Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Rhodes & Mason, PLLC
  • Patent number: 6050390
    Abstract: A package sorting conveyor system having at least one conveyor cart movable along a continuous track and at least one unloading station. The conveyor system includes a two-axis tiltable support apparatus for supporting the carrying tray on the conveyor cart and for allowing tilting of the carrying tray towards at least one side of the package sorting conveyor to unload a package into unloading stations on at least one side of the sorting conveyor. A transition zone funnel upstream of the unloading station receives the package from the conveyor cart. The transition zone funnel includes an inlet adjacent to the continuous track conveyor system at the unloading station for receiving the package discharged from the tiltable conveyor cart; an upwardly inclined downstream wall located downstream of the inlet for preventing the package from tipping over; and an outlet located downstream from the upwardly inclined downstream wall for discharging the package from the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mantissa Corporation
    Inventors: J. David Fortenbery, David Erceg, Leroy A. Winkler, III, Charles H. Lee
  • Patent number: 6048407
    Abstract: A bar soap casing comprising a netted tulle fabric sheath for a bar of soap, the sheath having exactly two layers of tulle fabric substantially covering the bar of soap and free of stitching, the sheath having a resilient, self-closing aperture at one end to permit the introduction of a bar of soap and to inhibit the exit of an enclosed bar of soap, wherein the self-closing aperture includes an elastic band comprised of gum rubber and affixed to a medial point of a tulle fabric tube with a knot which is transferred from the band to two or more strands of the tulle netting by a knot transfer technique involving the stretching of the band in the manufacturing process, and a braided cotton hanging cord affording an implement for hanging and drying the casing and affording a tethering loop to go about the wrist to prevent dropping of the casing during the bathing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Robert R. Schoch
  • Patent number: 6045523
    Abstract: A cervical collar to assist medical personnel in making diagnoses of neck or thoracic injuries while the patient wears the collar includes a major stiff portion of material that has anterolateral aspects of zones I, II and III of a patient's underlying neck that are transparent to visible light, upper and lower edges, sufficient flexibility to lie largely flat when not worn on a patient, an anterior portion including lateral extensions, an anterior window to permit access to the trachea for tracheotomy and a stiff chin support. A posterior portion extends from one of the lateral extensions and has vents to permit air to move from within the collar as worn to exterior thereof and an end with a patch of hook and loop fastener material. The other lateral extension has a posteriorly-extending leaf of hook and loop fastener material, so that the collar can be wrapped around the neck of the patient for installation and secured in position by engagement of the leaf of hook and loop material with the patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 6044362
    Abstract: A system for automated electronic invoicing and payment system for providing remote customer review of automated billing from an invoicer. The system includes invoice presentment electronics having a control system and first communication electronics. The system also includes at least one remote authorization terminal having a customer interface, the terminal having second communication electronics adapted to operatively communicate with the first communication electronics. The control system of the invoice presentment electronics is adapted to provide billing data, regarding a customer invoice preauthorized for automated billing, to the first communication electronics for transmission to the second communication electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: R. Alan Neely
  • Patent number: 6042179
    Abstract: A table and bench assembly moveable between a folded position and an unfolded position that includes a table top; a bench subassembly with first and second parallel benches supported on first and second parallel bracing members; two leg subassemblies mounted at one end of the table top and two leg subassemblies mounted at the other end of the table top. Each leg assembly includes a mounting member attached to the lower surface of the table top, a leg having an inner end rotatably attached to one end of the mounting member and freely rotatable between folded and open positions. Each leg assembly includes a locking member actuated when the leg reaches the open position to lock the leg in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Millworks, LLC
    Inventor: Millard F. Wallace, III
  • Patent number: 6036017
    Abstract: A container for holding a prescription pills or other medication that includes a cylindrical receptacle, a detachable cap, and a label. A pill holder is positioned beneath the cap, which includes a magnifying lens, through which the interior of the pill holder can be viewed. The label includes the name of the prescribed medicine and a picture of a pill. When the prescription if filled, one pill is placed in the pill holder. The pill and the pill picture can then be compared to determine if the correct medicine has been provided. The label is prepared by providing a processor having a keyboard, a database including data relating to images of a plurality of prescription medicine pills, a label printer, and an unprinted label; entering the name of the prescription medicine into the processor; selecting an image of a pill in the database corresponding to the name; and printing the name and the selected image onto the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas Andrews Bayliss, IV
  • Patent number: 6033421
    Abstract: A handheld tattoo machine with a low vibration drive unit and an offset, removable driven grip tube. The drive unit includes a rotatable drive shaft; a cam attached to the distal end of the shaft, the cam having a cam face at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; and a drive housing enclosing the drive shaft and cam. The drive housing includes a driven grip tube receiving bore having a longitudinal axis parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive housing to facilitate ease of use by the operator. The removable driven grip tube includes a reciprocal needle bar having a cam follower at a proximal end and a needle attachment surface at a distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignees: Scott Marsh Theiss, Pasco Forsyth Parker, Michael Maurice Banks, Marty Law Banks
    Inventors: Scott Marsh Theiss, Pasco Forsyth Parker, Michael Maurice Banks, Marty Law Banks
  • Patent number: 6030659
    Abstract: A method of coating urea by first wetting urea pellets with water or an aqueous acid solution, and then blended the wetted urea pellets with a phosphate salt. During the coating process, when using an aqueous acid solution, the acid liberates a portion of the phosphate to a form available to the plant, and reduces the loss of urea nitrogen due to volatilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Whitehurst Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Brooks M. Whitehurst, Garnett B. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 6029554
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the edges of a fabric panel. The apparatus includes a holding fixture for holding the panel such that the edges to be trimmed hang freely in the holding fixture. A trimming apparatus is insertable into the holding fixture for trimming the edges of the panels together while the panels are held in the holding fixture. The trimming apparatus includes a frame having a movable slide and at least one trimming assembly attached to the slide. A fixture drive engages the holding fixture holding the edges of the panels to be trimmed and repositions the holding fixture prior to trimming the edges of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Design Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Boot, Matthew D. Bouche, James R. Mazur
  • Patent number: 6028582
    Abstract: An improved solenoid and reset pin for a modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof having a frame for rotationally mounting a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia and a plurality reset pins to return the pixels to an original position. The reset pins and the plungers for the solenoids include a spring and a rod extending axially outward from said spring to provide radial flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Reader Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Brooks Drew, G. Frank Dye, F. Martin Black
  • Patent number: 6023898
    Abstract: Metal building framing components are joined with double-sided adhesive tape positioned between the first connection surface of a first metal framing component and a second connection surface of a second metal framing component. The connection surfaces may be a wall surface or the surface of a tab projecting from the end of a wall. The double-sided adhesive tape is formed of a closed-cell acrylic foam carrier having pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ground Star, LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Josey
  • Patent number: 6019894
    Abstract: An assembly for connection to the drain of a cooking appliance which diverts low volume flow effluent from the drain is disclosed. The assembly includes a pipe defining a main flow channel. An auxiliary exit port is connected to said pipe in such a way that the low volume flow will be diverted from the pipe into said auxiliary exit port. A hot water entry pipe port is also connected to said pipe and is in connection with a hot water source which provides a flow of hot water into said pipe. Additionally, a solenoid valve regulates the flow of hot water into said pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Clearline Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Batten
  • Patent number: D419796
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Timothy O'Hare
  • Patent number: D420229
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Timothy O'Hare
  • Patent number: D420840
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Timothy O'Hare
  • Bed
    Patent number: D421347
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Timothy O'Hare
  • Bed
    Patent number: D421855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas M. McDaniel, D. Scott Coley
  • Patent number: D422167
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Lawrence I. Vaaler
  • Patent number: D422809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Paul Maitland-Smith
  • Bed
    Patent number: D423245
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Bernhardt, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas M. McDaniel, D. Scott Coley