Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Pravel, Hewitt, Kimball & Krieger
  • Patent number: 5690589
    Abstract: A stationary exercising device which promotes cardiovascular exercise yet minimizes impact to critical joints. A base frame supports a pair of reciprocating members which are displaced in a horizontal direction parallel with the floor at one end yet reciprocate in a circular motion at the other end through a coupling system attached to the frame. Structure is included which permits each foot of the user to move in a generally elliptical path during the climbing exercise and also pivot while moving through the elliptical path. This provides for more natural movement of the knee and ankle joints minimizing unnecessary stress on the joints yet permitting a cardiovascular workout. The device may include linkage to facilitate a corresponding upper body exercise involving movement of the arm in which case each hand of the user is displaced along an arc or a substantially elliptical path, again promoting a more natural movement of the ankle, knee, elbow and shoulder joints and permitting a cardiovascular workout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Robert E. Rodgers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5692154
    Abstract: Circuitry which corrects a problem in the 82424TX Cache and Dram Controller (CDC) from Intel with the addition of only minor circuitry which can be used externally or internally and which allows proper operation under all conditions. Combinatorial logic is provided to block the dirty bit provided by the dirty Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) when the processor is performing a noncacheable access as indicated by the Page Cache Disable (PCD) bit. In certain cases the PCD bit is ignored and the stored dirty bit is passed without blocking: when the AHOLD signal is asserted, indicating that an address snoop operation is occurring, and when the BOFF* signal is asserted, indicating that a cache flush or writeback operation is occurring. Thus, the dirty bit provided by the dirty SRAM when the processor is performing a non-cacheable access is selectively blocked in certain instances to ensure cache coherency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Brian B. Tucker, Gary W. Thome
  • Patent number: 5690160
    Abstract: A sand mould has a filling inlet defined by a solid insert (7). The insert provides a flat outer face for sealing and subsequently heat exchanging sliding contact with a sealing face of a chill plate (11). The mould is filled through the insert and then closed by means of the chill plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Alloy Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Leonard Sutton, John Campbell, Michael Joseph Flynn, Gary McBain
  • Patent number: 5687746
    Abstract: A dry powder delivery system having an elongated tube containing a matrix having a measured mount of dry particles of therapeutic compound and a porous element having a desiccant therein is disclosed. The porous element with the desiccant can be combined with the powder-containing matrix or it can be two separate elements. The pressure drop induced by inhalation of the user causes air to flow through the tube and into contact with the particles of dry powder for discharging the particles for inhalation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignees: Advanced Therapeutic Products, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Jed E. Rose, Frederique Behm, James Turner
  • Patent number: 5689691
    Abstract: Circuitry for monitoring the idle periods on the EISA bus and a program using this known value to determine percentage utilization of the EISA bus. A counter is used to count the number of synchronizing clock periods during which the EISA bus is idle. To determine if the EISA bus is idle, certain logic monitors the EISA bus signals and the arbiter activity to determine if cycles are actually occurring. If so, the EISA bus is not idle and the counter is not incremented. If there is no activity, the counter increments on each BCLK clock. The computer system periodically reads this counter. The computer system determines the interval between read operations of the counter and uses this interval in combination with the counter value and BCLK signal rate to determine the percentage utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Mann
  • Patent number: 5688190
    Abstract: A device for use on a golf club having a substantially planer club face surface for striking a golf ball. The device is a two-sided removable pad having a ball contact surface on a first side which includes a plurality of ribs to impart back spin to a struck golf ball. Each rib has a multitude of peaks and valleys, each said valley connecting to an adjacent peak by an inclined surface and to another adjacent peak by a horizontal surface. The pad has an adhesive coating on a second side for temporary application to the golf club surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Spin Doctor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael L. Rowland, David L. Ballard
  • Patent number: 5685306
    Abstract: Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5686016
    Abstract: The formation of amine or glycol degradation products in solutions used to remove acid gases or water from hydrocarbon or inert streams is reduced by adding to the solution an oxygen scavenger in which the effective component is an oxime of the formula: ##STR1## Mixed with a quinone promotor in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or lower alkyl groups of one to six carbon atoms. The addition of the quinone promotor increases the reactivity with oxygen at lower temperatures. The compound may also be as a corrosion inhibitor in gas treating or processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventors: Ray R. Veldman, David Trahan
  • Patent number: 5686502
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water blown, open cell, hydrophilic polyurethane foam, a process for preparing such a foam and articles made therefrom. Utilizing a one step process the foam is formed from a reaction mixture comprising an organic polyisocyanate, water, a reaction catalyst and a mixture of certain polyols. The first polyol utilized in the invention is a poly(oxyalkylene) triol, chain terminated with propylene oxide and having a molecular weight in the range of about 2800 to about 6200. The second polyol is a poly(oxyalkylene) polyol, chain terminated with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide and having a molecular weight in the range of about 60 to about 800. The third polyol comprises at least one selected from the group of (i) poly(oxyalkylene) diols chain terminated with ethylene oxide and having a molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 4000 and (ii) polyfunctional polyols chain terminated with propylene oxide and having a molecular weight in the range of about 250 to about 1000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Polyfoam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Pat L. Murray, E. Richard Huber
  • Patent number: 5687388
    Abstract: A point to point connection architecture for a computer I/O subsystem, resulting in a scalable tree structure. A Master I/O Concentrator (MIOC) is connected to the host bus and handles conversion between a bus oriented structure and the tree structure of the I/O subsystem. Ports away from the host bus are downstream ports and conform to a simple byte wide message protocol. Various IOCs and devices can be attached to one of the downstream ports on the MIOC. The MIOC directs transmissions to the appropriate channel based on a geographical addressing scheme. The IOC connections act as further points of branching. Ultimately IOD or I/O devices are reached, having an upstream port for connection to the IOC and a downstream port and internal logic appropriate for the particular peripheral device. Various registers are present in the IOCs and the IODs to allow determination of the topology and particular devices present. Messages and commands are transferred in the I/O subsystem in defined packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Wooten, Craig A. Miller, Kevin B. Leigh, Robert Brett Costley, Christopher E. Simonich
  • Patent number: 5686675
    Abstract: A marker is provided for attachment to a pipe or other vessel which periodically requires inspection for wall thickness at a specified, defined position. The marker has minimum surface contact with the pipe to protect against moisture accumulation between them. The marker is attached to the pipe or vessel by an attaching cable which also has reduced or minimum surface contact with the pipe. The marker is provided with a lock mechanism and a protective cover to protect the test area from contact by cleaning substances such as sand during sandblasting, as well as coatings or paints applied after cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: David D. Barton
  • Patent number: 5683379
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing tissue from the eye performs various types of corrections using a relatively large beam, but oscillated or dithered to prevent the formation of ridges during the removal process. Various types of corrections are contemplated such as hyperopic and astigmatic using a large beam which is scanned over the area to be ablated using overlapping shots which are between 10% and 90% of the area of the total area to be ablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Chiron Technolas GmbH Ophthalmologische Systeme
    Inventor: Kristian Hohla
  • Patent number: 5683333
    Abstract: A stationary exercising device which promotes cardiovascular exercise yet minimizes impact to critical joints. A base frame supports a pair of reciprocating members which are displaced in a horizontal direction parallel with the floor at one end yet reciprocate in a circular motion at the other end through a coupling system attached to the frame. Structure is included which permits each foot of the user to move in a generally elliptical path during the climbing exercise. This provides for more natural movement of the knee and ankle joints minimizing unnecessary stress on the joints yet permitting a cardiovascular workout. The device may include linkage to facilitate a corresponding upper body exercise involving movement of the arm in which case each hand of the user is displaced along an arc or a substantially elliptical path, again promoting a more natural movement of the ankle, knee, elbow and shoulder joints and permitting a cardiovascular workout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: CCS, LLC
    Inventor: Robert E. Rodgers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5683389
    Abstract: An external fixator for distal radius fractures provides an elongated support rod that includes proximal and distal rod sections. Radius fixation pins are provided for engaging the patient's radius bone tissue. Radius support clamps are rotatably supported upon the proximal rod section and distal rod section, each of the pins being movable in rotational fashion both with respect to the rod and with respect to the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Orsak
  • Patent number: 5683442
    Abstract: Medical leads fabricated from low-modulus Ti-Nb-Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The medical leads may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a medical lead that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5683398
    Abstract: A composite cutting block for preparing a patient's distal femur to receive a knee prosthesis includes a first block body having a triangular cross section that engages the patient's distal femur using bone tissue connectors such as bone spikes. A pair of inclined surfaces form acute angles with a flat surface, the inclined surfaces defining anterior and posterior chamfer cutting guide surfaces. A second block body has an undersurface with an elongated inverted "T" shaped slot. The first block body fits the slot so that the flat distal surfaces of the first block body and the flat distal surface of the second block body are in planes that are closely positioned upon assembly. A connector in the form of a threaded shaft holds the first block body in the slot of the second block body to define an assembled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Carls, Steven M. Tammi
  • Patent number: D386249
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Procesadora De Ceramica De Mexico, S.A. De C.V.
    Inventor: Marcelo Garza Laguera Garza
  • Patent number: D386250
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Procesadora de Ceramica de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Marcelo Garza Laguera Garza
  • Patent number: D386251
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Procesadora de Ceramica de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Marcelo Garza Laguera Garza
  • Patent number: D386322
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventor: Lawson Maury