Patents Examined by Alex Grosz
  • Patent number: 5855032
    Abstract: An improved quilt comprising a first, second and third layer of material or fill providing a quilt having superior insulating capabilities and, thus, providing superior warmth to the user. These layers are comprised of at least one layer of fur or simulated fur disposed directly adjacent to a fill layer. Further, the quilt generally, but not necessarily, has a repeating pattern on the third layer of material disposed directly adjacent to the other side of said fill layer. The invention may be used, for example, as bedwear or throw as well as a lap robe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Kimberley D. Field
  • Patent number: 5852838
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a cushion for use with sloped vehicle seats, to provide a substantially level and horizontal surface upon which to change infant's diapers. The cushion features a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface being angled slightly relative to the top surface. The cushion has a generally triangular cross section, featuring a relatively thin front edge, and a relatively thick rear edge. The angle between the top and bottom surfaces roughly matches the slope of the vehicle seat, so that when the cushion is placed on a sloped seat with the thick edge toward the rear and with the thin edge toward the front, the top surface is substantially level and horizontal. The cushion can be provided with one or more torso supports on the top surface to further stabilize the infant. The bottom surface of the cushion can be provided with one or more cut-outs to lighten the cushion and allow it to conform to the seat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: Christopher W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5850648
    Abstract: An anatomical mattress comprises at least two layers of elastic material each having a main surface. The elastic layers are joined along the main surfaces thereof to define a generally parallelepiped-shaped body. The body has a peripheral frame and two opposite surfaces. At least a portion of one of the opposite surfaces of the body has semispherical-shaped elements extending outwardly therefrom and defining a lying plane of the mattress. At least two transverse reinforcing and stiffening bands are disposed in the body at positions corresponding generally with the shoulders and feet, respectively, of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Luciana Morson
  • Patent number: 5850642
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying protective material (48, 58) having a stand (12) and at least one support arm (14) moveably connected to the stand (12). At least a pair of counter-rotatable shafts (16 and 18) are connected with the support arm (14) and endless moveable belts (20) for moving objects (54) so that an upper and lower surface (38 and 40) are formed by the belts (20) and each surface moves together at the same time, in the same direction. The protective material insertion apparatus (32) includes pivotal moveable upper support tray (42) and stationary lower support platform (44). After moveable upper support tray (42) is open and sheet-like protective material (48) is inserted with an end (50) protruding therefrom, the moveable upper support tray (42) is closed. Once closed, end (50) is wrapped on top of moveable upper support tray (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Wilbur A. Foster
  • Patent number: 5845353
    Abstract: An improvement for a water bed includes a pair of water bed mattresses housed in a bed cover. There is a heat insulating foam or air bag sandwiched between the two water bed mattresses. Each water bed mattress has a plurality of transverse partitions to reduce water vibration and turbulence therein. The disclosed structure has the advantage of not only improving the stability, but also lengthening the durability of the water bed mattress. A plurality of longitudinal air tubes run through the transverse partitions and communicate with an air bag for providing a desired softness of the water bed mattresses to suit an individual user's requirements. Moreover, the disclosed water bed mattress is able to support a user's back bone comfortably, and minimize the quantity of water used for the mattress to reduce its weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Andy Chow
  • Patent number: 5845351
    Abstract: A stretcher table assembly is provided for attachment over an ambulance stretcher. The stretcher table assembly includes a tray for securing medical equipment used during an emergency. A pair of legs extend away from the tray and include attachment members for engaging the rails of the stretcher. The attachment members may include anti-skidding members providing frictional resistance between the attachment members and the rails. The legs are secured to the rails through a flexible strap. The flexible strap may be wrapped around the rail and secured. The flexible strap may also be used in conjunction with a hook which engages the rail. The flexible strap is then secured to hold the stretcher table assembly in place over the stretcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Berta, Richard C. Habernehl
  • Patent number: 5829079
    Abstract: A portable sand pillow for resting or supporting a body part of a user, comprising, a support member with a top side and a bottom side, a front end and a rear end. The support member having an inner cavity for holding and securing sand in a desired configuration therein. An aperture with matching hook and loop fastening elements secured around the perimeter allows for opening and closing the support member and sealing the inner cavity. The aperture being adapted to allow the inner cavity to be filled with sand and to retain the sand within the inner cavity. An upper support element is secured to the upper surface of the support member for supporting and cushioning a body part of the user, and a pair of end elements are secured to the support element, one of the pair of end elements being secured to the front end of the support element and the other being secured to the rear end of the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Timothy J. Castro
  • Patent number: 4231125
    Abstract: A beach towel or the like for use with a pillow, and characterized by simplicity and economy of construction, and the use of elements substantially impervious to corrosion by salt and damage from sand. The beach towel comprises an elongate, substantially rectangular fabric piece defining opposing, laterally extending top and bottom end edges and opposing, longitudinally extending side edges. A pair of longitudinally spaced-apart and laterally extending attachment members are secured to the fabric piece proximate its top end for permitting the top end of the fabric piece to be folded over itself and releasably attached in such position to form a tube for enclosing a pillow. One of the attachment members comprises a patch having numerous rows of hook-like projections, and the other of the pair of attachment members comprises a patch of loose, fibrous, non-woven material for releasably interlocking with the hook-like projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Inventor: Joseph F. Tittl
  • Patent number: 4184724
    Abstract: An article of hospital furniture having bottom, top and side walls and a closure for closing an opening at the front of the article, the closure being adapted to be pulled open from a closed position. The closure comprises a front panel and an elongate flexible gripping member secured to the periphery of the panel. This member extends along edges of the panel and around corners of the panel and is of frictional material to facilitate pulling the closure open by exerting pressure on the member and pulling it forwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: LVK Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh S. Katz, Anthony N. Garrett
  • Patent number: 4181382
    Abstract: Releasably attached to the rod of a conventional towel rack by means of a pair of horizontally-spaced wedge-shaped undulating spring brackets is the top shelf of a double-shelf cabinet having end plates depending from the top shelf to a bottom shelf. Extending between the end plates near the forward upper corners thereof is an auxiliary or supplementary towel rod. The cabinet is attached to the rod of a conventional towel rack by lowering the brackets upon it between it and the wall to which the towel rack is attached, the wedge-shaped undulating form of the brackets causing them to snap into fixed recessed positions relatively to the towel rod and to be held therein by the wedging action. Pushing inward on the bottoms of the brackets disengages them from the towel rack whereupon the cabinet may be lifted off the towel rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Inventor: Louis A. Harvey
  • Patent number: 4173378
    Abstract: A supporting frame and cover panel assembly adapted for slidably and sealingly supporting a food storage drawer in a generally airtight sealed environment for extended food storage. The assembly includes a rectangular one-piece frame supporting a cover panel in a locked manner by a pair of trim members. A seal, suitably affixed in the side members and a rearward member, are substantially coextensive therewith such that the seal extends into a path of the drawer when the drawer is moved from its open position to its closed position, whereby when the drawer is in its closed position the seal abuts the side and rear walls of the drawer. The front cross frame member includes means for effecting a sealed relationship with the front wall of the drawer when the drawer is in its closed position to complete the generally airtight sealed environment for the food in the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Hanson, Paul E. Kronenberger, Charles C. Whistler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4172623
    Abstract: A cabinet is disclosed having a front frame constructed from four extruded edge members. Each extruded edge member has a running slot internal to it such that it receives a reinforcing member at each corner. The outer enclosure comprises an upper U-shaped panel and a lower U-shaped panel, each having interiorly bent outer edges which are secured by a dove-tail bent clamp positioned therebetween. A rear frame secures the enclosure in wrap-around relationship to both front and rear frames. Interior mounting posts having mounting holes thereon are secured to the front and rear frames by means of a fastener which engages a second running slot adjacent the first. The panels coupled with the mounting members secure the frame members which are reinforced at their corners and the dove-tail bent clamp secures the upper U-shaped closure portion to the lower U-shaped closure portion. The dove-tail bent clamp also forms horizontal handle assemblies on both sides of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: AMCO Engineering Company
    Inventor: Edwin V. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4169639
    Abstract: A module capable of being grouped into multiples to define various articles of furniture, such as bookcases and file cabinets. The module is constituted by top, bottom and side panels whose edges have longitudinal bores therein and are cut to form complementary tongues and grooves creating corner joints, whereby the panels may be compactly packaged and shipped in the flat state and thereafter assembled on a site to create a box-like module having rectangular front and rear openings. The joints are held together and the structure stabilized by a removable strut connector constituted by a pair of intersecting arms each acting as a bridge between a set of diagonally-opposed corners at the rear opening to form a truss, the arms being pivotally interconnected and being provided at their ends with laterally-extending pins that are insertable into the corner bores so that one may collapse the module simply by removing the strut connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Inventor: Colman Zola
  • Patent number: 4164797
    Abstract: A mattress construction comprising a filler with a surrounding mattress cover. The cover defines an opening along at least one of its ends, and a zipper is provided for closing the opening. A fabric section of the cover is positioned in overlapping relationship with one end of the zipper. This section defines a pocket for receipt of the zipper closure when the zipper is closed to thereby reduce the likelihood that the zipper will be opened during use of the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Assignee: The United States Bedding Company
    Inventor: Gerald A. Golembeck
  • Patent number: 4162863
    Abstract: An irrigating device formed from an absorbent product, such as a polymeric pulp or hydrophilic textile contained within a filtering envelope, such as a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric. The device is placed in the ground in communication with a source of water which may be above or below ground. The irrigation device provides for a uniform rate of irrigation of the soil in which it is placed, requires less water than conventional irrigation devices providing the same overall coverage, and is not subject to dogging or blockage, as with conventional irrigation devices.In one embodiment for preparing the irrigation device, the absorbent product is in the form of a tow of hydrophilic continuous filament and the textile filter envelope is produced in a continuous in-line operation in conjunction with the production of the tow.The irrigation device can be applied to the irrigation of soils to facilitate the growth of plants, trees, crops and the germination of seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc-Textile
    Inventors: Yves Gaudard, Henri Guillemaud, Jacques Perfetti
  • Patent number: 4162114
    Abstract: A drawer side panel having a channel extending lengthwise of the face thereof which is outermost in use, the channel being parallel to one longitudinal edge of the panel and having a longitudinally extending lip projecting across the entrance to the channel from at least one longitudinal edge thereof. The panel is used with novel forms of drawer runner and may be adapted to be interchangeably mounted on runners of different construction. Various other novel components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: L. B. (Plastics) Limited
    Inventors: Leon G. Litchfield, Terence Hardy
  • Patent number: 4160570
    Abstract: Modular units for packaging articles to be sold in stores, used to display the articles for sale and which may then be used for storage and easy accessibility in use of the articles by purchasers. The modules are formed of two relatively thin plastic pieces. The pieces are joined together to form a hollow structure with an upper article supporting surface. One or more article holding elements such as recesses or depressions are provided in the upper surface while means are provided on the back of the modular unit whereby it can be mounted on a vertical surface when the articles are displayed for sale, and while being stored for a purchaser and awaiting usage. A protective cover can be provided to permit safe transport of the articles and/or for protection while being displayed and/or stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Aladdin Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: John A. Bridges
  • Patent number: 4158521
    Abstract: A solution of an oxygenated polyamine, which is the reaction product of dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin, has been discovered to possess excellent stabilization properties when used as a treatment for stabilizing a clay containing formation, for example in the treatment of oil and gas producing boreholes which penetrate clay containing formations. Preferred copolymers of this type which are useful in clay formation treatments include those having epichlorohydrin to dimethylamine mole ratios in the range of from about 0.79 to about 0.93.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Assignee: The Western Company of North America
    Inventors: Robert W. Anderson, Bob G. Kannenberg
  • Patent number: 4157852
    Abstract: A support system for panel members including an outer frame including at least four tubular members interconnected at end portions by joints to form the outer frames, an inner frame including at least four moldings extending along and complementary to the tubular members to form the inner frame and with the inner frame located within the outer frame, the moldings each including a groove extending along the length of the molding and with the groove having a configuration to receive a portion of the tubular member and with the grooves providing for the inner frame interlocked within the outer frame, and the moldings each including a channel extending along the length of the molding and with the channels receiving and supporting a panel member within the inner frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1979
    Inventor: Ralf G. Zacky
  • Patent number: 4155671
    Abstract: The base of an offshore gravity platform consists of at least two separately formed caissons, preferably of concrete, which are mounted one on top of the other or another. The roof of the lower of adjacent caissons and/or the bottom of the adjacent upper caisson is or are so shaped as to form between the caissons a space which is rendered substantially fluid-tight and wherein, when the platform is floating on the sea and when the platform is standing on the sea bed, fluid pressure in the space between the caissons is such that the two caissons are urged tightly together by hydrostatic pressure. Adjacent caissons may also be mechanically secured together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Hollandsche Beton Maatschappij B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Vos