Patents Examined by Ernesto Garcia
  • Patent number: 7588386
    Abstract: Leveling and aligning device by which the distance at which a member is supported with respect to a base may be altered and firmly locked in the given adjustment without creating stresses in either the body of the member and the base or the device by itself. The leveling and aligning device allows continuation of the adjustment process even in case of inadvertent disengagement of components of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Silicon Valley Automation
    Inventors: Grzegorz Kielczewski, Elik Gershenzon, Bogdan Berlinski
  • Patent number: 7588384
    Abstract: A bearing seat of a ball joint improved in lubricity is provided. By opening a plurality of dimples that are opened on a spherical sliding surface that rotatably holds an approximately globular ball portion of a ball stud and house a grease, the dimples can be provided in a balanced manner in proximity to each other, therefore, the grease spreads out between the respective dimples even when sway of the ball portion is relatively small, and lubricity can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Somic Ishikawa
    Inventor: Toyoaki Yokohara
  • Patent number: 7559714
    Abstract: A fitting for a terminal connection in a core-adjuster assembly has a generally annular isolator with a generally central bore defining a connector pin socket and a reverse clip cap socket, and a reverse clip cap configured to be received substantially concentrically by the reverse clip cap socket of the isolator and defining a connector pin end socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Phillip Ruhlander
  • Patent number: 7556243
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a collision between a vehicle and an end of a Metal Beam Guide Fence. A transition device is attached to a modified section of the Metal Beam Guide Fence. The transition device and modified section are configured to allow passage of cables of a High Tension Cable Barrier through the Metal Beam Guide Fence and the transition device. The High Tension Cable Barrier redirects the colliding vehicle away from the end of the Metal Beam Guide Fence. The transition device and modified section are also configured to interact with the cables of the High Tension Cable Barrier to transfer and spread the collision load from the high tension cables to the Metal Beam Guide Fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: John P. Williams
  • Patent number: 7549819
    Abstract: A device comprising two hollow profiles which are arranged approximately at a right angle from each other and each of which is provided with a profiling channel that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the profile and an undercut longitudinal groove in at least one lateral face of the profile, the longitudinal groove extending parallel to the profiling channel. The two hollow profiles are held together by a connecting screw whose shaft engages into the profiling channel of one hollow profile and whose screw head is mounted within an undercut longitudinal groove of the other hollow profile. The periphery of the screw head is provided with grooves or notches that run on planes extending from the longitudinal axis (M) of the shaft while forming ribs therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Ulrich Stauss
  • Patent number: 7530757
    Abstract: A rotor coupling having insulated structure which can assuredly prevent galvanic corrosion of beating members, rotors and the like which is caused by shaft voltage, is provided in a shaft system that requires insulation. A generator is disposed in between a steam turbine and a gas turbine or a rotating machinery such as another steam turbine. The rotor coupling having insulated structure is employed in power generating equipment in which a generator is disposed in between a steam turbine and a gas turbine or a rotating machinery such as another steam turbine, a generator rotor and a rotating machinery rotor are connected, a first grounding electrode is provided to the steam turbine rotor, and a second grounding electrode is provided to the generator rotor, wherein both the rotors between the generator and the steam turbine are connected in an electrically insulated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Toda, Haruo Ishisaka, Yoshiyuki Morii
  • Patent number: 7530756
    Abstract: A connection between a rod and crosshead in a reciprocating compressor includes threaded units, an anti-rotational securing device and axial positioning elements, wherein the threaded units has a first inner lock nut, provided with an inner thread onto which there is screwed a threaded end portion of the rod and provided with two outer threads with a different diameter, one of which is for connection to the left-handed anti-rotational securing device, and the units also include a second outer lock nut in the inner diameter of which a thread is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holding S.p.a.
    Inventors: Franco Graziani, Simone Pratesi
  • Patent number: 7530613
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting and disconnecting two objects comprises: a housing formed as a hollow type, and having one closed end to which a first object is connected and another opened end; a coupling portion mounted in the housing so as to be movable in an axial direction of the housing, and to which a second object is connected; a clamping portion coupled to the housing for clamping the coupling portion; a cylinder disposed in the housing for pressurizing the clamping portion so that a clamped state of the coupling portion by the clamping portion can be maintained; and a gas generator integrally coupled to an outer surface of the housing so as to be in communication with inside of the housing for generating gas of a high pressure thereby releasing a clamped state of the coupling portion and separating the coupling portion from the housing. Two objects are easily connected or disconnected to/from each other by the simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Agency for Defense Development
    Inventors: Heung-Youl Kim, Yong-Bum Jun
  • Patent number: 7491008
    Abstract: An insert for an external fixation has two jaws for clamping a rod-shaped element. The insert includes a locking element and is an angled piece having two free ends, with at least one engagement edge for engagement into the rod-shaped element being provided at its one free end. The insert has a recess or bore for engagement with a locking shaft of the clamp provided at the free end thereof that lies opposite to the free end having the rod engagement edge. The insert is angled so that it may extend through a passageway in one of the jaws and into a cavity formed in the jaw for receiving the rod. The insert rod engaging edges are tapered to bite into the rod to prevent its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Vinzenz Burgherr, Damian Fankhauser
  • Patent number: 7488134
    Abstract: A shaft body has an engagement portion with a slip-off preventing groove, and a positioning recess extending from the engagement portion. A shaft joint having an engagement groove to be engaged with the engagement portion and a bore facing the engagement groove is provided with a flexible member which is provided on an outer side in a longitudinal direction of the engagement groove to be engaged with the positioning recess. When an insufficient amount of engagement prevents engagement in the correct position, the engagement portion contacts with the flexible member and prevents the shaft body from engaging with the shaft joint. When canceling the coupling for maintenance, etc., the engagement of the flexible member with the positioning recess is cancelled by deflecting the flexible member in a width direction of the engagement groove. Consequently, the shaft body can be easily pulled out in a longitudinal direction of the engagement groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Nissan Motor., Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kinme, Kenichi Aota, Tadakatsu Take
  • Patent number: 7455472
    Abstract: A device for plane-parallel attachment of a first module to a sidewall of a second module includes at least one coupling element with clamping projections having beveled end sections. The coupling element includes a guide element with two opposing guide tabs, a locking element, and a stop element, wherein the guide tabs, the locking element, and the stop element abut sidewalls of the connecting element so that the two guide tabs extend from a first opposing pair of the sidewalls, and the locking element and the stop element extend from another opposing pair of the sidewalls perpendicular to the first pair. The first module includes an interlock for captivating the coupling element or elements in the sidewall of the first module, whereas the second module has a receiving part capable of receiving the coupling element or elements captivated in the sidewall of the first module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Lehner, Joachim Masatz, Jürgen Wagner
  • Patent number: 7452155
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle, has a ball and socket joint housing (1), which has a joint opening and in which a bearing shell (5) made of an insulating material is arranged. A ball pivot (4), which is made of an electrically conductive material, has a joint ball (2) and a pivot (3), and which is mounted with its joint ball (2) rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell (5) and projects from the ball and socket joint housing with its pivot (3) through the opening of the joint. An electrode (14) is arranged in the wall of the bearing shell (5) at a distance (?) from the joint ball (2), and the electrode (14) and the joint ball (2) are electrically insulated against each other via the bearing shell (5). Furthermore, between the joint ball (2) and the ball and socket joint housing (1), the wall has at least two layers (12, 13) arranged one after another, between which the electrode (14) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Hans-Gerd Brunneke
  • Patent number: 7452157
    Abstract: A connecting butt strap connecting in series two wire cable trays (10, 20) consisting of two different types of wires, warp wires and weft wires, the connection of the two cable trays (10, 20) being produced via their abutted weft wires (12, 22): it comprises two clip-on elements adapted to clip the butt strap (30) on each of the abutted weft wires (12, 22), one of which enables the butt strap to be mounted rotatable (30) on one cable tray (10) and the other enables the two cable trays (10, 20) to be assembled, the butt strap (30) further comprising locking elements adapted to co-operate with a warp wire of the other cable tray (20) and to lock the butt strap (30) in its connecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: ICM Group
    Inventor: James Deciry
  • Patent number: 7413366
    Abstract: A connecting member for releasably connecting a first part to a second part is provided. The connecting member includes a housing and a first locking member. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The first locking member has a first tab and a first button. The first locking member is in the housing such that the first locking member biases the first tab through the first opening and the first button through the second opening. The first tab is releasably connectable to the first part over the housing when the first tab is biased through the first opening. Further, the first button remains uncovered by the first part when the first part is releasably connected to the first tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventor: Bernard Leon Bensussan
  • Patent number: 7413371
    Abstract: A quick connect anchor 20 for attachment to a cooperating fastener 110, the anchor including: a plate 30 configured to be placed over the fastener and configured to be moved in a first direction from a free position to a locked position; and a resilient blocking member 50 movable with the plate from a first position, in which the resilient member is free from the fastener, to an engaged position in engagement with a portion of the fastener, to resiliently connect the plate with the fastener when the plate is in its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Arnold, Richard A. Boelstler, Robert J. Desmarais
  • Patent number: 7413365
    Abstract: A connecting construction for components of a system frame, having frameworks which have frame struts (12) and cross brackets (14) connecting the frame struts (12), a sheet steel corner plate (20) which is arranged in each case in the region in which the cross bracket (14) is connected to the frame strut (12) and which has a corner recess (22) in the corner region of the region in which the cross bracket (14) is connected to the frame strut (12), by means of which a coupling unit can be connected to the frame strut (12), is distinguished in that a further recess (24) is provided approximately level with the corner recess (22) and offset inward, and a further coupling unit having a first coupling element and a second coupling element is provided, it being possible for a frame tube to be connected to the first coupling element, and the second coupling element being designed in such a manner that it can be fastened in the further recess (24) of the sheet steel corner plate (20) with a positive and/or non-positiv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Wilhelm Layher Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Kreller
  • Patent number: 7407338
    Abstract: A transparent component portion includes a first weld surface and a first taper locking surface formed opposite from the first weld surface. An absorbing component portion includes a second weld surface and a second taper locking surface formed opposite from the second weld surface. The first and second taper locking surfaces cooperate to force and lock the first and second weld surfaces into abutting engagement for laser welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Bobbye Kaye Whitenton Baylis, Daniel Frank Watt, Xiao Qun Xu, James Vanderveen
  • Patent number: 7407337
    Abstract: A locking positioning mechanism includes a first element and a second element, the first element and second element rotatable relative to one another about a common rotational axis between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation and axially translatable relative to one another. The mechanism further includes one or more first locking surfaces of the first element and one or more second locking surfaces of the second element. The second locking surfaces are configured to clear the first locking surfaces in the unlocked orientation. The second locking surface is configured for an interference fit with a first locking surface in the locked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Tella, Robert G. Ritter
  • Patent number: 7384209
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint connection has a retaining part which has a fastening point for fixedly mounting the retaining part to a structure, and a rod part which is arranged pivotably in a pivoting-angle region in a pivoting plane via a ball-and-socket joint on the retaining part. The fastening point and the ball-and-socket joint are situated approximately in the pivoting plane and the rod part protrudes from the ball-like component out of a journal slot which extends radially to the ball seat in a sector-like or sectional manner at least corresponding to the pivoting angle and has a width at least corresponding to the thickness of the rod part to reduce a bending moment and loading on the retaining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Muders, Frank Born, Wilhelm Schwab, Andre Stein, Rolf Mintgen
  • Patent number: 7377714
    Abstract: A mechanical joint is formed from a hollow structure of material that can be shaped so that bringing opposite sides of the external walls forming the hollow together forms a socket. For example, by compressing together opposite external sides of a hollow structure, such as a tube, a socket with a continuous double wall is formed. The socket is configured to provide a snap fit with a moveable member. A flexible member is positioned in the socket and attached to the moveable member, so that the moveable member can be controlled for placement in an out of the socket. The flexible member may also twist to permit the moveable member to be located in any position necessary to allow the moveable member to be engaged in the socket or disengaged from the socket, reducing the need for precise component tolerances. The joint is useful in structures that have multiple configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Francis J. Reeves