Patents Examined by Laura E. Collins
  • Patent number: 5443801
    Abstract: A cleansing/sterilizing apparatus which is a transportable apparatus and method for inside-outside and sterilization of various complex reusable medical/dental instruments, including but not limited to laparoscopic instruments and dental handpieces. The apparatus avoids the use of heat, pressure, severe agitation, or corrosive chemicals which might damage delicate equipment. The apparatus preserves each processed instrument hermetically sealed in a sterile dry environment within a detachable/portable capsule until its next use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: KEW Import/Export Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence R. Langford
  • Patent number: 5439655
    Abstract: Apparatus for washing, rinsing, sterilizing and drying delicate components such as plugs for pharmaceutical use, or the like, formed by an autoclave chamber containing a substantially cylindrical rotating drum or basket with two helical members extending along the axis of the cylindrical basket, connecting an inlet opening with an outlet opening and projecting inside the basket, each being provided with a rounded internal edge and terminating in chutes emerging inside the outlet opening, the helical members thus formed enabling the plugs to be mixed when the basket rotates in one direction and to be unloaded from the basket when the latter rotates in the opposite direction, the rotating basket also being provided with a circumferential toothed rim which engages a gear wheel actuated by drive means to impart a rotary movement to the same and having inside at least one pipe arranged parallel to the axis of the cylinder and provided with spray nozzles directed toward the plugs present inside the basket to allow
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Fedegari Autoclavi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fortunato Fedegari
  • Patent number: 5403396
    Abstract: A tempering and coating plant for different masses has at least one, preferably two subassemblies (3 or 8 respectively), consisting of a tempering machine (4 or 9 respectively) and a coating machine (5 or 10 respectively), arranged on the left and the right of a driven conveyor belt (1) for the articles to be coated, whereby the tempering machine or tempering machines (4, 9) are fixed in position, and the coating machine or coating machines (5, 10) are provided such that they can move transversely to the running direction of the conveyor belt (1). A connecting line (11) is provided between the tempering machine (4 or 9 respectively) and the coating machine (5 or 10 respectively) of each subassembly (3 or 8 respectively). A flow pipe (12) is located between each tank for the respective mass and the associated tempering machine and/or coating machine of each subassembly unit. A return pipe (13) can be provided between the coating machine (5 or 10 respectively) of each subassembly (3 or 8 respectively).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Sollich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Helmut Sollich
  • Patent number: 5402668
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for preparing volatiles collected from a sample for gas chromatographic analysis. Volatiles are collected from the sample in a volatile trap, such as a porous polymer trap. The volatile trap is then connected to a transfer line. The trap is heated to thermally desorb the volatiles, and an inert gas, such as helium, flows through the heated trap to transport volatiles through the transfer line into a capillary column located in a gas chromatograph oven. Inside of the oven, a portion of the capillary column is cooled with a cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen to form a cold trap. When the cold trap is cooled, the desorbed volatiles are trapped in the cold trap. Then the cold trap is heated to allow the volatiles to be released and the volatiles are carried to the remainder of the capillary column for chromatographic analysis by an inert carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Miller Brewing Company
    Inventors: Aki A. Murakami, Henry Goldstein
  • Patent number: 5401899
    Abstract: A low contaminant level is maintained in a high flow rate paper machine coating fluid circulation system by shunting a significant minority portion of the total flow through a full flow, atmospherically open, self-cleaning screen having a fine mesh screen cloth. Accept flow from the open screen is directed to the flow inlet of an entrained air purging apparatus for dispersing consolidated particulates of excessive size. Flow from the particulate disbursing apparatus is thereafter pumped through an enclosed pressure screen of moderate screen mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne S. Bryant, James J. Masella, III
  • Patent number: 5395446
    Abstract: A semiconductor treatment apparatus has a gas-phase decomposing device for decomposing a gas-phase on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a substrate supporting device for supporting the substrate, and a substrate transfer device for transferring the substrate between the gas-phase decomposing device and the substrate supporting device. The apparatus further has a liquid-drop applicator for applying a liquid-drop on the surface of the substrate supported by the substrate supporting device, with the liquid-drop being brought into contact with the surface of the substrate, and a liquid-drop preserving device for preserving the liquid-drop that has been applied to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mokuji Kageyama, Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Ayako Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 5389346
    Abstract: A bio-hazardous waste compactor is described which provides a negative air pressure and venting system while allowing for the filtration of the air and control of sound. The compactor contains a sealed chamber which includes a sump area in the bottom of the chamber for fluid control. Waste is weighed so that the operator knows when to remove the waste. Ultraviolet light is provided to prevent the growth of vegetative pathogenic organisms. Finally, a disposable bag to be used in connection with such a bio-hazardous waste compactor is described which has an inner porous layer, an intermediate, biocide-containing, super-absorbent polymer layer and an outer non-porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Maxie L. Copeland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5382423
    Abstract: Fluorine is recovered as calcium fluoride from a fluoroetchant solution composed mainly of hydrogen fluoride and ammonium fluoride using a sealed reaction tank equipped with a supply port for adding the fluoroetchant solution to the tank, a supply port for adding calcium carbonate to the tank, a vapor supply port for adding steam to heat the solution in the tank, an air supply port for providing air to aerate the contents of the tank, a stirrer for stirring the contents of the tank, an ejector for removing vapors from the tank connected to the tank via a mist separator for separating mist from the vapors being removed from the tank, and an exhaust port for removing calcium fluoride from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Hiroyuki Harada, Nobuhiro Miki, Toshiro Fukutome, Matagoro Maeno, Norio Terasawa, Yoshihiro Eto, Masahiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 5382415
    Abstract: This invention relates to an air bag inflation gas generator comprising an inner cylindrical member with gas flow openings formed in the outer periphery being inserted into a longitudinal bottom-closed outer cylindrical member with gas outlets formed in the outer periphery with a filter disposed therebetween and gas generating agents being accommodated in the inner cylindrical member, wherein mating sections are disposed at the open end of the inner cylindrical member so as to engage with other mating sections formed at the bottom of the outer cylindrical member, so that the position of the gas flow openings formed in the inner cylindrical member and the position of the gas outlets formed in the outer cylindrical member can be easily and surely set in a predetermined positional relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Kishimoto, Takashi Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 5374407
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas generator for air bags that includes a first shell having a circular part and an outer wall. The outer wall formed is of a porous material which allows gas to pass freely therethrough. A second shell is attached to the first shell to form a housing into which is installed a gas generating device. The gas generating device includes a canister filled with a gas generant. A plurality of first and second blade members fasten the first and second shells together. The blade members are at least equal in height to the total height of the housing, the first blade members being shaped to fit the outer circumferential surface of the canister and placed in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the canister and arranged along the circumference of the canister at periodic intervals to form a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans J. Decker, Hans U. Freund, Karl-Heinz Grunthaler, Helmut Heide, Klaus Hollenberg, Hubert Preis, Karl J. Rowold, Ralf G. Tschulena
  • Patent number: 5372788
    Abstract: A deodorizing filter which is composed of a honeycomb structure of ceramic fibrous paper supporting cuprous oxide or both cuprous oxide and solid acid; and a method for manufacturing the deodorizing filter wherein the ceramic fibrous paper is soaked in the slurry of the mixture of reductant-added water solution with the cuprous oxide and binder or with the cuprous oxide, solid acid and binder and is dried; and then the ceremic fibrous paper is formed into the honeycomb-type filter; or the ceramic fibrous paper with the binder added is formed first into the honeycomb-type filter and then is soaked in the slurry of the mixture of reductant-added water solution with the cuprous oxide and binder or with the cuprous oxide, solid acid and binder and finally is dried to make the deodorizing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Kinoshita, Naokazu Takeuchi, Hiroshi Isozaki
  • Patent number: 5369983
    Abstract: A detection medium and method for use in detecting gross and fine leaks in a hermetically sealed package. In a preferred embodiment, the detection medium includes a detectable perfluorinated gas dissolved in a detectable perfluorinated liquid. The package is placed in a bombing chamber and then exposed to the detection medium under pressure introduce the detectable liquid and dissolved, detectable gas into the package through any gross leak openings and to introduce the detectable gas and some detectable liquid vapor into the package through any fine leak openings. The package is then removed from the detection medium and air dried to evaporate any detection medium attached to an exterior surface of the package. The package is placed in a test chamber which collects detectable gas and vapor of the detectable liquid escaping through the gross and fine leak openings. A measurement instrument detects whether a component of the detection medium has escaped from the sealed package as an indication of a leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark W. Grenfell
  • Patent number: 5370841
    Abstract: A microwave leakage detector comprises(a) a flat support member;(b) a region of resistive coating capable of being heated by microwave radiation;(c) a plurality of liquid crystal test indicators disposed over and in thermal contact with the resistive coating, each of the test indicators exhibiting color play within a different, greater than ambient temperature range; and(d) at least one liquid crystal control indicator disposed on the support member at a location away from the resistive coating which exhibits color play at ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph A. McDonnell
  • Patent number: 5364470
    Abstract: A painting system made up of a porous substrate sheet mounted on an impermeable support, the sheet having preformed therein a picture in outline, the outline being waterproof barrier bands which thereby form discrete segments within the porous sheet, there being disposed in the sheet a multiplicity of concentrated dye spots whereby addition of water to the porous sheet causes dissolution of the individual dye spots and migration of dissolved dye within each segment of the porous sheet to the limits set by the aforementioned barrier bands, ultimately forming the picture that had been outlined in the porous sheet by the barrier bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Allen Greenberg
  • Patent number: 5364590
    Abstract: A method of remote temperature sensing for a gas heated chamber utilizing temperature sensors is disclosed, wherein at least a first temperature sensing device is coupled to an enclosed environment of a cabinet containing a sterilization cassette and at least a second temperature sensing device is coupled to a gas exit conduit from the cassette so as to avoid condensation on the internal walls of the cassette or on the object contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: American Sterlizer Company
    Inventor: H. William Hillebrenner
  • Patent number: 5362445
    Abstract: A biochemistry analyzer includes, an attenuated total reflection prism, a sample cell disposed on a surface of the prism, a sample supplier, a device for disposing more objective molecules in the liquid sample to a near portion of the sample which is near the surface of the prism, an infrared light source for generating an infrared light which is transmitted to the attenuated total reflection prism, a detector for detecting the infrared light which is reflected from the prism after the far portion of the sample is solidified, and a computer for calculating signals from the detector. As the objective molecules are gathered near the prism, accuracy of the biochemistry analyzer becomes higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Miyahara, Toshiko Fujii, Thomas Buhrer, Yoshio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5358690
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting fluids and holding samples taken from the fluid for qualitative and quantitative testing. The apparatus comprises a tubular container open at both ends with a quantitative test storage unit removably secured to one of said tubular container ends. The quantitative test storage unit has an open end, a cytology membrane mounted in the storage unit and a retaining rib. A shuttle assembly is slidably mounted in the tubular container comprising a cylindrical hollow piston defining a chamber, a thumb cover covering one end of the piston and a fluid flow aperture formed in the piston and a qualitative sample container assembly removably secured to the piston. The qualitative sample container assembly comprises a clip on membrane assembly including a membrane containing immobilized antibodies and a filter housing mounted to the clip on membrane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: LaMina, Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5354377
    Abstract: A framed window pane paint shield device has two separate biased-apart pane-shields positionable against and between diagonally opposite right angled corners of a window frame, each pane-shield having a linear edge continuous with a bottom surface of its flange. The linear edges of each pane-shield intersect at a ninety degree angle. Each pane shield's bottom surface angling upwardly from its linear edge at an angle of about 20 degrees relative to a mounted window pane surface while the two pane-shields are biased-apart by an axial-extending compression helical spring mechanism. One of the flanges and its linear edge is about 4 inches in length and the intersecting other linear edge is about 7 inches in length and each is sufficiently thin as to sharply engage the window frame adjacent the window panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Louis R. Jeffrey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5354347
    Abstract: A vacuum system which uses water as a filtration medium to effectively capture dirt and dust particles. The vacuum system uses a canister or tank, which can be placed on a wheeled mobile frame for mobility. Within the tank, a removeable insert includes a number of equally spaced annular plates with a first of the annular plates fitting snugly against the outside wall of the tank and the next plate fitting snugly against the outside wall of a central cylindrical column. The plates then continue to alternate from outside wall of the tank to the outside wall of the column to form alternating gaps and, thus, a serpentine airflow path. The bottom portion of the tank is filled with a quantity of water sufficient to cover the bottom of an air intake port. A blower draws air, along with accompanying debris, from the intake port through the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: E. B. S. Equipment Broker Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. McCoy, Jack G. Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5349848
    Abstract: An elastomeric member is disposed in the enlarged opening of an on-line consistency measuring apparatus through which the blade carrier support shaft extends, and the elastomeric member is operative to prevent the solid-liquid slurry of a pulp stock slurry from interfering with the free movement of the carrier shaft or from contacting the "O" ring seal surrounding the shaft, thereby improving the reliability of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Benjamin K. Driver