Patents Represented by Attorney Sturm & Fix LLP
  • Patent number: 8092751
    Abstract: The ultraviolet and/or ozone-generation disinfection cutlery tray allows to improve the hygiene of the different cutlery items placed in it, by use of at least one ultraviolet light and/or ozone-generating source that irradiates the cutlery through the material itself making up the cutlery tray, made of a light-conductive plastic material, obtaining an homogeneous radiation, allowing objects that had been previously washed in a conventional way to maintain and conserve asepsis until the moment of use. Versions are contemplated for holding cutlery in vertical position, simultaneously allowing their drainage after washing and hygienization; and others in which the emission of ultraviolet light is located on the surface of the material making up the cutlery tray. The disinfection device is suitable for use for the domestic sector, catering industry, as well as the clinical sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kaparazoom, S.L.U.
    Inventor: Francisco Salvador Barea
  • Patent number: 8080406
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of automating the production of ethanol in an economical method yet maximizing the conversion of grains into ethanol in an even greater conversion efficiency with a greatly improved feed value byproduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Mark K. Gaalswyk
  • Patent number: 8079207
    Abstract: Thread twist system for twisting and spinning machines which comprises means (12) for measuring and/or calculating directly or indirectly the rotation speed (11) of the runner (5), in such a way that the working movements and parameters of the machine keep real twisting constant throughout the process of filling the reel (2) in a dynamic and instantaneous way, by acting on the angular speed (10) of the spindles (1) and/or the feeding (9) speed of the thread (6), with the objective of correcting the theoretical twisting on the thread itself (6) and converting it into real twisting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Frimal Trading S.L.
    Inventor: Jordi Galan Llongueras
  • Patent number: 8057485
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical specimen retrieval device that allows one-handed use by incorporating a geared spool to amplify take up of a flexible line to close the mouth of the specimen bag after the surgical specimen is deposited in the bag. The retrieval device includes a spool with an attached gear that is rotated by movement of a deployment rod with serrated teeth. A flexible line has a proximal end attached to the spool and the distal end attached to the mouth of the bag. When the deployment reel is moved from an extended position to an inserted position, the spool rotates and pays out flexible line to allow the mouth of the deployed bag to open. Once a specimen is taken and deposited in the bag, the deployment rod is moved from the inserted position toward the extended position. This rod movement rotates the spool to take up the line and close the mouth of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Hollis Group
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Hollis, Gregpru D. Hollis, John Troy Wilson
  • Patent number: 8042851
    Abstract: Chopsticks, used for eating, of the type that have a notch, to enable them to be coupled together, arranged in an oblique position on one of the surfaces close to the upper end of the chopsticks, with a suitable slope for assembling the chopsticks in the manner of pliers, with a depth equivalent to half the thickness of the chopstick and with a width equivalent to the width of the actual chopstick, provision having been made for each of the upper edges of said notch to end in ribs that emerge towards the inside of the notch in order for one chopstick to be snap-fitted together with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Mario Lai Martinez
  • Patent number: 8033088
    Abstract: A combine harvester for separating grain from trash is attached to a towable baling apparatus for converting trash into compacted bales, by a conveyor, a forward end of the conveyor being pivotally attached to the combine harvester proximate the rear such that a trash outlet of the combine is disposed above the trash inlet of the conveyor. The rear end of the conveyor is attached to the baling apparatus in a way that causes a large percentage of the trash from the combine harvester trash outlet to enter the baling apparatus inlet without ever touching the ground. The conveyor is supported from the rear of the combine harvester by a towbar which is fixed to the chassis proximate the support for the forward and rearward set of ground wheels. A nozzle is provided to spray water onto the crop before it enters the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Glenvar Enterprises Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Graham Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8021216
    Abstract: A field dressing knife suitable for all aspects of field dressing small and large game is disclosed. Various novel aspects of the knife include: a large butt-end of the handle and a groove near the butt-end of the handle, both to spread the normal stress over a larger surface area when striking the butt-end of the handle with a free hand for splitting pelvis and brisket bones; and a configurable handle, permitting the double-edged field dressing knife to be used in knife mode or in a hatchet mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Harold J. Moore
  • Patent number: 7992651
    Abstract: A wavy disc and coulter with notches and method of using same, the disc or coulter having plurality of waves formed in the blade by deviating the entire outer periphery of the variable wave coulter from a flat plane. A plurality of crests and a plurality of valleys are formed in the blade, wherein each of said plurality of waves comprises a first and a second crest and one valley between the first and second crests at the outer periphery thereof. A notch is disposed in each respective wave on the outer periphery of the blade and wherein at least a majority of the notch is disposed between the first one of the respective crests and the respective valley, such majority of the notch being closer to the first respective crest than to the second respective crest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Douglas G. Bruce
  • Patent number: 7989718
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power control for a power tool having a working head for cutting or shaping a workpiece. The power control includes a trigger control switch on a hand grip attached to an engagement device such as a push stick used with a table saw. The engagement device is moved by the attached hand grip to bring the workpiece and working head into engagement with each other. The power control may be used for rip sawing or miter cutting on a table saw, on a hand-held router or a router table, on a jointer, a band saw, a disk sander, a drill press, or on other conventional power tools having a working head for cutting or shaping a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Eugene A. Weber
  • Patent number: 7982587
    Abstract: Alarms are often required on various vehicles and equipment such as fork lifts, dump trucks, bulldozers, etc. An alarm is disclosed controlled by a microprocessor, which is an integral part of the basic circuit. The microprocessor is relied upon for adjusting alarm output based on source voltage, time of day, ambient noise, ambient frequencies, and ambient temperature. Additional features include sensing the alarm's own output to adjust alarm output in a feedback control loop, alarm self diagnosis using a current sensor, and using the microprocessor to operate a digital radio, such as Bluetooth, for intelligent alarm communication into a monitoring system for vehicle alarm status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Longwood Corporation
    Inventors: Albert S. Thanhauser, Russell W. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7980203
    Abstract: A pet strap formed of a transparent material, such as plastic or synthetic rubber, with photoluminescent or phosphorescent colored pigment homogeneously dispersed within and incorporated into the elastometric material. The preferred photoluminescent is strontium oxide aluminate or strontium barium aluminate, which emit a yellow-green light. The strap may be disposed to encircle the neck of the pet as a conventional collar with a buckle and strap end retainers. The strap may also be made in various dimensions suitable for pets of all sizes, and may be configured to be trimmed to the desired size. Another embodiment of the pet strap includes a light reversion strip and an underlying or encased fabric reinforcing strip encased within the elastomeric strap adjacent the bottom side of the strap that contacts the pet. The light reversion strip will allow available light to charge the luminescents more proficiently for better performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Derek G. Rubottom, Sarah A. Allen
  • Patent number: 7974921
    Abstract: A system and method to produce and use new bank checks with magnetized strips (30) and/or storage chips (33) to avoid forging in the checks and to confirm immediately upon introducing them for negotiation, whether or not sufficient funds are available. The bank check system comprises issued bank checks whose front and rear faces carry imprinted visible data (11-21) and a magnetic strip (30) and/or storage chip (33) containing stored encoded data readable by a reader so it can be checked for conformity with the visible data (11-21) to detect any unauthorized alterations to the check. The visible data (11-21) and stored encoded data include an identification of a check (19), account, drawer (15) and bank (16). The new checks include checks with a maximum value, or a fixed value that is pre-paid and blocked in the drawer's account, and “ordinary” checks, enabling to check whether the checks to be paid with a sufficient blocked amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Moosa Eisa Al Amri
  • Patent number: 7966794
    Abstract: A drive system for agricultural implements having at least one floating head and a tongue that may be disposed at various angles relative to a longitudinal angle of the implement. Two swivel gearbox assemblies are used, each comprising a first 90° gearbox rigidly attached to the implement and a second 90° gearbox that is permitted to rotate about an axis passing through one of its shafts and one of the first 90° gearbox's shaft. Because the tongue angle is variable, the drive shafts for driving the implement must take on a plurality of angles. The swiveling gearbox assemblies allow variable angles at the tongue and at the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kent L. Thompson, Shane A. Bollinger, Stuart Gene Van Donselaar
  • Patent number: 7966795
    Abstract: A mowing device including a disc, the disc providing a mount for at least one knife, said knife being pivotably mounted to said disc by a pivot pin, said pivot pin defining a mounting axis, such that the knife can rotate about said pivot pin between a first extended position and any retracted position, said disc being constructed of a basic material thickness and comprising a mounting surface; said mowing device including a knife adapter comprising a cylindrical aperture and a projection; said pivot pin comprising a first cylindrical section of a first diameter to fit into said cylindrical aperture in said knife adapter, and a second cylindrical section, of a second diameter, with a groove defined by a groove width and a pin section thickness at the groove of a dimension less than said second diameter; said mowing device including a retainer constructed of a material thickness equal to or less than the width of said groove, with a key-hole shaped aperture defined by a first circular section with a first insid
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufactruing Company
    Inventors: Kent Thompson, Rustin V. Bentzinger, Martin Koorn
  • Patent number: 7958707
    Abstract: A suspension system for agricultural implements having at least one floating head using a four-bar linkage and permitting the floating head to accommodate variations in ground surface elevation in a lateral or transverse direction. By permitting the floating head to float, a more consistent cutting height is realized when ground surface elevation varies in a transverse direction. A main frame is provided to which the ground engaging wheels are attached. A sub-frame is connected to the main frame via the four-bar linkage and the linkage arms of the four-bar linkage are not parallel to one another as viewed from above. The linkage arms of the four-bar linkage are pivotally attached to the main frame and sub-frame by spherical bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kent L. Thompson, Shane A. Bollinger, Rustin V. Bentzinger
  • Patent number: 7954182
    Abstract: Washroom designed for taking a shower which comprises a water intake and a drain for wastewater, and includes an accessory representing a removable bathtub wall. A mechanism is provided for locking and for pressing on the outer surface of the accessory when in a bathtub wall configuration to ensure that it is strong and watertight. The locking mechanism is an element which takes up a horizontal position on the floor in a shower configuration of the washroom, and a substantially vertical position in a bathtub configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Virgile Habegger
  • Patent number: 7942718
    Abstract: An educational game having a number of parts where each part has a contact surface with first and second magnets movably joined to and interior face of the contact surface. A rod that defines a longitudinal axis parallel to the contact surface has the first magnet at one end and a second magnet at the opposite end, with the magnets having their polarity reversed to each other. An elongated housing encloses the rod on the interior face of the contact surface, and it moves the rod on the longitudinal axis along the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Educocio S.B.
    Inventor: Jose Maxenchs Tenorio
  • Patent number: 7939761
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing an assembly of two ringed sheaths (1,2) ready to be used to make a single ringed sheath around for example a bundle of electric cables (13), wherein two smooth-walled tubes are simultaneously extruded using a single extruder fitted with two extrusion nozzles, the two smooth-walled tubes are simultaneously molded into two ringed wall tubes using a molder equipped with molds each fitted with two ringed profiles extending in parallel in a longitudinal direction and being paired along one and the same parting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Delfingen FR-Anteuil S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe Baverel, Benoit Remy
  • Patent number: D643671
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Ross A. Kennedy
  • Patent number: D647402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Wild Wolf Company, S.L.
    Inventor: Ommar Daniel Uribe Juarez