Patents Represented by Attorney Morriss O'Bryant Compagni, P.C.
  • Patent number: 8302834
    Abstract: A probe for friction stir welding MMCs, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, as well as non-ferrous alloys, the probe including a shank, a shoulder, and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a superabrasive material, the pin and shoulder being designed to reduce stress risers, disposing a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: MegaStar Technologies LLC, Bringham Young University
    Inventors: Tracy W. Nelson, Carl D. Sorensen, Scott M. Packer, Paul Allen Felter
  • Patent number: 8276238
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a roller cover cleaning apparatus. The apparatus may include a handle and a wire that is coupled to the handle. The wire may form a helix that extends around an axis of the helix for more than 360 degrees. The wire may be substantially radially equidistant from the axis of the helix along the length of the wire from the proximal end of the helix to the distal end of the helix. The wire may be at least partially resiliently flexible to increase the radial distance between the wire and the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Norman Donald Young
  • Patent number: 8243043
    Abstract: A conductive shield that is disposed near the sensor, wherein a signal is driven on the shield that is similar to the signal induced on the sensor, thereby reducing stray capacitances and protecting the sensor from external noise sources, and resulting in a stronger signal reaching the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cirque Corporation
    Inventor: Jared G. Bytheway
  • Patent number: 8194046
    Abstract: A touch panel having a substantially even coating of a conductive material on a non-conductive substrate and then covering the conductive material with a dielectric material, wherein a novel current measuring circuit reduces the effect of stray capacitance on the accuracy of a current measurement so that the relative X and Y position of an object on the touch panel can be determined using simple ratio equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Cirque Corporation
    Inventors: Jared G. Bytheway, Keith L. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 8186561
    Abstract: A system and method for friction stir processing of a hand-held cutting edge, wherein friction stir processing techniques are used to modify the properties of the hand-held cutting edge to obtain superior edge retention and superior resistance to chipping of the hand-held cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Megastir Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Allen, Richard A. Flak, Scott M. Packer, Russell J. Steel, Hobie Smith
  • Patent number: 8182276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-way sliding plug (11), comprising a housing (13) and at least two plug contacts (40,50) of differing standards, which can be slid into the housing (13) into a passive position and out of the housing into an active position. Said plug contacts (40,50) each have a slide (47,57) with an operating head (15) and electrically conducting pins (41,43,45;51,53,55). The individual plug contacts (40,50) have three electrically conducting pins (41,43,45;51,53,55) on a common slider. At least two of said slides (47,57) are in a C-shape and arranged in opposition with the ends of the C-shape between the ends of the C-shape of the other slider (47,57).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Walter Ruffner
  • Patent number: 8181649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-arm tube system for a ventilation appliance suitable for invasive ventilation. Such a ventilation appliance includes an active inhalation valve and an active exhalation valve. The tube system also includes an inhalation tube arm, an exhalation tube arm and a ventilation tube arm for attachment to a mask, and also a flow sensor. A defined leakage is established in the ventilation tube arm, and the flow sensor is arranged between the leakage and the mask. The invention further relates to a ventilation appliance having such a tube system, and to a method for operating the ventilation appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Medical AG
    Inventor: Josef Brunner
  • Patent number: 8179119
    Abstract: The invention relates to the sampling of temporally changing amounts of charge (102) by receiving varying amounts of charge (102) varying as a function of time, transforming the varying amounts of charge received into a linear distribution pattern, sampling the linear distribution pattern at a plurality of discretely spaced sampling locations (104), and collecting the amounts of charge (102) located between two adjacent scanning locations, and further detecting the collected amounts of charges (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
    Inventor: Peter Seitz
  • Patent number: 8142208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-pole adapter plug (11), comprising, on a first side, a safety plug (13) with two pins (31, 33) and two earth conductors (23,24), in particular a hybrid plug according to the standard CEE 7/7 with an additional contact sleeve (49.5) for a FR earth pin. On the second side, opposite to the first side the adapter has a socket (15) for at least one plug of British standard. A housing (41,43) for the adapter plug (11) forms a safety plug body (21). Contact sleeves (45.3, 47.3, 49.3) for such plugs to British Standards are arranged within the safety plug body (21). According to the invention, one of said earth conductors (23) of the safety plug (13) forms a contact sleeve (49.3) for the UK earth pin on the inner side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Walter Ruffner
  • Patent number: 8061951
    Abstract: An intermodal container tipping apparatus includes an upper support structure configured to be releasably mounted to a container transfer device, such as a reach stacker or crane, and a second support structure configured to be releasably mounted to an intermodal container. The lower supports structure includes at least one arcuate beam. The at least one arcuate beam attaches the lower support structure to the upper support structure. Movement of the at least one arcuate beam relative to the upper support structure causes tipping of the lower support structure and any load attached thereto while substantially maintaining a relative position of the center of gravity of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: WCDI, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Marston, Mickelle Marston, legal representative, Ron Piccolo, Matthew Craig Hillyer, Tonnie Michael Boyles, Darry Cecil Crowell
  • Patent number: 8056797
    Abstract: A mandrel that provides a counter-force to the pressure exerted on the outside of a pipe or other arcuate surface by a friction stir welding tool, wherein the mandrel is expandable through the use of a wedge, and wherein the mandrel enables multiple friction stir welding heads to simultaneously perform welding on the arcuate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Megastir Technologies
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Jonathan A. Babb, Russell J. Steel, Monte Russell
  • Patent number: 8028429
    Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an object from a wall comprises a generally triangular-shaped frame having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and cross-member between the vertical and horizontal portions. The vertical portion is configured for attachment to a wall stud. The horizontal portion defines an elongate slot that extends a substantial length of the horizontal portion. A hook member is slideably coupled to the slot and is configured to support a weight of an object suspended therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Mears
  • Patent number: 8015741
    Abstract: A device for assisting in the chambering of a handgun that can also serve as a safety device for preventing unwanted firing of the handgun is disclosed. The device comprises a slide pull that includes an elongate laterally flexible structure having a first end configured for being releasably coupled to a first side of a slide of a handgun and a second end configured for being releasably coupled to a second side of the slide. A trigger restraint is coupled to the slide pull near a mid-portion thereof. In a first position, the slide pull is configured for being grasped by a user in order to chamber a bullet. In a second position, the trigger restraint is positioned relative to the trigger to prevent movement of the trigger that would otherwise cause the weapon to fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Douglas Hooks
  • Patent number: 7993575
    Abstract: A probe for friction stir welding MMCs, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, as well as non-ferrous alloys, the probe including a shank, a shoulder, and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a superabrasive material, the pin and shoulder being designed to reduce stress risers, disposing a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Megastir Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tracy W. Nelson, Carl D. Sorensen, Scott Packer, Paul Allen Felter
  • Patent number: 7992759
    Abstract: A method of selecting a geometry for a friction stirring tool, said tool having a melting point that is higher than the workpiece material, wherein the tool is placed in motion against the workpiece to generate heat in the workpiece such that workpiece material is transported in surface features of the tool, and wherein surface features manage workpiece material flow around the tool, and wherein the tool can be used in friction stir processing, friction stir mixing, friction stir welding, and friction stir spot welding of high melting temperature materials or high softening temperature materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Megastir Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell J. Steel, Scott M. Packer
  • Patent number: 7975712
    Abstract: A hunting blind is comprised of a frame and a fabric shell supported by and releasably attached to the frame. The frame is comprised of a pair of A-frame structures of similar configuration and each includes telescopic members forming legs and a cross-member that spans between the legs. Coupling assemblies pivotally attach the legs to the cross-member so that the legs can be selectively folded against or extended from the cross-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Michael A. Beacco
  • Patent number: 7937857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ground-working machine (11) equipped with a drive and with advancement members (21). Its advancement members (21) serve inter alia to carry a supporting structure (23) set apart from the positioning plane of the machine, on which supporting structure (23) there is arranged, in the region of a central axis (Z), a kirving tool (25) with at least one transverse kirving roller (13) for working a substrate on which the ground-working machine is standing. The kirving roller (13) is rotatable about its roller axis (V). The roller axis (V) is pivotable about a steering axis (W), which steering axis (W) is arranged in the direction of the central axis (Z) set apart from the advancement members (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert Staubli
  • Patent number: 7845545
    Abstract: A friction stir tool is provided to perform friction stir riveting using a partially consumable pin, wherein the pin includes a cutting edge on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the tool is rotated at a first speed to enable cutting by the pin into a first material that is overlapping a second material, wherein after the pin has cut to a sufficient depth, the rotational speed of the tool is increased to thereby enable plasticization of the consumable pin, the first material, and the second material, wherein the tool is then rapidly decelerated until stopped, enabling diffusion bonding between the pin, the first material and the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, Megastir Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Russell Steel, Jonathan A. Babb, Michael P. Miles, Kent Kohkonen
  • Patent number: 7836643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a window (11, 11a), which can be opened in an outward manner, comprising a casement (13) and stepped glazing (15) which is received in the casement (13). The stepped glazing (15) comprises at least two window panes (19, 23) which are arranged at a distance from each other, said window panes being an inner pane and an outer pane. The casement (13) is essentially formed by an L-shaped casement profile (25) having a first and a second extremity (27, 29). The inner window pane (19) is arranged on the side of the first extremity (27) of the casement profile (25) which is oriented towards the glazing and is rigidly connected thereto by means of a first adhesive connection (33). The outer window pane (23) of the stepped glazing is rigidly connected to the front side (31) of the casement profile (25) which is oriented in an outward manner by means of a second adhesive connection (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Walch AG
    Inventor: Christian Walch
  • Patent number: 7828965
    Abstract: A water treatment arrangement which can, for example, be used in a sewer cleaning vehicle is described. An exemplary arrangement includes a separation device for a supplied mud-water mixture and a water tank which is connected to it for cleaned water. The separation device and the water tank can form a structural unit. The separation device for the mud-water mixture can be surrounded, at least in areas, by the water tank for cleaned water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dietmar Kaiser AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Kaiser