Patents Examined by R. Alexander Smith
  • Patent number: 9492356
    Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to a container with a dispensing schedule. In one implementation, the container with a dispensing schedule comprises a bottle with a threaded neck and a complementarily threaded cap having a cylindrical rim and an internal schedule display. An indication on or within the internal schedule display is displayed through an aperture in the cap rim. Features included in the cap and schedule display interoperate to ensure that the displayed indication is advanced when the cap is removed from, and subsequently threaded onto, the bottle container. The displayed indication is relatively large and clear, to facilitate viewing by vision-impaired users, and the indication-advancement mechanism is robust and reliable. In addition, the cap and internal schedule display include features that allow the displayed indication to be set to a particular indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: RedCap, LLC
    Inventors: Alfred Richard Balakier, Daniel Albert Gosselin
  • Patent number: 8074369
    Abstract: A pivot joint has a first structure comprising a ball mounted in a receptacle, wherein the location of the ball is held with respect to the receptacle, and a second structure mounted on and movable with respect to the ball, wherein the second structure has at least one bearing surface which defines its position with respect to the ball. The ball may be held in location by contact with the receptacle at at least two positions. At least one of the positions of contact may be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: David Roberts McMurtry
  • Patent number: 7992513
    Abstract: A whistle is provided with an interior that can be cleaned. The whistle has a body with a resonance chamber wall. One face of a resonance chamber formed by the resonance chamber wall is open. A side plate is formed separately from the body, and can be attached to and removed from the body. The side plate has a first portion that blocks the one face of the resonance chamber when attached to the body. A first flange is provided on the first portion and is engageable with the resonance chamber wall. At least one of the resonance chamber wall and the first flange is elastically deformable. An air passageway, the resonance chamber, an air opening that is opened in the air passageway, and a sound-emitting opening that is opened in the resonance chamber are formed by the body and the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Hideomi Shishido
  • Patent number: 7992310
    Abstract: A reference beam generator has first, second, and third projection turrets for projecting first, second, and third fan beams of laser light, respectively. The first, second, and third fan beams of laser light are oriented normal to each other. The turrets may be rotated such that each of said fan beams can each be rotated about an axis that is normal to the plane in which the fan beam is projected. The generator may be used to project a number of reference points and lines on multiple surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Timothy J. Litvin, Kevin Marc Morrissey, Steve Curtiss
  • Patent number: 7992311
    Abstract: A system for a rotary boring tool that enables a user of the tool to align the tool perpendicularly with respect to a work surface of a work piece. In one embodiment the system enables a user to gauge distance or depth drilled into the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: John Cerwin
  • Patent number: 7984687
    Abstract: To provide a temperature sensitive indicator that is capable of easily control the temperature of the temperature sensitive indicator itself and is not affected by the temperature of a finger when the temperature sensitive indicator is operated. In the temperature sensitive indicator that has: a base body; a capsule placed on the base body and filled with a heat-sensitive material; an absorbent member placed on an upper part of the capsule; a cover covering at least the capsule and the absorbent member; and capsule breaking means formed therein with a space through which the base body and the cover are inserted, the base body and the cover are pulled out through the space of the capsule breaking means, whereby the capsule is broken by the capsule breaking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Thermostat Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suda
  • Patent number: 7946048
    Abstract: The present invention relates to target acquisition and related systems and devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges. The present invention also provides targets and methods of using the systems to achieve enhanced shooting accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Horus Vision, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis J. Sammut
  • Patent number: 7937846
    Abstract: An inclination position sensor where, on a substrate on which wires are formed, plural electrodes electrically connected to the wires are disposed, a conductive ball that can simultaneously contact at least two of the plural electrodes is disposed, an enclosure that covers the plural electrodes and the conductive ball is disposed, and a circular arc is formed in places of the electrodes that contact the conductive ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7930834
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of a vehicle wheel using an optical target attached to the vehicle wheel, the optical target having a dimensionally stable shape and a plurality of target elements arranged in a known geometric and spatial configuration relative to each other. A two-dimensional image of the optical target is acquired by an imaging system to detect a plurality of target element images corresponding to the plurality of target elements arranged on the optical target. A spatial orientation of the optical target and an alignment of the vehicle wheel is then determined from the plurality of target element images and the known geometric and spatial configuration of the plurality of target elements on the optical target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Stieff, Daniel R. Dorrance, Thomas J. Golab, Mark S. Shylanski
  • Patent number: 7913638
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a wasp repellent device comprising a suspension member operatively connected to a closed end of a bag. The bag has a skirt extending from the closed end of the bag to a mouth of the bag, with a drawstring for contracting the mouth of the bag to give the bag the approximate shape of an inverted cone. The exterior of the bag is provided with a striated pattern and, in use, the bag imitates the appearance of a wasp nest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Contech Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria Olson, Kim Cassar-Torreggiani
  • Patent number: 7913414
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing, a clamping unit associated with the housing, a biasing system, and a length indicator. The clamping unit can be inserted through a hole in a structure into an interior of a nut that is positioned relative to a first surface of the structure. The clamping unit can engage the interior of the nut when a portion of the housing is positioned relative to a second surface of the structure. The first structure is substantially parallel to the second surface. The biasing system can bias the portion of the housing positioned relative to the second surface of the structure and the clamping unit towards each other, while the clamping unit is engaged with the interior of the nut. The length indicator can indicate a length of a bolt when the biasing system has biased the portion of the housing and the clamping unit towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Bumgardner, Terry L. Gesell, Curtis L. Chamberlin, Paul C. Buehler, Ed Vallejos
  • Patent number: 7878141
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an airbag system that a user can deploy to reduce the chances of being buried in an avalanche or if buried, likely being buried near the surface, thereby improving the user's chances of surviving the experience. In one embodiment, the airbag system is comprised of an inflatable balloon, a pressure gas cylinder for holding a pressurized gas that is used in inflating the balloon, a valve that can be placed in a closed state to retain a pressurized gas in the pressure gas cylinder or an open state in which pressurized gas is released from the pressure gas cylinder. The system further comprises an ejector that operates to use pressurized gas received from the pressure gas cylinder and ambient air to inflate the balloon. Also part of the system is a flow restrictor that is located to receive pressurized gas from the pressure gas cylinder before the ejector receives the gas. A harness supports the noted elements of the system adjacent to an individual's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Backcountry Access, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne Ralph Paynton, Jason Howard Cloyd, Bruce Jencks Edgerty, Eric Steven Moore
  • Patent number: 7866053
    Abstract: The apparatus (10) comprises a turret (50), rotatable about a first axis (B-B?), a slide (52) mounted on the turret (50) and a sensor (30) mounted for sliding in the slide (52) along a third axis (C-C?) substantially parallel to the first axis (B-B?). It comprises means (34) for displacement of the sensor for displacing a contact surface (42) of the sensor along the mount (14) during the sensing of the mount. The displacement means (34) comprise means (70) for driving the turret (50) in rotation about the first axis (B-B?). The apparatus comprises control means (82) for controlling means (72) for displacement of the turret in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (B-B?) and suitable for displacing the turret (50) in said plane when the turret is driven in rotation about the first axis (B-B?) during the sensing of the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Briot International
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Meunier, Jean-Jacques Videcoq
  • Patent number: 7841099
    Abstract: A device forming a sight-vane for a three-dimensional measuring machine. It includes a cylinder-shaped body (1), a thin part (5), and a tail (6). The part (5) and the tail (6) are provided with slots enabling the expansion or the withdrawal of the tail (6) in relation to the nominal diameter thereof. A contact face (2) is calibrated in relation to a bearing face (3). A cylinder (4) and the contact face (2) are calibrated and intended for the palpation. The exterior of the tail (6) is calibrated, the interior is provided with a conical (11) bore and the end thereof is provided with a wedge-shaped chamfer (13). The contact face (2) is provided with a countersink (9) and a threading (8) suitable for receiving an expansion screw (10) at the conical end. The device is useful as a palpation point for a measuring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Michel Maugard
  • Patent number: 7814858
    Abstract: A condition indicator is provided to visually indicate a rotation of a nut relative to a bolt used to attach a transom bracket to a transom of a marine vessel. An indicator is configured to rotate with the nut and a pointer of the indicator can visually be identified as representing a rotation of the nut relative to the bolt. A retainer is provided to prevent the head of the bolt from rotating about its central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Walczak
  • Patent number: 7765706
    Abstract: A level has a level body made of a hollow profiled section having a bottom wall whose underside forms a measuring surface and further having a top wall and sidewalls, the sidewalls connecting the bottom wall and the top wall. The level body has a window opening for receiving a horizontal vial for horizontal measurement. A securing device for mounting the horizontal vial within the level body is provided. The securing device has a vial holder, in which the horizontal vial is secured, and at least one clamping part that is movable relative to the vial holder for clamping the securing device in the level body. In the mounted state of the securing device, the at least one clamping part is supported on an inner side of the top wall and the vial holder is pressed against an inner side of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sola-Messwerkzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Scheyer
  • Patent number: 7748129
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying or measuring a trigonometric sine or cosine is provided, which includes a planar surface with a circle or a portion thereof and a bisecting line through the center of the circle. Two arms are attached to the apparatus. The circle, bisecting line and second arm include incremental markings that correspond to the degree and/or radian measurements of the unit circle, trigonometric cosine and trigonometric sine, respectively. A method is also provided which includes rotating one of the arms to a position along the circle to form an angle. Based upon the position of the first and second arms the trigonometric cosine and trigonometric sine of the angle can be read. An electronic display device that displays the trigonometric sine and trigonometric cosine of an angle can also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Jesse Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 7735234
    Abstract: The present system, method, article of manufacture, software, and apparatus is an “intelligent” probe system and components thereof and may openly encompass, in at least an embodiment, an embedded IC chip located in an interchangeable probe(s) which offers repeatable, fast, easy, and error free probe swapping on a CMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Faro Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark H. Briggs, Keith George Macfarlane, Frederick John York, Marc Barber
  • Patent number: 7721458
    Abstract: A level adjusting device for a cutter head of a jointer/planer machine, includes a front support frame for supporting a front anti-friction bearing unit that holds a front journal segment of the cutter head, a rear support frame including left and right base abutments, a height-adjustable carrier for receiving a rear anti-friction bearing member that holds a rear journal segment of the cutter head, left and right lugs respectively having inner tubular threaded surfaces, and left and right adjusting screws respectively having threaded segments which are threadedly and respectively engaged with the inner tubular threaded surfaces, and abutting ends which are in frictional engagement with the base abutments, respectively, and which are turnable to move the respective lugs relative to the adjusting screws so as to raise or lower the carrier, thereby enabling level adjustment of the cutter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Shinmax Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Liu
  • Patent number: 7707730
    Abstract: An annular body has an angle scale for measuring the rotational position of a machine part about an axis, the body having recesses and projections on its inner circumference, and at least one of the recesses being suited for a form-locking rotatably fixed attachment on the machine part. The sum of the central angles, which are respectively defined by starting points and end points of the projections is smaller than the sum of the central angles, which are respectively defined by the starting points and end points of the recesses. Such a body on a high-speed shaft of a machine tool may be used for measuring the rotational position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Mitterreiter, Jens Dormann, Pascal Haible