Patents Examined by John M. Jillions
  • Patent number: 6926221
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, and an energy converter coil having at least one metal strip. The energy converter coil has a plurality of metal strips which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the middle axis of the belt reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Röhrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 6926225
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for dispensing a roll of plastic wrap (100) having a hollow core (101) wherein, the apparatus (10) includes a pair of end cap members (20) each having an axial stub (22) dimensioned to engage the hollow core (101) and a nipple (23) dimensioned to be rotatably received in the end plates (32) having a serrated severing element (35) on one side and a bracket arm (36) on the other side wherein, the bracket arm (36) is adapted to be adjustably engaged in an angular fashion relative to a handle member (40) that is attached to the housing member (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Craig J. Powers
  • Patent number: 6926258
    Abstract: A strap tension retaining device is configured for a use with a bulk unit secured by a strap under tension. Such a bulk unit load has a corner and defines a bulk unit perimeter. The strap tension retaining device includes a fixed base element, fixed relative to the bulk unit load, a floating element movable relative to the fixed base element, a biasing element mounted between the floating element and the fixed base element and a guide element mounting the floating element to the fixed base element to guide movement of the floating element relative to the fixed base element. The strap tension retaining device is positioned at about the corner of the bulk unit load with the strap positioned around the bulk unit perimeter of the bulk unit load, over the strap tension retaining device floating element. When the strap is tensioned a force is exerted by the strap on the floating element to force the biasing element against the bias direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Sowa, Michael Kaufman, Lawrence Promise, Mark Hughes
  • Patent number: 6926224
    Abstract: A web is wound onto a core (21) while supported by winding drums (11, 12). The web is cut by a cutting device (19), and a finished web roll (10) is removed by a transfer device (16). A new core (21) is moved to a space between the winding drums (11, 12), and the winding is stopped to remove the finished roll (10) and to start a new roll. The core is moved onto support of one winding drum and a support member (22) and held in place by the support member (22) until the movable winding drum (11, 12) has been moved to the starting position of winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Heikki Föhr, Markku Järvensivu, Pauli Koutonen
  • Patent number: 6923398
    Abstract: A winding mechanism retains a sheet material in a state in which the sheet material can be pulled out. The winding mechanism includes a flexible sheet material, a winding shaft attached to one end of the sheet material, a force application device that always applies a force to the winding shaft in a normal direction in which the sheet material is wound around the winding shaft, and a braking device that applies a braking force to the winding shaft only in the normal direction. In other words, the winding mechanism applies an appropriate braking force to the winding shaft when the sheet material is wound, but does not apply a braking force to the winding shaft when the sheet material is pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Kosugi, Yuichi Shirase, Tohru Sambommatsu
  • Patent number: 6918560
    Abstract: A winding apparatus adaptable to longer films with minimum design changes in existing apparatus has a winding shaft 31 on which a reel member 50 capable of winding a given film at multiple stages can be mounted. The winding shaft 31 can be moved in the rotational and axial directions of the reel member 50. The winding apparatus 10 further has a driving mechanism 40 for giving power in the rotational and axial directions to the winding shaft 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Chemicals Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Arai
  • Patent number: 6918556
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge has: a reel; a recording tape, one end of the recording tape being anchored at the reel, and the recording tape being wound on the reel; a leader member attached to another end of the recording tape; a case having an opening for pulling-out of the leader member, the case rotatably accommodating the reel; and holding portions formed at a ceiling surface and a floor surface of the case, and holding the leader member in a vicinity of the opening, wherein the holding portions have cut-outs which are continuous from the opening, and sides of the cut-outs near the opening are open. The leader member has an anchor portion at each end portion of the leader member, and the anchor portions are inserted into the cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6918552
    Abstract: A roll of knitted pile fabric is disclosed including an extended length fabric strip made from a plurality of seamed standard lengths of the fabric, the extended length fabric strip being substantially spirally wound upon a hollow core with consecutive windings of the extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on the hollow core. In the preferred embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are joined together at their respective contiguous ends using a small strip of heat-activated seaming tape. The extended length fabric strip is suitable for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Monterey Mills
    Inventors: Dale C. Jelinek, Marcus I. Skildum
  • Patent number: 6918557
    Abstract: A holiday decorations string reel including a vertically disposed hollow column with a top end and a bottom end and having a generally cylindrical configuration and a longitudinal centerline with an outer wall spaced a distance from said centerline, a substantially horizontally disposed top flange and bottom flange encapsulating said column at the top end and the bottom end of said column, a plurality of separator disks concentrically mounted along the length of the outer wall of said column, wherein said disks are vertically adjustable up and down the length of the outer wall of said column, and a reel platform rotatably attached to said bottom flange of said column. A method for hanging holiday decorations strings. A method for storing holiday decorations strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventors: Larry J. Ast, Christina A. Ast
  • Patent number: 6915981
    Abstract: A recording paper roll in which a lengthy recording paper is wound by a bobbin comprises an adhesive tape as a means for adhering the initial take-up section of the recording paper to the bobbin. The adhesive tape comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesives provided on both surfaces of a film laminate on which two synthetic resin films have been laminated detachably so that a residue of starch paste or adhesives which has been used to adhere the initial take-up section to the bobbin does not entrap into a printer, which is accompanied by the recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Oji Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Shinohara, Yoshimasa Tanaka, Satoru Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6915979
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor assembly for a restraint retractor of a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes an acceleration sprocket operatively connected to the restraint retractor. The acceleration sensor assembly also includes an acceleration pawl cooperating with the acceleration sprocket to operatively cause lock up of the restraint retractor. The acceleration sensor assembly includes an inertia member cooperating with the acceleration pawl to move the acceleration pawl when an acceleration force is present and a gimbal to support the inertia member. The acceleration sensor assembly further includes a non-contact damping mechanism cooperating with the gimbal to dampen movement of the gimbal until the acceleration force exceeds a predetermined value and the inertia member actuates the acceleration pawl to engage the acceleration sprocket to operatively cause lock up of the restraint retractor and prevent unwinding of a belt from the restraint retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Webber, Kevin Wei-Loong Ng
  • Patent number: 6913221
    Abstract: A safety enclosure for a powered reel apparatus for use with an associated elongated flexible member. The reel is carried by and enclosed within the enclosure and is rotatable by a electric motor. The enclosure has left and right wall panels, front and rear wall panels extending between the left and right wall panels, and a cover. When one of the panels is in an open position, the motor is operationally locked out, and when one of the panels is rotated into a closed position, the motor is operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Suncast Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Moon, Lyle Rosine, Torrence Anderson
  • Patent number: 6913222
    Abstract: A lightweight, collapsible, readily repairable, minimum thickness reel for cable, conduit, tubing or the like and the components of which are preferably molded of synthetic resin material. The end flanges of the reel each have a flat inner surface and a cellular outer surface for decreased weight. Molded, foldable ribbed tubing support units are interposed between the inner surfaces of the end flanges for receiving and supporting cable, conduit or tubing wound therearound when the support units are extended. The planar, inner surfaces of the end flanges have recesses for complementally receiving the rib portions of the leg segments of respective support units so that when the reel is in its collapsed condition the reel is not substantially thicker than the combined thickness of the side by side end flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Donald J. Maxwell, David Vossen
  • Patent number: 6908060
    Abstract: A retail electrical wire reel caddy has a steel frame which may be rested upright, the upper portion of the caddy serving as a handle. The back has a slight angled configuration allowing easy grasp for lifting from prone to upright positions. The reel is of identical front and rear circular members, the outer member being turned to face the rear member so as to interlock “U”-shaped wire coil supports which are integral with supporting spokes extending between an outer rims and inner reel hubs. The caddy has a shaft extending forward from a mounting plate located on the back vertical portion of the frame, the frame having a forward extending base portion extending beneath the reel for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Patrick A. Hibbs
  • Patent number: 6908020
    Abstract: A device for isolating strips conveyed next to another in lengthwise direction is constituted by at least one separating unit which is extended parallel to a lengthwise axis. Each strip is assigned to one guide and it is inserted and guided by the guides in a plane running essentially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the separating unit and different for neighboring guides. When the strips are inserted into the guides, the guides are adjustable from a starting position, in which the strips have a slight lateral interval, into a separable position, in which a larger interval exists between the strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Sundwig GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Gravert
  • Patent number: 6905089
    Abstract: A wire reel mounted on a support having a pivoting brake arm with improved brake pads at one end and an enclosed eyelet at a second end. A separate L-bar is also mounted on the support and includes an eyehook aligned with the eyelet to further smoothly guide the wire being withdrawn from the reel. A number of wire reels having pivoting brake arms and L-bars may be rotatably mounted on the support. The support may take the form of a movable cart with a number of reels rotatably mounted on a top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: SOL Telecommunications Services INC
    Inventors: Hector M. Solis, Robert S. Zapata
  • Patent number: 6905088
    Abstract: The invention provides a cable-winder device comprising first and second hinged-together portions, the second portion having a housing for a cable winder. In an in-use position, the device is self-supporting can be used as a stool, for example. A liftable hatch can be provided to give access to one or more stowage compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: SDG Industries Limited
    Inventor: Frankie Alson
  • Patent number: 6902130
    Abstract: A multiple purpose storage device for Christmas string of lights constructed of plastic molding. Device has two identical octagon shaped sides which twist snap together at a 90 degree angle to form a single component. A single unit molded handle with a non-restricted rotating lever snaps over a boss at each side of the reel just outside the center of the cylinder. A flexible tab facility is molded into the inner side of the reel to hold one end of a string of lights to wrap evenly around the cylinder by rotating a lever. The handle has a storage compartment at the top made with a living hinge for secure closure and easy opening. Device is assembled prior to shipping and is shipped in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box designed for storing reel and for handy stackable shelf storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Rosa Brown Salem
  • Patent number: 6902129
    Abstract: A seat belt device is provided. The seat belt device has a seat belt roller together with a locking device for locking the seat belt roller. The seat belt device furthermore has a guide pin which is moveably supported inside a guide link and is coupled to the locking device. The displacement of the guide pin inside the guide link depends on the direction of movement of the seat belt roller. The coupling of the pin to the locking device provides that locking of the seat belt roller is either brought about or prevented, according to the positioning of the guide pin in the guide link. The seat belt device makes it possible to ensure that seat belt locking is activated only when unreeling, and not when the set belt is being reeled in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Takata-Petri (Ulm) GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Grasser, Robert Fleischmann, Stefan Lambrecht, Jochen Benz
  • Patent number: 6902131
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a spool having a continuous fabric strip is disclosed which produces an extended length fabric strip made from a plurality of seamed standard lengths of the fabric, the extended length fabric strip being substantially spirally wound upon a hollow core with consecutive windings of the extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on the hollow core. In a first embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are joined together at their respective contiguous ends using a small strip of heat-activated seaming tape. In a second embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are stitched together at their respective contiguous ends using thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Monterey, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Jelinek, Marcus L. Skildum, Theodore S. Heitzler