Patents Represented by Attorney Patrick J. Hofbauer
  • Patent number: 6347834
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion member mountable on the floor and a seatback member having a loadable back surface and a lockable member mounted on the seatback member adjacent the lower extent thereof. The seatback member is movable between a generally upright occupiable configuration in which the loadable back surface is positioned in a generally rearwardly facing, vertical orientation and the lockable member is retained in closely held juxtaposed proximity to a rearward extent of the seat cushion member, and a substantially horizontal load supporting configuration in which the loadable back surface is positioned in a generally horizontal, upwardly facing relation and the lockable member is rearwardly displaced from the closely held juxtaposed proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Christian Couasnon
  • Patent number: 6336679
    Abstract: A rotary recliner control mechanism for use in a vehicle seat assembly, which vehicle seat assembly has a seat back member (44). A cam pin (94) is mounted on the link means (76) for driving engagement with the camming shoulder (112), upon forward pivotal movement of the seat back member (44) to cause the rotation of the interlock plate member (100) against the second biasing means (106), when the link member (76) is in the first link position. The cam pin (94) is also mounted on the linkmeans (76) for clearing motion of the camming shoulder (112) when the link member (76) is in the second link position. A connection means (124) is interconnected between the interlock plate (100) member and the track lock releasing means (36) for unlocking the track lock means when the interlock plate member (100) is rotated, under the driving contact of the cam pin (94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Wojciech Smuk
  • Patent number: 6328381
    Abstract: A single control handle release mechanism for a vehicle seat hinge has a mounting plate attachable to seat cushion, a sector plate pivotally mounted on the mounting plate for selective pivotal movement about a first lower pivot axis, and a rotational control plate pivotally mounted on the sector plate for selective pivotal movement about a second upper pivot axis and attachable to a seatback. The vehicle seatback is pivotally movable about the first lower pivot axis between a plurality of angular positions and forwardly foldable about the second upper pivot axis between a design position and a forwardly dumped position. The release mechanism comprises a primary latch that pivotally fixes the sector plate with respect to the mounting plate, and a secondary latch that pivotally fixes the rotational control plate with respect to the sector plate. A manually grippable handle effects latched and unlatched configurations of the primary latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Wojciech Smuk
  • Patent number: 6319482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating fly ash/APC residues chlorides, sulphates, earth alkali metals selected from the group consisting of calcium, potassium, and sodium, and heavy metals selected from the group consisting of lead, which residues are obtained from air pollution control processes that utilize dry/semi-dry line injection, such that said residues may be disposed of as non-hazardous materials. The process comprises the sequential steps of: (a) washing and agitating the fly ash/APC residue (20) with water (50) to form a residue slurry containing solubilized lead salts and calcium chloride; (b) filtering (42) the residue slurry to remove a filtrate (46) having a pH of higher than about 11.8 and containing the solubilized lead salts and calcium chloride; and (c) recovering a first calcium enriched filter cake (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Apex Residue Recovery Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Sawell, Stephen A. Hetherington
  • Patent number: 6318726
    Abstract: A game apparatus, comprising a body, having a rotational axis and a non-planar surface, and a support, is disclosed. The support supports the body in a starting position, whereat the axis is horizontal, a center of gravity of the body is below the axis and the surface presents upwardly, and enables the body to rotate about the axis through a range of rotation. Playing pieces are provided. The surface includes playing positions, a socket being provided at each playing position, for releasably retaining selected ones of the playing pieces in fixed position relative to the surface upon selective distribution of said selected ones of the playing pieces to respective ones of the playing positions. The body is adapted for variable pivotal displacement about the axis relative to the starting position by effect of gravity responsive to said selective distribution. A scale for measuring said variable pivotal displacement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Paul Kenneth Nicholls
  • Patent number: 6263902
    Abstract: A storage tank for storing and selectively dispensing pressurized combustible fluid comprises a main tank having a delivery outlet, and a first valve mounted on the main tank in fluid communication with the delivery outlet for controlling the flow of the pressurized combustible fluid from within the main tank to the ambient surroundings. A reserve tank is mounted in supported relation on the main tank and has a reserve outlet disposed within the main tank to permit direct fluid delivery from the reserve tank into the main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Wayne A. Booth
  • Patent number: 6192592
    Abstract: A cutting device is disclosed, comprising a rail attachable to a workface and defining a translational axis when attached thereto; a carriage mounted on the rail and adapted for constrained movement along the translational axis; a turret assembly attached to the carriage for movement therewith and adapted for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis disposed normal to the translational axis; and a gripping assembly adapted to grip a chainsaw with a cutting plane defined by a cutting bar thereof oriented normal to the pivot axis, the gripping assembly being attached to the turret assembly for rotation therewith, while gripping the chainsaw, between a raised position, whereat the cutting bar is disposed frontwardly from the workface, and a lowered position, whereat the cutting bar intersects the workface. The carriage has two laterally spaced lugs having respective bores centred about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Dare Russell Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6152533
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly (20) attachable to a vehicle floor (21) has a seat back support frame foldable over a seat support frame and at least two seat track assemblies (22, 22') which provide for controlled adjustment of the seat assembly relative to the vehicle floor. An associated recliner mechanism (32) has a single lever acting as a control handle to permit controlled adjustment of the inclination angle of the backrest, to allow for forward dumping of the backrest over the seat support frame (29) and to permit forward downward folding of the seat support frame (29), as part of a parallelogram mechanism, thereby to permit collapsing of the seat support structure toward the vehicle floor (21) and forward dumping of the seat back, thereby to provide more volume for cargo within the vehicle, without the need for removing the seat assembly (20). An E-Z entry mechanism may also be incorporated into the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Wojciech Smuk
  • Patent number: 6101721
    Abstract: A cutting/scraping tool is disclosed, comprising a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a transverse chamber, and a blade chase adjacent a forward end of the housing. A cartridge is releasably retained within the chamber by detent lugs extending laterally from an outer surface of the cartridge in frictional engagement with a plurality of complementary detent recesses positioned on the housing. A blade within the cartridge is in aligned registry with the blade chase. A deflector is positioned beneath the blade. A transport mechanism is slidably mounted on the housing for substantially longitudinal movement between forward, intermediate and rearmost positions. An actuator projects from this housing to effect the sliding movement of the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism has a flexible, resilient tongue portion. A tab is formed on the tongue portion within the housing adjacent a forward end of the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: 1360314 Ontario Limited
    Inventor: Simon M. Medhurst
  • Patent number: 6089634
    Abstract: A lifting device detachably interconnecting a lifting machine to a lug is disclosed, comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and a throughpassage having an axis transverse thereto, which throughpassage extends between first and second lateral sides of the body; a shackle connecting the body to the lifting machine; a lift pin having a head, a shaft extending therefrom along a major axis to an end, a bore extending through the shaft adjacent the end, substantially normal to the major axis, the shaft being insertable into the throughpassage to a fully inserted position, whereat a terminal section of the shaft containing the end and the bore projects from the first lateral side with the bore substantially vertical, the head projects from the second lateral side, and an intermediate section of the shaft between the terminal section and the head is positioned to provide lifting engagement of the lug; a stop pin having a head and a shaft extending from the head which is, when the lift pin is fully inserted, ins
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Walters Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Verhey
  • Patent number: 6073543
    Abstract: A food roasting apparatus is disclosed, comprising a pot having: a base wall and a cylindrical sidewall contiguous therewith, the base wall and sidewall defining a pot surface, the sidewall surrounding a central pot axis and extending upwardly from the base wall to terminate in a rim encircling an upper pot opening; two gas burners; a cradle for supporting the pot above the burners in selectively removable relation, with the base wall positioned downwardly from the pot opening and the pot axis angled with respect to horizontal, for rotation of the pot about the pot axis; and a motor for effecting the rotation of the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Michele Golfi
  • Patent number: 6065796
    Abstract: A track and trolley assembly for use with a tarpaulin enclosing system on a flat bed trailer comprises a plurality of trollies for operatively supporting the tarpaulin enclosing system, each trolley having a frame member, at least one weight-bearing roller mounted on the frame member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and at least one stabilizing roller mounted on the frame member for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. An elongate track has a length, a substantially vertical trailer mounting face, a substantially horizontal weight-bearing roller receiving surface disposed along the length of the elongate track means, and at least one substantially vertical stabilizing roller receiving surface disposed along the length of the elongate track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Verduyn Tarps Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd Verduyn
  • Patent number: 6056346
    Abstract: A vehicle seat system is disclosed, comprising a seat assembly having a cushioned seat structure mounted on two rigid support structures. A front and a rear connector are mounted on each rigid support structure for releasable, securing engagement with respective front and rear anchor members extending across front and rear wells in a vehicle floor, upon entry of the connectors into the wells. Front and rear wheel members are mounted upon each rigid support structure in non-retractable relation thereto, adjacent the respective front and rear connecting members so as to be in operative rolling contact with the floor surface of the vehicle when the connectors are removed from the wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Wojciech Smuk
  • Patent number: 6042725
    Abstract: An improvement in a water filter cartridge of the type having a substantially frustoconical vessel member defining a vertical axis and containing a granular purifying agent which is insoluble in water. The vessel member has a screen-like end wall portion at the lower end thereof. A hollow substantially frustoconical cover member is attached to the vessel member and coaxial with the vertical axis thereof. The cover member defines an annular rim portion and a first slanted portion extending upwardly and inwardly from the rim portion, and a substantially flat-topped second portion, the first portion having a multiplicity of vertically oriented water entry flow slots arrayed therearound. The vessel member and the cover member together define a container for receiving and retaining said granular purifying agent therein. A first layer of filtration material is disposed within said vessel member and layered upon said granular purifying agent. The water filter cartridge is for use in a water filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Matscorp Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Serenko, Roy Matsushita
  • Patent number: 6027417
    Abstract: A method is provided for golf play over subsequent plays for each selected golf hole of a golf course played. A player estimates the distance and direction of a desired golf stroke with reference to a golf distance indicator and stroke recording device, comprising a plurality of map sheets correlated to the golf holes of the golf course and including for each hole a map depicting an aerial representation, preferably a photograph, of the hole and having a scaled rectilinear grid superimposed thereon. The player records the selected golf club and the landing point of the golf ball for each golf stroke on the respective map sheet. For subsequent rounds of play on each golf hole, the player utilizes the landing points paths of the golf ball and recorded indica of club type, together with the scaled grid to compensate for errors in the golf type selection and golf stroke encountered during previous rounds of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventors: Marko R. Zoretic, Richard J. Zoretic
  • Patent number: D439790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Matscorp Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Matsushita, Paul Serenko
  • Patent number: D450575
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Richard Porter
  • Patent number: D455057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Simon Medhurst
  • Patent number: D428750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Gerald Chatelain
  • Patent number: D428852
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Peter R. Klutt