Patents Represented by Law Firm Olsen & Stephenson
  • Patent number: 4375226
    Abstract: A solenoid operated directional valve with a valve body provided with a bore that has axially spaced annuli, a mounted surface with ports arranged in a pattern of standard configuration, and ducts extending from the ports to the annuli to provide passageways for flow of fluid, and a spool mounted for movement axially in said bore for controlling flow of fluid through said passageways, the passageways being formed in a unique manner in said body so that a minimum pressure drop occurs in the fluid flowing through each passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1983
    Assignee: Double A Products Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Loup
  • Patent number: 4375108
    Abstract: An ancillary multichambered fluid-filled cushion for use as an energy-absorbing insert on the inside of protective headgear of the type having an outer helmet shell and a flexible inner liner. The chambers may be distinct or may be interconnected by means of communicating passages which control the flow of fluid between chambers. The chamber and communicating passages are formed of resilient material bonded together at perimeter flanges which may be engageable with the helmet inner liner so as to hold the cushion in place. The cushion is aligned intermediate the wearer's head and the outer shell, between existing inner liner components, so as to provide partial support of the helmet shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1983
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: 4371152
    Abstract: A box spring assembly which includes a generally rectangular frame and a plurality of wire springs mounted on the frame and connected to each other so as to yieldably resist downwardly directed bedding loads. Each of the springs has an elongated body portion arranged above the frame and downwardly extending end portions, each of the end portions having a lower column section consisting of a straight length of spring wire and an upper section consisting of a plurality of substantially horizontal torsion bars and a plurality of angularly arranged connecting bars connected to and extending between the torsion bars so that in response to a downwardly directed bedding load, the upper section will yieldably collapse to accommodate the load and impart a feeling of soft support to the bedding user. The straight wire column is inclined inwardly so that it can bend slightly and cause a twisting of the torsion bar on which it is mounted. This action imparts a feeling of firm support to the bedding user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Jack C. Mandusky
  • Patent number: 4368675
    Abstract: A material handling pallet comprising a rectangular base having downwardly-extending support legs and an upright frame mounted on the base for supporting objects on the pallet. The frame consists of a pair of open framework end portions positioned at opposite ends of the base and a cross frame portion extending lengthwise of the pallet between and connected to the end portions. Vertically-spaced horizontal load-supporting members are mounted on the cross frame portion for supporting objects which are removable therefrom either by movement lengthwise of the pallet through the end portions or sideways of the pallet. The frame terminates at its upper end in frame members which extend transversely of the base and which are positioned in substantial vertical alignment with the supporting legs enabling the pallet to be stacked on another like pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Propst, Terry L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4365874
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring torsional rotation of an eyeball about the visual axis by means of an afterimage. The apparatus includes a frame mountable to a patient so as to be fixed with respect to the patient's skull. Mounted on the frame are means for creating a transitory bright image to imprint the retina of the patient's eye with an afterimage and means for creating a target image alignable with said afterimage. Measuring means is included in the apparatus so as to indicate the angular displacement of the target image relative to a preset reference position corresponding to a different stimulus condition. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a tubular assembly supported by a bite bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventors: Wanda O. Milburn, T. Dean Clack
  • Patent number: 4365837
    Abstract: An inertial lock mechanism for limiting movement of a first object along a constrained path with respect to an adjacent second object. The mechanism includes a lock pin having a flat surface which is pivotally mountable to the first object and is biased toward a position in which the flat surface is parallel to the contrained path. A frame member mountable to the second object engages the flat surface so as to stop relative movement of the pin and rotate the pin against the biasing means at one end of the constrained path. A second stop surface on the frame member is sufficiently spaced apart from the angular surface to permit the biasing means to overcome inertia and pivot the lock pin out of engageable relationship with the second stop surface except when a predetermined amount of relative acceleration of the two objects occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Ned W. Mizelle
  • Patent number: 4361745
    Abstract: A process control system for electrical discharge machining apparatus to control automatically the machining of a workpiece. The process control system is operable to receive and retain a plurality of operation instructions regarding electrical discharge machining parameters and transmit operation commands to the electrical discharge machining apparatus to execute the operation instructions in controlling the complete machining of a workpiece. The process control means includes a storage unit operable to store a plurality of operation instructions enabling absolute repeatability of the machining process defined by the operation instructions in the storage unit for a plurality of workpieces. The process control system also includes a digitally controlled servo system to regulate the movement of the electrode toward and away from the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: Raycon Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Rupert, Thomas M. Kennedy, John R. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 4360179
    Abstract: Bow stand apparatus for supporting an archery bow in an upright position, which includes receptacle means that can be adjusted in size to fit the bow, and leg means that can easily be connected to or adjusted relative to the receptacle means for supporting the apparatus on a variety of supporting surfaces, such as tree platforms, the ground, indoor floor surfaces and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventor: Theodore E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4359985
    Abstract: A governor weight retainer assembly for a fuel pump in which a flexible connection is provided between the governor weight retainer and the hub on which the weight retainer is mounted. The flexible connection is a mechanical construction which has elongated spring elements supported on the hub as chordal elements, and roller elements are mounted on the weight retainer for limited travel in a circle on the chordal elements. The roller and chordal elements thus serve as cushion means between the retainer and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventor: Otto Mueller
  • Patent number: 4359155
    Abstract: Apparatus for handling blow molded bottles which are to be transferred from a horizontal position at a lower level to a vertical upright position at a higher level, comprising a plurality of bottle carriers (20), transfer means (22) connected to the carriers for movement of the latter between the lower and higher levels, and arcuate slide members (26) which function to retain the bottles in the carriers as the bottles slide on the slide members during transfer from the lower to the higher level, the slide members terminating immediately prior to the carriers arriving at the higher level so that the bottles can be discharged bottom-first in upright positions at the upper level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl H. Brazeal
  • Patent number: 4356674
    Abstract: A space divider assembly for an enclosure having a floor and a ceiling. The space divider assembly consists of a plurality of upright, free-standing, floor-supported panels arranged end to end and a plurality of border members secured to each other and to said panels so as to project upwardly from the panels and form a border at the upper ends of the panels. The border members are shaped at their upper ends to form a container for sound absorbing material which substantially fills the container and provides for sound separation of the areas of the enclosure on opposite sides of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Propst, Michael A. Wodka, Ronald R. Hodges
  • Patent number: 4354284
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing liner for use in conventional outdoor headgear to provide protection in the event of an impact directed against the wearer's head. A plurality of fluid-filled cushions having walls of resilient material are joined together into a regular and spaced relationship. The connected cushions are mounted over the inside of the outdoor headgear so as to contact and cushion the wearer's head upon impact. In an preferred embodiment, the cushions have two chambers separated by a common wall and are connected by means of flanges along the perimeters of the cushions. The cushions may be interconnected by fluid carrying passages of predetermined cross section to facilitate dispersing of impact forces laterally and may be arranged from a central round or square configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D266626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D266627
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D266711
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D266802
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: The Reagents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D266830
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Inventor: Harry B. Egleston
  • Patent number: D267287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D268220
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding
  • Patent number: D268249
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Goedken