Patents Examined by William E. Dondero
  • Patent number: 11161712
    Abstract: A spool of optical fibre comprises a spool axis and a length of optical fibre wound around the spool axis to form a plurality of wrap segments arranged axially along the spool axis, wherein adjacent wrap segments partially overlap in the axial direction. Each wrap segment comprises a first wrap layer wound in a first axial direction over a first axial distance, and a second wrap layer wound over the first wrap layer in a reverse second axial direction over a second axial distance greater than the first axial distance, the optical fibre extending from the second wrap layer of one wrap segment to the first wrap layer of an adjacent wrap segment. The spool may be mounted in a device such that the optical fibre can be despooled and deployed from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Well-Sense Technology Limited
    Inventor: Daniel George Purkis
  • Patent number: 11154119
    Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Ryan Frederick, Clayton Lindsay, Austin Orand, Andrew A. Owings
  • Patent number: 11142427
    Abstract: A winding device for winding a yarn onto a package tube has a spindle that holds and rotationally drives the package tube. A support roller abuts against a peripheral surface of the yarn winding package during winding of the yarn. The spindle is supported by a pivotably mounted swivel arm so as to swivel relative to the support roller. A contact-force control device is provided and includes an actuator disposed to actuate the swivel arm, and a control device configured with the actuator. A bending beam load cell is configured on the swivel arm to determine an actual value of a contact force between the yarn package and the support roller. The contact force is regulated to a predetermined target value via control of the actuator by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SSM Schärer Schwerter Mettler AG
    Inventor: Marcel Christe
  • Patent number: 11130651
    Abstract: A thread guiding device (100) for guiding threads. The thread guiding device (100) comprises a main element (1), at least one cover element (2) and at least one thread guide (3). The at least one thread guide (3) is, or can be, arranged in a recess (11) of the main element (1). The thread guide (3) is, or can be, removably secured to the main element (3) by the cover element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HEBERLEIN AG
    Inventor: Andreas Brunner
  • Patent number: 11124381
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a single-reel winding device comprising a distributor wheel for distributing an optical fiber to a first reel, a winder, for revolving the first reel around a center axis of the first reel and for moving the first reel along the center axis between different positions, an attachment device for attaching the optical fiber to the first reel, a cutter for cutting the optical fiber, a gripper for gripping onto the optical fiber, and keeping the optical fiber stationary during attaching and cutting of the optical fiber, and while the first, full reel is removed from the exchange area and a second, empty reel is provided to the exchange area in order to continue winding of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ROSENDAHL NEXTROM GMBH
    Inventors: Matti Innilä, Jukka Mönkkönen, Touko Liikonen
  • Patent number: 11124382
    Abstract: A pair of flanges attachable to the arbor hole of a reel is disclosed. The flanges provide a mechanism to allow the reel to be easily loaded, and lifted into place. Once loaded into place, the flanges may include a locking mechanism that locks the reel in place, centered on the flanges. Additionally, the flanges are attachable using a hub that allows them to rotate independently from one another, and from the reel to which they are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mike Temblador, Myron Dale Deese, Harry William Kent, Jr., Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez, James Phillip Tuggle, Franklin Clarence Calhoun
  • Patent number: 11111101
    Abstract: In order to increase the operational safety of an unreeling apparatus and an unreeling method at high working speed, an unreeling apparatus for unreeling a ring of wire along a pull-off direction, having at least two reel crowns, which can each be brought into a pull-off position and into a preparation position and/or loading position by way of a displacement device, includes a safety apparatus having an overload safety device and having a safety guide track, which has a directional component that faces in the pull-off direction and acts independently of the other reel crown, at least for the reel crown situated in the pull-off position, wherein the overload safety device holds the reel crown situated in the pull-off position in the pull-off position and, in the event of an overload, releases the reel crown situated in the pull-off position into the safety guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH SITZ DUESSELDORF
    Inventors: Joerg Lindbuechl, Thomas Cmiel, Dirk Hessberger, Heinz-Willi Greuel
  • Patent number: 11111100
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for dispensing wire from any surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly and the external bay. The external bay is capable of freely rotation relative to the outer flange assembly and the inner flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. In yet another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 11104542
    Abstract: A two piece winding core assembly is provided having a first core portion and a second core portion. The two core portions having the same construction and are positionable to combine together to form a completed cylindrical and hollow core. The two core portions having a series of locking pins and a corresponding series of receiving openings formed on opposing end faces. A series of axially elongated projections and a corresponding series of axially elongated channels are also formed on the opposing end faces of the core portions. An internal plurality of web members is formed in a structural crossing pattern on the inside surface of the core portion, with the web members providing structural rigidity to the core portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc
    Inventors: Chad E. Lagace, Fedor Baranov
  • Patent number: 11105028
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a roll of material with a replacement roll of material comprises a loading station and multiple feed stations downstream of the loading station. Each station comprises two legs and a motorized drive assembly extending between the legs. The drive assembly rotates two sprockets and an endless chain surrounding the sprockets inside each of the legs at a station to raise or lower carriages. A roll support extends between the carriages at each station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Terrance L. Myers, Matthew C. Smallwood, Robert D. Eagle
  • Patent number: 11099345
    Abstract: A method of winding an optical fiber includes winding the optical fiber using a bobbin that includes: a body portion having two end portions; and a pair of flanges, respectively disposed at the end portions in an axial direction of the body portion. An inner surface of each of the flanges is inclined toward an outer side in the axial direction and toward a radial outer side. The method further includes guiding the optical fiber to the bobbin using a final pulley. The bobbin and the final pulley reciprocate relative to each other in the axial direction at a traverse speed V (mm/sec) such that 0.0050?? (rad)?0.1000, where ? is a delay angle, ?=arctan (V/L), and L (mm) is a distance from a winding position of the optical fiber at the bobbin to the final pulley in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Okada
  • Patent number: 11084685
    Abstract: A reel system that includes a drum that receives a coil of flexible pipe. A first flange that removably couples to a first side of the drum. A second flange that removably couples to a second side of the drum. The first flange and the second flange secure the coil of flexible pipe to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Nader N. Matari, Alexander Lee Winn
  • Patent number: 11066272
    Abstract: An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CANADA LIMITED
    Inventors: Terry Sharpe, Bob Millett, Graham Knowles
  • Patent number: 11059691
    Abstract: A container for transporting, storing, and/or paying-out welding wire from a contained wire coil without tangling, and having flexible straps each extending between the lowermost and upper parts of the container wall passing through a second opening of an anti-entangling device and along a path between said wire coil and said wall. The anti-entangling device rests on the top of the wire coil and descends by gravity as the welding wire is paid-out. The anti-entangling device has a first opening through which said wire passes and respective second openings through each of which a flexible strap passes. The second openings are opposingly located in the anti-entangling device loop about the device's first central opening so that the flexible straps are positioned by the second openings to contact the top surface of the wire coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PLASTICOS Y ALAMBRES, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventor: Ricardo Cantú González
  • Patent number: 11061198
    Abstract: A reel enclosure includes a base and a door pivotally coupled with the base. The door is movable between a first closed position and a second open position and is configured to hold a reel at an interior surface of the door. The reel is configured to have cable wound thereon. In the first closed position, the base is configured to prevent the reel from rotating relative to the door and the base, and, in the second open position, the door is configured to hold the reel outside of an interior of the base and permit the reel to rotate relative to the door and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PPC BROADBAND, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Daoust, Peter A. Carapella, Noah P. Montena
  • Patent number: 11046542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a web film movement compensating device for a web film movement compensation between continuous forward movement section and intermittent forward movement section comprising two guide rollers (1, 2) rotating freely in stationary positions between a continuous driving device (5) and an intermittent driving device (6), two compensation rollers (3, 4) rotating freely on two respective pivoting arms (7, 8) oscillating about pivot shafts (11, 12), an elastic element (9) connected to one of the pivoting arms to actuate the corresponding compensation roller to move away from the guide rollers, and a movement transmission mechanism including lever arms and transmission rods (13, 14, 15) transmitting an oscillating movement from one of the pivoting arms (7, 8) to the other. A web film (50) moved by the driving devices is supported on the guide rollers (1, 2) and on the compensation rollers (3, 4) forming a meander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Francisco Mora Flores
  • Patent number: 11040846
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for an assembly which is attachable to a skid-steer or similar front end loader or tractor which is used to install fence wire, including woven wire. The assembly contains a plurality of spindles upon which rolls of wire can be placed, which wire passes through a threader which organizes and separates the wire, then through a clamping device operated hydraulically using electric and hydraulic controllers, then over a roller and around an upright wire guide whereupon the wire is attached to a fence post in a conventional manner. The wire is clamped using a clamping member operated by a hydraulic cylinder to clamp and lock the wire so that the wire can be stretched by the engine powered skid-steer, front end loader or the like so that the wire can be tightly attached to each fence post in a series operation. The plurality of spindles is disposed on an upright central stanchion attached to a platform so that the wire can be easily placed on and removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventor: Nickey L Hicks
  • Patent number: 11040733
    Abstract: An apparatus for the transportation and dispensing of spooled wire or cable, the apparatus including a handle structure wherein the handle structure has a first end and a second end, a first support structure attached to the first end of the handle structure, a second support structure attached to the second end of the handle structure, a first spool center insert attached to the first support structure, a second spool center insert attached to the second support structure, a first leg moveably attached to the first support structure, a second leg moveably attached to the second support structure, and wherein a spool of spooled wire or cable is attached to the first and second spool center inserts during transportation and dispensing of the spooled wire or cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Rodgers, John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 11027940
    Abstract: A winding device capable of easily winding an electric wire and a method of manufacturing a spiral electric wire are provided. The electric wire delivered by the delivery device is guided by the guide device toward the center portion of the projecting portion. The projecting portion of the winding device has an inclined surface whose outer diameter increases toward the base portion from the tip end on its outer peripheral surface. As a result, the electric wire can be wound around the projecting portion by utilizing the force of the delivery device, and the electric wire can be easily wound up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Kato, Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 11014774
    Abstract: The present invention is an automatic cut and transfer coiler and spooler apparatus, system and method for use generally comprising a rotatable turret with two independently driven spindles thereon wherein the drives for the independent spindles are attached to the turret for selectively rotating the spindles about their own axis independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Reel Power Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: David Lasswell, Christopher David Rekieta, Gary Donald Thompson, Joseph Henry