Patents Examined by Richard C. Pinkham
  • Patent number: 4788961
    Abstract: An archery bow having accessories attached to the bow by a support block having an internal opening which receives a tang extending from an archery accessory. Accessories which may be attached to the bow include a detachable sight, an auxiliary arrow holder and a bow-fishing reel. More than one accessory may be locked to the support block. A shoulder is formed where the tang extends from the accessory to aid in positioning the accessory in the support block. The auxiliary arrow holder is an arm having a arrow support bracket on the end opposite the tang which includes a plurality of resilient fingers aligned on opposite sides and axially offset from each other for gripping the shaft of an arrow. The bow-fishing accessory includes a reel having a thin rim with a concave perimeter and a brace offset from the central axis of the rim. The reel is connected to the support block by an arm extending between the brace and the tang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: Dennis M. Toth
  • Patent number: 4789158
    Abstract: A light-weight sighting or aiming device for showing the line of the path of a golf ball to be impacted by a golf club has a base head adapted to be releasably secured to the shaft of the club at a selected distance above the club head, a rod projecting forwardly from the base head to be aligned parallel with the club head, a pointer selectively mounted at different positions along the length of the rod normal to the axis of the rod and threads on the rod to extend and retract the rod relative to the base head so that the pointer will be positioned over the sweet spot of the hitting face when the golfer addresses the ball. The component parts of the device are preferably light-weight plastics material with the base head having an end spaced for gripping the shaft and with the rod member frictionally threaded for a substantial distance in the base head member. The preferred rod has a plurality of transverse holes therethrough spaced along its length to selectively snugly receive the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: David J. Chiesa
  • Patent number: 4787361
    Abstract: This invention relates to an archery bow characterized by a combination handgrip and forearm protector hingedly attached in closely-spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the bow defined by the limbs of the latter and the bowstring, the handgrip-forming portion of the combination unit extending laterally out to the side and rearwardly relative to the forearm-protecting portion so as to define an acute angular relationship therebetween. The handgrip and protector cooperate with one another to prevent rotation of the forearm holding the bow while at the same time concentrating the force exerted on the handgrip at the apex of the included angle therebetween which lies closely adjacent the hinge axis thereby causing the force applied by the protector against the forearm to be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Emil Vyprachticky
  • Patent number: 4787386
    Abstract: Devices, kits and methods for non-suture end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis of tubular tissue members employ tubular connection members having clip retaining elements comprising annular grooves or flanges in the connection members; and spring clips which comprise a ring-shaped body with separable opposed ends whereby a circular opening defined by the body can be enlarged; the opposed ends have handling elements to facilitate handling of the clips and separation of the opposed ends; specially developed instruments facilitate use of the devices and the anastomosis procedure can be completed much more rapidly than with conventional techniques and has the significant advantage of intima to intima contact at the site of anastomosis with no foreign material exposed to the lumen of the vessels being joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Idea Research Investment Fund, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Walsh, William M. Lougheed, Fred Gentili, Mahmood Fazl
  • Patent number: 4787639
    Abstract: This game is designed for entertainment fun and consists of a game board, a multiple number of playing pieces shaped like musicians and their instruments, a multiple number of discs that receive flags with music note symbols, tokens, cards, and a die. The game board consists of two separate paths, one representing the life of a rock musician and the other representing the position of a record on the charts. The winner of the game is the first player to advance their disc to the number 1 space. The disc may be advanced by completing a circuit of the outer path with the token or by collecting a specified number of flags which are placed in the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Robert J. Ross
  • Patent number: 4787632
    Abstract: A golf accessory for retrieving golf balls, repairing divots and placing ball markers, the accessory including a planar member having a ball holder section formed on one side and a flexible ball guide section on the opposite side for biasing the ball into the holder, the guide section including a pair of tapered tines for repairing divots and placing golf ball markers on the green.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Nigrelli, James Grau
  • Patent number: 4787637
    Abstract: A golf tee including a rigid tee body having a downwardly tapered stem for insertion into soil or the like. A ball seat is disposed above the rigid tee body. The ball seat has at least one ball-supporting structure with a downwardly inclined surface having a contour substantially similar to the contour of the peripheral surface of a golf ball. The ball seat further has at least one depressed region spacing apart said downwardly inclined surfaces of the ball-supporting structures. A graphite insert is disposed along the axial bore of the rigid tee body. The graphite insert extends partially through the rigid tee body and has a portion extending from the axial bore for contact with a golf ball supported atop said ball seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventors: Richard J. Lima, John Remen, Robert N. Wilms
  • Patent number: 4787387
    Abstract: An improved surgical instrument cartridge is described. The cartridge comprises a plurality of wound closure elements. Each element has a crown and two opposite side legs. The distal end of each leg of an element contacts the crown of the adjacent preceding element. Two opposite grooves (in the cartridge) contain at least each end of each crown and the proximal end of each leg. The cartridge is attached to a surgical instrument. To activate the plurality of closure elements, a spring acts only on the proximal element. The improvement comprises the distal ends of the legs of each element being in an essentially converging relationship. The plurality of elements are thus self-aligning in the grooves. The wound closure element can be a staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: John E. Burbank, III, John R. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 4785791
    Abstract: A bow sight transportation cover having an essentially rectangular protective housing with one open side end into which the bow sight projects. The housing is secured to the central portion of the bow by slidably engaging a mounting bracket attached directly to the bow sight. The housing can be modified to slide either horizontally or vertically onto the mounting bracket. The bow sight cover can be constructed of transparent material and provided with a recess for the arrow to pass through. Alternatively, the vertical position of the housing can be adjusted by mounting the housing on an elongated bar which extends between the two end portions of the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: John R. Sloop
  • Patent number: 4785811
    Abstract: A solar ray energy radiation device for use in medical treatment which comprises one or more optical conductor cables through which solar ray energy is transmitted. A light projector is installed at the end portion of the optical conductor cables, along with a control box for controlling the position of the light projector and a light sensor which is disposed in the light projector. The light sensor detects the solar ray energy emitted from the optical conductor cable, and the distance between the light projector and an object to be radiated is controlled on the basis of the detection value obtained by the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Kei Mori
  • Patent number: 4786059
    Abstract: This invention relates to a knocking-down septum comprising a steel shutter structure on the slats of which a granulated material rests. The granulated material may consist of granules of natural or synthetic rubber, also of recovery rubber and possibly of a self-extinguishing type of rubber, of dry sand, or of a mixture of sand and rubber or the like. This granulated material lies on the slats of the shutter structure in accordance with the shutter's natural angle of repose and is thereby retained by the shutter. When a bullet crosses the thickness of the granulated material the granulated material slows down the velocity of the bullet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: A B C Appalti Bonifiche e Costruzioni di Elio Floria & C.s.a.s.
    Inventor: Alberto Barini
  • Patent number: 4785796
    Abstract: An otoscope having a coupling device and a curette having a corresponding coupling device for releasably attaching the curette to the otoscope are useful for examining and treating small cavities such as the ear canal. The otoscope includes a lens for viewing the ear canal. The curette is fabricated from a flexible material which is also transluscent to transmit light from a light source in the otoscope into the ear canal. An optical path is defined from the light source to illuminate tissues in the cavity. The light path and view path preferably converge so that a direct, illuminated view is provided to the examiner. The curette can have a channel for introducing medicinal fluids into the cavity or for withdrawing matter from the cavity. A swab for removal of fluids or culture samples from the ear canal can be provided on the curette. The head portion of the curette can have an inclined wall portion to provide a lens assembly for directing light from the curette into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Philip D. Mattson
  • Patent number: 4786054
    Abstract: A golf tee comprising a rotatable support member seated so as to be submerged within a hollow head portion of an elongated body with the side surface of the rotatable support member engaged by an O-ring to the internal side surface of the hollow head portion. A pointed bottom member is removably connected to the lower end of the elongated body. An elastic element extending through an axial hole in the elongated body connects the rotatable support member to the pointed bottom member. Manually rotating the rotatable support member provides for storing energy in the elongated elastic element such that when a golf ball is placed on the rotatable support member the golf ball can be made to slowly rotate about a vertical axis to thereby provide a moving object for holding the attention of a golfer as he addresses and drives the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Francis J. Keys
  • Patent number: 4786055
    Abstract: An improved sports racquet is provided having elements placed between the outer edge of the frame and the strings. The elements prevent the strings from touching the outer edge of the frame and rotate in response to a force applied in a direction generally perpendicular to the strings, thereby expanding the sweet spot, providing improved playability of the racquet, and significantly reducing the fibration that is transferred to the player's arm. The elements are preferably spherical in shape and may be comprised of various materials, including acetal, plastic and metal. The elements preferably rest in receptacles in the racquet frame, which may be integral with the frame or separate pieces, such as sleeves or grommets, that are connected to the frame. The receptacles are preferably designed to have a surface with substantially the same curvature as the bottom surface of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: James P. Darling
  • Patent number: 4784137
    Abstract: A surgical suturing instrument comprises hinge-joined a staple jaw provided with staple slots, and a supporting jaw provided with depressions for the staple legs to bend, a mechanism for ejecting the staples from the slots, a mechanism for turning the supporting jaw with respect to the staple jaw, and a mechanism for fixing the jaws in the drawn-together position. The supporting jaw is located at the end of the staple jaw so as to rotate, in a hinge-joint, through 180 degrees with respect to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventors: Yaroslav P. Kulik, Ivan I. Shmyrin
  • Patent number: 4784391
    Abstract: A new rope game device is disclosed. Threaded on a rope about six feet long with handles on its ends are two larger cylinders, one for each player. Also threaded on the rope is a plurality of smaller cylinders which can pass through the interior of the larger cylinders. In the game two players shake the rope, moving the smaller cylinders toward them through the larger cylinders to claim, and score, them close to the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Sylvia T. Herron
  • Patent number: 4784394
    Abstract: A board game apparatus designed to guide and educate the players about the geography, transportation, historical, social, entertainment and amusement interests in combination with the shopping, restaurants and hotel accomodations available in an existing area. The apparatus includes a board comprising at least one map bearing the geographical indicia characterizing the area wherein are displayed the geographical locations of the selected tourist attractions usually matched with the services. There is a plurality of playing cards containing essential information about these locations which are connected on the map by the separate itineraries of travel dedicated, each of them to a different player. Each player is authorized to leave temporarily an individual itinerary and to perform a trip according to existing means of transportation and the distances within the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Vitaly Sumin
  • Patent number: 4784388
    Abstract: A method of playing a pocket billiards game utilizing fifteen object balls and a cue ball allows the cue ball and one of the object balls to be placed anywhere on the table at the beginning of each turn for each player. The remaining object balls are racked and aligned relative to the foot spot. A player's turn continues so long as an object ball is pocketed on each shot and there is at least one object ball remaining on the table and the player does not commit a foul. The game continues with each player taking a turn until each player has had a predetermined number of turns. Each player is assigned a handicap, and the winner of an event is the one having the highest score determined by adding the handicap to the actual number of legally pocketed balls per inning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventor: Donald W. Owen
  • Patent number: 4784138
    Abstract: The retinal tack includes a generally conical, sharply pointed forward end portion for piercing through the retina, choroid, and sclera, an elongated, generally cylindrical retaining portion having a longitudinal dimension approximating the thickness of a patient's retina, choroid, and sclera and including one or more peripheral grooves for receiving sclera tissue displaced during insertion of the forward end portion, and an enlarged head having a radially extending flange portion for engaging the retina in the area of the opening formed in the retina. The tack is carried in the tip of a tubular probe selectively connected in fluid communication with sources of negative and positive pressures and the head includes a seat portion which sealingly engages a complementary seat in the probe tip when a negative pressure is applied to the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Trek Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Sinnett
  • Patent number: 4784389
    Abstract: A baseball batting practice device is disclosed as a bat having a recess formed at the large end to nestingly receive a spinning reel. The reel is oriented to pay-out a fishing line at a right angle to the bat axis, the fishing line is secured to a baseball and serves as a tether to retrieve the ball using the reel. With the tether payed out at a right angle to the bat axis, minimum resistance to the flight of the ball is observed and the distance traveled by the ball replicates that of an untethered ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Anthony C. Capolingua
    Inventor: Roger Taylor