Patents Represented by Law Firm Palmatier, Sjoquist & Helget
  • Patent number: 5578816
    Abstract: A display push switch has a switch housing having an open upper end and an open lower end. A key top member made of substantially transparent material is disposed within the open upper end of the switch housing. The key top member is operable by an operator to be pushed into the switch housing. An image transmission member is disposed within the switch housing. A lower end surface of the image transmission member confronts a surface structure of a display device through the open lower end of the switch housing. An upper end surface confronts the key top member and is spaced from the switch housing to permit a stroke movement of the key top member when the key top member is pushed by the operator. The image transmission member includes a plurality of image transmission elements each having a longitudinal axis in a vertical direction. The image transmission elements are arranged in juxtaposed relationship with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Tietech Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 5575394
    Abstract: A plastic container for storing and shipping semiconductor wafers comprising a wafer carrier of substantially rigid and transparent material supporting the wafers and maintaining the wafers in spaced relation to each other, top and bottom covers for the wafer carrier formed of stiff but resiliently flexibly yieldable material, the wafer carrier having upper and lower enlarged rim portions extending around the peripheries of the top and bottom of the wafer carrier and being embraced by enlarged peripherally extending rim portions of the top and bottom covers, the top and bottom covers having partially cylindrical panels with elongate beads or ridges formed thereon to engage and maintain the edges of the wafers spaced from the partially cylindrical surfaces, offset tabs on the wafer carrier and top and bottom covers facilitating of flexibly lifting small portions of the covers off the wafer carriers and then progressively disengaging the covers from the wafer carriers; a package comprising a multiplicity of cov
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Fluoroware, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Nyseth
  • Patent number: 5575379
    Abstract: A newspaper conveyor has an endless conveyor chain (1) running along a conveyor (3) with a plurality of newspaper grips (7) in rows. Their movable clamp (11) may be set in two opening positions, a first one in which the movable clamp (11) is held open against the closing force of a spring (20) by a cam control curve (28) and a second in which the movable clamp (11) is self-lockingly held open by friction by the leaf spring (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Gammerler Maschinenbau Und Anlagentechnik Gmbh
    Inventor: Helmut Schmetzer
  • Patent number: 5575941
    Abstract: The cartridge heater disclosed has a coiled wire heater element with connected lead conductor wires contained within a metallic tubular sheath. Electrically insulative material insulates and supports the heater element and lead conductor wires within said sheath. The tubular enclosure has one or more folds to define parallel longitudinal heater segments containing the heater element. An outer metallic casing surrounds the heater segments defining a body portion. Lead wires comprised of the metallic sheath and the lead conductor wires extend from the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: J. Evan Johnson
  • Patent number: 5571208
    Abstract: A visco-elastic polymer liner and sleeve for prosthetic devices utilize the liner for donning over a residual limb and fitting within the socket of an artificial limb. The sleeve is rolled on over the top of the artificial limb and onto the amputee's remaining stump. The liner is shaped to have its cavity formed with a volume and shape less than a volume and shape of the residual limb for both tension and tissue configuration relief while the liner has an outer surface formed with a volume and shape greater than the volume and shape of the artificial limb socket for relief of certain tissue configurations and to create weight bearing, relief and compression areas on and in the liner to absorb and dissipate shock, shear and mechanical forces through the liner otherwise transmitted to the residual limb. The sleeve is shaped like a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Carl A. Caspers
  • Patent number: 5570947
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ceiling light fixture suitable for conventional fluorescent lamps. The fixture has an elongate shroud with a modified elliptical cross-section having an inverted apical crease and a downwardly facing specular reflective surface. A rigid raceway extends lengthwise within the shroud and is secured to two rigid opposing end panels which support the shroud. The raceway is substantially at the ceiling level, encloses the ballast, and provides an infrastructure for the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Garold M. Felland
  • Patent number: 5569373
    Abstract: A fluid filter which comprises a canister having an open end and a closed end, the canister sealing to an adapter body to prevent leakage between the canister and the adapter body, the adapter body having a plurality of angled fluid inlet ports extending through the adapter assembly body into the cavity formed by the canister and the adapter body assembly, a threaded fluid outlet port extending through the adapter body, a threaded ring adapter for adapting the outlet port to a variety of filter receptacles, a multistage wire mesh filter element having a weave which is designed to prevent fluid contaminants from passing through the filter element while inhibiting the contaminant particles from becoming lodged in the filter mesh, the fluid inlet ports in the adapter body being formed at an angle to create a tornado type turbine fluid motion within the canister to suspend contaminants which are blocked from passage through the screen in the fluid and allow such contaminants to settle in the canister out of the f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventors: Gerald F. Smith, William J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5570146
    Abstract: The digital image recording device includes a tri-linear array of photosensing elements which include a plurality of photosensor pixels. The tri-linear array of photosensing elements is mounted upon a frame for linear movement within a universal housing. The housing is adapted for insertion into the cartridge film slot of a standard view camera. The movement of the array of photosensing elements across an image plane within the standard view camera sequentially senses an image to be recorded. Each row of the tri-linear array of photosensing elements includes a separate color filter stripe which enables the color recording of an image during one pass of the scanner across the image plane. The array of photosensing elements is connected to a storage and processing unit by an electrical cable which permits communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Michael L. Collette
  • Patent number: 5566516
    Abstract: A spherical grid for constructing geodesic spheres and portions of spheres. The grid includes a plurality of links interconnecting with a plurality of hubs arranged in a geodesic configuration. The hubs have a cylindrical shape with top and bottom planar surfaces and five or six attachment positions equally spaced around the hub. Each attachment position has radially-extending holes equally spaced around the hub. The links have square recessed ends which engage with the hubs at each attachment position. An insert member affixed inside each end cooperates with a screw extending from inside the hub, through the hub into the recessed end to connect each end to the respective attachment position on the hub. Each recessed end of the links having an upper wall with an interior surface, a lower wall with an interior surface and sidewalls with vertical edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Skyline Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan J. Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 5567085
    Abstract: The object of the present invention to provide a method for thawing frozen ground for laying concrete primarily at a construction site by use of a continuous length of circulating hose placed on the frozen ground inside and/or adjacent a concrete form where the concrete will be laid, covering the circulating hose with a layer of aggregate material for insulation from cold air caving the ends of the circulating hose protruding from the aggregate connecting the ends of the hose to a source of heated liquid to circulate warm liquid through the circulating hose to thaw the frozen ground, laying the concrete in the concrete form while continuing to circulate heated liquid in the circulating hose to prevent the concrete from freezing, leaving the portion of the hose in the form under the concrete by cutting the ends protruding from the aggregate, removing the remaining portions of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Mark Bruckelmyer
  • Patent number: 5561480
    Abstract: Keyboard practice glasses to be worn over the eyes of a student who is learning to sight-read sheet music, which completely prevent the keyboard student from accidentally looking down at his hands on the keyboard while allowing the student full view of the sheet music. The glasses comprise paired lens portions each of which is divided substantially in half to produce a clear region for viewing the sheet music and an opaque or translucent region which prevents viewing of the hands on the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Inventor: Nelson R. Capes
  • Patent number: 5559493
    Abstract: An automobile anti-theft device connected to the electrical system and fuel line of a vehicle. A control unit is positioned proximate to an operator of an automobile. The control unit has a first display and a key-pad for the generation of a personal access code for transmission to a circuit unit. The circuit unit includes a programmable read-only memory which compares the personal access code to a stored keyed access. The circuit unit generates a second signal upon acceptance of the personal access code by the programmable read-only memory. The second signal is received by a silicon control rectifier which opens a valve attached to the fuel line of an automobile permitting fuel passage to the engine. The control unit includes a locked retractable penetrating adapter which may be retrieved for modification of the stored key access within the programmable read-only memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Daniel Karnwie-Tuah
  • Patent number: 5555663
    Abstract: A heated animal scent lure dispenser includes a container with an interior, exterior, threaded neck and opening at the neck. A cap is threadable onto the neck for at least partially closing the opening. A heating element or chemical charge is locatable within the container which will in turn heat the container. A wick suitably made from a knit fabric substantially covers the container with a large surface area upon which the liquid scent lure may be placed and from which the liquid scent lure may be dispersed under the influence of the heated container. The wick may also have insulation qualities and a suitable plastic bag or the like may be used to seal the dispenser within the bag and to starve the dispenser from oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Wildlife Research Center, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Burgeson
  • Patent number: 5556562
    Abstract: An improved welding assembly for metal inert gas welding wherein the welding assembly includes a continuous filler metal wire electrode, which is electrically charged and passed through a contact tip generally of a cylindrical shape with a central aperture or tunnel therethrough while the work piece is oppositely charged. The improvement is in the composition of the contact tip in that the tip is made of copper and carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: J. W. Harris Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5553493
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring volume flow through a gear-type flowmeter, having a magnetic sensor affixed to the flowmeter to detect incremental movement of the flowmeter teeth. The sensor is connected to an analog-to-digital converter and computer processor, which receives and stores samples of the sensor signals. The samples are compared with subsequently received samples to derive relative gear positions and to calculate volume flow based on the relative gear positions. The samples may also be analyzed and compared with previous samples to detect flowmeter wear and wobble conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Box, Michael D. Elberson
  • Patent number: 5551749
    Abstract: An infant support seat and cushion having an inner support structure including a backrest and seat and base support member and having a removable cushion assembly. The cushion assembly has a back cushion section, a seat cushion section and a pair of side support sections. An outer cover is attached to the cushion assembly and has a release mechanism to permit the insertion and removal of the inner support structure relative to the cushion assembly. A crotch support strap and detachable belt sections hold the infant in the cushion assembly in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventors: Judy M. Reher, Cindy Hanson
  • Patent number: 5553152
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of adjustable operational parameters of a hearing aid by the movement of an external magnetic actuator into and out of proximity with the hearing aid. The hearing aid has a microphone, hearing aid circuitry, an output transducer, and a magnetic switch, such as a reed switch, connected to the hearing aid circuitry. The hearing aid circuitry has a plurality of adjustable operational parameters and includes control processing circuity for switching between and controlling the adjustable operational parameters. The magnetic source is moved into and out of proximity with the hearing aid a selected number of times activating the magnetic switch each time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Argosy Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Newton
  • Patent number: 5549709
    Abstract: A hypobarically-controlled artificial limb for amputees comprises an outer socket, a flexible, compressible inner socket within the outer socket with a cavity for receiving the residual limb, a space between the inner socket and the outer socket, a vacuum source connected to the cavity, a positive pressure source connected to the space, a regulator for controlling the vacuum source and positive pressure source, and a seal for making an airtight seal between the residual limb and the socket. Another embodiment includes a semi-compressible molding material in the space to mold to the contours of the residual limb under the influence of vacuum and/or positive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Carl A. Caspers
  • Patent number: D373396
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Lonnie D. Malwitz
  • Patent number: D373867
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Arthur C. Rask