Patents Examined by Alvin J Grant
  • Hand tool having an adjustable head
    Patent number: 7082862
    Abstract: A hand tool having an adjustable head includes a handle, a head and a head locking assembly. The handle has an elongated slot with a bottom. The head has a body that has a pivot junction pivotally mounted in the elongated slot and having an exterior toothed surface. The head locking assembly includes a sliding block, a rotatable locking assembly and a block biasing assembly. The sliding block is slidably mounted in the elongated slot between the pivot junction and the bottom of the elongated slot and includes an engaging device to engage the exterior toothed surface of the pivot junction. The rotatable locking assembly is rotatably mounted in the sliding block and includes a locking device such as an eccentric cam to abut the bottom of the elongated slot to restrict the sliding block in motion and lock the head at a given angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Li-Ju Lee
  • Frame saw for cutting granite and method to improve performance of frame saw for cutting granite
    Patent number: 7082939
    Abstract: A horizontal frame saw is equipped with a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart blades for cutting granite. Each of the blades has a cutting edge with diamond cutting segments mounted thereon for engaging the granite with a swinging motion for cutting of the granite, wherein the segments have optimized/controlled segment variables for uniform wearing of the segments along each blade during cutting of granite. Segment variables include one or more of: spacing of segments along the length of the blade; diamond concentration in each segment; diamond grade (as measured by compressive fracture strength) in each segment; segment composition (bond, secondary abrasives); or segment dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Diamond Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernesto Dossena, Markus Jakobuss, Andre Kuehn, Kurt Proske, Dennis Turner, Michael H. Zimmerman
  • Bladed spoke wrench
    Patent number: 7082636
    Abstract: A bladed spoke wrench device used to retain the orientation of a bladed bicycle spoke to prevent unnecessary torsional displacements from being applied to the spoke during spoke tensioning and adjustment. The bladed spoke wrench includes two spoke retention slots of different widths to accommodate the most common bladed spoke thicknesses. The spoke retention slots extend both through the thickness of the tool on both sides and along one face of the tool, allowing the user to orient the tool in any of several ways that the user finds comfortable and efficient during use. The tool also includes one or more hook shaped areas that are adapted to open a bottle and further includes an opening at one end that defines a ring useful for attachment of the bladed spoke wrench to a peg on a tool board, a key ring or other hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Rinard, David Blomme, Jeffrey Bogstad
  • Method for sharpening the knife of a rotary trimmer and a rotary trimmer for realizing the method
    Patent number: 7083503
    Abstract: A rotary trimmer includes a first trimming element having a first knife and a second trimming element having a second knife that operates jointly with the first knife. In order to sharpen one knife, the other knife is removed and is replaced with a sharpening disk. The sharpening disk or the knife to be sharpened is advanced during a sharpening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Muller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Remo Sommer
  • Hand tool with impact drive and speed reducing mechanism
    Patent number: 7080578
    Abstract: A power driven tool useful for tightening and loosening a mechanical fastener includes an impact mechanism. Preferably, the tool is pneumatic and includes a ratchet head and an impact device for providing additional torque to the ratchet head. A planetary reduction gear reduces the high output speed of a pneumatic motor for input into the impact device and reduces wear on the impact device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: SP Air Kabusiki Kaisha Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Izumisawa
  • Lug wrench
    Patent number: 7080580
    Abstract: A lug wrench having a nut-receiving socket on a shank, and a crossbar joined to the shank to extend transversely, e.g. perpendicularly, thereto. The lug wrench may include a wedge or a second socket joined to the shank. First and second handle members are joined to the first and second ends, respectively, of the crossbar to extend transversely, e.g. perpendicularly, thereto. The handle members may extend substantially parallel to an axis of the shank. The crossbar may be joined to a middle portion of each of the handle members, or the crossbar may be joined to an end of the handle members such that the handle members may extend from the crossbar in a direction away from the socket. The lug wrench is preferably symmetrical about a plane that intersects the shank and is perpendicular to the crossbar to facilitate balanced application of force to a lug nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ameritech Auto Design Corporation
    Inventor: Herman Gordon
  • Screwdriver tool
    Patent number: 7080582
    Abstract: A screwdriver tool has a driving body and a tool shank mounted in the driving body so it can rotate about its axis. A device for transmitting a torque from the driving body to the tool shank interrupts the torque transmission if a predefined limiting torque is exceeded. In its longitudinal area accommodated in the driving body, the tool shaft has a clutch section featuring a non-circular cross section. At least one spring element adjoins the clutch section radially on the outside. The spring element is mounted in the driving body in a non-rotatable manner with respect to the axis of the tool shank and in a radially deflectable manner against its spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Otmar Karle
  • High torque dual chamber turbine rotor for hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool
    Patent number: 7077732
    Abstract: A high torque turbine rotor for a lightweight hand held tool for grinding and polishing having a rotor that includes two separate high pressure air chambers separated by a common housing wall, each air chamber having peripheral air expelling nozzles in a tangential direction to the rotor periphery. The rotor housing is lightweight and increases torque without generally increasing the overall size and weight of the tool housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Air Turbine Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kemma S. Dodds
  • Semiconductor wafer with improved local flatness, and method for its production
    Patent number: 7077726
    Abstract: A process for producing semiconductor wafers comprises simultaneous grinding of both sides of the semiconductor wafers in a single step, 1S-DDG, wherein this grinding is the only material-removing mechanical machining step which is used to machine the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers. This process produces semiconductor wafers with improved geometry and nanotopology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Georg J. Pietsch, Michael Kerstan, Anton Huber
  • Adjustable spanner
    Patent number: 7077034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable spanner (2) having a first fixed jaw (4) and a second moveable jaw (8). The second jaw (8) can be locked in fixed relation to the first jaw (4) by a locking means (16). This locking means (16) is moveable between a first position in which the second jaw (8) is fixed in relation to the first jaw (4) and a second position in which the second jaw (8) is permitted to move with respect to the first jaw (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: HTM Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Austin Harrison
  • Screw having non-strip drive recess and driver bit for use with the screw
    Patent number: 7077038
    Abstract: The present invention provides a screw, comprising a screw head having a drive recess and a screw shank having threads and being integrally formed with the screw head, wherein the drive recess includes a plurality of engaging grooves equiangularly radiating from an axis of the screw in plan view, a bottom face of each engaging groove having a steep slope, which is near to the screw shank, and a gentle slope, which is far from the screw shank, for enlarging the engaging area of the engaging grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Toyooka, Shinichi Hamano
  • Torque indication device for hand tools
    Patent number: 7069827
    Abstract: A torque indication device for a hand tool includes a handle with a processing unit connected thereto and a head having a driving member connected thereto is rotatably connected to the handle. The head has an insertion which is inserted into an axial recess of the handle. A first notch is defined in a distal end of the insertion. An intermediate member has a second notch defined in a first end thereof and a second end of the intermediate member is a flat surface. A bead is engaged with the first and second notches. A spring is received in the axial recess and a first sensor is clamped between a first end of the spring and the flat surface. A second sensor is clamped between a second end of the spring and an inside of the axial recess. The first and second sensors are electrically connected with the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Container opener
    Patent number: 7069815
    Abstract: A container opener comprising a handle portion on which force is applicable when removing a lid from a container and a utility portion for engaging with said lid to be removed from said container, one or both of said portions are generally made of a resilient but relatively stiff material, which said utility portion is provided with a gripping means made of an elastomeric material or a soft plastic material for gripping and/or simultaneous movement with said lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Maxpat Trading & Marketing (Fareast) Limited
    Inventor: Siu Kwan Yu
  • Polishing composition
    Patent number: 7070485
    Abstract: A polishing composition to remove metal from a dielectric layer by, either single step CMP polishing, or two step CMP polishing, the composition including, an aqueous solution provided with a substance having molecules with respective silanols, and a concentration of ions that solublize the silanols to adsorb on a hydrated surface of the dielectric layer during said polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig D. Lack, Terence M. Thomas, Qianqiu Ye
  • Leverage handle
    Patent number: 7069824
    Abstract: A leverage handle tool includes a handle and a seat block. In use, a slot in the seat block is located upon a handle such as a vice handle, and the tool is pulled toward the handle end. As the tool is pulled toward the handle end the slot grips the handle due to the frusto-conical configuration thereof. The tool may then be acted upon such that the tool increase the leverage upon handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Snap Jaws Manufacturing
    Inventor: John P. Fitzpatrick
  • Movable wrench handle assembly
    Patent number: 7069822
    Abstract: A movable wrench handle assembly for facilitating comfortable grasping of a wrench while minimizing interference of the comfortable handle structure with the opposing end couplers of the wrench includes a wrench having a pair of end portions and a medial portion extending between the end portions. A handle member is coupled to the wrench such that the handle member is slidable along the medial portion. A locking assembly holds the handle member in place during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Kevin Mathis
  • Method and apparatus for chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic substrates with a carrier and membrane
    Patent number: 7066791
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a membrane formed from a compressible, flexible material, such as neoprene or silicone, and having a first portion with a thickness greater than that of a second portion. The membrane can be aligned with the microelectronic substrate to bias the microelectronic substrate against a planarizing medium such that the first portion of the membrane biases the microelectronic substrate with a greater downward force than does the second portion of the membrane. Accordingly, the membrane can compensate for effects, such as varying linear velocities across the face of the substrate that would otherwise cause the substrate to planarize in a non-uniform fashion or, alternatively, the membrane can be used to selectively planarize portions of the microelectronic substrate at varying rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan R. Brown
  • Method of manufacturing a fixed abrasive material
    Patent number: 7066801
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a fixed abrasive material suitable for use in CMP planarization pads from an aqueous polymer dispersion that also includes abrasive particles that involves frothing the polymer dispersion, applying the froth to a substrate, mold or carrier and curing the froth to form a fixed abrasive material having an open cell structure containing between about 5 and 85 wt % abrasive particles and a dry density of about 350 kg/m3 to 1200 kg/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhakar Balijepalli, Dale J. Aldrich, Laura A. Grier, Bedri Erdem, Gregory F. Meyers
  • Ratchet wrench
    Patent number: 7062994
    Abstract: Ratchet wrench has its head comprising an opening, a recess on a wall of the opening, a channel having one end open to the recess and the other blind end in the handle, and a trough on the handle proximate the wrench head, a reversing pawl in the recess and including a top groove and a rear cavity, a push button on the trough adapted to move between first and second positions by cooperating with a spring depressible detent for carrying out clockwise driving and counterclockwise ratcheting or vice versa, a reversing lever having one portion disposed on the groove and the other portion received in a slot of the push button, a spring biaser including one end in the cavity and the other end in the blind end of the channel, and a socket fastened in the opening and being meshed with pawl teeth of the reversing pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Ching Chen
  • Articles for polishing semiconductor substrates
    Patent number: 7059948
    Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture, and apparatus are provided for depositing a layer, planarizing a layer, or combinations thereof, a material layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, an article of manufacture is provided for polishing a substrate, comprising a polishing article having a polishing surface, a plurality of passages formed through the polishing article for flow of material therethrough, and a plurality of grooves disposed in the polishing surface. The article of manufacture may be used in a processing system. The article of manufacture may be used in a method for processing a substrate, comprising positioning the substrate in an electrolyte solution containing a polishing article, optionally depositing a material on the substrate by an electrochemical deposition method, and polishing the substrate with the polishing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials
    Inventors: Shijian Li, Llang-Yuh Chen, Alain Duboust