Patents Represented by Attorney Robert B. Hughes & Schacht, P.S. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6166605
    Abstract: An audio amplifier having an amplifier section and a power supply. The power supply comprises a positive power supply section and a negative power supply section, each of which provides voltage to the positive and negative power inputs to the amplifier. The control circuitry for the power supply sections causes the voltage output from the power supply sections to vary in accordance with the amplitude of the audio signal so that the power supply voltages track the positive and negative components of the audio signal so that the supply voltages are at a predetermined level above and below the positive and negative components of the audio signal, respectively. Each of the power supply sections has a pair of switches which open and close alternately to transmit power pulses to opposite ends of the primary winding, and the secondary winding in turn transmit power pulses alternately through a filter component to its respective input of the amplifier section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Robert W. Carver
  • Patent number: 6158806
    Abstract: A bicycle seat assembly having a functional surface area comprising a main support surface region and a center tactile surface region. At the center tactile surface region there is a raised center surface portion and outwardly facing side tactile surface portions to engage upper rear and side thigh surface portions of the person. There are right and left and primary support zones spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis to support the right and left ischial-tuberosities of the person who is in a seated pedaling position. The forward support surface portions on opposite sides of the center tactile surface region are contoured so that the leading edge thereof has an upward and rearward slope. The seat is arranged to accommodate 95% of the adult population in the U.S., and enables the cyclist to operate effectively in the seated pedaling mode, the seated non-pedaling mode and the stand-up pedaling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas H. White
  • Patent number: 6149305
    Abstract: A waterproof bag having three layers, namely inner and outer layers made of a rather durable non-waterproof fabric, and an intermediate layer that is positioned between the inner and outer layers so as to be protected from sharp objects and the like. The bag has an upper circumferencial edge defining a bag opening, and the upper edges of the three bag layers are sewn together. There is a moderately stiff closure belt or strap at the upper portion of the bag. When the bag is to be closed in its waterproof containing position, the belt or strap and the upper portion of the bag is folded over several times, and the outer ends of the belt are brought together to form a loop. This provides a substantially waterproof container. The container is also shown as a containing section of a backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Alyx T. Fier
  • Patent number: 6120218
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool having a mounting portion with a plurality of mounting sections, each having a radially aligned pocket to receive a cutting insert. There is a positioning and actuating assembly by which a related wedge block can be positioned in its related pocket in wedging engagement with its cutter insert. The side walls of each pocket converge in a radially outward direction so that centrifugal force of the rotating causes the wedge blocks and the cutters to come into a firmer wedging engagement. The positioning and holding assembly can be moved from its retaining position to permit individual cutting inserts to be moved or replaced. A center bolt assembly moves a central portion of the positioning and holding assembly vertically so as to cause retaining arms to move into and out of retaining engagement with related wedge blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Todd Bishop
  • Patent number: 6113028
    Abstract: An amphibious airplane having an engine assembly mounted at a top center location in the fuselage, and a tail assembly having a horizontal fin in an elevated position so as to be in the propeller air stream. A lift augmenting aerodynamic surface is positioned at the top middle portion of the aircraft fuselage, with the propeller being at the concavely curved rear end of the lift augmenting surface. A pair of platforms are positioned on opposite sides of the fuselage at lower locations adjacent to a passenger section of the aircraft. These platforms are aerodynamically aligned and also have strakes extending forwardly therefrom along opposite sides of the fuselage. In cruise mode, the increased velocity imparted to the propeller air stream acts on the horizontal fin to exert a downward force, with the various forces of the airplane balancing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: James R. Lohse, James G. Hutton
  • Patent number: 6105536
    Abstract: A rotary milking apparatus having a rotating support structure having a plurality of milking stations, each having a milking unit and a wash unit. Each wash unit has a washing connecting device positioned to travel in a circumferential path of travel through a washing location There is a wash control valve for each wash unit having a first location to cause milk to be deliverd from the milking unit to a collecting location, and a second position to enable wash liquid to be delivered to the milking unit. There is a single wash liquid supply section having a nozzle which travels in an arcuate back and forth pass to travel to connect to the connecting device of each wash unit. The wash liquid supply section delivers wash liquid individually to each wash unit as it passes through the wash location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Dave DeWaard
  • Patent number: 6068166
    Abstract: An adjustable garment hanger having two sliding bars(12) and a hanger body(10) with stationary strap hooks and support gussets. The sliding bars(12) fit the top bar of the hanger body(10) by way of grooves and use only contact friction to remain in selected positions once they are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Jeanne Kilian, Mary E. Morris
  • Patent number: 6068707
    Abstract: A portable parts washing machine using a washing solvent to wash motor parts or the like. The apparatus has a stowed configuration and an operating configuration. In the operating configuration, a solvent container/wash basin is positioned on a base section which also functions as a solvent reservoir. Solvent is recirculated by a pup and recirculating line fro the reservoir to the wash basin, with the solvent washing the parts and then flowing through a drain in the wash basin into a centrifugal filter. The centrifugal filter removes the contaminates, with the solvent returning to the reservoir. In the stowed configuration, the base section, centrifugal filter and solvent recirculating assembly are stowed in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Charles T. Magliocca
  • Patent number: 6065348
    Abstract: A method of detecting corrosion on an elongate member, such as a pipe. Far side and near side electric pulses (waves) are transmitted into a magnetically permeable pipe at spaced locations to travel toward one another. These are synchronized to intersect at various locations on the pipe. The resulting wave forms are analyzed by combining adjacent wave forms resulting from pulses intersection at spaced locations. Two combined wave forms are analyzed by subtracting one from the other to produce a difference wave form and the difference wave forms are compared to detect corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Profile Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gale D. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6042523
    Abstract: A therapeutic exercise machine particularly adapted for restoring and/or maintaining the range of motion for post operative patients and for general therapeutic use. There is a carriage assembly mounted for back and forth longitudinal motion along a support frame. A plurality of tensioning cords urge the carriage frame to a forward location, and there is a contact plate mounted to the carriage frame. The person using the machine presses his or her feet or hands against the contact plate and moves it back and forth against the force of the tensioning cords. The tensioning cords are arranged so that there is an operating end that can be selectively attached to the front of the frame or to the carriage frame to vary the magnitude of the tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Gary A. Graham
  • Patent number: 5946850
    Abstract: A crab trap shaped like a star formed from generally curved segments apexes of the star. These curved segments define the shape of the side walls of the trap which gently converge to a entrance tunnel and opening that leads to the interior of the trap. Each opening has a one-way gate so that the crustacean can enter but cannot escape from the trap. With the exception of the apexes, if the crustacean contacts any part of the side wall of the trap, the gentle curve of that segment of the side wall will urge the crustacean toward the entrance tunnel for that portion of the trap. An access door is provided in the top of the trap that is held closed by a spring-loaded lock finger. To open the access door, the spring-loaded lock finger is retracted and the access door is pulled open by hand or by the resilient nature of the netting that surrounds the frame of the trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Peter Sarkisyan
  • Patent number: 5870944
    Abstract: A system of carbonizing water as part of making a carbonized beverage. There is a housing to contain the pressurized bottle of carbon dioxide, and also to define a chamber to receive a container of water. A pressure regulating valve maintains the carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide container at a predetermined lower pressure and directs the carbon dioxide to a selectively operable pressurizing valve that directs the carbon dioxide through a discharge nozzle into the water in the water container. The water container is closed by a mounting plug that interconnects with a receptacle block that is operably connected to the pressurizing valve, and also operably connected to a venting valve which is selectively operated to vent the remaining pressurized carbon dioxide after the carbonizing has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: International Home Beverage Supply Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Vander Zalm, Sven O. Tjelta, Cliford R. Perry
  • Patent number: D411374
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventors: Jeanne Kilian, Mary E. Morris
  • Patent number: D412190
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Parker Graham
  • Patent number: D420649
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: Scott W. Renne, Kevin L. Lacy
  • Patent number: D428696
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Alyx Fier
  • Patent number: D429905
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas H. White