Patents Represented by Attorney Thomte Patent Law Office
  • Patent number: 7510214
    Abstract: An ambulatory assistance device is provided, having a base that supports an individual in a generally upright position. A forward support frame is provided for engagement between the individual's upper extremities and the operating surface. Forward ambulation may be achieved by shifting the individual's mass toward one side of the device and then pulling on the support frame to pivot the opposite side of the device in a generally forward direction. Repeating the process in a mirror fashion moves the other side of the individual and the device in a generally forward direction. Optional platforms and foot restraints are provided for positioning and securing the individual on the base. Various base configurations are provided to adjust the performance of the device according to conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Stuart G. Oxford
  • Patent number: 7506611
    Abstract: A collapsible feeder for birds, squirrels and the like and comprises a feeder body including a base and a rim. A series of hollow body segments of graduated diameters extend upwardly from the base within the rim to form a feeder body. The segment of smallest diameter is joined to the base and has a plurality of feed outlet openings formed therein to enable feed from within the feeder body to pass outwardly therefrom onto the base inwardly of the rim. A feeder lid is provided at the upper end of the segment of greatest diameter when the feeder body is in the extended position. The body segments include structure for yieldably maintaining the feeder in its straight extended position for filling and hanging. At least some of the body segments are comprised of a perforated metal material to enable the visual observation of the feed level within the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: Raymon W. Lush
  • Patent number: 7503282
    Abstract: A rigid, multi-tier bird feeder which is comprised of a plurality of stacked non-collapsible bird feeder bodies to as to provide a multi-tiered bird feeder having a large capacity. The multi-tiered bird feeder includes perches thereon as well as even feed baffle plates positioned therein which maintain a certain amount of feed thereabove even though the main level of feed has dropped therebelow. The multiple feeder bodies may be selectively removably secured together to enable a wide variety of possible feeder configurations. Each of the feeder bodies may have a truncated-cone shape joined to another truncated cone-shaped feeder body so as to define lantern shape or an hourglass shape. Each of the feeder bodies may also define a lantern shape or an hourglass shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Inventor: Raymon W. Lush
  • Patent number: 7497291
    Abstract: An illuminated foot or highway peg for a motorcycle is disclosed which is pivotally mounted to the underside of each of the floorboards of a motorcycle and which is selectively pivotally movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A ball detent mechanism yieldably maintains the foot peg in its retracted and extended positions and also enables the foot peg to break away to move towards its retracted position should it strike a foreign object while in its extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Nicholas S. McKim
  • Patent number: 7487565
    Abstract: A hunting multi-tool is provided with a base frame having a handle and a drag bar. A first blade is coupled with the base frame and may be moved between skinning and gutting positions. A drag line depends from the drag bar and may be secured to a cleat coupled with the base frame. Second and third blades may be pivotably extended from the handle portion and covered with a handle cover when not in use. Other useful hunting accessories may be combined in a logical fashion with the base frame and aforementioned accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventors: Robert S. Sundling, Merlin Betts
  • Patent number: 7484789
    Abstract: A retractable tarp cover for a truck body is adapted to be moved from a retracted position at the front of the truck body to an extended position at the rear of the truck body through the use of one more hydraulic motors which move the assembly along a pair of tracks which are secured to the upper ends of the side walls of the truck body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventor: Vinc L. Aulick
  • Patent number: 7478883
    Abstract: A side dump body including a plurality of side dump bodies pivotally mounted on a truck or trailer frame. Each of the side dump bodies may be individually pivotally moved from a transport position to a dumping position through the use of a single hydraulic cylinder whereby the contents of the dump body units may be dumped from the side of the truck or trailer. The design of the dump body is such that it has increased carrying capacity and is lightweight and less expensive to manufacture. Further, the end walls, side walls and bottom of each of the side dump bodies are secured together by an adhesive or glue rather than welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Inventor: Ralph R. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7467996
    Abstract: A meat processing conveyor system wherein a first trim conveyor belt is positioned between first and second product conveyor belts. First and second personnel conveyor belts are positioned laterally of the first and second product conveyor belts respectively. First and second personnel walkways are positioned laterally of the first and second personnel conveyor belts respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Todd G. Jager
  • Patent number: 7464894
    Abstract: A sod unrolling machine including a frame which is adapted to be secured to the rear end of a vehicle having a vertically movable hitch. The frame includes first and second horizontally spaced-apart and rearwardly extending frame members with each of the first and second frame members having a rearward end. A sod roll support is rotatably secured to the rearward ends of the first and second frame members and extends therebetween for supporting a sod roll thereon. A sod roll brake is hydraulically movably secured to the frame and is movable between first and second positions. When the sod brake is in its first position, the brake is not in engagement with the sod roll. When the sod roll brake is in its second position, the sod roll brake engages the sod roll, to prevent the sod from unrolling from the sod roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Wayne F. Himmelberg
  • Patent number: 7464512
    Abstract: A structural member such as a wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of elongated hollow pole sections secured together in an end-to-end relationship with each of the hollow pole sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together. Each of the peripheral sections is bent along at least one longitudinally extending break line to define a plurality of angled wall sections extending between longitudinally inwardly extending edge portions. The edge portions of the peripheral sections are bolted together to form a hollow pole section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Mark J. Perina
  • Patent number: 7466286
    Abstract: A folding frame for mounting an antenna on an upstanding support structure including first and second support arms pivotally secured to an upper mounting bracket and third and fourth support arms which are pivotally secured to a lower mounting bracket with the upper and lower mounting brackets being secured to the support structure. Support members are pivotally secured to the outer ends of the support arms and are pivotally connected together so that the frame may be pivotally moved from a folded position to a non-folding position. When the frame is in its folded position, it is easily shipped on a pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Brandon M. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7461798
    Abstract: A collector ring for use with a center pivot irrigation system which permits the mounting of a communication device above the span structure. The collector ring also includes a monitoring device which senses the angle or rotation of the span structure with respect to the fixed center pivot structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventors: Craig S. Malsam, Donald M. Salazar, Mark G. Schechinger, Joseph F. Novotny
  • Patent number: 7458898
    Abstract: A play area cover is provided with a flexible sheet member that is urged into a generally convex shape over the play area to shed water and debris away from the cover and the play area. Various structural embodiments are provided for defining the convex shape of the cover. Anchoring mechanisms are provided for releasably securing the cover with a base frame of the play area. Safety mechanisms are incorporated within the supporting and anchoring systems to substantially prevent injury to children and animals around the play area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Mike Goding
  • Patent number: 7442179
    Abstract: A pre-fill vaginal applicator comprising a tubular barrel having an open end and a dispensing end provided with at least one dispensing opening formed therein. A selectively removable closure, such as a snap cap or threaded cap, closes the dispensing end of the barrel. A resilient piston is selectively slidably positioned in the barrel and has an outer surface which is in sealing contact with the inner surface of the barrel to define a medication reservoir between the piston and dispensing end of the barrel. An elongated plunger is adapted to be inserted into the open end of the barrel so that the inner end thereof may be detachably connected to the piston. After the plunger has been connected to the piston, inward movement of the plunger causes the piston to force medication from the medication reservoir outwardly through the dispensing opening. Outward movement of the plunger with respect to the piston causes the plunger to disconnect from the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: Troy M. Just
  • Patent number: 7438243
    Abstract: A tie-down anchor for a self-propelled irrigation machine comprising an anchor embedded in the ground adjacent one or more of the drive units on the irrigation machine with the anchors being connected to the main frame of the drive unit by means of a chain and chain tightener connector. If the machine is subjected to high winds, the tie-down anchors securely hold or tie down the drive units to the ground, thereby preventing the overturning of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Lauren N. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7438200
    Abstract: A temperature-retaining food container includes an outer shell having an inner chamber that can be filled with a temperature storing medium. The shell is shaped to provide an expansion zone within the chamber to permit expansion of the medium. A support is formed to provide additional volume to the chamber and the expansion zone. The support structure can optionally be provided to automatically expand in response to an increase in pressure within the chamber. A lid is provided which covers the container and further operates as a serving platter. The shell of the container can optionally be formed from a plurality of separate portions, which interlock to form the complete serving container and disassemble for storage or use with smaller or crowded appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: James M. Keitges
  • Patent number: 7427001
    Abstract: A temperature-retaining food container includes an outer shell having an inner chamber that can be filled with a temperature storing medium. The shell is shaped to provide an expansion zone within the chamber to permit expansion of the medium. A support is formed to provide additional volume to the chamber and the expansion zone. The support structure can optionally be provided to automatically expand in response to an increase in pressure within the chamber. A lid is provided which covers the container and further operates as a serving platter. The shell of the container can optionally be formed from a plurality of separate portions, which interlock to form the complete serving container and disassemble for storage or use with smaller or crowded appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: James M. Keitges
  • Patent number: 7419107
    Abstract: A swivel inlet hose-drag irrigation machine is disclosed which utilizes an inlet elbow mounted in a swivel bearing on the cart to attach a water supply hose to the machine. The inlet elbow is mounted to the side of the four-wheel linear cart rather than behind the cart between the tires. The inlet elbow is free to rotate in a 180° arc so that the hose can be attached from either end of the cart at the side thereof. The machine also includes a pair of vertically disposed and rotatable rollers which are mounted at the opposite ends of the cart to push the drag hose out of the way of the tires of the cart so that the tires of the cart do not roll over the drag hose thereby eliminating any manual handling of the drag hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Dennis R. Theilen
  • Patent number: 7416190
    Abstract: An air suspension system for a load bearing vehicle which includes a pair of air springs fluidly connected to a pair of auxiliary air reservoirs and to a main air reservoir. The system includes control valves which permit the air in the air springs to be exhausted therefrom to lower the vehicle frame without exhausting the air from the auxiliary air reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: Arlin Gene Sandbulte, Craig Alan Jungjohan, David Shane Vander Kooi
  • Patent number: D577296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Douglas Manning