Patents Examined by John P. Darling
  • Patent number: 5941470
    Abstract: A fishing reel oscillation system having a rotating pawl oscillation assembly whose components are integrated into a standard fishing reel mechanism wherein a pawl attached to a pinion rotates around a main shaft with a lead-screw recess track, causing the shaft and an attached spool to oscillate along the rotational axis of the spool. The pinion is also coupled to a rotor. In this manner, one integrated mechanism effects both the oscillation of the spool and the spinning of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Charles C. Worth Corporation
    Inventor: John Newton Young
  • Patent number: 5941476
    Abstract: A portable paper roll enclosure and more particularly to an enclosure and reel assembly for storing a plurality of paper rolls. A first embodiment comprises a hexagonal elongate housing with a reel assembly supported therein and rotatable about an axis. Two disks are placed on a center rod member and include a plurality of protuberances wherein opposing sets of protuberances support rolls of wrapping paper. The housing can be opened and closed for access to the reel assembly. A second embodiment includes a modified reel assembly by including a divider member between the end of the hexagonal housing and the disk member to create a compartment for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Nicholas S. Copass
  • Patent number: 5938142
    Abstract: A sheet material roll control device that comprises a series of protrusions that periodically intersect with each other while the sheet material roll rotates. One set of protrusions are located on a base while another set of protrusions are located on a roll plate. The roll plate is designed to fit on the end of a spindle that sits inside the roll core. In addition, attached to the roll plate and surrounding the spindle is an insert that rests flush inside the roll core. This insert fills the gap between the roll core and the outer shell of the spindle. With this insert, when the roll rotates, the spindle rotates with the roll, causing the roll plate to turn and periodically intersect protrusions located on the base, causing the rolling rate of the roll to slow down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Steven Halperin
  • Patent number: 5938136
    Abstract: A recoiler for rolling shutter assemblies that includes a protective cover that reduces the risk of accidentally releasing the strap and, consequently, the shutter curtain. The protective cover is disposed over the locking mechanism to prevent the inadvertent unlocking of the mechanism either by intentionally forcing the mechanism to the unlocked position or the accidentally engaging the mechanism with another object. Additionally, the recoiler facilitates adjustment of the tension in the torsion spring of the take-up roll without the necessity of removing the take-up roll assembly from the strap recoiler housing. The recoiler provides access to the shaft so that a torque may be applied to rotate the shaft to increase and/or decrease the tension in the torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: James V. Miller
  • Patent number: 5938144
    Abstract: A winding machine for a material web, particularly of paper or cardboard, the web being rolled onto a reel core for forming at least one round reel. At least two supporting devices support the wound reel. The first supporting device is formed by a first supporting roller. The second supporting device comprises at least a second supporting roller and comprises at least one lowering device that lowers to let the wound reel move off the first roller. The lowering device can be pivoted about an axis that runs essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first roller. The second supporting device is moveable to a first position where it supports the winding on process or a second position where it provides support over a circumferential area of the reel during the remainder of the winding. The second supporting device is moveable, e.g., by a piston-cylinder unit, to provide support as the wound reel increases in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kaipf, Jorg Maurer
  • Patent number: 5934587
    Abstract: An operation knob attached to the rotation tip of a handle arm in a spool operation handle of a fishing reel comprises a main body member made of a cork material, and coated on at least these surfaces exposed to the outside with a waterproof film. With such operation knob, a fishing reel can enhance operability of operation bodies and portability of the reel, provides a good touch feeling, and can be used without any problem even in a harsh environment in which water is easily deposited, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5934594
    Abstract: A coiler in wire rolling trains includes a laying pipe support supporting a laying pipe, wherein the laying pipe support includes a support disk holding the wire insertion pipe member. The support disk is coupled for rotation with a rotating insertion sleeve for this pipe member, wherein the insertion sleeve supplies the wire, and wherein the support disk is connected coaxially with a cantilever projection which receives the laying arm portion of the laying pipe. The coiler includes a cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped surrounding body extending around the laying pipe support at a radial distance, wherein an end opening facing the insertion sleeve is releasably and attachably connected to the support disk of the laying pipe support, and wherein air passage openings are arranged in the wall of the surrounding body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Siegfried David
  • Patent number: 5934599
    Abstract: A footwear lacing system comprises a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace is threaded through a series of opposing guide members positioned along the top of the foot and ankle portions of the footwear. The lace and guide preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace through the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. A release mechanism allows a user to quickly loosen the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Gary R. Hammerslag
  • Patent number: 5934603
    Abstract: A surface winder having an undercut drive roller. An apparatus for winding web material onto a core includes a driven pressure roller having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion intermediate the first and second end portions. When the pressure roller is driven against the core, a first and second nip is formed between the first and second end portions, respectively, and the core. The central portion is undercut so as to space the central portion from the web material being wound onto the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin A. Cole, Sharon A. Guzman, Larry Thomas Shafer
  • Patent number: 5934605
    Abstract: An expanding shaft has a cylindrical shaft with a plurality of radially disposed slots longitudinally extending along its outer surface. The shaft is adapted to support one or more rolls each of which has side edges. A plurality of mobile devices is disposed within one of said slots for radial movement, and a thruster urges each of the mobile devices radially outwardly. A plurality of bucking elements are adapted to engage the side edges of the rolls. The bucking elements are supported by one of said mobile devices for longitudinal movement relative to the shaft, and locking devices for the bucking elements position them longitudinally of the shaft to thereby lock one or more rolls longitudinally in position on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Svecom PE SRL
    Inventor: Giancarlo Marin
  • Patent number: 5934596
    Abstract: A safety belt retractor (10) comprised of a spool (28), a belt (40) wound on the spool (28), a ratchet wheel (48), and a torsion bar (44) interconnecting the spool (28) to the ratchet wheel (48) and capable of yielding in response to loading exerted on the belt (40) when the ratchet wheel (48) is locked against rotation. The safety belt retractor (10) also includes a holdout mechanism (18) which is normally operable in an ELR mode to permit operation of an emergency locking mechanism (16) and which can be selectively shifted into an ALR mode for locking the ratchet wheel (48) against rotation to prevent further payout of the belt (40) after a predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn from the spool (28). A timing assembly (124) functions to determine when the predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn or retracted for controlling engagement and disengagement of a latch mechanism (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Breed Automative Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Gorman, Phillip D. Yee, Mark F. Gray, Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer
  • Patent number: 5931406
    Abstract: A winder is proposed for continuously winding a paper, while forming a wound reel on a spool, having a contact pressure drum, which forms a winding nip with the wound reel and is rotatably arranged on a lifting table, which can be displaced vertically or substantially vertically, and having a guide for the spool, which comprises guide rails arranged parallel or substantially parallel to an imaginary horizontal. On the lifting table is a transport device, on which the contact pressure drum is rotatably arranged, and that the transport device can be displaced horizontally by means of a thrust device. The contact pressure drum moves vertically to establish one nip at a time with each spool in sequence, and to move out of the way of horizontal motion of a spool moving toward its winding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Siebert
  • Patent number: 5927635
    Abstract: A conventional roll of construction line can be outfitted with a reel having two shoulders connected by a shank through a spool on which the construction line is wound. The shank extends longitudinally from one of the shoulders and is releasably fastened to the other shoulder. A handle is mounted rotatably on either a longitudinal extension of the shank or one of the shoulders. Wedges on the shoulders engage the ends of the reel, and spurs on the shank engage the inside surface of the reel. A brake mechanism on the handle and a removable crank or winding knob are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventors: Wesley F. Black, Robert J. Black, Ronald L. Black, Charles D. Black
  • Patent number: 5927633
    Abstract: A resilient parking seat for the leader device of a single reel tape cartridge is provided which works in combination with a tape supply reel lock having discrete, evenly-spaced locking positions. The parking seat includes a cradle assembly, which is shaped to receive the leader device. The cradle assembly, mounted in a recess within a tape access port in the cartridge housing, is linearly slidable between two limiting positions along a path that is approximately coincident with that of the tape as it enters or exits the cartridge housing. The cradle assembly is biased with at least one biasing spring in a tape exiting direction, so that when the tape is completely rewound into the cartridge, the leader device enters the access port, makes contact with the cradle assembly, causing the cradle assembly to slide within the recess and compress the biasing spring(s). Compression of the biasing spring(s) is maintained by a rewind mechanism of a tape drive as the reel lock is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. McAllister
  • Patent number: 5924640
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle seat belt retractor of the type having a rotatable take-up reel on which seat belt webbing can be wound, which comprises: (i) an elongate pressure chamber; (ii) a plurality of projectiles located in the pressure chamber, (iii) gas generator for generating a high-pressure gas within the pressure chamber so as to propel the projectile along the pressure chamber; (iv) a drive surface upon which the projectiles impinge when propelled along the pressure chamber by the high-pressure gas, the drive surface being connected to, or comprising a part of, the rotatable take-up reel of the vehicle seat belt retractor and arranged to be driven by the impinging projectiles so as to rotate the rotatable take-up reel in a belt retraction direction when impinged upon by the projectiles, so as, in operation, to take up slack in the seat belt webbing, and to pull the seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Royal Ordnance Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Dennis J. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5924647
    Abstract: A winding machine for winding up webs, possibly longitudinally divided webs, and preferably paper webs. The winding machine comprises two support rollers which support, in a winding bed, the roll to be produced. During the winding process, the web running through the spacer gap between the two support rollers partially wraps around one of the two support rollers. The winding machine further comprises a space delimited by the two support rollers, the partly formed roll, and this space has sealed closures on its ends and a sealed closure below the spacer gap between the two support rollers. Finally, the winding machine generates excess pressure in this space in order to balance the inherent weight of the roll. The sealed closure below the spacer gap comprises a pivotable side wall which extends substantially over the entire maximum web width of the roll to be produced and whose pivot axis extends approximately parallel to the support rollers axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Dorfel
  • Patent number: 5921487
    Abstract: A device for winding a steel strip for coiling an electric strip free of distortion onto a coil. The device comprises a computer-controlled winding device having a rotatingly driven winding core, and a strip feeding device having a strip guide head arranged spaced from the winding core and being displaceable parallel with an axis of the winding core. The strip guide head and winding core are thus relatively displaceable against each other horizontally parallel with the axis of the winding core. The winding device is programmed to coordinate the rotary speed of the winding core and the axial relative speed between the winding core and the strip feed to wind the electric strip in an oscillating motion with successively wound layers. The device reverses the direction of the axial relative movement between the winding core and the strip feed when ends of the coil are reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: C. D. Walzholz Produktions--Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Hans-Toni Junius
  • Patent number: 5921489
    Abstract: A fishing spinning reel includes an oscillate mechanism in which a protrusion is formed on the periphery of an idle gear which turns in association with the rotation of a handle. The protrusion engages with an oscillate groove of an oscillate slider which is provided on the rear end side of a spool shaft having a spool at the end. Thus, rotation of the handle is converted into the reciprocation of the spool to move the spool back and forth. In the fishing spinning reel, the oscillate groove includes: an inclined portion which is inclined in the front-to-rear direction of the spool shaft; and straight portions which extend respectively from both ends of the inclined portion in such a manner that the straight portions are substantially perpendicular to the spool shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 5915640
    Abstract: A reel for winding up and unwinding surplus cable, comprising a first housing part and a second housing part which are connected together as to be able to rotate with respect to one another about a common axis and together enclose a chamber for receiving the cable. The reel includes a central member present in the chamber with each housing part having a free rim which extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis, with the housing parts each comprising a slot which extends as far as the free rim. During the winding operation, a cable part which extends through the two slots into the chamber is pulled further into the chamber by rotating the housing parts with respect to one another and is thereby wound around the central member. The housing parts are connected to one another by means of a connection which is releasable via an operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: InnoEssentials International B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Sjirk Wagter, Ralph Stuyver, Joop Hakker
  • Patent number: 5915645
    Abstract: The housing of the apparatus comprises lateral walls (2b-2c) perpendicular to the rear wall (2a) and designed to have curved slots (2g) and at least one projecting shape (9) shaped in the form of a cam situated at the rear end of each curved slot. Opposite each wall (2b-2c) there is a small hinged shaped plate (11) capable of elastic deformation accommodating a retractable pin (12) arranged opposite the wall of the housing in order to fit into, protrude beyond or retract from said curved receptacle slot in combination with elastic deformation of the small plate of which the lower part is capable of cooperating as it moves with projection (9) formed on the opposite wall depending on the particular reel loading phase. The small plate is restored to its initial position at the end of operation. The diameter of pin (12) is much less than the diameter of the core. This loading device is suitable for any type of dispensing apparatus for paper wipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Maurice Granger