Patents Issued in October 1, 2002
  • Patent number: 6457195
    Abstract: A pillow and method of using the same is presented for providing comfortable lateral, fore and aft support for an individual's head and neck while the individual rests in a seated, prone or supine position. The pillow is elongated and generally cylindrical so that it can be adapted to completely encircle the individual's neck. The pillow is comprised of elastically deformable materials can be secured around the individual's neck in a generally helical pattern, overlapping the ends of the pillow. The pillow is then tightened or loosened to adjust for fit and comfort. In another embodiment, the pillow is secured around the individual's neck by tying the ends around each other. The amount of head and neck support can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of times that the pillow encircles the individual's neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Patricia A. Holste
  • Patent number: 6457196
    Abstract: An infant care apparatus such as an incubator or infant warmer having a mattress for supporting the infant on an infant platform that can, at times, by fully rotated 360 degrees to obtain full access to the infant. In the incubator, a translation platform can be slid into and out of the infant compartment and the mattress tray is pivoted to that translation platform so as to rotate at a pivot point that connects the mattress tray to the translation platform. Accordingly, when all of the doors of the infant incubator are in the closed position, the mattress tray is constrained from rotational movement but that mattress tray can be rotated a full 360 degrees whenever both doors are open or when the translation platform has been moved to a position at least partially exterior of the infant compartment. In all, the apparatus provides easy and convenient access to the infant for carrying out procedures on the infant while it is still supported by the infant care apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Dykes, John B. Poling, Thomas C. Jones
  • Patent number: 6457197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Swift Connection Joint Between Airbags. This invention includes a device named swift connection joint, instead of the air-pipes that are used in conventional air mattresses. The swift connection joint consists of first main unit and second main unit to be adhered to two airbags, respectively, as well as a locking part for installation of both main units. With the above-mentioned components, the swift connection joint can be assembled/disassembled easily, and does not fall apart. Therefore, the present invention is an ideal device for transmission of air into air mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Shang-Neng Wu
  • Patent number: 6457198
    Abstract: A portable golf ball cleaning device including a housing having a hollow interior. The housing has an opening therein exposing the hollow interior. The opening is dimensioned for receiving a golf ball therethrough. The housing has a plurality of bristles disposed thereon on an interior surface thereof. The hollow interior holds a quantity of a soap and water solution therein. A ball receiving portion is rotatably disposed within the hollow interior of the housing. The ball receiving portion is dimensioned for receiving the golf ball therein. The ball receiving portion is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing whereby a golf ball positioned therein will be in contact with the plurality of bristles of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Jones
  • Patent number: 6457199
    Abstract: A system and methods for substrate preparation are provided. In one example, a wafer processing system includes a system enclosure that contains wafer processing apparatus within an isolated wafer processing environment. The wafer processing apparatus include a pair of immersion tanks in the lower front region of the system with a pair of wafer pickers behind the immersion tanks to extract wafers from the tanks. In the rear of the system, a pair of brush boxes are located in a lower region with a pair of dryer units positioned above the brush boxes. A robot arm is positioned between the pair of immersion tanks and the pair of brush boxes in a middle region of the system, and is configured to transition wafers between the processing apparatus. A pair of output shelves holding output cassettes is positioned over the immersion tanks. The output cassettes receive clean wafers after processing. In another example, a method for preparing a substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Frost, Oliver David Jones, Mike Wallis
  • Patent number: 6457200
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive cleaning sheet is disclosed which comprises a substrate, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one or both sides of the substrate, and a porous screen disposed on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The cleaning sheet is substantially non-tacky when the cleaning sheet surface is kept in a non-pressed state, and exhibits tackiness when the cleaning sheet surface is kept in a pressed state. Also disclosed are a method of using the cleaning sheet, an image-forming material having a cleaning part, and a method of cleaning an image-forming apparatus. These are useful for the cleaning of, e.g., the magnetic reading parts and magnetic-card transport parts of apparatuses accepting various magnetic cards and the thermal heads and/or transport rollers of various recording apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corpration
    Inventors: Naomitu Tanaka, Tatsuo Koyama, Masanori Sano
  • Patent number: 6457201
    Abstract: This toothbrush would operate normally only when the user brushes in a correct manner. It has a brush member slidably mounted to a handle. A latching arrangement is provided between the brush and the handle such that when the toothbrush is operated incorrectly in the direction along its longitudinal axis, the toothbrush would either slide freely in and out or completely detach from the handle rendering it inoperable. When brushing with the correct motion in the up and down direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, the latching arrangement would maintain the brush member securely mounted to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Kwok-Kuen Sham
  • Patent number: 6457202
    Abstract: An improved brush assembly for mounting on horizontally rotating brushes on street sweeping machines. A circular disk carries brush holders holding bristles in the desired configuration. The brush holders are clamped to the disk by a clamp having a clamp bar that engages the brush holder and is maintained parallel to the brush holder with an offset support. A bolt and nut combination between the brush holder and disk presses the clamp bar firmly against the brush holder to hold it in place. Alignment holes in the brush holder cooperate with pins on the clamp bar to maintain the brush holder in the proper position. Holes through the brush holder have transverse walls so that U-shaped bristles can be extended through the holes with legs of the U-shape on opposite sides of the transverse walls. The brush holder can be configured with a reinforced strip area for extra strength and a pair of reinforced tabs to provide further strength to resist cracking and fatigue failure during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventors: Randolph Torres, Doug Shelstrom
  • Patent number: 6457203
    Abstract: An insert has an upper and lower portions used in conjunction with a variety of sizes of a wash buckets and a wringer to eliminate the contamination of clean wash solution with dirty solution during the moping process. The insert allows for a separation of liquids while limiting the volume that is lost in the wash bucket with the use of an insert. A wringer attaches to the insert and when used to wring out a mop the insert collects all the dirty solution that is extracted from the mop. The insert allows for the maximum clean wash solution volume and dirty solution volume while also increasing the height of the wringer when used in conjunction with the insert and wash bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Williams, Richard A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6457204
    Abstract: A device for removing dust from a moving paper web, where the dust is carried in a boundary layer of air that runs with the web, includes a first separating box mounted across the web running direction. The first separating box has a collecting duct extending across the web running direction, a curved guide surface which guides the paper web, and apparatus for deflecting the dust-laden air boundary layer into the collecting duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Jörg Bauböck, Adolf Gogg, Klaus Gissing
  • Patent number: 6457205
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a plurality of operating modes is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a power control system having at least one sensor for automatically sensing a change in the operating mode of the vacuum cleaner and for generating a mode signal. A microprocessor responsive to the mode signal is adapted to vary the power supply signal being supplied to the vacuum cleaner motor and fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 6457206
    Abstract: A remote-controlled vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner vehicle designed to be positioned and moved in any direction relative to a surface (e.g., a carpet) to be cleaned, and a handheld remote control device including a control element (e.g., a joystick, a roller ball, or the like) and a transmitter for sending control signals to electronic motor drive circuits in the vehicle. According to the invention, the handheld remote control device preferably is controlled by a processor and includes a display (e.g., a video monitor) for displaying images from one or more cameras located on or within the vacuum cleaner vehicle. The vacuum cleaner vehicle preferably includes a misting device in which cleaning solution is stored. The misting device includes a nozzle for misting the cleaning solution onto the surface to be cleaned, preferably prior to the vacuuming operation. The vacuum cleaner vehicle preferably also includes a dryer mechanism (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Scott H. Judson
  • Patent number: 6457207
    Abstract: Stop arrangement (1) for stopping a door which is pivotable about an axis of rotation (5), the stop arrangement includes a first member (10) which, is connected to the door and is adapted so as to interact with a second member (11) connected to a body part. The first and second members (10, 11) have surfaces (12) which face one another and are designed in such a manner in relation to one another that the torque about the axis of rotation (5) will vary when the door pivots about the axis of rotation (5). A force element (13) is arranged so as to bring the first and the second member (10, 11) together with one another with a force, the direction of which is parallel or at least essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Arne Hörberg
  • Patent number: 6457208
    Abstract: A device and method for engaging a rounded knob so that the knob can be turned in a more rapid and ergonomically efficient manner. The claimed invention includes an auxiliary handle device. The auxiliary handle device includes a hub and a handle that extends radially away from the hub. The hub is configured to pass over the exterior of the rounded knob. Once the hub envelopes the rounded knob, the handle is rotated. As the handle is rotated, an interference fit is created between the interior of the hub and the knob. The interference fit transfers the rotational energy from the handle to the rounded knob, thereby rotating the rounded knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: William Keith
  • Patent number: 6457209
    Abstract: A method of directly determining setting values for an application point of regulation in a draw unit for drafting sliver includes the following steps: Obtaining at least three measured values of a quality-characterizing magnitude, such as the CV value, of the drafted sliver; utilizing the measured values for formulating a function having a minimum constituting an optimal application point of regulation for controlling the draw unit; determining the optimal application point of regulation in a pre-operational run of the draw unit; and numerically computing a function between the quality-characterizing magnitudes and application points of regulation from the measured values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Breuer, Reinhard Hartung
  • Patent number: 6457210
    Abstract: A band has an engaging projection part at one end, and an engaging grooves at the other end to adjust the connection in an annular shape. The band is movable forward but not movable backward relative to the other under the condition that the engaging projection part is locked to the engaging recessed part. A pair of hook parts capable of pulling both end parts by fingers of one hand is installed on both end parts. A buckle connected to the band includes a buckle main body having a bottom plate, a roof frame, and side plates for connecting the bottom plate to the roof frame. An operating plate is installed horizontally inside the roof frame, and has an engaging claw engageable with the band engaging grooves and a pressing part. The buckle and the band is made simple, and easily attached together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Builmatel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syoji Shirai, Kouhei Musha
  • Patent number: 6457211
    Abstract: A hose wire-clamp arrangement includes a hose clamp (1) that comprises a helical, resilient wire, which is angled outward nearly radially or circumferentially at at least one end portion (3) and at one further portion (6). To allow the hose wire-clamp (1) to be mounted to a fitting such that it can be released easily without a tool and, once mounted, can withstand high internal pressure on the hose, a retaining sheet (2) having two spaced cutouts (8, 9) is detachably mounted to the hose wire-clamp (1) such that each of the two angled portions (3,6) rests against a respective one of the two cutouts (8, 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 6457212
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an open-type clamp and clamps made by such a method with an arrangement assuring gap-free and stepless internal clamping surfaces which include one of a female and male configuration at the end of the inner clamping band portion and one of male and female configuration in the outer clamping band potion, wherein the profile in the outer band portion is constituted by a deep-drawn channel having a dimension in the direction at right angle to the surface of the clamping band which corresponds substantially to the thickness of the clamping band, and merging any part of the outer clamping band remaining positionally substantially unaffected by the deep-drawing operation of the channel, into the inwardly displaced plane obtained by such deep-drawing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hans Oetiker AG Maschinen- und Apparatefabrik
    Inventor: Paul M. Craig, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6457213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tack which prevents puckering phenomenon from being generated when the tack is pierced into cloth and enables a firm engagement between the tack and a boss portion of a button. In the tack for button, a cylindrical post stands on the center of a seat plate and a quadrangular pyramid shaped head is formed at an end of the post. The head is pointed such that a vertical angle of each of peripheral faces of the head is in a range of 20 to 40°. Four corners on a proximal periphery of the head are protruded out of an outer peripheral face of the post so as to form an engaging portion which bites into a wall face of an attaching hole in a boss portion of the button. When the tack is pierced into cloth, because the head makes a linear contact with the cloth and it is pointed, no puckering phenomenon occurs, thereby making it possible to engage and fix the tack to the boss portion firmly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6457214
    Abstract: A cord lock apparatus includes an open-ended housing and a slide member slidably received at least partially in the housing and movable relative to the housing between a cord locking position and a cord releasing position. The slide member includes cord engaging structure that is displaceable relative to the slide member in two generally orthogonal directions. In another embodiment, the cord lock apparatus includes respective openings on the housing and slide member which are substantially aligned when the slide member is in the cord locking position. A lock may be extended through the respective openings to lock the slide member in the cord locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Robert O. Boden
  • Patent number: 6457215
    Abstract: A clasp for bracelet comprising a body whereof one of the sides is fixed to or integral with one of the ends of the bracelet and whereof the opposite side comprises a retaining element cooperating with a coupling member comprised by the other end of the bracelet. A cover is articulated on the clasp body so that it can move relative to the clasp body transversely with respect thereto and to the axis of the bracelet and pivot about a hinge pin parallel to the axis of the bracelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Cartier International B.V.
    Inventor: Philippe Martin
  • Patent number: 6457216
    Abstract: A buckle for a watchband comprising a first arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first arm is hingedly coupleable to first watchband portion; and a latch, the latch extending from a surface of the first arm; a second arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arm is hingedly coupled to the second end of the first arm, the second arm further having an aperture sized to permit the latch to pass therethrough when the first arm is rotated into a “surface to surface” alignment with the second arm; a shell, the shell being hingedly coupled to the second end of the second arm and hingedly coupleable to a second watchband portion; and a latching mechanism, coupled to the shell, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a backing plate having an aperture sized to permit the latch to pass therethrough; a locking plate, coupled to the backing plate and biased relative thereto, for engaging and latching the latch when the latch is passed throug
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventor: Fong Hay Lo
  • Patent number: 6457217
    Abstract: A component attaching device for attaching a component to an attaching member is formed of a first attaching section to be attached to the attaching member, and a second attaching section connected to the first attaching section to be attached to the component. A releasing section is formed near the first or second attaching section for releasing an attached condition of the attaching member with the first attaching section or an attached condition of the component with the second attaching section. The attached conditions is released when a force of relatively moving the attaching member and the component exceeds a predetermined value. Also, a holding section is formed near the releasing section such that the attaching member and the component are relatively moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshii, Tomoharu Izume
  • Patent number: 6457218
    Abstract: A plastic clip of unitary, one piece construction, and a method for making the same is disclosed. The clip includes a first leg of a first thickness, a second leg of a second thickness, and a bridging section joining the first leg and the second leg, the bridging section being of a dimension that upon cooling or curing of the plastic material, the bridging section biases the first leg against the second leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Lloyd L. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6457219
    Abstract: A side release buckle includes a male buckle member, a female buckle member for engagement with the male buckle member, a first decorative member fastened to the male buckle member by a hook joint, and a second decorative member fastened to the female buckle member and adapted to show with the first decorative member a particular character design after connection of the male buckle member to the female buckle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Kim Ging Hui Enterprise Limited
    Inventor: Chun Chien Liu
  • Patent number: 6457220
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing piezoelectric resonant components includes laminating two encapsulating substrates having a piezoelectric substrate disposed therebetween. The piezoelectric substrate includes adhesive layers on the surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate for bonding the two encapsulating substrates to the piezoelectric substrate. The adhesive layers include pass-through openings at a periphery of the piezoelectric substrate such that the adhesive layers are thicker at areas around the pass-through openings. As a result, gaps are prevented from being formed at sections where the adhesive layer is thin, thereby preventing the outer electrodes from short-circuiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyotoshi Hamano
  • Patent number: 6457221
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an actuator for ink jet printer head is disclosed. The method comprises steps of providing a silicon wafer; forming an etching stop layer on bottom side of said silicon wafer; forming a vibration plate made of silicic material; bonding said vibration plate onto bottom side of said etching stop layer by way of heat treatment; forming a chamber plate made of silicic material; forming a chamber on said chamber plate by way of full etching of said chamber plate; bonding said chamber plate where said chamber is formed, onto bottom side of the vibration plate by way of heat treatment; completing an actuator infrastructure by removing said silicon wafer; forming a lower electrode on said infrastructure; forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film which actuates when electrified, in a definite pattern upon said lower electrode; and forming an upper electrode upon said piezoelectric/electrostrictive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LTD
    Inventor: Sung June Park
  • Patent number: 6457222
    Abstract: During a method for manufacturing an ink-jet print head, piezoelectric element bars are fixed to a base plate. Then, two corners of the piezoelectric element bars are cut. The bare are then diced to be separated into individual piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Torii, Nobuhiro Noto, Keiji Watanabe, Yoshitaka Akiyama, Kenichi Kugai, Nobuhiro Kurosawa, Shigenori Suematsu, Yasuo Takano
  • Patent number: 6457223
    Abstract: A cosmetic container comprising an extruded metal sleeve and at least one plastics part inserted in the sleeve. The plastics part may take the form of a plastics end and/or an insert to ensure smooth engagement between the parts of the container. The extruded sleeve is manufactured by forming a long extruded tube of the required diameter and then cutting it into lengths to produce a plurality of metal sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Breton, Denis Pandolfi, Jean-Luc Perrier
  • Patent number: 6457224
    Abstract: The invention provides a device, a dambar punch setup jig, which permits dambar punches to be rapidly installed in a dambar punch housing. The dambar punches are placed on the dambar punch setup jig, where their positions are fixed relative to one another. The dambar punches may be held in place on the dambar punch setup jig by a cover. Once installed in the dambar punch setup jig, the dambar punches can be simultaneously installed in the dambar punch housing. The dambar punch setup jig may then be removed, leaving the dambar punches installed in the dambar punch housing. The dambar punches are easier to install in the dambar punch setup jig then in the dambar punch housing, saving operator time. Using the jig substantially reduces the equipment downtime required to replace the dambar punches. The jig may also be used to remove dambar punches from the dambar punch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Adisorn Kanjanavikat
  • Patent number: 6457225
    Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, a sheet of material with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of material and extending a distance therefrom is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6457226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a beading machine for shaping, edge-forming and beading sheet metal parts, with at least two corresponding beading rollers 12, 14, wherein each beading roller pair includes an upper beading roller 12 and a lower beading roller 14 as well as at least one limit stop for the sheet metal parts to be processed. In this case, the limit stop 16 for the sheet metal elements is provided in either or both of said beading rollers. The invention simultaneously relates to a process for shaping, edge forming and beading sheet metal parts by means of a beading machine of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Guido-Michael Krehle
  • Patent number: 6457227
    Abstract: A device for producing a thin steel strip, comprising at least one or more continuous-casting machines (1) for casting thin steel slabs, a furnace device (7) which is suitable for heating and/or homogenizing a slab, and at least one rolling device for reducing the thickness of a slab which is conveyed out of the furnace device (7), a welding machine being arranged between the continuous-casting machine (1) or continuous-casting machines (1) and the rolling device (10), for the purpose of joining slabs together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Corus Staal BV
    Inventors: Erik Marco Nijveld, Simon Petrus Anthonium Zuurbier
  • Patent number: 6457228
    Abstract: A module is placed inside a chamber that can be sealed hermetically. The module includes a substrate incorporating a plurality of electronic circuit parts, a frame connected to the substrate so as to enclose the plurality of electronic circuit parts, and a cover placed facing the substrate and connected to the frame so as to cover an opening portion of the frame. The pressure in the chamber is reduced to a first pressure P1, and then the pressure is increased from the first pressure P1 to a second pressure P2. A liquid is filled into the module through a hole formed in the cover within the chamber, and the pressure inside the chamber is increased from the second pressure P2 to a third pressure P3. Then, the hole of the cover in the chamber is closed to seal the module hermetically, thereby sealing the liquid in the module. Thereafter, the pressure in the chamber is increased from the third pressure P3 to an atmospheric pressure P0, and the module is taken out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Natsuo Arai, Kaoru Katayama, Eiichi Kiryuu
  • Patent number: 6457229
    Abstract: An ignition coil device, which is mounted in a plug hole of an internal combustion engine, comprises a primary coil 1 wound to have larger diameter, a secondary coil 2 wound on a bobbin 2A and disposed inside the primary coil 1, an iron core 3 disposed inside the bobbin 2A, and a shielding case 10 disposed around the primary coil 1, a gap between the primary coil 1 and the secondary coil 2 being filled with an insulating resin 12. The primary coil 1 is made bobbinless so as to secure and increase the withstand voltages of the primary coil and the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kanazawa, Noriyuki Murata, Toshiharu Saito, Harumi Aoki, Akira Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 6457230
    Abstract: An automatic rear combination lamp removal system includes a base, a plurality of sliding blocks slidably mounted on the base for moving in four ways on the base, a plurality of fastener removers mounted on the sliding blocks for removing nuts fixing rear combination lamps to a vehicle, and a plurality of lamp holders pivotally mounted to the fastener removers for holding the rear combination lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Cheol-Min Jin
  • Patent number: 6457231
    Abstract: An assembly line (14) having particular utility for use in assembling sheet metal parts includes a work station (18) having one or more production part trays (32, 34), a pilot part tray (36) and an indexer (38) that indexes these part trays in a transverse direction to a direction of conveyance (C) of the assembly line to permit one of the two production part trays (32, 34) to be used for production or the pilot part tray (36) to be used for a future pilot test. Detachable couplings (56) allow the production and pilot part trays to be moved to a maintenance station (42, 44) that is outside of the assembly line work area (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Utica Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Carter, Rudolph A. Gansler
  • Patent number: 6457232
    Abstract: A jig for use in measuring an accuracy with which a mounting device mounts at least one proper member on a proper substrate, the jig being set, in place of the proper substrate, on the mounting device, at least one standard chip being mounted on the jig by the mounting device, the jig having at least two reference marks at respective positions which assure that respective images of the reference marks and an image of at least a portion of the standard chip mounted on the jig are simultaneously taken by a single image taking device, so that the accuracy is determined based on the images taken by the image taking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Isogai, Hiroshi Katsumi, Masaki Murai
  • Patent number: 6457233
    Abstract: A solder bonding method comprises the step of solder bonding a first electrode 30 to a second electrode 16 having a solder bump 18 of mainly Sn formed on the upper surface thereof. The first electrode 30 and/or the second electrode 16 includes metal layers 14, 26 formed of an alloy layer containing Ni and P, an alloy layer containing Ni and B, or an alloy layer containing N, W and P. The metal layer of the alloy layer containing impurities, such as P, etc. can prevent the Ni of the metal layer from combining with the Sn in the solder bump. Accordingly, good bonded states can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kozo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6457234
    Abstract: A self-aligned (i.e., spatially selective) process for fabricating a corrosion-resistant conductive pad on a substrate, and an associated structure that includes an interconnect to allow a terminal connection to the conductive pad (e.g., a chip-to-package connection). The conductive pad may include a metal such as copper, aluminum, or tungsten. The self-aligned process generates a metallic layer on an initially exposed metal layer, wherein the metallic layer is electrically conductive and corrosion resistant. The process may be accomplished by providing a substrate having a metal layer with an exposed surface, depositing a second metal layer on the exposed surface, annealing the substrate to alloy a portion of the metal layer that includes the exposed surface and a portion of the second metal layer, and removing the unalloyed portion of the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Judith M. Rubino, Carlos J. Sambucetti, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 6457235
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate with a contact unit, an integrated circuit chip with a bonding pad unit, and a bonding wire interconnecting the bonding pad unit and the contact unit. The bonding wire has a electrical bonding contact attached to the bonding pad unit, a first extension portion extending from the electrical bonding contact in a direction that inclines slightly and upwardly relative to a plane of the substrate toward the contact unit, and a second extension portion extending from the first extension portion and attached to the contact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Te-Tsung Chuo, Hui-Chin Fang
  • Patent number: 6457236
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a novel apparatus and method to restrict pneumatic flow in a planar manifold. A forming tool of specific geometry is pressed into a planar manifold causing the pneumatic channel inside to collapse onto itself in a predictable and controllable way, therefore restricting the fluid flow in the pneumatic channel. The geometry of the forming tool is provided with angles and radii so that the planar manifold is not ripped during the pressing operation. Further, the geometry limits the deformed area so that distortion of adjacent pneumatic channels, and the potential for springing leaks between layers is minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the tooling also provides flow measurement while the forming tool is pressed into the planar manifold at a specific orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. White, Michael Q. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6457237
    Abstract: Ducts are formed from rigid or semi-rigid insulation boards by forming a plurality of longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel kerfs in a first major surface of each of the insulation boards which is adapted to be the interior surface of the duct. When the insulation board is formed into a duct of the preselected dimensions, the shoulders of the kerfs adjoining the interior surface of the duct abut and, preferably, the insulation material in the shoulders of the kerfs is compressed. The flexibility of the insulation boards, in the direction of the widths of the insulation boards, is controlled by increasing the depths and/or the widths of the kerts and/or decreasing the spacing between the kerfs to make the insulation board more flexible and by decreasing the depths and/or the widths of the kerfs and/or increasing the spacing between the kerfs to make the insulation board less flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent R. Matthews, Eric G. Schakel
  • Patent number: 6457238
    Abstract: An eating utensil with a spoon shell fastened to a handle enables handicapped people, who have, e.g., only one usable hand, to reduce in size pieces of food, e.g., meat, by cutting into bite-sized pieces. To achieve this, the spoon shell (1, 31) and the handle (6) are of a two-part design. The spoon shell (1) has a first shell part (2) with a first handle shaft (4) and a second shell part (3) with a second handle shaft (5). The respective shell parts (2, 3) and handle shafts (4, 5), which are rigidly connected to one another, are connected to one another by a scissor hinge (7) and can be moved against one another in a scissor-like manner. The shell parts (2, 3) have cutting edges (8, 9) cooperating in a scissor-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Maier, Thomas Maier, Thilo Schauer
  • Patent number: 6457239
    Abstract: The invention is a magnetic knife sheath that permits easy transport and protection of knives in a relatively small sheath. The sheath has two magnetically charged faces that attract each other, protecting and holding the knife blade securely between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin William McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 6457240
    Abstract: An anti-detachment structure for a knife and knife sheath, including a knife and a knife sheath. The knife has a fixing section and the knife sheath is provided with a resilient member and a linearly movable driving block. By means of coordinate operation of the driving block, resilient member and fixing section, the knife can be easily extracted out of the knife sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Yen-Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 6457241
    Abstract: In these scissors (1), one of the branches (2) entails a resting part (7) for the four fingers of the hand excluding the thumb, while the other branch (3) entails a resting part (8) for the thumb. The resting part (7) shows an exterior lateral face (7a) to rest the fingers upon and is joined to a hook (10) whose concave face (10a) outlines, with said lateral face (7a), a housing (11) which can narrowly receive the third or fourth finger of the operator, and whose convex face (10b) allows, at the level of the base of hook (10), a tightening of said hook (10) between the finger engaged in the housing (11) and the adjacent finger; the resting part (8) shows an exterior lateral face (8a) aimed at accommodating the thumb; the scissors (1) entail at least one elastic device (20) located between the two interal faces of these two resting parts (7&8) allowing the maintenance of the branches (2&3) in a spread-apart position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Michel Droin
  • Patent number: 6457242
    Abstract: A trimmer head for string trimmer machines using fixed length segments of line is made to accommodate trimmer line in a range of different sizes, from relatively small diameter line to relatively large diameter line. To accomplish this, the trimmer head consists of a generally cylindrically shaped hollow main housing having a central axis through it. Exit openings for the line are formed on diametrically opposite sides of the main housing; and line entry holes in two different pairs or sets are formed through the housing. An insert member is placed on the interior of the housing and the insert member has first and second guide channels aligned with and operating with the line entry holes and exit openings to guide string trimmer line inserted through a line entry hole in an arcuate path to exit from the corresponding line exit openings without separately threading the line into the line exit openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: John R. Fogle
  • Patent number: 6457243
    Abstract: A punching machine has a power-driven plunger to which a punch is chucked to be driven into and out of a die for perforating sheet-metal work. The plunger has a punch socket formed centrally in its end for receiving the shank of the punch, and a plurality of ball guideways extending radially outwardly from the punch socket. Locking balls are slidably received one in each ball guideway for movement into and out of locking engagement in an annular groove in the shank of the punch received in the punch socket. Concentrically mounted on the plunger, a cam ring is sprung in one axial direction of the plunger for urging the locking balls into locking engagement with the punch shank. Each locking ball is elongated radially of the plunger with a view to reduction of the machine dimension axially of the plunger for given diameters of the plunger and the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ogura
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 6457244
    Abstract: A structure of a hacksaw includes a frame which is combined by a fore part and a rear part, an adjustable mechanism under the fore part connected to one end of the blade for adjusting the tilt angle of the blade, a positioning mechanism under the rear part connected to the other end of the blade and for tensioning the blade by a wedge lever. The frame disassembly to quickly adjust the length to serve different lengths of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Yin-Hae Huang