Recently Issued Patents

An in-line wire connector has a connector body with two insert ends on opposing ends for receiving a first and a second wire into apertures. A truncated tapered coil is configured within the connector body to secure the first and second wires to the in-line wire connector. The in-line twist on wire connector connects wires in line and may be low profile to allow the wires and the wire connector to slide through apertures and tight spaces as it often required in construction and remodeling projects. An in-line wire connector may have two truncated tapered coils that taper toward the opposing ends. A first and second wire conductor extend past each other toward opposing insert ends to produce an overlap portion to create electrical contact between wires. When the connector body is rotated, the wires rotate about each other and are retained by the tapered coil.

A self-tightening culling clip used to secure a marker to a fish for quick identification of the fish in a livewell, for example. The self-tightening culling clip has handles coupled together about a handle pivot and a marker attached to a lift-pivot. A spring forces the jaw end of the handles together and a user may squeeze the handle end of the handles to open the jaws for attaching to a fish. When the marker is lifted, the handles pivot about the handle-pivot to apply force to close the jaws, thereby creating a self-tightening culling clip. A pair of links extend from the lift pivot to the handles and these links for the handle end of the handles outward when the marker is lifted. The marker may have a distinctive identifier color and/or character.

An automatic battery control system automatically switches from charge to discharge modes with a single relay, thereby preventing the need to manually reset a relay switch due to an over or under voltage situation. An automatic battery control circuit is coupled with a battery management system and a relay contactor is opened and closed by a signal from the battery management system. The battery management system monitors a state of charge of the battery unit as well as current flow to and from a battery unit. A parallel resistor is configured across the input and output sides of the single relay contactor and the voltage drop across the resistor indicates a connection to either a charging power source or a load. The connection is communicated to the battery management system by an optocoupler and if the battery unit has an acceptable state of charge, the relay contactor is closed.

A vapor delivery device for the delivery of a dose of vaporizable material includes a detachable dose cartridge having an oven. The oven is configured to contain a vaporizable material and at least oven vent configured to allow the flow of the vapor to a delivery port. The oven may be detachably attached to the dose cartridge. A detachable dose cartridge or oven may be sealed and have a dose of vaporizable material that is inaccessible inside. The vapor delivery device may accommodate organic, resin, prepackaged or liquid vaporizable materials. The oven vent or vents are configured to be either blocked or covered to substantially eliminate vapor escaping from the oven chamber. An oven chamber or oven closure, may be configured to rotate to trap vapor within the oven. In another embodiment, an oven is configured with a plunger that traps vapor within the oven.

A solar shade system includes a first and second canopy assembly that are configured to support a cantilevered beam out from a post. The cantilevered beam is utilized to support a canopy that extends substantially from the first and second canopy assemblies. A post coupler extends between the two posts and an extended end coupler extends between the two extended ends of the cantilevered beams. A canopy has four sides with sleeves configured on each side for receiving a support, such as a post coupler, an extended-end coupler and a canopy cantilever. The solar shade system is quick and easy to assemble.

A processing roll has a release layer that includes a porous rigid layer and polymer composite. The porous rigid layer may be a thermally sprayed metal that has discrete metal portions or a network of contiguous metal portions. Discrete metal from a flame sprayer may attached to each other on a contact surface to form the rigid layer. The polymer composite at least partially fills the spaces between the metal portions. The polymer composite may comprise a particulate filler, such as silica or glass beads. The release layer has good durability as the exposed surface contains both a portion that is the rigid material and a portion that is the polymer composite. This configuration enables very high release and long term durability even as the release layer wears.

An inverting digit bandage system enables covering a digit, such as a finger or toe, with an inverting digit bandage by pulling deployment strips. An inverting digit bandage has a sleeve portion that is rolled up into a toroid portion along with the deployment strip, A deployment tab extends from the deployment toroid and pulling down on the deployment tab unfurls the inverting digit bandage over a digit. An attachment tab may be configured on the extended end of the sleeve and have an adhesive to secure the bandage over the digit. The deployment strip may be attached to a release layer configured over the adhesive on the attachment tab and may remove the release layer when pulled from the inverting digit bandage.

A bottle has a flexible spout and a cap/cover configuration that effectively seals the spout from leakage and stores it under the cover. The flexible spout is folded or bent in two locations as it is secured within the cover. The flexible spout is folded over from an extended orientation and then around a fold partition. The cover is detachably attached to the cap. A diaphragm extends under the cap and seals liquid within the enclosure. In one embodiment, the cover and cap are configured with a ratchet mechanism that allows the cover to rotate in only one direction. In one embodiment, the bottle comprises two enclosures, and the enclosures may be detachably attached to each other or to a handle.

An electrochemical compressor system, such as an electrochemical refrigeration system includes a sealed vessel that reduces leak issues related to the electrochemical cell. The sealed vessel may be molded or formed from a polymer or a composite polymer having reinforcing materials, such as fibers therein. The sealed vessel may be plated with metal to reduce gas permeation through the wall of the vessel and to accommodate and improve the attachment of conduits, including metal conduits thereto. A metal conduit may be brazed onto a vessel and the brazing material may be selected for polymer to metal joining and for reduced contamination potential of the system. The electrochemical compressor system incorporates a leak sensor configured at least partially within the sealed rigid vessel that measures the pressure within the vessel.

A low friction rehabilitation board having an integral band retaining feature is described. The rehabilitation board may have a coefficient of static friction of no more than about 0.5 and in some embodiments no more than about 0.06. The rehabilitation board has a plurality of band retaining feature configured along one or both ends and may be an integral band retaining features being formed in the board. Additionally, the rehabilitation may include one or more band retaining features on one or both sides of the board. The unique configuration of the band retaining features enables rehabilitation method heretofore not possible with a single board. Resistance bands may be retained in the band retaining features and coupled to a user’s limb, such as a foot or ankle, to resist motion, such as sliding or extending the foot along the low friction surface of the rehabilitation board.