Patents Represented by Law Firm Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis
  • Patent number: 6962032
    Abstract: There is described a packaging machine (1) for producing sealed packages (2) of a pourable food product from a strip (6) of heat-seal sheet packaging material. The packaging material (1) has a number of photocells (14), which are programmable externally as regards their setting parameters, are positioned facing the strip (6) of packaging material to detect optically detectable elements on the strip, and have setting means (26, 210, 300). The packaging machine (1) also has a control unit (16) connected to the photocells (14) and having enabling means (24) for enabling the setting means of a specific photocell (14), data downloading means (26, 240, 310) for downloading off the specific photocell (14) the setting parameters of the photocell, and data uploading means (26, 260, 330) for uploading onto the other photocells (14) setting parameters calculated as a function of the setting parameters downloaded off the specific photocell (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Scarabelli, Frank-Mario Schellenberg, Lorenzo Tacconi
  • Patent number: 6963698
    Abstract: A printer determines the condition of connection with a peripheral device. When detecting a paper ejector is connected, the printer reads out the model name and the serial number, for identifying the paper ejector, stored in a memory, and transmits the model name and the serial number to a server connected to a network. Then, the printer receives a program for controlling the paper ejector from the server, and writes the received control program into a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The printer executes the control program to thereby control the peripheral device connected to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Kondo
  • Patent number: 6962651
    Abstract: A method for producing lubricant base oils is provided comprising the steps of: (a) hydroisomerizing a feedstock over a medium pore size molecular sieve catalyst under hydroisomerization conditions to produce an isomerized product having a pour point of greater than a target pour point of the lubricant base oils; (b) separating the isomerized product into at least a light lubricant base oil having a pour point less than or equal to the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a heavy fraction having a pour point of equal to or greater than the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a cloud point greater than the target cloud point of the lubricant base oils; and (c) dehazing the heavy fraction to provide a heavy lubricant base oil having a pour point less than or equal to the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a cloud point less than or equal to the target cloud point of the lubricant base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, John M. Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 6960197
    Abstract: Absorbent pants having a waist opening, two leg openings, and a waterproof outer barrier layer, which is arranged outside the pants layer. The pants layer has a surface area which is greater than that of the outer barrier layer and is joined in parts with itself or includes a device for enabling it to be joined in parts with itself, so that during use of the pants it alone constitutes the waist opening and the leg openings of the pants, and that the load-bearing parts of the pants and all of the parts lying against the body of the user are formed only from the pants layer. The pants are also elastic, where the outer barrier layer is essentially inelastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Anders Gustafsson, Urban Widlund
  • Patent number: 6960066
    Abstract: A water pump includes a rotation member, a hollow shaft portion having an opening on one end and connected to the rotation member for unitary rotating with the rotation member, an impeller connected to the shaft portion for unitary rotating with the shaft portion, a body defining a fluid chamber in which the impeller is rotated, a bearing for rotatably supporting the shaft portion on the body, a sealing member provided between the shaft portion and the body for sealing the fluid chamber and a cover portion for substantively closing the opening of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yojiro Koga, Itsuro Hashiguchi, Masaki Chujo, Akihiro Katsumata, Takumi Hattori
  • Patent number: 6959900
    Abstract: A powered seat sliding apparatus includes a sliding mechanism having a lower rail and an upper rail being movable in a lengthwise direction relative to the lower rail, a feed screw fixedly supported by the upper rail to be rotated around a rotational axis in the lengthwise direction in response to a rotational force of a motor, a slit train provided at both side portions of the lower rail in the lengthwise direction and being engaged with the feed screw, and a feeding mechanism defined between the feed screw and the slit train so as to slidably move the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Sadao Ito, Genta Moriyama, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6960469
    Abstract: Genetically modified cell implant comprising an exogenous nucleotide sequence coding for all or part of an antibody, method for the preparation of such an implant and its therapeutic use for the treatment or prevention of an acquired disease. The invention also concerns an adenoviral vector, a pharmaceutical composition and its therapeutic use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Transgene S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Leroy, Majid Mehtali
  • Patent number: 6959725
    Abstract: In a constant pressure regulator according to the present invention, a diaphragm defining an air chamber with a body is clamped between the body and a cover. An air chamber defining ring provided around the air chamber is clamped between the body and the cover. The upper surface and the lower surface of the air chamber defining ring are formed with a first recess having a seal ring fitted therein for backing the annular protrusion of the diaphragm and a second recess with a seal ring fitted therein for sealing the air chamber, respectively. The diaphragm has a central cylindrical bore portion defining a fluid control potion with the plug formed on the body. A second valve chamber is defined between the diaphragm and the cover. The body is formed with a first valve chamber and an inlet flow passage, and the second valve chamber is formed with an outlet flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Asahi Organic Chemicals Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenro Yoshino, Toshihiro Hanada
  • Patent number: 6958330
    Abstract: Disclosed are polycyclic ?-amino-?-caprolactams and related compounds which are useful as synthetic intermediates in the preparation of inhibitors of ?-amyloid peptide release and/or its synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignees: Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventors: James E. Audia, Thomas E. Mabry, Jeffrey A. Nissen, Stacey L. McDaniel, Warren J. Porter
  • Patent number: 6958177
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a recyclable mage-recording member from which a printed material such as toner can be removed, characterized in that the printed material can be removed selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Fujiwara, Chiaki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 6958695
    Abstract: A tag has an intelligent function such that when radiation of a burst signal synchronized with a power source frequency from a transmission antenna (20) is detected, it transmits a response burst signal after completion of reception. Then, when a predetermined number of burst signals have been detected, the tag outputs an alarm. Also, an alarm device main body outputs an alarm when a predetermined number of response burst signals have been received. To provide article monitoring apparatus and article monitoring system which determine whether or not an unpaid article is taken out with reliability. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide article monitoring apparatus and article monitoring system which determine whether or not an unpaid article is taken out with reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignees: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, Takachiho Koheki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Imafuku
  • Patent number: 6958588
    Abstract: A machine for machining a workpiece with at least one revolving or rotating tool has a work spindle with a shaft (5), whose temperature is monitored by means of at least one temperature sensor (26). The temperature sensor is detected in contactless fashion. The sensor (26) is preferably a radiation-sensitive sensor, which detects the temperature radiation output. by the shaft (5). In triggering the positioning drive mechanisms, the control unit (35) of the machine (1) takes into account the temperature expansions of the shaft (5) that result from the temperature changes in the shaft. The positioning drive mechanisms serve to position a tool (6), carried by the shaft (5), relative to the workpiece (2). A machining precision is thus achieved that is independent of the temperature and temperature changes of the machine (1) overall, of temperature changes in the coolant—lubricant, and of temperature changes in the tool (6) and the shaft (5), that can all be caused by the power converted at the machining site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Walter AG
    Inventor: Thomas Engelfried
  • Patent number: 6958577
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, particularly for diagnostic imaging thereof, including at least means for imaging and displaying images according to at least one type of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part thereof to be examined, the said means being means for generating at least one type of waves or beams which are transmitted toward the body or the part thereof to be internally imaged and means for receiving said type of waves or beams transmitted by the body under examination or by the part thereof or deriving from the excitation of said part or body under examination, from the reflection and/or transmission and/or modification of waves, of the beams transmitted against said body under examination or the part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Esaote, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Eugenio Biglieri, Osvaldo Pugliese, Lorenzo Bessi, Luigi Satragno, Luciano Schiavini
  • Patent number: 6958758
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6956880
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser module comprises a laser diode that emits light in a frontward direction and a rearward direction, an optical fiber that transmits the light emitted in the frontward direction by the laser diode, and a monitor photodiode that receives the light emitted in the rearward direction by the laser diode. The monitor photodiode is characterized in that its sensitivity characteristic has a negative temperature coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 6955047
    Abstract: Disclosed is a master cylinder wherein a seal member is given plural seal functions to reduce the number of seal members for partitioning a drain portion of the master cylinder, a constant-pressure chamber of a booster and the atmosphere from one another, so that the master cylinder is simplified in construction and reduced in manufacturing cost. When a piston is operated by an output shaft of the booster attached to a booster mounting surface of a cylinder body, the operating fluid from the fluid pressure chamber partitioned by a fluid-tight seal member is supplied to a brake system. An annular complex seal member is fit in an internal seal stepped portion which is formed by radially expanding an opening portion of the cylinder which opens to a booster mounting surface. A slide seal portion of the complex seal member partitions a drain portion behind the fluid-tight seal member from the constant-pressure chamber of the booster through sliding contact with the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Mita, Atsushi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6956072
    Abstract: To provide a resin composition, in which a liquid crystal polymer is made into fiber in a molded article to exhibit an extremely high reinforcing effect which has not been available yet, and from which a molded article having an excellent mechanical strength can be manufactured in a stable manner. That is, a thermoplastic resin composition, wherein 100 parts by weight in total consisting of 99-50 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polyester resin (A) not forming an anisotropic molten phase and 1-50 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polymer (B) capable of forming an anisotropic molten phase is blended with 0.001-2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Kanaka, Toshio Shiwaku, Mineo Ohtake
  • Patent number: 6955407
    Abstract: A negative pressure type brake hydraulic pressure generating device is proposed in which the stroke on the operating side can be set independently of the stroke on the output side. A slide resistance imparting means is provided between the fixed shell and a piston having a built-in control valve introducing atmospheric air to cancel the slide resistance which is the cause of increased stroke hysteresis of the piston, i.e. the slide resistance applied to the piston at airtight seal portions between the power plate and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Tsubouchi, Akihiko Miwa, Tomoyasu Sakai, Koichi Hashida, Haruo Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6956489
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of an electric current-carrying heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Ci of the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Ti corresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cs of the heating element material after a subsequent time Ts at the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Ti and Ts is monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof may be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: MRL Industries
    Inventors: Kevin B. Peck, Noel H. Johnson, William D. McEntire, Thomas J Berdner
  • Patent number: D511147
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Nichia Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoma Suenaga