Patents Examined by David A. Bucci
  • Pulley tire and rim
    Patent number: 6796919
    Abstract: A pulley tire (10) and rim (12), the rim (12) comprising two rim halves (14, 16) adapted to be mounted to a hub (18) and to clampingly engage the pulley tire (10), the pulley tire (10) having provided thereon one or more upstanding members (46), wherein the rim halves (14, 16) are adapted to receive the upstanding members (46) when engaging the pulley tire (10) so as to minimize relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: JLV Industries PTY Ltd.
    Inventor: William Johnson
  • Input device provided with manipulating member that slides
    Patent number: 6796201
    Abstract: In an input device according to the invention, when a manipulating member slides, a sliding member slides in the same direction as the manipulating member, and respective engaging positions of first and second drive members are made changeable to enable each of the first and second drive members to shift linearly, the linear shifting of the first and second drive members enabling first and second detecting members to be operated. Accordingly, the drive members linearly shift along with the sliding of the sliding member, eliminating a need to rotate arc-shaped interlocked members in a conventional configuration and making it possible to reduce a required space in a longitudinal direction, resulting in an input device made more compact in a longitudinal dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Onodera
  • Pneumatic displacement system
    Patent number: 6796918
    Abstract: The invention concerns a pneumatic system for displacing a cable (1) stretched in a loop between at least two pulleys (2, 3). Said system comprises at least an artificial muscle (5) inserted over a portion of the loop, the length of said artificial muscle varying depending on whether or not it is under pressure, means for pressurizing or not the artificial muscle, and means for alternately blocking two of said pulleys in a least one rotating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Universite Joseph Fourier
    Inventors: Philippe Cinquin, Jocelyne Troccaz
  • Drive for machine components such as carriages, gripping devices or the like
    Patent number: 6796199
    Abstract: A drive for machine components has at least one threaded spindle having spindle sections with oppositely oriented axial pitch. Nuts are seated on the at least one threaded spindle and engage the spindle sections, respectively. At least one motor is connected to the at least one threaded spindle for driving the at least one threaded spindle. A first one of the nuts is connected to a machine component. A second one of the nuts is spatially stationary. The at least one threaded spindle provides a drive moment for driving the machine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Kurz
  • Rotation joint, especially for medical instruments
    Patent number: 6796203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotation joint, especially for medical instruments, with a proximal and a distal part that are coupled to one another by means of a gear work and can be adjusted in relation to one another between a non-deflected starting position and an angled end position, where the gear work is housed in an intermediate part situated between the proximal and the distal parts and all three parts have at least one hollow center channel. In order to create a rotation joint that can be actuated by a non-angled position and can be secured in the deflected position, the invention proposes that the proximal part consists of two tubes that are arranged coaxially inside one another and can rotate in opposite directions around their longitudinal axis, where at least the outer tube is connected with a handle on its proximal side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Karl Stroz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Arkadij Veniaminowitsch Dubrowskij
  • Hydrodynamic bearing device
    Patent number: 6793394
    Abstract: A pair of thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions are made to communicate with each other to form fluid circulating passages for equalizing a pressure imbalance between both thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions. Even in a case where a pressure imbalance has occurred in a lubricating fluid inside the thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions due to such a cause as the deformation of a thrust plate, the lubricating fluid is allowed to move between the pair of upper and lower thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions through the fluid circulating passages so as to overcome the pressure imbalance, thereby making it possible to stably obtain the amount of floatation in the thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masato Gomyo, Kazushi Miura
  • Gear drive mechanism for office products
    Patent number: 6792823
    Abstract: A gear drive mechanism for downsizing office products, which can be easily disassembled, by thinning the gear drive mechanism. The gear drive mechanism drives a plurality of shafts cantilevered from a base plate attached within a label writer, wherein gears are fit on the shafts, and are engaged with each other, with specific shafts used as drive shafts. The gear drive mechanism comprises a groove formed around an end of at least one of the driven shafts other than the specific shafts, a ring-shaped washer having a slit in a direction of a diameter fit in the groove as a gear removal preventive and a recessed portion provided to a side surface of the gear throughout the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Takahashi, Kiyoshi Sugimoto
  • Tilt-telescope steering column
    Patent number: 6792824
    Abstract: A steering column has a jacket including relatively axially slidable, telescoping, upper and lower jacket members. An anchorage pivotally supports the lower jacket member for vertical tilt movement of the steering column. Locking mechanism locks the steering column in vertically adjusted position and locks the upper jacket member in axially adjusted position relative to the lower jacket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William A Jolley, Kenneth D Kossak, Richard T Chauvin, Kurt H Rinker
  • Adjustable brake and throttle pedal assembly
    Patent number: 6792827
    Abstract: An adjustable brake and throttle pedal assembly for a vehicle which includes a throttle pedal arm and support arm pivotally mounted to a bracket. An electronic throttle control unit is mounted to the bracket at the pivot point of the pedal arm assembly. A first adjustment drive mechanism extends in a space formed between the support arm and throttle pedal arm. The adjustable brake and throttle pedal assembly also includes a brake pedal arm mounted to the bracket. A second adjustment mechanism is operatively attached to the brake pedal arm. The second adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the first adjustment mechanism, to cooperatively position the throttle pedal arm and the brake pedal arm at a selected position between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: KSR Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Larry G. Willemsen
  • Shift lever device with locking mechanism
    Patent number: 6789444
    Abstract: A shift lever device which includes a housing, a shift lever, a knob, a rod with a key and a locking mechanism. The shift lever has a tube and a supporting member provided with a pivot supported by the housing on the vehicle body and a base block to which the tube is connected. The knob is connected to the tube. The rod inserted through the shift lever, is movable in an axial direction by operating the knob button of the knob. The key has a detent engaging portion to engage with a detent plate of the housing. The locking mechanism has a lock lever with a locking portion at its tip. The lock lever swings so that the locking portion is interposed between the base block and the key to lock movement of the rod, thus maintaining the engagement of the detent engaging portion with the detent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fujikiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoichi Fujiwara, Yoshimasa Kataumi
  • Gear stage assembly with preload torque
    Patent number: 6789442
    Abstract: A gear stage assembly having a gear stage with two meshing gearwheels for mechanically transmitting a torque includes individual magnets arranged in the form of a ring on each of the gearwheels in a manner corresponding to that of the teeth of the gearwheels, for producing magnetic forces in the gear stage, individual magnets of respective ones of the magnets formed in a ring being arranged with alternating polarity in the direction of rotation and forming a stage of magnets in a ring disposed parallel to the gear stage, for producing a preload torque in the gear stage; and a varnishing unit including the gear stage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Peter Förch
  • Reciprocal force outputting mechanism
    Patent number: 6789439
    Abstract: A reciprocal force outputting mechanism having a body having a slide slot that contains a slide block, thereby providing for the linear, reciprocal movement of the slide block within the slide slot. The slide block has an elongated opening formed centrally and a row of teeth are disposed along each of the two facing sides the said elongated opening, with a stem extending from one end of the said slide block inserted through a guide hole of the body. A fan-shaped gear is secured onto a power output shaft that rotates it. When the fan-shaped gear revolves and its teeth are respectively enmeshed with a row of teeth, the slide block is brought into reciprocal motion, causing the reciprocal movement of the stem which serves as a means of outputting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Tien-Chen Tung
  • Safety device for supporting pedals
    Patent number: 6786109
    Abstract: A safety device is here described for supporting pedals in motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, with a bracket support arranged in the area of a wall area of a splash wall or bulkhead that is noticeably deformed into a passenger compartment in the event of a vehicle head-on collision, in which bracket support a pedal pivot shaft of at least one swivelling pedal, especially a brake pedal, acting on a push rod is mounted. At the same time the pedal pivot shaft is mounted in the bracket support in a guide extending at least basically horizontally, the guide has limits in each horizontal direction. In addition the pedal pivot shaft in normal operation is fixed in a forward position of the guide, viewed in the forward direction of travel, and the fixing is neutralized in the event of a head-on collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Mueller, Dieter Papenhagen
  • Machinery slot cover
    Patent number: 6786110
    Abstract: A slot cover for an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a moving carriage and a member connected to said carriage which travels in a slot. The slot is defined by a top member, a bottom member and a pair of side members. Each side member has a connection means extending therefrom and a slot cover joining the connection means. The carriage has a cover guide connected thereto which moves with the carriage. The cover guide causes the connecting means to become separated from said slot cover as the cover guide travels along the slot. The separated portion of the slot cover is pressed into engagement with the connection means as the cover guide continues to travel along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Clifford Broderick
  • Gear lever clutching structure for prevention of gear slip
    Patent number: 6786108
    Abstract: A motorized beach vehicle has a gear lever clutching structure for prevention of gear slip. The gear lever, the linking arm and the swing arm are connected to form a substantially “h”-shaped structure. The gear lever may be pivoted to combine the combination stud of the swing arm with the combination hole of the combination arm, so that the gear lever may be moved to shift the universal connector of the crank so as to change the speed. After the gear lever accomplishes the gear shifting work, the combination stud is detached from the combination hole of the combination arm. Thus, the crank cannot be moved to shift gear in the gearbox due to vibration or shock applied on the vehicle body, thereby preventing from incurring gear slip of the gearbox of the motorized beach vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Power Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Yang Luh
  • Starter motor having planetary gear device for reducing rotational speed of electric motor
    Patent number: 6782770
    Abstract: A starter motor for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor, a planetary gear device for reducing a rotational speed of the electric motor, and a shock-absorbing device that absorbs excessive impact transmitted from the engine to the starter motor. The planetary gear device has an annular member contacting a separating plate that separates the planetary gear device from the electric motor. A depressed portion such as a circular groove is formed on an axial end surface of the annular member. Lubricant retained in the depressed portion lubricates the end surface that rotates relative to the separating plate to absorb the excessive impact transmitted from the engine, and thereby abrasion wear of the end surface is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Masahiro Katoh
  • Adjustable pedal mechanism for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 6782776
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly for a motor vehicle includes a bracket for mounting the adjustable pedal assembly to the motor vehicle. A pivot link is pivotally mounted to the bracket. The pivot link has a first guide slot and a first pin. A pedal is pivotally secured to the pivot link and includes an arm. The arm has a second guide slot and a second pin. The second guide slot works in conjunction with the first pin whereas the first guide slot works in conjunction with the second guide pin. Together, these pairings define the relative movement between the pivot link and the pedal arm. A drive assembly extends between said first pin and said second pin. The drive assembly slides the pedal arm relative to the pivot link to extend and retract the pedal with respect to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: 2000662 Ontario Inc., Intier Automotive Closures Inc.
    Inventors: G. Clarke Oberheide, Andrei Tchernyl, Nebojsa Djordjevic, Gordon Andrew Paton, Kristopher B. Rogers
  • Hand lever
    Patent number: 6776066
    Abstract: A hand lever includes a sleeve-shaped member having an inwardly protruding projection, a fastening element having a stop interacting with the projection, wherein the fastening element is mounted in the sleeve-shaped member so as to be longitudinally slidable to a limited extent, and coupling elements for axially coupling the hand lever and fastening element so as to be nonrotatable relative to each other. A spring is mounted in the sleeve-shaped member for an axially engageable and disengageable coupling of the hand lever and the fastening element. The fastening element has an integrally formed extension part extending past the projection of the sleeve-shaped member into the sleeve-shaped member. A second support is provided for the spring and the stop of the fastening element or the extension part. At least one of the sleeve-shaped member and the extension part is of a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Heinrich Kipp Werk Spanntechnik + Normelemente
    Inventors: Otto Braun, Sascha Fischer
  • Ball screw
    Patent number: 6776063
    Abstract: In the ball screw, a ball circulation tube 20 is formed to have such a shape that the movable amount of balls 15 in a first direction (X) intersecting at right angles to the axis of the tube 20 is larger than the movable amount of the balls 15 in a second direction (Y) intersecting at right angles to the first direction (X), and the ball circulation tube 20 is fixed to a nut 13 in such a manner that the outer surface 20a of the tube 20 extending in parallel with the first direction (X) is opposed to the outer surface of the nut 13. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a ball screw which can restrict variations in the torque of the ball screw caused by the mutual sliding movements of balls occurring within a ball circulation tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumi Watanabe
  • Roller bearing with a retainer having voids for containing grease
    Patent number: 6776532
    Abstract: A needle roller bearing includes a plurality of needle rollers that each have first and second end portions and that are disposed circumferentially around a shaft, a cylindrical first retainer member having a plurality of first notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the first end portion of a respective one of the rollers, and a cylindrical second retainer member located spaced apart from and opposite the first retainer member and having a plurality of second notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the second end portion of a respective one of the rollers. A plurality of voids are provided to form grease-containing spaces between the adjacent rollers and between the first and second retainer members so that the roller bearing is sufficiently lubricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Isel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mochizuki