Patents Examined by E. Leigh Dawson
  • Patent number: 5324490
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a perfumed stable gel and to a deodorant container which retains a deodorant in the form of that perfumed stable gel, and which is adapted for use with various deodorant dispensers. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacture for the perfumed stable gel and the deodorant container in a unitary form. Specifically, the invention relates to a disposable deodorant container which retains a perfumed stable gel comprised of a unique combination of chemical components. The stable gel can be maintained at temperatures of up to 140.degree. F. and has a perfume content of up to 75%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Eftichios Van Vlahakis
    Inventors: Eftichios Van Vlahakis, John A. Manolas, Michael J. Marrese
  • Patent number: 5324485
    Abstract: A microwave applicator for processing of radioactive waste slurry uses a waveguide network which splits an input microwave of TE.sub.10 rectangular mode to TE.sub.01 circular mode. A cylindrical body has four openings, each receiving 1/4 of the power input. The waveguide network includes a plurality of splitters to effect the 1/4 divisions of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry L. White
  • Patent number: 5322667
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning, disinfecting, storing and wetting rigid gas permeable contact lenses is provided. The system includes a cleaning, disinfecting and storing solution and a separate wetting solution. Both solutions contain hydrophilic disinfectants or preservatives which do not inhibit proper wetting of rigid gas permeable contact lenses. The lenses are stored in the cleaning, disinfecting and storing solution during nonwearing periods. This storage also acts as a secondary or backup cleaning treatment to help remove any residual contaminants after the primary cleaning with this solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Sherman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy J. Sherman
  • Patent number: 5319966
    Abstract: A method is provided for locating non-aqueous phase liquid in an aquifer. An aqueous solution having the capacity to solubilize the contaminating liquid to concentrations greater than the solubility of the contaminant in water is injected and produced through a well. Chemical concentrations in produced fluid samples are interpreted to locate the contaminating liquid. Produced fluid samples are chemically analyzed to determine composition of the contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Intera, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Jackson, John F. Pickens
  • Patent number: 5320806
    Abstract: A method of disinfecting a contact lens is disclosed and comprises placing the contact lens to be disinfected into a liquid electrolyte containing chlorine dioxide precursor, e.g., stabilized chlorine dioxide, and forming a disinfecting amount of chlorine dioxide in the liquid electrolyte by passing an electric current through the liquid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Allegan, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Dziabo, Paul S. Ripley
  • Patent number: 5312586
    Abstract: Process for sterilizing a contact lens using an aqueous solution of a sterilant which may be a peroxygen disinfectant, an inorganic hypochlorite compound or a hypochlorite precursor compound. The process involves the steps of contacting the lens with the aqueous solution for a period of time sufficient to effect sterilization of the lens; and thereafter contacting the resultant aqueous solution and lens with an amount of activated carbon and for a period of time sufficient to decompose substantially all of any residual sterilant to ophthalmologically innocuous by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Richard F. Stockel
  • Patent number: 5310676
    Abstract: A cell cultivating device comprising superposed, separate partition wall members forming mutually spaced partition walls, which define superposed chambers for containing a cell cultivating medium therebetween. The superposed partition wall members each comprising said partition wall and an upstanding peripheral wall extending transversely thereto, are arranged within a closed outer container having a flat bottom wall and a flat end wall. A liquid cultivating medium may be introduced into the outer container through a filling opening while the container is in an upright position in which it is supported by the end wall. The liquid may then substantially uniformly distribute itself within the cultivating chambers via a tunnel extending along the end wall and interconnecting the cultivating chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: A/S Nunc
    Inventors: Arne Johansson, Peter Esser
  • Patent number: 5304358
    Abstract: An air freshener device is disclosed herein of multilayer construction which, when laminated or joined together, provides a strong reinforced unitary structure for holding a scented member between two snap-locked layers defining an internally closed cavity that provides a moisture barrier for at least a message or picture card forming a part of the unitary structure. The device includes a pair of thin members having preformed islands, receptacles and pins which, when aligned, may be snap-locked together. A scented member is held in the central cavity defined between the snap-locked members and a plurality of passageways interconnects the central cavity with peripheral vents to release the fragrance exteriorly of the device. Message, photographic or graphic representations are carried on display cards secured to the opposite sides of the snap-locked members which are isolated from the moisture of the scent carried on the scent carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Ralph Muniz
    Inventors: Earl Hoyt, Ralph Muniz
  • Patent number: 5303035
    Abstract: A micropositioner has a platform supported on balls positioned by inclined planes machined on plungers. The plungers are adjustable in horizontal bores in a frame which has a vertical portion with adjusting screws for horizontal positioning of the platform and rotation about a vertical axis. The micropositioner provides four degrees of freedom with four adjustable screws in one embodiment, five degrees of freedom in an alternative embodiment, and six degrees of freedom in yet another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: New Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis S. Luecke, David F. Arnone
  • Patent number: 5296915
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for easily controlling the advancing direction of an excavating machine without causing the excavating machine to largely trace in a zigzag way. The direction control is done by the steps of mounting a reflector on a head portion of a shield body so as to receive a light beam directed along an imaginary reference line, mounting a target on a tail portion of the shield body so as to receive the reflected light beam from the reflector, controlling means for correcting the direction so that the reflected light beam may be irradiated at an objective position within the target, and thereby controlling the advancing direction of the excavating machine so that a subjective portion at the front end of the head portion may follow along the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Iseki Kaihatsu Koki
    Inventor: Toshio Akesaka
  • Patent number: 5295389
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector includes a thin diaphragm, a heat-generating portion, and a pair of boundary holes. The thin diaphragm is obtained by forming a space in part of a base. The heat-generating portion is formed in the diaphragm. The boundary holes are formed to surround the heat-generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Nagata, Shoji Kamiunten, Tatsuyuki Uchida, Misako Seita
  • Patent number: 5292479
    Abstract: Rotatable circular plates are stacked apart to form thin air layers therebetween. Rotation of the circular plates moves air over an air treatment material: catalyst or adsorbent. In one embodiment, the air treatment material is affixed to the surface of the circular plates. In another embodiment, the circular plates are formed from the air treatment material. The increased velocity of air relative to the circular plates causes separation of laminar flow, promotes boundary-layer turbulence near the plate surfaces, and promotes propagating stall in the air layers. These phenomena enhance the contact between the flowing air and the air treatment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisato Haraga, Hajime Miyazaki, Yasuo Hamada, Katsushi Akamatsu, Ayako Hirano
  • Patent number: 5290510
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a thawing compartment in which food is to be thawed through the aid of a heater. An odor absorbing member mounted along a ceiling of the compartment comprises a porous plate which carries a platinum catalyst. The catalyst absorbs odors which are decomposed upon being heated to more than 100.degree. C. by the heater. Upon being heated greater than 250.degree. C. the odors form a platinum-sulfur compound which attaches to the porous plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cha J. Lee
  • Patent number: 5288461
    Abstract: Contaminants in an aqueous stream are oxidized with minimal use of an added oxidant by diffusing the oxidant through a fixed porous element followed by cyclical photolytic treatment of the stream with at least two different wavelengths of light. The porous element is preferably formed in one piece of a durable sintered ceramic material. The photolytic treatment preferably involves the sequential use of ultraviolet light having two different wavelengths, by which complementary oxidizing reactions occur within the stream being decontaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Buddy D. Gray
  • Patent number: 5285679
    Abstract: A method is provided to determine the concentration of an amorphous material such as blast furnace slag in a slurry such as drilling fluid, completion fluid fluids. A sample is annealed at a temperature between about 800.degree. C. and about 1000.degree. C. for a time period of about six hours to form crystals from the amorphous material, and the sample along with a known amount of a standard is then analyzed by X-ray diffraction. This method is particularly useful in determining the amount of blast furnace slag in a drilling fluid prior to conversion of the drilling fluid to a wellbore cement slurry by addition of additional blast furnace slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: William E. Jackson, Thomas E. Murray, Arthur H. Hale
  • Patent number: 5282379
    Abstract: In a diagnostic method wherein steam condensate is evaluated, the proportion of condensate water from one steam source, versus other steam sources, is determined by adding at an addition point a tracer that is selectively carried over into the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Harder, Claudia C. Pierce, Brian F. Post
  • Patent number: 5281401
    Abstract: A vapor dispensing system comprising a container adapted to contain a cartridge for controllably dispensing a liquid substance as a vapor, a pump for causing a flow of the vapor, conduit means for conveying the vapor flow including a first conduit communicating between the container and the pump, a second conduit communicable between the pump and the atmosphere, and means for controlling the flow of vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Vaportek, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Bryson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5281391
    Abstract: A portable disinfecting and disposal device for medical waste. A disposal device includes a plastic container resistant to penetration, either from medical sharps inside or external effects. The device has a top and bottom portion with perimeter seal areas which upon closure prevent nondestructive reopening. The device top portion includes a chemically filled packet which is sealed during ongoing use for attachment of medical waste to the device but is unsealed by spikes for use after collection of the medical waste. The collected medical waste is accounted for by a system to identify the number and type of medical waste viewable through the plastic container after closing the device as well as when the device is open and being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: AvanTech Resource Center
    Inventors: Leila Hanson, Joseph J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5271892
    Abstract: A portable disinfecting and disposal device for medical waste. The device top portion includes a chemically filled packet which is sealed during ongoing use for attachment of medical waste to the device. Alternatively, the top portion includes a chemically filled container with access openings which is sealed during ongoing use for attachment of medical waste. The top portion is unsealed to release disinfecting chemical onto collected medical waste by removing a peelable cover. The cover can be removed in whole or part by a peel tab or strings attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: AvanTech Resource Center
    Inventors: Leila Hanson, Joseph J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5270003
    Abstract: A blood sampling system having an in-line sampling member is provided. The member includes a frangible joint located along the length thereof providing an easily openable port for directly sampling a donor's blood during blood collection into a collection bag. In further embodiments, an integral clamping system can be provided with the sampling member for temporarily cutting off flow of blood from a donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Bernes, Michel Joie, Baudouin Vanbreedam, Jean-Marie Mathias, Jean-Marc Payrat