Patents Examined by David Lee
  • Patent number: 5921672
    Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a housing, a cover member which together with the housing at least partially limits an inner chamber, a color shutter arranged in the inner chamber so that during observation through the cover member the headlight at least in a turned-off condition has a colored appearance, the shutter being arranged near a lower edge region of the housing and at least partially covering an inner side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Otto Dobler, Jan Fischer
  • Patent number: 5915374
    Abstract: A zero clearance fireplace and method of making same is disclosed. The fireplace unit is formed of a one-piece molded shell of non-flammable material providing a fire box and associated supporting and mounting elements. The fireplace is vacuum formed from a mineral wool slurry and binder formulation on a screen mold and dried forming a self-supporting molded one-piece unit that can be used in a zero clearance application due to its insulation and non-combustible properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Edward Susany
  • Patent number: 5915375
    Abstract: A direct vent gas fireplace has a combustion air duct extending down the back wall, between the housing back wall and the fireplace back wall. It is located laterally between two cooling air ducts that lead from the cool air zones at the bottom outer corners of the housing to a cooling air plenum inside the top of the housing. Inside the cooling air plenum and the cooling air ducts are a room air plenum and room air circulating space for the circulation of room air to be heated. This provides a compact construction with adequate wall cooling without the need for additional thermal insulation. The top of the unit is oriented at an angle less than 45.degree., preferably 23.2.degree. to horizontal so that the exhaust and vent pipes can be arranged in a top vent or a back vent arrangement without the pipes projecting beyond the back of the fireplace unit in the top vent arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: R-Co Inc.
    Inventor: Russell E. Reyher
  • Patent number: 5915955
    Abstract: A control mechanism for gas welding guns including a control chamber disposed between a solder head at an upper end and a gas tank at a lower end for screwably connecting the solder head and assembly a connecting seat and a gas flow adjusting disk at an upper end of the gas tank. The control chamber is fitted with a control cover which may slidably coupled to a window opening defined by the control chamber and a plurality of shallow depressions on the outer surface of the control chamber. The inner side of the control cover is integrally provided with a clamp plate which is integrally provided with a base with two side hooks. The two facing walls of the window opening of the control chamber are respectively provided with bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Arlo H. T. Lin
  • Patent number: 5913594
    Abstract: Flat panel light source device comprises first and second light transmission panels and light coupling device. Both panels may have relatively high refractive index and relatively high light transmission characteristics. The first panel is used for illumination and the second panel is used for bypass light guide. Both panels are located adjacently in parallel. The light coupling device makes light coupling between both panels and is located near one pair of side terminals in both panels, distant from another pair of side terminals to which incident light rays are input. The second panel may have at least one of light reflective layer of light transmission material with lower refractive index than the second panel. Alternatively, the second panel may have multiple of optical fibers. A passive type display device comprises a flat panel type passive display device and the flat panel light source in described above. The liquid crystal display device may be used for the passive display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Keiji Iimura
  • Patent number: 5911492
    Abstract: A transparent pointer has a rear surface coated with white paint and the remainder is covered by a highly reflective metal layer except for a light emitting indicator strip and a light receiving surface. Stationary high flux LEDs mounted behind the pointer illuminate the light receiving surface. Received light is efficiently reflected to the indicator strip to produce a bright line suitable for viewing through a dark face plate to achieve a dark dead front appearance. To avoid reflections from the pointer the reflective layer is covered with a black film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth David Perry, John M. Krasny
  • Patent number: 5906196
    Abstract: A portable gas stove includes a rectangular housing defined by parallel front and rear panels joined to parallel, opposed side panels. A top opening at an upper end of the housing provides access to at least one burner, and a hinged cover is adapted to pivot to close the upper opening entirely. At the bottom end of the housing, a coffer is formed with a downward opening, and a pair of flanges extending inwardly at the side edges of the coffer are dimensioned to retain the disassembled stove legs disposed therebetween. A clamp is provided to secure the legs in the coffer for travel with the stove. Each leg includes a tubular main portion, and a top end having an L-section. The L-section is dimensioned to fit in complementary fashion over any corner vertex formed by the conjunction of a side and front or rear panel of the housing. Each corner vertex includes a slot extending vertically therein, and a nut is slidably supported by a nut holder for translation along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Dutro Company
    Inventor: S. Ty Measom
  • Patent number: 5897194
    Abstract: An apparatus for remotely verifying the potency of a backup power source for an information display apparatus using an electrically-actuated switch coupled between a primary power source interface and the switch. In one embodiment, a signal receiving device receives a transmitted signal, activates a switch, interrupts the supply of power from a primary power source, and requires the sign to be lighted by the backup power supply. The apparatus may include a circuit to transform alternating current line voltage into a reduced direct current voltage for the lighting source; a backup power supply recharging circuit that is integrated so as to allow the backup power supply to be recharged using power from the primary source; a power failure detector switching circuit that allows the light source to receive power from the backup power supply if the power from the primary power source were interrupted; and a control circuit power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Byung Il Ham
  • Patent number: 5893357
    Abstract: A portable cooking system that includes a detachable base, a support pole assembly, a detachable charcoal holder, a circular grating, a removable cover/lid, a detachable gas burner assembly, a detachable electric burner assembly, a washer shaped flame diffuser member, a cooking wok, and a cooking system carrying case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventors: Raymond Royer, Clifford Breaux
  • Patent number: 5893635
    Abstract: A headlamp module for providing a uniform field of illumination at a predetermined distance includes a headlamp housing having a first end and a second end. A light source such as a terminated fiber optic cable is disposed within the first end of the housing. A condenser system is disposed within said headlamp housing in optical communication with a light source which is positioned close to the condenser. The condenser system, which comprises a pair of planar convex lenses oriented with the convex sides facing each other, is in optical communication with a reflecting element such as a planar mirror or a reflecting prism. The light reflected by the reflecting element is directed to an exit lens, such as a projection lens or an objective. The light exiting the exit lens provides the uniform field of illumination despite the presence of a real image of the light source termination at a distance close to the exit lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Luxtec Corporation
    Inventor: Ram Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 5887970
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shutter system for selectively blocking the path of light of a high intensity discharge lamp. The shutter system comprises a high intensity discharge lamp, a high intensity discharge light housing into which the lamp is secured and a shutter and light absorption system secured to the light housing comprising a light absorbing shutter screen, a screen moving system for moving the screen in front of the lamp to block selectively the path of light and for withdrawing the screen from the path of light and a support system for the screen moving system, wherein said screen when retracted will not significantly interfere with the path of light of the system and when fully extended will substantially block the path of light of the high intensity discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Payne-Sparkman Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Payne
  • Patent number: 5884992
    Abstract: A modular individual lighting arrangement for sports activities, such as mountain biking, is described. Such modular unit includes a light bulb housing having an exterior configuration to interact with a second housing by attaching such housings together. An intermediary receiver is included having a pair of spring fingers which are spaced apart an appropriate distance to interact both with a complementary set of apertures on a single housing and with corresponding apertures in two housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: James F. Taylor
    Inventors: James F. Taylor, Nicholas F. Talesfore
  • Patent number: 5873646
    Abstract: A lamp (34) for a refrigerator or freezer cabinet is located forwardly and above a horizontal edge (38) of an access opening (16) to a storage space (12) for goods in the cabinet. The lamp (34) illuminates the space (12) through the access opening by means of a reflector (36). The reflector (36) includes a cylindrical part (52) having a semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape. A concave side of the cylindrical part (52) faces the access opening (16). The lamp has a filament (42) which shines in the shape of a line (44) running parallel to the edge (38) and through one (42) of the focal points of the ellipse. The other focal point (58) of the ellipse is located quite close to and outside the edge (38), so that the light from the filament (42) first is reflected by the cylindrical part (52) of the reflector (36) and then passes through the other focal point (58) on its way into the space (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Adam Fjaestad, Thomas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 5873644
    Abstract: A reading lamp system for passengers especially in an aircraft is equipped with at least one central light source preferably including a cool light lamp, the light of which is supplied through light guides such as fiber optical conductors, to individual reading lamps having a housing to which the respective light guide is connected. A liquid crystal film is positioned in the lamp housing between the light exit of the respective light guide and a lens that provides a light output from the reading lamp housing. The liquid crystal film is controllable in its light transparency by a passenger through a switch, whereby the passenger can make the liquid crystal film opaque to switch off the reading lamp or transparent to switch on the lamp. A dimmer may also be arranged to provide intermediate light level illuminations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Roessner, Wilfried Sprenger
  • Patent number: 5871344
    Abstract: A compact flash lamp array includes a housing defining a plurality of cavities, with each cavity having a light emitting opening and a combustible mass deposited in each cavity. A firing means such as an electrically heated filament or percussive primer is provided for individually firing the combustible mass in each cavity. Each cavity in the housing is provided with a porous portion communicating to the outside of the cavity having sufficient porosity to maintain cavity integrity during combustion of the combustible mass contained in a cavity while retaining combustion by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Arun K. Mehrotra
  • Patent number: 5871346
    Abstract: A compact flash lamp array includes a housing defining a plurality of cavities, each cavity having a light emitting opening and an exhaust vent and containing a combustible mass. A transparent cover is fixed over the light emitting opening and means are provided for individually firing the combustible mass in each cavity. A valve cooperating with the exhaust vents opens the exhaust vent of a cavity in which a combustible mass is fired and closes the cavities containing unfired combustible masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 5871345
    Abstract: A compact flash lamp array includes a housing defining a plurality of cavities. Each cavity has a light emitting opening and a primer vent opposite the light emitting opening. A combustible mass is deposited in each cavity over the primer vent and a primer mass is deposited on the outside of the housing over each primer vent. A primer is cover secured over each primer mass, and a sheet of transparent material is bonded over the cavities in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 5868492
    Abstract: A lampshade assembly that includes only three parts, namely, a pleated lamp shade formed as a continuous resilient band having a plurality of notches in the pleat folds that extend inwardly towards the center of the band, a flexible member extending through apertures adjacent one end of the band, and a rigid support including a ring. The method of forming the lampshade assembly by the customer includes the one step procedure of moving the rigid support into the interior of the band and towards the flexible member until the ring of the support snaps into place in the notches. In the formed lampshade assembly, the ring pushes outwardly against the opposing inwardly directed force of the resilient band to hold the band, in conjunction with the flexible member, in a position in which the lampshade flares downwardly and outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Partner Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry D. Strickland
  • Patent number: 5865528
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a light fixture including a housing, a light source, means to secure a light source to the housing, a lens and a reflector. The reflector and lens are positioned so as to direct light from the light source onto an unlit side of the housing.The light fixture is normally suspended from the ceiling or attached to a wall. A greater portion of the light from the light source is reflected off the ceiling or wall, whereas a smaller portion of the light from the light source is reflected off the reflector and onto the housing. After the smaller portion is reflected off the housing, the smaller portion and the larger portion are traveling in generally the same direction, thereby reducing the contrast between the housing and the ceiling or wall.The present fixture housing is very shallow, preferably less than about 3" deep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Precision Architectural Lighting
    Inventors: Frederick A. Compton, Jeffrey L. Brown
  • Patent number: 5865165
    Abstract: A low profile, high efficiency, fireplace boiler wherein a burner tray supports a number of gas fired burners and artificial logs within a hearth area of the firebox and about which logs the gas and flames are distributed. Combustion air is drawn from a conduit that surrounds an exhaust conduit at a chimney and circulated via a distributing manifold to the space beneath the burner tray, where it mixes with the fuel. Additional secondary air is directed from ports at intersecting levels of the tray to create flickering. Heated exhaust gasses are directed by a baffle to contact exposed walls of a liquid filled heat exchanger formed into the top and rear walls of the firebox and to pass through the bottoms of a number of vertical plenums mounted within the heat exchanger behind the baffle. A spring biased explosion door is provided beneath the burner tray. Liquid is circulated through the heat exchanger to distribution conduits arrayed about the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Dennis Brazier