Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees & Seas
  • Patent number: 5765597
    Abstract: A pipe repair apparatus includes an outer carrier tube, an inner bladder tube within the carrier tube, and a repair sleeve within the bladder tube. The bladder tube and the carrier tube are formed by one unitary tube which is folded back upon itself. A wick extends from the repair sleeve to the rear end of the bladder tube and permits evacuation of gases from the bladder tube when the bladder tube is flattened by a vacuum during insertion of a curable resin into the bladder tube at its forward end. The bladder tube can be inverted out of the carrier tube so as to place the repair sleeve in contact with an area to be repaired within a sewer pipe. This method may also be used to repair the damaged joint between a lateral sewer line and a main sewer line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventors: Larry W. Kiest, Jr., Gary VanAmeyde
  • Patent number: 5685310
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging technique is disclosed which uses microbubbles as echo contrast agents. In general the method employs maintenance of an ultrasound signal while the contrast agent is intravenously injected into a mammal. Once all the contrast agent has been injected and transmission of the signal is suspended for a period of time sufficient for the microbubbles perfuse the organ of interest. Transmission of the ultrasound signal is then resumed and peak contrast images are obtained which rival more complicated imaging procedures such as nuclear resonance imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventor: Thomas R. Porter
  • Patent number: 5630689
    Abstract: A bale transport comprising a carrier frame including a pair of elongated spaced beams and a pair of elongated rails secured to the beams and spaced inwardly therefrom in general parallel relation thereto. Wheels are secured to the carrier frame, and hydraulic cylinders connect the carrier frame and the wheels for raising and lowering the frame with respect to the ground surface. A loading frame is on the carrier frame and a power mechanism on the carrier frame rigidly extends the loading frame laterally with respect to the carrier frame in order to load a bale onto the elongated movable height adjustable carrier frame. In operation, the loading frame is slid laterally by the power mechanism to a laterally extended position with respect the carrier frame. The carrier frame is moved longitudinally so that the loading frame is on an engagable position with a bale to be loaded resting on a supporting surface. The carrier frame is lowered to substantially the same level as the surface supporting the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Ronald K. Willis
  • Patent number: 5427088
    Abstract: A pupil expander insertion tool includes an elongated housing having a hollow chamber with a retractable blade extending through an aperture in the forward end of the housing and from the hollow chamber. The forward end of the retractable blade includes a pair of spaced-apart legs and a rearwardly extending slot therebetween, the slot adapted to receive a pupil expander in an elongated condition. The forward end of the housing includes a pair of forwardly projecting legs spaced above and parallel to the blade legs, to receive the tabs of a pupil expander between the housing legs and blade and the folded strap between the housing legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: John M. Graether
  • Patent number: 5332480
    Abstract: A capillary bed electrophoresis device for separating and collecting large-scale electrophoretic samples is disclosed. The invention relates to an improvement in the anticonvective packing and cooling system comprising a series of capillaries through which the sample and an eluent are driven by force. The sample is separated via an electrical gradient established axially within the capillaries while a coolant may be circulated intimately around the exterior of said capillaries to remove any Joule heating. The separated components are then collected at the discharge end of the capillaries. The system may be used with either continuous or batch electrophoresis devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ravindra Datta, Robert A. Beardsley
  • Patent number: 5203831
    Abstract: A topping and dumping valve is provided for inflating and deflating inflatable structures, such as life rafts and military assault boats. The valve includes a first cylindrical body mounted in the inflatable structure, and a second cylindrical body threadably mounted in the first body for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, air is directed through a passageway in the second body and through inflation ports in the first body so as to move a normally closed flapper seal out of sealing engagement with the inflation ports, thereby inflating the buoyancy chamber of the structure. When the second body is in the second position, deflation ports in the first body allow air from the buoyancy chamber to escape through the deflation ports and the passageway in the second body to the atmosphere. A protective cap is provided for closing the passageway in the second body when the valve is not being used during inflation and deflation of the inflatable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Survival Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Lind, Robert L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5192407
    Abstract: A means and method for indirect detection of constituent components of a mixture separated in a chemical separation process. Fluorescing ions are distributed across the area in which separation of the mixture will occur to provide a generally uniform background fluorescence intensity. For example, the mixture is comprised of one or more charged analytes which displace fluorescing ions where its constituent components separate to. Fluorescing ions of the same charge as the charged analyte components cause a displacement. The displacement results in the location of the separated components having a reduced fluorescence intensity to the remainder of the background. Detection of the lower fluorescence intensity areas can be visually, by photographic means and methods, or by automated laser scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Yeung, Lance B. Koutny, Barry L. Hogan, Chan K. Cheung, Yinfa Ma
  • Patent number: 5174433
    Abstract: A self-cleaning en-masse conveyor comprising an elongated conveyor housing having a removable bottom panel which defines an arc of approximately 90.degree.. Vertically disposed wall sections extend upwardly from the upper edges of the bottom panel and have a lid or cover extending across the upper ends thereof. A conveyor chain is mounted in the conveyor and includes a plurality of flat flights positioned thereon which have a rounded edge which conforms in shape to the cross-section of the bottom panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: InterSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Moser
  • Patent number: 5129385
    Abstract: A barbecue oven has a cooking compartment having a top and a bottom. A combustion chamber is mounted on the oven below the cooking compartment. An inclined floor is in the oven below the cooking compartment and above the combustion compartment, and is tilted towards a grease collection receptacle. At least one tube connects the bottom of the grease collection receptacle with the combustion compartment so that as the receptacle fills with grease, the level of grease will rise in the tube and gradually overflow into the combustion chamber, for combustion therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Dodgen Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Dodgen
  • Patent number: 5127143
    Abstract: A spline seating carriage is longitudinally movably mounted at one side edge of a support table upon which the window screen is positioned. The flexible screen material is layered over the screen frame and the flexible spline is positioned over the groove in the screen frame. A spline roller is movably mounted on the carriage and may be moved downwardly into a spline-engaging position to force the spline downwardly into the groove in the screen frame to secure the screen material thereof. The carriage is moved along the length of the screen frames so as to seat the spline along the entire periphery of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: North Country Thermal Line, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis P. Urlacher
  • Patent number: 5104122
    Abstract: A tool and method for conditioning and maintaining a pool cue tip includes a unitary body member. An abrasive material for sanding and trimming the side wall of the tip is positioned on the body. A member for burnishing the side wall of the tip is also positioned on the body. One or more cavities including abrasive is also included on the body as well as teeth for perforating the tip. The method includes trimming and burnishing the side wall, as well as shaping and perforating the cue tip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: David L. Gossman
  • Patent number: 5050520
    Abstract: A fume exhaustion safety device is designed for use on a boat having an internal combustion engine mounted within a closed engine compartment. An exhaust vent tube extending from the engine compartment to exhaust gaseous fluid to the exterior of the boat includes a blower fan to move the gases through the vent tube. The safety device includes a shutter or sail pivotally mounted within the vent tube to operate a microswitch when gaseous fluid moves through the vent tube. The microswitch is electrically connected to the ignition switch of the boat, the engine starter and the blower fan so as to prevent the connection of electrical power to the starter when the blower fan switch is on but no gaseous fluid is flowing through the vent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignees: Elmer I. Ballard, Emmett L. Steffes, Stephen M. Davis, Don Frerichs
    Inventor: Elmer I. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4650881
    Abstract: Arenes, such as benzoic acid and substituted benzoic acids, are readily thallated by thallium(III) compounds such as the trifluoroacetate and subsequently reacted with palladium chloride and simple olefins, dienes, allylic halides, vinyl halides, vinyl esters, or unsaturated cyclopropanes or unsaturated cyclobutanes to give isocoumarins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Larock, Sudarsanan Varaprath
  • Patent number: 4640287
    Abstract: A releasable fastening means and method for clothing items such as conventional caps, brassieres, and nursing brassieres, having portions for abutting securement to a user which includes a movable portion attached to at least one end or along one side to the clothing item and having at least one releasable side or end which is releasably attachable to a receptacle portion which is also attached to the clothing item. The movable portion and receptacle portion co-act to allow fastening and unfastening and securement of the clothing item to the user without hook, button, snaps, zippers, latches, buckles, or the like. The releasable fastening means can be easily fastened and unfastened with one hand and does not require intricate and cumbersome positioning or alignment of the portions. The releasable fastening means can take on a variety of embodiments and can be applied to a variety of clothing items. In addition, the releasable fastening means has inherent size adjustability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventors: Raymond G. Anderson, Doris E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4634435
    Abstract: A naso-gastric tube for removing fluids from a patient's stomach is provided and comprises an elongated tube having a first end and a second end which is adapted for insertion into the patient's stomach. The tube has a plurality of apertures adjacent the second end for providing communication between the patient's stomach and the vent and suction passages of the tube. Cushions or balloons are mounted on the tube adjacent the apertures and are adapted to be inflated so as to protect the apertures from occlusion by the lining of the stomach. The cushions are deflated prior to the tube member being inserted into and removed from the patient's stomach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Inventor: Steven A. Ingraham
  • Patent number: 4603505
    Abstract: A portable electronic insect controller is provided wherein a electrified alternately polarized grid surrounds a light emitting region of a camping lantern. The grid includes a bottom and top ring spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other. Bars attached to the rings extend upward from the bottom ring and downward from the top ring in a spaced arrangement. A grid bracket includes grid posts which attach to the bottom ring and extend downward to engage a collar which extends around the outside of the lantern and is pulled securely against the lantern by buckle snap connectors. A base is provided onto which the lantern is secured and into which is housed a power source for electrification of the grid. The power supply steps up voltage from either a direct current source or alternating current source to a high enough voltage to arc across from one bar to the next when an insert enters the region between the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Inventor: Lance Millard
  • Patent number: 4600531
    Abstract: A high yield method of production of a cross-linked hemoglobin derivative suitable for use as a blood substitute and plasma expander which is cross-linked between Lys 99 Alpha.sub.1 and Lys 99 Alpha.sub.2 in high percentage by adding the cross-linker in the presence of an added polyanion which blocks competing reactions at other sites of the protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventor: Joseph A. Walder
  • Patent number: D285138
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Yasui Sangyo Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: D321142
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Pearl Industries Limited
    Inventor: Tso C. Fong
  • Patent number: D393908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Emco Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry J. Kenkel