Patents Examined by Christopher W. Fulton
  • Patent number: 11920926
    Abstract: A measurement device and method that allows for precise placement, as well as more accurate measurement of various body parts, including vessels, lesions, and/or lumens of vessels of various body parts. The measurement device comprises one or more measurement tapes having (i) a plurality of measurement marks for measuring a distance and/or a length of a vessel and (ii) a plurality of circular indicators for measuring a diameter of a lumen of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Jihad Ali Mustapha
  • Patent number: 11892320
    Abstract: A tool, such as a digital level, includes displays on top and side surfaces of the level. The top surface display provides an additional visual means to communicate the orientation of the level by emitting any of several visual signals. A processor in the level determines a measured orientation of the level and sends a communication signal to the top surface display to emit a selected visual signal based on the measured orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Gareth J. Mueckl, Eric Mackey
  • Patent number: 11879734
    Abstract: A system for positioning a tool or a component on a workpiece may include a laser configured to project a laser point on the workpiece. The laser may include a field of view and the laser may project the laser point upon objects within the field of view of the laser. The system for positioning a tool on a workpiece may also include a fixture configured to position the tool on the workpiece. The fixture may include a laser indicator configured to be aligned with the laser point projected on the workpiece. The fixture may also include a first tool receptacle configure to receive the tool and locate the tool on a portion of the workpiece outside the field of view of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Brewer, Josh E. Huang, Michael H. Noble, Keith Maynard Egland
  • Patent number: 11867588
    Abstract: A tire testing device includes a carriage configured to rotatably hold a test wheel provided with a test tire and being capable of travelling on a base along a road surface in a state where the test wheel is made to contact the road surface, and a driving system configured to drive the test wheel and the carriage. The driving system includes a carriage driving part configured to drive the carriage with respect to the road surface in a predetermined speed, a test wheel driving part configured to drive the test wheel in a rotating speed corresponding to the predetermined speed, a driving part configured to generate power to be used to drive the carriage and the test wheel, and a power distributing part configured to distribute power generated by the driving part to the carriage driving part and the test wheel driving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI KEISOKUKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sigeru Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Murauchi, Shuichi Tokita
  • Patent number: 11867508
    Abstract: The present invention is a specialized laser alignment tool for locating at least one roofing penetration point for a conduit installation. The specialized laser alignment tool is fixably mountable to and self-centering on an electrical hub and projects one or more roofing penetration points which are in vertical alignment with the electrical hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Keith Hendrick
  • Patent number: 11858291
    Abstract: A carpenter square including a triangular plate and a base. The base has a corner at an intersection of a first side and first end. The corner extends into a pivot notch defined in a first side edge of the plate. During use, the base's corner may be placed on a side wall of a workpiece and the plate is pivoted about a pivot axis extending along the base's corner. An angular measurement may be marked on the workpiece's surface when a selected angle on the plate aligns with an edge of the workpiece that extends along an intersection of the workpiece's surface and side wall. First and second regions of the plate extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of the base. Each of the first and second regions includes a distance measurement scale and the first region further includes one or more angular measurement scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: WOODPECKERS, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory L. Skillicorn
  • Patent number: 11852479
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the orientation of the display of an aeronautical chart, notably towards Magnetic North or True North are provided. Rotational and/or translational tactile movements may manage the display of the chart. In one advantageous embodiment, the display screen is a haptic feedback screen (for example piezoelectric or MEMS microactuators), the North symbol rendered in relief is able to be manipulated with a single finger and the display device is stabilized by at least partially compensating for the turbulence experienced by the cockpit. Some software aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Patrick Cazaux, Dominique Leurgorry, Hervé Leconte
  • Patent number: 11846507
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laser level system. The laser level system includes a mount, a laser secured to the mount and a remove input device. The mount includes a rotating portion to which the laser level is secured. The remote input device controls rotation of the rotating portion. The laser level is secured to the rotating portion of the mount such that when the rotating portion rotates, the laser level rotates concurrently along with the rotating portion of the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Eidinger, Kun Chang
  • Patent number: 11835336
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring device for characterising a shape of a surface of an item, such as a wind turbine blade fibre layup, wherein the measuring device comprises: a frame comprising a holding frame, a first set of two or more probes movably held in the holding frame, each probe having a respective probe end for contacting the surface of the item, and electronic sensing means configured to provide for each probe a respective electrical signal representative of a position of the probe relative to the holding frame. A method for calibrating such a device is provided. Further, a method for characterising a shape of a surface of an item is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER A/S
    Inventors: Casper Kildegaard, Ya Min Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 11828588
    Abstract: A stepwise and stepless adjustable square, including: a stock; a blade; a first alignment structure; a second alignment structure; a spring device; and a knob movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first and second alignment structures at certain angles between the stock and the blade align and engage such that a force of the spring device is reduced compared to the force at angles where the first and second alignment structures do not align for stepwise adjustment, and wherein in the second position the second alignment structure is moved axially away from the first alignment structure, whereby the first and second alignment structures are separated from each other, and a first surface associated with the blade is brought into frictional engagement with a second surface associated with the stock for stepless adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HULTAFORS GROUP AB
    Inventor: Göran Andersson
  • Patent number: 11829839
    Abstract: The invention describes a novel method of transducing a force input into a perpendicularly directed advance of a geared component. This simple mechanism allows for the implementation of latches, accelerometers, tilt sensors, and counters that are uniquely inexpensive, robust, compact, and easy to implement, since they are able to rely on purely mechanical operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Carlo St. Regis
  • Patent number: 11812826
    Abstract: A shoe fit measuring device, comprising: a replica human foot portion; pressure sensors; and distance gauges. The pressure sensors and distance gauges are configured to determine whether shoes being fit tested are the correct size. The replica human foot and the sensors may be configured to be inserted into the shoes being fit tested so that fit measurements may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Heeluxe, LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gray
  • Patent number: 11815353
    Abstract: A laser beam generating device includes a housing a first laser diode which generates a visible first output beam which projects outside of the housing onto a surface and a second laser diode which generates a visible second output beam which projects outside of the housing onto the surface. The laser beam generating device has a first mode in which the first laser diode and the second laser diode are both on. In the first mode, the first laser diode is operated at a first duty cycle the second laser diode is operated at a second duty cycle. The first duty cycle and the second duty cycle are staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Jia Yong Jiang, Noreen M. O'Sullivan, Wang Shuang
  • Patent number: 11812974
    Abstract: A computer-assisted surgery system for guiding alterations to a bone, comprises a trackable member secured to the bone. The trackable member has a first inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A positioning block is secured to the bone, and is adjustable once the positioning block is secured to the bone to be used to guide tools in altering the bone. The positioning block has a second inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A processing system providing an orientation reference associating the bone to the trackable member comprises a signal interpreter for determining an orientation of the trackable member and of the positioning block. A parameter calculator calculates alteration parameters related to an actual orientation of the positioning block with respect to the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ORTHOSOFT ULC
    Inventors: Louis-Philippe Amiot, Alain Richard, Yannick Boutin, Joel Zuhars, Yonik Breton, Karine Duval, Herbert Andre Jansen, Benoit Pelletier, Catherine Proulx, Myriam Valin
  • Patent number: 11805861
    Abstract: Systems and processes for measuring and sizing a foot are provided. In one exemplary process, at least one image of a foot and a horizontal reference object from a first point of view is captured. A portion of the foot may be disposed against a vertical reference object. The at least one image may be displayed, where one or more camera guides are overlaid on the at least one displayed image. In response to aligning the one or more camera guides with one or more of the horizontal reference object and the vertical reference object, a measurement of the foot based on the at least one captured image from the first point of view is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Hei, Vivian Chiang, Jason Warren
  • Patent number: 11796299
    Abstract: A pipeline three-dimensional curve measuring robot and implementation method therefor. The measuring robot includes an electronic bin, sliding rods, wheel bracket, walking wheels arranged on wheel bracket, odometer wheels arranged on sliding rod on one side and encoders; the electronic bin is internally provided with an inertia measurement unit, collection control module and power supply module; when measuring, the measuring robot is controlled to move back and forth in a pipeline collecting measuring data; comparing measured data with three-dimensional curve data at pipeline reference moment to obtain deformation quantity of pipeline three-dimensional curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qingquan Li, Zhipeng Chen, Yu Yin, Xiang Cheng, Jiasong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11794295
    Abstract: There is provided an inclination adjusting mechanism including an annular upper plate that has an upper surface for connecting a table and a lower surface inclined relative to the upper surface, an annular lower plate that has an upper surface parallel to the lower surface of the upper plate and a lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the upper plate and facing an upper surface of a base, an upper rotating mechanism that rotates the upper plate, a lower rotating mechanism that rotates the lower plate, a first bearing provided between the lower surface of the upper plate and the upper surface of the lower plate, a second bearing provided between the lower surface of the lower plate and the upper surface of the base, and a connecting mechanism that connects the upper plate, the lower plate, and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ichiro Yamahata
  • Patent number: 11796296
    Abstract: A self-adjusting pushrod length checking tool for use in an internal combustion engine between the camshaft lifter and valve rocker arm, that determines the optimum pushrod length using a telescoping spring-loaded body upper rod and a lower rod assembly. The spring-loaded telescoping assembly self-adjusts and determines the optimum pushrod length when compressed and inserted between the camshaft and valve rocker arm, when the rocker arm pivot bolt is fully tightened down to the cylinder head. The telescoping assembly sections are then locked by a captive set screw, the assembly is removed from the engine, and accurate measurements of the assembly length are taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Scano
  • Patent number: 11794299
    Abstract: A method including: a) causing a tool mounted on a machine tool to work on a workpiece, and at least one sensor, which is configured to measure one or more aspects of the tool and/or machine tool, collecting sensor data during said working; b) a measurement device inspecting the part of the workpiece that was worked on at step a) to obtain measurement data; and c) calculating sensor-to-workpiece data calibration information from the sensor data and the measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Paul Maxted, James Arthur Hartley
  • Patent number: 11788826
    Abstract: A method of in-line automated inspection of a mechanical part comprising receiving a mechanical part datum, orienting the mechanical part datum within a representative inspection system, and examining each face of the plurality of faces of the mechanical part datum, wherein examining each face of the plurality of faces of the mechanical part datum comprises dividing the face into regions as a function of stylus tip data. The method comprises generating a fixture adapter model for the mechanical part datum as a function of a local region of the mechanical part datum, generating a measurement of at least a pair of part geometric data, wherein generating a measurement comprises selecting the at least a pair of part geometric data as a function of the at least an alignment datum and displaying the measurement of at least the pair of part geometric data. The method comprises producing the fixture adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PROTOLABS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric M. Boyd, Dylan Lundberg, Michael Bruce Laughton, Nicholas John Griffin