Patents Examined by Marianne S. Ocampo
  • Patent number: 6789683
    Abstract: A strainer assembly for a camp cooking kit has a strainer body having at least one rim for engaging a rim of a camp cooking pot and a plurality of openings for pouring liquid from the camp cooking pot while preventing egress of other contents from the pot. Strap guiding features formed in the strainer body provide for guiding a securing strap around both the strainer body and the camp cooking pot. The securing strap includes a fastening arrangement for securing the securing strap together for attaching the strainer body to the camp cooking pot. Handles, which can be formed in the strainer body or attached to the securing strap enable the strainer body to be tipped together with the camp cooking pot to strain the contents of the cooking pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: John M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6761271
    Abstract: A wash bucket screen has a slanting platform supported on a frustum skirt. The platform has a plurality of holes interspersed between raised ridges on the platform running radially generally toward its perimeter as an aid in releasing water from a cloth squeezed against the platform. To effectively prevent backsplash from the bucket bottom back through the screen, the holes taper from a diameter sized to readily collect water on the platform top to a smaller hole diameter on the platform bottom. The skirt includes a flange on its distal end that engages the bucket wall. To accommodate a frustum bucket with changing wall diameter, the skirt flexes resiliently with the flange engaging the bucket wall and the skirt flexing inward as the screen is inserted in a bucket with decreasing diameter. To allow movement of the skirt, a plurality of slits extend vertically, opening at the skirt distal end, providing an effective splash shield between the skirt and the bucket wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Lynn J. Cresswell
  • Patent number: 6715615
    Abstract: A pressure vessel comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and a chamber formed by said walls, an inlet port extending through one of the walls for introducing fluid to the pressure vessel, an outlet port extending through one of the walls for removing fluid from the pressure vessel, a pressure gradient member located within the chamber of the pressure vessel through which fluid passing through the pressure vessel flows as the fluid passes through the pressure vessel, the pressure gradient member including an outlet port, and a flexible resilient tube attached to and extending between the outlet port of the pressure gradient member and the outlet port of the pressure vessel for mounting the pressure gradient member within the chamber formed by the walls of the pressure vessel and for connecting the outlet port of the pressure gradient member to the outlet port of the pressure vessel and for providing substantially uniform support of a load on the pre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Richard T. Williams
  • Patent number: 6706182
    Abstract: A caged filter cartridge assembly has a pair of coaxially spaced-apart end plates, and a number of tubular filter cartridges extending between said end plates. These end plates include seat recesses having a coaxially disposed retaining ring establishing an annular terminal lock edge. The filter cartridges include end caps at each opposed end thereof which are received within respective ones of said seat recesses. The end caps have at least one annular lock ring which is forcibly engaged with the terminal annular lock edge of the retaining ring so as to join the end cap, and thus said filter cartridge, to the end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Schuyler
  • Patent number: 6615990
    Abstract: A filter cartridge which has an insertable center tube including an upper part (13) and a lower part (14) which can be coupled together in the cartridge by a snap fastener (21). The snap fastener (21) is configured such that it can be made without undercuts by simple injection molding dies. Therefore the filter cartridge with the center tube according to the invention is very economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Jokschas, Bruno Sommer, Matthaeus Huber
  • Patent number: 6495037
    Abstract: The structural integrity of opposed spaced-apart end plates of caged filter cartridge assemblies is provided solely by individual filter cartridges in the assembly. Preferably, the end plates of the filter cartridge assembly are provided with seat recesses to receive an end portion of respective filter cartridges therein. An annular lock ring associated with each seat recess immovably locks the filter cartridge end portions therewithin. In such a manner, each of the individual filter cartridges serves to structurally unite the opposed spaced-apart end plates one to another in the absence of a tie rod so that the collective torsional and longitudinal rigidity of the assembly is significantly enhanced as compared to conventional tie rod caged filter cartridge assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Schuyler
  • Patent number: 6427846
    Abstract: An improvement in the fabrication and bonding of dead-end and cross-flow thermoplastic filtration modules is disclosed whereby two housing parts are bonded to each other and to a filtration membrane by an L-shaped plastic melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Vivascience AG
    Inventors: Andreas Graus, Christian Schäfer, Michael Schützler
  • Patent number: 6423237
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for separating particulate matter from a fluid, wherein the apparatus includes a specimen container, a porous arrangement positioned in a housing and suitable for collecting particulate matter in the liquid on a collection site, and a pump. The housing includes a first portion having elements that improve fluid flow through the housing and elements that decrease the porous arrangement retention characteristics of the portion. The housing also includes a portion having elements that increase the porous arrangement retention characteristics of the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: LaMina, Inc.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 6391200
    Abstract: A spiral wound filter element is disclosed which includes alternating layers of filter medium and diffusion medium wrapped about a cylindrical core defining a central axis of the filter element. The alternating layers extend from a radially innermost layer of the filter element to a radially outermost layer of the filter element, the diffusion medium is defined by a continuous lengthwise sheet of mesh material, and the filter medium is defined by at least one sheet of filter material arranged along the length of the continuous sheet of mesh material. The alternating layers of filter medium and diffusion medium define three distinct radially disposed layered filtering sections surrounding the cylindrical core, and include a first filtering section having radially outer prequalifying layers, a second filtering section having middle prequalifying layers and a third filtering section having radially inner qualifying layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Pulek, Thomas J. Hamlin, Richard Sale, C. Thomas Paul
  • Patent number: 6355170
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dual manifold filtering system. The dual manifold filtering system of the present invention, unlike the currently available filtering systems, allows the filter elements to be cleaned from both ends of the filter elements during backwashing operations. A flow restriction device is also placed in the grid main channel of the filter elements to force more of the liquid to flow out radially from the grid main channel during backwashing. Valve and piping means are provided to enable liquid to be directed into one or the other manifold during backwashing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Barry H. Hall
  • Patent number: 6293410
    Abstract: A no-cure fuel filter and method of making same is disclosed. The no-cure fuel filter utilizes a non-organic, mineral based filter element which replaces the pleated paper type filter element of conventional fuel filters. The no-cure fuel filter may be used for gasoline blended fuels, ethanol blended fuels, diesel fuel blends, propane fuel blends, or methanol fuel blends, and may be used for primary filtration, secondary filtration or final filtration. The no-cure fuel filter comprises a non-organic mineral based filter element disposed along a path of flow of unfiltered fuel in a fuel system of a vehicle. The filter element includes an exterior periphery and an interior periphery and a first end and a second end. The no-cure fuel filter further comprises end caps disposed over and fluidly sealing the first and second ends of the filter element, such that the unfiltered fuel must pass through the filter element from one of the peripheries to the other periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Mahle-Parr Filter Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry D. Forbes
  • Patent number: 6247600
    Abstract: A strainer device for use in straining a liquid such as paint from a container into an open receptacle. The strainer device comprises a side wall with a top end and a bottom end, an outwardly extending lip at its top end for engaging the top end of an open top container so as to support the strainer device in the open top of the container, and a screen mesh member fixed to a flange on the bottom end of said side wall. A selected portion of the side wall is indented from top to bottom so as to provide a channel along its length to permit introduction of an intake hose or other implement to a container in which the strainer device is suspended without having to first remove the strainer from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: CDF Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph J. Sullivan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6241895
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a spectrum water generator for processing water with an electromagnetic field, wherein the spectrum water generator comprises a water pipe 1, iron core 2, coil 3 and control circuit, said iron core 2 is a ring-form iron core 2 with air gap 4, said iron core 2 is made up of D44 silicon-steel sheets; said water pipe 1 is plugged in said air gap 4; said coil 3 is placed at both sides of said air gap 4, the input and output ends L1, L2 of said coil 3 are connected with control circuit, the control circuit is connected with power supply. With the spectrum water generator of the present invention, tap water and drinking water can be processed into high-quality water of high oxygen intensity, smaller water particles, and permeates into the human body through drinking or shower, thus improves the micro-circulation of human body and achieves the goal of heath keeping and disease treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Guangdong Junfeng Industry & Commerce Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ben Chen, Junling Chen, Xianfeng Chen, Yi Zhao
  • Patent number: 6238561
    Abstract: A corrugated axial filter (148) has a plurality of flow channels (178, 180, 182, 184, 208, 212) extending axially from the upstream dirty frontside (146) of the filter to the downstream clean backside (160) of the filter. Each channel has an upstream opening (186) at the upstream dirty frontside and has top and bottom walls (188 and 190) and right and left sidewalls (192 and 194) extending from the opening rearwardly toward the downstream clean backside. The right and left sidewalls taper towards each other as they extend rearwardly to define a triangular shaped flow channel. Right and left sidewalls of adjacent flow channels are a single continuous sheet of filter material (130) in a zig-zag pattern (134) with a plurality of fold lines including a first set of fold lines (136, 138, 140, 142, 144) at the upstream dirty frontside and a second set of fold lines (150, 152, 154, 156, 158) at the downstream clean backside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Nelson Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhili G. Liu, Tadeusz Jaroszczyk, Jerald J. Moy
  • Patent number: 6228261
    Abstract: An appliance for fragmenting heterogeneous elements of a fluid medium comprising a filter module with an inlet connected to a supply line for the fluid medium including heterogeneous elements and an outlet connected to a fluid medium outlet line. The filter module comprises a series of channels inside which the fluid medium is to be circulated. The appliance further comprises a planar fragmentation device which is located upstream of the inlet and comprises passages. In accordance with the invention, the planar device constitutes a screen comprising passages which have one dimension equal to the smallest dimension of the cross section of flow of the channels divided by n, where n is in the range 1.4 to 10. The passages are formed from cutting separator elements which define the passages and have a minimum thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 2 mm to ensure fragmentation of heterogeneous elements of the fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme: T.A.M.I. Industries
    Inventors: André Grangeon, Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 6224252
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for blending high purity chemicals to produce a high purity chemical mixture with circulation, purification and sensing of said chemical mixture between blending of said high purity chemicals and storage of said high purity chemicals for use, ultimately to produce a high purity chemical mixture for on-site use in treating semiconductor materials, such as at a semiconductor fabrication facility that processes silicon wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: James Platt Munroe, Richard Linton Samsal, Bruce Herman Greenawald
  • Patent number: 6213311
    Abstract: A filter having a device for countering the clogging of the filter for a fluid, in particular a liquid, includes a filtering element arranged in a filter cavity bounded by an outer casing, an ultrasound emitter coupled into the cavity, in the direction of the filtering element, in order to prevent the filtering element from becoming clogged during operation of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: E.I.F.
    Inventor: Philippe Coric
  • Patent number: 6209729
    Abstract: A pool scoop for providing a rigid scoop for lifting items off of the bottom of a pool. The pool scoop includes a pole with tubular attachment sleeve at a distal end of the pole. A scoop member is provided having a bottom wall, a pair of spaced apart side walls upwardly extending from the bottom wall, and an end wall upwardly extending from the bottom wall between the side walls. The scoop member has a front edge extending along the bottom wall between the side walls opposite the end wall. The bottom wall also has a plurality of apertures of a predetermined size therethrough. An extent extends from the end wall of the scoop member and is inserted into a second end of the attachment sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: John P. Brouillard
  • Patent number: 6180003
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing and disinfecting a fluid includes a container (12) and a cap member (16) for containing the fluid and a cap member (16). The container (12) defines an opening (14) through which the fluid is dispensed therein and is removed therefrom and has at least two electrical contacts which mate with at least two electrical contacts in the cap member. The cap member (16) removably seals the opening of the container (12). An ultraviolet source (24) is mounted to at least one of the container (12) and the cap member (16). The ultraviolet source (24) emits ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the fluid contained in the container (12). A power source is electrically coupled to the at least two electrical contacts of the container (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: William L Reber, Cary D. Perttunen, Michael K. Stenstrom
  • Patent number: 6177011
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis composite membrane that has a high salt rejection, a high water permeability, and a high fouling tolerance, and permits practical desalination at a relatively low pressure is provided by coating the surface of a reverse osmosis membrane of aromatic polyamide with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), for example, and controlling the surface zeta potential of the separation layer within±10 mV at pH 6. This reverse osmosis composite membrane is electrically neutral and controls the electrical adsorption of membrane-fouling substances having a charge group present in water. Therefore, a high separation property can be maintained without fouling the membrane even if water containing a surfactant or a transition metal component is supplied as raw water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Hachisuka, Kenichi Ikeda