Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Polster, Lieder Woodruff & Lucchesi
  • Thin screen enclosure
    Patent number: 7864512
    Abstract: A modular container (2) for a flat display panel (3) has a mounting shelf (55) for the panel and power means (48) for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and vertical channels (108) or geared tracks in the container positioned to receive side edges of the panel and adjustable laterally to accommodate panels of different widths. A modular container for a flat display panel has a mounting shelf for the panel and power means for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and remotely controlled power means (32, 76), for moving said container with respect to a seated or recumbent person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Mitchell Kirschner, Ethan Schuman
  • Braking systems
    Patent number: 7857339
    Abstract: A reverse braking system for a commercial vehicle including sensors (102) for detecting an object in the path of the vehicle when reversing such that a park brake air supply (108) is connected to the brake chambers (111) to apply the brakes automatically when an object is detected. The brakes can only then be released when the vehicle parking brake has been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sentinel Systems Limited
    Inventor: William Charles Paulson
  • Boat lifting apparatus
    Patent number: 7850147
    Abstract: This boat lift drive is used for raising and lowering a wide range of boat size. The boat drive is a two stage worm system and uses a drive motor having a motor shaft driving a first worm and a first worm wheel as a first stage, and driving a second worm and a second worm wheel, as second stage. At least one of said worm shafts has a copper alloy intermediate worm portion. A third stage is provided having a spool driven by the second worm wheels, the spool having a cable disposed thereabout for lifting the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Superior Gearbox Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Fox
  • Sheet feeder with laterally adjustable sheet separators set below feed belt
    Patent number: 7850163
    Abstract: A sheet feeder having a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, and feed belts for advancing the bottom-most sheet from the stack, is constructed to move at least one of the feed belts laterally toward and away from another of the feed belts while the belts are being driven. Preferably, side guides extend substantially to the end of the feeder, and extend both above and below the upper surface of belts to which they are adjacent. The belts extend between and around shafts of uniform diameter through the reach of lateral movement of the belts. The shafts are journaled in bearings mounted in such a way that they can be lifted out to change belts quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: James C Kaiping
  • Shoe sole
    Patent number: 7845096
    Abstract: An outsole for a shoe has a backing member of thermoplastic rubber and on an area of the exterior surface of that backing member an intermediate layer of thermoplastic polyurethane and an outermost layer of fabric, the area comprising at least 51 percent of the contact surface of the outsole. In producing the outsole, a sheet of fabric is overlain with a sheet of thermo plastic urethane, the sheet is heated to about the melting point of the TPU to permit the TPU to adhere to the fabric, and the fabric is cooled. The TPU-covered fabric is cut to the size and shape required to fit a backing member, and position in a mold on a bottom surface of a mold, and a quantity of TPR is injected at a temperature lower than the melting point of the TPU but high enough to render the TPU tacky, to insure the inherence of the TPU-covered fabric to the backing, including the resultant outsole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Brown Shoe Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene N Ellis, Phillip W Pugh
  • Removable canopy for a tricycle
    Patent number: 7841354
    Abstract: A canopy is provided for a tricycle which can be easily assembled and mounted on a tricycle and removed from the tricycle. The canopy comprise a lower transverse member which is mounted on the shoulder or back tube members of the tricycle; a pair of side members which are mounted on the lower transverse member; an upper transverse member which is mounted on the side members, and a roof member which is mounted on the side members and held in place by the upper transverse member. As will be described below, the components of the canopy engage each other to form a sturdy canopy in which the components will not move relative to each other and in which the canopy will not move relative to the tricycle. Further, the canopy can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Gary Buhrman
  • Yarns, particularly yarns incorporating recycled material, and methods of making them
    Patent number: 7841162
    Abstract: Enhanced performance yarns which are functional alternatives to 100% petroleum oil based virgin continuous filament yarns, and yarns of natural fibers and methods of making them. The yarns may comprise an inner portion of spun staple fibers of recycled plastic and an outer portion comprising a different material and incorporate highly significant amounts of recycled plastics, particularly post consumer recycled, thermoplastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate which contains medium to high levels of contamination. One embodiment of yarn comprises a core, an inner portion of spun staple fibers surrounding the core, and an outer portion comprising an inner helix and an outer helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Return Textiles, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy S. Coombs
  • Barge transportation system and refurbishing system and method of transporting and refurbishing barges
    Patent number: 7837410
    Abstract: A refurbishing system for refurbishing a barge includes transport systems that pull the barge out of water and onto a shelf above water level, then pull the barge into a covered blast system and a covered coating system. A reclamation system receives spent abrasive media. The transport systems then move the refurbished barge back into the water. The transport systems move the barge without substantially tilting it or changing its orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: James Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. James, William E. Crabtree
  • Tubing disconnect tool and a method for disconnecting tubing
    Patent number: 7836568
    Abstract: A disconnect tool for disconnecting a tubing end from a fitting. The disconnect tool comprises a first member having a first front portion, a first rear portion, a first middle portion and a first channel disposed through the first front portion, the first rear portion and the first middle portion. The disconnect tool further comprises a second member having a second front portion, a second rear portion, a second middle portion and a second channel disposed through the second front portion, the second rear portion and the second middle portion. The second channel aligns with the first channel wherein second middle portion contacts an outer collet surface of the collet such that the second middle portion forces the outer collet surface against a forward end of the fitting to axially drive the collet inwardly against the fitting in order to release the tubing end from the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Craig Kissel
  • Method of correcting message errors using cyclic redundancy checks
    Patent number: 7831884
    Abstract: A method of correcting errors in a message transmitted over a digital communication channel, where the message was encoded using a CRC for purposes of error detection. A parity-check matrix representation of the CRC is computed for any fixed-length message, and that parity-check matrix is combined with the parity-check matrix for any error correcting code that used in conjunction with the CRC. The combined parity-check matrix is extended using sparsification algorithms to allow it to work well under a message passing decoder (MPD). Received messages are decoded using the message passing decoder, making it possible to correct more errors than if the CRC were decoded in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Aclara Power-Line Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Quentin Spencer
  • Apparatus for detecting movement direction of model train
    Patent number: 7823842
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the direction of travel of an electrically driven model train through a model railroad track layout having track segments with rails of opposite polarity is disclosed. A diode and transistor are operatively coupled to at least one rail of a powered track segment, such that passage of an electrically driven model train over the powered track segment in a first direction enables a flow of electrical current through the transistor to a signal or control circuit, while passage of the electrically driven model train over the powered track segment in a second direction does not. The polarity of the rails is determined by a circuit driven by a control circuit attached to an adjacent track segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Leo H. Stalzer
  • Flip top closure for dispensing fluent product
    Patent number: 7819267
    Abstract: A closure for a container is disclosed having an end wall with one or more product dispensing openings therein. The closure has a flip open lid hingedly connected to the outer edge of the end wall and movable between a closed and an open position. The end wall has stiffening shoulders on opposite sides of the hinge and extending proximate the edges of the lid so as to stiffen the end wall against deformation upon application of the closure to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: C.A.P.S., Inc.
    Inventor: James Kick
  • Compact axial flux motor drive
    Patent number: 7815535
    Abstract: A drive (A) for imparting rotation about an axis (X) includes an axial flux motor (4) having a stator (38) and a rotor (44), an output drive element (8), an epicyclic gear system (6) located between the rotor of the axial flux motor and the drive element. The gear system is located within and surrounded by the motor, thus rendering the drive highly compact along its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Xiaolan Ai, Nicholas J. Sertell
  • Wristband mountable flashlight accessory
    Patent number: 7815334
    Abstract: A wristband mountable accessory is provided which includes a body, a flashlight in said body, and an upper compartment sized and shaped to hold medications (such as tablets, pills, lozenges, etc.) and paper upon which medical and/or emergency information can be written. Mounting wings extend from opposite sides of the body to enable the accessory to be mounted to a wristband by threading the wristband through the mounting wings. The mounting wings are provided with sizing pegs so that the accessory can accommodate a variety of sizes (widths) of wristbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Alan E. Sherman
  • Long term disability overpayment recovery service with interactive client component
    Patent number: 7818188
    Abstract: A method of recovering overpayment of long-term disability benefits paid to a claimant by a client after the receipt of Social Security disability insurance payment with client interaction. The overpayment recovery service is seamless and provides for preauthorized, automated recovery of overpayments from a claimant's account and increases the percentage collected and reduces collection time over conventional methods. The system allows the client selected computer access to participate in and monitor the progress in the award and recovery of the overpayment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: James F. Allsup, Scott P. Poston
  • Method for fabricating large dimension bonds using reactive multilayer joining
    Patent number: 7810704
    Abstract: A method for joining component bodies of material over bonding regions of large dimensions by disposing a plurality of substantially contiguous sheets of reactive composite materials between the bodies and adjacent sheets of fusible material. The contiguous sheets of the reactive composite material are operatively connected by an ignitable bridging material so that an igniting reaction in one sheet will cause an igniting reaction in the other. An application of uniform pressure and an ignition of one or more of the contiguous sheets of reactive composite material causes an exothermic thermal reaction to propagate through the bonding region, fusing any adjacent sheets of fusible material and forming a bond between the component bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Nanofoil Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Duckham, Jesse E. Newson, Michael V. Brown, Timothy Ryan Rude, Omar M. Knio, Ellen M. Heian, Jai S. Subramanian
  • Vehicle wheel optical target mounting assembly
    Patent number: 7810244
    Abstract: A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly which incorporates an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes a circular sinusoidal edge for seating in a non-determined position against surfaces of a vehicle wheel assembly, and a pair of pivoting arm assemblies capable of independent movement which are configured to position tire hooks for gripping the tread surfaces of a tire mounted to the wheel rim. Forces exerted between the pivoting arms are transferred to the tire hooks to hold the optical target assembly in contact with the wheel assembly surface. The optical target is integrated into the adaptor, and maintained in a stationary relationship to the wheel assembly thereby during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Stieff, Gregory F. Meyer, Dennis M. Linson
  • Method for continuously forming optical fiber connector glass and other close tolerance components
    Patent number: 7805963
    Abstract: A method and device for making high precision glass forms (110). A glass rod (1) is pushed into a melting tube (47) and the glass form is pulled from the chamber. Preferably, both the push rate and the pull rate are controlled. Fiber optic glass ferrules and other components manufactured by the use of this invention have precision dimensions that fall well within the tight dimensional tolerances required for ferrules and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Quantum Quartz, LLC
    Inventor: Vaughan Morrill, Jr.
  • Method for directing a controlled movement of a vehicle component
    Patent number: 7808627
    Abstract: Methods for facilitating controlled movement of at least one vehicle wheel. The methods include the step of presenting a display of information, such as by visual display or audible signals, to an operator to direct a manual controlled-speed movement of the vehicle wheel. The controlled-speed movement may be a rotational movement such as during a wheel alignment rolling compensation procedure, a steering movement, such as during a vehicle wheel alignment angle measurement procedure, or a rotational movement such as during a wheel assembly measurement procedure on a vehicle wheel balancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: David A. Voeller
  • Eastern redbud tree named ‘JN2’
    Patent number: PP21451
    Abstract: An Eastern Redbud tree named ‘JN2’ having golden orange new growth that does not burn, speckled lime green mature foliage, an improved vigor in heat and drought, and the capability of being reproduced reliably from budding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Ray Jackson, Cindy Jackson