Patents Examined by Essama Omgba
  • Patent number: 9370863
    Abstract: An anti-slip end-effector for transporting a workpiece, which is configured to be attached to a robotic arm, includes: a workpiece-supporting area for placing a workpiece thereon for transportation; at least one front protrusion disposed at a distal end of the workpiece-supporting area for engaging an edge of the workpiece to restrict movement of the workpiece placed on the workpiece-supporting area beyond the front protrusion; and at least one anti-slip protrusion disposed in the workpiece-supporting area for contacting and supporting the backside of the workpiece, said anti-slip protrusion having a top face having a static friction coefficient of 1.0 or more as measured against the backside of the workpiece, and having a surface roughness of less than 0.4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Naoto Tsuji, Takayuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9370990
    Abstract: A method for mounting or removing a power supply container of a drive motor of a motor vehicle that is secured to the motor vehicle using a bolt acted on by a piston. The method includes: acting on the piston to move the pistons relative to the bolt so as to disengage the bolt; and rotating the bolt such as to lock or unlock the bolt and lock or unlock the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventor: Bruno Escande
  • Patent number: 9366285
    Abstract: A retaining device is provided for an instrument, including at least one joint having at least two parts, and at least one drive unit associated with the joint designed to move the joint by driving at least one of the parts. The retaining device includes a securing device, which has a locking mechanism associated with the joint and a release unit that can be activated, wherein the locking mechanism interacts with the release unit such that the locking mechanism holds the joint in a locked position as long as the release unit is not activated. The securing device permits motion of the joint out of the particular locked position within a specified range of motion even if the release unit is not activated. A corresponding securing device for a retaining device and to an operating method for the securing device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SENSODRIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sporer, Matthias Haehnle
  • Patent number: 9364926
    Abstract: A system for distortional clamping of a flexible member may include a dimensional reader and a positioning fixture. The dimensional reader may have a plurality of reader pogos that may be axially movable into contacting relation with a detail to measure a detail contour. The positioning fixture may have a plurality of positioning pogos and at least one clamping finger configured to mechanically clamp a flexible member between the positioning pogos and the clamping finger. The positioning pogos may be axially movable to deflect the flexible member into a contour that may be complementary to the detail contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Edward John Batt
  • Patent number: 9365336
    Abstract: A tie strip (1) comprising a strip of material having teeth (2) on at least one face thereof wherein along the length of the strip there is provided a plurality of apertures each covered by a flap, (3) wherein the tie strip is such that when an end thereof is passed through an aperture the flap engages with the teeth to inhibit withdrawal of the strip in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Simon John Moore
  • Patent number: 9359830
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a support member is described. The apparatus comprises a tubular clamp, the tubular clamp defining a throughbore adapted to receive a support member therethrough, a first apparatus member adapted to engage a first portion of an external surface of the tubular clamp, and a second apparatus member adapted to engage a second portion of the external surface of the tubular clamp. Relative movement of the first apparatus member with respect to the tubular damp in a first direction results in a deflection of a section of a first end of the tubular clamp into the clamp throughbore and relative movement of the second apparatus member in a second direction, opposite the first direction, with respect to the tubular clamp results in a deflection of a section of a second end of the tubular clamp into the clamp throughbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: C6 Technologies AS
    Inventors: Kenny Armstrong, Morten Talgo
  • Patent number: 9347481
    Abstract: A method of attaching a nut to a panel includes forming an aperture in a sheet metal panel by lancing a tab from the sheet metal panel. A root of the tab remains attached to the panel. The method further includes pressing a self-attaching nut into the aperture to attach the self-attaching nut to the sheet metal panel. The tab is bent to substantially prevent material from entering a bore of the nut from a blind side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. Hoffman, Patrick Bolick
  • Patent number: 9341213
    Abstract: A quick release roller sleeve and mounting hub assembly is described for use with high speed roller machines. The assembly includes an outer flange plate that can be detached from the assembly in order for the roller sleeve to be dismounted and a new roller sleeve mounted as the existing roller sleeve becomes worn and needs to be replaced. The quick release permits the mounting hub and other parts of the assembly to remain in their aligned configuration and positions while only exchanging the roller sleeve portion of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FRC Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9339879
    Abstract: For machining a concave-convex gear in which concave teeth of the concave-convex gear and convex teeth of a mating gear are formed in a circumferential direction, to allow torque transmission to or from the mating gear, in a trajectory extracting step a relative movement trajectory of each convex tooth of the mating gear with respect to the concave-convex gear at the time when torque is transmitted is first extracted as a machining target. Then, in a machining step, the concave teeth of the concave-convex gear are machined on a disc-shaped workpiece by moving at least one of the disc-shaped workpiece and a working tool such that a relative movement trajectory of the working tool with respect to the disc-shaped workpiece coincides with the relative movement trajectory of each convex tooth of the mating gear with respect to the concave-convex gear extracted in the trajectory extracting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ando, Masayuki Takeshima, Ikuko Hirota
  • Patent number: 9339418
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article having a first material and a second material includes (A) a holding body that includes a holding surface and that holds the first material with the holding surface and (B) a transfer section that transfers the first material to the second material by moving the holding body, that is holding the first material, to the second material. (C) The first material has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a thickness greater than that of the first portion in a thickness direction of the first material. (D) The holding surface has a first region and a second region, the second region being located at a position that is more recessed to an inner side than the first region in a height direction of the holding body. (E) The holding body holds the first material by causing the first portion to be held by suction on the first region and causing the second portion to be held by suction on the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 9339858
    Abstract: A method for roller burnishing a cylindrical component part surface of a workpiece includes using a roller burnishing tool including at least one rolling element. The at least one rolling element is pressed by hydrostatic pressurization radially outwardly against the component part surface and is left to roll down on the component part surface by rotating the roller burnishing tool or the workpiece. The torque arising as a result of the friction between the at least one rolling element and the component part surface is detected and sent for evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Graspeuntner, Christian Meisl
  • Patent number: 9333605
    Abstract: A dispenser for viscous condiments and a method of making the dispenser are provided. The dispenser includes a tubular sidewall having an end portion with an inward flange. The dispenser includes a dispenser assembly secured to the end portion that has one or more openings. A seal member is attached to the dispenser assembly at the exterior of the end portion. The seal member prevents condiment from exiting the dispenser assembly before the dispenser is ready to use. The seal member includes spaced ear portions projecting outwardly from the perimeter of the seal member. A method for making the dispenser includes forming a web containing a plurality of seal members, die cutting the web so the seal members in the web are connected only at their ear portions, aligning and attaching one of the seal members to a dispenser assembly, and severing the attached seal member from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HUHTAMAKI, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Robertson, Wayne F. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9333554
    Abstract: A retention clip assembly to join individual panels with aligned pilot holes comprises a body having an enlarged flange and a generally cylindrical leg defined by a plurality of spaced leg segments surrounding a pin insertion hole. The leg segments are separated by spaced slits and define a central passage. A pin having an enlarged head and an elongate shaft is slidable in the central passage. It engages cam projections on the interiors of the leg segments and expands the segments to secure the body to the panels. The pin includes flexible fingers having radially outer surfaces spaced apart a distance greater than the body leg deformable toward the pin shaft. The flexible fingers pass through the body flange and expand after surpassing the pilot holes in the panels. The flexible fingers slide in diametrically opposed slits, contact the edges of the pilot holes and stabilize the clip assembly within the pilot holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc
    Inventors: Hideki Kanie, Yasuomi Omori, Jesse L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9333947
    Abstract: A method of making a windscreen wiper device is provided. The method includes the step of preparing a wiper strip and at least one carrier element in engagement with the wiper strip. The at least one carrier element extends in a longitudinal direction between opposite ends to bias the wiper strip into a predetermined configuration. The method proceeds with sliding a first component of a frame structure onto one of the ends of the at least one carrier element and sliding a second component of the frame structure onto one of the ends of the carrier element. The method continues with the step of coupling the first and second components of the frame structure with one another only after the first and second components are both slid into engagement with the at least one carrier element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Oslizlo, Dennis E. Cox
  • Patent number: 9327392
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft having a first end comprising a beveled surface. A second end of the shaft includes a gripping member. The apparatus additionally includes a channel formed on the beveled surface, wherein the channel comprises an opening, and wherein the opening traverses the beveled surface at a constant vertical position relative to an angle of the beveled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: US2 DESIGNS, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn P. Reyna, Darren Eason
  • Patent number: 9322132
    Abstract: A method for applying a corrosion-protective coating to a roller component includes the steps of providing a device for thermal spray coating, providing a stainless steel material, coating at least one part of the surface of the roller component by applying the stainless steel material using the device for thermal spray coating and sealing the applied coating by a polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Etschmaier, Jürgen Angerler, Hasso Jungklaus, Goar Hesselmann
  • Patent number: 9322197
    Abstract: A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which hooks or clasps onto a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prison seats in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand the strap to be disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Keith D. Squires
  • Patent number: 9314875
    Abstract: A composite skin for the aeronautics and astronautics industries, and also a method for producing a composite skin of this type is provided. The method comprises the following method steps: removing excess material from a butt plate to form a butt strap at one end thereof, subsequently connecting the other end of the butt plate to a skin plate with a substance-to-substance bond, and then fastening a further skin plate to the butt strap to form the composite skin. The idea behind the invention involves replacing a rivet connection with a substance-to-substance bond. This provides the advantage that the weight of the composite skin and the production costs for the composite skin are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Stephan
  • Patent number: 9309947
    Abstract: When manufacturing a disk valve having a ring-shaped elastic seal member fixed to one side thereof for use in a cylinder type hydraulic shock absorber, a disk valve blanked from a plate material is set on a bottom of a lower mold member that is curved to be convex on one side. Mold clamping is performed to form a cavity by a cylindrical mold part and to press the disk valve with a press part to deform the disk valve into a shape that is convex on one side. In this state, the cavity is filled with a rubber material through a passage and vulcanized and cured to mold and fix an elastic seal member to the disk valve. At this time, the disk valve is deformed in a direction in which the curvature reduces by shrinkage of the rubber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kitagawa, Naoya Kubo
  • Patent number: 9310123
    Abstract: A method of making an appliance door includes inserting a door pan into a fixture having first and second forming molds, which are pressed together. An inner door liner is placed over the door pan and secured thereto to form a base door. A mold cavity is formed between the door pan and the inner door liner. An insulative material is injected into the mold cavity defined by the space between the door pan and the inner door liner. A removable decorative exterior skin is extended over the base door. A support frame and a plurality of utility lines are provided. An insulative material contacts the support frame. A base door is formed by an inner door liner secured to the insulative material and the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James Charles Leslie Guarino, James W. Kendall, Alan S. Lucas, Vikas Malhotra, Keith Allen Snyder, John J. VonderHaar