Patents Examined by Ramón O. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 7611106
    Abstract: An attaching structure of supporting legs for an apparatus is disclosed. The attaching structure of the supporting legs for the apparatus includes plural supporting leg attaching sections on a bottom section of a main body of the apparatus, and plural supporting legs each of which is attached to one of the supporting leg attaching sections in which the number of the supporting leg attaching sections is greater than the number of the supporting legs. Each of the supporting legs includes an elastic member which contacts an apparatus setting up surface and an elastic member holding section having a concave section inside which the elastic member is engaged. An exposure distance of the elastic member from the elastic member holding section in the height direction of the apparatus is less than a distance between the bottom section of the main body of the apparatus and the apparatus setting up surface in the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Nobuhiko Kita, Sei Onuma, Ryoh Idehara, Yuusuke Furuichi, Genta Hagiwara, Kaoru Tada
  • Patent number: 7611115
    Abstract: A cup holder assembly is provided, including a bin having at least one vertical wall with a floor extending from one end thereof. A bale having a flat surface opposing a contoured surface is attached to the bin to pivot between a first position, in which the flat surface is parallel to and distal from the bin floor, and a second position, in which the contoured surface is perpendicular to the floor. A cup retention feature is spaced from the bale and attached to the bin to pivot between a use position, for securely retaining a container, and a stowed position, in which the cup retention feature is positioned between the bale and bin wall. A linkage is connected to the bale and cup retention feature to selectively simultaneously move the bale between the first and second positions and the cup retention feature between the use and stowed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard R. Kniazyszcze, Kurt L. Broman, Jim Y. Chyou, Robert A. Zayler
  • Patent number: 7607626
    Abstract: An apparatus for use by a bow hunter using a tree stand to hunt. The apparatus comprises a rod member having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. A screw member is engageable intermediate each end of the rod member for attaching the rod member to a tree, and there is at least one holder attached to at least one end of the rod member for holding an arrow. The at least one holder is formed of a second predetermined material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Fred M. Whitmire
  • Patent number: 7604214
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a lock portion provided at the lower rail, a lock member which is engageable with and disengageable from the lock portion and a first biasing member for biasing the lock member in a direction to be engaged with the lock portion. The seat slide apparatus for a vehicle further includes a releasing lever for releasing the lock member from being engaged with the lock portion and a second biasing member for maintaining the releasing lever at a neutral position. According to the seat slide apparatus for the vehicle, the first biasing member and the second biasing member are integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7604209
    Abstract: A fixture holder comprising a plate having one or more mounting holes; a base support having a threaded through hole, said base support affixed to a first side of the plate by a threaded ferrule, said ferrule passing through the plate and being affixed to the plate by a fastener on a second side of the plate; said base support having one or more armatures extending perpendicular to the plate and proximately located peripherally about the threaded through hole such that the threaded through hole is not obstructed; and a conduit connector affixed to the threaded ferrule, for providing a connection to an electrical conduit, wherein said armature has at least one female threaded hole disposed thereon and the plate, base support and conduit connector form a lumen through the fixture holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Vode Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Warton, Scott S. Yu
  • Patent number: 7604213
    Abstract: A height adjusting apparatus for vehicle seats may include seat side frames provided on both side ends of a seat part of a seat, each of the seat side frames connected to the seat bracket via a front link and a rear link, the support rod coupling the seat side frames to each other, the pinion gear provided on a seat side frame, the rack gear link having on one end thereof a rack gear which engages with an upper end of the pinion gear, and coupled at the other end thereof to a hinge of the front link placed on the seat bracket, so that, when the pinion gear is driven, the rack gear link pulls the seat side frame forwards to lift it up, and the support pin provided on the seat side frame in such a way as to be placed above the rack gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byung Yong Choi, Sang Do Park, Dong Woo Jeong, Gwang Noh Lee
  • Patent number: 7600721
    Abstract: A network cable bundling tool is disclosed, comprising an inner fitting retained within an outer jacket assembly. The outer jacket assembly comprises a first outer jacket half coupled to a substantially identical second outer jacket half, securing the inner fitting therein. The outer jacket assembly comprises a cylindrical housing, an intake orifice defined within the intake housing, and a plurality of funneling projections coupled to the cylindrical housing wherein the plurality of funneling projections form an array assuming the general shape of a truncated faceted cone. In operation, network cable wires are inserted into the inner fitting, and the inner fitting is then secured within the outer jacket assembly. The network cable bundling tool is then displaced in the desired direction of combing, arranging the network cables into an organized and space-efficient shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Vermeer, Richard A. Marcus, Robert J. Krisel, David W. West
  • Patent number: 7600732
    Abstract: A equipment support for aircraft and the like comprises a base to which a lower link, an intermediate link, and a equipment platform are attached. The lower link rotates horizontally about the base. The intermediate link rotates horizontally about the end of the lower link and the equipment platform rotates horizontally about the end of the intermediate link. This arrangement gives the equipment platform the ability to assume an infinite number of lateral positions and 360 degrees of rotation. The equipment support is locked in position by means of locking pins that engage corresponding metering plates adjacent the support bearings. The locking pins are released by a common linkage that sequentially releases the equipment platform rotation lock then simultaneously releases the rotation locks of the intermediate and lower links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Othar P. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7600734
    Abstract: An locking assembly structured to removably and automatically secure an umbrella mast or other stanchion to a supporting base including a mounting structure secured to the base in interconnecting relation between the stanchion and the base. The locking assembly is connected to the mounting structure and includes a movable locking member positionable between a locked orientation and a released orientation. The locked and released orientations are respectively and at least partially defined by the locking member disposed into and out of interruptive engagement with a predetermined exterior surface portion of the stanchion on an interior of the mounting structure. Automatic disposition of the locking member between the released and locked orientations is facilitated by an end portion of the locking member configured and structured to both slidingly and interruptively engage the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: TUUCI Engineering and Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Dougan Clarke
  • Patent number: 7600722
    Abstract: A wire attachment device for a vehicle includes a strap having an intermediate partition, a flap extended at one side portion and spaced from the intermediate partition for forming a space between the intermediate partition and the flap and for receiving an edge portion of the vehicle, and a panel extended at the other side portion and spaced from the intermediate partition for forming a compartment between the intermediate partition and the panel, and one or more wires or cables engaged in the compartment of the strap and shielded by the strap for preventing the wires from being exposed and from spoiling the outer appearance of the vehicle and for preventing the wires from being hooked by the other objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Fang Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 7600727
    Abstract: The invention discloses an equipment including a main body and N multi-threaded shafts. The main body has a bottom, and N multi-threaded holes are formed on the bottom of the main body, wherein N is a natural number. Each of the N multi-threaded shafts is screwed into one of the N multi-threaded holes via a head end thereof. Each of the N multi-threaded shafts has a manual part at a tail end thereof, wherein the manual part of each of the N multi-threaded shafts is capable of being operated to rotate the shaft relative to the bottom of the main body, so as to adjust a height of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: Shu-Mei Chien, Chia-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 7600725
    Abstract: A clamp 10 for an elongated member comprises a receiving portion 22 and a resilient retaining wing 27 which has a connection end 33 connected to an upper edge of a side wall 25 of the receiving portion 22. The resilient retaining wing 27 has a first portion extending from an intermediate position 35 to a distal end 34 and a second portion extending from the connection end 33 to the intermediate position 35. The second portion is formed to extend toward a bottom of the receiving portion 22 obliquely at a predetermined small angle ? relative to the side wall 25 so as to increase a distance (b) between a point of action (33) and a point of application (35), and the first portion is formed to be bent in a direction away from the side wall 25 so as to narrow a width of a pull-out passage for the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Newfrey, LLC
    Inventor: Suguru Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 7597291
    Abstract: An attachment construction (11) for anchoring means at a steel support (1) comprises a mounting element (12) and three U-shaped attaching elements (21) each arranged using mounting means (15) pivotly on a mounting element (12). The attaching elements (21) each have a receptacle (25) for a fixation means of the associated anchoring means. The receptacle (25) is configured as a slot-shaped aperture running over the entire U-shaped connecting element (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Armin Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7597293
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in hanging objects is provided. The apparatus has a base, a vertically extending portion that is supported by the base, and a hook that is supported by the vertically extending portion. The base, the vertically extending portion, and the hook are formed from a single component so that the vertically extending portion is integrally formed with the base and the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Paul Houghtaling
  • Patent number: 7597295
    Abstract: The furniture stabilizer attaches to furniture legs or other furniture bottom surfaces. The stabilizer has a hollow support tube. A furniture attachment member is attached to the top of the support tube. A floating pin is disposed through an axial bore in a retaining cap at the bottom of the support tube. A helical compression spring fits over the support tube. A stabilizing sleeve extending from a height adjustment collar receives the bottom end of the support tube. The collar is slidably disposed in contact with the compression spring lower end. A housing covers the tube and collar, the housing having a bore disposed at its bottom to allow the collar to protrude. The housing top is attached to the furniture attachment fitting. The floating fastener is attached to the collar to keep the collar in contact with the spring. A footpad or roller attaches to the adjustment collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventors: Paul D. Neibert, Lawrence P Neibert
  • Patent number: 7594635
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a block, and a raised portion. The lower rail is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle floor. The lower rail with a U-shaped cross section has an end and a bottom wall. The upper rail is adapted to be fixed to a seat and supported in the lower rail to be movable relative to the lower rail. The block is fixed to the lower rail and includes an inclined face extending away from the bottom wall of the lower rail as the inclined face approaches the end of the lower rail. The raised portion is formed by cutting the bottom wall of the lower rail and folding the cut wall inward the lower rail to fix the block to the lower rail. Accordingly, a foreign object within the lower rail can be removed without blocking the movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7594632
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mounting assembly for releasably mounting a housing of an electronic device on a surface such as a wall or a piece of furniture, comprising receiving means to be arranged on said surface, and engaging means to be arranged on the housing for engaging with said receiving means, wherein said receiving means cooperate with at least one ventilation recess of the housing to lock said housing on the mounting assembly. The invention also concerns a corresponding electronic device and a method for fabricating a mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Geert Van Den Bossche, Stan Claes, Kurt Vandenbergh
  • Patent number: 7594631
    Abstract: A novel quick connect mounting device for connecting to rails and other tubular structures, such as handrails on sport craft, sail and motor boats and recreation vehicles, and handlebars in general including but not limited to handlebars on a motorcycle or all terrain vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 7588223
    Abstract: A clamp comprises opposed members having clamping surfaces defining a distance therebetween for receiving and clamping an object. An adjustment mechanism is associated with at least one of the members for varying the distance over a continuous range. A spacer assembly being removably associated with at least one of the members for varying the distance by at least one discrete increment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: Derek Wolvin
  • Patent number: 7588221
    Abstract: A suction cup device is disclosed comprising a panel 10 having a plurality of suction cups 20, each suction cup having a stem 22 and a release tab 24, said stem being attached to the bottom side of the panel, wherein said panel has two or more slots 30, and wherein a means for fastening a load to said panel may be passed through said slots. The panel also contains notches 50 to allow access to the release tabs 24 of the plurality of suction cups 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: Rene C. Carlson