Patents Examined by Katherine Matecki
  • Patent number: 7004523
    Abstract: It is described a gripping device for vials or similar containers, comprising a tubular body attached to one end of a movable supporting vertical shaft and gripping means associated to said tubular body. Said gripping means comprise non-mechanical gripping members, able to be connected with one end of a vial or container by face-to-face soft contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: E. Viridis S.A.
    Inventor: Gianandrea Pedrazzini
  • Patent number: 6966588
    Abstract: A releasing assembly includes a lever provided with a first engaging element, a seat having a hole defined in a bottom of the seat and a cutout defined in a periphery of the seat to communicate with the hole, a releasing head having a column formed on the releasing head to extend into the hole of the seat, a second engaging element formed on a side face of the column to engage with the first engaging element and a ring formed on a bottom of the releasing head for hanging an object and a power supplying device operably connected to the first distal end of the lever to provide a force to the lever to cause the lever to pivot. When the power supplying device is activated, disengagement between the first engaging element and the second engaging element releases the releasing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Hsien-Ho Shen
  • Patent number: 6149133
    Abstract: A ratchet-type tensioning mechanism for a rope or cord has a rotatable sheave with faces having improved outwardly extending serrations which include alternating primary and secondary projections. The secondary projections are located in valleys between pairs of primary projections. A releasable ratchet mechanism permits rotation of the sheave in one direction but not the other. The projections are positioned at regular intervals around the circumference of the sheave and located so that a primary projection on one face of the sheave faces a secondary projection in a valley on the opposite face of the sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Helmut K. Skyba
  • Patent number: 6102371
    Abstract: A strap tensioning and collecting device disclosed has a variable length strap and a fixed length strap operatively associated with a strap storage section and a strap tensioning section. The strap storage section includes a spool housing and a spool in the housing mounted for rotation about an axis with the spool having exposed serrated edges extending beyond the walls of the housing so that the user holding the device with one hand may use the thumb to rotate the spool. The variable length strap extends through the strap tensioning section and has a lever arm which upon rotation selectively decreases the length of the strap to place a tension on the straps when the straps are connected at free ends to a fixed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Patent number: 6082650
    Abstract: A spinning reel for fishing comprises a reel body casing formed with a cam groove, a rotational frame mounted to the reel body casing to be rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, a spool shaft attached to the reel body casing so as to be movable in an axial direction parallel to the rotational direction of the rotational frame, a spool mounted to one end of the spool shaft, a handle lever coupled to the rotational frame to rotate the same, an oscillator mounted to the other end of the spool shaft, an oscillator gear supported by the reel body casing so as to be rotatable about a rotational shaft surrounded by the cam groove in accordance with an operation of the handle lever, and an interlock means provided with a first engaging member engaged with the cam groove and a second engaging member adapted to transfer a motion toward the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventors: Atsuhito Okada, Yukihisa Sato
  • Patent number: 6047913
    Abstract: A protrusion, which has three stepped recesses inside, is formed on an outer surface of a spool cover at the center which is a confronting member of a spool. A thrust bearing is fixedly set in the bottom of the recess, and a bearing is fitted in the recess. A guide member is fitted in the recess. The guide member and the bearing are prevented from coming off by a spring washer. The guide member has an inserting hole into which a spool shaft is inserted which is slightly larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the bearing. The guide member has a tapered guide surface around the inserting hole to guide the spool shaft to the inserting hole. The guide surface and the inserting hole enables smooth insertion of the spool shaft into the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Mikiharu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6036246
    Abstract: A device (10) for manipulating submerged-operating units (11), such as submersible motor-driven pumps, submersible motor-driven stirrers and the like, has a hoist, by means of which the unit (11) can be brought into a submerged working position and a surfaced maintenance position, wherein the unit (11) is provided with a lifting strap (25) of a coupling unit, whose coupling element (60, 60'), which can be brought into and out of engagement with the lifting strap (25), is provided on a pulling element (48) of the hoist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Flygt AB
    Inventor: Roland Liedtke
  • Patent number: 6027103
    Abstract: An electrically powered hoisting system is operated by seating a line attached to the load to be hoisted in a groove formed between two sheave components and activating the electrical drive motor to rotate the sheave assembly. Voltage for the electrical drive motor is provided by an on-board 12 volt battery and voltage to the drive motor is controlled by means of a switch device. The groove formed by the sheave components has a resilient gripping surface that provides a firm line gripping action and hands-free and self-tailing operation. A davit, davit mounting brackets, and a flexible mounting assembly for mounting the powerhead assembly to a support are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventor: Byron Wayne Painter
  • Patent number: 6000653
    Abstract: A spinning reel comprises a reel body casing, a rotational frame member rotatably provided for the reel body casing, a spool shaft provided for the reel body casing to be movable in a rotation axis direction of the rotational frame member, a spool mounted to one end portion of the spool shaft, a handle lever operatively connected to the rotational frame member capable of rotating the same, an oscillator secured to another end portion of the spool shaft, an oscillator gear provided for the reel body casing to be rotated by the handle lever and a rotational member mounted to the oscillator gear to be rotatable. The rotational member is formed with a first projection engageable with a cam groove formed to an inner surface of the reel body casing and a second projection engageable with the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventor: Atsuhito Okada
  • Patent number: 5950991
    Abstract: An improved force transmitting apparatus for transmitting force between first and second members includes a plurality of force transmitting assemblies. The force transmitting assemblies are operable between engaged conditions in which the first force transmitting apparatus is effective to transmit force and disengaged conditions in which the force transmitting apparatus is ineffective to transmit force. A controller operates the force transmitting assemblies between the disengaged and engaged conditions as a function of a load applied to the apparatus. The improved force transmitting apparatus is useful as a brake in a drilling system having a draw string connectable with pipe. The force transmitting assemblies are connected with a drum of a winch connected to the draw string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kirit R. Patel, Edward J. Lunder
  • Patent number: 5947398
    Abstract: A fishing reel assembly includes a disk-shaped base defining an elongate slot, and a control member mounted on a first side of the base and formed with a slide slidably extending through the elongate slot. An inverted U-shaped control plate is movably mounted on a second side of the base and is secured to the slide of the control member to slide therewith. The control plate includes a first leg defining a first guiding slot and a second leg defining a second guiding slot. A first driven gear is rotatably and slidably received in the first guiding slot, and a second driven gear is rotatably and slidably received in the second guiding slot. A spool is rotatably mounted on the base, and a drive gear is fixedly mounted on the spool to rotate therewith and is rotatably disposed between the first driven gear and the second driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Yeh
  • Patent number: 5934586
    Abstract: An oscillation assembly for a fishing reel comprising: an elongate member; a transmission body having a side face; and a reciprocating assembly for imparting reciprocating movement to the transmission body. The transmission body includes a groove formed in the side face for receiving the elongate member. The elongate member can be placed in the groove by delivering the elongate member laterally into the side of the fishing reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventors: Young Jue Kang, Thomas D. Clay
  • Patent number: 5931405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for achieving windings in radial layers alternately wound from the outside to the inside and from the inside to the outside. To wind a layer from the outside to the inside, the method includes the steps of forming around a core the layer with an internal diameter greater than the core diameter, and exerting a traction on the internal winding to tighten the layer on the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Aime Paucher
  • Patent number: 5931404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coil including a plurality of layers of windings wound around an axis. The layers are radial and alternately wound from the inside to the outside and from the outside to the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Aime Paucher
  • Patent number: 5931447
    Abstract: In order to provide a simple and inexpensive laying aid for floor covering elements, in particular ready-made parquet flooring, laminated or floor panels, it is suggested that the laying aid be designed in the form of a belt tensioning device with a belt and have a shaped part on both sides, that each shaped part have a receiving means for the belt, that each shaped part have an arm with a projection which can be fixed at a groove or a tongue of the floor covering elements by engaging in it and around it, respectively, and that when the arm is fixed in such a manner the receiving means be positioned such that the belt is guided by this close to the floor covering elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Bessey & Sohn GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Ernst Butschbacher, Hans Roesch
  • Patent number: 5931403
    Abstract: An improved combined winding form and lead guide mechanism assembly is provided wherein a lead guide sliding assembly is located in a cavity in the winding form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Globe Products Inc.
    Inventor: Duane W. Rieff
  • Patent number: 5927690
    Abstract: A push-pull chain garage door operator system includes a drive module and an elongated guide rail for a push-pull chain connected to a carriage assembly mounted on the guide rail. The chain is engaged with a sprocket mounted on a generally rectangular plate-like molded plastic support member which includes a serpentine idle chain storage slot formed therein. The support member is releasably connected to a stamped metal frame plate for covering the storage slot and supporting the drive module. The bottomwall of the support member supports a right angle speed reduction drive unit connected to a drive motor retained in a cradle formed by an integral boss on the support member. The motor and a starting capacitor therefor are retained in respective cradle portions of the boss by a removable retaining strap. A control circuit board is mounted on the underside of the support member and a two-part shroud for the operator mechanism is releasably secured to the frame plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: James A. White, Nicholas Dragomir, James Stottsberry
  • Patent number: 5921491
    Abstract: An improved fishing reel of the type having a reel frame, a line-carrying spool rotatably mounted relative to the frame, a crankshaft rotatably mounted relative to the frame, a driving gear rotatably mounted relative to the crankshaft and selectively responsive to rotation of the crankshaft to drive the spool, and a drag mechanism for frictionally engaging the driving gear and causing the driving gear to slippingly follow rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Hyunkyu Kim
  • Patent number: 5915673
    Abstract: A pneumatic human power amplifier module is usable in conjunction with a wide variety of pneumatic actuators and lifting devices to provide a human power amplifier for lifting a load. The module includes an end-effector, an electronic controller and a pneumatic circuit. The end-effector contains a human interface subsection which is grasped by a human operator and a load interface subsection which engages the load to be lifted. A force sensor in the end-effector detects the force imposed by the operator on the end-effector and transmits a signal representing the magnitude of the force to the controller. The controller in turn sends a command to the pneumatic circuit, which controls the flow of air into the associated pneumatic actuator. The actuator drives the lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Homayoon Kazerooni
  • Patent number: 5915643
    Abstract: A multiple phase, multiple pole stator is wound using two coil winding passes per phase. The stator core is indexed in alternate directions between the winding of individual coils of one phase to the next. As a result, the coils of a particular phase are wound using a first stator index direction for the first winding pass and a second stator index direction for the second winding pass. A winding apparatus for such winding has an arbor assembly which includes a tubular shaft having an expandable mandrel at the forward end thereof which is received in the bore of a stator. The mandrel includes a fixed, radially-extending key and at least one pivotal, radially-extending key. The keys are received in slots or keyways provided in the stator bore to lock the stator to the shaft and to rotatably drive the stator during the winding process. An improved combined winding form and lead guide mechanism assembly is also illustrated wherein a lead guide sliding assembly is located in a cavity in the winding form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Globe Products Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick A. Dolgas