Patents Examined by Hiwot Tefera
  • Patent number: 9788594
    Abstract: Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. The articles may include one or more reinforcements configured to provide added durability to various regions of the articles. In addition, the articles may be formed from two or more materials in a single rapid manufacturing process. The rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique may also include using of varying intensities of the laser to fuse material to form the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly B. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9788665
    Abstract: A merchandising system for a displaying a plurality of products is disclosed. The system includes a base and a product tray. The base includes a product-supporting surface which defines a longitudinal axis. The product tray is disposed adjacent a proximal portion of the base, includes a product-supporting surface, and is pivotal with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Display Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Howard, Matthew Pichel
  • Patent number: 9775323
    Abstract: An exchangeable expendable part of a milking arrangement includes an identification tag with data by which a model or a manufacturing date of the exchangeable expendable part is uniquely identified. The tag is readable by a reader arranged to repeatedly read the tag and to forward the readings to a computer system, whereby the computer system identifies the model and/or a manufacturing date of the part based on the readings; and, in response to the identified model and/or manufacturing date, i) alerts an operator, ii) monitors and/or controls the milking arrangement, and/or iii) makes the model and/or the manufacturing date of the part available to an operator. Exchangeable expendable parts include teat cup liners, cartridges including teat cup liners, and milk or vacuum tubes connected to teat cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DELAVAL HOLDING AB
    Inventor: Peter Bahlenberg
  • Patent number: 9763367
    Abstract: A cabinet includes a cabinet body, a monitoring system main unit and several connection interfaces. The cabinet body includes an accommodation chamber surrounded by an inside wall for accommodating electronic machines. The monitoring system main unit is mounted inside the cabinet body. The monitoring system main unit has signal lines arranged within the accommodation chamber. The connection interfaces are respectively and electrically connected to the signal lines and disposed within the accommodation chamber for the installation of different sensors. The monitoring system main unit includes a storage unit, a display unit, connection ports, a network interface and a control unit, so the monitoring system main unit is capable of displaying the data of the sensors on the display unit or a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Cyber Power Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Chun Chien
  • Patent number: 9759452
    Abstract: A support structure (10) for carrying a plurality of heliostats (12) is provided. The support structure (10) includes a frame (20) formed from a number of girders (22). The frame has a triangular outer perimeter and a plurality of mountings (26) for carrying the heliostats (12) are provided along the perimeter. At least one mounting (26) is provided at or near each vertex (16) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20), and at least one additional mounting (26) is provided part-way along each side (17) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Karel Johan Malan, Paul Gauché
  • Patent number: 9737157
    Abstract: A display assembly is provided with a base, and a plurality of receptacles supported by the base. Each of the plurality of receptacles is sized to receive a plurality of cards. Each of the plurality of receptacles has a distal end with an opening for display, receipt and removal of at least one of the plurality of cards and a proximal end to provide a limit to a depth of receipt for the plurality of cards within the receptacle. Each receptacle is oriented such that a direction from the distal end to the proximal end is angularly offset from vertical about a fore/aft axis relative to the base for customer access of at least one of the plurality of cards. Multiple arrays of receptacles are provided with a central array having a quantity of receptacles that is different than the other arrays to create a non-rectangular overall profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Woelfel, Mark Germain, Amy Tow Harmon, Sarah Furnari, Joel Barenbrugge, Michael J. Ebert, Thomas E. Hubley, Jeffrey B. Fridrich
  • Patent number: 9717358
    Abstract: A combined belt and necktie rack described herein hangs belts via pegs through holes in their leather straps rather than by the buckles. If the pegs are made from small-diameter, rigid materials the belts can effortlessly be slid onto the pegs through a hole in the strap. The pegs easily support the belts' weight, and if the pegs are long enough, they will accommodate neckties being draped over the pegs as well. The end of each peg may be bent horizontally at a right angle to the rest of the peg, for the belt to be hung. In this fashion, belts and neckties are parallel to each other and lay flat against each other, rather than a space-consuming perpendicular arrangement. The pegs may be coupled to a frame piece which may thereafter use mounting blocks to either statically or dynamically couple the frame piece and corresponding pegs to a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin R. Davis
  • Patent number: 9717331
    Abstract: A sleeve for a shelving unit has two halves joined together to form two support tabs extending outward from opposing sides of the sleeve as the sleeve clamps around a post having grooves into which a rib on the sleeve fits to hold the parts relative to the post. The support tabs have a retaining flange offset from the sleeve. A first collar part fastened to a shelf fits over half the sleeve and fits into that offset so that a slot in the first collar part fits over one of the support tabs to clamp them to the post and support the first collar part and shelf. The retaining flange keeps the collar part from moving off the support tab. A second collar part with a second slot may fit over the other support tabs to support a second shelf or to further clamp the sleeve to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Pro-Mart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Azad Sabounjian
  • Patent number: 9719717
    Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Stevan R. Dolinsek, Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon, Chad J. Rotter, David A. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 9706838
    Abstract: An authority controlled clothing locker including a generally elongated and three dimensional rectangular body adapted for holding a set of clothing, including footwear. A door is hingedly secured along a forward edge of the body and is releasably engaged over an open front of the locker. A hanger is adapted to being supported relative to a top underside location of the open interior, the body further including a hanging aperture configured within an upper most lip of the body, the aperture further adapted for suspending the body from a horizontally extending pole, bar or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Raymond R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 9708749
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus may be provided that includes a cabinet having an input opening, a door including a door frame, a hinge unit, and a control panel, a cabinet connector at the cabinet to transmit and receive at least one of power and a control signal and a door connector separably coupled to the cabinet connector to connect the control panel to the cabinet connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seyoung Woo, Sanghun Bae
  • Patent number: 9702615
    Abstract: A cabinet includes a shell having a top wall and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first compartment liner defining a first storage compartment. The cabinet further includes upper and lower support members provided on opposite sides of the first compartment liner and extending substantially parallel to the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the first side wall. The cabinet further includes a second vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the second side wall. The first and second vertical support bars have an L-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Chartrand, Jeremy Bannister
  • Patent number: 9701486
    Abstract: A support structure (21) supports a glazing panel in a laid down attitude at a support zone. The structure provides access permitting a technician to move bodily into and/or out of the support zone and/or one or more support elements having a respective locating formation for locating the glazing panel with respect to the support structure such that the glazing panel can be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure. The structure provides for improved handling of glazing panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Belron Hungary Kft—Zug Branch
    Inventor: William Finck
  • Patent number: 9700155
    Abstract: A multi-functional display assembly includes a base tray secured to a display shelf and having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a bottom, an open top and a height. At least one product plate assembly is positioned within the base tray and has a recess for holding a sample product. A transparent cover includes a height that is greater than the height of the base tray and greater than a height of the sample product. The transparent cover is placed over and around the base tray and is secured to the base tray and the at least one product plate assembly when the multi-functional display assembly is in a secured display configuration and is removed from around the base tray when the multi-functional display assembly is in an unsecured display configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, Alex K. Poniatowski, Glenn M. Christoffel
  • Patent number: 9688462
    Abstract: An egg holder is provided. The egg holder has a top portion including an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface may include a first vertical connector. The egg holder may further include at least one sidewall protruding from the lower surface of the top portion. The sidewall may include a second vertical connector. The second vertical connector may mate and releasably connect with the first vertical connector of a different egg holder. The present invention further includes a cup extending downward and formed to secure an egg within. A plurality of egg holders may be stacked vertically relative to one another using the first and second vertical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventors: Lizbeth Rivera, Maritza Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9686969
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for delivering substances to specific embryonic structures, including heart and blood vessels, within a developing avian egg. The disclosure also relates to methods of using the device to produce enhanced avian embryos. Methods include administering to chicken embryos various substances, including vaccines, nutrients, and stem cells. Chickens resulting from enhanced avian embryos have advantages, including greater growth potential and resistance to pathogen infection/infestation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: MERIAL INC., Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Meissner, Stefan Geissler, Toni Frohnert, Doreen Goehler, Bjoern Fischer
  • Patent number: 9691647
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a holding apparatus for holding substrates, comprising: a case, and a first support rod and a second support rod, the first support rod is provided with first support sub-rods, and the second support rod is provided with second support sub-rods, the holding apparatus further comprising: a first adjusting mechanism configured to control the first support sub-rods at a first position to move in a direction perpendicular to the first support rod, so as to adjust gaps between the first support sub-rods and the second support sub-rods at a second position corresponding to the first position, and/or a second adjusting mechanism configured to control the second support sub-rods at the second position to move in a direction perpendicular to the second support rod, so as to adjust gaps between the second support sub-rods and the first support sub-rods at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peng Wang, Jiangtao Zhang, Dongdong Xu, Xiang Guo
  • Patent number: 9687117
    Abstract: A medicine cabinet organizer device includes a housing that is substantially rectangularly box shaped. The housing has a front, which is open. Slits and slots are positioned in a top of the housing. The slits and slots extend from a front edge to proximate to a back edge of the top. Fasteners are coupled to a back of the housing and are configured to couple the housing to a medicine cabinet. Pegs are positioned on opposing sides of the housing and are configured for the user to hang items. Each slit is configured for insertion of a bottom end of a tube such that the tube is retained in a cap down position substantially within the housing. Each slot is configured for insertion of a handle of a toothbrush such that a head of the toothbrush is positioned above the top of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Jim Koch
  • Patent number: 9681675
    Abstract: A rack of a yogurt machine is disclosed. The yogurt machine includes a main body, which has a surface to which a controller is mounted and is recessed to form an accommodation compartment for receiving a blower assembly mounted therein and in connection with the controller. At least one rack is mounted atop the main body and includes, at a lower portion thereof, a lower rack frame that is stacked on and coupled to the main body. The lower rack frame has an inner surface on which coupling projections are mounted and is coupled, with a top thereof, to an upper rack frame that is inwardly contracted with respect to and extends upward from the lower rack frame. The upper rack frame receives a horizontal support board therein and includes yogurt fermentation cups mounted thereto. A top cover is fit to a top rim of the upper rack frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CHANG YUE INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yung-Sen Su
  • Patent number: 9677806
    Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a housing which surrounds a storage compartment; and a container mounted in the storage compartment and including a drawer and a cover, with the cover being height-adjustable between a closed position of the drawer and an open position. The cover is guided on an obliquely sloping path between the closed position and the open position by ramps adjacent to corners of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bischofberger, Hans Ihle, Astrid Klingshirn