Patents Represented by Attorney Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, P.C.
  • Patent number: 7409860
    Abstract: A fuel level measurement device has a fuel level sensor carried by a fuel level float at the distal end of a pivoting float arm of the device which is preferably part of a fuel pump module located inside of a fuel tank preferably for automotive applications. Preferably a sealed arcuate chamber of the float is defined between an electrically conductive cover and a variable electric resistor which preferably is a generally non-conductive ceramic substrate that carries an electrically resistive ink strip. A track exposed in the arcuate chamber has a concave shape that generally faces upward so that a rolling member changes position due to the forces of gravity within the chamber as the float arm pivots generally up and down with changing fuel levels in the tank. The rolling member is electrically conductive and completes the circuit between the electrically conductive cover and the variable resistive ink strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David M. Ferreira, Mark R. Johansen
  • Patent number: 7404495
    Abstract: A child-resistant dispensing closure includes a base having a deck with a dispensing opening and a peripheral skirt. A lid is integrally molded with the base and coupled by a hinge to a periphery of the base so as to be pivotable between closed and open positions. One of the base and the lid has a latch arm resiliently extending from its periphery diametrically opposite the hinge. The latch arm has a pair of oppositely extending tabs adjacent to a free end of the arm. The other of the base and the lid has an axial passage for receiving the latch arm, and a pair of laterally spaced ledges in the passage for engagement by the tabs to lock the lid in the closed position. The latch arm is directly manually engageable by a user from a radial direction external to the closure to pivot the latch arm radially inwardly within the passage and release the tabs from the ledges so that the lid can be pivoted to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Wing-Kwong Keung
  • Patent number: 7401963
    Abstract: A light assembly disperses light emitted by a light source. The lighting assembly includes a light entry surface for receiving the light emitted by the light source. A direction surface directs the light in a predetermined direction. A stepped region, disposed adjacent the light entry surface receives the light directed by the direction surface and reflects the light. The stepped region includes a plurality of step parts, each defining a light deflection surface, wherein each of the light deflection surfaces is greater in area s step distance between the light deflection surface and the direction surface increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventors: Emil Stefanov, Andreas Erber, Otto Müller
  • Patent number: 7401706
    Abstract: A closure having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation includes a plastic inner shell having a skirt with at least one internal thread, an external bead on the skirt and a circumferential array of teeth on the bead. A plastic outer shell has a skirt externally encircling the skirt of the inner shell. The outer shell has an internal bead on its skirt, a circumferential array of first teeth on one side of the internal bead, a circumferential array of second teeth on the other side of the internal bead, and at least one third engagement element adjacent to an edge of the skirt. The inner shell is positionable within the outer shell in child-resistant and non-child-resistant positions, in which the teeth on the inner skirt engage the first or second teeth on the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Shingle
  • Patent number: 7401707
    Abstract: A closure includes an outer plastic shell having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with a central axis, a circumferential array of lugs on an underside of the base wall, and a pair of axially spaced internal beads on the skirt spaced from the base wall. An inner plastic shell has a base wall, a peripheral skirt with a central axis, at least one internal thread on the skirt of the inner shell, a circumferential array of lugs on an outer surface of the base wall, and a circumferential bead on an outer surface of the skirt remote from the base wall. The inner shell is positionable within the outer shell in a non-child-resistant first position with the bead on the skirt of the inner shell captured between the beads on the skirt of the outer shell, such that the outer shell is rotatably coupled to the inner shell and the at least one internal thread on the skirt of the inner shell can be threaded onto and off of a container by simple rotation of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Brozell, Steven R. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7401998
    Abstract: A stackable polymeric foam adjustment or grade ring is provided for the construction of the adjustment courses or manhole chimney portion of a sewer system. The adjustment ring is circular and may include concentric annular grooves on at least one surface and male portions corresponding in size and shape to the concentric annular grooves on a second surface. The adjustment rings are stacked one on another with the respective male portions being coupled within a corresponding annular groove to provide a manhole construction that is resistant to inflow, chemicals and freeze-thaw cycle damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen K. Wilson, David Wahl
  • Patent number: 7395818
    Abstract: A fuel control device for a combustion engine capable of running on any one of a plurality of fuels has a fuel selection module with a plurality of fuel type settings for selecting a specific fuel type whereupon the fuel control device controls the outlet pressure of the chosen fuel to a desired fuel pressure corresponding to the calorific properties of the chosen fuel. The fuel selection module preferably operates a plurality of fuel flow circuits each designated for a specific fuel type, and each having a biased closed inlet valve and a biased closed outlet valve. Located preferably between each inlet and outlet valve is a pressure regulator designated for the specific fuel type and controlling the outlet fuel pressure. The device preferably includes a fuel metering apparatus and a shutoff valve that communicate with, and control in part, fuel flow through the fuel flow circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Fujisawa, Hironari Ikeda, Takashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7392555
    Abstract: A bed-tent provides an enclosure over a mattress. The tent forms a canopy having panels each with a resilient, strip frame member and a sheet of flexible fabric. Retainers secure the canopy on the mattress. In some forms, a frame member disposed externally of the canopy helps to hold the panels and canopy upright. In other forms, the frame members are configured so that no additional support is needed to hold the panels and/or bed tent upright on a bed. The frame members may be readily adapted for use in curved or rectilinear panels to permit a wide range of bed tent designs and features. The frame members preferably can be twisted or wound into flat coils of reduced diameter or other form so that the entire canopy can be conveniently stored in a small package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Happy Camper, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Danaher
  • Patent number: 7392775
    Abstract: A helical cam device for use with a wide variety of applications generally includes a first cam component, a second cam component and an axial guide. The cam components each have a helical cam track located on an axial end, so that coaxial alignment of the two cam components allows opposing cam tracks to contact and rotate against each other. The helical cam tracks, which are preferably divided into quadrant sections, are designed such that relative rotational movement between the cam components causes a corresponding relative axial movement. According to one embodiment, the axial guide is a cylindrical rod passing through the center of the cam components; in another embodiment, it is a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the cam components. Moreover, barrel slots, detents and/or truncated peaks can be used to control the travel of the cam components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Helical Cam, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Clarence Krozek
  • Patent number: 7387039
    Abstract: A container inspection apparatus and method measures both warp and off-level of an annular sealing surface of a container. The apparatus preferably has a warp gauge device and an off-level gauge device suspended over a container support and base by at least one column for the warp gauge device and a pillar for the off-level gauge device. When measuring for warp, the off-level gauge device is constructed and arranged to pivot clear of the warp gauge device, and vice-versa when measuring for off-level. The container preferably is held laterally or radially in place by two V-bracket assemblies, and vertically in place by a container support. The V-bracket assemblies are adjustable vertically to accommodate containers of differing diameters and heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Juvinall, James A. Ringlien, Timothy J. Nicks, William H. Anderson, Brian A. Langenderfer
  • Patent number: 7388506
    Abstract: A package includes a container having a neck finish, and a closure having a plastic shell with a skirt externally secured to the container neck finish. A seal disk includes a metal layer on a plastic substrate. The periphery of the plastic substrate is sealingly secured to the neck finish of the container. The metal layer includes a circumferentially continuous outer periphery overlying the periphery of the plastic substrate and an inner portion structured as an rf antenna. An RFID tag is electrically connected at least to the inner portion of the metal layer. A liner disk may be disposed between the closure and the seal disk separate from the seal disk. The closure skirt may have an internal bead to engage the periphery of the liner disk and lift the liner disk off of the neck finish upon removal of the closure from the container neck finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Abbott
  • Patent number: 7387214
    Abstract: A package includes a closure for attachment to a container. The closure has a skirt with a plurality of internal lugs and an internal surface. The container has a sidewall terminating in an open end and having a plurality of external projections. The plurality of external projections include sets of child-resistant and non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of internal lugs of the closure, and the non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The sidewall also has an external surface located axially between the plurality of external projections and the open end for engagement with the internal surface of the closure for sealing the package and for resiliently biasing the closure away from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Shingle
  • Patent number: 7380772
    Abstract: A charge forming device includes a body with a fuel and air mixing passage, a bypass passage that communicates with the fuel and air mixing passage, a throttle valve and a choke valve. The throttle valve is movable between idle and wide open positions and operable to control at least in part the fluid flow through the fuel and air mixing passage. The choke valve is movable between an open position permitting a substantially free flow of air into the fuel and air mixing passage and a closed position at least substantially restricting air flow into the fuel and air mixing passage. A bypass valve is movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively permit fluid flow through the bypass passage. The bypass valve is movable toward its open position when the throttle valve is displaced at least a threshold amount away from its idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George M. Pattullo, Thomas L. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7377827
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system that utilizes a transmission shift sequence to control shifting of the propulsion system transmission between forward and reverse gears. The marine propulsion system includes a controller that executes the transmission shift sequence using engine speed and transmission fluid pressure signals to determine the timing of various steps in the shift sequence. The controller is connected to a shift actuator for the transmission and to an engine speed throttle to thereby control transmission shifting and engine speed as a part of the transmission shift sequence. By monitoring engine speed and transmission fluid pressure, and by controlling transmission shifting and engine speed settings, the transmission shift sequence can provide the operator with the ability to carry out quick shifts that will neither stall the engine nor damage the transmission clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sturdy Corporation
    Inventors: David Ronald Sturdy, James Derek Gallaher, Oscar Lee Meek
  • Patent number: 7373706
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for generating a surface (S) on a workpiece (W) is proposed, which comprises a workpiece chuck (17) having a longitudinal axis (L), a spindle (18) for rotating a fly cutting tool (20) having a tool tip (48), and a moving device for moving the spindle generally transverse to the axis (L). The spindle further has a rotary encoder (42) for detecting an angle of tool rotation (?), wherein the chuck is operatively connected with a fast workpiece servo (50) capable of moving it over short distances at high velocities. The servo is controllable taking into account the given angle of tool rotation so that the workpiece can be advanced toward and retracted from the tool in a defined manner while being cut by the tool tip. The limited geometry of the tool can thus be modified by moving the workpiece relative to the tool tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Satisloh GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Savoie
  • Patent number: 7374155
    Abstract: A diaphragm carburetor for an internal combustion engine and method of assembly includes attaching an air-fuel mixing body to a fuel metering chamber assembly independent from assembling the fuel metering chamber assembly. The fuel metering chamber assembly has an upper body and a lower body attached to one another by at least one fastener with a diaphragm carried therebetween. A fuel metering chamber is defined on one side of the diaphragm and an atmospheric chamber is defined on another side of the diaphragm. Another fastener attaches the fuel metering chamber assembly to the air-fuel mixing body independently from the fastener attaching the upper and lower bodies together. Accordingly, the fuel metering chamber assembly is removable from the air-fuel mixing body without removing the fastener attaching the upper and lower bodies to one another preferably for cleaning of a fuel nozzle that when assembled projects into an air-fuel mixing passage in the mixing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Teruhiko Tobinai
  • Patent number: 7374178
    Abstract: A workholding apparatus including a body and a drive member carried by the body, so that the drive member and body partially define a fluid chamber therebetween for containing a fluid. The drive member includes an annular flange that axially abuts and that attaches to the body to resist torsional twisting of the drive member relative to the body. A driven member is also carried by the body and includes multiple displacement reliefs therein. Interengagement features are provided between the driven member and other components of the workholding apparatus, such as the drive member, to resist torsional twisting of the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hydra-Lock Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Andre, Bruce W. Irwin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7366996
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application includes programming that accesses the server to determine if one or more components of the application need upgrading. If so, the components can be downloaded and installed without further action by the user. A distribution tool is provided for software distribution and upgrading over the network. Also provided is a user profile that is accessible to any computer on the network. Furthermore, multiple users of the same computer can possess Internet web resources and files that are personalized, maintained and organized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: B.E. Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Martin David Hoyle
  • Patent number: D567700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bulgari, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Bulgari
  • Patent number: D574287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Andre Duscio