Patents Examined by Joshua Kotis
  • Patent number: 10189153
    Abstract: A leveling device assembly for use with a hydraulic hammer is provided. The leveling device assembly comprises a control unit, a leveling sensor in communication with the control unit, and a laser generator in communication with the control unit. Additionally, the laser generator is configured to produce a first colored light beam and a second colored light beam different from the first colored light beam. The control unit is further configured to cause the laser generator to produce the first colored light beam when the leveling sensor indicates the hydraulic hammer is in a substantially vertical position and produce the second colored light beam when the leveling sensor indicates the hydraulic hammer is in a substantially non-vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Sonny Frank
  • Patent number: 10167094
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a filled sachet are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a downtube for delivering a content into an end portion of a sock, a sealer positioned proximate to the downtube for sealing the sock at a first seal position such that the content is confined between the first seal position and the end portion of the sock, and a separator positioned proximate to the downtube for separating the sealed portion of the sock from the sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: DESIGNED BY M.E., LLC
    Inventors: Tami Deanna Lamp, Chérie Liana Schaible, Stephen John Gaynes, Timothy James Morton
  • Patent number: 10144538
    Abstract: This invention is directed towards the packaging of heavy articles such as floor jacks and similar equipment. The package is adapted to allow a heavy article to be rolled out of the package without lifting. The packaging is designed to engage with temporary handles positioned on the packaged article to make it easier for an end user to maneuver the packaged article and to remove the article from the packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Derek Nash, Eian Mathieson, Robert Fox, Matt Larson
  • Patent number: 10124919
    Abstract: A method and device for opening spout attachment portion of a bag being set up such that films on both sides of a spout attachment portion (2) of a bag (1) are suction-held up by a pair of suction cups (8), and the spacing between the pair of suction cups is widened to open the spout attachment portion, after which a gas is blown from the spout attachment portion into the bag by a gas blowing member (9); and when the gas is blown into, a clamping member (19) clamps a position under the gripper that is on the top edge (6) side of the bag from both sides of the bag, thus suppressing outflow of the gas blown into the bag from the top edge, thus allowing entire bag to inflate for its entirety substantially and the spout attachment portion to be kept opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshikane, Jyunji Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10085748
    Abstract: A surgical instrument. In one form, the surgical instrument includes a housing that has an interchangeable shaft assembly removably attached thereto. The interchangeable shaft assembly includes an elongate shaft that has a surgical end effector operably coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the elongate shaft. An articulation system is configured to selectively apply articulation motions to the surgical end effector when the articulation system is in an actuated orientation. A locking arrangement prevents detachment of the interchangeable shaft assembly from the housing when the articulation system is in the actuated orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerome R. Morgan, Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Gary W. Knight
  • Patent number: 10071704
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for folding a driver airbag which are capable of folding an airbag so that the airbag has a shape corresponding to a shape of an accommodating space in an airbag housing. To this end, an upper plate of the apparatus for folding the driver airbag according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of stair sections that is spaced apart from a lower plate at different vertical distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh Koang Kwon, Jung Geun Choi
  • Patent number: 10059476
    Abstract: An aseptic filler apparatus (30) includes an actuatable fitment plug assembly (500) that may be placed against the bottom of a fitment collar, which is in communication with a flexible bag to be filled with flowable food products, thereby to prevent steam or other gasses or liquids from entering the fill bag when undesirable to do so. The plug assembly (500) includes a plug (502) mounted on a distal end portion of a pivot arm (504). The opposite end of the pivot arm is rotatably axled on a cross pin. A linear actuator (518) is connected to the distal end of a lug (512) projecting transversely from the pivot arm. The opposite end of the linear actuator (518) is pinned to a stationary location, enabling the actuator to pivot the plug (502) from an engaged position against the fitment collar and a retracted position away from the fitment collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianluca Parisini, Glenna Matthews, Davide Ghiretti, Michele Queirollo, Antonio Aldini, Dave Hoeppner
  • Patent number: 10046878
    Abstract: A method for the production and filling of packaging includes unwinding flattened tubular film material from a roll along a primary axis of symmetry thereof, providing the tubular film material via a welding and separating process with a first lateral welding seam perpendicular relative to the axis, and separating the tubular film material along a separation line to provide a hose section. The hose section open at one side is filled, and the still open other side of the hose section is provided with a second lateral welding seam. Two subsequent separation lines are inserted in the hose section at a distance that is less than the distance between the two edges of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER KG
    Inventors: Thomas Knoke, Ruediger Grosse-Heitmeyer, Thomas Hawighorst
  • Patent number: 10040583
    Abstract: The invention comprises a carpet wrapping apparatus. The apparatus comprises a pair of rotatable rollers for supporting a roll of sheet material and for rotating the roll of sheet material supported thereon and a vertically extending curtain disposed adjacent and spaced from the roll of sheet material so that there is a horizontal gap between the curtain and the roll of sheet material when supported on the rollers. The apparatus also comprises a source of pressurized air directed toward the curtain and a plastic film dispenser disposed above the rollers for dispensing a plastic film between the curtain and the source of pressurized air so that the pressurized air blows the plastic film toward the curtain and into the gap. A method of wrapping a roll of carpet with a plastic film is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Perpetual Machine Company
    Inventors: Adam Paul Smith, Ronald Edwin Headrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10040100
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the touch screen of any personal electronic device, including but not limited to smart phones and personal computing tablets. The apparatus comprises a wet portion and a dry portion in a substantially horizontal figure “8” configuration. The apparatus may also comprise a reservoir for storing a volume of conventional cleaning fluid. When not in use, the apparatus is slid into a case which is configured to house the wet and dry portions of the apparatus in separate housing compartments. A method is also provided for storing the apparatus when not in use so as to prolong its effective lifespan and improve its overall performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Marc Lemchen
  • Patent number: 10029900
    Abstract: A treatment apparatus (1), using a sterilizing substance, for closures (2) for containers, including: a rotating unit (6); a plurality of longitudinal rails (7) able to house the closures (2) arranged by force of gravity, the rails (7) being solidly connected to the rotating unit (6) and being arranged such as to follow a circumferential extension of the rotating unit (6); dispensing apparatus (16) of the sterilizing substance, a variable-height support profile (15) located below the rails (7) and also having a circumferential extension such as to support the lines (8) of closures (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GEA PROCOMAC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Abelli, Fabio Callegari
  • Patent number: 10016199
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system including a shaft assembly transmits actuation motions from an actuator and an end effector compresses and staples tissue. The end effector comprises a channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface is moveable relative to the channel between open and closed positions; the anvil having a magnet at a distal end; and a staple cartridge removably positionable within the channel. The staple cartridge comprises a body supported for a confronting relationship with the anvil in its closed position; a plurality of staple drivers located within the cartridge body support a staple; a Hall effect sensor located at the distal end of the body; and a microprocessor in communication with the Hall effect sensor. The Hall effect sensor and the microprocessor receive power when the staple cartridge is positioned within the channel, and the system is operable to identify a staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Baber, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Andrew T. Beckman, Sol A. Posada
  • Patent number: 9988166
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprising an orientation system for orientating an article within a package, the orientation system comprising at least one carriage (240) moveable about an endless path comprising a working reach and a return reach, a drive mechanism for propelling the at least one carriage about the endless path, an engagement member (250) for frictionally engaging with an article (B) in a package (1), the engagement member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position wherein the engagement member is rotationally driven by a rotary drive mechanism comprising a first component (244) rotationally mounted to the carriage and a second component (234) which engages with the first component such that the first component rotates as the carriage is driven about the endless path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Fabrice Avril, Frederic Limousin, Jean-Christophe Bonnain
  • Patent number: 9987095
    Abstract: A force transmitting assembly of an adapter assembly includes a rotatable drive shaft, a strain sensor, and a drive member. The drive shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a flange. The distal portion includes a threaded portion. The strain sensor is coupled to the drive shaft and disposed adjacent the flange such that longitudinal movement of the drive shaft imparts a force on the strain sensor via the flange. The distal drive member has a proximal end rotatably coupled to the threaded portion of the drive shaft and a distal end configured to be operatively coupled to a driven member of a surgical loading unit. Rotation of the drive shaft longitudinally moves the drive member relative to the drive shaft to actuate the surgical loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic, Stanislaw Marczyk, Earl Zergiebel, Philip Irka, Anand Subramanian, Paul Richard
  • Patent number: 9987099
    Abstract: A disposable housing includes a housing portion and a memory. The housing portion defines a cavity therein configured to receive a motor operable, inner core handle assembly. At least a portion of the housing portion has a color that corresponds to a color of one type of end effector or adapter assembly. The memory has stored therein at least one operating parameter for the inner core handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Xingrui Chen, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Patent number: 9981364
    Abstract: A hand tool impacting device may include, a drive shaft with an aperture, an impaler disk, and a floating pin positioned within the aperture of the drive shaft. A set of circular ramps on the outer edge of the impaler disk may interact with a stationary pin insert to translate the drive shaft and create an impacting motion. A pair of springs placed against either side of the floating pin may allow a specialized tool bit to engage or disengage the impaler disk, thereby allowing selective use of translational impacting motion, or rotational torque. An impact bit for engaging the impaler disk may include, a tool head configured to engage a work piece and a tool shaft configured to be inserted into a hollow drive shaft to engage a floating pin. According to one embodiment, the impact bit includes a number of sleeves to guide the tool head during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Christopher Andrew Mattson, Jake Allred, Jeremy Alsup, Travis Anderson, David Christensen, Jacob Morrise, Jon Ward
  • Patent number: 9950417
    Abstract: An electronic pulse driver includes a motor, a hammer, an anvil, an end tool mounting unit, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The hammer is rotatable together with the anvil. The end tool mounting unit transmits the rotation of the anvil to an end tool. The power supply unit supplies a drive electric power to the motor. The control unit controls the power supply unit to halt a supply of the drive electric power to the motor when an electric current flowing to the motor increases to a prescribed value. The control unit controls the power supply unit to supply to the motor a prestart electric power lower than the drive electric power before supplying the drive electric power in order to permit the power supply unit to supply the drive electric power after the hammer is in contact with the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ito, Katsuhiro Oomori, Mizuho Nakamura, Tomomasa Nishikawa, Hironori Mashiko
  • Patent number: 9930948
    Abstract: A tangle free protective roll and jewelry organizer including a smaller rectangular piece of pliable decorative materials upon which a longer rectangular piece of pliable rubberized material is attached. Whereupon the longer rectangular piece of rubberized material extends beyond the decorative material so that when the items are rolled the rubberized material contacts the items thus holding them in place securely and preventing the items from rubbing up against each other potentially causing scratches, tangling or other damage. The protective roll improves the packing process and simplifies it to a matter of laying the items perpendicular to the roll direction on the rubberized materials an inch apart in packing and simply unrolling the roll and lifting the item out to wear, use or put away at the arrived upon destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Pamela J. Gort
  • Patent number: 9931117
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a tool assembly configured to eject staples. The tool assembly has a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly movable relative to each other. The cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly are configured to move between open and closed positions. The surgical stapling instrument further includes at least one transducer disposed in at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The transducers are adapted to effect vibrations to enhance stapling. In one embodiment, wires connect the transducers to a power generator. The power generator supplies energy to the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Peter Hathaway, Eric Taylor, Kenneth Blier
  • Patent number: 9932136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pouch and a method for making the same. In the inventive method, which is adapted to produce pouches having a limited amount of fusible material, a heat-sealable cord is arranged on a web forming confronting side surface of each pouch. Those confronting side surfaces are fused by heating the heat-sealable cord. The present invention furthermore provides a pouch, in particular containing a brewable or extractable commodity such as tea, with a pocket defined between confronting side surfaces of a web. The pouch of the present invention can have a limited amount of fusible material as the confronting side surfaces are joined by solidified melt of a heat-sealable cord arranged in vicinity of at least one edge of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, Molins PLC
    Inventors: Stefan Lambertz, Phil Haddow, Peter John Whitlock, Bradley Wiggett, Michael Klein, Hans Knops, Wolfgang Reichel