Patents Represented by Law Firm Longacre & White
  • Patent number: 6435317
    Abstract: A brake-actuating mechanism comprises a strut; an operating lever relatively pivoted with respect to the strut about a pivot pin, a brake cable including a cable end engaging with the lever and a resilient member provided to obstruct a cable end engagement recess of the operating lever. A brake cable-connecting apparatus of the brake-actuating mechanism designed to avoid a disengagement of the cable end from the lever without damaging or deforming the cable end and/or the lever. The resilient member deforms thoroughly allowing the cable end to go toward the cable end engagement recess when the brake cable is installed in the operating lever and avoids the cable end disengaging from the engagement recess while transporting a drum brake device with the brake cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Tanaka, Katsuhisa Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6433915
    Abstract: A complex film containing at least one functional material making it possible to modify the optical properties of the film between a first, transparent state and a second, reflecting state is deposited on at least some of the interior fittings of the passenger compartment of a motor-vehicle, which makes it possible to isolate the fittings covered over with the film from solar radiation in hot weather. The change of state is controlled electrically. The film can preferably be put into a third, opaque state, which makes it possible to accentuate the heating-up of the fittings under the effect of solar radiation in cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Ben Fredj Mounir
  • Patent number: 6433781
    Abstract: An orientation-detecting apparatus has an orientation-designating device which is provided with a plurality of orientation-designating coils whose coil planes face in different directions. Each of the orientation-designating coils forms a resonance circuit having a resonant frequency different from the resonant frequencies of the other resonance circuits. An orientation-detecting sensor includes a plurality of orientation-detecting coils L, M, L′, and M′ which are radially disposed and are electromagnetically coupled to the orientation-designating coils. The orientation-designating device is placed at the center position O of the orientation-detecting sensor. By transmitting and receiving signals between the orientation-designating coils and the orientation-detecting coils L, M, L′, and M′, orientations of the orientation-designating device in three-dimensional space are detected as absolute values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Oda, Masamitsu Ito, Masamitsu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6431409
    Abstract: An extruder welding device for welding plastic workpieces is disclosed that includes an extruder unit equipped with a discharge device for plasticated plastic material. The discharge device has a discharge member that acts on the plastic material and is driven by a hydrostatic hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Wegener GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gehde
  • Patent number: 6427370
    Abstract: A picture frame includes a frame body having both a sound generating mechanism and a movement mechanism connected to the picture frame. In one embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises a winding member providing additional ornamentation for the picture frame. In another embodiment, the winding mechanism forms part of the support structure for the picture frame. The picture frame has a multi-dimensional sense of beauty by enabling not only an audible component but also a spatial component through movement along a space adjacent to the picture being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Nathan Smith
  • Patent number: 6427585
    Abstract: A compaction and transfer apparatus adapted to measure the length and/or weight of a waste log during compaction and transfer thereof, is provided. The apparatus comprises a compaction chamber, a closure device, a compaction ram, and a movement and/or weight detector. The compaction chamber is adapted to receive waste material. The compaction chamber has a discharge opening. The closure device is selectively movable into and out of the discharge opening to control the size of the discharge opening. The compaction ram is movable through the chamber to press the waste material against the closure device and thereby provide compaction of the waste material. The movement detector preferably is mounted on the closure device. The movement detector is adapted to detect movement of the waste material through the discharge opening, which movement corresponds to the length of the waste log extending out of the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Equipment Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Brown, Steven G. Seagraves
  • Patent number: 6428276
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hydrokinetic coupling apparatus comprising a turbine wheel capable of being interlocked with a driven shaft and housed in an impulse starter wheel with which it can co-operate for hydrokinetic transmission of a torque to said driven shaft, from an input shaft capable of being interlocked with said impulse starter wheel, the turbine wheel and/or the impulse starter wheel being constituted in the form of a wheel (1) including an external doughnut-shaped part (3) fixed on a hub (2) and blades (4) integral with said external doughnut-shaped part (3) and optionally with an internal doughnut-shaped part (8). Said blade wheel (1) is at least partially moulded in one or several parts in synthetic material, in particular a thermoplastic material, a thermosetting material or a synthetic material alloy, said materials being reinforced with resistant fibres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Gustave Chasseguet, Frédéric Sauvage, Philippe Cossonniere
  • Patent number: 6428441
    Abstract: A limited slip differential includes a friction clutch mechanism, an electromagnetic coupling, and a camming mechanism disposed between the friction clutch mechanism and the electromagnetic coupling. The camming mechanism converts shearing forces within the electromagnetic coupling to an axial force applied to engage the clutch mechanism. The camming mechanism includes annular discs having axially inclined ramps, and a roller bearing for movement along the ramps to provide for variable spacing between the annular discs, wherein increased spacing is used to apply the axial force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Spicer Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William Gordon Hunt
  • Patent number: 6428401
    Abstract: A lens pad is provided for use on a lens clamp. The lens pad comprises a lens-engaging surface which, in turn, has a lens-facing recess located substantially centrally thereon. The lens-engaging surface thus is annular. Alternatively, the lens-engaging surface is more resilient toward a center thereof than toward a periphery thereof. Forces exerted by the lens pad against a surface of a lens when the lens pad is pressed against the surface therefore are less concentrated than such forces would be if the lens-engaging surface had no recess or variation in resiliency. Also provided is a clamp pad assembly. The clamp pad assembly includes a lens pad and a rotatable body for rotatably connecting the lens pad, at least indirectly, to a clamp arm. The clamp pad assembly also may include a swivel member which is pivotally mounted to the rotatable body for rotation therewith and for pivoting with respect thereto, in which case, the lens pad is mounted to the swivel member for rotation and pivoting therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: National Optronics Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph J. Carey, Steven F. Hovanic, Ivy G. Haney
  • Patent number: 6428703
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying biological macromolecules, e.g. nucleic acids or proteins, from starting materials, in which the macromolecules, contained in a biological solution, are purified on a chromatographic material, and in which endotoxins are partially or completely removed with the aid of a nonionic surfactant, which is characterized in that the surfactant and the biological solution are brought into contact immediately before or during the purification of the macromolecules on the chromatographic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Macherey Nagel GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Zinn, Manfred Sieber, Robert Zeidler
  • Patent number: 6426690
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coil device, for example, used in a torque detector comprising a coil assembly including a bobbin and coils, a housing for covering the coil assembly, an electric circuit contained in the housing, and a plurality of bus-bars, each one end arranged in the coupler of the housing and the other end connected to the electric circuit for insertion molded to the housing, in which a bus-bar assembly comprises the plurality of bus-bars having caulking portions which can be caulked with the bobbin and a cover which partly covers the bus-bars and abutting against the outer periphery of the coil assembly, and the housing covers the coil assembly and the bus-bar assembly temporarily secured to the coil assembly by abutting the cover against the coil assembly and by caulking the caulking portions with the bobbin, connection terminals as a part of the bus-bars being bent by pressing against bending pedestals formed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Lock Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Takenoshita, Toshihiro Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6425272
    Abstract: A padlock includes an elongated shackle bar, a lock body mounted on a first end portion of the shackle bar, and a lock unit mounted on an opposite second end portion of the shackle bar. The lock body and the lock unit have cross-sections larger than that of the shackle bar. The lock unit includes a tubular lock housing, a key-operable lock core mounted in the lock housing, and a shackle engaging member mounted rotatably in the lock housing. The shackle engaging member has a shackle engaging portion for engaging the second end portion of the shackle bar, and a core engaging portion connected to the shackle engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Waterson Chen
  • Patent number: 6425640
    Abstract: The degree of tightness, which a wheel is attached to the wheel of an automobile, may be varied by selectively engaging the ends of a retention ring in a specially formed retention tab ring supporter. The retention ring is supported on a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring supports provided on the wheel cover, and the ends of the ring are retained by the retention tab ring supporter. The retention tab is provided with an opening to receive a blunt end of the retaining ring and two adjacent vertical slots for receiving a finger end of the retaining ring. Selection of either of the two vertical slots for receiving the finger end varies the practical diameter of the retention ring when engaged with the ring supporters thereby providing and adjustment in tightness between the wheel cover and the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Rally Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Saied Hussaini
  • Patent number: 6425818
    Abstract: An enclosure for treating air (1) of a passenger compartment, especially of a motor vehicle, comprises an inlet (2) which supplies cool air to a mixing chamber (4) and a heating chamber (5) supplying the mixing chamber with heated air. It further comprises a front channel (12) supplied from the mixing chamber with treated air intended for a front area of the passenger compartment, and a rear channel (15) supplied from the mixing chamber (4) with treated air intended for a rear area of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Michel Auvity, Michel Grellier, Giancarlo Giordano
  • Patent number: D460941
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Claus Ettensberger Corporation
    Inventor: Marco Muzzarelli
  • Patent number: D461576
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Intec, Inc.
    Inventors: Saied Hussaini, Marc Iacovelli
  • Patent number: D461631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Intec, Inc.
    Inventors: Saied Hussaini, Marc Iacovelli
  • Patent number: D461673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Intec, Inc.
    Inventors: Saied Hussaini, Marc Iacovelli
  • Patent number: D461850
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Intec, Inc.
    Inventors: Saied Hussaini, Marc Iacovelli
  • Patent number: D461851
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Intec, Inc
    Inventors: Saied Hussaini, Marc Iacovelli