Patents Represented by Law Firm Blanchard, Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis
  • Patent number: 4377724
    Abstract: A space divider system which is substantially freestanding and is formed from a plurality of interconnected prefabricated panels. The panels are individually electrically prewired, and flexible electrical connectors are releasably connected to adjacent panels for transmitting electrical energy between said panels. The individual panels, and the power supply to at least one of the panels, involves a multiple-wire system which provides two or more electrical circuits. The individual panels possess power blocks having socketlike receptacles for permitting adjacent panels to be electrically connected by the flexible connectors. A second socketlike receptacle is associated with some power blocks for permitting connection to external electrical devices, and a third receptacle is associated with some power blocks for permitting connection to light fixtures mounted on the panels. The second and third receptacles are associated with different electrical wires which define different electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Haworth Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Harold R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4377099
    Abstract: A portable table assembly for a hand-held portable circular saw of the kind having a base plate and a motor rotated circular saw blade. A boxlike saw table has a substantially planar horizontal top pendently supporting the portable circular saw therebeneath with the blade rising up through a slot in the table top. The upstanding opposite sides of the upstanding rectilinear base of the table supports opposite edges of the table top. A boxlike, open bottom, back-up table is positionable behind the saw table for guiding portions of a workpiece cut by the saw and includes a horizontal top and upstanding rectilinear base with opposite sides supporting opposite edges of the top. Common, separable, knockdown leg units support both tables for use. The back-up table is invertable to nest the saw table therein and therewith to define a storage compartment sized to receive the knocked-down leg units for storage and transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Inventor: George E. Howe
  • Patent number: 4372738
    Abstract: A mechanism for locking two mold parts together includes a cylindrical tie rod securely mounted on one mold part and having a circumferential groove therein. A cylindrical collet sleeve is rigidly mounted on the other mold part and has a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced, resiliently flexible arms at one end. The free end of each arm has an inwardly projecting locking member thereon which the arm resiliently urges radially inwardly. When the mold parts are moved to a closed position, the tie rod is received within the collet sleeve and the locking members become axially aligned with and are urged into engagement with the tie rod groove. An annular collar encircling the tie rod is then moved axially until its inner surface snugly engages the outer surface of the collet arms, thereby preventing radially outward movement of the collet arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Pemco-Kalamazoo, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Black, Ralph E. Slager
  • Patent number: 4371006
    Abstract: A reading needle is slidingly supported in a force amplifying bar which is automatically moved up and down and the reading needle reads nonperforated and perforated points of a pattern card. In the case of a perforated point, a pivotal lock member biassed by a spring remains in a first position and pushes a draw arm of a correcting element downwardly unless this draw arm is already in a downward position. When the reading needle reads a nonperforated point, it is moved within the force amplifying bar by the pattern card during forward movement of the force amplifying bar. A sloped surface of a slot in the lock member slides over the head of the reading needle and swings the two-arm lock member to a second position in which one lock member arm reaches within the active range of an offset portion of a second draw arm and tilts the correcting element, whereby a cam surface of a draw hook is supported on an arm of the correcting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Staeubli Ltd.
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4371187
    Abstract: A ski brake has a base plate secured to the upper side of a ski which pivotally supports a braking arm carrier for movement between a braking position and a retracted position about a first axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two wire braking arms are pivotally supported in the braking arm carrier, each braking arm having a free end which is spaced from the braking arm carrier and from the pivot axis of the braking arm. Means are provided for pivoting the braking arms as the braking arm carrier pivots between braking and retracted positions, and springs urge the braking arm carrier toward the braking position. A first member is supported on the base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis, and a second member is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the first member and to the braking arm carrier at the ends thereof remote from the second and first axes, respectively. The second member and braking arm carrier define a toggle-joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Emilie Szabo
  • Patent number: 4370001
    Abstract: The invention provides a generally usable, extremely simplified basic framework for a chair such as an easy chair with an adjustable back support, which can be locked in different positions. The basic framework including the necessary mechanism for adjusting the back and locking it in a desired position. Said framework comprises two simple frames or panels, forming a seat part and a more elongate back support part, and a frame holder united to the seat part for carrying the framework. Both parts are joined to each other by means of a transverse hinge in such a way that a lever of a given length is formed between the hinge and the adjacent short side of the back support part. A gas damper is articulately coupled between the said short side of the back part and the holder joined to the seat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Inventor: Stellan Ornberg
  • Patent number: 4370008
    Abstract: A portable, prefabricated panel adapted to be connected with a plurality of similar panels to form a wall or partition structure. The panel is electrically prewired and includes electrical power blocks disposed adjacent the opposite lower corners of the panel, which power blocks are connected by electrical cables which extend internally of the panel. When two or more panels are connected together, electrical power is transmitted between each adjacent pair of panels by a flexible electrical connector which plugs into the power blocks of the adjacent panels. The panel also has electrical sockets integrally associated therewith, which sockets are preferably associated with the power blocks. The power blocks are symmetrical so that the same electrical connections can be made on either side of the panel. A channel-like raceway extends along the bottom edge of the panel for permitting the hidden storage of communication cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Haworth Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Haworth, Charles J. Saylor, Harold R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4368774
    Abstract: Mould for the horizontal continuous casting of metals comprising a first mould part which is adapted to have an intensive cooling effect on the metal being cast and which has a reduced inflow cross-section for the metal relative to casting cavity; a support frame; and a second mould part which is formed by several elements carried by the support frame, the elements being movable radially relative to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Inventors: Alfred Adamec, Roland Leder
  • Patent number: 4368611
    Abstract: In an apparatus for producing effect yarn, at least one pair of feed rollers is provided for supplying a yarn component creating the effect, this pair of rollers consisting of a driven feed roller and a pressure roller forced against it. Moreover, the apparatus has at least one supply arrangement for a foundation thread, a hollow spindle carrying a bobbin of binding thread and having a twist limiter, and a pair of draw-off rolls. A deflecting pin extending substantially parallel to the axes of the rollers is provided at the exit of the pair of feed rollers in the wedge formed between the two rollers. This deflecting pin serves to guide the foundation thread which is led past the pair of feed rollers on the outside. This deflecting pin is arranged substantially in the plane of thread movement passing through the line of contact of the two rollers and through the yarn components combined and false-twisted downstream of the line of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: Firma Saurer-Allma GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Mainka, Heinz Bleeck, Gerhard Wehrmeister, Milan Czapay
  • Patent number: 4369021
    Abstract: A free piston engine pump system operates in response to internal combustion for pressurizing a working fluid to provide hydraulic power output. The free piston engine pump has double acting power pistons and pumping pistons fixedly attached as a main reciprocating member and movable relative to a housing, which itself may be relatively movable for mass balancing purposes. Air is supplied and exhaust products are exhausted from a pair of opposite combustion chambers by respective common intake and common exhaust valves that preferably are operated by a common actuator in direct or indirect (via a phasing valve) response to position of the main reciprocating member. Moreover, operation of fuel injectors and exhaust valves associated with respective combustion chambers is directly or indirectly (via the phasing valve) controlled in response to the position of the main reciprocating member in the housing and/or fluid pressure in respective pumping chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Inventor: Richard P. Heintz
  • Patent number: 4367770
    Abstract: A rotational dobby for use with weaving machines having plural heddle frames. The dobby has an eccentric disk for each heddle frame arranged side-by-side on a drive shaft with a coupling wedge movably installed therein, which coupling wedge effects a coupling and uncoupling of the eccentric disk relative to two recesses which are diametrically arranged on the shaft. A connecting rod is provided on the outer circumference of the eccentric disk and is coupled directly or through a rocking lever to an operating rod connected in turn to the heddle frame. A control mechanism is provided with pressure fingers which are movable in response to an information pattern on a pattern card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Staeubli Ltd.
    Inventor: Rudolf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4367780
    Abstract: A closure member for vehicle compartment openings is pivotally connected along its upper edge to the vehicle by a horizontal swivel axis and is horizontally divided into an upper and a lower closure member part, which parts are pivotally connected to each other along a horizontal connecting axis. A secondary pressure spring extends between the upper and lower closure member parts for effecting relative pivotal movement therebetween toward an intermediate position in which the closure member parts are substantially perpendicular. A lock secures the upper closure member part to the vehicle until the lower closure member part reaches the intermediate position. A main pressure spring extends between the vehicle and the upper closure member part for pivoting the closure member after release of the lock into an end position exposing the compartment opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Karl Kassbohrer Fahrzeugwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Walcher
  • Patent number: 4366897
    Abstract: A multi-application speed drop detector, for a high-speed bucket belt conveyor conveying powdery substances, that can automatically perform such functions as alarming, causing ordinary and emergency stops in accordance with the amount of speed drop of the belt conveyor from a set speed level, and eliminating the effect of an increased bucket pitch at a joint in the belt. A bucket passage detection signal produced by an electromagnetic induction sensor is used in order to avoid the ignition and explosion of the powdery substance being conveyed due to a slip of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Azuma, Hideo Kato, Akira Oyama
  • Patent number: 4366663
    Abstract: A packaging device for sealingly closing an upper foil and a lower foil utilizing a framelike constructed welding device which has a separate drive for welding together the lower and the upper foil, of which at least the lower foil is formed into containerlike segments and is moved, held by a chain at the sides thereof, through the packaging device. The packaging device has an evacuating chamber which is formed of two boxlike halves, of which one half is stationary and the other half is vertically movable. One of the halves has a framelike welding device embodied therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Kraemer & Grebe GmbH & Co. KG Maschinen- und Modellfabrik
    Inventor: Reiner Grebe
  • Patent number: 4367370
    Abstract: A panel-type wall system wherein each panel has a pair of electrically connected power blocks disposed adjacent the lower corners thereof. The opposed power blocks of adjacent panels are electrically joined together by a flexible electrical connector which plugs into adjacent power blocks. The power blocks and connectors define an electrical system which extends longitudinally throughout the series of connected panels. The electrical system is preferably a five-wire system to provide three different available circuits at each power block. Each power block is provided with several connector portions for permitting electrical power to be tapped therefrom. Different types of power-taps can be plugged into the power blocks. More specifically, the power-taps include a receptacle unit which can be selectively plugged into either or both sides of each power block, and a light-fixture plug which can also be plugged into each power block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Haworth Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: Harold R. Wilson, Ditmar K. Tillmann
  • Patent number: 4366482
    Abstract: A garage door opener system includes a radio receiver actuable by reception of a preselected radio signal for moving a garage door between opened and closed positions and a portable hand-held transmitter manually actuable to transmit such preselected radio signal to the receiver. The transmitter includes a radio frequency oscillator for producing the radio signal to be transmitted and a modulating means manually actuable to cause the oscillator to transmit a radio signal which is of the preselected form. An audio transducer is connected in parallel with the radio frequency oscillator to the output of the modulating means to produce an audio signal which corresponds in form to the electric signal modulating the radio frequency oscillator, which audio signal is audible to a person holding the portable transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Remes, Brian L. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 4365823
    Abstract: A structure for securing one end of a safety strap to a ski or to a component fixedly mounted on the ski. The other end of the safety strap is presumed to be secured to the skier by any conventional means. The structure by which the safety strap is secured to the ski structure enables the strap to hold the ski to the skier should the ski become disconnected from the skier while travelling on a chairlift or at slow speeds. However, this same structure will facilitate a release of the strap from engagement with the ski structure should the ski be pulled away from the skier with a sufficient magnitude of force, such as will occur during falls at high speeds. The thereafter released ski will be stopped by, for example, a ski brake mechanism mounted on the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 4365465
    Abstract: A roving moving to a spinning machine passes between top and bottom input rolls of which the top roll is adapted, upon breakage of the roving, to be raised by a lift member which is movable into engagement with the spindle of the top roll and carries with it a clamping element which serves to clamp the incoming broken end of the roving against the top roll to retain it ready for subsequent rethreading into the nip of subsequent drafting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventors: Heinz Muller, Max Hartmannsgruber, Hermann Guttler
  • Patent number: RE31110
    Abstract: Bearing assembly for a wheel primarily for use in casters produced under high production conditions. The bearing is characterized by the provision of a solid shaft with staked ends in association with a resilient seal all arranged for producing a bearing capable of inexpensive manufacture under high production conditions, but also a bearing having close tolerances and thereby capable of long and accurate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Pemco-Kalamazoo, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Black
  • Patent number: D269673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Svea Data Communication & Computer Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Hans O. Johansson, Hans G. Nilsson, Louis Jernberg