Patents Represented by Law Firm Nydegger & Harshman
  • Patent number: 4933218
    Abstract: A sign with an etched or embossed appearance comprises a transparent substrate on which an extraordinarily thick ridge of viscous ink has been deposited to form a design. For an embossed appearance, the ridge of ink is uniformly smooth. For an etched appearance, the ridge of ink is formed with a textured pattern. A sheet having a thin layer of adhesive on one side is pressed onto the substrate over the ridge of ink to adhere the sheet to the substrate and conform the sheet to the ridge to give the appropriate appearance for the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Longobardi
  • Patent number: 4933866
    Abstract: A process and system for generating an aesthetically altered character design with the aid of a computer includes the steps of providing the computer with coordinates defining a wide fixed reference character shape, providing the computer with corresponding coordinates defining a narrow fixed reference character shape, providing the computer with a desired degree of alteration to be made to the character shape in relation to one of the reference character shapes, and calculating in the computer coordinates of an aesthetically alterable character shape. Each of the calculated coordinates for the aesthetically altered shape is generated by interpolating in an amount equal to the desired degree between corresponding coordinates to the wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Vital Lasertype, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Markoff, John R. Deubert
  • Patent number: 4933876
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an automatic plotter device having marking instruments for drawing images onto a large sheet with the aid of a computer includes providing the computer with data defining the desired images, providing the plotter with a preselected plurality of marking instruments each having a specified stroke width, providing the computer with data corresponding to and representing the stroke width for each of the preselected plurality of marking instruments, calculating in the computer for each marking instrument the coordinates upon which each instrument is to draw onto the sheet based upon the size, shape, and location of the image and the appropriate width, and generating control signals to the plotter for controllably selecting and causing each marking instrument to draw on the sheet at locations according to the calculated stroke coordinates. The sheet may be paper, vellum or other clear plastic utilized for the screen exposure preparation process for purposes of screen printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Vital LaserType, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Markoff, John R. Deubert
  • Patent number: 4929003
    Abstract: A motorized door locking mechanism comprises a base on which a bolt and a latch are reciprocally mounted. A cam plate is slideably mounted on the base for movement between first, second and third positions and is operatively connected with the bolt and latch to control the position and movement of the bolt in response to positioning of the latch and cam plate. In its first position, the cam plate holds the bolt in a forward or locked position. In its second position, the cam plate is held by the latch for as long as the door is closed while the cam plate itself holds the bolt in a retracted or unlocked position. When the unlocked door is opened, the latch releases to allow movement of the cam plate into its third position. The bolt can then move between its forward and retracted positions as long as the door remains open. Subsequent closing of the door again moves the latch and returns the cam plate to the first position for locking the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Adtec Incorporated
    Inventor: Lloyd T. McConnell
  • Patent number: 4926526
    Abstract: A reusable closure is described which comprises an elongate member molded from a plastics material having memory. The member is formed with a reduced thickness live hinge line extending along its length and leg portions defined on opposite sides of the live hinge line which can be urged towards and away from each other between locked and released positions. An upstanding ear extending along the length of each leg portion has a locking portion adapted to releasably snap into locking engagement with a corresponding locking portion on the other ear in the locked position. Rounded areas join each ear to its respective leg portion. A packaging and storage system using such closures is described, and methods of making such closures by extrusion or injection molding are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventors: Christine C. Brown, Dennis G. Brown
  • Patent number: 4922064
    Abstract: A door position indicator for indicating when the door is open or ajar from the doorjamb comprises a proximity switch which is adjustably mounted on the frame leaf attached to the doorjamb. An actuator is adjustably mounted on the door leaf attached to the door and positioned thereon for alignment with the proximity switch when the door is closed. The indicator also comprises a spring which urges the actuator toward the proximity switch when the actuator and switch are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Adtec Incorporated
    Inventors: Dean C. Price, Quentin H. Young
  • Patent number: 4920336
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring the contents of a container in order to detect when the contents are below a predetermined level. An optical metering signal from a light source driven by a multivibrator is projected at a predetermined level across the space within the container. A light sensor on the opposite side of the space within the container detects incident illumination there. The metering signal is incident there only when the contents of the container are below the predetermined level. Otherwise, the contents either block or refract the metering signal from its normal path, and the metering signal goes undetected. A unity gain amplifier of variable sign coupled to the light sensor and to the multivibrator determines when signal from the light sensor are synchronized with the output of the multivibrator, so as to be deemed to correspond to pulses of the metering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company
    Inventor: Robert S. Meijer
  • Patent number: 4915374
    Abstract: A recumbent exercise cycle comprises a pair of pedals and a seat which are each individually adjustable relative to a crankshaft that is rotatably mounted on the frame of the exercise cycle. In combination, each pedal is connected by an extension arm to a point on a crank arm for movement of the pedal along a circular path about the point on the crank arm, and the crank arm is connected to the crankshaft for movement of the point along a circular path about the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: MEDmetric Corporation
    Inventor: K. Richard Watkins
  • Patent number: 4909710
    Abstract: A linear peristaltic pump equipped with a pressure relief mechanism for pumping I.V. fluids to a patient comprises a platen for supporting the tube, and a plurality of fingers which sequentially urge against the tube resting against the platen for creating a moving zone of occlusion. Cam lobes are formed to lift a penultimate and ultimate finger off of the tube at a rate faster than the other fingers to prevent pressure increases inside the tube which would otherwise be caused by other fingers urging against the tube. Additionally, the ultimate finger may be shortened with respect to the other fingers to reduce the total occlusion time of the ultimate finger to provide a more linearized flow of fluid to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company
    Inventors: David E. Kaplan, David Burkett, Laurence Warden
  • Patent number: 4907586
    Abstract: A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam to change the optical properties of the eye comprises controllably setting the volumetric power density of the beam and selecting a desired wavelength for the beam. Tissue modification is accomplished by focusing the beam at a preselected start point in the tissue and moving the beam's focal point in a predetermined manner relative to the start point throughout a specified volume of the tissue or along a specified path in the tissue. Depending on the selected volumetric power density, the tissue on which the focal point is incident can be modified either by photoablation or by a change in the tissue's visco-elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Intelligent Surgical Lasers
    Inventors: Josef F. Bille, Stuart I. Brown
  • Patent number: 4903832
    Abstract: A system for cleanly storing and disposing of discarded and potentially contaminated articles comprises a disposable receptacle of specialized design and a selectively operable mount for securing the receptacle to a support while in use. The receptacle prior to assembly and deployment on the mount is a unitary nestable sequence of interconnected panels including a rear panel having a back wall, two side walls and a floor extending between the side walls at an acute angle to the back wall to form an open-topped reservoir for trapping fluid from discarded articles. Pivotably mounted to the floor of the rear panel is a face panel which folds into an opposing relationship with the back wall of the rear panel and, by mating with the edges of the side walls, forms above the reservoir an enclosure accessible through an opening formed between the top of the face panel and the top of the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Winfield Corporation
    Inventor: Gene L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4904187
    Abstract: A dental device implantable in bone comprises a hollow cylinder which has an open end and a closed end with an outer surface between the ends. A plurality of shallow oblong-shaped grooves are formed into the surface near the closed end with the longitudinal axis of the grooves aligned to inhibit rotation of the device in the bone. Additionally, a shallow annular depression traversing each of the grooves is formed into the surface to inhibit vertical displacement of the device in the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Tri-Stage, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Zingheim
  • Patent number: 4901718
    Abstract: A laser beam guidance system comprises a combination of mirrors that establishes an optical channel within which the laser beam is confined for movement. The system also includes means for moving the combination of mirrors to spatially reorient the optical channel. A beam steering scanner located on the path of the laser beam moves the beam within the optical channel onto selected paths which generally follow the longitudinal axis of the channel. Additionally, a focusing element in the system brings the beam into focus at selectable points on the beam. In accordance with a preestablished program, the beam is moved within the channel and focused at points along the beam to photochemically affect cells in the cornea of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Intelligent Surgical Lasers
    Inventors: Josef F. Bille, Stuart I. Brown
  • Patent number: 4897591
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrical circuit for regulating the average current through and the voltage across a load, such as a rechargeable battery. The circuit includes at least one semiconductor switching device connected in series with the load for controlling the current through the load. A current control loop is provided in the circuit to maintain the average current through the load at a constant level despite changes in the resistance of the load. Also provided is a voltage control loop which acts to limit the voltage across the load to a value below a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Group Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne M. Spani
  • Patent number: 4895166
    Abstract: A cutter penetrates at its forward end into, and excises, obstructive tissue in a lumen in a living being by providing two spaced external segments of a conical generally hollow portion with cutting surfaces at their edges. The cutter may have a forward portion of restricted dimensions to facilitate the penetration of the cutter into the obstructive tissue. A progressively expanding portion such as a truncated cone extends rearwardly from the portion of restricted dimensions. In this way, the cutter expands the area of excision of the obstructive tissue from the lumen wall at progressive positions rearwardly from the forward end. The obstructive tissue in the lumen at the progressively expanding positions may be excised at the positions of penetration of the obstructive tissue by rotating the cutter manually or by a motor. The cutter may then be moved forwardly to penetrate the obstructive tissue through an additional distance in the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Interventional Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Farr, Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4892272
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a kite having a sail with a left and right wing, each being connected to a supporting frame, with the frame having a leading edge support member associated with a left wing strut member and with a right wing strut member. It also includes bridle associated with the frame, the bridle having a horizontal line member connected to the leading edge support member, a left wing vertical line member connected to the left wing vertical support member, and a right wing vertical line member connected to the right wing strut member. The horizontal line member is connected to the left and right wing vertical line members at upper left and upper right control line contact points. The set of control lines includes an upper left line and an upper right line connected to the upper left and upper right control line contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Joseph R. Hadzicki
  • Patent number: 4891503
    Abstract: A distributed authorization system and process for authorizing transactions utilizes a host computer communicating with a network of electronic terminals remote from the host computer. It includes storing negative file data in the electronic terminal containing information used to identify accounts for which requested transactions are to be denied, and storing authorization file data in the electronic terminal containing information used to determine whether to authorize a requested transaction. Upon entry of a transaction request, the data is checked against the terminal negative file data and immediately denied if the card account is contained in the terminal's negative file. If the transaction is not denied, authorization logic is performed in the electronic terminal resulting in terminal output denying the request, authorizing the request, or establishing an electronic connection from the terminal to the host computer to obtain authorization from the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Gascard, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Jewell
  • Patent number: D305151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Group Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Bisha'
  • Patent number: D306665
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Peter Wright
  • Patent number: D306758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company
    Inventor: Donald Stanley