Patents Represented by Law Firm Ryan, Maki, Mann & Hohenfeldt
  • Patent number: 5682754
    Abstract: A swimming pool room air conditioner has a duct with an inlet return for air drawn from the pool room and a supply air blower downstream from the inlet of the duct for the blower to draw air through the duct and supply it to the pool room after the air is conditioned. The duct inlet, an evaporator coil for cooling and dehumidifying return air, an air reheat condenser coil and the supply blower are arranged in the duct in the stated order. A motor controlled damper is arranged for bypassing return air around the evaporator coil and thereby cause a predetermined humid return air flow over the evaporator. An exhaust blower is provided. A motor controlled warm air damper is arranged for allowing the exhaust blower to draw a fraction of the return air before the return air flows over the dehumidifier evaporator coil and discharges the fraction to outdoors. A cool air damper is arranged for the exhaust blower to exhaust a fraction of the cooled air to the outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Desert Aire Corp.
    Inventor: Peter E. Groenewold
  • Patent number: 5680026
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a battery assembly including exactly five parallel rows of C cells, each row having exactly four C cells arranged end to end in series, all of the rows being electrically connected together in series, a casing which surrounds the rows, a cable having a first end inside the casing, the first end of the cable having a first lead electrically connected to one end of the series connection of the rows, and the first end of the cable having a second lead electrically connected to the other end of the series connection of the rows, the cable having a second end outside the casing, and a male connector electrically connected to the second end of the cable; a belt adapted to be worn around the waist of a user, the belt having an adjustable girth so as to fit users having different waist sizes; a pocket supported by the belt and slideably movable along the girth of the belt, the pocket closely housing the battery assembly; and a portable, hand held, electrically powered cabl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Tyton Corporation
    Inventor: William K. Lueschen
  • Patent number: 5673695
    Abstract: Systems and methods sense electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart to identify the location of an accessory pathway. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue along the selected annulus and a multi-electrode array having a generally circular shape that conforms to the circumferential geometry of the selected annulus region. The systems and methods maintain the site of contact between the electrode array and heart tissue, while conveying signals representing electrical events sensed by bipolar pairs of the electrodes in the selected annulus region. The systems and methods display the signals as graphic information that represents the time differences between the atrial and ventricular electrogram complexes sensed by bipolar pairs of the electrodes on the selected annulus region. The bipolar pair of electrodes displaying the least time separation between the atrial and ventricular complexes identifies the region of the accessory pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McGee, Russell A. Houser, David K. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5669682
    Abstract: A mechanism that automatically locks a movable storage unit against closure of an aisle between the unit and a blocking object such as a facing movable or stationary storage unit or a wall, while permitting continued opening of the aisle, without any electrical controls or power. A binding device is shiftable between a binding state permitting movement of the movable storage unit only away from the facing storage unit or wall, and a non-binding state permitting movement of the unit in either direction. The mechanism includes a clutch wheel which rotates with the wheels of the movable storage unit, and a resilient binding wheel, insertable between the clutch wheel and a stationary binding block. When the binding wheel is inserted as described, it will bind and preclude the clutch wheel from continuing to rotate towards the binding block. A latch is capable of holding the binding wheel out of binding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Janson
  • Patent number: 5669956
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining when the depth of molten (18) poured into a vessel (12) has reached a selected level. A conduit (22) connected to a source of pressurized gas and having an orifice (43) at its distal end (38) restricts the flow of gas out of the conduit which is positioned at a selected level in the vessel. A drop in pressure in the conduit (22) resulting from escape of compressed gas when the distal end (38) is melted by the rising molten metal is detected and signalled to a visible, audible indicator or directly to an electronic controller to discontinue pouring of metal (18) into the vessel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Midwest Instrument Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Behring, William Falk
  • Patent number: 5664495
    Abstract: A system for registering printing screens used for printing in series on a substrate which includes a plurality of outwardly projecting electrical switches, with a pair of the switches being positioned to engage a first side of a screen frame and at least one switch being positioned to engage a second side of the screen frame. The first and second sides of the frame are orthogonal relative to each other and, a pair of lights are activated by engagement of the frame with the switches, both of the lights being activated by simultaneous engagement of each of the switches by a screen frame. Similar sets of switches are provided on a table that supports the screens during exposure to an image to be replicated during printing and on a device that temporarily replaces a printing platen for alignment of each screen in a multi screen printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Robert B. Winter
  • Patent number: 5661934
    Abstract: A loading dock bumper assembly includes at least one bracket for mounting the assembly on a surface of a loading dock. At least one resilient bumper component is attached to the bracket, the bumper component formed of a block of resilient recycled plastic material is positioned to receive the impact of a motor vehicle backed into abutment with the dock. The block is preferably formed of extruded high density polyethylene. A side of the block adapted to receive contact with a motor vehicle may be provided with a slot along its length. The slot is adapted to have secured therein a wear bar substantially of equal length with the bumper component. The preferred wear bar is a steel bar of rectangular cross section fitted into the slot with a surface thereof substantially flush with the surface of the resilient component. At least one corner of the block preferably is provided with a chamfer cut at approximately 45.degree. whereby lodging of a truck bumper on the assembly is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: CR Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarence R. Weisflog
  • Patent number: 5655623
    Abstract: A ladder having pivotable folding riser sections, includes at least one pair of elongated riser components connected by a folding joint. The components have mating contacting ends abutting each other at an angle 45.degree. from the linear axis of the components. A reinforcing member concentric with said components is positioned across the joint, and a pivotable connection is formed by hinge members connected to each of the ladder components which are pivotally connected to each other by means of a hinge pin located exteriorally of the components. The invention also provides pivoting stand off members and a strap tightening mechanism for providing tightening tension equally on both ends of the strap which thus is not caused to move laterally during tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Helmut K. Skyba
  • Patent number: 5651404
    Abstract: A wood splitting assembly includes two wood splitting stages mounted on a trailer or truck bed. A first stage for splitting large diameter wood pieces is adapted to be transported in a substantially horizontal orientation to be pivoted to a vertical orientation for use. A horizontal second splitting stage is mounted horizontally. A double stage hydraulic system enables independent reciprocation of the two wood splitting stages independently of each other and is powered by a single motor for driving the hydraulic pump. Preferably a platen at the bottom of the vertical splitting assembly is located a distance from the pivot axis sufficient to engage a level ground surface and thereby to relieve a portion of the weight of the vehicle from a wheel thereof when in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kraemer, James F. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 5650037
    Abstract: In a thermal ink transfer machine, the web is drawn translationally through a station at which thermal ink graphics are transferred from the web to the periphery of a container such as a glass or plastic bottle or can. Transfer of the graphics is effected with a transfer head or cylinder which has arranged about its axis of rotation a plurality of equally spaced apart radially spring biased rollers. When the longitudinally extending graphics on the web enters the transfer station, the spring biased rollers yield radially inwardly and outwardly to press against the backside of the web to effect transfer of the graphics. The apparatus has the rotating transfer head on one side of the web and the containers carried on a turntable on the opposite side of the web. The transfer head rotates in a particular direction around its vertical axis and drives the rollers orbitally toward and away from the graphics transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Krones, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Larson
  • Patent number: 5647870
    Abstract: An electrode support structure has spline elements radiating from a center hub in a circumferentially spaced relationship. The spline elements include terminal ends spaced from the hub which are joined to a base member to form a three dimensional structure for supporting electrodes. The center hub lies essentially within the envelope of the spline elements to present a surface free of projections that can poke into and cause tissue trauma during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kordis, Dorin Panescu, James G. Whayne
  • Patent number: 5645290
    Abstract: A stroller includes a rounded vacuum formed body having a top opening capable of substantially enclosing an occupant, the body having at least one upwardly extending projection. A frame is attached to the body having wheels attached thereto and a handle assembly is attached to the rear of the stroller for pushing the same. A horizontal cross member is attached to the frame and positioned, in alignment with the rearwardmost surface of the upwardly extending projection whereby when one of the strollers is placed upon the other, the crossmember engages the projection and enables the nesting of one of the strollers atop the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Ortho-Kinetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Gaffney, Thomas R. Wargin
  • Patent number: 5646354
    Abstract: A flowmeter is based on the principle of injecting a pulse of microwave radiation into a flowing stream of material containing a substance having an absorption band for the radiation so as to heat a small quantity of the substance and continue its flow in a conduit to a downstream temperature sensor where the temperature of the quantity is sensed for enabling determination of the time elapsed for the quantity to travel from the point at which the microwave energy is injected to the sensor. A microcontroller receiving signals from the sensor determines when the peak temperature of the quantity is sensed and uses the peak to terminate measurement of a time interval. The time interval starts when the microcontroller senses that the ac sinusoidal power has passed through zero at which time the microwave generator, such as a magnetron, emits a pulse of microwave radiation for heating the quantity of the substance of the material flowing in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Lovejoy Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Kim A. Lovejoy
  • Patent number: 5636634
    Abstract: A steerable first catheter directs the introduction of a guide sheath, which can otherwise be free of any onboard steering mechanism. The guide sheath, in turn, directs the introduction of the electrode-carrying second catheter, which can likewise be free of any onboard steering mechanism. Use of a guide sheath positioned by a separate, dedicated steering catheter to guide a separate, dedicated electrode-carrying catheter results in a significant reduction in the overall size of the system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kordis, Jerome Jackson, Jack W. Lasersohn
  • Patent number: 5637090
    Abstract: Systems and methods sense electrical events in heart tissue to identify the location of an arrhythmogenic focus for ablation. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue and a curvilinear electrode array. The systems and methods monitor signals representing electrical events sensed by the electrodes in the contact site. The signals are displayed as graphic information that represents the time sequence in which the electrodes sense a given electrical event. By moving the electrode array to one or additional contact sites in the general direction of the electrode that first sensed the electrical event, the physician homes in on a contact site in which all electrodes on the array sense the given electrical event at generally the same time. This contact site contains the arrhythmogenic focus. The systems and methods convey ablating energy to bipolar pairs of the electrodes to form large bipolar lesions in heart tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McGee, Russell A. Houser, David K. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5630425
    Abstract: Analog or digital systems or methods filter an artifact from a signal derived from a biological event comprising sample values arranged with respect to time. The systems and methods generate a variable expressing a template of the artifact and reduce the derived biological signal by the variable to derive a filtered derived biological signal. The systems and methods change the variable over time based upon the energy of the filtered derived biological signal to minimize the energy of the artifact remaining in the filtered derived biological signal over time. The systems and methods output the filtered derived biological signal. The systems and methods remove artifacts from signals derived from a biological event; for example, electrograms, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, electrogastrograms, electromyograms, and respiratory signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, James G. Whayne
  • Patent number: 5628474
    Abstract: A two roll paper dispenser has roll-supporting mandrels mounted on slide blocks in a cantilevered position. The mandrels are automatically movable from a position wherein the first mandrel is located at a juncture of a first path and a second path and the second mandrel is located above the first mandrel in the first path and wherein the first mandrel can be moved from the juncture along carried thereon to open the juncture when sufficient paper is consumed from its roll. A spring engages the first mandrel slide block biasing the mandrel for movement away from the juncture, and the second mandrel slide block is biased for movement along the second path toward the juncture. The mandrels each have a proximal end attached to one of the mandrel slide blocks and a distal free end for insertion thereon of a roll of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Alwin Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Donald G. Krueger, Kenneth H. LaCount
  • Patent number: 5628775
    Abstract: A flexible bond is formed between the exterior sleeve of a catheter guide tube and the exterior sleeve of the steerable electrode tip of the catheter. The flexible bond holds the sleeves in fluid tight abutment during twisting of the guide tube and bending of the electrode tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Jackson, Alan L. Kaganov
  • Patent number: 5621978
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine having three elongated members defining X, Y and Z axes is provided wherein the Y axis is defined by a horizontal arm extendedly and retractably mounted in a housing supported on the rail defining the Z axis. The horizontal arm is provided with convex ridges on its upper and lower surfaces. The ridges preferably extend along the center line of the arm. The arm is supported by upper and lower pairs of wheels having concave surfaces located in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: Alan J. Sarauer
  • Patent number: D379580
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventor: Neil Amundsen