Patents Issued in August 5, 2003
  • Patent number: H2075
    Abstract: The present invention provides a local access network, having a switching node, a passive remote node connected to an optical network unit, a first optical fiber that provides a dedicated connection between the switching node and the passive remote node, and a second optical fiber that provides a dedicated connection between the switching node and the passive remote node. A first portion of a first fiber-optic cable containing the first optical fiber does not contain any part of the second optical fiber, such that there are independent paths from the switching node to the passive remote node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Alan H. Gnauck, Adel Abdel Moneim Saleh, Sheryl Leigh Woodward
  • Patent number: H2076
    Abstract: An analog video processor is disclosed for coupling a CCD target acquisition and tracking seeker to a microcomputer via a video preprocessor, having a CCD automatic light control circuit, a video automatic gain control circuit, and a TV monitor/display circuit, and via a video processor, having a target acquisition mode gradient processor circuit, to detect target edge sharpness, a target tracking mode contrast processor circuit to detect targets via video amplitude, and an output control circuit, to convert analog and asynchronous target signatures to synchronous target edges for input to the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Greg A. Watson, Richard C. St. Clair, Steven C. Tenbrink
  • Patent number: H2077
    Abstract: Dispersions in water of “poly{vinyl alcohol}” (“PVA”), preferably those types resulting from about 90 mole % hydrolysis and/or ester interchange of polymers of vinyl carboxylates and having a molecular weight of about 155,000, are particularly effective for modifying the surfaces of plastic materials to cause water and/or other specified liquids to spread more readily over the treated surfaces than over the untreated surfaces. A biocide to repress the growth of micro-organisms in the dispersions is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventor: Walter N. Opdycke
  • Patent number: PP14040
    Abstract: A mutation selection of Hosta ‘Fortunei Auereomarginata’ with a wide gold margin and heavy substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Gerrit van Eijk-Bos, Dirk van Erven
  • Patent number: PP14041
    Abstract: A new variety of shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of buff white coloration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Carruth
  • Patent number: PP14042
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duelira’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; and light red purple-colored double flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Dümmen Jungpflanzen GbR
    Inventor: Marga Dümmen
  • Patent number: PP14043
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kipapalia’, characterized by its rounded, upright and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit with flowers held above and beyond the foliage; and red purple-colored flowers with lighter red purple-colored centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Innovaplant GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Kientzler
  • Patent number: PP14044
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kiilia’, characterized by its rounded, upright and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; bushy appearance; variegated foliage; freely flowering habit with flowers held above and beyond the foliage; and orange-colored flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Innovaplant GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Kientzler
  • Patent number: PP14045
    Abstract: A new cultivar of Dianthus named ‘Valda Louise’ that is characterized by double, carmine-pink flowers, a compact habit and gray-green foliage. In combination these traits set ‘Valda Louise’ apart from all other existing varieties of Dianthus known to the inventor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: John Whetman
  • Patent number: PP14046
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kipaqui’, characterized by its rounded, upright and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit with flowers positioned above or beyond the foliage; and red purple-colored flowers with darker red purple-colored centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Innovaplant GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Kientzler
  • Patent number: PP14047
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Kitamb’, characterized by its rounded, upright and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit with flowers positioned above or beyond the foliage; and red-colored flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Innovaplant GmbH + KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Kientzler
  • Patent number: PP14048
    Abstract: A floribunda rose plant producing attractive pink, orange, yellow bi-color flowers and vigorous compact plant with dark green and burgundy foliage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Timm R. Kralovetz
  • Patent number: PP14049
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevicoral’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and orange red-colored flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Dümmen Jungpflanzen GbR
    Inventor: Marga Dümmen
  • Patent number: PP14050
    Abstract: A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Baltublue’, characterized by its violet flowers, spreading and trailing habit, and sharply lobed, dark green leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Ball FloraPlant, a division of Ball Horticultural Company
    Inventor: Scott C. Trees
  • Patent number: PP14051
    Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Cayenne’, characterized by its daisy inflorescence form with dark red-colored ray florets; dark green foliage; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit; short response time; and excellent postproduction longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Deliflor Royalty B.V.
    Inventor: Arie Gerard Post
  • Patent number: PP14052
    Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zembla’, characterized by its decorative inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets; dark green foliage; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit; short response time; and excellent postproduction longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Deliflor Royalty B.V.
    Inventor: Arie Gerard Post
  • Patent number: PP14053
    Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Managua’, characterized by its daisy inflorescence form with dark orange-colored ray florets; dark green foliage; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit; short response time; and excellent postproduction longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Deliflor Royalty B.V.
    Inventor: Arie Gerard Post
  • Patent number: RE38207
    Abstract: A valve (1), particularly for an aerosol container, includes, inside a valve body (2), an inlet passage (4) communicating with the container and an outlet passage (10), a first elastic return (16) for urging the valve (1) into the closed position, and a regulator for regulating the product outlet flow rate, which includes a second elastic return (14) for supplying a set-point pressure for the regulator. The second elastic return (14) is arranged in a compartment (12) of the valve body (2) isolated from the product, the pressure inside the compartment (12) being equal to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Benoist
  • Patent number: RE38208
    Abstract: An assembly or system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control comprises, in accordance with the present invention, an infrared sensor for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal, the sensor being attached to an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system. A signal generator also attached to the speaker assembly is operatively connected to the sensor for generating an RF carrier signal modulated by control information encoded in the infrared control signal and the electrical signal. A transmission link is provided for transmitting the modulated RF carrier signal from the speaker assembly to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Neil D. Terk
  • Patent number: RE38209
    Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound system is provided for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissue scans an ultrasonic pulse signal along a tomographic plane to acquire an electrical echo signal, extracts a Doppler signal from the echo signal, calculates velocity data concerning the motion of the tissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane on the basis of the Doppler signal, and forms data of a B-mode tomographic image on the basis of the echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Yamazaki, Fumiyasu Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6601239
    Abstract: A protective garment comprises a porous, breathable body portion and sleeves made of a nonwoven synthetic fabric. The sleeves and a front part of the body portion are covered at their outer surfaces by outer layers of plastic film. In one embodiment, a protective skirt of plastic film extends down below a lower edge of the body portion for covering parts of the wearer that extend below the body portion. The protective skirt can include perforations facilitating adjustment of a vertical extent of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Precise Systems LLC
    Inventor: Rogers Drake
  • Patent number: 6601240
    Abstract: Goggles include a goggle frame, a goggle lens to be detachably fitted in a groove formed on the inner peripheral portion of the goggle frame. The goggles are provided with a plurality of vent holes in an upper area in the goggle lens. The vent holes located on the both sides are made larger than those in the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Yamamoto Kogaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Tsubooka
  • Patent number: 6601241
    Abstract: A toilet seat lifter includes a seat lifter, a foot pedal actuator, and an actuation cable. The seat lifter includes a lifter base and at least one lifter arm. The lifter base is retained between a toilet a toilet seat assembly on one end thereof. The at least one lifter arm is rotatably retained by the lifter base on the other end thereof. The at least one lifter arm is placed under the toilet seat. The foot pedal actuator includes a base, a foot pedal, and a spring loaded disc. The spring loaded disc is rotatably retained by the base. One end of the foot pedal is pivotally attached to the base and other end rotates the spring loaded disc. One end of the cable is attached to the spring loaded disc and the other end is attached to the at least one lifter arm. When a user pushes the foot pedal down the cable rotates the at least one lifter arm to raise the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: David L. Skotzke
  • Patent number: 6601242
    Abstract: A combination flexible strainer and plug for use in conjunction with a drain opening of a plumbing fixture. The strainer comprising a substantially cylindrical portion constructed and arranged to extendingly engage the drain opening. The strainer having a bottom portion engaged to a lowermost portion of the substantially cylindrical portion, the bottom portion having a plurality of openings therethrough. The strainer having an annular ring engaged to an uppermost portion of the substantially cylindrical portion and outwardly extending therefrom, the annular ring constructed and arranged to form a seal with a portion of the plumbing fixture immediately adjacent to the drain opening. The plug comprising an upper surface, the upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface having at least one projection, the at least one projection providing a grasping surface by which the plug may inserted into and removed from within the substantially cylindrically shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Gary H. Rebischke
  • Patent number: 6601243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composting toilet installation comprising: a toilet seat placed over a gravity outlet opening; receiver means for receiving liquid effluent, fecal matter, and other waste; recovery means for receiving the liquid effluent; and displacement means for moving the fecal matter and other waste from the reception zone towards a storage zone. The installation further comprises in the storage zone: a composting medium constituted in particular by the fecal matter and other waste brought in by the displacement means and containing worms of a variety suitable for transforming the fecal matter and other waste into compost; and dampening means for keeping the composting medium damp other than by means of urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Ecosphere Technologies
    Inventor: Pierre Colombot
  • Patent number: 6601244
    Abstract: A removable retainer for holding a nozzle stem in a body has opposed indentations for receiving the tines of a forded tool. The periphery of the retainer and the inner edge of the body are relieved to receive and guide the tool tines to the indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Paramount Leisure Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Goettl
  • Patent number: 6601245
    Abstract: A handrail is defined by a main tubular body formed of a non-corrosive, rigid vinyl material. The handrail includes a first open end, a second open end and a mid-section extending therebetween, with at least one curved portion formed along the mid-section. One or more rigid inserts are fitted within a hollow interior of the handrail for providing rigidity and strength and for reducing bending and flexing of the handrail when a load is applied thereto. The opposite first and second open ends of the handrail are covered with caps to provide a watertight seal which prevents moisture from entering the hollow interior. The rigid inserts may also be capped at opposite ends to protect against corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Weiss
  • Patent number: 6601246
    Abstract: There is provided a soft bubbling bath mat having a mat body of molded flexible material that houses a soft flexible foam pad adapted to fit between an outer edge of the mat body an interior air passageway. The air passageway is adapted at one end to form an inlet port. The inlet port is adapted to receive air to be fed from a compressed air source to the passageway and forced through the passageway and out through a plurality of small apertures in a top surface of the passageway creating a therapeutic bubbling massage effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Kit Lun Leung, Chung Shun Tse, Kam Fai Fung
  • Patent number: 6601247
    Abstract: According to the present invention, on a back surface side of a peripheral wall of a bathtub vessel formed of material having light transmittance by molding, a strip-like optical fiber which is formed into a strip shape by weaving a plurality of optical fibers in a meshy form which have end portions thereof directed to a light source of a light source device for illumination and perform the side surface illumination upon receiving an illumination light from the light source is circumferentially mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Hideo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6601248
    Abstract: A drain connector includes a fixed unit (2) having a first drain conduit for permanent attachment to a drain pipe and a detachable unit (6) having a second drain conduit for attachment to a removable appliance (8). The fixed unit (2) includes a first drain connector element (36) and the detachable unit includes a second drain connector element (18) for detachable connection with the first drain connector element. The fixed unit (2) further includes a closure member (44) that is adjustable between an opened condition and a closed condition in which it substantially closes the first drain conduit, to prevent the passage of rodents through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Mechline Developments Limited
    Inventor: Peter Sage-Passant
  • Patent number: 6601249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring pre-assembly for a mattress foundation unit having a wooden base, a plurality of spring units and a mattress supporting wire grid that is supported above the wooden base by the spring units. The spring pre-assembly comprises a plurality of spring units connected to a wire grid consisting of a plurality of grid wire pairs arranged orthogonally to one another. The spring units include a base portion, a pair of divergently extending leg portions and a pair of engagement portions extending in opposite directions from the distal ends of the leg portions. The engagement portions can be engaged with adjacent grid wire pairs, the resulting arrangement being such that the spring units are pre-stressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: International Wire Converters (Pty) Ltd
    Inventors: Wayne Arnold, Graham Colman, Gianni Nosenzo
  • Patent number: 6601250
    Abstract: A bed sheet with pockets for storing a wide variety of objects and items for greater organization in a bedroom. The bed sheet with pockets includes a sheet of material having a top side and also having top and side edges; and also includes pocket members being securely attached to the sheet of material near the side and top edges thereof and being adapted to be disposed along sides of a mattress upon the sheet of material being placed upon the mattress; and further includes fastening members being attached to the sheet of material and to the pocket members for closing the pocket members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Larry L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6601251
    Abstract: A medical bed including a frame supported on pivoted support members wherein pivoting of the support members results in vertical movement of a patient support surface of the bed. The pivoting of the support members is accomplished by motors which are actuated by a control circuit operating in response to operator actuated switches. The bed is movable between uppermost and lowermost positions wherein a lower intermediate position is provided adjacent to and vertically spaced from the lowermost position, and an upper intermediate position is provided adjacent to and vertically spaced from the uppermost position. The controller operates to automatically stop vertical movement of the bed when it reaches either the lower intermediate position or the upper intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Gerald S. Paul
  • Patent number: 6601252
    Abstract: A double pillowcase assembly comprising a pair of fabric envelopes connected together along a central seam line, the envelopes being capable of holding pillows therein and an anchor pad extending outwardly from the double pillowcase and being connected thereto along the central seam line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Jamie S. Leach
  • Patent number: 6601253
    Abstract: A mattress provides side support that reduces the likelihood that a person will accidentally roll off and also provides increased comfort to a person sitting on the side of the mattress. The mattress includes a top layer, a bottom layer and a buffer layer between the top and bottom layers. A pair of support members are placed in corresponding cavities near the opposite sides of the top layer. The support members are firmer than the top layer and are arranged to support the top layer and provide reduced compression of the mattress when a weight is placed on the upper surface of the top layer near the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Tarquinio
  • Patent number: 6601254
    Abstract: A combination includes a foldable hand tool, an adapter, and an implement. The foldable hand tool provides a pair of handles that are connected with a pin to a pair of pivotally engaged gripping jaws. The implement includes a tool head, such as a ratchet wrench or screw driver, and a male adapter engagement portion. The adapter includes a female tool engagement chamber for receiving the implement; and the adapter includes a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending from the female tool engagement chamber. An interior surface of each of the sidewalls has a generally U-shaped depression on the interior surface of each of the sidewalls, each of the depressions being shaped to firmly engage one of the pins in the foldable hand tool. Once it has been assembled, the foldable hand tool is connected to the implement through the adapter. The foldable hand tool thereby provides leverage through the handle to manipulate the tool head of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Matthias Walz
  • Patent number: 6601255
    Abstract: A push side pool cleaner (1) has a spheroidal overall shape, within this shape two outer segments (9, 10) serve as wheels and a central zone (8) carries a suction passage (33) and a debris collector (32) also located entirely within the overall shape. The wheels are driven directly by water jets (44, 45) without any gears or other transmission. A flow splitter is provided in the cleaner (1) to divide push side water flow between the jets (44, 45) which drive the wheels and jets (43) which provide impulsion to the suction passage (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Johannes van der Meyden, Alexis Adrian Felipe Wadman, Michael Edward Moore
  • Patent number: 6601256
    Abstract: The device capable of automatically cleansing an outer wall or window-pane of a building is characterized by the construction that support dies bent and folded by a cylinder are cross-formed, a brush rotating by a driving motor is installed on one side support die, and a weight plumb is set on another side support die, to whereby get an effective cleansing with only more simplified construction. In addition, in case that a boundary jaw or a projection appears, the cleansing work can be progressed moderately by unfolding and bending/folding the support die through a use of the cylinder so as to move the centroid, so by smoothly passing through the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Sang Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6601257
    Abstract: A jewelry brush that exhibits improved jewelry cleaning and includes a plurality of bristles divided into at least two zones. Each zone has characteristics including a surface profile directed to cleaning a particular jewelry profile. The characteristics include modified bristle length, material characteristics, angle, grouping and grouping shape. Additional embodiments of the invention may further include additional zones of bristles trimmed with additional surface profiles. In addition, the brush can be constructed to include a bottle cap in the handle portion, allowing the jewelry brush to be include and retained in a bottle that itself may contain cleaning fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Connoisseur Products Corp.
    Inventors: Cheryl Felix-Flender, Karl William Kaltenbach, Ward A. Fritz
  • Patent number: 6601259
    Abstract: A method for making a bath brush involves the fitting of a tubular net main body with two support rods which are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. The tubular net main body is then laterally stretched before a brush handle is disposed in the middle portion of one side of the two support rods. A tightening member is used to wrap the tubular net main body which is then tightened to locate on the brush handle. The stretched main body is gradually pulled out of the two support rods such that the main body is fastened with one side of the brush handle, and that the main body expands at the tightening point serving as a center to form a loose bath ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Che-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 6601260
    Abstract: A duster which is flexible in all directions has the ability to dust hard to reach and inaccessible surface areas. One application of the duster is to clean the sound board beneath the strings of a grand or baby grand piano. The core of the duster has an elongated rod which is made from a resilient material and is covered by a close fitting cleaning or dusting sleeve made from napped material, cloth or other well known cleaning or dusting fabric or material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Arlene Lenaghan
  • Patent number: 6601261
    Abstract: A cleaning implement comprising a handle and a removable cleaning pad. The removable cleaning pad is capable of absorbing at least 10 g deionized water per g of cleaning pad in 20 minutes, under a confining pressure of 0.09 psi. These implements provide the convenience of disposable cleaning implements and the cleaning ability of conventional mops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Steven Allen Holt, Alan Edward Sherry, Vernon Sanford Ping, III
  • Patent number: 6601262
    Abstract: A decorative painting kit including multiple-color paint applicators and a method of decoratively painting a surface though in situ surface blending of two or more paints of different colors by using a multiple-color paint applicator which is stroked over the same surface a sufficient number of time to at least partially blend the different paint colors. The partial in situ surface blending of two or more paints produces a decorative pattern on the painted surface that is color characterized by having areas with some of the original paint colors and other areas with various blends of the original paint colors thereon to produce a decoratively painted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Padco, INC
    Inventor: Robert Ives Janssen
  • Patent number: 6601263
    Abstract: A tool for scraping and cleaning articles having varied surface characteristics wherein the tool includes a cleaning head defined by upper and lower oppositely oriented concavely arcuate edges which intersect at opposite sides of the tool head in converging pointed tips. Notches of different sizes are provided centrally of the upper and lower edges and the head is reinforced by a rearwardly extending neck which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a pair of spaced notches oriented rearwardly of a rear face of the head and toward a handle of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Lucilo Lam
  • Patent number: 6601264
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a sponge on one end of flat, one-piece, elongated, resilient handle, and a transverse hand grip on the opposite end of the handle, for cleaning the facing surfaces of closely spaced motor vehicle parts such as the truck cab and truck cap of a pickup truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Mark A. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 6601265
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) having a chassis (12), supporting wheels (14) mounted on the chassis (12), drive means (15) connected to the supporting wheels (14) for driving the supporting wheels (14) and a control mechanism for controlling the drive means (15) so as to guide the vacuum cleaner (10) across a surface to be cleaned. A cleaner head (22) having a dirty air inlet (24) facing the surface to be cleaned is mounted on the chassis (12) and separating apparatus (52) is supported by the chassis (12) and communicates with the cleaner head (22) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner (10) by way of the dirty air inlet (24). The separating apparatus (52) comprises at least one cyclone(54,56). This type of separating apparatus is not prone to clogging and therefore the pick-up capability of the cleaner (10) is maintained at a high standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Dyson Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Michael Burlington
  • Patent number: 6601266
    Abstract: A vacuum device for scraping and cleaning a ceiling is disclosed which is a ceiling scraper and a vacuum accessory. The ceiling scraper has a handle extending rearwardly from a blade with the blade having a scraping edge adapted to scrape materials from a ceiling at the forward edge thereof. The vacuum accessory has a rearward facing vacuum tube which is adapted to engage a vacuum hose from a vacuum device. Further, the vacuum accessory has a covered tray extending forwardly from the vacuum tube with the covered tray having a vacuum slot opposite the vacuum tube. The vacuum slot, the interior of the covered tray and the vacuum tube are all in gaseous communication. Lastly, the vacuum accessory is adapted to releasably hold the ceiling scraper whereby the scraping edge is positioned directly over the vacuum slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Clifford C. Faraci, Rustom A. Khan, Daniel Winterstein
  • Patent number: 6601267
    Abstract: A hinge, in particular for pieces of furniture, piece of furniture, with an arm fixable to the body of the connected to a portion of hinge that oscillates through two equalizers housed on transversal pins, of which—in the portion of one of its oscillation axes'—one equalizer has a projecting part forming a lever arm, and with an elastic member that stresses, the projecting part of the equalizer so as to cause a thrust in the closing direction on the oscillating hinge portion. In order to obtain the slowed closing of the door, one of the equalizers is provided with a second projecting part on which a second elastic member acts so as to exert a thrust that, for an oscillation portion close to the closed position of the oscillating hinge portion counteracts the thrust exerted by the first elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 6601268
    Abstract: A door hinge cum door checker of vehicles, wherein a stopper and a hinge pin are integrally formed at a fixation arm mounted to a body while a rotary arm mounted to the door is disposed with a rotary arm mounted to the door is disposed with a roller insertedly accommodated into first/second hole and of the hinge pin by resilient member and a hitching jaw where the stopper is hitched, such that the present invention performs the function of door hinge with the rotary arm rotating about the hinge pin and performs the function of door checker in as much as the roller is received by the first groove or the second grove in response to opened degree of the door while the stopper is hitched by the hitching jaw when the door is fully opened, thereby eliminating the necessity of separate door checker to achieve an effect of reduced number of assembling processes and decreased manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jeong-Min Seo
  • Patent number: 6601269
    Abstract: A shaft part (3A) of a second hinge member (3) is press-fitted into a support hole (23) of a first hinge member (2). By this, frictional resistance is generated between an inner peripheral surface of the support hole (23) and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft part (3A). A coiled spring (4) is disposed between the first hinge member (2) and the second hinge member (3). The coiled spring (4) biases the first and second hinge members (2, 3) such that when the first and second hinge members (2, 3) are turned in normal and reverse directions from a predetermined neutral position, the first and second hinge members (2, 3) are returned towards the neutral position side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Oshima, Kenji Tomizawa