Patents Examined by Steven Pollard
  • Patent number: 6450356
    Abstract: A method for encapsulating waste material and a waste encapsulation system are disclosed. The system includes a transportable, rigid container with a rigid liner that is then sealed to, encapsulate the waste material within the sealed liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Chemical Waste Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren D. Alexander, Lloyd L. Piper, II, Thaddeus S. Dzierzbicki, Cem M. Gokcen
  • Patent number: 6450361
    Abstract: A low pressure cooker is disclosed having a pan and a pressurizable lid. Latch handles that pivot about a generally vertical axis are provided for latching the pressurizable lid in position relative to the pan. The cooker may also include a non-pressurizable lid that cannot be latched in position using the latch handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventors: Lewis A. Mendelson, Blaise M. Wooderson
  • Patent number: 6450362
    Abstract: A compost bin fitted with closure devices to allow it to be readily opened to expose the compost pile for turning, amendment and movement to a new site. Commonly available closure devices are modified and put to a new use wherein they affect the easy opening and closure of the sidewall of compost bins. This new easily opening compost bin eliminates the need to remove compost from a bin for turning. Instead the bin is removed from around the compost. Once exposed the compost pile is readily and more easily accessible to turning and amending from all sides. No heavy lifting is required in order to move, rotate or empty a compost-filled bin. Both permanent attachment of the closure devices and removable attachment are possible. Removable attachment allows the easy construction of a compost bin from hardware mesh and other mesh materials. Design elements of the solid-walled version optimize aeration of the compost without turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Joan E. Laurion
  • Patent number: 6446827
    Abstract: A no spill paint container and dispenser apparatus is provided for use with a paint brush. The apparatus includes a receptacle having an interior for containing paint, a side or side portions, a bottom portion and an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge. The edge includes a smooth and uninterrupted outwardly extending lip. The first cover fits the receptacle at the peripheral edge, the first cover having a transverse top panel. A peripheral skirt depends from the periphery of the transverse top panel. A funnel shaped member is mounted to the transverse top panel, the funnel member having open ended portions that enable a paintbrush to be inserted through the first cover to access paint contained within the receptacle interior. The first cover includes a pair of ceiling beads that are positioned respectively on the transverse top panel and skirt panel. The beads defining a recess there between that is sized and shaped to receive the receptacle lip. A second cover fits over and seals the first cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: R. W. Akins
  • Patent number: 6446825
    Abstract: An articulated container, collapsible and expandable, to be used for the transport of fruits or similar products, formed by two front walls, two lateral walls, two upper tops and a floor or base floor, characterized in that said front walls present a grooved radius which commences in the penultimate horizontal rib from top to bottom. Thereafter a plurality of parts of truncated triangular sections are extended, similar to those that are present at the bottom or base floor. These being joined intermittently through their exterior facings by rectangular membranes extended transversally with respect to the floor or base floor; likewise, they are provided with hooking and piling parts as well as small latches, which commence at the upper and lower border of said front walls; the lateral walls of the interior surface are raised or expanded perpendicularly to the wall, forming the corners, prismatic bodies in the form of an “L”; the tops are joined with the lateral walls through intermittent membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Wenco S.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Goni Godoy
  • Patent number: 6443322
    Abstract: An equipment enclosure includes a set of features enabling alignment of an electronic component with an L-shaped wall bracket. The bottom of the component rests on a base of the bracket. A rear wall of the bracket includes fastener elements, such as threaded standoffs, and alignment posts that extend forward beyond the standoffs. The rear of the component likewise includes fastener elements, such as captive screws, and alignment openings. During installation, the component is brought into a position in which the alignment openings engage the alignment posts, and then the component is pushed rearward until it abuts the rear wall of the bracket. The fasteners become mutually aligned for subsequent fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Willie Braun, Kan Liu, Albert Pedoeem, Noha El-Ghobashy
  • Patent number: 6439419
    Abstract: A combined drinking cup and horn comprises a generally L-shaped cup portion having a small diameter first end and a larger diameter second end. The second end of the cup portion is large enough to permit a user to drink from the cup portion through the second end thereof when a lid on the second end of the cup portion has been removed to expose a beverage contained in the cup portion. A mouthpiece is attached by a reduced diameter neck to the first end of the cup portion. An opening in the mouthpiece is normally closed by a removable stopper. When the cup portion is empty of the beverage, the user can then remove the stopper. The user can then blow through the mouthpiece to create a tonal sound similar to that provided by a horn. The combined drinking cup and horn could be sold at sporting events or the like for use at the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: James S. Darabi
  • Patent number: 6435366
    Abstract: A washing tub is formed with a reinforcing body made from a non-metallic material, such as plastic or fiberglass, and a thin interior liner portion constituted by a metallic material, preferably stainless steel. The metallic material is preferably sprayed onto a tub shaping member and then the reinforcing body is attached to the metallic material. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing body is formed from plastic, such as polypropylene, which is injected about a mold core following the spray coating of the metallic material on the core. In another embodiment, the reinforcing material is constituted by fiberglass which is layered about a shaping member having the metallic liner portion deposited thereon. In any case, an aesthetically appealing and extremely cost effective, high quality washing tub is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Johnson, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 6431392
    Abstract: An adjustable paint tray carrier is provided for carrying and transporting a paint tray of the type having substantially parallel, vertically disposed, opposing spaced-apart side walls that define an upper perimeter lip. The paint tray carrier comprises a first support arm that includes an upper supported end, a spaced-apart lower fastening end and a body disposed therebetween. Similarly an opposing second support arm is provided that includes an upper supported end, a spaced-apart lower fastening end and a body disposed therebetween. Additionally, the first support arm is pivotally connected to the second support arm to allow relative pivotal movement so that the distance between the lower fastening ends of the opposing support arms is variable. To facilitate the connection of each support arm to a side wall of a paint tray, a clamp is disposed on the lower fastening end of each support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Donald G. Eisenbeisz
  • Patent number: 6431386
    Abstract: A corner bucket for storing items within a bathing unit. The caddy includes a substantially L-shaped bucket to fit in a corner and a bracket for hanging the bucket. The bracket includes bracket portions for each of the walls which may be secured using fasteners or suction cups. The bracket includes hooks which are received by corresponding openings in the bucket such that the bucket detachably hangs from the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Paul H. Winter, Paul Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: 6431388
    Abstract: A liquid stabilizing baffle is described in which first and second loops are formed, each by a strip of flexible spring-like material. When assembled, the first and second loops are joined together and intersect one another at two intersection points along an axis. A succession of at least two baffle units may be joined together by at least one loop of one unit passing through at least one loop of a successive baffle unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventors: W. James Spickelmire, John A. Bambacigno
  • Patent number: 6431390
    Abstract: A lid for a beverage container, the lid comprising; a top wall having a generally circular periphery; a groove extending downward from said top wall having a front side adjacent to the circular periphery, a back side more distant from the circular periphery than the front side and a drinking opening in the front side; a barrier extending downward from the top wall between and generally parallel to the circular periphery and the groove; and an annular mounting portion along the circular periphery for sealingly engaging the lid of the beverage container; the lid enabling mobility of the beverage container without spillage of a beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: David B. Waller
  • Patent number: 6427863
    Abstract: A new and improved product for heating up baby bottles in a very convenient and quick manner is disclosed. The product comprises a thermos base that includes an insulated cup which can be threadably attached to the thermos base. A user would place hot water within the thermos before going to somewhere, and then would be able to remove the insulated cup and pour water from the thermos into the insulated cup when they would need to warm a baby bottle. The baby bottle would then be placed into the hot water in the insulated cup and the thermos would be closed to keep any remaining water hot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Karen Nichols
  • Patent number: 6422413
    Abstract: A liquid container for the above-ground storage of flammable fuels is shown having an inner tank with a bottom surface, side surfaces, and a top surface placed within an outer shell having a bottom surface, side surfaces, and an open top. The bottom surfaces of the inner tank and outer shell are spaced apart from each other by first bottom spacers which connect the two bottom surfaces. The side walls of the inner tank and outer shell are also spaced apart from each other by second side spacers which connect the tank and shell. The side spacers for connecting the tank and shell prevent the inner tank from floating within the outer shell when an insulating material, such as concrete, is added therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: William Y. Hall, William A. Hall
  • Patent number: 6422414
    Abstract: A pressure wide-mouth container made of synthetic resin and having a cylindrical body portion, a flange portion projecting from the periphery of a wide mouth formed at one end of the body portion; and a bottom portion closing the other end of the body portion. The flange portion and a peripheral portion of the wide mouth are formed by injection molding and not drawn after the injection molding is carried out. The body portion except the peripheral portion of the wide mouth and the bottom portion are formed by the injection molding and drawn by a blow molding to be performed after the injection molding is carried out and the bottom portion is drawn at a lower drawing ratio than the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, LTD
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nakamura, Koichi Fujisawa, Masamichi Tawara
  • Patent number: 6419107
    Abstract: A cookware 1 comprising a container 4 and a lid 2 fittable therewith, wherein when the lid 2 is fitted with the container 4, the container 4 and the lid 2 collectively define at least two differently sized openings 12, 14 allowing contents in the container 4 to be poured out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Meyer Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Stanley Kin-Sui Cheng
  • Patent number: 6419110
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a slightly domed-shaped center panel extending to a curved panel wall forming the inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has a generally cylindrical outer wall and a generally flat annular bottom wall, and the outer countersink wall extends to a frusto-conical chuckwall which extends to an inner wall of the double-seamed crown at an angle between 16° and 30° with the can end center axis. The overall height of the can end from the crown to the chuckwall is less than 0.230 inch, and the top portion of the center panel defines a plane extending substantially through the junction of the frusto-conical chuckwall with the inner double-seamed wall of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 6419108
    Abstract: An insulated beverage container includes an outer container having a generally cylindrical inner wall (24), an outer wall (22) spaced from the inner wall and together therewith defining an insulating space (26). A vacuum is pulled in the insulating space (26) and an access opening (34) is provided at the top of the outer container. A plastic ring (30) is mounted on the outer container about the access opening (34) and has a shoulder section (34) overlying the top of the outer container and a downwardly extending sleeve section (32) integral with the shoulder section and embracing the outer wall (22). An inner container (12) formed of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic and ceramics is nested within the outer container (10) through the access opening and has an open top (16) extending out of the access opening and an outer surface contacting the ring (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Thermos LLC.
    Inventors: Shouji Toida, Kazunori Iwasaki, Yasuhiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 6419109
    Abstract: A one piece thermoplastic tighthead drum having a drum body, a bottom, a top and at least one handling ring, at least one of said top and/or bottom including a raised central section surrounded by an annular groove defined by a groove floor, a first sidewall connecting the groove floor and the raised central section and a second sidewall comprising at least a portion of the handling ring. The drum body, the top and/or bottom having the handling ring associated with it and the handling ring converge in an area of merger, the interior surface of which comprises a smooth undulating surface having at least four radii. The configuration provides a double hinge for minimizing the effects of drop impact in the area of merger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Russell-Stanley Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Julien, John H. Malik
  • Patent number: 6419102
    Abstract: A wall outlet box for a dryer exhaust conduit. The box includes a plurality of substantially planar integral walls defining an enclosure open at the front thereof. The enclosure includes a back surface, a pair of opposing side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The opposing side surfaces, back surface and top surface include forward facing edges collectively defining a front periphery. The front periphery preferably has a perimeter greater than the perimeter of the back surface. The bottom surface preferably extends downwardly from the back surface to the front periphery. The wall outlet box further includes at least one port in the enclosure adapted to engage with a dryer exhaust conduit. A mounting lip, which can include mounting structures, extends outwardly from the forward facing edges. The mounting lip can be configured in an L-shape to provide a shoulder which abuts the edges of a wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Richard John Harpenau