Patents by Inventor Robert A. Null
Robert A. Null 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).
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Publication number: 20080245488Abstract: A Venetian-style window blind (10) that resembles plantation style shutters is described. In a preferred embodiment, the headrail is shaped like the plurality of slats depending from it, is pivotally connected to the sides of a window frame by mounting brackets and has a hollow interior. Tilting of the plurality slats depending from the headrail is accomplished by vertically moving an actuator rod that is pivotally connected to the headrail. The plurality of slats are suspended from the headrail by a cord ladder to tilt in unison with the headrail. While tilting the blind assembly into the closed position, the headrail and depending slats also slide inwardly towards the windowpane. The slats are lifted through the actuation of a lift handle that is slidably attached to the actuator rod and contains therein a lock mechanism to hold the slats in a desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, James M. Anthony, Richard N. Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert A. Null
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Publication number: 20070137798Abstract: A Venetian-style window blind (10) that resembles plantation style shutters is described. In a preferred embodiment, the headrail is shaped like the plurality of slats depending from it, is pivotally connected to the sides of a window frame by mounting brackets and has a hollow interior. Tilting of the plurality slats depending from the headrail is accomplished by vertically moving an actuator rod that is pivotally connected to the headrail. The plurality of slats are suspended from the headrail by a cord ladder to tilt in unison with the headrail. While tilting the blind assembly into the closed position, the headrail and depending slats also slide inwardly towards the windowpane. The slats are lifted through the actuation of a lift handle that is slidably attached to the actuator rod and contains therein a lock mechanism to hold the slats in a desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell Colson, James Anthony, Richard Anderson, Steven Haarer, Donald Fraser, Robert Null
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Patent number: 7168475Abstract: A Venetian-style window blind (10) that resembles plantation style shutters is described. In a preferred embodiment, the headrail is shaped like the plurality of slats depending from it, is pivotally connected to the sides of a window frame by mounting brackets and has a hollow interior. Tilting of the plurality slats depending from the headrail is accomplished by vertically moving an actuator rod that is pivotally connected to the headrail. The plurality of slats are suspended from the headrail by a cord ladder to tilt in unison with the headrail. While tilting the blind assembly into the closed position, the headrail and depending slats also slide inwardly towards the windowpane. The slats are lifted through the actuation of a lift handle that is slidably attached to the actuator rod and contains therein a lock mechanism to hold the slats in a desired position.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, James M. Anthony, Richard N. Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 7114545Abstract: A magnetic catch is used on coverings for architectural openings to releasably retain the coverings in an extended position and immediately adjacent to the framework of the opening. Magnetic components are installed on the covering and the framework surrounding at least part of the architectural opening. The covering is then placed in a position such that the magnetic components on the covering and the framework are close enough to attract each other through their respective magnetic forces. The magnetic forces work to releasably hold the covering in position relative to the framework.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Null
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Publication number: 20050126719Abstract: A magnetic catch is used on coverings for architectural openings to releasably retain the coverings in an extended position and immediately adjacent to the framework of the opening. Magnetic components are installed on the covering and the framework surrounding at least part of the architectural opening. The covering is then placed in a position such that the magnetic components on the covering and the framework are close enough to attract each other through their respective magnetic forces. The magnetic forces work to releasably hold the covering in position relative to the framework.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventor: Robert Null
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Patent number: 6901988Abstract: A modular shutter blind system for a window blind application. A window blind is made to look like a window shutter by having airfoil shaped slats which traverse in toward the window when the blind is tilted closed and traverse away from the window and toward the room when the blind is tilted open in order to give the blind the clearance needed to tilt open while making it appear as if the window frame is the shutter blind frame. This traverse motion of the slats is accomplished by having the tilting axis along the centroid of the head rail move in and out while the blind is tilted closed or open respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, James M. Anthony, Richard N. Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert A. Null
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Publication number: 20050072088Abstract: A Venetian-style window blind (10) that resembles plantation style shutters is described. In a preferred embodiment, the headrail is shaped like the plurality of slats depending from it, is pivotally connected to the sides of a window frame by mounting brackets and has a hollow interior. Tilting of the plurality slats depending from the headrail is accomplished by vertically moving an actuator rod that is pivotally connected to the headrail. The plurality of slats are suspended from the headrail by a cord ladder to tilt in unison with the headrail. While tilting the blind assembly into the closed position, the headrail and depending slats also slide inwardly towards the windowpane. The slats are lifted through the actuation of a lift handle that is slidably attached to the actuator rod and contains therein a lock mechanism to hold the slats in a desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: Wendell Colson, James Anthony, Richard Anderson, Steven Haarer, Donald Fraser, Robert Null
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Patent number: 6808002Abstract: A balanced tilt mechanism for use in a covering for an architectural opening includes an actuator cord having a weighted tassel that cooperates with a tapered bobbin in a tiltable headrail in the covering. A constant tension spring counterbalances the weighted actuator cord so the headrail can be easily tilted between open and opposite closed positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Marek Jarosinski, David G. Lynch, Robert A. Null, Bogdan R. Ulatowski
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Publication number: 20040016518Abstract: A balanced tilt mechanism for use in a covering for an architectural opening includes an actuator cord having a weighted tassel that cooperates with a tapered bobbin in a tiltable headrail in the covering. A constant tension spring counterbalances the weighted actuator cord so the headrail can be easily tilted between open and opposite closed positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Marek Jarosinski, David G. Lynch, Robert A. Null, Bogdan R. Ulatowski
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Publication number: 20030015300Abstract: A modular shutter blind system for a window blind application. A window blind is made to look like a window shutter by having airfoil shaped slats which traverse in toward the window when the blind is tilted closed and traverse away from the window and toward the room when the blind is tilted open in order to give the blind the clearance needed to tilt open while making it appear as if the window frame is the shutter blind frame. This traverse motion of the slats is accomplished by having the tilting axis along the centroid of the head rail move in and out while the blind is tilted closed or open respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, James M. Anthony, Richard N. Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 5344474Abstract: A desiccant tower receives air at its air inlet and concentrates the oxygen in this air in order to provide a gas at its gas outlet which has a concentration of oxygen exceeding the concentration of oxygen normally found in air. A bypass conduit is coupled to the desiccant tower so as to syphon off gas from the desiccant tower at a point where the gas within the desiccant tower has a concentration of oxygen which is less than the concentration of oxygen in the gas at the gas outlet of the desiccant tower. The gases at the gas outlet of the desiccant tank and in the conduit are mixed so as to produce an output gas mixture having a desired concentration of oxygen. The desired concentration of oxygen is less than a desiccant tower can ordinarily provide but greater than the concentration of oxygen normally found in air.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1993Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Assignee: Air Dry Corporation of AmericaInventor: Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 5298884Abstract: A wearable tag for use with an electronic house arrest monitoring (EHAM) system, or equivalent, is held against a limb of its wearer by a lockable strap. The tag includes tamper detection circuitry for detecting any attempt to remove the tag by cutting or breaking the strap, even when such cutting occurs in the presence of an electrolyte. The strap has a conductor imbedded therein that is in electrical contact, through known resistances, with respective terminals on the tag. The tamper detection circuit detects any change in the resistance of the strap. Further, the terminals are made of, or coated with, dissimilar metals, so that should the tag be immersed in an electrolyte, and the strap cut, the resulting galvanic action between the terminals allows the cut strap to be detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1992Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: BI IncorporatedInventors: Jack A. Gilmore, Donald A. Melton, Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 5019056Abstract: A bowel care system is made up of a wheeled cart unit so as to be readily transportable between a patient and bathroom for removal of waste matter from the patient by means of colonic lavage apparatus mounted on the unit, the apparatus including a fill container and waste reservoir with a fill line extending from the fill container into communication with a speculum which is insertable into the anal canal of the patient, a pump for pumping water under pressure through the speculum, a drain line also communicating with the speculum at a location downstream of the fill line with a valve between the speculum and drain line which is movable between open and closed positions in response to differential pressure between the pump and speculum, and a timer is provided for sequentially activating and deactivating the pump over predetermined time intervals so that water is supplied under pressure over a first predetermined time interval through the speculum followed by remobal of the water and waste matter via the draiType: GrantFiled: September 22, 1988Date of Patent: May 28, 1991Assignee: Aegis Medical, Inc.Inventors: Alan R. Lee, David P. Mead, Robert A. Null, Thomas Shilling, Ray Atchley
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Patent number: 4655100Abstract: An improved rolling element jackscrew includes at least three planetary rollers interposed between an inner shaft and an outer nut, wherein one of the shaft and nut is formed with grooved threads of zero pitch and the other bears a spiral or pitched thread having a different number of threads per unit length. The different thread numbers on the nut and shaft are chosen to provide a pattern of nodal points at which the thread crests intersect, with the nodal points arranged along a plurality of equiangularly spaced axial contact lines corresponding with the number of rollers and defining positions of roller installation. The rollers each include axially spaced pairs of enlarged ribs defining axially spaced grooves meshing between the shaft and nut at the respective nodal points.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1984Date of Patent: April 7, 1987Assignee: The Garrett CorporationInventors: Gary L. Frederick, Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 4631073Abstract: A method and apparatus for adsorptive fractionation of a gaseous mixture. A twin tower fractionator or dryer apparatus includes a pair of sorbent beds. A filter and valve assembly directs a flow of the gaseous mixture from a source thereof to one of the beds for removing a gaseous component of said mixture while simultaneously directing a flow of purge gas through the other of said beds for stripping the adsorbed gas component therefrom and regenerating the bed. Microprocessor controlled valves control the flow of gases to and from said beds. The towers and associated manifolds are twin bore extrusion prism shaped of heat conductive material. The parallel bores extend axially longitudinally through the tower extrusion with each bore adapted to contain a sorbent bed or bed cartridge. Conductivity probes are used to sense the moisture or adsorbed component front in the sorbent bed.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1985Date of Patent: December 23, 1986Assignee: Wilkerson CorporationInventors: Robert A. Null, Lonnie C. Laughlin, Michael L. Goldberg
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Patent number: 4559065Abstract: An apparatus for adsorptive fractionation of a gaseous mixture. The apparatus is a twin tower fractionator or dryer including a pair of sorbent beds. A filter and valve assembly directs a flow of the gaseous mixture from a source thereof to one of the beds for removing a gaseous component of said mixture while simultaneously directing a flow of purge gas through the other of said beds for stripping the adsorbed gas component therefrom and regenerating the bed. Microprocessor controlled valves control the flow of gases to and from said beds. The towers and associated manifolds are twin bore extrusion prism shaped of heat conductive material. The parallel bores extend axially longitudinally through the tower extrusion with each bore adapted to contain a sorbent bed or bed cartridge. Conductivity probes are used to sense the moisture or adsorbed component front in the sorbent bed.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1984Date of Patent: December 17, 1985Assignee: Wilkerson CorporationInventors: Robert A. Null, Lonnie C. Laughlin, Michael L. Goldberg
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Patent number: 4299313Abstract: A luggage case with a pair of wheels located at the lower edge has a handle assembly that can be folded into a side wall or swung outwardly into pulling (or pushing) relation. A two-part brace maintains a quasi locking of the handle assembly when in the open position such that it may be closed by merely applying a significant rotating force to the assembly about its pivotal interconnection with the case. A latch operates to secure the handle assembly within the case recess when closed or during nonuse and includes a finger actuated button for releasing the latch.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1980Date of Patent: November 10, 1981Assignee: Samsonite CorporationInventor: Robert A. Null
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Patent number: 3944032Abstract: A first relatively rigid case section having two end walls with a connecting intermediate wall is interconnected with a flexible second case section via a single zipper with stops defining permanent securement lengths. The first case section also includes a generally C-shaped frame contoured to form the upper wall and extend downwardly a limited amount onto each end wall. Molded plastic supports are affixed to the lower inner end portions of the end walls to provide a firm supportive base for the case. Case sections are otherwise formed of a pliant material, eg, laminated plastic sheets. A cover and strap or bar fold over long garments such as coats or dresses, holding them against the inner wall surfaces of the second case section. A hanger assembly affixed to the inner top wall surface accommodates garment hangers. Optionally, hooklike apparatus connected to the first case section is selectively extendible to the outside of the case to enable toting or hanging of the open case assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1974Date of Patent: March 16, 1976Assignee: Samsonite CorporationInventors: Clair A. Samhammer, Arthur W. Ellsworth, James P. Sullivan, John A. Artmann, Robert A. Null
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Patent number: D292310Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1985Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Wilkerson CorporationInventors: Robert A. Null, Lonnie C. Laughlin, Michael L. Goldberg, Peter T. Quinn