Patents Examined by Chirstopher P. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6499588
    Abstract: A conveying system for conveying items along a conveying line (1, 2) includes a guide device (3) extending along the conveying line and at least one conveying element (5) movable along the conveying line and guided by the guide device (3). The guide device (3) and conveying element (5) are designed for conveying the items substantially independent of gravity. For selectable connection of the conveying line to a plurality of connecting points (A.1-A.3) the conveying system includes, connected to a invariable conveying line region (1) with a fixedly mounted guide device, a variable conveying line region (2) in which the guide device (3) is reversibly bendable and twistable. For bending and/or twisting the guide device and for supporting the guide device in a bent and/or twisted position necessary for a specific connection, a drivable connector (8) is provided. The variable conveying line region (2) may be an end region of the conveying line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: IPT Weinfelden AG
    Inventor: Jürg Eberle
  • Patent number: 6484872
    Abstract: The invention relates to belt (1) for a conveyor. The inventive belt is made of rubber or a plastic similar to rubber and is provided with incorporated traction carriers (2) in the form of cables or cords that are made of steel. The inventive conveyor belt comprises, in relation to its total width (B), a center part (A) and two side parts (A′). The invention is characterized in that the center part (A) is interchangeable as a result of a joint (4) between both side parts (1′). Various embodiments of said joint (1) are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Carsten Jepsen, Karl-Heinz Elvers, Adolfo Kropf-Eilers
  • Patent number: 6467611
    Abstract: A rope assembly for a mechanical bulk material conveyor generally consisting of a continuous rope adapted to be trained about a pair of sprockets within the conveyor, a rope ends connecting flight and a plurality of intermediate flights secured to and spaced along the rope at intervals, each of such intermediate flights including a ferrule having a tubular section receiving a portion of the rope therethrough and being firmly secured thereto and an annular flange section, a disc member having an opening receiving a portion of the rope therethrough, a boss member having an opening receiving a portion of the rope therethrough, the opening in at least one of the disc and boss members having a first enlarged section receiving a portion of the ferrule tubular section therein and a second enlarged section receiving at least a portion of the ferrule flange section therein, and means for firmly securing the disc and boss members together with the ferrule interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The Young Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Ambs, Steven S. Kelchner
  • Patent number: 5829779
    Abstract: A side protecting air bag comprising a body and an extension portion that are formed together into a bag shape. The body includes a mounting portion on the peripheral edge for mounting the air bag and is shaped to extend generally at a right angle from the mounting portion. The extension is formed so as to merge into the body along the mounting portion. When the air bag is folded, the extension is inserted into the body so that the body accommodating the extension is folded together with the extension onto the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariko Nakashima, Michio Inoue, Nobuhiko Sakamoto