Patents Examined by J. J. Swann
  • Universal conduit body and system
    Patent number: 6527302
    Abstract: A universal conduit body system is provided having an outer housing having a first wall thickness, at least one port and an inner space. Each port has an opening in the housing and a recess in the housing surrounding the opening. Each recess includes a second wall thickness less than the first wall thickness. In use, the port mates with a connector that includes an interface having substantially the same physical shape as the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventors: Greg D. Gault, James R. Streng
  • Fastener for a heat sink on a chip
    Patent number: 6526634
    Abstract: A fastener has a leg, a foot, an elastic portion and a flange formed on the leg, wherein the elastic portion has a ring around the leg and two bow arms oppositely connects two sides of the ring with two sides of the leg. The flange is higher than the ring of the elastic on the leg, so that the movement of the bow arms is limited by the flange. Therefore the fastener ensures the bow arms has elasticity after installation into the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Slam bolt lock
    Patent number: 6527310
    Abstract: A two-way slam bolt controllably locks a bolt against retraction when impacted on one side by a doorjamb, while still permitting free retraction when impacted on the other side. The preferred embodiment employs a U-shaped bolt that must tilt in one of two directions for retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: GE Interlogix, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk L. Bellamy
  • Seat belt device
    Patent number: 6526630
    Abstract: In a seat belt device comprising a webbing restraining a body of an occupant to a seat and a webbing guide for guiding the webbing in such a manner that the webbing guide comes into slide contact with the webbing, the webbing guide includes an insert fitting, a covering resin which covers the insert fitting by molding, and a metal member with which the webbing comes into slide contact, and the metal member has a surface thereof which comes into contact with the webbing protruded than the covering resin toward a webbing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Suzuki, Kazuo Yamamoto, Osamu Kawai
  • Widow and widower ring and identification system
    Patent number: 6526779
    Abstract: An article of jewelry, namely a combination of two wedding rings, wherein the wedding rings are stacked upon each other and fixedly attached. In a preferred embodiment the two wedding rings are oriented concentrically using reverse jeweler's tweezers or cones. The rings are joined together, and in one embodiment gold brazing joins the rings. The wedding rings worn in such a fashion identify that the person is widowed and is a method of signifying widow and widower status without causing confusion, embarrassment or discomfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Harold R. Foote
  • Wind-resistant window sash lock
    Patent number: 6523868
    Abstract: A sweep lock locking the check rails of an upper and lower sash improves window resistance to negative wind force. The lock accomplishes this by a cam with a pair of locking rims that engage cam receiver projections extending upward and downward to lock along two vertically separated locking lines, which tends to resist sash tilting from vertical as sash are deformed in response to negative wind force. Preferred embodiments of a cam lock and mounting hub include a two-piece hub that snaps together within a rotational opening of the cam lock to form a subassembly ready for mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: E. Erik Timothy
  • Geomembrane and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6524029
    Abstract: A geomembrane comprising a unitary structure fabricated by co-extrusion including a center core, a thermoplastic adhesive layer secured on one side of the center core, and a textured layer secured on the opposite side of the center core. The geomembrane is utilized in the manufacture of a liner for earthen constructions by employing the thermoplastic layer of the geomembrane to secure the geomembrane to a geosynthetic clay liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Olympic General Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Nobert, Jesse W. Raia
  • Operating table for surgical and angiographic applications
    Patent number: 6523197
    Abstract: An operating table for surgical and angiographic applications has a table top and lateral fastening rails for the releasable fastening of equipment by means of a rail clamping device. The table top of the operating table is provided with guide rails onto which moveable modules can be pushed, which are provided with fastening rails for rail clamping devices on at least two sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Zitzmann
  • Multi-stone oval gemstone assembly
    Patent number: 6519972
    Abstract: An assembly of gemstones which fit together to form a unitary shape is provided. The stones preferably make up an oval and are preferably four in number. Two of the stones are smaller than the other two. The larger stones are approximately 5/3 the size of the smaller stones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Am-Gold Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin N. Siebenberg
  • System and method for mounting front loaded photographs
    Patent number: 6519886
    Abstract: System and method for mounting front-loaded photographs, which are held in place in a recess with a smooth curvilinear sidewall by a flexible plastic retaining ring, which is precisely formed to frictionally engage the smooth sidewall. A variety of recess shapes and decorative retaining rings are useable to provide a variety of displays, either single or in an array. The preferred method of forming the recess is by routing, using a template set or computer-controlled router bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Wet Puppy Products, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Johnson, Scott Larsen
  • Marketing displays providing ready replaceability of adhesive display labels
    Patent number: 6519885
    Abstract: A marketing display device such as a shelf or a “Pegboard” type hanger is provided with an outer display panel that has a release coating, such as of silicone, for ready attachment, removal and replacement of adhesive labels that carry indicia pertinent to the marketing of products on the hangers to passing potential customers. In one preferred embodiment the release coating is carried on a liner that is adhesively attached to the shelf or hanger for such removable mounting of labels and wherein the liner, including the attaching adhesive, also is readily and cleanly removable by peeling the liner from the surface to which it is adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Valiulis
  • Ornamental eyewear
    Patent number: 6520635
    Abstract: Ornamental eyewear includes a jewelry article adapted for attachment as an extension of the temple arm on conventional eyeglasses. The jewelry extension grips the temple arm with a quick-release spring-biased clamp and in turn supports one or more elongated strands of jewelry-type decorations such as beads, charms and other adornment. A decorative boss abuts one side of the spring loaded clamp and extends beyond the jaws of the clamp to hide and provide visual balance to the attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Patricia M. Ignatowski
  • Lock device for an electronic appliance
    Patent number: 6517129
    Abstract: A lock device for a portable computer includes a mounting wall to be mounted on an upper housing of the computer, and parallel first and second flanges, each formed with a latch hole. An actuating unit has first and second actuating portions, and is normally disposed in a non-actuating position, in which the actuating portions are respectively displaced from the latch holes. A latch member is mounted on a lower housing of the computer, and is normally retracted into the lower housing. The latch member is movable to project from the lower housing and engage one of the latch holes due to magnetic attraction of a magnet of the actuating unit when the upper housing covers the lower housing. The actuating unit is operable for moving the actuating portions so as to push the latch member and disengage the same from the corresponding latch hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Chi Chien, Wu-Yung Chen
  • Device for quick connection of a tube to a rigid element
    Patent number: 6517115
    Abstract: The device comprises a tubular insert (1) possessing external means (2) for fixing it in a bore (34) of the rigid element (30) and internal means for axially locking the tube inside the insert (1). The axial locking means comprise a sleeve (69) disposed inside the tubular insert (1) and possessing a broad end arranged to bear against an internal abutment member (75) of the tubular insert (61) and a narrow end that is elastically deformable in a radial direction between a small rest configuration where it forms an abutment for a shoulder (93) of the tube (90) and an enlarged elastically deformed configuration allowing the shoulder of the tube to pass through while it is being inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Legris SA
    Inventor: Philippe Blivet
  • Quick connector
    Patent number: 6517120
    Abstract: A quick connector including: (a) a tubular male element having an introduced end portion which has an extreme end portion and an annular protrusion portion; and (b) a tubular female element having a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion which have respective tubular shapes configured to receive therein the annular protrusion portion and the extreme end portion of the introduced end portion of the tubular male element, respectively. The first receiving portion has an elastically-deformable tongue portion which is defined by a U-shaped slot formed through the cylindrical wall of the first receiving portion. The tongue portion extends in a circumferential direction of the tubular female element, and has a free end portion which is displaceable in a radial direction of the tubular female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Miyajima, Kazushige Sakazaki, Akira Takayanagi, Tomohide Ito
  • Electric door lock
    Patent number: 6517127
    Abstract: In an electric door lock, a spindle with a manually operable rotary knob is connected operably to a dead bolt, and has a spindle coupling plate sleeved non-rotatably thereon, and a gear plate unit sleeved rotatably thereon. The spindle coupling plate is provided with a ball member which is biased to project from the spindle coupling plate and engage one of a plurality of angularly displaced ball recesses formed in the gear plate unit. An electric driving motor has a transmission shaft engaging the gear plate unit. The ball member disengages the spindle coupling plate from the gear plate unit when the rotary knob is operated to rotate the spindle and the spindle coupling plate. The motor is operable to rotate the gear plate unit which rotates the spindle coupling plate by virtue of the engagement between the ball member and the ball recesses, thereby resulting in co-rotation of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventors: Chao-Jung Lu, Yung-Chen Lin
  • Direct oxygen injection groundwater remediation method and system
    Patent number: 6517288
    Abstract: A bioremediation method and system for destroying of reducing the level of contaminants in a contaminated subterranean body of water includes a plurality of spaced injection sites. The injection sites extend below ground and intersect a body of groundwater. Each of the plurality of injection sites are in communication with a supply of concentrated oxygen. The oxygen is conveyed by a delivery mechanism from the supply of oxygen to the injection points to naturally reduce the contaminants in the groundwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Remediation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Russell Schindler
  • Vehicle door latch with power operated release mechanism
    Patent number: 6517128
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt, a detent that holds the forkbolt in a latched position and a power operated release mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt. The power operated release mechanism includes a power unlatching lever and a motor driven actuator having a jackscrew for moving the power unlatching lever via a slide, bell crank lever and bell crank link that provide a toggle enhancement. A mechanical override lever is provided to move the power unlatching lever in the event of power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Michael Perkins, Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Jeffery P Laukonis, Brent J Williams, Peter Siegfried Pajak
  • Tie clip
    Patent number: 6513203
    Abstract: Traditional tie clips usually clipping a necktie from only one side, resulting in a biased look when the tie is clipped. This may affect the overall look of the wearer. Further, the tie may be slipped away relatively easily. A tie clip (10) of the present invention provides two tie fasteners (12,14) for fastening the tie from two opposite sides. The two tie fasteners (12,14) are connected by a connector (16) that may have a recess (24) for accommodating the narrower end of a necktie. The tie fasteners (12,14) are slidably attached to the connector (16) such that the separation between the two tie fasteners (12,14) may be adjusted for use with necktie with different widths, or in a case when the wearer wishes to clip the tie clip (10) at different positions of the lower end of the tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Galactical.com Limited
    Inventor: Mohamad Ali Wani
  • Mounting for sheet material
    Patent number: 6513272
    Abstract: A mounting for a sheet that has a bead about its periphery includes frame members forming a rectangle with each frame member including mutually parallel multiple engagement surfaces defined on ribs. An elongate retainer includes an elongate flange with an interlocking surface which can selectively interlock with any one of the engagement surfaces on the frame. The frame also has a frame rail having a rail surface that faces away from a retainer rail surface on a rail of the retainer. A tool including pinch rollers squeeze the rail surfaces toward one another to place the sheet material held by the retainer in tension while the interlocking surface is engaged with the appropriate engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Marvin A. Smith