Patents Represented by Attorney Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.
  • Patent number: 7686184
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing device capable of appropriately dispensing medicines independent of their form and having a compact structure. The medicine dispensing device has a device body (1) and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying, on one by one basis, medicines (D) arranged in rows in the device body (1). The medicine conveyance member (3) has a medicine holding member (40) reciprocatingly moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. The medicine holding member (40) has a support member (42), a forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) reciprocatingly moving in the forward and backward direction of the device body (1) while being supported by the support member(42), and a holding member (44) supported by the forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) so as to swing between a vertical position and a horizontal position and having a pair of holding sections (54) capable of holding a medicine (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Yuyama MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Yasuhiro Shigeyama, Takayuki Fujikawa, Hiroyuki Kanda, Shigeyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 7686200
    Abstract: A mechanical system for bilaterally securing skin tissue preferably utilizes a tissue manipulator apparatus to approximate a portion of an interior surface of each of two pieces of living dermis tissue along a vertical interface below an exterior surface without overlapping either interior surface across the vertical interface. An applicator apparatus includes a driving head portion positioned in the vertical interface and at least partially below the exterior surface and a handle portion positioned at least partially above the exterior surface. The applicator apparatus bilaterally drives at least one portion of the fastener through each piece of the living dermis tissue behind the interior surface of that piece of tissue such that the fastener is positioned below the exterior surface and a portion of the fastener is positioned generally transverse to the vertical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Incisive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: James Peterson
  • Patent number: 7682682
    Abstract: The object of this invention is a stiffener stop in particular for a primary structural panel of the “skin+stiffener” type for aircraft, said stop consisting of an initial slope connected to the normal height of the stiffener and a final slope, wherein at least one interval having a slope nearly equal to zero with respect to the plane of the base skin in the stop area is inserted between the two aforesaid slopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Leon-Dufour, Bruno Sarpy
  • Patent number: 7682372
    Abstract: A sequential surgical forceps is adapted to sequentially grasp tissue on opposed sides of a tissue interface and then present the tissue for capture and closure by a surgical fastening apparatus. The sequential tissue forceps comprises a first arm, a second arm and central arm wherein both the first arm and the second arm are sequentially closed with respect to the central arm. The first arm, second arm and central arm preferably comprise tips having a gripping structure to facilitate tissue capture and retention. The central arm includes structure that defines a mating interface to allow for selective positioning of the sequential tissue forceps and any captured tissue with respect to a surgical fastening apparatus. In this way, the tissue forceps is able to consistently manipulate and present wound tissue relative to the surgical fastening apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Incisive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7683499
    Abstract: A turbine generator utilizing a passive high pressure fluid source such as a natural gas well head. The generator includes a core and lead wires encapsulated in a dielectric medium to isolate current-bearing components from the motivating fluid, thereby preventing carbon bridging and reducing the explosion hazard when the motivating fluid is a hydrocarbon. The turbine generator includes a rotor that utilizes the full length as an impingement surface for imparting momentum to the rotor, thereby maintaining a compact design that reduces the overall footprint of the turbine generator. Fluid exits the generator via horizontal passages that penetrate the lower extremities of the turbine generator, preventing the buildup of condensation in the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: S & W Holding, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil C. Saucier
  • Patent number: 7679615
    Abstract: Systems and methods for computing three-dimensional (3D) Euclidean Voronoi diagrams are disclosed. For some embodiments, a set of 3D objects is accessed, in which each 3D object is mathematically defined. Thereafter, a Voronoi region associated with each of the 3D objects is computed, thereby resulting in a complete Euclidean Voronoi diagram of the set of 3D objects. In some embodiments, the 3D objects are spheres, each of which is defined by a center and a radius. For other embodiments, the 3D objects are convex objects, each of which is mathematically-definable (e.g., cylinders, sphero-cylinders, etc.). Unlike prior approaches that suggested using a numerical approach to computing the Voronoi diagram, the present disclosure employs mathematical approaches for computing the Euclidean Voronoi diagram, thereby improving efficiency in the computation of the Euclidean Voronoi diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)
    Inventors: Deok-Soo Kim, Youngsong Cho, Donguk Kim
  • Patent number: 7679236
    Abstract: An electric actuator, which includes an exposed actuator terminal, for eliminating the need for insert molding and facilitating the manufacturing of a housing while preventing liquid from entering the housing. The actuator includes a motor. The housing is attached to the motor and includes an opening. A control circuit board accommodated in the housing controls the motor. An actuator terminal is arranged on the control circuit board and connected to an external terminal of an external connector through the opening. A terminal support arranged on the control circuit board supports the actuator terminal. A hollow fitting is attached to the terminal support and fitted into the opening so as to extend into the housing. A seal, arranged between the terminal support and the fitting, seals the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Wataru Kanou, Yukio Isomura, Takashi Kikuta, Kozo Nishimura, Harehide Sasaki, Seiichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7676990
    Abstract: A sliding window having a pair of sashes with a latch mechanism on the meeting rail of one of the sashes for latching the sashes together. To open the window, the latch mechanism is disengaged by grasping a finger grip on a latch handle to retract a latch bolt. As one or more of the sashes is slid to open the window and the latch mechanism clears the meeting rail of the other sash, a trigger cam rotates so that a portion extends outward from the latch mechanism and another portion releases a spring tab to engage and hold the latch bolt in the retracted position. When the window is closed, the outwardly extending portion of the trigger cam contacts the meeting rail of the other sash, causing the trigger cam to rotate in the opposite direction and releasing the latch bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Truth Hardware Corporation
    Inventors: William Bestler, Clark Velzke, Teressa Dickison
  • Patent number: 7678308
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded article includes the step of pressing a pre-molding material that is prepared by dispersing a polylactic acid-base aliphatic polyester and a compatible copolymer into kenaf fibers. The compatible copolymer contains a first polymerizable monomer and a second polymerizable monomer. The pressing step is performed at a temperature that permit the polylactic acid-base aliphatic polyester to be changed to a softened state or a molten state. The first polymerizable monomer has a polymerizable double bond part and a hydrophilic group. The second polymerizable monomer has a polymerizable double bond part and an epoxy group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, NOF Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hashiba, Hideki Kawashiri, Kenichi Ioroi, Kouichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7677393
    Abstract: A container for holding a plurality of wafers in an axially aligned, generally parallel spaced apart arrangement includes an enclosure portion having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, a back and an open front. At least one wafer support is provided in the enclosure along with a kinematic coupling on the bottom of the enclosure. The container has a door for sealingly closing the open front which includes a chassis and an operable latching mechanism on the chassis. The latching mechanism includes a cam selectively rotatable to shift the latching mechanism between a first favored position and a second favored position and at least one vibration dampener for dampening vibrations generated when the latching mechanism is shifted between the first and second favored positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: John Burns, Matthew A. Fuller, Jeffery J. King, Martin L. Forbes, Mark V. Smith
  • Patent number: 7673697
    Abstract: A sod-laying machine having a low center of gravity and a seated operator position adjacent the roll of sod being placed. The superior visibility available to the operator makes it possible to place the sod more accurately and with less need for subsequent adjustment than has been possible previously. The machine has sod roll lifting arms that can be spaced apart to lift and place rolls having any of the common large sod roll widths. The machine can be configured to lay sod that is rolled with either the grass side or the dirt side outermost. Propulsion, roll lifting and roll width adjustment is hydraulic with continuously variable speed drive. Turf scuffing is minimized by trailing caster wheels and independently controllable drive wheels mounted close to the location of the sod roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Jonathan Michael Peterson
  • Patent number: 7673505
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises sampling a sensor during rotation, determining a percentage of samples within a target range, and calculating a circumferential portion of the rotation associated with the percentage of samples. In other embodiments, additional systems and methods and disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: D611437
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: John Burns, Matthew A. Fuller, Jeffery J. King, Martin L. Forbes, Mark V. Smith
  • Patent number: D611719
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry A. Everson
  • Bed
    Patent number: D611722
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry A. Everson
  • Patent number: D611723
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry A. Everson
  • Patent number: D611724
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry A. Everson
  • Patent number: D611758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Justun C. Seymour
  • Patent number: D612073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: David Gruhlke
  • Patent number: D612182
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Milestone AV Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Bremmon, Jamie Brandt