Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Wood, Herron and Evans, L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 8057416
    Abstract: A restraint device includes first and second restraint and/or support portions adapted to extend around part of a person. First and second connector portions may secure the first and second restraint and/or support portions to the person. A lock member may be used to selectively prevent disconnection of the first and second connector portions. One or more removable tags or other information elements may be carried on at least one of the first and second restraint and/or support portions and may indicate who placed the restraint device on, or removed the restraint device from the person, and/or what time the restraint device was placed or removed. The tags or other elements may include a unique identifier to indicate whether the restraint device had been previously removed from the person after an initial placement. The restraint device may include an electronic information element configured to transmit information related to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Collar ID, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Moenning, Anne E. Moenning
  • Patent number: 8052383
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a first temperature control system including fluid transporting heat to or from one or more components of the wind turbine. The wind turbine further includes a mechanism for exchanging heat between the first temperature control system and at least one further temperature control system of the wind turbine, wherein a temperature controlled mechanism enables the heat exchange between the first temperature control system and the at least one further temperature control system. A method for controlling or regulating the temperature of fluid flowing in a first temperature control system of a wind turbine and a use hereof is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Poul Spaerhage Frokjaer
  • Patent number: 8051609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising at least two annular tower rings placed vertically on top of each other. The wind turbine tower is characterized in that, a first tower ring overlaps at least a further tower ring of the at least two tower rings. The invention further relates to a wind turbine, a wind turbine tower elevator for use in a wind turbine tower and a method for assembling a wind turbine tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Borge Olgaard
  • Patent number: 8047792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine including at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades. Each blade has pitch bearings including two or more bearing rings, and pitch controlling means for pitching the blades by means of the bearings. The blades are mounted on a hub via the pitch bearings and the pitch bearings include separate flexibility enhancing means for controlling loads in the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Anton Bech, Gerry Madden
  • Patent number: 8047159
    Abstract: A pet bowl includes a unitary housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The housing defines an internal chamber having a bottom wall upon which the housing sits in a first/dispensing orientation and a rear wall upon which the housing sits in a second/storage orientation. The housing also includes a first receptacle formed at the rear portion and a second receptacle formed at the front portion. A fluid flow port defined in the housing provides fluid communication between the internal chamber and the second receptacle. A handle is formed by a sidewall of the second receptacle defining a first lip, and a groove in the bottom wall defining a second lip. The housing may further include a transition wall angled from the bottom wall and rear wall, the housing configured to sit on the transition wall in a third/draining orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TNT Products LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Hewson, Thomas Anthony Nomina, Donald Joseph Suriani
  • Patent number: 8047798
    Abstract: A method for preparing a wind turbine blade shell member including a plurality of elements of cured fiber-reinforced sheet material is provided. A plurality of elements of cured fiber-reinforced sheet material is provided in a mould, a resin is introduced between the elements of cured fiber-reinforced sheet material and the elements are bonded to adjacent elements by curing the resin. The method is particularly suitable for preparing wind turbine blade shell members due to the complex three-dimensional shape of the airfoils, which may be resembled by the relatively flexible cured fiber-reinforced sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Anton Bech
  • Patent number: 8034102
    Abstract: An annuloplasty ring to resize a dilated aortic root during valve sparing surgery includes a scalloped space frame having three trough sections connected to define three crest sections. The annuloplasty ring is mounted outside the aortic root, and extends in height between a base plane and a spaced apart commissure plane of the aortic root. At least two adjacent trough sections are coupled by an annulus-restraining member or tether that limits the maximum deflection of the base of the annuloplasty ring. In use, the tether is preferably located in proximity to the base plane of the aortic root. The annuloplasty ring is movable between a first, substantially conical configuration occurring during a diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, and a second, substantially cylindrical configuration occurring during a systolic phase of the cardiac cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Coroneo, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Bulman-Fleming, Raymond Cartier, Valerio Valentini, Anthony Paolitto
  • Patent number: 8033824
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth includes a bracket body having an archwire slot adapted to receive the archwire therein and a movable member engaged with the bracket body and movable between an opened position and a closed position. A securing mechanism is configured to secure the movable member in at least the closed position and includes a projecting portion and a receiving portion. The projecting portion may include a generally elongate pin capable of flexing relative to a central axis thereof to secure the movable member in at least the closed position. An orthodontic assembly includes an orthodontic bracket and an alignment device for positioning the bracket on the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Todd I. Oda, Farrokh Farzin-Nia, Jefferson Sabilla, Hamid Sheikh, Dwight Damon
  • Patent number: 8034292
    Abstract: An automated machine for handling and embedding tissue samples contained on microtome sectionable supports. The machine includes an input member configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports prior to a tissue embedding operation. An output member is configured to hold a plurality of the microtome sectionable supports after the tissue embedding operation. A cooling unit is configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports during the tissue embedding operation. A motorized carrier assembly is mounted for movement and configured to hold at least one of the microtome sectionable supports. The carrier assembly moves the support from the input member to the cooling unit and, finally, to the output member. A dispensing device dispenses an embedding material onto the microtome sectionable support and at least one tissue sample carried by the microtome sectionable support during the embedding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Biopath Automation LLC
    Inventors: Douglas P. Allen, Dominic P. DiNovo, George A. Keller, Rebeccah P. Quam, Thomas J. Ward, Warren P. Williamson, IV
  • Patent number: 8028372
    Abstract: A blower/vacuum device includes a base supported on wheels. The device (10) has a reservoir (bag) that receives material collected by the device. Mounted on the base is a motor and impeller assembly that draws air inward and delivers the air (with collected material) to the bag. The assembly can also be operated to provide a forward delivery directed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Victa Lawncare Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Finlay Llewyn Watson, Julia Prudhoe, Marc Frederick Lachere Francis
  • Patent number: 8020576
    Abstract: An emergency shutoff valve is provided that includes a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending therebetween. The valve includes a valve element disposed within the housing and releasably latched in an open position by a latching mechanism. An expansible member defines at least a portion of a sealed expansible chamber that is sealed at locations downstream and upstream of a weakened portion of the housing. The valve includes an access port in fluid communication with the chamber. The access port may be used to test the integrity of the expansible member. An expandable material may also be disposed in the chamber and used to shut off the valve on the occasion the housing is compromised to an extent wherein fuel can flow into the expansible chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Lauber, James E. Kesterman
  • Patent number: 8021121
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a rotor having a hub from which a number of wind turbine blades extend, and a spinner mounted on the hub, wherein the spinner includes one or more apertures. The wind turbine is characterized in that it includes one or more aperture covers for entirely or partly covering one or more of the apertures in the spinner and in that the wind turbine further includes one or more aperture adjustment mechanisms for adjusting the effective size of one or more of the apertures, by displacement of one or more of the aperture covers. A method for establishing at least one aperture in the spinner on the hub of a wind turbine rotor and use of a wind turbine are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Per Sveigaard Mikkelsen, Carsten Bruun Andersen
  • Patent number: 8015883
    Abstract: A device and method for tensile testing of the bond strength of an electrically conductive ball adhered to a substrate. A ball is gripped and moved at a speed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of adherence. The substrate is abruptly halted by an abutment to impose a sudden load on the ball/substrate interface. During the test the substrate is lightly urged toward the ball to eliminate unwanted tensile forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Dage Precision Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kingsley Stuart Peecock, Robert John Sykes, Alan Norman Wiltshire
  • Patent number: 8012299
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a spar and at least one airfoil section, where both the spar and the airfoil section comprise an outer surface which forms part of an aerodynamically active surface of the blade. The method comprises steps of providing a support structure, placing the spar at the support structure, providing a clamp adapted to be fixed to the outer surface of both the spar and the airfoil section, arranging the airfoil section relative to the spar, fixing the clamp to the outer surface of the spar and the airfoil section, and assembling the at least one airfoil section an the spar by a process including adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 8007515
    Abstract: A tissue retractor for displacing body tissue during surgery includes a tissue piercing member such as a surgical needle, a wire-like filament such as a suture line affixed to the surgical needle, a fixed element such as an anchoring port being associated with a stable surgical platform such as a sternum retractor and a movable element such as an anchoring plug cooperating with anchoring port to engage a portion of suture line after the suture line is threaded through the body tissue with the surgical needle and after the suture wire is tensioned to effect a predetermined displacement of the body tissue. The predetermined displacement of body tissue is maintained by retention of the engaged portion of suture line by the fixed anchoring port and the movable anchoring plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Coroneo, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Paolitto, Valerio Valentini, Raymond Cartier
  • Patent number: 8002753
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a medicament container and an actuator assembly coupled to a proximal end portion of the medicament container. A distal end portion of the medicament container is configured to be coupled to a needle. A piston is movably disposed within the medicament container such that the medicament container is divided into a first internal portion and a second internal portion, the first internal portion containing a medicament. The actuator assembly has a pressurized fluid container, a regulator and a bias member. The pressurized fluid container is configured to move relative to the medicament container between a first position and a second position. The regulator is configured to fluidically couple the pressurized fluid container and the second internal portion of the medicament container when the pressurized fluid container is in the second position. The bias member is configured to bias the pressurized fluid container in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Krumme, Leslie A. Field
  • Patent number: 7997074
    Abstract: A hydraulic station in a hydraulic system of a wind turbine includes a tank for storing working fluid, first and second pumps fluidly connected to the tank, first and second flow paths extending from the respective first and second pumps to a hydraulic circuit, and first and second relief valves in fluid communication with the respective first and second flow paths. The first pump and first relief valve are controlled based on maintaining pressure of the working fluid in the hydraulic circuit between a first minimum limit and first maximum limit. If the pressure falls below the first minimum limit, the second pump and second relief valve are controlled in addition to the first pump and first relief valve, with the control then based on a second maximum limit and second minimum limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Carsten Roed
  • Patent number: 7993098
    Abstract: A method and a system for adjusting alarm level of a component in a wind turbine is provided. The method comprises defining an alarm level corresponding to an operational parameter of the component in the wind turbine, monitoring the operational parameter of the component, determining whether the operational parameter exceeds the alarm level, thereby triggering an alarm. In the case when the alarm is triggered, the method further comprises inspecting the component to determine whether the alarm level corresponds to a predetermined remaining useful lifetime of the component, and adjusting the alarm level based on the inspection of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Tie Ling Zhang
  • Patent number: D647380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Bondeson, Christopher R. Chastine, Brett A. Pearson, Paula E. Ruse
  • Patent number: D647446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kraco Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Jeackjuntra, Oscar E. Garcia, Steve Eastwood