Patents Examined by Johnny D. Cherry
  • Patent number: 6502881
    Abstract: A picker for a module IC handler includes a plurality of grippers. Each gripper includes first and second jaws, and one or more cylinders or other actuators for driving the first and second jaws. Each gripper also includes a damping device that damps movements of the jaws to reduce an impact that can occur as the jaws grip a module IC. The grippers may also include one or more sensors for sensing when the jaws have grasped a module IC, or for sensing the position of the gripper relative to the module IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Joo Paek, Do Il Kim
  • Patent number: 6502877
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripper system which can be secured to a hand of a robot and has at least two mutually independent gripper elements; each gripper element is provided with at least one force sensor for ascertaining a force in a predetermined direction. With this gripper system, it is possible to grasp components more reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: J. Schmalz GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Schick, Kurt Schmalz, Wolfgang Schmalz, Thomas Eisele
  • Patent number: 6499781
    Abstract: A device for carrying a load, such as plastic bags that are used for carrying items purchased at supermarkets. The device can be used to carry the load by hand, on a shoulder or on a forearm. The device has a central portion, including a handle and a spaced apart support member defining a non-collapseable opening dimensioned to receive a hand. The support member has a concave downwardly facing surface for securely positioning the device on a shoulder or forearm. Hooks are attached on opposite ends of the central portion for receiving at least one load handle. Free end portions of the hooks are in resilient contact with the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Norman Homer Flynn
  • Patent number: 6499779
    Abstract: A crane gear for the transport of web rolls with a winding core, provided with a passage hole, exhibits a support frame, which is attached to a cable and which is provided with receiving units. The support frame comprises an upper yoke carrier with legs, which point in the downward direction and whose ends are provided with hooks and from which a support rod, which is slid through the passage hole, can be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher
    Inventors: Joerg Christian Thies, Andreas Schroedter
  • Patent number: 6499778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a telescoping tool to aid in pulling wire through openings during wire installation in existing premises. The tool comprises a telescoping handle having a plurality of individual sections stacked one within the other. Each section has a first exposed end and a second end contained within the handle. The exposed end of the inner most section of the telescoping handle is provided with a wire receiving hook attached thereto for hooking a wire and allowing it to be pulled through an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Boulay
  • Patent number: 6497440
    Abstract: A gripper for parts having different shapes is disclosed. The gripper includes a holder having one end mounted and moved in a socket unit, and having a penetration groove forming a passage of air flown through the socket unit; a piston mounted in the penetration groove, and lifted or lowered due to a pressure of the air flown through the penetration groove; a movement unit having a slanted surface to be horizontally moved in a direction of increasing or decreasing an interval by the piston lifted or lowered; and grip tips for picking up or putting the parts. The grip tips are moved to pick up the parts having the different shape and easily mount the parts on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventor: Dong June Kim
  • Patent number: 6494513
    Abstract: A hand tool for gripping and moving building materials includes a linkage having a grip at a first end. A plate having a gripping face is pivotally attached to a second end of the linkage. A generally U-shaped bracket is pivotally attached to the linkage adjacent to the plate and extends beyond the second end of the linkage so that a gripping face thereof is disposed generally opposite the plate gripping face. Upon inserting a building material between the plate and bracket gripping faces and lifting the linkage upwardly, the plate and bracket pivot so that the gripping faces firmly contact and grip opposite sides of the building material for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Gary Landon Worthington
  • Patent number: 6494517
    Abstract: A eating implement for holding the bone portion of ribs, chicken and other foods. The eating implement includes a tong-shaped member having a pair of arms each having a first end attached to a resiliently flexible connector. The arms extend outwardly in a generally parallel direction with respect to each other. The arms each have an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surfaces face each other. Each of the arms has a first edge and a second edge. Each of the arms has a middle portion, a distal portion and proximal portion with respect to the connector A holding member extends around the tong-shaped member and is positioned between the distal and proximal portions of the arms for holding the arms in a static relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Madeline G. Durant
  • Patent number: 6494515
    Abstract: The pole handler attachment includes a base frame that is pivotally attached to an arm of an earth moving machine for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis. A trunnion is fixed to the base frame. A sleeve is journaled on the trunnion for pivotal movement about a trunnion axis that is normal to the transverse horizontal axis. A fixed clamp assembly is fixed to the sleeve. A movable clamp assembly is pivotally attached to the sleeve. A clamp cylinder pivots the movable clamp assembly to hold a pole against first and second clamp surfaces on the fixed clamp assembly. The first clamp surface is perpendicular to the second clamp surface. A tilt linear actuator pivots the sleeve on the trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Carl D. Kalbfleisch
  • Patent number: 6491330
    Abstract: An edge-gripping wafer handling apparatus for holding and transporting wafers in a clean room environment is implemented by mounting gripping fingers on a paddle arm adapted to be controlled by a robot. At the free end of the paddle arm, a plurality of fixed fingers is mounted. Each of these fixed fingers includes a notch for gripping the edge of a wafer. A moving finger is mounted close to the fixed end of the paddle arm. The moving finger can be smoothly moved to engage the edge of the wafer and cause the opposite edge of the wafer to engage the fixed fingers. The movement of the moving finger is caused by a bellows flexing a hinge connected to the finger. The flexing hinge is formed as a parallelogram of two stable ends and two flexing arms. The movement of the hinge is smooth and causes no particulate matter to be generated due to rubbing or other friction generating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ade Corporation
    Inventors: Anil Mankame, Anthony Florindi, Fredrick Arnold Goodman
  • Patent number: 6488323
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping tubular members in a single or multi-string arrangement about their outer diameter without causing surface damage or structural deformation to the tubular members, so that they may be axially rotated or secured against axial rotation. A generally cylindrical internal sleeve is contained within a molded flexible liner. One side of the internal sleeve is releasably attached to the flexible liner, forming an annular bladder-like structure within the flexible liner. Introduction of pressure into the bladder-like structure causes the flexible liner to inflate radially inward causing the flexible liner and torque transmitting bushing to thereby grip the tubular work piece within the new improved friction grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Frank's Casing Crew and Rental Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon Bouligny
  • Patent number: 6488321
    Abstract: A power sucker includes a sucker member having a bore formed in the upper portion and having a valve seat. A handle is secured to the upper portion of the sucker member. A tube has a lower piston slidably received in the bore of the sucker member, and biased to engage with the valve seat. A hand grip is secured to the upper portion of the tube for pulling and disengaging the piston away from the valve seat. The tube includes an orifice and one or more openings and one or more air passages for releasing air when the piston is disengaged from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Chen Hua Huang
  • Patent number: 6485074
    Abstract: A tool includes an elongate body having a handle unit on one end and a grill contacting unit on another end. The grill contacting unit includes diverging tines with each having a beveled edge that may be scraped against a bar of a grill to clean that grill. A hollow tube is positioned in the grill contacting unit to contain a match that is used to ignite charcoals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Robert E. Floyd
  • Patent number: 6485075
    Abstract: A golf ball retriever system that includes a hook assembly, constructed from a wire material covered with a rubberized coating to minimize disturbance of the bottom materials of the water hazard so that the water clarity would stay as clear as possible during retrieval of the golf ball. The hook assembly is secured to the end of the telescopically extendable handle that collapses for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Frank O. McClain
  • Patent number: 6485076
    Abstract: A versatile attachment in the form of an elongated member having an obtuse angle is mounted on a shovel handle. The lower end of the elongated member is pivotally mounted in a cantilever manner to the lower portion of the shovel handle. The elongated member mounted with the obtuse angle portion of the elongated member located selectively either above or below the longitudinal axis of the shovel handle. A cross bar member is provided at the upper free end of the elongated member and a rotary wheel is rotatably mounted on the cross bar member. A strap is provided at the shovel handle and is operative for securing the attachment to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: William Nai-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 6485073
    Abstract: A shovel and bag assembly for scooping animal refuse deposited by a pet animal. The shovel comprises a handle, a spaded loop including a spade with a protruding leading edge, a first and second support arm for the spade, a base, and a first and second extended corner. The spade and the two extended corners are configured to affix and tension the bag in an open configuration. The extended corners may each comprise a shoulder that assists in tensioning and holding the bag. In addition, the support arms may comprise a curved section proximate to the spade, which increase the tension along the underside of the spade and also widen the opening to facilitate pickup of animal refuse. After scooping the animal refuse into the bag, a rear pocket of the bag is inverted over a forward pocket, covering the soiled forward section and sealing the bag for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6481769
    Abstract: A lifting device that simultaneously lifts a plurality of retaining wall blocks initially oriented in a triangular configuration on a pallet and allows them to be easily realigned in a linear configuration on a retaining wall. The lifting device comprises two pivoting lateral extending side arms with clamping units attached to their distal ends. Attached to the main planar frame is a central clamping unit. Each clamping unit includes an insert member that inserts into a large, vertically aligned hole formed in the block. When the clamping units are inserted into the hole and activated, three triangularly aligned sets of blocks on a pallet may be lifted. The side arms are designed to pivot rearward so that the front surfaces of the blocks are longitudinally aligned and the blocks are positioned in a side-by-side manner. Once properly realigned, the lifting device is lowered so that the three blocks are simultaneously placed over the top row of the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventors: Loren D. Harris, David B. Harris, Brett A. Harris
  • Patent number: 6481770
    Abstract: A gripping device for a component mounting machine, the gripping device comprising a gripping device body (1) with a finger portion (2). The finger portion (2) is provided with at least two elongate fingers (3, 4) made in one piece, each finger (3, 4) having an outer edge (5, 6), the outer edges (5, 6) being provided for, in cooperation, gripping a component. The at least two fingers (3, 4) are flexible in relation to each other so that the outer edges (5, 6) of the fingers (3, 4) are moveable towards and away from each other. Movement of at least one finger (4) is controlled by a slide (7) engaging a part of the finger portion (2) remote from the finger (4) for positive movement of the finger (4) in different directions, the slide (7) being displaceably mounted on the gripping device body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Mats Tholander, Conny Nordin, Kaj Eriksson, Daniel Hultman
  • Patent number: 6481771
    Abstract: A handle, for supporting and carrying shopping bags, comprising a continuous piece of material having a first end, a second end, an outer side, and an inner side. A tab extends from the first end, and a slot is located at the second end. The handle is bent, creating a pair of symmetrical broad surfaces for the user to hold and a valley region extending longitudinally therebetween. The bags extend longitudinally within the valley region. The bags are selectively secured within the handle by locking the first end and second end by inserting the tab into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Linda Friedman
  • Patent number: 6481767
    Abstract: A battery carrier comprises a handle having first and second ends threadably receiving, respectively, first and second threaded ends of first and second threaded rod members, the first threaded end and the second reverse threaded end being in opposed relation and defining an axis whereby rotation of a connecting member controls the spacing of handle members and attached battery gripping members; each of the gripping members includes an inwardly extending flange having an equal dimension transverse to the axis and extending equally in opposite directions from the axis of the handle by a distance at least two times greater than the width of first and second plate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lisle Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Pool