Patents Examined by Abbie E Quann
  • Patent number: 11964364
    Abstract: A spring-loaded waste shield and cleaning aid has a moving block, a fixed block, a blocking flange, and at least one spring and linear bearing that form an elastically biased friction fitting plate. When inserted between vise jaws, the friction fitting plate will compress and expand so that a work piece can be clamped in the vise or removed without the plate falling out. The friction-fitting plate provides a work-underlying shelf that: shields function-critical vise components from machining waste and is readily cleaned; supports and positions a work piece; will catch small parts, tools, or the like accidentally dropped onto the shelf for easy retrieval; and is sacrificial in the event of accidental impact or contact with a machining tool or other mishap. In some embodiments, parallelepiped geometry, a socket head shoulder bolt, and appropriately sized components ensure that force overload applied by a vise does not damage the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Dean H. Bentley
  • Patent number: 11945073
    Abstract: A carrier head for chemical mechanical polishing includes a base assembly and a membrane assembly connected to the base assembly. The membrane assembly includes a membrane support, an inner membrane secured to the membrane support, wherein the inner membrane forms a plurality of individually pressurizable inner chambers between an upper surface of the membrane and the membrane support, and an outer membrane secured to the membrane support and extending below the inner membrane, the outer membrane having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer membrane defines a lower pressurizable chamber between the inner surface of the outer membrane and a lower surface of the inner membrane, wherein the inner surface is positioned for contact by a lower surface of the inner membrane upon pressurization of one or more of the plurality of chambers, and wherein the outer surface is configured to contact a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Zuniga, Jay Gurusamy, Andrew J. Nagengast
  • Patent number: 11926015
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetorheological intelligent fixture for grinding, including a container (1), a water bladder (2), a pressure transmitter (4), a water pump (15), a first electromagnet (8), a controller (10), and an elastic telescopic rod. The elastic telescopic rod is disposed at a bottom of the container (1). Each side wall of the container (1) is provided with the water bladder (2). The water bladders (2) are mutually communicated. The water bladders (2) are respectively communicated with the pressure transmitter (14) and the water pump (15) respectively. The water pump (15) is connected to the water tank (6). A workpiece to be clamped is disposed at a top of the elastic telescopic rod. The container (1) is disposed above the first electromagnet (18). The first electromagnet (8), the pressure transmitter (4), and the water pump (15) are all electrically connected to the controller (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xinsheng He, Lanpeng Zheng, Jiajie Jiang, Chongqiu Zhou, Chunfu Gao, Dongyun Wang, Shiju E
  • Patent number: 11904471
    Abstract: The disclosed systems for suspending cable (e.g., fiber optic cable) from an overhead powerline may include a payload subsystem for housing and dispensing a cable, a rotation subsystem for winding the cable around the powerline, an extension subsystem for raising at least a portion of the payload subsystem vertically upward from the powerline, a stabilization subsystem for stabilizing the system at least when the payload system is extended away from the powerline by the extension subsystem, and a drive subsystem for driving the system along the powerline. Various other related systems, devices, mechanisms, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Blake Elandt, Benjamin Lagosz-Sinclair, Jonathan M. Kuriloff
  • Patent number: 11901215
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate displacing assembly so as to improve its durability during a semiconductor processing. In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing system, includes, a substrate holder, wherein the substrate holder is configured with a plurality of pins; and a substrate displacing assembly for displacing a substrate on the substrate holder in a first direction perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate holder through the plurality of pins, wherein the substrate displacing assembly comprises a pair of load forks, a coupler and a driving shaft, wherein the pair of load forks comprises a fork region and a base region, wherein the coupler is mechanically coupled to the base region through at least one first joining screw extending in the first direction, wherein the coupler is further mechanically coupled to the driving shaft through a second joining screw extending in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Liao, Chin-Shen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11894244
    Abstract: A cleaning member mounting mechanism has: a cleaning member holding part, to which a cleaning member assembly having a cleaning member for cleaning a substrate W can be mounted; a member rotation part for rotating the cleaning member assembly held by the cleaning member holding part; and a moving part which moves the cleaning member holding part along an axial direction when the cleaning member assembly is removed, thereby to bring the cleaning member holding part into a rotation fixed position to restrict a rotation of the cleaning member holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Tomoaki Fujimoto, Takuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 11882973
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member movably arranged at a housing, the cleaning member having a cleaning portion for engaging a surface to be cleaned; a handle member connects with and is resiliently movable between a raised position and a lower position so that when the handle member is arranged at the raised position, a resilient member operably connecting the handle member with the housing is substantially compressed thereby applying a pressing force onto the cleaning member towards the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Kaleta
  • Patent number: 11862506
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a substrate processing module, an atmospheric substrate transfer module, a first and a second vacuum substrate transfer module, a load lock module, and a vacuum substrate transfer robot. The first vacuum substrate transfer module having a first transfer space is disposed adjacent to the atmospheric substrate transfer module and the substrate processing module. The second vacuum substrate transfer module, having a second transfer space in communication with the first transfer space and external dimensions smaller than those of the first vacuum substrate transfer module in a plan view, is disposed on or under the first vacuum substrate transfer module. The load lock module is disposed between the atmospheric substrate transfer module and the second vacuum substrate transfer module. The vacuum substrate transfer robot is disposed in the first transfer space or the second transfer space to transfer a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihiko Amikura, Masatomo Kita
  • Patent number: 11850718
    Abstract: A multi-tool includes a plurality of individual tools such as four individual hex-head screwdrivers, a hexalobular internal screwdriver, and a tire repair tool, each of the individual tools rotatably coupled to a main body of the multi-tool. A distal portion of the hexalobular internal screwdriver may be nested within a proximal portion of the tire repair tool. When the multi-tool is in a closed configuration, a distal end of the tire repair tool may be located inside a distal end of a largest one of the hex-head screwdrivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PNW Components, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Kerson, Adam Hammerman
  • Patent number: 11850707
    Abstract: Pliers are provided. Pliers include an upper handle, a lower handle, an upper jaw coupled to the upper handle, and a lower jaw coupled to the lower handle. In general, the upper jaw includes workpiece engagement surface, such a first set of teeth configured to engage a workpiece, and the lower jaw includes a workpiece engagement surface, such as a second set of teeth and a third set of teeth. The lower jaw opposes the upper jaw such that the first set of teeth faces the second set of teeth and the third set of teeth. At least a section of the workpiece engagement surface of the lower jaw is movably coupled to the lower jaw such that it moves relative to the lower as torque is applied to a workpiece, thereby increasing torque applied to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron S. Blumenthal, Christopher S. Hoppe, Aaron M. Williams
  • Patent number: 11848216
    Abstract: As an aspect of the present invention, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning member has a holding part holding a cleaning member assembly having a cleaning member; an inner cleaning liquid supply part; an outer cleaning liquid supply part; and a control part controlling the substrate cleaning apparatus to perform a first process in which the cleaning member is pressed against a dummy substrate at a first pressure and the outer cleaning liquid supply part supplies the cleaning liquid to the dummy substrate, and to perform a second process in which the cleaning member is separated from the dummy substrate or is pressed against the dummy substrate at a second pressure which is equal to or less than the first pressure and the inner cleaning liquid supply part supplies the cleaning liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kajikawa, Takeshi Iizumi, Masayoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 11839959
    Abstract: Provided is a clamp that can be attached to a tripod or other piece of equipment and which can hold rails for firearms, sights, scopes, parts, and the like, therein. The clamp is self-adjusting due to a compressible cam lever that enables an amount of give or play when clamping onto a rail or other object. The clamp also includes a scroll gear assembly that enables the compressible cam lever to drive opposing jaw plates toward and away from each other thereby clamping and releasing rails and other objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Joshua Stabler
  • Patent number: 11839952
    Abstract: Example implementations relating to a mechanical vise are disclosed herein. In one particular implementation, a first jaw piece includes a first slip surface a second jaw piece includes a second slip surface. The first slip surface may be moveable with respect to the second slip surface, while in slip contact with the second slip surface, to at least in part apply a force against a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: North Valley Development, LLP
    Inventor: Eric Dillenberger
  • Patent number: 11826886
    Abstract: The proposed solution relates in particular to a method for assembling an engine assembly having a first engine component and a second engine component, wherein at least one fastening element is first of all arranged on an assembly aid, the at least one fastening element is arranged on the first engine component via the assembly aid and is held in an assembly position under the action of at least one magnetic element of the assembly aid, the at least one fastening element is fixed to the second engine component, and the assembly aid is removed again from the first engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Stephan Koehler
  • Patent number: 11819978
    Abstract: A grinding material includes a base sheet and a grinding layer overlaid on a front face side of the base sheet and including abrasive grains and a binder for the abrasive grains. The grinding layer includes the abrasive grains of a plurality of types. Of the abrasive grains of the plurality of types, provided that first abrasive grains have the largest average diameter and second abrasive grains have the second largest average diameter, the percentage of the average diameter of the second abrasive grains with respect to that of the first abrasive grains is 5-70%. The total content of the abrasive grains in the grinding layer is preferably 50-85% by volume. The content of the first abrasive grains in the grinding layer is preferably 1-25% by volume. The first abrasive grains are preferably diamond abrasive grains and the second abrasive grains are preferably alumina abrasive grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takagi, Tomoki Iwanaga, Kazuo Saito, Toshikazu Taura
  • Patent number: 11814863
    Abstract: A cable barrier separator apparatus for separating cables from the barrier support so that the barrier support can be replaced. The cable barrier separator apparatus includes an actuator assembly; and an engagement assembly in communication with the actuator assembly for separating cables from support devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DSE Enterprise Inc
    Inventors: Scott A Johnson, Dustin S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11806844
    Abstract: A flexible head joint for a tool, such as a motorized ratcheting-type tool. The flexible joint also allows an output mechanism of the tool, such as a ratchet head, to be disposed at an angle with respect to a housing to the tool, which houses a motor. For example, the first shaft is pivotably coupled to a first connector, which may have a tongue shaped portion. The second shaft is pivotably coupled to a second connector, which may have a slotted portion adapted to receive the tongue portion. This provides two pivot points that have parallel axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: Joshua M. Beer
  • Patent number: 11801583
    Abstract: A workpiece clamping device having a first base body on which a first clamping body is slidably supported in a clamping direction, as well as a second base body on which a second clamping body is slidably supported in the clamping direction. The two clamping bodies are in engagement with a threaded spindle. A contact surface is provided on each base body on the side that faces the other base body respectively. The contact surfaces are arranged with base body distance in the clamping direction. A centering body of the threaded spindle has centering surfaces that abut at one assigned contact surface respectively in order to position the threaded spindle in clamping direction without clearance as far as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: LANG TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Lang, Philipp Lang
  • Patent number: 11794696
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for cleaning the light scattering film (LSF) from the surface of a windshield in a vehicle, and more particularly, is directed to a magnetically associated cleaning element that is moved across the interior surface of a windshield by an interactive magnetic force transmitted through the windshield, with magnets associated with the wiper assembly on the other side of the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kovarik
  • Patent number: 11787031
    Abstract: A multi-functional tool includes a multi-flanged body and an auxiliary implement attached thereto for assisting a user to install drywall. In use, the tool is attached over the end of a drywall tool and is secured in place. A first end of the tool provides a surface to aid in driving nails, removing obstructions and the like. The opposite second end provides a hex holder to hold a screwdriver bit to aid in recessing any drywall screws that need recessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Lloyd D. J. Cutting