Patents Examined by Alexandra Pechhold
  • Patent number: 7226238
    Abstract: A vehicle disabling and stopping device that will bring a vehicle to a quick stop regardless of the wheel or track configuration. The device comprises an aircraft-type cable or wire rope laced through guide tubes welded onto base plates. The cable ends are fashioned into a running bowline or noose on a deployment board in a configuration intended to choke and hold vehicle tire wheels and control arms. The base plates have two to four tire probes attached thereto to be embedded into the vehicle tires, or in the base of a track driven vehicle, grappling hooks are used. When a vehicle engages the device, the probes lock onto the solid or inflated tire. On a track driven vehicle, the grappling hooks lock onto the track shoe and drive sprocket wheels. The cable ends are fashioned with a running bowline using a double clevis for heavy vehicles. The cable coils around spinning wheels and track, shorting the cable until it chokes the wheel control arms, drive axles, and sprocket wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Ace R Collier
  • Patent number: 7143835
    Abstract: A walk-behind electric working machine has a frame, an electric motor mounted on the frame, and a handle support section mounted on the frame, the handle support section having a pair of electrical terminals. A handle post has a first end portion for removable connection to the handle support section, a second end portion, and an electrical terminal disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the first end portion for electrical connection with the electrical terminals of the handle support section when the first end portion of the handle post is connected to the handle support section. A handle is removably mounted on the second end portion of the handle post and has handle portions. Grip members are mounted on the respective handle portions and are configured to be gripped by respective hands of an operator. An operation button controls power to operate the electric motor when the electrical terminal of the handle post is electrically connected to the electrical terminals of the handle support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumi Fukuzumi, Norikazu Shimizu, Jun Ito, Masayuki Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 7137754
    Abstract: A road-marking system has at least a first lighting module (4) provided in a road surface (1). The lighting module (4) is provided with a plurality of light emitting surfaces (14, 14?, . . . ). The lighting module (4) has connection means (7, 7) for providing electrical connection between the lighting module (4) and the electrical current supply conductor (6). Preferably, the current supply conductor (6) is provided in a duct (8) provided with an opening (8?) at the location of the lighting module (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Lucas Leo Desiree Van Der Poel
  • Patent number: 7134804
    Abstract: A bollard having a plurality of parallel, vertical legs spaced apart from each other on the perimeter of a regular geometric shape. The minimum number and/or cross-section of the legs is governed by the need to avoid creating an entrapment area between adjacent legs. If an even number of legs is provided, they can be arranged in diametrically opposite pairs of decreasing height, the pairs of legs being joined at their tops to form a series of at least three nested, inverted substantially U-shaped forms of decreasing height set around a common vertical axis. The bollard also includes elements for joining the legs together as a unit, for example, a cylindrical center member having the common vertical axis of the legs as its longitudinal axis, a longitudinal rib joining each leg to the center member, and a plurality of horizontal ribs joining adjacent legs to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Secure Site Design, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald P. Skalka
  • Patent number: 7131500
    Abstract: A device for reconditioning a damaged sports surface. The device includes at least one rotatably driven shaft with two ends, one of which is connected to a frame, the other end being disposed towards the surface. The driven shaft is disposed orthogonal relative to the surface. A work head is connected to the shaft and is in contact with the surface. The work head is rotated by the shaft relative to the surface and reconditions the surface. A mobile device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Julien Jomphe
  • Patent number: 7131788
    Abstract: A myriad of permutations of void-maintaining membrane laminates are provided. Laminates of the invention are particularly useful for providing high performance drainage within layered paved structures such as highways, airport runways and parking lots. Void-maintaining laminates of the invention comprise compression elements that are shaped, adapted and arranged to cooperate with base and upper layers such that superior flow capacities are attained through their void spaces, channels and paths, even under pressures in excess of 5,000 lbs per square inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Geotech Systems
    Inventors: Peter J. Ianniello, Aigen Zhao, Gary L. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7131499
    Abstract: An improved line trimmer and edging unit for lawn and garden use provides a multi-position accessory handle, a roller edge guide having a flange concentrically located about the motor shaft and being of sufficient diameter to maintain a consistent distance between the cutting plane and the object being edged around, symmetrically disposed safety switches, and a battery located symmetrically in-line with the center of the shaft of the unit. The combination lawn trimmer and edger unit may be used in a first, horizontal cutting plane position for lawn and weed trimming, and may be further used in a second, vertical cutting plane position for edging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Original Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Breneman, John P. Leffler, James F. Hutfles
  • Patent number: 7128496
    Abstract: An adaptable barrier system protects a site of value that is adjacent to a trafficable surface, from impact by a vehicle. The system includes traffic patterns to reduce speed, followed by a first impact element that causes a vehicle to become elevated from the trafficable surface. A bed having a deformable structure or material beyond the first impact element lowers the elevation of a vehicle that encounters the bed. A cover overlies the compressible material to allow passage of pedestrians and lightweight vehicles. An impact element line beyond the bed has sufficient height to impact a chassis of the vehicle having an elevation that is lowered by the bed, and prevent further progress of the vehicle. The combination of the first impact element, the bed and the impact elements line may be reproportioned with respect to each other to provide a barrier intended to suit a particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Rock Twelve, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Rogers, Scott Demel, Lissa Parrott, Vincent Lee, Vanessa Keith, Graeme Waitzkin
  • Patent number: 7125197
    Abstract: A vehicle capture net disposed between a pair of towers each of which includes a shaft, a pair of spools coupled to the shaft, and a pair of straps connected to the net. Each strap is wound on a spool. A brake is coupled to the shaft and to the spools for providing a restraining force of increasing magnitude as the straps are unwound. Unwinding of the straps from the spools advances the pair of spools on threaded portions of the shaft to compress the adjacent braking surfaces against each other. The vehicle is stopped by deploying a vehicle capture net connected to at least one pair of straps each wound on a spool, permitting the vehicle to collide with the capture net and to unwind the straps from corresponding spools, and providing a restraining force of increasing magnitude on the straps as the straps are unwound from the spools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventors: Bohdan Krewsun, Brad Carr
  • Patent number: 7124460
    Abstract: The cable, in particular of the stay cable type, comprises a set of traction reinforcements, two devices for anchoring the reinforcements in two respective zones of the construction, the reinforcements being spaced apart from one another at the anchoring devices, means for deviating the reinforcements in order to cause the reinforcements to converge toward a running part of the cable into a substantially parallel bundle which is more compact than at the anchoring devices, and a guide member which is in closely set contact around the set of reinforcements. This member has an inner surface, the cross section of which is adapted to the peripheral shape of the parallel bundle and the longitudinal section of which has a convex curvature which, over the length of the guide member, allows angular deflections of the reinforcements which are substantially greater than the maximum angle of convergence of the reinforcements between the anchoring device and the running part of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Freyssinet International (Stup)
    Inventors: Benoit Lecinq, Jean-Pierre Messein
  • Patent number: 7125199
    Abstract: An elastic permeable pavement comprising waste-polyurethane chips for use on new roads and a paving method using the same. This pavement uses a binder specially developed to secure the binding between an upper polyurethane chip layer and a lower permeable concrete layer as well as the binding among the waste-polyurethane chips, resulting in excellent strength and durability, and uses recycled polyurethane chips to provide elasticity and permeability suitable for sports activities, walking, and outdoor exercises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Sung Soon Kang
  • Patent number: 7121355
    Abstract: A dozer blade control system controls the position of a bulldozer blade, maintaining the blade at a constant position as the dozer travels through a worksite. The control system monitors the angle of the dozer blade with respect to the earth and when it senses that the dozer blade is tilting, it corrects the dozer blade's position by extending or retracting hydraulic cylinders that couple the dozer blade to the chassis of the crawler-tractor. When the dozer chassis pitches forwards, the blade begins to tilt forward and to drop closer to the ground. The control system senses this forward rotation of the blade and retracts the hydraulic cylinders that couple the blade to the chassis, causing the blade to return to and maintain its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: George T. Lumpkins, Peter J. Dix, Daniel B. Shore
  • Patent number: 7117954
    Abstract: A weed puller that comprises a plurality of prongs positioned about an axis, an anvil plate, and a moveable mass adapted to be driven into the anvil plate so as to transmit a force through the anvil plate to the prongs where the force has a substantial component in line with the axis about which the plurality of prongs are positioned. In a preferred embodiment, the weed puller comprises a body having a cavity that terminates at the anvil plate with the moveable mass slideably positioned within the cavity and the moveable mass being coupled to a rod that extends out of the cavity from an end opposite the anvil plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Bryan Vipond
  • Patent number: 7117952
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a system, including a mechanical arm, an attachment member, an actuator, a power system, an electronic control, and an operator interface. The attachment member is tiltably mounted on the mechanical arm about a pivot joint. The actuator is operably connected to the attachment member for powering the attachment member to tilt about the pivot joint. The power system is operably connected to the actuator. The electronic control is operatively connected to the power system, and comprises an automatic vibration mechanism for causing the attachment member to vibrate automatically in response to an activation signal. The operator interface is in operable communication with the electronic control. The system comprises a default state and an activation state for causing the activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Mark F. Bares, Charles H. Krause
  • Patent number: 7112006
    Abstract: A compacting device and a system and a method for compacting a material are provided. The compacting device may have a base and a column which extends from the base. A sleeve may be fitted and secured around the column. The sleeve may have a length which is greater than a length of the column. Material may be collected within the sleeve and may be used for compaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: John P. Moyna
  • Patent number: 7108448
    Abstract: A block pavement comprising (concrete) paving blocks (11, 12) is formed in such a way that individual paving strips (21, 22) adjoining one another are delimited from one another by strip joints (23, 24) designed in a wave-like manner. Each paving strip (21, 22) comprises a block unit (10), which is formed along the lines of the contour of a paving strip (21, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: SF-Kooperation GmbH Beton-Konzepte
    Inventor: Gerhard Hagenah
  • Patent number: 7104340
    Abstract: A draft force sensor is provided for a coupling member coupled between a towing vehicle and a towed earth engaging implement, such as a scraper. The draft force sensor includes first and second bores extending through the coupling member. Each bore has a horizontal axis which extends perpendicular to a main fore-and-aft axis of the coupling member. The second bore is positioned above the first bore and spaced apart from the first bore. Each of the bores is surrounded by an outer cylindrical wall. Four electrical strain gauges are spaced apart and placed on the wall of each of the bores. A center line bisects an axis line which extends between the axes of the first and second bores. The axis of each bore is spaced apart from the center line by a distance which is less than a diameter of the bores. The strain gauges are connected electrically in a circuit which generates a draft force signal in response to draft forces applied to the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Raymond Dennis Thompson, Peter Alan Kosmicki, Jeffrey David Dawson, Scott Lisle Cook, Edwin Roy Kreis, Michael Dean Kollath, Joe Lyle Schutte, Robert James White
  • Patent number: 7100704
    Abstract: An implement support unit for cooperating with an implement-mounting device for an implement for mounting the implement on a trailer unit. Preferably, the support unit is a three point hitch type support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kolpin Powersports, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd K. Potter
  • Patent number: 7100231
    Abstract: A foldable ramp having an improved hinge construction to increase load capacity. The foldable ramp overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a ramp having a first ramp section and a second ramp section, pivotable relative to each other between a folded storage position and an open working position wherein the ramp sections are prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to each other in the working position so as to increase load capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Cequent Trailer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Peschmann
  • Patent number: RE40505
    Abstract: A cutting head is provided for milling rumble strip depressions in a road surface. The cutting head has a center rotational axis and a transverse diameter that varies along the length of the rotational axis so that an outer cutting surface of the cutting head defines a plane curve, such as an ellipsoid with truncated ends. The cutting head is mounted on a milling machine and rotated about the rotational axis as it is moved alternately up and down into the road surface. As the milling machine moves down the road, the movement of the cutting head creates spaced apart rumble strip depressions in the road. Because of the elliptical configuration of the cutting head cutting surface, the dimensions of the depressions can be varied along both the forward and lateral axes by simply varying the depth of cut. The curved profile of the cutting head along the rotational axis creates rumble strip depressions that avoid the sharp ninety degree corners and vertical side walls found in conventional rumble strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Dustrol, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim L. Murphy