Patents Examined by Michael J. Foycik
  • Patent number: 4470213
    Abstract: A power assembly for rotating a display is simple, inexpensive, has long life, and can rotate even heavy displays. A housing mounts a d.c. motor having an output shaft, and has a support structure. A ball bearing assembly, having a second shaft, is stationarily held by the support structure, and a flexible tubular connector interconnects the motor output shaft and the second shaft. The display is attached to the second shaft by a flexible band of elastomeric material. An electronic circuit provides power pulses from a substantially constant d.c. power source (such as a bank of solar cells) to operate the d.c. motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Inventor: Marion E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4435911
    Abstract: The specification describes an improved gaming token which includes, among other features, a relatively flat non-metallic annular ring having injection-molded indicia thereon bounded by sharp and durable color lines. This ring also includes an inner coin-support annulus which extends into a central opening of the ring and receives flat back-to-back metal slugs or discs on each surface thereof to retain these discs permanently in place once they are welded together. Since the outer coin surfaces are flush with the major surfaces of the flat non-metallic annular ring, this construction renders removal of the metal coins quite difficult.In one embodiment of the invention, this coin-support annulus is integral with a single unitary plastic annular ring which includes regions of injection-molded indicia thereon which are flush with both major and minor surfaces of the ring and are bounded by the sharp and durable color lines as noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Inventor: Bernard B. Jones
  • Patent number: 4424643
    Abstract: An improved release mechanism for detachably connecting a secondary flight device to a toy parachute which is attached to a kite string and which is then, after traveling up the string with the wind, released from the string for free flight to the ground. The release mechanism includes a first member and a second member. The second member is shaped, contoured and dimensioned to detachably receive the first member. The toy parachute carries one of the members and the secondary flight device carries the other of the members, the members being maintained in engagement by the force of gravity acting on the secondary flight device when the toy parachute is engaging the kite string. The first member separates from the second member when the toy parachute is released from the kite string such that the secondary flight device and toy parachute separately free flight to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Inventor: Bill M. Tilghman
  • Patent number: 4417413
    Abstract: An identification card incorporating an integrated circuit (IC) chip for processing electric signals incorporates a separate supporting element for the IC chip. The supporting element is mounted in a window of one corner of the identification card to avoid the principal axis of stress. The chip supporting element and the window are of the same general shape. However, the window is larger than the supporting element to provide a clearance area surrounding the supporting element. Resilient cover sheets are adhesively mounted to the identification card to fix the position of the supporting element within the window and maintain the clearance area surrounding the supporting element. The top cover sheet has a recess which is aligned with a portion of the supporting element to allow access to contacts mounted on that portion of the supporting element to provide electrical connections with the IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation und Organisation mbH
    Inventors: Joachim Hoppe, Yahya Haghiri-Tehrani
  • Patent number: 4407084
    Abstract: Apparatus for storing a plurality of different signs and automatically displaying the different signs at timed intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Signs by Severson Rent A Sign, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Uihlein, Walter C. Severson
  • Tag
    Patent number: 4407082
    Abstract: A tag has a body carrying printed indicia and a tie extending from an edge of the body and having a flexible wire core surrounded by a resilient polymeric material. The tie is bonded to the body by ultrasonic welding to provide an integral construction which assures the body of the tag will not be separated from the tie once attached to an object. Such construction permits the tag to be attached to nursery stock for example, by wrapping the embedded wire tie around a branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: A. J. Sparks
    Inventor: William J. Stehouwer
  • Patent number: 4404766
    Abstract: A magnetic toy is provided which is capable of teaching basic scientific principles, provides a high degree of challenge to the user in operation and is low in cost. The toy has a plurality of bar magnets rotatably mounted between upper and lower support surfaces and a magnetic wand element. When the magnetic wand element is moved in the vicinity of the bar magnets one or more of the bar magnets will move and will also rotate with proper use of the magnetic wand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Inventor: Kalman A. Toth
  • Patent number: 4402151
    Abstract: The present visual display arrangement has a display panel with two electrically conductive layers separated by a dielectric support panel, and a visual display layer on the front of the display panel. One or more lamps have prongs of different lengths for contact respectively with the conductive layers in the display panel. Each lamp completes an electrical circuit for the conductive layers which also includes a power source and a switch for turning the inserted lamp or lamps on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Inventor: Robert S. Medow
  • Patent number: 4402150
    Abstract: A verification device has a transparent sheet including parallel rows of lenticules and rows of colored lines in registration therewith. Verification is accomplished by observing optical effects presented by patterns of irregularly positioned rows of lenticules and corresponding colored lines viewed against a surrounding background area of regularly positioned rows of lenticules and corresponding colored lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Paul F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4400899
    Abstract: The album has an imperforate backing member. Attached to the backing member are a plurality of transverse, parallel rectilinear strips each coated at its underside with adhesive. The strips are each adhered to the top face of the backing member, each strip having a section inclined away from and free of the top face of the backing member. Adhered to each of the inclined sections of the strips is a bent-back section of a transverse release ribbon. The ribbons have extending tab portions which may be grasped by fingers of a user to pull the release ribbon off and away from the strip to uncover the adhesive-coated inclined section or portion of the strip. The ribbons and inclined portions of the strip form adhesive-free wedge shaped spaces into which photographic snapshots may be inserted in predetermined overlapping relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Robert H. Reibel
    Inventor: Eugene E. Martinez
  • Patent number: 4393612
    Abstract: A padded frame and method for making the same from decorative covering material and mounting board having an adhesive surface on one side thereof and a foam sponge material secured to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Inventor: Susan Clark
  • Patent number: 4393610
    Abstract: A card having an information portion upon which information appears that can be read in the normal manner; a portion carrying a microfilm upon which information is recorded and a portion carrying a lens suitable for reading the microfilm. The card is made from a paper card having an aperture formed in one end region in which is located the microfilm. A pair of flexible clear plastic sheets laminate opposite sides of the paper card including the microfilm. A lens aperture is formed through the clear plastic sheets and through the paper card at an end region opposite the microfilm. A round plastic lens is located in the lens aperture. The lens has a central magnifying portion and two outer annular gripping flanges that grip opposite sides of the card respectively, for securing the lens in the lens aperture. The flanges provide a rim that is higher than the maximum surface of the central magnifying portion on each side thereof for providing protection for the central magnifying portion of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Lens-Card Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Adrian
  • Patent number: 4392315
    Abstract: An article and method for tagging textile units by attaching a destruction and dye resistant tag formed of at least one ply of aramid paper marked with color-contrast indicia including information on a characteristic of the textile unit or process to which the tag is subjected. The aramid paper consists essentially of a nonwoven, nonfused commingled mixture of floc of a nonfusable aromatic polyamide and fibrids of a nonfusable aromatic polyamide and is sufficiently dye and abrasion resistant so that the indicia are readable after the tag is exposed to harsh dyes, bleaches, high temperatures, and pressures. The tag may be affixed by sewing or clipping or may include a pressure sensitive surface. Multiple plies may be laminated in cross directions to increase tear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Standard Knitting Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Irving, Robert E. Thornton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4392316
    Abstract: A ceiling suspended product display is shown for advertising sale product. The ceiling suspended product display a plurality of display panels suspended from a ceiling hook by suspension attachments. The display panels are interconnected by flexible hinges which permit the display panels to be folded into a compact package for storage and shipment. Upon arrival to the place of sale, the display panels may be unfolded to form a display and secured by twist ties. The ceiling hook is designed to be suspended from the rib of a false ceiling. A cord extends downwardly from the ceiling hook to a swivel. Three equal length chains are connected from the lower portion of the swivel and each of the chains are connected to eyelets in the display panels. The swivel permits the display panel to rotate under the influence of drafts in the store to attract the attention of the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: Paul D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4391053
    Abstract: A frame assembly is adapted to be detachably secured to the sun visor of an automotive vehicle or the like. The frame may alternatively be hung on a wall or may stand on a supporting surface such as a table. The assembly consists of an outer frame member having resilient clips attached thereto. Each clip provides two different contact points for gripping a supporting surface. A front panel having openings through which pictures can be viewed is affixed to the frame member. A backing plate on which pictures may be mounted is then snapped into place behind the front panel. A transparent window may be provided between the backing plate and front panel to protect the pictures. A reflective surface may be provided on the backing plate so that a mirror will show through any of the front panel openings not having a picture mounted behind it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Yankee Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Anthony
  • Patent number: 4391054
    Abstract: Method and apparatus and article for forming picture frames and molding and the picture frame and molding made thereby, wherein the picture frame molding includes a fusible strip running the entire length thereof and wherein the abutting sections of molding at the corners of the frame are held together by the abutting fusible strips being fused together at the corners. The frame is preferably wood and the fusible strip is preferably a thermoplastic material that can be fused to itself by for example ultrasonic welding. Also, the dust cover or backing for the picture is fusible to the back of the picture frame sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: John R. Schovee
  • Patent number: 4389802
    Abstract: A lid insert is provided for releasable connection to a plastic lid having a subtantially flat top surface and an upwardly and inwardly projecting peripheral bead disposed above and spaced from the top surface of the lid. The lid insert is made of paperboard material having a planar configuration generally corresponding to the configuration of the flat top surface of the lid. The periphery of the planar lid insert includes a plurality of alternating indents and nodes. The area defined by the outermost points of the insert is greater than the area defined by the upwardly and inwardly projecting bead. This peripheral configuration of alternating nodes and indents facilitates the initial placement of the insert on the lid and enables the insert to compensate for the different expansion characteristics of the lid and the lid insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin C. McLaren, David J. Adamek
  • Patent number: 4389804
    Abstract: A display assembly in the form of a supporting shell that mounts the assembly in an upright display panel in a matrix configuration. A disk assembly is pivoted to each shell and includes a thin disk movable about a transverse horizontal axis. The disk is moved by magnetic forces between a reflective position exposing one disk surface to the front of the panel, a closed condition exposing its opposite surface to the front of the panel, and a backlighted condition which is intermediate the other two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: American Sign & Indicator Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd Seibert, George E. Ellefsen
  • Patent number: 4389801
    Abstract: A pocket for a garment has a facing sheet of flexible material provided with an adhesive backing and having an opening through which a card or the like can be displayed, and a masking sheet of flexible material provided with a similar opening and attached to the facing sheet in order to mask the adhesive backing in the region around and above the opening in the facing sheet when the pocket is attached to a garment. The portion of the facing sheet around and above the opening does not therefore adhere to the garment and enables a card or the like to be inserted into the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Joel & Aronoff, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sharrock, Donovan N. Fry, Robert William
  • Patent number: 4388771
    Abstract: A decorative display device for a hub cap of a vehicle wheel is disclosed. The device is sealed which prevents dirt preventing it from rotating and allows minor scrapes without damage. The device has a sealed housing having at least one transparent face adapted for mounting on a hub cap with transparent face directed outwards, a disc within the housing free to rotate therein, the disc having a design or the like visible through the transparent face of the housing, the disc being weighted on one side such that the disc rotates at least when the hub cap is stationary, so that the design or the like is in a constant attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Inventor: Louis A. Lalonde