Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm R. Craig Armstrong
  • Patent number: 6421119
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for evaluation of focal length and transparency of vertebrate eye lenses is provided. Preferably with the aid of an alignment camera, a lens horizontally mounted in a transparent container is positioned with the axis of the lens aligned with scanning direction of a laser projected vertically through the lens. The laser is scanned across the lens, and an analysis camera at ninety degrees to the scanning path captures images of the path of the laser beam through the lens. The images are then analysed for determination of focal length, spherical aberration, and the like. Changes over time in response to a stimulus may be evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: XTOX Scientific Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob G. Sivak
  • Patent number: 6414598
    Abstract: The alarm system is capable of detecting both conductive and non-conductive liquid level increases, designed for indoor operation, and ideally suited for detecting basement flooding or leaky domestic steel oil tanks or other fluid containment devices. A float, positioned above any surface such as a contained area (sump or drip pan), rises with the presence of a liquid, allowing a spring-loaded switch to rise, triggering a 9-volt powered battery electric circuit. The electric circuit, enclosed in a plastic enclosure, activates an audible pulsating alarm when triggered. A battery voltage monitor incorporated in the electric circuit, tests the battery voltage on a continuous bases, and will trigger the unit into the alarm mode when the battery voltage is insufficient to sustain continuous operation. A simple convenient self check feature allows the user to simply check the unit at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: Michael R. G. Freill, Peter E. Freill
  • Patent number: 6405560
    Abstract: Liquid CO2 is expanded in specially designed primary and secondary nozzles to produce frozen solid CO2. The impurities initially contained in the liquid CO2 are trapped inside of the frozen CO2, which is collected in a clean container. The container is emptied on top of a high purity surface. The impurities are concentrated on the surface, since these impurities are non-volatile and do not escape with the CO2 gas formed as the frozen CO2 is heated by the ambient temperature to its sublimation point. After all of the frozen CO2 has sublimed, the surface can be analysed by standard analysis methods to determine quantity and composition of the impurities. The determination and quantification of non-volatile impurities, such as organic oils and greases, in the CO2 supply that feeds, for example, cleaning systems utilizing CO2, is thus made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Eco-Snow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Bowers, Wilfried Krone-Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6397500
    Abstract: A trenching plow adapted for attachment to a vehicle, the plow having an elongated shank having a blade formed along a lower portion of a leading edge of the shank, the blade having a first soil cutting surface along the leading edge, a first cutting arm pivotably arranged at a forward lower portion of one side of the shank generally parallel to the shank and a second cutting arm arranged at a forward lower portion of an opposite side of the shank generally parallel to the shank. Further, a drive means for reciprocating upper portions of the first arm and the second arm is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald Hall
  • Patent number: 6382135
    Abstract: A pig pen has side walls joined together by end walls to form a substantially rectangular enclosure. An angled divider is pivotable inside the pen, having a first end pivotably arranged on a pivot on one end wall and second end attachable to any one of a plurality of mounts on the opposite end wall. The divider has a first straight portion joined at an angle to a second straight portion, and a lower bar attached with one end adjacent the first end and an opposite end adjacent the second end of the divider. The lower bar is shorter than the total length of the divider and arranged below it, to break the fall of a sow lying down on her side adjacent the divider to provide time for any piglets close to the sow to move away from the sow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Eric Van Grootheest, Annette Van Grootheest
  • Patent number: 6372371
    Abstract: A mechanically rechargeable air-metal source of current having one or more non-consumable gas diffusion positive electrode(s), one or more consumable negative metal electrode(s), an electrolyte based on water solutions of salts and/or bases and a housing enclosing the positive electrode(s) and the negative electrode(s), to create an inter-electrode gap, together with the electrolyte. The negative electrode(s) comprise(s) a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, and alloys thereof, and further comprise(s) an effective amount of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, TI, Sn, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Fe. The effective amount of the additives improves the electrochemical characteristics of the negative electrode, reducing corrosion, and preserves the negative electrode(s) while being stored. The electrolyte is a salt solution, an alkali solution or a mixture of a salt solution and an alkali solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Eontech Group, Inc
    Inventors: Alexander M. Iarochenko, Evgeny B. Kulakov, Oleg I. Krakhin, Stanislavs D. Sevruk
  • Patent number: 6363980
    Abstract: A tree felling and accumulating head has tree storage pocket space with a preferably V-shaped backing shape to one side of the cutting area. A taker and a tucker arm, both pivoted on the opposite side, sweep trees into the storage space in cooperation with each other to build a well-aligned bundle. A second taker arm, operating from the pocket side, opposes the first taker arm to help gather and hold difficult trees but does not sweep in fully to disturb the trees already in the pocket space, even as the first taker closes fully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Tigercat Industries Inc.
    Inventor: John Kurelek
  • Patent number: 6364227
    Abstract: An interlocking interchangeable interface element and rotor assembly comprising at least two rotor bodies, a plurality of interface element mounting cut-outs arranged substantially radially in the rotor bodies, a plurality of interface elements arranged to be mountable in the cut-outs and a plurality of peripheral mounting holes arranged to receive rotor body bundling means to hold the rotor bodies fixedly against each-other and to prevent the hammers to exit the interface element mounting cut-outs. Each of the interface elements has a substantially oblong and planar shape; a bottom end shaped to interlock with the cut-outs; a leading edge facing the direction of rotation of the rotors; a trailing edge facing the side opposite to the direction of rotation; and interface element tip mounting means, arranged in an upper mounting portion of each interface element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: John Dorscht
  • Patent number: 6364318
    Abstract: A device for holding a tool bit and selectively transmitting or releasing torque between a torque generating means and the tool bit, comprises an elongate body having a tool bit holding means at one end and a torque input shaft at the other end, the torque input shaft shaped to be accepted by a drive means of the torque generating means whereby the body rotates about a longitudinal axis with rotation of the drive means of the torque generating means, a sleeve surrounding the tool bit holding means end of the body, the sleeve biased away from the torque input shaft end of the body by a biasing means and the sleeve slidably arranged between a first end position and a second end position, and a sleeve retaining means to prevent the sleeve from sliding past the first end position and the second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Maxtech Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Bedi, Maz A. Hasan
  • Patent number: 6355369
    Abstract: A mechanically rechargeable air-metal source of current having one or more non-consumable gas diffusion positive electrode(s), one or more consumable negative metal electrode(s), an electrolyte based on water solutions of salts and/or bases and a housing enclosing the positive electrode(s) and the negative electrode(s), to create an inter-electrode gap, together with the electrolyte. The current source has a first unit, comprising a first body with the negative electrode(s), together with at least one first conduit for connecting to and distributing ambient air, at least one second conduit for distributing the electrolyte, and at least one third conduit for collecting reaction products in cooperation with the first conduit and the second conduit. Further, the current source has a second unit, comprising the negative metal electrode(s) and the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Eontech Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Iarochenko, Evgeny B. Kulakov
  • Patent number: 6348222
    Abstract: The milk replacer for special fed veal does not contain animal fats, and shows comparable or improved growth rate of calves and quality of veal with respect to color, tenderness and nutritional content, compared to special fed veal fed with conventional milk replacers using animal fat. The fat portion of the milk replacer is replaced by a fat mix which in the preferred embodiment has approximately 80% partially hydrogenated soybean oil, 15% coconut oil, 4% lecithin, and 1% emulsifiers. Variations on actual ingredients and percentages are within the scope of the invention, the essence being the avoidance of animal fats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Grober Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel Silveira
  • Patent number: 6347527
    Abstract: An integrated compression based heating/cooling, humidification and mid or high efficiency heat recovery ventilation system is provided. The integrated system is a centralized apparatus that offers a very efficient method for heating/cooling with more winter and summer humidity control plus offering heat recovery ventilation in a structure having a regulated indoor temperature and specific ventilation/energy recovery rate. The heating and cooling section of the apparatus would most commonly be configured as a forced air geothermal or air-to-air heat pump. The heat recovery ventilation section of the apparatus will incorporate a heat recovery chamber complete with a primary passive cross flow heat recovery core. Plus, a secondary refrigeration based high efficiency reversible energy recovery evaporator/condenser coil. The integrated system will also incorporate a humidification system designed to operate during the winter heating season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ralph Haan
  • Patent number: 6334571
    Abstract: A method of welding an assembly comprising two aligned cylindrical end pieces and an interposed transverse intermediate piece, the method comprising friction welding the end pieces to the intermediate piece, where the intermediate piece is held in a cavity of a holder. The intermediate piece is made from strip stock and has a non-round profile to form radially protruding ears, the ears contacting the correspondingly shaped cavity in the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: A.R.D. Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald B. Shantz, James R. Huber
  • Patent number: 6334477
    Abstract: This invention relates to a curtain and blind carrying system which permits curtains and blinds to be hung from conventional vertical blind systems both simultaneously and separately. Provided is a track, a plurality of carriers slidably mounted for movement along the track, a plurality of glides, namely one per carrier, detachably securable to each carrier so as to extend downwardly therefrom, each glide including at least one curtain accepter, such as a female portion to receive a males portion of a male-female snap fastener assembly, and further including a vertical vane accepter, such as a clip portion extending downwardly therefrom for accepting the upper portion of a vertical vane. A curtain having a plurality of male portions of male-female snap fastener assemblies evenly spaced longitudinally, and adjacent an upper edge of the curtain is attached by inserting its male portions into the female portions on the glide. The upper edge of vertical vanes may be inserted into the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Alan R. Moir
  • Patent number: 6332384
    Abstract: A multiple bit screwdriver having an elongated housing with a plurality of longitudinal channels, each channel having a longitudinal slot opening the channel to an outer surface of the housing. A plurality of screwdriver bits are slidably arranged one in each channel. A plurality of elongated sliding means are arranged one in each channel to reciprocally slide the bit between a retracted position and an extended position. The sliding means are pivotably attached to the bit and has a manipulation means protruding from the channel via the slot. Further, a bit clamping unit is securely attached to a forward end of the screwdriver. The bits may protrude through a central through hole in the clamping unit when in the extended position. The clamping unit has a plurality of locking elements arranged in cutouts, and a sleeve arranged to reciprocally slide over the clamping unit between a forward position and a rearward position biased by a spring towards the forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Gary Paul Cluthe
  • Patent number: 6332381
    Abstract: Hex keys or like tools of various sizes may be inserted into the gripping aid, to provide a better grip and additional torque when using such tools. The device has an elongated body with hex key accepting slots at each end and longitudinal cavities of different dimensions for an arm of the hex key. In a preferred embodiment, a locking collar to secure the hex key in place in the body is provided. The locking collar has openings extending across its face which rotate from a hex key accepting position to a hex key locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Maxtech Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Kailash C. Vasudeva
  • Patent number: 6322177
    Abstract: The drop-bin unit has at least several bins arranged to pivot outwardly about a generally horizontal axis, from a closed position where outer faces of the bins are generally aligned vertically with each other, to an open position where the outer surfaces angle outwardly from their closed positions. The bins are stacked one above another within a housing, and are connected together, for example via at least one gang bar, such that pivoting one bin outwardly causes all of the bins to pivot outwardly in unison. The units may be sold separately, for use as stand-alone containers, or may be sold to be placed in a holder which holds one or preferably a number of the units. The holder can be sold with one or more of the units, or may be sold as a completely separate item. The holder can take a variety of forms. The units on their own or in holders provide flexibility for carrying job-specific items, avoiding the need to carry an entire toolbox to a particular job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Maxtech Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Kailash C. Vasudeva
  • Patent number: 6318006
    Abstract: A plow trenching apparatus for a vehicle having a raisable boom structure, for example a skid steer vehicle. The apparatus comprises a tool attached to a tool mounting plate of the boom structure. The tool has an arm mounting plate, attachable to the tool mounting plate, a J-shaped curved arm having an arm mount arranged at one end and a plow holder mount arranged at the other end, a plow holder attachable to the plow holder mount, the plow holder mount permitting the plow holder to pivot horizontally, a plow attachable to the plow holder, and a hydraulic cylinder. The arm mount is attachable to the arm mounting plate via an arm pivot attachment. The curved arm is horizontally pivotable at the arm mount by the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is extendable and retractable and attached to the arm mounting plate via a hydraulic cylinder attachment and attached to the curved arm via an arm pivoting attachment arranged on the curved arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald H. Hall
  • Patent number: 6311465
    Abstract: A rake for raking and gripping debris having an elongate handle, a rake head and a pivotable debris collection device. The rake head has a plurality of tines and is fixedly attached to one end of the elongate handle. The pivotable debris collection device is in the form of a grapple attached to and pivotable about a fulcrum axis attached to the rake head. An elongate string is attached to the rake head at one end and to a grip slidingly arranged on the elongate handle at the other end. Further, a biasing device urges the grapple towards an open position, where the grapple is pivoted away from the rake head tines. The rake has, a pulley to multiply the force which is applied to the grapple from the grip via the elongate string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas I. Stuart
  • Patent number: D459004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Gordon Roy Burkholder