Patents Assigned to Craft, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5205520
    Abstract: A retaining block designed to support an undersized fluid line junction adapter to fit within a conventional plural line clamping system used for larger size junction adapters. The clamping system includes two opposed U-shaped clamping units or channels with semi-cylindrical collar support portions that encircle, center and hold cylindrical collars of the larger size junction adapters, and are spaced from one another by substantially stacking nuts. The retaining block includes a central body support portion and two cylindrical collar support portions, one located on each axial side of the central support portion. The retaining block fits within the channels of the plural line clamping system, and its cylindrical collar support portions are sized to physically contact and be secured by those of the channels. The retaining block has a passageway that extends entirely through the block's axial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5199095
    Abstract: A fiberoptic feedthrough fastener and method for forming same comprising sliding a first and second sections of heat shrink tubing up a fiberoptic cable beyond a fastening point. The jacket of the cable is then stripped off at the fastening point, the strength member is stripped off slightly beyond the fastening point, and the exposed strength member is folded back away from the buffered fibers. A section of protective tubing is slid over the exposed buffered fibers until it abuts the end of the jacket. The second section of heat shrink tubing is slid down the cable and the protective tubing. The exposed strength member is caught by the second section of heat shrink tubing and pulled over and about the protective tubing. The second section of heat shrink tubing is then secured about the protective tubing and exposed strength member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Computer Crafts, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Iapicco
  • Patent number: 5185840
    Abstract: A branching method for multi-fiber fiberoptic cables which comprises stripping off the jacket of a multi-fiber cable at the branching point, stripping the kevlar from the cable slightly beyond the branching point, folding back the kevlar over the jacket and holding the kevlar in place with heat shrink tubing leaving a portion of kevlar exposed about the end of the jacket with the individual buffered fibers extending beyond that point. Thereafter, a section of high grade heat resistant teflon tubing is slid onto each buffered fiber until a portion of the section of teflon tubing extends into the interior of said cable. Thereafter, a sheathing is prepared for each individual buffered fiber. The jacket of each sheathing is stripped slightly beyond its end point, the kevlar is folded back over the jacket and the kevlar is held in place with heat shrink tubing leaving a portion of kevlar exposed about the end of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Computer Crafts, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Iapicco
  • Patent number: 5178326
    Abstract: A compact, well defined and easily used spray pattern is formed with substantial containment of the plural component materials and reduced contamination of the work environment. Connections for the plural component materials are supported and carried on a workman's body, and the plurality of components of the plural component material flow to, and are combined at the connections and are carried through a single flexible conduit to a lightweight spray gun easily manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Glas-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Kukesh, Gregory Mansfield
  • Patent number: 5171614
    Abstract: A method of forming a dry, three dimensional block of sculptable material preferably involves the steps of painting the grains of a granular material, allowing the painted grains to dry, mixing a water resistant binder with the painted grains to form a slurry and hardening the slurry to form the block. The amount of binder added is selected to provide a block with a hardness between about 0.25 and 4.0 on the Mohs scale. The formed block has a wide variety of uses, including but not limited to use as a sculptable article, a sanding object, a sign or as a paving stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sandee Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Keith
  • Patent number: 5167306
    Abstract: Combined luggage and cart apparatus includes a cart disposed within a luggage case. The cart has tubular legs joined at one end by a base plate. A U-shaped handle is inserted in the legs and a locking arrangement prevents separation of the handle from the legs, once inserted. The locking arrangement includes a sleeve inserted in the legs, and a split ring insertable through the sleeve and held captive on the handle. The sleeve includes a locking tab to engage the legs, and the split ring engages the sleeve when the handle is placed in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: United Wire Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Carrigan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5080283
    Abstract: Method and apparatus provide effective application of plural component material from a plurality of air contained small streams, with stabilized stream formation, division and application and with a substantial reduction of VOC emissions in plural component applications, such as gel coat and wet-out applications in the manufacture of reinforced fiberglass articles. In the method, a flow of compressed air is delivered to an applicator and flows of the plural component materials are mixed and formed into a plurality of small, spaced streams extending from the applicator. The flow of compressed air is divided into a plurality of air flows that are directed about the plurality of small, spaced streams of plural component materials and generally adjacent and parallel to the streams. In apparatus for this method, a source of compressed air is provided and an applicator is adapted for connection to the source of compressed air and one or more sources of the plural component materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Glas-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Kukesh, Gregory Mansfield
  • Patent number: 5016461
    Abstract: A progressive die apparatus and method for cold forming weld adapters. A progressive die apparatus, preferably having at least four working stations and several idle stations, is used to form, weld adapters from rectangular bar stock having a thickness of at least about 3/8 inch. Plain-carbon steel bar stock material or other weldable metal material is successively fed through the progressive die apparatus, which is preferably installed in a knuckle-joint power press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Walker, George W. Lukowski
  • Patent number: 4980825
    Abstract: A portable electrohydraulic servo valve analyzer, which has microprocessor-based electronic controller and is operable in a fully automatic mode and a manual mode, is disclosed. The system also includes: a hydraulic manifold block and an adapter block for receiving different servo valve; a servo amplifier and electrical hook-up to the servo valve; pressure gages and hydraulic shut-off valves; a keypad for entering operating input commands and values; two digital displays indicating the current supplied to the valve and the resulting hydraulic flow rate through the valve, and a special turbine flowmeter capable of highly accurate operation of at least three orders of magnitude of flow rates. Most of the system is housed in a single small portable aluminum suitcase. Hydraulic flow is measured by digitally timing the periods between detection of the successive rotating vanes of the turbine, and compensating for nonlinearities in turbine rotation rate at low flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence S. Tootell, Keith G. Wilson, David R. Shoptaw
  • Patent number: 4979266
    Abstract: An easel hinge includes first and second hinge plates, each including a substantially flat main portion, a curled or rolled barrel portion and a pair of rosette type fastening elements. The barrel portions of the hinge plates cooperate to hingeably connect the main portions for movement of the hinge between a closed position wherein the main portions are in closely adjacent, substantially parallel relation, and an open position wherein the main portions are in angular relation. The hinge further includes a pair of daps on the main portion of at least one of the hinge plates for maintaining the main portions in closely spaced relation when the hinge is in the closed position thereof so that the hinge can be more effectively plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo T. Roy
  • Patent number: 4978008
    Abstract: A yarn organizer holds the different colors of yarn required for a needlcraft project. The organizer is in the form of a flat card member having holes adjacent to the edges of the card. The holes are uniformly spaced from the edges and uniformly spaced apart, to maintain the rigidity of the card. The holes are of different diameters for convenience in holding different sizes of bundles of yarn. One surface of the card is adapted for writing so an identification of the yarns can be placed on the card adjacent to each hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Dal-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil J. Dalbo, Loraine E. Dalbo
  • Patent number: 4967956
    Abstract: An air-assisted, airless atomization, plural component spraying system and method includes a first source of a first component, e.g., a resin; a second source of a second component, e.g., catalyst for the resin; spraying means to mix the resin and catalyst and direct the mixture to a substrate and a source of compressed air. The spraying means includes a nozzle assembly which comprises a liquid nozzle for forming liquid into a fan-like film with expanding edges extending from a liquid orifice, and a nozzle assembly for directing a flow of compressed air and catalyst at the fan-like film closely adjacent the liquid orifice. In an internal mix system, compressed air is directed to impinge upon the expanding edges of the fan-like stream of mixed resin and catalyst downstream of the impingement of a flow of compressed air on the fan-like stream to capture particles in small, uniform spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Glas-Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Mansfield
  • Patent number: 4944957
    Abstract: The present application discloses a composition which, when added to seafood prior to when said seafood is cooked, improves the organoleptic properties of seafood treated with said composition. The seafood may be cooked by any conventional means of cooking seafood. Also disclosed is a process for treating seafood to improve its organoleptic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Cuisine Crafts, Inc.
    Inventors: I. Steven Kingsley, Victor S. Turback
  • Patent number: 4887469
    Abstract: An electronic flowmeter system including a turbine flowmeter and a digital controller for making highly accurate flow measurements over a wide range of fluid flows and pressures is disclosed. The flowmeter preferably includes a body having a cylindrical bore in which is mounted a turbine having multiple vanes which rotate transversely to the direction of fluid flow. The clearance between the bore and vanes is selected for minimum resistance to fluid flow at extremely low flow rates. Rotation of the turbine vanes is detected by use of a proximity sensor or an optical sensor employing an artificial light and a photodetector. Flow measurements are made by digitally measuring the time periods between successive input pulses generated by detection of the rotating vanes of the turbine. For high temperature or intrinsically safe applications, the optical sensor is used with a fiber optic cable so that the light source and photodetector can be located remotely from the flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Shoptaw
  • Patent number: 4885943
    Abstract: An electronic flowmeter system including a turbine flowmeter and a digital controller for making highly accurate flow measurements over a wide range of fluid flows and pressures. The flowmeter preferably includes a housing or body having a cylindrical bore in which is mounted a turbine having multiple vanes, and which preferably rotates transversely to the direction of fluid flow. The clearance between the bore and outer edge of the vanes is selected for minimum resistance to extremely low flow rates. Rotation of the turbine vanes is detected by use of a proximity sensor or an optical sensor employing an artificial light source and a photodetector. Fiber optics may be used to locate the light source and photodetector at a location remote from the flowmeter for high temperature or intrinsically safe applications. Flow measurements are made by digitally measuring the time periods between successive input generated by detection of the rotating vanes of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence S. Tootell, Keith G. Wilson, David R. Shoptaw
  • Patent number: 4878696
    Abstract: A junction adapter having a hexagonally-shaped central support portion or body is disclosed for use with a conventional plural line clamping assembly. The hexagonal shape of the adapter body provides many advantages over the rectangularly-shaped bodies of prior art junction adapters. Among the advantages are that such adapters can be easily and very economically made from hexagonal bar stock, using conventional automatic screw machines. The use of the hexagonal bar stock results in a junction adapter formed of one piece of metal and thus provides an adapter that does not have any connection joint that can break away. The hexagonal adapter can be oriented in any position and even be slightly misaligned while still being secured firmly within a plural line clamping assembly.Three embodiments of the hexagonally-shaped adapter are disclosed, and each includes a hexagonally-shaped body, two co-axial connection members, and an axially arranged fluid passages through the junction adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Hydro-Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Walker
  • Patent number: 4873736
    Abstract: A pillow includes a pillow body having a surface including a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The first and second surface portions are disposed on opposite sides of a plane and the pillow body has a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the plane, the thickness increasing inwardly from the perimeter of the pillow body. A plurality of panels are provided, each having at least three edge sections and being connected along at least one of the edge sections to the pillow body. The panels are movable between a first position disposed to a first side of the plane adjacent the first surface portion and a second position disposed to a second side of the plane adjacent the second surface portion. Means are provided for releasably maintaining the plurality of panels in the positions so that the panels can be freely moved between the positions to orient the panels in various configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Crown Crafts, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Sapp, Julia E. Harrell
  • Patent number: 4870749
    Abstract: An automated apparatus is operative for attaching sequential hinges, such as easel hinges having rosette fastening elements thereon, to sequentially pairs of first and second substantially flat, penetrable members, in order to hingeably connect the penetrable members together. The apparatus includes a jaw assembly, a feeder assembly for feeding sequential hinges to the jaw assembly, a jaw advancement assembly for advancing the jaw assembly to a work station, first and second member advancement assemblies for advancing sequential pairs of first and second members, respectively, to the work station, a hammer assembly for urging the sequential pairs of first and second members into engagement with sequential hinges at the work station and a control assembly for controlling the jaw advancement assembly, the first and second member advancement assemblies and the hammer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Armand E. Roy, Leo T. Roy
  • Patent number: D308785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Crown Crafts, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Sapp, Julia E. Harrell
  • Patent number: D322161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Dal-Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil J. Dalbo, Loraine E. Dalbo