Patents Examined by Essama Omgba
  • Slider for slide fastener and method of insertion thereof
    Patent number: 9554627
    Abstract: A slider for a slide fastener that is easily adjustable to a variety of sizes and types of slide fasteners, since it can be pivotally opened and closed horizontally and can be locked in the appropriate size according to the size of the slide fastener in which it has been previously inserted; the horizontal opening of the slider allows it to be inserted in both rows of teeth of a new or repaired slide fastener without unsewn parts of the garment or article of interest; additionally a method for the insertion of the slider in a garment or article of interest to be manufactured and/or repaired is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Alberto Elías Levi, Raquel Aini
  • Automated hole generation
    Patent number: 9545697
    Abstract: A method for performing operations on a structure. A moveable platform may be positioned in an area relative to the structure to define a working envelope. The moveable platform may be connected to a tool that may be moved around a plurality of axes within the working envelope using the moveable platform. The tool may be moved to a plurality of locations within the working envelope using the moveable platform. An operation may be performed with the tool through the working envelope at each of the plurality of locations using the moveable platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Whinnem, Gary A. Lipczynski, John A. Baumann
  • Plant for assembling mechanical parts on vehicle bodies
    Patent number: 9533725
    Abstract: A plant including: an assembly line along which a plurality of pallets are circulated in a closed loop, divided into a first section, where the pallets are loaded in a plurality of first stations with mechanical parts to be assembled, and into a second section, where the pallets advance along a plurality of second stations; a conveyor arranged at least partially parallel to and above the second section, along which a plurality of balance supports provided with bodies run; a coupling station, arranged immediately upstream of the second section, where the pallets are integrally coupled to the balance supports; and a decoupling station, where the pallets are separated from the balance supports; each pallet having selectively engageable and releasable fastening means for a balance support and elastic means able to receive the balance support resting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CPM S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Bellezza
  • Retainer apparatus for use with a pilot chute launcher and method for packing a parachute using a pilot chute launcher and retainer apparatus
    Patent number: 9533660
    Abstract: An apparatus facilitating packing of a racecar parachute using a pilot chute launcher, the apparatus comprised of a slotted metal plate, a pair of notched tabs, and a pair of extensions selected to removably couple with the notched tabs and the plate. In use, the notched tabs, notched sides facing away from one another, are positioned and affixed to opposing sides of a parachute bag bottom plate. The parachute and pilot chute launcher are packed into the parachute bag. The extensions are inserted into opposing slots on the plate, and by engaging the extensions with the notched tabs, the pilot chute launcher is compressed. A top and a bottom flap of the parachute bag is secured over the plate in a usual fashion. The extensions and the plate are sequentially removed, and the parachute is continued to be packed in the usual fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Robert C. Cosky
  • Conductive roller and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 9535354
    Abstract: A conductive roller in which dripping of a water-based coating during the manufacture thereof is restrained, and a manufacturing method thereof. The conductive roller includes a shaft, at least one elastic layer formed on the outer periphery of the shaft and a surface layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The elastic layer is formed by using a coating for elastic layers containing a liquid absorbing agent, and the surface layer is formed by using a coating for surface layers. The method comprises forming an elastic layer by applying a coating for elastic layers containing a liquid absorbing agent on the outer periphery of the shaft and drying to form the elastic layer; and forming a surface layer by, after forming the elastic layer, applying a coating for surface layers on the formed elastic layer and drying to form the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Tagawa, Junichi Takano, Izumi Yoshimura, Daijirou Sirakura
  • Method and device for removing a sleeve from a bore
    Patent number: 9533386
    Abstract: A method of removing a metal sleeve from a bore formed in one or more elements is disclosed. The sleeve may be a cold-expanded sleeve secured within the bore by an interference fit. The method includes removing material from the internal surface of the sleeve by a cutter along a line to a depth less than the thickness of the sleeve, and subsequently urging the sleeve from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Lee Wagstaff, Lee Bradbury, Gareth Towlson
  • Tool to hold several mounting clamps simultaneously against an aircraft fuselage frame element
    Patent number: 9527606
    Abstract: To reduce the time and cost of manufacture of an aircraft fuselage, a tool for positioning mounting clamps to attach a fuselage frame element onto a fuselage skin and/or onto stiffeners is provided. Accordingly, the tool includes a ramp and several systems for holding clamps in position distributed along the ramp, where each system includes a mobile device for applying pressure to the clamp, together with an adjustment device coupled to the mobile device such that its separation from the ramp is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Yannick Marin, Damien Guilloteau
  • Method and pressing device for forming a press connection between a fitting element and a pre-punched component
    Patent number: 9527172
    Abstract: In order to reliably ensure a press-in connection between joining elements, in particular a press-in nut and a pre-punched component, a press-in device contains a die which has a die ring and a die mandrel. The die mandrel is mounted counter to a spring force in the manner of a pilot pin. In addition, the die ring is also mounted counter to a spring force such that a two-stage press-in operation is carried out. Preferably, during a first press-in stage an anti-rotation lock is formed between the press-in nut and the component and in a second press-in stage an axial pull-out prevention measure is formed. To this end, the die mandrel deforms a nut flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Richard Bergner Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Dehlke
  • Golf club groove configuration
    Patent number: 9522312
    Abstract: A golf club head, and a method of making the golf club head, with an improved striking surface. The grooves are formed in the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, and a portion having a v-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter J. Gilbert
  • Caulking method for preventing piston of hydraulic/pneumatic cylinder from being loosened
    Patent number: 9522445
    Abstract: A caulking method for preventing a piston from being loosened in a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The method includes forming a screw hole and a mutual screw engagement portion of a cylinder rod and a piston, and fasteningly engaging a set screw with the screw hole. The method also includes pressing a remaining space portion of the screw hole in an engagement direction of the set screw using a press mechanism after fasteningly engaging the set screw with the screw hole to change a pitch of a screw thread of an inlet portion of the screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Yun-Hyun Chung, Ki-Cheon Song
  • Device and method for repairing a damaged zone of an intermediate layer of a multilayer structure by way of deformable corrugated rings
    Patent number: 9517536
    Abstract: A device for repairing a damaged zone in a first cavity, with a first diameter, of an intermediate layer interposed between two layers that have a second cavity with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The device includes a stop that forms an abutment at the interface between the first cavity and one of the second cavities, a ring having a deformable corrugated shape, an initial inside diameter, an initial outside diameter smaller than the second diameter, and being positioned in the first cavity, a deformation element having an elastically variable outside diameter initially smaller than the initial inside diameter of the ring, and a tool being able to increase the outside diameter of the deformation element so that it deforms the ring in the first cavity in order to reduce the difference between the first and second diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventors: Nicolas Boulet, Richard Combrouze, Julien Astruc
  • Production method for laminated iron core
    Patent number: 9520761
    Abstract: A production method for the laminated iron core includes a first process that segment iron core pieces which respectively have circular arc angles obtained by dividing 360° as an angle of circumference into m are separated from a belt shaped iron core material and mounted on a mount base, the segment iron core pieces are carried to a laminating position of a rotary laminating mechanism by a pusher and the rotary laminating mechanism including the carried segment iron core piece therein is rotated by 360°/m and a second process that the first process is repeated to form an annularly connected iron core piece in which the segment iron core pieces are annularly arranged. The second process is repeated to form a caulked and laminated iron core having a prescribed thickness. During the second process, the segment iron core pieces are caulked and laminated in the rotary laminating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUI HIGH-TEC, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsubayashi, Yukio Matsunaga, Iwao Myojin
  • Method and apparatus to improve reel feeder efficiency
    Patent number: 9513657
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first portion having a length substantially the same as a length of a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder. The device is configured to be placed in the gap to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot. In another aspect, a method includes placing a device in a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: W. Royce Taylor, IV, Ryan J. Koller
  • Connector apparatus, system, and method of use
    Patent number: 9504309
    Abstract: A connector apparatus, system, and method of use comprising a reusable connector that when attached to gear may be used without tools to removably and adjustably attach the gear securely to a base unit such as belts having different widths or a MOLLE/PALS attaching system. Connectors may comprise disengageable uni-directional teeth on mating slide and engagement members. In various example embodiments each connector can simultaneously engage with multiple rows of straps in a MOLLE/PALS attaching system, the connectors can be used to mount gear alternatively either high or low, and multiple connectors can be used on a single piece of gear. A user can adjust the connection of gear while wearing the gear using certain example embodiments of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas Ralph
  • Golf club heads and methods of manufacturing golf club heads
    Patent number: 9504888
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf club head providing a golf club head comprising a golf club face, and forming a groove and a second portion at the golf club face comprising rotating a groove forming tool such that the groove forming tool forms the groove in the golf club face such that the groove is compliant with a Thirty Degree Rule when measured from a first top radius of the groove and a second top radius of the groove; and a second portion adjacent to the one of the first top radius or the second top radius of the groove, and at a first angle of approximately eight to eighteen degrees relative to the golf club face of the golf club, and has a length of approximately 0.0002 inch to 0.0047 inch; and actuating the groove forming tool from a first end to a second end of the golf club face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, David L. Petersen
  • Device for positioning multiple function elements
    Patent number: 9492896
    Abstract: A device for positioning multiple function elements having a recess for receiving a shaft in a predetermined angle position may include multiple mountings for receiving the function elements. The mountings may be equipped with a molding establishing the predetermined angle position of the respective function element corresponding to the angle position on the shaft. The mountings may be positioned such that the recesses of the function elements lie on a common straight line. The mountings may be arranged vertically on top of one another so that the common straight line runs in vertical direction. A vertically moveable guide carriage for the shaft may be provided for joining the shaft with the function elements in vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Beerens, Antonio Menonna, Lothar Pfizenmaier, Roland Schacherer
  • Method of manufacturing caliper body of floating-type disk brake and the caliper body
    Patent number: 9486855
    Abstract: A caliper body of a floating-type disk brake includes a cylinder-part constituent part including a cylinder bore into which a piston pressing brake pads against a disk rotor is disposed, a bridge part extending from the cylinder-part constituent part and including a through-hole, and a claw-part constituent part formed on a leading end side of the bridge part and disposed so as to be opposite to the cylinder-part constituent part. In a method of manufacturing the caliper body of the floating-type disk brake, a mold in which sprues are provided in at least two places spaced apart from each other in a disk rotor circumferential direction on a region corresponding to the claw-part constituent part is prepared. Molten metal is poured from the sprues of the at least two places of the mold, and starts to solidify from a side of the cylinder-part constituent part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Suzuki, Kimiyasu Kono, Yasuhisa Omata
  • Chucking device and chucking method for machine tool
    Patent number: 9475126
    Abstract: In a chucking device and a chucking method for a machine tool which grip a workpiece that serves as a target object to be processed by the machine tool, a first cylinder and a second cylinder are controlled based on the position of a piston of the first cylinder detected by a length measuring sensor, and the position of a piston of the second cylinder detected by a length measuring sensor. In this manner, the workpiece is gripped by respective gripping members at a predetermined position, i.e., the axial center, of a chuck main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Fujiwara, Junji Nishino
  • Connecting device, assembly and method for manufacturing an assembly
    Patent number: 9474339
    Abstract: A connecting device for manufacturing a peeling-stress-resistant connection between two components. The connecting device includes a carrier, which has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The connecting device further includes a plurality of hook and loop elements which extend both from the first and the second surface of the carrier and each have at their free ends facing away from the first or the second surface of the carrier a hook and loop head, which is arranged to enter into a hook and loop connection with a component comprising a fiber-reinforced composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Soeffker, Hermann Benthien
  • Crack resistant turbine vane and method for vane containment cap attachment
    Patent number: 9470102
    Abstract: A gas turbine vane containment cap is attached to an inboard surface of the vane inner shroud by penetrating flat weld filler, formed in a root gap between the cap and inner shroud. A semi-circular bead weld filler is formed outboard the penetrating weld filler closer to the vane exterior. Vane containment caps so welded are more resistant to in-service cracking along weldments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinal Munshi, Shivashankar Vinay Amatiganahally, Eric L. Roach, Todd F. Young