Patents Examined by P. W. Echols
  • Patent number: 6253798
    Abstract: A wire bending jig which has a plurality of apertures extending into the top face of the jig but stopping short of the opposite or bottom face. A plurality of pegs are placed into selected apertures to define a pattern for bending wire around the pegs into a specific shape. A pattern of the specific shape is attached to the bottom face of the jig, and the jig is transparent so the pattern can be seen from the top face, and so the pattern will be protected during the wire bending process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Gary L. Helwig
  • Patent number: 6253438
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for breaking connector elements between a rotatable shell and a base of a label affixed to an article. A first belt transports a labeled article at a first rate. A second belt holds the article in a nonrotatable position relative to the first belt. A third belt, advancing at a second rate different from the first rate, selectively contacts the rotatable shell of the label, causing the connection ties between the rotatable portion and the base portion to break, permitting the shell to rotate relative to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: CCL Label, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Jespersen
  • Patent number: 6253432
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting small gem stones in malleable material including precious metals such as gold sheets, so as to form lockets, pendants and other jewelry. Sheet material thinner than used in a completely hand-set operation is pressed to form a recess for the gem, and projections around the recess. The stone is deposited in the recess and the assembly is pressed in a jig, causing the projections to become deformed and form claws over the gem stone edge, setting it in the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: G & A Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: John Peters, John Grinnel
  • Patent number: 6249970
    Abstract: Steering wheel comprising a drive rim consisting of an internal polyurethane core, covered at least partially with a coating of a material with an aesthetically finer quality. The steering wheel is manufactured starting from a driving rim with a polyurethane core by means of a procedure comprising the following steps: grinding of the surface of the polyurethane core, providing a coating element of wood having plane shape and size congruent to at least one portion of the polyurethane core, applying of the coating element to the polyurethane core and respective bending of the same by means of a hot press provided with a suitable template, removing the excess part of the coating element, honing of the portion of the rim coated by the coating element, and protective varnishing of the coated rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Marco Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 6249942
    Abstract: A method and device for forming hinges between components of jewelry with the components having a tongue and a pin. A jig with a curved surface supports the two components while a die is moved into engagement with the tongue and pin to force them against the jig causing the tongue to curl around the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Abbeycrest PLC
    Inventor: Peter Schmid
  • Patent number: 6249969
    Abstract: An automatic assembling method and apparatus for a differential gear, for simplifying the structure of the apparatus and achieving positive assembling without damage to gear teeth of gears, wherein while positioning a pair of side gears R, R at predetermined positions in a differential case C, a pinion gear P and a spherical washer Q are fitted to coincide with each other at shaft insertion bores thereof so as to be inserted with an internal chuck 14 from inside of the pinion gear P (i.e., center side of the differential case), thereby the pinion gear P and the spherical washer Q are held together at respective internal surfaces. Thereafter, the pinion gear P is meshed with the side gear R at gear teeth portions thereof at an opening H of the differential case C, and the pinion gear P is moved to an assembling position while holding the side gear rotatable. A shaft S is then inserted from a shaft hole e of the differential case C, thereby assembling the differential gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunari Komatsu, Hidetoshi Abe, Toshihito Tsuchida, Masaru Shibata
  • Patent number: 6249948
    Abstract: A trailer construction method that uses a factory constructed chassis from a front wheel drive, uni-body van in combination with a conversion kit to construct a closed trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald P. Casso
  • Patent number: 6249950
    Abstract: A metal-cutting tool comprises a holder, a clamp, and a metal-cutting insert. The holder includes a blade part which forms an upwardly facing seating surface extending in a front-to-rear direction. The holder includes a recess including a longitudinal axis extending in the front-to-rear direction at an angle relative to the seating surface, whereby an imaginary rearward extension of the seating surface converges toward the axis. The insert is mounted on the seating surface and the clamp has a rear portion which is slidable within the recess, whereby a front portion of the clamp pushes downwardly and rearwardly against a top surface of the insert. That top surface is shaped so that the front portion of the clamp is flexed upwardly relative to the rear portion when the rear portion is pushed rearwardly to the clamping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Sandvik AB
    Inventors: Karl-Göran Brask, Per Hansson
  • Patent number: 6247219
    Abstract: This invention relates to method for fabricating a vehicle hub, bearing and brake disc assembly wherein the brake surface of the brake disc is oriented in a predetermined relationship relative to the outer race of the bearing assembly. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a vehicle hub including a hub flange; (b) providing a bearing assembly having an outer race; (c) installing the bearing assembly about the vehicle hub; (d) providing a separately formed brake disc having a brake surface; (e) securing the brake disc to the hub flange of the vehicle hub to produce a vehicle hub, bearing and brake disc assembly; (f) supporting the vehicle hub, bearing and brake disc assembly on a machining apparatus; and (g) using the machining apparatus to machine the brake surface of the brake disc of the vehicle hub, bearing and brake disc assembly whereby the brake surface is oriented in a predetermined relationship relative to the outer race of the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Vince J. Austin, Glenn Kochan, Raymond C. Rapisardi
  • Patent number: 6247218
    Abstract: A method of connecting a window pane 1 to a window lifter 3 disposed in the door body 20 of a motor vehicle door 2 wherein, before connection, the motor vehicle door 2 and the window pane 1 are rotated by approximately 180° around an axis running through the surface of the motor vehicle door 2, and the window pane 1 is positioned below the door body 20 in an upside down position. The door body 20 and the window pane 1 are aligned relative to each other for connection of attachment points of the window pane 1 with attachment elements 33, 34 in the door body 20, and the distance between the attachment points and the attachment elements is reduced until a predefined final position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG Coburg
    Inventors: Christian Saunus, Jörgen Sträng
  • Patent number: 6247233
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a work machine, such as a mining dump truck, comprises a rotatable wheel having inboard and outboard rims mounted thereto. The outboard rim is mounted to a segmented rim-mounting flange which is secured to the inboard side of a flange projecting from the wheel. A final drive adapter is secured to the outboard end of the wheel opposite the segmented rim mounted flange. The segmented mounting flange permits the use of a larger final drive ring gear than in known wheel assemblies. Moreover, because the mounting flange is segmented, it can be fastened to the wheel inboard of the gear reduction housing, which permits the final drive assembly to be serviced without removal of the outboard rim from the wheel. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hinton, Eric A. Morr, Thomas J. Suelflow
  • Patent number: 6243950
    Abstract: A process for repairing a framework (1) composed of profile members, in particular for repairing the body structure of a vehicle in which a damaged subassembly (10) composed of several profile members (11-15) is removed by cutting through the profile members at locations which are still undamaged and replaced by a corresponding replacement subassembly (10E). For flush fitting of the replacement subassembly against the free ends of the cut profile members of the framework (1), a fitting case (20) is slidably inserted into the end of the respective profile members of the replacement subassembly or of the profile members of the framework. After positioning the replacement assembly the fitting cases are slidably displaced such that they extend partially into the abutting ends of the profile members. The profile members are then permanently secured to the fitting cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Georg Christian Wachiner, Peter Scheid, Marinus Schouten
  • Patent number: 6240638
    Abstract: A full face wheel assembly comprises a full face disc and a rim. The disc is preferably cast from aluminum whereas the rim is rolled from aluminum strip stock. The full face disc comprises an outboard bead seat flange, an outboard bead seat and an outboard well side wall. The disc may also include lightener pockets or a continuous re-entrant channel adjacent the outboard bead seat. The rim comprises an inboard bead seat flange, an inboard bead seat, an inboard leg, and a deep well. The disc and rim are welded together in the deep well or bead seat regions by gas metal arc welding, electron beam welding or other suitable welding technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Archibald, Melvyn Leroy Scott, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6240612
    Abstract: A method of lining installed pipework which includes the steps of taking a length of liner pipe made from a memory retaining plastics material of external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the pipework to be lined, drawing the liner pipe through a swaging die which is attached directly or indirectly to the pipe to be lined using pulling means under tension attached to the leading end of the liner pipe and threaded through the pipework to reduce the external diameter of the liner pipe by up to 15%, the tension applied by the pulling means being such as partially to restrain the radial expansion of the outer surface of the liner pipe after its emergence from the die, drawing the liner pipe after its emergence from the die, drawing the liner pipe through the installed pipework with its outer diameter reduced to and/or maintained at a dimension less than that of the inner diameter of the pipework and thereafter allowing the liner pipe to expand within the pipework by relaxation of the said tension fo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventor: Brian Edward McGuire
  • Patent number: 6240617
    Abstract: A sheet bar having a thickness of 20 to 50 mm, as continuously cast by a sheet bar caster, is passed as it is through a first sheet bar twister and is then wound in an up-end state into an up-end sheet bar coil. Then, this up-end sheet bar coil is rewound, passed through a second sheet bar twister, finish-rolled and wound into a hot coil. As compared with the slabbing—high draft rolling process of the prior art, the invention is advantageous in that it can improve the quality, production yield and production efficiency and can reduce the cost for an apparatus such as the cost for its construction and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Nitoh, Hidehiko Kimishima
  • Patent number: 6237217
    Abstract: For removing defective transponder units or electronic transponder equipment a web (6)is parted in a station (23) firstly in front and then at the rear of the individual unit. Thereafter the picked out unit is conveyed off transverse to a working plane (3)and the two resulting web ends are transferred into a directly juxtaposed station (24). There the web ends are fixedly interconnected by welding, glueing or the like. Therefrom a use web arises, which includes only non-defective units since the defective units were previously detected by a sensor (32)and then severed out as described with the aid of a control device (50). This fully automatically working apparatus (1)coils the processed use tape in a store (26)into a roll (40)which is suitable for further processing in a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Martin Bohn, Wolfgang Scheller
  • Patent number: 6233807
    Abstract: A process is provided for automatically screw-connecting two components using the torque-controlled tightening method, and to a stud and a union nut provided for carrying out the process. Also provided are an automatic fitting machine and a connecting element via which the two components are screw-connected. In order for it to be possible to execute the screw-connection operation quickly and to obtain a secure connection between the two components, the process provides for the connecting element first of all to be pre-tightened with rotary-angle control and then to be tightened definitively with torque control. The connecting element has two same-direction threaded sections of different pitches and each threaded section is screw-connected to one component in each case. The stud for carrying out the process has a screw head for the engagement of a suitable fitting tool, a marking which indicates the angular position of the stud being arranged on the screw head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Johannes Werner
  • Patent number: 6234261
    Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising the steps of locating, on a surface of a downhole component, a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) bearing elements, and then applying to the surface a settable facing material which bonds to the surface between the bearing elements and embraces the elements to hold them in place. A method in which bearing elements each comprising a body of TSP at least partly surrounded by a layer of less hard material are secured to the surface by welding or brazing part of the surface of each bearing element which comprises said less hard material to said component is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Camco International (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Martin Evans, Terry R. Matthias, Tom Scott Roberts
  • Patent number: 6230380
    Abstract: A system for burnishing a disc includes a slider having burnish pads. The burnish pads are disposed on air bearing surface of the slider and extends therefrom. The burnish pad includes a burnish face which configured to burnish a surface of the disc and blow away burnished asperities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ling Wang, Li Li
  • Patent number: 6230382
    Abstract: A method for assembling an aircraft includes determining a three-dimensional representation of a first aircraft structure and a second aircraft structure using an optical positioning device. A predicted mate of the first aircraft structure and the second aircraft structure is generated from the three-dimensional representation of the first and second aircraft structures using a processor. The method further includes adjusting the predicted mate of the first and second aircraft structures to enhance performance characteristics of the aircraft using the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton D. Cunningham, James P. Koesters, Michael A. Leenhouts, Thomas H Mann, II, Eric D. Moore, James J. Howard, Alan D. Schreck