Patents Examined by Irving A Campbell
  • Patent number: 8973516
    Abstract: The audible alarm device comprises a coupling assembly, a chamber assembly and an air horn assembly, releasably separable from each other. The coupling assembly and the chamber assembly are movable by squeezing action so that in one relative position pressurized air from an air inlet in the coupling assembly is allowed through a valve assembly into an interior chamber in the chamber assembly, the air driving a bi-stable piston into repeated contact with a percussion diaphragm, producing a below surface audible sound. An exhaust passage permits air to pass from the interior chamber to the surrounding environment. When the coupling assembly and the chamber assembly are moved by diver action to a second relative position, the exhaust passage is blocked, forcing air in the interior chamber to exhaust to the air horn assembly, which produces an audible sound above the water surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: David A. Hancock
  • Patent number: 8955369
    Abstract: A fuel vapor leak detecting device includes a pump, a housing having a pump passage connected to the pump, a switching valve, a pressure detector, and a control device detecting a shutoff pressure that corresponds to an interior pressure of the pump passage detected by the pressure detector when the pump is actuated while the switching valve is closed. The control device controls the switching valve to be opened at least once and to be closed at least once when the shutoff pressure is out of a specified range. The control device detects a fuel vapor leak when the shutoff pressure is in the specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kousei Takagi, Mitsuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8919180
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for determining a metric and/or indicator of a reliability of a blood glucose sensor in providing glucose measurements. In one aspect, the metric and/or indicator may be computed based, at least in part, on an observed trend associated with signals generated by the blood glucose sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Ying Luo, Raghavendhar Gautham, Bradley Liang, Anirban Roy, Kenneth W. Cooper, Rajiv Shah, Barry Keenan
  • Patent number: 8910504
    Abstract: A device for compensating a filling level (34) in a pressure vessel (1) for an extinguishing agent, includes an extinguishing line (32), a propellant-gas line (37) supplied with propellant gas (31), and an adapter (3) on a threaded socket of the pressure vessel (1). A compensation tank (30) is in communication with the pressure vessel and a shut-off member (9) is arranged between the compensation tank (30) and the pressure vessel (1). The shut-off member is closed automatically to isolate the compensation tank from the pressure vessel when a propellant is applied to the pressure vessel so that the extinguishing agent can be stored without pressure in the extinguishing-agent vessel and can be monitored using a simple device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Minimax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Chrysafis Zlatintsis
  • Patent number: 8910585
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive indicator that prevents a solid-state colored hot-meltable substance from being absorbed into an absorber and surely absorbs a colored melt includes an ampule bottle enclosing a colored heat-sensitive material that melts into a colored melt at a predetermined temperature, a composite membrane rolled cylindraceous body joining an absorbable membrane for the colored melt onto one surface side of an impermeable membrane for the colored melt so that the impermeable membrane is located inside thereof, and a tube inserting and sealing the ampule bottle into a space surrounded by the impermeable membrane through which the absorbable membrane color is visible from the outside. After part of the ampule bottle is broken below the melting point of the colored heat-sensitive material to discharge a portion of the heat-sensitive material into the space and the heat-sensitive material is melted, a colored portion of the absorbable membrane is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: NiGK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Furue, Suguru Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8893641
    Abstract: A vehicle position indicator and a method for applying same. The position indicator includes one or more members which are disposed in the user's field of view for citing an external reference to facilitate determining the position of the vehicle relative to the external reference yet without distracting the driver's view or attention. The invention contemplates the method of defining the position and location of the indicators. The exact location and orientation of the indicators are customized for the particular driver and even for the particular trip. Once the indicators are in place, the vehicle can be guided in a desired path of travel relative to the reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey Hagel
  • Patent number: 8881669
    Abstract: A wrap preventing flag (44) apparatus including a rod (58) extending from the upper portion (22) of a flagpole (20) in a gravity plane (P) with an attachment (60, 62) securing the top edge (46) of a flag (44) to the rod (58). A rod support (84) inter-connects the rod (58) and the upper portion (22) of the flagpole (20) for preventing the rod (58) from rotating about the pole axis (A) while allowing free rotation of the rod (58) under the force of gravity only in the gravity plane (P). The rod support (84) includes a pair of stops (94) for limiting rotation of the rod (58) in or parallel to the gravity plane (P). In the first embodiment, the rod support (84) extends into an especially fabricated flagpole (20) whereas the rod support (84) of the second embodiment includes a first bracket (96) which is disposed about an existing flagpole (20) for securing the rod support (84) to the flagpole (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Louis Horvath
  • Patent number: 8869735
    Abstract: An indicating device includes a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container and an indicator member disposed in the cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container. The indicator member is rotatably mounted within the housing and is rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis. The indicator member includes a driven gear. A drive gear is disposed in the housing and includes a drive portion selectively engaged with the driven gear. An actuator is adapted to move with the container and is selectively engaged with the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Trudell Medical International, Inc.
    Inventor: Winston Z. Lu
  • Patent number: 8863683
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The device includes a housing and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. In response to detecting the acceleration event, the detection assembly causes a display element coupled to the housing to provide an encoded indication of impact status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton A. Branch, Jeffrey W. Kilpatrick, Daniel B. Hafen
  • Patent number: 8857243
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose methods of estimating porosity from a pore volume and bulk density. The porosity is obtained by multiplying the pore volume and bulk density. Methods disclosed in the subject disclosure are minimally affected by errors in the bulk density measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Valenza, II, Andrew E. Pomerantz
  • Patent number: 8844340
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, simultaneously providing a high quality factor, easier operating conditions, small size and low production costs. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, comprising a flat electromechanical oscillator (1), means for supporting the oscillator and means for actuating said oscillator, said means being designed to ensure that the oscillator (1) vibrates in its plane, said device further including a channel (4) for passage of the fluid, said channel being in fluid communication with a through-cavity (1b) made in said oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Vincent Agache
  • Patent number: 8839657
    Abstract: An acoustic probe calibration system includes a waveguide and a moveable piston. The waveguide extends from a front end to an opposite back end along a longitudinal axis and defines a cavity extending from the front end to the back end. The piston is disposed within the cavity of the waveguide and is configured to move within the cavity of the waveguide along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. An acoustic probe is inserted into the waveguide to define an interior chamber between the acoustic probe and the piston. The acoustic probe determines pressure responses to acoustic stimuli inside the interior chamber. The piston is moveable to a plurality of different positions within the waveguide to change a size of the interior chamber such that the acoustic probe can determine the pressure responses within the varying-size interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventor: Jonathan H. Siegel
  • Patent number: 8813542
    Abstract: Viscometer (150) with a rotor (108) connecting a magnet holder (62) which penetrates a sealed movable piston (96) and rotatable by a coupling magnet (58) and a driving magnet (64) to shear a tested fluid thus imparting torque to a bob (42) mounted on a bob shaft (30) supported via a pair of bob shaft bearings. A spiral spring (140) restricts the rotation of bob shaft (30). Magnetometer (10) measures the angular position of a top magnet (142) connected to the top of bob shaft (30). This angular position information is further converted to the viscosity of the tested fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Hongfeng Bi
  • Patent number: 8806918
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in an axial direction (O), having a detection portion (11) provided at a front end thereof, and having electrode pads (12a) provided at a rear end thereof; connection terminals (31, 32) electrically connected to the respective electrode pads; and a cover (60, 61) covering the rear end of the gas sensor element and the connection terminals. The cover integrally has a connector portion (63) having an opening (63b) which allows an external connector to be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom in a predetermined direction, and has a connector terminal member (120) which can be inserted into the opening. The connector terminal member has a plurality of connector terminals (70) to be electrically connected to the respective connection terminals, and an insulator (121) integrally molded with the connector terminals. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Hisaharu Nishio, Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8800474
    Abstract: A measuring gauge used for measuring and analyzing a physical value includes a measuring element for capturing the physical value, whereby the measuring element moves according to the physical value, a movement that moves a pointer in relation to the motion of the measuring element in a pointer plane around an axis of rotation of the pointer, whereby an additional indicator irreversibly displays the excess beyond a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Wacker, Bernhard Kastenmeier
  • Patent number: 8794172
    Abstract: A durable, single walled plastic traffic or work area delineator barrel. The single walled barrel is molded in a blow molding operation and handle and base rim flange regions of the barrel in one construction include compressed wall surfaces that define hollow, open-cavity pillars or struts that span between the walls. The pillars are constructed by depressing portions of the walls into contact and thermally bonding the materials together. In another construction corners of the base rim flange include recessed indentations and surface corrugations that are aligned to strengthen the rim flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Poly-Flex, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bromm, William N. Lechner, Robert J. Fisch
  • Patent number: 8789431
    Abstract: An sampling device for capturing a material sample and a method of using said device to process said material sample in situ within the device. Embodiments of the invention may be disposed as elongate probes having extendable sample capture elements. A sample capture element of such a device may include a sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof for capturing and trapping a sample of material. The sample capture pocket may be provided with a port for receiving material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom. These ports may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Peter Alfred Blacklin, Wayne Fowler, Jr., Joel Michael Hawkins, Howard William Ward, II
  • Patent number: 8763553
    Abstract: A collar having an inner and outer ring that move relative to each other, with one ring having time indicia and the other ring having an indicator window and an inner flexible membrane for placement over a medicine container. The indicator window is placed over the number representative of the time another dose of medicine is due. The device may be easily placed over a wide variety of different shaped medicament containers and acts as a reminder for the taking of a dose of medicine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Leslie B. Shannehan, Timothy J. Shannehan
  • Patent number: 8756972
    Abstract: Volatile liquid vapors formed during the pour of the volatile liquid from a volumetric test measure apparatus are contained in a pour vapor-containment apparatus that enhances the rate of vapor formation inside the pour vapor-containment apparatus. The interface between a flow control component on the test measure apparatus and a pour inlet on the pour vapor-containment apparatus creates a positive pressure, vapor-saturated environment so that a sufficient positive vapor pressure is maintained between the interior of the test measure apparatus and the pour vapor-containment apparatus when the flow control component is inserted in the pour inlet and the test measure apparatus is rotated about vertical during the pour and drain processes so that the vapor-saturated air formed in the pour vapor-containment vessel transfers during the pour into the interior of the test measure apparatus to replace the liquid that is poured out of the test measure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Pemberton Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Murnane, Jr., Christopher Lewis Bradley, Henry Vernon Oppermann
  • Patent number: 8752413
    Abstract: A test pressurization device (100) for hose (1) includes a first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) between which the hose can be inserted, and a second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22) between which the hose can be inserted. The first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) is arranged on a distance from the second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22). Further each pair of press/driving rolls is arranged for pressing the hose together between the rolls in conjunction with pressurization with a medium such as water so that a limited part of the hose, which is located between the first and the second pair of press/driving rolls, can be held pressurized and control of the hoses or its couplings tightness is admitted. Furthermore, while sections of the hose are held pressurized between the pairs of press/driving rolls, the same pairs of press/driving rolls are feeding the hose forward, thus checking the hoses tightness in a continuously moving section approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Allgotech AB
    Inventors: Per-Arne Fritjofsson, Anders Ahlén