Patents Represented by Attorney Bliss McGlynn, P.C.
  • Patent number: 7673925
    Abstract: A drive motor assembly for a vehicle sunshade assembly includes a motor and a stabilizing unit. The motor has a housing, and an axle extending through the housing and having two ends respectively protruding outwardly of the housing. The stabilizing unit is connected to and provides an urging force to one of the ends of the axle in an axial direction thereof toward the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 7650986
    Abstract: A shaker conveyor assembly for moving objects includes a conveying element adapted for movement in first and second directions in repeated rectilinear fashion so as to convey items placed on the conveying element in one of the directions. The assembly includes an electric drive assembly having an output, a control assembly, and at least one sensor adapted to sense movement of the output. The control assembly provides a first level of electrical power to the electric drive assembly during a first portion of reciprocal movement and a second level of power to the electric drive assembly during a second portion of reciprocal movement. In addition, the control assembly provides selective control over the duration of the first and second portions of the reciprocal movement thereby controlling the speed of each of the directions of reciprocal movement of the conveying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Magnetic Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Kwasniewicz
  • Patent number: 7644987
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seatback frame and an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback frame. The active head restraint system includes an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted to the upper armature. The active head restraint system also includes a lower armature operatively attached to the upper armature. The lower armature is operable to move toward the upper armature in response to a predetermined force applied to the lower armature and act on the upper armature to move the head restraint toward the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mladen Humer, Nagarjun Yetukuri, Gerald Locke, Dale Smallwood
  • Patent number: 7614609
    Abstract: A winch including a drum, a motor and a power transmission device. The power transmission device includes a casing and a planetary mechanism assembly having first and second planetary carriers rotatably disposed in the casing; first to third planetary gears rotatably supported on the first and second planetary carriers and engaged with the transmission gear; an annular gear fixed in the casing and engaged with the first to third planetary gears respectively; and a power output member having an input gear portion and an output gear portion, the input gear portion engages with the first to third planetary gears respectively, and the output gear portion engages with the inner drum gear portion of the drum. The winch achieves deceleration function with large speed ratio by a single stage planetary mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: T-Max (Hang Zhou) Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huizhong Yang, Zhaobo Qing
  • Patent number: 7581315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting rod assembly and method of manufacturing same. The method includes defining a small end of a connecting rod having a terminal end and defining a pin bore extending through the small end. A pair of channels is forged on opposite sides of the small end, such that each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the pin bore. A bushing having a contact surface including at least partially annular grooves and opposed distal ends is subsequently formed and installed into the pin bore of the small end. Following installation of the bushing, the connecting rod is machined to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end to where at least a portion of the grooves are disposed along the distal ends to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent the pin bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mahle Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Stephen McEwan
  • Patent number: 7568862
    Abstract: A plug member (10) for retaining grout in a cable bolt hole or a rockbolt hole or inside a rockbolt in underground excavations, comprising a cylindrical cap portion (20) with a means to wedge (26) the cap portion in the hole. The means to wedging means (26) may comprise a plurality of inclined flaps, a continuous resilient skirt, or a tapered bung. The cap portion (20) is provided with at least one port (50) to receive a grout delivery hose. The or each port (50) is comprised of a plurality of flexible flaps (56) moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the flaps (56) inter-engage to substantially close the port (50) and prevent grout leakage from the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Sean Peter Buxton
  • Patent number: 7568752
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart rails, a roller unit, a screen, and a position-retaining unit. Each rail has opposite front and rear ends, and is formed with a track therealong. The roller unit is spaced apart from the front end, and includes an inner tube member and an outer tube member. The screen has a fixed end secured to the outer tube member, a free end, and opposite peripheral edge portions extending into the tracks. The position-retaining unit includes an annular spool, a rope, and a spiral spring. The rope extends along one of the rails, loops around the rear end, and passes through the track in the rail. The spiral spring is disposed in the spool, and has an inner end connected to the outer tube member and an outer end connected to the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 7562651
    Abstract: A vapor canister having an integrated evaporative emission canister purge actuation monitoring system. The vapor canister has a plurality of sidewalls defining a housing with a valve body formed integrally on the housing and a cover mounted to the valve body so as to define a vent chamber between the cover and the valve body. The integrated valve body has a main flow passage and a canister port. An air filter assembly is disposed adjacent to the valve body on the housing and provides fluid communication between the main flow passage and the ambient air. A first one-way umbrella valve mounted to the valve body that is responsive to predetermined positive pressure in the main flow passage to control flow of fluid from a vapor canister to ambient air as well as a second one-way umbrella valve that is responsive to a predetermined negative pressure in the main flow passage to control the flow of ambient air through an air filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhouxuan Xia, Kevin Mulkeran
  • Patent number: 7552972
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including a seat backrest, a seat bottom, and a seat frame having a front member and a rear member that operatively supports the seat bottom. A seat backrest rotating assembly allows the seat backrest to move from an upright position to a folded position. The seat frame has a seat rotation mechanism to allow the seat frame to be rotatively lifted upward and move the seat frame to a tumbled position. A first latching mechanism latches and retains the seat backrest in the upright position. A second latching mechanism latches and retains the seat bottom to the vehicle floor. A release assembly has a motor and a cable assembly that is operatively connected to the first latching assembly. The motor is adapted to be remotely actuated to cause the first latching assembly to be operatively released by the cable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Ferrari, Michael Walkowski, Mark Allyn Folkert, David Williams, Eric Woods
  • Patent number: 7518073
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensing system adapted for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one emitter and at least one sensor disposed in spaced relationship to the emitter. The sensor is operable to detect relative distance to the emitter to thereby detect the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system also includes at least one sensor assembly with a base and an upper slide member slidingly supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member includes an exterior surface that is continuous to thereby block contaminants from entering the sensor assembly. Also, at least one of the emitter and the sensor is supported by the upper slide member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Faisal K. Sallam, Novy A. Medallo, Oliver J. Young
  • Patent number: 7517454
    Abstract: A method includes: disposing a filter into a body of wastewater containing active sludge, the filter including a supporting member having an outlet, and a filter media enclosing the supporting member and supported by the supporting member so as to have a predetermined firm shape, the filter media including a non-woven substrate and a fibrous filtering layer attached to the non-woven substrate and having a pore diameter ranging from 0.001 to 15 ?m and a layer thickness ranging from 10 to 200 ?m, the fibrous filtering layer being made from fibers having a fiber diameter ranging from 20 to 1000 nm; and driving the wastewater to pass through the filter using a pump connected to the outlet of the supporting member of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kang Na Hsuing Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Jung Hu, Hsi-Yu Chen, Wen-Chun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7516546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly having a stepped small end. The method includes defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end and defining a pin bore extending therethrough. A pair of channels are formed on opposite sides of the small end, perpendicular to the pin bore and a bushing is subsequently installed into the pin bore. Where a connecting rod assembly does not include a bushing the method includes defining a small end having a pin bore and forming pair of channels on opposite sides of the small end. A contact surface is then defined within the pin bore to engage a piston pin and the small end is machined to provide a stepped configuration. The connecting rod assembly is then machined to reduce the width of the small end to provide a stepped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Stephen McEwan
  • Patent number: 7516770
    Abstract: A roll-up door assembly including a flexible curtain made of synthetic rubber or fabric, a curtain winding mechanism and two guide members which extend vertically on opposite sides of the doorway. Side edge sections of the curtain are movable in respective guide members. Each guide has inner and outer wall sections with each wall section having an inwardly projecting, longitudinal rib. The two ribs of each guide form an elongate slot that receives a side edge section of the curtain. Spaced-apart pairs of curtain lock members are mounted on and distributed along each side edge section of the curtain. The lock members of each pair are positioned opposite one another on front and rear surfaces of the curtain respectively. The combined thickness of each pair of lock members and the curtain exceeds the width of the elongate slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: TNR Industrial Doors Inc.
    Inventor: Craig John Jerry
  • Patent number: 7500336
    Abstract: A deck panel is adapted to be secured on a supporting frame structure to create a deck surface. The deck panel comprises a thermoplastic material impregnated with a fibrous stranded material. The panel includes a top surface and four lateral sides extending downward from the top surface. The top surface is formed as a grid having a plurality of openings. A plurality of supporting ribs extend parallel to each other from one of the four lateral sides to an opposite one of the four lateral sides. The upper surface of each supporting rib is adapted to form longitudinal portions of the grid pattern of the top surface. A plurality of tabs extend outward from the lateral sides that are adapted to interlock with a corresponding plurality of tabs extending from a like deck panel so that a plurality of deck panels may be juxtaposed in abutting relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: ThruFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek McGivern, Paul Otto Kjeldsen
  • Patent number: 7501060
    Abstract: A wastewater treating system includes: a vessel defining a vessel space therein, the vessel space being partitioned into an activated sludge zone that is adapted to receive waste water and a body of an activated sludge therein, and a coarse filtering zone that is disposed downstream of and that is in fluid communication with the activated sludge zone for receiving bio-treated wastewater from the activated sludge zone; and a bed of biomass carriers colonized with microorganisms and disposed in the coarse filtering zone for further bio-treating the bio-treated wastewater from the activated sludge zone and for separating coarse suspended solids from the bio-treated wastewater in the coarse filtering zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kang Na Hsiung Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Jung Hu, Hsi-Yu Chen, Wen-Chun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7458354
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an intake manifold including first and second plenums in fluid communication with the throttle body and a plurality of runners depending from the plenums to direct air into the cylinders of an engine. Each of the runners includes a vent to release pressurized air within the runner. The intake manifold tuning assembly further includes a tuning device disposed between the plenums, the tuning device includes a housing having a plurality of tuning ports aligned relative to the vents to receive pressurized air from the runners. An intermediate plenum is defined within the housing that directs pressurized air from one runner to another runner corresponding to the next cylinder in the firing sequence of the engine. Valves regulate the transfer of pressurized air between the runners for increased torque output over a predetermined range of engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Phaneuf, John Long, Charles Greenlaw, Naser Hineiti
  • Patent number: 7458804
    Abstract: A drop tip is provided for conveying injection molding material from a molding material supply into a mold. The drop tip has a body including an internal bore and a drop passage extending from the internal bore. The internal bore has an arcuate lower end terminating in a gate to prevent retention of molten material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Plastic Engineering & Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick A. Tooman
  • Patent number: 7446668
    Abstract: A low profile sensor assembly for use in a vehicle occupant sensing system that comprises a base, an upper slide member, and at least one intermediate guide member. Also disclosed is a low profile sensor assembly for use in a vehicle occupant sensing system that comprises a base with an outer step and a receptacle, and the low profile sensor assembly also comprises an upper slide member with a lower flange and a retainer. The outer step is adapted to accept the lower flange, and the receptacle is adapted to accept the retainer. The intermediate guide member, the outer step, and the receptacle each allow the respective upper slide member to move further toward the base. Thus, when the low profile sensor assembly is incorporated into a vehicle seat assembly, the low profile sensor assembly is less likely to detrimentally affect the comfort level of the vehicle seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Young, John F. Nathan, Christopher T. Ricard, Mark Sebby
  • Patent number: D594529
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: John W. Rustowicz
  • Patent number: D600856
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: American Dryer, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Robert