Patents Represented by Attorney Sturm & Fix LLP
  • Patent number: 7833476
    Abstract: A flamer may be used to sterilize poultry litter, soil, concrete, etc. The stationary or mobile flamer disclosed comprises a hood to contain the heat, an external frame, and burners. A fuel tank may be carried on the flamer or on a tractor. An additional embodiment provides for mounting the flamer on wheels, permitting the unit to be towed by a truck, four-wheeler, tractor, etc. The burners are adjustable as to angle, and fueling rate. A pressure in the fuel system is controlled by selectively switching between the liquid and vaporous components of the fuel. By limiting how low the pressure may fall, the flow of fuel from the tank to the torches is more consistent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Ralph M. Pivonka
  • Patent number: 7823813
    Abstract: A control mechanism for the feed of a brush chipper is disclosed. A lower feed stop bar, located under a feed table, pivots on a pivot axis located below and toward the brush chipper from the control bar of the lower feed stop bar. The center of gravity of the lower feed stop bar, then, tends to pivot the lower feed stop bar away from the feed disengage position. Hence, nuisance trips due to vibration, impact of brush on the table, etc., are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edwin N. Galloway, Jeffrey D. Bradley, James L O'Halloran, Eric L Baker
  • Patent number: 7818954
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for baling a crop with stiff stalks such as corn stalks has a frame with a front and a rear. At least one ground engaging wheel operatively attached to the frame for facilitating movement of the frame in a forward direction. An accumulator is operatively attached to the frame for holding the crop in various amounts. A pickup is operatively attached to the front of the frame for picking up the crop from a field and transferring the crop into the accumulator. A baler is operatively attached to the frame behind the accumulator for transforming a crop into a bale. A transfer mechanism such as a conveyor is provided in the accumulator for moving the crop in the accumulator to the inlet of the baler. In another embodiment, a pickup of a first predetermined width is provided for picking up the crop from a field and transferring the crop into the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manuafcturing Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rempe, Lisle J. Dunham, Mark D. Core
  • Patent number: 7819998
    Abstract: There is described a method of forming a touch screen laminate for use in a resistive touch screen display, the method comprising the steps of bonding a layer of ultra-thin glass to a polymer layer by means of an optical adhesive applied uniformly between the glass layer and the polymer layer and applying a non-electrically conductive insulating layer to a lower surface of the polymer layer in a peripherally extending band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Albert M. David
  • Patent number: 7819348
    Abstract: A brush chipper is disclosed having a pivoting and/or reciprocating winch for improving the efficiency of the winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John T. B. Bouwers, James L. O'Halloran, Scott A. Rempe
  • Patent number: 7798636
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eyewear item, especially glasses frames or an optical mask, comprising a bridge (1) or a browbar (14). According to the invention, the bridge (1) or browbar (14) comprises a support (5) having a thickness (4) consisting of a thermoformable foam (3), and thermally conforming by receiving an impression following the heating of the thickness (4), then being applied to an anatomic region of a carrier, and keeping said impression after cooling. Preferably, the foam has a thermal conductivity of less than 0.040 W/m·K, preferably equal to 0.034 W/m·K. More specifically, the foam is a cross-linked polyolefin. In one mode of embodiment, the support (5) has a concave (6) or convex (7) profile to which the foam (3) is fixed in the form of a film contouring the concave or convex profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Francois-Regis Fradin De La Renaudiere
  • Patent number: 7796794
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for X-ray imaging of a body, employing a support to receive a body to be examined, a source emitting a beam of X-rays, a detector irradiated by the beam, a converter for converting the detected intensities into data, a means for turning the mounted mobile support by an angle of rotation about an axis of rotation with respect to the source and the detector and a suitably programmed computer to average the data acquired for a pair of orthogonal angles of rotation to obtain n column and m line mean values for n and m elementary segments of a band of the detector, to construct an initial image (n, m) with the n column and m line mean values, to adjust the coefficient of attenuation in each n×m elementary zone by a method of least squares taking into account the n column and m line mean values regarded as constraints, to repeat the previous stages for data acquired with different pairs of preferably orthogonal angles of rotation, and to average term by term the adjusted images so as to arrive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Norbert Beyrard
  • Patent number: 7785932
    Abstract: The aim the disclosed process is to ensure maximum precision both at the level of the manufacturing of an electronic assembly from a chip with small dimensions as well as the level of the placement of such an assembly on an insulating substrate. This aim is achieved by a placement process on a support, called substrate, of at least one electronic assembly consisting of a chip including at least one electric contact on one of its faces, said contact being connected to a segment of conductive track, and said placement being carried out by means of a placement device holding and positioning said assembly on the substrate, comprising the following steps: formation of a segment of conductive track having a predetermined outline, transfer of the track segment onto the placement device, seizing of the chip with the placement device carrying the track segment in such a way that said track segment is placed on at least one contact of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nagraid S.A.
    Inventor: François Droz
  • Patent number: 7770348
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing steel studs to make a wall includes a first and second track each having a center portion, an inner lip extending from the center portion and an outer lip extending from the center portion. A first flange goes on each side of the inner lip of the first track. A second flange goes on each side of the inner lip of the second track. A U-shaped stud is provided having at least a portion of an inner lip of the stud being disposed between the first tab and the inner lip of the first track and at least a portion of the inner lip of the stud being disposed between the second tab and the inner lip of the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel W. Tollenaar
  • Patent number: 7765735
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a mulch bed by applying an adhesive composition using portable apparatus including a disposable translucent container supported by a shoulder strap and connected to a wand distributor. The container is filled with liquid adhesive composition having a consistency similar to milk. A wand distributor is attached to the container port and includes a rigid conduit stem interconnecting the container port and a distribution head. The shoulder strap is positioned on the shoulder of a user to support and transport the container. The user operates a gravity flow valve and grasps the rigid stem to move the distributor head and apply the adhesive composition to an area of a mulch bed to prevent undesirable movement of the mulch material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Samuel P. Carelli
  • Patent number: 7769280
    Abstract: A camera hand piece (1) with camera housing (12) has a microscopic probe (2) at the front end. On the rear side is a transmission cable (13) which is attached to the camera hand piece (1) with the aid of a coupling nut (14). The camera housing (12) accommodates a microscope housing (11) and includes a motorized drive (4), which drives an eccentric (7) via a gear (6) mounted in a gear housing (9). The eccentric (7) actuates a pusher (5), which moves a connecting rod (8) and thereby displaces a focusing lens system (3) attached to it in the axial direction. This axially displaceable focusing lens system (3) together with a condenser lens system (10), forms a microscopic lens system arranged in a microscope housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Volpi AG
    Inventor: Peter Vogeli
  • Patent number: 7743478
    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: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Kent Thompson, Rustin V. Bentzinger, Martin Koorn
  • Patent number: 7742168
    Abstract: At least one surface characteristic of a sample, e.g. gloss, refractive index, micro-roughness, macroroughness, colour shift, is determined by illuminating a surface of the sample with a collimated beam of light at an angle to the plane of the surface and using an imaging detector to record an intensity and angular distribution image of the light from the beam reflected from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Surfoptic Limited
    Inventors: Nick Elton, John Day
  • Patent number: 7726109
    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. The sub-frame is pivotally attached to the arms of the four-bar linkage by spherical bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Kent L. Thompson, Shane A. Bollinger, Rustin V. Bentzinger
  • Patent number: 7721981
    Abstract: A mechanical control mechanism for the feed of a brush chipper is disclosed. The feed control bar has four positions: (1) forward or feed, (2) neutral, (3) reverse, and (4) stop. The hydraulic control valve has the three usual positions: (1) forward or feed, (2) neutral, (3) reverse. A function of the feed control bar is to provide the three function of the hydraulic control valve, plus the fourth in a fashion amenable to emergency situations. To these ends, the control bar has an extreme rearward position wherein the feed mechanism is stopped. The only permissible change to the stopped condition of the feed mechanism is to reverse the feed. Until a reset lever is manipulated, the hydraulic control valve cannot be put into a forward feed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manucaturing Co.
    Inventors: John T. B. Bouwers, Larry D. Schut
  • Patent number: 7716910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for baling crop materials using a baler with a pickup thereon for picking up crop materials from the ground and moving such crop materials towards a baling chamber. The pickup has a pickup frame operatively attached to the baler, the frame having a plurality of laterally spaced apart tines of a type which is typical for balers. A powered rotor is rotationally attached to the baler a predetermined distance above and forwardly of the pickup frame, the rotor being powered to rotate in at least one direction. A plurality of blade assemblies are disposed on the rotor having blades extending radially outwardly from the axis of the rotor wherein at least at times one or more of the blade assemblies are disposed between one or more of the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Eric T. Woodford
  • Patent number: D616775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Pocket Workmate LLC
    Inventor: Randall Scott Berens
  • Patent number: D622908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mediclinics, S.A.
    Inventor: Luis Sau Clerch
  • Patent number: D624313
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: WorkHorse L.L.C.
    Inventor: Marty Mitchell
  • Patent number: D627226
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jose Francisco Gonzalez Sanchez, Francisco Javier Cana Martinez