Patents Represented by Law Firm Dowell & Dowell
  • Wheel and other bearing hubs safety restraint devices, locks and visual warning indicators
    Patent number: 7547077
    Abstract: Wheel and other bearing restraint jam nuts and early warning visual warning indicators for use with bearing hubs including driven and non-driven wheel bearing hubs wherein each jam nut is adapted to be received on either a threaded drive axle tube spindle or an axle spindle by use of a convention tool and such that the jam nut is of a size to obstruct wheel bearing hub separation in the event of a bearing failure and wherein a portion of the jam nut is engageable to force an indicator outwardly of the wheel bearing hub whenever the wheel bearing hub is not properly rotating about it's axis of rotation to thereby provide a visual indication of a potential problem with the bearings or other components within the wheel or other bearing hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventors: Nels Melberg, John M. Ekman
  • Combination pliers and spudding tool
    Patent number: 7530296
    Abstract: A combination tool that includes opposing jaws and handles that function as conventional pliers and wherein the handles are configured to be abutted with one another to form a spudding tool having a generally circular cross section and wherein at least one stud extending from one of the handles cooperatively seats within at least one hole in the opposing handle when the handles are abutted with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Brad Broadus
  • Assembly for admitting combustion air for a motorcycle, and a motorcycle fitted with such an assembly
    Patent number: 7530417
    Abstract: The assembly (10) for admitting combustion air to the engine of a motorcycle comprises: an air filter (12); a housing (11) for mounting at the top portion of the motorcycle and forming a support for the air filter (12); an air inlet module (13) fitted to the housing and including at least one movable shutter (131, 131?); control means for controlling the movements of the shutter (131, 131?); and assembly means (17, 171-174) for assembling the assembly at the top portion (21) of the motorcycle. The air filter (12) is generally annular and subdivides the inside volume of the housing (11) into a radially inner chamber and a radially outer chamber. The radially inner chamber is fed with air through the air inlet module (13), while the radially outer chamber forms, around the air filter (12), a chamber for stabilizing the flow of air downstream from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Engineering and More
    Inventor: Joel Leon Robert Domergue
  • Thermostatic valve for a fluid circuit, heat engine associated with a cooling circuit including such a valve, and method for manufacturing such a valve
    Patent number: 7520446
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve mounted within a housing which defines a fluid circuit and wherein an internal valve seat is defined withing the housing, the thermostatic valve including a blocking valve component movable relative to the valve seat for opening and closing the fluid circuit, a thermostatic element for actuating the blocking valve and including a body and a piston that are relative movable with respect to one another and a base to which the piston is mounted, an electrical heating element mounted within the and piston of the thermostatic element for heating expansible material contained in the element, wherein one end of the piston is seated and sealed within a blind hole in the base and the base is seated and sealed within a blind cavity in the housing and which cavity has a bottom wall formed integrally with the housing through with electrical pins extend toward the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Vernet
    Inventors: Thierry Maraux, Alain Bouloy
  • Connectors with adjustable elements to prevent undesired coupling of adjacent conduits
    Patent number: 7520536
    Abstract: A connection for ensuring a correct coupling of two conduits including two connectors adapted to be fitted one within the other along an axis of fit and which connectors include initially engageable portions that permit a controlled angular indexing of the two connectors as they are initially brought into engagement and which further include selectively adjustable elements that prevent a complete joining of the connectors if at least one of the adjustable elements of one of the connectors is positioned to block an opposing adjustable element of the other connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Alain-Christophe Tiberghien, Rene Chappaz
  • Exit signs with and without emergency lighting
    Patent number: 7520072
    Abstract: Emergency signs and combination emergency signs and emergency lights wherein the combination signs are compact for shipment and are energy efficient using first interior light emitting diodes, powered by an AC power source, for illumination of messages formed in at least one side wall of the emergency signs and having at least one emergency light emitting diode lamp for providing emergency lighting in the event of AC power failure and wherein the at least one emergency light emitting diode lamp, in some embodiments, is selectively deployable and adjustable relative to the signs, and in others, is fixedly mounted relative to the signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: William Yu
  • Device authentication in a PKI
    Patent number: 7516325
    Abstract: A method for establishing a link key between correspondents in a public key cryptographic scheme, one of the correspondents being an authenticating device and the other being an authenticated device. The method also provides a means for mutual authentication of the devices. The authenticating device may be a personalized device, such as a mobile phone, and the authenticated device may be a headset. The method for establishing the link key includes the step of introducing the first correspondent and the second correspondent within a predetermined distance, establishing a key agreement and implementing challenge-response routine for authentication. Advantageously, man-in-the middle attacks are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Certicom Corp.
    Inventor: William Daniel Willey
  • Heald frame and weaving machine equipped with same
    Patent number: 7509981
    Abstract: The invention concerns a frame comprising two posts (4, 4?) and two cross-members (6, 6?), a catching member (8, 8?) adapted to receive one corresponding end of at least one heald (10), and damping means (12, 12?) against which at least one end of the heald is urged to be pressed. At least when the frame is stationary, the heald being substantially rectilinear, when one first end of the or each heald (10) is pressed, either on a first catching member (8) at the traction zone (S1) thereof, or on a first damping means (12) at the compression zone (C1) thereof, the other end of the or each heald (10) is pressed, either on other damping means (12?) at the compression zone (C?1) thereof, or on another catching member (8?) at the traction zone (S?1) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Patrick Iltis
  • Device for sharpening the blade of a manual cutting tool
    Patent number: 7503241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for sharpening the blade of a manual cutting tool, in particular a knife. The inventive device comprises a support (2) provided with a cutout (4). Identical sharpening levers are arranged on each side of the cutout in front and in staggering manner with respect to each other and provided with a curved arm (13) having a rectilinear end edge (14) and another arm (16) forming means for returning in a position by gravity. Each lever (11) is pivotally mounted in the jointing area (15) of the arms (13, 16) around an geometrical axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction (A-A?) of the cutout and a slot (5). Said device is particularly adapter to the agriculture and food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Dassaud Fils
    Inventors: Nathalie Dassaud, René Dassaud
  • Quick-coupling male portion, a quick coupling, and a set of two such quick couplings
    Patent number: 7503592
    Abstract: The coupling (1) is for coupling a hose (T) to a mold (M). Its male portion has a male plug (6) for insertion into a female portion (2) of the quick coupling and for being locked therein by balls (11). A locking ring (10) for driving the balls (11) is movable relative to the male plug (6) between a first position in which the balls (11) can be retracted radially inside the locking ring (10), and a second position in which the balls (11) are constrained to project laterally from the locking ring (10). The male plug (6) carries a visual indicator (13) which is at least partially uncovered when said locking ring (10) is in its second position, and that is masked by said locking ring (10) when said locking ring (10) is in its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Christophe Durieux, Alain-Christophe Tiberghien
  • Shed-forming mechanism, a loom fitted with such a mechanism, and a method of selecting moving hooks in such a mechanism
    Patent number: 7490633
    Abstract: In this mechanism (7) a moving hook comprises a body (20) provided with a nose (202) for bearing against a corresponding knife (14), and a flexible blade (21) secured to the body so as to be capable of moving relative thereto and designed to interact with a retaining lever (16) belonging to the selector device. The selector lever (16) forms a ramp (313) over which a portion (214) of the resilient blade (21) slides when the hook (13) is moved in the vicinity of its top dead-center position. The ramp on which the selector lever slides is shaped in such a manner that the component (FA+FB+FC) parallel to the travel direction (X-X?) of the moving hook (13) of the resultant of the forces (RA, RB, RC) acting on the flexible blade (21) when in contact with the ramp (313) in the vicinity of the top dead-center point of its travel and at the beginning of its downward movement (F14), is directed downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Staubli Lyon
    Inventors: Damien Bouchet, Alexis Porte
  • Hand truck
    Patent number: 7487976
    Abstract: A hand truck including a body, a load supporting platform, an axle, and a wheel assembly having a pair of wheels. Each wheel has an inner race that is freely rotatable within an outer ground-engaging portion via bearings disposed there between. Each wheel also includes at least one guide member that is mounted to the inner race so that rotation of the guide member rotates the inner race. A slide member is secured to the guide member so that the slide member is movable along the guide member. The axle is attached to the slide member and to the frame so that the body and the guide member are in a fixed parallel relationship. Accordingly, if the body is inclined, the guide member is likewise inclined to serve as a ramp. Due to this structure, a user can easily tip the hand truck, traverse obstacles, and stabilize the hand truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventor: Mychael J. Williams
  • Absorbent plugs and caps for air conditioning and refrigeration fittings
    Patent number: 7478649
    Abstract: Absorbent plugs and caps plug or cap fittings that have been used to inject liquids into various systems. The plugs are sized to fit within the interior body cavity of fittings to absorb the residual liquid that is left in the cavity after use. The caps are sized to fit over the exterior of the fittings to absorb any residual liquid that leaks out from fitting exterior surfaces. The caps can also have interior plug extensions that extend into the interior cavities to also absorb the residual liquid from the interior. The plugs have non absorptive tabs for insertion and removal and the caps have non absorptive exterior skins or coverings to contain the absorbed liquid within the cap. One such use is to plug and/or cap fittings such as R134a service couplers which are used to inject dye into automotive air conditioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Brasscorp Limited
    Inventors: Jack Brass, Steven M. Knowles
  • Quick connection and method for uncoupling the male and female elements of such a connection
    Patent number: 7472930
    Abstract: This connection comprises two elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially in each other, the body of the female element being equipped with a lock mounted to slide and pierced with at least one opening for the fit of the male element. The wall of this opening is equipped with at least one element in relief adapted to cooperate with a corresponding element in relief of the male element in order to retain these elements in fitted configuration. The lock is in two parts and comprises a first part on which may be exerted, from outside the body, an effort of displacement, as well as a second part mobile with respect to the first part and bearing the aforementioned element in relief. A safety member is adapted to block the first part against the effort of displacement, without preventing the displacement of the element in relief with respect to the first part of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Alain-Christophe Tiberghien, Antoine Chambaud
  • Process for manufacturing a heddle, heddle for shed-forming mechanism, and loom incorporating such a heddle
    Patent number: 7469723
    Abstract: This process includes steps consisting in manufacturing an eyelet for guiding a warp yarn, making, in a threadlike element, an opening for receiving the eyelet, and placing and immobilizing the eyelet in the opening. During manufacture of the eyelet at least two projecting tabs offset from each other along its edge and perpendicularly to the principal faces of this eyelet are formed on this outer edge. During the placement of the eyelet in the opening, a part of the edge of the opening is inserted between the tabs. As a variant, the tabs can be provided on the edge of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Staubli Lyon
    Inventor: Michael Himmelstoss
  • Armchair
    Patent number: D582172
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Grosfillex SAS
    Inventors: Serge Vallet, Norbert Kleinklaus
  • Extendable table
    Patent number: D582179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Grosfillex SAS
    Inventors: Fabrice Lambert, Francois Naimo, Edouard De Monjour
  • Armchair
    Patent number: D583162
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Grosfillex SAS
    Inventors: Serge Vallet, Norbert Kleinklaus
  • Bow and arrow chair
    Patent number: D585203
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Ron Moore
  • Armchair
    Patent number: D588370
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Grosfillex SAS
    Inventors: Serge Vallet, Norbert Kleinklaus