Patents Assigned to The Source
  • Refurbishable shipping spool and method of refurbishing
    Patent number: 6138940
    Abstract: A refurbishable cushioned spool suitable for storing and transporting an extended object. In one embodiment, the spool includes a cushioning material which is removably attached to the cylindrical body portion of the spool. In one embodiment, the cushioning material is held to the spool body by double sided tape. The invention also relates to a method of refurbishing a cushioned spool, including the steps of providing instructions to an end user to return the cushionable spool to a refurbishing center once the extended object has been removed from the spool; inspecting the spool for damage, refurbishing or repairing the cushioned spool; reusing the spool until the end of the useful lifetime of the spool; and thereafter recycling at least a portion of the cushioned spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Re-Source America, I.P., Inc.
    Inventor: Curt Hurd
  • Mounts for parallel curtain rods with adjustable spacing
    Patent number: 6135403
    Abstract: A mount for supporting the ends of parallel hung curtain rods has telescoping male and female members pivotally mounted on a base with a tensioning screw. Connectors for receiving the ends of the curtain rods are mounted on remote ends of the telescoping male and female members. The distance between the connectors and the angle of an axis intersecting the connectors can be adjusted by loosening the tensioning screw and then tightening it to fix the connectors and, hence, the curtain rods in a desired disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Source Global Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan Goldstein
  • Scanner calibration technique
    Patent number: 6134029
    Abstract: An efficient technique for calibrating a scanner relative to a particular colorant set having N primary colorants. Once the scanner is calibrated, the scanner's device-dependent tristimulus values for an arbitrary color are transformed to a device-independent representation of the arbitrary color in a computationally efficient manner. The technique exploits the fact that the color space defined by the primary colorants can be advantageously partitioned, with each partition being represented by a transformation matrix that accurately characterizes the transformation for that partition of the space. The partitioning is characterized by a set of M key colors (in a specific embodiment, M=2N), each of which defines a boundary between adjacent partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Light Source Acquisition Company
    Inventor: Edward M. Granger
  • Thermal waterless lithographic printing plates
    Patent number: 6132933
    Abstract: The invention relates to thermal waterless lithographic printing plates comprising layers of inherent near infrared absorbing polymers for computer-to-plate and digital-offset-press technologies. More specially, this invention relates to thermal waterless lithographic printing plates, which can be imaged with near infrared laser light and which do not require post chemical processing step.More particularly, the present invention provides a thermal waterless printing plate suitable for near infrared laser imaging, said printing plate comprising:(i) a support substrate, and (ii) a composite top layer consisting of:(a) a near infrared absorbing adhesion promoting layer applied to the support substrate and(b) a near infrared absorbing ink repelling cross-linked silicone polymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: American Dye Source, Inc.
    Inventor: Ny T. Nguyen
  • Recycle shipping assembly
    Patent number: 6131376
    Abstract: A cushioned shipping assembly includes a carton and foam inserts to support a product shipped by a supplier, which elements are successively returned by an end user to be reused in the same or other shipping assembly, while various components are recycled as they become spent. In some embodiments, the carton collapses to a diminished size for return. A resource center reroutes or refurbishes the components, recycling aged or spend pieces. On-premises pelletizing of reclaimed polymer provides a more efficient, environmentally clean system. Spent inserts of identified polymer may be diverted to users of specific resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Re-Source America IP
    Inventors: Michael J. Grey, Wayne Williams, William H. Shaw
  • Method of centrifugally separating swarf
    Patent number: 6129851
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a method of separating swarf lubricant from swarf solids. A centrifuge parts separator utilizes a screen which preferably comprises a cylindrical shaped member formed in one or more component parts with a plurality of spaced fluid passage openings therein with the ratio of the distance between the center lines of adjacent openings (x) and the median width of the openings (y) being x/y of at least 18/1. The swarf is centrifuged in the separator during the course of which operation, substantially all the swarf fluid passes through the screen openings whereas substantially all the swarf solid passes over the screen, the separated swarf fluids and solids each being directed to a collection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Inter-Source Recovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Nemedi, Robert J. Nemedi
  • Thermally reactive near infrared absorption polymer coatings, method of preparing and methods of use
    Patent number: 6124425
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel polymeric coating materials for direct digital imaging by laser. More specifically the novel coating materials are thermally reactive near infrared absorption polymers designed for use with near infrared laser imaging devices. This invention further extends to the preparation and methods of use of the novel materials. The invention is particularly useful in the preparation of lithographic printing plates for computer-to-plate and digital-offset-press technologies. The invention extends to photoresist applications, to rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards and to chemical sensor development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: American Dye Source, Inc.
    Inventor: My T. Nguyen
  • Pivoting and telescoping curtain dual-rod bracket for bay windows
    Patent number: 6101675
    Abstract: A wall-mountable curtain rod bracket has two holders for supporting the ends of two respective curtain rods over two adjacent panels of a bay window. Each holder is pivotally mounted on the end of sleeve which is telescopically and rotatably mounted on a segment of an L-shaped rod, which is pivotally mounted on a wall anchor. Set screws are provided for locking all parts after they are pivoted and telescoped to their desired positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Source Global Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan Goldstein
  • Semiconductor wafer polishing mechanism
    Patent number: 6089960
    Abstract: A wafer polishing machine uses a pedestal unit that holds a semiconductor wafer using a vacuum force for polishing the surface of the wafer on a polishing pad and slurry mixture. A gimbal mechanism is implemented within the pedestal unit so that the various portions of the wafer surface are evenly polished. The gimbal mechanism enables the portion of the pedestal unit holding the semiconductor wafer to precess relative to that portion of the pedestal unit connected to the polishing machine. An elastomeric shim ring is also used within the pedestal unit to provide further compliance of the wafer surface to the various contours of the polishing pad during the polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: One Source Manufacturing
    Inventor: Rick Messer
  • Parabolic and spherical multiport illuminators for light guides
    Patent number: 6086234
    Abstract: A light guide illumination system, which is used in transmitting illumination from a central source to a variety of remote locations, comprises an illumination source, a configuration of transfer lenses disposed around the illumination source, which are each adapted to focus emitted light from the illumination source in a generally outward direction from the illumination source, a plurality of condenser lenses, and at least one light guide. Each of the plurality of transfer lenses are adapted to focus light into a corresponding condenser lens, and the at least one light guide is adapted to receive light from the condenser lenses. The combination of the several elements of the inventive system results in a very efficient transfer of the energy of the light source to the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Remote Source Lighting International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Riser, Ronald F. Mathis, John F. Forkner
  • Package
    Patent number: D426462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D429149
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D430019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D433324
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D433325
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D433626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Cooking appliance
    Patent number: D433869
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Eastern Sources Housewares (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Chok Wai Wong, Wai Leung Lin
  • Package design
    Patent number: D433939
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D434317
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey
  • Package
    Patent number: D434650
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Trade Source International
    Inventor: Neall W. Humphrey