| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090116018 | Multiple-Angle Retroreflectometer - A system and method for measuring the photometric retroreflectivity of materials. The system comprises a light source and a first optical pathway along which an illumination light beam travels originating from the light source, and ending at a retroreflective surface to be measured. A second optical pathway is provided along which a retroreflected beam travels back from the retroreflective surface to an aperture array that selects multiple annular areas to be further directed to multiple detectors, one detector for each annular area selected by the aperture. Each detector has a filter for the determination of photometric retroreflectivity. The retroreflected light reaching the detectors produces currents proportion to the intensity of the light. A high-gain current-to-voltage amplifier is used to provide voltage signal to an analog-to-digital converter that converts a voltage to a digital number. A processor is electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter with an accompanying memory on which is stored operating logic adapted to, determine the photometric intensity of a predetermined pattern of the retroreflected beam incident to the array of apertures and detectors which defines the retroreflected light which propagates from the retroreflective surface at a predetermined observation angle. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20100175542 | Illuminated Musical Control Channel Controller - An illuminated controller for a musical control channel, having: a light transmitting body; a mounting system holding a bottom end of the light transmitting body such that the light transmitting body can be positioned at different angular positions; a handle at a top end of the light transmitting body; at least one light source positioned to illuminate the light transmitting body; and an actuator connected to the mounting system, wherein the actuator translates the angular position of the light transmitting body into a signal for controlling a musical control channel. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100177516 | Illuminated Cymbal - An illuminated cymbal, including: a light transmitting cymbal body; top and bottom coverings on opposite sides of portions of the cymbal body; a light source mounted to emit light into the cymbal body, wherein the light source is positioned such that the light is reflected between the top and bottom coverings to reflect radially outwards through the cymbal body to illuminate the cymbal body; and a striking sensor pad mounted on top of the cymbal body. | 07-15-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080271231 | AUTOMATED SEAT AND/OR LID ASSEMBLY FOR A TOILET - The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An automated attachment assembly may be configured to provide both switch and manual-urging automation concomitantly based upon predetermined logic. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of identifying manual movement and of assisting the movement of a bowl attachment. The invention further includes an object sensor incorporated within the seat or lid to detect the presence or absence of an object near the bowl attachment. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090241248 | AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF ASSEMBLY FOR A WATER CLOSET - An automatic shutoff valve and sensor assembly is disclosed to control water supply to a toilet. There is a housing mountable upstream of the toilet and downstream of the room water supply. There is also a shutoff valve, an automated sensor, and a microcontroller in the housing. The sensor is suitable to detect when a potential user is adjacent the water closet. If it detects a user, the sensor can send an output signal that ultimately leads to the opening of the shut-off valve. The shutoff valve then later automatically re-closes when users aren't present. A manual override can be incorporated in the housing as well. This reduces the potential for water leaks and water waste from the toilet. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20110113540 | Plumbing Fixture Having Modular Control Housing - Disclosed is a plumbing fixture (e.g. a bidet or toilet) of the type having a frontal basin and means for directing a supply of water to the basin for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be selected from the group consisting of light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110113543 | Plumbing Fixture with Flush Valve Actuator and Methods of Calibrating Same - Plumbing fixtures with a valve actuator for automatically controlling pivoting of a flush valve, and methods of calibrating movement of the flush valve, are disclosed. The motor of the valve actuator may be positioned between the bowl of the fixture and a leg of a trapway to provide compact assembly. A belt drive laterally extending along the trapway links the motor to the flush valve. The method of calibrating includes establishing stop points which are at positions of less resistance than hard stop positions. | 05-19-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20100298814 | Steerable Surgical Guide Wire Introducer - A guide wire introducer with integrated wire steering function for treating bone. The guide wire employed with the introducer includes a bore material that is a psuedoelastic metal alloy, such as Nitinol. This introducer has a chamfered tip with the complement of the outer construction including a uniform narrow outer diameter enabling insertion into soft tissue and bone with a guide wire therein. The chamfered tip of the introducer incorporates as integrated slit that enables the steering function of the introducer. Additionally, the outer surface of the introducer incorporates a radiolucent notch for radial position reference. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100318138 | Surgical Tool And Method - A medical device and method. The medical device includes a handle portion, a shank portion, a guide channel and a flexible guide device. The shank portion has a non-linear portion adjacent a distal end. The device is useful in performing medical procedures in the pre-sacral area of a human patient. After inserting the guide device, the shank may be removed leaving the guide device in place and a second medical device can be inserted into the site of interest using the guide device for guidance. The medical procedure can be performed using the second medical device. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110060367 | Spine Surgery Device And Method - A surgical connector useful to link spine rods together. The connector may be used adjacent a pair of mounting screws in one vertebra to limit movement between the screws or may be used to apply a lateral force to a portion of the spine to change curvature. A method of performing spinal surgery is also provide to reinforce a patient's spine. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20130046200 | Instrument For Concurrent Injection Of Anesthesia And Removal Of Specimens From A Body - The instant invention describes a biopsy instrument which is useful in removal of tissue or fluid samples from a body, such as bone and soft tissue biopsy procedures. The biopsy instrument is an improvement over other biopsy needles currently in use in that the biopsy instrument according to the instant invention can be used to reduce the pain associated with specimen removal procedures. The biopsy instrument generally comprises an outer cannula and an inner medical probe member. The inner medical probe member is constructed and arranged to contain one or more fluid dispensing members for dispensing a fluid which are in fluid communication with a fluid dispensing device. In this arrangement, the user has the ability to continually inject fluids, such as anesthetizing agents, directly at or near the spot of specimen removal, without the need to remove the surgical instrument or use a separate fluid injecting needle. | 02-21-2013 |
