Patents Examined by Joseph J. Hail, III
  • Patent number: 7770256
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a first cyclonic dirt separation and a secondary cyclonic dirt separation and a bottom dirt-collecting bin beneath the first cyclone separator and a filter beneath the dirt cup and between the dirt cup and a suction source inlet. The secondary cyclones oriented generally perpendicular to the first cyclone separator. A separator plate separates the cyclone separator from the dirt cup. Fins project from a sidewall of the dirt tank, and fingers projecting from a bottom wall of the dirt tank. A hollow standpipe in the dirt cup transports working air from the cyclone separator outlet to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Fester
  • Patent number: 7761957
    Abstract: A canister of a vacuum cleaning system has first and second motor support plates mounted within the canister forming an intervening chamber and an upper motor cooling chamber. An auxiliary plate is attached to the second motor plate and has a dimension sized to enable the auxiliary plate to be removed from the canister interior past auxiliary components mounted on the side wall of the canister avoiding removal of the auxiliary components. A first motor is removably mounted on the first support plate and extends through an opening formed in the second support plate and is fastened to the auxiliary plate by a plurality of fasteners. The first motor is removable from the canister interior with the auxiliary plate after unfastening the auxiliary plate from the second motor support plate. A second motor is removably seated in a retainer ring attached to the second motor support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: H-P Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew L. Gabric
  • Patent number: 7762163
    Abstract: A combination tool that includes opposing jaws and handles that function as conventional pliers and wherein the handles are configured to be abutted with one another to form a spudding tool having a generally circular cross section and wherein at least one ridge extending from one of the handles cooperatively seats within at least one groove in the opposing handle when the handles are abutted with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Brad Broadus
  • Patent number: 7753342
    Abstract: A pry tool [10] comprising an hollow handle [11]; a first claw [16] having a first end [17], and a second end [18], the first end [17] being attached inside the lower end of the handle [11], and the second end [18] extending away from the lower end [13] of the handle [11]; a second claw [21] having a first end [22], and a second end [23], the first end [22] being attached inside the lower end [13] of the handle [11], and the second end [23] extending away from the lower end [13] of the handle [11]; and a rocker [26], having a first end [27] and a second end [28] attached to the lower end [13] of the handle [11], and a central portion [29] that curves around the lower end [13] of the handle [11] and between the claws [16] and [21] to form a rocker surface [30].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventor: Jon S. Nolle
  • Patent number: 7752946
    Abstract: This present invention discloses a socket for wrenches, which comprises a main body having a proximal section, a distal section, and a central axis extending from proximal section to distal section. The main body has recess at inside on the proximal section with punctures on the recessed periphery and each puncture has a moving part mounted therethrough. A sleeve is in slide-fitting communication with the main body, which has an inner wall provided a plurality of push fronts thereon, each push front surface rises gradually by a plurality of continuous steps from one end to the other. When the sleeve is rotated of axially moved with respect to the main body, the gradual rising steps of the push fronts are pushing the moving parts toward the central axis to match with varieties of scales of work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventor: Shyh-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 7748298
    Abstract: A self-energizing and de-energizing adjustable gripping tool for engaging a work piece to impart work thereto includes a first element and second element connected for relative movement. The second element includes an actuation portion having a plurality of slots. The first element includes gripping elements which are each associated with a force transfer element which engages one of the slots such that movement of the second element relative to the first element actuates the gripping elements to engage the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Loggerhead Tools LLC
    Inventor: Daniel P. Brown
  • Patent number: 7748072
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head assembly with bristles, a base assembly, and a connector which connects the two. A battery and light assembly are disposed in the connector and base assembly, and a power button switch turns the power to a light source “ON/OFF”. The base assembly includes a transparent lens portion at the distal end, through which a light beam from the light source shines when the switch is turned ON. The light beam can project a picture or icon on a slide through the lens portion onto a remote surface. The slide can be permanently fixed in the base assembly or interchangeable. A timer is connected to the batteries, light source, and switch, and allows the light source to turn on for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the base assembly contains at least one indicator light which indicates how long the light source has been ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Kendall Peter Rycroft
  • Patent number: 7744447
    Abstract: An abrasive disc comprises a disc substrate having a peripheral portion, plural abrasive chips each having an abrasive layer on a metal piece and being arranged in the peripheral portion of the disc substrate with a predetermined space, a suspension plate placed between the disc substrate and abrasive chips, and an elastic sheet placed between the disc substrate and the suspension plate so as to isolate the disc substrate from the suspension plate in order to absorb mechanical shock generated in operation of the abrasive disc. The abrasive chips are fastened to the suspension plate. Each of the abrasive chips has abrasive surfaces including a top abrasive surface and peripheral surfaces and the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion are declined to the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Goei, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriomi Kodani, Akihiko Nagaya, Katsuhiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7743508
    Abstract: A rotary electric shaver including a cutter unit 16 for holding an outer cutter 14 in an outer cutter frame 18 mounted on the shaver main body 10 and for rotationally driving an inner cutter 40 installed inside the outer cutter 14 by a rotational drive shaft 26 while pressing the inner cutter 40 elastically toward the outer cutter 14; and the shaver further including a swivel case 48 which swivels freely and moves up and down freely with the outer cutter 14, a movable panel 92 for pushing this swivel case 48 upward with a return spring 70 in between, and a push-up mechanism 94 for changing the height level (position) of the movable panel 92, so that the push-up force on the outer cutter 14 from the inner cutter side is controllable by changing the height level (position) of the movable panel 92 by the push-up mechanism 94.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Izumi Products Company
    Inventor: Tetsuhiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7739930
    Abstract: The invention relates to a universal key (1), particularly a control cabinet key, with multiple key arms (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), on which tool heads (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) and/or retainers (5) for attaching tool heads (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) or bits (6) are arranged, where at least one key arm (2a, 2b) forms a pen-shaped, hollow handle (3), and the hollow handle (3) displays at least one opening (10, 11), through which at least one other key arm (2c, 2d) can be folded out and in. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Hermann Schunke
  • Patent number: 7735174
    Abstract: A powered toothbrush includes a handle having a neck. A head is mounted to the neck and has a first portion and a second portion. A plurality of tuft blocks is mounted to the second portion, with each tuft block having a tooth cleaning element. At least one projection is positioned on one of the first and second portions, each projection engaging one of the tuft blocks and pivoting the tuft block with respect to the second portion. A drive assembly is operably connected to one of the first and second portions to drive the one of the first and second portions in an oscillating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Al Sprosta
  • Patent number: 7735398
    Abstract: A rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection of the present invention includes a motor, a rechargeable battery and a power-off protection device. When the loaded current of the motor exceeds a set default value of a reference circuit, the power-off protection device disconnects the power supply of the rechargeable battery, so as to stop the motor operation. With the circuit design of the power-off protection device, the ratchet wrench can be ensured to provide usage safety and also usage lifespan of the ratchet wrench can be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hua Hsu, Chen-Chen Cheng
  • Patent number: 7735188
    Abstract: A blower/vacuum having an air inlet cover and a blower tube, both of which attach to a blower housing for operation of the blower/vacuum in a blower mode. The air inlet cover may removably attach to both the blower housing and to the blower tube. In some embodiments, operation of the blower/vacuum may generally be restricted unless both the blower tube and the air inlet cover are first installed. The blower/vacuum may further be adapted to operate in a vacuum mode by removing the air inlet cover and blower tube and replacing the same with a vacuum tube assembly and a vacuum collection container, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Chadwick A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7730620
    Abstract: A plastic package opener having a body with a generally “V” shaped configured is formed from a memory retention material, by angled first and second legs held together by a portion of material. A sharp edge or blade member is held to an interior surface of one of the legs at an angle to the terminal ends of the legs. A movable blade cover may be provided for safety. A plastic package to be opened is inserted between the open ends of the legs and the blade member brought against the plastic package by squeezing the two legs together and directed across the surface of the plastic package to sever the plastic package and open the same for removal of an item or items held therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher Anastasi
  • Patent number: 7730808
    Abstract: Ceramic blades and fabrication methods thereof. A ceramic blade comprises a ceramic body having two sides and an edge. A coating layer is applied on the two sides and the edge, wherein the ceramic body is formed using a scraper to create substantially flat surface and to prevent residual stress damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kuo-Chuang Chiu, Ren-Der Jean, Chuan-Lung Lu
  • Patent number: 7731568
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a polishing pad capable of maintaining high-precision end-point optical detection over a long period from the start of use to the end of use even if polishing is performed with an alkaline or acid slurry, as well as a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with this polishing pad. The polishing pad of the invention is used in chemical mechanical polishing and has a polishing region and a light-transmitting region, wherein the light-transmitting region satisfies that the difference ?T (?T=T0?T1) (%) between T0 and T1 is within 10(%) over the whole range of measurement wavelengths of from 400 to 700 nm, wherein T1 is the light transmittance (%) of the light-transmitting region measured at the measurement wavelength ? after dipping for 24 hours in a KOH aqueous solution at pH 11 or an H2O2 aqueous solution at pH 4 and T0 is the light-transmittance (%) measured at the measurement wavelength ? before the dipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Shimomura, Masahiko Nakamori, Takatoshi Yamada, Kazuyuki Ogawa, Atsushi Kazuno, Masahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7731166
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and the associated universal device for supporting a part (1) of random and/or possibly complex shape in relation to a rigid base (11) while establishing a work reference. It consists of inserting between the part to be held and the rigid base (11), at least one deformable airtight enclosure (3) of constant volume full of incompressible particles (4). Then vacuum is applied inside the deformable enclosure (3) of constant volume using a vacuum source (5) which can be connected to the deformable enclosure (3). Thus the particles (4) amalgamate to constitute a solid block which at least partially rests on the rigid base (11) and holds the part (1) matching its shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Novatec SA
    Inventors: Clement Kaiser, Francis Bourrieres
  • Patent number: 7726631
    Abstract: A tool is used to elevate and hold a garbage disposer against a sink fixture during removal and/or installation of a garbage disposer. The tool includes a flat base including a notch opening through a corner of a rectilinear base to allow an electric cord to pass around the tool. A flat load supporting platform includes a similar notch. A screw jack force applying mechanism allows the platform to be raised relative to the base. The tool works equally well with the base down or with the platform down so the user doesn't have to turn the tool over for it to work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Valerie C. Noe, Raymond G. Mendez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7725983
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to the handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion and in fluid communication with the recovery tank. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A cost effective, easy to operate, and convenient mounting arrangement is provided for mounting the recovery tank to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: David L. O'Neal
  • Patent number: 7721373
    Abstract: A railroad flangeway cleaner system for efficiently clearing debris and other foreign material from a railroad flangeway or other similar channel. The railroad flangeway cleaner system includes a frame for traveling along a channel, a drive unit attached to the frame and a cleaning device rotated by the drive unit, wherein the cleaning device clears the channel of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Timothy R. Wilson