Other

Hughes Tool Company LLC

Regan Offshore International, Inc.

John E Regan

Bruce J Watkins

Eric L Gray

Charanpreet S Bagga

A toilet seat assembly for installation on a toilet includes a first toilet seat having a first seat aperture and a second toilet seat having a second seat aperture which is smaller than the first seat aperture. At least one of the first and second seats includes an attaching member for selectively attaching the first and second seats to each other. The first and second seat are hingedly connected to each other. When the first and second seats are attached by the attaching member, the first and second seats can be articulated together by an articulating force exerted on either one of the first and second seats. In one example, the first and second seats each include an attaching member which is a magnetic element such that the first and second seats are selectively attached to each other by a magnetic force generated between the magnetic elements.

Combination toilet seat

A bracket system for connecting a structural member to an upright member includes a bracket having an attachment portion configured to be operatively attached to a vertical or side surface of the structural member and a cup portion integral with the attachment portion. The cup portion includes a base portion and an interior perimeter surface configured to receive the upright member in an installed position such that the exterior perimeter surface of the upright member is proximate to the interior perimeter surface of the cup portion and the upright member is supported in an orientation which is substantially perpendicular and parallel to the structural member. The bracket may include an adjustable member received through a bracket opening and adjustable to retain the upright member in or allow removal of the upright member from the bracket. The upright member may include a reinforcing face plate interfacing with the adjustable member.

Bracket system and method

Child toilet seat

This invention modifies hand root canal files used in dentistry by placing metallic contact areas on the plastic handle. This change makes using electronic apex locators to determine the length of the root canal much faster and easier.

Endodontic file with a metallic conductor as part of the plastic handle to facilitate use of electronic apex locators

An instrument for cutting and/or curetting during surgery is discosed. The instruments of the invention are particularly advantageous for use in removing disc material from an intervertebral disc space. In a preferred embodiment, rotation of the instrument around a longitudinal axis of the instrument provides for intermittently distracting vertebrae adjacent to the intervertebral disc space during rotation.

Distracting and curetting instrument

An improvement in blowout preventer apparatus of the type having a radially compressible annular packing mounted within a housing chamber, the housing having axially aligned upper and lower conical bores communicating with an inner bore of the annular packing, the packing axially expanding towards said upper and lower bores upon said radial compression, a plurality of rigid end ring segments attached to sectored webs of the ends of the packing and thereby individually movable axially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the upper and lower conical bores to control the packing axial expansion during radial compression of the packing has keying means cooperating with the rigid end ring segments of the packing and the conical bores for guiding a sector-wise movement of the segments in individually separate and predetermined paths along the conical bores to a common radial position independent of the uniformity of the packing radial compression and/or axial expansion. Exemplary keying means include a key member provided in a slot in the packing end ring segment and a mating keyway in the conical bore.

Keying means for segmented end ring blowout preventer

An oil well blowout preventer includes a radially compressible annular packing having radially-sectored end portions in a housing having axially aligned upper and lower bores communicating with the inner bore of the packing and with the sectored ends, and also includes hydraulic means for radially constricting the packing, thereby causing it to axially expand. A plurality of circumferentially-arranged rigid wedge members carried by the sectored end portions are individually movable radially into the bores to control the axial expansion whereby radial sectors of the packing may move sequentially inward to effect a seal between the upper and lower bores in response to progressive axial expansion of the packing as the packing undergoes nonuniform sector-wise radial compression. The inward radial movement of the rigid members are limited by stops to a common radial position independent of the uniformity of the radial compression. The blowout preventer effects a seal between the inner bore and the upper and lower bores regardless of the presence of an oil well tool therein.

Blowout preventer

The present invention discloses method and apparatus for connecting together two members having mating surfaces by means of a plurality of fasteners such that equal compression forces are exerted on the members along force lines normal to a common plane. To accomplish the foregoing objectives, a plurality of pins are carried by one member and pass through bores in the opposite member. The pins are longitudinally extended simultaneously with a common internal extending force and stops are affixed to the ends extending through the second member snugly against the surface thereof. Upon release of the common extending force, all the pins attempt to restore to their original positions with equal restorative forces being equal and opposite to the common extending force applied thereto.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

John E Regan