Patents Represented by Law Firm Scrivener, Clarke, Scrivener and Johnson
  • Wear warning indicators for friction brakes
    Patent number: 4318457
    Abstract: A sensor device, for fitting to, for example, a drum brake shoe includes a loop of wire which can electrically contact the drum to provide a signal to indicate wear. After a predetermined amount of wear of the shoe lining, the wire contacts the drum on each brake application to provide an intermittant warning signal. When the lining becomes dangerously worn, the loop is severed and the ends spring apart so as to maintain contact with the drum and provide a continuous signal. The wire is mounted in a housing of plastics or of sheet metal, which may be a snap-fit in to the shoe structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Erich G. Dorsch, Dietrich Holz
  • Diaphragm valves
    Patent number: 4316482
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve comprises a valve sub-assembly including a diaphragm secured to a valve body by a clamping member. The clamping member is provided with screw threads on to which a drive assembly is screwed to complete the valve. The drive assembly may be a piston and cylinder drive assembly or a handwheel drive assembly. An indicator module to provide an indication of whether the valve is open or closed can be incorporated between the clamping member and the drive assembly. The drive assembly can be removed for service or interchanged without disturbing the fluid seal between the diaphragm and the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: Saunders Valve Company Limited
    Inventors: Michael I. Pearce, Glyn Cocking
  • Tape for use as the warp and weft of woven fabrics particularly useful for packaging
    Patent number: 4316933
    Abstract: This invention relates to a flat, narrow, high tensile, flexible, extensible, non-adhesive, non-pressure sensitive tape of indeterminate length which is primarily designed for weaving but can also be used for various tieing, binding, winding, and similar purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Inventor: Ian E. B. Fraser
  • Control valve assembly
    Patent number: 4314731
    Abstract: A control valve assembly for a vehicle braking system comprises an inlet, an outlet, a valve having a pressure operated relay member movable to open and close the valve to control communication between the inlet and the outlet, and an inertia-responsive device, preferably a pendulum, responsive to deceleration of the vehicle and operable to reduce the pressure at the outlet after the valve has closed. The inertia-responsive device supplies a signal in dependence upon deceleration, and a servo system applies a force in opposition to the force on the relay member in response to the signal to move the relay member in a direction to reduce the outlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Girling Limited
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Apparatus for detecting the relative position of two movable bodies
    Patent number: 4315252
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for detecting the relative position or displacement between two movable bodies, wherein a reader or sensor mounted on one of the two bodies reads a code pattern on the other body. A code pattern is provided that represents a binary-coded base-n number, each digit of a base-n number being represented by each of first, second, third, . . . , and m-th unit-distance codes (where m being the least submultiple except 1 of the base-n number system), these codes in turn being converted into a common binary code so that the relative position or displacement between the two bodies may be represented by the binary-coded base-n number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichizo Tagami
  • Rotary mechanical face seals
    Patent number: 4314704
    Abstract: A rotary face seal located about a shaft and urged into seal face contact with a stationary seat formed on a housing which contains pressurized fluid. In order to overcome distortion of the seal due to the fluid pressure, which is likely to cause wear of the seal face, the seal is subjected to a radial compressive pre-stress applied between an elastomeric, e.g. rubber, strip and a support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Crane Packing Limited
    Inventor: Colin A. Wichall
  • Disposable rainwear
    Patent number: 4313229
    Abstract: The disclosure is of a raincoat, hood and leggings which are particularly constructed and related for separate or combined dispensing from a coin-operated machine or over the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Inventor: Aida L. Villafane
  • Hydraulic power boosters for vehicle braking systems
    Patent number: 4313302
    Abstract: An hydraulic booster in which a control chamber is defined between an input piston and a second piston relative to which the input piston is movable, and recuperation valve for controlling communication between the control chamber and a reservoir is located in the control chamber. The recuperation valve closes upon relative movement of the input piston towards the second piston, further movement of the input piston in the same direction causing pressurization of fluid trapped in the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Girling Limited
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Magnetic motor
    Patent number: 4314169
    Abstract: The disclosure is of a machine for producing the rotary motion of a shaft by causing two permanent magnets carried by the shaft to pass in close proximity to the poles of an electromagnetic coil as the shaft is rotated, with poles of the same polarity of the permanent magnets and the coil adjacent, and energizing the coil during passage of the permanent magnets past the poles of the coil while maintaining the coil otherwise de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Electro-Magnetic Motors Inc.
    Inventor: John Rusu
  • Reading desk
    Patent number: 4313589
    Abstract: The disclosure is of a desk for supporting material being read by a person who is in a seated or reclining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Inventor: Adrian S. Vega
  • Disc brake caliper having a sliding cylinder
    Patent number: 4313526
    Abstract: A disc brake (1) comprises a cylinder (5) slidably mounted on a carrier member (2) for movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc. The cylinder (5) is closed at the end adjacent the disc. A bridge member (10) of integral structure, for example forged steel, connects the piston (7) to the outboard brake pad (15). In use, when hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder (5) the cylinder slides on the carrier to apply the inboard brake pad (14) to the disc, and the piston applies a force to the outboard pad (15) via the bridge member (10). The seals (8,9) between the piston (7) and cylinder (5) are isolated from the heat produced by the brake pads, and the bridge member (10) does not require accurate machining and can be designed to provide the maximum strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
  • Container for lipstick and like products
    Patent number: 4311402
    Abstract: In a lipstick container of basically orthodox type, comprising a body and sleeve with co-operating axial and helical slots to impart axial movement to a lipstick-bearing cup on relative rotation, there is a breakable web across one of the slots, preferably the axial one, acting to obstruct inadvertent movement of the cup so that the container can be shipped and displayed for sale with the lipstick projecting from the body and visible through a transparent cover. Subsequent deliberate action by the user to retract or advance the lipstick will break the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Edward Webster Limited
    Inventor: Gilbert Brown
  • Boosted master cylinder assemblies for vehicle braking system
    Patent number: 4307570
    Abstract: A servo booster is provided with a tube coaxial with the booster output rod for relieving the booster housing of braking reaction forces. The housing of a tandem master cylinder has an externally threaded rear end which is threadedly engaged with internal threads formed on a reduced diameter front part of the tube. The retracted position of the primary piston of the master cylinder is determined by abutment with the booster output rod, and this can be adjusted by turning the master cylinder housing relative to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Alfred Yardley
  • Sealing devices for bleed screws
    Patent number: 4307748
    Abstract: A sealing device for use with a bleed screw of an hydraulic system comprises a one-piece moulding of rubber or plastics material. The sealing device comprises a sealing ring of frusto-conical outline, an end cap, and a flexible strip interconnecting the ring and the cap. In its position of use the sealing ring is clamped between a shoulder on the bleed screw and a plain face on a caliper which surrounds a threaded bore into which the bleed screw is screwed. This prevents foreign matter from entering the screw threads externally. The end cap is detachably deformed over a bead at the free end of the bleed screw to prevent moisture or foreign matter from entering the bore through a bleed passage in the bleed screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Christopher N. Mathias
  • Apparatus for pre-stressing concrete structural member
    Patent number: 4307550
    Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus, and the positioning and adjustment thereof within a form in which a pre-tensioned pre-stressed concrete structural member is to be cast, for holding a tensioned strand extending through the concrete against movement after release of the tensioning force, thereby to prevent the formation in the cast body of the weakened zone known as the "development length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Inventor: Abraham Behar
  • Electrical switches
    Patent number: 4306132
    Abstract: Microswitches customarily have a casing assembly housing the switching mechanism, and an actuating button projecting from the casing. For some applications it is desirable to provide a pivotally mounted lever for depressing the button. Such lever has usually been secured in assembly of the casing.To enable levers to be added as required to stocks of assembled switches, the lever 4 is pivotally mounted on a mounting block 5 which can be snap-fitted to the assembled casing 2 of a switch as required. The block comprises a spigot 6 which is received in a socket in the casing. Oppositely-facing knife-edges 10, 12 of the lever engage bearing faces 9, 11 of the block. A key-hole slot 13 allows the lever to be passed over a post 8 of the block, projecting head portions 14 of the post 8 retaining the lever after assembly with the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Unimax Switch Limited
    Inventor: Michael I. Henville
  • Vehicle disc brakes
    Patent number: 4305484
    Abstract: In a vehicle disc brake having a support structure (1) defining a cylinder base for a piston (2) for actuating a pad assembly (6, 7) the assembly is retained in place by a retaining plate (10) having projections (11) which engage in recesses (9) in the pad assembly and an integral, resilient finger (12) having at its free, outer end a shoulder (13) engaging the piston (2) and a projection tab (14) which facilitates flexing of the finger to disengage the shoulder (13) from the piston (2), thereby releasing the plate and the pad assembly for removal from the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Alan P. Bradley
  • Frames for windows and other panels
    Patent number: 4304081
    Abstract: In a composite section for making up window frames and the like, and comprising interengaging sections of metal and of plastics, there are at least two spaced-apart pairs of interengaging hook formations on the two sections, forced into tight engagement by the insertion of a wedging strip between the sections, the spacing apart of the formations ensuring stability against tilting. There are furthermore abutment surfaces on at least one of the hook formations on the plastics section and on the metal section to define accurately the relative positions of the sections. The purpose is primarily to ensure the front and back faces of the composite section are truly parallel and correctly spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Reddiplex Limited
    Inventor: Charles D. Dawson
  • Emergency alarm system for static structure utilizing automobile horn
    Patent number: 4305070
    Abstract: Alarm circuitry in a static structure, e.g., a home, is connectable by plug and socket means to alarm circuitry in an automobile. The alarm circuitry in the automobile includes a relay powered from a source in the structure. Opening of alarm switches in the structure or on the automobile disables the relay to close a switch in the automobile horn circuit causing the horn to sound. The relay cannot be re-energized except by operation of re-set switch means located in the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Inventor: Herbert L. Samuel
  • Beverage dispenser
    Patent number: D262711
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Orme Polymer Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Paul R. Cox, Basil J. Coffey