Patents Examined by Gregory L. Huson
  • Water closet bolt
    Patent number: 7954179
    Abstract: A water closet bolt comprises an upper end and a lower end with a threaded body extending therebetween. The lower end includes an oblong foot and the upper end includes a male or female notch for visually indicating the orientation of the long axis of the oblong foot. The notch also serves as a gripping surface to aid the installer in the installation of the toilet. Furthermore, the bottom of the notch acts as a break-off point to aid the installer in removing an excess portion of the bolt after the completing the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventors: Charles W. Johnson, Andrew R. Johnson
  • Dispenser with moving assembly with encased valve
    Patent number: 7955014
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a moving assembly which includes an upper valve and a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product. The upper valve having at least one aperture is coupled to the lower valve having at least one aperture. Furthermore, the lower valve and the upper valve are partially covered by a sleeve. The sleeve includes a shaped path. The upper valve and the lower valve being selectively guidable along the shaped path between an upward position for the dispenser to deliver the product and a downward position to store the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: HCT Asia Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy Thorpe, Luis Alviar
  • Toilet transfer systems and methods
    Patent number: 7954180
    Abstract: A toilet transfer system is described for assisting a person to transfer between a wheelchair and a toilet. The system comprises a base unit that is attached to a toilet and that may be supported by one or more legs. The system further comprises a transfer board that is rotatably coupled to the base unit, allowing the transfer board to be positioned in a variety of positions without need to detach the toilet transfer system from the toilet. The transfer board may be pointed forward to allow the wheelchair to be positioned for transfer, pointed towards the wheelchair for transfer, and pointed back for compact storage between transfers and for normal use of the toilet. A coupling system accommodates height differentials between the toilet and the wheelchair, and allows the transfer board to become lifted up off the base unit and/or rotated without becoming misaligned from the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Rene Cervi
  • Auto-release vacuum device
    Patent number: 7950422
    Abstract: A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formations, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice Perlman, Keith S. Attee
  • Funnel assembly
    Patent number: 7946317
    Abstract: A funnel assembly includes a perimeter wall that has a frusto-conical shape and has an upper edge and a lower edge wherein a diameter of an interior bounded by the perimeter wall decreases from the upper edge to the lower edge. Each of the upper and lower edges defines openings into the interior. The perimeter wall has an aperture extending therethrough. A tool is extendable through the aperture to engage a drain bolt of an oil pan. The aperture is spaced from the upper and lower edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas M. Organ
  • Installation for packaging a liquid product in receptacles
    Patent number: 7942170
    Abstract: An installation for packaging a product in receptacles. The installation includes a series of filler stations each having a filler spout having a spout body with a top end connected to a filler spout feed duct and a bottom end provided with an orifice fitted with a controlled valve. The filler spout is fitted with a looping duct opening into the spout body above the controlled valve and connected by a link member to a general feed duct at a point between a stop valve and an isolation valve. A purge valve is connected to the general feed duct between the isolation valve and the link member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Serac Group
    Inventor: Bertrand Gruson
  • Sink drain system
    Patent number: 7941878
    Abstract: A drain plug, a drain body and a drain pipe are fabricated of a flexible material. The drain plug has perforations and is threaded to allow easy cleaning. A drain-trap-shaped drain pipe containment device is in the form of a pair of mirror image halves with a hinge means there between. The hinged halves are latched together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Danh Truong
  • Piercing member protection device
    Patent number: 7942860
    Abstract: The invention concerns a piercing member protection device, a kit of a piercing member protection device, a first and second fluid container and a method a method for transferring a fluid between a first and a second container using a piercing member protection device. The piercing member protection device comprises a protection chamber to protect at least the tip of a piercing member. The piercing member protection device further comprises a first and a second member arranged to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Carmel Pharma AB
    Inventor: Petri Horppu
  • Safety device to prevent overfilling
    Patent number: 7938151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing overfilling of a plurality of fuel tanks (8) at a gasoline station, in the event that fuel tanks are filled simultaneously by multi-chamber tank vehicles (7). The fuel tanks (8) are equipped with filling level threshold indicators (3) linked to a transmitter (1) for wireless transmission of a signal. A receiver (2) mounted in the tank vehicle (7) is provided to control one or several tank valves. In order to ensure safe closure of the tank valves, the filling level threshold indicators (3) of the fuel tanks (8) at the gasoline station are connected each to a signal line (5) leading to a common interface (4). Only one transmitter (1) along with an interrogation control device is provided for connecting to said interface (4) and cooperates with the receiver (2) mounted in the tank vehicle (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Security & Electronic Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Dagmar Höckner
  • Station side cooling for refueling vehicle storage tanks with high pressure fuel
    Patent number: 7938150
    Abstract: Reduction of fuel tank heating during the refueling process is effected by a coolant exchange between the station and the vehicle whereby an on board heat exchanger internal to the tank is interconnected through a heat exchanger external to the tank with a station side cooler that cools the refill gas to an ambient temperature. As a result of station provided ambient temperature cooling, the vehicle does not need to have particularly complicated on-board cooling devices, nor does the station need to be encumbered with complex and expensive pre cooling devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Ltd
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Handa
  • Beverage filling machine lock lever and methods for use
    Patent number: 7938152
    Abstract: The invention is directed to lock levers for use in an automatic beverage machine for filling cans for example. The lock lever may have an L-shaped configuration with a first and second leg, and a first engagement surface on a side of the second leg which transitions to a second engagement surface at the distal end of the second leg. The lock lever is selectively rotated between operational and non-operational positions, and the first engagement surface transitions into the second engagement surface. The transition from the first engagement surface to the second engagement surface positions the second engagement surface at a predetermined height without the first or second engagement surface extending above the predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Bevcorp, LLC
    Inventor: Richard D. Jenne
  • Stick-shaped material extruding container and cosmetics
    Patent number: 7938591
    Abstract: A stick-shaped material extruding container and cosmetics using the container are provided. The stick-shaped material extruding container is provided with a piston-shaped extruding portion which is located at the front end of a moving body and tightly slides in a filling part; the stick-shaped material is tightly filled within the filling part; there exists sealant between the stick-shaped material and the extruding portion, which sealant contains one or more components chosen from the group consisting of oil components which assume liquid state at room temperature and polyols which assume liquid state at room temperature; the extruding portion and the stick-shaped material maintain in a tight engagement state in the filling part by means of the sealant with the mobile body being retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Tokiwa Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kokai
  • Sealing device for a tank access opening in particular for tank filler pipes on motor vehicles
    Patent number: 7931053
    Abstract: A sealing device for a tank access opening whereby the ball is arranged to be displaced within the tank access opening. On introduction of a fuel nozzle, the ball opens the tank access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Etzhard Bultmann, Derk Ekenhorst
  • Sealing agent injecting apparatus, sealing agent injecting method and sealing pump up apparatus
    Patent number: 7926521
    Abstract: To be able to simply carry out an operation of repairing a punctured pneumatic tire, to be able to inject a necessary amount of a sealing agent firmly into the pneumatic tire even when the apparatus is used in an inclined state and to prevent clogging of the sealing agent and leakage of a liquid by being pressurized. A pump up apparatus 30 is an apparatus for injecting a sealing agent in a liquid state into a punctured pneumatic tire 38, thereafter, supplying compressed air into the pneumatic tire 38 to elevate an inner pressure thereof. The pump up apparatus 30 includes a sealing agent vessel 34 accommodating the sealing agent, a sealing agent injecting pump 42 for sucking the sealing agent from the sealing agent vessel 34 to feed it to the pneumatic tire 38, and a compressor 44 for pressurizing and sending air to the pneumatic tire 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Izumoto, Daisuke Sugio, Masaki Yoshida, Yuji Takeda
  • Pivotal splash guard for a toilet
    Patent number: 7921478
    Abstract: A splash guard includes a shield that helps deflect and drain misdirected urine into a toilet bowl. When not needed, the shield can pivot 180 degrees from an operative, raised position down to tuck underneath the front end of the toilet bowl at a stored, lowered position. In the lowered position, the shield is generally inverted. To prevent residual urine on the inverted shield from dripping onto the floor, the shield includes a drip lip that temporarily collects the residual urine. When returned to the upright, raised position, urine in the drip lip is free to drain back into the toilet. The shield is pivotally connected to the toilet bowl at a point below the upper rim of the bowl so that when the shield pivots to the lowered position, the shield is completely out of the way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Annmarie Vanini
  • Automatically flushing toilet
    Patent number: 7913327
    Abstract: An automatically flushing toilet in which an extension arm is attached to a horizontal bar to which the toilet seat is attached. When the toilet seat is raised, one end of the extension arm moves downward, causing a rod on the end of the inner tube of a telescoping member located primarily inside the tank compartment of the toilet to move so that it is positioned atop a pivoting member located inside a cut-out on the same end of the extension arm. When the toilet seat is then closed, the one end of the extension arm moves upward, pushing the pivoting member against the rod and causing the rod to force the inner tube of the telescoping member upward. The inner tube is pivotally connected to a trip lever, which causes the toilet to flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Meike, David Yakos, Stephen Sanford, Bryan Walthall
  • Magnetic sink strainer
    Patent number: 7900289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic sink strainer with at least one magnet securely attached to the strainer, to create a magnetic field. The invention also provides a magnetic sink strainer made of a magnetized material to provide a magnetic field. The magnetic sink strainer is firmly placed over a standard sink drain and functions to capture and retain objects that are attracted by a force as a result of being subjected to the magnetic field. This prevents such objects from accidentally being discarded into the sink drain. The magnetic sink strainer also includes at least one slit to enable fluids and other non-magnetic substances to easily and rapidly flow down to the sink drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bel-Art Products
    Inventors: David Landsberger, Francis Gomes, Morton Milden
  • Soaking basin having disposable liner
    Patent number: 7895685
    Abstract: A soaking basin is provided having a disposable liner and a base unit. The liner defines an air chamber and a plurality of apertures defined in a floor of the liner. The base unit includes an air blower system connected to the liner such that air is forced out the apertures of the liner into the liquid. The liner can further include a water-soluble coating of soaking additives adhered thereto. In this manner, the liner and the base unit cooperatively provide a therapeutic soak, even in a salon setting, without sacrificing hygienic practices. Moreover, the basin is cost-effective to manufacture and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Footsie Bath LLC
    Inventors: Genya Vinokur, Sasha Vinokur, Michael Vinokur
  • Method and system for encompassing a construction site structure
    Patent number: 7877823
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aesthetically pleasing covering for construction site structures, such as portable toilets and/or construction waste bins, includes expanses of material designed to encompass and/or encircle such structures. Various embodiments are directed to retractable, weather-resistant fabrics that, when employed in accordance with the present invention, create a cabana-like structure to obscure the undesired aesthetics of underlying structures. Other embodiments relate to camouflaging such structures to avoid the unpleasant visual appearance of reconstruction/remodeling projects where such structures are utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen Hentschel
  • Corner connector and method for connecting headers of two sides of a shower enclosure or tub/shower enclosure
    Patent number: 7877825
    Abstract: A top corner connector is provided for a shower enclosure or tub/shower enclosure. The connector includes first and second legs which have an interior cavity opening downwardly and opening lengthwise at the end. Each leg is adapted to receive a portion of a header at the top of the enclosure. The corner connector and headers can be secured together and at least the corner connector can be secured to the top end of a vertical corner post at a corner of the enclosure. A method is provided for efficiently connecting the headers at the top of the enclosure with the corner connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Danny Ray Marshall, Richard G. Kluge