Patents Represented by Law Firm Peterson, Wicks, Nemer & Kamrath, P.A.
  • Patent number: 5704461
    Abstract: Rotational control apparatus (A) in the preferred forms of fan clutches is disclosed including shoulder bolts (78) extending through axially extending voids (146) formed in axially extending portion (66) and flange (76) of first and second shell housings (62, 68). The shoulder bolts (78) secure the shell housings (62, 68) together to prevent relative movement therebetween. The apparatus (A) further includes a piston (80) having tabs (144) extending from the outer periphery thereof into the voids (146) and including openings having bushings (134) therein for slideable receipt on the shoulder bolts (78). Springs (138) are mounted on standoffs (210) extending in the voids (146) and abutting with the shoulder of the shoulder bolts (78).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Vatsaas, Virgil Schieffer, Tom Bydalek, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 5704196
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for partially setting up a blank (12) is disclosed including first suction cups (122) for removing the first blank (12) from a magazine (96). The first suction cups (122) are pivotally mounted to the ends of pivot arms (110) to move the first blank (12) up and over actuators (102) of the magazine (96) as the first blank (12) is moved forward out of the magazine (96). After the lower edge of the first blank (12) passes over the actuators (102), the lower portion of the blank (12) is supported in an intermediate position upon an abutment bar (106). While still secured to the first suction cups (122), second suction cups (78) are secured to the blank (12). The second suction cups (78) tilt the blank (12) to be parallel to and move with upstanding lugs (36) of a conveyor assembly (34). A forming die (38) pushes the blank (12) into the lugs (36) as the forming die (38), blank (12) and the lugs (36) move at a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Irvan L. Pazdernik, Dean Malmgren, Paul Wagner
  • Patent number: 5700376
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed including first and second housing halves which are welded together to attach the apparatus to a pup joint installed in an oil casing. The housing includes a cylindrical portion and first and second frustoconical portions at opposite axial ends thereof. Axially extending L-shaped spacers are secured to the inside portion and include longitudinal edges which abut with the outer surface of the pipe. Series of axially spaced, first and right parallelepiped shaped magnets are sandwiched between the inside portion of the cylindrical portion and the outer surface of the pipe, with the poles of the first and magnets being reversed relative to the pipe. The housing halves are welded along their longitudinal free edges after being clamped together by a clamping band with sufficient force to secure the apparatus to the pipe generally by frictional forces and being free of the attachment to the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Roland K. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5687529
    Abstract: A fastening device (10) for securing panels (252) to each other, foundations (258) and other surfaces is disclosed including cam elements (50) which are rotated to fasten with locking plates (29). Specifically, elongated hollow channels (11) are provided of an identical construction including slots (24) formed in the free edges of lips (21, 23) defining a slit opening (19). Grooves (22) are formed in the abutting, outside surfaces of the lips (21, 23) for receipt of seals (214). The heads (216) of the seals (214) in an uncompressed condition are of a height substantially greater than and of a width substantially less than the depth and width of a trough (208) of the groove (22) and are compressible to fit completely within the trough (208). The cam elements (50) are rotatably mounted between the support walls (202) of a U-shaped carrier (200). The upper ends of the support walls (202) integrally terminate in shelves (206) having edges which are slideably mounted in the slots (24) of the channels (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: WorldTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Pickering
  • Patent number: 5685500
    Abstract: A mill (10) for grinding garbage or like material is disclosed including grinding rotors (48-50) rotatably fixed to and longitudinally adjustable on a shaft (44) rotatable in a grinding chamber (26). Each of the rotors (48-50) include a multiplicity of arms (64) extending radially from a circular disc (54). The arms (64) have replaceable tips (284) including first and second legs (288, 290) forming an L-shaped body portion. First and second bolts (308) extend through apertures (310) in the arm (64) and are threaded into apertures (312) in the first leg (288). A third bolt (314) extends through a counterbore (320) and an aperture (316) in the second leg (290) and is threaded into aperture (318) of the radially outer end of the arm (64). Material anti-wrap provisions (140) in the form of wing plates (240) oriented to extend generally radially from the shaft (44) are provided between the top plate (28) and the first rotor (28) and also between the rotors (48-50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Wastenot International Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric P. Eide, Russel L. Eide, II
  • Patent number: 5680994
    Abstract: A mill (10) for grinding garbage is disclosed including an octagonal shaped grinding chamber (26). Grinding rotors (48-50) are rotatably fixed to a rotatable shaft (44). An impeller rotor (51) is also rotatably fixed to the shaft (44) below the grinding rotors (48-50). The impeller rotor (51) discharges a stream of air, entrapped material, and projectiles into a projectile deflection device (182) which includes an upwardly sloping bottom plate (202) which deflects the projectiles into an end plate (204) to reduce the kinetic energy thereof. The air stream and entrapped material pass from the projectile deflection device (182) into a plenum (210) which reduces the velocity of the air stream to release much of the entrapped material, with the material release being enhanced by baffles (224) providing a tortuous path for the air stream in the plenum (210) before it enters a cyclonic material separator (216).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Wastenot International Ltd.
    Inventors: Russel L. Eide, Eric P. Eide, Russel L. Eide, II
  • Patent number: 5682222
    Abstract: A spectacle frame includes two extensions extended from the side portions and each having a magnetic member. A pair of legs are pivotally coupled to the extensions and each has another magnetic member secured in one end for engaging with the magnetic members of the frame so as to rotate the legs to a position parallel to the extensions and perpendicular to the frame by an attraction force between the magnetic members. The legs will not apply a spring force but may apply a gentle force against the users such that the users may feel more comfortable when wearing the spectacle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventor: Richard Chao
  • Patent number: 5674120
    Abstract: A floor polishing machine (10) according to the preferred form of the teachings of the present invention includes a body portion (12) having a platform (20), and a handle (16) pivotally mounted to the platform (20). First and second sets of wheels (68, 70) are provided adjacent the rear of the platform (20) and on opposite sides of the handle pivot (50). For coupling the handle (16) and the platform (20) together, a gas spring (53) is provided having a first end pivotally connected to the platform (20) and having a second end pivotally connected to the handle (16). The gas spring (53) urges the platform to pivot about the first set of wheels (68) downwardly in the rear and upwardly in the front. The motor (24) for rotating the polishing member (14) is pivotally mounted to the platform (20) by ears (23) so that the polishing member (14) can flushly abut the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Advance Machine Company
    Inventors: Donald J. Legatt, David Wood
  • Patent number: 5671566
    Abstract: A jamb liner is mounted in the side jamb tracks of a window frame to mount window units of double hung windows for slidable movement between opened and closed positions. The liner includes transversely spaced channel guides, each guide mounting a guide member that is attached to the adjacent window unit. Flanges are joined to the guides for forming a close fit with the adjacent window unit while, to each guide, there is joined a wing to form a seal with the web of the adjacent jamb to block fluid flow between the window units and the side jamb from one transverse side of the unit sash to the other. The wings of the liner are arcuately curved to transversely diverge from one another in a direction toward the jamb web. The wings are of a substantially greater resiliency than the rest of the liner, said rest of the liner being semi-rigid and made of extruded plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Clim-A-Tech Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Tix, Alvin F. Priem
  • Patent number: 5669318
    Abstract: A portable lock stitch sewing machine includs a driving mechanism, a transmitting mechanism and a number of guiding mechanisms. The function of the driving mechanism is to transfer a battery power to pivotally connected members to make them move as required by a user. The transmitting mechanism then transmits the power of the battery to related members to fulfill the sewing performance and the number of guiding mechanism are used to ensure the tension on threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Airtek Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Shi-chour Tsay, Jen-hsin Ho
  • Patent number: 5664680
    Abstract: A carrier tape (12) is disclosed including a plurality of longitudinally spaced pockets (22) extending parallel to index holes (20). Each pocket (22) includes side walls (24) and a bottom (26) having provisions (28) for holding a microchip (32). Abutments (38) having semicircular cross sections are integrally formed on the side walls (24) for engaging the free ends of the leads (34) of the microchip (32) to prevent their engagement with the side walls (24). A greater number of abutments (38) at lesser spacings are provided than the leads (34) of the microchip (32) to prevent the leads (34) from hooking between the abutments (38). The abutments (38) are arranged to minimize the number of leads (34) actually engaged and to minimize the actual area contacted by the free ends of the leads (34) with the abutments (38). The shape of the abutments (38) also optically disperses major portions of the reflection of the leads (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: CariTech Inc.
    Inventor: Robert N. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 5654785
    Abstract: A lens locator positions a pair of lenses. The lens locator has a plurality of buckles and a connector which is made a of titanium-nickel alloy. The buckle has a hook extending from one end of the buckle and a generally U-shaped groove defined by the buckle. The U-shaped groove receives a lens of the sunglasses while folded and the U-shaped groove receives a lens of regular glasses while the sunglasses are in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventors: Hung Yu Shih, Paul Chen, Jerry Huang
  • Patent number: 5644816
    Abstract: An extensible drawbar device comprises a grip, a draw plate disposed under the grip transversely, two parallel drawbars connected by the draw plate, two fixed plates receiving the drawbars, and two link plates abutting the drawbars. The grip is connected to two upper ends of the drawbars. A groove is formed on the upper portion of each drawbar. Two ends of the draw plate are inserted in the grooves and connected to the upper ends of the link plates. Two compression springs are disposed between the grip and the draw plate. Caging recesses are formed on the draw plate. A through hole is formed on the grip to receive a push button. The lower end of the push button stably connects a caging block. The lower end of the link plate has a generally ladder-shaped plate which has a first and second steps, a bevel, and a slot. A caging hole is formed at the lower portion of the drawbar. Positioning holes are formed on the upper portion of the fixed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Cheng-Tsan Chou
  • Patent number: 5643643
    Abstract: An apparel accessory (10) is disclosed including a scarf body (12) formed by folding a sheet (20) of fabric to create first and second layers (22, 24) overlying each other and having staggered, free longitudinal edges. First and second, parallel, spaced, longitudinal rows of stitches (26, 28) extend through layers (22, 24) generally intermediate the longitudinal edges of the scarf body (12) and form and define a tunnel (30) for frictionally, slideably receiving a drawstring (16). By pushing the scarf body (12) relative to the drawstring (16), the scarf body (12) can be variably held in a gathered, three dimensional condition on the drawstring (16) for draping on the wearer in a variety of positions and modes. The portions of the drawstring (16) beyond the scarf body (12) in its gathered condition provide tying provisions for the accessory (10) for tying the ends together and/or for tying the ends to the clothing of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Ruth B. Bernstein
  • Patent number: D380983
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Chiang-Li Lu
  • Patent number: D382470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Chiang-Li Lu
  • Patent number: D383611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Chin Lizn Tsai
  • Patent number: D387019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Chung-Ya Yang
  • Patent number: D387407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Shih-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: D388925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventors: Trueman L. Hulegaard, Curtiss W. Titterud