Patents Represented by Law Firm Palmatier, Sjoquist & Helget
  • Patent number: 5549342
    Abstract: A manhole debris catcher having a flat mat with open tubular pockets spaced radially about a center point at approximate equal angle, with a center support base and straps threaded through the pockets and through openings through the center support base, and a ring lifting assembly attached via lines to the ends of each of the straps; side braces may be inserted into each of the pockets to assist in maintaining the mat in flat form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Virtual Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Donaldson, Andrew J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5542768
    Abstract: A printer for printing graphic and alphanumeric information on plastic disks utilizing a printhead having a line array of print pixels. The printhead is pivotally mounted and has an adjustable force mechanism to urge the line array of print pixels into contact with a plastic disk; the plastic disk is mounted on a movable carriage which linearly passes beneath the printhead and the adjustable force mechanism exerts a variable force which is a function of the position of the disk beneath the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Rimage Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Rother, John S. Lee, Terence J. Schmidt, Donald Hollerich, Robert L. Skubic, Eric Laveen
  • Patent number: 5542203
    Abstract: A mobile sign with a solar panel for warning motorists of highway problems. The mobile sign comprises a wheeled vehicle, an electrically powered sign panel mounted on the wheeled vehicle, a chargeable battery for powering the sign panel, and a solar panel for charging the battery. The solar panel is rotatable and tiltable relative to the wheeled vehicle. The sign panel is independently rotatable relative to the wheeled vehicle. The sign panel has a low-glare, high-contrast display that also improves the lifetime of the display's electronic or mechanical components by reducing heating of the display due to the sun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: ADDCO Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene H. Luoma, James L. Blesener
  • Patent number: 5540008
    Abstract: An improved system bearing on a firearm is proposed in which the barrel is clamped by means of a wedge-locking mechanism in the barrel bed of a receiver developed at the breech of the firearm. The wedge-locking mechanism can exhibit a tension wedge or a locking mechanism via normal inclined running wedge surfaces. The system bearing block is structured such that the barrel locking mechanism can make available an additional supplemental lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Karl-Gunter Kirnstatter
  • Patent number: 5540562
    Abstract: A single-piston, multimode fluid displacement pump comprising an elongated chamber, a piston reciprocally mounted within the chamber, a driving mechanism axially aligned with the chamber and piston for accurately positioning the piston within the chamber so as to define a measured fluid displacement, and ports for aspirating and dispensing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ashirus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerston Giter
  • Patent number: 5536314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a paper coloring apparatus for especially water colors or water-based inks, wherein a driven running paper web is positioned around a turning roller constituting the counter pressure roller for an inker and, together with the latter, are included in a roller train adapted to convey ink from a reservoir to the inker. One has aimed at transferring ink to the paper in so small amounts that after-drying of the paper becomes unnecessary. According to the invention, the roller train is adapted to be driven by means of the running paper web and comprises five or more rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: GP-Tinter AS
    Inventor: Per G. Rannestad
  • Patent number: 5533860
    Abstract: A rotatable stacking chamber (1) is defined for a right-angle feeder for printed products in which the longitudinal and transverse walls (3,4) are adjustable with respect to the chamber dimensions via a controllable actuator (5, 5') assignable in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Hagen Gammerler
  • Patent number: 5534034
    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: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Carl A. Caspers
  • Patent number: 5527290
    Abstract: An improved intravascular catheter placement device including a hollow needle, an intravascular catheter concentric with said hollow needle, a chamber in communication with said hollow needle wherein the pressure within said chamber is a manually created vacuum pressure. A self-propelling apparatus is also included for moving said catheter into a blood vessel upon sensing penetration of the wall of the blood vessel by the tip of the hollow needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventors: Filiberto Zadini, Giorgio Zadini
  • Patent number: 5526968
    Abstract: A hanger valet for storing clothing accessories such as ties, belts, braces, and jewelry such as cufflinks on the same hanger with a given suit, thus allowing coordination of the accessories with the suit. The hanger valet comprises a suit hanger, a valet portion with a number of tie keepers, belt/brace keepers, and jewelry holders, a numerical system for indicating the week of the month in which to wear a tie, a moving indicator of which tie was last worn, and an aromatic cedar block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: James A. Larson
  • Patent number: 5527071
    Abstract: A protective collar for hose connections consists of a hard clamping ring or collar comprised of two semicircular segments in the shape of a disk, the segments mating together. The center opening of the disk clamps onto the ferrules of one or both connecting hoses. The segments are held together by screws or bolts and nuts which pass through internal bores in the segments. The protective collar is of a greater outside diameter than the ferrules so that the protector, And not the ferrules, will absorb any impact from being stepped on, dropped on the floor, or pinned beneath a heavy object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Norge Custom Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman B. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5527291
    Abstract: An improved manual catheter placement device to facilitate successful cannulation by minimizing risks of needle tip disengagement with a penetrated blood vessel and by minimizing risks of blood vessels overpenetration. The device comprises a needle, a catheter concentric with the needle, means of manually creating vacuum to accelerate backflow of blood upon occurred penetration, means for manually advancing the catheter, said means for manually advancing the catheter being actuated by said means for creating the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventors: Filiberto P. Zadini, Giorgio C. Zadini
  • Patent number: 5524727
    Abstract: This invention relates to a construction wall bracket for use in the erection of residential structures. The construction wall bracket includes a vertical member having a pair of laterally and outwardly-extending stud engagement members which rest against the vertical wall. A horizontal member having an angle bracket extends horizontally outward from the vertical member to support a plank or platform for use by a workman during construction efforts. A support brace is affixed to the vertical member for engagement to the top horizontal stud of a wall. A swing arm having a depending end tab and a pair of longitudinally-extending hinge members is pivotally attached to the support brace about a hinge pin. The upward pivotal rotation of the swing arm with respect to the support brace facilitates the removal of the construction wall bracket during periods of non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Roland Yennie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5524534
    Abstract: A two-stage compaction device for compressing residue metal waste and squeezing excess fluid from the waste, having a pre-compaction cylinder, a pair of compaction chambers, and a pair of die cylinders, all aligned along a common horizontal axis; each of the compaction chambers has an ejection plunger and ejection slot for removing compressed pellets of metal waste and for draining excess fluid accummulations. The pre-compaction cylinder and the die cylinders have pistons within the compaction chamber, and the actuation of the pistons is controlled to first compress residue waste material in one compaction chamber and then to compress residue metal waste material in the other compaction chamber while the ejection plunger is activated in the first chamber to eject the previously compressed pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Dale G. Dietel
  • Patent number: 5524420
    Abstract: A horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine includes a former for forming a film into a tubular configuration, a conveyor for feeding articles into the tubular film one after another, a fin sealer for sealing lapped edges of the tubular film, an end sealer for sealing the tubular film in a crosswise direction thereof in a position between two adjacent articles, and a film feeding mechanism for feeding the film supplied from a film source into the end sealer via the former and the fin sealer. A plurality of pushers are mounted on the conveyor and equi-distantly spaced from each other in the feeding direction of the articles. Each of the pushers defines the position of a rear end of the article. A length detector sequentially detects the length of the articles in the feeding direction. A controller controls the conveyor and the end sealer in response to the length of each article detected by the length detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Syunya Ikuta
  • Patent number: 5525275
    Abstract: An implantable body including an outer membrane forming an enclosure for receiving a filler material. The surface of the outer membrane is characterized by a random distribution of peaks separated by valleys. The peaks and valleys are separated by gradual contoured slopes with a smooth transition between the peaks and valleys which are substantially free from indentation. The enhanced surface provides improved anchoring of the implant, yet reduces host reaction. The enhanced surface is formed by depositing a distribution of cured polymeric particles on an uncured tacky surface. This intermediate surface is then cured, followed by application of a layer of uncured elastomeric material. The entire surface is then cured to form the enhanced surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: PMT Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred A. Iversen, Thomas E. Broome, David M. Costello, Timothy A. Keeter
  • Patent number: 5522433
    Abstract: A reusable insulation jacket for tubing elbow and valve connectors carrying extreme hot and cold materials comprises a polygonal fiberglass mat. The mat is stitched to form a cavity as to completely receive the tubing connector and to overlap itself whereat complimentary releasable fastening hook and loop material securely hold the mat in place to insulate the tubing connector from fire and to prevent an individual from otherwise being burned from contacting the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: Noble A. Nygaard
  • Patent number: 5522614
    Abstract: A collapsible infant stroller that has an elevated contractible lower frame portion having a rear end, an intermediate portion and a front end. A contractible upper frame portion is provided with a lower end pivotally attached to the lower frame portion and extending downwardly therefrom and supporting two front wheel assemblies, an intermediate seat portion supporting a flexible infant seat and an upper handle end. A stabilizer strut is connected to the lower frame portion and the upper frame portion to secure the frame portions together for safe and smooth carrying of an infant. A rear strut pivotally connects the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion and extends downwardly from the lower frame portion for supporting rear wheel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: TRI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Eyman, Thomas J. Schmidlin, Jennifer A. Kelley
  • Patent number: D372422
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Mark L. Anderson
  • Patent number: D372888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Richard H. Sprick