Patents Represented by Attorney L.C. Begin & Associates, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8344737
    Abstract: A circuit tester device for testing continuity and polarity of vehicle relay circuits may include a housing and a plug carried by the housing. The circuit tester device may also have a battery lead adapted to connect to a battery terminal, and a ground lead adapted to connect to a ground. Further, the circuit tester device may have circuitry including three or more circuits connected between the battery and ground leads. Each circuit may have in series a first resistor, a first status indicator, a first diode, a test terminal, a second diode, a second status indicator and a second resistor. Each test terminal may be connected to a respective one of the pins. The circuitry may also have one or more load circuits tapped into one of the circuits between the first and second diodes. The load circuits may include in series a test switch and a load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 8322750
    Abstract: One embodiment of a beam structure may include a first side panel and a second side panel spaced apart from the first side panel. An intermediate panel extends from an intermediate portion of the first side panel to an intermediate portion of the second side panel. Further, the beam structure may include an end panel extending from an end portion of the first side panel to an end portion of the second side panel. The end panel may be spaced apart from the intermediate panel for configuring an enclosed channel bounded by the first and second side panels, the intermediate panel, and the end panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Crow, Gary L. Potter
  • Patent number: 8297652
    Abstract: A gas generating system includes a housing defining an interior, a housing partition dividing the interior into a first portion and a second portion, and at least one opening to enable fluid communication between the second portion and an exterior of the second portion after activation of the gas generating system. The partition is movable within the interior such that a movement of the partition in a first direction causes a flowable material positioned within the second portion to flow through the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale E. Tauchen
  • Patent number: 8296866
    Abstract: A flexible, non-absorbent sweatband includes a seal band sized to wrap around a wearer's head and a clip into which the free ends of the seal band are secured at the back of the wearer's head. An upwardly opening channel is integrally molded with the seal band to carry sweat dripping down the wearer's forehead to open channel ends behind the wearer's ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Paula L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8292656
    Abstract: A power outlet organizer for an intravenous pole assembly may include a housing, at least one electrical outlet, an electrical cord, a biasing member, a support mechanism and a fastener. The electrical cord may include a first end portion electrically connected to the at least one electrical outlet and a second end portion electrically connected to an electrical plug. The electrical cord may be movable between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position for connecting the electrical plug to a wall socket. The biasing member may be configured to move the electrical cord to the retracted position. The support mechanism may include an elongated support structure carried by the housing and a plurality of brackets configured on the elongated support structure. Each bracket may be adapted for receiving a power cord of a medical device therein to preclude scattering thereof on a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Mydlarz
  • Patent number: 8286784
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a mounting assembly for moving a material to be conveyed. The mounting assembly is movable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. At least one resiliently deformable spring member is provided for storing energy therein responsive to a motion of the mounting assembly in the second direction. Energy stored in the spring member is usable to urge the mounting assembly and the associated material in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Wardcraft Conveyor & Die Products a division of McLaughlin Ward & Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Miner, Gary W. Cook
  • Patent number: 8286550
    Abstract: One embodiment of a cutting apparatus for edibles may include a base member. The cutting apparatus may also include a pair of sliding assemblies mounted on opposite edges of a top surface of the base member. The cutting apparatus may further include a cutting assembly slidably carried by the pair of sliding assemblies. The cutting assembly may include a pair of side plates mounted on the pair of sliding assemblies. The cutting assembly may also include a plurality of spacers mounted between the pair of side plates in a spaced apart relation. Further, the cutting assembly may include a plurality of blades held by the plurality of spacers, press-fitted between the pair of side plates. The cutting apparatus may also include a handle assembly mounted between the cutting assembly and the pair of sliding assemblies and adapted for slidably moving the cutting assembly over the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt Sherrill, Stacy Sherrill
  • Patent number: 8282127
    Abstract: A gas generating system including a housing and a divider dividing an interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. First and second tubes extend into the second chamber and end at the divider. At least one opening is formed in the divider to enable fluid communication of the first chamber with an interior of only the first tube after activation of the gas generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Morgan, Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Patent number: 8282750
    Abstract: Gas generating compositions include a combination of melamine and maleic hydrazide as a primary fuel; and a primary oxidizer consisting of ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Rambow, Deborah L. Hordos
  • Patent number: 8273199
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to auto-ignition/booster compositions for inflators of occupant restraint systems, for example. An auto-ignition/booster and/or gas generant composition in accordance with the present invention includes an aromatic acid selected from tetrazoles, carboxylic acid/benzene-based fuels, nitrotriazoles, aminonitrotriazoles, aminotriazoles, bistetrazolylamines, bitetrazoles, and mixtures thereof; an alkali metal nitrate selected from potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate, and mixtures thereof; a basic constituent; and a catalytic non-oxidizing molybdenum-containing additive. A gas generator and a gas generating system including compositions of the present invention are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah L. Hordos, Sudhakar R. Ganta, Graylon K. Williams, Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 8273198
    Abstract: Gas generating compositions include a primary fuel selected from aminotetrazoles and heterocyclic amines; a carbonyl donor selected from formaldehyde, formamide, or an ammonium formate; and a basic constituent selected from alkali and alkaline earth metal aminotetrazoles, hydantoin and basic derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Deborah L. Hordos
  • Patent number: 8267416
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system for a vehicle includes a first member pivotably coupled to a portion of the vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first rotational axis which forms an angle with a vertical plane extending through a fore-aft axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Scott Allen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Paul Zandbergen, Greg N. Gombert, Andrew B. Lane, Steven C Hopson
  • Patent number: 8262153
    Abstract: A panel incorporated into a pillar of a vehicle body includes a base portion defining an opening, and a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John May, Darrin Neil Wagner, Rabin Bhojan, Dan O. Dague, John A. Speirs, Dennis P. Laakso
  • Patent number: 8240709
    Abstract: A gas generating system includes an outer housing portion defining a chamber therein, an end closure coupled to the housing portion to close the chamber, and a resilient seal positioned between the housing portion and the end closure to seal the chamber. The system is configured to permit a flow of pressurized gas from the chamber to an exterior of the outer housing portion along at least a portion of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Patent number: 8241444
    Abstract: Gas generating compositions include a primary fuel selected from fumaric acid, succinic acid, cyanuric acid, barbituric acid, and mixtures thereof; an oxidizer selected from phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, and mixtures thereof; a secondary fuel selected from tetrazoles, bitetrazoles, salts of bitetrazoles, derivatives of bitetrazoles, and mixtures thereof; and an oxide selected from molybdenum trioxide, ferric (III) oxide, and mixtures thereof. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah L. Hordos, Slaven Domazet, Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 8230733
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for loading a spring member secured on the apparatus. The apparatus includes a first mechanism for applying a translational loading to the spring member, and a second mechanism for applying a torsional loading to the spring member. The first mechanism includes a plurality of first elements, and the second mechanism includes a plurality of second elements. Each first element of the plurality of first elements is physically spaced apart from each second element of the plurality of second elements to aid in preventing interference between the first and second mechanisms during operation of the first and second mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Frederick Pierce, Alexander Gregory Livshiz, Liang Tang, Ian D. S. MacLachlan, Andre Luis Beduschi, Edwin R. Dubin, David J Dudonis
  • Patent number: 8230739
    Abstract: A sensed element is disclosed for incorporation into an apparatus that includes a rotatable shaft. The sensed element includes at least one sensor-detectible feature detectible by a sensing device for use in measuring a rotational speed of the shaft, a base portion coupled to the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft, and a projection extending from the base portion. The projection is engageable with a portion of the apparatus to limit movement of the sensed element along the shaft. The projection may also aid in positioning the sensed element within the apparatus during installation and removal of the sensed element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward LeMerise, Chad Michael Korte, Patrick Meloche, John Patrick Joyce
  • Patent number: 8214181
    Abstract: A method for generating a model representative of a process. The process includes a result variable representing a product of the process, and a plurality of process variables representing characteristics of the process other than the product of the process. The method includes steps of acquiring a plurality of test values of the result variable; acquiring, for each process variable of the plurality of process variables, a plurality of test values of the process variable, each test value being associated with a result variable value; providing, for each first coefficient of a plurality of first coefficients, a separate test value of the first coefficient associated with each process variable; and, for each second coefficient of a plurality of second coefficients, providing a separate test value of the second coefficient associated with each test value of each process variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Brian G. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8205904
    Abstract: One embodiment of the vehicle mounting includes a frame assembly. The frame assembly may include a panel member, a set of elongated members, and a bracket member. The panel member may be configured to be supported on a front part of the vehicle. The set of elongated members may extend from a surface of the panel member. The bracket member may be associated at the free end portions of the set of elongated members. The vehicle mounting may further include an arm assembly carried by the bracket member of the frame assembly. The arm assembly may include a first arm member and a second arm member adapted to be telescopically received within the first arm member. The arm assembly may also include a hitch member operatively coupled with the second arm member. The hitch member may be adapted to receive a towing rod of the wheeled article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventors: Mac E. Carter, Andrea A. Carter
  • Patent number: 8196308
    Abstract: A marking apparatus for a measuring tape unit, the marking apparatus includes at least one marking member configured for marking a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Louis Baldi, Jr.