Patents Examined by Todd E. Monahan
  • Patent number: 7341064
    Abstract: A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of pins extend from one of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. In another aspect of the invention, one or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In yet another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Masood Habibi
  • Patent number: 5174243
    Abstract: A therapeutic chew toy particularly adapted for dogs includes a shaft portion formed of a length of a soft rope material and a pair of plastic end members secured to the ends of the shaft portion such that upon being chewed by an animal, the shaft portion provides teeth cleaning and gum massage and the plastic end members provide teeth and jaw development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Booda Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 5167200
    Abstract: A pulsator for milking machines comprises a bolt which travels back and forth in a housing and activates a slide. The slide alternately connects the pulsator's outlets to a source of vacuum and to the atmosphere. A diaphragm accommodated in a chamber at each end of the slide moves the bolt back and forth. An alternator is triggered by the slide as it arrives at one end or the other of its stroke. The alternator connects the chambers back and forth and alternately to the source of vacuum and to the atmosphere. The distance between the slide and at least one of the diaphragms is varied to suppress stagger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Icking, Otto Krone
  • Patent number: 5123377
    Abstract: A collapsible, folding vehicle seat and safety restraint apparatus for animals includes a padded seat pivotally extended from a generally vertically disposed seat back which is removably affixed to an otherwise conventional vehicle seat back by a pair of suspension hooks. An adjustable animal restraint harness, such as a chain, is attached to the upper end of the apparatus seat back. An opaque or translucent sun shade is securable, as by clips, to the front of the apparatus seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Myrtis C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5076214
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bird feed having a center post upon the lower end of which is disposed a first, circular, horizontal plate. A toroidally shaped pastry item such as a doughnut or a bagel, or a suet cake, or like food item is placed on the first plate with the post inserted in the hole of the doughnut. Then, a second, circular, horizontal plate, having a diameter larger than the first plate is placed over the doughnut to hold the doughnut in place and to provide weather protection. The feeder can be hung from a tree branch or other convenient support. The doughnut is protected from rain and snow and the entire doughnut cannot be pulled from the feeder by a bird.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventor: Constance J. Petit
  • Patent number: 5074251
    Abstract: An illuminable pet collar including a housing for a battery power source and an elongated, flexible, pliable, transparent plastic display tube having a plurality of spaced apart miniature lights operably connected therewithin and along substantially the entire length of the display tube. The housing includes a stem or extension tube extending from each end thereof sized to be snugly inserted into each end of the display tube. Electrical connection between the battery and the outer surface of one stem communicates electrical power to the lights which are parallel-wired within the display tube to allow for the shortening of the display tube to any desired length by severing through the tube (and the wiring between the lights, if required). A switch on the housing activates the lights within the display tube as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Nancy A. Pennock
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Pennock