Patents Examined by Kenneth J. Dorner
  • Patent number: 6408492
    Abstract: The holder is a resilient arcuate clip of a size to fit on the handle section of a fishing rod. Outstanding therefrom is a series of resilient arcuate clips of different sizes to grip the smaller rod sections, whereby all the rod sections are held close together in side-by-side relation in a compact bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald V. Sparks, Sharon Lee Sparks
  • Patent number: 5961100
    Abstract: A fence comprises posts and lattice panels which are fixed at their vertical edges to the posts. The post carries, on its front side, hooks, on which the horizontal bars of the lattice panels rest. The lattice panels are clamped between the front side of the post and the rear side of a hollow front profile which have on the rear side, at the locations of the hooks, holes, into which hooks penetrate with a leg directed obliquely outward and upward. The upper hole edges slide downward on the slope formed on the upper side of the legs and at the same time displace the front profile toward the post. The front profile is pressed downward by a holding-down device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Hans Lechtenboehmer
  • Patent number: 5954446
    Abstract: A breakaway unit for a tool mount of a robotic positioner, the breakaway unit having a magnetic coupler mechanism and a mechanical coupler mechanism for omnidirectional collision contacts of the tool and/or tool mount, the magnetic coupler mechanism having an adjustably positioned magnetizable disk in one coupler component and a fixed position magnet member in the other coupler component and the mechanical coupler mechanism having an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the force of release in the +Z direction of contact by the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Randy L. Ireland
  • Patent number: 5943802
    Abstract: Each element in an array of display elements has first and second limiting positions and in respective limiting positions selectively displays a bright and a dark surface in a viewing direction. A transparent sheet is intermediate the array and the viewer. Conductors on said sheet direct light toward said array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Mark IV Industries Limited
    Inventor: Veso S. Tijanic
  • Patent number: 5934687
    Abstract: A gas-path leakage seal for generally sealing a gas-path leakage-gap between spaced-apart first and second members of a turbine (such as combustor casing segments of a gas turbine). The seal includes a flexible and generally imperforate metal sheet assemblage having opposing first and second surfaces and two opposing raised edges extending a generally identical distance above and below the surfaces. A first cloth layer assemblage has a thickness generally equal to the previously-defined identical distance and is superimposed on the first surface between the raised edges. A second cloth layer assemblage is generally identical to the first cloth layer assemblage and is superimposed on the second surface between the raised edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Thomas Raymond Farrell
  • Patent number: 5913619
    Abstract: This sheet material marking tag has a stiffly resilient header part united along a border to an information part for printed matter. A holding orifice in the header comprises a major recess divisible into substantially equal upper and lower halves. The orifice has an internal edge and the internal edge has a lower span consisting of all portions of the internal edge below the upper half of the major recess. A stub nose projects laterally from the orifice and terminates as a blunt tip. The lower edge of the nose tapers toward the border but terminates at an orifice entry slit on the lower span of the orifice internal edge. A V-shaped open mouth below the nose has an upper lip common to the lower edge of the nose and a lower lip tapering toward the orifice but terminating at a lower lip intersection along the lower edge of the nose at a location spaced from the orifice. A pinch entry channel extends as a length along the lower edge of the nose between the lower lip intersection and the orifice entry slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Lowe
  • Patent number: 5906464
    Abstract: A quick-clamping nut for a fastener assembly with mutually cooperating threaded bolts and nuts. The nut is a circular-cylindrical or prismatic hollow body of hard-elastic material, in particular plastic. A protrusion, which is integrally formed with the nut body, projects from the inner wall of the hollow body and it is oriented obliquely towards the axis. The free end of the projection cooperates with the thread of the bolt such that the threaded bolt is axially displaceable in one direction relative to the nut, causing elastic deformation of the protrusion. In the other direction, the is locked, but it is threadable similarly to a conventional, rigid nut and a force can be transmitted in the axial direction between the threaded bolt and the nut The protrusion is formed with an axial extension, which extends to approximately the plane of the contacting surface of the nut with the component to be clamped in the fastener assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: HKT Haider und Deravis GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Wedenig
  • Patent number: 5901390
    Abstract: A system for inserting and removing a bed pan in conjunction with a bed, utilizing a vessel which is capable of holding human waste products. A track is supported by the bed and extends along and beneath the top surface of the bed. The track includes a guide for moving the vessel along the same. The vessel may be placed in the guide in a first position within the periphery of the bed and in a second position outwardly from the periphery of the bed. A conduit extends from the top surface of the bed to a place beneath the top surface of the bed for communication with the vessel when it is at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Lavada G. Williams
  • Bed
    Patent number: 5901391
    Abstract: A bed includes a bag filled with a transparent fluid and formed with a transparent portion at least at an upper surface portion thereof, and a light source for emitting light. The light emitted from the light source passes through the fluid and propagates to an outside of the bag through the transparent portion on an upper surface of the bag. As a result, a bedsore can be prevented, and a decrease in bone mass can be prevented, thus suppressing occurrence of osteoporosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Makoto Kato
  • Patent number: 5898961
    Abstract: A mobile support unit such as an IV stand or the like coupled to a mobile hospital bed, gurney or wheelchair by a latch mechanism which provides hands free operation thereby avoiding the need for a nurse or care provider to manually manipulate the latch to secure the units together for tandem transport. Further, the latch mechanism according to this invention includes a clutch which prevents relative movement of the IV stand or support unit with respect to the hospital bed during transport up to a specific adjustable torque level thereby avoiding the problem of the IV stand or support unit swinging freely relative to the bed during movement. Further, the clutch permits movement of the IV stand or support unit through an arc relative to the bed when a specified force is applied as required by the nurse or care provider to reposition the IV stand or support unit relative to the bed and provide increased access to the patient or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Ambach, Timothy M. Sellers, Michael L. Burns, Dennis M. Lanci, Christopher D. Bryan, Stephen C. Robinson, Joshua R. Uth
  • Patent number: 5896605
    Abstract: A bed mattress provides a zippered border attachment providing access to a hidden compartment on the interior of the mattress. The border may be completely or partially separable from the top mattress cover to allow inspection of the spring unit or to access the interior space of the mattress. In the all-around zipper construction of one preferred embodiment, the outer covers are pre-assembled without expensive machinery and allow a large inventory to be maintained comprising different mattress components. The hidden compartment preferably has its own zipper closure and may be formed to have two or more inner pockets. A pair of handles may be provided on the exterior of the border at about the ends of the pocket to overlap the pocket seams and help hide the presence of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Branman
  • Patent number: 5896756
    Abstract: A necklace which is comprised of a plurality of soft Pom-Pom balls such that the necklace may be thrown to participants at celebrations without injury while still being very festive for the occasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: James O. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5890238
    Abstract: The invention includes several devices for readily transferring patients from one platform to another by one attendant. A first system of horizontal transfer of patients is adapted to use existing transfer sheets and cart appropriately modified. A transfer sheet is attached to a clamping device that has a releasable catch that holds the sheet in a cavity. A plurality of straps are attached to the clamping device. The other ends of the straps are attached to reels that are part of a winch. Activation of the winch winds the straps onto the reels. The invention also includes improved bed jackets that can be attached to a winch for lifting a patient either to re-position them on a surface or to transport them. The invention also includes devices with very low friction surfaces to assist with the transfer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Ergodyne Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Votel
  • Patent number: 5890719
    Abstract: A gasket for interposition between a cylinder head and block of an internal combustion engine. The gasket includes a metal retainer member having generally planar first and second surfaces with at least one cylinder bore opening formed therethrough for registration with a corresponding combustion chamber of the head and block, and at least one fluid port opening formed therethrough for registration with a corresponding passageway of the head and block. One or more elastomeric members are attached to the retainer about a corresponding one of the fluid port openings. Each of the elastomeric members has a seal portion extending along the periphery of the fluid port opening for sealing the corresponding passageway, and a diaphragm portion extending from the seal portion at least partially over the fluid port opening for covering at least a portion of the corresponding passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Alan C. Bettencourt
  • Patent number: 5887448
    Abstract: A toy kit includes a ring base, a ring gem and/or a ring dome, and preferably a plurality of each component. A first work station for assembling a toy ring base with either a toy ring gem or a toy ring dome includes a base and an upright support structure attached to the base. A ram is movably mounted to the support structure so as to move between a most distal position with respect to the base and a most proximal position with respect to the base. The toy kit further includes a hollow, flexible tube having at least one open end, a particulate substance sized to pass within the open end of the tube and a liquid substance, and preferably a plurality of each. A second toy work station for assembling the tube with particulate or liquid substances includes a base and an upright support structure attached to the base and having a passage sized to accommodate particulates. A carriage is movably mounted to the support structure and has a holder configured to receive and retain the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Truman J. Gilbert, Mary Ellen G. Fosbenner, Lisa A. Gilde, Ernest D. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5887301
    Abstract: A convertible blanket and carrier having a rectangular main section and a pocket applied to one side of the main section along one end. A pair of handles are attached to one side of the main section and a blanket fastener is attached to the end opposite the pocket end for securing the carrier formed by double folding the main section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Brenda Anderson
  • Patent number: 5887299
    Abstract: A convertible multi-purpose covering is disclosed being formed of pair of similarly shaped and sized flexible sheets of material having predetermined surfaces and edges positioned in face-to-face relationship at a first location. The sheets are aligned along their edges and connected along the top and side marginal edges leaving the sheets bottom edges open and thereafter turning the connected sheets right-side-out. Insulating filling sufficiently shaped, sized or volumed is inserted through the opening and arranged to evenly fill the space between the connected sheets, with the sheets then being connected along the bottom marginal edges to close the opening forming a comforter body. Two pluralities of fasteners arranged in parallel longitudinal rows are attached to the top surface of the body along the right side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Brent S. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5884423
    Abstract: A vibration snowing mechanism is disclosed. It includes a base board, an upper fixing ring, a lower fixing board, a glass tube, a bottom sealing pad, multiple supporting columns, an upper fitting member, a lower fitting member, a screen assembly, a vibration linkage and multiple plastic granules. When a driving gear is rotated, the vibration linkage is vibrated up and down and a screen member of the screen assembly is also vibrated up and down. At this time, the multiple plastic granules pass through the orifices to drop down as snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Szu-Wei Lo
  • Patent number: 5884424
    Abstract: A portable roll-up sign having a simplified and economical construction. The sign face is a flexible pvc based sheet that can be imaged on both sides with vinyl graphics or silk screen inks. The sign frame comprises two vertical legs and an intermediate header, all field assembled by mutual interlocking without fasteners or tools. Vertical edges of the face sheet are joined to respective legs by the sign manufacturer by wrapping the same through at least a full turn and clamping with specially shaped retaining clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: David A. Smith
  • Patent number: RE37688
    Abstract: The picture frame assembly includes a picture frame which has, in cross-section, a side wall, a turned in flange at the rear end of the side wall extending forwardly to a free end and a rearwardly extending flange at the front end of the side wall which provides a forward locator slot between the rearwardly extending flange and the side wall. The frame assembly also includes two or more retainer members. Each retainer member includes a generally U or V shaped retainer clip having an inner linear/planar leg portion having a flange extending laterally outwardly therefrom. A bight portion extends from the inner leg portion at an angle thereto, and an outer leg portion extends in a non-linear/non-planar manner to an outer end hook formation. The laterally extending flange of the clip member is received in the locator slot and the hook formation has a groove which is adapted to receive the free end of the short flange extending forwardly from the side wall toward the picture in the picture frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel E. Vilims