Patents Examined by Steven E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4464819
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing an automobile hinge pin by disabling a spring clip and thereafter driving the hinge pin outwardly of the automobile hinge assembly while supporting the hinge assembly against bending forces that would otherwise flex the hinge assembly as the hinge pin is driven outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Steck Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Steck, Raymond E. Steck, Laurence D. Steck
  • Patent number: 4463591
    Abstract: Method for forming scroll members comprising an end plate having an involute wrap rigidly affixed thereto. The end plate and involute wrap are precision formed, e.g., by casting, either as an integral element or as two separate elements and then the scroll member is coined to the desired dimensional accuracy and finish. If a separate end plate and an involute wrap are provided for coining, then they are rigidly joined during coining, an embodiment which permits the use of two different materials and/or the attainment of two different surface characteristics for the involute wrap and the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Arthur D. Little, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. McCullough
  • Patent number: 4459736
    Abstract: A shim for adjusting the fit of an electrical receptacle, switch or the like with the exposed surface of the surrounding wall is disclosed. The shim most preferably comprises a generally C-shaped piece of rigid material having a plurality of shimming and connecting surfaces defining a central opening. Most preferably the shim is characterized by two diametrically located shimming surfaces having concave interior edges and connected by a single connecting surface. This configuration provides shimming surfaces having increased shimming areas, while provided a shim which is easily installed and adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Inventor: Milton W. Judkins
  • Patent number: 4457062
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for detecting ends of successive fly strips connected end to end by a slide fastener chain. The successive fly strips, with their first flaps overlapping a tape of one fastener stringer and with their second flaps overlapping the other fastener stringer, are fed lengthwise along a straight path. Then, the second flaps are folded over the respective first flaps as the fly strips pass through a folder extending through a fixed point on the straight path. During this folding, a trailing end of the preceding second flap is temporarily deflected so as to provide a relatively large triangular space between confronting ends of an adjacent pair of the second flaps when the same confronting ends arrive at the fixed point. Finally, a detector senses the presence of the triangular space, which indicates the arrival of confronting ends of an adjacent pair of the fly strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Osaki
  • Patent number: 4455732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for rebuilding vehicle axles permits rapid repair at the failure site. The method comprises the steps of removing the damaged terminal portion of the axle including threads and bearing surfaces, boring a concentric cylindrical cavity within the axle, cutting radially oriented passages in the axle wall which intersect the cavity, providing a replacement terminal axle portion, and inserting the terminal axle portion into the cavity and securing the replacement axle portion into the axle by weldments or other suitable means. The rebuilding apparatus includes a substantially conventional boring machine having specially configured mounting components which facilitate securement of the apparatus to various axle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Axle Surgeons, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo C. Shiets
  • Patent number: 4454650
    Abstract: An upper jaw and tool assembly for a machine for attaching snap fastener components to fabric is operable to safely receive and advance upper fastener component halves for the assembly thereof with lower component halves. A stationary housing of the assembly is mountable on an attaching machine so that the lower end of the housing is spaced only slightly above the guide plate of the machine to minimize operator risks from internal moving components of the assembly. Fingers mounted on the housing receive and position successively fed upper component halves therein and an upper tool continuously advances the halves downwardly to assemble them with lower component halves. The assembly operates without conventional vertically reciprocating jaw components and hence can be operated with a minimum of operator risks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard R. Silver
  • Patent number: 4453303
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for automatic setting of a window element or headliner, particularly onto a vehicle body disposed on a support connected to a conveyor line. A movable setting tool is equipped with means for retaining said element and sensors for detecting the proximity of the vehicle body and particularly the frame to receive said element. The sensors send, possibly by processing means, control signals to drive means of said tool, in order to position the tool correctly with respect to the body onto which is rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventor: Philippe Leddet
  • Patent number: 4450614
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an oil seal element from polytetrafluoroethylene and the like. A tubular billet having concentric inner and outer cylindrical surfaces is faced off at one end. An arcuate slit is cut in the end face of the billet at each of a plurality of angularly spaced positions. Indexing of the billet is synchronized with rotation of the slitting tool. A disk of desired thickness having arcuate slits on one of its faces is then sliced from the billet, thereby also facing the billet for the next slitting sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Microdot Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Repella
  • Patent number: 4449295
    Abstract: A device for installing drapery hangers comprising essentially a support for receiving one leg of a hanger having two legs one of which is to be positioned in a pocket at the top of the drape and the other of which is outside the pocket, said legs having respectively an aperture in one and a prong in the other, spaced guides for aligning the leg outside the pocket with the leg inside the pocket and a ram operable to move the leg outside the pocket in a direction to cause the prong to penetrate the pocket and become interlocked within the aperture in the leg within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Robertson Factories, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Alexander, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4446610
    Abstract: A retrievable float valve hanger tool assembly provides a hanger sub having a first upper connection for attaching the hanger sub, for example, threadably, to a drill string or work string. A second lower connection means on the sub provides both external and internal threaded (for example) connections, which allow the sub to be connected on its inner threads to a float valve canister and at its external threads to an extension which forms a protective housing about the float valve and its valve canister during operation. The device places the float valve below the joint of the sub and the extension so that an explosive charge can be detonated at the joint allowing easy removal of the float valve from the drill string in the event that the drill pipe becomes stuck. A continuous bore through the assembly allows fluid circulation through the tool in the work string and also allows the explosive charge to be lowered by wireline, for example, to the tool assembly at the appropriate joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Ace Fishing & Rental Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry V. Cooper, Michael W. Sloane, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4442583
    Abstract: Lengths of slide fastener chain are pulled through a shearing station wherein the slide fastener chain is subjected to vibratory shearing at least partially in a direction parallel to the plane of the tapes whereby operating resistance of the chain is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Talon, Inc.
    Inventor: George B. Moertel
  • Patent number: 4439906
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the manufacture of twice the number of equal lengths of single or ribbon conductors equipped at one end with plugs or connector shells and with insulation stripped at the other end by a device for simultaneously cutting the conductors and stripping the insulation off the conductors. In order to increase the output of the manufacturing process it is proposed that an additional cutting and insulation-stripping device be arranged centrally in the longitudinal direction of the processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Stocko Metallwarenfabriken Henkels und Sohn GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Manigel Heinz, Stroter Hermann
  • Patent number: 4437233
    Abstract: A fastener slider holding device comprising a slider holder having a slider mount on the top and a pull tab receiving recess in one side thereof, a spring-loaded sliding member mounted in the slider holder for vertical movement, a slider holding lever having an engaging pawl at the upper end thereof for engaging the pull tab of a fastener slider, an operation rod for moving the sliding member vertically and cam means for moving the slider holding lever between the pull tab engaging and disengaging positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Keiichi Yoshieda, Yoshitaka Iimura
  • Patent number: 4437223
    Abstract: Removal of tightly encircling bands from coiled strips is accomplished by transversely engaging a spaced pair of pinch rolls against the band on a coil and then severing the band therebetween and moving one pinch roll into engagement with the other pinch roll to pinch the severed band end therebetween, and at least one roll is driven to feed the pinched band outwardly away from the coil into a scrap chopper. The device used for severing the band is provided with a band shear which is movable along a track that runs transverse to the band. The shear is driven along the track to lodge a sharp leading edge thereof under the band and the shear is then actuated to sever the band, and thereafter the band severing means is removed from between the pinch rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Mesta Machine Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Petros
  • Patent number: 4435893
    Abstract: The method of manufacture of a hydraulic cylinder in which a piston for the cylinder is formed from a steel workpiece which is rotated and a bronze overlay fused into its surface while it is rotating, the overlay being continuously monitored and machined to a precise diameter. Thereafter, spaced ring grooves are cut into the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Inventor: James O. Sims
  • Patent number: 4432128
    Abstract: A method and system for installing a layered vessel wherein the method includes the steps of constructing the bottom vessel head section in an inverted position mounting the bottom head section on the vessel foundation, erecting a generally cylindrical construction frame having a plurality of annular work stations; substantially simultaneously with the erection of the cylindrical construction frame, constructing onto the bottom head a cylindrical inside shell liner and a hemispherical upper head inside liner and adding layers to the inside shell from the bottom upwardly with the addition of such layers occurring substantially simultaneously at various of the annular work stations. A system for accomplishing these steps is provided, including particular method for constructing the bottom head, and further, an annularly movable crane assembly is provided for the work stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: Hahn & Clay
    Inventors: Raymond E. Pechacek, Eugene J. Clay
  • Patent number: 4429449
    Abstract: A roller skate foot plate has downwardly depending sockets which receive resilient cushion blocks therein. An axle is seated in the lower end of each cushion block. A bolt passes axially through the cushion block and through an opening in the axle. In assembling and disassembling the device, the cushion block is compressed between the socket and axle to permit free rotatable application to or removal of a nut from the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Inventor: Edward Balstad
  • Patent number: 4426759
    Abstract: Wooden structures are assembled from a plurality of wooden elements with interposed metallic connectors, by assembling the wooden elements on a work table provided with a rectangular grid. The image of the structure to be assembled, with a superposed grid corresponding to the grid on the table, is projected on the table until the respective grids register with each other. Then the wooden elements are assembled on the picture; and as the corners of the grid on the table are tapped holes, retainers can be used to hold the assembled elements in place. The table with thus-assembled wooden elements is then run through an endless belt press having superposed convergent runs, whereby the metallic connectors are sunk into the wooden elements to complete assembly of the structure, after which the completed structures are removed from the tables onto rollers with interspersed lifting arms that swing vertically about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Inventor: Raymond Burger
  • Patent number: 4422231
    Abstract: A power transmission belt especially adapted for use in variable pulley transmissions and comprising a continuous metal containing band with attached drive blocks. The drive blocks are formed from sheet metal stampings and formed by sheet metal bending procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Braybrook
  • Patent number: 4420867
    Abstract: A tube end received in a bore of a tube sheet is expanded by introducing a mandrel into the tube end and utilizing fluid pressure to bias a pair of sealing rings outwardly to engagement with a tube end, thereby sealing off the clearance between the mandrel and the tube end. In addition to utilizing the fluid pressure to provide the sealing action, the invention admits the fluid pressure into the clearance and thereby expands the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventor: Wilfried Busse