Patents Represented by Attorney Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith
  • Patent number: 8344534
    Abstract: A system for capturing energy may comprise a vehicle having a body with an interior and an exterior, and at least one aperture being formed in the exterior through which air enters. An energy capture apparatus comprises a primary guide duct positioned in the interior with an entrance adjacent to the at least one aperture and an exit, a turbine assembly in communication with the primary guide duct to receive air flowing along the air path and having an output. The apparatus may also include a generator configured to receive rotational motion from the turbine assembly and generate electrical power, and a secondary guide duct in communication with the output of the turbine assembly. The system may comprise an air utilizing component with an exit of the secondary guide duct being positioned adjacent to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew J. Owens
  • Patent number: 8312748
    Abstract: A blocking apparatus is disclosed for selectively blocking movement of a deadbolt actuation lever on a door. The apparatus includes a base mounting plate for mounting on the door, the base mounting plate including an engaging portion for positioning against the inside surface of the door and a deadbolt receiving portion for positioning against the edge surface of the door. The apparatus also includes a mounting shaft mounted on and extending from the engaging portion and a blocking member mounted on the mounting shaft and movable between a block position and an unblocked position. The block position is characterized by the blocking member blocking movement of the deadbolt actuation lever from the locked orientation to the unlocked orientation. The unblocked position of the blocking member is characterized by the deadbolt actuation lever being free to move without interference by the blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventor: Kent F. Bundy
  • Patent number: 8307946
    Abstract: A firearm suppressor for mounting on a firearm to suppress sound emanating from the firearm when fired may comprise a housing defining an interior and a baffle insert positioned in the interior of the housing. The baffle insert may have at least two baffle wall portions dividing the interior of the housing into at least three baffle chambers, with the baffle wall portions being spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the insert. The baffle insert may define a central longitudinal passage for a projectile fired from the firearm to pass through the insert. The baffle insert may define a convoluted passage for combustion gases to pass through the insert, with the convoluted passage being distinct from the longitudinal passage. The convoluted passage may be in communication with the central longitudinal passage and may be defined by at least one auxiliary hole extending through the baffle wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Cory L. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8307963
    Abstract: A suspension system for a motorcycle, comprising a motorcycle main frame, a swing arm pivotally mounted to the motorcycle main frame about a pivot axis, and an air-bag suspension system. The air-bag suspension system includes at least one air-bag constructed of an elastomeric material. The air-bag is housed within a housing assembly and is secured at one end to a piston located within the housing assembly and at its other end to an upper plate or end cap of the housing assembly. The housing assembly is attached to a shock absorber, and the shock absorber is attached at its forward end to the cross member plate of the motorcycle main frame and is pivotally attached at its rearward end to the lower transverse cross member of the swing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Jesse A. Jurrens
  • Patent number: 8308213
    Abstract: An enclosed trailer may comprise an enclosure having an interior defined by at least two lateral enclosure portions. The lateral enclosure portions are laterally movable between a contracted condition with a smaller interior volume and an expanded condition with a larger interior volume. The trailer may comprise a support frame including two lateral frame portions laterally movable between a contracted condition corresponding to the contracted condition of the lateral enclosure portions and an expanded condition corresponding to the expanded condition of the lateral enclosure portions. The trailer may further include a frame movement assembly configured to move the lateral frame portions between the expanded and contracted conditions, and a pair of wheels with each wheel being mounted on one lateral frame portion such that the wheels move laterally inward and outward with the frame portions as the frame portions move between the contracted and expanded conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Marvin B. Sharkey
  • Patent number: 8302439
    Abstract: A pin setting key for setting rotational orientations of pins of a lock. The key includes a bow portion and a blade portion for inserting into a keyway. The blade portion has a longitudinal axis and a bow end and a tip end, with a plurality of bitting positions located between the bow and tip ends. Each of the bitting positions corresponds to one of the pins of the plug such that insertion of the blade portion into the keyway aligns the bitting position with one of the pins. Each bitting position includes at least one bitting surface configured to rotate a pin when the contact surface of the pin contacts the bitting surface. Each bitting surface is offset from a central location of the respective bitting position. Each bitting surface has an axis extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Marc W. Tobias, Tobias Bluzmanis
  • Patent number: 8292278
    Abstract: A automatic truss jig setting system is disclosed that includes a table including a plurality of segments with a side edge of adjacent segments defining a slot. At least one pin assembly, and optionally a pair of pin assemblies, is movable independently of each other along the slot. Movement apparatus is provided for independently moving the pin assemblies along the slot. Each of the side edges of the segments associated with the slot defines a substantially vertical plane with a zone being defined between the substantially vertical planes of the side edges, and the movement apparatus is located substantially outside of the zone of the slot. The invention may optionally include a system for handling the obstruction of pin assembly movement, and a system for keeping track of the position of the pin assembly when the pin assembly has encountered an obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Truss Industry Production Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Clyde Fredrickson, Mark Wismer
  • Patent number: 8292776
    Abstract: A drive system with drive and freewheel modes comprises a final transfer element for receiving and rotating with a drive axle, and a final drive assembly in rotational communication with a motor. The final drive assembly is selectively engageable with the final transfer element to drive an axle received by the final transfer element. The final drive assembly has an engaged condition in which power is transferred through the final drive assembly to the drive axle and a disengaged condition in which power is not transferred through the final drive assembly. The final drive assembly comprises a gear set selectively engagable with the final transfer element in the engaged condition such that rotation of the gear set is transferred to the final transfer element. The gear set is selectively disengageable from the final transfer element in the disengaged condition such that rotation of the final transfer element is not transferred to the gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Masaba Mining Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerad Higman, Aaron Sudbeck, Harold Dojan
  • Patent number: 8267193
    Abstract: A valve tester suspension assembly for allowing one person to perform the tasks necessary to test underground valves includes an articulated arm attached to a mobile base such as a vehicle. The articulated arm may be biased such that the biasing assists in supporting the weight of a rotating assembly positioned at a distal end of the articulated arm. The articulated arm is pivoted to permit positioning of the rotating device in a substantially horizontal orientation at a desired position within a three dimensional space adjacent to the base to which the articulated arm is attached. A method of use is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Patent number: 8257412
    Abstract: A reach extending device for extending the reach and effective positioning of a therapy device comprises a holder portion configured to grip a therapy device and a handle portion releasbly mounted on the holder portion. The holder portion comprises a mounting element removably mountable on the handle portion, and a movable element for removably mounting on the therapy device. The movable element may be movably mounted on the mounting element to permit movement of the movable element with respect to the handle portion. The handle portion comprises at least two sections, and includes a base section and at least one extension section extendable from the base section. The at least one extension section may be movable between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas K. Skoog
  • Patent number: 8251392
    Abstract: A device for retaining a user's foot on a motorcycle footboard is disclosed, such as a footboard having an upper surface and a perimeter edge. The device comprises a frame configured to mount on the footboard. The frame forms a perimeter to extend about a portion of the upper surface of the footboard. The frame defines an aperture that is configured such that the portion of the upper surface of the footboard is exposed when the frame is mounted on the footboard. The frame comprises a main portion, the main portion having a front end for positioning toward a front of the footboard and a back for positioning toward a back end of the footboard. The frame also comprises an extension portion extending from the main portion. The extension portion extends forwardly from the main portion. The device includes a securing structure for removably securing the frame to the footboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Dean A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8240494
    Abstract: An adaptable bulk material container system comprises a hopper having an interior for receiving the bulk material and an upper opening and a lower opening. The hopper comprises an upper portion defining an upper portion of the interior and including an upper perimeter wall about the interior. The hopper also includes a lower portion defining a lower portion of the interior and being positioned below the upper portion. The upper portion may be separable from the lower portion such that the upper portion is removable from the lower portion. The system also includes an adaptable base supporting the hopper, with the hopper being mounted on the adaptable base. The base comprises a support frame mounted on the hopper and extending downwardly from the hopper, with the support frame forming a perimeter about the lower portion of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Brad Mohns
  • Patent number: 8186611
    Abstract: A segmented knife assembly for a mixer apparatus is disclosed. The knife assembly has a front, a rear, and a perimeter with a cutting edge forming a portion of the perimeter. The segmented knife assembly includes a support portion positioned toward the rear of the knife assembly for positioning on the auger of the mixer apparatus when the knife assembly is mounted on the mixer apparatus, and a positioning portion on the support portion and defining at least one positioning pocket, with the pocket being oriented toward the cutting edge of the knife assembly. The assembly also include a cutting portion removably positioned in the pocket of the positioning portion. The cutting portion includes a cutting edge section that forms at least a portion of the cutting edge of the knife assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kooima Company
    Inventors: Nolan Den Boer, Phil Kooima
  • Patent number: 8186096
    Abstract: A fishing lure comprises a hook structure including a hook portion for engaging the mouth flesh of a fish, a shank portion connected to the hook portion, and a line securing portion for securing a line to the hook structure. The line securing portion forms an unsecured loop so that a portion of fishing line is movable into the eye of the loop without threading. The lure also comprises a body structure mounted on the hook structure. The body structure has an anchor notch formed thereon and configured to receiving a portion of a looped fishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: Raymond Albert Rubin, William Allan Reid, Philip Craig Reid
  • Patent number: 8181745
    Abstract: An oil filter relocation kit for a motorcycle, comprising an oil block to attach to the oil transfer fitting of the engine. The oil block has an input port and an output port configured to fluidly communicate with the oil transfer fitting. A bracket is configured to mount on the frame of the motorcycle. A filter interface is attachable to the bracket to support the filter interface on the frame. The filter interface has an oil inlet port and an oil outlet port. A plurality of fluid conduits are configured to couple the input port and the output port of the oil block to the oil inlet port and the oil outlet port of the filter interface to place the filter interface in fluid communication with the oil block and the oil filter in fluid communication with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Robert E. Stanfield, Kory D. Farstad
  • Patent number: 8185303
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a position of a center pivot irrigation system includes positioning a tower unit on the rotatable arm of the irrigation system, determining a distance between the arm's rotation center and the tower unit, calculating coordinates of the tower unit along a path of the tower unit as the arm rotates, and associating an action of the irrigation system with coordinates of the tower unit location that correspond to the position of the arm where the action is to occur. Optionally, the action of the irrigation system and the coordinates of the location of the tower unit are downloaded to a remote unit located adjacent to the irrigation system. Optionally, current location coordinates of the tower unit are determined using a GPS receiver at the tower unit. Optionally, the current location coordinates are transmitted from the tower unit to the remote unit. Optionally, the current location coordinates are compared to the coordinates of the location of the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ag Sense, LLC
    Inventor: Mel Wieting
  • Patent number: 8153223
    Abstract: A label structure is disclosed for mounting on a container and includes a base panel for affixing to a surface of the container. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of a rear face of the base panel for adhering the base panel to the container. The label structure further includes a leaflet associated with the base panel for application to the container with the base panel, and the leaflet comprising at least one panel with opposite faces. The label structure also includes a laminating strip securing the leaflet to the base panel, and the laminating strip overlies the leaflet and overlying the base panel. In some embodiments, the leaflet is positioned adjacent to the base panel and does not overlie the base panel. In other embodiments, the leaflet has a width dimension that is greater than a width of the base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Randy G. Cowan
  • Patent number: 8141503
    Abstract: In an air seeder assembly having a base mount member with a at least one base ear with a base bore, and a seed boot with at least one boot ear with a boot bore, a fastening assembly mounting the seed boot to the base mount member is disclosed. The fastening assembly comprises a fastener structure fastening the seed boot to the base mount member by extending through the base bore and the boot bore. The fastening assembly includes a fastener interface device inserted into at least one of the bores. The interface device comprises a substantially tubular insertion portion inserted into the at least one bore and a flange portion connected to the insertion portion, and extends radially outwardly from the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lakeview Hutterian Brethren
    Inventors: Danny Wipf, Joseph Hofer
  • Patent number: 8117802
    Abstract: A structural element for use in forming a structure, that includes first and second longitudinal members that extend between opposite ends of the element. The longitudinal members have inward and outward faces, and a pair of side faces extending between the inward and outward faces. The element includes first and second lateral members that extend between the first and second longitudinal members. The first and second lateral members each have an outer surface. The outer surface of the first lateral member is substantially flush with a side face of each longitudinal member to form a substantially planar surface extending across substantially an entirety of a first side surface of the element. The outer surface of the second lateral member is substantially flush with a side face of each longitudinal member to form a substantially planar surface extending across substantially an entirety of a first side surface of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis R. Kisch, Timothy D. Frohreich
  • Patent number: 8108965
    Abstract: A convertible vacuum attachment for conveying a particulate material is disclosed. The attachment comprises a housing defining a chamber, with the housing having an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber and that defines an inlet opening. The housing has an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber for connection to a vacuum source. The convertible vacuum attachment also comprises an area changing structure configured to change an area of the inlet opening from a first area to a second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Richard L. Reimnitz