Patents Represented by Law Firm Wagner & Middlebrook
  • Patent number: 5626211
    Abstract: A disk or rotor for a disk brake system is formed of a number of stacked metal plates, normally with outside plates having a high resistance to abrasion and great strength and with inner plates formed of metal having good heat transfer characteristics and having inside and outside rims and generally radially directed slots between the rims, the inner plates being aligned such that the slots are held in registry, and all of the inner and outer plates are brazed together to form a unitary disk. Inside and outside diameters are then both trimmed to remove the rims and open the slots between fins formed when the inside and outside rims are cut away. One or more outside plates on one end of the stack are trimmed to a smaller diameter thus leaving a flange which is drilled to provide mounting holes for the disk. Modified forms of the disk include solid inside plates and inside plates with perforations or corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventors: Ytzhak Gewelber, Peter J. Kinney
  • Patent number: 5623858
    Abstract: A machine for chamfering and otherwise finishing workpieces such as metal rods or tubes includes a base with a drive and spindle assembly, an assembly for securing a workpiece in position and an air-electric control system carried on the base. The drive and spindle assembly includes a housing carrying a rotatable spindle with a cutter, a quill surrounding said spindle and a cylinder with a piston connected to the quill for moving the spindle and quill axially. The drive structure includes an electric motor and a variable speed transmission. The control system includes a pedal for connecting high pressure air to operate the spindle. A vise and stop assembly secures a workpiece in position and includes an actuator connected to the control system and coordinated with the control system piston to secure the workpiece in position before cutting. Manual translation of the quill and spindle is also provided for through a gear and rack on the quill meshed to translate the quill while the piston is inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Orville J. Birkestrand
  • Patent number: 5614941
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for creating stereoscopic images from multiple sources from predetermined lateral directions for forming the multiple images onto a multiple image plane and converging the images into multiple superimposed images on a viewing screen. The viewing screen employs a Fresnel lens and a lenticular lensed surface with horizontal lenticules. No glasses are needed, by one or more persons, to view stereoscopic 3-dimensional images. The source of the multiple images may be multiple cameras, composite multiple image film, video signals, or computer-generated images. In one embodiment, the multiple images are projected each by a respective substantially identical lens and through a folded optical reflective system to a restricted viewing opening in the system housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Stephen P. Hines
  • Patent number: 5613536
    Abstract: A faceplate for lathes and the like is fabricated of a polymeric material and having a body with a cylindrical surface of substantial depth and indicia marks on the cylindrical surface. The body is turnable just like workpieces on the lathe. The faceplate has a planar front face which is turnable to provide recesses for chucking a workpiece. In one embodiment designed to employ fasteners such as screws to hold the workpiece in place, the body is of one color and the fasteners are located in inserts of contrasting color. The faceplate is intended to be turned. If any chips of the contrasting color appear, the user knows instantly that further turning will cause the chisel to strike the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: David M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 5609893
    Abstract: A temperature and molding material pressure compensated probe for use in injection molding apparatus. The probe includes a two-part telescoping body with a molding material filled space therebetween. Longitudinal thermal expansion which formerly presented sealing problems only results in changes in the extent of telescoping overlap. Molding material pressure is applied equally to both probe parts tending to improve sealing. The molding material filled space has a greater transverse area than all outlets and passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: JK Molds, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg Eastwood
  • Patent number: 5599091
    Abstract: A lamp fixture includes a lamp assembly in a generally cylindrical housing having a radially extending flange at one end. A base for the housing includes mating halves each of which has a flange at one end, these flanges cooperating with the radially extending flange to form a pivot connection between the housing and the base. A pair of contact members of conducting material having arcuate contact surfaces are secured in the pivot connection on opposite sides of the radially extending flange and are connected to electrical terminals in the base. A pair of contact pins connected to the lamp assembly ride on the arcuate contact surfaces throughout any adjustment of the pivot connection. Electrical terminals in the base are fastened to the contact members. Positioned between the mating halves of the base is a wire guide which includes grooves cooperating with grooves in the mating halves to direct conducting wires to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lumiere Design & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kira
  • Patent number: 5598958
    Abstract: Competition holsters for use with autoloading pistol and revolver handguns. They include a protrusion with a trigger guard recess and a trigger guard retainer which is cantilevered from the outside of the body into the trigger guard at a compound angle to hold the handgun in the holster. The frame of the handgun extends over an elongated surface at the top of the body. The handgun is, in actuality supported on a cradle at the muzzle region and on the lower side of the trigger guard. A muzzle tensioner in the form of an inverted J is adjustable secured to the body in the muzzle region. A belt loop assembly including mating partial spherical surfaces secures the body for universal spherical angular adjustment. Further adjustments include the compressive force on the trigger guard retainer. All of the adjustments may be made with the holster in place on the shooter's gun belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventors: Willis N. Ryan, III, Kerby C. Smith
  • Patent number: 5596934
    Abstract: A seismic restraint system for vault located bank safety deposit box modules and the like. This system includes a beam or strongback which extends along the top of a row of safe deposit box modules. A series of adjustable columns bear against the beam and the ceiling of the safe deposit vault. Horizontal bars extend laterally from the beam for securement to an adjacent wall or other vertical support. In one embodiment, a rectangular beam assembly with a plurality of adjustable columns is used to secure a freestanding stack of modules. Resilient pads and stepped beams accommodate differences in heights of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Pacific Bank Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Hamm, Glenn Brake, James G. Johanson
  • Patent number: 5590612
    Abstract: A machine and process for producing bags from roll stock of bag material are disclosed. The machine includes four subassemblies, a folding and cutting subassembly, a transport and first sewing subassembly and a second transport and sewing subassembly and a stacking subassembly. The folding and cutting subassembly, preferably includes a drum or reel with a plurality of peripheral clamps which are successively opened to receive the bag material and a blade positioned to force the bag material into an open clamp to define a fold. The adjacent closed clamp holding folded bag material tensions the bag material. A cutter severs adjacent folds between the adjacent clamps. Transfer and transport means are present to advance the folded cut bag blank past two sewing machines and then to the stacker subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventors: Scott A. Brewer, David E. Frye
  • Patent number: 5576901
    Abstract: A light system includes a laser light generator and an array of motor-driven mirrors aligned to deflect a beam of laser light in various directions to create a light show. The motors are operated in a controlled sequence by a motor controller. The motors are small d.c. permanent magnet motors which are driven from a d.c. source whose voltage is adjustable to vary the frequency of oscillation of the motors and, hence the mirrors. Connected to each motor is a small coil spring whose coil is carried on the motor shaft and which has two extended arms, one of which is secured to a nearly stationary member and one which is secured to the mirror shaft. The mirror shaft is movable between two stops. The spring acts to oppose the direction of motion of the motor such that the motor is normally stalled out and driven back to one of the stops before it can be moved for enough to impact the other stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Neville Hanchett
  • Patent number: 5564612
    Abstract: A backpack includes a pair of contoured side rails and three separate molded plastic support members removably attached to the rails. The upper support member includes a structure for carrying much of the weight of the carry bag. The carry bag includes hook and loop fasteners on fabric strips for securing the bag to the rails. The upper support member and other support members include slots and ports for attaching various straps and pads. One of the support members includes a flexible section to which the waistband and pad structure is attached, thereby providing flexibility to accommodate hip movement of the wearer. Separate back and lumbar pads are strapped to the support members. The separate plastic support members may be removed from one pair of contoured side rails and fastened to a pair of side rails of different length to accommodate wearers of different heights and proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Wayne B. Gregory
  • Patent number: 5556749
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein an invention which relates to the fields of genetic engineering, microbiology, and computer science, that allows a user, whether they be a molecular biologist or a clinical diagnostician, to calculate and design extremely specific oligonucleotide probes for DNA and mRNA hybridization procedures. The probes designed with this invention may be used for medical diagnostic kits, DNA identification, and potentially continuous monitoring of metabolic processes in human beings. The key features design oligonucleotide probes based on the GenBank database of DNA and mRNA sequences and examine candidate probes for specificity or commonality with respect to a user-selected experimental preparation. Two models are available: a Mismatch Model, that employs hashing and continuous seed filtration, and an H-Site Model, that analyzes candidate probes for their binding specificity relative to some known set of mRNA or DNA sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Mitsuhashi, Allan J. Cooper, Michael S. Waterman, Pavel A. Pevzner
  • Patent number: 5557057
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is designed in a generally guitar-shaped configuration with a fingerboard containing rows of keys replacing each string, one key for each string/fret position. Pressing on a key causes a signal to be provided to a central processing unit which continually scans the fingerboard at a high rate and converts the signals to a plurality of outputs to a synthesizer. Unlike a guitar, a plurality of keys, including a plurality along a single row, may be operated simultaneously to produce a plurality of notes simultaneously. A number of pressure switches and other switches located on the body enable a player to modify the output with vibrato, pitchbend, stereo pan, percussion effects, etc. Additional pressure responsive circuits provide inputs to the central processing unit varying with pressure on the keys. A second embodiment includes a fingerboard with many more rows or columns of keys and more keys per column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Harvey W. Starr
  • Patent number: 5540367
    Abstract: A carrier for watches is disclosed including a loop for engaging the clothing of a wearer and a hanger suspended by the loop. The hanger is dimensioned to support a watch inverted. In one embodiment, the hanger partially encloses and engages the outer surface of the watch case. In a second embodiment, the hanger engages a pin on the six o'clock position pin openings of a wrist watch (with strap removed). In another embodiment, the hanger encloses the watch in a clamshell like fashion. In still another embodiment, a molded hanger of flexible material such as rubber or flexible plastic is formed with a recess to receive a watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: LOOP
    Inventor: William A. Kauker
  • Patent number: D371334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Hotchkis Performance, L.P.
    Inventors: John F. Hotchkis, Jr., David Barden
  • Patent number: D371870
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Barry W. Sylvester
  • Patent number: D372446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: John F. Hotchkis, Jr.
  • Patent number: D373242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Robert J. Beletsky
  • Patent number: D373437
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Lumiere Design & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kira
  • Patent number: D375622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Bianchi International
    Inventor: Joseph J. Croft