Search Patents
  • Door assembly for a bathing enclosure
    Patent number: 10278547
    Abstract: There is described a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, comprising: a frame; a rotatable panel rotatably securable to a wall; and a slidable panel slidably secured to the frame, wherein a sliding motion of the slidable panel triggers a rotation of the rotatable panel, wherein the door assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the door assembly is in the closed position, the rotatable and slidable panels are adjacent to one another and are unparallel and wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the rotatable and slidable panels overlap one another and are parallel together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MAAX BATH INC.
    Inventors: Marco Morin, Steve Donnelly, Mathieu Dufresne, Vincent Morissette
  • Stabilized conductivity sensing system
    Patent number: 6683464
    Abstract: A stabilized fluid conductivity measurement system includes a threaded metal housing with an inner portion having two probes for contacting the fluid to be measured and having an outer portion in which electrical circuitry is mounted. The circuitry includes a balanced square wave generator providing excitation to a modified Wheatstone bridge, including first and second input excitation terminals, and first and second output terminals. Fixed resistances may be located in 3 arms of the Wheatstone bridge, and the fourth arm may have two resistances with an intermediate tap; and one of the two probes is connected to this tap while the other probe is connected to one of the input excitation points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventors: Kyong M. Park, Tony Tuong Nguyen
  • High-density optical data recording
    Patent number: 10672428
    Abstract: A method to record data in a solid substrate comprises modulating a polarization angle of a coherent optical pulsetrain, and, while the polarization angle is being modulated, focusing the coherent optical pulsetrain on a locus moving through the solid substrate at a relative velocity. Here the relative velocity, a width of the locus in a direction of the relative velocity, and a rate of modulation of the polarization angle are such that the substrate receives within the width of the locus two or more pulses of the optical pulsetrain differing in polarization angle. In this manner, the two or more pulses record, in different portions of the substrate within the width of the locus, two or more different symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Richard John Black, Patrick Neil Anderson, Rokas Drevinskas, Austin Nicholas Donnelly, Hugh David Paul Williams
  • Exercising device
    Patent number: 5679103
    Abstract: An exercising device of the type that may be used in hand to hand combat training or to enhance hand, eye and foot reflexes and coordination is disclosed. The device comprises a central longitudinal body which is generally vertically oriented and has at least one elongate cross member, having two opposing ends, pivotally mounted on the central body. The said opposing ends extend radially outward in opposite directions from said central body allowing the cross member to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the central body. When one of said ends of the cross member is struck by the hand or foot of an operator the end moves rotationally away from said operator while the opposing end moves rotationally toward the operator thereby requiring the operator to react defensively to avoid being hit by the opposing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Vincent Pratchett
  • Exercising device
    Patent number: 6146317
    Abstract: An exercise device for use in exercising and strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles. The device is easily utilized, may be readily disassembled, and is easily portable. The device utilizes individual upright resilient bars of varying degrees of resistance which may be interchangeably affixed to a seat portion of the device. The upper portion of the resilient bar feature, which may be bowed in one direction, has an attached padded upper body support on one side and a harness element on the other. The user may sit on the seat element and exert backward pressure against the upper back support to exercise lumber (extensor) paraspinal muscles of the lower back, or the user may sit on the seat element gripping a handlebar assembly affixed to the upper end of the resilient bar and bend forwardly exerting pressure away from the bar to exercise the abdominal muscles. A padded lower back support is provided to assist in properly positioning the user on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Vincent R. Prusick
  • Using recorder technology to find defects in software applications
    Publication number: 20080141221
    Abstract: Using recorder technology for finding defects in software applications by capturing software and/or user-driven events in a computing system. In one implementation, recorder technology is employed in a software defect reporting tool for reporting customer feedback related to software defects or bugs. The recorder can be utilized to capture events and defects for reporting such information to application vendors for defect resolution. A record file can be played back to reproduce the software defect and the steps leading up to the defect, and convert the information into a human readable file format. The recorder can also be used to create regressions scripts. When employed in a beta testing client reporting tool, customers are now able to record reproduce steps automatically, and ship the output file to the software vendor for more comprehensive reporting and hence, effective triage of the software defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Benesovska, Douglas A. Anderson, Dmitri A. Klementiev, Paul H. Donnelly, Vincent Smith, Tenny Cho
  • Electromagnetic door lock system
    Patent number: 6609738
    Abstract: An electromagnetic door lock system, allowing emergency exiting of a building, including an armature mount allowing considerable outward movement of the door with respect to the door frame on which the electromagnet is mounted, whereby outward movement of the door initiates a time delay door release, and gives an increased reassurance that the door will open in an emergency, and allows for improved tamper resistance and reduced false alarms, as the distance the door opens out of the door frame in response to actuation of a panic bar from within is greater than that of conventional systems. A tamper resistant door position sensor includes redundant magnetic reed switches for sensing the position of the door and can include an additional reed switch for detecting when an external magnet is placed near the sensor in an attempt to tamper with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Securitron Magnalock Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Roth, Dennis Wojdan, Vincent Frallicciardi, Robert Cook
  • Color sorting of irradiated materials and a calibrated color comparison array
    Patent number: 3936188
    Abstract: Methods of isolating quartz, quartzite, glass or silicate materials having selected aluminum contents are described. The non-destructive method comprises subjecting the materials to ionizing irradiation for a period of time and at an intensity (preferably uniform) sufficient to develop the several distinctive color centers of the materials containing aluminum ions. According to the ions associated with the aluminum ions, the depth of color of each of the various tints developed corresponds to the amount of aluminum in said crystals. The colored crystals which correspond in tint and depth of color to the aluminum contents outside the desired content range can be separated. In this manner, aluminum free quartz, quartzite, glass or silicate materials can be isolated if present in a mixture, or fractions of such materials can be selected, each containing a uniform and known aluminum content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Sawyer Research Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Baldwin Sawyer
  • Calf enhancer for the lower extremity
    Patent number: 8460163
    Abstract: An ingenious calf, shin and ankle rehabilitation and exerciser apparatus for engagement with the lower leg muscles and ankle comprising of a rigid sole plate member having a sole plate protective pad and affixed fastening sole straps for securing foot to sole plate member, an attachable fulcrum heel ball member for attaching to the bottom of heel section. Sole plate member is pivotally attached to a rigid cross brace member which is comprised of a fastening shin straps affixed to a shin protective pad member to secure the lower leg to a rigid pivoting back support member that is pivotally engaged to cross brace member. Cross brace engages the toe section of sole plate member via an engaging biasing resistance means that provides posterior and anterior resistance not limited to isotonic and isometric for the flexing of the foot and ankle not limited to dorsi-flexion, plantar-flexion, inversion or eversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent B Gibbons
  • Exercising device
    Patent number: 6312366
    Abstract: An exercise device for use in exercising and strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles. The device is easily utilized, may be readily disassembled, and is easily portable. The device utilizes individual upright resilient bars of varying degrees of resistance which may be interchangeably affixed to a seat portion of the device. The upper portion of the resilient bar feature, which may be bowed in one direction, has an attached padded upper body support on one side and a harness element on the other. The user may sit on the seat element and exert back-ward pressure against the upper back support to exercise lumber (extensor) paraspinal muscles of the lower back, or the user may sit on the seat element gripping a handlebar assembly affixed to the upper end of the resilient bar and bend forwardly exerting pressure away from the bar to exercise the abdominal muscles. A padded lower back support is provided to assist in properly positioning the user on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Vipa, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Vincent R. Prusick
  • Apparatus for controlling an operation of a display data channel in a monitor and a method thereof
    Patent number: 5917468
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the operation of a display data channel part of a monitor so that a personal computer (PC) with DDC function is compatible with a personal computer without DDC function and a method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Choon Deok Han
  • Method and apparatus for selecting maximally disjoint shortest paths in a network
    Patent number: 7046634
    Abstract: A method for selecting two maximally disjoint shortest paths between a source node and destination node in a network is provided. The method comprises determining a first explicit route between the source and destination nodes by using an original link cost for each link in the network, transforming the network by introducing conditional link costs, determining a second explicit route between the source and destination nodes in the transformed network taking into account the conditional link costs, and determining the two maximally disjoint shortest paths between the source and destination nodes by coalescing the first and second explicit routes. Beneficially, the step of introducing conditional link costs comprises adding additional parameters to links in the network and determining the conditional link costs depending on the position of each link relative to the first explicit route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Tropic Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Chi Chiu Wong, Peter Steven Pieda, Udo Mircea Neustadter
  • Calf master
    Patent number: 6503178
    Abstract: An ingenious calf and ankle exerciser for engagement with the lower leg muscle and ankle which consists of a shin support w/protective pad (10), back support (14), a front support w/band brackets (16), and an adjustable sole support (30) affixed together by a pivot mechanism (24) to allow pivotal motion of the framework about substantially the same axis of the joint of the ankle, an adjustable arm (22) and an ankle connector pivot pin mechanism (37) which supports back support (14) and front support w/band brackets (16). The front support w/band brackets is swingably connected to the toe pocket w/band bracket (32) by the desired pressure resistant band (34). Then one would pull the front support w/band brackets upward to their leg and drop the back support arm w/ locking latches (15) down onto the locking catch post (18) locking the Calf Master in position. Once locked in place the, Calf Master provides swinging resistance through a range of the pivotal and lateral motion of the ankle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Vincent B. Gibbons
  • Preset diagnostic leak detection method for an automotive evaporative emission system
    Patent number: 6308119
    Abstract: An improved method of diagnosing evaporative emission system leaks at engine idle, wherein the system is closed and drawn down to a sub-atmospheric pressure early in a driving cycle prior to the achievement of an idle condition appropriate for leak testing. When the test enabling conditions other than engine idle are met, the system vent is closed, and the purge valve is modulated to regulate the fuel tank pressure at a sub-atmospheric value substantially equivalent to the leak test pressure to be used at engine idle. When engine idle is achieved, the purge valve is closed, and the leak test is conducted with little or no delay. The time required to conduct the leak test is improved because the system pressure is at or near the test pressure when the engine idle condition is achieved, and at the same time, the reliability of the leak test data is improved because vapor generation equilibrium in the fuel tank is more nearly achieved when the leak test is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Majkowski, Michael J. Steckler, Kenneth M. Simpson, Malcolm James Grieve
  • Multi-directional self-aligning shear type electromagnetic lock
    Patent number: 6135515
    Abstract: A shear-type electromagnetic lock is disclosed whose armature can approach the electromagnet from any transverse direction, which can be mounted in any orientation with respect to gravity, and which does not require any door position sensing means. The armature includes a pair of standoffs in the form of conically projecting buttons affixed thereto, the buttons projecting from the plane of contact between the armature and the electromagnet. The buttons have a base angle of 60-80 degrees adjacent the armature, and an angle of 45 degrees distal from the armature, and terminate in a smoothly rounded point. The armature is mounted to a sub-plate via counteracting springs such that the armature "floats" on the sub-plate, with the distance between the armature and the sub-plate being adjustable via adjusting screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Securitron Magnalock Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Roth, Vincent J. Frallicciardi
  • System for controlling the transfer of an image on a first medium to a second medium
    Patent number: 5917987
    Abstract: A system for controlling the integrity of an image recorded on a first recording medium, for example, film, and transferred to a second recording medium, for example, videotape. The system includes a control chart having a set of chart control information and a plurality of control strips each having a set of strip control information. The control chart, which is for use by a cinematographer on a set, is recordable on the film under substantially the same conditions under which the image is recorded onto the film. Each of the control strips, which are for use by a telecine colorist at a transfer machine, is formatted to correspond to a different type of commercially available film so that one of the control strips corresponds to the film on which the image is recorded. The set of strip control information on each of the control strips includes information substantially the same as information included in the set of chart control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Yuri Neyman
  • Multi-directional self-aligning shear type electromagnetic lock
    Patent number: 6007119
    Abstract: A shear-type electromagnetic lock is disclosed whose armature can approach the electromagnet from any transverse direction, which can be mounted in any orientation with respect to gravity, and which does not require any door position sensing means. The armature includes a pair of standoffs in the form of conically projecting buttons affixed thereto, the buttons projecting from the plane of contact between the armature and the electromagnet. The buttons have a base angle of 60-80 degrees adjacent the armature, and an angle of 45 degrees distal from the armature, and terminate in a smoothly rounded point. The armature is mounted to a sub-plate via counteracting springs such that the armature "floats" on the sub-plate, with the distance between the armature and the sub-plate being adjustable via adjusting screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Securitron Magnalock Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Roth, Vincent J. Frallicciardi
  • System and method for controlling the transfer of an image on a first medium to other recording media
    Patent number: 6292617
    Abstract: A system for controlling the integrity of an image recorded on a first recording medium, for example, film, and transferred to a second recording medium, for example, videotape. The system includes a control chart having a set of chart control information and a plurality of control strips each having a set of strip control information. The control chart, which is for use by a cinematographer on a set, is recordable on the film under substantially the same conditions under which the image is recorded onto the film. Each of the control strips, which are for use by a telecine colorist at a transfer machine, is formatted to correspond to a different type of commercially available film so that one of the control strips corresponds to the film on which the image is recorded. The set of strip control information on each of the control strips includes information substantially the same as information included in the set of chart control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Yuri Neyman
  • Amplitude modulated addressing in disk pregroove
    Patent number: 7586831
    Abstract: In order to help maximize the capacity of an optical storage device, and increase the efficiency of addressing, a unique addressing scheme is utilized to provide addressing for an optical storage disk. Importantly, this scheme is compatible with multilayer disks and helps to minimize the potential for errors. In the addressing scheme of the present invention, the storage media is provided with a wobbled groove, which includes addressing information for the media. More specifically, the surface of the media is divided into predetermined sections, or portions, each portion having a selected number of wobble periods. Within these wobble periods, the amplitude of one single wobble period is either reduced or eliminated. The location of this reduced or eliminated wobble signal can then be determined by the readout system of the present invention and utilized to provide addressing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Alliance Storage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes J. Verboom, Kurt W. Getreuer
  • Apparatus for aging steel-making slag
    Patent number: 6053010
    Abstract: A method for aging steel-making slag comprising the steps of charging normal temperature steel-making slag crushed to the extent that the slag having a grain diameter of 25 mm or less which constitutes 80% or more of the total amount into a pressure vessel which can be closed tight enough to seal a pressure substantially higher than atmosphere. The pressure vessel is closed and pressureized steam is supplied into the said vessel for heating the said pressure vessel and slag to raise the temperature and the pressure in the said pressure vessel while discharging condensed hot water. The interior of the vessel is kept under a condition saturated by steam and pressurized up to 2 to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 G for 1 to 5 hours. The pressure in the pressure vessel is reduced to be equalized with atmosphere. The steel-making slag is then discharged from the vessel. Apparatus is provided for carrying out the above process and includes a pressure vessel having an opening lid for charging and discharging steel-making slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Morishita, Hiroshi Koide, Keiichi Komai, Yoshitaka Kinugawa, Yosuke Suezawa, Kazunari Teramae
Narrow Results

Filter by US Classification