Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm MacMillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC
  • Patent number: 8209930
    Abstract: An insulation batt is provided. The insulation batt includes an elongated blanket of fibrous insulation material adapted to be positioned entirely within a wall cavity. The elongated blanket has a face portion and edges defining a blanket width that is within the range of from about 102 percent to about 107 percent of the known nominal width of the wall cavity. A facing material is attached to the face portion of the elongated blanket of fibrous insulation material. The insulation batt has a stiffness characterized by an angle measurement that measures the amount of deflection of the insulation products as the insulation batts are draped over a support located perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the insulation product. The stiffness measurement is within the range from about 15 degrees to about 35 degrees. The width of the facing material and the width of the blanket are approximately the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: William M. Babbitt, Willard W. Price
  • Patent number: 8210556
    Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, and a front pivot arm pivotally mounted to the frame at a front pivot point, the front pivot arm having a caster for supporting the frame. A rear pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a rear pivot point, the rear pivot arm having a caster for supporting the frame. A ground engaging mid-wheel drive wheel is connected to the frame. A linkage connects the front and rear pivot arms to each other in a manner such that an upward or downward rotation of one of the pivot arms about its pivot point causes rotation of the other pivot arm about its pivot point in an opposite rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Z. Zhou, Mark A. Jackson, John J. Tarter, Mark E. Greig, Rex W. Stevens, James M. Koerlin, Samuel D. Traxinger, Allen B. Killebrew
  • Patent number: 8209915
    Abstract: A wall construction air barrier system includes a foundation structure and a frame structure positioned on top of the foundation structure. The frame structure has an exterior surface and the frame structure includes a sill plate. At least one exterior sheathing is attached to the frame structure. The exterior sheathing has an interior surface. A continuous sealing gasket has a lateral portion positioned between the sill plate and the foundation structure and an extension portion positioned between the exterior surface of the frame structure and the interior surface of the exterior sheathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. O'Leary, Michelle L. Korwin-Edson, Michael T. Pellegrin
  • Patent number: 8205525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotational vibration damper for a crankshaft of a piston engine. The rotational vibration damper comprises a hub which defines an axis of rotation, and a mass member which, via at least one spring element, is coupled to a hub and is able to rotationally vibrate freely relative to the hub. The mass member is annular in shape and is arranged coaxially relative to the hub, wherein the at least one spring element made of steel is provided in the form of a bendable spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Michael Schebitz, Matthias Zacker
  • Patent number: 8206054
    Abstract: A furniture coupling assembly that includes a coupling having a center portion, a first portion having a first locking member, a second portion having a second locking member, a first end and a second end. The assembly further includes a first furniture member having a first member groove having a shape corresponding to the center, first and second portions of the coupling. The first furniture member has a first locking member opening positioned adjacent to the first member groove. A second furniture member of the assembly has a second member groove having a shape corresponding to the center, first and second portions of the coupling. The second furniture member has a second locking member opening positioned adjacent to the second member groove. The coupling is insertable in the first and second furniture member grooves and the first and second locking members are insertable in the first and second locking member openings, respectively, to join together the first and second furniture members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sauder Woodworking Co.
    Inventors: Marvin K. Burnett, Terry W. Armey, Brian D. Fritch
  • Patent number: 8201463
    Abstract: A fixture for measuring clamping forces applied by lift truck clamps has a frame and two or more load measuring assemblies which are adjustably mounted for optimal positioning between the clamps. Actual force measurements are compared to acceptable values and composite feedback is provided using at least two measurements and two comparisons. The system is particularly useful for measuring force balance for clamps having pivotable platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Total Fleet Solutions
    Inventors: Andrew Suhy, Chad Truckor
  • Patent number: 8204650
    Abstract: The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Kesselgruber, Harry A. Hunnicutt
  • Patent number: 8197516
    Abstract: A lateral fixation assembly engages vertebrae in a spinal column. The lateral fixation assembly includes a housing having a first rod and a second rod supported thereon. The first rod is adapted to be secured to a first vertebra in the spinal column and is fixed in position relative to the housing. The second rod is adapted to be secured to a second vertebra in the spinal column and is movable relative to the housing. Respective pluralities of such first and second rods may be provided. Staples having varying thicknesses may be provided to facilitate the installation of the lateral fixation assembly on the vertebrae in the spinal column. A temporary blocking device can be used to prevent relative movement of the movable rod during the installation of the lateral fixation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventor: Ashok Biyani
  • Patent number: 8197678
    Abstract: A method of treating a coal-derived liquid byproduct from a coal gasification process includes subjecting the coal-derived liquid to a vacuum distillation process, thereby separating the coal-derived liquid into condensed gas and coal-derived liquid bottoms. The coal-derived liquid bottoms are mixed with a bottoms solvent capable of dissolving the coal-derived liquid bottoms. The solvent/bottoms mixture is introduced along with a linear chain hydrocarbon solvent into a liquid extractor. The Raffinate is separated from the solvent for the coal-derived liquid/bottoms mixture, thereby producing in a heavy extract. The condensed gas is subjected to atmospheric distillation producing a bottoms fraction and another condensed fraction. The bottoms fraction may be used as fuel or for diesel fuel production. The condensed fraction is extracted with a linear hydrocarbon solvent in an extractor to produce light neutral oil and a Raffinate which is a cresylic acid feed stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: MR & E, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. Warwick, James P. Frederick
  • Patent number: 8197203
    Abstract: A diffuser for carrying air flow to an evaporator in an air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle includes an inlet and an outlet, a wall extending between the inlet and the outlet, and a guide vane, extending at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, spaced from the wall by a containing a control region whose area ratio changes along a length of the guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Vivek A. Jairazbhoy, Mehran Shahabi, Todd R. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 8198317
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel methylenedioxy phenolic compounds and their derivatives, methods of making them and methods of using them to treat or prevent cardiovascular disease, vascular disease and/or inflammatory disease, as well as Type I and Type II Diabetes and Dyslipidemia patients at risk for hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular and renal disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: The Ohio State University Research Foundation, Invasc Therapeutic, inc.
    Inventors: Sampath Parthasarathy, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Desikan Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 8197009
    Abstract: Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted independently of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran
  • Patent number: 8191809
    Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation from a bag of insulation is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The chute is configured to receive the bag of insulation. The inlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially vertical and the outlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially horizontal. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the insulation. The machine further includes a discharge mechanism for distributing the insulation into an airstream. The plurality of shredders and the discharge mechanism are positioned beneath the outlet end of the chute, such that the insulation feeds in a substantially vertical direction into the plurality of shredders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Hugo E. Eccles, Jeffrey W. Servaites, John B. Youger, Gregory J. Merz, Joseph M. Sexton, Jeffrey D. Accursi, Christopher H. Kujawski, Robert E. O'Grady, Keith A. Grider
  • Patent number: 8187141
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for an automatic transmission includes a first plate, a second plate spaced along an axis from the first plate, a third plate spaced axially from the first plate and the second plate by angularly spaced legs, the third plate being formed with angularly spaced recesses. Short pinions, supported on the first plate and the third plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a chordal path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier. Long pinions, supported on the first plate and the second plate, each has a major diameter sized to move between at least two of the legs along a radial path into one of the recesses during installation in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Goleski, Mark W. Rosselot, Mark E. Briscoe, Bryant L. Poynter, John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 8186488
    Abstract: An electric brake actuator is described. The actuator comprises a housing, an electric motor, a device for torque transmission and an element for torque delivery. The device for torque transmission is a gear mechanism with a gear shaft which is parallel to the motor shaft, wherein the torque is transmitted from the electric motor to the gear mechanism by means of a belt drive. The distance between the motor shaft and the gear shaft is fixed by means of a rigid spacer, the opposite ends of which are located on different sides of the plane which is defined by a belt of the belt drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Poertzgen
  • Patent number: 8182238
    Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow rates in a transmission includes a pump having variable displacement and providing a pressurized fluid source, a regulating valve communicating with the fluid source and a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor producing a variable control signal whose magnitude represents a degree to which fluid flow requirements of the transmission are being provided by the fluid source, and an actuating valve producing a pressure that changes the pump displacement in response to the magnitude of the control pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Steve A. Frait
  • Patent number: 8181987
    Abstract: An air bag deployment apparatus is provided for use in an air bag deployment system of an automotive vehicle. The apparatus has a support base for attachment to a rear surface of an occupant facing substrate. A door support panel has upper and lower surfaces and four side edges for attachment to the rear surface of the substrate within the area of an air bag deployment door. An air bag chute extends downward from the support base and contains a plurality of skirt walls for defining a path for deployment of an air bag from beneath the substrate. A hinge element extends from one of the skirt walls to one edge of the door support panel wherein the hinge element has upper and lower surfaces joined by a left side surface and a right side surface. At least one of the side surfaces protruding from the skirt wall includes an undercut so that a lower corner of the hinge element forms an obtuse angle, resulting in better transfer of deployment forces through the hinge element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Brian C. Slane
  • Patent number: 8181413
    Abstract: A roofing shingle is provided. The roofing shingle includes an overlay sheet including a headlap portion and a tab portion and an underlay sheet secured to the overlay sheet such that a region of the underlay sheet overlaps a region of the headlap portion of the overlay sheet. Said underlay sheet has a substantially uniform thickness. A reinforcement member is secured to the headlap portion. The reinforcement member is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, film, scrim, woven, and non-woven material. The reinforcement member and the portion of the headlap portion to which the reinforcement member is secured to improve nail pull-through. At least some of the reinforcement member does not overlap the overlapping regions of the headlap portion and the underlay sheet. Said reinforcement member provides said overlay sheet with a non-uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: James S. Belt, Bert W. Elliott
  • Patent number: 8181796
    Abstract: A rack assembly for shipping glass panels includes a base assembly, a deck assembly operatively carried by the base assembly, at least four end insert members operatively carried by the base assembly, at least four vertical assemblies operatively carried by the four end insert members, and at least two brace members. A first one of the brace members is operatively carried by a first pair of the vertically adjustable assemblies, and a second one of the brace members is operatively carried by a second pair of the vertically adjustable assemblies. The vertical assemblies are vertically adjustable relative to the end insert members so as to operatively adjust a height of the rack assembly to a preselected height. The deck assembly and the two brace members are selected from a group consisting of at least two different sizes of the deck assemblies and at least two different sizes of the brace members to be used so as to operatively adjust a width of the rack assembly to a preselected width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Zeledyne, LLC
    Inventors: Mauro DiFazio, Monica Puckett, James P. Bean
  • Patent number: 8184820
    Abstract: A noise control system is directed to the path along which the noise is transmitted from the source of the noise being generated to the receiver of the noise in the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The noise control system is deployed in a box structure, such as the dual bulkhead of the dashboard of the vehicle, to provide a constrained volume within which engine noise can be controlled. The dual bulkhead plenum houses an active noise control apparatus, such as a speaker or a vibrating device, between the bulkheads to be operable with a control algorithm to generate sound that can control the noise or vibrations generated by the engine. The plenum can also be treated with passive noise control materials, such as viscoelastic damping materials, acoustical foam or heavy vinyl barrier and foam to block airborne sound and vibrations, in addition to the active noise control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Robert G. Rebandt, II, Ming-te Cheng