Patents Examined by Melanie Alexander
  • Patent number: 8528451
    Abstract: A tool, such as a multipurpose tool, is provided that includes a carabiner having a spring that is configured to be sufficiently rugged to withstand the anticipated utilization of the carabiner. The tool may include at least a first handle, including a carabiner defining an opening thereto, and at least one tool carried by the first handle. The tool may also include a spring connected to the first handle proximate the carabiner and a gate urged by the spring to extend at least partially across the opening defined by the carabiner. The first handle may also include a tab, and the spring may include a corresponding engagement member configured to engage the tab such that the tab resists movement of the spring relative to the first handle. A corresponding handle assembly may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennefer Ruth Steineckert, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 8523161
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism automatically adaptable to change of thickness of printed circuit board includes: a frame body having two parallel rail seats; two clamping rail members respectively mounted on the rail seats for clamping a printed circuit board, each clamping rail member including a first clamping rail and a second clamping rail spaced from each other by a clamping gap; and two adjustment units for adjusting the clamping gap of the clamping rail members. Each the adjustment unit includes: a support section mounted on the frame body to provide a support face; a connection section, one end of the connection section being affixed to the first clamping rail, the other end of the connection section being positioned above the support face; and a floating section positioned between the connection section and the support section and supported on the support face to apply a resilient support force to the connection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Feng Lin, Chi-Tai Liu
  • Patent number: 8522650
    Abstract: An angle nut runner capable of accurately measuring a genuine tightening force includes an output shaft pivotally supported approximately perpendicular to the rotating shaft 1 of the drive source, a strain measuring mechanism for measuring a strain generated in the output shaft is disposed on the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Uryu Seisaku Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 8516934
    Abstract: A clip installing tool and method for installing the clip are provided. The clip includes a clip holding portion and a leveraging portion, each having a handle at an end. The clip holding portion includes a receiving portion to hold the clip therein. When a force is applied to the clip holding and leveraging portions, the clip is forced around a connector portion of a fuel in order to hold the connector portion with a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Service Solutions U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Michael Shevela, Richard Martin, Robert Meitzler
  • Patent number: 8516926
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench is provided and comprises a main body and at least one strengthening block. The main body includes a handle, at least one tool end and a ratchet-controlling piece. The tool end has a ratchet and an annular portion which has an annular inner wall. The annular portion is connected to the handle, and the ratchet is disposed within the annular inner wall. Furthermore, the strengthening block is removably disposed within the annular portion and a portion of the strengthening block protrudes from the annular inner wall for contacting the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Kabo Tool Company
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8517363
    Abstract: An XY stage device having an X-axis movable body which moves in the X-axis direction on a platen, and a Y-axis movable body which moves in the Y-axis direction on the platen and guides the movement of the X-axis movable body in the X-axis direction. The XY stage device includes a pair of actuators which can be provided so as to be separated from each other in the X-axis direction, and drives the Y-axis movable body in the Y-axis direction, a detector which detects the yawing angle that can be the angle of the Y-axis movable body in a rotational direction around the Z-axis, a controller which controls the driving of the pair of actuators on the basis of the yawing angle detected by the detector, and a pair of supporters which supports the Y-axis movable body on the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Makino, Yasushi Koyanagawa, Ryuta Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8516931
    Abstract: A pliers that includes a jaw member removably coupled to a head of the pliers. The jaw member includes a grip surface and a flange including an aperture. The pliers further includes a fastener that extends into the aperture of the flange and an aperture of a longitudinal side of the head to removably couple the jaw member to the head. The jaw member is slidable along the jaw surface of the head from the first longitudinal side toward the second longitudinal side to uncouple the jaw member from the head when the fastener is uncoupled from at least one of the jaw member and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Steele, Wade Burch, Tim Albrecht, Michael W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8511205
    Abstract: Provided is a bottle opener. The bottle opener includes a handle, a body, a cap retaining portion, a force accumulation deforming portion, and a travel limiter. The handle is for a user to grasp. The body is installed on the handle. The cap retaining portion is formed on the body and contacts a side of a bottle cap. The force accumulation deforming portion is provided on the body and is elastically deformed by external pressure. The travel limiter is provided between the force accumulation deforming portion and the handle, and receives part of the force accumulation deforming portion to control a range of elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Dong Yool Lee
  • Patent number: 8511208
    Abstract: An assisted opening multitool handle comprising a handle housing having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the handle housing having first and second longitudinal regions, the handle housing having an interior surface defining a channel region. The assisted opening multitool handle further comprises a tool member pivotally attached to the handle housing and operatively configured to be positioned in a closed orientation within the channel region and configured to rotate in an opening direction to an open orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives and Tools, LLC
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 8495933
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench includes two plates, a handle unit, a rotary unit and a control unit. Each plate has a first toothed portion. The handle unit is located between the two plates and includes a handle and a toothed ring. The handle has a second toothed portion. The toothed ring has multiple third teeth and multiple fourth teeth. The third teeth are engaged with the second teeth. The fourth teeth are located between the first toothed portions of the two plates. The rotary unit is located between the two plates and has a first jaw and a second jaw. The control unit includes having a controlling member and a resilient member. The controlling member is connected to the plate and has fifth teeth defined in one end thereof. The resilient member contacts the controlling member to engage the fifth teeth with the first and fourth teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Yu-Shiang Huang
    Inventor: Allen Huang
  • Patent number: 8490524
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in adjusting an endplay of a bearing of a wheel hub assembly includes an outer circumferential surface configured to be received within an annular space around the nut attached to a shaft of the wheel hub assembly and retaining the bearing on the shaft. An engaging surface is coupled to the outer circumferential surface and configured to engage the nut. A stopping surface is coupled to the engaging surface and configured to abut an outer surface of the nut opposite the bearing such that the engaging surface is positioned in an engaging position to engage nut engaging surfaces of the nut. An arm is connected to the stopping surface and extends out of the annular space away from the bearing and substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft when the stopping surface abuts the outer surface of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 8485507
    Abstract: A movable table, which has a substrate to be processed mounted thereon and moves, includes: a main plate formed of a metallic material; and a plurality of sub plates which is disposed on the main plate and is formed of a material with a hardness higher than the metallic material, and the top surfaces of the plurality of sub plates are mounting surfaces of the substrate to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuya Inoue, Hisato Tanaka, Tamotsu Tanifuji
  • Patent number: 8485071
    Abstract: A wrench has an elongated handle pivotally connected to a first clamping jaw which is pivotally connected to a second clamping jaw, The wrench has a spring-loaded latch that locks the second clamping jaw to the first clamping jaw. The spring-loaded latch is disengaged by actuating a push-button release mechanism disposed within the handle that causes the spring-loaded latch to pivot to release the second clamping jaw. This press-button release mechanism enables single-handed operation of the wrench. Accordingly, a user can hold and operate two wrenches simultaneously which is not possible with the prior-art wrenches. In other words, the user may clamp a first self-clamping wrench to a tube, pipe, or other such object and then, with only one hand, clamp a second self-clamping wrench to the same tube, pipe, or object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Robert John Terence Wojick
  • Patent number: 8485508
    Abstract: A mechanical hand held door opener device, light in weight and operable in any orientation including being inverted, for generating substantial door-opening force with a minimum effort from a user. When the user rotates the handle, he or she activates the unit by moving the shaft that interlocks with the first and second bevel gears. Since the second gear is fastened to the central lead screw, its rotation causes the rotation of the screw. The rotation of the screw then advances or retracts, depending on the clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation; and the inner platform and the four columns attached to the inner platform moves inwardly or outwardly of the outer platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Philip Newman, Richard Thaw
  • Patent number: 8479615
    Abstract: A wrench comprising an elongated handle having a proximal end and first and second pivots at a distal end, and a spring-loaded latch pivotally connected to the second pivot, the latch being movable about the second pivot from an unlocked position to a locked position. The wrench includes a first clamping jaw having a first end pivotally connected to the handle at the first pivot and having a second end that includes a third pivot. A second clamping jaw is pivotally connected to the first clamping jaw via the third pivot to constitute with the first clamping jaw an articulated clamping jaw. The second clamping jaw has a free end for displacing the spring-loaded latch from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch locks the free end of the second clamping jaw when the free end of the second clamping jaw has pushed past the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Robert John Terence Wojick
  • Patent number: 8479619
    Abstract: The invention provides for an improved screw and screwdriver. The self-locking screw and screwdriver, the JacLock™ Screw and JacLock™ Screwdriver, is designed to improve insertion and/or removal of a screw. The new screw head differs from normal horizontal cut/slotted screw heads and cross cut/slotted screw heads. The invention calls for a standard vertical cut/slot in the screw head along with two cross cuts/slots in the head of the screw equi-distant from the center of the horizontal standard slot. The screwdriver has a redesigned head that will fit into the three cuts/slots in the new screw. Once the screwdriver is inserted into the screw head it will lock in place making it easier to insert or remove the screw. The design results in improved torque and eliminates the possibility of the screwdriver slipping off the head of the screw and possibly damaging the head of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Bernard Jacovitz
  • Patent number: 8474352
    Abstract: An open end wrench head including first and second jaws that are adapted to engage a workpiece located in a hard-to-reach area. The jaws can include a chamfered portion on the end of the jaws that allows the wrench to be presented at an angle to the workpiece and still maximize the engagement area between the wrench and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel M. Eggert, Jonathan M. Andersen
  • Patent number: 8464774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bead breaker group for bead breaking a tire of a tired wheel equipped with rim with bead-engagement flanges, the bead breaker group comprising a support (2, 5) and at least one bead breaker tool (3) mounted for rotation around a pin (4) borne by the support (2, 5), the bead breaker tool being substantially flat and comprising: at least one portion configured as an abutment front (3b, 3d, 3f) against a flange of a rim of a tired wheel to be bead broken; and at least one portion having curved peripheral edge substantially coaxial with the pin (4) and intended to act as an engagement-penetration zone (3a, 3c, 3e) between the flange of a rim and the bead of a tire to be bead broken, the distance between the abutment front (3b, 3d, 3f) and the pin (4) being less than the distance between the pin (4) and the at least one engagement-penetration zone (3a, 3c, 3e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Butler Engineering & Marketing S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tullio Gonzaga, Silvano Santi
  • Patent number: 8459150
    Abstract: Provide a sealing device with which simple and reliable operation can be performed. When stored, a liquid agent container, in which a sealing agent is contained, is temporarily held above a injection unit. When the liquid agent container is forcibly pressed downward in use, the upper end of a pressing jig penetrates through an aluminum seal into the container, and the sealing agent flows out to a compressor unit is activated and compressed air is supplied into the liquid agent container to place the pressurized sealing agent into a pneumatic tire through a joint hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Yoshida, Yuji Takeda
  • Patent number: 8448928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding a model support of an abutment model and also to an insert (1) for holding such a model support, with a first area and a second area, wherein the first area comprises a flat surface (6) with a step (4) at the center of which there is an area which has an attachment geometry of an implant and onto which the model support of the abutment model can be mounted, wherein the second area comprises means that permit positioning of the insert, and wherein the insert comprises an optically detectable marking (5). The invention additionally relates to a pot (13) for receiving an insert according to the invention, wherein the pot comprises at least one magnet (18) and at least one recess and/or elevation on the bottom surface. The invention also relates to a scanning device, a scanning method, a method for producing an abutment, a method for producing a tooth replacement part, and a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Weber