Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton, Moriarty & McNett
  • Patent number: 6554830
    Abstract: Preferably, each anchor incorporates a passage for receiving boding cement therein. The passage communicates with one or more fenestrations or holes, preferably formed at the distal end of the anchor, that allow the bonding cement to pass from and disperse about the anchor. Since at least some of the bonding cement received in the passage passes from the anchor and, preferably, into the material of the skeletal member to which the anchor is engaged, a firm fixation or anchoring of the anchor within the skeletal member is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Chappius
  • Patent number: 6556857
    Abstract: A trackable medical instrument includes a guide member and an emitter array coupled to the guide member. A drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the guide member, and a locking mechanism is provided along the drive shaft. The emitter array emits a signal that is used to track the position of the guide member. The locking mechanism has an unlocked position in which the drive shaft rotates relative to the guide member. The locking mechanism also has a locked position in which the drive shaft is rotationally stationary relative to the guide member. A processor tracks medical instruments using a sensor array and a reference array. A display that is operatively coupled to the processor displays the position of the instrument in relation to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley T. Estes, Douglas N. Baker
  • Patent number: 6554559
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device wherein the bars (13) are arranged in bulk in the container (5). The mobile frame (17) of the grasping mechanism (14) moves forward such that the jaw (24) can seize a bar by its middle part and remove it in position (13a) while the trolleys (37) move away from the rail (36) so that the rollers slide on the rods (43), gradually lift the whole bar and bring it to rest on the receptacle (16). The shaft (49) is then driven in rotation so that the racks (47) and the support plate segments (46), which form the receptacle (16), move upwards and the bar (13) drops in the supply channel (8) where it is hooked to the bar clamp of the bar-pusher which drives it axially into the turning center control members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Codafi SARL
    Inventors: Per Borg, Francisco Rivera
  • Patent number: 6554140
    Abstract: A fluid filter has a filter element for filtering fluid. A nutplate having a threaded mounting portion is adapted to threadedly engage an externally threaded filter head. An inner seal retainer is positioned between the nutplate and the filtering element in order to define a hollow interior. The inner seal retainer has at least one stiff hollow web extending in a radial direction adapted to provide a space for transmitting fluid between the nutplate and the filter element. An inner radial seal is attached to the inner seal retainer for sealing the filter element with the filter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Steger, Jr., A. Caner Demirdogen, Paul D. Miller, Bruce Bounnakhom, Samuel T. Masters
  • Patent number: 6554660
    Abstract: The present invention provides a propulsion system mounted in the hull of a marine vessel. The system includes a conduit system with water intake openings defined in the port and starboard portions of the hull adjacent the bow. Water intake conduits conduct water from the water intake openings to a collection chamber. Water discharge conduits conduct water from the collection chamber to water discharge openings. At least one impeller is mounted in each of said discharge conduits. A valve system is mounted in the conduit system and is selectively operable to isolate the system and prevent the flow of water through the system. A water pump may be used to evacuate water from the system when the valves are closed. A further preferred feature provides access to the impeller portion of the propulsion system. A conduit extension section diverges from the conduit system with one end above the level of the vessel's waterline. A sealable hatch is mounted to the conduit extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: John T. Irish
  • Patent number: 6552165
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the content of glycated protein in a sample on a matrix material, which is characterized in that the matrix material is impregnated with boric acid buffer with a pH which is larger or equal to 10.5 or a transition metal salt as well as an appropriate matrix material, an element for collecting, transporting and storing sample material to be analyzed with such a matrix material and a system containing such an element and a sealable covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Nagel, Jürgen Mistele
  • Patent number: 6550796
    Abstract: The invention provides a new method of vehicular suspension, whereby the attributes of greater design freedom, reduction of frontal area, lower center of gravity, increased fuel efficiency, decreased polar movement, increased safety due to improved handling and a more linear relationship of springing force to wheel travel are accomplished with the outboard primary lever (outrigger bell crank) and the associated linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen V. Behr
  • Patent number: 6550359
    Abstract: A device for driving a part, including a parts driver having a drive axis and a nosepiece including three jaws arranged uniformly about the drive axis and defining an axial drive passage therebetween. The jaws are resiliently biased toward one another and are transitionable between a first configuration to retain the part within the drive passage and a second configuration to allow the part to be discharged from the drive passage by the parts driver. An adjacent pair of the jaws defines a transverse parts feed passage intersecting the drive passage and being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the drive axis. Each of the adjacent pair of jaws defines a substantially symmetrical portion of the feed passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: S. Neal Graham
  • Patent number: 6551230
    Abstract: A self-driven centrifuge for separating particulate matter out of a circulating liquid includes a stand pipe that is constructed and arranged to deliver fluid. A vane assembly is adapted to receive fluid from the stand pipe. The vane assembly includes a liner and a plurality of vanes. The liner defines an inner cavity and the vanes extends within this inner cavity. Each of the vanes has a radially outer edge portion and integrally formed with the liner and an opposite free edge. The vanes are oriented in a parallel relationship with the stand pipe, and the free edges of the vanes define a stand pipe passage in which the stand pipe is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter K. Herman, Jean-Luc Guichaoua, Richard Jensen
  • Patent number: 6551372
    Abstract: A nickel base powder metallurgy superalloy gas turbine engine disk for a compressor or turbine. The wrought powder metallurgy gas turbine engine disk has desirable fatigue crack growth resistance and a superior balance of tensile, creep rupture and low cycle fatigue strength characteristics. In one embodiment the disk defines a segregation free homogenous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Ewing, Sushil K. Jain, Kenneth A. Green, Randolph C. Helmink, Allister James
  • Patent number: 6550065
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a glove formed from a material that allows passage of ultraviolet rays, such that tanning of the wearer's skin through the glove is facilitated. Portions a the distal ends of the glove digits are covered by a material that is opaque to ultraviolet rays, thereby preventing discoloration of the wearer's nails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Janet S. Meyers
  • Patent number: 6548433
    Abstract: A fibrous, porous web material of the heat seal type having improved particulate retention properties for use in the manufacture of beverage infusion bags. The material comprises juxtaposed, successively wet laid first (1), second (5) and third (7) fibrous layers, at least one of said layers incorporating heat sealable fibres. The fibres in the first layer are of greater aspect ratio than those in the second layer which are of higher aspect ratio than those in the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: J. R. Compton Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Gbur, Brian Tomkinson, Joyce Alston
  • Patent number: 6547004
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting a sample from a low-yield well or perched aquifer includes a pump and a controller responsive to water level sensors for filling a sample reservoir. The controller activates the pump to fill the reservoir when the water level in the well reaches a high level as indicated by the sensor. The controller deactivates the pump when the water level reaches a lower level as indicated by the sensors. The pump continuously activates and deactivates the pump until the sample reservoir is filled with a desired volume, as indicated by a reservoir sensor. At the beginning of each activation cycle, the controller optionally can select to purge an initial quantity of water prior to filling the sample reservoir. The reservoir can be substantially devoid of air and the pump is a low volumetric flow rate pump. Both the pump and the reservoir can be located either inside or outside the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: George V. Last, David C. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 6547625
    Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a toy which comprises at least one article which is movable with respect to a play base and objects on the playbase. The article can have at least one part which is movable with respect to the remainder of the article and the movement is achieved via a magnetic arrangement which involves at least one magnet in the movable part of the article and at least one magnet in a movement means such that as the movement means and/or article move in sufficient proximity, the magnetic forces and field created cause movement of the said part of the article to provide an animated feature to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Origin Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Whitehead
  • Patent number: 6547456
    Abstract: A system for digital photo management comprises: a harness; a digital camera; a computer control unit; a wireless data exchange component; a printer; and a battery. The computer control unit begins a process of printing a coupon associated with a digital photograph before the digital photograph has been completely downloaded from the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Wishoo, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Wechsler, John F. O'Brien, Williams F. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6548998
    Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor including a magnetic circuit coupled with a primary conductor, a secondary winding coupled with the magnetic circuit, a damping resistor, a magnetic field detector arranged in an air gap of the magnetic circuit and a powering device supplying the secondary winding with a current tending to compensate the magnetic field in the air gap. A measuring resistor is connected in series to the secondary winding and an auxiliary resistor of same value as the damping resistor is connected to the secondary winding and the measuring resistor common connection point. A difference amplifier set is arranged for measuring the voltage at the secondary winding terminals and applying, to the auxiliary resistor, a voltage equal and in opposite direction to the one occurring at the secondary winding terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Liaisons Electroniques-Mecaniques LEM S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Gudel
  • Patent number: 6546680
    Abstract: The present invention comprises various combinations of 2″×4″, 2″×6″, 2″×8″, 2″×10″ and 2″×12″ members stacked on top of one another with one longitudinal edge of each member co-aligned. In this configuration, the non-aligned longitudinal edges form shallow steps which act as a ramp, allowing wheeled implements to easily transition form ground level to the floor level of the portable building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Bruce D. Watts
  • Patent number: D473955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Karl H. W. Gregori
  • Patent number: D473989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: David Christopher Hittle
  • Patent number: D473990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: David Christopher Hittle