Patents Examined by Alvin J Grant
  • Patent number: 8746665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive apparatus (10) for the linear movement of a processing tool with respect to a workpiece, having a tool holder (18) which is fixed on a carriage (16) and is intended for the fastening of the processing tool, having a stationary guide device (12) in which the carriage (16) is guided such that it can be displaced in a vertically linear manner, and having a drive device (42) with a first force transmission means (46) which, in an engaged position, engages with a second force transmission means (40) connected to the carriage (16) in order to move the carriage (16). According to the invention, it is provided that the drive device (42) is mounted in the guide device (12) such that it can be moved between a release position, in which the force transmission means (40, 46) do not engage with one another, and the engaged position in such a way that the gravitational force of the drive device (42) causes a movement from the release position into the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: IHT Automation GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Kurt Nachbargauer
  • Patent number: 8511644
    Abstract: Device that uses the force of one or several persons to help a stuck vehicle get free. It comprises a set of chains of blocks (2) to put in front of the wheels and that are connected by straps (3.6) to a system that will pull them under the wheels while pushing the car by reaction. The forces come from a lever system consisting of a main bar with a triangular part fixed underneath and near its front end. When the operator lifts the bar, the displacement of the extremities of the triangular part away from the wheels creates a pull on the straps while the front end of the bar pushes the car. The blocks become the fulcrum of this lever system. Alternately, a winch fixed on the car bumper pulls on the straps via deviation rollers or rings, transmitting the reaction pushing forces to the car rear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Philippe Biesse
  • Patent number: 8132802
    Abstract: An apparatus for quickly retaining and releasing parts having a wide range of sizes and designs at an optical measurement station is provided. The apparatus includes a rod having proximal and distal ends. The apparatus further includes a part-engaging first tip attached to the distal end of the rod to move therewith. The apparatus still further includes a part-engaging second tip. The apparatus includes a support structure for supporting the second tip and the rod. The apparatus further includes a quick-release, clamping mechanism for adjustably and releasably clamping the rod to the support structure so that the rod can move the first tip between a part-release position in which a part held between the tips is released for removal from the station and a part-retaining position in which a part is firmly held between the tips. Held parts having a wide range of sizes and designs can be optically measured at the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: GII Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Kolodge, Michael G. Nygaard, Gregory M. Nygaard
  • Patent number: 8091875
    Abstract: A gripping jig for assembling whereby a force is applied to a molded body in a direction perpendicular to an assembling direction. When an assembling load is applied to the molded body, the force is adjustable with an adjustment screw such that the molded body is guided to move in the assembling direction. Since the force is applied from a direction different from the assembling direction, the molded body can move in the assembling direction, and since the force is adjustable, application of the assembling load to the molded body and the movement of the molded body can be adjusted. Since a plurality of the molded bodies are fixed and assembled respectively, when there are variations in size of the molded bodies, an excessive assembling load is is avoided with each molded body guided to move, so that a more uniform assembling load is applied to the plurality of molded bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yoshioka, Kazuhi Matsumoto, Koji Kimura, Shinya Yoshida, Takashi Ota
  • Patent number: 8006954
    Abstract: A cable puller has a pair of shoulder bars connected to each other at one end thereof, each of the shoulder bars having a hook at the other end for releasably accommodating a plurality of wires or cables thereon; and a support bar with two ends respectively and symmetrically connected to respective intermediate points of the shoulder bats. The shoulder and support bars are arranged to provide a shoulder width wider than a depth of an enclosed space to pull the cable therethrough and narrower than a pre-determined pathway in the enclosed space the cables are designed to be pulled therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Mallory
  • Patent number: 8006361
    Abstract: An installation tool for use with a liner sleeve attachment, such as a nutplate assembly for mounting onto a substrate blind side as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,747. The installation tool includes retractable grip jaws for gripping and pulling a fixture pin protruding from the attachment, for initially advancing a tapered tool nose piece into deforming engagement with an attachment liner sleeve leading end to flare and/or expand the liner sleeve to lock the liner sleeve onto the substrate. Continued pulling action exerts a sufficient force to collapse a fixture pin head and thereby permit pull-removal of the fixture pin from the attachment. The nose piece is carried by a retractable inner housing normally retained in an advanced position for deforming the liner sleeve, and thereafter movable to a retracted position spaced from the liner sleeve to accommodate substantially unobstructed fixture pin separation from the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Physical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Hutter, III, Barry L. Madson
  • Patent number: 7996954
    Abstract: A path-conversion valve assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a valve member rotatably mounted in an air path formed in a cleaner of a vacuum cleaner which includes a socket for receiving a hose nozzle, and a resilient member mounted in the air path to resiliently press the rotating valve member in an opposite direction to the rotating direction of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-yun Lee, Tae-gwang Kim
  • Patent number: 7975357
    Abstract: Preferably, a motorcycle valve spring removal tool includes a motorcycle engine operatively mounted and secured to a frame of a motorcycle, and a valve spring compression tool secured to the motorcycle engine for use in removing a valve spring of the motorcycle engine while the cylinder head remains torqued to the cylinder, and the motorcycle engine remains mounted and secured within the motorcycle frame. In a preferred embodiment, the valve spring compression tool includes a base plate supporting a stud reception member that provides a threaded stud attachment aperture, in which a corresponding threaded stud is secured. Also included in the preferred embodiment is a compression plate interacting with the threaded stud and a force transfer component, preferably a threaded nut, also interacting with the stud to impart a compression force on the valve spring to achieve a predetermined level of compression of the valve spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: David K. Irving
  • Patent number: 7950122
    Abstract: The pool cue clamp is a spring squeeze clamp having sturdy, flexible fingers extending therefrom for holding pool cues. The fingers are rotatable within the clamp and can be configured to comply with horizontal, vertical or angular surfaces. The pool cue clamp holds up to five cue sticks in a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Lewis J. Saylor
  • Patent number: 7950638
    Abstract: A fly tying vise to be used for holding a fishing hook and to provide rotation of the fishing hook on two axes, one axis along the center of the hook shank, the other axis perpendicular to the hook shank and the two axes cross each other. The fly tying vise has a multi-part base assembly and a bearing mechanism which will provide a lateral rotation of the jaws. While the hook holding mechanism is connected to the rotatable part of the base, a series of elongated designed parts connected to the stationary part of the base and extended over the cylindrical center of the base assembly for holding parachute post to aid tying parachute patterns and like. The vise base can be locked in different positions laterally for using the vise as a regular rotary vise or working on a fly from different directions, such as fight handed or left handed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Yungshien Vincent Su
  • Patent number: 7937803
    Abstract: A vacuum bag hold-down arrangement for a dust collection system maintains a negative pressure in the space between a dust collection drum and a plastic film liner or bag in the drum. A cyclonic separator at the station separates the dust from an air flow and deposits it into the liner in the drum. The hold-down arrangement employs a vacuum pump producing about 1 to 3 psig negative pressure. A vacuum conduit extends from the pump through a penetration in the drum and into the space between wall of the drum and the liner bag. A porous pad, e.g., open cell foam, is situated over the vacuum conduit and separates the bag liner from the vacuum conduit. This distributes the air flow into the vacuum conduit and creates a more uniform grip of the liner or bag to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Robert M. Witter
  • Patent number: 7934976
    Abstract: A scribing apparatus for scribing a substrate improves productivity as well as prevents substrate deterioration. The apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wheel to scribe a substrate, a refrigerant supplier installed near one side of the wheel to spray a refrigerant to the substrate; and a hot steam supplier installed near the other side of the wheel to spray a hot steam to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang Jong Yoo
  • Patent number: 7931523
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass substrate for an information recording medium having a high level of cleanness and superior smoothness. The manufacturing method includes washing a disk-shaped glass plate with an acid washing liquid, removing at least part of a surface layer, which is formed on the surface of the glass plate, by performing grinding with diamond abrasion grains, and washing the surface with a neutral or alkaline washing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Saito, Toshiaki Hashimoto, Yuriko Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7926478
    Abstract: A superabrasive wire saw-wound structure includes a superabrasive wire saw (10) formed with an average diameter D and a reel (1). The superabrasive wire saw (10) includes a core wire (11), a bonding material (12) surrounding a surface of the core wire (11), and a plurality of superabrasive grains (13) bonded to the surface of the core wire (11) with the bonding material (12). The reel (1) includes a peripheral surface (2) having one end (3) and the other end (4). The superabrasive wire saw (10) which is to be unreeled successively toward a workpiece is wound around the peripheral surface (2) reciprocatingly between the one end (3) and the other end (4) to be multi-layered. A pitch P for winding the superabrasive wire saw (10) around the peripheral surface (2) between the one end (3) and the other end (4) satisfies a relation of D<P<2D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: A.L.M.T. Corp.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakai, Masaaki Yamanaka, Yoshizumi Ishitobi
  • Patent number: 7926136
    Abstract: A multipurpose folding hand tool including a tool holder permitting exchanges of blades. The tool may include a folding scissors including a spring that is moved into operative engagement with a scissors handle to open the scissors handles apart from each other only as the scissors approaches an extended, operative position with respect to the handle of the folding land tool, within which it may be stowed. A resilient grip member is incorporated in one of the handles of the folding multipurpose hand tool. A wire cutter and a crimping tool are located on pliers jaw tangs, between the pliers pivot and the foldable handles of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa C. Yale, Hollan A. Tsuda, Glenn Klecker, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 7922159
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus for attaching work pieces to be machined to the work table of a machine tool in a precisely defined position comprises at least one clamping rail to be attached to the work table of the machine, as well as at least one work piece holder. The clamping rail is provided with an elongate protruding portion, the front face thereof constituting a stop surface and which defines a recess between itself and the work table of the machine tool. The elongate protruding portion may be provided with threaded bores for receiving clamping screws. Each work piece holder includes a clamping portion which can be inserted into the recess and clamped therein by means of the clamping screws. The clamping rail includes a flat bottom surface resting on the surface of the work table of the machine tool and running perpendicular to the aforementioned front face of the elongate protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: F-Tool International AG
    Inventor: Ferdinand Troxler
  • Patent number: 7752946
    Abstract: This present invention discloses a socket for wrenches, which comprises a main body having a proximal section, a distal section, and a central axis extending from proximal section to distal section. The main body has recess at inside on the proximal section with punctures on the recessed periphery and each puncture has a moving part mounted therethrough. A sleeve is in slide-fitting communication with the main body, which has an inner wall provided a plurality of push fronts thereon, each push front surface rises gradually by a plurality of continuous steps from one end to the other. When the sleeve is rotated of axially moved with respect to the main body, the gradual rising steps of the push fronts are pushing the moving parts toward the central axis to match with varieties of scales of work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventor: Shyh-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 7748298
    Abstract: A self-energizing and de-energizing adjustable gripping tool for engaging a work piece to impart work thereto includes a first element and second element connected for relative movement. The second element includes an actuation portion having a plurality of slots. The first element includes gripping elements which are each associated with a force transfer element which engages one of the slots such that movement of the second element relative to the first element actuates the gripping elements to engage the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Loggerhead Tools LLC
    Inventor: Daniel P. Brown
  • Patent number: 7731568
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a polishing pad capable of maintaining high-precision end-point optical detection over a long period from the start of use to the end of use even if polishing is performed with an alkaline or acid slurry, as well as a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with this polishing pad. The polishing pad of the invention is used in chemical mechanical polishing and has a polishing region and a light-transmitting region, wherein the light-transmitting region satisfies that the difference ?T (?T=T0?T1) (%) between T0 and T1 is within 10(%) over the whole range of measurement wavelengths of from 400 to 700 nm, wherein T1 is the light transmittance (%) of the light-transmitting region measured at the measurement wavelength ? after dipping for 24 hours in a KOH aqueous solution at pH 11 or an H2O2 aqueous solution at pH 4 and T0 is the light-transmittance (%) measured at the measurement wavelength ? before the dipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Shimomura, Masahiko Nakamori, Takatoshi Yamada, Kazuyuki Ogawa, Atsushi Kazuno, Masahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: RE42816
    Abstract: A ratcheting wrench includes a handle, a head extending from an end of the handle and having a hole communicated with a compartment in the end of the handle, a drive member rotatably mounted in the hole of the head, and a ratcheting mechanism. The drive member includes an inner periphery for securely holding a fastener-driving member, allowing joint rotation when the drive member is turned. A retainer is mounted around the end of the drive member and has two resilient portions extending into the hole of the drive member via the slots for rotatably holding the drive member in the hole of the head and for securely, releasably holding the fastener-driving member in the hole of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Bobby Hu