Patents Examined by Terry Lee Melius
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Patent number: 6175978Abstract: An inflatable, disposable covered pillow which can be conveniently carried and stowed by a user in a deflated state, and used as a comfortable, clean pillow in an inflated state. The inflatable pillow includes an inflatable airtight chamber sandwiched between first and second fabric sheets in one embodiment, and surrounded by a fabric sleeve in another. The airtight chamber and first and second fabric sheets, or the fabric sleeve, are joined by a seam to the airtight chamber. One of the fabric sheets may include an adhesive securing tab to facilitate wrapping the fabric sheets around the airtight chamber and keeping the fabric sheets in place. The inflatable pillow may also include a sanitary sheet, joined to the inflatable pillow along the seam. The sanitary sheet provides a cover for the pillow in a deflated state, and helps to keep the pillow clean by insulating the pillow from a seat, window, or other items upon which a user may place a pillow.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Inventors: Marsha Nizzi, Anne R. Freiermuth
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Patent number: 6175981Abstract: A child's bed mat provides a comfortable sleeping surface which includes vibration devices for soothing a child to sleep. A vertical portion of the mat is strapped in an upright attitude to the vertical rungs of a crib, for instance, and enables the placement of a control box out of reach of the child. The mat is constructed so as to be easily folded for portability.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Inventors: Delilah Navarro Lizama, Reuben Phillip Lizama
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Patent number: 6175976Abstract: A sleeping bag having a compact foot space configuration for user warmth in cold ambient temperatures and an expanded foot space configuration for user comfort in mild to warm ambient temperatures. The sleeping bag includes an elongate shell defining a volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein. The shell has an outer surface, a head end portion, a foot end portion and left and right lateral sides. An opening extends generally along at least one of the lateral sides generally in the foot end portion. A pocket made of limp material and associated with the shell is generally in the opening. In the expanded configuration, the pocket and shell define a first foot space volume of the sleeping bag extending through the opening in the shell to a location spaced from the outer surface of the shell.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: American Recreation Products, Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Cantwell
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Patent number: 6175975Abstract: A fitting arrangement for a folding bed, preferably a wall folding bed, includes a first fitting part on the corpus or body of the bed; a second fitting part on the folding bed, supported pivotally on the first fitting part; and a first holder on the corpus of the bed and a second holder on the folding bed to hold devices, especially spring devices, which exert force on the folding bed to push it into its up position. The first holder is provided on the first fitting part and the second holder is provided on the second fitting part.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: H{umlaut over (a)}fele GmbH & Co.Inventors: Wolfram-Dietrich Böttcher, Jochen Krauter, Ronald Walther
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Patent number: 6176027Abstract: A cascading water system for aesthetically enhancing the appearance of a room includes a water display member having an inlet and an outlet. The display member is mounted within an architectural structure such as a wall, ceiling, doorway or floor. The number and shape of the display members may be varied to create a desired aesthetic effect. The system further includes a fluid reservoir and a conduit that establishes communication between the display member and the reservoir. A pump continuously circulates the water between the reservoir and the display member via the conduit. The conduit includes water jets disposed at the display member inlet so that water is evenly dispersed therethrough. The shape, number and spacing of individual display members may be varied to create a desired effect such as a waterfall.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Inventor: Stanley L. Blount
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Patent number: 6173514Abstract: A solid and unitary plastic block which has a textured strip thereon. A self-adhesive transparent tape may be pressed over the textured strip, with air escaping entrapment behind the tape via depressions in the textured strip. Slots on the end of the textured strip provide a termination for the tape ends.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1995Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Contemporary, Inc.Inventor: James P. Peterson
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Patent number: 6173961Abstract: An improved seal assembly (142) is used in a power steering system (10) having an axially reciprocatable shaft (36). The seal assembly (142) has an inner side (164) which is exposed to hydraulic fluid. The seal assembly (142) includes a flexible lip (148) having a circular line (152) of minimum diameter. An annular coil spring (158) is disposed in engagement with a side of the flexible lip opposite from the line (152) of minimum diameter. The coil spring (158) has a circular central axis (170) which is axially offset from a plane containing the line (152) of minimum diameter of the flexible lip (148). The circular central axis (170) of the coil spring (158) is offset from the line (152) of minimum diameter of the flexible lip (148) in a direction toward the inner side (164) of the seal assembly (142) prior to installation of the seal assembly in the power steering system (10).Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Jon W. Martin
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Patent number: 6173464Abstract: A pocketed coil spring assembly for use in the manufacture of mattresses or cushions or the like comprising a plurality of strips of integrally connected closed fabric pockets each containing one helically coiled wire compression spring having its axis disposed transversely of the strip, and wherein each of the strips contains a single band of inter-connected springs formed from a single length of wire into a plurality of interconnected helical coil springs. The springs of the bands may contain inserts such as foam cylinders or pocketed coil springs to impart differing degrees of firmness to different strips. Adjacent coil springs may be separated by multiple transverse lines of attachment in order to posturize the product.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Richard L. McCune, Joe C. Workman
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Patent number: 6173463Abstract: An accessory for use with a bed or cot having a frame is described. The accessory has a first upright member joined to a first corner of the frame, a second upright member joined to a second corner of the frame, and a variable length cross member connected to the first and second upright members to form a stable, substantially U-shaped structure therewith. Each of the upright members is also connected to a respective leg member of the bed or cot to provide improved stability for the accessory. Further, each upright member has a plurality of hooks for allowing a user to hang clothes, equipment, and other personal items. The cross member is provided with apertures at its ends for receiving the tip portions of the upright members and for allowing the tip portions to extend above the cross member.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Cabela's Inc.Inventors: Michael Callahan, Roger Verhulst, Jeffrey S. Phelps, Ronald D. Nelson
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Patent number: 6173517Abstract: A luminous display element having a light line positioned within a light-housing. The light line includes a series of SMD-LED-components arranged on a carrier material. On either end of the carrier material are connection elements which allow the carrier material to connect to other lights. The light-housing has a non-rectangular cross-section, and its length is multiple times its height. Depending upon the desired form of illumination, the light line can be arranged either within the light-housing, or outside the light-housing and extend along its longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: osa Elektronik GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Eibner, Wolf Albrecht, Hartmut Illner
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Patent number: 6173968Abstract: A sealing ring assembly for sealing a joint between two members (20, 22). An annular sealing ring 28 abuts an annular backup ring (38, 44) of substantially the same diameter. The annular backup ring is split to permit radial expansion and has a greater thickness on its outer periphery than on its inner periphery. When the joint being sealed (24) is under high pressure, the sealing ring urges the backup ring to expand radially to cover any gap (32) between the members being sealed, maintaining the seal, even under high temperature conditions, and preventing the sealing ring from extruding into the gap.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Nelson, Robert E. Borate
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Patent number: 6170136Abstract: A presentation system and method of preparation thereof for the display of cremated remains. Further, the system teaches a particular methodology for the artistic application of cremated remains upon a substrate for presentation. The present system contemplates a unique presentation of the cremated remains as a wall hanging in the form of a painting or the like, which includes thereupon the application of the cremated remains in an artistic and aesthetic fashion into the artwork itself. The preferred embodiment of the present system includes the steps of rendering an abstract or other artwork upon a generally flat substrate such as canvas, art board, Bristol board, or the like, then selectively applying an adhesive or like medium such as glue or the like upon the substrate and, prior to the adhesive medium's curing, applying at least a portion of the cremated remains upon the adhesive so that it adheres to the substrate, and is visible as a part of the artwork.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Bettye Wilson-Brokl
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Patent number: 6170103Abstract: Traditional rectangular sleeping pillows with filling are improved. There are several pillow configurations in this invention. Each configuration has two heights available for its user to choose. The user can also make choice of the neck support or not. The arrangement of the two heights also allows the user to easily get proper supports for two sleeping postures, i.e. shoulder vertical and shoulder horizontal. Portion of the pillow contour gives comfortable and secure feeling like baby sleeps on mother's breast. All the configurations can use existing pillowcase in the market.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventors: Rong-Shuang Wang, Rong-Ine Ma
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Patent number: 6170099Abstract: A base of a foldable baby bed base comprises a middle member, two pivotal rods, two turning members and four connecting rods; middle parts of the pivotal rods are pivoted to the middle member; inner ends of the pivotal rods are pivoted to each other, and are biased downwardly by springs; a belt is connected to the inner ends of the pivotal rods such that pivotal rods can be pivoted on the middle member by pulling the belt; the turning members are connected to two outer ends of the middle member with rod parts thereof turnably received in outer end holes of the middle member; the rod parts each has stopping elements opposing each other; the upper ones of the stopping elements are located adjacent to end walls of the middle member for the rod parts to be stopped from turning inwardly; the lower ones of the stopping elements are located in curved recesses at outer ends of the pivotal rods to prevent the rod parts from turning outwardly unless the pivotal rods are pivoted for the curved recesses thereof to be sepType: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Pao-Hsien ChengInventor: Ying-Hsiung Cheng
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Patent number: 6170102Abstract: An operating equipment comprises an operating table (9) and a ceiling support carrying the operating table. This equipment achieves the advantage that the essential parts for the operation can be moved without a great expenditure of force to various places of the operating room relative to operating or sterilizing devices thereat.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Kreuzer GmbH & Co. OHGInventor: Friedhelm Kreuzer
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Patent number: 6170185Abstract: A display device including a plaque, a hanger secured to a rear face of the plaque for hanging the plaque on a vertical surface such that the rear face of the plaque is substantially parallel with the vertical surface, a support assembly secured to a front face of the plaque, and memorabilia held by the support assembly, wherein the support is adapted to hold the memorabilia in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Nicholas Donofrio, Jr.
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Patent number: 6167644Abstract: A display standard for displaying advertising away from a mounting surface comprises a planar piece of flexible material, which has a base member with top and bottom retaining flaps mateable with opposing channels of the mounting surface for securing the standard to the mounting surface. The flexible material further includes a display region for supporting advertising away from the mounting surface and opposing folding tabs to move the display region from a first position in which the display standard is substantially flat to a second position in which the display region is moved outwardly away from the mounting surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1997Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Inventor: Andrew C. Fox
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Patent number: 6167726Abstract: A ring is provided with one or more rotatable beads projecting less than halfway out of the outer surface of the ring. There is a hole extending through each ring and an axle extending through the hole and anchored to the ring body. Where there is a plurality of beads, the axes of rotation of the beads lie parallel to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Inventor: Frederick Joseph Kremer
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Patent number: 6167645Abstract: A license plate bracket includes a pair of resilient hooks for hooking the bracket to the grille of a vehicle. The hooks, in part, replace conventional hardware such as screws and bolts which are incompatible with the thin plastic ribs found on modern vehicle front grilles. The entire bracket, including the hooks, can be formed as a one-piece plastic molding.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: David J. Gasko, Paul A. Martin, Michael N. Fisher
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Patent number: 6167580Abstract: A crib is provided which includes a dropside mounted to endboards of the crib. The dropside is secured to opposing pairs of tracks. Each lower track includes a pair of generally parallel grooves, one of which extends substantially below the other. The dropside is coupled to the lower tracks by a pair of spring bracket assemblies, each of which includes a laterally extending spring arm. The spring arm includes a continuously curved upper surface. In order to prevent the inadvertent displacement of the dropside, the relatively short groove includes a portion of reduced width. Each spring bracket assembly includes a longitudinally extending pin which may be moved easily through each groove except the groove portion of reduced width. Assembly of the crib is facilitated by coupling one of the spring bracket assemblies to the dropside as the final step of mounting the dropside to the crib.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Simmons Juvenile Products Company, Inc.Inventors: Harvey J. Draheim, Scott A. Krueger, Gaetan Philippon