Patents Examined by Valerie Szczepanik
  • Patent number: 5049078
    Abstract: A picture book set with play effect, having a plurality of toy elements with modularly dimensioned coupling means. The toy elements may be placed on a picture plane provided with correspondingly dimensioned positioning recesses or elevations, so that a child may play with the toy elements to arrange a three-dimensional representation of the situation described in the story text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Interlego A.G.
    Inventor: Erik D. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 5022653
    Abstract: An electronic device is used to play a card game in which a player and a dealer are each dealt five cards. If the dealer has a poker hand having a value less than an Ace-King combination or better, the player automatically wins. If the dealer has a poker hand having a value of an Ace-king combination or better, than the higher of the player's or the dealer's hand wins. If the player winds, he receives a bonus payment depending on the poker rank of his hand. By making an additional wager, a player can also participate in a progressive jackpot component of the card game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Caribbean Stud Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Suttle, Daniel A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5018738
    Abstract: A die is configured in a hollow spherical configuration which is composed of two interlocked but separable hemisphere sections, and set within the hollow sphere is a hollow orientation piece having apertures within its wall and a selection member such as a ball freely movably therein. upon rolling the sphere, the selection member will randomly fall into one of the selected apertures in the internal orientation member which will thereupon cause a given portion of the surface of the sphere located 180 degrees from the selected aperture to face upwardly. If various numbers are inscribed upon the surface of the sphere, the sphere can be used as a die, with the drawn number being located at the position on the surface of the sphere opposite to the aperture of the internal orientation member into which the selection member fell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: Gyula Padi
  • Patent number: 4982799
    Abstract: A two-axle four-wheel tractor is equipped at its front and rear ends with working implements, individually, which are of the same type, opposite in working direction and shiftable between a working position and a nonworking position. The tractor has a steering system for steering the front and rear four wheels in the same direction through the same angle, a running transmission system for driving only the wheels positioned toward one of the working implements which is lifted to the nonworking position or, in a special case, a system for restraining the wheels positioned rearward with respect to the direction of advance of the tractor in a straight running position without permitting steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Kubota Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Fujimoto, Nobuhide Yanagawa, Eriya Harada
  • Patent number: 4978125
    Abstract: A portable, hand agitated, transparent, random selector device has a spherical mixing chamber, with a plurality of ejectable indicator units therein. A fluid-carrying tubular conduit extends through the chamber, with an aperture in the conduit for receiving the units, one at a time. The conduit has a first and second end terminating outside of the chamber. Fluid, such as the breath of the user, is blown into the first conduit end and carries the indicator units, along with the fluid out to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: David Trine
  • Patent number: 4977902
    Abstract: A supersonic hyperthermia treating method comprises the steps of inserting a heat generating member having a high attenuation for supersonic waves into a diseased part in a body and leaving it there, then transmitting supersonic waves generated outside of the body from a supersonic wave generator for heating the heat generating member to hyperthermically treat the diseased part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Sekino, Shuichi Takayama, Takashi Tsukaya, Masakazu Gotanda, Tetsumaru Kubota, Naoki Uchiyama, Koichiro Ishihara, Kuniaki Kami, Akira Murata, Masaaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4969459
    Abstract: An apparatus for the infrared heating and warming of post-anesthetic surgical patients is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of infrared heat lamps controlled by plural patient temperature sensors in a closed-loop control system for providing safe, controlled warming of a patient following anesthesia and surgery. Signals from the temperature sensors are averaged and compared against an average temperature setpoint to provide control signals for the heat lamp control network. Low and high temperature alarms are provided for patient safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Gaymar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ignaty Gusakov
  • Patent number: 4969647
    Abstract: An invertible, hand-held, electronic game apparatus having a manually engageable housing, a display screen mounting in the housing, an electronic circuit electrically connected to drive the display screen, and a control switch assembly mounted for manipulation by at least one hand of the player while holding the housing. The control switch assembly includes a joypad and fire buttons which are positioned on the housing to permit rotation or inverting of the housing and operation of the switches in a rotated position. Inversion of the housing and operation of the switches is possible when the images are vertically or horizontally oriented. In the preferred form, the control switch assembly includes a joypad on one side of the display screen and two pairs of functionally duplicate fire buttons symmetrically positioned about a central plane of the housing on an opposite side of the screen. The back of the housing is formed with protruding convex surfaces to facilitate gripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Atari Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Mical, David S. Morse, David L. Needle
  • Patent number: 4964802
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for making complex and beautiful arrays of marbles or other translucent decorative objects in a free creative manner. A base has structure defining a rectangular grid for engaging both marbles and structure for supporting marbles above the level of the base. Such supporting structure includes support posts engageable with the base for holding marbles at their respective upper ends and inclined risers, both free standing and supportable for facilitating inclined displays of marbles. Substantially horizontal elevated platform structures, similar in configuration, but smaller than the grid, may also be employed. Flexible and segmented support posts add variety and interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Emily C. Weller
  • Patent number: 4961725
    Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid, more especially a biological fluid and in particular the urinary flow, said device including a rod which, in the rest condition is sealingly clamped, by any appropriate clamping mechanism, inside a connecting tube, which is made from a flexible plastic material presenting shrinkage on polymerization, and a mechanism which is adapted to prevent the axial movement of the said valve rod along the connecting tube under the effect of the pressure of a fluid filling two flexible activating bags connected through the connecting tube, which may cooperate with a third flexible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Pierre Rey, Jacqueline Leandri, Clement Abbou
  • Patent number: 4957444
    Abstract: A training horse simulator is provided for teaching persons such as handicapped children. The simulator includes a saddle, a pivoting head assembly, reins, a bit simulator, and pressure-sensitive switches. Indicators inform the person when stops and turns have been properly executed, and when pressure is applied to the simulator as in posting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
    Inventor: Seth A. Armen
  • Patent number: 4951951
    Abstract: An improved golf club having a turf repairing fork formed in the heel of the head thereof enabling the golfer to remain erect while repairing the turf. The golfer saves effort and time by forcing the fork down into the grass mound left by the impact of a golf ball on a putting green, sufficiently far enough so that it extends under the depressed turf of the ball mark. By rocking the putter shaft slightly forward the fork will lift the depressed turf and by rocking the putter shaft slightly backwards, the grass mound can be pulled back to its original position. The fork of the putter can also be used to clean foreign matter from the soles and spikes of a golfer's shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Herman R. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4952400
    Abstract: A cosmetic sampler has a thin dry layer of powder particles which are fragrance enhanced by fragrance containing microcapsules. The fragrance powder and microcapsules are applied as a production state, in a mass produced printed sampler manufacturing process from a liquid slurry which dries rapidly. The individual powder particles on the finished sampler item are raedily removed from the web surface by light finger pressure as a free flowing powder and the microcapsules are simultaneously ruptured to produce the desired fragrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Webcraft Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Tararuj, Carl K. Schaab
  • Patent number: 4948372
    Abstract: Tennis gauge 10 uses a plurality of adhesive dots 11 and 12 to teach relative positioning of a tennis player on tennis court 1 with respect to the bouncing point of a ground stroked tennis ball. First indicia adhesive dots 11 are positioned along service box centerlines 7 nine feet fore and aft service line 4. Second indicia adhesive dots 12 are attached along the longitudinal service box centerline 7 at points nine feet aft base lines 6. Tennis player uses the adhesive dots to indicate the relative distance behind the bouncing point of a ground stroked tennis ball for the return stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Duane Stotland
  • Patent number: 4948131
    Abstract: A racket for playing tennis or similar ball games having a straight bar type stem part which continues to an annular ball hitting part. A hole is provided in the stem part in which a vibration absorbing member is stored. Said vibration absorbing member comprises a buffer layer made of a gel material and a mass member supported by this buffer layer. The buffer layer is fixed so that it can be deformed in said hole and said mass member is supported so that it does not contact the internal surface of the hole. Said vibration absorbing member can be put in an outer casing and inserted into the hole. In this case, the buffer layer is deformed in the outer casing and the mass member is held so that it does not contact the internal surface of the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sigel
    Inventor: Motoyasu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4948134
    Abstract: An electronic device is used to play a card game in which a player and a dealer are each dealt five cards. If the dealer has a poker hand having a value less than an Ace-King combination or better, the player automatically wins. If the dealer has a poker hand having a value of an Ace-King combination or better, then the higher of the player's or the dealer's hand wins. If the player wins, he receives a bonus payment depending on the poker rank of his hand. By making an additional wager, a player can also participate in a progressive jackpot component of the card game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Caribbean Stud Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Suttle, Daniel A. Jones
  • Patent number: 4944681
    Abstract: An ear examination simulator unit for use by parents, children and health care professionals to recognize ear disorders in children includes an ear structure simulator module that is mounted within a head portion of a furry racoon or the like animal facsimile. The ear structure simulator module includes a tube body having orifices defined in ends thereof for receiving an otoscope or other examination tool. Mounted within the tube portion is a semi-translucent membrane and a photographic slide depicting an eardrum in normal or various diseased states. A source of illumination provides light which is distributed by the membrane in order to provide back lighting of the images on the photograpic slide. In addition, the membrane may be textured and colored so as to simulate a human eardrum in its healthy state. The plush toy provides comfort to the child during painful bouts of ear infections and during ear surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Inventors: Paul A. Burgio, C. Randall Nelms, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4940412
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing three dimensional anatomic models wherein a series of tomographic hard copy images are obtained of a desired section of a patient's anatomy. The images are used as masks in a "photographic " process to produce layers which are attached together to form the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Elscint Ltd.
    Inventor: Rafael Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 4934939
    Abstract: This invention discloses an educational bed-making kit for teaching children to properly miter the corners of articles of bedding such as bedsheets, and a method of producing such a kit. The kit includes a bedsheet and an instruction book. The bedsheet is marked with various animal figures which the child uses to align the bedsheet on a mattress, to miter the corners of the bedsheet, and to tuck the bedsheet under the mattress. A head alignment mark indicates to the child where to align the bedsheet with the head of the mattress, and a plurality of side alignment marks indicate to the child how to center the bedsheet on the mattress. A corner lift mark shows the child where to lift the bedsheet near a corner to initiate the miter, and a miter corner mark shows the child when the bedsheet is properly lifted. A miter corner tuck mark shows the child where to tuck the corner of the bedsheet under the mattress, and a foot tuck mark shows the child where to tuck the foot of the bedsheet under the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Bonneville
  • Patent number: 4934938
    Abstract: A silhouette dummy of generally human form, particularly for the training of football players has a substantially rigid base element supporting a flexible structure formed from plastic tubular material, and spikes designed to stick into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventors: Marcello Orlandi, Franco Verani, Giuseppe Mastalli