Patents Represented by Attorney Quirk & Tratos
  • Patent number: 6099299
    Abstract: A device for removably securing an object having a detent to a support. The support includes having a receiver to receive a portion of the perimeter of the object including the detent. The receiver may be cup-shaped. The support further includes a deformable tab disposed which is received by the detent. The tab may be disposed on a prong and the detent may be disposed on the perimeter of a well where the well is shaped to receive the prong. When engaged, the tab couples to said detent to removably secure the object to said support. The support also includes an actuator engaging the deformable tab to decouple the tab from said detent. The support may optionally be coupled to a key chain or a tether. In a second aspect of the invention, the support receives a portion of the perimeter of a cigarette lighter to secure the cigarette lighter from child-tampering and accidental ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventors: Lynn Raymond, Chris Raymond, LaRue Birmingham
  • Patent number: 6099402
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disc bodies such as coins or tokens is set forth which includes a fixed substrate and a dispensing disc spaced from said substrate a distance related to the thickness of said disc bodies. The dispensing disc includes a plurality of openings having a diameter adapted to receive a disc body for dispensing thereof. The dispensing disc is attached to a shaft which is axially moveable to adjust the space between the dispensing disc and substrate. The shaft is connected to a motor through an axially aligned planetary gear apparatus. Rotation of the dispensing disc receives coins or tokens in the openings and space whereupon the coins are moved for dispensing. An elevation body engages the dispensing disc and includes a plurality of annular teeth. An adjustment body has teeth to engage the elevation body teeth. Rotation of the adjustment body axially adjusts the elevation body and dispensing disc to adjust the space to accept different thicknesses of coins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Noboru Ichihara
  • Patent number: 6092730
    Abstract: An apparatus is set forth for counting and discharging sheet objects such as currency notes or the like. The apparatus has a housing containing a drum. The drum has an outer periphery spaced from the housing to define a chamber to temporarily receive an assembled bundle of objects. A compartment is provided in the drum to serially receive objects as they are counted and the drum rotates to serially discharge the counted objects from the compartment into the chamber to form the bundle. The bundle of a predetermined number of objects is then removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ehara
  • Patent number: 6086472
    Abstract: A throw-in coin discriminator is shown which includes a hopper to receive the coins to be discriminated. From the hopper a conveyor conveys the coins to a coin handling mechanism. A roller unstacks any stacked coins. The unstacked coins are deposited on a second conveyor which is traveling at a faster speed to singularize the coins. The coins pass a series of detectors to determine, for example, whether the coins are genuine or counterfeit. The coin handling mechanism directs authentic coins in a first direction and counterfeit coins in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6082997
    Abstract: A device for securing dental prophylaxis paste to the hand of a dental professional performing a dental cleaning. The device includes a receptacle with an opening at the top and a closed bottom. The receptacle is sized to receive a standard sized cup of pre-packaged dental prophylaxis paste. A deformable loop is connected to the receptacle for securing the receptacle to the finger of a dental professional. A support leg protrudes from the receptacle to bear against a finger adjacent to the encircled finger to thereby prevent the dental prophylaxis paste holder from rotating around the dental professional's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Phyllis Matuska Prescott
  • Patent number: 6073315
    Abstract: A band is set forth which can function to wrap bundles of items together or to secure one item to another. In a first mode, the band is wrapped about a bundle and an opening disposed along the length of the band is passed over a stud to secure the band wrapped about the bundle. In the second mode, the band is wrapped about one item and an end is passed through a slit near the other end of the band to define a first loop. The band is thereafter wrapped about the other item to define a second loop and an opening is passed over the stud to secure the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Von O. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6070876
    Abstract: An improved game of Pai Gow is set forth which includes offering the player an optional bonus wager. Should the tiles of the Player's hand match any predetermined bonus outcome tile combination, the Player receives a reward for their bonus wager regardless of whether or not the Player has won their hand according to the rules of Pai Gow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Shenli Ko
  • Patent number: 6072408
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is driven by a generator that provides a cyclic voltage having a sawtooth waveform. The VCO cyclicly provides a signal at a frequency that varies over a range that includes a frequency of a transmitted signal that causes a vehicular traffic signal light control system, of a type that has an inductive loop buried in a roadway, to provide a desired illumination of traffic signal lights of the system. The VCO is connected to a power amplifier that has its output connected to an antenna. In a second embodiment, a signal processor provides a train of pulses at a frequency of radiation from the inductive loop. The number of the pulses of the pulse train that are provided during a timing interval is stored by a counter. A digital to analog converter is connected to the output of the counter. After the timing interval, a signal is transmitted substantially at the frequency of radiation in response to the output of a VCO that is connected to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventors: Chuck E. Baer, Gary Sunda
  • Patent number: 6062563
    Abstract: Game apparatus comprising a playing surface 1 layout 1a and a random result generator comprising either two or more dice or a single deck of convential playing cards, said layout being marked out with various designated betting areas 2-5 (some of which specify the pay-offs) for the reception of players' chips. The layout has a grid configuration constituted by betting areas labelled Banker 3 and Player 4 which represent an Even money wager and a betting area 5 depicting a horseshoe and a column of poker hands/rankings. In addition an area marked Insurance represents a third wager with solid circles/spots for the reception of players' chips. In the preferred embodiment of the game the dice are characterized by indicia in the form of spots representing the numerals 1-6 and two sets of five dice are utilized, one set by the dealer/Banker and one set by the shooter/Player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: David Guy de Keller
  • Patent number: 6059651
    Abstract: A device is set forth for dispensing circular plate bodies such as coins which has a channel to push the coins in an end-to-end relationship from to an outlet. A roller is biased to engage the coin emerging from the channel and to be pushed by the emerging coin as it exits. A gear on the shaft mounting the roller and a fixed rack rotates the roller to eject to coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Tetsuo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6059658
    Abstract: A device and method for playing a primary and a secondary, bonus game are set forth which includes a primary game device and a secondary game device having a display having five concentrically arranged wheels each having an indicia of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten and a wild symbol. In response to receiving a preselected bonus outcome during play of the primary game device the secondary game device is actuated to rotate the wheels and randomly present an indicia from each wheel at a payline as an secondary outcome. The outcome of the secondary game device can be used as an additional award or to multiply the award for the bonus outcome in the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Barbara Mangano, Mark R. Casburn
  • Patent number: 6056105
    Abstract: A device and method are set forth for determining the authenticity of a coin or token which includes a housing defining a passageway to pass the coin to be tested. Coils are disposed about the housing to generate magnetic flux lines at the passageway. Detection circuits detect changes in amplitudes of the frequencies generating the flux and signals are created corresponding thereto. These signals are compared at a processor to stored data corresponding to amplitude changes for an authentic coin to determine if the coin is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 6049953
    Abstract: A strap 10 employing at opposite ends thereof respective fastener assemblies 11, each flexible fastener assembly comprising a rigid or a semi-flexible hook member 12 and a locking means in the form of a flexible strap section 13, each hook member 12 has an outer surface covered with a hook fastener material 14 while the inner surface of each of the straps 13 includes a complimentary loop fastener material 15 adapted to engage and hold onto the hook material 14 to form a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: McCay Holdings PTY., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Jeffrey McCay, Lynda Gasbarri
  • Patent number: 6038775
    Abstract: A chainsaw foot for supporting the weight of a chainsaw during substantially vertical use and for fixing the angular orientation between the chainsaw guidebar and the material to be cut. One side of a hinge is attached to a substantially flat baseplate having a rectangular aperture therethrough. The other side of the hinge is attached to a U-shaped clamp. The chainsaw guidebar is removably fixed between the legs of the U-shaped clamp by set screws. A slotted adjusting bracket is fixed to the baseplate proximate to the U-shaped clamp. A locking means attached to the U-shaped clamp engages the slot of the adjusting bracket to thereby allow a user to set and lock the angle of the chainsaw guidebar with respect to baseplate and, consequently, the material to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Will L Holladay
  • Patent number: D424949
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Danny Young
  • Patent number: D425004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Ricardo Bonvicin
  • Patent number: D425034
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Trimm Technologies
    Inventors: Gadi Amit, Gary Shigeru Natsume
  • Patent number: D425821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Armand Lamont
  • Patent number: RE36739
    Abstract: A card game is played on a felt covered semicircular table top with player stations along its arcuate edge. Pairs of cards of a deck are dealt face up until a pair consists of two cards of unequal rank. The two cards are respectively designated a B card and a P card. Cards of the deck are thereafter dealt face up until a conclusion card is dealt that is equal in rank to either the B card or the P card. A player makes a color wager on the color of a card that is dealt face up, a HI/LO wager on the rank of the card that is dealt face up and a P/B wager on the rank of the conclusion card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Teofilo Gutierrez
  • Patent number: D428823
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Tony J. Davi