Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Weingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin & Hayes
  • Patent number: 6283748
    Abstract: A continuous pusher furnace includes a product carrier assembly forming a traveling gas barrier. The product carrier assembly comprises a pusher plate disposed to receive product thereon and a gas barrier extending upwardly from the pusher plate. The perimeter of the gas barrier is sized and configured to fit within a vestibule between heating chambers in the furnace with a clearance gap with the vestibule selected to increase a gas flow velocity through the vestibule sufficient to overcome a gas diffusion velocity through the vestibule in a direction opposite to the gas flow. In this manner, gas is unable to diffuse into an upstream heating chamber. In an alternative embodiment, an exhaust outlet may also be provided in the vestibule or chamber to exhaust gas from upstream and downstream heating chambers from the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Orbeck, John Thayer
  • Patent number: 6282626
    Abstract: The memory space accessible by a processor is partitioned such that multiple memory regions map to the same physical memory. Processor accesses in one of the regions are regarded as normal accesses, and are satisfied from the memory or a read buffer. If memory access is required, the processor is stalled until the desired data is returned from the memory. Processor accesses to the other region are regarded as requests to prefetch the data from the memory and place it into a read buffer without stalling the processor. The processor continues program execution while the data is being prefetched. At a later point in program execution, the processor requests the data via the first region. The data likely resides in the read buffer, and can therefore be provided to the processor quickly, resulting in improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Platko, Paul Chieffo
  • Patent number: 6280086
    Abstract: A telescopic rail comprising at least two substantially C-shaped sections of which a first section (1) is slidably mounted in a second section (2) with interposition of a first ball cage (3), whereby a stop block (5) is positioned in said second section, in front of the first ball cage seen in the direction of extension of the rail, the stop block having first resilient means (9) near the side facing the first ball cage which can be brought into contact with a first inward facing projection (18) on the first section upon extension of the rail, and second resilient means (8) on the opposite side of the stop block which can be brought into contact with a second inward facing projection (17) on the first section upon retraction of the rail, the first (18) and second (17) projections being located on opposite sides of the first ball cage when the rail is fully retracted, the first projection being movable past the first ball cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas Regout B.V.
    Inventor: Andreas Petronella Maria Stijns
  • Patent number: 6279314
    Abstract: The thruster comprises, on a common plate, a plurality of main annular ionization and acceleration channels having axes that are not parallel and that converge in the outlet direction of the channels. A magnetic circuit sets up a magnetic field in the annular channels. The thruster also has a hollow cathode, a device for regulating the ionizable gas feed rate to each annular channel, and a device for controlling the ion discharge acceleration current in the channels. The direction of the thrust vector of the thruster can be controlled without significantly increasing the mass of the thruster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation-S.N.E.C.M.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Valentian, Eric Klinger, Michel Lyszyk
  • Patent number: 6282093
    Abstract: A Land Grid Array (LGA) clamp mechanism is presented. The mechanism includes a spring having a number of beams that mate with cooperating posts from a backing plate. The backing plate fits on the bottom side of a printed circuit board, opposite the area where a device is installed with the posts extending from the backing plate and through the printed circuit board. The LGA device is either inserted into a socket on the top side of the printed circuit board or mounted directly to the top side of the printed circuit board. A heat sink is placed directly on top of the LGA device. The posts from the backing plate extend through the circuit board and through the heatsink. A spring assembly is positioned along a top surface of the heatsink and is secured to the posts. The spring assembly includes a spring and a bias adjustment screw that is adjusted to provide a desired uniform amount of pressure to the heatsink, device and socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 6281622
    Abstract: The closed electron drift plasma thruster uses a magnetic circuit to create a magnetic field in a main annular channel for ionization and acceleration, said magnetic circuit comprises: an essentially radial first outer pole piece; a conical second outer pole piece; an essentially radial first inner pole piece; a conical second inner pole piece; a plurality of outer magnetic cores surrounded by outer coils to interconnect the first and second outer pole pieces; an axial magnetic core surrounded by a first inner coil and connected to the first inner pole piece; and a second inner coil placed upstream from the outer coils. The thruster also comprises a plurality of radial arms included in the magnetic circuit, and a structural base which is separate from the magnetic circuit and which serves, amongst other things, to cool the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation - S.N.E.C.M.A
    Inventors: Dominique Valentian, Jean-Pierre Bugeat, Eric Klinger
  • Patent number: 6281808
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system and method for a traffic intersection having a traffic light, which selectively extends the duration of a red light cycle to prevent traffic from entering the intersection during a red light violation. Output from one or more violation prediction image capturing devices is used to provide images showing one or more vehicles approaching the intersection. A violation prediction unit, which is also coupled to a signal reflecting a current light phase of the first traffic signal, receives and processes vehicle location information derived from the images to generate violation predictions for the vehicles approaching the intersection. The violation prediction indicates a likelihood that an associated vehicle will violate an upcoming red light phase of the traffic signal. In response to the violation prediction, a violation predicted signal is provided to a traffic signal controlling traffic intersecting with the predicted violator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Nestor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Glier, Mark D. Laird, Michael T. Tinnemeier, Steven I. Small, Randall T. Sybel, Douglas L. Reilly
  • Patent number: 6281163
    Abstract: The invention is directed to hydrogenation catalyst particles based on nickel or cobalt and a support, incorporated in a matrix of hardened oil or a derivative thereof, which matrix material is solid at a temperature of 25° C., said particles having an average weight of at least 120 mg and an average height of at least 2.8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Engelhard de Meern B.V.
    Inventor: Gustaaf J. M. Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 6279181
    Abstract: An infant crib in which the mattress is mounted on the frame in a secure position from which the mattress cannot be dislodged by an upward force beneath the mattress. A support panel has a plurality of straps affixed thereto which are of sufficient length to wrap around the surrounding rails or frame members of the crib and to be removably secured such as by Velcro fasteners. The mattress is placed on top of the thus secured panel. The fasteners are of sufficient strength such that when the fasteners are engaged the crib support panel can withstand a force from below the mounted panel of at least 224 pounds to meet safety standards and to prevent unintended dislocation of the crib mattress from its operative disposition. The invention can be embodied in a permanent crib structure or in a portable crib structure. The invention can also be embodied in a playpen or other infant furniture in which a mattress is to be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: West End & Hub Spring Company
    Inventor: Barnet Wolf Kessel
  • Patent number: 6276934
    Abstract: An intraoral viewing device, including a handle and a mirror, fixed to a distal end of the handle, for insertion into the mouth of a patient, such that a first image of the inside of the mouth is viewed by reflection from a surface of the mirror. An image sensor inside the handle receives a second image of the inside of the mouth along a beam axis passing through a plane defined by the surface of the mirror, and generates an electronic image responsive thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Miratech Dental Imaging, Ltd.
    Inventor: Zvi Rakocz
  • Patent number: 6276953
    Abstract: An orientation less squib connector for an automotive air bag assembly is disclosed. The squib connector includes a connector configured to fit within a squib socket. A connector position assurance member (CPA) is mounted on the connector body for movement between an open position and a closed position. The CPA includes an abutment member positioned to abut against a portion of the connector body to prevent movement of the connector position assurance member out of the open position. The CPA also includes a flexural member configured to abut against the socket to deflect the flexural member and the abutment member out of abutment with the portion of the connector body, whereby the connector position assurance member is movable to the closed position to prevent removal of the connector from the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Thoma & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford K. Gauker, David J. Rhein
  • Patent number: 6278059
    Abstract: A housing for an electronics package that has a flexible mounting flange that conformably engages the housing to a variety of planar or contoured surfaces is described. The housing, also comprised of an enclosure attached to the flexible mounting flange, provides for the protection and orderly confinement of electronics packages, such as signal conditioning circuitry, disposed within the housing. The housing is inserted into an aperture in a surface, such as the side of acoustic stringed instrument, until the flexible mounting flange engages the planar or contoured surface. The housing is then removably attached to the surface of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Fishman Transducers, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Avram Lefton
  • Patent number: 6277348
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: a novel process for the preparation of mesophasic polyborazylene. Said process is of particular value in that it affords a quality product from an appropriate polyborazylene, rapidly (virtually instantaneously), reproducibly and with a good yield. Furthermore, said process is easy to carry out. Said process comprises the preparation of polyborazylene by the polycondensation of borazine in a closed reactor and the addition, to said polyborazylene obtained by polycondensation, of a solvent selected from aromatic solvents, borazine solvents and mixtures thereof, mesophasic polyborazylene which is novel in that it is in the presence of a particular solvent and/or by virtue of its quality, the use of said polyborazylene of the invention, and/or prepared according to the invention, as a boron nitride precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation-S.N.E.C.M.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Pujol, Marc Birot, Jean-Paul Pillot, Xavier Bourrat, Olivier Manfe, René Pailler, Roger Naslain, Jacques Dunogues
  • Patent number: 6278201
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing power to an automated material handling system that includes a track on which a plurality of electrically powered material transport vehicles are mounted comprises a plurality of current-limited power sources each having a power supply lead and a power return lead. The apparatus further includes a power supply distribution network that is configured and arranged to electrically connect the power supply leads of the plurality of power sources together and to couple the current supplied therefrom to the power supply input of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles. And further includes a power return network configured and arranged to electrically couple the power return output of at least one of the plurality of material transport vehicles to the interconnected power return leads of the plurality of power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: PRI Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Brien, Mitchell Weiss
  • Patent number: 6278603
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a capacitor body containing capacitive conductive plates. The capacitor body has a first end and a second opposing end, such as the opposite ends of a cylindrical body. A conductive shell is disposed around the capacitor body. The conductive shell has a first end conductively connected to a first one of the conductive plates at the first end of the capacitor body. The conductive shell also has flexible conductive members disposed at a second end adjacent to the second end of the capacitor body. The flexible conductive members extend away from the capacitor body so as to be brought into conductive contact with a conductive surface against which the capacitor is to be mounted in use, such as an upper layer of a multi-layer bus. One capacitor mounting arrangement uses the above capacitor with a multi-layer DC bus structure. In another mounting arrangement, a resilient conductive gasket is disposed between the hard edge of a capacitor shell and a surface of a bus structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Acumentrics Corporation
    Inventors: Zelijko Arbanas, Richard J. Galante
  • Patent number: D446920
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Dewks, LLc
    Inventor: Gary Duclos
  • Patent number: D446921
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Dewks, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Duclos
  • Patent number: D447073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okamoto, Akihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: D447223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventors: Lars-Ake Mattsson, Pontus Andersson, Kenneth Lennartsson, Tomas Persson
  • Patent number: D447329
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Dewks, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Duclos