Patents Examined by John W. Zerr
  • Patent number: 6729322
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered gun provides recoil simulating the recoil of a gun firing gunpowder propelled projectiles. The valve assembly provides both consistent shot to shot pressure, and rearward gas pressure for generating recoil. Preferred embodiments of the compressed gas powered gun may include a system for adjusting the amount of recoil provided. A trigger mechanism permitting semi-automatic operation, or full automatic operation at a user selectable cyclic rate, is provided. The air gun provides consistent gas pressure behind the projectile from shot to shot. A magazine and magazine indexing system for loading projectiles into the firing chamber in a manner contributing to the accuracy of the air gun is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Schavone
  • Patent number: 6725593
    Abstract: A knife/bayonet device is provided which is useful as both a knife and as a bayonet adapted to be mounted on a barrel portion, e.g., muzzle brake, of a rifle having a groove therein. The device includes an integral knife/bayonet component including a hollow handle portion and a blade. The handle portion is adapted to fit onto the barrel portion of the rifle and includes a locking groove having an opening therein extending through the handle portion. A locking ring received in the locking groove includes a detent portion adapted to extend through the opening in the locking groove to engage in the groove in the barrel portion of the rifle and thereby secure the knife/bayonet component to the rifle. A multi-purpose butt cap is adapted to be received in one end of the handle portion, and a storage canister is adapted to be affixed to the butt cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Wayne V. Harris
  • Patent number: 6725594
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is a rail cover for use on mounting rails typically, though not exclusively, used on personal firearms. The covers may be made to fit either Picatinny or Weaver type rails and feature a clipping structure on the cover's underside that grasps the rail while the tension in the cover body holds the cover in place. Two preferred embodiments disclose a solid cover and a low profile, ribbed cover that nests within transverse grooves in some rails. Alternatively, a restraining beam may be utilized to further restrain the clipping structure and retain the cover on the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen Charles Hines
  • Patent number: 6722696
    Abstract: A power unit arrangement structure for a vehicle is provided with a side-member extending in a fore and aft direction of a mounting room and enabled to achieve buckling deformation in the fore and aft direction during a frontal collision, a sub-frame extending in the mounting room along the fore and aft direction at an area below the side-member, a mount member having respective an insulating function and permitting a power unit to be supported with the side-member, a bent portion disposed at a substantially intermediate portion of the sub-frame in the fore and aft direction and having a downwardly bent configuration, and a connecting member connecting a lower portion of the power unit to the sub-frame in the vicinity of the bent portion. The mount member is capable of tearing in response to relative movement of the side-member and the power unit in the fore and aft direction during the frontal collision. The sub-frame has a part having a substantially V-shaped configuration in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Sonomura, Haruaki Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6722316
    Abstract: A dog is exercised on a conventional a treadmill by locating the dog on the treadmill by providing a support base mounted on the ground underneath the base of the treadmill and held in place by the base of the treadmill and an upstanding support member extending from the support base at the front end of the treadmill, and confining the dog within an enclosure supported in cantilever manner by the support member and extending rearwardly therefrom so as to be supported by the support member over the walking surface such that the dog is positioned within the enclosure on the walking surface. The enclosure has a front wall and side walls extending from a bottom edge close the walking surface and within the side edges thereof to a height above the dog to restrict its vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: John G. Joycey, David Joycey
  • Patent number: 6722255
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted for actuating a bolt carrier group apparatus comprising a piston tube attached to a receiver assembly. An operating rod is disposed in a bore of the piston tube. A piston is engaged with a first end of the operating rod. The operating rod moves from a static position to a displaced position when a combustion gas is exposed to a face of the piston. A bolt carrier including a bolt carrier lug is disposed in a bolt carrier lug channel of an upper receiver body. A tappet rod is engaged with the bolt carrier lug. The tappet rod moves substantially in unison with the operating rod. A yoke is attached to the tappet rod and to the operating rod. The yoke is mounted movably on the piston tube. An adjustable pressure regulator is coupled to the piston tube for regulating discharge of the combustion gas therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Patent number: 6712392
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an automotive frame assembly (10) includes an inner rail (12) having an exterior side (26) and an interior side (30). First, the exterior side (26) of the inner rail (12) has fixedly attached thereto at least one flange (24) extending from a cross member (20). At least one two-sided fastener (28) is operatively applied to the exterior side (26) and the interior side (30) of the inner rail (12) so as to fixedly attach the flange (24) to the inner rail (12). Thereafter, the interior side (30) of the inner rail (12) has fixedly attached thereto at least one lip (32) extending from an outer rail (12″). Likewise, at least one two-sided fastener (28) is operatively applied to the exterior side (26) and the interior side (30) of the inner rail so as to fixedly attach the lip (32) to the inner rail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Sean Young, Henry J Cornille, Jr., Joseph Porcari, Michael William Danyo
  • Patent number: 6708595
    Abstract: A bullet-proof and/or shatter-proof toughened, laminated glass plate includes a stack of glass sheets. A central ballistic system (BC) of the glass plate has, at its peripheral region corresponding to a reinforcing element (C) of the peripheral ballistic system (BP), one or more reinforcing cladding portions made from a high-strength ballistic material, and integrated in the stack. At least one of the reinforcing cladding portions is integral with the element (C) (i.e., a one-piece construction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Pierre Chaussade, Noël Gourio, Hervé Lehrmann
  • Patent number: 6708685
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered projectile accelerator employing dynamic-regulation; having, a valve slider, reciprocally moveable within a passage, being releasable by the action of a sear and trigger from a cocked position, controlling flow of compressed gas into a breech; or an electric valve performing the same function under the control of an electronic circuit and trigger; and a spring-biased bolt, reciprocally moveable within the breech, controlling the flow of projectiles and compressed gas into a barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: National Paintball Supply, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kenneth Masse
  • Patent number: 6698331
    Abstract: In a multi-layer armor system (10), useful for military vehicles, a metallic foam is provided as the shock energy-absorbing element. In a typical arrangement, the metallic foam shock-absorbing element (12) is sandwiched between a high strength strike plate (11) and a backing plate (13). Typically, the backing plate is a highly deforming metal, such as titanium, aluminum, or steel. However, the backing plate may comprise one or more layers of metal, ceramic or polymer-based composites. The high strength strike plate may be ceramic or metal. The shock-absorbing element is preferably a closed-cell metal foam with a high porosity that is effective in containing rearward deformation of the strike plate from a projectile strike. In a preferred embodiment, the shock-absorbing element is an aluminum foam with a porosity of 80 percent by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Jye Yu, Terry Dennis Claar, Harald H. Eifert
  • Patent number: 6698414
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic toy gun which may include a cylinder having an open end and an outlet, a piston disposed within the open end of the cylinder, and a valve having a valve inlet and a discharge outlet. The valve may have a normal position wherein the discharge outlet is sealed to prevent the flow of air through the discharge outlet, and an open position wherein the discharge outlet is unsealed to permit the flow of air through the discharge outlet, with the outlet of the cylinder being in fluid communication with the valve inlet. The pneumatic toy gun may further include a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the outlet of the cylinder and the valve inlet, with the pressure gauge having a cavity with a fluid disposed therein, and the cavity having a transparent portion through which the fluid is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro Inc
    Inventors: Steven M. Menow, Michael Waters, John Freitas
  • Patent number: 6694663
    Abstract: A floating hand held tool for engaging a snagged line and for applying force to a line without cutting the hand or arm of the user and without applying undue stress to the rod and reel of the user. The tool has a V-shaped groove in an outer circumferential rim for engaging the line and a center opening for gripping the tool by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Donald R. Drury
  • Patent number: 6691446
    Abstract: A debris retaining and retrieval tool for cleaning the barrels of rifles. A serrated brass cutting blade is positioned between two spaced plastic guide discs and further between a plastic lead-in guide element and a plastic follower guide element. The elements are combined by a bolt and nut and fastened to a ram rod. The spaced guide discs and the cutting blade entrap the scraped barrel residue of powder, plastic and lead to be carried outside the cleaned barrel for removal by a toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Barry L. Graves
  • Patent number: 6684550
    Abstract: A mounting system for clay target thrower and rifle/pistol rest (10) having a hollow extender (12) which has an elongated square extender male member (12A) having an extender male member opening (12AA) therethrough. An extender horizontal member (12B) is securely fastened at a front distal end to a rear distal end of the extender male member (12A). An extender vertical member (12C) is securely fastened at a bottom distal end to a rear distal end of the extender horizontal member (12B). A mounting system for clay target thrower and rifle/pistol rest (10) having a holder (14) removably insertable into the extender (12). The holder (14) comprises a holder platform (14A) securely attached to a top distal end of a holder upper member (14B) which is attached at a lower distal end to a top distal end of a holder lower member (14C) having a holder ring (14D) therebetween. The holder platform (14A) comprises at least one holder platform opening (14AA) therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen D. Highfill
  • Patent number: 6685042
    Abstract: A device for use in increasing milk flow from a feeder bottle. The device includes a shaft adapted for entry into a correspondingly shaped hole in the feeder bottle. The device further includes a retention element for retaining the device in the hole and a channel, formed in a wall of the shaft. The shaft is movable such that it can, in a first position, seal the hole closed and, in another position (illustrated), permit airflow into the feeder bottle via the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Dimock McIntyre, Robin Whitfield, Rex Alan Pike
  • Patent number: 6684872
    Abstract: A fixed point contact practicing machine which includes a vertically popping device being disposed on a base of the practicing machine, a penetrating hole being disposed on the lateral side of the hole on the top of a loading stand of the popping device, and a penetrating hole being disposed at the bottom of a suspending stand, whereby the base ball is accommodated in an accomodating chamber when the contractible axle of the pressure cylinder pushing out, thereby pushing the compressed spring to shoot out the baseball from the top in order to provide practice or baseball batters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Kao, Yao-Hui Tang
  • Patent number: 6681720
    Abstract: A wire cage operable between an expanded position and a folded position includes a top wall and a bottom wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall and a rear wall attach to the bottom and top walls. The front and rear walls contain rounded sides. The cage includes an entrance door. A pass through door is mounted on the entrance door. In order to open the pass through door, the entrance door must be closed and locked. The cage top wall optionally contains a top wall door hinged on the edge of the top wall so that the user can easily access the cage from the top wall. The top door can be rotated so that it rests flush with the cage sidewall. A pan is inserted over the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Skurdalsvold, Donald E. Spears, II, Michael A. Foster, Mike Harper, Ralph Van Skiver
  • Patent number: 6681714
    Abstract: This invention provides for a method of keeping animals away from a location comprising subjecting the location to a light beam or subjecting the animals to the light beam. Also provided for is a method for disturbing the nocturnal nesting areas of water fowl by subjecting those nocturnal nesting areas to a light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Robert Johnson
  • Patent number: 6681677
    Abstract: A method of reconfiguring a firearm receiver system comprises the operations of providing a substantially as-manufactured OEM lower receiver assembly capable of having an ammunition magazine attached thereto for communicating ammunition to an OEM upper receiver assembly capable of having ammunition communicated thereto exclusively from the OEM lower receiver assembly; mounting a supplemental upper receiver assembly capable of having belt-fed ammunition communicated thereto on the OEM lower receiver assembly; mounting an ammunition belt feeding assembly on the supplemental upper receiver assembly; attaching a piston tube assembly to the supplemental upper receiver assembly; coupling a tappet assembly to the piston tube assembly; engaging the tappet assembly with a bolt carrier of the supplemental upper receiver assembly; and attaching an adjustable pressure regulator to the piston tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Patent number: 6675789
    Abstract: A control agent delivery system useful for dispersing a pesticide, herbicide, fungicide or other biocide around a target or target area that is not directly accessible or that is hazardous to the user. The system includes a separable, two-part projectile containing a control agent disposed in a powder, liquid or gel dispersal medium, together with a gas-propelled, projectile launching device. A method of use of the subject system that causes the projectile to perform differently, depending upon the manner of launch, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: NCH Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Clarence Pearce, III, Dale Vilmer Kiplinger