract: A metering valve is provided having a piston assembly mounted for movement between open and close modes. The piston assembly is biased to assume a close mode. The piston assembly assumes an open mode only when a predetermined external force is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. When the external force is removed, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode. The rate of movement of the piston assembly during a first segment of travel from the open mode to the close mode is substantially slower than the rate of movement during a second segment of the travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Daniel J. Laube
  • Dual range infinitely variable transmission
    Patent number: 4990127
    Abstract: A dual range infinitely variable transmission utilizes a continuously variable speed mechanism in conjunction with a fixed ratio speed mechanism to provide two power paths from the input to the rotatable output. A jaw clutch is utilized to switch between the high range and low range of the transmission. A reaction type clutch is utilized to provide a positive neutral for the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Roberts, deceased, Richard L. Smirl, Herbert N. Underwood
  • Ramp system for assembling and disassembling highway trailers and railtrucks for intermodal transportation
    Patent number: 4989518
    Abstract: A novel ramp system is provided for use in the assembly and disassembly of intermodal highway trailers and intermodal railtrucks for intermodal transportation. The ramp system has an ascending portion for raising the level of the trailer frame onto an elevated portion of the ramp so as to align the respective coupling members in proper relationship for coupling. The ramp system also has a descending portion for transferring the load from the highway wheel assembly of the trailer to the railtruck. The descending portion of the ramp includes a wheel stop to locate the railtruck in an operative location for coupling beneath the trailer during lowering of the trailer frame on top of the railtruck adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kealey, Harry O. Wicks, Gary D. Christen, Richard L. Jones, Kenneth E. Combs
  • Low-loss electrical interconnects
    Patent number: 4988306
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facilitating insertion and maximizing resiliency, reliability and conductivity of button contacts in button board type circuit interconnectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Labinal Components and Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert N. Hopfer, III, Richard J. Lindeman
  • Self-synchronizing servo control system and servo data code for high density disk drives
    Patent number: 4987355
    Abstract: A self-synchronizing servo control system and its associated servo data code for use in a high-density disk memory is disclosed. The servo data is formatted into a sync/index zone and a data zone. Sync and index di-bits are written only in the sync/index zone, while only servo data position di-bits are written in the data zone. Elimination of the sync and code di-bits used in prior art methods removes all requirements for radial phase coherence during the writing process, and increases the servo sample frequency. The new servo data code also reduces the intersymbol interference seen by adjacent pulses. The associated configuration of the servo control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. E. Leaper, Robert Y. Noguchi, Randall L. Sandusky
  • Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system
    Patent number: 4985830
    Abstract: A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Universities Research Association, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Atac, Mark S. Fischler, Donald E. Husby
  • Film number writing system
    Patent number: 4984008
    Abstract: A writing system is usable in apparatus in which mirrors in a "V" configuration, split mirrors, a combining mirror and a camera mirror project images of opposite sides of a document in an imaging region to a microfilm in side-by-side relation. The writing system includes mirrors which project alpha or numeric character images from an LED display to the combining mirror to be projected to an otherwise unused portion of the microfilm. A compact folded path is provided having the same focal distance as that provided by the document image projecting mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Richard Frystak, John S. O'Callaghan, Sr.
  • Burst refresh of dynamic random access memory for personal computers
    Patent number: 4984209
    Abstract: An improved method for refreshing dynamic random access memory devices is disclosed. Normal refresh clocking signals are monitored and a count accumulated up to a selected value. Refresh operations are then initiated less frequently and only when the selected count has been accumulated. Once control of the bus to the memory has been achieved, a burst of refresh operations are performed prior to release of the bus. Improved efficiency and operating speed may be achieved by minimizing wasted time associated with acquisition and control of the bus. A preferred embodiment illustrates savings associated with a burst of four refresh operations each time the bus to the memory device is acquired for refreshing. Page addressing techniques are enhanced by forcing a change of state of the row address strobe line bus frequently than typical refresh operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Zenith Data Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Babu Rajaram, Mark J. Foster
  • Railway highway vehicle
    Patent number: 4981082
    Abstract: A railway train of truck trailers or trailer chassis coupled end to end with the back end of each trailer (and the front end of a following trailer, if any) pivotally supported on the bolster of a railway truck by a subframe having vertically facing load carrying parts engaged by mating parts on the back end of the leading trailer on opposite sides of its centerline. The following trailer is supported by structure either on the forward trailer or pivotally supported by said subframe. When connected in the railway mode, the road wheels of the trailer are supported clear of the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Railmaster System, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry O. Wicks
  • Dual-mode rail-highway semi-trailer
    Patent number: 4981083
    Abstract: A dual-mode semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels in which a demountable flanged rail wheel bogie is employed, the body being supported upon the highway running gear during over-the-road travel by air-spring elements and being supported upon the rail wheel bogie during travel over railroad tracks, structure being provided to selectively raise and lower the highway running gear for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, structure also being provided to attach or detach the rail wheel bogie from the body for operation in the rail or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers bodies being couplable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Cripe
  • Spring adjustment device for overhead doors
    Patent number: 4981165
    Abstract: An overhead door mechanism with torsion type counterbalance springs includes a spring adjustment device comprising a housing suitable for attachment to a horizontal shaft and a gearing mechanism that allows angular adjustment of the attached end of the spring relative to the shaft. The gearing mechanism includes a toothed ring gear member adapted for connection to the spring and rotatably mounted in the housing. A threaded worm is also mounted in the housing so that it engages the teeth of the toothed member. Rotation of the threaded worm induces a corresponding rotation of the toothed member. The rotation, when conveyed to one end of a spring that is fixed at its other end causes the spring torsion to be altered without releasing the spring from retention by the adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Millco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene J. Miller, Randal J. Buenzli
  • Anaerobic digestion with addition of enzymes
    Patent number: 4981592
    Abstract: Addition of alkaline proteolytic enzymes derived from Bacillis licheniformis in the anaerobic stage of bacterial digestion processes to improve the settling properties of the bacterial biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Garbutt, Claire L. Smith
  • Combined fiber optic lamp and music box
    Patent number: D314055
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Great Western Trading Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Ross, Jr., Robert J. McNally
  • Bottle
    Patent number: D314509
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Castrol Limited
    Inventor: John S. Frazer
  • Automobile-shaped vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: D314651
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Great Western Trading Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Ross, Jr., Robert J. McNally