Patents Examined by Carroll B. Dority
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Patent number: 5722759Abstract: A lamp assembly having a gravity-actuated switch which is adapted to be mounted to the underside of a hinged cover member of a vehicle to illuminate a compartment of the vehicle when the hinged member is opened to a predetermined extent. The lamp assembly has a housing, a lamp disposed in the housing, first conductor means for electrically interconnecting a first electrical terminal with one terminal of the lamp, second conductor means for electrically interconnecting a second electrical terminal with a first contact point, and third conductor means for electrically interconnecting the other terminal of the lamp with a second contact point. The assembly has a switch for automatically turning on the lamp when the housing is moved to a first angular orientation and turning off the lamp when the housing is moved to a second angular orientation.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1996Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Micro Craft, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth A. Eklov, William M. Brown, James N. Jorgensen
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Patent number: 5720604Abstract: A flame sensor senses the intensity of a pilot flame to determine whether main burner ignition has occurred in a gas furnace. The sensor includes a computer which is operative to trigger the sensing of the flame intensity following the provision of gas to the main burner. Circuitry associated with the computer preferably provides an indication of the pilot flame intensity to the computer through a measurement of the electrical conductivity of the pilot flame following provision of gas to the main burner.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Daniel L. Kelly, Craig R. Knotts, Larry E. Wilson
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Patent number: 5720610Abstract: A compact photoflash lamp array, includes a substrate having a plurality of electrical conductors leading to an array of igniter links with a combustible mass deposited over each igniter link. A grid is bonded to the substrate for forming a corresponding array of combustion cavities, each of the cavities having reflective walls. A sheet of transparent material is bonded over the grid to form the array of photoflash lamps.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1996Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
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Patent number: 5718498Abstract: The invention provides a flashlight unit having a usual casing with a light bulb mounted in the casing in position to project light out through the forward end of the casing in a normal manner. In accordance with the invention, the unit also includes an illuminating member having a panel section mounted to be visible through the top side of the casing and also having a second integral section extending around the neck of the light bulb for directing side light into the panel section. In one embodiment, the panel section includes a diffraction grating for directing light perpendicular to the plane of the panel section to illuminate external objects. In the first embodiment, a planar mirror member is mounted on the top side of the casing adjacent to the panel section of the illuminating member and in co-planar relationship therewith in position to reflect objects illuminated by the illuminating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1996Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Inventor: Burke C. Pullman
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Patent number: 5718218Abstract: Regenerator with tube system, particularly for fireplaces and the like, which can be inserted at the firebox of fireplaces and comprises a metallic heat-exchange body that is constituted by a single tubular body shaped so as to have straight and parallel portions that rest on the heart of the firebox, two identical curved loop portions that rest on the rear vertical wall of the firebox, a single transverse loop lying at the front of the firebox, and two ends that are parallel and close to each other, and are directed towards the outside of the fireplace, one of the ends being connected to a box-like body that contains a motorized fan for sending the ambient air to be heated into the heat-exchange body, the other end being connected to a duct for delivering the heated air into the surrounding space, the delivery duct being also contained in the box-like body.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1996Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Inventors: Attilio Pagani, Livia Serafini Pagani
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Patent number: 5716119Abstract: A new Roller Blade Lighting System for providing a lighting system integrated with roller blades that protects the user by projecting light from the user's roller blades towards the drivers of motorized vehicles warning them of the user's presence. The inventive device includes a roller blade skate, a lighting means integrated within the roller blade skate, an electrical power source connected electrically to the lighting means and a motion switching means that controls the lighting means.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Inventor: Vipesh Patel
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Patent number: 5713653Abstract: A motorcycle tail light assembly including a base having a light bulb mount and a wiring harness connected with the mount, and a mounting means for mounting the base to the motorcycle. The assembly further includes a cover, including a tail light lens, adapted to be positioned over the base, and an attaching means for attaching the cover to a motorcycle. The mounting means is designed to maintain connection between the base and the motorcycle when the cover has been removed from the motorcycle. The tail light assembly can also include a lens engaging portion, and the cover can include a housing and a license plate lens having a first portion and a second portion. The lens engaging portion of the base engages the second portion to force the first portion into engagement with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1996Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor CompanyInventors: Russell L. White, John E. Stelling, Brian M. Scherbarth
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Patent number: 5711290Abstract: An improved bottom structure for multi-ply impact bonded bottom cookware is disclosed. The bottom structure with an aluminum ply has a stainless capsule that capsules the edge portion of the aluminum ply to compensate for the thermal brittleness of the aluminum ply, thereby preventing the edge portion of the aluminum ply from being cracked or broken due to the thermal brittleness. The capsule also joins the ends of a net member to the aluminum ply to integrate the net member with the aluminum ply and covers the edge portion of the aluminum ply to provide an improved appearance of the cookware. The stainless capsule effectively guides heat to the central portion of the bottom and causes the bottom to be uniformly heated, thereby preventing the food inside the bottom corner from getting partially scorched about and sticking to the interior of the bottom corner.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Inventor: Myung-Suk Kim
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Patent number: 5709448Abstract: Generally, the invention includes a seat having a back for supporting a passenger. A flap is secured to the seat back along three sides and having an open top thus defining a pocket between the flap and the seat back. A woven fiber optic panel is secured inside the pocket to the inside surface of the flap or the seat back surface. The woven fiber optic panel is connected to a remote light source by a fiber optic cable. The woven fiber optic panel not only provides direct lighting to see down into the pocket but may also be constructed and arranged to reflect off of the seat back at the mouth of the pocket to provide low intensity indirect lighting for the passenger compartment of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Kurt Lynn Jennings, Neil Duane Wolfe
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Patent number: 5709455Abstract: A transport vehicle includes a tractor portion, a trailer portion connected to the tractor portion, supply lines extending from the tractor portion to the trailer portion, and a protective tubing having an outer casing and extending from the tractor portion to the trailer portion and enclosing the supply lines. The vehicle further includes a night-time safety system carried by the transport vehicle and including a visual signal unit attached to the outer casing.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Spanset Inter AGInventors: Rolf Danekas, Willi Panhausen
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Patent number: 5707142Abstract: An improved lighting fixture of the type having a horizontally positioned unjacketed arc lamp in a two piece reflector having a front bowl-shaped reflector that issues a relatively narrow beam and a rear dish-shaped reflector positioned behind the arc tube that issues a wider beam spread. Although such a fixture inherently has some glare and spill control by exploiting the horizontal, transverse positioning of the arc tube across the reflector combination, the invention improves on glare and spill control from this fixture by re-orienting the rear reflector so that it is tipped slightly downward. The upper part of the beam from the rear reflector is therefore moved so that it does not cause glare or spill off of the target area, and also it increases efficiency of the fixture by placing more usable light on the target area. Optionally a visor can be used to further control glare and spill.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1996Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Musco CorporationInventor: Myron K. Gordin
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Patent number: 5707130Abstract: A vehicle taillight has a housing and a light-transmissive cover for closing off the housing. At least one light source is located within the housing for emitting light through the light-transmissive cover. At least one light-guiding member is positioned within the housing between the light source and the light-transmissive cover. The light-guiding member consists of light guide material and reflects light emitted by the light source onto the light-transmissive cover.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hubert Zwick, Otto Muller, Stephan Berlitz
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Patent number: 5704343Abstract: A condensate trap assembly. The assembly comprises a housing having first and second condensate inlets where the first condensate inlet is sized to pass more condensate than the second condensate inlet. The housing has an ambient air inlet providing access to an ambient air chamber within the housing, a first condensate chamber open to the first condensate inlet, and a second condensate chamber open to the second condensate inlet. The first condensate chamber, the second condensate chamber, and the ambient air chamber are open to each other and the first condensate chamber includes airflow restrictors to retard the volume of airflow through the first chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1996Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: American Standard Inc.Inventors: Hongsik Ahn, Alex M. Hofman
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Patent number: 5704777Abstract: A gas burner arrangement for outdoor use includes a burner cup formed of a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall extending integrally from the bottom wall in a smoothly curved radius. The bottom wall includes a central aperture for receiving a Venturi tube gas supply inlet connection. A pair of cylindrical flame screens are supported on the bottom wall of the burner cup, disposed in coaxial relationship concentrically about the central aperture. A top cap is secured to the bottom wall by bolts or other fasteners to secure the screen members in place in proper spacing and alignment. The top cap includes a domed center to provide strength to the cap and to facilitate smooth, non-turbulent flow of the gas-air mixture from the Venturi tube gas supply to the flame screens. The side wall of the burner cup extends higher than the flame screens to provide substantial wind protection.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1996Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Dutro CompanyInventor: S. Ty Measom
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Patent number: 5697776Abstract: A vortex burner includes a flame ring for forming a swirling mixture of fuel gas and air and moving it in a downstream direction into a burner cup, and a deflector plate downstream of the flame ring and arranged crosswise of the flow to divert the flow outwardly along the burner cup surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Selas Corporation of AmericaInventors: John J. Van Eerden, A. John Grever, John J. Bloomer
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Patent number: 5697698Abstract: A Christmas lamp socket has a housing and a lamp socket fitted in the housing. The housing has two opposite vertical ridges on an outer wall of an upper tubular portion to engage with two opposite vertical slots an annular wall of the lamp socket to keep secured tightly the whole lamp socket after the housing and the lamp socket are combined together. The housing further has two opposite vertical tubular members formed on its outer wall for locking two power leads therein with proper tightness.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Inventor: Shun-Feng Huang
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Patent number: 5697775Abstract: A safety device in a lighting rod comprises a locking member having an engagement section, which interferes with a portion of an operation member and thereby locks the lighting operation of the operation member. The locking member can move in a direction, that intersects with the direction along which the operation member moves. An urging member urges the locking member to a locking direction. The locking member is provided with a lock releasing section, which can be operated in order to move the locking member in a direction, that acts against the urging force of the urging member. The lock releasing section is projected to a position, which stands facing the operating section of the operation member. The lock of the lighting operation is released by operating the lock releasing section of the locking member, and the locking operation is carried out in this state by operating the operating section of the operation member.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5697692Abstract: An arrangement for adjusting the reflector inclination angle of front headlights of a motor vehicle which contains an adjusting screw for the reflector provided with a teeth and a guide for a Phillips screwdriver which is used as an adjustment tool transversely with respect to the screw axis. In order to, on the one hand, achieve a simple mounting which can be automated and is secured with respect to a loss and to achieve, on the other hand, in a simple manner a secure guide of the Phillips screwdriver without any jamming, for adjusting the reflector, the toothing is molded onto the adjusting screw. The adjusting screw, on the head-side section, together with the molded-on teeth must have a smaller diameter than that of the shell passage provided for the adjusting screw. Furthermore, in order to axially fix the adjusting screw, detent elements must be provided which are molded to the shell for locking engagement with the screw.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Harry Hoffman, Eberhard Baur, Reiner Jocher
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Patent number: 5694917Abstract: A gas-fired barbecue grill, comprising: a grill body integrally formed with at least one side element selected from the group comprising a side table and a base member of a side burner. In another embodiment, the grill comprises a grill body and first and second side elements selected from the group comprising a side table and a base member of a side burner, wherein a first piece of the grill comprises a first portion of the grill body integrally formed with the first side element, and a second piece of the grill comprises a second portion of the grill body integrally formed with the second side element, and further wherein the first and second pieces of the grill are secured together. In yet another embodiment, the grill comprises a grill body and first and second side elements selected from the group comprising a side table and a base member of a side burner, wherein the side elements are attached directly to the grill body.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1994Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.Inventors: Michael Giebel, Steven Speck, Michael Franks, Richard Davidson, Rainer B. Teufel
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Patent number: 5695276Abstract: A bulb 14 is arranged in such a manner that the lower end of a filament 16 of the bulb 14 coincides with an optical axis Ax of a reflector 10. Horizontal cut line forming steps 12aH out of a plurality of light distribution steps 12a constituting a reflecting surface 12 extend over such upper and lower areas as to interpose phantom lines Lh1, Lh2 on the reflecting surface 12 therebetween. The phantom lines will correspond to the horizontal cut lines. Vertical sections of these horizontal cut line forming steps in both upper and lower areas are set to parabolas, each having a short focus, and to parabolas, each having a long focus, respectively. The horizontal cut lines are formed by taking advantage of the luminous fluxes of reflecting light from both areas. Each parabola having a short focus is connected to the corresponding parabola having a long focus at the apex thereof smoothly. As a result, the horizontal cut line forming steps 12aH can be reduced into a single step without steps and bends.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1996Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masashi Tatsukawa