Patents Assigned to Limit, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5998496
    Abstract: A compound of the general formula:A-L.sup.+ D.sup.-where A is a moiety which absorbs radiation and enters an excited state in which it accepts an electron; D.sup.- is a moiety which donates an electron to the excited state A and releases a free radical; and L.sup.+ is a cationic linking group which tethers electron acceptor moiety A to electron donor moiety D.sup.-. Cationic linking moiety L.sup.+ has the formula:-L'-G-where L' is a moiety which forms a stable radical with acceptor moiety A upon transfer of an electron from donor moiety D.sup.- to electron acceptor moiety A, and G is a moiety which forms a leaving group upon transfer of the electron from donor moiety D.sup.- to acceptor moiety A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Salah A. Hassoon, Ananda M. Sarker, Douglas C. Neckers
  • Patent number: 5955002
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a property of a cationically curable composition comprising the steps of: adding a fluorescence probe to a cationically curable composition; measuring the intensity of the fluorescence emission of the probe at a wavelength at which intensity changes in response to changes occurring in the composition, wherein the fluorescence probe is a compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenoxyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.27 cycloaliphatic, C.sub.7 -C.sub.27 aralkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.27 aralkoxyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.27 alkaryl, or a substituted or unsubstituted diphenyl ether having the structure R.sup.9 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 R.sup.10 where R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 may be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; and R.sup.1,R.sup.2 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Kathleen G. Specht, Kesheng Feng, Roman Popielarz
  • Patent number: 5942554
    Abstract: A method for the formation of a colored polymeric body which comprises subjecting a curable composition containing a color precursor and an onium salt to heat or actinic radiation to cure the composition, wherein the color precursor is converted to its colored form, and a curable composition capable of forming a colored polymeric body, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuijin Ren, Wolter Jager, Douglas C. Neckers
  • Patent number: 5882722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thick film formed of a mixture of metal powders and metallo-organic decomposition (MOD) compounds in an organic liquid vehicle and a process for advantageously applying them to a substrate by silk screening or other printing technology. The mixtures preferably contain metal flake with a ratio of the maximum dimension to the minimum dimension of between 5 and 50. The vehicle may include a colloidal metal powder with a diameter of about 10 to about 40 nanometers. The concentration of the colloidal metal in the suspension can range from about 10 to about 50% by weight. The MOD compound begins to decompose at a temperature of approximately about 200.degree. C. to promote consolidation of the metal constituents and bonding to the substrate which is complete at temperatures less than 450.degree. C. in a time less than six minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Partnerships Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul H. Kydd
  • Patent number: 5801659
    Abstract: A navigation and control apparatus having a link to a GPS device for receiving positional and navigational data therefrom, a converter to convert the GPS signals into a VOR format, and a VOR signal generator to transmit the converted signals to a VOR receiver aboard the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Dytech Limited Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Helfrick
  • Patent number: 5794296
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed having a power driven rotary brush in which the direction of rotation of the brush is automatically controlled depending on whether the top or the bottom teeth are being brushed in order to brush any food debris present on the teeth and gums in a direction away from the gums. The toothbrush of the present invention utilizes a direction controller that is placed inside the mouth between the top and bottom teeth. The direction controller controls the direction of brush rotation and serves to stabilize the toothbrush relative to the teeth during the brushing operation. The movement of the direction controller operates a reversing switch to change the direction of rotation of the brush as required to brush in a direction away from the gums and towards the teeth without removing the toothbrush from the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Vontechs Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Tit Shing Wong
  • Patent number: 5728100
    Abstract: A medullary suture anchor including an elongated body having flat, angled end portions. A central bore extends through the body transverse to and centered on the longitudinal axis of the anchor. The anchor further includes channels extending along the sides of the body, such that a suture journaled through the center bore may be received within the longitudinal grooves during insertion of the anchor into a medullary canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Orthopaedic Biosystems Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffry B. Skiba
  • Patent number: 5720766
    Abstract: An anchor for attaching soft tissue to a bone comprising a head having a central dome with a suture bore extending therethrough. The dome includes a pair of substantially flat, oppositely disposed lands configured for engagement to a driving tool for inserting the anchor into the bone. A shaft extend from the head, and includes a first series of helical threads having a first diameter, and second series of helical threads interleaved with the first series of threads. The second series of threads has a diameter substantially different than the first diameter. The anchor employs a guide wire bore extending along the length of the anchor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Orthopaedic Biosystems Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Zang, Jeffry Skiba
  • Patent number: 5717217
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the properties of a coating comprising the steps of adding a fluorescence probe to a coating composition which has the ability to undergo microscopic changes in viscosity, the ratio of the intensity of the fluorescence emission of said probe at two wavelengths changing in response to said changes in said viscosity of said coating composition; curing said coating; causing said compound to fluoresce; measuring the fluorescence of said compound; calculating the ratio of the intensities of fluorescence emission of said compound at two or more wavelengths; relating said ratio to the monitored property of said coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Jian Chang Song, Afranio Torres-Filho
  • Patent number: 5677107
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object having selected elements which are colored differently than other elements of the object comprising the steps of: (a) providing a film of a photohardenable composition containing a photoresponsive agent; (b) irradiating the film in a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed; (c) selectively irradiating one or more portions of the cross-sectional pattern corresponding to the selected elements which are desired to be colored differently with radiation which activates the photoresponsive agent, the photoresponsive agent thereby producing color in or removing color from the selected irradiated portions of the cross-sectional pattern; (d) repeating the steps a, b and c to form successive adjacent cross-sectional patterns of the object; and (e) integrating the cross-sectional patterns together to provide the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas C. Neckers
  • Patent number: 5639802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of compounds which absorb light at wavelengths greater than 350 nm and are useful as fluorescers or as photoinitiators. The present invention provides compounds of the formulas (I) and (II) and their equivalents (the nomenclature of the compounds used herein is based on the numbering of positions as shown in formula (I)): ##STR1## where: when W is .dbd.O, W.sup.1 is hydrogen or --OR.sup.9 and when W is .dbd.NR.sup.+.sub.2, W is hydrogen or --NR.sub.2, A is hydrogen, alkenyl, alkyl or an election withdrawing group, and the remaining groups are as defined in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Yubai Bi
  • Patent number: 5623080
    Abstract: A compound of the formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may combine to form a ring; R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a benzoyl group, a group of the formula --L(CH.sub.2).sub.n R.sup.8 where n is 1 to 8, R.sup.8 is a hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, dialkylamino, --COR.sup.16 or --COOR.sup.14 where R.sup.16 is a hydrogen, chlorine, COCl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, --NR.sub.2 or aryl and R.sup.14 is a hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, aryl, COR, 2,4-dinitrophenyl, N-imido or --NR.sub.2 and L is a direct bond or C.dbd.O; W is .dbd.O; W.sup.1 is hydrogen or --OR.sup.9, where R.sup.9 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, acyl or a group of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n R.sup.10 where n is 1 to 8 and R.sup.10 is amino, dialkylamino, hydroxy, acryloyl or methacryloyl; Y is oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, C.dbd.O, or >N--R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Jianmin Shi
  • Patent number: 5606171
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a property of a polymeric mass such as a coating or film comprising the steps of adding a fluorescence probe compound capable of fluorescing to a polymeric composition which has the ability to undergo changes in microviscosity, the ratio of the intensity of the fluorescence emission of said compound at two wavelengths changing in response to said changes in said microviscosity of said composition; curing said composition; causing said compound to fluoresce; measuring the fluorescence of said compound; calculating the ratio of the intensities of fluorescence emission of said compound at two or more wavelengths; relating said ratio to the monitored property of said composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Jian C. Song, Afranio Torres-Filho, Wolter F. Jager, Zhijun J. Wang
  • Patent number: 5544600
    Abstract: A knee control mechanism is provided for operation of a machine. The mechanism includes at least one knee contact surface operatively connected to the machine in such manner as to permit operation of the machine while the operator is standing with both feet firmly placed on the floor at all times. The knee control mechanism is positioned forwardly of and substantially entirely to either one of the right and left sides of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: DBH Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Morris D. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5522843
    Abstract: A bone anchor for securing a suture to a bone comprising a head portion and a shaft. The head portion includes a flat head portion for impeding axial migration of the bone anchor into the bone and a dome portion having a tunnel for receiving a suture. The shaft secures the bone anchor to the bone. It extends from the head portion to a flat, distal end. The shaft includes a plurality of tine segments disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor and a plurality of grooves extending along the shaft that divide each of the plurality of tine segments into a plurality of tines. Each of the plurality of tines has an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the anchor, a frustroconical portion, and an arcuate junction defined by the intersection of the upper surface and the frustroconical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Orthopaedic Biosystems Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Kerry Zang
  • Patent number: 5514519
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object having selected elements which are colored a different color than the color of other elements of the object, comprising the steps of:a. providing a film of a photohardenable composition containing a photoresponsive agent,b. irradiating the film in a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed so as to form hardened areas in the film.c. selectively irradiating one or more portions of the cross-sectional pattern corresponding to the selected elements which are desired to be colored a different color than the color of other elements of the object with radiation which activates the photoresponsive agent, the photoresponsive agent thereby producing color in or removing color from the selectively irradiated portions of the cross-sectional pattern, the steps being performed with radiation of a different wavelength than the radiation used in performing step b,d. repeating steps a, b and c to form successive adjacent cross-sectional patterns of the object, ande.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas C. Neckers
  • Patent number: 5451343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of compounds which absorb light at wavelengths greater than 350 nm and are useful as fluorescers or as photoinitiators. The present invention provides compounds of the formulas (I) and (II) and their equivalents (the nomenclature of the compounds used herein is based on the numbering of positions as shown in formula (I)): ##STR1## where: when W is .dbd.O, W.sup.1 is hydrogen or --OR.sup.9 and when W is .dbd.NR.sup.+.sub.2, W is hydrogen or NR.sub.2.sup.+2, A is hydrogen, alkenyl, alkyl or an election withdrawing group, and the remaining groups are as defined in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Jianmin Shi
  • Patent number: 5395862
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photooxidizable initiator composition comprising a fluorone initiator and a coinitiator which is capable of accepting an electron from the fluorone upon excitation of the fluorone by actinic radiation, wherein the composition produces free radicals which initiate free radical reactions; and photohardenable compositions which comprise a free radical polymerizable compound, a fluorone initiator and a coinitiator capable of accepting an electron from the fluorone upon exposure of the composition to actinic radiation, and producing free radicals which initiate free radical polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Neckers, Jianmin Shi
  • Patent number: 5362078
    Abstract: An equestrian saddle carrier for transporting one or more saddles includes a frame having a vertical portion defining a forward side and a rearward side and a horizontal portion extending from the forward side of the vertical portion. An axle is offset from the carrier frame on the rearward side and accepts at least one wheel. A height adjustable saddle arm attachment system is connected to the frame allowing saddle arms to detachably connect and extend on the forward side of the frame. A saddle rack, for use alone or in combination with the saddle carrier, includes a frame having a vertical portion with a forward and rearward side and a horizontal portion extending from the forward side of the vertical portion. The saddle rack may be slidably engaged by the horizontal portion of the saddle carrier beneath the horizontal portion of the saddle rack. Detachable saddle arms interchangeably connect to the vertical portions of the rack and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Paton Limited, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Earl Paton
  • Patent number: D365631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Endo-Tech Limited, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Lusby, Kirk A. Jacobson