Patents Represented by Attorney Paul L. Hickman

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  • Reusable ice mold
    Patent number: 4562991
    Abstract: An ice mold characterized by a lower mold section having an upwardly extending outer retainer wall and an upper mold section which fits within the outer retainer wall and which has an upwardly extending inner retainer wall. An annular void is formed between the retainer walls when the mold sections are engaged to provide an expansion space for the water as it freezes and to eliminate the need for a seal between the mold portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Inventor: Gerald Wu
  • Knee-pad device
    Patent number: 4561123
    Abstract: A knee-pad device characterized by a flexible, arcuate pad member attached both above and below the knee. When the person using the knee pad device is standing, the pad member bows away from the knee to allow air to flow around the knee. When the person is kneeling, the pad member conforms to the shape of the knee. The pad member can be attached either to the legs of a pair of pants, or to a pair of straps which encircle a user's legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: William L. Hull
  • Ranged voltage monitor with out-of-range enunciators
    Patent number: 4559497
    Abstract: A ranged precision voltage monitor with out-of-range enunciator characterized by a power supply and reference voltage stage, a voltage sensing stage, and an enunciator stage. The power supply stage provides power for the monitor, and further provides a reference voltage and a sensing voltage. The voltage sensing stage senses and displays voltage levels within a predetermined range, and further senses and displays over-range and under-range conditions. The enunciator produces a first audible tone for under-range conditions, and a second audible tone for over-range conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Inventor: Anthony Farrugia
  • Binocular rests
    Patent number: 4557451
    Abstract: A binocular rest characterized by an elongated support member, a strap for holding a pair of binoculars upon the support member, and a mounting nut for attaching the support member to a tripod. The support member has an upper surface configured to engage the lower surfaces of the binoculars, and the strap attaches over the binoculars to hold them against the contoured upper surface of said support member and to urge winged end portions of the support member against the side surfaces of the binoculars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Joseph Conway
  • Conductive fluid optical display panel and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 4558314
    Abstract: The thin optical display panel of any convenient area formed of a plurality of pixel elements, each element comprising a pair of small, thin cavities in each transparent surface of the panel. Two cavities in each element are interconnected by a small conduit and one cavity in the conduit is filled with conductive opaque fluid, such as mercury or the like. The fluid in the conduit is subjected to a transverse, reversible magnetic field and a transverse, reversible current so that the fluid may be selectively and rapidly transferred between the cavities by electromagnetic pumping action. The indicia on the surfaces of the display panel are formed by appropriate selection of the directions of either the magnetic field or the transverse current in the many elements forming the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Robert Fooshee
  • Hydraulic control system for vacuum sweeper trucks
    Patent number: 4555826
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a vacuum sweeper truck including a hydraulic pump coupled to the truck's engine, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic fan motor, a hopper actuator, and a valve assembly having three operative positions. In a first position the hopper actuator is deactivated and full power goes to the vacuum fan motor. In a second position the hydraulic fluid is diverted to the hopper actuator to raise the hopper and the vacuum fan motor is run at a reduced speed by hydraulic fluid returning to the reservoir. In a third position, the hydraulic fluid is again diverted to the hopper actuator to drive the hopper in a second direction, and again the fan motor is run at a reduced power level. A compensator is coupled to the hydraulic pump and is responsive to a cut-off setting and to the hydraulic pressure produced by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventors: Jack Rodgers, Mark F. Rodgers
  • Prying staple remover
    Patent number: 4553737
    Abstract: A prying staple remover characterized by a head portion having a curved bottom and top surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the bottom surface with the top surface. The side surfaces are each provided with a groove with which the legs of the removed staples may be engaged. The head portion also includes a magnet and magnetic field return assembly which magnetically attracts the bases of the removed staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventor: Chol H. Yi
  • Mailbox with indicator flags
    Patent number: 4552302
    Abstract: A mailbox characterized by a box provided with a hinged door, and a pair of indicator flags pivotally attached to opposing sides of the box. The indicator flags are spring loaded such that one of the flags is biased towards an upright position, and the other flag is biased towards a horizontal position. Spring loaded links are attached to each of the flags to engage a pair of studs provided on opposing sides of the mailbox door. The links are adapted to hold the flags until the door is opened, at which time the flags will rotate to their biased positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: Chester E. Rung
  • Air brake slack adjustment and measurement tools
    Patent number: 4550460
    Abstract: Air brake adjustment and measurement tools where the adjustment tool includes a long handle portion having a gripper assembly attached to one end and a socket wrench drive attached to the other end. The gripper assembly has a pair of facing jaw members adapted to engage opposing edges of a vehicle's air brake slack adjustment. The measuring tool includes a scale, and a permanent magnet attached to one end of the scale. In use, the measuring tool is placed next to the clevis rod of the vehicle's air brake assembly, and the adjustment tool is used to move the air brake slack adjustment between a braking and a non-braking position. The stroke of the clevis rod is measured by the measuring tool, and is adjusted by a socket wrench attached to a socket drive of the adjustment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Inventors: Henry C. Smallbrook, William E. Spicer
  • Coving cutter assembly
    Patent number: 4549351
    Abstract: A hand-operated cutter of flooring material characterized by a substantially rectangular base supported by three cylindrical roller wheels, a pair of guide posts rising from a upper surface of the base, a cutter plate adjustably attached to the guide posts, and a pair of razor blades angularly clamped to opposing ends of the cutter plate. The device also includes cove forming mechanism including a pair of separated, half-spherical wheels adapted to urge the flooring material into the juncture between the floor and wall surfaces. The height of the cutter plate above the base is adjustable to cut the flooring material at a user selectable height above the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Inventors: Dan P. Stanbery, Juan A. Valero
  • Cryogenic trap and pump system
    Patent number: 4541249
    Abstract: A cryogenic system adapted to trap or pump waste industrial gasses and characterized by a cryogenic assembly having a cryogenically cooled member sealed within an inner enclosure, a thermal switch assembly for injecting and removing gas from within the inner enclosure, and a flush assembly for removing the solid and liquid residues of the industrial gasses from the trap assembly. The inner enclosure may be covered with a sacrificial material such as copper to chemically react with the reactive gasses. The use of a thermal switch assembly permits rapid regeneration of the system because the cryogenically cooled member does not have to be shut down during the regeneration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Inventors: Clint Graves, Mario Marcon
  • Externally mounted generators for pneumatic wheels
    Patent number: 4539496
    Abstract: A generator assembly characterized by a hubcap and an elongated arm attached at a first end to a central portion of the hubcap such that it may freely rotate therein. A generator is attached to the second end of the arm which is operative to produce electrical power as the hubcap rotates. Because of the generator's offset position there is a "step-up" effect of the mechanical power supplied to the generator, thus increasing the electrical power developed by the generator. The elongated arm can also be attached to the wheel lugs of the wheel by a suitable frame, or may be manufactured as an integral part of a wheel or hubcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Collapsible electric golf cart
    Patent number: 4538696
    Abstract: A battery powered golf club cart having an elongated handle which controls both the power applied to its rear wheels and a brake associated with its front wheel. When the handle is depressed an electric motor which rotates the rear wheels is actuated and the front brake is released. When the handle is raised, the electric motor is disabled and the front wheel is drawn into contact with a braking member. A full set of golf clubs are vertically held in a flat rack forming a part of the cart framework and, after removal of the battery, the cart may be collapsed into a thin flat package, convenient for transporting and storage, without need for removal of the golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventor: Lee T. Carter
  • Nursing bottle holder
    Patent number: 4537341
    Abstract: A nursing bottle holder characterized by an elongated, flexible strip of material which is draped around the neck of an infant's attendant. A pair of elastic straps are attached to one end of the strip and are provided with cooperating attachment members which allow them to be formed into a loops adapted to hold a nursing bottle. A counterweight is attached to the other end of the strap to prevent the weight of the bottle from pulling the flexible strip from around the attendant's neck. The position of the counterweight can be changed so as to adjust the height and position of the nursing bottle. An optional towel support may be provided to attach a small towel to the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Oscar Kelly
  • Pet feeder assembly
    Patent number: 4532891
    Abstract: A pet feeder assembly characterized by a substantially rectangular pan, a lattice member engaged with the sidewalls of the pan, and a pair of feeding bowls engaged with apertures provided through the lattice member. The lattice member has interstices large enough to permit kibble and other large size particulate matter to fall into the collection pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Inventor: Richard O. Jones
  • Apparatus and method for correcting timebase errors
    Patent number: 4532541
    Abstract: Improvements to timebase correction devices utilizing clocked analog delay lines are shown. Problems of clocked analog delay lines such as timing errors in the phase of internal sample and holds with respect to their clock, drifting of the gain and offset, and high frequency noise are corrected by use of external sample and hold circuits, external delays, automatic gain and offset circuits and high frequency preemphasis circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Inventor: J. Carl Cooper
  • Method and apparatus for transmitting from within a pneumatic wheel assembly
    Patent number: 4531112
    Abstract: A tire pressure transmitting apparatus characterized by an elongated antenna having a first end coupled within a wheel and a second end biased towards the wheel such that the antenna is positioned substantially within the circumferential depression in the absence of a counter-biasing force being exerted on it. As the wheel rotates, centrifugal force causes the second end of the antenna to move to a transmitting position within the void of the tire. The antenna is safely biased to a non-transmitting position as the wheel stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Inventor: Stephen E. Thomas
  • Eyeglass case
    Patent number: D279522
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventor: Ronald Scoppettone
  • Wall partition layout tool
    Patent number: D280735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Tony Miller
  • Bicycle carrier bags
    Patent number: D281313
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Astro Nautics Plastic Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Bepristis, Richard A. Bepristis