Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Davis and Bujold, P.L.L.C.
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Patent number: 8209787Abstract: A toilet seat cover for a toilet having an internal compartment located within the toilet seat cover and an inlet aperture located in a bottom surface of the toilet seat cover. A filtration component is accommodated within the internal compartment and an air moving device for drawing in air from the toilet into the internal compartment and directing the air through the filtration component such that as the air passes through the filtration component, any noxious air, fumes and toilet odors in the air are removed prior to the treated air being discharge, from a discharge outlet of the toilet seat cover, into the surrounding environment.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Inventor: Thomas Rosswaag
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Patent number: 8210507Abstract: The invention relates to spring elements and bearings which contain these spring elements, the spring stiffness of the bearings and spring elements being individually adjustable by deformable elastomer bodies or elastomer layers by prestressing. The deformation of the elastomer layers and hence of the spring elements is achieved by an appropriately designed hydraulic device. The leak-tightness of the spring elements and bearing elements according to the invention is achieved through special hydraulically prestressed sealing elements, use of a pressure membrane and special structural features of the elastomer elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: FM Energie GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Franz Mitsch
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Patent number: 8205896Abstract: An independent wheel suspension with a rotating steering knuckle which supports itself on a spring carrier is connected with the vehicle frame via a damper. The steering knuckle is connected with the spring carrier via a kingpin, and the wheel suspension has upper and lower transverse links which are positioned at the upper or lower ends of the kingpin. The steering knuckle and the transverse links are pivotally positioned relative to the kingpin and the spring carrier is connected with the kingpin in a rotationally fixed manner. The kingpin connects the spring carrier, the steering knuckle, and the upper end lower transverse links and is a two-piece part which comprises upper and lower parts. Axially, radially and rotationally fixing the upper and the lower parts and the spring carrier is achieved by a combination of the upper and the lower parts with the spring carrier.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Gell, Ulrich Solka, Hans Wimmer
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Patent number: 8206258Abstract: An arrangement for planetary gearsets comprises at least simple radially inner and radially outer planetary gearsets each comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier that carries planetary gears. The two gearsets are coaxially aligned and one of the gearsets is radially nested inside the sun gear of the other gearset. The ring gear of the radially inner gearset and the sun gear of the radially outer planetary gearset are at least coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed and are connected to a common carrier by driving teeth. To achieve a simple and inexpensive production, the ring gear of the radially inner gearset and the sun gear of the radially outer gearset are first produced as separate components with different heat treatments and then the ring and the sun gear are connected together by one of a friction force locking, a form interlocking and/or positive bonding.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Peter Ziemer
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Patent number: 8206257Abstract: A multi-speed transmission having four gearsets, eight shafts and six shifting elements. The sun gear of gearset (P2) couples, via shaft (5) and brake (05), the housing (G), and, via clutch (15) the drive shaft. The carriers of gearsets (P2, P3) communicate, via shaft (4) and brake (04), with housing (G), and the sun gear of gearset (P3) communicates, via shaft (8) and clutch (18), with the drive shaft. The ring gears of gearsets (P2, P3) communicate, via shaft (6), with the ring gear of gearset (P4) and the sun gear of gearset (P1). The ring gear of gearset (P4) and the sun gear of gearset (P1) are connected with one another. The sun gear of gearset (P4) communicates, via shaft (3) and brake (03), with housing (G). The carriers of gearsets (P1, P4) communicate, via shaft (7) and clutch (17), with the drive shaft and the output shaft couples the ring gear of gearset (P1).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Peter Tiesler, Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt
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Patent number: 8202203Abstract: One embodiment of a portable acrobatic training apparatus (I) with which to support and instruct athletes learning back handsprings having opposing flat vertical ends (16), a resilient arcuate uppermost surface (10), a flat horizontal base (12), and a convex near surface (14). Said trainer apparatus is of approximate elliptical shape, rests on its base until intentionally activated by user, is self-limiting rotationally, and returns to start position automatically following each usage.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Norbert's Athletic ProductsInventor: Jung M. Lim
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Patent number: 8201771Abstract: A method of controlling rotor pitch in a helicopter comprising the steps of: generating at least one blade dynamics signal representing at least one dynamic force acting on at least one of a rotor blade rotating assembly and a helicopter non-rotating assembly, the rotor blade rotating assembly including a plurality of rotor blades and a pitch actuator for each rotor blade; extracting information representing the at least one dynamic force; generating a dynamic force compensation output representing a compensation for at least a portion of the at least one dynamic force; receiving flight control signals directing flight of the helicopter from flight controls of the helicopter; generating from the flight control signals and the dynamic force compensation output a compensated pitch control signal for each blade of the rotor blade rotating assembly, and providing a compensated pitch control signal to compensate for a portion of the at least one dynamic force.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Christoph Kessler, Daniel Furst
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Patent number: 8201387Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic device which is used to envelope small items and which can be used to perform very-high-speed enveloping. The inventive device comprises a frame (11) having the following components mounted thereto, namely: a storage bin (12) containing a pile of stacked envelopes (15) which are disposed such that they can be removed one by one from the base of the bin, and a control drum (13) which is associated with a rotary cam (14). The aforementioned control drum (13) is arranged such as to move the envelopes (15) individually and successively from the storage bin (12) towards an area where a document is inserted therein and such as to open the envelope when the rotary cam (14) has unfolded the flap of same. The documents (30) to be inserted into the envelopes (15) are conveyed by way of cogs (32) which are solidly connected to a continuously-moving transport chain (31).Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Kern AGInventor: Gianfranco Passoni
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Patent number: 8201647Abstract: An earth drilling reamer has an elongated body having an outer surface and a plurality of blade mounting supports extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the body. Each blade mounting support has a primary blade engagement positioned parallel to the outer surface and a leading blade angled from the outer surface to the primary blade engagement. A removable primary blade is detachably secured to the primary blade engagement.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Inventor: Mike Zulak
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Patent number: 8196840Abstract: A keyboard (1) with a horizontally arranged card reader. The card reader has a card insertion opening (2) and a card holder section (3). The card holder section (3) defines a plane for placing a card on the upper surface of the keyboard (1). The card holder section (3) is arranged next to the card insertion opening (2), into which the card can be inserted substantially parallel to the plane defined by the card holder section (3).Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Horst Hubner, Marcus Kuchler
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Patent number: 8197388Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock or an automatic or automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle, by way of a selector device and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and surroundings, two different complex embodiments of an Auto_P function for automatically engaging the parking lock are proposed, if the motor vehicle is at least approximately stopped and, at the same time, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
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Patent number: 8197376Abstract: A multi-stage transmission with nine forward gears and one reverse gear comprising four planetary gear sets, eight rotatable shafts and six shift elements. The sun gear of the first set is connected to fourth shaft which is couplable to a housing by the first brake, the carrier of the first set is connected to the third shaft, which is coupled to the housing by the second brake, which is detachably connectable to the drive shaft, via the first clutch, and via a second clutch is detachably connectable to the seventh shaft. The seventh shaft is connected to the ring gear of the second set and with the sun of the fourth set, and the drive shaft is connected to the sun of the second set and to the carrier of the third set. The sixth shaft is connected to the ring gear of the first set, the carrier of the second set and the sun gear of the third set. The ring gear of the fourth set is connected to the fifth shaft which can be coupled to the housing via the third brake.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Stefan Beck, Josef Haupt, Gert Bauknecht, Peter Ziemer
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Patent number: 8200402Abstract: A method for shifting gears of an automatic transmission of a vehicle, by way of primarily form-locking shifting elements, while driving with or without utilization of a clutch depending on a decision made by a decision device which, in the presence of certain basic conditions, causes disengagement of a starting gear without disengaging the clutch, and subsequently reads in data about the size and the progression of a quantity correlating closely with the rotational speed of an output shaft of the automatic transmission and, with inclusion of this data, determines the shifting mode for engagement of the target gear.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Bernd Doebele, Norbert Wiencek
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Patent number: 8197380Abstract: The invention concerns an automated motor vehicle shift transmission (1) with an input shaft, an output shaft and several selectively engaged gears, the input shaft (W1) being connected to a drive motor (M) via an engine clutch (K) that can be engaged and disengaged. To avoid an interruption of the traction force during a shift process, a controllable friction clutch is provided as a change-under-load clutch (K5) to connect the input shaft (W1) directly to the output shaft (W3, W4) when necessary. The invention also concerns a method for controlling the gearshifts of an automated motor vehicle shift transmission comprising an input shaft, an output shaft and several selectively engaged gears, and in which the input shaft is connected to a drive motor via an engine clutch that can be engaged or disengaged, such that in a shift process between a loaded gear that is engaged and a target gear to be engaged, the engine clutch remains closed during the gear change.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann
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Patent number: 8196688Abstract: A method of carrying out a shift operation with traction force interruption during hybrid operation when the electric machine has failed or the energy accumulator is full in a parallel hybrid vehicle having an automated transmission. During an upshift, the power inverter, connected to the electric machine, is actuated with an active short-circuit whereby a torque is generated, at the electric machine, which is used for synchronizing the transmission input.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Stefan Wallner
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Patent number: 8196725Abstract: A device for connecting, in a rotationally fixed manner, a shaft to at least one component which is rotationally supported on the shaft, such as a gear wheel of a gear in a transmission. The device includes an actuating element that is rotationally fixed, but axially slides on the shaft, such that when the element is actuated by an actor, the element actively, frictionally communicates with the component to at least approximately equalize a rotational speed difference, between the component and the shaft. The actuating element can be actuated by the actor with a force to frictionally connect the component to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The device further includes a holding device, which retains the actuating element in a shift condition essentially equivalent to the rotationally fixed condition of the component without further actuation of the actor.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2007Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mark Mohr, Matthias Reisch
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Patent number: 8197292Abstract: The invention concerns a marine vessel propulsion system that can be set into an opening of a boat's hull and which comprises a propulsion and steering unit (9) that can be rotated or swivelled about a vertical axis (z) and which is fixed to the hull by a securing mechanism (12) having a predetermined fracture point or level. It is proposed that a protective plate (13) is arranged on the boat's hull in the aft direction (opposite to the direction of travel F) and behind the propulsion and steering unit (9).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Brunswick CorporationInventors: Richard A. Davis, Niel M. Schueller, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Michele Zottele
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Patent number: 8197543Abstract: A spinal prosthesis has a prosthetic vertebral body in the form of a hollow cylinder (1) with perforated wall and attached prosthetic intervertebral discs formed by springs (7,8) molded into silicone-rubber beads (9,10). Anchoring of the cylinder (1) to the damaged vertebra (II) is by means of entrapment of an elongate lug (12) of the cylinder 1 within a slot (16) of a plate (11) retained by screws (12) within a recess (13) of the damaged vertebra (II). The springs (7,8) of the resilient beads (9,10) are attached to the natural vertebrae (I,III) superior and inferior to the damaged vertebra (II) by fixing plates (3,4) which have flanges (20,21) that are held by screws (22) to those vertebrae (I,III). Where adjoining vertebrae are damaged, two or more prosthetic cylinders (1) for anchoring to the individual vertebra are used with interconnecting resilient beads (9;10).Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Inventor: Dajue Wang
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Patent number: 8191375Abstract: A device (10) for continuously generating cold and heat by a magnetic effect. The device includes a magnetic field generator (13), which is arranged in at least one crown segment and defines an annular space crossed by a circular coaxial part (11) provided with radial transverse cavities (31) and contains at least one type of magneto-calorific material. The inventive device also includes a circulating pump (27) for axially supplying a heat carrier to the cavities (31). A first collector (33) picks up the heat carrier, which passes through the radial cavities (31) in the area containing the magnetic field generator (13), and a second collector (34) picks up the heat carrier which passes through the radial cavities (31) in an area located outside of the magnetic field generator (13).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Haute Ecole d'Ingenierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud ( Heig-VD)Inventors: Osmann Sari, Peter W. Egolf, Stefano Bozzini
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Patent number: 8187148Abstract: A clutch system for producing and interrupting a force flow between the engine and transmission of a motor vehicle, with a clutch, which is disengaged unless actuated, and one or more valves, which regulate the flow of pressure medium and which are electrically actuated by a control and regulation unit. If there is electrical failure while driving and when a gear is engaged or when the vehicle is stationary, the engine is running and a transmission gear is engaged, unintended clutch engagement is prevented. The valves are designed such that if there is a failure of the voltage supply and consequently also of the actuation of the valves by the electronic control and regulation system, the operating condition of the clutch existing at the time of failure, namely the disengaged or engaged operating condition, remains as it is.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer