Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Pretty, Schroeder & Poplawski
  • Patent number: 5988451
    Abstract: A washing system for dispensing a liquid cleanser includes a dispenser having a positive displacement pump and a collapsible bag containing the liquid cleanser. The dispenser includes an inlet and an outlet to the positive displacement pump. The collapsible container includes an outlet. A container support means supports the collapsible container. A flexible supply line connects the collapsible container to the pump. The flexible supply line also has a first end connected to the outlet of the collapsible container and a second end connected to the inlet to the pump. A one way valve in the flexible supply line blocks fluid flow to the collapsible container while permitting fluid flow from the collapsible container to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Emmanuel A. Hanna
  • Patent number: 5987455
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for an intelligent compiler. A query is executed in a computer to retrieve data from a relational database stored on a data storage device. The query contains a procedural function. The query is compiled to generate an internal representation of the procedural function. Then, the execution of the procedural function is optimized using the generated internal representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roberta Jo Cochrane, Mir Hamid Pirahesh, Serge Philippe Rielau, Richard Sefton Sidle, Tolga Urhan
  • Patent number: 5984382
    Abstract: An extended reach latch for an engine cowling and the like, including a housing having a housing slot, a hook pin carried in the housing, a hook having a hook slot, with the hook pin in the hook slot for sliding of the hook relative to the housing, first, second and third links, a first link pin joining the hook and the first link and sliding in the housing slot, a second link pin joining the first and second links, a third link pin joining the second and third links, with the third link pivoting on the hook pin, an outer handle pivotally mounted on the first link pin for movement between an open position and a closed position, and having an outer handle slot for the second link pin, and an inner handle pivotally mounted on the first link pin for movement between an open position and a closed position, and having an inner handle slot for the third link pin, with movement of the inner handle from its open position to its closed position moving the hook into the housing a first distance, and with movement of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hartwell Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Bourne, Arthur W. Dessenberger, Frank T. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5983417
    Abstract: A hydro-therapy spa jet including an inlet connection, a first nozzle to accelerate a water stream from the inlet connection, an air inlet, a second nozzle drawing air from the air inlet to aerate the accelerated water stream, and a third nozzle to slow and directionally adjust the aerated water stream. The third nozzle includes an inlet, a chamber, and an orifice, where the aerated water stream passes into the inlet, through the chamber, and out the orifice. The inlet has a conical inner surface that contracts in a downstream direction. The inlet also includes a spherical outer surface, which is received in a conforming spherical inner surface within the jet. The chamber is conical in shape, expanding in the downstream direction to reduce the water's speed as it passes through the chamber. The orifice defines a passage having a cross-sectional area that is constant in the downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: American Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Perdreau, Loren Perry
  • Patent number: 5980076
    Abstract: An illuminator assembly that has a lid that can be easily removed, a spare bulb holder, a color wheel that easily accepts additional filters without disassembly and a snap on filter for a window on the illuminator assembly. The illuminator assembly illuminates one end of a bundle of fiber optic fibers for a lighting system for a swimming pool or a spa or other area to be illuminated. The illuminator assembly includes a hollow housing containing a light socket assembly for illuminating the end of the bundle of fiber optic fibers. The housing has a first tab mounted adjacent to its open upper end. A light bulb is mounted in the light socket assembly and a lid is provided that is sized to cover the open upper end of the housing. The lid has a second tab configured to selectively engage the first tab on the housing upon the rotation of the lid with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: American Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Dunn, Kevin L. Potucek, Richard L. Swain, Laurence E. Thrasher
  • Patent number: 5978796
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for using a relational database management system to support on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems. A relational database has a fact table and at least one related dimension table. A dimension identifier is received that identifies a data block in a multi-dimensional database. The dimension identifier comprises one or more multi-dimensional member identifiers. Rows are accessed from the fact table through the related dimension tables using the received dimension identifier. Then, the accessed rows are formatted as a data block for the multi-dimensional database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Earl Malloy, Gary Robinson, Craig Reginald Tomlyn
  • Patent number: 5977175
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for slowing gastrointestinal transit and prolonging residence time to optimize presentation and absorption of ingested nutrients and/or pharmacologically active agents in the small intestine to prevent and/or reduce ineffectiveness thereof due to malabsorption.The present invention further provides methods and compositions for enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness of pharmacologically active agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Inventor: Henry C. Lin
  • Patent number: 5971984
    Abstract: An external fixator for positioning a first element or the like relative to a second element or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: John Charles Taylor, Gene Edward Austin, Harold S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5972337
    Abstract: A polypeptide has the antibody binding activity of the 46 Kdalton HMFG antigen and/or homology to at least one of the light chains of clotting factors V and VIII and/or contains RGD and/or EGF-like segments. The polypeptide is provided as a recombinant and/or glycosylated and/or fusion protein. An antibody has high affinity for specificity epitopes of the polypeptide of the invention. Polynucleotide segments encode the polypeptide, recombinant and fusion protein of the invention or fragments thereof, and immunoassay kits comprise the antibodies and/or polypeptides of the invention and other components. In vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro methods of therapy, vaccination and diagnosis utilize the polypeptide, fusion protein anti-sense nucleotides, antibodies or and polynucleotides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Cancer Research Fund of Contra Costa
    Inventors: Robeto L. Ceriani, Jerry A. Peterson, David J. Larocca
  • Patent number: 5972893
    Abstract: A method of treating hyperprolactinemia in an animal, including a human, administers one or more somatostatin type-5 receptor agonist(s) to, for example, lower abnormally high levels of prolactin in the blood of the animal. A method of treating a subject, including a human, afflicted by a prolactinoma, administers one or more type-5 receptor selective agonist(s) to, for example, lower prolactin secretion and/or decrease tumor size in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Inventors: Shlomo Melmed, Ilan Shimon, Michael D. Culler
  • Patent number: 5968356
    Abstract: The invention resides in apparatus and methods for isolating and collecting cells from donor tissue for later use in medical procedures. The apparatus includes a sealed enclosure, at least one screening material inside the enclosure, an inlet port configured to conduct a fluid through the screening material, and an outlet port for receiving the fluid from the screening material and conducting the fluid out of the enclosure. A material to be screened is placed inside or conducted into the enclosure. Screened material is entrained in the fluid. The fluid carries bits of the material through the screening material and out of the enclosure for later separation from the fluid. Preferred embodiments include a series of screening materials of decreasing pore size, usually in the range from ten to one thousand micrometers in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: PacFab, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Morsiani, Jacek Rozga, Achilles A. Demetriou
  • Patent number: 5970480
    Abstract: A debt credit award interchange system interfacing with a credit award exchange system for conversion of any form of merchant or creditor credit award resulting from consumer incurring debt due to consumer purchase of goods or services of creditor. The debtor earns a preassigned credit award per credit vehicle utilized and amount of purchased item. At central location of credit award interchange system, secured creditor debt credit award agreement contracts are matched with point of sale transaction purchases, utilizing data processing methods to increment consumer account, summing accumulations; debiting creditors, authorized and confirmed thru interchange system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Dyan T. Kalina
  • Patent number: 5961515
    Abstract: A pin-to-bar construct for an external fixation system of the type including a plurality of pins for securing first and second elements, and an elongated bar. The pin-to-bar construct includes a spool component for attachment to the bar; and an intermediate component for fixed attachment to the spool component and for joining at least one of the pins to the spool component. The intermediate component includes pin receiving structure for receiving one of the pins and intermediate component attachment structure for allowing fixed attachment to another intermediate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold S. Taylor, J. Charles Taylor
  • Patent number: 5957324
    Abstract: A paper towel dispenser having a housing for supporting a stack of towels and an outlet slot at the bottom of the housing for manual removal of towels one at a time, an adapter positioned within the housing and comprising a single sheet of material having a spacer section and a flange section joined by a hinge section, with the spacer section being positionable adjacent an inner wall of the housing and the flange section being positionable on the bottom of the housing adjacent the outlet slot, with the housing and adapter flange section having interengaging guide means for locating the adapter at at least two positions on the housing bottom for selectively spacing the lower end of the adapter spacer section at at least two distances from the housing inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Gettelman, Frank Merriweather, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5958454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to effervescent bath tablet compositions that contain an organic acid, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and a salt of a fatty acid. These invention bath tablet compositions characteristically exhibit low dissolution rates in warm water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: R&D Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: David O. Schrempf, Ward M. Smith
  • Patent number: D414806
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Day Runner, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald M. Bianco
  • Patent number: D415347
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Alfred Dunhill Limited
    Inventor: Jocelyne Imbert
  • Patent number: D415857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Edwin Ayre
  • Patent number: D415893
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alfred Dunhill Limited
    Inventor: Jocelyne Inbert
  • Patent number: D416726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kurti, Allan Cameron