Patents Examined by Denise L. Gromada
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Patent number: 5590948Abstract: A rearview mirror has a housing having recesses with supporting flaps, and a courtesy light fixture for a driver and for a passenger located within a respective one of the recesses. Each of the courtesy light fixtures has a lamp, and two lamp holder-electrical connectors supporting and providing electrical connection to the lamp. Each of the lamp holder-electrical connectors is formed by an elastic electrical conducting metal strip having a substantially inverted U-shape so that it can be formed and connected to the electrical wire by a progressive die, and having a first vertical portion, a second horizontal upper portion, and a third vertical portion located one after the other. The first and third vertical portions extend parallel to one another, and the first vertical portion is provided with a device for connecting an electrical wire, formed substantially by a pair of V-shaped flaps which extend outside a space defined between the vertical portions for receiving the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Metagal Industria e Comercio Ltds.Inventor: Ricardo P. Moreno
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Patent number: 5590946Abstract: A generator for a bicycle light system includes a plurality of stators secured adjacent to both sides of a bicycle wheel and a plurality of rotors provided on the bicycle wheel between the stator for generating an electric current to the battery thereby providing a power source to a lamp of the light system.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Inventor: Ruey-feng Jung
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Patent number: 5590954Abstract: A nonplanar mechanical dimmer for use in a variable parameter luminaire includes claws, a mounting region and a convex beam blocking region which does not reflect energy back onto a light source during dimming.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1994Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Hanson, Timothy D. Stacy
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Patent number: 5590953Abstract: A motion activated decorative lantern having an optical lens which becomes part of the lantern structure and appearance so that there is no profile difference due to the presence of the motion sensor. The detection range area may be adjusted without the details of the adjustment being visible. A rotatable sensing module has an integral appearance with that of the fixture. The decorative lantern has a decorative lamp portion and a mounting portion, a cylindrical sensing module having a chamber; a motion sensor located in the chamber for detecting motion in a selected location around the lantern; and a lens piece positioned around the sensing module and over the chamber. The lens piece has a uniform decorative appearance. The sensing module is rotatable to change the selected location of detection of the lantern. The lantern also includes a decorative external housing, decorative tail below the sensing module and a decorative lantern base.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Regent Lighting CorporationInventors: Gary M. Haslam, Simeon T. Lee
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Patent number: 5590955Abstract: A variable light modifier provides rapid beam deflection and flipping with a minimum of noise, power consumption and heat generation. In one embodiment of the invention, a dual-sided reflector is pivotable along orthogonal axes by pan and tilt mechanisms. The pan and tilt mechanisms are driven by pan and tilt motors, one or both of which remain stationary with respect to the yoke. The variable light modifier can be used to deflect light beams generated by one or more light sources and can reflect the light from one or both reflective surfaces of the reflector.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1993Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc.Inventors: James M. Bornhorst, Bradley D. Ellis, Richard W. Hutton
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Patent number: 5586510Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for reducing pollutant emissions associated with combustion operations, e.g., cement manufacturing. The invention further relates to the disposal of sludge, e.g., produced by waste water treatment plants, by introducing it into the combustion process. In particular, the invention provides for introducing particles of aqueous sludge into a kiln at a point in the kiln effective to reduce pollutant emissions in outlet flue gasses produced by the kiln. Optimally, the sludge is introduced at a point in which maximum NO.sub.x emission reductions can occur and maximum HCl emission reductions can occur downstream (at lower temperatures). In a specific embodiment, introduction of about 10 to about 20 tons per hour of wet sludge results in about a 15% to 30% reduction in NO.sub.x emissions in a cement kiln.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1994Date of Patent: December 24, 1996Assignee: Cement Industry Environment ConsortiumInventors: R. Leon Leonard, Earl F. Bouse, Anne T. McQueen
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Patent number: 5586015Abstract: A sports lighting fixture having improved light delivery characteristics includes an elongated bare arc tube, high intensity discharge lamp disposed near the apex of a parabolically shaped reflector member. The reflector is constructed of a non-metallic material and by the orientation and positioning of the lamp within the reflector, an essentially oval shaped light pattern is generated. A light transmissive cover is disposed over the open end of the reflector. When projected onto the playing surface of a sports field, the oval shaped light pattern translates to an essentially circular shaped pattern which allows for a more uniform and efficient overlapping of the multiple light outputs at the playing field level. Louvers can be disposed within the reflector to further redirect any high angle light output into a lower angle which is more useful at the playing surface level.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1993Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Samuel L. Baldwin, William D. Freytag, Mitchell M. Osteen
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Patent number: 5584560Abstract: A spotlight is provided that employs stationary motors for positioning a light beam at a desired azimuth and elevation such that there is no blind spots of the light beam at the zenith of the azimuth and elevation. A drive train rotates the spotlight about a horizontal axis and allows the motor driving the rotation to have a stationary mounting in a base while at the same time providing the light beam of the spotlight with a range of elevation that exceeds 90 degrees from a horizontal reference plane at any desired azimuth. More particularly, a stationary motor drives a capstan, which includes a spool that winds and unwinds a cable connected to a lamp assembly of the spotlight for positioning the light beam at a desired elevation. The cable is communicated between the lamp assembly and the capstan by way of a central bore in a mast that supports the lamp assembly for rotation about a vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Federal Signal CorporationInventors: Earl W. Gosswiller, Philip C. Hawken, Paul D. Graham
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Patent number: 5586013Abstract: A nonimaging illumination optical device for producing a selected far field illuminance over an angular range. The optical device includes a light source 102, a light reflecting surface 108, and a family of light edge rays defined along a reference line 104 with the reflecting surface 108 defined in terms of the reference line 104 as a parametric function R(t) where t is a scalar parameter position and R(t)=k(t)+Du(t) where k(t) is a parameterization of the reference line 104, and D is a distance from a point on the reference line 104 to the reflection surface 108 along the desired edge ray through the point.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1993Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Roland Winston, Harald Ries
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Patent number: 5582011Abstract: A power plant operating on geothermal steam containing more than about 5% non-condensable gases includes a topping steam turbine for expanding the steam to produce power and from which exhaust steam is extracted at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and an indirect contact heat exchanger containing clean water for condensing the exhaust steam at a pressure above atmospheric pressure to produce geothermal steam condensate, and for consequently vaporizing the clean water to produce clean steam. The non-condensable gases contained in the geothermal steam are extracted from the heat exchanger and, being at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, can be injected, without being further pressurized, directly into the ground. The clean steam produced by the heat exchanger is applied to a bottoming steam turbine which expands the clean steam to produce power and from which clean exhaust steam is extracted.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Dan Batsha
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Patent number: 5582475Abstract: A pedestal piece 20 is integrally projected from the back face of a lamp mounting apparatus body 1, and a pin 2 is integrally projected from the center of the rear face of the pedestal piece 20. The head 2B of the pin 2 is pressingly fitted into a fastener attached to a vehicle body, thereby positioning and fastening the lamp mounting apparatus body 1 to the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1994Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshihiro Yagi
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Patent number: 5580158Abstract: A retrofit unit for replacing conventional incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent tubes. A retrofit ballast and a fluorescent tube receptable are adapted to be used in conjunction with conventional light fixtures, including surface mounted or recessed fixtures. The retrofit conversion from incandescent light sources to fluorescent tubes (or the like) is accomplished without removing or replacing the existing incandescent fixture.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Inventors: Truman R. Aubrey, Steven R. Gerke
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Patent number: 5580147Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber-illuminated stylet or probe useful for among other things in assisting in the performance of intubations. The styler has a handle having a light source from which extends an encased, malleable fiber-optic cable capable of transmitting light to the local area to be seen (e.g. in the vicinity of the epiglottis).Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1994Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Inventor: Albert Salerno
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Patent number: 5580148Abstract: An automatically slaved light for a motor vehicle comprises a roof mounted lamp steerable about a horizontal and vertical axis, and an internal control unit within the coach of the vehicle. The control unit rotates the lamp unit about the vertical axis via a first motor in the lamp housing when the vehicle is engaging a turn, wherein the lamp is rotated in the direction of turn of the vehicle to an angle proportional to the steering angle thereof as determined by a steering angle sensor coupled to the vehicle's steering wheel. The lamp is rotated upward about the horizontal axis by the control unit via a second motor in the lamp housing when the vehicle is traversing a declinate section of road, wherein the lamp unit is rotated upward relative the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle to an angle proportional to the angle defined between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the gravitational horizon which is determined by a level sensor in the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1995Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Inventor: Yu-Ken Liao
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Patent number: 5580165Abstract: An outer lens includes transparent segmental areas and first fisheye step groups, and an inner lens also includes transparent segmental areas and second fisheye step groups. The first and second fisheye step groups are shifted in the depth direction of the lamp so as to slightly overlap when viewed from the front side of the identification lamp.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Natsume, Nobuhiro Taki
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Patent number: 5581448Abstract: A display lighting system for walls (10) is disclosed which have a housing insertable into the ceiling of a room near the wall desired to be washed by the light from the lighting system. The housing (12) includes an opening from the housing to the room designed by flanges (26). A lamp tray (14) is positioned within the housing by raising it at an angle into the interior of the housing and then rotating it so each of the angularly related legs (56, 58) can be moved through the opening in the housing and then rotated so that each leg rests upon opposing interior portions of the flanges. The leg (56) furthest from the wall to be washed provides an elongated lamp support disposed at an acute angle to the wall so to direct lamps (28) positioned through holes (66) of the light tray towards the wall to be lit. Also disclosed is an electrical compartment (30) centrally located on the housing provided two-handed access from below when the lamp tray and accent plate (34) are removed.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1995Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Inventor: Ronald P. Harwood
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Patent number: 5577827Abstract: A flashlight is disclosed having a tube with an extension, a grip wrapped about its exterior, and a light in one end of the tube including a reflector with a bulb inside, and a switch connected to the bulb and to a battery, the tube also containing an alarm being a buzzer and a switch connecting the buzzer to the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: ELA Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gordon H. Leffingwell, James D. O'Donnell
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Patent number: 5575552Abstract: A lighted mirror apparatus includes a mirror glass having one or more lighting sections. The mirror glass has a pyrolyric coating on the front surface and an opaque backmasking on the rear surface. Semi-transparent material, such as light control film, may be disposed on the rear surface of the mirror glass on the lighting sections. The lighting sections are normally highly reflective of ambient light, and thus provide additional mirror surface when the lights are deactivated. The lighting sections transmit light from one or more light sources disposed behind the mirror glass when the light sources are activated. Two lighting sections are preferably provided, with one at each end of the mirror surface. Several embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: United Technologies Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Faloon, Arthur W. Hess, Carmen P. Jackson
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Patent number: 5575550Abstract: The present invention provides a pole light for directing or delivering light in a desired pattern to a surface proximate to the pole light. The present invention also provides a method for lighting a plurality of desired regions on a surface in a precise and predetermined pattern useful, for example, as a traffic management and guidance system.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Roger H. Appeldorn, Sanford Cobb, Jr., John F. Dreyer, Jr.
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Patent number: 5575557Abstract: A motion sensor light apparatus comprises a lighting body, a mounting base for mounting the lighting body to a wall. The lighting body includes a decorative house for receiving a lamp bulb, and a light base extended downwardly from the bottom end of the decorative house as an integral part of the lighting body. The light base has a top rim, a conical base body extending coaxially and downwardly from the top rim and gradually reducing its diameter to define a conical shape, and a flat bottom end extending downwardly from the base body. The base body has an azimuthal aperture and installs therein a lens, a seat, and a motion sensor circuit board mounted on the seat. The seat has an azimuthal seat aperture superimposing to the aperture of the base body. The lens is adhered to the seat and positioned between the seat aperture and the aperture of the base body, and directs infra-red radiation from a human or vehicle object to an infra-red sensor of the motion sensor circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Merritway Electrical Industries Co. Ltd.Inventors: Zhao Y. Huang, E. Robert Kunzler