Patents Examined by Valerie A. Szczepanik
  • Patent number: 4931019
    Abstract: An electrostatic image display apparatus which uses piezoelectric film to enable a user to form images on a screen. The apparatus is contained within a housing. Supported within the housing is a common electrode. A layer of piezoelectric film is separated a distance from the common electrode by a suspension medium. The suspension medium contains electrially charged pigmented particles, the color of which contrasts with the color of the suspension medium. The housing has an opening for applying localized pressure to one surface of the piezoelectric film. In addition, the apparatus has a source for energizing the common electrode to a preselected electric potential. By applying a force or infrared energy to an area of the piezoelectric film a charge accumules on the inner surface of the film, directly under the point of application of the force. This charge attracts the electrically charged pigmented particles in the suspension medium which are visible through the film and create an image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Pennwalt Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung T. Park
  • Patent number: 4927748
    Abstract: A display or writing slate capable of producing luminescent images upon the application of pressure thereon which can be readily erased and repeatedly used that includes a pair of over-lying sheets, one of which is translucent or transparent, containing a luminescent dye or pigment and the other of which is opaque, and which sheets have a smooth surface at their interface. At least one of the sheets is formed of a pliable plastic with its interface surface tending to adhere to the interfacing surface of the other sheet when a pressure is applied thereto to produce the luminescent images. The improvement resides in the incorporation of a non-migrating dye or pigment in the translucent or transparent sheet so as to resist the migration of the luminescent dye or pigment from the translucent or transparent sheet to the interface surface of the other sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventor: Benjamin Kinberg
  • Patent number: 4920033
    Abstract: A demonstrative teaching apparatus for teaching the relationship between variable pictorial and/or graphic displays and their respective numerical values, in which the entire apparatus is positioned within an apparatus housing. The apparatus housing incorporates viewing areas on its front and rear sides so as to provide optical display of the relevant teaching portions of the apparatus. The front viewing area reveals the position of the segmented display while the rear viewing area reveals numerical indicia corresponding to the display of segments appearing through the first viewing area. The segmented display and, in turn, its respective numerical indicia, can be increased or decreased by forward or reverse rotation of a circular disk. The circular disk is precluded from excessive rotation in either direction through stopping mechanisms which limit the inadvertent winding or unwinding of the segmented display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: John E. Cress
  • Patent number: 4919618
    Abstract: A game board comprising a support of fiber web and of thin plates of polystyrene glued thereon at a distance from each other. A field marking corresponding to the field of the game to be analyzed is printed on the plates. Player figures of a laminate of an adhesive foil and a non-rigid PVC foil can be attached to the board. The figures stick by adhesion. In this form the board can be easily folded to a manageable size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Ole Andersen
  • Patent number: 4919424
    Abstract: An improved golf putter having a head formed by a vertical wall and a horizontal base, an inclined bar extending rearwardly at an angle from the top end of the vertical wall, a shaft mounting bar extending horizontally from the upper end of the inclined bar toward one end of the vertical wall, and a shaft mounted on the other end of the shaft mounting bar. The putter is swung with the inclined bar aligned with the direction of the hole. The shaft and the shaft mounting bar do not hinder the view of the inclined bar. A mirror is attachable to an upper surface of the inclined bar. Given the clear view of the inclined bar with the mirror thereon, a golfer easily sights the hole while looking down, realigns the putter if necessary, and is able to swing the putter in the proper direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventors: Keisuke Fukumochi, Etsuko Fukumochi, Nobumoto Fukumochi, Naotoshi Fukumochi, Kazumasa Fukumochi
  • Patent number: 4915388
    Abstract: Golf training apparatus, comprising a substantially rectangular casing adapted for placement onto the ground, and having an upper face provided with an opening through which passes a cable fixed to a golf ball adapted to be placed onto the upper surface of the casing for hitting by a player; a cable return mechanism for the cable disposed inside the casing, including at least one electric motor driving the cable, the cable return mechanism permitting the free unrolling of the cable when the ball is hit by the player; an actuator for coupling a power supply to the electric motor for control thereof the upper face including a plate associated with the actuator mechanism actuatable by a player; a magazine housed within the casing for housing the cable in a random fashion; and the plate controlling the actuator for pulling the cable back into the magazine for housing therein in a random manner with the cable being accumulated by freely coiling up onto itself, in a random manner, when the player presses the upper
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Frederic Serin
  • Patent number: 4913147
    Abstract: A heart pacemaker system has an electrode line with a proximal end which is introduced into a connector of the pacemaker housing, and a distal end having an electrode head attachable to the heart of a user. One or more of the distal or proximal ends of the electrode line, the connector, or a region of the electrode line are provided with a component consisting of shape-memory metal. These components have a first shape at temperatures different from body temperature, and assume a second shape when at body temperature. The shape-memory metal component, if disposed at the proximal end of the electrode line or at the connector, is arrnaged to provide a firm mechanical and electrical connection of the electrode line with the pacemaker housing upon the change of shape of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulf Fahlstrom, Jakub Hirschberg
  • Patent number: 4909513
    Abstract: An automatic playing machine for playing dice games is provided that includes a plurality of dice, each of which is provided with an arrangement of one or more spots on at least one die surface. Each die is provided with a magnet mounted therein for directing the display of dice on a game board in accordance with the manner determined at random by a digital computing system. A magnetic field generating system positioned about the periphery of the game board ensures that dice cast onto the game board rest thereon in accordance with the manner selected by the computing system. A dice recovery and sorting system is provided to remove the dice from the game board and sort the dice for storage in accordance with the configuration of spot(s) thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Fuji Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shozo Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4907973
    Abstract: A medical investigative system in which a person interacts with the system to interject information that is utilized by the system to establish non-restricted environmental modeling of the realities of surrogate conditions to be encountered with invasive or semi-invasive procedures. This is accomplished by video display of simulated internal conditions that appear life-like, as well as by display of monitor data including, for example, blood pressure, respiration, heart beat rate and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventor: David C. Hon
  • Patent number: 4907972
    Abstract: A pair of baby walking straps are disclosed for assisting an infant's first steps. Each baby walking strap has a loop at a first end thereof for placement about the wrist of an adult or for being manually gripped by the adult and second ends which include crossbar elements for the infant to grip in each hand. With such a structure, the baby can be supported and guided with the straps without the adult having to bend forwardly and stress his lower back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventor: Frank Marolda
  • Patent number: 4902015
    Abstract: A golf putter head having rounded front and rear faces with a flattened top and bottom, being generally cylindrical with a bracket held thereto by bracket extensions affixed into the flattened top of the putter head with a club shaft receipt aperture disposed in a central portion of the top of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Panther Golf Corporation
    Inventor: David G. Nebbia
  • Patent number: 4902232
    Abstract: A teaching model for dental students includes an upper and a lower jaw each with removable artificial teeth which resemble natural teeth in their hardness and appearance. Each tooth has a crown portion, which extends above the gum line, and a root portion. The root portion is oval-shaped, in cross-section, and tapered along its axis to closely fit in an oval and tapered socket in the jaw. The jaw has open socket holes so that the root portions protrude through orifices in the bottom face of the jaw. Each tooth root portion has embedded therein a rotatable quarter-turn locking device whose locking head passes through the socket orifice and, when turned 90.degree., cams on the bottom face of the jaw to draw the tooth into its socket and thereby lock the tooth in position. A tooth is readily replaced by turning the locking head backwards 90.degree. to release the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Inventor: Irving Neustadter
  • Patent number: 4900038
    Abstract: An arrowed projectile comprising an elongated linearly configured body having a hollow interior portion extending along the length thereof and preferably having an arrowed, closed first end and a second oppositely disposed second end which may have fletchings as in typical arrow construction. Kinetic energy transferring members are captivated within the hollow interior portion of the body and movable between a first portion adjacent the rear end upon initial flight of projectile from a projecting device and transferable towards one leading end to a second position of impact so as to cause successive bursts or thrusts occurring as the energy transferring slide member impacts upon the leading end of the body and one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventors: Paul Czetto, David Woods
  • Patent number: 4893821
    Abstract: A game apparatus receives tokens pitched toward it and provides a score corresponding to the number and location of tokens it receives. The apparatus includes a box-like frame (20) that carries a horizontally disposed target board (22). The target board (22) includes a plurality of openings (38) formed therein. The openings (38) are arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns and configured to receive the tokens (42) pitched into them. Beneath the target board (22) are a plurality of chutes (40), one chute associated with each opening (38). Within each chute (40) there is a token guide mechanism (54) for directing any coin-like tokens (42) received in that chute through a detection passage (60). A sensor (88) is mounted to each token guide mechanism (54) for detecting the presence of a token (42) within the detection passage (60), the presence of the token being indicated by a detection signal applied to the sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Non Plus Ultra, Inc.
    Inventors: Mariano deOrbegoso, Jane Moe, Chris Masterson
  • Patent number: 4894013
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for producing ultrasound readings of simulated blood flow through a model left ventricle or larger portion of the human heart, held inside a fluid filled chamber with membrane-covered windows, and through mitral and aortic valves cooperating therewith to provide a simulated human circulation flow free of reverberation artifacts and the like. Adjustable flow of a selected hydraulic fluid into and out of the chamber that also contains a plurality of ultrasound absorbing elements disposed oppositely to the ultrasound viewing windows is utilized to produce ultrasound signals picked up by an ultrasound transducer for processing in any known manner. A range of flow rate and systolic characteristics of a heart are readily simulated, to provide outputs substantially free of reverberations and ultrasound reflections from the inside walls of the chamber as well as the ultrasound absorbing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Stephen W. Smith, Jean E. Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 4883749
    Abstract: A toilet training device for rewarding the toilet user when excrement enters or is placed in an excrement container by the toilet user. The toilet training device includes an excrement container having an entrance area and a plurality of infrared light-emitting diodes are sequentially triggered and sequentially emit infrared light substantially intersecting the entrance area. The infrared light is detected at the other end of the entrance area by a infrared light detector that generates an electrical signal in response to detected infrared light. A width pulse counter is connected to the detector and generates a first signal in response to a narrow electrical signal and a second signal in response to a wide electrical signal. The first and second signals are responsive to liquid or solid excrement deposition and generate, through control logic, one of a sight or sound signals or both for rewarding the user of the toilet training device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Pee Patch, Inc.
    Inventors: Freddie R. Roberts, Robert W. Lancette
  • Patent number: 4883277
    Abstract: An educational game includes a substrate having a plurality of separate sets of indicia thereon and structure for exhibiting the indicia of one of the sets of the substrate. A random symbol is generated from a plurality of possible symbols and an initial exhibition of a number fewer than all of the indicia in the set is carried out such that the number of indicia exhibited corresponds in value to the generated symbol. During the initial exhibition, the remaining indicia of the set which are not revealed are concealed by the structure. A player playing the game is provided with a way to indicate his or her prediction of a designated indicia to be subsequently revealed in the set so that upon subsequent exhibition of the indicia of the set, a comparison with the player's choice may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas J. Laisure
  • Patent number: 4880385
    Abstract: A fully automatic speed-reading trainer for which reading speed can be adjusted in a non-step fashion is provided which includes an electric motor designed to drive a relatively large gear, which is one main component of a driving assembly forming a portion of the trainer. Coaxial with the larger gear, on opposite sides thereof, are an eccentric cam and a first pulley. The eccentric cam and pulley are each provided with an axle tube, and each has a coil spring attached thereto, with each coil spring having a free end inserted into respective holes on the larger gear. When the larger gear is rotatably driven in a predetermined direction, one of the springs is tightened about one of the axle tubes, which in turn, dependent upon the rotational direction of the larger gear, drives either the eccentric cam or the first pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventor: Yi-Chao Huang
  • Patent number: 4877406
    Abstract: A device for use as a molecular model or manipulable puzzle includes at least two concentric spheres rotatable with respect to one another and a plurality of at least six inserts extending radially through the concentric spheres. Each of the spheres has at least two great circle channels crossing one another, preferably perpendicularly, each great circule channel receiving at least one and preferably four of eight inserts. The outer spheres are formed by separate, approximately quarter sphere, curved segments which are held together by the inserts. The concentric spheres can be made to rotate with respect to one another by movement of the inserts. In the preferred embodiments, eight inserts are arrangable in cubic orientations forming two sets of four, tetrahedrally oriented inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Inventor: Howard J. Wilk
  • Patent number: 4872841
    Abstract: A demonstration device for illustrating spinal injury utilizing a demonstration model of a portion of a human spine in which visual electronics have been applied through the use of light emitting diodes to show the interruption of nerve signal flow upon the dislocation of the vertebrae bones with relation to one another. The device includes an electric circuit, battery, and a switch which operate upon rotation of the model to change the rate of flash of light emitting diodes thus indicating a change in nerve frequency due to injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Hamilton, Timothy C. Butler