Patents Examined by André L. Jackson
-
Patent number: 7096538Abstract: A door hinge system for supporting a vehicle door on a vehicle body is provided that allows the door to moved between (a) a fully closed position wherein the door is positioned in covering relation with respect to a door opening in the vehicle body, (b) a fully opened position wherein the door is moved out of the covering relation and is positioned substantially alongside the vehicle body, and (c) an intermediate position between the fully open and fully closed positions wherein the door is moved out of the covering relation and extends generally outwardly away from the vehicle body. The hinge system includes a pair of hinge assemblies, which each include (a) a body mounting structure configured to be mounted to the vehicle body, (b) a door mounting structure configured to be mounted to the vehicle door, and (c) a dual pivot swing arm.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2002Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.Inventors: Chuan Liang, Robert H. Mooy
-
Patent number: 7093321Abstract: A lockable hinge includes a first and second hinge member, a lock, and an actuator. The lockable hinge is coupled to a pair of ladder-leg sections and is arranged to allow the ladder-leg sections to move among closed, trestle-ladder, and straight-ladder positions. The lock is used to lock the hinge members to cause the ladder-leg sections to lock in the closed, trestle-ladder and straight-ladder positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Philip W. Burbrink, Trevor S. Brown
-
Patent number: 7073227Abstract: A bush for holding first and second members includes a shaft portion having two ends, and a flange integrally formed on one of the two ends of the shaft portion to extend radially outwardly therefrom. The flange has at least one first pressing portion capable of deforming in an axial direction of the shaft portion for elastically pressing one of the two second member toward the other.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: NIFCO Inc.Inventors: Keisuke Fukushima, Yasuo Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 7073235Abstract: Vehicle body restraint systems including buckles for latching and retaining latch plates associated with safety belts wherein the buckles includes latching mechanisms having oppositely oriented release mechanisms which are operative in such a manner that any force applied to one release mechanism which would act to release a latch plate creates an increased force on the opposing release mechanism to retain the latch plate in a locked position. Release of the latch plates can only occur upon the simultaneous activation of the opposing release mechanisms by manual force applied in opposite directions.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2004Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Inventor: Charles E. Benedict
-
Patent number: 7065832Abstract: An upper hinge assembly for pivotally mounting a door to a refrigerator cabinet includes an aligning plate fixedly secured atop a hinge plate to the cabinet. Once the hinge and aligning plates are factory set in position, with tight tolerances between fasteners and holes in the aligning plate, the aligning plate is separately fixed to the hinge plate. The hinge plate can be subsequently detached from the cabinet, with the aligning plate remaining affixed to the hinge plate, and then reattached in a manner which enables the desired factory preset position to be reestablished, thereby assuring that a seal between the door and the cabinet can be effectively maintained.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventor: Douglas A. Pohl
-
Patent number: 7065835Abstract: A slide hinge is provided for a small-sized information terminal composed of a first casing and a second casing. The slide hinge functions to relatively and automatically slide the first casing and the second casing from predetermined slide positions. The slide hinge is provided between a first casing provided with a keyboard portion and a second casing provided with a display portion so that the two casings are relatively slid. The slide hinge includes a linear slide assembly provided between the first casing and the second casing and a turning assembly being configured to generate rotation torque from a predetermined turning angle so that the first casing and the second casing automatically and relatively slide in an opening direction and/or a closing direction depending on the slide position thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryuta Kuramochi
-
Patent number: 7065836Abstract: A fitting for rotatably supporting a closing element for closing an opening, the fitting including a flange, a clamping element for fixing the closing element to the flange, and a pair of arms extending in parallel from the flange and forming an intermediate space therebetween. Each arm extends to a sleeve which can receive the axle therethrough. The flange, the arms, and the sleeves forming a single piece. A ring received between the sleeves can be secured to the axle.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KGInventor: Hubert Elmer
-
Patent number: 7059016Abstract: This invention relates to door check assemblies capable of holding a door in a number of predetermined open positions with a predetermined force. In particular, the invention relates to an automotive door check device capable of holding an automotive door in a number of predetermined open positions with a predetermined force. In preferred embodiments, the invention is capable of holding a door in an infinite number of open positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Illinois Tool Works IncInventor: Norbert A. Markl
-
Patent number: 7055224Abstract: A trash bag retainer for maintaining a trash bag within a receptacle having a wall which defines a top rim and inner and outer surfaces. The retainer comprises of an elongate band which defines an axis. Attached to the band is at least one engagement member which extends outwardly from the axis of the band. The engagement member defines at least one engagement surface, and is sized relative to the band such that a portion of the trash bag may be captured between the engagement surface and the outer surface of the wall when the band is extended about the receptacle, with a gap being defined between at least a portion of the band and the outer surface of the wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: WenDan Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Richard A Bathey
-
Patent number: 7055216Abstract: A magnetic hinge defining a hinge axis includes first and second hinge plates of non-magnetic material and first and second magnets disposed therein, respectively, for movement therewith. The plates are generally parallel and independently pivotable about the hinge axis between a closed orientation, wherein the plates are essentially superposed, and an open orientation, wherein the plates are essentially not superposed. The first and second magnets are essentially superposed, generally coaxial with the hinge axis, and in the same magnetic orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Concept Workshop Worldwide LLCInventor: David Seidler
-
Patent number: 7051403Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical swing leaf operator having a door closer (1) with an eccentrically supported pinion (6) that presents a circular rolling curve and meshes with a toothed rack (5) being disposed at a piston (4), whereby a particular execution of the rolling curve and of the teeth (9) of the toothed rack (5) in adaptation to a toothing of the pinion (6) is achieved. With the intention to realize an optimized moving course of the piston (4) in the housing (2) of the door closer (1) an improved execution of the delayed closing operation is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KGInventor: Jürgen Homberg
-
Patent number: 7047598Abstract: A pivotal device which is fixed onto a first body and a second body and enables the first body to make rotary and upward/downward movements against the second body is provided. The pivotal device includes a rotary spindle and a holder. The rotary spindle which has a sliding track disposed on the lateral side thereof is fixed onto the first body. The holder, which is fixed onto the second holder, has a second run-through hole for pivotally connecting the rotary spindle with at least a protrusion section which is inlaid into the sliding track being disposed at the second run-through hole. When the rotary spindle rotates, the protrusion section will slide along the sliding track enabling the rotary spindle to move closer to or farther from the holder.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.Inventor: Tien-An Huang
-
Patent number: 7048461Abstract: A ball joint assembly (10) comprises a socket (12) with a chamber (18), an opening extending through a first axial end (20) of the socket (12), and electrically conductive structure (60) closing the second axial end (22) of the socket (12). An electrically conductive ball stud (30) has a head portion (32) that is received in the chamber (18) and a shank portion (34) that extends through the opening. An electrically conductive bearing member (40) is received in the chamber (18) and provides an electrical connection between the structure (60) and the ball stud (30). An electrically non-conductive biasing member (50) is interposed between the structure (60) and the bearing member (40) and urges the bearing member away from the structure such that, in response to a predetermined amount of wear, the electrical connection between the structure (60) and the ball stud (30) is discontinued.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Daniel E. Williams
-
Patent number: 7047599Abstract: An abutment member 4 of a first hinge member A1 is pressed against a cam member 8 of a second hinge member A2 by a coiled spring 6. By this, an interval between an enlarged diameter portion 31 of an insertion member 3 of the first hinge member A1 and a connecting plate portion 72 of the second hinge member A2, is restricted to a predetermined interval. In other words, an interval between the end faces 31a, 72a of the enlarged diameter portion 31 and the connecting plate portion 72 is restricted to a predetermined interval. A friction member 10 composed of an elastic material such as a rubber is disposed between the end faces 31a, 72a. The thickness of the friction member 10 in the opposing direction of the end faces 31a, 72a is larger than the interval between the end faces 31a, 72a.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Oshima, Katsuya Imai
-
Patent number: 7047597Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hinge for a folding ladder having first and second ladder frames. The hinge includes a main hinge unit, a subsidiary hinge unit, and a locking unit. The main hinge unit includes first and second support arms commonly mounted to an upper end of the first ladder frame, and first and second disc parts extending from upper ends of the first and second support arms, respectively, and being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval. The subsidiary hinge unit includes a subsidiary support arm mounted to an upper end of the second ladder frame, and a subsidiary disc part extending from an upper end of the subsidiary support arm, the subsidiary disc part being disposed between the first and second disc parts, with a plurality of notches being provided along a peripheral edge of the subsidiary disc part.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Inventor: Sang Kyu Lee
-
Patent number: 7036188Abstract: A composite knob including an injection molded translucent core having a side wall and a top wall with light pipe window or a light pipe opening formed in these walls. A trim ring is positioned on the core and has an opening therethrough to align with the light pipe window or opening. A cover is mounted on the trim ring and core and includes an opening aligned with the trim ring opening and the light pipe window or opening. A light pipe located in the light pipe window or light pipe opening is visible through the trim ring and cover openings. An opaque plastic light transmitting barrier is formed between the light pipe window or light pipe and the openings in the trim ring and cover. The light transmitting barrier is molded as a part of a gripping overlay applied to the outer surface of the skirt of the knob.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: The Grigoleit CompanyInventor: Robert K. Howie, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7032272Abstract: A motion control device for controlling the movement of an operational member about a first axis and about a second axis includes a spindle having a socket and a control arm wherein the socket defines a first axis opening. The device includes a cylindrical pivot member inserted into the first axis opening concentric with the first axis. The pivot member defines a second axis opening and the device includes a cylindrical pivot pin inserted into the second axis opening concentric with the second axis. The spindle is designed to pivot in a first direction about the first axis and in a second direction about the second axis wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to each other. In one embodiment, a hexagonal drag spring is inserted between the pivot member and spindle to influence the frictional drag for one of the two directions of movement.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Masco Corporation of IndianaInventor: Hans-Christoph Haenlein
-
Patent number: 7028372Abstract: A door hinge mounting device is provided for a microwave oven, which is constructed such that when a hinge plate provided in a main body of the microwave oven and a hinge shaft provided in a door of the microwave oven are hingedly connected to each other, a supporting rib supports the hinge plate so that the hinge plate cannot be lowered. Further, the supporting rib is integrally formed on a choke cover is constructed such that one end thereof is connected to the choke cover and the other end thereof is formed as a free end. The supporting rib constructed as such has a predetermined elastic force depending on the material and shape, and thus, the free end of the supporting rib tends to move toward the hinge shaft, that is, a position where the hinge plate can be supported by the supporting rib. With this construction, the door can be firmly mounted to the main body of the microwave oven without any additional components.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Jung Eui-Su
-
Patent number: 7028371Abstract: The present invention relates to inertial braking system for spring-loaded devices, such as block and tackle window balances incorporated in single and double hung window assemblies. In one embodiment, a block and tackle window balance includes a translatable block assembly disposed in a track including a pawl pivotally attached to the translatable block assembly. The pawl, in response to a rapid acceleration of the translatable block assembly, rotates about a pivot and frictionally engages the track, thereby wedging the translatable block assembly in the track. In another embodiment, the translatable block assembly includes a cam attached to the pawl and a brake shoe disposed between the cam and a cord seated within a pulley. Rotation of the pawl causes the cam to translate the brake shoe, thereby compressing the cord against the pulley.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Amesbury Group Inc.Inventors: Lawrence VerSteeg, Gary Roger Newman
-
Patent number: 7017233Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a shaft (1), a prime mover spring (2) having two end portions (22, 23), a case drive member (3) having a cam face (311), a main body drive member (4) having a cam face (411) movably engaged with the cam face of the case drive member, a number of driving pins (5) each having one end abutting the case drive member, and a manual button (8) connected with an opposite end of each driving pin. The two end portions of the prime mover spring are respectively secured in a flange head (12) of the shaft and in the case drive member. The shaft extends through the prime mover spring, the case drive member and the main body drive member thereby integrating the hinge assembly into a complete unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sheng-Cheng Hsu, Shi-Hua Tian, Xiang-Dong Chen
-
Patent number: 4973645Abstract: Fully imidized polyimidisiloxanes which are based on oxydiphthalic anhydride are soluble in diglyme which gives them particular utility in the micro-electronics industry. The polymers are prepared from oxydiphthalic anhydride, a difunctional siloxane monomer and an organic diamine that provides an assymetrical structure in the polyimidesiloxane polymer chain. The polyimide-siloxane can be prepared with functional groups which render them directly curable. The polyimidesiloxanes can also be prepared with functional groups which when reacted with an unsaturated compound renders the polymers curable. The products of the invention can be used in the form of solutions in the micro-electronic industry. The polymers can also be used in wire and cable coating and to prepare films, fibers, and molded and extruded articles.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1988Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: Occidental Chemical CorporationInventor: Chung J. Lee