Patents Examined by Andrea L. Pitts
  • Patent number: 6368005
    Abstract: A three ring binder includes a spine, front cover and back cover, each of which includes a substantially solid base plate and an outer plastic shell. The spine and front cover each includes a rectangular picture frame, the outer edges of which are aligned with and welded to the bottom and side edges of the spine and cover. A clear plastic membrane is secured to the frame's interior covering the opening in the picture frame. The frame top edges are spaced inwardly and free of the shell to form insert pockets. Display inserts are slidably mounted within the insert pockets defined by the frames. The spine insert includes an upper folded edge, and includes an outer pin head. Pulling upwardly on the pin head withdraws the insert. Mount-mats of a semi-solid paper are provided in the pockets to receive thin, flexible paper for insertion into the frame pockets. The inserted mat holds the display material with the insert pocket. The frame may be of thin flexible opaque plastic sheet material less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: H.C. Miller Company
    Inventors: William J. Streff, Kenneth R. Green
  • Patent number: 6299401
    Abstract: A blank is provided adapted for forming into a file folder. The blank comprises a planar sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The sheet has a first cover portion joined to a second cover portion along a mutual cover hinge line. The sheet is adapted for folding about the cover hinge line such that the first cover portion and second cover portion overlie each other and the folder is adapted to receive sheet material therebetween. The first cover portion includes a tab extension along one edge thereof either adjacent to the fold line or opposite thereto. The tab extension includes an inner tab portion and an outer tab portion joined together along a mutual hinge line. Folding the tab extension about the tab fold line causes the outer tab portion to overlie the inner tab portion forming a tab which extends from an edge of the first cover portion beyond the second cover portion when the second cover portion is folded to overlie the first cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Peter L. Pacione
  • Patent number: 6210092
    Abstract: A punch and binding machine including a punching mechanism and a binding mechanism for punching and binding a stack of sheets by spreading the curled fingers of an elastic binder. The binding mechanism has a longitudinal extension in parallel to the edge of the sheets and a binding handle. The punching handle for operating the punching system has the binding handle mounted to it so the binding handle can be rotated with respect to the punching handle. The binding mechanism may be a separate unit unattached to the punching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Friedrich von Rohrscheidt
  • Patent number: 6205895
    Abstract: A tube cutter designed for cutting a pipe where access is limited to the interior of the tube only. A rotatable cutter head mounted at the end of an elongated drive shaft carries a plurality of cuffing wheels. The tube cutter is inserted into a tube to be cut from one end thereof using the elongated drive shaft to position the cutter head in the tube. When the cutter head is inserted into the predetermined location, a feed drive is energized which rotates a scroll head to cause the cutting wheels to move in a radial direction to advance and engage the interior surface of the tube in a concentric manner undergoing cutting. When the tube has been severed, the feed drive rotation is reversed to retract the cutting wheels into the rotatable head, so as to enable removal of the rotary tube cutter from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Schartinger, Terry Hunter
  • Patent number: 6189934
    Abstract: An anti-copy layer or film for documents that is substantially transparent to the legitimate user, comprising a multiplicity of small fragments of spectral material embedded within an optically clear coating, wherein multi-angular illumination of the fragments by a copy apparatus generates sufficient amounts of visual noise in a copy as to prevent true-copy replication of the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Larry W. Scruggs
  • Patent number: 6183017
    Abstract: A user purchases a card and uses it to make pre-paid telephone calls via a telephone service provider system associated with the issuer of the card. After the account balance on the card is depleted, the user can present the card to a merchant or other party for redemption in the manner of a discount coupon for products or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventors: Daniel B. Najor, Fritz A. Brauer
  • Patent number: 6176651
    Abstract: A method for connecting an attachment to a drill press includes: providing an alignment member including a first portion and a second portion, and having a central axis; securing the first portion of the alignment member within the chuck; connecting the attachment to the drill press so that at least a region of the second portion of the alignment member is disposed within the void; and removing the alignment member from the chuck and the void. A mortising apparatus for a drill press is also disclosed, the drill press including a rotatable chuck. The mortising apparatus includes a mortising chisel holder and a mortising chisel holder alignment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Delta International Machinery Corp.
    Inventors: David N. Hollinger, Andrew V. Bondi
  • Patent number: 6174114
    Abstract: Described is a draw-in nipple for fastening a palette on a machine tool, with the draw-in nipple for fastening of the palette being received by a rapid-action clamping system, with the draw-in nipple being attached afflicted with clearance on the palette and through application of a tension force in its longitudinal direction away from the palette being lockable free of clearance. The draw-in nipple is herein preferably received in a resilient element which upon exertion of a tension force becomes deformed and locked through the draw-in nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: Emil Stark
  • Patent number: 6155738
    Abstract: An organizer includes sample cards which are mounted on pages which, in turn, are stored within a binder. Each of the sample cards bears a color sample and an associated written description for a particular cosmetic product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Tammye Lynn King
  • Patent number: 6155737
    Abstract: A binder ring mechanism (16) has a plurality of binder rings (18a-18c) for holding sheets of paper. Each binder ring includes a fixed section (20) and a movable section (22). All of the movable binder ring sections are commonly mounted on a bolt (36). A lever arm (52) is attached to one end of the bolt for movement of the lever arm to move the bolt and the binder ring sections mounted on the bolt. The bolt is movably mounted on a cover piece (24) for both rotational and sliding movement of the bolt. A recess (58) is formed in an endwall (56) of the cover piece and the lever arm includes a latch member (60) received in the recess to latch the lever arm in place when the binder rings are closed so to prevent inadvertent movement of the lever arm which might cause the binder rings to open. In addition, the cover piece has flaps (82, 84) extending diagonally outwardly therefrom for storing writing instruments in a ring binder (10) in which the binder ring mechanism is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: U. S. Ring Binder Corporation
    Inventor: Paul A. Whaley
  • Patent number: 6149204
    Abstract: A decal having a body of readily tearable material and a reflective material first face has first, toner, indicia on the first face circumscribing a first area, and second indicia outside of the first area. A protective substantially transparent plastic (e.g. acrylic or polyester) thin (e.g. about 0.001-0.002 inches) film substantially covers the first indicia (and has an area not greater than about 130% of the first area) and protects the first indicia but does not significantly increase the tear resistance of the decal body. The protective film is held to the decal with an aggressive adhesive so that the decal will tear if removable of the protective film is attempted. The protective film may be applied either manually or automatically, and the decal is part of a business form (e.g. a mailer type business form) which has toner indicia on it substantially identical to the first indicia, imaged at substantially the same time using a laser printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Casper
  • Patent number: 6149165
    Abstract: An Improved Collet Assembly and Manufacturing Process is disclosed. Also disclosed is an improved collet that includes a spindle, a center portion comprising several tabs and a collar. The disclosed collet is manufactured from a single piece of stock, and as such, the tabs are formed from this unitary piece. The disclosed collet is inserted into a collet housing that is further defined by a bore at its center. The preferred collet housing bore is further defined by a sloped portion that cooperates with the tabs formed on the collet to restrain a burr shaft from rotational or axial movement. The collet assembly of the present invention provides improved balance and therefore wear properties over previous collet assemblies. In particular, the disclosed collet assembly is well-suited for application inside a canister assembly of an air-powered dental tool handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Tuan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6145167
    Abstract: A label which can be attached to a commercial article for the emission of an alarm signal, includes a body of the label containing a device which can be perceived by suitable detection equipment for emission of an alarm signal, a band for attachment to the article for connecting the body of the label to the article, and a structure for restraining the band and the body of the label firmly one to the other. The label body includes a housing suitable for being entered by the band. The band has an end band section and an intermediate section which oppose each other and are compressed one in relation to the other in the housing. The band has, along at least part of one longitudinal face, securing teeth so that the portions of securing teeth on the parts of the band in contact in the housing are compressed against each other in such a way as to block relative sliding of the portions of the band in the housing during an attempt to disengage the article from the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Attilio Brentini
  • Patent number: 6145883
    Abstract: A filing system based on an alpha numeric system in which the numeric portion is based upon birth dates and the alphabetic portion on the names of the individuals within the filing system. A label has color coded areas thereon corresponding to the birth date of an individual, and a color coded label designating the initial of the last name of the individual. A second label bears the individual name. The labels are placed upon a file folder which is then placed into a filing system broken into main sets and subsets. The main sets are arranged chronologically according to the date, while the subsets within each set are arranged alphabetically as a function of the individual's surname.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Jeter Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Jack W. Jeter
  • Patent number: 6139210
    Abstract: A holder assembly has a holder having at least a plurality of pockets. The pockets each have a transparent wall. A plurality of printed sheets are disposed in the pockets. Each sheet faces a respective wall. One or more inserts are disposed in the pockets between respective printed sheets and walls. The inserts each have an ink receptive layer and a support layer. The layers are transparent to visible light. The ink receptive layer can have a deposit of invisible ink that is an encodement of information that, preferably, relates to the respective printed sheet. Two or more holders assemblies can be bound together to provide an album.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Nelson, Robert C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 6135504
    Abstract: A business form having a faceplate, a retainer frame, and at least one lift-off panel formed from at least one cutout in the faceplate with retaining members of a releasable adhesive backer being disposed on the reverse side of the faceplate with the adhesive facing the at least one cutout opening. Precut lift-off panels of the same material remain disposed at least one per cutout and adhered to the backer member primarily for printing in a laser or inkjet printer to produce at least one and preferably multiple lift-off panels each of which constitutes one card. Indicia or images can be printed onto the business form and individual printed cards can be obtained by lifting off the printed individual lift-off panels on an as-needed basis. Two-sided printing is optional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Eric Teng
  • Patent number: 6135503
    Abstract: The invention relates to an identification document, such as a passport or the like, which consists of a plurality of sheets bound into a book at a seam. At least one of the sheets forms a data sheet provided with information and consisting at least of two layers, at least one of the layers being transparent. The format of the layers is selected so that they protrude beyond the area of the seam thereby ensuring a connection of the data sheet with the other sheets of the identification document in the area of the seam. The layers are connected into an inseparable laminate in the area of the information but do not stick together in the area of the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Lob, Gunther Endres, Josef Riedl, Joseph Lass
  • Patent number: 6129386
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and cataloging data, the apparatus comprising a base, an accordion-pleated folded strip mounted with the base and defining sections each having a major surface for the recordation of information thereon, each section hingedly foldable into an overlying position relative an adjoining section to allow a selective upward exposure of a pair of adjoining major surfaces of selected adjacent sections, and an indexing element having a first major surface and a second major surface and mounted with the base for hinged movement between first and second positions, the first position of the indexing element to align with a one of the pair of adjoining major surfaces of selected adjacent sections and the second position of the indexing element to align with another one of the pair adjoining major surfaces of selected adjacent sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Inventor: George M. Brata
  • Patent number: 6126354
    Abstract: A system and method for binding documents wherein the binder is reusable and is easy to use, the binding system comprising interlocking pieces that combined form a secure and reusable document binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Craig Ramich
  • Patent number: 6123341
    Abstract: A chuck assembly which can chuck thin and brittle workpieces that differ widely in size with high accuracy and reliability without warping them. The chuck assembly includes a tubular chuck body having three first cylinders and a plurality of second cylinders arranged along a circumference in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the chuck body at equal angular intervals. The cylinders have pistons adapted to protrude under oil pressure. The three first cylinders are also arranged at equal angular intervals. The chuck assembly further includes a pressure-biasing means for applying, independently of the oil pressure, pressure to the pistons of the first cylinders against a workpiece, so that the piston are less likely to be retracted by the reaction force from the workpiece. That is, this chuck assembly has a self-centering function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Teikoku Chuck Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Oki, Muneki Hiraoka