Patents Examined by Gary Estremsky
  • Patent number: 8475098
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for an accessory retaining device are described. According to various embodiments, a handle, shaft and fastener are configured to provide a rotational interface. With the assistance of a cam bushing, threading between the shaft and the fastener or other components, rotation of the handle causes axial movement of the shaft or fastener and compression of a grommet located about the shaft or fastener. Compression of the grommet results in radial expansion. In this way, the accessory retaining device is adapted to secure an accessory to a mounting aperture located on a vehicle or other device when the handle is in a closed position. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Concorde International
    Inventors: John Titus Marlow, Thomas George Marlow, Wade Randal Malcolm
  • Patent number: 8474885
    Abstract: A fire door lock structure includes a stopper disposed at a door frame and a latch assembly disposed at a fire door, wherein the latch assembly comprises a lock base, a latch unit, a blocking member, a pair of male and female means and a linking set. The latch unit includes a latch bolt. The latch unit and the blocking member are swingably disposed at an accommodating slot of the lock base. The blocking member is fastened at the stopper by the pair of male and female means, wherein the male means comprises a fastener formed at the blocking member. In the locked state, the fastener of the male means can be fastened at the stopper to prevent the stopper from being unable to block the latch bolt caused by a deformed fire door or deformed door frame under a fire condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Min Lu, Fu-Chih Huang
  • Patent number: 8469646
    Abstract: A clip may include an anchor portion, an elastic engagement strip and two ribs. The engagement strip is formed in a portion adjacent to a distal end of the anchor portion and is extended vertically therefrom toward a proximal end of the anchor portion. The two ribs are formed in an outer surface of the engagement strip and are vertically spaced from each other. The ribs are formed such that the rib that is away from the distal end of the anchor portion has a projection amount smaller than the rib that is close to the distal end of the anchor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Kono, Kiyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8459917
    Abstract: A fastener for joining a first member and a second member. In one implementation the fastener includes an elastic hollow body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial hole. An elongate rod extends through the elastic hollow body and has a washer positioned at the proximal end of the elastic hollow body. A first head is located at a proximal end of the rod and abuts the washer while a second head is positioned on the rod so that it resides at a distal end of the elastic hollow body. The rod also includes an elongate body that extends distally to the distal end of the elastic hollow body, the rod and elastic hollow body being in non-threaded engagement with one another. The first head has a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the washer has a third diameter greater than the second diameter, the second head has a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter and smaller than the third diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Eurar 2020 S.L.
    Inventors: Juan Andrés Elduayen Madariaga, Javier Sanchez Garduño
  • Patent number: 8454288
    Abstract: An anti-wearing nut or bolt including a plurality of polygonal sides circumferentially formed on a head portion of the nut or bolt and; each polygonal side including: two inclined sub-sides respectively inclined outwardly convergently from opposite apexes of each polygonal side, each inclined sub-side extrapolatively defining a small biasing acute angle between each inclined sub-side and a corresponding socket side, and an intermediate sub-side transversely intersecting the two inclined sub-sides; whereby upon a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the socket, one inclined sub-side of the nut or bolt will be planarly engaged with each socket side, without being linearly bitten or dogged, to thereby prevent wearing or damage of the apexes of the nut or bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventors: David Hui, Chien-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 8454062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handle device for a vehicle door, comprising an outer shell with a metal layer at least on the side facing away from the vehicle door and a cavity in which a sensor system for the keyless activation of a locking and unlocking system is arranged. According to the invention, the outer shell (4) has a free surface (7) with no metal layer, provided with a first sensor element (6a) arranged in the sensor system (6a, 6b, 6c), which has a touch- or proximity-sensor embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Manfred Rohlfing, Stefan Neuhoff
  • Patent number: 8454289
    Abstract: A staple with a breakaway staple holding prong enables a person to more easily observe, hold, position, prepare and/or steady the staple for driving and embedding into a structure. The person can hold the breakaway staple holding prong with two or more fingers of one hand and drive and embed the staple into the structure with the other hand, while minimizing or eliminating the possibility that the incoming blows of the other hand will come into contact with and harm the fingers of the hand holding the staple. The staple includes a first nail prong and a second nail prong connected by a member, creating a substantially U-shaped body, the staple further including a breakaway staple holding prong coupled to the substantially U-shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Walter Frantin
  • Patent number: 8454287
    Abstract: A fastener includes a post, a first and a second threaded portions extending from opposite ends of the post, a head portion extending from the first threaded portion opposite to the second threaded portion, a spring fitting about the post, and a nut screwed to the first threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhen-Xing Ye
  • Patent number: 8444359
    Abstract: A blind fastener employs a split bolt element having two symmetrical half sections split at mating separation faces and cooperatively displaceable between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position. A capture portion split bolt has a substantially circular plan form in the first collapsed position with a diameter which is received through an attachment hole in a structural member. A bearing section and a threaded portion both have a substantially circular plan form in the second expanded position while the capture portion has compression surfaces extending with an elliptical major axis greater than the hole diameter in the extended second position to engage a bottom surface surrounding the attachment hole. The bearing section closely engages the attachment hole in the expanded position. A wedge separator element is insertable between the half sections to expand them from the first collapsed position to the second expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Martin R. Grether, Miki Beatovic
  • Patent number: 8439620
    Abstract: A speed nut for engaging a member includes a housing including a first wall having a first opening therethrough for receiving the member and a second wall facing the first inner wall, the first and second walls defining a cavity therebetween; and a plurality of engagement elements arranged in the cavity about a longitudinal axis of the housing to form an opening therebetween, at least one of the engagement elements being freely movable in the cavity between a first position wherein an inner surface of the at least one engagement element is spaced from the longitudinal axis by a first distance for engaging the member and a second position wherein the inner surface of the at least one engagement element is spaced from the longitudinal axis by a second distance greater than the first distance for receiving the member through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Brian Mellyn
  • Patent number: 8439619
    Abstract: A casing includes a metallic sheet and a screw. The metallic sheet is formed with an extruded tapped hole surrounded by an arcuate portion in the metallic sheet and a sleeve integrally with and depending from the arcuate portion. The sleeve has internal threads. On the other hand, the screw is configured to seal the extruded tapped hole of the metallic sheet. The screw has a threaded section configured to be mated with the internal threads of the sleeve of the metallic sheet, and a flat head capable of abutting against the arcuate portion and sitting flush with the metallic sheet when the screw is placed in the extruded tapped hole of the metallic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Ke Lu
  • Patent number: 8434985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow body elements (200), for example, nut elements which are applied to components which are normally made of steel (280), in particular, for producing hollow body elements having an essentially quadratic or rectangular external profile (202). Said method consists of cutting individual elements of a profile in the form of a profile rod (1) or a winding after holes (204) have previously been stamped in the profile, a threaded cylinder (206) is subsequently, optionally, formed using a follow-on composite tool (10) which consists of several working stations. The invention is characterized in that a penetrating process and a punching process are carried out in the working station. The invention also relates to hollow body elements (200), components, follow-on composite tools (10) and rolling mills (600, 602).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Jiri Babej, Richard Humpert
  • Patent number: 8434981
    Abstract: A screw anchor for concrete attachment to a railroad tie or solid track comprises external threads (16) disposed on the exterior of the screw anchor (10) and internal threads (18) disposed inside the screw anchor (10) for force-fitted connecting to a fastening element (30), wherein the screw anchor (10) comprises two sections (12, 14) adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction, the first section (12) having a substantially cylindrical external shape and the second section (14) having a substantially conical external shape, and wherein the second section (14) is disposed between the first section (12) and an inlet opening (26) for the fastening element (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Vossloh Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bösterling, André Hunold, Eugen Gart
  • Patent number: 8434797
    Abstract: A shutter and fastener system comprising a shutter and two or more fastener mechanisms each comprising cooperating latching and anchor devices, one device mounted on an edge portion of the shutter and the other on an adjacent trim portion. The latching device engages the anchor device and exerts a strong pulling force substantially parallel with the surface of the shutter. The anchor device converts a portion of this force to a perpendicular force resulting in firm engagement between the shutter and the trim portion. An installation method comprises the steps of proving a shutter with at least one latching device mounted thereon and a small opening in the shutter aligned with operating means for the device. An anchor device is provided on an adjacent trim portion and the operating means is actuated from inside the shutter though the small opening to secure the shutter in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Norse, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred C. Langer
  • Patent number: 8434982
    Abstract: A fastener assembly including an internally threaded nut and an externally threaded screw for securing at least two materials together. A combined thickness TM of the materials is less than a length SL of the screw inserted into the materials. The nut includes a head, a shank extending from the head, and an internally threaded bore extending into the shank. The screw includes a head and an externally threaded shank adapted to threadingly engage the internally threaded bore of the nut. An encapsulating plastic layer covers the head of the nut. The plastic layer extends under and covers a bottom surface of the head. The plastic layer has a thickness TE below the bottom surface of the head which is equal to or greater than a difference between the screw length SL and the material thickness TM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Engineered Components Company
    Inventor: Arne Henriksen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8430613
    Abstract: A mandrel has an anti-dropping-off portion that is formed between a head and a breakable portion thereof. In the anti-dropping-off portion, a plurality of latching ridges is formed which have peaks that protrude outwardly in the radial direction and frictionally engage with the inner wall surface of a sleeve. The latching ridges are formed in the outer surface of the portion of the mandrel that is between the head and breakable portion thereof, so as to be diagonal relative to the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the mandrel and to cross each other, with the peaks thereof formed in a twill pattern protruding out from the outer surface of that mandrel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Yutaka Ohkubo, Tooru Fujita, Yasumasa Matsunaga, Takashi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8425169
    Abstract: Described is a device and method for a securing element for screw connections as an interlayer, between the screw head and supporting material and/or between the nut and supporting material, the basic body of the element consisting of a metallic material, to the top side and underside of which hard material particles are fixed, wherein the hard material particles are fixed by means of a metallic binding phase, the thickness of the metallic binding phase being lower than the mean diameter of the hard material particles, so that the hard material particles project out of the metallic binding phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Burtsche, Jürgen Meyer, Sven Schreiner, Hubert Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8425168
    Abstract: A self-locking threaded fastener that can be driven using conventional driving tools. The threaded fastener includes a fastener body and a locking band. The body includes a) a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion and b) an aperture extending radially from the unthreaded portion. The locking band includes a curved portion within the unthreaded portion of the fastener body and a tang extending into the aperture to limit angular movement of the tang with respect to the body. The curved portion terminates at an end having a range of radial movement with respect to the fastener body. When the threaded fastener is turned in a loosening direction, the locking band inhibit loosening of the threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Campau
  • Patent number: 8419330
    Abstract: A clip includes a pin having at at least a part thereof a noncircular cross-section, and a grommet having an insertion hole into which the pin can be inserted, wherein a part of the grommet is adapted to be expandable by insertion of the pin into the insertion hole. The grommet has slope surfaces provided at an entrance-side hole edge of the insertion hole to lead the pin into the insertion hole when the pin is displaced from a normal position to be in contact with the entrance-side hole edge of the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: NIFCO Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8414238
    Abstract: A stud bolt (1) is disposed with a bolt head portion (2), a bolt shoulder portion (3) whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the bolt head portion (2), and a thread portion (4b) whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the bolt shoulder portion (3), wherein the bolt shoulder portion (3) includes a knurling portion (3b) that includes projecting portions (3b1) and groove portions (3b2) on its outer periphery and at least part of which eats into a container (10) during staking and a bolt base portion (3a) that is disposed between the knurling portion (3b) and the bolt head portion (2) and has a peripheral surface that is smoother than the knurling portion (3b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Inagaki, Toru Sato, Nobuyuki Yamashita