Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
  • Intrusion detection methods and apparatus that use a building's infrastructure as part of a sensor
    Patent number: 7619518
    Abstract: Intrusion detection methods and apparatus exploit the infrastructure of the building itself. The preferred embodiments use the existing power line infrastructure to provide power, data, and sensor observables to a monitoring system which is simply connected at one point, namely, the connection of the building to the city power grid. Computer network interfaces may also be used. In terms of sensors, impedance, capacitive, inductive, electric field and Radar modalities may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: Nikolas Subotic, Christopher Roussi, Peter Jensen, William Buller
  • Acoustic transducer
    Patent number: 7615912
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer having a tail mass, a head mass and at least two parallelepiped shaped piezoelectric material elements disposed between and attached to the tail mass and the head mass is provided. The tail mass has a body extending between a first end and a second end, the body having a cavity with a cavity wall and the cavity extending from the first end towards the second end. The head mass has a head and an elongated shaft attached to and extending from the head, the shaft having a shaft axis and being located at least partially within the cavity of the tail mass. The at least two parallelepiped shaped piezoelectric material elements are made from a piezoelectric material having a non-zero d3y shear piezoelectric coefficient where the d3y coefficient can be d34, d35 or d36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Richard J. Meyer, Jr.
  • Holder with integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing
    Patent number: 7611102
    Abstract: A holder with an integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing is provided that includes a base plate, and a pair of opposed support members pivotally attached to the base plate. Each support member includes an upper leg member having a gripping means and a lower leg member. A moveable plate is parallel to and spaced apart from the base member by a spring member, and the moveable plate supports an outer end of the lower leg of the support member, so that walls of a flexible pouch are held in tension when the flexible pouch is supported by the gripping means. The walls of the flexible pouch are separated when the support members are pivoted inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: R. C. Murray
  • Vacuum-sealed orthotic, prosthetic, and other body worn devices
    Patent number: 7611476
    Abstract: Active suctioning is used to evacuate a fabric, film or membrane for the purpose of securing orthotic, prosthetic, or other body worn articles, including sports-related articles. In contrast to the straps and tight-fitting approaches of existing devices, the inventive methods and apparatus provide for a slip-free seal to surrounding body parts, thereby simplifying construction, reducing weight, and enhancing comfort. The invention is applicable to any type of orthosis, prosthesis, foot wear, mitts, gloves, and so forth, including apparatus associated with the ankle and foot, knee, hip, back and neck, shoulder, elbow and hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Warren S. Taranow
  • Lighting fixture closing mechanism
    Patent number: 7611257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting unit, in particular a lighting fixture for ceilings and/or walls comprising a coupled housing frame (2) and a functional frame (3) which is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing frame. A closing device is provided between the housing and functional frames and consists of a specially shaped wire spring (4) which interacts with the rest reception area (10) of the functional frame (3) and comprises a spring leg (8) interacting with the functional frame (3) in a predefined pivoting area under a preload effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Hartmut S. Engel
  • Rear bumper with smart key sensor
    Patent number: 7611177
    Abstract: A bumper for a motor vehicle that includes a proximity sensor is provided. The bumper includes a bumper beam having a vehicle surface and an energy absorbing surface, the vehicle surface having a bracket to attach to a forward end or rearward end of the motor vehicle. An energy absorber extends along a length of the bumper beam, the energy absorber having a bumper beam side and an impact side. The bumper beam side of the energy absorber can have a tab to attach to the energy absorbing surface of the bumper beam and the impact side can have a plurality of box-shaped energy absorbing sections and a sensor section. The proximity sensor is attached to the energy absorber at the sensor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David William Schelberg, Mingher Fred Shen
  • Crash prediction network with visual input for vehicle
    Patent number: 7613569
    Abstract: A method for facilitating the avoidance of a vehicle collision with an object includes the following steps: a) providing an environment for generating training examples, b) evolving a good driver using a visual input, c) evolving a crash predictor using a visual input, and d) outputting a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Rini Sherony, Risto P. Miikkulainen, Kenneth O. Stanley, Nathaniel F. Kohl
  • Audio-visual point-of-sale presentation system and method directed toward vehicle occupant
    Patent number: 7609173
    Abstract: An audio-visual presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment is provided that includes a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable from within the compartment. A controller provides a video signal to the display and an audio signal. The audio signal is broadcast by an antenna coupled to the controller as a radio frequency is received by a vehicle radio and discernable to a vehicle sound system. The audio-visual presentation system is particularly well suited as a method of education and sale regarding vehicle service products. Rather than providing a discernable audio signal through a vehicle sound system, it is appreciated that a portable radio set is readily placed within a vehicle passenger compartment or the audio signal delivered via a wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Vesco Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mark T. Vanderwall, Lena Epstein, Lillian Epstein
  • Continuously variable transmission device
    Patent number: 7608006
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission device has planetary members (23) in rolling contact with radially inner and outer races (12, 14; 36, 37) each comprising axially spaced relatively axially movable parts, and control means (18) for determining the axial separation of the parts (12, 14) of one of the two races, in which the planetary members (23) are connected for drive transmission to an input or output member (30) of the transmission device by connection means which allows the radial position of the planets to vary in response to variation in the axial separation of the parts (12, 14) of the said one of the two races (37), and in which the generatrix of the curved surface (70, 71) of at least one of the races (37) and/or planetary members (23) is non-circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Orbital Traction Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter J. Milner
  • Percutaneous facet fixation system
    Patent number: 7608094
    Abstract: A percutaneous facet fixation system minimally invasive, reproducible, efficient, and effective. Capable of immediate stabilization of a facet joint complex, the instrumentation and methods may be used with C-arm and/or endoscopic visualization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: U.S. Spinal Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark H. Falahee
  • Mouth guard
    Patent number: 7607438
    Abstract: A mouth guard having a tray with a trough dimensioned to receive at least the front two incisors. Impression material is disposed within the trough for creating a dental impression of the wearer's teeth. The tray further includes a stiffening element which concentrates the force transmission through the tray created by occlusion to an area between the upper and lower front incisors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph J. Pelerin
  • Locking mechanism for light fittings
    Patent number: 7607795
    Abstract: A light fitting, particularly a built-in light fitting for ceilings and/or walls, includes an embeddable housing for receiving lighting means, a reflector, a housing frame, a functional frame, which can be detached at least partially from the housing frame and a locking device, which acts between the housing frame and functional frame. The locking device includes at least one wire spring, the wire spring being provided with a spring section extending between two locking elements formed in end areas of the wire spring. The locking elements cooperate with a respective locking receiving element in the functional frame. A wire limb is respectively formed between the spring section and locking elements. When the wire limb is pivoted and the spring section is deformed as a result, it is possible to modify the relative position of the locking elements relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Hartmut S. Engel
  • Stirring device for a paint pot, with modifiable functions, in a plastic material
    Patent number: 7607820
    Abstract: A stirring device (50) for fitting to measuring-out lids that include a central orifice and that can be adapted to cylindrical paint pots with a top opening. This device is composed of two parts in different plastic materials joined together by means of an assembly system (30), the first part being a modifiable, interchangeable drive system (10) mounted to rotate in the central orifice, and the second part being a stirring system of the shaft and stirrer-blade type (20) that can be adapted to the size of the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Dedoes Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Krzywdziak
  • Cabriolet
    Patent number: 7604283
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle with a roof can be folded down under a cover part in a rear section of the vehicle. The cover part can be opened in a first direction to release an opening for luggage and in a second direction to release an opening for the roof. The vehicle includes a movement mechanism to hold the cover part and further includes at least one multi-link chain. The multi-link chain includes a plurality of hinges for the movement of the cover part. At least one of the plurality of hinges is held in an idle state when the cover part is opened in the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Meinert
  • Pouch with a straw hole and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7604585
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pouch with a straw hole is provided that includes the steps of feeding a front-side film forming one panel of the pouch and a back-side film forming an other panel, from a roll of material, and punching a straw hole in one panel of the pouch. The method also includes the steps of feeding a seal material tape with a plurality of temporally punched portions, and each temporal punched portion has a size slightly larger than that of the straw hole, to a rear side of the panel with the straw hole. The method further includes the steps of temporally sealing the temporally punched portion of the seal material tape over the straw hole by aligning one temporally punched portion of the seal material tape with the straw hole, separating the temporally punched portion from the seal material tape and temporally sealing the temporally punched portion to the one panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC.
    Inventors: Akira Nishibe, R. Charles Murray
  • Push-up stand with knuckle support surface
    Patent number: 7604582
    Abstract: A push-up stand is provided with a base; a support portion extending upwardly from the base; and a platform supported above the base by the support portion. The platform has an upper support surface for supporting the knuckles of a person doing push-ups. The platform has an upstanding wall extending along a perimeter of the upper support surface. The upper support surface is generally planar. The upper support surface may be textured to promote formation of calluses on the person's knuckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Abdallah
  • Sandal
    Patent number: D602233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventors: Craig Feller, David G. Berg, Thomas E. McGann, III
  • Driveshaft tunnel
    Patent number: D603869
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: Ernest Dean Beatty
  • Strap for a shoe
    Patent number: D604037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventors: Craig Feller, David G. Berg, Thomas E. McGann, III
  • Edging for chairs
    Patent number: D604070
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Michigan Tube Swagers & Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry J. McElmurry