Patents Examined by Larry E Waggle, Jr.
  • Pawl control device for ratchet wrench
    Patent number: 9862076
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a handle and a head through which a hole is defined. A recess is defined in the inner periphery of the hole. A driving member is rotatably received in the hole. A pawl and a positioning member are respectively located in two respective ends of the recess. A spring is connected between the pawl and the positioning member. The pawl has a slot defined in a lateral side thereof so as to be connected to one end of the spring. The positioning member is a resilient member and has an engaging portion and a curved portion. An opening is defined between the engaging portion and the curved portion. The other end of the spring is engaged with the opening. The spring linearly biased between the pawl and the positioning member to engage the pawl with the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Jim Lai
  • Barrel installation tool
    Patent number: 9857138
    Abstract: A barrel installation assembly is used for easily installing a barrel onto a receiver of a firearm with proper torque and alignment. The barrel installation assembly includes a barrel nut, barrel nut spacers, and a barrel installation tool. The barrel nut is configured to fasten the barrel to the receiver. The barrel nut spacers are configured to be interposed between the barrel nut and the receiver when the barrel is fastened thereto. The barrel installation tool includes a head portion configured to removably engage with the barrel nut, and a handle portion extending from the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WHG Properties, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Geissele
  • Pliers
    Patent number: 9855644
    Abstract: A pliers is provided, including a first clamping body and a second clamping body. The first clamping body has two first jaw portions and two first gripping portions, and the two first jaw portions are associated respectively with the two first gripping portions and are capable of being open or closed relative to each other. The second clamping body has a clamping jaw and a second gripping portion, the second clamping body and the first clamping body are pivotally connected to each other at a location between the clamping jaw and the second gripping portion, and the clamping jaw and the two first jaw portions are capable of being open or closed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COSDA MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Lai-Cheng Liu
  • Fasteners and fastener delivery devices for affixing sheet-like materials to bone or tissue
    Patent number: 9855037
    Abstract: A fastener for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone. The fastener includes a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and a bridge extending therebetween. Each of the first and second arms include a trunk portion defining at least a portion thereof, the trunk portion having a cavity therein and an aperture through a wall thereof. A claw is disposed in the cavity which is moveable from a first delivery position to a second deployed position. A pull member engages each claw to move the claw from the delivery position to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rotation Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Euteneuer, Rebecca McCarville
  • Systems and methods for treating conditions and diseases of the spine
    Patent number: 9855080
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating conditions and diseases of the spine are disclosed herein. A device includes a balloon catheter comprising at least one inner lumen incorporated within an elongated shaft; a distal end having an inner balloon positioned inside and completely surrounded by an outer balloon; and a proximal end having an adapter for passage of at least one of an inflation fluid or a medical instrument; and an optical fiber comprising an outer diameter sized to pass through the inner lumen of the elongated shaft; a nonlinear light-emitting portion of a given length, wherein a portion of a cladding material from the nonlinear light-emitting portion has been removed so that light energy may be emitted along the length of the nonlinear light-emitting portion; and a linear elongated portion for guiding light towards the nonlinear light-emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: IlluminOss Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Rabiner, Gene P. DiPoto
  • Natural alignment knee instruments
    Patent number: 9855057
    Abstract: A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., Mohamed Soliman, Michael C. Ferko, Robert Frederick Simes, Jr., James H. Howell
  • Apparatus for guiding tube processing devices
    Patent number: 9849552
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding tube processing devices, in particular planing devices, wherein the apparatus is arranged on an outer circumference of the tube to be processed, wherein the apparatus has at least two bands which extend in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Wavin AG
    Inventors: Christian Hogg, Karl-Heinz Mayer, Michael Tinius
  • Adaptor for a lift jack
    Patent number: 9850115
    Abstract: In an example, an adaptor for a lift jack may include a first section having an opening to receive a ring attached to a vehicle and a second section connected to the first section, in which the second section includes a space to receive a runner support of a lift jack runner. The adaptor may also include a locking hook rotatably connected to the second section, in which the locking hook is to latch onto the ring when the runner support is inserted into the space in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: Alex Cho, Young Han Cho
  • Clamping device
    Patent number: 9849568
    Abstract: A clamping device has an actuator that moves linearly and is actuated by a drive. A pivoting clamping element is operatively connected, via a toggle lever mechanism, with the actuator. The toggle lever mechanism includes a drive-side adapter and a hand lever-side adapter. The drive side adapter and hand lever side adapter can be adjusted relative to one another to define an opening angle of the clamping element. One of the adapters has a profiled bar extending in a direction of actuation. The other adapter has an insertion region to accommodate the bar. A fixing element is provided in one of the adaptors to define the location of the adapters relative to one another. The fixing element can be clamped against the profiled bar and also against an insertion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: DE-STA-CO Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Kaiser
  • Workpiece clamp device with single side
    Patent number: 9844855
    Abstract: A workpiece clamp device with single side is disclosed. When a bolt is screwed in relative to a base plane, an elastic member is compressed by a first and a second stop portions and a second clamp surface of a driving block is limited by a second wall surface. A first inclined surface is pushed leftward by a second inclined surface so that a tool is clamped by the first clamp surface and a first wall surface. When the bolt is screwed out relative to the base plane, the elastic member is reset due to the compression of the first and the second stop portions. Since the second clamp surface is limited by a second wall surface, the first inclined surface is pushed rightward by the second inclined surface to move the driving block upward so that the force for clamping the tool is released and the tool is disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Po-Shen Chen
  • Flat-plate bonding jig and method of manufacturing flat-plate laminated body
    Patent number: 9844858
    Abstract: Provided is a jig having a structure that differs from conventional jigs and enables flat plates to be bonded while suppressing an air bubble formation. A flat-plate bonding jig is provided with the following: a first surface; a second surface that is on the opposite side of the first surface, has a plurality of suction holes for sucking a flat-plate, and is curved outward in a substantially arc shape; a main body connecting the first surface and the second surface; and a communication means that is disposed in the main body and allows the suction holes to communicate with a suction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DENKA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yukio Eda, Toshiyuki Ibayashi, Hiroyuki Kurimura, Yutaka Ogino, Eitaro Fukutaka, Takayuki Matsumoto
  • System and method for assembling tower sections of a wind turbine lattice tower structure
    Patent number: 9845612
    Abstract: A system for assembling a tower section of a lattice tower structure for a wind turbine may generally include a tower assembly fixture having a plurality of radially extending fixture arms, wherein each fixture arm extends between a first end and a second end. In addition, the system may include a plurality of trolleys. Each trolley may include a base frame configured to be coupled to one of the fixture arms between its first and second ends and a leg mount pivotally coupled to the base frame. The leg mount may be configured to be coupled to a bottom end of a support leg of the tower section such that, when each of the support legs is coupled to its respective leg mount, the support legs are supported above the tower assembly fixture at a substantially vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Don Conrad Johnson, Cyler Barclay Beard, Todd D. Andersen, David D. Oliphant, Caroline Christine Williams, Jose Luis Virgen
  • Anterolateral calcaneal plate
    Patent number: 9839456
    Abstract: A plate for treating calcaneal fractures comprises a first portion extending along a first longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of first openings extending therethrough extending along a second longitudinal axis from the a first end connected to the second end of the first portion to a second end, the first and second portions being angled relative to one another such that, when the plate is positioned along a desired portion of a calcaneus bone, the first and second portions extend parallel to a superior surface of the bone bordering a subtalar joint, the second portion including a plurality of second openings extending therethrough, wherein each of the first and second openings are configured to receive a bone fixation element therein at a user-selected angle relative to a central axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth I. Kobayashi, Mark Siravo, Rene Haag, Sherri Wykosky
  • Expandable cable connector torque adapter
    Patent number: 9837777
    Abstract: Torque adapter for a cable connector that expands to fit connector nuts of different sizes. The adapter fits around the cable connector and engages three of the corners of a hex nut with matching recessed regions in its inner surface. It has three slots that receive the other three corners of the connector nut. The adapter is flexible so that the slots may widen to accommodate connector nuts of larger widths. The outer surface may be hexagonal so that a wrench or similar tool may be used to turn the torque adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Steren Electronics International, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Blake, Brandon Clark
  • Replaceable magnetic screw-locking depth positoining head
    Patent number: 9833887
    Abstract: A replaceable magnetic screw-locking depth positioning head includes a main body formed by a rod, a positioning sleeve, a buckling ring, a cushioning member and a magnetic member. The positioning sleeve has a stepped slot, so that the buckling ring can be installed into the stepped slot more conveniently, and the stepped slot contains a cushioning member and a magnetic member. The cushioning member provides a buffering/shock absorbing effect and a better manufacture precision of the main body, and the magnetic member provides a better positioning effect for locking the screw, and a first slot is formed at a free end of the stepped slot for accommodating debris. The positioning head of the present invention has the advantages of high manufacturing efficiency, production efficiency and manufacturing precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Tsai-Fa Liu
  • Adjustable wrench
    Patent number: 9833882
    Abstract: A wrench for rotating a hex head fastener has a frame having one or two jaw faces. If the frame has two faces, they form a 60 degree angle between them. A movable jaw has two faces forming an angle of about 120 degrees relative to each other. A guide connected to the frame controls movement of the movable jaw along a line forming an angle of about 40.9 degrees with respect to a position of one of the frame faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Southern Handling and Delivery, LLC
    Inventor: Yuji Nammoto
  • Bi-directional screwdriver
    Patent number: 9833883
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a bi-directional screwdriver, which includes a handle, a main shaft, a gearing which includes a driving gear, a driven gear, a transmission seat and an idle gear which is mounted on the idle gear axle on the transmission seat and is fitted between the driving gear and the driven gear for transferring motion. The handle rotates the driving gear. A grip ring is securely provided outside the idle gear axle. When the grip ring is gripped and the handle is rotated to rotate the driving gear, the driving gear rotates the driven gear in a reverse direction through the idle gear. The driving gear also has a first inside ratchet surface, and the driven gear also has a second inside ratchet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: Hangzhou Great Star Tools Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Weiyi Wang
  • Tire changing machine
    Patent number: 9827817
    Abstract: A tire changing machine includes a base having a pedal-operated control system located on one side, a rotating platform which defines a surface upon which wheels of vehicles can be fixed, and which is supported by the base, a column rising from the base, an operating arm hinged to an upper area of the column, which can be oriented in a plane transverse to the column and parallel to the plane of the platform, between a work position facing the platform and an opposite rest position facing away from the platform and having a hinging end and an opposite end having a connection for a device holding work tools, a selector unit being interposed between the hinging end and the column, for selecting an orientation of the operating arm in its work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventors: Gino Ferrari, Franco Maioli
  • Seal extraction tool
    Patent number: 9827655
    Abstract: Tool for extracting annular carbon face seal from bore of equipment which seal is installed. Tool has extraction-tube for insertion into bore at entrance so, when extraction-tube is fully inserted into bore, multi-legged collet formed at distal-end of extraction-tube located within seal and proximal-end of extraction-tube accessible at entrance of bore. Tool has elongate-member extending along central passage of extraction-tube. Wedge element provided at distal-end of elongate-member located at mouth of collet. Proximal-end of elongate-member accessible at proximal-end of extraction-tube. Tool has support for reacting axial extraction force applied to extraction-tube to equipment. Tool has first-actuator at proximal-end of elongate-member. Tool configured so first-actuator causes wedge element to be pulled into collet, thereby expanding collet and causing to grip inner surface of seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Thomas Reginald Owens, James Mark Walter
  • Fixing apparatus for respot welding
    Patent number: 9827630
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for respot welding is provided. The fixing apparatus includes a base plate on which electrically-powered cylinders are mounted, lower pin jigs mounted upright on the electrically-powered cylinders to support a workpiece and the workpiece is fixed at a position by allowing pin units mounted on upper portions of the lower pin jigs to penetrate the workpiece. Further a pressing hanger is positioned to be spaced apart from the upper portions of the lower pin jigs, and moves downward toward the pin units to apply a force to the workpiece when the workpiece is seated on the lower pin jigs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jung Whan Yeum