Patents Represented by Attorney Clark Hill PLC
  • Patent number: 8263016
    Abstract: A method which enhances a disinfection process by obtaining an additive effect from energy and byproducts of the decomposition process. Also disclosed are contact lens disinfecting systems, wherein the systems are configured to create the desirable elevated pressure, oxygen saturation and sustained peroxide concentration conditions within a contact lens holding and reaction chamber, in order to enhance disinfection by additive effect. The systems are configured to provide that an elevated pressure is maintained in the reaction chamber before venting occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Atrion Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Rowland W. Kanner
  • Patent number: 8256139
    Abstract: A method of reducing the risk of fire or containing fire in a laundry appliance and an appliance incorporating said method. The appliance includes a sensor means capable of sensing an abnormal fault condition indicative of an increased fire risk or a fire within the appliance drum. In response to sensing the abnormal fault condition, the appliance controller enters a fire containment cycle which rotates the drum at a tumbling speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: John Richard James Morrison, Seth Fischer, Lindsey Jack Roke
  • Patent number: 8245561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulically driven pressing device (1) comprising a piston (5) and a cylinder (4) for acting on pressing jaws (8, 8?, 8?), wherein the piston shaft (11) at any rate is connected to acting means (12). To further improve a pressing device of the type in question such that the same device can be used to carry out pressing operations requiring different levels of pressing power, it is proposed that an adjustable stop (33) be provided in the direction of displacement of the hydraulic piston (5) in order to achieve different end positions for the hydraulic piston (5) during the piston return stroke. A method of pressing a fitting with a tube is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Gustav Klauke GmbH
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 8246009
    Abstract: A puller head and cable puller including the puller head are provided for pulling cable in an upward or a downward direction. The puller head includes a frame, a capstan mounted to the frame, and first and second retaining shaft apertures. The puller head is pivotally mounted to a boom of the cable puller through a pivot shaft. The capstan of the puller head is positioned rearward of the boom. The position of an upper most surface of the capstan relative to the boom is changed by pivoting the puller head between upward and downward pulling positions. The puller head is maintained in either the upward or downward pulling position through the use of a retaining shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Plummer
  • Patent number: 8245603
    Abstract: A driver is used to manually drive a fastening member. The driver includes a shank, a handle provided at an end thereof, and a socket provided at the opposite end thereof. The socket has a receptacle which includes a front portion extending from a front face of the socket a predetermined distance and a tapered portion extending from the front portion a predetermined distance. The front portion is larger than the outer dimension of the fastening member and is formed from walls which are parallel to the centerline of the socket. The tapered portion tapers inwardly from the front portion toward the centerline. The tapered portion extends uninterrupted 360° around the receptacle such that a rear edge of the fastening member continuously contacts the tapered portion when inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Anton Piper, Kevin B. Tews
  • Patent number: 8240841
    Abstract: A laser drying system for printing is described. The present invention comprises in one embodiment a printer configured to apply liquid ink to a portion of a substrate to produce a printed area and a non-printed area, a laser module comprising a laser emitting a laser emission, the laser module mounted on an adjustable mount, a means to move the substrate from the printer to the laser module, the mount located over the means to move, an optic module comprising a focusing lens to focus the laser emission, and a controller configured to obtain print data from the printer and to operate the mount, the laser module, and the optic module to focus the laser emission only at the printed area of the substrate and not at the non-printed area of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventors: David M Caracciolo, Dion Thompson
  • Patent number: 8237427
    Abstract: A bridge module provides connection between first and second conductors of a line under test and a test instrument adapted for use with the bridge module. The bridge module provides monitoring and measurement of DSL communication signals between the telephone company DSL terminal (DSLAM) and the subscriber home DSL equipment across a wide range of frequencies. The bridge module can be used at any point in the communications link and can be used while the link is active. The bridge module provides a clickless connection to the active DSL communications link to avoid interruption in DSL service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Durston
  • Patent number: 8237459
    Abstract: A fall of potential method of determining earth ground resistance which utilizes an earth ground tester and eliminates the need for utilizing removable ground stakes. Rather than utilizing a “far stake” the method provides connection of the earth ground tester to the telephone wires. Rather than utilizing a “near stake” the method provides for connection of the earth ground tester to the cable shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ewan G. Browne, Wayne Jacob Chappell, Paul R. Siglinger, William Cory Wood, Edwin Glenn Yancey
  • Patent number: 8232807
    Abstract: A device for measuring and isolating noise-creating imbalances in a paired telecommunications line has an internal circuit. The internal circuit includes a pulse generator. Pulses provided by the pulse generator are applied to an interface which includes balanced pathways to the conductors. The pulses are applied simplex (longitudinally) to the pair of conductors. Upon encountering a fault in the pair, a reflected metallic voltage signal is received by the interface. The reflected metallic voltage signal is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter. Data relating to the sampled signal is displayed for detection and location of faults on the pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Durston, Robert G. Crick
  • Patent number: 8231355
    Abstract: A free piston gas compressor has a cylinder, a piston, the piston reciprocable within the cylinder in alternating compression and expansion strokes. A reciprocating linear electric motor is drivably coupled to the piston. A controller is programmed to control or adjust power input to the linear motor on the basis of a relationship including at least one of the present compression stroke or expansion stroke durations, the relationship being indicative of the top dead center (TDC) position of the piston, including in the absence of any collision. In the preferred embodiment the controller obtains a measure reflecting the difference between the compression stroke duration and the expansion stroke duration and adjusts the power input in response to the obtained measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limtied
    Inventors: Zhuang Tian, John H. Boyd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8224254
    Abstract: Methods and systems of analyzing an operating environment of wireless communication equipment in a wireless communication system are provided. A stimulus in the operating environment at a location of the wireless communication equipment is sensed and linearly expanded in Slepian sequences using a multitaper spectral estimation procedure. A singular value decomposition is performed on the linearly expanded stimulus, and a singular value of the linearly expanded stimulus provides an estimate of interference at the location of the wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventor: Simon Haykin
  • Patent number: 8221088
    Abstract: A control for a linear compressor energises the linear motor in harmony with the present natural frequency of the compressor. The controller monitors the present operating frequency and compares the frequency with one or more outer limit thresholds. The control may remove power from the linear motor if the running frequency drops below a lower threshold. The control may reduce power to the linear motor if the running frequency rises above an upper threshold. The control uses compressor running frequency to operate the comperssor within safe operating limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliance Limited
    Inventors: Zhuang Tian, John H. Boyd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8206653
    Abstract: To provide an organic synthesizer that can conduct a pressure reaction and an atmospheric reaction in one organic synthesizer. An organic synthesizer comprising a reaction vessel support part (160), which can support two or more reaction vessels, and pressure regulation means (164) for regulating the pressure within the reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160) by supplying/discharging gas. Two or more pressure regulation means (164) are provided for each reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160). At least one pressure regulation means (164A) in the two or more pressure regulation means (164) is constructed so as to be detachable from and attachable to the other pressure regulation means (164B). The gas supply/discharge pipes (174a to 174d) are constructed so that a part near the front end can be flexed in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sibata Scientific Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shibata, Yutaka Mashiyama, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Isamu Hiruta, Toshiaki Wada, Tetsuo Tomoda
  • Patent number: 8201270
    Abstract: A protective skirt for use in martial arts provides leg protectors for providing protection to the thighs of the user in the event of a full-forced attack to the thighs. The leg protectors are removable elements allowing the skirt to be used with out the leg protectors. Alternatively, the leg protectors can be integrated with the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Henry Tae Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 8204189
    Abstract: An appliance having a diagnostic capability includes a tone generator, a controller, a data collection function, memory for storing the collected data, and a transmitter. The transmiter transmits a stream of data derived from the stored data using a carrier signal. The carrier signal is switched on and off according to bits in a stream of data derived from the stored data. The transmission also includes interleaving each bit for transmission with an off period of the carrier. Each off period of the carrier has a duration of at least 100 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: David Charles Rhodes, Christopher Kimberley Laird
  • Patent number: 8191457
    Abstract: A fluid displacement device, particularly for use of the device to pressurize balloon catheters, or the like. The device includes a plunger which is displaceable through a housing, and an actuating mechanism which engages the plunger. The actuating mechanism includes a nut member that is biased into engagement with a threaded portion of the plunger. The device has a press-to-release feature wherein the plunger is instantly releaseable by simply depressing a toggle lever of the nut member to overcome a restorative spring force. Subsequently, the plunger can be translated using macro movements (i.e., by pushing or pulling the plunger).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Atrion Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rowland W. Kanner, Richard M. Davis
  • Patent number: 8177523
    Abstract: A linear compressor includes a cylinder part with a cylinder bore. A piston is disposed in the bore and slidable therein. A main spring connects the cylinder part to the piston. A connecting member connects between the main spring and the piston. The connecting member passes through the air gap of a stator of a linear electric motor. At least one armature pole of the motor is located along the connecting member. The stator comprises a plurality stator parts opposed across the air gap. The cylinder part includes a tapered clamp for each stator part. The tapered clamp widens outward from the air gap. Each stator part has a matching taper and is engaged in the tapered clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Upesh Patel, Gordon Cameron Otte
  • Patent number: D662422
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Argo Tea, Inc.
    Inventor: Arsen Avakian
  • Patent number: D662477
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Todd Hagan, Derrick Lavell James, Ronald G. Axon
  • Patent number: D667469
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventor: John Wayne Kroening