Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomas W. Epting
  • Patent number: 6814022
    Abstract: A signal device for attachment to a vehicle having a housing with a plurality of signal members carried therein. The signal members are pivotally connected within an interior compartment of the housing and may be individually pivoted out of the compartment through an opening provided in the housing. An attachment device is connected to the housing and provides that the housing may be attached to a vehicle window in such a manner that the housing projects generally perpendicularly outwardly with the respect to the vehicle window, with one or more preselected signal members being exposed and hanging downwardly from the housing for alerting passersby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Wayne West
  • Patent number: 6808794
    Abstract: A generally T-shaped paint shield formed of a flexible plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE). The paint shield includes straight edges of varying and variable lengths to allow it to be used for shielding a variety of surfaces. The paint shield includes left hand and right hand inside corner shields, and left hand and right hand outside corner shields. Preferably, the paint shield includes radiused corners for the left and right hand outside corner shields for accommodating the slight radius typically found on sheet rock, plaster, etc., wall constructions. Because of the inherent flexibility in the paint shield, it can be bent to conform to various wall configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Kerry Mattox
  • Patent number: 6781083
    Abstract: A process for applying weld overlay material to a tube with a single pass of a weld head. A gas tungsten arc welding process with high frequency wave pulse current is preferably used to apply the overlay material. The overlay material is preferably in the form of weld wire and is pre-heated and mechanically fed into the resultant weld pool on the tube. The wire is preferably resistance-heated to a temperature lower than its melting point prior to contact of the wire with the molten weld pool, and the weld pool is preferably oscillated during the overlay process. Use of the gas tungsten arc welding process provides sufficient weld fusion to allow the overlaid tube to be subsequently bent and formed, and use of the high frequency wave pulse current provides for reduced dilution of the overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: Howard Derrick Keller, Joseph Riley Prince
  • Patent number: 6755479
    Abstract: A trailer for attachment to a hitch of a tow vehicle, the trailer comprising a bed, or some other type of load carrying portion, connected for pivotal movement with respect to the draw bar of the trailer. The bed is movable between a generally horizontal, hauling position and a tilted, dumping position. The bed includes a forward portion adjacent the draw bar and a rearward portion opposite the forward portion. An axle is connected to the bed to which wheels are attached. Blocking members contact the axle as the tow vehicle moves rearwardly, the blocking members being movable between a blocking position, for contacting the ground to substantially block rearward movement of the bed as the trailer is moved rearwardly, and a retracted position, wherein the blocking members are substantially out of contact with the ground. Upon the blocking member being moved to the blocking position and the bed being in the hauling position, and upon the trailer being moved rearwardly, the bed pivots to the dumping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: T. Wayne Meeks
  • Patent number: 6370778
    Abstract: A folding knife having a handle and a blade attached to the handle, the blade being connected for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the handle, and the blade a first locking profile, such as a notch. A locking member is provided having a second locking member, such as a projection, the projection being configured to be engageable with the notch when the blade is in the extended position. A pivotal connector is connected to the handle and to the locking member for allowing the locking member to pivot with respect to the handle. The locking member is movable between a locking position, wherein the second locking profile is in locking engagement with the first locking profile for locking the blade in the extended position, and an unlocking position, wherein the blade is movable with respect to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Matthew W. Conable
  • Patent number: D499690
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Alfred C. Roth