Patents Represented by Attorney Shupe & Munger Ltd.
  • Patent number: 7914176
    Abstract: In a first embodiment the invention is for use with a light-fixture assembly for elongate light tubes of the type that includes (a) an elongate support frame and (b) a cross-structure at each of the opposite ends thereof and has at least one lamp holder thereon. The improvement of the embodiment wherein the cross-structures each include at least one folding arm movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: John Stanley, Don Miletich, Wayne Guillien
  • Patent number: 7908753
    Abstract: A hands-free level for gauging structural-member orientation. The level includes an elongate frame with two side-faces and at least one main reference surface extending therealong and having a mainwidth, a level indicator secured to the frame, and a support arm to facilitate holding of the reference surface against the stud. The support arm has a proximal end and extends to a free distal end which includes an end member. The proximal end is pivotably secured to the frame about a pivot axis such that the distal end and end member are movable between a storage position along one of the side-faces and a use position beyond the reference surface and stud. A coil spring is about the pivot axis biases the distal end and end member to the storage position. The end member extends from the distal end and terminates in a stud-engaging portion. When the reference surface is against a stud surface, the stud-engaging portion engages the stud for hands-free holding of the level thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Empire Level Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Roger A. Bohman
  • Patent number: 7900335
    Abstract: A system and method for profiling and manufacturing curved arches includes cutting out the outer dimensions of individual curved sections from sheet material, each curved section including an outer radius, an inner radius, a top surface, a bottom surface, a male end and a corresponding female end. Assembling together the individual curved sections by joining interferingly end to end male ends with female ends to form an assembled curved section. Milling a profile into the top surface of the assembled curved section thereby resulting in an assembled curved section with a profiled top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Ed Vaes
  • Patent number: 7895715
    Abstract: A fleece-laying device for laying a fleece from a card web having a laying carriage movable above and transversely to an output conveyor belt, an upper carriage also movable transversely to the output conveyor belt, and a first card web conveyor belt and a second card web conveyor belt for guiding the card web via the upper carriage and the laying carriage into a laying nip formed in the laying carriage. The fleece-laying device includes a card web guiding area between the upper carriage and the laying carriage with two sections of the first and second card web conveyor belts holding the card web between them and being guided over at least one support roll mounted in a support carriage which is also movable transversely to the output conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG
    Inventor: Joachim Leger
  • Patent number: 7897244
    Abstract: The joint-sealing tape of flexible foam material (2) capable of recovery after compression is saturated with an impregnate and provided with a plurality of notches or recesses (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), which serve to accept and to distribute the impregnate in the foam (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ISO-Chemie GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Dieb
  • Patent number: 7891835
    Abstract: A light-directing apparatus for off-axial preferential-side distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis, including a lensing member positioned over the light emitter a shield member embedded within the lensing member in a position in the path of light emitted toward a non-preferential side. The lensing member having a proximal end substantially transverse the emitter axis and an outer surface configured for refracting light from the emitter. The shield member may be snugly received in a shield-receiving void of an inner surface of the lensing member. Alternatively, the shield member is embedded by the lensing member having been molded thereabout. Another aspect of this invention is a lighting fixture utilizing such light-directing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7878600
    Abstract: Wheels including one or more retention elements for affixing a polyurethane tire to a hub of the wheel are disclosed. The polyurethane tires of the wheels disclosed are manufactured separate from the hub and affixed to the hub via the retention elements thereby enabling additional manufacturing processes for the polyurethane tires and reuse of the hub portion of the wheels. Such manufacturing processes also allow for more complex polyurethane tire design and combinations of polymers to produce composite wheels allowing for increased comfort and durability. The wheels are particular suitability for use with industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Stellana U.S. Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Michael Krantz
  • Patent number: 7872186
    Abstract: A bassoon reed including first and second reed cane members and a tubular undersleeve within, and a method of manufacture therefor is disclosed. The first and second reed cane members each have inside and outside surfaces, proximal and distal end portions and two opposite longitudinal edges. The reed cane members are secured together in edge-to-edge fashion along the distal end portions. The tubular undersleeve is within and supports the distal end portions therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Tatman
  • Patent number: 7861594
    Abstract: A method of operating a vibratory testing apparatus is disclosed including providing a table frame with at least one vibrator attached thereto and attaching the at least one vibrator to a solenoid valve, wherein an input of the solenoid valve is connected to a pneumatic air supply and an output of the valve is connected to the vibrator. The solenoid valve is connected to a controller and a first control signal is sent from the controller to the solenoid valve for opening the valve and allowing a first burst of air to the vibrator thereby causing the vibrator to vibrate the table frame at a first amplitude. Then a second control signal is sent from the controller to the solenoid valve for opening the valve and allowing a second burst of air to the vibrator thereby causing the vibrator to vibrate the table frame at a second amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Wetzel, Steven P. Beavers, Randall J. Beekman
  • Patent number: 7861324
    Abstract: A pre-assembled anti-creep waist-clothing stay device including a patch having front and back surfaces and sized for application to a crotch-adjacent inner-seam area of the waist-clothing and a stay strip affixed to the back surface of the patch, the stay strip being positioned and sized such that the patch extends beyond edges of the stay strip. In important embodiments, the patch includes a heat-activated adhesive such that, when the patch is applied to the waist-clothing with iron-on heat and pressure, the patch adheres at its back surface to the waist-clothing, thereby securing the stay strip in position to prevent the waist-clothing from riding up and bunching in the crotch area. In certain key embodiments, the anti-creep waist-clothing stay device is a stay strip having first and second sides each of which is coated with an adhesive. Such stay device is affixed within a seam-allowance in the crotch-adjacent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Catherine Chetelat, Michael Chetelat
  • Patent number: 7862752
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for checking the venting of a mold having one or more vents, the apparatus comprising a vacuum source, a flow connection between the source and the mold, and a vacuum gauge connected to the flow connection, whereby vacuum measurement by the gauge correlates with total effective venting area of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Terry L. Schwenk
  • Patent number: 7845062
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing multi piece curved molding from planar material including the steps of, milling locating holes in the bottom side of sheet material proximate ends of curved sections, milling curved section from sheet material including the finished outer radius, the finished inner radius and milled ends, milling the profile to produce the profiled top side on curved section, placing locating holes in corresponding locating pins in a precision cut off fixture and precision cutting ends of curved section thereby producing a precision cut end and discarding waste portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Ed Vaes
  • Patent number: 7841750
    Abstract: A light-directing lensing member for off-axial preferential-side distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis, including a base end with a perimeter-loop line defining a main plane transverse the emitter axis, and an outer surface configured for refracting light from the emitter in a predominantly off-axis direction toward the preferential side. The outer surface includes a major lens-portion and an axially-located minor lens-portion. The major lens portion outer surface has a front region centered on the front side, a back region centered on the back side, and a middle region around the emitter axis and contiguous with the front and back regions. The minor lens-portion has a surrounding-loop surface extending from the middle region transverse the main plane and terminating at an end surface configured to direct substantially axially-parallel light from the emitter in off-axis direction toward the preferential side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Chris Strom
  • Patent number: 7841734
    Abstract: An LED lighting fixture includes a support structure having a horizontal cross-dimension and a top structure attached to the support structure and extending outwardly beyond the support structure. The top structure has a bottom surface with peripheral portion surrounding a non-peripheral portion. A plurality of LED emitters are positioned on the peripheral portion for emitting light in downward direction substantially outside of the horizontal cross-dimension of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7836644
    Abstract: A molding system and method for installation that covers existing molding. The molding system covers existing trim for doorways and floors with a more decorative molding. The invention includes a molding overlay that has three points of contact. An upper corner block covers the intersections of the existing doorway molding, and a lower corner block covers a section of the existing doorway molding with the existing baseboard, eliminating the need to cut mitered angles in the overlay molding. Recesses in the backside of the corner blocks allow the corner blocks to receive the old molding. The molding overlay abuts the corner blocks, thereby avoiding the requirements for making any cuts other than perpendicular cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7832666
    Abstract: Apparatus for destruction of articles and any information associated therewith. Embodiments include an article-destruction chamber and a rotating head for repeated striking of articles and article fragments in the chamber. The head includes a body portion and a shaft. The body portion has plural striking elements extending radially outward therefrom. Each striking element has a forward-facing radial striking surface with an area. High-speed rotation of the head causes the striking surfaces to violently contact and destroy articles and article fragments in the chamber and to render any associated information unusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chudy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Montgomery, Duane S. Chudy
  • Patent number: 7832112
    Abstract: A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween, a topnotch defined by the walls which have notch-defining edges including non-vertical surfaces, and a vial within the topnotch. A vial-mounting structure includes a vial-holding member and a locking member movably secured with respect to the vial-holding member. The vial-holding member is configured for resting on the non-vertical notch-edge surfaces. The locking member includes frame-engaging portions which press upwardly against a frame inner surface to pull the vial-holding member downwardly against the non-vertical notch-edge surfaces, thereby securing the vial-holding member to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Empire Level Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: John Christianson
  • Patent number: 7819250
    Abstract: A childproof package consists of a rectangular folding box of cardboard with at least one strip-like blister pack inside, which can be pulled out from one of the short, narrow sides of the folding box. The folding box is designed so that it can be reclosed in such a way as to be childproof again, and the folding box and the blister pack have cooperating means, which are designed so that the blister pack cannot be pulled completely out of the folding box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Carl Edelmann GmbH, Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Sattel, Meino Adam, Juergen Dambacher, Dirk Bauernfeind, Peter Fuhrmann, Detlev Gertitschke, Holger Bugar
  • Patent number: D628914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Empire Level Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Charles Dunn Kim, Steven Wayne Bockmann, John R. Christianson
  • Patent number: D636516
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Brian Kinnune, Lisa Ruffalo Cooper