Patents Examined by Jon Szumny
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Patent number: 6953174Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Tolco IncorporatedInventor: Richard W. Heath
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Patent number: 6951087Abstract: The mounting system comprises a grid of vertically upright C-profiles which are pushed with their lower and upper ends into horizontally extending U-profiles. Bracket clips are fitted to outer sides of the mutually opposite legs of the C-profiles. The bracket clips on the profiles are in engagement with rails. Panels are fastened to these rails. An insulating material can be accommodated in the gap enclosed by the panels.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2002Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Trespa International B.V.Inventor: Kees Hans Weurman
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Patent number: 6938631Abstract: A ventilator for a covering for a boat or other object includes a dome for covering air venting openings. The air vents are provided in a pair of oppositely disposed ventilator plates. The boat or other covering is firmly clamped between the ventilator plates by means of a nut that can be tightened by hand. The venting openings are disposed one above the other with no obstructions therebetween in order to allow for direct air transfer between the inside and the outside of the cover while preventing weather elements from entering the cover.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Inventor: William E. Gridley
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Patent number: 6935601Abstract: A hook device includes a case member for supporting a hook main portion to be rotatable between a store position and a use position; a stopping portion attached to the case member for regulating the hook main portion at the use position with a predetermined opening angle; and an engaging portion provided to the hook main portion through an elastic member for engaging the stopping portion. The elastic member elastically deforms in a direction that the stopping portion engages the engaging portion when a load is applied to the hook main portion in a direction that the hook main portion opens.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Nifco Inc.Inventor: Tsutomu Tanaka
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Patent number: 6913231Abstract: A telescopic stand is described and comprises at least two legs (2) and, for each leg, at least two elements (5, 6, 7) which are slidable telescopically relative to one another, locking means (12) on each leg (2), the locking means (12) being switchable between a locking condition and a release condition in which relative sliding between the elements of the respective leg (2) is prevented at least in one direction, or is unrestricted, respectively, and the locking means being switched to the release condition in at least one predetermined condition of relative positioning of the legs (2). The locking means comprises respective facing and opposed appendages (24b) which project towards one another from the respective legs (2) and, when pressed against one another, can interact with one another in the release condition when the legs (2) are gathered together.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Lino Manfrotto & Co. S.p.A.Inventor: Paolo Speggiorin
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Patent number: 6910671Abstract: A shock mount assembly is provided, which generally includes a spacer and a thimble. The spacer includes a spacer flange and a spacer tube projecting from the spacer flange. The spacer tube includes an inwardly projecting shoulder having an inner diameter. The thimble includes a metal thimble base having a flange and an internally threaded post projecting from the flange. The threaded post has at least one hole passing through a wall thereof. The thimble also includes a plastic hollow thimble stem. The stem includes at least one hole passing through a wall of the lower portion thereof, the hole having a leg extending inwardly from one of the walls thereof. The leg includes a radially inwardly extending tab sized, shaped and positioned to engage the hole passing through the wall of the threaded post in a snap fitted arrangement when the threaded post is inserted into the stem. The stem also includes projecting from a top end thereof a plurality of fingers spaced about a periphery thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: James Norkus, Randy Michael Bugnacki
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Patent number: 6901715Abstract: An engineered perimeter rim board with machined or otherwise-formed modular recessed receptacles receives and secures I-joists and other manufactured joists at pre-designated spaces along the length of the rim board. The rim board provides pre-measured joist securement locations and structural enhancements by “locking” the joists into position. Receptacles machined/cut into the rim board may be of various shapes, such as a rectangular recess with a flat planar back wall, a profiled recess with curved top and bottom compartments, and/or an angled recess wherein two sidewalls converge to create a recess without a back wall for receiving joists at positions other than perpendicular to the rim board. The preferred 90-degree receptacle profile provides an I-joist web receiving slot for additional lateral support to help prevent joists from buckling, twisting or rolling over.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Silpro, LLCInventors: Comer Brown, Lawrence Brown
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Patent number: 6899307Abstract: A carrier system (10) for a medical apparatus (11) is disclosed. The carrier system includes rotation joints (17, 18, 20). A supply line harness runs in the carrier system (10) and is run so that it is covered. The rotation joint (18) includes a tube-shaped holding member on which fingers are formed which hold a rotation joint. A joint element, which is rotatably journalled in a joint receptacle, is provided in the rotation joint (20). The joint element has a wave-shaped section which is connected via a connecting section to an annularly-shaped section functioning to accommodate a connecting arm.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-StiftungInventors: Wolfgang Strauss, Franz Krug, Fritz Zimmermann, Alfons Abele, Maren Lehmann, Lauric Weber
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Patent number: 6896226Abstract: It is one advantage of the invention to provide an interlocking swivel connector for attachment to an existing system supporting a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor without the need to disassemble or disconnect any components of the system. The connector is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The connector is removably or permanently attachable to a sway brace clamp or attachment to form a connector-clamp assembly. The assembly is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances. It is another advantage of the invention to provide a sway cable brace clamp or fitting for securely attaching to a bracing cable and for supporting a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor. The cable clamp is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The cable clamp is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Nibco IncorporatedInventor: Richard W. Heath
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Patent number: 6892991Abstract: An adjustable support apparatus, for elevating a furniture article, includes a base and a cradle which operatively engages the base so as to be supported thereby. The cradle includes a substantially horizontal support platform adapted to support a portion of a furniture item thereon. One of the base and the cradle has a plurality of projections extending outwardly thereon, and the other of the base and the cradle has a plurality of recesses, which mate with the projections when the base and the cradle are operatively engaged. The base and the cradle are rotatably adjustable relative to one another, to variously engage the projections and recesses and thereby establish multiple different height positions of the cradle support platform. The apparatus is used to adjustably raise the height level of a furniture article, particularly a bed, by placing individual supports according to the invention underneath the respective leg posts of the furniture article.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Inventor: Sung Kuk Soh
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Patent number: 6883759Abstract: A front panel operating apparatus and method of a vehicle display device such as a car audio can include a main chassis for accommodating an audio device, a front panel provided in the front side of the main chassis that opens or closes to allow access to a record medium for the audio device. The front panel can have a display part in the front side thereof. A supporting panel can be hinge-coupled to a lower side of the front panel to move a lower end of the front panel forward and backward by sliding from a prescribed location of the main chassis in forward and backward directions of the main chassis. A vertical guide can be formed at the front side of the main chassis, and a protrusion formed on the front panel can be inserted into the vertical guide for controllably moving an upper portion of the front panel up and down.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Chan Hoon Park, Sang Jin Youn, Jung Sik Kim
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Patent number: 6880791Abstract: A base with clamp includes a clamping barrel, a fixing bolt, a sleeve seat and clamping plate. The clamping barrel has an open bottom and a top plate with a top hole and the top hole is surrounded by a clamping recess and has at least two recess holes. The fixing bolt has a clamping rod and a fastening plate, which juts out a fastening post. The clamping rod has a diameter less than the inner diameter of the top hole with rod threads. The fastening plate has a size corresponding to the clamping recess and has screw holes corresponding to the recess hole for the screws capable of passing through the screw holes and engaging with the recess hole. The sleeve seat has a base disk and extends upward an annular step and a cylindrical ring from the base disk for fitting with the clamping barrel so as to span the annular step and the cylindrical ring at the top thereof has a central hole for being passed through by the clamping rod. The clamping plate is flat and has a threaded hole for engaging with the rod threads.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Inventor: Chin-Chih Lin
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Patent number: 6877641Abstract: A mounting method and a mounting apparatus to enable the level mounting of a first article to a second article. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for mounting a first article to a second article to permit the level mounting of the first article comprises a bracket for fixed attachment to the second article, the bracket configured to receive the first article. The bracket has a level built into it, such that the bracket is installed such that the first article when mounted to said bracket is level.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventor: David Howland
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Patent number: 6874746Abstract: A motor vehicle runner having one element comprising a fin connected to a base perpendicular to the find, said first runner element comprising first and second sheet metal section members each having a fin wall, the fin walls of the first and second section members touching each other and being fixed together via their main faces to form the fin of the runner element. The first section member further comprises a base wall connected to the fin wall of the first section member by a rounded bend which co-operates with the second section member to define a slot. The runner element further comprises a bridge of material which spans said slot and constitutes a direct rigid mechanical connection between the second section member and the base wall of the first section member.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d/Automobile S.A.Inventor: Denis Ganot
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Patent number: 6869057Abstract: An upper rail is slidably engaged with a lower rail in a manner to define an elongate enclosed space therebetween. A lock plate is placed in the elongate enclosed space and secured to the lower rail. A latch lever includes a pawl portion and an input arm and is placed in the elongate enclosed space. The latch lever is pivotally connected to the upper rail to pivot between a lock position where the pawl portion is engaged with a part of the lock plate to establish a locked engagement between the lower and upper rails and an unlock position where the pawl portion is released from the lock plate to cancel the locked engagement. The latch lever is pivoted in a direction from the lock position to the unlock position when the input arm is applied with an external force. A spring member is placed in the elongate enclosed space to bias the latch lever to pivot toward the lock position, An opening is formed in the upper rail for having a given part of the input arm projected outward therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Matsumoto, Takashi Saitoh, Akira Osanai
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Patent number: 6860457Abstract: During vehicle travel, a container can be pushed, pressed downwards and lifted, but not rotated. As such, a holder is provided that enables the removal of a container, by rotating the container about a vertical axis. The holder comprises clamping lugs that have a rotatable part integrated into the clamping lugs and snapped into an axial bearing of the clamping lugs. The rotatable part is designed in the shape of a cylinder, and is pressed into a stable center position by means of a type of torsion spring. The rotatable part projects outwards, relative to the clamping lug at the tip and upper side of the clamping lug, so that even when the clamping lug is deflected, the part can contact any diameter container. Furthermore, when the part is in a center position, there is preferably a sprayed-on elastomer or other rubber-like material forming a contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Gebhard Then, Thilo Schultheis
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Patent number: 6857609Abstract: A positioning arm for positioning and holding a device within a medical imaging environment workspace has: (a) a free-end link in the form of a circular cylinder having a distal end face and an adjoining end face, with the adjoining end face forming a specified angle with the cylinder's centerline and the distal end face adapted to allow for the connection of the device to the free-end link, (b) a plurality of intermediate links, each in the form of a circular cylinder having end faces that form a specified angle with the links' centerline, and each of these intermediate links having a channel connecting their end faces, (c) a base link in the form of a circular cylinder having a base end face and an adjoining end face, with the adjoining end face forming a specified angle with the link's centerline and the base end face adapted to allow for the connection of the arm to a supporting surface, (d) a cable that passes through the link channels so that one cable end attaches to the free-end link and the other endType: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dan Stoianovici, Keenan A. Wyrobek, Dumitru Mazilu, Louis L. Whitcomb
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Patent number: 6857242Abstract: A cushion block for using in a build-up surface formed by strips has two male coupling devices at one end, two female coupling devices at an opposite end corresponding to the male coupling devices, a retaining device protruded from one side thereof and adapted to secure the strip to the corresponding side of the cushion block, and a deformable body connected between the male coupling devices and the female coupling device. The male and female coupling devices are so made such that multiple cushion blocks are connectable in a line in a linking direction by engaging the male coupling devices of one cushion block into the female coupling devices of another. The deformable body is deformable in the linking direction to compensate expansion of the strips due to absorption of moisture.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Inventor: Jun-Jie He
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Patent number: 6854694Abstract: A tube retainer is provided for use with a corrugated tube to permit movement of the corrugated tube through the tube retainer in only one direction. The tube retainer includes a cylindrical housing with an outer surface and a concentric opening through it. A groove is circumferentially located about the cylindrical housing. An O-ring is located in the groove. Pins are located under the O-ring in the holes which extend from the groove into the opening. Each pin has a transitional end which extends into the opening and the transitional end rides up and down on the corrugations which permits movement of the corrugated tube in only one direction. The transitional end may be beveled or contoured or have other possible configurations.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Inventor: Wayne Van Etten
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Patent number: 6854474Abstract: An openable and obliquely rotatable umbrella comprises a rod body having an upper shaft and a lower shaft; an upper cell set firmly secured to the upper shaft; a lower cell set installed to the upper shaft and the lower shaft; two pulleys installed on the upper shaft; a rotatable tilting means installed between the upper shaft and the lower shaft; a spring installed at a lower end of the interior of the lower shaft; a pull line having a lower end connected to the spring; and an upper end thereof winding through the lower pulley and then being connected to the lower cell set; and a control switch installed to a distal end of an umbrella rib; and a button controlling two pull lines. By the movement of the button of the control switch, the orientations of the umbrella in expanding and folding operation are adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Inventor: Shiow-Hui Chen