Patents Examined by Rodrigo J. Morales
  • Patent number: 6079065
    Abstract: A bed assembly has a frame with at least one articulated frame section and a drive system for moving the articulated frame section. The drive system includes a first electrical circuit and a remote control unit that sends command signals to the first electrical circuit. The bed further includes a mattress having at least one air bladder and a controller including a compressor fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder. The controller includes a second electrical circuit that couples to the first electric circuit so that at least one of the command signals received from the remote control unit is communicated to the second electrical circuit via the first electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: PaTMarK Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Luff, Steven R. Westerfeld, Ryan A. Reeder
  • Patent number: 6076292
    Abstract: A hybrid grave marker and cremains container includes a plurality of side walls, a transparent top cover, and a base, bonded to each other by ultraviolet glue so as to form a hermetic receiving envelope for containing ashes or memorabilia of a deceased person. The container is partially interred into the ground with the top portion of the container extending above the ground. Friends and relatives of the deceased may have the possibility of viewing the cremains contained in the container through the transparent top cover and/or side walls. The grave marker and cremains container may be used singly or may be combined with other cremains containers to form a memorial group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph Kawa
  • Patent number: 6076296
    Abstract: A card holder for a mass transit entry card having one longitudinal edge portion encoded with machine readable information is formed by folding a plastic blank to provide overlying panel portions forming a pocket which clasps the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the card adjacent the fold so that the encoded edge extends clear of the holder, remote from the fold exposed for machine reading by longitudinal sliding movement along a slot of a card reading head in a swiping action. A hook extends in coplanar relation from a longitudinal end of one of the panel portions for securing the card holder carrying the card to a user's bag strap or pocket and has a returned free end extending inward, behind a land which extends from the panel portion, forming a stop, preventing overstress of the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 6073378
    Abstract: A transparent plastic envelope made up of a front panel and a back panel secured together by parallel sealing lines around the periphery, and a line of mounting holes between the lines for receiving a mounting tie. The back panel is made up of two sections to form an opening for insertion of a sign element into the envelope. A plastic sealing zipper is secured to the meeting edges of the two sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Gail Gabbert
  • Patent number: 6070346
    Abstract: An apparatus for the display of tile sections having a first side panel with a plurality of tile-receiving slots extending along at least a portion of a top of the first side panel, a second side panel with a plurality of tile-receiving grooves extending along at least a portion of a top of the second side panel, a first cross member having slots engaged within slots formed on the first and second side panels, and a second cross member having slots engaged within slots formed in the first and second side panels. The first and second side panels have identical configurations. The first and second cross members have identical configurations. The first and second side panels include first and second upright abutment surfaces extending upwardly from opposite ends of the plurality of grooves on the top edge of the respective first and second side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Michael J. Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 6065234
    Abstract: A post plastic lens photographic slide mount made from a plastic slide mount includes a first and second plastic frame portions connected along an outer border with a pocket into which a photographic film slide can be inserted. A top plastic lens and a bottom plastic lens that can be introduced to the plastic slide mount. The plastic lenses can be added at the same time the photographic film slide is inserted into the plastic slide mount, or the lenses may be added after the plastic slide mount has been assembled. The lenses are held in place by a tongue and groove arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Pakon, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Truc
  • Patent number: 6061850
    Abstract: A portable platform for carrying to the beach a beach umbrella, umbrella support pole and pillow, all VELCRO fastened to the platform which serves to keep the pillow off the sand and to provide a cup holder and/or a box to secure small items, such as car keys and money, that may otherwise be lost in the sand. The platform may also be used to carry a stereo entertainment system onto the beach and to keep it out of the sand while the platform is placed on the beach to hold upright the umbrella support pole upon which the umbrella is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Jesse Roper, III
  • Patent number: 6061943
    Abstract: A flexible photo album has a flexible front cover, a flexible back cover and a plurality of pages disposed between the front and back covers. Each page has a front section and a back section coupled together by a fabric seam to form a pouch for holding photographs or other substantially flat objects. A portion of at least the front or back sections of the page is substantially transparent to allow the object within the pouch to be viewed through the front or back section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Noel Joanna, Inc.
    Inventor: Shirley D. Pepys
  • Patent number: 6058636
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing a closed lid on a water cooler containing potable water, and for labeling the water cooler, the apparatus comprising a safety seal tape and a safety tag. An outer side of the safety seal tape is imprinted with repeating indicia indicating that the lid is not to be removed from the cooler. An outer side of the safety tag is imprinted with indicia indicating that the cooler contains potable water. Inner sides of the tape and tag have a pressure sensitive adhesive which is capable of removably bonding the tape and tag to the water cooler. The tape is wrapped around the closed lid to secure the lid on the cooler, and the tag is adhered to the cooler, the tape and tag together providing notice that the cooler contains potable water and that the lid is not to be removed. The safety tag can be provided with various features which can be incorporated into a record keeping system for verifying compliance with applicable regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Floyd H. Hutchinson
    Inventor: Steve G. Colkmire
  • Patent number: 6058638
    Abstract: An information holder for an information slip has a receiver part and a sliding compartment. The receiver part has a transparent front portion and a back portion, with an elongated recess extending from a top end of the receiver part to a bottom end of the receiver part, allowing the holder to be mounted to a pole or other device. The sliding compartment has an upwardly bent bottom portion to hold the information slip and configured to shield the slip from water. Drainage holes extend from the lower portion of the sliding compartment through the bottom end of the receiver part to allow water to drain from the holder. An eaves-like overhang on the sliding compartment is configured to protect the information slip from water entering through the top of the holder. Two slanted side portions allow water to run off the sides of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Alpin Media A/S
    Inventor: Sigurd Sl.ang.ttebrekk
  • Patent number: 6052929
    Abstract: A mnemonic temperature marking system for fluid valves, especially of the type used in bathing vessels such as bathtubs and showers. Any user can easily, quickly, and accurately set the valve so that water of the desired temperature will flow when the valve is adjusted so that the marker is aligned with a pointing arrow on the valve. The marking system comprises a plurality of individual, personalized, or unique markers (16). Users of the bathing vessel adhere the markers to the valve (knob (14) or escutcheon (10)) at respective positions where such users' desired water temperature settings are adjacent the valve's fiducial marker (12). The markers can comprise graphic symbols (16', 26), letters (32), or markers (34) which can have a plurality of letters (for initials of a user) adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Herbert Canadas
  • Patent number: 6052848
    Abstract: A body support pillow stuffed with a resilient deformable filler having a U-shaped central section and depending legs, the pillow having a center opening equal to the body width of a user. In a first embodiment the pillow's total length is substantially equal to the height of a user, and the legs are selectively foldable over one another to create a double thickness for additional support under the user's knees, with a detachable body-encircling strap securing the pillow about the user. In a second embodiment for use in a chair the legs support the arms of a user, and may be raised by rotating them 90 degrees. In a third embodiment, the interior of the pillow is divided by sewn-in baffles into three separately stuffable compartments all accessible through a single continuous zipper opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Jean Kelly
  • Patent number: 6052930
    Abstract: An ornamental display globe includes a transparent hollow sphere filled with a transparent liquid and a figurine disposed inside the sphere. The figurine is maintained in a preferred orientation in the transparent liquid when the transparent hollow sphere is subjected to movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mr. Christmas, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Hermanson, Huang Meng-Suen
  • Patent number: 6052932
    Abstract: A presentation unit which includes a frontwardly facing, substantially transparent side wall with multiple surfaces adapted for the display of information thereon, and two pull out display panels storable within the interior of the unit and extendible outwardly therefrom, which display panels are usable for displaying information. Additional display panels are provided within the interior of the presentation unit adjacent the transparent side wall and are viewable therethrough. These display panels are readily removable from the unit and thus information can be placed thereon prior to the presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Reddig, Clarkson S. Thorp
  • Patent number: 6044504
    Abstract: A patient support is designed for use with a scintillation camera that includes a vertically oriented annular rotating support having an axis, and an elongate support extending from the rotating support for supporting a detector head, the rotating support including a coaxial inner surface defining an orifice. The patient support includes a patient stretcher for supporting a patient in a horizontal position substantially parallel to the axis of the rotating support. The patient support also includes a detached support for horizontally supporting the patient stretcher on a ground surface. The detached support includes a first stretcher support for supporting the patient stretcher and for positioning the patient stretcher relative to the rotating support. The patient support also includes an engaged support for horizontally supporting the patient stretcher on the inner surface of the cylindrical support such that the patient stretcher remains unaffected by the rotation of the rotating support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: IS2 Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Iain Stark
  • Patent number: 6041530
    Abstract: By providing any desired stationery product with a movable plate or arm member which cooperates with the surface or body of the stationery product, a unique indicia retaining and displaying system is realized. Preferably, the plate or arm member is movably mounted to the stationery product for ease of insertion of an indicia bearing member and secure retention thereof when the plate or arm member is returned to its original position. In addition, the plate or arm member preferably comprises a transparent zone, in order to enable the indicia bearing member to be easily viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Acme United Corporation
    Inventors: Mark C. Matthews, David H. Oliver, Ron Vish
  • Patent number: 6035464
    Abstract: An arrangement for supporting, inclining, and reclining a rear section of a folding bed frame structure of a sofa bed includes a rear bed section; an intermediate bed section pivotally connected to the rear bed section; a slide link extending between and pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to the rear bed section and to the intermediate bed section; a ratchet element pivotally connected to the slide link and including a notch for engaging the intermediate bed section and supporting the rear bed section when inclined at a first inclination relative to the intermediate bed section; and a cam surface located on the ratchet element that causes the ratchet element to automatically disengage from the intermediate bed member for reclining of the rear bed section relative to the intermediate bed section when the rear bed section is inclined at a second inclination greater than the first inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Hickory Springs
    Inventor: Allen M. Williams
  • Patent number: 6026606
    Abstract: A display device for holding and displaying a document constituted by a thin sheet, the display device being composed of: a frame member enclosing a display area; at least one holding element for holding the document so that at least a portion of the document is visible in the display area; and support elements for supporting the frame member in an upright orientation on a horizontal support surface, wherein the at least one holding element is integral with the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Scanner Badges, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry A. Ross
  • Patent number: 6026523
    Abstract: A portable lifting apparatus for lifting and transferring of patients for use in combination with a sling or the like support. Separate motors are provided for control of up and down movement of the lifting arm, clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the column, extension and retraction of each of the legs individually and divergence and convergence of both legs simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventors: William H. Simon, Richard H. Tuft
  • Patent number: 6026528
    Abstract: An apparatus, adapted to be attached to a crib having a mattress, includes includes a frame configured to receive and hold an object while allowing the object to be seen, fasteners connected to the frame and adapted to releasably secure the frame to the crib above the mattress, and a depending member connected to the frame and having a length sufficient to extend underneath the mattress from the frame when the frame is secured to the crib by the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: The First Years Inc.
    Inventor: Lynn M. Pina