Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas Zack
  • Patent number: 6010104
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a portable detachable cup holder to the seat of a patron at a sporting event or other event such as a theater. In the first embodiment a loop end receives the cup to be held and has a rigid straight member with a depending U-shaped end clip. The end clip is shaped and sided to fit over the rear portion of the patron's seat and hold the rigid member and loop end thereto while the length of the rigid member is about the same as the width of the seat. In a second embodiment, the cup holding loop is mounted to an angled rigid member having its own second loop which second loop fits over an upright rim edge of the horizontal seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventors: David S. Hanson, Daniel N. Catlett, Robert J. Buffone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5961173
    Abstract: A combined storage container or box and cargo bed cover for use in and over the cargo bed of a pickup truck. Three embodiments are disclosed. In the first embodiment all of the foldable panel sections making up the bed cover are connected to each other and also to the container's top. Therein the cargo covers can be folded over each other and the container's top and be lifted up in this folded state to open the connected container top. For the second embodiment, the container's top has two foldable cargo bed cover panels not attached to the container's top thereby permitting their independent opening or closing. The third embodiment consists of a one piece openable cargo bed cover and a separate container top cover which cover is pivoted at one end. Like the second embodiment, both the cargo and container covers may be opened or closed independent of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas A. Repetti
  • Patent number: 5924685
    Abstract: A work piece stock holding member that can be adjusted by a single handle or adjustment nut usable with a conventional channeled toggle clamp fixed to a working surface. The holding member has an internally and externally threaded collar having a single piece joined clamp engaging unitary washer. The collar's internal threads are received by the external threads of an inserted supporting bolt. An upper end adjustment handle is fixed to the supporting bolt to rotate in unison with the bolt. The vertical adjustment of the holding member relative to the working piece is performed by rotating this bolt's upper handle. On one side of the clamp's channel is another separate holed washer which bears against one side of the clamp, moves on its hole pass the central bolt and bears against an adjustment nut mount on the collar's external upper threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Robert M. Webb
  • Patent number: 5915812
    Abstract: A universal blotter mount apparatus having a flexible blotter backing whose two side edges are received by inwardly and upwardly facing slanted retaining lips located on the surface of a mounting plate. The mounting plate is inserted into a recessed portion of another blotter top or many be formed integral therewith. The edges of the blotter paper and its flexible flush mounted backing are retained together only by their inherent flexible bent condition and the mount's lips. To remove or replace them, the backing and any inserted blotting paper is simply bent to a more severe angle and lifted from the retaining opposite side mounting lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Paul L. Terban
  • Patent number: 5806236
    Abstract: A compact foldable fishing lure packet having a flexible backing with two folds, three formed backing sections and two lure overlapping flaps in two of the sections. Separate engaging hook and loops or hook and pile strips extend across the width of the two flapped sections and are used to retain the eye or unhooked end of a lure inserted between them. Such lures may be easily inserted and removed from the strips for use. For each inserted lure the hooked end rests against a section back and is maintained in place laterally by the overlapping section flap which bears against it. The other backing section may have a transparent window and pocket to hold a fishing license or the like. Hook and loop pad fasteners are used on the back of the upper and the front of the lower section to hold the folded unit together when in transport. When folded the lure pac will fit snugly within a user's pocket, fishing vest or creel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Mancelle R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 5749860
    Abstract: A disposable self-capping needle which can be completely contained with its own sheath before and after injection takes place. The enclosing needle sheath has a protective rear seal and an openable front lid. By removing the seal a syringe can be connected to an internal needle plunger assembly to permit reciprocating needle motion within its sheath. Injection is accomplished by opening the sheath's front lid after which the needle may be completely withdrawn back into the sheath for safe disposal. Internal sheath guiding and holding grooves permit the needle's plunger assembly to reciprocate freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Terreena Kyte
  • Patent number: 5548992
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for facilitating the charging of containers and leak testing penetration areas. The adapter comprises an adapter body and stem which are secured to the container's penetration areas. The container is then pressurized with a tracer gas. Manipulating the adapter stem installs a penetration plug allowing the adapter to be removed and the penetration to be leak tested with a mass spectrometer. Additionally, a method is provided for using the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Brian H. Hallett, Michael S. Hartley
  • Patent number: 5424640
    Abstract: Eddy-current response voltages, generated during inspection of metallic structures for anomalies, are often replete with noise. Therefore, analysis of the inspection data and results is difficult or near impossible, resulting in inconsistent or unreliable evaluation of the structure. This invention processes the eddy-current response voltage, removing the effect of random noise, to allow proper identification of anomalies within and associated with the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Arthur J. Levy
  • Patent number: 5066403
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to composite membranes formed by casting thin (about 8 to about 20 microns) film of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer on a porous matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The ion exchange groups in these membranes are protons and can be substituted with metal ions such as Na.sup.+, Ca.sup.+, Ag.sup.+, etc. or by organic ligands. Alternatively, even thinner membranes (from about 1 micrometer or thinner up to 20 micrometers) can be formed by spraying a PPSA polymer solution on a porous matrix. The porous matrix may comprise polytetrafluoroethylene alone or in combination with a thermobonded polypropylene support.Both the acid and the substituted membranes have remarkable affinity for polar compounds or mixtures of polar and non-polar compounds such that azeotropic mixtures of organic compounds as well as close-boiling liquid mixtures can be easily separated at good permeation rates using the technique of pervaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Binay K. Dutta, Subhas K. Sikdar
  • Patent number: 5001001
    Abstract: A method of forming a ceramic monolith comprises exposing a pre-formed metal substrate to a NaCl filtered continuous wave laser beam of about 50 to 100 W power and about 80 to 315 W/cm.sup.2 power density in an atmosphere of a gas desired to react with the metal, allowing for the gas to diffuse into the metal substrate at a temperature effective to permit reaction thereof to form the ceramic monolith, and cooling the monolith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Joseph J. Ritter
  • Patent number: 4996533
    Abstract: A method and system for mapping ocean currents with a single radar. The radar is a pulsed monostatic radar operating in the HF/VHF range using a single transmitting antenna with a wide beam width. There is a linear array of antennas, each with its own receiver/digitizer system to sample the complex signal. The summing and phasing of the signals is done in software. The correlation functions are calculated using two successive complex Fourier transforms. The current vectors are measured as a function of range and angle from the radar site, thereby generating the current map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignees: Univ. of Colo. Foundation, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Commerce
    Inventors: Peter T. May, Richard G. Strauch, Bob L. Weber
  • Patent number: 4980566
    Abstract: A simple, compact optical spectrometer employs solid-state nonlinear crystals for obtaining broadband multichannel infrared spectra with picosecond or femtosecond time resolution. Spectrally broad infrared pulses are produced by difference frequency mixing in a first LiIO.sub.3 crystal between the second harmonic of a picosecond Nd.sup.+3 :YAG laser and broadband output of a synchronously pumped dye laser, and a resultant broadband IR pulse is upconverted by a second LiIO.sub.3 crystal to yield a blue visible pulse which is dispersed by a 0.25 meter spectrograph onto a multichannel vidicon or reticon detector to obtain four wavenumber resolution single-shot transient infrared spectra of a sample. The present invention enables rapid acquisition of ultrashort time infrared spectra over a broadly tunable spectral range (in the mid to near infrared) at minimal cost and by a simple but versatile optical system employing readily available components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Edwin J. Heilweil
  • Patent number: 4972720
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing bonding properties in compositions which utilizes thermal energy to cause controlled debonding of interface and/or interply bonds. Debonding events resulting from the controlled debonding are detected and utilized to characterize the interface and/or interply properties of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Wen-li Wu
  • Patent number: 4973194
    Abstract: A method of disposal of waste solid material in an underwater geologic fotion on the continental margins comprises the steps of: drilling a large diameter hole into the geologic formation to a depth of several hundred feet in a single stroke operation; depositing a slug of a paste of waste material into the bottom of the hole thereby burying the slug; and permitting the geologic formation adjacent to the hole above the buried slug to fill the hole above the slug, thereby sealing the buried slug in the geologic formation. A continuous slug of waste material can be used, or the waste material can be formed into discrete charges of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Melvin N. A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4969956
    Abstract: A transparent thin film thermocouple and a method of manufacturing comprig a positive element of indium tin oxide (ITO) and a negative element of indium oxide (In.sub.2 O.sub.3) formed on a surface by reactive sputtering with the elements being electrically joined to form a hot junction for conversion of heat into electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Kreider, Moshe Yust
  • Patent number: 4968908
    Abstract: A phase modulator for use in a two-oscillator phase noise measurement system is placed in the line from either the reference oscillator or the device under test. The phase modulator couples a small portion of the input signal to an amplitude modulator and phase shifter to shift the small signal by exactly 90 degrees. The small signal portion is then coupled back into the input signal such that small variations in the coupled signal result in phase modulation and not amplitude modulation which would undermine the calibration of the instrument. The phase modulator described can also be used with known devices of many types to correct the added phase noise of components, e.g., power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Fred L. Walls
  • Patent number: 4965529
    Abstract: A high-current, very-wide-band transconductance amplifier includes a differential voltage to current converter and a plurality of complementary unipolar current mirror cells. The differential voltage to current converter isolates the input voltage terminal from the common side of the output load current terminal. A plurality of positive current mirror cells are connected in parallel and a plurality of negative current mirror cells are connected in parallel to avoid the need for a single low resistance current sensing resistor and the fabrication problems inherent in such resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Owen B. Laug
  • Patent number: 4963826
    Abstract: A reference standard and a method for manufacturing a reference standard for use in calibrating an eddy current probe is disclosed. The reference standard is produced from a block of metal that is deformed by an indentation tool to provide a notch of prescribed dimensions. The reference standard is compressed along an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the notch to substantially close the notch. A family of reference standards formed in this manner can be produced to calibrate an eddy current probe prior to use of the probe in evaluating metal components such as aircraft framework for the presence of fatigue cracks and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Thomas E. Capobianco, William P. Dube, Kenneth W. Fizer
  • Patent number: 4963523
    Abstract: A low resistivity contact to a high-Tc superconductor is made by forming a contact pad on the surface of an abraded or freshly prepared superconductor by depositing an inert metal on the surface so that a surface resistivity between the surface of the high-Tc superconductor and the pad is established of less than about 1000.mu..OMEGA.-cm.sup.2 at high-Tc superconductor operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Commerce, Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Ekin, Armand J. Panson, Betty A. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 4962275
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of a desired product from a supritical fluid extraction solution employ a restrictor nozzle, a coarse-pore sintered-glass enclosure member and a collecting means for collecting an oil suspension of the desired product. The supercritical fluid extraction solution is decompressed by passing through the restrictor nozzle. The resulting decompressed fluid stream is directed at the enclosure member which is saturated with an oil in which the desired product is soluble. Solutes including the desired product are dissolved in the oil, and the oil is collected. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for use in separating .beta.-carotene from a carbon dioxide solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno