Patents Examined by Rodney M. Lindsey
  • Stent delivery catheter and method of making same
    Patent number: 6589274
    Abstract: A stent delivery catheter includes an extendable shaft portion, a tubular balloon mounted thereon, a stent and a pair of elastic retaining caps. The balloon is mounted onto the catheter at a mounted length that is shorter than the formed length of the balloon to generate excess balloon material which is gathered into circumferential folds. The extendable portion of the catheter shaft elongates in response to tension applied by the balloon as the folds open during inflation. Elongation of the catheter shaft drives the retaining caps apart to uncover the ends of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Medtronic AVE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Stiger, Michael A. Mohn, Mark Hoekwater, Lior Sobe
  • Headwear piece with brim/visor
    Patent number: 6588021
    Abstract: A headwear piece having a crown and a brim/visor projecting away from the crown. The crown has a wall with a surface for engaging a wearer's head to maintain the headwear piece in an operative position on a wearer's head. The brim/visor has an exposed upwardly facing surface, an exposed downwardly facing surface, and an exposed edge between the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces. The edge has a thickness between the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces. The edge has a first layer that extends over at least one-fourth of the thickness of the edge, less than the full thickness of the edge, and continuously from the edge to define a part of one of the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald Kronenberger
  • Device for holding socks or stockings in pairs
    Patent number: 6588633
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding socks or stockings in pairs. The inventive device consists of a holding body (1) and a hook (2), which are joined by a predetermined breaking point (3). A slit is arranged in the holding body (1) for receiving two socks or stockings. The slit is enclosed on all sides by the holding body (1). The device is produced easily and holding the socks or stockings securely and in a caring manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Ammann
  • Face protector
    Patent number: 6584614
    Abstract: Face Protector with a one piece molded plastic assembly, the assembly comprised of a single plane vertically disposed and radially curved member, the radially curved member shaped to fit around a person's face, the radially curved member terminating in a reinforcing rib about its bottom and side perimeter, the radially curved member terminating at its top edge in an integral, horizontally disposed pocket shaped to fit onto the front portion of a standard baseball cap, said one piece molded assembly molded from a clear, impact resistant material such as polycarbonate, and said molded clear material being treated with an ultraviolet resisting chemical. A preferred embodiment includes wherein said clear material is tinted to reduce eyestrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: John Joseph Hogg
  • Discrete absorbent article
    Patent number: 6586653
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a pigmented cover; a pigmented apertured transfer layer; an absorbent core; and a pigmented backsheet that provides masking of synthetic menstrual fluid and discretion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J.. Graeme, III, H. Michael Moscherosch
  • Self-shaping garment hanger shoulder guard
    Patent number: 6581810
    Abstract: A shoulder guard for a hanger is formed from two wings which are substantially symmetrical and which are substantially identical except for attachment details. The wings have a pair of folds which are at an angle to normal to centerlines of the wings, and which permit the wings to fold flat against each other. When the wings are unfolded, the shoulder guard forms an arch. Cutouts are provided for tying multiple hangers together and cuts are provided for slipping the shoulder guard over the hook of the hanger by forcing the hook past the cuts. Additional cutouts facilitate the shoulder guard retaining its form at the ends and also provide support for particular garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Myong H. Ho
  • Soccer headband
    Patent number: 6567993
    Abstract: A shock absorbing pad comprising a molded rubbery elastomeric material having a generally smooth surface on the side adapted to abut a soccer player's head and the opposed face having an open grid structure defined by outwardly projecting patterns of short ribs or patterns of short and midsized ribs with at least some of the intersections of the ribs being defined by outwardly projecting cylinders which are taller than ribs or, if both types of ribs are present, the cylinders are taller than both the shortest and the midsized ribs, top-to-bottom to provide airways or passages for the flow of cooling air and to enhance player comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Donald R. Robertson
  • Ablation atherectomy burr
    Patent number: 6569177
    Abstract: An ablation burr for a rotational atherectomy device that may reduce the risk of damage to a vessel wall while providing ablative cutting surfaces out to the maximum diameter of the burr. Two different abrasive surfaces are provided on the leading surface of the ablation burr. A less aggressive or finer abrasiveness is provided near the ablation burr maximum diameter, which is the portion of the burr nearest the vessel wall. This portion of the burr also presents a relatively shallow angle of attach to the vessel wall. A more aggressive or coarser abrasive is applied to portions of the burr disposed further from the vessel wall. In one embodiment, the more aggressive abrasive portion of the burr has a concave profile, thereby further reducing the possibility that the more aggressive abrasive will contact the vessel wall, even when the burr is rotated significantly away from the vessel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Dillard, Garrett R. Beget, Vittorino Monni
  • Headwear useful as animal shelter
    Patent number: 6564394
    Abstract: Provided herein are articles of headwear which comprise a top portion, a bottom portion, a right side portion, a left side portion, a front portion, and a rear portion, which collectively define a casing having an inner volume. The bottom portion is equipped. with a removable closure means which has a flat surface to enable the headwear articles of the invention to rest in an upright position when placed on a flat surface. The headwear articles according to the invention have the dual function in that they are useful as feeders or shelters for small birds and other animals, and thus include at least one hole in either of the top portion, a right side portion, a left side portion, a front portion, and a rear portion to enable birds and/or small animals to enter the article when it is placed in a location where such small animals inhabit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Robert L. Falwell
  • Medical device
    Patent number: 6565591
    Abstract: A collapsible filter element (40) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (1). The filter element (40) comprises a collapsible filter body (41) which is movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through a vascular system and an expanded position for extension across a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element (40). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (41) has two inlet openings (50) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (41), and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (41) has a plurality of small outlet openings (51) to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (41). The filter body (41) is of an oriented polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Salviac Limited
    Inventors: Eamon Brady, Ronald Kelly
  • Wrestler headgear
    Patent number: 6564395
    Abstract: Protective wrestler headgear having straps fully adjustable by the user with the headgear in place on the head. To allow adjustment of each strap, the adjustment is spaced from the ear cover an amount sufficient to permit some small spacing from the head thereby providing sufficient room for the strap to be moved through the adjustment element that is attached to the ear cover. In the embodiment described below, the adjustment element comprises a “D-ring” attached to, but spaced from, the ear cover. The strap extending from the other ear cover passes through the D-ring with enough clearance from the head and nearest ear cover to permit movement of the strap relative to the D-ring with the headgear in place on the wrestler's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: James C Keen
  • Combined helmet and compass
    Patent number: 6564384
    Abstract: A helmet, such as used by firefighters, includes a compass mounted on the inside of the helmet in a location that will be easily visible to the wearer when necessary but will be positioned so it will not distract the wearer at other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph D. Kiser
  • Safety helmet
    Patent number: 6560787
    Abstract: An improved safety helmets designed and manufactured to protect the head and brain from both linear and rotational impact energy. The helmet designed and manufactured to diffuse or absorb impact energy in a uniform manner around the head and allows for effective reuse of the helmet after multiple impacts. The safety helmet is constructed of layers of polyurethane, monoprene gel, polyethylene and either polycarbonate or polypropylene. The safety helmet manufactured and designed of these materials protect the brain from both linear and rotational impact energy and diffuse or absorb impact energy in a uniform manner around the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Irma D. Mendoza
  • Personal protection device
    Patent number: 6560789
    Abstract: A load absorbing apparatus for use in protective equipment in which a resilient bag containing fluid under pressure is disposed in a position subject to loads and a reservoir of elastomeric material which is expandable from an initial position with a minimum volume to a loaded position with an increased volume which is positioned in spaced relation to said position subject to loads. The resilient bag and reservoir are connected in fluid communication so that loads imposed on the bag force fluid from the bag to the reservoir where the energy is dissipated. After the load is removed from the resilient bag, the reservoir returns to its original shape to return the fluid to the resilient bag. The protective equipment incorporating the load absorbing apparatus can be in the form of a helmet with a relatively rigid shell or a body protected pad having a flexible outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Whalen, Brian C. Whalen
  • Intraocular lens implanter
    Patent number: 6558395
    Abstract: A device for deforming and ejecting a deformable intraocular lens for insertion into a small incision in an eye, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a lens transporting duct in a front part of the housing defining a duct axis, the duct having a front end with a cross-section adapted to the lens in deformed state with small maximum dimensions transversal to the duct axis, a rear lens-receiving end with a cross-section adapted for the lens in un-deformed state, or less deformed state, than at the front end, with larger maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis than at the front end and an intermediate convergent duct part between the front and rear ends with a varying cross-section shape, having decreasing maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis when moving from rear to front in the duct and c) a plunger operative to displace the lens in the duct at least in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia AB
    Inventors: Birger Hjertman, Jonas Fridholm, Hans Himbert, Carl-Göran Crafoord
  • Device for affixing a lens onto a safety helmet
    Patent number: 6557185
    Abstract: The invention provides device for affixing a lens of a safety helmet. A helmet housing has a base located on each of both sides. The base has a C-like protruding ring. The protruding ring has an upward opening gap, wherein an inner side surface has a C-like groove. A protruding body is located under the protruding ring, wherein a bottom of the protruding body has a concave clicking opening. A side front portion of the protruding ring has clicking protruding body having a top with a slant surface. A windshield lens of safety helmet has a base plate at each of both sides, which base plate can be affixed onto the base of the helmet housing. An inner side of the base has two L-like clicking protruding bodies, which can be inserted to the C-like groove. A clicking gear is formed on the base plate at a bottom rim corresponding to the protruding body of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Long Huei Helmet Co.
    Inventor: Te Lung Lee
  • Lightweight protective ear guard
    Patent number: 6557186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight protective ear guard which relies on an outer air cushion created between a semi-rigid inner shell and a resilient outer shell to provide a multi-level degree of shock absorbency and protection for the ears. The wearable structures comprising a pair of ear guards connected by a plurality of adjustable strap members are provided for particular use by wrestlers to protect their ears from injury due to contact with wrestling surface and other wrestlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: John W Purnell
  • Device for hooking the visor of a helmet for motorcycles
    Patent number: 6557184
    Abstract: A device for hooking a visor of a helmet for motorcyclists to a mechanism for moving a visor, preferably embedded in a cap. There is also a device for extracting the visor from the embedding and a device to support the visor having the shape of an arched support or table. This device comprises a visor having guides adjustably engaged in a series of flanks of a table wherein there is a hole or opening for a hooking element which is adjustable within an eyelet disposed on the table. There is also a slide integral in the table having an eyelet wherein a bush translates, which is coaxially anchored to a hooking block and a sheet like spring anchored to a side and in touch with the bush to put a pressure on the bush. This pressure keeps the bush in contact with the block within the opening of the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Opticos, S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luca Gafforio
  • Method of protecting a helmet shell and interrupting airflow around the shell with a removable strip
    Patent number: 6553580
    Abstract: A method of protecting a helmet shell and interrupting airflow around a helmet utilizing an air flow interrupter and helmet shell protector strip. The strip is constructed so that it can be applied to a helmet after manufacture of the helmet shell itself. The strip includes an attachment mechanism which is generally an adhesive backing. This allows the strip to be easily removably affixed to the helmet surface. The attachment mechanism must have sufficient strength so that the strip does not separate from the helmet surface during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Dale L. Henson
  • Cut resistant support yarn suitable for wrapping with an additional yarn covering
    Patent number: RE38136
    Abstract: A cut resistant yarn suitable for wrapping with an additional yarn covering. The cut resistant support yarn includes a core including only a first cut resistant strand, a second cut resistant strand wrapped in a clockwise direction around the core, and a third cut resistant strand wrapped in a counter clockwise direction around the core. One of the second and third cut strands forms an inner covering surrounding only core, and only other of the second only and third cut resistant strands forms an outer covering surrounding the core and the inner covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Supreme Elastic Corporation
    Inventor: Nathaniel Kolmes