Patents Examined by Steven A Maynard
  • Patent number: 9168581
    Abstract: A method of riveting two metal parts through a hole with an electro-hydraulic riveting tool. The electro-hydraulic riveting tool includes a tube that is inserted in the hole and an electrode that is inserted within the tube. A liquid is contained within the tube and the electrode is immersed in the liquid. A stored charge is discharged through the electrode to create a shockwave within the fluid that forms the tube into a rivet structure and creates solid state weld between the rivet flanges and the parts that are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
  • Patent number: 9168135
    Abstract: A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Paul Dale, Aaron J. Chalekian, Valerie J. Glazier, Huisun Wang
  • Patent number: 9157559
    Abstract: An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TRU-FLEX, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Stalcup, II, Scott R. Swank
  • Patent number: 9138856
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and an apparatus for surface strengthening and/or smoothing of an integrally bladed rotor area of a jet engine. The rotor area can be connected to a device and held by the latter inside the container in a position equivalent to an at least approximately horizontal orientation of a rotary axis of the rotor area. A space delimited by the container and the rotor area between a surface of the rotor area and that surface of the container facing the rotor area is filled at least partially with strengthening and/or smoothing elements. A relative movement is generated between the surface of the rotor area and the strengthening and/or smoothing elements. The surface region of the rotor area to be strengthened and/or smoothed is at a distance from the surface of the container facing the rotor area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Goetz G. Feldmann, Oleksandr Kyrylov
  • Patent number: 9138338
    Abstract: A two-stage method of compressing a stent entails providing an expandable stent (100,105) in a radially expanded state. An outward pressure is applied to an inner surface of the tubular framework to support the stent, and a diameter of the stent is reduced to a first compressed diameter (D1) while applying the outward pressure. The outward pressure is halted after reaching the first compressed diameter. According to an embodiment in which the stent is balloon-expandable, a delivery balloon catheter (130) comprising an uninflated balloon in a delivery configuration is inserted into the lumen after halting the outward pressure. The diameter of the stent is reduced to a second compressed diameter (D2) smaller than the first compressed diameter to crimp the stent onto the delivery balloon catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Sean D. Chambers, Mark A. Magnuson, Fred T. Parker
  • Patent number: 9095941
    Abstract: A metal matrix composite is disclosed that includes graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in a metal matrix. The composite provides for improved thermal conductivity. The composite may be formed into heat spreaders or other thermal management devices to provide improved cooling to electronic and electrical equipment and semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Namsoo Paul Kim, James Ping Huang
  • Patent number: 9095475
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a tampon which includes an absorbent body, an accommodating member and a pushing member, includes: an orienting mechanism; a first inserting mechanism that inserts the pushing member into the accommodating member; and a second inserting mechanism that inserts the absorbent body into the accommodating member in which the pushing member is inserted. The orienting mechanism has an opening through which the accommodating member is inputted; a pair of first protruded parts; and a pair of second protruded parts located on other-end side in the longitudinal direction of the opening and protruding inwardly in an opposing manner into the opening, a gap between the pair of first protruded parts, and a gap between the pair of second protruded parts being greater than the external diameter of the minor diameter part and smaller than the external diameter of the major diameter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakatsu Takai, Sadami Tabuchi, Satoshi Nozaki, Shinobu Seki, Hideki Onishi, Masashi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9097105
    Abstract: Screen assemblies capable of being disposed in a wellbore for hydrocarbon fluid production are described. The screen assemblies can support tubes for receiving hydrocarbon fluid and reduce or eliminate plugging of the tubes by swellable material. A screen assembly may include a support material between a tube and swellable material located exterior to a base pipe. The tube may include perforations and can receive and direct hydrocarbon fluids from the formation. The swellable material can expand after contact with an activating fluid and can displace the tube toward a surface of the bore. The swellable material can expand more than the support material and the support material can reduce or prevent plugging of the perforations by the swellable material expanding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke W. Holderman, Alf Kolbjorn Sevre
  • Patent number: 9089449
    Abstract: A method of moving a stent device into an outer sheath of a stent: device delivery system is disclosed. The stent device (4) is Crimped into a collapsed configuration onto the loading mandrel (6). The loading mandrel is pushed towards the outer sheath as the engaging surfaces (10) resist relative longitudinal movement between the stent device and the loading mandrel to move the stent device into the outer sheath (16). Upon entering the outer sheath, the stent device expands radially until radially constrained by the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Jürgen Dorn, Beate Walter
  • Patent number: 9086088
    Abstract: A screw has a generally flat washer-like head. On an underside of the head are a plurality of cutters or cutting wedges arranged circumferentially around the shank of the screw. The cutters cut or carve off material when the screw is inserted into a fibrous material like wood to thereby facilitate countersinking of the screw head. The cutters may be triangular or quadrilateral wedges. One or more pockets are disposed radially inwardly of the cutters for receiving fibrous material to help lock the screw in place, i.e. to prevent the screw from loosening over time. These pockets may circularly shaped pockets disposed circumferentially around the shank. Alternatively, a single annular pocket may be provided around the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Mirco Walther
  • Patent number: 9079240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for placing rivet elements by means of a portable riveting device driven by an electric motor, comprising a placing device, wherein the force of the placing device utilized to place a rivet element is monitored based on the current consumed by the electric motor, wherein the path traveled by the rivet clement during the placement operation and/or traveled by the placing device during the placement operation of the rivet element is repeatedly measured by at least one sensor unit, and wherein the force of the placing device exerted on the respective measuring point is determined at the respective measuring point and is compared to a reference force value range for the respective measuring point, wherein the placement operation of the rivet element is not qualitatively accepted, if at a measuring point the force of the placing device exerted at said measuring point is outside the reference force value range for said measuring point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: HS-TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Rupert Schiffler, Hans-Martin Hanke
  • Patent number: 9078386
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a panel display is provided. The panel display includes a frame, an elastic pad, and a display panel. The frame has a supporting tray and a side wall which perpendicularly extends from the end of the supporting tray. A groove is formed on the supporting tray adjacent to the foot of the side wall. One end of the elastic pad is located within the groove while the other end leans on the side wall before the display panel is configured with the frame. When entering the display panel into the frame, the edge of the display panel compels the elastic pad to bend and form a bottom portion and a side portion. The bottom portion is accommodated in the groove while the side portion is compressed by the edge of the display panel and lies on the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Hsu, Bin Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9067037
    Abstract: A wire adjuster for adjusting a position of an element within a limb of a breathing circuit. The wire adjuster comprises an interior wall engaging portion configured for engaging a surrounding interior wall of said limb and an element receiving portion coupled with the interior wall engaging portion, wherein the element receiving portion is configured for releasably securing the element as the wire adjuster is movably engaging with the surrounding interior wall, such that the wire adjuster can be used to selectively locate an element within the limb of the breathing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 207, INC
    Inventors: Michael El-Shammaa, Chris Zollinger
  • Patent number: 9061773
    Abstract: A method for final assembly of at least two aircraft includes assembling the at least two aircraft in a transverse direction on a carousel, the at least two aircraft disposed side-by-side, and rotating the carousel on a vertical rotation axis 360°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Bausen, Peter Freimark, Axel Sauermann, Thomas Opschondek
  • Patent number: 9061470
    Abstract: A tire repair device for repairing a puncture in a vehicle tire includes an applicator including a stem portion and a tip portion for insertion into a puncture and through a wall of the tire, at least a part of the stem portion and the tip portion having a passage therethough, and a plug having a plug shaft made of a resilient material, a stopper portion provided at a first end of the plug shaft and a patch portion provided at a second end of the plug shaft opposite the first end, the patch portion having a closed position in which the patch portion is folded around the plug shaft and an open position in which the patch portion is extends outwardly from the plug shaft in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plug shaft. The plug shaft and the patch portion are guidable through the passage in the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Cole
  • Patent number: 9038265
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of work stations having one or more tools for processing a work item, at least one carrier for moving a work item among the plurality of work stations, and a platform for connecting the plurality of work stations. In a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of work stations is not on a line with the other work stations and may include a lift machine for raising and/or lowering the at least one carrier and the work item. The platform also may preferably comprise at least one rotator for changing the direction of movement of the at least one carrier on the platform. The system also may preferably comprise at least one conveyer for transporting the at least one carrier to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Triumph Aerostructures, LLC
    Inventors: Laszlo Ferenczi, Gary Pekar
  • Patent number: 9021670
    Abstract: A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Paul Dale, Aaron J. Chalekian, Valerie J. Glazier, Huisun Wang
  • Patent number: 9015945
    Abstract: A method of forming a flow restriction in a fluid communication system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a flow restricting section having a cross sectional area and a length, measuring the flow resistivity of the flow restricting section, and modifying the cross sectional area and/or the length of the flow restricting section until a desired flow resistivity of the flow restricting section is obtained. The method provides the possibility of forming a flow restriction in an easy and cost effective manner, and to subsequently adjust the flow resistivity of the flow restriction, thereby obtaining an accurate flow resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Flowsion ApS
    Inventors: Kristian Raaby Poulsen, Peter Andreas Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9015918
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with grooves and methods of manufacture thereof are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 9009942
    Abstract: A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including ribs that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower walls thereof. The panel is trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members are inserted into the elongated channels. The panels can be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Roberts, Thomas Gerst