Patents Represented by Law Firm Peterson, Wicks, Nemer & Kamrath, P.A.
  • Patent number: 6076307
    Abstract: A guttering cleaning system for cleaning of spouting and guttering in building structures includes water outlets (15) mounted to rain water guttering (12) to direct water into the guttering to flusb debris. An outlet connector (21) is provided for each water outlet (15). A supply connector (22) for releasable connection to any one of the outlet connectors (21) supplies water to the outlet connectors (21). A water supply line (25) and a connector support (45) enables remote connection and disconnection of the supply connector (22) from the ground adjacent the building, the connector support (45) comprising a support pole (46) provided with the supply connector (22) at its upper end, the supply line (25) extending up the support pole (46) to the supply connector (22). The system further includes a connection release means (50) enabling selective release of the connection between the supply connector (22) and an associated outlet connector (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Spoutmate PTY LTD
    Inventor: Anthony Frederick Kean
  • Patent number: 5981825
    Abstract: An anatomically specific, bioresorbable, implant device for facilitating the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of using the implant device for facilitating the healing of a human joint lesion includes a cartilage region invested with an alginate microstructure joined with a subchondral bone region invested with a hyaluronan microstructure. The alginate selectively dispersed in the cartilage region enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow articular cartilage. The hyaluronan selectively dispersed in the subchondral bone region enhances the environment for mesenchymal cells which migrate into that region's macrostructure and which differentiate into osteoblasts. The microstructures can be invested at varying concentrations in the regions. A hydrophobic barrier, strategically positioned within the subchondral bone region macrostructure, shields the chondrocytes from the oxygenated blood in subchondral cancellous bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: THM Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Brekke
  • Patent number: 5954191
    Abstract: A mechanism (10) for actuating an electric circuit is disclosed including a cover (124) having a front wall including a broad surface and movably mounted by pins (126) extending through apertures (108) formed in a mount (90, 90') of a housing (12, 12'), with the cover (124) being biased by springs (130) located on the pins (126). Tongues (136) of the cover (124) engage the legs (118) of first and second actuating arms (112, 114) to pivot the arms (112, 114) to pivot an actuation lever (100). The lever (100) includes an actuation finger (104) which pushes against the toggle (38) of a switch (36) to de-energize the circuit. Thus, when any point of the cover (124) is pushed towards the mount (90, 90'), the switch (36) is moved to de-energize the circuit. A switch lever (70) is pivotably mounted to the housing (12, 12') and is pivoted by a slideable actuator (42) to move the switch (36) to energize the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: John P. Reiter
  • Patent number: 5937540
    Abstract: An electrothermal drying device has a hollow main body, a plurality of reflection hoods covering infrared electrothermal tubes, a plurality of air-inhaling blowers connected to the hollow main body, a plurality of waste vapor-exhaling blowers, a plurality of air separation devices, two air inlet stranglers, two pairs of high pressure gas valves connected to two high pressure gas tanks, a plurality of electric heaters disposed in the hollow main body, two emergency air-exhaling stranglers connected to the hollow main body, a plurality of heat-resistant glass panes located in the hollow main body and abutting the reflection hoods, two water atomizing devices located in the hollow main body and connected to two water tanks, and reflection hoods each having an is automatic rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Asia Metal Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 5930900
    Abstract: A pair of scissors has a first blade, a second blade, a first grip connected to the first blade, a second grip connected to the second blade, a torsion spring disposed between the first grip and the second grip, and a hook ring fastening the first grip and the second grip movably. The first grip has a first upper handle and a first lower handle coupled to the first upper handle. The second grip has a second upper handle and a second lower handle coupled to the second upper handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Chia-Yin Chang
  • Patent number: 5927579
    Abstract: A ready to use, self contained article holding device for use on clothing to hold and support articles of a suitable kind like single use cameras. This device has on one end a protective liner (51) that is peeled off to expose an adhesive (50) that is on the back of a fastening strip (48) for attachment to an article. A fastening material (52) on the reverse side of fastening strip (48) is joined to a complementary fastening material (38) on a fastening strip (46) that is connected by an adhesive back on the second fastener strip (46) to the larger front side of a securing mechanism base (42). Securing mechanism base (42) is made from a sturdy, nonharmful material so that it can support-the weight of an attached item and not damage clothing from which it is held. Fastening strips (48 & 46) are made of material that will allow repeated releasing and replacing of attached products without reduction in holding ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Barry E. Schwabe
  • Patent number: 5904717
    Abstract: A biodegradable device for facilitating healing of structural voids in bone, cartilage as well as soft tissue is disclosed in the most preferred form including a porous macrostructure made from a biodegradable polymer and a chemotactic ground substance in the form of an RGD attachment moiety of fibronectin formed as a porous microstructure. For repair of articular cartilage, harvested precursor cells are secured to the biodegradable carrier which is shaped for press fitting into the articular cartilage lesion. In the most preferred form, the chemotactic ground substance enhances the attractiveness of the biodegradable device for cellular attachment at the site of repair and also facilitates the attachment of free, precursor cells such as chondrocytes and bone marrow to the biodegradable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: THM Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Brekke, Richard D. Coutts
  • Patent number: 5899033
    Abstract: A hub assembly (10) for use in arranging muntins (22) across a window pane includes at least first and second covers (12, 14) which are snap-fit and frictionally held together and which define at least one arcuate track (70) that is adapted to slidably receive carrier members (20) for interconnecting the muntins (22) to the hub assembly (10). The arcuate track (70) coacts with the carrier members (20) to retain the carrier members (20) in selective angular positions about the hub assembly (10). The hub assembly (10), which is semi-circular in plan view, can be selectively attached directly to a window frame, or to another similarly constructed hub assembly (10) to form a circular overall hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Lake Country Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony W. Merchlewitz
  • Patent number: 5896622
    Abstract: A hinge device has a first portion defined therein a channel, a lateral slot and a longitudinal slot and a second portion having an axis formed therewith and rotatably received within the channel of the first portion. The lateral slot and the longitudinal slot of the first portion are able to provide the hinge device of the invention recovery force of dual orientations according to various orientation requirement of load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Sheng-Nan Lu
  • Patent number: 5896971
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first (14) and second (66) members through an axially shiftable friction element (56) that rotates in unison with the first member (14) and can be selectively brought into engagement with the second member (66) is provided with a forced air cooling system that functions to cool the interface between the friction element (56) and the second member (66), as well as a first bearing (54) allowing relative rotation between the friction element (56) and an actuation member (38). A flow of cooling air is developed during operation of the apparatus by fins (172,174) formed about an outer radial surface portion of the friction element (56) and the air is caused to flow through enlarged lobe cut-out sections (156) in the second member (66) along the interface and through holes (164) formed in the friction element (56) which are arranged opposite the first bearing (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventor: Dave W. Hein
  • Patent number: 5897480
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) includes a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position, with the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlying at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). After an unload arm (84) is secured to the first end panel (18), tucking arms (102, 104, 106) are pivoted to tuck the bottom closure flaps (22, 24, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Irvan L. Pazdernik
  • Patent number: 5882055
    Abstract: A microchip handling system has a pair of probes with suction cups for handling microchips. An improved microchip holding device is used in lieu of the suction cups to pick up and hold microchips. The microchip holding device has a head accommodating an annular sleeve that retains the microchip in spaced holding relationship relative to a body. The sleeve establishes a large annular space whereby the vacuum force has a large surface area for holding the microchip in engagement with the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Aetrium Incorporated
    Inventor: Nathan R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5878858
    Abstract: A versatile apparatus (2) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first and second rotatable members preferably takes the form of a clutch that can be activated by axially shifting an internal actuation member (140) through the introduction of either liquid or gaseous mediums. The clutch includes first and second transmission members (177, 281) which are rotatably mounted within a housing (5) and adapted to be attached to the first and second rotatable members respectively. A coupling assembly (226), preferably including first and second sets of axially spaced interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275), is interposed between the transmission members (177, 284) within the housing and axial movement of the actuation member (140) causes the interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275) to be frictionally engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventor: Dave W. Hein
  • Patent number: D405954
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Cheng-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: D406288
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Chih-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: D406580
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Kuo-Tung Nien
  • Patent number: D409472
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: D411371
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Wanek, John J. Amell
  • Patent number: RE36262
    Abstract: A rotatable food serving housing including a rotating base assembly, a base including an umbrella accommodation sleeve and cold ice pack supports, at least two opposing food serving trays, and a cover including opposing hinged flaps for mating with the base, the umbrella accommodation sleeve and the cold ice pack supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jondahl, Brian L. Reed
  • Patent number: D415649
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Jui-Yen Pai