Patents Represented by Attorney Patrick J. Hofbauer
  • Patent number: 6004077
    Abstract: A system for securement of a mesh screen on the protruding, threaded end of a rock bolt inserted into a rock face comprising a push-on gripper plate, having a generally planar base portion adapted to overlie the mesh screen, and an installation tool. The gripper plate has a magnetically grippable contact surface for operative engagement with the installation tool. The installation tool has a handle portion with a main body portion rigidly attached thereto. The main body portion has a magnet to magnetically engage the magnetically grippable contact surface of the gripper plate, and a cavity dimensioned and adapted to non-frictionally receive the protruding, threaded end of the rock bolt during installation of the gripper plate. A ram is rigidly attached to the opposite other end of the handle portion of the installation tool. A method of installing a gripper plate onto the protruding, threaded end of a rock bolt is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas L. Saab
  • Patent number: 5989424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a replaceable filter cartridge for a use in a water filtration device. The cartridge has a substantially frustoconical vessel member defining a vertical axis with the vessel member having a screen-like end wall portion at the lower end thereof, which end wall portion permits water to flow therethrough. A hollow substantially frustoconical cover member is attached to the vessel member in coaxial alignment with the vertical axis. The cover member has a multiplicity of vertically oriented water entry flow slots. A non-planar compressible first mass of filtration material is frictionally retained within said cover member and a non-planar compressible second mass of filtration material is positioned within said vessel member in juxtaposed relation to said end-wall member. A granular purifying agent, which is insoluble in water, is contained within said vessel member, and layered upon the second mass of filtration material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matscorp Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Serenko, Jim Reading, Gerry Morgenroth, Roy Matsushita
  • Patent number: 5886633
    Abstract: A security apparatus for selectively releasable secured coupling of a displayed product to a multiconductor cord to preclude unauthorized uncoupling of the displayed product from the multiconductor cord, comprises a housing having a base portion with an adhesive product facing surface, and a cover portion mounted on the base portion. A product detector on the housing is responsive to the secure attachment of the displayed product to produce a first signal, and to detachment of the displayed product, corresponding to the unauthorized uncoupling of the displayed product from the multiconductor cord, to produce a second signal. The multiconductor cord terminates in a connector member connectable to a co-operating receptacle portion within the housing, thereby electrically interconnecting in signal conducting relation the product detector and an alarm system, such that the alarm system is quiescent in response to the first signal and produces the warning in response to the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: I.S.P.A. Woodworking Limited
    Inventor: Peter J. Adams
  • Patent number: 5829763
    Abstract: In combination an elevating unit for readily releasable attachment to a hand truck is disclosed. The elevating unit comprises, when in place on the hand truck, a main body portion having a front side and a back side. An extension leg has a foot portion and is disposed in sliding relation within the main body portion for selectively controlled movement between a first extended position whereat the foot portion is disposed below the lower end of the frame and a second retracted position whereat the foot portion is raised from being disposed below the lower end of the frame. An elongate threaded rod is operatively mounted on the main body portion for rotation in opposed first and second rotational directions by an electrically energizable reversible motor. A recirculating ball nut threadibly engages the elongate threaded rod for movement along the length thereof as the elongate threaded rod rotates. The extension leg is secured to the recirculating ball nut for movement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Peter K. Jeavons
  • Patent number: 5801240
    Abstract: An improved method of producing semi-refined kappa carrageenan is provided having processing steps including: (a) pre-rinsing carrageenan containing seaweed; (b) cooking the seaweed in a cooking tank containing an aqueous solution of KOH to cause desulfation at the 6-position of the galactose units of the carrageenan, to create recurring 3,6 anhydrous galactose polymers by dehydration and reorientation; (c) washing the seaweed in a neutralizing bath; (d) rinsing the seaweed in water; and, (e) drying and chopping the seaweed, the improvement being monitoring the reaction progress of the desulfation, dehydration and reorientation by continuously measuring oxidation-reduction potential of the aqueous KOH solution and, upon the occurrence of substantial reaction equilibrium of the reorientation, as indicated when the oxidation-reduction potential has reached a pre-determined constant value, stopping the reaction by removal of the seaweed from the aqueous KOH solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Tanvest Limited
    Inventors: Christopher S. Rideout, Michael G. Bernabe
  • Patent number: 5798910
    Abstract: A sealable housing for electrical components comprises an extruded main body having a first end and a second end, the extruded main body defining a longitudinal axis and having an outer wall and a substantially cylindrical bore. Two end caps are removably sealably attached to a respective one of the first and second ends of the extruded main body to define, together with the substantially cylindrical bore, an electrical component chamber. Thickened longitudinal outer wall segments extend radially outwardly from the cylindrical bore. The electrical components are mounted within the electrical component chamber by being conventionally attached to a trolley, which trolley is longitudinally interfitted to a mounting track contiguous with the extruded main body. The extruded main body is preferably constructed from aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Caloritech Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Holbeche, Bernard C. Moore, David R. Ten Eycke, Carl D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5713161
    Abstract: A noise-protection screen (1) provided with a number of sound-damping elements (2) and over the length of the noise-protection screen, spaced at a distance from each other with girders for the support of the elements, and a sound-damping element for a noise-protection screen. The noise-protection screen includes an air cavity (8) delimited at one side by the sound-damping elements (2) and at the other side by panel-like elements (9). At the side of the sound-damping elements the air cavity is preferably in contact with the surroundings by means of air openings, preferably in the form of air gaps running longitudinally along the noise-protection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Durisol Materials Limited
    Inventor: Arend Johan Veldhoen
  • Patent number: 5709133
    Abstract: An infinitely adjustable linear locking assembly for vehicle seats is disclosed which includes a movable elongated element defining a longitudinal axis. First and second roller ball assemblies coaxial with the elongated element are provided, which assemblies have at least two substantially equidistantly spaced apart roller balls surrounding the elongated element. First and second roller ball housings contain the first and second roller ball assemblies, respectively. The housings are coaxial with the elongated element and have internal wedging surfaces for wedging the roller balls between the internal wedging surfaces and the elongated element. A rotatable locking member is provided adjacent to each roller ball assembly, with the locking member being coaxial with the moveable element and rotatable about the elongated element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Coggon, Gulam Premji, Adolf Notta, Velio Pressacco
  • Patent number: 5702089
    Abstract: A lift jack is provided for use with a vehicle having a structural member on the underside of the vehicle, which structural member defines a transverse rotational axis. An elongated body member defines a longitudinal axis, and has a top end portion and a bottom end portion. The longitudinal axial length of the elongated body member is greater than the height of the transverse rotational axis above the ground. The bottom end portion has a radiused lifting surface and a generally planar foot extending contiguously from the radiused lifting surface, toward a second lateral edge of the bottom end portion. The elongated body member may be rotationally mounted on the vehicle by attachment of the top end portion to the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Innovation Plus Limited
    Inventor: Frederick E. Hurd
  • Patent number: 5695247
    Abstract: A safety lock-out mechanism for use in a vehicle seat comprises a drive pin mounted on the seatback for movement between a initial free position and a retained position. A latch pawl is pivotally mounted on the baseplate for pivotal movement from a first position whereat the latch pawl is permitted to move from its latching position to its unlatching position under the urging by the drive pin, upon coincident respective movement of the drive pin from its initial free position to its retained position, at which retained position the drive pin is releasably latched. A blocking cam is pivotally mounted on the baseplate in progressive frictional contact with the latch pawl, for movement from a first position whereat the latch pawl is permitted to move from its latching position to its unlatching position under urging by the drive pin, to a blocking position whereat the latch pawl is retained in its latching position. A spring biases the blocking cam to its blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Gulam Premji
  • Patent number: 5689828
    Abstract: There is disclosed a partial glove for use on the hand of a wearer inside a conventional baseball catching glove. The glove is constructed of a textile material, preferably a stretchable textile material such as LYCRA spandex material, and is double layered on at least the palm (front) side, with a thin layer of resilient material interposed between the aforesaid two textile layers for impact protection of the wearer. The textile portion of the glove preferably surrounds only the proximal portions of the first (index) and second fingers of the wearer, with the thumb, third and fourth fingers fully uncovered. The thin layer of resilient material extends over at least the palm of the wearer and the front surface of the proximal portions of the first index and second fingers. In this manner, the wearer obtains the impact protection afforded by the thin resilient layer, without significant restriction of mobility or reduction in tactility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Jung Y. Mah
  • Patent number: 5684264
    Abstract: A ballistic containment device for use in inspecting, loading and unloading firearms having an outer drum with a rim portion defining an open end, an inner wall surface and a closed end, together forming an outer chamber into which is suspended a semi-rigid kinetic energy absorptive member, which member is constructed from a plurality of layers of fabric woven from long chain synthetic polyamide fibre, which layers are bonded to one another by a non-rigid adhesive material. The kinetic energy absorptive member is suspended into the catchment member, from the rim portion as aforesaid, by means of a support web constructed of a plurality of overlapping straps of fabric woven from long chain synthetic polyamide fibre bonded to the kinetic energy absorptive member by means of the non-rigid adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventors: James R. Cassells, Gary J. Isberg
  • Patent number: 5667112
    Abstract: A self-storing spout assembly for use on a container having a threaded neck opening comprises, in combination, an annular cap ring having complimentary internal screw threading, a substantially cylindrical neck insert sized and dimensioned for floating retention within the neck opening, a resilient seal, and a hollow spout member. The neck insert has a central orifice and one or more secondary apertures. The hollow spout has one or more radially directed flow openings therethrough, and is dimensioned to releasably, sealingly engage the cap ring and the central orifice. In the pouring configuration fluid flows from the container, through the secondary apertures in the neck insert, into the hollow spout member via the radially directed flow openings, and exits the hollow spout member through an open pouring end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Anthonius Verbruggen
  • Patent number: 5636795
    Abstract: A cyclonic spray nozzle having a substantially cylindrical inlet chamber with a closed top end, an open bottom end and a tangential air inlet arranged adjacent to the closed top end. A truncated Cone-shaped discharge chamber having an open top end and an open bottom end of smaller diameter than the open top end, is secured to said open bottom end of said inlet chamber in axial, fluid communicating register therewith. A fluid injector nozzle is positioned within the discharge chamber in operative spraying relation to said open end of said discharge chamber. The nozzle is useful in spraying an axially directed mist of fluid over a relatively long distance, while containing radial overspray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: First Pioneer Industries Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Sedgwick
  • Patent number: D379904
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Micris One Manufacturers and Distributors
    Inventor: Michael C. Joyce
  • Patent number: D380785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Garry R. Francis
  • Patent number: D384232
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventors: Peter R. Evans, Robert R. Dunn, Stephen W. McNeill
  • Patent number: D399945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Freddy Fresh Puck Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Bonomo, Carmen P. Muraca
  • Patent number: D409948
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Eddie G. Almeida
  • Patent number: D412058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Peter John Edworthy