Patents Examined by Kathryn Odland
  • Patent number: 6725855
    Abstract: A raisable and lowerable platform that houses a removable charcoal or gas grill and a removable cooler chest, with a storage compartment between the two, a telescoping flagpole mounted to the platform, and a fold down table attached on both ends of the platform to provide more cooking area. In the preferred embodiment the platform is connected to a wheeled scissors lift system that is used to raise and lower the platform. The apparatus is carried and transported via a rollered receiver hitch assembly that is an integral part of the scissors lift system and that is conventionally mountable on a transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel A. Brennan
  • Patent number: 6723089
    Abstract: A device for helping to correct imperfections of a cornea includes a molding lens. The molding lens includes an external surface having a concave shape to correspond to the desired shape of the cornea. Heating and cooling elements are located with the molding lens to control the temperature the molding lens, and thus to control the temperature of a substance located on the molding lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: Ioannis Pallikaris, Harilaos Ginis
  • Patent number: 6722358
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integral solar energy collector storage systems. Generally, an integral collector storage system includes a tank system, a plurality of heat exchange tubes with at least some of the heat exchange tubes arranged within the tank system, a first glazing layer positioned over the tank system and a base plate positioned under the tank system. In one aspect of the invention, the tank system, the first glazing layer an the base plate each include protrusions and a clip is provided to hold the layers together. In another aspect of the invention, the first glazing layer and the base plate are ribbed to provide structural support. This arrangement is particularly useful when these components are formed from plastic. In yet another aspect of the invention, the tank system has a plurality of interconnected tank chambers formed from tubes. In this aspect, a supply header pipe and a fluid return header pipe are provided at a first end of the tank system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fafco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard O. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6716243
    Abstract: The present invention provides a suture-terminating device comprising a central body having at least one surface, a plurality of flanges extending radially from the surface and defining at least one grove therebetween, each flange having at least one aperture axially aligned and spaced away from the base wall, at least one removable member disposed within each aperture, and at least one spring disposed adjacently to the surface and maintained in its activated state by contact with a removable member disposed within the aperture. The grove has a base wall and at least one sidewall. The spring, while in its active state, is positioned adjacent to and spaced from the base wall, defining a gap of sufficient size to permit the passage of at least one suture therethrough. The surgeon actuates the device by withdrawing the removable member from the aperture, thus permitting the spring to return to its resting state within the grove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Quickie, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Colvin, Eugene Grossi, Alan Katz
  • Patent number: 6709445
    Abstract: A forceps serves in particular for excising myomas located intramurally in the uterus and including a forceps jaw having two branches which are pivotable about a common axis in a working plane for opening and closing the forceps jaw and which bear against one another with structured gripping surfaces with a closed, empty forceps jaw. The branches are each provided over a part of their length with a tooth-shaped back profile and a longitudinal cutting blade on their outer back sides lying opposite the gripping surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Boebel, Frank Knodel, Adolf Gallinat
  • Patent number: 6708687
    Abstract: A method and high concentration central receiver system provide improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under compressive stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventors: James B. Blackmon, Jr., Nelson Edwin Jones, Robert E. Drubka
  • Patent number: 6706033
    Abstract: Modular systems comprising a cannula and at least one access port adjacent to a distal end of the cannula provide insertion of one or more therapeutic or diagnostic devices into a vessel or cardiac tissue through a single incision site. Other embodiments include a vessel introducer or multi-port introducer. The devices can be operated in combination or independently. The systems can be employed to provide multiple therapies, including blood perfusion, filtration, aspiration, vessel occlusion, atherectomy, and endoscopic devices. Methods of using the system for vessel cannulation are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine Mangosong Martinez, Jobert Balceta, Kevin Hahnen, Bruce Addis, Timothy J. Wood, Roman Turovskiy, Richard O. Murphy, Tracy D. Maahs
  • Patent number: 6706037
    Abstract: A cryosurgery apparatus is disclosed. The cryosurgery apparatus an introducer having a hollow and a distal portion, the distal portion being sufficiently sharp so as to penetrate into a body, the hollow of the introducer being designed and constructed for containing a plurality of cryoprobes each of the cryoprobes being for effecting cryoablation, such that each of the plurality of cryoprobes is deployable through the distal portion of the introducer when the distal portion is positioned with respect to a tissue to be cryoablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Galil Medical Ltd.
    Inventors: Roni Zvuloni, Shaike Schatzberger
  • Patent number: 6701911
    Abstract: An adjustment device, particularly for adjusting the levelness of a surface or of an electric appliance, such as for example a set of burners of a cooker for watercraft, comprising two side panels provided with two pivots for pivoting to a fixed support. The pair of pivots is slidingly located in a longitudinal seat and interacts with means for varying the position of the pivots which can be activated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Techimpex Italiana S.r.l.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Giacomin
  • Patent number: 6682341
    Abstract: A piezoelectric lighter with a child resistant ignition mechanism which prevents accidental ignition and ignition by unintended users and by minor children under the age of 5 years. The safety ignition mechanism is an activation device that requires two displacements in order to ignite the lighter. The displacements are achieved by applying a continuous and increasing force to the activating component in order to ignite the lighter. The first displacement unlocks the ignition device and the second displacement initiates simultaneously an electrical discharge and a fuel discharge, which results in a flame. Whenever a user discontinues the application of force to the activating component, the ignition mechanism returns to an inoperable, locked position. The effectiveness of this activating device in resisting the manipulations of children under the age of 5 years has been established by tests performed pursuant to the requirements of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: L.A. Lighter Inc
    Inventors: Song Lin Pan, Lily Liu