Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas Hooker
  • Patent number: 5533232
    Abstract: A hand lever assembly including a plastic handle body molded around a metal insert for rotation of a rotary member such as an axle, spindle, or the like. The upper surface of the insert has a high point and a low point. The upper surface is further dived into arc surfaces, one extending clockwise from the low point to the high point and the other extending counterclockwise from the low point to the high point. The molded plastic body engages the sections of the insert upper surface. Torque applied to the handle body is transferred to the insert through the engaged arc sections of the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Alvord-Polk, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Boyer
  • Patent number: 5524353
    Abstract: A leveling device for extending a course of siding around an interior or exterior building corner includes a center link and two elongate planar arms pivotedly attached to the link. The arms are provided with alignment edges for fitting under edges of siding and aligning the siding on the building. Recesses are provided in the arms adjacent the length and a pocket is provided in the link between the hinges. The recesses and pocket space the device from a corner molding secured to the building prior to attaching siding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: George Fink
  • Patent number: 5522494
    Abstract: A reciprocating slat conveyor for loading and unloading a bulk cargo from a stationary or movable receptacle includes a plurality of elongate slats arranged side-by-side along the bottom of the receptacle and grouped into three slat sets each set movable along the bottom of the receptacle. The conveyor includes three cross members each attached to a respective slat set. The cross members and slats are moved by a slat drive which simultaneously moves all slats and cross members in a first direction and then moves the slat sets and cross members in a second direction, opposite the first direction, one cross member and slat set at a time. An angled bulkhead overlies the cross members and drive and shields the member and drive from the contents of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: David E. Lutz
  • Patent number: 5469978
    Abstract: A system for indicating whether a hydraulic--pneumatic cushioning unit mounted on a railway car to cushion impacts contains sufficient hydraulic fluid to cushion impacts includes a signal assembly mounted on the body of the cushioning device, the signal assembly unit including a pressure indicator and a signal unit which is removably mounted on the pressure indicator. A cable connects the signal unit to a radio mounted on the railway car. An actuator in the pressure indicator moves when sufficient hydraulic fluid is lost from the cushioning device to impair the ability of the device to cushion shocks. Movement of the actuator operates a switch or load cell in the assembly to send a signal through the cable to the radio which then broad-casts a signal indicating that the cushioning unit is inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone Railway Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Bankos, Douglas J. Bingler
  • Patent number: 5470238
    Abstract: A shielded ribbon cable electrical connector assembly includes a shielded cable connector with an overmolded body mounted on the end of the shielded cable and a shielded pin header adapted to be mounted on a circuit board and to mate with the connector. The connector includes a cable clamp on the end of the cable, a premolded connector block containing a row of disconnect terminals and a circuit board forming electrical connections between conductors in the cable and terminals in the connector block. A ground shield plate overlies the circuit board and includes a contact tongue which extends into the cable clamp and is held against the cable shield and a contact finger which overlies the connector block and forms a ground connection with a ground shield on the header. An overmolded plastic body surrounds the cable clamp, circuit board, connector ground shield and part of the connector block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Intercon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Walden
  • Patent number: 5463835
    Abstract: A molding assembly including an elongate crown molding member having a trim mounting groove on the outer surface extending along the bottom of the member opposite a mounting surface on the inner surface, and a trim molding member mounted on the crown molding member in the groove. A fastening member extending from the bottom of the groove through the crown molding member secures the assembly to a vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: D/P, Inc.
    Inventor: James Wood
  • Patent number: 5462356
    Abstract: A bone or dental cement mixing method and preform body are disclosed. An elongate rod is inserted into a cement mixing chamber. Cement powder is poured into the mixing chamber and around the rod to form a preform body in the chamber. The rod is moved laterally through the powder to form a channel in the body. Cement liquid is poured on top of the body, flows down the channel and is absorbed into the body. The body and liquid are then physically mixed by a conventional cement mixing device to form a cement with cement liquid uniformly distributed throughout the cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: William M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5413089
    Abstract: A solid fuel burning stove includes a firebox having front side and rear walls, a top and a bottom, and a secondary combustion unit formed from high temperature insulative refractive material mounted on the top and rear wall of the firebox. The unit is connected to the firebox by a mouth located in the rear wall adjacent the floor of the firebox and by a perforated plate on the firebox top wall. A vertical combustion passage extends from the mouth up to a mixing and combustion chamber located in the unit above the top wall of the firebox. The secondary combustion unit efficiently burns secondary combustion gases flowing into the unit through the mouth and plate during different stages of burning solid fuel, particularly wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Harman Stove and Welding, Inc.
    Inventors: Derik K. Andors, Robert W. Ferguson, Dane P. Harman
  • Patent number: 5411420
    Abstract: A solder terminal strip stamp formed from thin metal stock includes a carrier strip, a plurality of solder terminals extending to one side of the carrier strip and reverse bend the contact arms on the ends of the terminals away from the strip. A thin solder layer is integrally bonded to contact arm and is joined to solder reservoirs located on the sides of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Die Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. Dennis
  • Patent number: 5402878
    Abstract: A reciprocating slat conveyor for loading and unloading a bulk cargo from a stationary or movable receptacle includes a plurality of elongate slats arranged side-by-side along the bottom of the receptacle and grouped into three slat sets each set movable along the bottom of the receptacle. The conveyor includes three cross members each attached to a respective slat set. The cross members and slats are moved by a two-cylinder slat drive which simultaneously moves all slats and cross members in a first direction and then moves the slat sets and cross members in a second direction, opposite the first direction, one cross member and slat set at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: David E. Lutz
  • Patent number: 5395167
    Abstract: A system for mixing bone cement is disclosed. Dry PMMA powder and MMA liquid are mixed in a vacuum chamber by a rotary mixer having a pair of spaced mixing arms. The rotary mixer is manually rotated by a gear drive. The arms of the rotary mixer follow continuous paths, each path having a plurality of loops at the wall of the chamber and curved portions extending across the chamber between loops. The arms move through the cement, break bubbles and thoroughly mix the PMMA and MMA. Gas from broken bubbles is vacuum drawn from the mixer by a vacuum source through a vacuum tube which extends between the mixer and a vacuum source. The vacuum source is automatically deactivated when the vacuum tube is detached from the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: William M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5386675
    Abstract: A concrete beam connector sleeve has a tubular plastic body with a large dimensional end portion, a funnel portion joining the end portion, a rod guide portion joining the funnel portion, a bolting step joining the rod guide portion and a large dimension portion at the end of the sleeve away from the opposite end of the sleeve. The sleeve is cast in a cement column with the large dimension portion opening into a spandrel-supporting recess and the other large dimension portion opening into the opposite side of the column. A threaded rod mounted in a spandrel seated in the recess extends through the interior of the sleeve and past the bolting step. A nut threaded onto the end of the rod secure the spandrel in place on the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: High Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Baur, Thomas E. Keiser
  • Patent number: 5372714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a removable filter for buried catch basins. The filter includes a bag located below grade level in the catch basin and looped flaps which extend above grade level and aid in removal of the filter from the catch basin. The filter is held in place in the basin by a heavy grate which rests on the flaps. The flaps extend at grade level away from the grate. The filter is removed from the catch basin for dumping by inserting a lift rod in each flap loop and hooking lift chains to the rods at openings in the loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: George E. Logue, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5368386
    Abstract: A device for mixing bone cement is disclosed. Dry PMMA powder and MMA liquid are mixed in a vacuum chamber by a rotary mixer having a pair of spaced mixing arms. The rotary mixer is manually rotated by a gear drive. The arms of the rotary mixer follow continuous paths, each path having a plurality of loops at the wall of the chamber and curved portions extending across the chamber between loops. The arms move through the cement, break bubbles and thoroughly mix the PMMA and MMA. Gas from broken bubbles is vacuum drawn from the mixer to a vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: William M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5363728
    Abstract: A web cutter includes a knife roll located above an anvil roll, a web infeed conveyor for moving a continuous web to be severed to the nip between the rolls and a segment discharge conveyor for removing segments cut from the web. The roll includes a plurality of fixed cutting knives and the anvil roll includes a plurality of fixed anvils such that rotation of the rolls brings each knife into engagement with an anvil to sever the web. Lift plates on the anvil roll are located immediately upstream from each anvil to raise the severed lead end of the web above the anvil in order to assure proper feeding to the discharge conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Bertram F. Elsner, Robert E. Molison
  • Patent number: 5351562
    Abstract: A hydraulic-pneumatic cushioning device including a pressure indicator mounted on the device or remote from the device and connected to the pressure chamber within the cushioning device. The indicator includes a recess and a small pin extending into the recess. The position of the pin relative to the recess provides a tactile indication of the condition of the cushioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Keystone Railway Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Scott
  • Patent number: 5348391
    Abstract: A method for mixing bone cement by mixing PMMA powder and MMA liquid in a vacuum chamber using a rotary mixer having a pair of spaced mixing arms. The rotary mixer is manually rotated by a gear drive. The arms of the rotary mixer follow continuous paths, each path having a plurality of loops at the wall of the chamber and curved portions extending across the chamber between loops. The arms move through the cement, break bubbles and thoroughly mix the PMMA and MMA. Gas from broken bubbles is vacuum drawn from the mixer by a vacuum source. The vacuum source is deactivated when a vacuum tube is detached from the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: William M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5344091
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding stiffened coreless rolls which include a spiral wound roll formed from this product paper, conventionally paper having a printed pattern or design on one side, and a spiral stiffener sheet extending completely around the roll to stiffen the roll. The apparatus receives continuous webs of product paper and stiffening paper, severs the stiffening paper into short lengths for winding into the roll of product paper and automatically feeds the stiffening sheet onto a length of product paper which is wound into a roll. The two webs are fed to either side of a continuous rotating cutter roll. Anvil assemblies are moved into engagement with a knife carried on the cutter roll for selectively severing the webs as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Molison
  • Patent number: 5336700
    Abstract: A method of making a rigid body from an acrylic cement powder by first compacting the powder so that adjacent particles are cohesively bonded together and a network of passages extend between the particles and then flowing a solvent vapor through the interior passages to form solvent bonds between particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: William M. Murray
  • Patent number: 5333375
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously mounting lead strip segments onto each side of a rectangular ceramic substrate. Four lead strip mounting assemblies are equally spaced 90 degrees apart around a central vertically oriented substrate support so that each assembly is perpendicular an edge of a substrate on the support. Lead strip feed assemblies located adjacent each mounting assemblies cuts lead strip segments and feeds the lead strip segments into the mounting assemblies. The four mounting assemblies simultaneously mount the lead strip segments on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Die Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Dennis, Wade D. Myers, James A. Riddle