Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Todd Deveau
  • Patent number: 6409199
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for long vehicles to make sharp turns on city streets without running up on the curb. The back wheels of the vehicle are steered so that when the semi or truck is making a sharp turn, the rear wheels continue straight down the street to the intersection and then turn, even though the semi and the front of the trailer have already turned in a normal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph James Boyd
  • Patent number: 6397567
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for introducing elongate, in particular cylindrical, articles, namely packs (10), into a carton (15). The packs (10) arrive individually, and at a spacing from one another, on a feed conveyor (18) and are pushed off from the latter transversely, by a pack pusher (26), into a collecting station (19). Layers (17) comprising a plurality of packs (10) located one beside the other are formed in said collecting station. The layers (17) are then raised one after the other and introduced into a grouping subassembly in order to form groups (16) comprising a plurality of layers. In each case one group, in turn, is pushed into a carton (15) which is open on at least one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & CO)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Wolfgang Heinzig
  • Patent number: 6382924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller vane pump suitable for pumping transmission fluid in an automatic transmission for motor vehicles. The pump is provided with a pump housing (2), a rotatable carrier (3) being located in the interior of the pump housing (2), a cam ring (5) surrounding the carrier (3) in radial direction, and roller elements (7) being provided in slots (6) in the carrier periphery. The spaces between the pump housing (2), the carrier (3), the cam ring (5) and the roller elements (7) define a number of pump chambers (8). Furthermore, the pump is provided with feed apertures (9) for allowing a flow of fluid to a pump chamber (8) and with discharge apertures (10) for allowing a flow of fluid from a pump chamber (8). According to the invention constructional measurements are taken to avoid the occurrence of cavitation and to obtain higher pump efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Van Doorne's Transmissie B.V.
    Inventors: Francis Maria Antonius Van Der Sluis, Johannes Gerardus Ludovicus Maria Van Spijk
  • Patent number: 6382266
    Abstract: Piping system for chemical liquids, in particular oil products, such as fuels, at least including a double-walled plastic conveyor pipe (3) with an inlet and an outlet, the double-walled pipe (3) having, in the double wall, one or more intermediate spaces extending along the length of the pipe (3), in which the piping system furthermore includes a gas-conveying system which has a gas-suction device which is connected to the intermediate spaces in such a manner that, in operation, gas can be sucked through the intermediate spaces. A piping system of this nature is suitable in particular for underground use at a petrol station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Bus
  • Patent number: 6381482
    Abstract: A fabric, in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or garment, including a flexible information infrastructure integrated within the fabric for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information concerning—but not limited to—a wearer of the fabric. The fabric allows a new way to customize information processing devices to “fit” the wearer by selecting and plugging in (or removing) chips/sensors from the fabric thus creating a wearable, mobile information infrastructure that can operate in a stand-alone or networked mode. The fabric can be provided with sensors for monitoring physical aspects of the wearer, for example body vital signs, such as heart rate, EKG, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, voice, and allergic reaction, as well as penetration of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Sundaresan Jayaraman, Sungmee Park, Rangaswamy Rajamanickam, Chandramohan Gopalsamy
  • Patent number: 6379920
    Abstract: A method to analyze and diagnose specific bacteria in a biologic sample using spectroscopy is disclosed. The method includes obtaining the spectra of a biologic sample of a non-infected patient for use as a reference, subtracting the reference from the spectra of an infected sample, and comparing the fingerprint regions of the resulting differential spectrum with reference spectra of bacteria in saline. Using this diagnostic technique, specific bacteria can be identified sooner and without culturing, bacteria-specific antibiotics can be prescribed sooner, resulting in decreased likelihood of antibiotic resistance and an overall reduction of medical costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corp., Boston Medical Center Corp.
    Inventors: Mostafa A. El-Sayed, Ivan H. El-Sayed
  • Patent number: 6380322
    Abstract: A reworkable high temperature adhesive, comprising the reaction product of (a) a thermoplastic adhesive selected from the group consisting of polyetherimides, polyamide-imides, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, silicon-carbon thermosets, polyphenylene sulfides and mixtures thereof; (b) a metal acetonate; (c) an epoxy resin; (d) a crosslinker; (e) and a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Ping Wong, Jiali Wu
  • Patent number: 6378986
    Abstract: A print head for an ink jet printer includes a number of ink nozzles for producing ink jets, charging device for charging the ink jets, and also further components assembling the print head. The ink nozzles and the charging device are accommodated in an ink jet module which can easily be removed from the further components. Furthermore, the ink jet module is composed of an ink jet unit and a charging unit, which preferably can also be easily disassembled. As a result of this modular construction of the print head, it is ensured that in the event of faults it is possible to replace only part of the print head, instead of the entire print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Stork Digital Imaging B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus W. J. G. Van De Kruys
  • Patent number: 6374633
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved dry ice pellet manufacturing system including an automated helical injection system, a chamber having a greater filter screen ratio than prior art designs and a compressing mechanism. The automated helical injection system enables injected CO2 to follow an approximately helical path inside the extrusion chamber, such that CO2 snow begins to form, and is packed, at the die end of the chamber. The automated injection subsystem provides maximum ice production, the present system utilizes both staggered injection rates and a valve arrangement that improve (increases) upon the amount of CO2 injected into the extrusion chamber over time. The present invention further utilizes a chamber having a greater filter screen ratio than currently is used in the art. The extrusion chamber of the improved pelletizer of the present invention has approximately a 35% or greater filter screen ratio; filter screen ratio being defined as the ratio of filter screen area to chamber bore area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tomco2 Equipment Co.
    Inventors: Brian Greer, James L. Tharp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6375825
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of alkaline earth metal hydroxide by continuously providing an aqueous alkaline earth metal halide solution to the anode compartment and an aqueous alkaline earth metal hydroxide solution or water to the cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell in which an anode and a cathode are maintained in separate anode and cathode compartments, respectively, by a stable, hydrated, cation selective, hydraulically impermeable, electrically conductive membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode; electrolyzing the alkaline earth metal halide solution; and continuously removing alkaline earth metal hydroxide solution and hydrogen from the cathode compartment and halogen from the anode compartment. The membrane is a film of a fluorinated polymer with pendant side chains containing sulfonyl groups present as ion exchange sites and attached to carbon atoms which have at least one fluorine atom attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Chemical Products Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd Ballard Mauldin, Charles Adams, Jr., Donald R. Randolph, Duane J. Mazur, J. David Genders, Dennis M. Chai
  • Patent number: 6369937
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting an input optical serial data pulse stream into output optical parallel pulse streams comprises a waveguide that provides optical parallel pulse streams resulting from second-harmonic radiation generated by colliding a timing pulse against each data pulse of an optical serial data pulse stream input into the waveguide. The waveguide comprises a first reflector positioned at a location substantially opposing the waveguide's output. The first reflector reflects substantially all of the component of the second-harmonic radiation propagating in a direction away from the waveguide's output. The waveguide further comprises a second reflector opposing the first reflector and positioned between the first reflector and the waveguide's output to selectively reflect a portion of the component of the second-harmonic radiation propagating in a direction toward the waveguide's output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Carl M. Verber, Todd G. Ulmer
  • Patent number: 6354058
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes several disadvantages in conventional tile installation by providing tile regulators and a method of using them that provide both the proper grout spacing between tiles and vertical and horizontal plumb levels of the tiles, which regulators enhance the ease of installing the tiles and the final appearance of the newly laid tile. The present tile regulators are designed to compensate for the existing limiting conditions associated with conventional regulating products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher H. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6355895
    Abstract: A technique for building touch-sensitive panels which permits construction of large, low-cost electronic whiteboards with improved feel. The electronic whiteboards are of the resistive membrane type, in which a touch on a flexible membrane causes the membrane to come into contact with a surface and that in turn changes the resistances across the membrane and the surface, permitting determination of the location of the touch. A gap between the flexible membrane and the surface is maintained primarily by the use of relatively large spacing structures located between the membrane and the surface, instead of by tension on the membrane. The use of large spacing structures permits the surface to be made using relatively irregular and therefore low-cost material. The spacing structures are backed by an elastic layer, which permits the spacing structures to yield to a touch on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Greensteel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan J. Crowley, Stephen P. Atwood, Steven J. Buelte, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 6353193
    Abstract: An eraser for use on an electronic whiteboard with a protrusion area on the erasing surface forming a convex area on the erasing surface for establishing a positive point of contact with the whiteboard; an electronic whiteboard system including such an eraser, a controller for storing data relating to information written on and erased from the whiteboard data, and a filter for preventing the storage of digital data relating to contacts with the whiteboard not attributable to normal writing or erasing actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Greensteel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Atwood, Bernard Geaghan
  • Patent number: 6349565
    Abstract: An improved dry ice pelletizer and method for significantly increased pellet production. The improvement consists of multiple injection ports used for the timed introduction of liquid carbon dioxide into a dry ice extrusion cylinder so that the cylinder can be more completely filled with carbon dioxide snow before extrusion takes place. Part of the improvement stems from the use of a solid mass of carbon dioxide, called a puck, which is chamfered and serves to capture carbon dioxide vapor and snow within the compression cylinder. The resulting improvement in carbon dioxide pellet output is roughly 400% over that achieved by conventional methods. The inventive improvement may also be installed as a retrofit to conventional dry ice pellet extrusion machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Tomco
    Inventor: Brian Greer
  • Patent number: 6343734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pre-cut wrapping paper having peel-and-stick adhesive strips, which wrapping paper can be sized and cut to foldably wrap a variety of packages while limiting waste wrap. The paper can be used to cover and prepare boxed and unboxed items for presentation. The peel-and-stick adhesive strips secure the sheet to the gift, thus removing the need for a roll of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Linda A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6340167
    Abstract: This invention is a trailer-tractor rig coupling that prevents jackknifing. It performs like a standard coupling in all normal cases, but if on icy roads, the semi slips and turns opposite to the steering wheel, the coupling brake locks the semi to the tractor. Then when the semi responds to the front wheels again, the brake releases and operates in a normal way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph J. Boyd
  • Patent number: 6315009
    Abstract: The invention comprises a full-fashioned weaving process for the production of a woven garment which can accommodate and include sleeves. The garment is made of only one, single integrated fabric and has no discontinuities or seams. Additionally, the garment can include intelligence capability, such as the ability to monitor one or more body vital signs, or garment penetration, or both, by including a selected sensing component or components in the weave of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Sundaresan Jayaraman, Sungmee Park
  • Patent number: 6294223
    Abstract: A method for ion implantation induced embedded particle formation via reduction with the steps of ion implantation with an ion/element that will chemically reduce the chosen substrate material, implantation of the ion/element to a sufficient concentration and at a sufficient energy for particle formation, and control of the temperature of the substrate during implantation. A preferred embodiment includes the formation of particles which are nano-dimensional (<100 m-n in size). The phase of the particles may be affected by control of the substrate temperature during and/or after the ion implantation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Janet M Hampikian, Eden M Hunt
  • Patent number: 6282756
    Abstract: A pipe clip comprising an annular clip body which is made from metal and has adjacent clip-body ends which, between them, form an opening for positioning a pipe around which the pipe clip is to be placed and which can be joined together, which pipe clip furthermore comprises a female fastening element which is fixed to the metal clip body and has an axial bore provided with an internal screw thread for a male fastening element which is provided with an external screw thread and connects the pipe clip to a wall, ceiling or other support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: J. Van Walraven B.V.
    Inventor: Jan van Walraven