Patents Represented by Law Firm Rhodes, Coates & Bennett
  • Patent number: 6325971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for disbursing ozone throughout a poultry house in order to disinfect the same and to reduce the concentration of pathogens found within the poultry house. An ozone generator is associated with the poultry house and ozone produced by the generator is directed through a lower main duct that disburses ozone upwardly through litter disposed on the poultry house floor. In addition, the same generator directs the produced ozone through an upper main duct and ozone is disbursed from conduits leading from the upper main duct into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: Charles Hayes
  • Patent number: 5890329
    Abstract: The present invention entails a removable modular security enclosure for the internal cargo area of prisoner transport vans where each compartment within the security enclosure is defined by an interconnection of four walls and a roof panel. Any of the components defining the enclosure may be comprised of multiple interconnected sections. Sections and components of the enclosure are interconnected by such means as fasteners or interlocking devices. The walls of the enclosure are connected to the floor of the van where said floor serves as the floor of the enclosure. Access to a compartment is provided by a securable port in one of the defining walls. Benches may be provided along the walls inside the enclosure. When the security enclosure is composed of two separate compartments, a common wall may be used where the two compartments are in contact. Any compartment may also be provided with an adjustable vertical partition for dividing the compartment into two smaller subcompartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Bob Barker Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Krueger
  • Patent number: 5884182
    Abstract: An improved method is claimed for responding to channel pointers in a wireless communications system, such as a cellular telephone system, operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands. The method includes storing a band search list, receiving a channel to a pointer to a pointed-to control channel, and disregarding the channel pointer if the pointed-to is in a channel band not included on the band search list. The improved method improves system response time and more efficiently utilizes system resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.
    Inventor: David James Hoover
  • Patent number: 5833206
    Abstract: A support foot for a telecommunications switching cabinet companies a generally planar base member and a support member extending upward from the base member to support the cabinet. The base member includes a plurality of arcuate slots to receive anchor bolts which secure the support foot to the floor. The anchor bolts can be located anywhere within the arcuate slots so that embedded rebar in the floor can be easily avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.
    Inventor: John Leonard Peacock
  • Patent number: 5818888
    Abstract: A sample rate converter is described for converting an input data stream including a plurality of input samples at one sample rate to an output data stream including a plurality of output samples at another sample rate. The converter uses an interpolation approach that utilizes an integer accumulator to track the timing relation between input samples and output samples. Based on the value of the accumulator, the method determines if the correct input samples are being used to calculate the current output sample. If so, the output sample is calculated as a function of the input samples and the accumulator value. The converter provides the robustness of a table based conversion approach without the need to pre-calculate and store a table, simplifies the calculations involved, and is less sensitive to numeric round off errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Bo Holmqvist
  • Patent number: 5797651
    Abstract: A seat has a frame, including a bench and a back, padded upholstery including a particular fabric pattern on the frame covering the bench and the back with a pocket in the upholstery in a forward-facing lower portion of the back as it covers the back, a cushion symmetrical about a centerline and having first and second sides and sized to fit in the pocket in the upholstery to fill the pocket and having first and second differing upholstery fabrics on the first and second sides, respectively, and complementary retainers on the cushion and in the pocket cooperative with one another including loops and clasps for a lower portion of the cushion and male and female snap portions for an upper portion of the cushion to retain the cushion in the pocket in a first orientation showing the first upholstery fabric and a second orientation showing the second upholstery fabric, wherein the first upholstery fabric is also the particular fabric pattern and the second upholstery fabric is different from the particular fabric
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: England/Corsair, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol Christa
  • Patent number: 5771879
    Abstract: A heated air makeup unit comprises a duct structure having a surrounding wall, a fan for moving air through the duct structure, and a gas burner mounted in the duct structure for heating air being moved past the burner. A pair of laterally spaced converging air-directing plates are disposed outwardly of the burner but inwardly of the surrounding walls of the duct structure for directing air into and through the burner. The laterally spaced converging plates define three air passageways through the duct structure, two outer air passageways between the respective plates and the surrounding walls of the duct structure and a third intermediate air passageway between the two plates with the intermediate air passageway being aligned with the burner. A preprogrammed heater control unit continuously monitors temperature, airflow and the flame about the burner and at the same time controls the temperature of the heated air being expelled from the heated air makeup unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Saltzman
  • Patent number: 5750075
    Abstract: A sampling vial includes a generally cylindrical vial body having first and second reduced diameter sections axially spaced from one another. The first and second reduced diameter sections are aligned along a vertical axis of the vial and preferably have the same inside diameter. The reduced diameter sections function to vertically align a matching vial insert along the longitudinal axis of the sampling vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Sun International Trading , Ltd.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Spike
  • Patent number: 5734767
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed fiber optic coupler for packaging end joined optical fibers. The device includes at least one first optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a first free end and a second optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a second free end joined to the first free end of the glass-based portion of the first optical fiber to form an end joint. The device further includes an outer chamber having at least one open end, the outer chamber surrounding the end joint, the outer chamber and the end joint being hermetically sealed with a thermosetting plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the device also includes a primary tubular sleeve, positioned between the end joint the outer chamber; epoxy for tacking the glass-based portions of the first and second optical fibers to the primary tubular sleeve; and thixotropic epoxy for hermetically sealing the ends of the primary tubular sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Richard W. Belt
  • Patent number: 5651376
    Abstract: An adjustable restraining device includes first and second flexible straps each of which is formed into a loop. The first and second straps are slidably connected to one another to form a dual loop restraining device. Each strap includes a head portion and an opposing end portion. The head portion of each strap includes first and second slots. The loops are formed in each strap by inserting the end portion of the strap through one of the slots. The straps are interconnected with one another by inserting the free end of each strap through a second one of the slots in the head portion of the other strap. When the restraining device is applied to the prisoner, the loops of the device can be drawn closer to one another by grasping and pulling the free ends of the straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Greg Thompson
  • Patent number: 5632184
    Abstract: A vehicle safety pedal apparatus includes a foot engaging portion, a linkage attachment for attaching the pedal apparatus to a vehicle, a pedal linkage coupled between the linkage attachment and the foot engaging portion including first and second sub-linkages and a shock absorber coupled between the first and second sub-linkages to absorb shock during a collision of a person's lower extremity with the pedal apparatus during a motor vehicle accident, the shock absorber including a sleeve on the first sub-linkage forming a cavity, and a pin, the sleeve further including through aligned apertures and the second sub-linkage further including an elongated aperture, the apertures of the sleeve aligned with the elongated aperture, and the pin extending through the aligned apertures, thereby providing limited slidable engagement of the sub-linkages, the cavity containing a resilient shock absorbing material that is capable of restoring its shock absorbing capacity after absorbing an initial shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventors: Allen Callicutt, James Ridge
  • Patent number: 5535941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a improved corrugated cardboard box formed from a single pre-cut and pre-scored blank. The box can better support vertical and lateral loads, such as are present when many like boxes are stacked in a column, making the box ideal for packaging and shipping easily damaged produce such as tomatoes. The box is typical in that it includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two top panels, and two end panels. The improvement resides in the provision of a corner support post at each corner of the box. Each corner support post includes a vertically extending corner support panel, which is attached to the side edge of the end panel, and an interior bracing panel which extends from the corner support panel to the inner surface of the end panel. In a preferred embodiment, the post also includes a connecting panel disposed between the corner support panel and the interior bracing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Smurfit Carton Y Papel de Mexico
    Inventor: Juan R. Garza
  • Patent number: 5537125
    Abstract: A transportable broadcast antenna supported on a moveable carriage comprising a telescoping tower having plurality of nesting sections, including an outer section, and intermediate and inner sections, each section slidable relative to the adjacent exterior tower section between retracted, deployed and release positions, and latches to hold the section in the deployed position. The latches disengage when the section is further extended to the release position, and is prevented from locking when the tower is retracted. Radials join the tower and extending outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: LBA Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy L. Harrell, Jr., Lawrence V. Behr
  • Patent number: 5509282
    Abstract: A hosiery article having a tubular upper leg portion, a lower foot portion, and a lower band interposed between the upper and lower portions. The lower band is operative to maintain the position of the upper portion relative to the mouth of a shoe. In this way, the band allows the upper portion of the hosiery article to be compressed without allowing the upper portion to enter the shoe. Preferably, the lower band protrudes outwardly. Additionally, an upper band is provided at the upper end of the upper portion to maintain the upper portion in a compressed position.The upper leg portion is formed with a plurality of wide, crinkled ribs therein, providing a unique and desirable appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: James M. Ferrell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5459893
    Abstract: A canopy, for use with a bed, comprising a horizontal platform having an opening, a plurality of posts that support the horizontal platform in a location above the bed, and a supporting apparatus located within the opening of the platform and attached to the platform. The supporting apparatus has the capability of supporting a conventional television set, which has a front screen area, at an acute viewing angle so that the front screen area is visually assessable to a viewer who is reclining or sitting on the bed. When a conventional television is mounted in the supporting apparatus, a portion of the television will be recessed up within the horizontal platform, but still be visually assessable to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Thomasville Furnature, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy A. Walters, III
  • Patent number: 5452750
    Abstract: A method of recovering fuel vapors using a fuel dispenser having first and second sets of associated liquid flow lines, vapor flow lines, nozzles and nozzle rests includes removing the first nozzle from the first nozzle rest, inserting the first nozzle into a fill pipe of a receptacle, moving the first nozzle rest, thereby transmitting motion through a mechanical linkage from the first nozzle rest to a first normally-closed valve in the first vapor flow line to open the first normally-closed valve and turning on a first pump in the first liquid fuel line, pumping liquid fuel from a first tank through the dispenser out the first nozzle into the receptacle, and pumping fuel vapor from the first nozzle through the first vapor flow line to a manifold which has a connection to the second vapor flow line and communicates with the tanks, the second vapor flow line being closed by its normally-closed vapor valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Gilharco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Miller, James R. McMordie
  • Patent number: D368191
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Master Design Furniture, Inc.
    Inventor: Bob Mitchell
  • Patent number: D390041
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Cain
  • Patent number: D390042
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy A. Walters, III, Charles C. Cain
  • Patent number: D405583
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: Vickie L. Zimmerman