Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Shoemaker and Mattare, Ltd.
  • Locking booster ring binder mechanism
    Patent number: 5904435
    Abstract: A locking booster ring binder mechanism includes a pair of locking levers, each having a tongue which extends through an opening at one end of the leaves of the mechanism. The tongue has a head wider than the opening, so that the head presses up on the leaves to open the rings when the trigger is pressed outward and downward. A pair of legs extend from either side of the tongue along the sides of the opening between the leaves. The legs have blocking protuberances which bear against the sides of the opening, and prevent the leaves from being opened, when the lever is in a locked position, but not when the lever is in an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Hong Kong Stationary Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Vincent W. M. Tung
  • Method and apparatus for shaping spheres and process for sintering
    Patent number: 5905936
    Abstract: Generally rough sphere-shaped work pieces made of fragile material are ground into more uniform spheres. The rough spheres are fed into a holding plate having a channel cut into the bottom side of the plate with a width slightly larger than the largest diameter of the rough spheres. A movable abrasive surface is positioned adjacent to the bottom side of the holding plate. As the rough spheres move through the holding plate which can be vibrated, they move in contact with each other and with the abrasive surface. The finally formed spheres leave the plate where they are collected. It is a further embodiment green spheres which are treated in a sintering process with hydrogen gas have tungsten oxide particles applied to the surface of the spheres prior to and during sintering so that the particles remain separated and apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Teledyne Wah Chang
    Inventors: Lloyd Fenwick, Darryl Amick, Gary McDowell, Robert Nichols
  • Apparatus with removable print head
    Patent number: 5901644
    Abstract: Secure printing apparatus, for example printing apparatus of a postage meter, is disclosed in which an ink jet print head with integral ink supply is removable by a user of the apparatus. In order to maintain security of the apparatus, a parking station remote from a printing station is provided for the print head and removal of the print head can be effected only at the parking station through an aperture in a secure housing at the parking station. When the print head is moved to the parking station electrical connection to the print head are disengaged from the print head and means are provided to prevent access to those electrical connections at the parking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventors: John David Etheridge, Walter Herbert Henson, Raymond John Herbert
  • Combination stand and shelter for bicycles
    Patent number: 5901725
    Abstract: A combination stand and shelter for bicycles includes an anchored shelter made of two side members interconnected by a frame which also serves as a bike stand. A stiff sheet captured between the side members provides a weather shield for the front wheel of the bicycle, and also houses a storage bin for tools and spares. The rear portion of the bike may be covered, when desired, by drawing a flexible cover from a reel within the shelter, and securing its free end to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Libby
  • Roof curb
    Patent number: 5896711
    Abstract: A rectangular curb unit is installed on a sloping standing seam metal roof at an angle to the dip direction, so that water does not accumulate on the upslope side of the curb unit. The curb unit has four side walls, and inserts shaped to conform to the seam geometry are welded to the walls at the seam locations, typically at opposite corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard R. McClure
  • Method for continuous disintegration of activated sludge
    Patent number: 5895577
    Abstract: A method is described for the continuous disintegration of microbial sludge in a sewage clarification or sewage treatment plant wherein the microbial sludge is decomposed biologically by bacteria and the resultant sludge (5) is exposed to sonic radiation in a treatment vessel (1) in order to split the cell walls of the microorganisms. With that, the sonic radiation shall be generated asymmetrically in the treatment vessel (1). The intensity of the sonic exposure lies-in an area of 500 to 1500 W/m2 and the sludge (5) is fed with a mean dwell-time of 2 to 4 minutes in counter-flow through the treatment vessel (1). The device for carrying out the method possesses a treatment vessel (1) with an eccentrically arranged sonic resonator arranged within (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Telsonic AG
    Inventors: Karl Frei, Klaus Luger
  • Device and method for the continuous fulling of a material web of textile woven fabrics and knitted fabrics
    Patent number: 5893933
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device for the continuous fulling of a material web (6) of textile woven fabrics and knitted fabrics with a guiding passage (15) through which the material web (6) can be guided through and accelerated by means of a fluid. At the end of the guiding passage (15), there is provided an impact surface (16, 17), against which the material web (6) can be flung by the fluid. Between the impact surface (16, 17) and the guiding passage (15) there are additionally provided guiding means (26, 26') by means of which the material web (6), which is broadly guided in the guiding passage, can be brought together to a material strand (25) before impinging on the impact surface (16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Solipat AG
    Inventor: Christian Strahm
  • Locking safety utility knife
    Patent number: 5890294
    Abstract: A locking safety utility knife includes a body and an operating lever that is squeezed to deploy a retractable cutting blade from within the body. The blade can be locked in its retracted position by means of a ratchet-like mechanism including a pawl which is released by manipulating a cam operator. The pawl engages teeth formed on the outside of a door which closes the rear of a compartment formed in the operating handle to house spare blades, or a blade cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: P.S.I., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Keklak, Michael V. Couture
  • Postage meter and method of forming franking indicia on mail
    Patent number: 5884293
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method of forming a franking indicium on a mail item is disclosed. An area of ink is deposited on the mail item at a first station and at a second station the deposited ink is selectively removed to leave a required franking indicium on the mail item. The removal of the deposited ink may be effected by scanning the area with a laser beam and switching the laser beam on to impinge on and remove unrequired portions of the area of ink and switching the laser beam off when the scanning would otherwise cause the laser beam to impinge on portions of the area of ink required to form the franking indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Raymond John Herbert
  • Ring binder assembly
    Patent number: 5882135
    Abstract: A ring binder assembly includes a folder comprising front and rear flaps interconnected by a spine, a pair of low-profile receptacles attached to an inner surface of the spine, and a ring mechanism whose tubular rivets have mushroomed feet designed to be seated in the receptacles. The receptacles open in opposite directions so that the ring mechanism is installed with a swiveling motion.A method of shipping the binders, unassembled, is to place a stack of a number of folder opened flat in a box, leaving just sufficient head space for a corresponding number of ring mechanisms arranged side-by-side in a single row at the top of the box. The binder assemblies can be quickly completed by the retailer, or by the end purchaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hong Kong Stationery Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung Nin Ko
  • High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable haemophilus
    Patent number: 5876733
    Abstract: High molecular weight surfaces proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae which exhibit immunogenic properties and genes encoding the same are described. Specifically, genes coding for two immunodominant high molecular weight proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, have been cloned, expressed and sequenced, while genes coding for high molecular proteins HMW3 and HMW4 have been cloned, expressed and partially sequenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignees: St. Louis University, Washington University
    Inventor: Stephen J. Barenkamp
  • Digital gas metering system using tri-stable and bi-stable solenoids
    Patent number: 5875817
    Abstract: A digital gas metering system includes inlet and outlet manifolds, a plurality of conduits each extending between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, and a solenoid-operated valve in each conduit. At least one of the valves is a tri-stable valve. Each tri-stable valve has a highest flow setting, a lowest flow setting, and an intermediate flow setting. The preferred embodiment utilizes at least two tri-stable valves, and these have respective highest flow settings which form a geometric progression in which each term is substantially triple the preceding term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ortech Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Carter
  • Vacuum membrane pump and a head portion for a vacuum membrane pump
    Patent number: 5876190
    Abstract: A vacuum membrane pump includes a housing, a membrane and a head portion having a sealing surface which engages with a sealing edge of the membrane to form a seal. A pump chamber is formed between the head portion and the membrane. The head portion is cast from glass, and has at least one penetrating opening for accommodating a valve element on the side away from the pump chamber. The membrane rests with its sealing edge on a shoulder of the housing and, with the sealing edge, engages with the sealing surface of the head. The valve element is in turn engaged with the inside of the openings of the head. A closure connected to the housing delivers an axial force to the valve element. The valve element, the head, and the membrane are pressed together to form a sealed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Buchi Labortechnik AG
    Inventor: Arthur Spring
  • Device and a method for measuring the resistance of the respiratory tract
    Patent number: 5868681
    Abstract: A device for measuring the resistance of the respiratory tract with the interrupter method consists essentially of a housing (2) which comprises an air passage (3), and of a closing arrangement (5) for temporarily closing the air passage (3). The closing arrangement (5) may be operated via drive means (8). The drive means (8) are arranged and/or designed such that they can be accelerated in a load-free manner from a rest position (R) into an effectual condition (W). In the effectual condition (W) the drive means (8) engages with the closing arrangement and move the latter from a home position (A) into a closing position (V). With this, it is essential that at the point in time of the coming into engagement of the drive means (8) and the closing arrangement (5), the drive means has a certain energy content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Schiller AG
    Inventor: Alfred Schiller
  • Composite article, alloy and method
    Patent number: 5868879
    Abstract: A mixed oxide ceramic product is made directly from a metal alloy of titanium, zirconium and/or hafnium and niobium, tantalum or hafnium, where the normally combustible alloy of titanium and zirconium or hafnium is passivated by the addition of more than about 7 atomic percent of niobium and/or tantalum and or vanadium which alloy can then be heated in air at atmospheric pressure to a temperature of from about 800 degrees C. to about 1500 degrees C. to produce an adherent monolithic ceramic containing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl Dean Amick, John C. Haygarth, Hershel R. Henson
  • High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable haemophilus
    Patent number: 5869065
    Abstract: High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae which exhibit immunogenic properties and genes encoding the same are described. Specifically, genes coding for two immunodominant high molecular weight proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, have been cloned, expressed and sequenced, while genes coding for high molecular proteins HMW3 and HMW4 have been cloned, expressed and partially sequenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Stephen J. Barenkamp, Joseph William St. Geme, III
  • Manicure device
    Patent number: D406394
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Patrick Mulaisho
  • Floating nut anchor for concrete construction
    Patent number: D406524
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Thomas W. Steenson, W. Donald Paton
  • Sunglasses
    Patent number: D407734
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Bentley
  • Ribbed metal ring binder
    Patent number: D409240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Hong Kong Stationary Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung Nin Ko