Patents Examined by James B. Marbert
  • Patent number: 4800940
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel rim is disclosed a pair of bead seats, and axially inwards of and adjacent to each bead seat a circumferentially extending tire toe engaging groove. There is a secondary bead retaining means between the bead seat and the groove comprising a hump having a height measured radially from the bead seat surface adjacent to the hump of 1 to 3.0 mm. The hump preferably has a steep surface on its axially outer edge. The resultant wheel still correctly seats a normal tire with the toe engaging the hump when the tire is deflated and correctly engages in a TD type of tire with the toe in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: S P Tyres U K Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Holmes, Phillip N. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 4801166
    Abstract: A grate handle includes a handle body having a longitudinal axis. The handle body has a first slot formed therein being wider than a bar of a grate and being elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, whereby a bar of a grate may be inserted in the first slot for pushing a grate. The grate handle also has a second slot formed therein being wider than a bar of a grate and being elongated in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, whereby a bar of a grate may be inserted in the second slot for pulling a grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventors: Cindy Jordan, Alan Jordan
  • Patent number: 4801178
    Abstract: In a joint structure for an axle, the outer race of a constant-velocity joint is formed at the end of an axle shaft disposed inside a hollow spherical portion of a tubular axle, a seal fitted to a knuckle is disposed in such a manner as to cross the axes of a pair of king-pins disposed in a vertical direction, the fitting position of the seal is substantially the largest diameter position of the hollow spherical portion of the tubular axle, the knuckle consists of a knuckle portion supported rotatably by the king-pin on the upper side and a knuckle portion supported rotatably by the king-pin on the lower side, and the seal is clamped between the knuckle portion on the upper side and the knuckle portion on the lower side. Accordingly, the annular seal is slidable substantially to the part of the hollow spherical portion with the swinging movement of the knuckle, which part is the connection of the hollow spherical portion with the end of the tubular axle, and a steering angle can thus be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Naomichi Sasa
  • Patent number: 4799452
    Abstract: A toner recycling system having separate supply tank of clear liquid dispersant and tanks of color concentrate. The liquid dispersant is continuously circulated from its supply tank by a pump along lines to a toner applictor then back to the supply tank. Color concentrate containing charge bearing solid pigment particles are selectively injected and mixed with the dispersant by means of pumps or valves to form liquid toner whenever developing a latent image is desired. The excess toner is collected and sent to a solids separator, either dedicated to a particular color of toner or common to all toners, where an electrically biased electrode repels the solid pigment particles toward a particle accumulating surface, thereby separating the particles from the dispersant. The dispersant is returned to the supply tank, while the particles which have accumulated on the surface of either a drum or belt as a layer of concentrate is scraped off by a blade and returned to the appropriate tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Precision Image Corporation
    Inventor: Gene F. Day
  • Patent number: 4799723
    Abstract: This relates to a carrier for cups or containers. The carrier is formed from a flat sheet of plastic material and has a pair of openings therein on opposite sides of a transverse bar for receiving upper intermediate portions of cups. Each of the openings is defined by a peripheral strap which will tightly engage an intermediate upper portion of a vertically tapered cup. Further, generally surrounding at least one of the openings is a carrying strap defined by a C-shaped cut which also defines the article engaging strap for that opening. In one form of carrier there are two carrying straps and in another form there is a single carrying strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: The Continental Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Mahaffy
  • Patent number: 4798418
    Abstract: The vehicle wheel comprises a rim containing an external closed ring and an internal rim ring composed of three segments and connected to a segmentally separated or segment-shaped divided disc. The beads of the pneumatic tire lie in grooves disposed between the external closed ring and the internal rim ring. Each of these grooves is formed by a bead seat, a vertical web and the external closed ring. Due to the internal pressure of the air in the pneumatic tire, each tire bead is drawn against clamping surfaces of the associated groove and sealed in relation to the external closed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Kempf, Hans Kopp
  • Patent number: 4796937
    Abstract: An insulating shell and carrier for a bottle in which the shell is formed of an insulating material having a main body section with an opening into which the bottle fits and an integral handle portion having an opening to permit a user to carry the bottle by the shell to use it as a pouring aid. The shell is preferably made from a flat sheet of material which is cut to the desired shape and size and joined at the edges to form the configuration matching that of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Douglas J. Andrea
  • Patent number: 4796938
    Abstract: A novel scoop for use in a garden or lawn for loading and transporting dirt, trash, leaves, weeds, and the like. The scoop has a detachable gate for easing the loading of material into the scoop and for dumping material from the scoop. The scoop comprises a flat rectangular bottom having an upstanding back wall with opposite side walls having a sloping front engaging the detachable gate. Handles are placed on the back wall, gate, and in a position engaging both side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Douglas Knights
  • Patent number: 4796538
    Abstract: A hold down bar for securing adjacent hatch covers of a hopper car and for further sealing the gap that exists between those covers includes a latch arm formed from spring steel in the configuration of an inverted U so as to have a generally straight midportion and legs which are directed downwardly and outwardly from the midportion. In addition, the bar has a resilient shoe which fits against and is attached to the midportion of the latch arm, but is shorter than the space between the two legs so that it can be adjusted back and forth in that space and thus positioned with considerable precision with regard to underlying hatch covers. The shoe in turn carries a gasket that seats against the adjacent hatch covers along a gap between them to effect a water tight seal with those latch covers. Being formed from spring steel, the latch arm will deflect in the presence of heavy impacts, such as derived from the latch covers being dropped on them, but will not take on a permanent deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventors: Ralph M. McLean, Jr., James C. Bates
  • Patent number: 4795203
    Abstract: A container and trailer-handling combination yoke having lifting arms mounted at the opposite ends of two transversely extending, longitudinally spaced yokes interconnected by a telescopically extensible frame, are mounted for pivoting between respective generally vertical, operating positions and generally horizontal elevated positions. The arms are mounted to the respective yoke ends via respective intermediate members which are themselves pivotally mounted to the yokes about respective generally horizontal, longitudinally extending axes, so that the elevated arms may be swung inboard to storage positions lying transversely inboard of the respective ends of the yokes. Preferably, hydraulic double cylinders are used for swinging-up the lifting arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Inventor: Gosta Karlsson
  • Patent number: 4795204
    Abstract: A band is attached in an inverted U-shape to a luggage carrier or any other similar carrier. A unique clamping arrangement permits the length of the band to be adjusted vertically to accommodate the height of a person using the carrier. Further, the lateral distance between the two legs of the U-shaped band can be adjusted to accommodate the width of the shoulders of a person transporting the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankodo
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4793646
    Abstract: By providing at least two elongated, telescopically engaged tube members which incorporate therein a spring biased, dual locking pin structure in combination with tube aligning and centralizing zones, a unique, adjustable handle and arm assembly is achieved which is capable of being easily moved into a plurality of alternate positions and securely engaged in each position, with unwanted dislodgement or lateral wobbling or movement being completely eliminated. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated telescopically engaged tube members are constructed with cooperating enlarged diameter zones and reduced diameter zones to prevent the unwanted disengagement of the tube members. In addition a plurality of alternate operative end units can be quickly and easily mounted to said elongated handle and arm assembly, with one of said end units comprising a unique mooring clasp and book hook construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Northeast Marine, Inc.
    Inventor: Fernand L. Michaud, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4793658
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel cover includes a cover body having apertured flange portions arranged in diametrically opposite pairs. A leaf spring extends between each pair of apertured flange portions and includes shoulder means projecting radially outwardly of the flange portions for cooperative engagement with abutment means of a wheel opening. The leaf springs are in overcenter relationship to the cover body to provide a spring force resisting radial inward movement of the shoulder portions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: General Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Trevor J. Brown
  • Patent number: 4792191
    Abstract: A disk is cut from thin sheet material such as cardstock or plastic. The disc includes a radial cut from the center to the periphery thereof. A plurality of short radial slits is cut in the periphery spaced apart from the radial cut, and a plurality of tabs for engaging any of the slits is cut in the periphery and spaced apart from the radial cut in the opposite circumferential direction. Engaging a tab with a slit forms a cone and the spacings therebetween are selected to form cone diameters to match automobile wheel diameters. Finger holes are provided around the apex of a formed cone to permit holding the cone over a wheel while cleaning a tire on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Frederick M. Farmer
  • Patent number: 4792172
    Abstract: A gripping and lifting clamp for pipes and cylindrical objects has an annular body equipped to be suspended and lifted. Inside the annular body is a plurality of jaws slidable on guides integral with the annular body and inclined converging towards the center downwardly. The jaws are connected by connecting rods to an axially movable common ring, carried by controllable actuating members adapted to bring the ring from a raised position to a lowered position, thereby determining, via the connecting rods, sliding of the jaws in the axial direction of the annular body on the inclined guides, between a raised, widened position and a lowered, closed position, in which the jaws come into contact with and grip onto the external surface of the pipe or cylindrical object to be lifted. The angle of inclination of the guides is such as to determine, due to the friction existing between jaws and pipe, the checking and support of the pipe itself by sticking friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Riva Calzoni S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Montanari, Oneglio Sala
  • Patent number: 4792170
    Abstract: A handle assembly is provided for a generally cylindrical compressed air tank having a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a substantially annular mounting piece having an outer perimeter and an opening formed therein for receiving an axial section of the air tank. The mounting piece is releasably fastened to the received section of the air tank, and a handle that is disposed entirely within the outer perimeter of the annular portion is attached to the mounting piece to facilitate manipulation of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventors: Lamar H. Gipson, William P. Batina, Paul H. Vernon
  • Patent number: 4791972
    Abstract: A filler ring, made of rubber or synthetic material, for a vehicle wheel and pneumatic tire assembly where the beads of the tire are mounted on the radially inner periphery of a wheel rim next to essentially radially inwardly extending rim flanges. The filler ring covers a space located axially inwardly of a rim flange. The filler ring includes at least two planes of circumferential hollow chambers, with the planes of hollow chambers being superimposed on one another in a radial direction, and with at least two hollow chambers, which are successively arranged in an axial direction, being provided in each of the planes of such hollow chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Duchow, Dietmar Haack, Udo Frerichs, Werner Flebbe, Heinz-Dieter Rach
  • Patent number: 4790585
    Abstract: A double headed garden tool is provided and consists of an elongated handle, a plurality of different types of attachable garden tools, a bolt and wing nut for attaching one garden tool to one end of the elongated handle and another bolt and wing nut for attaching another garden tool at a 90.degree. angle to the other end of the elongated handle so that when one garden tool is not in use it will be out of the way when the other garden tool is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventors: James J. Vernon, George Spector
  • Patent number: 4790584
    Abstract: Compliant linkage apparatus for providing, in a single stage, three degrees of freedom in a single plane, the apparatus comprising an upper plate, a lower plate under the upper plate, sliding means for allowing the upper and lower plates to slide relative to each other in X, Y, and theta, and orientation means for causing the plates to attract each other in a particular orientation to resiliently resist relative lateral and rotational displacements of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Antonios E. Prentakis
  • Patent number: 4790587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping device with two spaced gripping elements of which at least one has a backing member with a flexible membrane secured thereto on its side facing the other gripping element. The gripping membrane encloses a pressure space over the backing member into which air may be forced to cause gripping of an article between the gripping element and from which it may be let off to release the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Kurt Stoll