Patents Examined by Peter Cuomo
  • Patent number: 8893323
    Abstract: An articulated sofa bed has a compact profile while folded with the seat cushions residing at a comfortable and ergonomic height and an esthetically pleasing streamlined appearance. The sofa bed takes advantage of a deployment assembly having a support frame with swinging rear arms that, when the bed is folded, occupy a small volume within the back of the sofa. The sofa bed also takes advantage of a leg assembly that is anchored within the thickness of the bed panels so as to stack the foot and middle panels closer to each other. The deployment assembly also cooperates to position the middle and foot panels of the bed in a folded position at a low height above the floor and below the seat cushions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: American Leather Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 8756735
    Abstract: A patient helper apparatus for use with a patient support is disclosed. The patient helper apparatus includes a first L-shaped support tube coupled to the patient support, a shaft coupled to the first L-shaped support tube and extending over the patient support, and an egress handle coupled to the first L-shaped support tube. The egress handle moves between a stowed position and an assist position. In the stowed position, the egress handle is situated inside a footprint of the patient support. In the assist position, the egress handle extends outside the footprint of the patient support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Edward J. Koors, Jonathan D. Turner, David W. Hornbach
  • Patent number: 8739334
    Abstract: An improved medical procedure table has motorized elevation, Trendelenburg tilt, floating tabletop with both longitudinal and lateral travel, multi-caster control, and an iso-roll device for the tabletop. The iso-roll device is connected between a roll plate and a cross plate. The iso-roll device includes a pair of iso-roll guide plates, which are mounted laterally to a bottom of the roll plate. Each iso-roll guide plate has an arcuate guide channel therein having an upwards concave shape. A set of cam followers are positioned in both guide channel and travel therein and also fixedly mounted to a base on the cross plate. A center of radius of the arcuate guide channel is approximately 5 inches above the tabletop. Further, mounted between the iso-roll guide plates and to the roll plate is a support guide plate having an arcuate bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventors: Remo J. Rossi, Glenn Capone
  • Patent number: 8683631
    Abstract: A sacral support for a surgical table, comprising a plate having two spaced-apart openings formed therein. The openings are aligned along an axis of the plate and disposed adjacent one end of the plate. A pad is attached to the plate. The pad is dimensioned such that the openings in the plate are exposed. A positioning post is attachable to the plate. The post has a lower end dimensioned to be received in the openings in plate, wherein the post is mountable in the plate in one of two different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: Lance Clark Bellows, Bernard J. Moss, Christopher D. Labedz
  • Patent number: 8607386
    Abstract: A prone positioning apparatus includes a support member for supporting an infant in a prone position. The support member has first and second ends, first and second sides having first and second opposing recesses, respectively, a top surface facing the infant, and a bottom surface. A first portion disposed at or about the first end, supports the infant's head or trunk. A second portion extends from the first portion and supports the other of the infant's head or trunk. The infant's head and trunk are, therefore, aligned and elevated with respect to at least a portion of the infant's arms and legs, in order that the infant's spine is substantially straight. The first and second recesses receive at least a portion of one of the infant's arms. A support system including at least one accessory for securing the infant in the prone position, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Paul C. Daly, Wyleen A. Ingram, Jason P. Eaton
  • Patent number: 8272085
    Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for installing a hammock upon a boat. A method of installing a hammock comprises the steps of: installing first and second hammock end mounting means upon the boat, the first and second mounting means each comprising one of a vertical mounting member and a suspending anchor to suspend ends of a hammock, where each vertical mounting member is affixed to a surface of the boat, the vertical member including a longitudinally extending member having a first end and a second end, the first end affixed to a surface of the boat, the second end being elevated above the first end, and where each suspending anchor is affixed to an elevated structure of the boat, the anchor having one or more mounting surfaces engaging the elevated structure and one or more ratchets each receiving a strap extending about the elevated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Justin Finch, Gary Loomis
  • Patent number: 7997631
    Abstract: A lock device includes a first mounting unit, an operating member, a first and second actuating member, a magnet member and a latch member. The first mounting unit includes a main portion and two flanges bent from the first main portion. Each flange defines a notch. The operating member is configured for moving relative to the first mounting unit in a direction. The first and second actuating members are configured for respectively moving toward and proximate to one notch. The latch member is configured for being pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position, the latch member is attracted by the magnet member and protrudes into one notch with engaging one flange. When the operating member moves in the direction, the latch member is pushed away from the first mounting member by means of one actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wu-Yung Chen
  • Patent number: 7722095
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lid unit for closing the container body 2 that is transported with thin-plates such as semiconductor wafers or the like accommodated therein. Simplified attaching/detaching mechanisms 32 for the production line are provided at the centers of the respective sides opposing with respect to each other. The simplified attaching/detaching mechanism 32 for the production line includes a locking plate 34 for locking the second fitted portion 21 and a drive-out member 35 for allowing the drive-out member 35 to rise and set by being engaged with the locking plate 34. A locking arm 57 for fixing the drive-out member 35 is provided on the drive-out member 35 at the end in the direction of rotation. A supporting rail 56 for controlling the rising and setting movement of the locking plate 34 is provided on the drive-out member 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Miraial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hyobu, Chiaki Matsutori, Tadahiro Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7712341
    Abstract: An electronic combination lock includes a door handle having a code entry button and housing a lock assembly and an electrical circuit. The lock assembly includes a lock body, a rotating cylinder, spring loaded lift lock pins and corresponding key pins, a reset cam path and a programming cam path formed on the cylinder, a lift comb for lifting the lift lock pins, a latch for latching the lift comb and a magnet being selectively activated to cause the latch to release the lift comb. The electrical circuit receives a first input signal indicative of an input code entered at the code entry button and a second input signal from a program switch actuated by the programming cam path and is operated to store an entry code when the program switch is actuated and to activate the magnet when an input code matching the stored entry code is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventors: Fritz Hugo Johansson, James P. Davidson
  • Patent number: 7698920
    Abstract: The portability of a mechanical key and a locking/unlocking key having the mechanical key is improved. The mechanical key is housed in a portable device in such a manner that a key plate is folded into two at a portion formed with an inner groove. Thus, the housing space for housing the mechanical key can be reduced and the portable device can be made smaller. Accordingly, the portability of the locking/unlocking key can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Jun Yamaguchi, Noriyasu Shamoto, Toshiharu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 7676872
    Abstract: An system for providing a highly adjustable sleep system has box frame assembly and a mattress assembly with a plurality of support cylinders, where the support cylinders may be spring loaded or pneumatic. The pressure of each individual support cylinder may be automatically adjustable by changing the tension on a spring, or by modifying the internal air pressure of a pneumatic support cylinder. The box frame may have a moving tool head configured to move along a gantry and carriage assembly, and having actuators to engage valves on the bottom of each pneumatic support cylinder to add or release compressed air from a pneumatic support cylinder. Each support cylinder may have sensors or therapeutic modules, which may be controlled and monitored by a control module in the box frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventors: Paul Block, Michael Lydick
  • Patent number: 7641244
    Abstract: A fire door lock includes a base assembly including first and second slide blocks, a locking control assembly including a movable seat forming a groove and a tongue control plate movably mounted to one side of the locking control assembly, and a winglet assembly including first and second winglets both having a boss movably received in the groove of the movable seat and both being respectively and rotatably coupled to the first and second slide blocks. Thus, when the movable seat is driven by a handle, the movable seat moves the first and second slide blocks to withdraw first and second latch bars to unlock the fire door and when the fire door is closed, the tongue control plate is actuated to allow the movable seat to return to the locked condition and the first and second latches and a tongue are stretched out to realize three-directional locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Thase Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Tien Lin
  • Patent number: 7634829
    Abstract: A self-contained head and chest support kit for indoor and outdoor use, which allows a user to support his head and chest for comfort, the kit consisting of a head and chest pillow, a head pillow cover, a chest pillow cover, an adjustment strap, an air pump to inflate the head pillow and the chest pillow, and a convenient storage bag. During use for sunbathing, the head pillow supports the forehead, while the chest pillow keeps the user's spine in prior alignment, thereby also elevating the face away from the sand or ground and preventing the face from burning due to overexposure from the sun. When used for sleeping, the head pillow and chest pillow allow the neck and back muscles to lie in a more relaxed position and create a better posture. Use of the pillows in the present kit helps alleviate tension in the neck and back muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: Deborah L. La Bar