Patents by Inventor Michael C. Dinsdale

Michael C. Dinsdale 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: 7784119
    Abstract: A hydromassage bathtub includes a bathtub including a sidewall, a deck, and an access opening in one of the sidewall and the deck. A fixture is secured to an outside surface of the bathtub proximate the access opening, and a removable plate configured to cover the access opening. A system component such as a control box is removably mounted on the fixture at a position whereby, upon removal of the plate, the system component can be removed from the fixture by accessing it through the access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sanijet
    Inventors: John Booth, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Publication number: 20090094736
    Abstract: A jet for use in a whirlpool tub or spa according to a first aspect of the invention includes a motor assembly including an electric motor disposed inside a motor housing, which motor housing includes a frontwardly facing, water-tight recess. Suitable means are provided for mounting the motor assembly in a hole in a tub wall. A centrifugal pump assembly used in the jet includes a rotor-impeller having a rear, magnetically attractable rotor disposable in the recess of the motor assembly and a front set of blades. A cover having water inlet and outlet openings is removably securable over the rotor-impeller. A sensor system is provided which can be connected to the motor to shut off the motor when the cover is removed from the centrifugal pump assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: John William Booth, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Publication number: 20040216225
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a whirlpool bath or air bubbler tub having an access opening in the sidewall or deck of the bathtub, a removable command pad or plate that fastens in or over the access opening on the bathside of the opening and when removed provides service access to system components behind the bathtub and associated with backside of tub. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a method of access to service components of a whirlpool bath or air bubbler tub system comprising the steps of unfastening a removable command pad or plate on the bathside surface of the tub that covers and seals an access opening in the sidewall or deck of the bathtub, removing the command pad or plate from the access opening, accessing one or more system components associated with the backside of the bath tub and fastening the command pad/plate back in place over the access opening to reseal the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: John William Booth, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 6706070
    Abstract: Alignment devices for promoting spinal fusion between neighboring vertebrae are disclosed. The alignment device may be use to alter the vertical height between the engaging plates to customize the apparatus to fit a given patient. In one embodiment, the alignment device includes two turnbuckles and two pairs of cam blocks for adjusting the height between a pair of engaging plates. The alignment device may be adapted to vary the height between the engaging plates such that the height of the apparatus proximate a first side edge is substantially different from a height of the apparatus proximate a second side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Wagner, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 6682533
    Abstract: A surgical cable system and method for securing surgical cable around a portion of a human element (e.g., bone) are described. The surgical cable system may include a connector and a tensioner. The connector may be adapted to hold a pin, positionable within the connector, such that the pin may secure the cable within the connector. The pin may be repositioned, after securing the cable, to allow the cable, to move freely through the connector. The cable may be oriented within the connector such that the ends of the cable are either perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the tensioner is adapted to vary the tension of the cable. The cable may be passed through the connector, around a portion of a human bone, and back through the connector. The cable may be tensioned by use of the tensioner and secured into position within the connector. The connector may include a locking portion for engaging a protrusion formed on the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Dinsdale, Erik J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6641614
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for promoting a spinal fusion between neighboring vertebrae are disclosed. Apparatus may be located within the intervertebral disc space and preferably includes a pair of engaging plates for contacting the vertebrae. An alignment device may be used to alter the vertical height between the engaging plates to customize the apparatus to fit a given patient. In one embodiment, the alignment device includes two turnbuckles and two pairs of cam blocks for adjusting the height between the engaging plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Wagner, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 6391030
    Abstract: A surgical cable system and method for securing surgical cable around a portion of a human element (e.g., bone) is described. The surgical cable system may include a connector and a tensioner. The connector may be adapted to hold a pin, positionable within the connector, such that the pin may secure the cable within the connector. The pin may be repositioned, after securing the cable, to allow the cable to move freely through the connector. The cable may be oriented within the connector such that the ends of the cable are perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other. The tensioner is preferably adapted to vary the tension of the cable. The cable may be passed through the connector, around a portion of a human bone, and back through the connector. The cable may be tensioned by use of the tensioner and secured into position within the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Wagner, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 6117575
    Abstract: A battery contact and holding apparatus (10, 200) includes a door (12, 212) and a battery compartment 14, 214) associated with the door. The door selectively provides access to the interior (16, 216) of the battery compartment. The apparatus also includes a plurality of contacts (86,88,286,288) for electrically coupling to a battery (64, 264) in the battery compartment and a post locator (56, 256) associated with the battery compartment for aligning one or more posts (62,66, 262,266) of a battery with one or more of the plurality of contacts and for disallowing the door to close off the interior of the battery compartment if a battery is not properly placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: AMEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 6024691
    Abstract: A collar (100) for providing PEMF therapy for the cervical region of the spine. The collar (100) has a single transducer coil (104) and requires no secondary coil. The electronics for driving the coil are contained in a housing (101) that is integral to the collar 100. The housing (101) may also contain a battery for powering the coil (104), whose power usage is sufficiently reduced so as to require only a small battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: John C. Tepper, Peter Kuo, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 5964769
    Abstract: A surgical cable system and method for securing surgical cable around a portion of a human element (e.g., bone) is described. The surgical cable system may include a connector and a tensioner. The connector may be adapted to hold a pin, positionable within the connector, such that the pin may secure the cable within the connector. The pin may be repositioned, after securing the cable, to allow the cable to move freely through the connector. The cable may be oriented within the connector such that the ends of the cable are perpendicular or parallel with respect to each other. The tensioner is preferably adapted to vary the tension of the cable. The cable may be passed through the connector, around a portion of a human bone, and back through the connector. The cable may be tensioned by use of the tensioner and secured into position within the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Wagner, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 5935133
    Abstract: A surgical cable system and method for securing surgical cable around a portion of a human element (e.g., bone) is described. The surgical cable system may include a connector and a tensioner. The connector may be adapted to hold a pin, positionable within the connector, such that the pin may secure the cable within the connector. The pin may be repositioned, after securing the cable, to allow the cable to move freely through the connector. The cable may be oriented within the connector such that the ends of the cable are pependicular or parallel with respect to each other. The tensioner is preferably adapted to vary the tension of the cable. The cable may be passed through the connector, around a portion of a human bone, and back through the connector. The cable may be tensioned by use of the tensioner and secured into position within the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Spinal Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik J. Wagner, Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 5733307
    Abstract: A bone anchor with a suture trough for attaching bone to tissue using a suture. The bone anchor includes a threaded bone anchor body having a major diameter, a minor diameter, a tip, and a drive head. A suture trough is formed within the anchor body with a width greater than or equal to the diameter of the suture and a depth below the minor diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the suture. A suture passageway connects the opposing portions of the suture trough. The suture seats within the suture trough during insertion of the bone anchor into the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: AMEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 5038871
    Abstract: Drilling equipment including apparatus for laterally moving a direct drive drilling unit to a position offset from the centerline of a well. The drilling equipment includes a traveling block suspended for generally vertical travel within a derrick during drilling of a well, a direct drive drilling unit suspendable from the traveling block, means for guiding the drilling unit during drilling and apparatus connected to the derrick for moving the drilling unit laterally relative to the axis of the well to an offset position. The drilling unit includes a drill motor and a drive sleeve for threadably connecting the drill motor to a drill string in the well. The guide means includes a first pair of rails connected to the derrick and extending parallel to the axis of the well. The apparatus includes a second pair of rails and means for supporting the drilling unit. The second pair of rails is positionable below and in alignment with the first pair of rails when the support means is in the offset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: National-Oilwell
    Inventor: Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 4843945
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and breaking threaded well pipe connections has a stationary support mountable on a rig floor and positioning arms mounted on the stationary support. The positioning arms selectively support and position a movable frame which carries power tongs for clamping pipes. By operation of the positioning arms, the power tongs can be operatively disposed to act on a pipe at the well center, positioned in a stowed position or disposed in a mousehole position to act on a pipe in the mousehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: National-Oilwell
    Inventor: Michael C. Dinsdale
  • Patent number: 4732061
    Abstract: A power tong has upper and lower clamping units mounted in a suspended support frame. Each clamping unit has pipe clamping jaws that move rectilinearly, and are actuated by a pressure fluid operated linear actuator. The lower clamping unit is rigidly secured to the supporting frame and the upper clamping unit is rotatable relative to the lower clamping unit. The relative rotation in both directions is accomplished by a remote powered actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: National-Oilwell
    Inventor: Michael C. Dinsdale