Patents Examined by Christopher Fulton
  • Patent number: 9891047
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spirit level having reflection bubble which comprises an elongate body, a first surface and a second surface, a cavity which has an opening on the second surface is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; the spirit level arranged in the cavity comprising: a non-opaque body having a slope and a first viewing plane; a bubble component has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first surface is mounted in the body of the level, and the first surface is mounted between the first end of the bubble component and the measured surface, the first viewing plane is mounted between the second end of the bubble component and user; the image of the bubble component is formed by the reflection of the slopes; users can observe the image of bubble component from the first viewing plane via reflected by the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: HANGZHOU GREAT STAR TOOLS CO., LTD., HANGZHOU GREAT STAR INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoheng Chi
  • Patent number: 9891051
    Abstract: A self-leveling multi-line laser device is disclosed. The multi-line laser device includes at least two laser beams and at least two reflecting cones, wherein the cone axes of the reflecting cones are perpendicular to each other and each of the laser beams can be directed, preferably eccentrically, parallel to the axis of one of the reflecting cones against the tip of said reflecting cone. With the multi-line laser device, at least two projectable laser lines can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9885571
    Abstract: A level is selectively coupled to a work piece and includes a housing, an adjustable clamping mechanism configured to selectively couple the housing to the work piece, a first bubble vial coupled to the housing and operable to indicate a first levelness of the work piece, and a second bubble vial rotatably coupled to the housing about a first axis. The second bubble vial is operable to indicate a second levelness of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Hoppe, Steven W. Hyma, Grant T. Squiers, Roger D. Neitzell, Ryan D. Schwoegler
  • Patent number: 9885198
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the rapid mounting of fence boards to fence posts includes a rail having a tongue projecting perpendicularly from one end thereof; and a board support assembly slidably disposed on the rail, the board support assembly including a carriage slidably mounted on the rail, a carriage lock for selectively fixing the carriage at a desired location along the rail, and a hook depending from the carriage below the tongue for temporarily supporting one end of a board to be mounted to a post. The subject apparatus may be hung from a first fence board by the tongue and then used to support an end of a second fence board within the cradle a desired distance below, and in substantially coplanar alignment with, the first board for mounting to a post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Jimmy R. Risley
  • Patent number: 9879976
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) having an integrated camera captures 2D images of an object at three or more different poses. A processor determines 3D coordinates of a smoothly continuous edge point of the object based at least in part on the captured 2D images and pose data provided by the AACMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Bridges, Joydeep Yadav
  • Patent number: 9879973
    Abstract: A device and method of simple design for measuring displacement between a first part and a second part that are substantially coaxial, preferably mounted on one another by an annular linear link. The device includes a structure for mounting the device on the part, blades secured to the structure and bearing on an outer surface of an intermediate member, the member being mounted around the part, at least one strain/deformation sensor associated with each blade, the sensors configured to transmit output signals dependent on the levels of deformation of the blades, and a conversion unit configured to deliver, from the output signals, at least one datum corresponding to the relative position of the parts, preferably out of an azimuth angle, an elevation angle and an axial displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Thomas Boisson
  • Patent number: 9879969
    Abstract: A roundness and/or dimension measuring device for in-process measurement of crank pins during a machining operation on a grinding machine having a base body, and a measuring head, which is connected to the base body via a rod assembly and which is movable between a neutral position and a measuring position. The measuring head has a measuring probe for contacting the crank pin, and the rod assembly is designed and configured in such a way that the measuring head in the measuring position follows orbital rotations of the crank pin. At least one oscillation damping element is operatively associated with the measuring head for holding it in engagement with the crank pin during the orbital rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: JENOPTIK Industrial Metrology Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Raimund Volk
  • Patent number: 9872425
    Abstract: A system for positioning a gauge wheel of an agricultural row unit includes the gauge wheel coupled to a frame of the agricultural row unit via a position assembly. The position assembly is configured to enable the gauge wheel to rotate between an engagement position and a home position. The system also includes a blocking member of the position assembly. Also, the system includes a protrusion integrally formed on the frame of the agricultural row unit. The protrusion is configured to engage the blocking member to block rotation of the position assembly away from the engagement position while in the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brian John Anderson, Johnathon R. Dienst
  • Patent number: 9869528
    Abstract: A micro-pointer system coupled to a primary pointer system on a target or hunting sight. The primary pointer system includes a primary pointer attached to the micro-pointer system to provide an indication of an elevation setting. The micro-pointer system employs a micro-adjust mechanism that simultaneously displaces a micro-pointer and a primary pointer in an accurate and repeatable manner in relation to respective scales on the body of the sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Pellett, Fred H. Hunt, Matthew Haas
  • Patent number: 9869549
    Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Robert Miller, Mikael Nordenfelt
  • Patent number: 9863553
    Abstract: A laser target assembly, which doubles as a pipe plug, has an outer sheath with a first end that fits within the end of a cut section of pipe, and a second, larger-diameter end that fits into the bell of an uncut section. A circular interior panel, made of tough plastic, is positioned in about the middle of the sheath perpendicular to its central axis. A lower half of the panel, which functions as the target, is opaque; the balance is transparent. A target scale, having evenly-spaced linear markings, is provided on the opaque portion of the panel. A bubble level, positioned within the larger-diameter end adjacent the panel, enables a pipe layer to position the target scale in a vertical orientation. Interior handles are used to adjust axial alignment of target assembly and remove the target assembly when it is installed within a bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Wesley Arlen Coates
  • Patent number: 9863749
    Abstract: A tape measure marking attachment for coupling to a tape measure and marking a surface beneath the tape measure at a desired location includes a hinged ring base defining an enclosing structure which can be selectively secured to the tape body of a conventional tape measure, a securing clip operative to fix the ring base in a closed position when in place on a conventional tape measure, and a marking member which extends down from the ring base and provides an integrated marking implement. When the tape measure marking attachment is in place on a conventional tape measure, a user can view the precise distance location through the top side of the ring base and press the tape measure marking attachment against a surface over which the tape measure is suspended to mark the surface at the exact distance measurement shown through the ring base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Luis Reyes
  • Patent number: 9846021
    Abstract: The present invention relates measuring tapes and methods for making thereof. In particular, the measuring tape of the present invention contains a wipe mechanism for cleaning the tape as it retracts into its housing. The wipe mechanism contains a top wipe and a bottom wipe for removing debris from the top and bottom surfaces of the tape, respectively, when it is retracted after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Mucktape, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Zelenack, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9846033
    Abstract: A laser level including a laser level body for projecting a laser beam, the laser level body including an adjustable stand having a left frame and a right frame independently manually displaceable between a fully closed frame position for storage purposes and a fully opened frame position for raising the laser level body to a maximum height above a horizontal reference surface. The adjustable stand enables the laser level body to be selectively inclined with respect to the horizontal reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KAPRO INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Yossi Palatshe, Rafi Ben Josef
  • Patent number: 9835433
    Abstract: A touch probe for a coordinate measuring machine with a processor which is programmed to generate a trigger signal signalling a contact between a stylus of the probe and a workpiece, whenever one of a plurality displacement signals exceeds a corresponding threshold. In addition, or in alternative, a delayed trigger is generated based on a processing a plurality of samples of displacement signals that are stored in a buffer. The processor is programmed to minimize anisotropy of the probe response. Furthermore, the thresholds can be modified during operations based on commands received from the CMM controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TESA SA
    Inventors: Dikran Antreasyan, Christophe Jaquet, Serge Mariller
  • Patent number: 9829303
    Abstract: In a shape measuring apparatus for measuring the roughness and/or contour of a surface of a workpiece by sliding a sensing pin on a tip end side of an arm on the workpiece, the arm is provided with an engagement mechanism that makes a sensing pin side of the arm removable to a base end side of the arm. The engagement mechanism has two engagement surfaces which face each other and attract each other by a magnetic force. One of the engagement surfaces includes a linear first groove that is in parallel to an axis of the arm and another engagement part that is different from the first groove, and the other of the engagement surfaces includes a first fitting pin that is positioned to be fitted into the first groove and a second fitting pin that is fitted into the other engagement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO SEIMITSU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9824909
    Abstract: A chuck for aligning a first planar substrate in parallel to a second planar substrate includes a top plate having a top surface for arrangement of the first planar substrate. A bottom plate is at least one distance measuring sensor configured to measure a distance between the top surface of the top plate and a surface of the second planar substrate, and at least three linear actuators in contact with the top plate and the bottom plate. The method for setting a gap between the first and second planar substrate includes measuring the thickness of the first planar substrate and measuring between a surface of the second planar substrate and the top surface of the top plate. The tilt adjusts between a top surface of the first planar substrate or the chuck and the surface of the second planar substrate by using at least three linear actuators of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUSS MICROTEC LITHOGRAPHY GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Hansen, Thomas Huelsmann, Katrin Schindler
  • Patent number: 9823056
    Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring tool comprising a support portion and a measuring portion, the measuring portion is movably connected to the support portion, the support portion is configured for supporting the measuring portion, the measuring portion is configured for successively measuring at least one gap between a base and a workpiece on the base. The measuring tools, by providing a measuring portion capable of successively measuring at least one gap between the rubbing base and the rubbing roller, avoid frequent replacement of the measuring portion, thereby the measuring efficiency is increased greatly, and the utilization rate of processing equipment is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: De Yu
  • Patent number: 9820679
    Abstract: A measurement device and method for measuring a portion of an animal's leg to more accurately and fairly determine the height setting required for a jump apparatus to be jumped by the animal. The device, which is particularly useful for measuring dogs for Flyball competitions, comprises an elongated body member and a sliding mechanism slidably attached thereto. The preferred body member has a curved cross-section. A preferred sliding mechanism comprises a slot disposed in the body member and a slide member that slidably engages the slot. In use, the body member is placed against the ulna of the dog's front leg with the first end of the body member positioned at the intersection of the ulna and the accessory carpal bone so a contact plate of the slide member can be slid against the elbow. A color coded and labeled chart on the body member provides the jump height setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Eric Paul Tindall
  • Patent number: 9816797
    Abstract: A modular angular alignment clocking mechanism employs a hollow housing, a threaded interface ring, and a compression spring. The threaded interface ring is inserted into the housing and is followed by the compression spring. The housing is configured to thread onto one cylinder. Another cylinder is then threaded into the threaded interface ring and torqued to specification after clocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Donald L. Burnett, Aaron D. Joy, Matthew C. Jorgensen