Patents by Inventor Frank Marino

Frank Marino has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6244823
    Abstract: An oscillating electric fan may be used in both a table supported position and a wall mounted position. The electric fan includes a fan unit and a pedestal for supporting the fan unit. The pedestal includes a base and an elongate fan unit support extending generally perpendicular to the base. A mounting joint is provided for moveably coupling the fan unit to the distal end of the fan unit support. The mounting joint permits pivotal tilting movement of the fan between first and second positions which define the wall mounted and table supported positions of the fan. A manually actuatable clip is engageable with the mounting joint. The clip permits movement of the fan unit from the first positions to the second positions without actuation of the clip. The clip further prevents movement of the fan unit from the second positions to the first positions without actuation of the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Holmes Products Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Marino, Anatoly Ratsimor
  • Patent number: 5964359
    Abstract: A modular storage system is adapted for mounting to a support surface such as a wall or the underside of a cabinet. The system comprises a base including a planar top wall connected to opposite downwardly depending side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls. The bottom wall has a front opening cutout. The top, bottom and side walls together define a front facing channel contiguous with the cutout. A cover includes a body of a size smaller than the channel, yet larger than the cutout and a downwardly opening threaded collar affixed to the body for threadably mounting a storage jar. The cover is removably receivable in the channel with the collar positioned above the cutout. The body bears on the bottom wall with a jar mounted to the collar extending downwardly through the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Frank A. Marino, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5768034
    Abstract: An optical actuator is disclosed for positioning a lens to focus a laser light beam on a surface of a member, such as on optical disk, with minimum lens tilt error. The optical actuator includes a lens mount for supporting the lens, and at least one upper flexure and one lower flexure that are each fixed to the lens mount at a point. The flexures are arranged so that they when viewed from one side a line defined by each flexure would extend from the fixed point of each flexure and intersect at a point spaced at a distance from each flexure, forming an angle .theta. therebetween. The optical actuator further includes a structure for applying a force to the lens mount along a line to cause the upper flexure and lower flexure to deflect such that the lens moves to focus the light beam. The intersection point of the upper flexure and lower flexure is selected such that the lens tilt error caused by tension and compression of the upper flexure and lower flexure is compensated by a tilt caused by angle .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Philip Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5742440
    Abstract: An optical actuator is disclosed for positioning a lens to focus a laser light on a surface of a member, such as on optical disk, with minimum lens tilt error. The optical actuator includes a lens mount for supporting the lens, and at least two spaced-apart flexures that are fixed to the lens mount. The flexures are arranged so that they are parallel when viewed from one side. The optical actuator further includes a structure for applying a force to the lens mount along a line and between the flexures so that when viewed from the parallel flexure side the line bisects each flexure to cause the flexures to deflect such that as the lens moves to focus the light beam, lens tilt error is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Philip Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5732054
    Abstract: A combined sensor for measuring tilt and tracking position of a lens holder with respect to an optical recording actuator base is disclosed. A light source and two photosensitive bi-cell detectors are secured to the actuator base so that a beam from the light source strikes the detectors, and an optical slot or flag is secured to the lens holder between the light source and the detectors, for creating an image on the bi-cell detectors. Output from the bi-cell detectors is converted into information on tilt and position of the lens holder relative to the actuator base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Philip Frank Marino, Charles Jarratt Simpson
  • Patent number: 5724197
    Abstract: An optical actuator for positioning a lens to focus a laser light beam on a surface of a compact disk, and to compensate for tilt errors in the surface of the compact disk, including a lens mount for supporting the lens; a base; at least two pairs of spaced-apart flexures, each pair of flexures being fixed to the lens mount and to a base, the flexures of one pair being arranged so that they are non-parallel when viewed from the side and the distance between flexures at the base is less than the distance at the position where they are mounted to the lens mount and the other pair of flexures being arranged so that they are non-parallel when viewed from the side and the distance between flexures at the base is greater than the distance at the position where they are mounted to the lens mount; and applying a force to the lens mount along a line and between the flexures so that when viewed from the parallel flexure side the line bisects each flexure to cause the flexures to deflect such that as the lens moves in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Barnes, Philip Frank Marino, Gary R. Bisson
  • Patent number: 5604860
    Abstract: A method of customizing and storing an interface control for an imaging machine by entering an interface control customizing mode providing access to a library of control features, selecting a set of control features for use on a given machine, and arranging the set of control features in a given configuration on a scaled representation of an interface control. The set of control features and given configuration is then stored in memory, and referenced with a given identifier in order that upon accessing the identifier the set of control features and given configuration are provided on the interface control display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Denise C. McLaughlin, Frank Marino, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5451974
    Abstract: A retractable antenna assembly having a helically coiled antenna, a bushing having a helically threaded hole fully therethrough which freely engages the helical coil, and a driver to cause helical motion to the antenna relative to the bushing, and thereby extend or retract the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5443038
    Abstract: A restraining device for allowing a pet to encircle a building or the like has a continuous cable looped around the building and a leash movably engaging the cable and fixedly attached to the pet so that the pet may pull the leash along the cable and around the building. A connector freely moveable along the cable allows the length of the loop to be adjusted prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5361321
    Abstract: A portable electric heater including a housing having a rear wall, a substantially planar front wall, a bottom support and a top wall. Retained by the housing are a resistive heating element and an electrical circuit for connecting the heating element to an electrical power source. The circuit includes a switch having a closed condition that connects the heating element to the electrical power source and an open condition that disconnects the heating element from the electrical power source. Included with the switch is a manually operable actuator projecting from the front wall and movable in a single motion between a stable first position producing the closed condition and a stable second position producing the open condition, and wherein the actuator is shaped and arranged to be moved into the second position in response to contact with a substantially planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5339383
    Abstract: An electric humidifier includes a base defining a liquid reservoir and a latch aperture. A humidifier unit is hingedly mounted on the base over the reservoir and movable to provide access thereto. The humidifier unit includes an electrically energized humidification means for inducing dispersion of liquid through a discharge opening into a space to be humidified. Power is supplied to the humidification unit and aligned with the latch aperture on the base when the humidifier unit is operatively mounted on the base. A power supply cord has a plug detachably connected to the connector through the latch aperture. The engagement of the connected plug with the latch aperture prevents movement of the humidifier with respect to the base to prevent access to the reservoir and interior of the humidifier unit so long as the plug and connector are in operative engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5291579
    Abstract: A portable humidifier unit includes a base defining a water reservoir and a humidifier unit mounted over the base and movable relative to the base to provide access thereto. The humidifier unit contains an electrically energized humidification mechanism for inducing dispersion of the water from the reservoir into the space to be humidified. The humidifier unit is provided with a manually actuated On/Off switch for inducing energization of the humidification unit in the switch on position and deenergization thereof in the switch off position. In order to prevent unsafe operation, the switch and base are provided respectively with a latch arm and cooperating latch receptacle. The latch arm and latch receptacle are so arranged that in the switch on position the latch arm engages the latch receptacle to prevent movement of the humidifier unit relative to the base thus preventing access to the interior of the humidifier while the humidification unit is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5279189
    Abstract: A tool for attachment and removal of threaded components including a coupling adapted to engage the component and an arm having a first handle and a second handle displaced longitudinally by a given distance and including at least one hinge connecting the coupling to the arm or connecting the first handle to the second handle and permitting relative movement therebetween about a pivot axis substantially normal to a plane retaining the rotational axis of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5228107
    Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir; a humidifier unit mounted in an upright orientation on the base over the reservoir and movable to provide access thereto, the humidifier unit retaining an electrically energized humidification means for inducing dispersion of liquid and defining a discharge opening for discharging liquid dispersed by the humidification means; a circuit coupled to the humidification means and including an on-off switch for inducing energization thereof, and an orientation responsive switch for de-energizing the humidification means in response to movement of the humidifier unit to an orientation other than the upright orientation. Unsafe operation is prevented by the orientation responsive switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5215685
    Abstract: A humidifier including a base enclosure defining a reservoir to be filled with liquid, an opening disposed above the reservoir, and a discharge orifice communicating therewith; a humidification unit mounted on the base, covering the opening and adapted to produce dispersion of liquid retained by the reservoir; the humidification unit being separable from the base along a joint extending around the opening; and a seal mechanism including a channel for receiving liquid disposed to form a seal preventing the passage through the joint of liquid dispersed by the humidification unit. This arrangement provides a vapor seal for power units that expel vapor through a distinct discharge orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5143655
    Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid volume; the base having an open top and a horizontal cross section including a substantially rectangular portion, and a substantially circular portion intersecting and projecting into the rectangular portion; and the base including a substantially circular sidewall forming the circular portion, a substantially rectalinear endwall, a first substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and one end of the endwall, and a second substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and an opposite end of the endwall; the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the endwall forming the rectangular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang, Frank Marino
  • Patent number: 5143656
    Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir for retaining a liquid volume; an electrically energized humidification mechanism for inducing dispersion of liquid contained by said reservoir; an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the humidification mechanism; an electrical switch coupled between the supply and the humidification mechanism and having active and inactive states, the switch adapted in its active state to allow the supply of electrical energy to the humidification mechanism and adapted in its inactive state to prevent the supply of electrical energy thereto; and an operator coupled to the electrical switch and adapted for movement between active and inactive positions, the operator adapted in its active position to induce the active state of the electrical switch and in its inactive position to induce the inactive state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Marino, Johnson Peng
  • Patent number: D443986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Arroworthy, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Marino
  • Patent number: D330074
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventors: Jui-Shang Wang, Bernard Chiu, Frank Marino, Richard M. O'Grady
  • Patent number: D341652
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Marino