Patents by Inventor Steven D. Hoffman

Steven D. Hoffman 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: 5277704
    Abstract: A mist collector for separating liquid components from a mist-laden gas stream to include a housing which houses three filter or separation stages. The stream is pumped through ducts into the bottom of the housing, and is pulled upwardly through the filter stages. The third filter stage comprises a commercially available filter assembly with a plurality of filter envelopes having bottom open ends secured across a midposition of the housing and upper closed ends supported adjacent the top of the housing. A doorway provides access to the inside of the housing. The upper closed ends of the envelopes are supported by hanger rods which connect to horizontally movable slides which slide within horizontal channels mounted to the internal side walls of the housing. The slides extend partially out through the doorway to enable the assembly to be connected to and disconnected from the collector outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Airecon Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: David W. Miller, Timothy R. Kidd, Steven D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5108433
    Abstract: This invention provides improved prosthetic devices for the replacement of a ligament or a tendon. The tension borne by the prosthetic ligament or tendon can be readily increased or decreased without disturbing the attachment of the device to bone and without removal of the prosthetic ligament or tendon from the other components of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven J. May, Craig L. Van Kampen, David L. Butler, Edward S. Grood, Steven D. Hoffman, Frank R. Noyes
  • Patent number: 5018514
    Abstract: A knee brace for preventing abnormal anterior or posterior movement, and abnormal internal or external rotations, of the tibia relative to the femur includes a femoral cuff adapted for attachment to the thigh, a tibial cuff adapted for attachment to the calf and a pair of linkage assemblies interconnecting the cuffs. Each linkage assembly comprises a pair of link elements pivotally connected to one another, one of which is mounted to the femoral cuff and the other of which is slidable relative to the tibial cuff along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tibia of the leg of a patient to prevent forces from being applied to the knee by the brace except in the anterior-posterior direction. The location of the hinge axis of the brace is adjustable relative to the flexion axis of the knee to impose an anterior or posterior force of variable magnitude on the tibia depending upon the ligament injury or deficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Brace Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Grood, David L. Butler, D. Michael Ledyard, Steven D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5002574
    Abstract: This invention provides improved prosthetic devices for the replacement of a ligament or a tendon. The tension borne by the prosthetic ligament or tendon can be readily increased or decreased without disturbing the attachment of the device to bone and without removal of the prosthetic ligament or tendon from the other components of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Steven J. May, Craig L. Van Kampen, David L. Butler, Edward S. Grood, Steven D. Hoffman, Frank R. Noyes