Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
  • Patent number: 7950718
    Abstract: A convertible soft top for a motor vehicle is provided. The convertible soft top has a front portion and a rear portion, the top also having and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The top includes a fabric cover that extends across the front portion and the rear portion, the fabric cover forming a pair of spaced apart fins that extend from the front portion in a rearwardly direction when the top is in the extended position. The convertible soft top is dimensioned such that a motor vehicle with a conventional opening for heretofor convertible tops can be used with the soft top of the instant invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Neubrand
  • Patent number: 7953508
    Abstract: A quality control system and method for monitoring an assembly operation is provided. The method can include: (1) providing an assembly line having a plurality of machines being assembled thereon; (2) providing a tool for performing an assembly operation; (3) performing a plurality of the assembly operations with the tool; (4) measuring a measurable parameter indicative of the performance of the tool for at least a subset of the plurality of assembly operations; (5) storing the measured values in an electronic format with a data collection device; (6) analyzing the measured values; and (7) providing a signal based on the analysis with the signal indicative of at least satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance of the tool. In some instances, the data collection device can provide for storing additional information and/or data with any particular stored measured value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason J. Dennis, Gary Lee, Sorin Buse
  • Patent number: 7951088
    Abstract: A catheter assembly for sensing the temperature of an arterial wall or other body lumen includes a blood-flow-occluding feature to increase the accuracy the temperature measurements. In addition to the flow-occluding feature, the catheter includes a distal end with a temperature sensing structure and a proximal end including a manually operated expansion control. The temperature sensing structure includes one or more presentation elements in the form of a basket or braided structure having at least one temperature sensor supported thereon, each sensor being operative to generate an electrical signal indicative of temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the feature to occlude blood flow is an inflatable balloon disposed near the expandable basket or braid structure. The temperature sensors are preferably thermistors, and an elastic sleeve covering the expandable basket or braid structure is also preferably provided to further insulate the temperature sensors from the cooling effects of blood flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Accumed Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Korotko, William W. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7952629
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor for cameras which includes a plurality of pixels arranged in lines and columns. The pixels each include a light-sensitive detector element to generate electrical charge from incident light, a transfer gate, a readout node which is charge-coupled to the detector element via the transfer gate, a converter circuit to generate a measurement signal which is proportional to a charge present in the readout node, and a reset device to reset a charge present in the readout node to a reference value. The image sensor furthermore includes a control device for the control of the transfer gate and of the of the reset device of the respective pixel. The control device is configured such that the charge generated during a single exposure procedure in the respective detector element is transferred from the detector element to the readout node in a plurality of portions. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the reading out of an image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Michael Cieslinski
  • Patent number: 7952455
    Abstract: A magnetic device having a housing with a front wall. A first magnet assembly includes a north and south pole and a second magnet assembly also includes a north and south pole. The magnet assemblies are pivotally mounted in the housing and pivotal between a first position in which the north pole of the first magnet assembly and the south pole of the second magnet assembly face each other and are positioned adjacent the front wall of the housing, and a second position in which the north pole of the first magnet assembly and the south pole of the second magnet assembly face each other and are retracted from the front wall. An actuator pivots the magnet assemblies between their first and second positions while a spring urges the magnet assemblies toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Allan D. Crawshaw
  • Patent number: 7950126
    Abstract: Improved cored-wire fabrication replaces multiple roller pairs with one or more dies. In the preferred embodiment, flat stock is pulled through a single cylindrical die including an upper tab to ensure and orient the formation of a gap to receive internal powders. Once the powders are introduced, a cylindrical die is used for closure though again, one or more rollers may be used between the powder feed and the die used for closing. In the preferred embodiment, however, a single gap-forming die is used before the powder feed, and a single closing die is used after the powder feed, replacing numerous rollers and other moving parts, thereby dramatically simplifying the apparatus and method of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Weld Mold Company
    Inventor: Darryl Hammock
  • Patent number: 7953525
    Abstract: In an electrical powered vehicle including a control device for generating an input/output power command value for a power storage device and a control device for controlling a power conversion device and a rotating electric machine, provided separately, when there is a sudden change in the rotational speed of a rotating electric machine, the input/output power command value of a power storage device intrinsically set by an HV-ECU is corrected corresponding to the change in the rotational speed of the rotating electric machine by a control device MG-ECU detecting the rotational speed of the rotating electric machine, without having to wait for modification of the input/output power command value from the HV-ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Makoto Nakamura, Masaya Yamamoto, Hideaki Saida, Satoru Katoh, Hiroaki Kato, Yoshinori Tomita, Haruki Sato
  • Patent number: 7946029
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for aligning a first article relative to a second article, for example for aligning a nanoimprint template with a semiconductor wafer. The method comprises the steps of: providing said second article with at least one flexible structure fixed relative thereto at least one point, providing a first article having at least one surface relief marking thereon, providing a detector for measuring an interaction of the flexible structure with the surface relief marking and generating detector signals relating to said interaction, identifying with the help of the detector signals the position of the flexible structure and thus of the second article with respect to the surface relief marking and generating relative movement between the first and second articles to achieve a desired alignment between the first and second articles defined by the surface relief marking. In this method and apparatus the flexible structure is brought into contact with the surface relief marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Universitat Kassel
    Inventor: Ivo Rangelow
  • Patent number: 7946483
    Abstract: An example apparatus for allowing operation of equipment by an authorized operator comprises a biometric scanner receiving a biometric input from an authorized operator, and transmitting an authorization signal. The apparatus may further includes a base station that allows the equipment to operate while the base station receives the authorization signal from the biometric scanner, and which prevents the equipment from operating shoortly after the authorization signal is no longer received from the biometric scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Deadman Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Scott Miller, Jack Vaughan, Oscar Allen Ladriere, Gino DiSimone
  • Patent number: 7946518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling roller of a high-pressure material bed roller mill, having profile-members which are embedded with a portion of the length thereof in holes of the roller body and, with the remainder of the length thereof, protrude above the surface of the roller body, with, when the milling roller is new, the holes having different depths and the profile-members having different lengths in differently loaded part-regions of the width of the roller body. Such a construction brings about a long service-life for the roller and cost-effective reconditioning after operational wear with a production operation which reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Polysius AG
    Inventors: Norbert Patzelt, Johann Knecht, Herbert Pingel
  • Patent number: 7946618
    Abstract: An airbag device includes: a bag body that is deployed by internal pressure rising as a gas is supplied into the bag body; and a gas pressure adjustment portion that is provided on the bag body so as to be able to release the gas from the inside of the bag body during a deployed state of the bag body, and that is set so that the amount of the gas released from the bag body in the deployed state to an inward side in a vehicle width direction is larger than the amount of the gas released from the bag body in the deployed state to an outward side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Shuji Yamada, Yasushi Itou, Akiyoshi Sanada, Tomotaka Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7947191
    Abstract: A composite material composed of nanoparticles of transition metal(s) and magnetic ferric oxide, a method of preparing the same, and uses of the same are provided. The composite material is substantially composed of nanoparticles of transition metal(s) or alloy thereof and nanoparticles of magnetic ferric oxide, the size of nanoparticles of transition metal(s) or alloy thereof is in the range of 0.7 to 5 nm, the size of nanoparticles of magnetic ferric oxide is in the range of 5 to 50 nm, and the amount of transition metal(s) or alloy thereof is in the range of 0.1 to 30 wt %, based on the total weight of composite material, the magnetic ferric oxide is gamma-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, complex obtained from gamma-Fe2O3 by partial reduction, or complex obtained from Fe3O4 by partial reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Peiking University
    Inventors: Yuan Wang, Junling Zhang, Minghui Liang, Xiaodong Wang, Yongge Wei, Linlin Gui
  • Patent number: 7947149
    Abstract: A web of a first sheet material and a web of a second sheet material are laminated together by a process wherein the sheet materials are wound, in an interleaved relationship, upon a roller having a radially displaceable outer surface. The roller and webs and then subjected to heating and/or a low-pressure environment so as to complete the lamination. A body of adhesive material, such as a hot melt adhesive, may be interposed between the webs and the heating or low pressure environment can activate this adhesive. Further disposed are particular configurations of rollers with radially displaceable surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: United Solar Ovonic LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Myatt, Gregory Demaggio, Kevin Beernink, Kermit Jones, Kenneth Lord
  • Patent number: 7947081
    Abstract: A skeletal implant for replacing a human bone includes an inner reinforcing member and an outer plasticized and fluid resistant layer encasing the inner reinforcing member. A structurally rigid and foamable layer is disposed between the inner reinforcing member and the outer plasticized layer. An end of the outer layer is configured for receiving, in articulated engagement, an end of an adjoining bone. A plurality of ligaments are grafted between the implant and the adjoining bone and proximate the articulated engagement. Conduit passageways are also established between the inner reinforcing member and the end of the outer layer in order to communicate a fluid to an articulating engagement and ligament supporting location with an adjoining bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 7946281
    Abstract: A compound bow includes a first and second pulley, each of which is operative, when the bow is drawn, to unwind a portion of a bow string from a bow string groove and to take up a portion of a bow cable so as to decrease its effective length. At least one of the pulleys includes a cable controller which operates to modify the rate at which the effective length of the bow cable is decreasing so that during an initial portion of the draw of the bow, the rate is greater than it would be in the absence of the controller, and during a second portion of the draw, the rate is less than it would be in the absence of the controller. Use of the controller provides a bow which has an inherently balanced draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Larry D. Miller Trust
    Inventor: Larry D. Miller
  • Patent number: 7942880
    Abstract: In the repair of bone voids and deficiencies, rather than forming a planar, angled surface that could result in a “slip plane,” an implant features a defined geometric pattern such as a stair-step, which mates with a corresponding stair-step pattern formed on the bone. Screws or alternative fasteners extend through one or more of the stair-step patterns, and into the bone, such that local interface around each fastener is substantially transverse to the axis of the fastener, thereby achieving a set of effective, compression bond. As such, shear stresses that might be associated with an angled, planar fixation are converted to compressive forces, leading to a longer life and a reduced need for revision. Although in the preferred embodiment the plurality of surfaces defines a stair-step having right angles, other geometric patterns are applicable, so long as an irregular defect may be made more regular, and/or compressive forces are used to prevent shear stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Morton Bertram, III
  • Patent number: 7942439
    Abstract: A vehicle body mount structure for a curtain airbag includes: a curtain airbag disposed on an upper side surface of a cabin of a vehicle and having an airbag body that is deployable to an inside of the cabin; a roof headlining that covers the curtain airbag and that allows the airbag body to be deployed while the roof headlining is undergoing an opening movement; an engagement portion that retains the roof headlining at a predetermined position, and that releases retention of the roof headlining as the airbag body inflates during actuation of the curtain airbag; and a release assist portion that releases the retention effected by the engagement portion as the airbag body inflates during the actuation of the curtain airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Miura
  • Patent number: 7943675
    Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Case Western Reserve University, Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John Muldoon, Ryszard J. Wycisk, Jun Lin, Peter N. Pintauro, Kohai Hase
  • Patent number: D638280
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Jason D. Mcalonan
  • Patent number: D638655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Victory Land Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Mohr