Patents Examined by Christopher M. Koehler
  • Patent number: 11241296
    Abstract: An implantable tissue marker incorporates a contrast agent sealed within a chamber in a container formed from a solid material. The contrast agent is selected to produce a change, such as an increase, in signal intensity under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An additional contrast agent may also be sealed within the chamber to provide visibility under another imaging modality, such as computed tomographic (CT) imaging or ultrasound imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Breast-Med, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Bolan, Michael G. Garwood, Michael T. Nelson, Daniel A. Halpern
  • Patent number: 11231062
    Abstract: A system is provided for attaching a layer of a metal to other layers in a material stack-up using a metal mechanical fastener that does not allow for direct contact between the fastener and the metal layer, thereby neutralizing any galvanic reaction between the metal sheet and the fastener and avoiding corrosion. The metal layer may be any of several metals, including magnesium. The fastener is a rivet, a screw or a bolt. The disclosed inventive concept uses an insulating layer to insulate the magnesium layer. In one embodiment, a layer of a thin metal is formed over the insulating layer. Where the fastener is a rivet and the metal is magnesium, the insulating layer and thin metal provide a barrier between the magnesium layer and the rivet prongs following rivet insertion, thus isolating the rivet. The system enables a greater application of fastener joining, particularly with magnesium and mixed material joining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amanda Kay Freis, Vlad Bogachuk, Aindrea McKelvey Campbell, Jason Balzer, Kim Lazarz, Joy Hines Forsmark
  • Patent number: 11224947
    Abstract: A seat frame assembling unit includes: a setting device and a setting robot. The setting device is driven in a state where side frames, a connecting frame, a pan frame, a member frame and an upper frame are arranged. The setting robot installs the side frames side by side and subsequently installs the connecting frame, the pan frame, the member frame and the upper frame between the side frames. The setting device moves the side frames to positions in which the side frames are to be assembled with the connecting frame, the pan frame, the member frame and the upper frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakano, Shingo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11203228
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding a lug nut. The apparatus includes a base (150), a barrel (140), a lug nut engagement assembly (130), a plunger and a cam guide (170). The barrel (140) is coupled with the base (152) in a manner allowing the barrel (140) to move upwardly or downwardly within the base (150). The barrel (140) has an internal cam track portion (145). The lug nut engagement assembly (130) includes retractable fingers (132). The lug nut engagement assembly (130) is removeably affixed to the barrel (140). The plunger (160) is disposed within a portion of the lug nut engagement assembly (130), the barrel (140) and the cam guide (170). The plunger (160) has a tip for engagement with the retractable fingers (132). The cam guide (170) is disposed and moveable within a bottom portion of the barrel (140). The cam guide (170) has longitudinal rails (172) for engagement with the internal cam track (145) of the barrel (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: RoboTire, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Mica, Victor Darolfi
  • Patent number: 11191601
    Abstract: A method of replacing cables in a cable-driven surgical tool includes accessing a cable system of the cable-driven surgical tool, the cable-driven surgical tool including a shaft and an end effector operatively coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The cable system comprises distal and proximal cable portions extending within the shaft and adjoined by a releasable interconnect, the distal cable portion being operatively coupled to the end effector. The distal and proximal cable portions are disconnectable at the releasable interconnect, wherein the distal cable portion exhibits a first diameter and the proximal cable portion exhibits a second diameter greater than the distal cable portion. The distal cable portion is then removed and replaced with a replacement distal cable portion mated to the proximal cable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: John Hibner, Thomas Remm
  • Patent number: 11183402
    Abstract: A laser annealing apparatus includes a laser oscillating structure, an oscillator, a beam expanding telescope, a first power meter, and a second power meter. The laser oscillating structure emits a first laser beam of a first wavelength and first beam cross-section to a substrate in a chamber including an optical window. The oscillator emits a second laser beam, of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, to the substrate. The beam expanding telescope is on an optical path for the second laser beam and expands the second laser beam to a second beam cross-section. The first and second power meters measure energy of the second laser beam and a third laser beam, generated as the second laser beam is reflected by the substrate. The first beam cross-section and the second beam cross-section may be equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joong-han Shin, Supakit Charnvanichborikarn, Bong-jin Kuh, Ki-chul Kim, Jae-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11178734
    Abstract: A cooking appliance having an improved structure capable of improving visibility to enable a user to clearly look at the inside of the cooking chamber during cooking includes a main body having the cooking chamber and a door disposed at the main chamber to open or close the cooking chamber, the door including a shielding member woven with conductive wires and a fixing member to electrically connect the shielding member with a door frame of the door. Electromagnetic waves generated in the cooking chamber can be prevented from leaking to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jee Yong Kim, Jin O Kim, Ki Du Kim, Kyung Sun Min, Myung Ju Shin, Ah Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 11167397
    Abstract: A uniquely designed torque wrench having a torque body, the torque body attached to a frictional squeezing clamp, and a lug socket which is rotationally connected to the frictional squeezing clamp. The frictional squeezing clamp entering a contracted stated during extension of a rod of a hydraulic cylinder, and entering an expanded state during the retraction of the rod of a hydraulic cylinder, the lug socket turning the wing nut of a hammer union.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TORQ/LITE, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Francis, Nic Francis, William P. Bernard, Oswald J. Bernard
  • Patent number: 11149769
    Abstract: A system for attaching material stack-up layers of at least two layers together using mechanical fasteners is disclosed. The material stack-up comprises at least an upper layer and a lower layer. The lower layer has a relatively constant thickness equal to or greater than 4.0 mm or may have alternating thick and thin areas in which the thickness of the thick area is equal to or greater than 4.0 mm. A mechanical fastener attaches the upper layer and the lower layer and is inserted at least partially into the lower layer. The fastener is inserted into the thick area of the embodiment having alternating thick and thin areas. The lower layer may be any of a variety of materials, including magnesium or any other brittle material. The lower layer may also be a casting, such as a magnesium casting. The mechanical fastener may be any of fasteners, screws or bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amanda Kay Freis, Vladimir Bogachuk, Aindrea Campbell, Jason Balzer, Kim Lazarz, Joy Hines Forsmark
  • Patent number: 11147408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic cooking pot notifying the completion of cooking. More specifically, provided is an automatic cooking pot which has a function of automatically notifying the optimal completion of a broth-based food, which retains a broth even when cooking is completed. Furthermore, if a user puts ingredients into the pot before the water boils, and selects a cooking menu wherein the same boiling time duration is set for the same menu regardless of the amount of food, the automatic cooking pot provided herewith notifies the user when the cooking is completed. In another embodiment, the user may adjust the boiling time duration to be set on a timer unit for the same food within a certain time range according to the amount of the food, on the basis of the variation in data in the boiling time durations depending on the amount of the food which have been measured through experiments beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Kyung-Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 11142964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for joining a longitudinal seam in a tube, to an apparatus and method of joining a longitudinal seam in a tube in a borehole, to an apparatus and method of repairing a tube and to a pig. In an aspect an apparatus is provided for joining a longitudinal seam in a tube. The apparatus (200) includes a spool (202) for progressively unwinding a coiled member (10) into an extended form (12). The member (10) transitions from a flat form when coiled (11) to a slit tube form when extended (12), in which form the member is resiliently biased. A joining device (214) is positioned downstream of the spool arranged to provide energy to a portion of the member in its extended form to cause heating so as to progressively join together the longitudinal edges of the slit tube as the member passes the joining device. A longitudinal seam (20) is thereby formed in the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: RTL Materials Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Daton-Lovett
  • Patent number: 11134807
    Abstract: Frothing device (40) for the use in a machine (100) for foaming and/or heating a fluid, comprising at least a first body (15) and a second body (16) assembled together to configure the frothing device (40); at least one of the first or second bodies (15, 16) comprising cavities to configure fluid conduits when the bodies (15, 16) are assembled together; the fluid conduits comprising a steam conduit (21) through which steam flows and heats the fluid; a fluid conduit (28) though which fluid flows by the under-pressure created when steam circulates through the steam conduit (28); and an air conduit (22) configured to be able to add air to the fluid conduit (28); the fluid conduits further comprising an expansion chamber (18) having an internal restriction in section allowing the fluid to be frothed when air has been added to the fluid conduit (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Jarisch, Nicolas Camier
  • Patent number: 11129413
    Abstract: An electronic vaping device includes a power supply section, a heater assembly section, and a cartridge. The power supply section includes a power supply. The cartridge section includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation, and a wick in fluid communication with the pre-vapor formulation. The heater assembly section is connected to the power supply section and the cartridge. The heater assembly section includes at least one plate heater in physical contact with a portion of the wick. The at least one plate heater is selectively electrically connectable to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Lipowicz, Srinivasan Janardhan, Travis Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 11118572
    Abstract: A reinforcement object is reinforced without being carried out from a wind turbine power generation facility. A method of remodeling a wind turbine power generation facility includes: a carry-in step of carrying a reinforcement member into a hub through an opening portion which has a smaller dimension than a reinforcement object inside the wind turbine power generation facility and which brings into communication inside of the hub and outside of a front side of the wind turbine power generation facility, the reinforcement member having a smaller dimension than the opening portion; and a reinforcement step of processing the reinforcement object inside the hub, and reinforcing the reinforcement object by using the reinforcement member carried into the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yamada, Hideya Egoshi, Yasunori Kawaguchi, Tatsuya Sakaue, Seiji Okumura, Jun Kanno, Keiichiro Kawano, Kazufumi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 11103907
    Abstract: Device and method for descaling a workpiece that is in motion in relation to the device in a movement direction. The device includes a rotor head rotatable about a rotational axis and inclined diagonally at an angle (Y) with respect to an orthogonal on a surface of the workpiece. The device includes jet nozzles attached to the rotor head which dispense a pressurized liquid onto the workpiece at an angle of attack (?) inclined to the workpiece surface. The nozzles are fixedly attached on the rotor head such that during rotation of the rotor head about its axis of rotation, the spraying direction of the liquid dispensed from the nozzles with respect to a projection in a plane parallel to the surface of the workpiece, is aligned opposing to and at a spraying angle (?) of approximately between 170 and 190 degrees to the movement direction of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Angela Ante, Jan Schroeder, Jens Marburger, Wolfgang Fuchs, Michael Jarchau
  • Patent number: 11104307
    Abstract: Unlike axle replacement on vehicles, where the weight of the vehicle and air-assisted tools may be used, replacement of axle shafts in confined spaces (e.g. benchtop testing rigs) demand improved methods for controlling axle rotation during loosening and tightening of hub nuts. The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling axle rotation during axle shaft replacement in confined spaces. The apparatus further includes a safety mechanism to prevent accidental team member injury caused by an independently rotating axle. Additionally, the disclosure describes a method of the apparatus for efficient loosening and tightening of hub nuts, reducing team member physical burden and expediting axle shaft replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brady Keith Bowling, Joseph Lee Nelon, Douglas John McIntyre, Charles Michael Taylor
  • Patent number: 11097372
    Abstract: An elongate tape (10) acts as a vaporizing actuator for impulse metalworking. It has an electrically-insulative base layer (20), an electrically-conductive layer (30), and an electrically-insulative top layer (40). In it, the base layer is characterized by the length of the tape and a first width W1, as measured between a pair of side edges. The conductive layer is characterized by the length of the tape and a second width W2, as measured between a pair of side edges; and the top layer is characterized by the length of the tape and a third width W3, as measured between a pair of side edges. The layers are joined to each other to form the elongate tape with the electrically-conductive layer interposed between the electrically-insulative base and top layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Anupam Vivek, Glenn Daehn
  • Patent number: 11096248
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a heater that includes a resistive heating element, a first power pin, and a second power pin. The first power pin forms a first junction with a first end of the resistive heating element, and the second power pin forms a second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element. The second power pin includes a first lead wire and a second lead wire. The first lead wire forms the second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element and defines a first conductive material. The second lead wire forms a primary sensing junction with the first lead wire at a first reference area, and defines a second conductive material different from the first conductive material to measure a temperature at the first reference area based on a voltage change created by the primary sensing junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Terry Colhour, Douglas Schaefer, Jeremy Ohse, Jacob Burnia, Eric Ellis, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 11083222
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 11084128
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion member manufacturing method includes providing a wavelength conversion member having an upper surface, and forming, in the wavelength conversion member, at least one depressed portion having an inclined surface inclined with respect to the upper surface by irradiating the wavelength conversion member with a pulsed laser beam from above. The forming of the at least one depressed portion includes performing a set of scanning more than once at different processing depths in regions overlapping each other in a top view, the set of scanning includes performing scanning with the pulsed laser beam along a first direction more than once at irradiation positions shifted in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the top view, and the performing of the scanning includes applying the pulsed laser beam at a fixed processing depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Eboshi, Hiroaki Yuto