Patents Examined by Michael J. Kyle
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Patent number: 7171728Abstract: A knob includes a hub to be fixed in a seat open at the front of an electrical household appliance, a grip, which can slide axially, against the action of an elastic element, on a first end of the hub. Between the grip and the hub there is defined a closed chamber having a variable volume that is a function of the axial position of the grip on the hub. A sliding seal is provided for sealing the closed chamber. A calibrated restriction connects the inside of the chamber with the external environment in such a way as to bring about a negative pressure in the chamber as a result of the axial movement of the grip away from the hub.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L.Inventor: Dino Chirumbolo
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Patent number: 7171726Abstract: A hinge construction comprising two hinge members provided with a guide track. The guide tracks of each of the hinge members comprise at least three substantially flat, circular segment-shaped track parts, which each extend between first and second track ends and which are distributed at uniform intermediate distances over a corresponding circular circumference, so that the track parts of the hinge members pairwise form a guide for at least one guide element. The hinge members are pivotable relative to each other between a first angular position in which the guide elements are received in the guides so as to be displaceable along the track parts, and a second angular position in which the guide elements are received in the guides so as to be clamped between first and second track ends of the track parts.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Werner John Peter Kleissen, Peter Alexander Hamming, Marinus Jacobus Maria Van Zuijlen, Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout, Stefan Frits Brouwer
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Patent number: 7168135Abstract: Disclosed is a hinge mechanism of portable phone having an advanced configuration, which can perform the opening operation and the rotating operation of a phone cover. The hinge mechanism comprises a housing to connect a phone body and a phone cover, which has a rotary chamber and a hinge chamber, a hinge part to open and to close he phone cover, which is disposed in the hinge chamber, and a rotary part to rotate the phone cover, which is disposed in the rotary chamber. A user can play a game or watch a motion picture using the portable phone while looking at the liquid crystal display of the phone cover, because the phone cover can be rotated.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: M2SYS Co., LtdInventors: Bo-Seung Jung, Si-Wan Kim
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Patent number: 7162772Abstract: A bracket for temporarily attaching wheels and/or casters to objects at a variety of angles includes a horizontal member for supporting an object on an upper surface and for mounting a wheel or caster on a lower surface; and an attached substantially vertical side member for supporting an object along an inner surface wherein joint between said horizontal member and said substantially vertical side member is formed at an angle conforming to object to which bracket attaches and wherein said substantially vertical side member includes a vertical surface on its outer surface for accepting a wheel axle.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Inventor: Samuel Mordechai Asher
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Patent number: 7159278Abstract: A caster for providing rolling support including a spring-loaded mount. The caster may be substantially concealed in the bottom edge of a hinged, swinging door, and generally located proximate to the free vertical edge of the door. An elongated spring plate is provided as a mount for a roller, causing the roller to accommodate variations in the floor surface, maintain contact with the floor, and support the door. The spring plate has a first portion adapted to be mounted to the bottom edge of a door, and a second portion depending from the first portion. An axle is mounted to the second portion, inside a hub that is mounted to the roller. The axle may be substantially parallel to the first portion of the spring plate. Single roller and double roller caster assemblies are provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Yale Security Inc.Inventor: Timothy J. Hilger
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Patent number: 7155776Abstract: A multipurpose hinge apparatus having an automatic return function is provided in which the apparatus is installed between the door and a main body. The apparatus includes a driving mechanism for ascending and descending a piston rod according to opening and closing of the door which is installed in the upper portion of a cylindrical housing. A piston is connected with the piston rod, in which a one-direction check valve is installed in the piston. The piston partitions an upper chamber and a lower chamber and ascends and descends in association with the piston rod. A first oil path communicates with the upper and lower chambers via the lower portion of the piston rod in the central portion of the piston. A compression spring which makes the piston ascend is inserted into the lower chamber. Oil is filled in the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2004Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: I-One Innotech Co., Ltd.Inventor: Bong Mook Park
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Patent number: 7150070Abstract: A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2005Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Inventor: William J. Donakowski
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Patent number: 7143474Abstract: A shelving system includes at least two parallel lengths of track, at least two pair of end pieces disposed on opposite ends of each of the at least two lengths of track, and a stationary shelving unit attached to one of the at least two pair of end pieces, with the stationary shelving unit including a plurality of posts and a shelf supported by the plurality of posts, and a mobile shelving unit, which includes a plurality of posts, a shelf supported by the plurality of posts, and a plurality of wheels adapted to roll on the at least two lengths of track.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.Inventors: John H. Welsch, James J. Janick, Robert J. Welch, Joseph R. Petcavage
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Patent number: 7143473Abstract: A door checker for an automobile includes: a check lever 6; a case 1 through which the check lever 6 passes and which is fixed to a door D; and a shoe 19 which is housed in the case 1 and in sliding contact with detent surfaces 9 of the check lever 6. The check lever 6 includes: a core plate 6a made of a steel plate; and a synthetic resin skin 6b which is mold-connected to a peripheral surface of the core plate 6a. A full open stopper 12 for defining a full open position of the door D is provided in a distal end portion of the check lever 6. The full open stopper 12 includes: an anchor member 14 which passes through an anchor hole 13 formed in a distal end portion of the core plate 6a; and a bulging portion 15 formed integrally with the skin 6b so as to wrap the anchor member 14. Therefore, the structure of the full open stopper is simplified, and a process of installing the full open stopper can be eliminated from assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Rikenkaki Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuhiro Matsuki
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Patent number: 7118317Abstract: The present invention concerns a fastener arrangement made of a component and a screw element with an area for the application of force for a turning tool, where the component and the screw element, when fastened to each other, are in contact with each other by way of contact surfaces, and where the contact surface of the screw element on the side facing the component, has a convexly curved outer surface, and where the contact surface of the component has a concavely curved inner surface, while the outer surface and the inner surface are positioned coaxially with respect to a common longitudinal axis, which runs through the component and the screw element.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Altenloh, Brinck & Co. GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Manfred Hofschneider
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Patent number: 7114217Abstract: A buffer includes a grommet having a tube portion, an attaching portion and an elastic engaging piece projecting inside the tube portion; an engaging member having an engaging step portion provided on an outer surface thereof for engaging the elastic engaging piece to prevent the engaging member from coming out in a counter-insertion direction when the engaging member is inserted into the tube portion in an insertion direction; and a damper main member having an abutting portion provided in a middle in a longitudinal direction for abutting against the engaging member when the damper main member is inserted into the engaging member. A projecting length adjustable device is formed for moving the damper main member in the counter-insertion direction and for fixing a projecting length of the damper main member projecting from the grommet.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: NIFCO Inc.Inventors: Kazunari Matsuzawa, Hironori Awano
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Patent number: 7114219Abstract: A hinge for pivotably mounting a panel to a vehicle body includes a panel attachment plate securable to the panel, a body attachment plate securable to the vehicle body, and an intermediate member pivotably attached between the body and panel attachment plates. The intermediate member has opposite sidewalls and a center flange extending between the sidewalls. The sidewalls engage the body attachment plate with the center flange spaced from the body attachment plate when the intermediate member is pivoted such that the sidewalls are positioned generally along the body attachment plate. The intermediate member may include a stop member for limiting pivotal movement of the panel attachment plate. The stop member may limit such pivotal movement at different positions by being cut to different sizes during manufacture of the hinge. The body attachment plate may provide a hinge portion that provides enhanced structural rigidity to the hinge.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Ran Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: James Kiefer, Robert N Alt, Jr.
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Patent number: 7111360Abstract: A door catch includes a back plate having two laterally symmetric sleeves formed on a front face thereof. A slot is provided on the back plate behind each of the sleeves at a predetermined position to communicate with an inner space of the sleeve, and an insert plate is inserted from a back face of the back plate into the sleeve via the slot to confine a steel ball and a spring in the sleeve, such that the springs not only normally push the steel balls forward to partially project from front open ends of the sleeves for tightly clamping a corresponding stop post between the balls, but also tightly push against the insert plates to hold the latter in place. The insert plates are held down in place in the sleeves by a wall when the back plate is mounted on the wall with fastening elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Inventor: Ming-Piao Hsu
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Patent number: 7097218Abstract: A locking device applies to a casing having a cover and a seat for opening and closing of the casing. The locking device has a recess formed on an edge of the seat, a buckle downwards protruding from the cover and matching the recess, and a roller parallel-disposed in the recess and pivoted to the seat. The buckle has an arcuate face smoothly against an upper slot of the roller for closing and opening the casing. A direction of lifting of the cover corresponds to a rotation of the roller so that a direction of applied force can be continuously unchanged to achieve an ergonomic effect.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: First International Computer Inc.Inventor: Ying-Ta Lu
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Patent number: 7096535Abstract: A hinge device includes a frame bracket adapted to be secured to a door frame, a door bracket adapted to be secured to a door panel, first and second links pivoted to the frame bracket and the door bracket, an urging member for urging the door panel to move from an opened position toward a closed position relative to the door frame, and a damping member adapted to be secured to the door frame and connected movably to the second link through a transmission link so as to damp pivoting movement of the door panel relative to the door frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Inventor: Ming-Jeng Lin
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Patent number: 7096534Abstract: A hinge assembly (1) includes a housing (10) encasing a rotating mechanism (30) and an elastic plate (40) therein, with an open end (12) of the housing being covered by an end cover (50). The rotating mechanism has a cam portion (32), and a connector (31) and a shaft (33) located at opposite ends of the cam portion. The connector rotatably extends through a hole (51) of the end cover. The rotating mechanism is rotatably engaged in the housing, with the shaft being rotatably received in a bushing (13) inside the housing. The cam portion has an arcuate cam surface (322) defining at least one flat surface (324) thereon. The elastic plate abuts between an inside wall of the housing and the arcuate surface. During rotation of a cover of a folding phone, the arcuate surface is rotatably engaged with the elastic plate until the elastic plate is positioned on the flat surface of the cam portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: FIH Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xiaozhou Wang, BaoJiang Chen, Chia-Hua Chen
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Patent number: 7093319Abstract: An industrial caster wheel assembly including a base member, a wheel, side plates, a housing, a pivot axle, a suspension assembly and an adjustment assembly. The suspension assembly includes an adjustable axle, a support member, and a plate. The support member allows one of the wheel and the base member to rotate about the pivot axle as the adjustable axle compresses the support member by contacting the plate. The adjustment assembly adjusts the height of the industrial caster wheel by adjusting the pressure applied by the adjustable axle to the support member. The industrial caster wheel assembly may alternatively include at least one adjustment assembly that can be placed in contact with at least one of the second axle to press the second axle at least indirectly against the elastomeric support member or the first axle to press the first axle toward the center of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Superior Tire & Rubber CorporationInventors: Henri E. Lemeur, Jr., John D. Swartz, David J. Manning
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Patent number: 7089625Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft of a tool or the like with an adjustable length, the shaft comprising a first shaft section (2) and a second shaft section (10) which are attached to each other by adjusting means and move telescopically with respect to each other when the shaft length is adjusted. In that case, the adjusting means for adjusting the shaft length comprise a sleeve (4) provided in the second shaft section (10) and an at least partly toothed spindle (6) provided in the first shaft section (2), the first end of the spindle being taken through the sleeve (4). The sleeve (4) and the spindle (6) attach the first (2) and the second (10) shaft section adjustably to each other so that the sleeve (4) and the spindle (6) can be turned with respect to each other into a position preventing the adjustment of the shaft length and into a position allowing the adjustment of the shaft length where the spindle (6) can move in the sleeve (4) in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Fiskars Consumer Oy AbInventors: Olavi Lindén, Aaro Huttunen
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Patent number: 7076838Abstract: A very extensive decoupling of the handle from vibrations in the hand power tool is obtained by the fact that, on each of two legs (5, 7) extending nearly parallel to the longitudinal axis (9) of the hand power tool, at least one lever (19, 21) oriented substantially at a right angle to the machine's longitudinal axis (9) is hinge-mounted at one of its two ends, and by the fact that the levers (19, 21) are hinge-mounted at their other ends to a region of the machine housing (1) located between the two legs (5, 7) of the handle (3).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Gerhard Meixner
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Patent number: 7069622Abstract: A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation body rotates.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi, So Ishikawa