Patents Examined by Pamela Anne O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5662050
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for chemically and/or thermally treating substances containing or generating toxic substances during treatment is disclosed. Multiple reactors treat the material while the toxic emission containment system separates and cleans the effluents to within acceptable emissions limits as specified by government. The preferred rotary kiln employs a multiple zone reactor system for processing and volumetrically reducing feedstocks. The kiln functions as a primary treatment chamber and contains a rotatable multipurpose admixture and a multiple zone burner system. Induced cyclonic action reduces particulate entrainment, minimizes stratification, and maximizes gas residence time. A direct fed, second stage vitrifying, refining and/or separating furnace yields stabilized products. The preferred process includes an air pollution control system enhanced by a toxic emission containment system which separates the inert effluents from the toxic emissions contained in the treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventors: James F. Angelo, II, Wilbur L. Kephart
  • Patent number: 5470171
    Abstract: A configurable highway divider system features a plurality of markers associated with a lane of traffic, each marker including one or more indicators observable by a vehicle operator traveling on the lane associated with the markers, and a indicator changing device that can be mounted to a vehicle, enabling the vehicle to visit and interact with the markers and change the indicators for the purpose of redirecting traffic flow. In a preferred embodiment, the indicators use reflective color surfaces, and an externally-engageable member which is mechanically linked to each indicator. In an alternative embodiment, the visual attribute displayed by the markers do not change, but, instead, an alternative indicator changing device is used to turn each marker about a substantially vertical axis either with a rotatable drum/disk combination or with a magnetic actuator. Further alternative embodiments incorporate the use of acoustic, optical and thermal interactions between the marker and the changing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Ling-yuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 5417517
    Abstract: A vibrating tamping float for smoothing the top surface of freshly poured concrete, pushing coarse aggregates down into the concrete while allowing cream to surface, and reducing a formation of large air pockets in the concrete, includes a float body having a bottom surface and a pushing device for pushing coarse aggregates down into the concrete while allowing cream to surface. The pushing device includes a plurality of ribs mounted on the bottom surface of the float body. The ribs have a ramp on front and rear portions thereof for providing a smooth entrance into the concrete and pushing coarse aggregates downward as they are slid back and forth in the concrete. A vibrator is provided on the float body for vibrating the float body to reduce a formation of large air pockets in the concrete, to aid in pushing the coarse aggregates on the surface down into the concrete, and to aid in leveling-off and smoothing the top surface of the concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph W. Zollers
  • Patent number: 5409325
    Abstract: A vinyl walkway paver, particularly the one used as a paving stone with grass contained therein. The paver can be integrally formed to have a surface with a plurality of ridged bodies which are different in sizes. The center of the paver is a recessed portion, the four sides of the recessed portion form a hollow frame, the corners joining the diagonals of the frame are provided with corner holes and corner blocks. By such configuration, a plurality of pavers can be laid on the walkway, the central recessed portion thereof can be filled up with soil for planting grass. Moreover, the interior wall of the hollow frame can be provided with a plurality of ribs to form a suitable rough surface for strengthening the structure of the paver. Expansible materials such as polystyrene can also be filled inside the frame to give a better bonding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Ming-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 5405216
    Abstract: An automatic, self locking clutch system effectuates blade pitch control on concrete finishing trowels. The clutch instantly releases upon the touch of the operator. A trowel has a downwardly projecting, motor-driven rotor comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart finishing blades directly contacting the concrete surface. A handle extends from a rigid frame and terminates in handlebars grasped by an operator. Control arms extend from the blades into contact with a plate to vary pitch by conventionally rotating the blades about their longitudinal axis. A clutch operatively interconnects a lever and a linkage extending to the swash plate. The clutch comprises a tubular housing coaxially receiving a drive shaft that rotatably controls an internal rotor. A set of spring biased, cylindrical rollers are confined within channels defined in the rotor between major and minor lobes thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Allen Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: J. Dewayne Allen, Ralph C. Luebke
  • Patent number: 5390620
    Abstract: A dock float having a sealed elongated buoyant hollow housing with at least one longitudinal channel for securing a joist to which decking is supported. A floatable marine dock is constructed by interconnecting two similar floats by securing header boards in laterally extending recesses in the ends of each float. The width of the floatable dock is determined by the length of the header boards and decking. The length of the floatable docks may be varied by juxtapositioning in an end to end manner any required number of floats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Techstar Plastics Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Murphy, deceased, Denyse Dumoulin, executor, William J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 5390479
    Abstract: An improved drive structure is provided for use between a lawn and garden type vehicle and a vertically adjustable belt driven, belly-mounted implement such as a rotary mower. The structure is usable with a standard length engine crankshaft which is mountable to project below the vehicle chassis and power the belt driven mower. It includes a stub shaft extension that is adapted to carry an electric clutch as well as a pulley for driving a belt entrained around the mower spindle pulleys. The extension permits positive power transmission to the drive pulley and also allows for it to be mounted substantially horizontal with the implement pulleys as they are shifted vertically in response to height of cut adjustments and/or variation in terrain. The extension further eliminates the need for jacksheave power relay arrangements commonly used to reduce the angles of drive belt entry and exit into and out of drive and driven pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Wayne R. Hutchison, Daniel A. Sebben
  • Patent number: 5388800
    Abstract: A guard structure for protecting egress-type alarm control devices. The guard includes a protective barrier having an access opening passing therethrough to permit immediate access to the control device. The guard further includes mounting brackets for mounting the protective barrier to a mounting surface over and in a spaced apart relation from the alarm device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Jessie B. Fry
  • Patent number: 5388850
    Abstract: A convertible sulky is interchangeable between stand-up and sit-down configurations so as to allow a mower operator to operate the mower from either a standing or seated position behind the mower. The convertible sulky comprises an H-shaped support wheelbase frame, to opposite legs of which a pair of wheel-mounting columns are affixed. Attached to the H-shaped support wheelbase frame member is a T-shaped mower attachment frame, having a central leg, an upper end of which is inclined forwardly H-shaped support wheelbase frame for attachment with the rear of the mower, by means of a ball-hitch fixture. A pair of generally L-shaped foot plates are secured to the frame structure formed by the T-shaped mower attachment frame and the H-shaped support wheelbase frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Nicholas Simone
  • Patent number: 5387051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying cementitious material onto a floor surface while screeding it and producing varying depths of ridged impressions in a longitudinal direction within the cementitious material, from deep ridges to flat surfaced material, all formed with a levelled surface, adapted to receive tile components and other flooring products. The apparatus includes a base adapted for displacement on the floor surface and provided with a container to receive the cementitious material. The container is adapted to discharge a required amount of cementitious material on the floor surface. The base defines an opening which screeds the material onto the floor surface and trails the discharged cementitious material from the container on the floor surface when the apparatus is operatively displaced. A gate is moveably mounted to be vertically displaced for selectively reducing the opening and for evenly spreading the cementitious material passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Antonietta Investments Ltd.
    Inventor: Pietro Valente
  • Patent number: 5386680
    Abstract: An implement includes a clevis assembly connected to the forward end of the implement hitch for limited fore-and-aft movement to permit holes in the clevis and of a tractor drawbar to become aligned for receiving a hitch pin, a latch then being operable to prevent further fore-and-aft movement of the clevis. First and second parallel legs of the clevis are provided with holes in which are received first and second bushing portions respectively of first and second jaws. The bushing portion of the first jaw is threaded and the hitch pin has a threaded end received therein, the pin being operable to move the first jaw towards the second jaw so that the jaws may tightly clamp a drawbar located therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Henry Friesen
  • Patent number: 5375940
    Abstract: A water permeable landscape ditch cover comprising a monolithic body with a paved, water permeable surface comprised of a aggregate material and a synthetic resin binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Chubu Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5373687
    Abstract: A mulching blade for use with a rotary powered lawn mower. The mulching blade comprises a generally planar disk shaped mulching member having an outside perimeter defining mulching teeth and a center attachment opening. The mulching blade also has a generally planar attachment bridge spanning the center attachment opening and spaced away from the disk shaped mulching member in a generally parallel relationship. The attachment bridge is supported by bridge ends attached to the disk shaped mulching member. The attachment bridge has a drive shaft opening such that the cutting blade of the lawn mower may be slid between the attachment bridge and the disk shaped mulching member such that both may be mounted together onto the drive shaft of the rotary lawn mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Inventor: Walter J. J. Secord
  • Patent number: 5374137
    Abstract: A safety pole useful as a ski gate is constructed of a core of flexible, self redressing material, covered by a flexible protective mesh sleeve and capped at both ends. The core is soft and flexible enough to prevent injury to skiers, yet self redresses to its original, normally vertical position quickly and reliably. The mesh sleeve is tough and flexible, to bend with the core while protecting it from damage from skis. The end caps protect the core from damage upon insertion in the snow. By making some or all of the elements of fluorescent, brightly colored or light reflective material, or by adding reflective tape or stickers to those elements, visibility of the pole is enhanced. The pole is suitable for retaining ropes or ribbons to demarcate lift line paths, boundaries and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Inventor: Erik J. Steinberg
  • Patent number: 5367862
    Abstract: A device intended for installation onto a rotary cord herbage trimmer to permit the trimmer to easily slide omnidirectionally upon the ground being serviced is comprised of a circular saucer-like disc having a downwardly convex bottom surface and an upwardly concave top surface. A straight mounting post is upwardly emergent from the center of the concave surface, and terminates in a threaded distal extremity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventors: Frank M. Spear, Mark J. Latess
  • Patent number: 5366317
    Abstract: A manhole cover apparatus including a collar defining an opening with an inner perimeter is provided with a pivotally mounted cover having an outer perimeter greater than the inner perimeter of the collar. A seal is provided to seal between the cover and the collar. Closure structure is provided to secure the free end of the cover to the collar. A threaded bolt is provided to close the cover. A pivotally mounted lever arm is mounted to the bolt for turning of the bolt. An adjustable threaded hinge is provided to adjust the cover in a longitudinal direction relative to the collar. The manhole cover apparatus is useable on pressure containers, such as those used to pneumatically handle particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Keith F. Solimar
  • Patent number: 5366319
    Abstract: A prefabricated roadway expansion joint/load transfer assembly (10) is provided which accommodates normal expansion and contraction between adjacent slabs (90a, 90b) while transferring vertical shear loads and minimizing stress cracking of the surrounding concrete (90). The assembly (10) includes a plurality of X-configuration bar units (12) including crossed, unconnected metallic bars (20, 22) whose ends (24, 30, 28, 26) are embedded within the adjacent slabs (90a, 90b). The bar ends (24, 30, 28, 26) are coupled within the corresponding slabs (90a, 90b) through use of respective U-shaped coupling assemblies (14) each having spaced legs (38, 40) and a bight (42) and vertical tie rods (44). The individual bar units (12) are joined by laterally extending connecting rods (56-70). A central spacer (18) is supported by the bar units (12) and supplementary spring supports (76) and extends the full width of the assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kuo-Kuang Hu, Philip G. Kirmser, Stuart E. Swartz, Mustaque Hossain
  • Patent number: 5365727
    Abstract: A grass-bagging apparatus for use with a lawn mower. The apparatus includes a chute with a disposable bag disposed therearound. An attaching frame is used to fasten the chute to the mower and retain the bag thereon. Grass and other cuttings discharged from the lawn mower are directed in the bag through the chute. After the bag is filled, the chute may be removed from the bag while leaving the cuttings in the bag. The filled bag may then be closed for disposal and a new bag positioned on the chute. A protective screen may be provided between the plastic bag and the operator in the event that objects discharged from the mower penetrate the material of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Donald R. Cross
  • Patent number: 5362178
    Abstract: An apparatus for spreading a liquid over a surface, such as sealant over a pavement, is provided. The apparatus is mounted on a trailer and is comprised of a storage bin for containing the liquid to be spread, a drainage trough, and spreading brushes. Liquid is mixed in the storage bin and then transferred to the drainage trough where it is then dispersed onto the surface for spreading as the apparatus is towed along. The width of the path of dispersed liquid laid down by the drainage trough can be adjusted if necessary for sidewalks or other narrower surfaces. The brushes spread the liquid evenly over the surface. The drainage trough and brushes are hingedly connected to the storage bin and are pivotable between positions of operation and transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: John S. Schantz
  • Patent number: 5362174
    Abstract: A manhole cover comprises a base and a cover. The base has a first inner rim provided with a first bevel while the cover has a second outer rim provided with a second bevel. When the base is joined with the cover, the first bevel of the base and the second bevel of the cover are caused to make contact with each other such that the base is joined with the cover in an airtight and watertight manner. The first bevel of the base and the second bevel of the cover are of such construction that they enable the cover to be lifted easily to set apart from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Jeng-Yih Yang