Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brooks & Kushman P.C.
  • Patent number: 8291674
    Abstract: The present invention provides a window frame design that is adapted to receive at least two light-panels. The window frame comprises a stepped frame section that includes a lower step surface and an upper step surface. The lower step surface is adapted to receive a first light-panel so that a section of the first light-panel lies flush against the lower step surface. Similarly, the upper step surface is adapted to receive a second light-panel so that the second light-panel lies flush against the upper step surface. The window frame design of the invention can be either incorporated into a skylight frame that may be attached to a curb unit on a roof or it may be an integral part of a skylight frame-curb assembly that also contains a curb section. In another embodiment of the invention, a window frame design which directly incorporates one or more light-panels during molding is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: V-Tech Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Valentz, John E. Nemazi, James W. Proscia
  • Patent number: 7585012
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a compartment, roof, roof system, cover, cover link, and coupling system. The roof is movable between a closed position and a storage position in which the roof is within the compartment. The roof system has a main link movably coupled to the vehicle via a joint and connected to the roof to move the roof. The cover is movable between a closed position covering the compartment and an opened position raised from the compartment. The cover link is movably coupled to the vehicle via a joint and connected to the cover to move the cover. The coupling system has a connecting link coupling the links such that the cover is coupled to the roof system to move about the cover link joint as the roof moves. The connecting link passes through a position in which it and the joints run along a straight line during roof movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Metodi Kostadinov
  • Patent number: 7554924
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of checking for duplicate port globally unique identifiers during a discovery of a subnet of a system using a channel adapter. These methods allow a Subnet Manager, an Infiniband entity for managing the Infiniband topology, to detect invalid ports that have matching GUIDs. An additional feature is that a recently added port with a duplicate GUID will not replace an original port with the same GUID, but instead will be left out of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy N. Shapiro, Srinivas Madhur
  • Patent number: 7102084
    Abstract: A routing conduit assembly for routing fiber optic jumpers from a raceway includes interconnected hood, curved neck, and vertical body conduits. The conduits have slits which are aligned with one another when the conduits form the assembly. A connector connects the vertical body conduit to a horizontally oriented raceway to mount the assembly to the raceway with the hood conduit positioned above the raceway. The connector includes a fulcrum component which enables the assembly to tilt relative to the raceway. A support stabilizer connects to the vertical body conduit for receiving tubular containers such that the tubular containers are aligned and secured with respect to the assembly. The conduit slits receive jumpers from the raceway for the assembly to enclose and route between the raceway and fiber optic equipment located below the raceway such that the jumpers transition between horizontal and vertical orientations while maintaining a minimum bend radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Edward C. Granger, Michael L. Yeilding
  • Patent number: 7059194
    Abstract: The invention involves a pressure fault device for indicating a threshold pressure or a threshold differential pressure. The present invention provides a cost effective way to determine where a pressure problem has occurred. The device includes a housing having at least one inlet aperture and an indicator aperture and having first and second bores in fluid communication respectively with one inlet aperture and the indicator aperture. The device further includes a magnetic piston which is biased in the first bore toward one inlet aperture and moveable a predetermined distance in another direction in the first bore in response to inlet threshold pressure. The device further includes a magnetic responder which is moveable toward the indicator aperture in the second bore in response to movement of the magnetic piston. The device further includes a latching plate in magnetic relationship to the magnetic responder when the piston moves the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Mid-West Instruments
    Inventors: Michael A. Lueck, Michael P. Johnson, Randall R. Perkins
  • Patent number: 7051547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioning system for motor vehicles, which contains a connection piece for a pressure switch/pressure sensor, said connection piece being suitable for evacuating and filling the air conditioning system after the removal of the pressure switch/pressure sensor, so that the two normally separate functions are combined in one connection piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dietmar Boehme, Dietmar Fischer, Uwe Heinz
  • Patent number: 7023358
    Abstract: A method and an assembly 10 for identifying the existence and the size of a gap. Particularly, the assembly 10, in one embodiment, includes a member 50, which forcibly engages a staring gauge 16 as two members or portions abuttingly engage. The force is representative of the amount of space between the two members or portions and this information is wirelessly transmitted to a receiver and display assembly 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Kelly Michael Kohlstrand
  • Patent number: 7006792
    Abstract: A portable wireless andon communication system and method for use in manufacturing, assembly and other industrial settings. A transmitter station and receiver station are set up for immediate use by simply connecting each to a standard power source. A user needing assistance manually activates a switch at the transmitter station, thus turning on a light and transmitting a corresponding signal to the receiver station. The receiver station receives the signal and turns on a corresponding light and tone generator. The tone generator and light alert indicate to the proper parties the request for a response. A responding party scans transmitter stations for the corresponding light and provides assistance. The switch may be a sensor activated by a change in state indicating that assistance is required. The portable system is easily reconfigured if necessitated by layout changes in a manufacturing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Robert H Wilson
  • Patent number: 6997524
    Abstract: A method for preventing a valve orifice from switching to the small size when a high build gradient is required includes briefly bleeding off a small amount of fluid at the upstream side of the valve. This momentarily reduces the pressure difference when beginning the pressure build. After the valve is opened with the large orifice, the fluid flow through the valve prevents a high pressure difference. The resulting build with the large orifice has the maximum pressure gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 6981432
    Abstract: A hose clamp installation tool and a method for installing a hose assembly. A first rod engages the clamp and releases the clamp from an open position to a closed position. A sensor indicates release of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Earl Williford, George Frederick MacDonald, Thomas Eric Pearson, James Robert Panyard, Christopher B. Trombetta
  • Patent number: 6952941
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming an article and performing a secondary operation on the article in-situ. The apparatus includes a closure and a die having a cavity. A source of pressurized gas forces a portion of a sheet into contact with a forming surface having a predetermined shape. A tool is movably connected to the apparatus and is configured to engage the sheet to perform a secondary operation while the sheet is held in compression between the closure and the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Friedman, Richard Allor, George Luckey Jr., Warren Copple
  • Patent number: 6931730
    Abstract: A method of securing body panels to a space frame for a vehicle is disclosed. The body panels are secured to rivet nuts that are assembled to frame members. The location of the rivet nuts or rivet nuts supporting surface is measured and the rivet nuts are milled or machined to correspond to reference body coordinates. The milled rivet nuts function as a integral shim pack and obviate the need for shims between the space frame and body panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott, Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Matthew John Zaluzec
  • Patent number: 6918577
    Abstract: A tooling plate to fixture a workpiece for a vehicle subassembly is provided, including a planar body 10 for supporting fixture tools 32, 34 for holding a workpiece, a connector mechanism to allow the planar body 10 to be removably connected with a workpiece presenter 50, and a locater mechanism 70, 72, 74 to locate the planar body 10 with respect to the workpiece presenter 50 in a repeatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, John E. Robertson, Bruce Giezentanner
  • Patent number: 6845340
    Abstract: A system and method for machining data management is provided. Vibration and operation data are gathered from a machine tool and sent to a processing unit. The processing unit defines operation-specific vibration profiles, and generates an operation-specific data line for each profile. The data lines are stored in a memory for later retrieval. An output device is used to retrieve the data lines and plot them over a time domain to create an operation-specific data matrix useful in manufacturing operations analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Paul Charles Edie, Roderick Alexander Simpson, Ingrid Margrit Kaufman
  • Patent number: 6815554
    Abstract: A process for preparing unsaturated organosilanes containing organic carbonyloxy groups and having the formula (R1O)3−nR2nSi—X—OC(O)C(R3)═CR32  (I), where R1, R2, and R3 are hydrocarbon groups optionally containing interspersed ether linkages, and optionally substituted, X is an alkylene group, optionally containing ether linkages, and n is 0 to 3, by reacting haloorganofunctional silicon compounds of the formula (R1O)3−nR2nSi—X—Y  (II), where Y is a halogen atom, with a salt of an unsaturated organic carboxylic acid of the formula M+[−OC(O)C(R3)═CR32]o  (III), where M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal and o is 0 or 1 depending on the valence of M, in the presence of a phosphonium salt as phase transfer catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Pfeiffer, Peter John
  • Patent number: 6803738
    Abstract: Magnetic forces are used as a controlled actuation mechanism to move and position objects of interest. In one embodiment, a first spherical surface has at least one magnetic positioner attached. A second spherical surface is positioned to move relative to the first spherical surface. A plurality of controlled electromagnets are spaced about the second spherical surface. Control logic energizes at least one of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with at least one magnetic positioner to move the first spherical surface relative to the second spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Clarity, LLC
    Inventor: Gamze Erten
  • Patent number: 6777234
    Abstract: A mammalian muscle construct and a method for producing the construct are provided. The mammalian muscle construct includes a substrate and a plurality of separate anchors secured to the substrate. Myogenic precursor cells are provided on the substrate with at least some of the cells in contact with the anchors. The myogenic precursor cells are cultured in vitro under conditions to allow the cells to become confluent between the anchors. The anchors are receptive to the cells and allow the cells to attach thereto, such that placement of the anchors controls the size and shape of the muscle construct formed. Specifically, the anchors include separate fragments of biocompatible material secured to the substrate, wherein cell adhesion molecules are associated with each fragment to facilitate attachment of the precursor cells to the fragment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Robert G. Dennis, Paul Kosnik, William M. Kuzon, Jr., John A. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 6769307
    Abstract: In a measurement system wherein time-varying physical signals containing frequency information related to a physical parameter of an object are measured to obtain corresponding time-varying measurement signals, a method and system are disclosed for processing the measurement signals to obtain a value for the physical parameter by first extracting the frequency information from the measurement signals. The frequency information includes at least one desired frequency. The physical signals are electromagnetic signals. The object is a film such as a layer formed on a substrate, the physical parameter may be thickness of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Perceptron, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Dixon, Jeffrey S. White, Frederick P. LaPlant
  • Patent number: 6750260
    Abstract: A process of chemically recycling polyurethane-containing scrap. Polyurethane-containing scrap is subjected to a chemolysis reaction to produce chemolysis polyol products. The chemolysis polyol products are used as initiators in a reaction with alkylene oxide to produce oxyalkylated polyols for preparing polyurethanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Troy Polymers, Inc., Polyventure, Inc.
    Inventor: Vahid Sendijarevic
  • Patent number: 6747201
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting melodic patterns by first recognizing musical “keywords” or themes. The invention searches for all instances of melodic (intervallic) repetition in a piece (patterns). This process generally uncovers a large number of patterns, many of which are either uninteresting or are only superficially prevalent. Filters reduce the number and/or prevalence of such patterns. Patterns are then rated according to characteristics deemed perceptually significant. The top ranked patterns correspond to important thematic or motivic musical content. The system operates robustly across a broad range of styles, and relies on no metadata on its input, allowing it to independently and efficiently catalog multimedia data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: William P. Birmingham, Colin J. Meek