Patents Represented by Law Firm Willian, Brinks, Olds, Hofer, Gilson & Lione, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 4739164
    Abstract: A position measuring arrangement for the measurement of the relative position of two objects shiftable with respect to one another wherein the measuring graduation is connected with the first object and is scanned by a scanning unit fastened to the second object. Four binary scanning signals are produced by the scanning unit with a predefined relative phase relationship. The signals are applied to a logic network for the generation of a linked binary signal. In the case of no errors, the linked binary signal is equal to a selected one of the four binary signals. In the event of an error, the linked binary signal is not equal to the selected one of the binary signals. The linked binary signal and the selected binary signal are applied to a comparator for a determination of equality and thereby a determination of the presence of errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 4735878
    Abstract: An information recording medium includes a substrate having first and second sides. A layer of photoresist is deposited on the first side of the substrate. This layer of photoresist has a selected thickness and defines an area of openings therein such that the first side of the substrate is exposed at the openings, the openings being distributed in a pattern indicative of selected stored information. A reflecting layer is deposited on the photoresist layer and on the first side of the substrate at the openings. Both the substrate and the layer of photoresist are adapted to transmit the reading beam such that a portion of the reading beam incident on the second side of the substrate is reflected out of the substrate by the reflecting layer, both in a first region comprising the openings and in a second region between the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Quixote Corporation
    Inventors: Alan B. Hamersley, Michael W. Goff, Vinai K. Thummalapally, Thomas M. Whitworth, Ramchandra R. Nomula
  • Patent number: 4733840
    Abstract: An improved security system for preventing the theft of items, such as typewriters and personal computers. The system has a security plate which is fixed to the item that is to be secured. A bendable member is permanently attached to a center area of a plate base, and has a free end spaced from the center area of the base. A loop is advantageously formed on the free end for attaching the bendable member to a cable, chain or the like used to attach the plate to the anchor. When an attempt is made to forcibly remove the item, the bendable member bends to direct the removal force to the center of the plate where it can be distributed over the entire base and thereby more effectively resisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Acco World Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D'Amore
  • Patent number: 4729475
    Abstract: A readily assembled covered container is disclosed. The container has a pivoting cover which snap-attaches to a tray. In the disclosed embodiment, bosses provided on the rear sidewalls of the tray are received in bores formed in the rear sidewalls of the cover to attach the cover to the tray. The bosses have a beveled surface that facilitates cover attachment, and each bore advantageously has a ramp-like channel associated with it that directs a respective boss to engagement within its bore. The tray nests within the inverted cover in a compact arrangement for improved packing, shipping and storing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: ACCO World Corporation
    Inventors: Charles V. Kurkjian, Bruce E. Heggeland
  • Patent number: 4729182
    Abstract: A mobile comprised of photographs and like planar objects in combination with a mailer. A plurality of photograph mounts are provided for mounting photographs along a flexible cord. The resulting mobile is collapsed into a small pile and placed in a mailer. The cord is secured to a detachable tab portion of the mailer so that the mobile is readily removed from the mailer for immediate display through detachment of the detachable tab portion. The photograph mounts used further permit selection of either a vertical or horizontal mounting of the photographs, and accommodate photographs of different size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Inventor: Eli L. Sherman
  • Patent number: 4729440
    Abstract: An earth boring apparatus is disclosed having bearing members comprised of transition layer polycrystalline diamond. The transition layer polycrystalline diamond bearings include a polycrystalline diamond layer interfaced with a composite transition layer comprising a mixture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces subjected to high temperature/high pressure conditions so as to form polycrystalline diamond material bonded to the precemented carbide pieces. The polycrystalline diamond layer acts as the bearing surface. The transition layer bearings are preferably supported by a cemented tungsten carbide substrate interfaced with the transition layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4727661
    Abstract: The invention relates to an article of footwear having a removable insole. The insole has nubs and magnetic metal parts on its upper surface for massaging the foot reflex zones. Snap fasteners fasten the insole to the sole. Each snap fastener has an upper part mounted on the lower surface of the insole opposite the magnetic metal part, and a lower part mounted on the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Inventor: Margrit Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4727690
    Abstract: A prefabricated leave-in-place screed rail for use in forming a floor or pavement slab of slab material cast on opposite sides of the screed rail so that the slab material forms a bond with each side of the screed rail, has an upwardly open groove extending along the rail between the sides. The groove provides for preferential cracking of the screed rail upon shrinkage of the slab material. The screed rail has a toughened upper layer adjacent each opposite side of the groove, and a sealant in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Inventor: Keith Honeyman
  • Patent number: 4728515
    Abstract: Low moisture chewing gum compositions and methods of preparation using carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer compositions to improve flexibility and shelf life characteristics are disclosed. The syrup comprises carbohydrate solids and water, with less than 30% of the solids having a degree of polymerization (DP) of 1 and more than 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater. The ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent in the composition is between 0.5:1 and 100:1 and the total water content of composition is less than 20%. The syrup-plasticizer composition is prepared by providing a carbohydrate syrup or combined syrups with the proper carbohydrate solids distribution, combining a plasticizer such as glycerine or propylene glycol and evaporating water from the combined syrup plasticizer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Mansukh M. Patel, Michael A. Reed, William J. Wokas, Vasek J. Kures
  • Patent number: 4726572
    Abstract: A spring coil has an open-ended terminal convolution which is connected to the body of the coil through a gradient arm. The gradient arm can be readily varied in length in manufacture to alter the compression and thereby the firmness of the spring coil. Offset portions are advantageously formed on terminal convolutions with a major straight part which is outwardly spaced from minor straight parts. This provides a three point engagement for the offset portion when connected to a border wire with a border wire helical spring. The offset portions of the spring coils have inside and outside shoulders adjacent their ends. The pitch of cross-helicals which join overlapped offset portions is chosen so that a cross-helical simultaneously engages the outside shoulders of one of a pair of overlapped offset portions to firmly hold the spring coil against rotation. The cross-helical preferably also catches the inside shoulders of the other overlapped portion to additionally hold that spring coil against rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Sealy, Incorporated
    Inventors: Keith A. Flesher, Robert F. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4723731
    Abstract: The reel comprises a winding hub with a flange which presents, on the outside, a toothed ring for drive in rotation and, inside, a toothed track for immobilization, and which is provided with an overmoulded metal washer, the free edge of the hub further being centered and fixed on a second flange and the inner cavity of the hub containing a neutralizable brake normally maintained in engagement with the track and capable of being spaced apart therefrom by a pusher. The second flange comprises a coronal extension extending towards the center and imprisoning the brake in the cavity of the hub thus partially closed, brake whose axial neutralizing stroke is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Gefitec S.A.
    Inventor: Patrick Posso
  • Patent number: 4724026
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for selectively transferring metallic foil and xerographic images on a receiving substrate such as paper. The method generally comprises providing a transfer sheet (including a metallic film) and a receiving substrate (including xerographic images disposed thereon.) The receiving substrate is placed in face-to-face contact with the transfer sheet to form a sandwich with the xerographic images on the inside. the sandwich is then fed through an apparatus, where heat and pressure are applied, causing the xerographic images to tackify and causing the metal film from the transfer sheet to selectively adhere to the xerographic images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Omnicrom Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Marshall A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4720961
    Abstract: A device for filling a package with a predetermined weight of items, such as pieces of chicken, is disclosed. The device, under the control of a computer, sorts predetermined quantities of chicken pieces to a plurality of pockets each of which is adapted to transfer the predetermined quantities of chicken pieces sorted thereto so that they may be passed to a partially filled package, upon receipt of a control signal from the computer. The device, under the control of the computer, selects which of the pockets contains pieces of chicken which should be added to the partially filled package in order to bring the contents of that package up to the predetermined weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Conagra, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Wane Jordan
  • Patent number: 4721952
    Abstract: A process for the perspective representation of objects on the picture screen of a numerically controlled machine tool is described in which the object is resolved into a series of sections which are represented successively with a given perspective offset. In order to avoid the representation of covered edges of these sections, the contours of the individual section surfaces are checked prior to being represented in order to determine whether or not they overlap a previously represented contour. This checking occurs through a simple coordinate comparison, taking into account the actual perspective shift between sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Huber
  • Patent number: 4721106
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer for destruction of concretions inside the body. The transducer essentially comprises a spheroidal cap having piezoelectric ceramic elements situated at its radially inner front side. To prevent overpressure pulses radiated at the front side of the transducer being followed by underpressure pulse reflected from the rear side of the cap, the cap is produced from metal, preferably from a copper alloy. The impact wave resistances of the cap metal and of the ceramic material should largely correspond. Furthermore, the rear-side surface of the rear wall of the cap is so shaped geometrically and/or provided with a coating, that the sonic waves reflected therefrom are no longer focussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Kurtze, Rainer Riedlinger
  • Patent number: 4721380
    Abstract: An improved portable opaque projector with superior performance and portability is characterized by a transportable mode and an operable mode. When in its operable mode the top is removed and a removable mirror is mounted to the projection lens, and the projector sides are extended. Improved means for mounting a mirror proximate the extendable projection lens and in fixed vertical relationship thereto as the lens is rotatably extended for focusing, is provided. An improved mirror structure for preventing non-planar distortion of the mirror surface is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Constantin Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Gryglas
  • Patent number: 4719932
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a single support column, a boom assembly cantileverly supported on and hinged to pivot horizontally about the support column and mounted to move up and down on the support column. The boom assembly includes a magnetic catch to prevent the boom from pivoting during normal operation. Mounted on the boom are fluid dispensing nozzles and a photoelectric assembly which senses the relative position of the boom assembly and the contour of a vehicle being washed. The photoelectric assembly includes a plurality of pairs of photoelectric emitters and detectors, set such that the beam between each pair is at an angle with both the horizontal plane of vehicle movement and vertical plane containing the ends of the boom assembly. The photoelectric assembly is connected to a control means which controls a drive mechanism to raise and lower the boom assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: PDQ Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest R. Burton
  • Patent number: 4719831
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining control over the orientation and position of the trailing end of a slab of bacon as the trailing end passes through a continuous bacon slicer, which apparatus and method involve depending from a linkage supported about multiple centers a controlled-rotation grip having backward-facing teeth, to serve to permit the grip to be maintained next to the slicing plane of the slicer even as the position of the lockable rotatable grip is vertically adjusted to accommodate bacon slabs of various thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Conagra, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Smithers
  • Patent number: 4720410
    Abstract: The present invention is an absorbent pad for use below a meat product or the like during storage and during cooking. The pad includes a blotter means adapted to absorb liquids released from the meat product during cooking. In order to prevent substantial absorption prior to cooking, the pad also includes a heat shrinkable film adjacent the top surface of the blotter means, which film is partially attached to the blotter so as to leave at least one area which is not attached to the blotter means. The film also includes at least one opening feature, i.e. a perforation or pre-weakened area, in the at least one area which is not attached to the blotter means. As a result, when the pad is subjected to heat during cooking, the film around the perforation to weakened point shrinks so as to open a hole through the film to thereby allow liquids released from the meat product to pass into the blotter. Various configurations of perforations and pre-weakened areas are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Conagra, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton R. Lundquist, Randal J. Monforton
  • Patent number: D294566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: F. J. Littell Machine Company
    Inventor: Samuel G. Boytor