Patents Examined by Kevin Shaver
  • Patent number: 7306175
    Abstract: A spreader accessory mountable below the extension rack of an ATV. In another aspect, an improved spreader mechanism that automatically starts and stops the feed of material from a storage container in conjunction with the distribution of material therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas E. Farmer
  • Patent number: 7306167
    Abstract: An automatic mist-sprayer system comprising a control unit having electronic circuitry adapted to activate the sprayer for a predetermined interval in response to a sensed ambient light condition of desired intensity and duration. The system desirably further includes an electrical power supply and a plurality of spaced-apart sprayer heads. A preferred utility for the system of the invention is spraying dilute solutions of insecticide or insect repellent during the periods of significant insect activity that typically occur around dusk and dawn. Manual overrides and a remote receiving unit are also disclosed for use of the system at times other than dusk and dawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NCH Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Colarusso, Dale Vilmer Kiplinger, Michael Lee Paulson, Robert Clarence Pearce, III
  • Patent number: 7306125
    Abstract: To prevent accidental discharge from a cartridge, a dispenser for the dental viscous material comprises a guide shaft 1 having a cylindrical part 1ba at a front end thereof, a guide member 1b having a large diameter part 1bba and a small diameter part 1bbb on the rear side of the cylindrical part 1ba, and a knob for rotating the guide shaft 1h at a rear end, a slide block 2 having a release plate 2c, and piston shafts 2b, a housing 3 having pressing springs 3ea, which press piston shafts 2b, and a lever main body 4 having a lever part 4a rotatable by a predetermined angle from a position in parallel to the housing 3 and a pressing piece 4b projected under the front side of the lever part 4a, to constitute a mechanism of switching of discharge state and discharge release state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: GC Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Takahashi, Masaaki Kaneko, Kazuya Ishida
  • Patent number: 7306045
    Abstract: A multi-stage fluid power turbine having application as a fire extinguisher to be ideally carried by a fire truck (e.g., a tanker or a pumper) so as to fight outdoor fires. An impeller and a propeller are located at one end of the fire extinguisher, and a fan is located at the opposite end. The propeller and the fan are mounted on a common inner shaft so as to rotate in a first direction. The impeller is mounted on a hollow outer shaft or tube that surrounds the inner shaft. The impeller includes a plurality of curved blades, each of which having a fluid duct running therethrough. Water under pressure being supplied from a source to the impeller blades is ejected from the fluid ducts thereof and thrust against the blades of the propeller, whereby to impart a rotational force to the propeller and a corresponding rotational force to the fan. The water ejected from the curved impeller blades causes the impeller to rotate in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Saeed M. Moflihi
  • Patent number: 7306124
    Abstract: A piston configured to be engaged inside a cylindrical container includes: a sliding member having an upper fluidtight portion and a lower fluidtight portion; and a support member connected to the sliding member and having concentric flexions for urging the sliding member against the inner wall of the cylindrical container. The upper and lower fluidtight portions are each constituted by at least one annular convex bump portion having a thickness which is the greatest at a point where the annular convex bump portion is in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Masatoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 7306170
    Abstract: A device for restricting water flow through a conduit in a landscape sprinkler system, wherein the conduit comprises a hollow pipe having an interior wall, the device comprising a generally rigid disc having an external periphery shaped to conform to the interior wall of the conduit; attachment means for frictionally securing the disc traverse to the interior wall of the conduit, and, at least one aperture in the disc to permit water flow therethrough, wherein the total area of any apertures in the disc are from about 1% to about 40% of the cross-sectional area of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Casino Advisory Services, LLC
    Inventor: Peter A. Maksymec
  • Patent number: 7303145
    Abstract: An air flush system for a spraying system includes an air compressor unit and an inverter. The air compressor unit integrally comprises a compressor including an electric motor configured to operate upon receipt of alternating current voltage, a tank provided in fluid communication with the compressor and configured to store air compressed by the compressor; and an outlet provided in fluid communication with the tank and configured to selectively dispense compressed air from the tank to a portion of a spraying system to facilitate purging of material from the spraying system. The inverter is configured to selectively convert direct current voltage from a vehicular electrical system into alternating current voltage suitable to operate the compressor. A method for cleaning a spraying apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Finn Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wysong
  • Patent number: 7303156
    Abstract: A micro-nozzle for generating micro-bubbles. The micro-nozzle includes a liquid inlet forming a liquid path, a gas inlet, and a constricting wall positioned in the liquid path and shaped to abruptly constrict said liquid path to a width of less than approximately 20 um and then gradually diverge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Louisiana Tech University Research Foundation as a Division of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation
    Inventors: Sung Sam Kim, Roy Schubert
  • Patent number: 7303100
    Abstract: A kettle for heating water or other liquid has a lid and lid actuator to move the lid between open and closed positions. The lid actuator may be connected to the container and movable relative to the opening about a pivot that is below a pivot about which the lid may move between the closed and open positions. The lid actuator may also lock the lid in position, such as in the open or closed position. The lid and lid actuator may also be arranged for movement independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: WKI Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Palm, James Wilson, John Costello, Richard G. Groth
  • Patent number: 7299883
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a fire in a multi-floored building, a method of treating fire in a multi-floored building, and a portable apparatus for assembly and subsequent treating of a fire in a multi-floored building are disclosed. The apparatus, method and system include a curvilinear tubular structure and a bracing system coupled to a source of a fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Wielgat
  • Patent number: 7300001
    Abstract: A pump-dispensing atomizer includes a dispensing pump with a closure to engage with a container. The dispensing pump includes a pressing button with a booster chamber formed inside, a nozzle with one end extending from the pressing button and a probe formed with at least one section. An interior of the nozzle is formed with a guide chamber, and one end of the guide chamber is connected to the booster chamber. The guide chamber has at least one expanding sub-chamber. After the probe is disposed in the guide chamber, a boosting channel is formed between the expanding sub-chamber and the stepped section. Moreover, the pressure accumulator is mounted on the other end of the nozzle, which is formed with a spraying opening communicated to outer environment. As such, the pressure of liquid flowing in the nozzle will be increased effectively so that liquid is sprayed out with a higher pressure to increase the spraying speed of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Roy Kuo
  • Patent number: 7296707
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing controlled precise amounts of a hot-melt adhesive. A positive displacement dispenser which is mounted on a programmable motion system is connected to a hot-melt cartridge feed assembly by an inlet block. The dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block contain electric heaters and thermocouples for maintaining the adhesive at a desired elevated temperature. A computer control system regulates the temperature in the dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block and controls a dispensing motor in the dispenser. A preheater heats an adhesive cartridge prior to placement in the feed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Raines, Hank W. Gonzalez, George E. Blumb
  • Patent number: 7296711
    Abstract: A child resistant safety cap having a cover and a safety mechanism by which finger dexterity is required to open the cap, while the safety mechanism capable of being released if it is unnecessary. The cap comprises a cap body 1 having a skirt 3 with at least one stopping piece 9 at one side thereof. The stopping piece 9 has a base end fixed to a lower portion of the skirt 3 such that the stopping piece is pushable inwardly and swayable about the base end. The leading end portion of the stopping piece 9 is confronting at its outside with the insides of an outer tube 14 of the cover, and first and second engagement means 10, 18 are provided at confronting sides of the stopping piece 9 and the outer tube 14 for providing mutual engagement, such that when the stopping piece 9 is in an initial position, the first and second engagement means 10, 18 are engaged unless the stopping piece 9 is pushed inwardly against its elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Takayuki Goto
  • Patent number: 7296761
    Abstract: A hand-held dispenser for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for precisely controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Rodney Laible
  • Patent number: 7293719
    Abstract: An air freshener device includes a scent material interspersed within a polymer body or a polymer gel, and capable of dispersing out of the polymer gel. The polymer body and a polymer gel can be flexible and compressible, and also resilient and returnable to its original configuration. In addition, the polymer body and the polymer gel can have a freestanding, self-supported, three-dimensional shape. The air freshener can be light transmissive in at least a translucent manner, and can have indicia visible therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Wheatley, Christopher D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7293723
    Abstract: A material handling device for a vehicle includes a receiving portion for receiving material, a material moving system operable to move material along the receiving portion, a material processing device attachable at a rear of the receiving portion, and a power source. The receiving portion is configured to fit at a vehicle bed, and is removably positioned at a vehicle bed. The material handling device may be movably supported at a support surface to ease installation and removal of said material handling device at the vehicle. The material processing device is operable to dispense material from within the receiving portion to a location external the receiving portion and/or collect material from a location external the receiving portion and dispense the collected material into the receiving portion. The power source may provide power to the material processing device and/or the material moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rockit Corp.
    Inventors: Cal G Niemela, Philip J Quenzi
  • Patent number: 7290683
    Abstract: Flush mount dispensing bottle and apparatus includes a bracket having a mounting flange and a bottle having a flat back with an embossment for receiving the flange and enabling the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting the bracket. A button attachable to the surface at a spaced apart distance from the bracket is provided and a second embossment receiving the button enables the flat back to flushly contact the surface and further prevents unauthorized removal of the bottle from the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Gerenraich Family Trust
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Gerenraich
  • Patent number: 7290722
    Abstract: An elongated pipe conduit snow making tower, and assembly method, having an upper end spray nozzle head and pivotally supported on a support pipe for vertical inclination by a hydraulic ram jack enabling infinite non-preselected incremental inclinations. A ram safety latch automatically latch/catches the tower pipe if the jack leaks. Secondary and tertiary external flexible water hoses are selectable to feed associated spray head snowmaking nozzles, and an internal compressed air conduit feeds spray head seeding nozzles. Secondary and tertiary ball valve assemblies mounted on a water feed block are outlet coupled to their respective hoses. In drain condition turbulent primary water continually washes against a valve ball flow closure side for an anti-freezing effect. The spray head is a four-piece modular planar stack up of disks each carrying spray nozzles that all discharge forwardly away from the pipe tower in generally parallel spray patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Snow Machines, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Ewald
  • Patent number: 7287711
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a drive mechanism mounted in a riser that rotates a nozzle at the top of the riser. The drive mechanism enables a user to select between oscillation of the nozzle through an adjustable arc and uni-directional full circle rotation of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc. a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: John D. Crooks
  • Patent number: 7287672
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser member designed to be associated with a fluid reservoir having a neck, said member comprising: a body defining at least part of a fluid chamber, said body being provided with fixing means for fixing onto the neck of the reservoir, said body including a fluid inlet connecting the inside of the reservoir to the fluid chamber; a pusher mounted on the body in such a manner as to be displaced axially between a rest position and a driven-in position; and a spring urging the pusher into the rest position, wherein the spring is housed entirely inside the pusher, and the body is made of a transparent or translucent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Valois S.A.S.
    Inventor: Firmin Garcia