Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
  • Patent number: 8015737
    Abstract: A post cover with advertising for use with a substantially semi-circular guard post of the type commonly found surrounding fuel pumps at gasoline stations. The post cover has a substantially semi-circular shape with an interior cavity dimensioned to receive a generally semi-circular guard post in slip fit engagement. The cover is generally molded of a resilient, durable, low maintenance and exposure resistant structural plastic that can be treated during the molding process with coloring agents and chemical additives to enhance its esthetic and resiliency character respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Frank Venegas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8019524
    Abstract: A first arbitration unit determines one demand engine torque of static demand engine torques set in a power train driver model and an ECT torque control system. The demand engine torque determined by the first arbitration unit is converted into dynamic demand engine torque by a conversion unit. A second arbitration unit determines demand engine torque for use in control of an engine from among the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque by the conversion unit, dynamic demand engine torque set by a VDIM system, and dynamic demand engine torque set by a vibration suppression control system. An engine control system controls the engine according to the demand engine torque determined by the second arbitration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Seiji Kuwahara, Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 8015893
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission includes a housing, a parking gear and a retainer. The housing has a support wall. The parking gear is pivotally coupled to the support wall of the housing by a pivot pin. The pivot pin has an end that protrudes outwardly from the support wall. The retainer has a proximal end fixedly secured to the support wall and a distal end contacting the end of the pivot pin to retain the pivot pin in the support wall. The retainer is elastically deformed upon securing the proximal end to the support wall and continuously axially biasing the pivot pin toward the housing. Additionally, the distal end is shaped to retain the end of the pivot pin, thereby axially constraining the pivot pin relative to the housing and, at the same time, preventing rotation of the retainer about the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Gilley
  • Patent number: 8016318
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes: a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn; a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Nezaki
  • Patent number: 8015901
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism includes a pair of contact portions facing each other which is capable of directly contacting a tie rod hexagonal portion, and an open-close drive mechanism that causes the both contact portions to move away from and approach the tie rod hexagonal portion. By appropriately changing the distance between surfaces of the mutually facing pair of contact portions, the tie rod hexagonal portion will be securely clamped by the pair of contact portions, regardless of the size of the diameter of the tie rod. Then, the tie rod hexagonal portion is rotated to adjust the toe angle, by rotating the clamping mechanism via the rotation drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Shinmei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kanazawa, Hiroharu Kato
  • Patent number: 8015873
    Abstract: A duct detector housing includes a housing cover and a housing body defining a midline between the center of a detector and a printed circuit board within said body. Gas inlet and outlets are off axis of the midline to allow water that collects in conventional housing to drain from the housing. A maintenance mode button associated with a duct detector housing cover that is secured to a housing body of the housing provides a preselected time period during which removal of the cover is independent of a cover removal alarm. A printed circuit board within the housing has dedicated terminal blocks providing grouped connections with each of the groups segregated from another. An improved duct detector terminal has a hole in the terminal adapted to receive a test meter probe therethrough to provide an electrical contact between the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventors: David L. Hall, Peter Stouffer, James E. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8011900
    Abstract: A heat dissipating system for a hermetic compressor includes a thermal energy transfer duct having a heat absorbing end mounted to the cylinder block of the compressor to absorb the heat generated by the compression of the refrigerant fluid in the cylinder block and a heat releasing end positioned away from the heat absorbing end and away from the cylinder block in order to release the heat conducted from the cylinder block by the transfer duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Fabricio Caldeira Possamai, Leonard L. Vasiliev
  • Patent number: 8011998
    Abstract: A sanding block for supporting an exteriorly mounted looped sanding belt having an elongated and planar shaped base. A planar shaped cover exhibits first and second oblique extending surfaces and, upon engaging with the base by a plurality of mating tabs and slots, collectively defines a three-dimensional article for supporting thereupon the looped sanding belt. A trigger exhibits a three-dimensional rectangular shape and extends laterally across a widthwise defined opening in the base in communicating fashion with an end surface associated with the cover, such that the trigger is positioned between the base and cover. The trigger is displaced in a first lateral direction to lengthwise displace the cover away from the base, the trigger displacing in a second and opposite lateral direction to reverse displace the cover inwardly towards the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Lamarche
  • Patent number: 8011714
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a stowable seat and seat storage structure that affords for storing of the stowable seat in a vehicle and yet not use or occupy any floor or sub-floor cargo space. An interior side wall for the vehicle is also provided, the interior side wall having a recess that is dimensioned for the stowable seat to fit at least partially therewithin when it is detached from the floor and folded into a stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Frank Parkinson, Robert Charles Steinbrecher, Hamshivraj Singh Dhamrat, William Deming
  • Patent number: 8013784
    Abstract: A radar apparatus comprises a substrate having first and second sides, an antenna including radiative elements disposed on the first side of the substrate, a Butler matrix supported by the substrate having input and output ports, where each output port of the Butler matrix is electrically connected to a group of radiative elements, and input connections between a radio-frequency (RF) circuit and the input ports of the Butler matrix. The RF circuit may be supported by the second side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Margomenos, Ruihua Ding
  • Patent number: 8014870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically stimulating the brain to alleviate tinnitus. In one aspect of the invention the areas of the brain to which stimulation is applied are determined by a procedure which first involves analysis of the patient to determine the nature of the sound perceived by the patient to produce tinnitus. These sound frequencies are then provided to the patient while imaging studies are made of the patient's brain. These studies may include magnetoencephalography (MEG) and/or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). These studies are then analyzed to determine the locus of the tinnitus, and one or more electrodes are placed at the indicated region in the patient's brain and a stimulation device for outputting a varying control pattern of electrical signals to the electrodes is also implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Michael D. Seidman
  • Patent number: 8011720
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiding in the assembly of a substrate to a vehicle body structure wherein the substrate includes a cable configured to attach to an electrical component mounted onto the vehicle body structure. The substrate includes a retaining device selectively disposed on the substrate and configured to releasably retain the cable. The retaining device is disposed on the substrate so as to position the cable along the substrate in such a manner that the cable will not interfere with the attachment of the substrate to the vehicle body structure. Accordingly upon attachment of the substrate to the vehicle body structure, the cable is manually removed from the retaining device and attached to the electrical component thereby preventing the cable from being trapped between the substrate and the vehicle body structure during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik A. Wippler
  • Patent number: 8011484
    Abstract: A versatile travel trunk may be reconfigured for numerous purposes, including a men's wardrobe, women's wardrobe, a combined wardrobe, food-carrying applications, tool and utensil accommodation, or any combination thereof. The preferred embodiment includes a body portion to which there is hinged a closable door portion. The body portion has an interior with a depth and opposing inner side walls adapted to receive one or more removable and reconfigurable shelves. A plurality of fasteners are disposed on the back portion of the back wall of the door to receive one or more modular inserts, each insert having a back surface connectable to the fasteners and a front surface with compartments adapted to carry a different set of items for a particular travel application. One or more of the shelves further include lower tracks to receive drawers that slide in and out of the body portion. The body portion preferably further includes a set of integrated wheels and a retractable handle for ease in transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Lynne McIntyre
  • Patent number: 8010408
    Abstract: A method and system for packetized advertising carried out with machine readable and decodable information indicia, where the packetized advertisements are formed by associating any combination of a plurality of products and services with the information indicia. In response to a device capturing an image of the information indicia a universal resource locator (URL) is generated. The URL generates a webpage with a series of URL that correspond to the plurality of products and services that are associated with the captured information indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: Walter M. Rubinstein, Simeon Marc Balban
  • Patent number: 8006474
    Abstract: An improvement implement for cleaning ponds and the like includes features which facilitate multi-functional applications. The implement includes an open frame having a forward section with opposing side portions, a rearward section, an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner surface. A plurality of tines extend downwardly from the lower surface of the forward portion of the frame. A net has a bottom defining a length and a periphery. A structure is provided for attaching the periphery of the net to the open frame such that the bottom of the net may be oriented above or below the plane of the frame without interfering with the tines. A handle attached to the rearward section of the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Radius Garden LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Baker
  • Patent number: 8006817
    Abstract: A power drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle includes a screw drive having a screw member and a clutch supported by the screw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hanna, Michael A. Slumba
  • Patent number: 8006584
    Abstract: A shifter assembly includes a base. A light box is disposed about the base. The shifter assembly also includes a ratchet system for adjusting the light box relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chad A. Blondeel, Norman D. Rezmer, Scott B. Fugate
  • Patent number: 8007197
    Abstract: A coupler device for releasably connecting a boom arm to a tool such as a bucket including a coupling frame adapted for connection to the boom and having wedge members on opposite sides thereof, these members being provided to engage in channels formed by connecting members on the tool. A fluid actuated holding mechanism is provided to secure the wedge members in the channels, this mechanism including a holder pivotably mounted on the frame and a fluid actuator connected to the holder at one end and to the frame at an opposite end. The coupler device includes a locking pin mechanism for locking the wedge members in the channels, this mechanism including at least one locking pin movably mounted in the frame for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position and, optionally, a linear fluid actuator mounted on the frame and having a hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nye Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Charles Nye, Mark Nye
  • Patent number: 8008180
    Abstract: A method of forming an Ohmic contact on a P-type 4H—SiC and an Ohmic contact formed by the same are provided. A method of forming an Ohmic contact on a P-type 4H—SiC substrate including a deposition step of successively depositing a 1 to 60 nm thick first Al layer, Ti layer, and second Al layer on a P-type 4H—SiC substrate and an alloying step of forming an alloy layer between the SiC substrate and the Ti layer through the first Al layer by heat treatment in a nonoxidizing atmosphere. An Ohmic contact on a P-type 4H—SiC substrate formed by this method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka University
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Masakatsu Maeda, Akinori Seki, Akira Kawahashi, Masahiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: D644053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Kevin L. Newcomer