Patents Examined by Gregory Binda
  • Patent number: 9429185
    Abstract: A coupling rod (1) for a turbocharger has a first rod part (2) which has a ball head (3). The coupling rod (1) further has a second rod part (4) which has a joint socket (5) for holding the ball head (3). A guide element (8, 9) is arranged between an inner peripheral surface (6) of the joint socket (5) and an outer peripheral surface (7) of the ball head (3). The guide element (8, 9) has at least one spring tongue (10, 11) which bears against the outer peripheral surface (7). The guide element (8, 9) is connected to a support section (12, 13) which is supported on the inner peripheral surface (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Silvio Koch
  • Patent number: 9428872
    Abstract: An anti-ram vehicle barrier system adapted to arrest an impacting vehicle of substantial mass within a selected distance of the barrier. The barrier system includes a fence portion and/or a gate for selectively allowing passage through an entry port. The fence portion includes a pair of terminal posts positioned in and secured to the ground in a spaced apart relationship and cables connected between the terminal posts. The gate includes a cable extending across a panel that is connected on opposing ends to opposing posts positioned on opposite sides of the entry point. For passage the panel is moved relative to the posts and to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BETAFENCE CORPORATE SERVICES NV
    Inventor: William H. Neusch
  • Patent number: 9422987
    Abstract: A constant velocity (CV) joint includes a shield to protect a J-boot from damage due to projectiles such as stones and to prevent ballooning. A rigid portion of the shield is fixed to a ring, which is adapted for fixation to a powertrain component such as a transmission. A flexible portion of the shield prevents projectiles from entering through the opening created by non-coincident axes of the shaft and ring. The flexible portion has a number of truncated conical panels with alternating orientation that accommodate the variable size opening by flexing in an accordion-like fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Nicholas, Jonathan Gretsky, Scott Wilson, Anthony Paskus
  • Patent number: 9422986
    Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes a male shaft having an outer circumference on which a plurality of protruding teeth are formed, and a female shaft having an inner circumference on which a plurality of tooth grooves are formed. The tooth grooves of the female shaft are fitted onto the protruding teeth of the male shaft such that the male shaft and the female shaft are relatively slidable in an axial direction and such that a rotational torque is transmittable between the male shaft and the female shaft. One of a curvature radius of a tooth surface of the protruding teeth and a curvature radius of a tooth surface of the tooth grooves is smaller than the other of the curvature radius of the tooth surface of the protruding teeth and the curvature radius of the tooth surface of the tooth grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9423671
    Abstract: A modular accessory adapter configured to be selectively attachable to at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. The modular accessory adapter includes a first member configured to be rotatably coupled to a second member such that the first member is rotatable relative to the second member to move the modular accessory adapter between a first position and a second position. The modular accessory adapter further includes a mount for attaching at least one of a flash, tripod, battery, diffuser, microphone, and speaker. The modular accessory adapter includes an engagement member configured to engage with a portion of at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. In the first position, the modular accessory adapter is configured to be removably attachable to the at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: olloclip, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick D. O'Neill, Chong Pak, Ryan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9416508
    Abstract: In a terminal arrangement for a road rail with a rail profile (2) a terminal guiding device (10) is movable along the road rail under the influence of kinetic energy from a vehicle hitting the terminal guiding device. A terminal profile (8), constituting a prolongation of the rail profile (2), extends within the terminal guiding device (10) obliquely down to a ground anchor (4), where it is attached. The terminal arrangement includes a mechanism for deforming the terminal profile (8) and eventually the rail profile (2) and thus for absorbing kinetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AB Varmforzinkning
    Inventor: Anders Welandson
  • Patent number: 9416815
    Abstract: A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder defined by a longitudinal axis, a first end, a distal second end, and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The driveshaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first end, a distal second end, and an inner shaft stiffness. The first end of the inner shaft is engaged with the first end of the hollow cylinder via a rotational clearance fit. The second end of the inner shaft is rotationally fixed to the second end of the hollow cylinder such that the first end of the inner shaft can twist to a predetermined angle with respect to the second end of the inner shaft. The inner shaft stiffness defines a first-stage stiffness of the driveshaft, and the inner shaft stiffness and the hollow cylinder stiffness together define a second-stage stiffness of the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Grimmer, Mark Gehringer, Stephanie A. Ernster, Eric J. Defenderfer, Stephen H. Miller
  • Patent number: 9416845
    Abstract: A damper with a torque limiter is provided in which a torque limiter is formed from an annular limiter housing formed on a mass ring, a friction plate frictionally engaging with the limiter housing a pressure-applying plate that frictionally engages with the friction plate and that is linked to the mass ring, and a limiter spring urging the pressure-applying plate toward the friction plate side, a spring holder is formed from a pair of first and second holder plates that oppose each other to define a damper housing and that are joined to each other by a rivet, and the friction plate is formed integrally with the second holder plate. Thus, a rivet providing a link between a pair of holder plates forming a spring holder does not carry the burden of torque transmission, enabling the diameter of the rivet to be smaller and thereby reducing weight and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Usui, Takanori Makita
  • Patent number: 9410570
    Abstract: A clamp holds two members together. The first member includes a recess into which a fastener is located. A bore is provided to the recess to allow a tool to be used to operate the fastener. The second member is arranged to accept the fastener and so join the members. The recess and bore are sized to prevent release of the fastener through the bore. In this way, the fastener cannot easily be removed or lost when the clamp is in use and is tamperproof. The clamp is used to hold portions of a sleeve around a body of the tool, and to hold scraper blades and/or brushes to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Specialised Petroleum Services Group Limited
    Inventors: James Edward Atkins, George Telfer, Edward Docherty Scott
  • Patent number: 9410581
    Abstract: In a fixed type constant velocity universal joint, track grooves of an outer joint member include first and second track groove portions positioned on interior and open sides, respectively. Each of the first track groove portions includes an arc-shaped ball raceway center line having a curvature center prevented from being offset in an axial direction of the outer joint member with respect to a joint center. Planes each including at least the ball raceway center line and the joint center are inclined with respect to a joint axial line with their inclination directions opposite to each other in the first track groove portions, which are adjacent to each other in a peripheral direction of the outer joint member. Each of the second track groove portions includes a ball raceway center line having a straight part when being projected onto corresponding one of the planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Hirukawa, Kenta Yamazaki, Kisao Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9410582
    Abstract: A protective device for universal joint transmissions has at least two coaxial tubular protective elements, with the two tubular protective elements each having, at their opposite ends, a protective hood, The two tubular protective elements each having a locator flange associated rigidly with the tubular protective element. The protective hood has a coupling flange that is coaxial to the locator flange and is adapted to abut against the locator flange. The protective hood has a cylindrical accordion portion supported by the coupling flange. The protective hood also has at least one fastening element adapted to fasten the coupling flange on the locator flange. The protective device has at least one supporting ring, which has engagement elements for the engagement of the supporting ring with the locator flange, which is accommodatable rotatably in an annular seat provided at the outer surface of the hub of the fork of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: COMER INDUSTRIES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Achille Brunazzi, Massimo Tondelli
  • Patent number: 9410567
    Abstract: A system for connecting and aligning pieces of a catwalk trough that prevents sagging of the catwalk trough at a connection point between at least two pieces of the catwalk trough by applying a force to the pieces to counteract any separation forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory David Swanson, Joe Rodney Berry
  • Patent number: 9406345
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to house a component oriented in a first direction used for facilitating insertion and removal of the component in a second direction to/from a chassis, the first direction orthogonal to the second direction. The apparatus can be a caddy with an attached pivoting handle. Pivoting the handle in the first direction down towards the caddy causes the hard drive to slide in the second direction to couple with a hard drive coupling on the chassis. In some implementations, the caddy houses a hard drive in a vertical orientation, such that multiple hard drives can be coupled side-by-side to each other. In some implementations, the caddy is removably attached to the chassis. The chassis can comprise a rail, and the handle can comprise a hook. The hook attaches to the rail forming a removable attachment that allows for easy removal and insertion of the caddy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Yang, Chao-Jung Chen, Chih-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 9404530
    Abstract: A cross shaft joint includes a bearing cup, a cross shaft, and a joint yoke. The bearing cup includes a cylindrical portion in which an opening portion for receiving a shaft portion is formed in one end of the cylindrical portion in an axis direction, and a bottom portion that closes the other end of the cylindrical portion in the axis direction. The bearing cup is press-fitted into the fitting hole and supports the shaft portion through a rolling element so that the shaft portion is able to rotate. The bearing cup is fitted onto the shaft portion inside the fitting hole and holds the rolling element with the shaft portion. A diameter of an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is smaller on the opening portion side than the bottom portion side in a free state of the bearing cup before being press-fitted into the fitting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, KOYO MACHINE INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Koyama, Masanori Kobayashi, Hirotsugu Kusano, Kenichi Hashimoto, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9403318
    Abstract: A method of joining a first thermoplastic component with a second thermoplastic component includes abutting a joint surface of the first thermoplastic component against a joint surface of the second thermoplastic component. The first thermoplastic component includes a thermoplastic protrusion extending from the joint surface, and the joint surface of the second thermoplastic component defines a receiving pocket adapted to receive the thermoplastic protrusion. Abutting a joint surface of the first thermoplastic component against a joint surface of the second thermoplastic component further includes inserting the thermoplastic protrusion into the receiving pocket. Once abutted, thermal energy is applied to a heat-apply surface of the second thermoplastic component, that is opposite the joint surface. The thermal energy is sufficient to melt a portion of the thermoplastic protrusion and a portion of the joint surface of the second thermoplastic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hesham A. Ezzat, Joseph M. Polewarczyk
  • Patent number: 9400031
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly includes a first elastic member disposed on a side to which an acceleration-side power of an engine is outputted and a second elastic member disposed in series with the first elastic member. The second elastic member exerts a transmission torque having a magnitude less than that of a transmission torque exerted by the first elastic member. An end sheet member includes a first end sheet member and a second end sheet member. The first end sheet member is slidable against a first rotary member. The second end sheet member is slidable against the first rotary member. A first intermediate sheet member included in an intermediate sheet member is disposed between the first elastic member and the second elastic member and is slidable against the first rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Kazuhiro Koshi
  • Patent number: 9398820
    Abstract: Joints are provided for connecting first and second manikin parts. The joints can be partially opened like a clamshell by pivoting the parts on a point on the joint interface. They include first and second joint assemblies attached to the first and second manikin parts respectively. The joint assemblies comprise a stretch element such as a spring or an elastomeric cord, and are capable of detachably engaging with each other. The joints can rotate in a primary rotational direction, for example to move a detachable manikin leg closer to the other manikin leg so that the manikin can quickly and easily be dressed in a pair of slacks. Rotation in a secondary direction is also provided to enable the manikins to be easily assembled by customers so that the manikin parts can be shipped separately. Components and methods of making and using the joints are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: NOA Brands America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Firestone, Scott L. Amman, Richard Varner, Derek Johnson
  • Patent number: 9393884
    Abstract: A rotary joint for a vehicle seat is movable between at least two positions. The rotary joint includes an outer bearing comprising two shell halves, which, when forced together by a mechanical fastener, compress a rounded space between the two shell halves. The rotary joint further includes an inner bearing held between the two shell halves and rotatable relative to the outer bearing via rotation within the shell halves. The inner bearing includes a sleeve forming the outer surface and having an elastic property to reduce non-rotational movement outer bearing and the inner bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Josten, Andrej Pastorek, Benjamin Ndagijimana
  • Patent number: 9388836
    Abstract: A device and system for holding materials above a created ribbing structure. The device has two unique and novel slip fittings connected together via a plastic pipe that has been cut to a useful length. The slip fittings have a cylindrical attachment port and two wings that serve as the anchor point for a surface. The wings are flat surfaces integrally formed with the cylindrical attachment port and have frictional material attached to the underside thereof. Optional holes are provided on either wing so as to permit a fastener attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Donald B. Larson
  • Patent number: 9387544
    Abstract: A spline connection apparatus includes a male spline apparatus and a female collar apparatus coupled together. The male spline apparatus includes an external spline and a plurality of first tooth spaces having spline relief portions for tool clearance extending angularly and conically into a shoulder portion and base portion of the male spline apparatus. The female collar apparatus includes and internal spline and a plurality of second tooth spaces having an internal spline relief portion for tool clearance extending angularly and conically into the counterbore engagement surface of the female collar apparatus. The external teeth of the external spline and the internal teeth of the internal are equal in length. The effective face width of the engagement is equal to the length of the external and internal teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FAIRFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Dan E. Phebus, William H. Hayward