Patents Examined by Joseph F. Peters, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5230295
    Abstract: A generally elongate fitting has, at a distal end, a hook for hooking an external object, and, at a proximal end, an eye and a cleat for attaching a rope. An eye hook with an eye at its proximal end, a hook at its distal end, and a connecting shank between the hook and the eye is formed integrally with a modified cleat that has both (i) a pair of projecting arms and (ii) a projecting arm. The pair of projecting arms extends proximally from the region of the eye so as to form a "V" channel between them. The projecting arm extends distally from the region of the eye at an incline to the shank so as to form another "V" channel. Both channels are suitable to compressively engage a rope that is forcibly wedged within such channel. A rope slipped through the eye is pulled taught against the eye, and not against either channel, until, a desired tension in the rope having been achieved, the rope is easily, while still held taut, angled into that channel of the cleat which is formed between the two projecting arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Inventor: David A. Shell
  • Patent number: 5230487
    Abstract: A drive and guide mechanism for a flap such as a landing flap arranged in an aircraft wing, especially in the trailing edge of the wing includes a carriage to which the flap is pivoted. The carriage is movable along a support and guide rail. A drive arm and control system is operated by a drive mechanism (8) with a drive lever (9) which connects a drive rod (10) to the carriage. The kinematic drive mechanism (8) includes a control link (5), a two armed lever or control link (6), a control rod (7), and the drive rod (10). The two armed control link (6) is journalled to the carriage (4) in a tiltable manner. One arm of the two armed link (6) and the control link (5) connect the carriage with the flap (2). The one arm (6a) and the control link (5) form a four bar link with a section of the carriage and a section of the flap. The second arm (6b) of the control link (6) is connected with the drive lever (9) through a drive rod (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Gartelmann, Manfred Seifert
  • Patent number: 5230485
    Abstract: A connector device is constructed for fixing and holding of structural components to each other, more specifically of secondary components to a primary support component. The primary support component may, for example, be a support rail with a clamping gap and the secondary components may be cross beams for carrying floor panels and the like, for example, in an aircraft. The connector device has a base plate and a carrier body extending from the base plate as well as connector flanges secured to the carrier body and preferably also to the base plate. A central bore passing through the carrier body and through the base plate receives a clamping bolt that grips with its head under rail edges forming a gap. A nut on the clamping bolt rests against a shoulder in or on the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Vogg, Juergen Wieck
  • Patent number: 5230398
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a mobile, operator-controlled machine (a crawler tractor, for example) which has a control-related panel such as an instrument panel. The improvement comprises a generally planar, plate-like member mounted for pivoting movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the plate protects the panel and in the second position, the plate provides an operator foot rest. That plate surface contacted by the operator's foot has a roughened, "anti-slip" portion. A stop device supports the plate against foot pressure and includes a frictionally-engaging socket and plunger to prevent the plate from "bounding" or bouncing as the machine travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventor: Claude M. Frisbee
  • Patent number: 5230645
    Abstract: A life preserver formed of a flat, rectangular sheet body made of a cellular low density polyethylene in thickness within 0.5-1.5 m/m, the sheet body including a male fastener and a female fastener aligned on the longitudinal center line of the bottom edge thereof at two opposite ends, a zip fastener on the longitudinal center line of the bottom thereof at the center, self-sticking fastening elements longitudinally symmetrically aligned along two opposite longer sides of teh bottom edge thereof, and male and female snap fasteners alternatively arranged along the border of the top edgte thereof. The zip fastener is unfastened for inserting the user's head. With the fastening elements thereof respectively connected together, the life preserver is put on the user to serve as a life jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Inventor: Chun-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 5228406
    Abstract: This subsea exploration apparatus comprises a ballast tank and a shuttle (7) with a watertight enclosure (10) which contains instrumentation for measurement, control and transmission of signals to a surface buoy. The enclosure is guided along a cable (1) fixed to the ballast tank and is provided with a chamber (26) whose lower opening is equipped with a hatch (29). When the shuttle is in high position, a load of ballast is transferred from the tank (5) into the chamber (26), causing the shuttle to descend. This load is jettisoned in a low position of the shuttle, by opening the hatch (29), in order to permit it to reascend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignees: Framatome, Mors S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Marini, Fernand Gledel, Marcel Tardivon, Alain Brisse
  • Patent number: 5228643
    Abstract: A capillary-tube energy-exchange system for transferring energy to or from an aircraft surface is comprised of inlet and exhaust manifolds interconnected by a plurality of Teflon capillary tubes. Fluid, either liquid or gas, is transferred from the inlet manifold through the capillary tubes to the exhaust manifold. During the fluid's flow, energy is transferred, typically from a warm fluid to an outer skin, in order to protect the aircraft's surface from ice accretions. The capillary tubes may be connected directly to ports formed in the manifolds; or, preferably, a chamber may be formed between the manifolds and the ends of the capillary tubes in order to transfer fluid therethrough. The energy-exchange system may be either an open or closed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Leo J. Manda, Michael J. Lavorando
  • Patent number: 5228641
    Abstract: A thrust reverser for use with fan jet type aircraft gas turbine engines. A ring around the aft edge of the nacelle is translatable aft to uncover a series of cascade sets, each of which includes a plurality of turning vanes that direct air passing through the cascades in a reverse direction. The actuation system includes a hydraulic cylinder or the like in islands between cascade sets. A blocker door assembly is positioned within the nacelle adjacent to each cascade set during normal engine operation, with the blocker door forming a portion of the inner streamlined wall of the nacelle. The forward end of the door is hingedly secured to a cascade door support and does not move during deployment of the ring. The aft end of the door is hingedly secured to a link, the other end of which is secured to the moving ring. As the ring is translated aft, the door pivots to a position blocking at least part of the air flow through the duct between nacelle and engine core and directs it outwardly though the cascade set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Jihad I. Remlaoui
  • Patent number: 5228408
    Abstract: A boat cover assembly includes a boat cover (12) mounted to a plurality of posts assemblies (28), (30), and (32). Each post assembly has a foot section (34) or (80), a post member (48), and a upper section (50). The upper section (50) has a batten member (64) mounted in a channel (56) and extending laterally into sleeves (65) sewn into the cover (12). The cover also has a chord (90) in the hem line (18) to tighten the cover about the boat hull (11) below its rub line (88). Straps (20) and (21) are secured to cover (12) and mounted about the underside (85) of the hull (11) and fastened together to secure the cover to the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas L. Jannausch
  • Patent number: 5228407
    Abstract: A ridged inflatable boat is provided with cavities formed on the out-board side of the hull, between the hull and the surrounding pneumatic tube, whereby fastening hardware intended to either retain the pneumatic tube or above deck hardware, may pass through the hull, deck or gunwhale without puncturing the pneumatic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Barry Douglas Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventors: John L. Cummer, Jack W. Sarin, Paul Fredrickson, James P. Kindsvater, Stephen L. Davis
  • Patent number: 5228409
    Abstract: A recreational boat having an engine housing for covering an inboard engine, and an arm pivotally mounted on the engine housing for movement between a lower position in which the arm is stored in an elongated recessed opening in the housing, and a raised position in which a portion of the arm is disposed above the engine housing, and a flexible fabric boat cover which overlies the boat and is supported by the arm in its raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Pamela J. Hodonsky
  • Patent number: 5228640
    Abstract: A device for elastic coupling between two parts, especially the principal transmission box and the fuselage of an aircraft with rotating wings, such as a helicopter, includes first and second inner and outer tubular bodies, and an elastic connection, housed in the annular space existing between the first and second bodies and coupling the first and second bodies in a leaktight fashion. The annular space is separated by the elastic connection into first and second chambers filled with a liquid, the first and second chambers being in communication with the inside of the first body. On the inside of said first body, there is a liquid distributor provided with an elastic damping connection and including two pistons, which are coupled by a piston rod and separated from each other by the distance separating orifices in the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventor: Rene L. Mouille
  • Patent number: 5226776
    Abstract: Foldable link rod system to be placed on a travelling frame comprises pivotally suspended link rods (16, 18) for raising and lowering an operation platform (14). A rotating stool (20) constitutes the connection between two link rods (16 and 18) which are placed in continuation to each other. The one part of the rotating stool (20) is linked to the free end of the first link rod (16) which at its opposite end is pivotally linked to a swinging rod system (26, 28, 30, 32). The second link rod (18) is linked to the other part of the rotating stool and at its other end it is linked to the operation platform (14). The two link rods are pivotal by means of each of their swinging devices (54-70) which are supported on the travelling frame (10, 12) and the rotating stool (20), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Godtfred Vestergaard
  • Patent number: 5226616
    Abstract: The support structure takes the form of a load isolating payload support strut assembly whose length can be selectively shortened between fully extended and fully compressed to vary the spacing between the payload and the booster rocket during different stages of a flight. The strut assembly would allow independent motion of a separately supported booster rocket and payload during ascent, and subsequently provide a rigid interface during the rocket's flight, which would allow an increase in the capacity of space transferred payloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation, Space Systems Div.
    Inventor: Mark T. Butkiewicz
  • Patent number: 5226844
    Abstract: A drive for a boat has a propeller hub rotatable about a main axis extending in a normal travel direction, a plurality of blades projecting generally radially of the main axis from the hub and each pivotal so as to be of variable pitch, and respective blade rods extending axially and displaceable axially relative to the hub to vary the pitch of the blades. A stator carried on the boat downstream in the direction from the hub and nonrotatable about the axis rotatably supports a cylinder housing that is releasably connected to the rods for joint axial movement therewith. A piston displaceable along the axis in the cylinder is releasably connected to the hub for joint axial movement therewith. Pressurizable lines extending through the stator are connected to the cylinder for alternately pressurizing the piston and thereby relatively axially shifting the rods and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Peter Muller
  • Patent number: 5224728
    Abstract: An assembly for hanging a vehicle tow trailer vertically in a stowed position on a vehicle. The assembly includes a hitch donkey which moves upward and downward along a vertical post to carry the vehicle tow trailer to its stowed or deployed position. The most common application of this assembly would be to the rear end of a motor home where towing trailers are often attached during travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Carrol Ball
  • Patent number: 5224663
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system for accelerating a vehicle along a desired travel path in the atmosphere, space, or aerospace includes a trail laying device for laying a trail of fuel along at least part of the desired travel path at high altitude. The vehicle itself has one or more inlets arranged to ingest fuel from the trail into a combustion chamber where the fuel is ignited and burnt to provide thrust before being expelled via an exhaust. The trail of fuel is laid in a similar manner to a condensation trail of a jet aircraft, but with suitable propellant additives for providing the desired fuel mixture to the trailing vehicle. The vehicle includes an auxiliary propulsion system for propelling the vehicle when outside the fuel trail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: David R. Criswell
  • Patent number: 5224889
    Abstract: A device to protect the propellor of a boat from damage caused by striking underwater obstacles, when the boat is moving in any direction relative to the obstacles, and to improve the movement of the boat along the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Arthur S. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5224436
    Abstract: A hull extension is attached at an appropriate distance above the hull bottom surface to the stern of a planing water craft so as to be at least partially submerged at subplaning speeds and totally unsubmerged at planing speeds, effectively increasing hull length at subplaning speeds while not affecting hull length at planing speeds. A "step" effect is thus featured whereby the hull extension is not in contact with the water once planing commences. Hydrodynamic and buoyant efficiency is increased by the hull extension at subplaning speeds and unaffected thereby at planing speeds. The hull extension also offers practical utility in terms of providing additional protection, deck space and mounting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: John G. Stricker
  • Patent number: 5224435
    Abstract: A windsurfer board is formed, towards the tail end thereof, with a slot in which a box is fitted. The box provides a mounting for a fin which is movable, while in use, relative to the board in such manner as to permit simultaneous adjustment of the inclination of the fin relative to the board and of the extent by which the fin projects downwardly beneath the board. The mounting for the fin includes a bracket pivotally connected to the box and to the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Andrew T. Kinnaird