Patents Examined by Lynne A. Reichard
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Patent number: 6231261Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamp (1) for clamping or bracing high-frequency cables (2 and/or 3). The clamp (1) comprises an indicating device (21) that determines whether a spring (12) on the clamp (1) has been brought to exert the desired pressure or tensional force during assembly and maintain said desired pressure or tensional force thereafter.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1997Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Teracom Components ABInventor: Hans Olof Lundbäck
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Patent number: 6168213Abstract: A connector having a stinger and a receiver. The receiver is cocked by applying counter-acting torques to separate sections of the receiver. The counteracting torques compress a spring member. In the cocked position, the stinger is inserted into the receiver. When the counter-acting torques are released, the spring decompresses and locks the stinger in the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Laurent E. Muller
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Patent number: 6123646Abstract: A treadmill for walking exercise or medical testing has the the usual frame mounting rollers around which an endless belt is driven through a lower course and an upper course, the upper course of the belt being supported by an improved deck particularly adapted to rest on longitudinal support members of the frame.One improvement lies in connecting one end of a planar deck to a anchor member by a flexible hinge, the member being attachable to the frame and the flexibility of the hinge allowing the deck to yield to the impact of a user's tread both vertically and longitudinally of the deck.Many available treadmills are designed to receive a standard deck which is essentially a rectangular plank bounded by flat surfaces which enclose a prismatic volume. The present deck is rectangular and planar but has recesses rabbetted along its underside opposite the supporting frame members, the recesses being filled with strips of compressible, elastomeric material located within the cubic volume of the standard deck.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Inventor: Gary J. Colassi
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Patent number: 6065738Abstract: A cable safety barrier has means for disengagement of the cable from an anchor portion of the cable safety barrier when certain vehicle impact conditions are met. Disengaging of the cable may involve allowing a cable end fitting to escape from an open ended slot, when the cable is deflected upwards, or causing the cable fitting to fail.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Brifen LimitedInventors: Philip Pearce, Timothy John Heldt, Stephen Cawthorne
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Patent number: 6007463Abstract: Disclosed is a triceps exercising apparatus. A support harness comprises a neck band and pectoral flaps extending from the neck band in each direction. The neck band and pectoral flaps may be configured together as a unitary structure or as separate structures. In either case, the neck band is placed at the rear of the base of the user's neck, and the support harness is draped over both of the user's shoulders, so that each pectoral flap rests over one of the clavicles. Attached to each pectoral flap and descending therefrom is an elongated elastic element, such as a bungee cord. The lower end of each elastic element is secured to a D-shaped hand stirrup. In embodiments in which the elastic elements are bungee cords, the upper hook of one cord is looped over a hook secured to the lower portion of each pectoral flap, and the lower look is looped over the top of the respective hand stirrup.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Inventors: Lisalee Ann Wells, Jeanette Gordon
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Patent number: 6003874Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a rotary tube drum of a furnace to another furnace component. Two concentric resilient metal ring segments are provided on a disk to comprise the sealing elements of the present invention. A plurality of springs arranged as a ring apply pressure to the disk and ring segments to ensure a consistent and self-adjusting seal between the joined components. Links located circumferentially about the disk limit lateral movement, yet allow axial movement, of the seal. It is thereby possible, according to the present invention, to provide a resilient seal between a rotary tube and another component of a furnace that yields a self-adjusting gas-impermeable seal between the mating components.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Noell-KRC Energie-und Umwelttechnik GmbHInventors: Rolf Kuhn, Hanns Gunther Mayer
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Patent number: 6001050Abstract: An exercise device comprises first and second members connected together by spring means so as to be movable towards each other by the application of a compressive force therebetween or to be movable away from each other by the application of a tensile force to said members. A sounder is provided on one member which, on contact with a striker surface on the other member, emits a warning sound. The striker surface is adjustable towards and away from said sounder so that the warning sound is emitted when a selected predetermined force is applied to the members.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Inventor: Eric William Delf
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Patent number: 5988929Abstract: A cable socket wedge has two wedge halves held apart by at least three blocks, such that cutting the blocks allows the wedge halves to collapse inward, loosening the wedge and cable in the socket. Crushable inserts are located in the spaces between adjacent pairs of the blocks, between the wedge halves so as to provide sufficient crushable volume to allow the wedge halves to move toward each other when the blocks are cut. The wedge is employed with a socket having a window therein. The window is positioned in the socket such that, with a properly sized cable and wedge, the central of the three blocks is accessible through the window in the socket when a cable is secured and tightened with the wedge in the socket.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Columbia Steel Casting Co.Inventor: Stephen P. Doan
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Patent number: 5988932Abstract: A marine connector that facilitates docking of large floating objects during a sea state that produces significant relative motion between the two objects. A toggle nose is mounted on one floating object and a mating device, a toggle nose receiver, is mounted on the second floating object. The toggle nose contains a toggle mechanism that extends and retracts two opposed transverse pins having conical ends. The toggle nose receiver is provided with corresponding conical sockets to receive the ends of the pins.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: McDermott Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Allan Haney, Trevor R. J. Mills, Chunfa Wu
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Patent number: 5979908Abstract: Apparatus including an elastomeric gasket and a rigid holder therefor for resiliently connecting a sewer pipe in the wall opening of a concrete manhold to prevent leakage through the connection under extreme conditions of ground settling and overhead loading. The base of the gasket is anchored in the opening with its interior surface in flush alignment with diverging surfaces of the wall opening and having an inside diameter substantially corresponding to the outside diameter of the pipe for a press fit. The holder is preassembled with the gasket for casting of a port in a wall in situ.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Inventor: William D. Jones
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Patent number: 5980436Abstract: A thigh exerciser includes a primary elongated member made of resilient material, two curved supporters engaged with two ends of the primary elongated member, a secondary elongated member detachably fitted in the primary elongated member, and two straps each extending through two slots of each of the curved supporters, whereby the thigh exerciser can strengthen various body muscules and more particularly to thigh muscules.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Inventor: Chen Cheng Cheng
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Patent number: 5975790Abstract: A clamp 100A for connecting formwork panels 50, 50 together at a right angle has a symmetrical shape and comprises a generally triangular central section 1, one intermediate lever 3 connected pivotally to each of opposed sides of the central section 1, and an L-shaped holding arm 2 connected to the intermediate lever 3 by means of a link 4 that is pivotally joined with both the intermediate lever 3 and the holding arm 2. The central section 1 has two equal sides a, a which extend perpendicular to each other and at which the central section 1 engages with joint members 52, 52 of formwork panels 50, 50. Notches 1c are formed on each side a, and are adapted to bite into one joint member 52. Each side a of the central section 1 is thus capable of engaging very closely with the joint member 52. The holding arm 2 is also provided with notches 2c, so that the holding arm 2 also can engage very closely with the joint member 52.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Inventor: Shinichi Nogami
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Patent number: 5961123Abstract: A sealing element for a packer or bridge plug or other downhole tool is illustrated which employs the use of back-up rings above and/or below a resilient seal. The various sleeves which are moved with respect to each other to compress the sealing element are made so that they are physically connected to the back-up rings. As a result, upon run-in, inadvertent compression of the seal is prevented and upon release, a physical separation occurs between the back-up ring and the sealing element, which allows the sealing element to expand and relax. Subsequent upward movement of the packer or bridge plug easily deflects the back-up ring since the sealing element is no longer in a compressed state directly underneath it. The packer then can easily be removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gary Ingram, Jose Barragan
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Patent number: 5961155Abstract: A flexible entry boot assembly provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot assembly comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region. The seal member has a substantially planar seal portion and an integral hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially into the containment region. The support sleeve has an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment. The flexible entry boot assembly further comprises a mechanism for rigidifying the seal portion of the seal member. A mechanism is provided for releasably attaching the hollow support sleeve to the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Advanced Polymer Technology, Inc.Inventor: Andrew Youngs
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Patent number: 5956808Abstract: A removable apparatus used to cover a knob is provided that includes an inner casing and an outer casing, both of which together form a collar that surrounds a portion of the knob and in so doing mechanically decouples a rotary motion that is applied to the cover from the knob. Disposed intermediate the inner casing and the outer casing is provided a latching mechanism which secures a hinged door to the cover. Release of the latching mechanism requires a two-step procedure beginning with the simultaneous application of a sufficient vertical force applied to urge a pair of vertical slide members downward. The downward force must be maintained in order for the second step to be accomplished.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Inventor: Anita Lee Tom
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Patent number: 5957462Abstract: A seal structure includes a stationary member, a rotatable member disposed within the stationary member to divide an interior of the stationary member into two chambers, a seal member mildly pressed to the stationary member and the rotatable member, and a recess for collecting grease, formed in the rotatable member. The seal structure can be used as a seal between a rotatable member and a stationary member of an air supply and gas exhaust switching mechanism of a regenerative combustion burner.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiko Nishiyama, Kazuhisa Mitani
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Patent number: 5954344Abstract: Interlocking end members for expandable compression rings. Compression rings are formed by attaching the interlocking members to the ends of a flexible strip and coupling the interlocking members together. The interlocking members include a recess for receiving the ends of a flexible strip and a jaw structure for engagement with one another. The jaw structure includes two or more offset opposed jaw members which include angled teeth. The teeth of opposed jaw members of coupled interlocking members engage one another in a locking relationship, whereby the resulting compression ring can be expanded and locked into a range of positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Press-Seal Gasket CorporationInventor: Michael R. Miller
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Patent number: 5951196Abstract: The present invention discloses a frictional mount for engaging a monitor to a process chamber by utilizing a base member that has at least three apertures therethrough adapted for mounting at least one monitor and two fastening devices, a compressible member formed of a deformable material that has at least three apertures adapted for the at least one monitor and the two fastening devices to pass through, the compressible member is positioned in intimate contact with the base member, and a pressing member that is in intimate contact with the compressible member and has at least one aperture adapted for the at least one monitor to be mounted therethrough and two apertures adapted for receiving two fastening devices such that when the two fastening devices are engaged, the compressible member expands in a lateral direction and frictionally engages the internal peripheral surfaces of a recessed window in the process chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Inventors: Chih-Yuan Ke, Tung-Li Lee, Chien-Rong Huang, Sheng-Kuo Huang
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Patent number: 5947626Abstract: A frictional revolving joint for joining a hub to a shaft has a tapered ring arrangement with two tapered ring sections with conical outer surfaces that have a V-shaped cross-section and a clamping ring made of two clamping ring elements that enclose the tapered ring arrangement.The ring shaped pressure chamber formed by the front surfaces of both clamping ring elements may be put under pressure by a hydraulic fluid, causing the clamping ring elements to slide outwards on the V-shaped tapered ring sections.The ring-shaped pressure chamber (57) is sealed itself by sealing rings (55a, 55b,; 63) that engage the clamping ring elements (53a, 53b) in all positions of the latter. The ring-shaped pressure chamber (57) is thus hermetically sealed and hydraulic fluid cannot escape outwards.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Schafer GmbH Technik fur Antrieb und SteuerungInventors: Wolfgang Miller, Udo Schafer, Harry Oppenlander
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Patent number: 5946186Abstract: A latch apparatus for a docking station includes a first member connected to a pivot connection on a base portion of the docking station and a second member connected to the first member. The second member is substantially curved so as to form a mechanical moment. A third member is connected to the second member and to a lever. the latch apparatus is operable to decrease an initial rest angle between the first member and the base portion of the docking station and thereby substantially reduce lateral friction forces which develop when the base portion of the docking station is moving laterally. The latch apparatus is further provides mechanical advantage via the mechanical moment which decreases the amount of force required to be applied to the lever to accomplish a given amount of work.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Rex A. Karl, James E. Altic, Carrie D. Bader