Patents Represented by Law Firm Plante & Strauss
  • Patent number: 4715537
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved spray tip for airless spraying of liquids in which the spray orifice is mounted in a rotatable turret member which is captured in a subassembly of a plastic spray guard and a tubular metal housing. The housing has a longitudinal through passageway which receives a floating piston seal member that has a forward, cylindrically concave face which is urged into a tight seal against the rotatable turret member by the liquid pressure which acts on the upstream face of the floating piston seal member. The floating piston seal member is sealed in the longitudinal through passageway by an annular seal which also restrains the turret member against rotation when the liquid pressure is released, thereby freely permitting substitution of spray orifices by interchanging of turret members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Phyllis Graham
    Inventor: Oliver J. Calder
  • Patent number: 4707244
    Abstract: A solid state sensing element comprising a nonporous, structurally stable, electrically insulating substrate on which is disposed spaced apart pairs of electrodes for contact with moisture. A hygroscopic electrolytic material is located in close proximity to the electrodes as by coating the electrodes with the hygroscopic material. A catalyst is deposited in close proximity to the electrodes and is electrically insulated therefom. The electrodes are connected to a source of potential and current measuring instrumentation. Moisture is trapped by the hygroscopic material and electrolyzed at the electrodes. The catalyst recombines the hydrogen and oxygen thus formed to water so there is no net consumption of water by the element and equilibrium is established at the sensor surface and the atmosphere adjacent the sensor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Beckman Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: John N. Harman, III, Radhakrishna M. Neti
  • Patent number: 4706403
    Abstract: This invention comprises a tool for baiting of fishing hooks and lines. The tool has a handle with a pair of telescoping needles; the first needle is hollow and slidably receives the second needle. Both of the needles have end recesses for receiving the point of a fishing hook. The first, outer needle also has a distal notch for attachment of a leader or fishing line while the second, inner needle has a distal aperture through which a leader or fishing line can be threaded.The handle slidably receives the inner needle and has detents to lock the inner needle in its extended and retracted positions. The inner needle is used for application of bait to small hooks or to a leader, while the outer, larger diameter needle is used for the application of bait to large hooks or to leaders. Both needles can be used to apply bait to multiple-hook fishing hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Inventor: John L. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 4701430
    Abstract: There is disclosed a redistribution catalyst which is the reaction product of a quaternary ammonium halide salt or tertiary amine, and an inorganic carrier having surface hydroxyl groups, such as silica, zeolite, clays, and silicone resins. The catalyst is useful for the redistribution of chlorosilicon hydrides to dichlorosilane and silane at reaction conditions of a temperature from 0.degree. to about 200.degree. C., and a pressure from about 0.1 to 10 atmospheres, in liquid or vapor phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Korea Advance Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Il N. Jung, Ko D. Cho, John C. Lim, Bok-Ryul Yoo
  • Patent number: 4697812
    Abstract: A toy slot car system which simulates off-track racing. The system includes a track, toy vehicles and remote, hand-held controllers to permit each player to control the performance of a preselected vehicle. The track has coextensive, deep slots which have their sidewalls lined with electrical strip conductors, and the toy vehicles have a posts that are received in the deep slots and that carry electrical wipers at their lowermost ends. The surface of the track is rough and uneven with severe undulations which simulate off road conditions and which cause the toy vehicles to be jostled and thrown upwardly, above the track surface during races. Since the slots are quite deep and the electrical strip connectors are quite wide, the cars can bounce over the track and loose all wheel contact with the surface of the track, without loosing electrical continuity with the track, thus creating a realistic simulation of off-track racing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Elliot Rudell
    Inventors: Elliot A. Rudell, Joseph S. Cernansky, George T. Foster
  • Patent number: 4693696
    Abstract: A toy wheel formed with a balloon tire and hub is disclosed in which the tire can be inflated with a valve mechanism contained within the hub of the wheel. The hub is an assembly of hub and cap members which are interlocked together. The tire is a balloon with a single central opening at one end which is received over the hub, and the opposite end of the balloon is captured between the interlocked hub and cap members. The inflation valve comprises an air passageway through the hub member which is surrounded by a valve seat on its inside end. The valve seat is intersected with at least one axial slot along the inside end of the hub member to provide a release air passageway. The valve seat is preferably sealed by a sealing portion of the balloon. A pin with an enlarged diameter head is received in the air passageway to provide a valve operator which, when depressed, lifts the sealing portion of the balloon off the valve seat and releases the air pressure through the axial slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Inventor: Gordon H. Buck
  • Patent number: 4691785
    Abstract: There is disclosed a carriage for an agricultural implement, particularly for a reversible plow, in which the wheels at each side of the carriage are mounted to the carriage with forks which are pivotally received on a main axle and which have lift arms interconnected to a lift assembly. The wheel lift assembly has lift levers fixedly secured at opposite ends of a lift shaft and these are connected to their respective lift arms on the wheel forks by lift links having adjustable pinned connections to the lift levers whereby the fulcrum of each lift lever can be changed by insertion of pins in preselected, aligned pairs of apertures between the link arm and lift lever. The fulcrum positions of the lift levers control the elevations of the wheels on the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Post Brothers Construction Co.
    Inventor: Charles R. Post
  • Patent number: 4690285
    Abstract: There is disclosed a receptacle for storing and dispensing flat tools and utensils, particularly drafting instruments such as templates, shields, compasses, dividers, pencils, pens, etc. The receptacle comprises a U-shaped box having a base with opposite sidewalls coextensive its side edges, a plurality of cross slots extending through said box sidewalls; and an elastomeric retainer member received in said U-shaped box, substantially filling the box between its sidewalls, with a like plurality of cross slits aligned with said plurality of cross slots. The drafting instruments are received in the cross slots and are snuggly captured by the slits in the elastomeric retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: Earlyn W. Stone
  • Patent number: 4685239
    Abstract: This invention comprises a pointed spear head for sport fishing spear guns which is formed of a metal having a Rockwell hardness of at least 30 and distally having a sharply pointed end. At its opposite end, the spear head has an annular groove and intermediate its ends, the spear head has a pair of opposite flats with a single bore extending transversely therethrough, between the flats. A pair of folding wings, each having side flanges with apertures which are aligned with the transverse bore are received over the flatted portions of the head with their apertures aligned with the single through bore of the shaft and with a pin extending therethrough to pivotally secure the wings to the shaft. The spear point is provided with a slidable sleeve retainer which can be slipped over the ends of the wings to retain them in their folded positions. The spear point head of the hardened steel is connected to a shaft adapter of intermediate hardness, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Ann Runnells
    Inventor: Joseph B. LaMonica
  • Patent number: 4684127
    Abstract: There is disclosed a game for four or more players whereby the players are attached together by removably attached tethers, and then required to perform physical movements and maintain their attached relationships one to another. The tether straps provide a yielding restraint and the game challenges the players to perform certain physical movements without breaking this restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Elliot A. Rudell
  • Patent number: 4681546
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for use in the method, for selecting and coordinating the color of a person's wardrobe and accessories to flatter and complement the person. The method includes a color spectrum analysis of the natural tones of the person's skin, preferably by use of a color filter system. The color spectrum analysis is performed to determine the distribution and concentration of at least one, and preferably, two, primary colors. Wearing apparel and accessory items are categorized into classes based on the concentration of the preselected color in these items and the classes most closely matching the proportions of the selected primary color found in the skin tones of the person are selected for that person's wardrobe and accessories. The method uses a set of color filters with coded indicia that provide a facile manner in determining the distribution and concentration of the selected primary color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Inventor: Charlavan Hart
  • Patent number: 4674199
    Abstract: There is disclosed a shoe with an internal warming mechanism which comprises an electrical resistance coil in the sole or upper coverings of the shoe, and with an electrical generation mechanism in the heel of the shoe which is driven by the up-and-down movements of the wearer's heel which accompanies normal activities such as skiing, hiking, etc. The electrical generator includes an armature mounted for rotational movement in a magnetic field and mechanically connected to a vertical post which is dependent on the undersurface of the heel portion of the inner sole of the shoe. The post is connected through a vertical spiral groove to a sleeve which is coupled with an escapement to a flywheel that is unidirectionally driven by the sleeve. The flywheel is coupled through a gear train to the armature of the electrical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: Nikola Lakic
  • Patent number: 4671040
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for flame-proofing of shingled roof coverings wherein the shingles are coated on at least their exposed sides with a flame-proofing composition and the roof covering is provided with at least one continuous bead of a flame-proofing caulking composition which extends coextensively with each course of the shingles, thereby sealing each course of shingles to the underlying or subjacent course of shingles. The preferred flame-proofing composition is a mixture of a thermoplastic, ambient-temperature, film former such as a polyvinyl acrylic acetate latex, and alumina trihydrate and glass fibers. The preferred caulking composition has the same composition and also contains a thixotropic ingredient to obtain a paste consistency. The film former is a conventional latex used for coating compositions and should have the property of softening at or below the dehydration temperature of alumina trihydrate (about 280 degrees F.) and be capable of forming a stable foam at such temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: Charles H. Braithwaite, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4665634
    Abstract: There is disclosed footwear, such as a bootlet, for children in which the entire bootlet, rearwardly of the instep is separable from the forward portion, with a continuous strip fastener that extends vertically along the sides and beneath the arch to removably join the front and rear portions. Preferably, the two portions are permanently secured together on one side, at their top edges with a welting which extends about the top edges of the bootlet. The forward portion of the sole of the bootlet has foam padding on its outside surface and this is covered with an outer sole, thereby providing a very soft cushion beneath the ball of the child's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Alberto O. Diaz
  • Patent number: 4655900
    Abstract: An improved electrochemical cell is described which comprises at least one electrode having increased signal strength achieved by treating at least the working surface of the electrode with a coating of a polytetrafluoroethylene and a catalyst metal selected from the group consisting of platinum and the oxides thereof in an aqueous oligosaccharide solution. Following coating, the electrode is heated to a temperature below the sintering temperature of the polymer to thermally convert the oligosaccharide in the presence of the catalyst metal and drive off the conversion products. An electrode thus treated exhibits a substantially inproved signal strength as compared to an electrode of the same construction which has not been treated in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Beckman Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Radhakrishna M. Neti, John N. Harman, III
  • Patent number: 4652464
    Abstract: A method for printing fine or commercial art utilizing visible and/or invisible fluorescent colorants and non-fluorescent colorants in a multiple series of colorant applications with each color application being made with with a predetermined print pattern. As used herein, "fluoresecent colorants" are those which emit visible light under the ultraviolet (black light), including those which are colored and those which are colorless under visible light. The colorants are applied to a base in layers or by blending the fluorescent and non-fluorescent colorants to achieve a predetermined piece of art work. Some of the layers of colorants are used to mask, or partly mask, the brilliance of some of the fluorescent layers, in graduating degrees for viewing under ulrtraviolet observation, or viewing in other lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventors: John P. Ludlum, Shirley G. Ludlum
  • Patent number: 4646485
    Abstract: Wet blast apparatus 1 is provided with a sump 2 for collecting liquid and abrasive particles after use, a duct 40 for conducting the collected material to a three-stage weir system 4 whereby the particles are separated out. The apparatus is further provided with a fluid flow control valve 3 operable to control the flow of collected material to the separating system 4. An adjustable timer 25 is provided for delaying the flow of collected material to the separating system 4. The control valve 3 comprises a valve member 6 cooperable with a valve seat 7, the valve member 6 being expansible whereby it can be enlarged so as to coact with the valve seat 7. The valve member 6 is of hollow, inflatable form, comprising a flexible membrane 10, clamped between a plate 11 and a ring 12. An actuating chamber 20 is defined by the plate 11 and the membrane 10. Pressurized air is admitted to, and exhausted from, the chamber 20 by way of a control valve 21 disposed in an air line 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Vapormatt Limited
    Inventor: Terence I. Ashworth
  • Patent number: 4641862
    Abstract: There is disclosed a nozzle liner and a method for its installation for the protection of nozzles of vessels. The nozzle liner comprises a sleeve fitting the internal diameter of the nozzle and having an integral end flange. The nozzle liner is inserted into the nozzle with its integral end flange bearing against the outer face of the ring flange of the nozzle. The nozzle liner is rotationally molded with an end flange and is free of internal stresses and seams. The preferred method of its installation simultaneously flares and bonds the nozzle liner to the lining of the vessel in a fashion which confines the stressed portions of the nozzle liner in the annular lamination area. In this position, the end of the nozzle liner projects inside the vessel and the projecting end is thermoformed to flare it outwardly and form an annular seal laminated against the inner corrosion liner of the vessel. For this purpose a heated flaring and laminating tool is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Inventor: Randy A. Gardiner
  • Patent number: D289015
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Bruce E. Singer
  • Patent number: D290450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventors: Elliot A. Rudell, Joseph S. Cernansky, Richard P. Kamrath