Patents Represented by Attorney Robert J. Black
  • Patent number: 5295588
    Abstract: A display type rack for mounting a number of baseball or sport-type caps in such a manner to display any frontal ornamentation appearing on the cap while supporting the cap in a conventional position effectively at right angles to a supporting wall or similar structure. The rack is expandable and may consist of two or more horizontal bases each equipped with cap body supporting pairs of vertical members and horizontal visor support members perpendicular to the vertical members. A number of base units equipped with horizontal and vertical support members may be assembled together and held in place by associated vertical supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas R. Neirinckx
  • Patent number: 5294868
    Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit for two fluorescent lamps connected in parallel. A single switching inverter connected through a common coupling circuit provides high frequency alternating current for operation of both lamps independently of each other insuring operation of one lamp should the other cease operation. A dual toroidal transformer in the inverter insures both lamps receive current of the same frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Jones, John R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5291101
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for use with a fluorescent lamp. A pair of oppositely poled diodes connected in parallel with a transformer used to drive the switching transistors of an inverter in the ballast, ensuring operation of the transistors at zero current crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Micro Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: T. Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 5258692
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for correcting the power factor within a fluorescent lamp system. Use of an inductor in one of the AC power source leads and selected values of capacitance in a voltage divider and starting circuit combine to provide a power factor greater than 94%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5249272
    Abstract: An interface circuit for use between a radio control transmitter equipped with joysticks and a standard serial input port of a personal type computer. The interface circuitry includes a microcontroller operated as a reformatter for signals received from the remote control transmitter and a transistorized converter circuit connected between the output of the microcontroller and computer to convert the voltage level of signals output from the microcontroller in reformatted form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Ambrosia Microcomputer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Stern
  • Patent number: 5238504
    Abstract: A blend of terpene hydrocarbons and aliphatic or cyclic ketones are used for the effective cleaning of electrical contacts. Such terpenes blended with ketone solvents have high dielectric strength, fast evaporation rate, and biodegradability making the proposed mixture an ideal substitute for the cleaning of electrical contacts in the electrical utility industry and for the cleaning of printed circuit boards in the electronics industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Advanced Research Technologies
    Inventor: Richard G. Henry
  • Patent number: 5226124
    Abstract: An interface circuit for use between a radio control transmitter equipped with joysticks and a standard data bus of a personal type computer. The interface circuitry includes a microcontroller operated as a reformatter for signals received from the remote control transmitter and a number of integrated circuit latch and buffer circuits connected between the output of the microcontroller and the data bus of a computer to convert the signals output from the microcontroller to the data bus on a direct basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Ambrosia Microcomputer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Stern
  • Patent number: 5218272
    Abstract: A high power factor ballast circuit for use with fluorescent lamps consisting of a power factor correcting inductor periodically saturated to store pulses of direct current energy and periodically discharge same at a regular periodic rate to power the fluorescent lamp. A bistable flip-flop circuit and an associated solid state switching device combine to periodically control the saturation and discharge of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5212427
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for use with fluorescent lamps including a dimming means consisting of a permanent magnet supported over and in proximity to a dual toroid coil assembly utilized as part of an included inverter circuit included in the ballast. The permanent magnet is movable to control the amount of saturation of the transformers thus determining the width of pulses generated by the transistors included in the inverter circuit and thereby controlling the intensity of light emitted from the fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5210470
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for use with fluorescent lamps including an inverter circuit for converting a direct current power source to a high voltage alternating current and starting means to inhibit operation of one of the inverter transistors until such time as fluorescent lamp is turned on. The circuitry taught eliminates substantial drain usually found at start up of inverter circuits due to the large capacitors usually found in such circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5206795
    Abstract: An electrical substrate including a flexible printed circuit mounted on the substrate arranged to provide electrical contact between the flexible printed circuit and circuit contacts on an associated carrier substrate. Portions of the flexible printed circuit extended from the top surface of the electrical substrate to the bottom of the substrate by way of recesses included in the geometry of the electrical substrate. Portions of the flexible printed circuit are folded under the bottom side of the electrical substrate and fastened thereto by some compliant material. Properly positioned, electrical contact is established between the flexible printed circuit and circuit contacts on the carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Belanger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5191716
    Abstract: A tool for holding fabric during cutting, measuring, etc., consisting of a handle and a number of sheets, each of a different size and of transparent material, each including the handle selectively connectable to each of the transparent sheets, each sheet having indicia marked on the transparent sheets to assist in cutting, measuring, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: James E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5193113
    Abstract: A special cover for the anti-stuffing device door of a paystation telephone coin chute. The cover prevents insertion of large firecrackers or similar devices inside of the anti-stuffing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald B. McGough
  • Patent number: 5174906
    Abstract: A solvent selected from the terpene hydrocarbon group and terpene alcohol group as a cleaning agent can provide effective cleaning of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems which use hydrofluorocarbon or hydrochlorofluorocarbon or Freon refrigerants by using a solvent as described. Flushing through the refrigerant system condenser coils and evaporation coils removes any trace of excessive compressor lubricant which will be carried out with the solvent. The flushed materials carried out are biodegradable, thus are desirable from an environmental standpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Advanced Research Technologies
    Inventor: Richard G. Henry
  • Patent number: 5165053
    Abstract: An electronic ballast including a dimming circuit for use with fluorescent lamps. An electromagnet located adjacent to a dual toroid coil transformer employed as part of a inverter circuit is used to control the saturation of the toroid coil to the control the on and off times of transistors included in the inverter circuitry, to limit saturation thereby controlling the intensity of the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5163219
    Abstract: A tool for separating a printed wiring card under test from an extender card operated in response to insertion of a portion of the tool into a space between the extender card and the card under test and rotation of the tool, facilitating the complete separation of the card under test from the extender card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Orest B. Akulow, James C. Budzynski, Andrew J. Karkowski
  • Patent number: 5160909
    Abstract: A state indicating relay wherein a pair of signal contacts connectable to an external electrical circuit are shunted, or opened in response to a bridging contact mounted on the rear of a switching contact mounted on the relay armature. Insulation is provided between the signal/bridging contacts and the power switching contacts of the relay. Operation of the power switching contacts is indicated by the current state of the signal/bridging contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Appliance Control Technology
    Inventor: Chester H. Crow
  • Patent number: 5154631
    Abstract: A substrate mounting device for installing an electrical substrate to a carrier substrate. The substrate mounting device includes a plurality of tabs extending from the perimeter edges of the electrical substrate. First and second substrate guides are mounted to the carrier substrate and each include a lower shelf and a channel extending longitudinally along a substrate guide inner side, from an open end to a top guide. The channel is further defined by a top surface and a plurality of drop guides which in turn form a plurality of slots. Also included are a plurality of flaps formed by molded spring back hinges to facilitate insertion from an upward direction. The electrical substrate is installed by manually placing the electrical substrate onto the flapped areas and then depressing in a downward and forward direction, causing the flaps to move in a downward direction allowing the electrical substrate to encounter top guides which act to urge the electrical substrate downward toward the carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Belanger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5155765
    Abstract: Armor for a telephone paystation lower housing. Four elements welded in place. Three of the four elements are reversible and permit usage on different configurations of paystations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald B. McGough
  • Patent number: D330209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Bass