Patents Examined by Samuel Scott
  • Patent number: 4817585
    Abstract: A semi-frameless door, per se, and in combination with a firebox opening and the like, utilizes a specially configured spacer frame to seal inner and outer glass panes and also, if desired, the firebox opening. Retainer plates affixed only to the outer glass ends and the spacer frame permits the outer pane to be curved with longitudinally extending exposed edges flush with the edge of the spacer frame to create a full glass covering of the opening. The glass size differences and black colored spacer frame create a size illusion and a shadow glow reflection when viewing the fire in the firebox. Inner retainer plates sealing the inner glass to the inside surface of the spacer frame have lip edges which are forced into contact with a fibrous seal disposed in a channel configuration within the opening when the door is latched to insure sealing of the opening should the door hinge ever loosen during extended use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Orrville Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Craver
  • Patent number: 4816970
    Abstract: A self-charging light utilizes a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery pack and a plurality of solar electric panels. The battery powers a lamp attached to a top portion of the assembly. The lamp is covered with a shade that includes an interior mirrored surface so as to reflect emitted light downwardly upon the solar panel. As such, when the lamp is illuminated, it serves to partially recharge itself while also illuminating the surrounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Manuel Garcia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4815524
    Abstract: A furnace having the capability of operating its blower continuously is provided with means for automatically shutting off the blower at the beginning of a heating cycle and for resuming the operation thereof only after a predetermined time has elapsed to allow the heat exchanger to heat up to a temperature that exceeds the dew point of the flue gas, to thereby reduce the occurrence of cold spot corrosion in the heat exchanger. Provision is also made, in a two speed blower system, for operating at a lower speed during continuous mode and heating cycle operation, and for operating at the higher speed during the cooling cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Dempsey, Gary W. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4815441
    Abstract: A portable curling iron having a barrel to be heated, includes first and second burners which heat the barrel; a fuel supply cartridge which supplies fuel to the first and second burners, the cartridge including a fuel delivery valve which controls the flow of fuel from the cartridge; a plunger which applies a force to the valve in response to user actuation, to start the flow of fuel from the cartridge; a regulator assembly including a diaphragm which applies a reverse force to the plunger when the gas pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, to maintain a substantially constant flow rate of fuel to the first and second burners; a valve stem through which the fuel travels from the cartridge to the second burner; a bimetallic element for applying a force to the valve stem to permit the fuel to pass to the second burner when the temperature is less than a predetermined start-up temperature and for removing such force when the predetermined start-up temperature is attained; and a spring which applies a revers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Schawbel Corporation
    Inventors: William Schawbel, Thaddeus Zaborowski
  • Patent number: 4815439
    Abstract: An electric cooking unit, a gas-fired cooking unit, and a burner assembly usable with the gas-fired unit for rapidly or slowly grilling large or small quantities of food in a controlled manner. The cooking unit includes side walls defining a heating enclosure, a plurality of food holding members supported by top surfaces of the side walls for positioning food within the heating enclosure, a grate assembly mounted within the heating enclosure for supporting a bed of refractory coals below the food holding members, and gas-fired or electric heating elements for heating the grate assembly and heating the bed of refractory coals to incandescent temperatures. When the cooking unit is gas-fired, the unit includes a plurality of burner assemblies which can be individually controlled, each assembly having a flame guard assembly releasably mounted on a tubular member having a plurality of apertures for distributing a cooking gas within the heating enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Philip I. Houck
  • Patent number: 4814952
    Abstract: An oven has a baking space wall at least partly defining a closed baking chamber to be acted upon by microwave energy with a given basic microwave frequency capable of being radiated into the baking space with a given wavelength. A lighting device for the oven includes a bulb holder, an incandescent bulb mounted on the bulb holder and protruding freely into the baking space from the baking space wall without electromagnetic shielding, and electrical connection lines supplying the incandescent bulb with current from outside the baking chamber. The incandescent bulb has a glass bulb, incandescent filament holders of equal length extending substantially, parallel and alongside one another, and an incandescent filament disposed between ends of the incandescent filament holders in the glass bulb. The filament has a longitudinal extension within which all spacings between given points along the incandescent filament are equivalent to a maximum of 10% of the given wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Hammerl
  • Patent number: 4814956
    Abstract: A lamp is provided having a light source and a suppression mechanism, for example an absorbing mirror reflector and/or an absorbing or reflecting filter, for partially suppressing color components of the light coming from the light source for the purpose of enhancing surface colors of an object to be illuminated, said surface colors being different from the suppressed color components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Heinz Bahren
    Inventor: Tetsuhiro Kano
  • Patent number: 4813448
    Abstract: An open- or closed-loop control system is proposed, having at least one measuring transducer, an evaluation circuit connected with this transducer and at least one magnetic valve, which is incorporated in a hydraulic or pneumatic actuation system. The evaluation circuit and the electromagnet of the magnetic valve to be triggered by it are accommodated in a common housing; the valve or valves are accommodated in a separate block, and the housing is secured thereto. The valves are switched via one or more push rods leading out of the housing and displaceable by one or more electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Leiber
  • Patent number: 4813396
    Abstract: Water heating methods and apparatus feed a combustible mixture of gas and air to an axial inlet of a cylindrical radiant surface burner and conduct water to be heated through a heat exchanger encompassing that cylindrical radiant surface burner as a cylindrical structure having first passages for combustion gases therethrough substantially radially of the cylindrical radiant surface burner and the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Sargeant, William F. Raleigh, Attilio G. Giordani
  • Patent number: 4813874
    Abstract: A method for preparing and fitting a partial or full veneer etched porcelain crown on a tooth preparation. The method includes the steps of preparing a veneer porcelain crown; etching the interior surface of the porcelain crown and the remaining tooth enamel of the tooth preparation; applying a silane-coupling agent to the etched surface of the porcelain crown; applying a layer of dentin bonding agent to the exposed dentin of the tooth preparation; applying a layer of unfilled resin to the silane-coupled etched porcelain surface and to the etched enamel and dentin bonding agent on the tooth preparation; applying a layer of bonding resin to overlay the unfilled resin on the tooth preparation; positioning the veneer crown on the tooth preparation; and curing the bonding resin. The laminate structure thus formed has a natural appearance and is highly fracture resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Terec USA
    Inventor: Mark E. Jensen
  • Patent number: 4813938
    Abstract: A catheter introduction syringe for the introduction of a catheter or catheter guide wire into a patient's body, the catheter introduction syringe comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical syringe barrel to support a needle thereon having a substantially cylindrical plunger slidably disposed therein, the substantially cylindrical plunger includes a centrally disposed channel formed longitudinally therethrough having a valve assembly disposed in operative relationship relative to the centrally disposed channel to prevent passage of air or liquid therethrough during flushing or aspirating of the catheter introduction syringe and permit the introduction of a catheter or catheter guide wire through the centrally disposed channel, hollow substantially cylindrical syringe barrel and needle for introduction into the patient's body without the flow of air or liquid through the centrally disposed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Inventor: J. Daniel Raulerson
  • Patent number: 4813522
    Abstract: A clutch drum includes a cylindrical drum body having a spline portion consisting of plural extruded angles and extruded channels formed by pressing, and plural pressed-out portions formed at the spline portion, one side wall of the pressed-out portions having a continuous shape without any rupture, the other side wall of the pressed-out portions being formed by half blanking of the clutch drum body so as to stop a snap ring thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Fujioka, Kaoru Shori
  • Patent number: 4813870
    Abstract: A dispenser for liquids including a cartridge containing a liquid, a nozzle, and a hollow flexible bladder between the cartridge and the nozzle. An assembly can be manually rotated to provide a high mechanical advantage and incrementally drive a piston through the cartridge to thereby fill the bladder with liquid from the cartridge and discharge any plug of solidified material (e.g., diluted phosphoric acid) that may be present in the nozzle; and manually operated button can be pressed to quickly and controllably collapse the bladder to thereafter dispel liquid within the bladder through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Gerald E. Drake
  • Patent number: 4812622
    Abstract: A defrosting apparatus including a housing defining a space for accommodating therein articles to be defrosted, a heater for heating the air within the housing, and an air circulation fan for circulating the heated air so that it flows through the space. The apparatus further includes a first temperature sensor disposed on the air outlet side of the circulation fan for sensing the temperature of the outlet air flowing out from the circulation fan to produce a first detection signal, a second temperature sensor disposed at the air inlet side of the circulation fan for detecting the temperature of the air flowing into the circulation fan to produce a second detection signal and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second detection signals, respectively, to thereby control the operation of the defrosting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Takeda, Yuji Wakatuki
  • Patent number: 4811783
    Abstract: The heat exchanger tube bundle fluid entry area is a region where particular problems can occur because pieces of metallic debris can collect and focus their mass at this low elevation. The metallic debris collected at the bottom of the annular downcomer passage can be swept into the tube bundle, wherein they will impact upon the tube bundle and can cause repture or large amounts of wear to the heat transfer tubes. To prevent this adverse condition, a circumferential row of cylindrical members are positioned peripherally about the entry portion of the tube bundle. These members will have an outside diameter, pitch, and geometric array corresponding to that of the heat tranfer tubes, so as to minimize pressure drop, due to flow across them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Frederick D. Linzer, Paul L. Hauck
  • Patent number: 4812411
    Abstract: The method in accordance with the invention provides antibiograms or bacteriological identification of colonies of micro-organisms. The method uses a cabinet (1) which supports a set of mechanical, thermal, optical, and electronic units, together with conditioning strips in which the various biochemical reactions take place. After being seeded with a micro-organism under investigation, a strip is placed on the cabinet and is then subjected to a sequence of mechanical, thermal, and optical operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Jean Guigan
  • Patent number: 4812123
    Abstract: An educational device useful for teaching numbers, addition, subtraction, reading, and logic comprising a flat playing surface having rows of equally dimensioned boxes, ascending numerical indicia associated with the boxes in each horizontal row, blocks of varying dimensions having numbers thereon proportional to their relative horizontal dimensions and being adapted to fit in each row in such a way that the number appearing to the right of the block or block will indicate how may boxes are covered by the block or blocks in that row. In a preferred embodiment there is also provided a set of card containing a numbered card corresponding to each numbered block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Roy D. House
  • Patent number: 4811174
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle headlight including a projection lens secured by a covering disk. No diaphragm is interposed between light source and the projection lens. The lens having the shape of a flat sector of a cylinder with a cut-off apex. An inner lens surface having a uniform curvature and an outer lens surface having a toroidal curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Karl Zizala Metallwarenfabrik
    Inventors: Josef Kanzler, Alois Noisser, Gerald Bachtrod, Ernst Gugerell
  • Patent number: 4810249
    Abstract: A syringe assembly having a cylinder adapted to receive a hypodermic needle at one end thereof and a piston reciprocably movably disposed in the cylinder. The exterior of the piston is at least partially threaded and it includes a longitudinal, exterior groove extending over the length of the thread. The cylinder includes a piston thread engaging section which is integrally constructed, e.g. molded with the cylinder, and hingeable relative to the cylinder so that the thread engaging section can be moved through a cutout in the cylinder into engagement with the piston thread. The cylinder has an integrally constructed collar at its open end and forms a detent that can be resiliently biased against the piston so that upon rotation of the piston about its axis the detent engages the longitudinal groove and thereby generates a signal each time the detent engages the groove, i.e. each time the piston is rotated through a predetermined arc and dispenses a predetermined, measured amount of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Terry M. Haber, Clark B. Foster
  • Patent number: 4809769
    Abstract: A method for rapid cleaning of an internal combustion engine cooling system includes:forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system,treating the coolant liquid in a zone or zones outside the cooling system, said treating including removing contaminant from the coolant liquid, andreturning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Wynn Oil Company
    Inventors: Marcel Vataru, Richard W. Smith, Rainer H. Labus