Patents Represented by Law Firm Vaden, Eickenroht, Thompson & Boulware
  • Geophone spring
    Patent number: 5134594
    Abstract: An improved spring spider for geophones is disclosed that has the desired ratio of spurious resonant frequency to the natural frequency of the geophone and can absorb the sharp lateral forces imposed on the geophone during destructive testing and hand usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Shaw Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Woo
  • Anatomically designed, disposable specimen cup
    Patent number: 5129892
    Abstract: A reclosable urine collection and specimen container having an oval shape and a configuration for increased patient comfort and convenience including a rim around an opening forming the top thereof having concave surfaces formed therein for conforming to the contour of the external genitalia of a female patient from whom a urine specimen is to be collected. Also provided is a lid having an oval shape for closing the specimen container having a thickened portion with a cavity formed therein for interacting with an outward flare formed in the rim of the container to securely retain the lid thereto. The lid is formed in a curved configuration and the pitch of the flare in the rim of the cup is less at one end of the oval than at the other end of the cup, while the angle of the cavity in the lid which receives the flare therein when applied to the cup is the same at both ends of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Inventor: Dennis S. McCarthy
  • Method for computing tomographic scans
    Patent number: 5128864
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for mounting on an existing x-ray simulator and calculating a back projected computed tomographic image. The detector array is linear and outputs signals from the photodiodes mounted therein to a preprocessor for smoothing, correcting and filtering and subsequent processing to transform the signal from that produced by an x-ray originating from a fan beam source, e.g., in a polar coordinate system, into the signal which would have been produced by a detector in an array on which a parallel beam is incident on a Cartesian coordinate system. The transformed data is converted to a gray scale value for a picture element having a specific position in the Cartesian coordinate system and output to an appropriate display. Data is taken at each incremental angle as the beam source and detector array rotate around a target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: W. L. Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Waggener, Jory D. Lange
  • Ram type blowout preventer having improved ram front packing
    Patent number: 5125620
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ram type blowout preventer whose rams have ram front packings which include seal strips of elastomeric material and top and bottom metal plates received in recesses across the front ends of the ram bodies, with the faces of the inner ends of the metal plates being slanted with respect to the vertical for sliding engagement with an oppositely slanting face of the inner end of the metal plate of an opposing ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Young
  • Artificial spinal prosthesis
    Patent number: 5123926
    Abstract: An artificial disk prosthesis and methods for implanting it, the prosthesis. In one embodiment having a member for adapting in size and shape to an anatomical space between vertebrae and apparatus for expanding the member to conform to the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Madhavan Pisharodi
  • Geophone
    Patent number: 5119345
    Abstract: A geophone is disclosed that has a cylindrical housing closed at one end by a bottom and at the other end by a top. A magnet assembly and a coil-mass are located in the housing. Springs support the coil-mass for axial movement relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal axis of the housing. A pair of coil terminals are mounted in the upper end of the coil-mass adjacent the top of the housing. A pair of eyelets extend through the top of the housing and outside geophone terminals are attached to and extend through the eyelets into the housing. A pair of pigtails connect the geophone terminals to the coil terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Woo, James C. Woodall, Jr.
  • Singulating and orienting slide conveyor
    Patent number: 5111926
    Abstract: A slide conveyor for an optical sorting machine is disclosed wherein the conveyor is gently twisted over its length by about 85 degrees. The conveyor is channel-like in that it has two sides converging at its U-shaped bottom at an acute angle. The angle has a radius much smaller than the radius of the convex flat side, but slightly larger than the radius of the smallest edge angle radius of the slightly convex, disc-like products being conveyed. At the upper end, the centerline of the bottom angle is vertical and at its lower end, positioned just above the viewing station of the optical sorter, the centerline is about 5 degrees above horizontal. The conveyor slopes at a grade of about 75 degrees. The conveyor both singulates and orients the products conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: ESM International Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Long
  • Cleaner and disinfectant with dye
    Patent number: 5110492
    Abstract: A cleaning composition for surfaces which contains a disappearing dye which can include a germicide. The composition is packaged airtight. The dye is pH sensitive so that upon exposure to air the dye disappears. The delivery of the cleaner gives a visual check as to the surface contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Inventor: Irene Casey
  • Composite for use in making protective articles for use in laser surgery
    Patent number: 5103816
    Abstract: A composite of an adhesive layer, foil, a fire retardant fabric, and a hydrogel which is used to protect objects during laser surgery and which possesses favorable burning, flashing, and resistance to burn through properties. The hydrogel is preferably a hydrophilic material such as a polyurethane, collagen, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinyl acetal. The fire retardant fabric is preferably a fabric woven or knitted from polyamide or polyimide fibers having a thickness sufficient to provide the desired degree of protection. The composite is applied to the object to be protected, which can be a person or an endotracheal tube or surgical instrument, using the adhesive to adhere the composite thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Biomedical Device Consultants, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren Kirschbaum, Steven L. Weinberg
  • Catheter for performing an atherectomy procedure
    Patent number: 5100426
    Abstract: A catheter for performing an atherectomy procedure to remove plaque from an artery is disclosed. The catheter includes a plaque cutting head having an outer shell of thin flexible material generally cylindrical in cross-section and shaped to engage plaque in an artery. The outer shell has a plurality of openings through which the plaque will enter the shell as the shell is forced against the plaque. A cutter rotates inside the shell to cut the plaque that enters into the shell into small pieces as the catheter is pushed through an artery. A motor drive elongated drive shaft rotates the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: FTS Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeddy D. Nixon
  • Rubber and fluorocarbon micropowder composition
    Patent number: 5100950
    Abstract: A rubber composition with small fluorocarbon micro-powder particles incorporated into the composition which reduces the coefficient of friction. The rubber with a lowered coefficient of friction allows for ease of movement of the rubber part against metal surfaces thereby reducing the wear of the rubber part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventors: Douglas W. Carlson, William D. Breach
  • Clamp for hanging jack
    Patent number: 5098066
    Abstract: A hanging jack clamp for hanging a jack upside down in a vertical orientation comprised of a bottom component, a top component, and threaded-rod-and-coacting-cylinder combination connected therebetween. The bottom component includes a base with an outer upright and an inner upright which encompass a portion of the grade beam or similar part of the foundation. Additional securement by threaded clamps can be used to more securely position the clamp if desired. A pad for distributing load forces is spread on the upper surface of the base of the bottom component where it contacts the grade beam. The top component has a member with horizontal holes through which rods are inserted. These holes are aligned with predrilled holes in the mortar between the first row of bricks and the foundation so that the rods are inserted through the holes in the horizontal member and into the holes in the mortar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Perma Pile Foundation Restoration Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick E. Willcox, III
  • Apparatus for removing fluids from a well
    Patent number: 5097901
    Abstract: An improved mobile pumping apparaus for producing fluids from, for instance, shallow and/or slow-flowing marginal oil wells. The invention comprises a boom assembly which is adapted for mounting on a tractor, truck, or other vehicle having a standpipe mounted on the front thereof which is lowered into engagement with a wellhead and a winch having a cable attached at one end thereto, the other end of the cable extending down into the standpipe and having a swab bar attached thereto. The swab bar is provided with a heavy lead weight, so that the swab bar will sink down into the fluid as the cable is wound off of the winch, and a plurality of cups for lifting the fluid up out of the well when the direction of the winch is reversed. The oil is lifted up out of the well into the standpipe and on into a hose for collection in a storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Joseph H. Klaeger
  • Apparatus for operating a downhole tool using coil tubing
    Patent number: 5095979
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for operating a downhole tool, such as setting and unsetting a hook wall packer run into the production tubing of an oil or gas well on coiled tubing. The apparatus employs a pin moving in a groove to allow a packer to be run into the production tubing, set, and released by the longitudinal movement of the coiled tubing only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Petro-Tech Tools Incorporated
    Inventor: James M. Perricone
  • Casing centralizer
    Patent number: 5095981
    Abstract: There is disclosed a casing centralizer which comprises a tubular body or sleeve adapted to fit about a joint of casing, and blades extending longitudinally along the outer diameter of the sleeve in generally equally spaced apart relation, with the body and blades being cast as one metal piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Raymond F. Mikolajczyk
  • Hydraulically operated permanent type well packer assembly
    Patent number: 5095978
    Abstract: There is disclosed a well packer assembly which comprises a packer which includes a body having a bore therethrough and a packing element and slips carried about the body in contracted position. The packer is lowered into a well bore by means of a locator seal unit which includes a tubular member connectable as part of a well tubing and extending sealably within the bore of the tubular member. The tubular member is automatically released from its connection to the packer in response to expansion of the packing element and slips into engagement with the well bore and testing of the set packer by means of test fluid in the annulus above it. The packing element and slips are expanded by inhibitor fluid from a source at surface level, and the inhibitor fluid is released into the annulus below the packer after it is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: AVA International
    Inventors: Neil H. Akkerman, Aubrey C. Mills
  • Double gated valve
    Patent number: 5094270
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gate valve having a pair of side-by-side through conduit gates which are adapted to be reciprocated relatively to one another by a fail safe actuator of such construction as to move the upstream gate to closed position before the downstream gate and the downstream gate to open position before the upstream gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Dril-Quip Inc.
    Inventor: Larry E. Reimert
  • Tubing end locator
    Patent number: 5092402
    Abstract: A tubing end locator is disclosed having a mandrel and a collet carried by the mandrel. The collet has an annular base and a plurality of fingers having one end attached to the base and a free end extending from the base along the mandrel in parallel, spaced relationship. A beveled lug is carried by the free end of each finger. A flange on the mandrel has a diameter such that the lugs on the fingers will extend beyond the inside diameter of the tubing when the free ends of the fingers are in engagement with the flange. Means hold the fingers in engagement with the flange and resist the re-entry of the fingers into the tubing after the tubing end locator has passed out of the tubing until a substantial upward force has been exerted on the mandrel thereby giving a surface indication that the tool had engaged the lower end of the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Petro-Tech Tools Incorporated
    Inventors: James M. Perricone, John T. Lembcke
  • Apparatus for testing leak detectors
    Patent number: 5092158
    Abstract: Apparatus for testing a diaphragm or piston-type pressure-actuated detector of leaks in a hose, pipe, or other conduit. Fluid at a selected pressure is introduced into a manifold through the leak detector being tested, and the manifold is provided with a plurality of flow restrictors which allow flow at a selected rate at a selected pressure. In this manner, a leak detector which allows flow at a rate higher than a selected pressure can be rejected as not functioning properly. Further, the flow rate through that detector can also be tested at a given pressure. The apparatus is also capable of operating off of pressure developed by a submerged pump for testing the leak detector without removal of the leak detector from the submerged pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Tanknology Corporation International
    Inventors: John E. Tuma, Barry N. Williams
  • Portable sign
    Patent number: D327708
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventors: James R. Schoelpple, Emma G. Schoelpple