Patents Examined by Daniel Shanley
  • Patent number: 6726195
    Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: DEK International GmbH
    Inventors: Allen David Hertz, Eric Lee Hertz
  • Patent number: 6726179
    Abstract: A fifth wheel helper is adapted to be inserted underneath a fifth wheel hitch plate to hold it in a horizontal position so that the truck can be pulled forward after the king pin of the trailer has been trapped behind the fifth wheel. The fifth wheel helper comprises a solid piece of material having a tapered first end and a flat second end and an indentation on an underside thereof for engaging a truck frame rail to hold the fifth wheel helper underneath the hitch plate. A safety bolt is provided for locking the fifth wheel helper on the truck frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventors: John Howard Ketchapaw, Clifford Ketchapaw
  • Patent number: 6722949
    Abstract: A ventilated platen/polishing pad assembly for chemical mechanical polishing copper conductors on a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. The ventilated platen is constructed by a platen having a multiplicity of apertures through a thickness of the platen, and a polishing pad that has a multiplicity of apertures for fluid communication with the multiplicity of apertures in the platen such that a gas can flow through the ventilated platen and the ventilated polishing pad to mix with a polishing slurry solution dispensed on top of the polishing pad. When an oxidizing gas is mixed with the slurry solution, the mass transfer process during the chemical mechanical polishing can be improved and thus improving the polishing uniformity of the copper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductors Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tien-Chen Hu, Jih-Churng Twu
  • Patent number: 6715734
    Abstract: An improved pry bar for cabinetry and mill work in the form of a finishing bar has a substantially constant taper from a first sharpened end to second, distal end. The second distal end also has a projection which is substantially normal to the main body of the finishing bar which, itself, consists of a substantially constant taper to a sharpened end point. The constant taper of the main body is in the form of a U-shaped channel terminating in the second end so as to define an aperture thereat. A carpenter or cabinet/mill work installer can place a finger within the aperture and into the channel to remove the finishing bar from underneath a cabinet, mill work or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Robert W. Wise
  • Patent number: 6715748
    Abstract: A modular cutting board having especial utility in non kitchen environments in which at least two plates are hingeably connected, and being relatively movable between a working position in which the cutting board presents a broad coplaner working surface and a transport and storage position in which the working surfaces of the plates are in face to face relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Ted Thompson, Mike Neshat
  • Patent number: 6712347
    Abstract: A automatic truss jig setting system is disclosed that includes a table including a plurality of segments with a side edge of adjacent segments defining a slot. At least one pin assembly, and optionally a pair of pin assemblies, is movable independently of each other along the slot. Movement apparatus is provided for independently moving the pin assemblies along the slot. Each of the side edges of the segments associated with the slot defines a substantially vertical plane with a zone being defined between the substantially vertical planes of the side edges, and the movement apparatus is located substantially outside of the zone of the slot. The invention may optionally include a system for handling the obstruction of pin assembly movement, and a system for keeping track of the position of the pin assembly when the pin assembly has encountered an obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: Clyde R. Fredrickson, Mark Wismer
  • Patent number: 6711795
    Abstract: A device for removing joint from axle includes a bar slidably supported on a track and adjustable relative to the track to support the axle, an arm having a hammer movable toward and to engage with the joint, and to disengage the joint from the axle, for allowing the joint to be easily and quickly disengaged from the axle without much labor work. One or more inserts may be selectively or changeably secured to the bar, to support axles of different widths or diameters. A bolt is threaded with the bar and driven by a motor to move the bar relative to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Yuan Cherng Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Allen Chun-Chih Hsu
  • Patent number: 6704985
    Abstract: A single component tool for installing a threaded insert with locking keys in a tapped bore. The tool has no moving parts and enables simultaneous driving of the locking keys into the tapped bore, flush with the upper edge of the threaded insert in the tapped bore. The tool has a pilot that is inserted into the inner bore of the insert and a plurality of tool keyways for receiving the locking keyways of the insert. Bores are provided in one face of the tool for retaining and aligning the locking-keys while the keys are driven into the tapped bore. A timing mark provided on the tool aids in aligning the tool to simultaneously drive the locking keys flush with the upper edge of the threaded insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventor: James R. Marshall
  • Patent number: 6705602
    Abstract: A reversible jaw for a table vise including plurality of rows of apertures and cut-outs, all of predetermined size and location to allow manual and computerized machine operations to follow easily and precisely with reduced set-up procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventor: John W. Griffith, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6705595
    Abstract: A universal lifting device for elevating heavy off-the-road vehicles, e.g. mechanical shovels used in mining operations, is proposed to raise the upper revolving section of the shovel and allow for its lower wheeled base to be removed with a view to attending to the maintenance, for instance, of the rotation mechanism of the shovel. The lifting device comprises front and rear lifting beams to which various type of brackets can be removably mounted to ensure a proper positioning of the front and rear lifting beams with respect to the revolving frame of different models of mechanical shovels. Front and rear lifting points are provided to control the vertical displacement of the front and the rear lifting beams, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: 3991814 Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Belley, Serge Marinier, Jean Briand
  • Patent number: 6702270
    Abstract: A device to assist carpenters in holding a stud in position to be nailed or otherwise fastened to a sill or plate. Sill guides allow the device to be positioned at a predetermined point on a sill. A single blow with a hammer drives pins in the bottom of the base region of the device into the plate to secure the device on the plate. Three sill guides define the area in which the stud is positioned and supported for nailing to the sill. A hammer blow on the flange rocks the device so that the pins are pulled free and the device removed when the stud has been secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Kurt Reschke
  • Patent number: 6699115
    Abstract: A polishing pad for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus. The polishing pad includes a plurality of concentric circular grooves. The polishing pad may include multiple regions with grooves of different widths and spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H Osterheld, Sen-Hou Ko
  • Patent number: 6698739
    Abstract: An apparatus for retaining objects on surfaces includes a body, a lock pin extending from the body, and a pin extending through the body and engageable with the lock pin so that movement of the pin causes movement of the lock pin so that the apparatus is secured to the surface. The pin may be slidably moved into and out of the lock pin and thereby cause the lock pin to secure and release the apparatus from the surface. The apparatus may also include an engagement member that contacts an object and provides additional retentive forces. The apparatus provides clamping forces on the object so that the object may be forged or otherwise machined. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Mark D. McKim
  • Patent number: 6698074
    Abstract: A pair of pincers for assembling and disassembling the springs of the brake shoes in a drum brake includes a position lever and a hook lever pivotally combined together. The position lever has a ball joint on top for fitting a position member. The hook lever has its upper end formed with a hook facing the position member. The position member has a sleeve fitting and turning around the ball joint, and ratchet teeth provided on top. The pincers has two handles one of which has a groove and a blocking member at the lower end. Thus, the ratchet teeth of the position member grab the outer wall of the brake shoes, and the hook of the hook lever hooks the end of the spring to disassemble the spring. The end of the handle hooks the end of the spring and is slightly pried to assemble the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hsin Fa Kang
  • Patent number: 6698734
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a clamp assembly having a pair of clamp handles and a clipping member or a poking member, and the clamp handles use an extendible clamp wire set to control the clipping member or the poking member, so that the tool can be extended into a small narrow operating space for its application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Shu Wang
  • Patent number: 6698737
    Abstract: A clamping jig particularly adapted for use with elongate work pieces. The jig has an elongate work face, a work stop abutment the length of the work face, a plurality of toggle clamps affixed to the work face. One or more elongate or linear work pieces to be worked are positioned on the work face and held in place by the work stop abutment. The plurality of toggle clamps may be used to either hold the work piece in place or hold one or more additional work pieces to the first work piece. The work face or faces are rotatable around the elongate axis. Each toggle clamp has a toggle clamp arm with which the toggle clamp is set. On rotation of the work face, an actuating bar engages the toggle clamp arms to release the toggle clamps for removal of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald Lee Blessing
  • Patent number: 6695289
    Abstract: A motorized scissor jack is provided including upper and lower limit switches. The motor is connected with a drive assembly that extends and retracts the jack through a displacement screw. The motor has two speeds. The jack is connectable to a vehicular or standard alternating current power source. The upper and lower limit switches limit the extension and retraction of the jack to defined peak and bottom points. The jack is configured for operation in inclement weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Emil Mickael
  • Patent number: 6695298
    Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Allen David Hertz, Anthony A. Imm, Eric L. Hertz
  • Patent number: 6691994
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder (4) moves a rod (3) in the direction of the axial center. The interior of a casing member (2) has an annular pressure booster (7) for pressurizing the oil in an external hydraulic chamber (6). The casing member (2) has a pressurized oil feed port (27) for feeding pressurized oil to the rod-moving hydraulic cylinder (4) and the input oil chamber (16) of the pressure booster (7). A throttle valve (8) is interposed in an oil supply channel extending from the pressurized oil feed port (27) to the input oil chamber (16). An oil discharge channel, extending from the input oil chamber (16) to the pressurized oil feed port (27), is provided with a nonreturn valve capable of discharging pressurized oil from the input oil chamber (16). The nonreturn valve (9) is opened when the pressurized oil is discharged through the pressurized oil feed port (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Pascal Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6691984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a jack with supporting parts, which are provided as profiles that have U-shaped cross-sections and lateral profile limbs (15, 17) or which are provided as elements with laterally elevated sheet metal lobes (13). Said supporting parts are pivotally interconnected by joints (5, 6) in such a manner that the lateral profile limbs (15, 17) and/or the elevated sheet metal lobes (13) overlap in the vicinity of the joints (5, 6), and arbors pass through borings in the lateral profile limbs (15, 17) or elevated sheet metal lobes (13). The aim of the invention is to reduce the weight of a jack of the aforementioned type as well as the risk of the profile limb (15, 17) kinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventor: Ferdinand Alten