Patents Examined by Lanna Mai
  • Patent number: 7344209
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a one-way drawer stop having a counterbalanced latch 16 and stop plate 20. In the preferred embodiment the latch mechanism 16 is installed on the sliding member 14 while the stop plate 20 is installed on the stationary member 22. In operation, the sliding member 14 is moved from a closed position where it encounters the stop plate 20 whereupon the exposed end of the latch mechanism 16 is depressed moving it from engagement with the stop plate allowing the sliding member to be fully opened. When the sliding member 14 is moved from the open position into the closed position, the latch 16 rides up and over the stop mechanism 20 providing the sliding member with a stop mechanism that prevents opening but not closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas H Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 7340866
    Abstract: A wall adapter system (10) having a wall adapter (12) is disclosed. The wall adapter (12) permits a mullion (16) to be secured to a wall (14) through the wall adapter (12) without the need for trimming or caulking. The wall adapter (12) has a front portion (26) with a mullion snap interlock (56) and first and second side portions (28, 30) with snap cover trim interlocks (68). The mullion (16) is snap fit on the front portion at the interlock (56) while cover trim (70) are snap fit on the side portions (28, 30) at the snap cover trim interlocks (68). The front portion (26) can be formed into parts, a main portion (104) and an adjustment portion (106) which allows the wall adapter to be mounted to a range of wall thicknesses. The wall adapter (12) can be used with a block header (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Donald R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7337730
    Abstract: A shelf assembly includes a shelf adapter bracket defined by a U-shaped shelf bracket member in legs of which are vertically disposed opposing slideways into which open a plurality of vertically spaced slots. A shelf includes a pair of shelf support brackets each having a pin which move in the slideways and seats in the slots to effect selective vertical adjustment of an associated shelf. The shelf adapter bracket has hooks for engaging in slots of conventional refrigerator trackways. The shelf includes lateral stabilizing ribs, a lubricity block, and a stop nose which engages a stop in a bight wall of the shelf bracket member to prevent inadvertent/accidental downward shelf movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Gemtron Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Bienick, Vincent L. Ramik
  • Patent number: 7334369
    Abstract: A rain gutter cleaning system of the invention comprises a generally planar panel, or two generally planar panels, movably secured to the bottom of the gutter. The rain gutter cleaning system includes a hinge securing one end of the generally planar panel to the gutter. One generally planar panel is normally disposed in a first position. In this first position, the generally planar panel is adjacent to, and generally parallel to, the gutter. The generally planar panel may be moved to a second position. In this second position, the generally planar panel is pivotally spaced apart from the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: George J. Carson
  • Patent number: 7334375
    Abstract: An evacuated panel is provided for thermal insulation of a body (3, 4) having non-planar surfaces, the panel having two main faces and comprising a flexible envelope (1), made of one or more barrier sheets, and a filling material formed of at least two boards (2; 2?) of an open cell polymeric foam, the boards lying one over the other, and each board having a thickness between about 2 and 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Saes Getters S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pierattilio Di Gregorio
  • Patent number: 7331396
    Abstract: A subsea production system is disclosed. The subsea production system may comprise a well head, a tubing spool, a tubing hanger, an annulus, a production tree, and a bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry E. Reimert, Lionel J. Milberger
  • Patent number: 7328757
    Abstract: A method includes powering a drill motor with power derived from an all terrain vehicle (ATV) engine and controlling the drill motor. An apparatus includes a ATV with a power takeoff configured to deliver power from an ATV engine. A drill mast is moveably coupled to the ATV, a drill motor is configured to turn a drill bit and the drill motor is slidingly disposed on the drill mast. The drill motor is configured to be powered from the power takeoff; and a control is configured to operate the drill motor such that a hole can be drilled by the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Davies
  • Patent number: 7322157
    Abstract: A paneling system for ceilings of a building structure in which the panels are suspended by hook shaped flanges, on opposite sides of each panel from flat arms of L- or Z-shaped panel carriers or support rails. One flange of each panel extends over the flange of a neighboring panel atop the horizontal arm of a panel carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
    Inventor: Wei Zhan Hang
  • Patent number: 7322422
    Abstract: A completion assembly for use in a well, including at least one inflatable packer; at least one control line and at least one source of pressurized fluid wherein the at least one source of pressurized fluid is in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable packer via the at least one control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Dinesh R. Patel
  • Patent number: 7320508
    Abstract: A roller and stopper mechanism for drawer slide systems which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and effectively provides a low friction rolling surface between two drawer slides in directions parallel to and perpendicular to the length of the drawer slide, and provides a stopper to provide shock absorbing means to the system. The roller and stopper mechanism includes a body portion with two opposing ends and two opposing sides, and having a roller associated therewith, a first leg portion extending substantially perpendicular from one end of the body portion, and having a roller associated therewith, and a second leg portion extending substantially perpendicular from the opposite end of the body portion, and having a roller associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Grass America Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Booker, Georg Domenig
  • Patent number: 7318282
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved method of making cornice assemblies and other trim members utilizing the process of pultrusion. The cornice assemblies and the other trim members made by the method of the present invention exhibit superior strength to weight ratios, low expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity, as well being less labor intensive to install.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: PN II, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pulte
  • Patent number: 7314083
    Abstract: A rotary jetting tool for connection to a hollow, fluid conducting workover string has a main tool body with a hollow central passageway and a rotatable jet carrier mounted on a depending central shaft. A rotor, with fluid conducting passageways is mounted on the central shaft for rotation and limited axial movement and has fluid flow reaction outlets to urge rotation and axial movement. A striking lug on the rotor cooperates with a reaction lug on the jet carrier to provide incremental rotation and a jet head, with jet orifices directed to impact mineral deposits in the well bore is connected to the jet carrier and houses the rotor, so as to receive and discharge workover string fluid flow through the jet orifices as the jet head rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Leo A. Martini
  • Patent number: 7314089
    Abstract: Oil is recovered from a borehole using a pump having limited high temperature breakdown resistance. The pump is located in a borehole having a cooling zone, in which the temperature of the well fluid is reduced to, or below, the temperature at which the temperature breakdown resistance of the pump is commercially acceptable. In one embodiment, the pump is a positive displacement pump which is mechanically driven from the well head location, such as through a rotating rod. The cooling zone is provided by positioning and controlling the pump to maintain a sufficiently low pressure at the pump intake to cause a portion of the liquid well fluid to vaporize prior to entry of the liquid into the pump, creating bubbles which pass upwardly in the wellbore in a zone passing the pump. The evolution of the vapor cools the well fluid to the acceptable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Howard, William C. Lane
  • Patent number: 7311159
    Abstract: An earth-boring bit has a mechanical face seal assembly with PCD faces. The bit has a bearing shaft with a cone rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft. The seal locates between the bearing shaft and the cone for sealing lubricant therein. The seal includes at least one rigid seal ring having a cemented carbide body and an annular PCD face located on it. The mating face may also be of a PCD material. The cemented carbide body contains a binder that migrates into the PCD face while the PCD face is being formed. A binder-free region is leached on the surface of the PCD face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Chih C. Lin, Terry Koltermann, Danny E. Scott
  • Patent number: 7310915
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for forming a retractable tower or column. The present invention includes pointed hooks wherein the hooks are attached to each section of a section chain, one in a horizontal direction and one in an off-set manner. The section chains are placed on a take up mechanism in an operable position and then raised utilizing a motor. As the section chains are raised, they are guided by a guide tower, rollers, shims, and gear racks into a position whereby hooks from adjacent sections of the section chains form coupled engagements. The coupled engagement of the hooks of the sections of each adjacent section chains thereby form the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Tower Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Olsen
  • Patent number: 7308951
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of coring a crustal core sample, which comprises using a crustal core sampler equipped with a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism for ejecting a flow-able coating material, and ejecting the flow-able coating material composed of a polymer substance having a colloidal particles capturing ability by aggregating function and a water-absorbing polymer substance, from the flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism of the crustal core sampler thereby coring a crustal core sample in a state coated with the flow-able coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
    Inventors: Noriaki Masui, Shigeru Deguchi, Kaoru Tsujii
  • Patent number: 7308945
    Abstract: A packing tool comprises a sealing element for mounting on a mandrel so as to define a volume between the sealing element and the mandrel; and a ring member for mounting on the mandrel adjacent the sealing element. The ring member is axially movable relative to the sealing element to cause deformation of the sealing element and includes a communicating bore extending between the volume defined between the sealing element and the mandrel and an exterior portion of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Rubberatkins Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Atkins, Craig Spalding
  • Patent number: 7306031
    Abstract: A tubing string rotator for rotating a tubing string in a well having a downhole pump. The tubing string rotator includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. At least the second portion of the housing is adapted to be operatively connected to the end of a length of the tubing string such that rotational torque applied to the tubing string through the operation of the pump is transferred to the second portion of the housing. The rotator further includes means to permit the controlled rotation of the second portion, together with the tubing string connected thereto, relative to the first portion of the housing when the ability of the first portion to rotate is retarded or eliminated, and when rotational torque is supplied to the tubing string through the operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: GADU, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Wright, James Bentley
  • Patent number: 7305799
    Abstract: A brace apparatus having a core member adapted to absorb energy by undergoing plastic deformation and a buckling restraining assembly that maintains the structural integrity of the brace apparatus once the core member has undergone plastic deformation. A core member having a variable width middle portion is provided to control deformation of the core member such that the middle portion center undergoes plastic deformation before the middle portion first and second ends. A core member is provided which includes a core stiffener permitting the brace apparatus to have a longer longer length relative to the core member cross-sectional area while providing both a desired yield point and the stiffness needed rigidity required for structural support. One or more projections are provided having a stress reduction voids which reduce the cross sectional area of the core member to eliminate stress risers that would otherwise be present at the portion of the core member corresponding with the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: SME Steel Contractors, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Smelser, Andrew J. Hinchman
  • Patent number: 7305800
    Abstract: An apparatus and assembly for retaining a substantially flat, protective panel within a frame such as a window frame. In one embodiment, the panel retention apparatus of the present invention includes a bracket member for fitting over an edge of the panel, such that the bracket member provides edge and lateral support for the panel. The apparatus further includes a rack and gear mechanism affixed to the bracket member. The rack and gear mechanism preferably includes a circular driving gear and a rack member having a foot member attached at one end and further having a rack gear engaging the circular driving gear such that the rack member is linearly movable with respect to the bracket member responsive to rotational actuation of the circular driving gear. In a preferred embodiment, the rack and gear mechanism components are fabricated of a Delrin composite material which provides a lightweight, corrosion resistant, and low surface friction actuation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Amy Lynn Calfee