Patents Issued in May 31, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010001883
    Abstract: A fingertip protector comprises a sleeve adapted to fit over a finger of a wearer, and a flexible strip. The sleeve has an opening for the insertion of a finger, and a portion of strip is attached to the part of the circumference of the opening. An adhesive backing on the inner surface of the strip is present to secure the protector to the finger and the remainder of the circumference of the opening, and a release liner is releasably affixed to the adhesive backing, which is designed for removal before use. In an alternative embodiment, the fingertip protector is snugly secured to the finger by strips of hook and loop fastening material disposed about the circumference of the open end of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Ernest Wanzenried
  • Publication number: 20010001884
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic hair washer which can perform hair washing in a most suitable situation for parts washed by washing nozzles which are provided on inner walls of a cistern, purposes and configurations of the washing nozzles. According to the present invention, in all washing steps from a preliminary washing step t1 to a rinsing step t7, output of a hot water supplying pump 6 is changed by a hot water supplying pump control unit 20 in timings of opening/closing operations of hot water supplying electromagnetic valves 10a to 10j for shower heads S1 to S12, to vary pressures and amounts of wash water spouted from the shower heads S1 to S12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: HIDEAKI MIYOSHI, HIROHISA SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20010001885
    Abstract: A movable safety tunnel rides on parapets within a bridge. The safety tunnel is locked in place in a respective section of the bridge while maintenance or other operations are performed on that section of the bridge. This allows the traffic to flow through the safety tunnel and along the bridge, and the safety tunnel shields the traffic from any dust or debris. When the maintenance on that respective section of the bridge has been completed, the safety tunnel is unlocked and pushed (and/or pulled) by suitable equipment to the next adjacent section of the bridge; and the safety tunnel is again locked in place as the maintenance is performed. This procedure continues, progressively, along the bridge. In one embodiment, the safety tunnel has a trolley system riding on respective rails constructed on top of the parapets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Orah Constructive Technologies, Inc. and Alpha Painting & Construction Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Valery Tsimmerman, Antonios E. Aikaterinidis
  • Publication number: 20010001886
    Abstract: A brush scrubbing apparatus is made up of a wafer holder which retains a wafer, a brush which removes a particle on the wafer, a driver which rotates at least one of the wafer holder and the wafer, an alignment mechanism which defines a relative position between the brush and the wafer holder, and controller which controls the alignment mechanism responding to a driving power supply voltage in the driver. The brush scrubbing apparatus can precisely get the reference position for deciding the pushing distance without using the eye measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Koji Ueki, Takashi Osako
  • Publication number: 20010001887
    Abstract: The hair brush includes an elongated member having a handle segment and a bristle substrate segment. The bristle substrate defines a cylindrical core having a smoothly curved, concave central region and radially larger end regions. A plurality of bristles are attached over the bristle substrate. The bristles have varying lengths such that the outer peripheral portions of the plurality of bristles define a planar surface, an arcuate segment of cylinder, or a complete cylinder. The bristles are distributed throughout the bristle substrate in a predetermined pattern. The bristles are disposed over the peripheral surface of the bristle substrate in one of two manners. In one embodiment the bristles are individually disposed on the bristle substrate in a series. In another embodiment, the bristles are segmented into groups of small bundles and these bundles are disposed on the bristle substrate in a series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Alberto Lee Bigio
  • Publication number: 20010001888
    Abstract: A buffer station for an article handling system, the handling system having a general path along which it moves when handling the article, the buffer station including at least two supporting assemblies including supporting elements forming a supporting plane each capable of supporting an article within the supporting plane and located so as to support the article within the general path, at least two receptacles for liquid in which the at least two supporting assemblies are disposed, and at least two drivers associated with the at least two supporting assemblies and the receptacles for shifting them in and out of the general path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Eli Haimovich, Eran Dvir
  • Publication number: 20010001889
    Abstract: An alignment weight is provided. The alignment weight includes a body of material having first and second opposing surfaces. A number of depressions are formed in the first surface. The depressions receive pins of a floating pin field when placed on a floating pin field during connection of the floating pin field to a printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Intel Corporation.
    Inventors: Cheryl M. Waldron-Floyde, Brad C. Irwin
  • Publication number: 20010001890
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a medical device is formed of at least three coupled movable blades which are disposed about a reference circle to form an aperture whose size may be varied. The aperture capable of being sized to contain a medical device. Each blade is in communication with an actuation device which is capable of moving the blade to alter the size of the aperture. Each blade includes a single radial point which a) lies on the circumference of the reference circle prior to movement of the blade, and b) may be moved only along a radius of the reference circle on movement of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: MICHAEL AUSTIN
  • Publication number: 20010001891
    Abstract: A convertible aircraft brake assembly (10, 60, 77, 78, 83, 85, 96, 120, 130) designed as original equipment to have heat sinks comprising a steel heat sink (20, 70, 80, 90, 91, 100, 110, 122) aircraft brake assembly and a carbon-carbon composite heat sink (40) aircraft brake assembly. When the aircraft brake assembly is converted from one type of heat sink to the other, the conversion is accomplished with minimal changes in component parts. The conversion can be accomplished without any changes in the piston housing (14), torque tube (12), and wheel (30) because the heat sinks include therein respective components which enable each heat sink to be utilized with the commonly used piston housing (14), torque tube (12), and wheel (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: David A. Niespodziany, Stanley W. May, Esaw Harris, Andrew S. Haynes, Joseph M. Patko, Brian G. Harker
  • Publication number: 20010001892
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing a handle tool. Raw material formed into the hand tool is firstly hardened by heat treatment. A surface of the hand tool is polished after hardening. A layer of metal is deposited on the surface of the polished hand tool to provide an anti-rust effect and/or anti-corrosion effect. A local area of the layer of metal deposition on the surface of the hand tool that is grasped during use is sanded to provide an anti-slide section. A numerical size area of the hand tool is covered by a local sanding mask before local sanding to thereby form a clear numerical size mark in the local area after local sanding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Bobby Hu
  • Publication number: 20010001893
    Abstract: There are disclosed a method and apparatus for manufacturing a mold for casting a large-size product having a complex shape. The method for manufacturing a mold includes the steps of preparing a block in which powder granular material is cured, and processing the block by an automatic processing machine to define a molding surface in the block according to a pre-installed program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: KOHICHI MATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20010001894
    Abstract: Manufacturing method of a magnetic head slider comprising a ferrite core having read/write gap and a housing of non-magnetic material having a rail on a surface opposite to a magnetic recording medium, the ferrite core and the housing being bonded to each other, a core bond bar constituted by continuation of two or more cores and a stick for the housing are bonded to each other and fine machining is applied thereto, and then the magnetic head slider is separated into individual sliders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: NAOMI KAERIYAMA, AKINOBU SANO
  • Publication number: 20010001895
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sheet stack (8) consisting of ferromagnetic material, and/or an assembly including such a sheet stack (8) and at least one further component (12, 13, 14). According to the invention, the sheet stack (8) is assembled from raw magnetic steel sheets, and is positioned in a shaping tool. Thereafter, by means of introducing a mixture into the tool and hardening or hardening out of the mixture, the sheets are surrounded by the mixture and connected together to form the finished sheet stack (8) in a single working step. In order to manufacture the assembly, the sheet stack (8) can be connected in the same working step with the components (12,13,14), and the assembly as a whole can be provided with its final electrical, magnetic, mechanical and/or geometric properties (FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: FRANS SETIABUDI, MICHEL GEHRIG, ULRICH MASSEN, ROLAND MOSER, THOMAS MOSER, LUITPOLD MILLER, WOLFGANG HAHN
  • Publication number: 20010001896
    Abstract: A parts distributing method for distributing parts to mounting units in a parts mounting system having a plurality of mounting units, said method comprising the steps of: specifying parts of specific kinds which can be mounted with each mounting unit as division-specified parts; distributing parts specified for a specific mounting unit to the mounting unit; repeating operations to distribute parts having a maximum mounting time, out of remaining parts other than the division-specified parts, to mounting units which sequentially have a minimum mounting time; and repeating operations to distribute the division-specified parts one by one to mounting units which sequentially have a minimum mounting time. 1 TABLE I Tacts for high-speed Tacts for multi-function Part name Quantity mounting uuit mounting uuit Electronic 6 0.15 0.25 Part A Electronic 5 0.20 0.30 Part B Electronic 5 — 0.40 Part C Electronic 4 0.15 0.25 Part D Tact: mounting time per part (sec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nonaka, Hiroaki Kurata
  • Publication number: 20010001897
    Abstract: A method of forming an internal channel within an article, such as a cooling channel in an air-cooled blade, vane, shroud, combustor or duct of a gas turbine engine. The method generally entails forming a substrate to have a groove recessed in its surface. A sacrificial material is then deposited in the groove to form a filler that can be preferentially removed from the groove. A permanent layer is then deposited on the surface of the substrate and over the filler, after which the filler is removed from the groove to yield the desired channel in the substrate beneath the permanent layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: JI CHENG ZHAO, MELVIN R. JACKSON, PAUL L. DUPREE, JAMES R. DOBBS
  • Publication number: 20010001898
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a base plate and a plurality of heat dissipating fins upwardly extending from the base plate. Each fin includes a heat dissipating portion and a connecting portion integrated with the base plate by punching whereby concave sections are left in the connecting portion. The fins can be formed in various shapes by shearing and bending or by bending a metal sheet. A method for making a reliable heat sink includes a preparing step, a punching step and a flattening step. The preparing step comprises manufacturing a base plate and a plurality of fins each including a connecting portion and a heat dissipating portion. The punching step comprises punching the connecting portions of the fins against the base plate thereby integrating the connecting portions with the base plate, forming concave sections in the connecting portions and convex sections on an opposite lower surface of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Shun-Jung Lee, Hsieh-Kun Lee
  • Publication number: 20010001899
    Abstract: A tripod includes a tripod bearing assembly. The tripod bearing assembly has a spider with a trunion radially projecting therefrom. The trunion has a bearing surface formed thereupon. A needle bearing assembly is provided for installation on the bearing surface of said trunion. The bearing assembly includes an outer race, a plurality of rollers and a cage for retaining the rollers to the outer race without bearing against an inner race prior to installation on the trunion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: ROBERT W. SAMS, RICHARD SEIDEL, MICHAEL WALTER HOPSON
  • Publication number: 20010001900
    Abstract: A device for creating at least one aligned marking on opposite sides of a semiconductor wafer including a front side and a back side. A wafer receiving support unit including at least a first wafer receiving slot in a first side wall thereof receives a wafer inserted therein. A template positions at least one aligned marking on each of the front side of the semiconductor wafer and on the backside of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: H. BERNHARD POGGE, CHRISTOPHER P. AUSSCHNITT
  • Publication number: 20010001901
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate a storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Publication number: 20010001902
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Publication number: 20010001903
    Abstract: The ventilated footwear comprises a lower part incorporating a sole, an upper part coupled to the lower part and shaped to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper part has an arch portion and is provided with an inside surface adapted to permit air circulation therethrough, and an outside surface provided with ventilation holes located in the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear. A waterproof and breathable membrane is sandwiched between the inside and outside surfaces in the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear across the holes. Furthermore, an insole is preferably disposed into the footwear. The insole has an arch portion adjacently located to the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear. The upper layer of the insole is adapted to permit air circulation therethrough. The insole has a bottom layer provided with transverse intersecting channels extending inwardly from a peripheral edge of the insole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: MARIO DI GIROLAMO
  • Publication number: 20010001904
    Abstract: A shoe designed for active wear is described having a distinctive outsole. The outsole has a peripheral wall delimiting a plantar region, a heel region and an arch region of the outsole. A cavity formed in the plantar region has a shape including a floor and an inner periphery defined by a plurality of ribs that form a structure with a series of combs articulating with the peripheral wall of the outsole. A cushioning pad is located within the cavity and molded-in-place to the inner periphery and the floor of the cavity to form an integral functional part of the outsole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: HOMAR HERNADEZ
  • Publication number: 20010001905
    Abstract: An insole construction for footwear comprising a base member, an intermediate member formed of a soft foam and having a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced raised cushioning elements on the upper surface thereof, and a flexible cover member surrounding the intermediate member and extending beneath the base member. The intermediate member preferably is formed of a foam such as polyurethane foam having a density rating of approximately 60-90. The raised cushioning elements are of a height of approximately 6 millimeters above the upper surface of the intermediate member and are spaced approximately 10-30 millimeters from each other. The thickness of the intermediate member is approximately 6 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: WILHELM PFANDER
  • Publication number: 20010001906
    Abstract: A sports boot that includes a tightening device cooperating with a series of return elements for tightening an upper portion, and a return element itself. Each return element includes a closed loop made of a flexible and traction-resistant material, wherein the return element includes a guiding portion connected to the loop and has a sliding surface for the passage of the tightening device within the loop along a passage plane, the guiding portion having sufficient stiffness in the passage plane to resist deformation when the tightening device is placed under tension. The tightening efficiency is thus optimized by reducing friction. The size of the return element is limited in order to provide greater comfort in case pressure is exerted by an external element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: BRUNO BOROSI
  • Publication number: 20010001907
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole with a stability element constructed of a material and configured for controlling, in a preselected manner, the rotation of the forefoot portion of the article of footwear around the longitudinal axis with respect to the rearfoot portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Simon Luthi, Frans Xavier Karl Kalin, Jeffrey E. Gebhard, Charles D. Kraeuter
  • Publication number: 20010001908
    Abstract: An inner liner for a boot having a sole and an upper provided with a foot entry opening in its front upper part. The upper is made of several pieces, the several pieces being connected by a mode of assembly that define connecting lines. A sealing element extends continuously from the sole, where it is welded/glued, to the foot entry opening by completely housing the liner toe. The liner contributes to reinforcing and ensuring the impermeability of the boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: JEAN-PIERRE CHEMELLO
  • Publication number: 20010001909
    Abstract: A structural interface for a sports shoe is described. An implementation of the structural interface includes a lateral beam member and a medial beam member connected together by a bridge member. The lateral and medial beam members may each include at least one mounting location for connection means and/or attachment devices. The connection means or attachment devices mate with sports apparatus, for example, snowboard bindings or bike pedals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Vans, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff W. Sand
  • Publication number: 20010001910
    Abstract: A photograph retaining assembly is disclosed, wherein a backing substrate has an adhesive layer on one side and a plurality of retaining pockets on a second side. The retaining pockets formed to preclude perforation of the backing substrate. The retaining pockets can form a frame extending along two, three or all four sides of the photograph, wherein the retaining pocket engages the retained photograph along at least three sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Holly S. Cumberland, Todd C. Cumberland
  • Publication number: 20010001911
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shotgun accessory which can be attached to and detached from the barrel of a shotgun. A shotgun accessory formed in accordance with the invention is an accessory barrel (6), the structure of which is such that it brings about the optional combustion of the gun powder in the shotgun's barrel and accessory barrel (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Jukka Totvanen
  • Publication number: 20010001912
    Abstract: The present invention involves a rifle rest which is particularly suited for competitive long distance range shooting. The rifle rest has a rifle vise mounted on a vise support resting upon a base which has adjustable legs. In a preferred embodiment, the rifle vise is mounted on a vise support which is a sphere or partial sphere. The convex curvature of the sphere is slidably received by an aperture in a planar base allowing for the movement and rotation of a rifle secured in the vise about a variety of axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. WEAVER
  • Publication number: 20010001913
    Abstract: An animated waterfowl decoy apparatus includes a decoy housing, a pair of decoy wing members rotatably connected to the decoy housing, and an elongated stand supporting the housing to position the decoy housing over the surface of a body of water. The apparatus may be readily converted between wind-powered operation and motor-powered operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Robert Mathews
  • Publication number: 20010001914
    Abstract: An article for poisoning of termites without poisoning the soil is a cellulose body impregnated with a borate salt. The cellulose body may be wood, paper, or laminated paper that is placed on or in soil. These articles are placed in contact with the soil at spaced apart intervals having a regular interval near a structure to be protected from termite attack, near a termite infestation, or near a termite-attracting feature. The articles are impregnated preferably with a sodium borate salt, such as disodium octaborate tetrahydrate or disodium tetraborate decahydrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Yaakov Brody
  • Publication number: 20010001915
    Abstract: An artificial firelog and firestarter chip producing apparatus comprising a cutting assembly, a compression conveyor auger assembly and a die. The apparatus converts standard waxed corrugated cardboard boxes into artificial firelogs by first slicing cardboard sheets into cardboard strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments in the cutting assembly. The cardboard segments are horizontally disposed between the rifling and compressed in the compression conveyor auger assembly and extruded in the die to form generally horizontally disposed, circular, longitudinally-shaped sections of a firelog. Firestarter chips are fabricated by the cutting assembly, which slices waxed cardboard sheets in conjunction with paper sheets into waxed cardboard and paper strips, then chopping the waxed cardboard strips into waxed cardboard segments and the paper strips into paper segments and waxed cardboard segments mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory J. Peterson, Gary M. Flint
  • Publication number: 20010001916
    Abstract: A glass run of an automobile comprises a channel portion including a bottom portion and inner and outer side walls. The glass run further comprises inner and outer seal lips projecting into the channel portion from the inner and outer side walls respectively. The seal lips have back sides facing inside of the channel portion. At least the inner seal lip is thickened in its wall thickness at its middle portion in a manner that the back side of the seal lip projects more inwardly into the channel portion at the middle portion than at a root portion of the seal lip, thereby forming a convex at the middle portion on the back side of the seal lip while relatively forming a concave at the root portion on the back side of the seal lip. The glass run further comprises a sponge elasticity-reinforcing member provided between the root portion on the back side of the inner seal lip and the inner side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Masahiro Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20010001917
    Abstract: A lock portion is formed on an end portion of an outside wall portion of a glass run which has a channel-like body portion and which is to be attached to a groove portion formed in a window frame of a vehicle. A detachment preventing protrusion portion is formed on an outside wall surface of the outside wall portion. Pressure-contact portions which are brought into pressure-contact with car-exterior-side and car-interior-side inner wall surfaces of the groove portion are provided on the outside surfaces of the base end portions of the outside and inside wall portions, respectively. The lock portion is brought into contact with a car-exterior-side outer edge of the window frame, and the body portion is rotated around the lock portion so as to be fitted into the groove portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Teruhito Goto
  • Publication number: 20010001918
    Abstract: A pre-hung door and door frame in combination with nesting door posts. Preferably, the door posts have a central channel extending into contact with a door jamb soffit and one of the door jamb stops. The header includes a header tab extending from a nailing flange into a area defined by the door jamb rabbet, face and back bends to provide a more rigid connection between the header and the door jamb. The header also includes a pair of door jamb tabs integral with the header for securing the header relative to the door jambs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Robert O. Ruff
  • Publication number: 20010001919
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both and a detaching means such as perforations for detaching a portion of the sleeve or sheet of material. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Publication number: 20010001920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically wrapping a sheet of material about a bouquet of flowers. A sheet of material having spaced apart defined first and second portions is placed against a support member, such as a prepared table top, and the bouquet is positioned on the sheet with the first and second portions of the sheet extending on right and left sides, respectively, of the bouquet. The first sheet portion is then moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet, and the second sheet portion is moved in a path to at least partially encompass the bouquet and to extend over part of the first sheet portion. The two sheet portions may be secured together by a bonding material, or the first and second portions of the sheet of wrapping material can themselves act as a bonding material by application of appropriate heat sealing, sonic welding, vibratory welding, and similar methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Paul Fantz, Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig
  • Publication number: 20010001921
    Abstract: A dunnage bag includes a sealed, flexible bag, and a rigid valve assembly connected in fluid communication to the flexible bag. The valve assembly has a rigid collar which mounts in an opening in a wall of a container to receive an exit end of a fill nozzle of an inflating system which supplies pressurized gas for inflating the flexible bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Sealed Air Corporation, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence B. Sperry, Eric Kane
  • Publication number: 20010001922
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20010001923
    Abstract: In an air conditioner having a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor-side heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor-side heat exchanger are connected in succession via pipes, the interior of an enclosed vessel of a compressor, which contains a refrigerant compressing section and an electric motor, is divided airtightly into a refrigerant discharge chamber and an electric motor chamber, two refrigerant flow path pipes are provided on the electric motor chamber side, and these refrigerant flow path pipes are appropriately switched to the refrigerant discharge side and the refrigerant suction side of the compressor via the four-way switching valve, whereby one compressor can be used as an internal high pressure type or an internal low pressure type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Masashi Katayama, Makoto Araki, Masaki Fujino, Jyunya Tanaka, Motonobu Furukawa, Akira Shimada, Shuji Takeda, Hiroki Tomoda, Mitsuru Shiraishi, Keiichi Nakamura, Takefumi Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20010001924
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature control system in a simple constitution as well as be capable of strictly controlling the temperature on the side of the process device of the fluid supplied via the pathway from the chiller device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Masato Maehashi
  • Publication number: 20010001925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing three-dimensional knits. In accordance with the invention narrowing the loops is done by loops covering a partial area of the needle bed being transferred to needles arranged nearer to the middle of the knit and subsequently knitting further continued, and widening the loops is done by loops covering a partial area of the needle bed being transferred to needles arranged remote from the middle of the knit and subsequently knitting further continued. As an alternative to this, needles may be rendered inactive in a partial area of the needle bed over at least one course and subsequently reactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Friedrich Roell
  • Publication number: 20010001926
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for water craft to secure boats and to secure accessories in three embodiments. The first embodiment discloses a two part locking mechanism comprising a tubular locking bar which reciprocates into locking relationship with a tubular locking cylinder. Both the locking bar and the locking cylinder have projecting and bent securing rods of elongated length configured to enclose the horns of a cleat in secure relationship. The locking bar is capable of being reciprocated into the locking cylinder and locked therein to maintain the locking rods around the horns of the cleat. The second embodiment discloses a locking bar and locking cylinder arrangement wherein the horn engaging locking rods are of relatively thin wall tubular construction and fit around the horns of the cleat. In the third embodiment the horn engaging rods are of circular ring construction and are attached respectively to the locking bar and locking cylinder as described in the other embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Jack M. Edmondson
  • Publication number: 20010001927
    Abstract: A device for determining the ambient heat index and communicating that information to a user, the device having a housing member, a control mechanism, and a power source. The control mechanism includes a microprocessor, an air temperature measuring device, and a relative humidity measuring device, wherein the air temperature measuring device and the relative humidity measuring device respectively determine the user's ambient air temperature and ambient relative humidity and communicate that information real time to the microprocessor for determination of the heat index. The control mechanism has a display mechanism for displaying the heat index, and another display mechanism for displaying the ambient temperature and the ambient relative humidity. Switches permit manual operation of activation of the display mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: Faun Jackson
  • Publication number: 20010001928
    Abstract: A vibratory gyroscope for detecting a turning angular rate in a turning system is provided. The gyroscope comprises a vibrator, an exciting means for exciting driving vibration in the vibrator, and a detecting means for detecting vibration induced in the vibrator. The vibrator comprises a plurality of vibration systems 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, which are formed within a specified plane intersecting the turning axis Z. Vibration systems comprises first vibration systems 1A and 1B whose vibrations include radial vibration components, in which the center of gravity of first vibration system vibrates in a radial direction in the specified plane with respect to the center of gravity GO of the vibrator. The vibration systems also comprises second vibration systems 2A and 2B whose vibrations include circumferential vibration components, in which the center of gravity of vibration of the second vibration system vibrates in the specified plane along a circle with the center of gravity GO as its center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kikuchi, Shosaku Gouji, Yukihisa Osugi, Takao Soma
  • Publication number: 20010001929
    Abstract: In order to measure in situ the residual tension F1 of a pre-stressed bar braced between two anchorages, the two-way propagation time T1 of an ultra-sonic wave between the two ends of the bar is measured, and F1 is evaluated by the formula
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Basile, Bruno Lancia
  • Publication number: 20010001930
    Abstract: Support members are provided on the terminal portions of a sensor main body. In this state, a seal portion is formed by molding, and the seal portion seals the terminal portions of the sensor main body. During molding, external pressure acts on a housing. However, since four electrode wires pulled out from the housing are supported by insulating support members, the four electrode wires do not contact one another due to the pressure applied during molding, and thus do not short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD. and HITACHI CABLE, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Ishihara, Noboru Tsuge, Shigeru Kashiwazaki, Fumitaka Nakahigashi, Koji Horii
  • Publication number: 20010001931
    Abstract: A semiconductor mechanical sensor having a new structure in which a S/N ratio is improved. In the central portion of a silicon substrate 1, a recess portion 2 is formed which includes a beam structure. A weight is formed at the tip of the beam, and in the bottom surface of the weight in the bottom surface of the recess portion 2 facing the same, an electrode 5 is formed. An alternating current electric power is applied between the weight portion 4 and the electrode 5 so that static electricity is created and the weight is excited by the static electricity. In an axial direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the excitation of the weight, an electrode 6 is disposed to face one surface of the weight and a wall surface of the substrate which faces the same. A change in a capacitance between the facing electrodes is electrically detected, and therefore, a change in a physical force acting in the same direction is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fujii, Masahito Imai
  • Publication number: 20010001932
    Abstract: When a steering wheel is relatively quickly turned at the time of parking, before a first stopper mechanism located between an input shaft and an output shaft is operated, an elastic member 47 attached to a movement end of a rack shaft 13 comes into contact with a rack stopper 39 of a rack housing 14, thereby absorbing the impact at the time of steering at parking. That is, the strike speed when contact portions of the first stopper mechanism are brought into contact with each other, is slowed down. Accordingly, the uncomfortable noise due to the strike sound is not given to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Masanori Kobayashi, Kouji Ogushi, Takefumi Deyama, Etsuro Kitami, Hiroaki Murakami, Teruo Tsutsui, Takashi Tsutsui