Patents Examined by Antoine Gamarra
  • Patent number: 5097540
    Abstract: A self-contained hand-held bidet device, for providing lavaging action with portability and convenience. A somewhat pistol configuration housing contains a pump, controls and support for a retractable nozzle being sized and shaped to spray a stream of fluid from a reservoir mounted at one end of the housing. Lightweight construction and a collapsible reservoir faciltiate convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Harold B. Lovitt
  • Patent number: 5071047
    Abstract: A baby carrier having upper and lower ends and capable of assuming multiple positions in use in carrying an infant. The upper portion includes an opening for a pillow or the like to provide comfort to the baby and a number of accessories are provided to enable position alteration for the baby carrier. A crotch slide separates the upper and lower ends of the item, a strip separator is used to accommodate the various positions of the baby carrier and snap hooks are used to attach the lowermost extent of the lower end strips to the upper end of the baby carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Claire Cordisco
  • Patent number: 5030804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact arrangement, particularly intended for current-limiting low-voltage circuit breakers, with a double-break movable contact arm, the central part of which is attached to an insulating shaft which is rotatably journalled in elongated holes in stand parts on each side of the contact arm. In the closed position of the arrangement, the movable contact arm is pressed against two U-shaped fixed contact arms with the aid of two torsion springs. The contact arms have flat shape and are arranged with their broad sides facing each other. The shaft consists of two sleeve-formed holders surrounding the torsion springs. One holder exhibits a stop face for a latching member for arresting the movable contact arm in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventor: Assadollah Abri
  • Patent number: 5025964
    Abstract: A universal modular vehicle organizer assembly particularly useful for car trunks and van backs to retain in an organized fashion sales literature, catalogs, samples and parts for use by sales and repair people. The system comprises at least one trough-like angular shelf member supported on at least a pair of upstanding end walls and having sheet dividers with tabs that interlock in slots provided in the trough walls. The end walls have hand holds for ease in removing the unit from the vehicle trunk. Lips provided along the leading edge and back edge of the trough, and at the upper edge of the side walls engagingly retain special auxiliary boxes which are generally rectangular in shape with a higher rear wall that has the same vertical dimension as from the bottom of the trough organizer to the underside of the lip. The auxiliary boxes may have hand holds in their short end walls and one in the back wall which is aligned with the hand hold in the side support wall of the trough member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: George A. Phirippidis
  • Patent number: 5022101
    Abstract: A flexible cover installable on a spa (hot tub) to provide a barrier against upward escape of moisture or heat or chlorine out of the spa. The cover is formed as a three ply laminated sheet that includes an outer canvas layer, an impervious plastic film adhered to the lower face of the canvas layer, and a thermally reflective film adhered to the lower face of the plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Gosselin, Lisa A. Gosselin
  • Patent number: 5016294
    Abstract: A toilet and toilet seat adapter unit which can be produced at a low cost yet which provides improved sealing around the toilet seat and which is easy to clean. The toilet seat adapter unit is disposed between the toilet seat and the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl of a conventional toilet. The toilet seat adapter unit includes a flat plastic plate having a shape and dimension generally conforming to those of the toilet seat. The lower surface of the flat plate is placed on the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl. A first set of plastic clips, affixed to the lower surface of the flat plate, fits around the outer edge of the rim of the toilet bowl and prevents the flat plate from slipping on the upper surface of the rim. A flexible plastic hose is looped around the upper surface of the flat plate and held in place by a second set of plastic clips. The hose communicates with a vacuum pump or exhaust fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Enrique A. Canovas
  • Patent number: 5016295
    Abstract: A two position float arm for regulating two water levels in water level control systems that are controlled by a float connected to a inlet water valve by a rod. The rod is replaced by a first member (22) hinged to a second member (28). The first member (22) is screwed into the inlet water valve boss while the second member (28) is screwed into the float boss. A sleeve (34) slides over the hinge, locking the first member (22) and second member (28) in line and establishing a first water level. The sleeve (34) may be slid away from the hinge allowing the second member (28) and the attached float to rise to a higher position relative to the first member (22) and thus establish a second water level. The sleeve (34) is maintained in the locked position by a spring. The sleeve is pulled away from the hinge by a cable attached to a knob or a lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: David R. Criswell
  • Patent number: 5014369
    Abstract: A tie-down particularly adapted for use in combination with a pool cover which importantly prevents any marring, scratching or damage to the surface of the deck surrounding the pool. The tie-down is generally flat and smooth and made from a tough flexible rubber compound, presenting a keyhole slot at one end and a bifurcated opposite end. Either a hollow threaded member (or fastener) or a selective snap fastening arrangement is presented at the latter. The keyhole slot engages an anchor embedded in the pool deck, where the opposite bifurcated end secures one of a series of grommets disposed along the edge of the pool cover. The invention achieves desired strength and pulling force on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Anchor Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Daus
  • Patent number: 5010603
    Abstract: An improved swimming pool construction of the kind capable of being erected, at least substantially, above ground on a substantially flat surface is provided. The swimming pool is of a construction whose modular components are prefabricated and delivered to the building site for assembly. A bracing member comprised of four cut pieces of standard construction lumber, and provided in pre-assembled modular form, provides load bearing qualities that afford sufficient strength without the need to supply any additional support means that are anchored in the ground. The swimming pool is fabricated from a plurality of wall panels that are secured end-to-end and form the periphery of the swimming pool and contain integrally formed flanges that retain the brace in position. The prefabricated pool delivered to the building site as a package, employs an arrangement of modular elements to provide a self standing swimming pool that can be assembled, using only hand tools to lock together the respective modular parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventor: Lewis R. Hertzog
  • Patent number: 5010928
    Abstract: A repressurizer for carbonated drink bottles. It comprises an internally threaded cap having a one-way valve for screwing onto the threads of a bottle neck. The pump has fastening wings for detachable attachment to the bottom of a vertically extending pump. The pump has a bottom gasket for making an air-tight seal with the cap.A modification is to eliminate the fastening wings and have the pump slip fitted or screw threaded to the cap. A still further modification is to reduce the top diameter of the cap and provide threads that can be screwed onto a bicycle or automobile pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventor: Mitchell J. Ballas
  • Patent number: 5007567
    Abstract: A bicycle support rack is mountable on a space tire externally supported on a vehicle. The rack includes a frame which has an opening through which only a portion of the tire can pass so that the frame can be placed over the top of the tire and positioned to embrace the tire. A support plate extends horizontally from the frame and includes troughs to receive the horizontal bars of one or more bicycles. A retaining bar extends across the support plate above the horizontal bars of the bicycles and extends into the central portion of the wheel on which the tire is mounted. The retaining bar is held in place by a lock which encircles a horizontal bar of at least one of the bicycles. The retaining bar can be removed from its locking position and threadedly inserted into a hole in the support plate with a swivel attachment to provide a working support for bicycle maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Foster
  • Patent number: 4991238
    Abstract: A spa cover lift is provided that includes a movable frame adapted for pivotable attachment to the side of a spa, one or more struts for positioning the movable frame between extended and retracted positions with respect to the side of the spa, and apparatus for receiving a spa cover from the spa and retaining the cover adjacent the movable frame. The struts are operable to displace the movable frame to an extended position that is substantially coplanar with respect to the top surface of the spa to provide a surface onto which a spa user can slide a spa cover. The struts are further operable to displace the movable frame to a retracted position against the side of the spa for optimally storing the device along with the spa cover in a compact configuration when the spa is in use against the side of the spa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Stephen Forrest