Patents Examined by Richard A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9239250
    Abstract: A safety pin system for a product is provided and includes a safety pin disposable in a receiving element to disable the product, an obstruction disposable in a blocking position of a product disability indicator and a streamer configured to pass through an opening associated with the product and attached at opposite ends thereof to the safety pin and the obstruction. The opening and the obstruction are sized such that, when the obstruction is disposed in the blocking position with the streamer passed through the opening and the safety pin disposed in the receiving element, the obstruction is irremovable from the blocking position until the safety pin is removed from the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Helperus Ritzema Rautenbach, Nick Ruegsegger
  • Patent number: 9237819
    Abstract: A device for hanging an object on a wall includes a crossbar, a knuckle, an arm, and an end cap. The crossbar includes a track extending between two opposing ends of the crossbar. The knuckle is slidably coupled to the crossbar such that the knuckle is slidable in a first direction. The knuckle includes a projection that has a pair of parallel sides. The arm has a marking pin that projects generally perpendicular from a forward surface of the arm. The arm is coupled to the crossbar via the knuckle such that the arm is slidable along the pair of parallel sides of the projection in a second direction. The end cap is coupled to one of the two opposing ends of the crossbar. The end cap includes an ā€œLā€ bracket that provides an engagement surface for engaging a corner of a second object previously hung on the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventor: Michael A. Marks
  • Patent number: 9226492
    Abstract: An animal deterrence system projects polarized light in order to deter animals. The light may be plane polarized light and the polarization may be varied over time. The system is particularly suited to deterrence of birds, but may also find application in deterrence of other animals sensitive to polarization of light, such as bees and wasps. The system may be used on vineyards or orchards, or around airports, or in any other place where birds are problematic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: INVISI SHIELD LIMITED
    Inventor: Crawford Renfrew Brown
  • Patent number: 9217676
    Abstract: A failure indicator for informing an observer that food in the freezer is not fit to eat comprising: a closed transparent tubular housing; a cup shaped spacer in the interior of the tubular housing for dividing the tubular housing into a fluid storage space and a failure signaling space, having a group of small apertures for allowing fluid from the fluid storage space to enter the failure signaling space when a freezer fails; an opaque label surrounding the tubular housing; and a colored fluid in the housing for signaling whether the freezer has failed and food in the freezer is not fit to eat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Inventor: Larry G. Laurain
  • Patent number: 9168654
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) is provided including a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends. The arm includes multiple connected arm segments. Each arm segment has a longitudinal axis. Each arm segment includes a generally tubular core, an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of a length of the core, and at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. The outer sleeve is a cylindrical tube having a first portion at a first end and a second portion that extends from the first portion to an opposite end. The first portion is coupled to an end of the core. The first portion is shorter than the second portion and the second portion is configured to move relative to the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Clark H. Briggs, Brent Bailey, Kenneth Campbell
  • Patent number: 9159254
    Abstract: A flag and pole mounting assembly for attaching a flagpole to a vehicle includes a middle shaft extending substantially between two sidewalls of the vehicle and adjustable endshafts for extending the total length of the mounting assembly. Posts at each end of the middle shaft engage with stake pockets located in the two sidewalls of the vehicle. A flagpole attachment member couples to the middle shaft and defines a cavity for receiving and securing the flagpole to the middle shaft. A light source connected to the flagpole attachment member illuminates the flagpole or an associated flag when the flagpole is coupled to the flagpole attachment member. A solar panel or other power source is electrically connected to the light source for powering the light source. The mounting assembly may only utilize one stake pocket or may engage with the sidewalls of the vehicle without use of any stake pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: Glenn Kai Oyoung
  • Patent number: 9146137
    Abstract: A fluid tank has a housing that has an upper end wall, a side wall, and a lower end wall that together define a cavity. A flexible diaphragm is connected to the side wall within the cavity and separates the cavity into an upper portion, which is sealed to contain a pressurized gas, and a lower portion, which is sealed to contain a pressurized fluid. An indicator is positioned in the upper wall of the housing and has an indicator arm and a visual indicator. The indicator arm is not visible and the visual indicator is visible with the indicator in a first position and the indicator arm is visible and the visual indicator is not visible with the indicator in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: AMTROL Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Van Haaren
  • Patent number: 9140595
    Abstract: A level indicator for a container that is lined with a membrane for holding fluid, and which has a wall with an aperture formed through it. A frame is attached to the container wall adjacent to the aperture. A plunger is engaged with the frame, and moves between an extended position, where the plunger extends through the aperture and into the interior of the container, and a retracted position, where the plunger does not substantially extend into the interior of the container. An elastic member between the frame and the plunger urges the plunger to the extended position. A visual indicator is driven by the plunger between an indicating position and a non-indicating position. The force of the elastic member is selected to enable the membrane, under static pressure of fluid within the container, to urge the plunger to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ConeCraft, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Anthony Cox, James A. Austin
  • Patent number: 9134288
    Abstract: A freshness system including an indicator disposed on a storage bottle. The indicator enables a caregiver to identify when a volume breast milk was pumped/expires when the storage bottle includes breast milk; and to identify when a certain amount of formula was prepared/expires when the storage bottle includes formula; and to distinguish between the breast milk container and the formula container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Kerry R. Ettinger
  • Patent number: 9076353
    Abstract: Herein is described my flag protection assembly that prevents flag deterioration from heat, humidity, wind, rain and other adverse environmental conditions. In some embodiments the flag protection assembly also prevents flag deterioration from ultraviolet light. My flag protection assembly does not require motorized, computerized or other electrical components to fully extend the flexible covering and enclosed flag from a support. My flag protection assembly preferably includes a flexible cover through which a short rod initially inserts. A flag is coiled around this short rod and the rod is then placed within the upper interior of the flexible cover. The flag is thereafter uncoiled within the flexible cover while the rod is removed through an opening in the bottom edge of the flexible cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Leslie Milas Delaney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9058729
    Abstract: Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment, for example equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. A temperature-sensitive, active material-containing actuator is pre-selected to operate at a pre-determined temperature indicative of impending equipment failure and placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-selected temperature the actuator signals this by displaying a flag or providing some other passive visual indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the actuator may issue an electrically-powered alert including visual or audible alerts or a wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Roland J. Menassa
  • Patent number: 8979363
    Abstract: Embodiments of an integrated rail efficiency and safety support system and method are shown comprising a server operable to receive a plurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets of collected information comprising a consist physical location and weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist and to process a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section of track; and wherein the predictive rail temperature algorithm factors the information provided to it and provides a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Concaten, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Groeneweg, Christopher J. Rennie
  • Patent number: 8931428
    Abstract: A scale element for a display instrument that includes, but is not limited to a scaling. The scaling is impressed in the volume of the scale element by means of laser shot method. The scale element can furthermore include, but is not limited to a diffusion structure likewise impressed in the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Dino Demma
  • Patent number: 8925478
    Abstract: An acoustic projector includes a toroidal whistle having an annular mouth and a foot set in a bowl like reflector. The reflector extends radially outwardly from the foot and has a concave section circumscribing the annular mouth. A whistle bowl is configured to suppress turbulence in air flow and thereby provide laminar flow to an outlet jet orifice into the annular mouth. The concave section is shaped to reflect isophasic sound generated at the mouth in a coherent beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 8850710
    Abstract: The present invention is a construction level system having interconnectable level sections and attachments that can be stored in a carrying bag. Each level section has a construction level and a pair of locking mechanisms that enable interconnections to other level sections or attachments. The locking mechanisms have mating profiles and a locking lever that enable a user to securely mate the locking mechanisms of different level sections together. The carrying bag has pockets sized to the level sections. The bag further comprises a carrying strap and a plurality of compartments for retaining small objects such as pencils and tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Rodrigue, Scott W. Adams
  • Patent number: 8801282
    Abstract: The invention pertains to flexible devices used for zero-heat-flux, deep tissue temperature measurement, especially to disposable temperature measurement devices. Such a device is constituted of a flexible substrate. An electrical circuit is disposed on a side of the substrate. The electrical circuit includes first and second thermal sensors disposed, respectively, on first and second substrate layers. A heater trace is disposed on the first substrate layer with the first thermal sensor. The first and second substrate layers are separated by a flexible layer of insulation disposed between the first and second substrate layers. The heater trace defines a heater with a central portion that operates with a first power density and a peripheral portion around the central portion that operates with a second power density greater than the first power density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark T. Bieberich, Gary L. Hansen, Ryan J. Staab, Albert P. Van Duren, Allen H. Ziaimehr
  • Patent number: 8783207
    Abstract: An electric wire for connecting a rotating base plate 18 and a main substrate 10 is composed of an FPC 13. The FPC is connected to the main substrate 10 in a manner that a width direction of the FPC 13 is perpendicular to the main substrate 10. A protecting member 14 is provided on the main substrate 10 for surrounding a moving range of the FPC 13 on the main substrate 10 associated with a rotation of a meter pointer 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Ono, Atsushi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8776715
    Abstract: A whisker marker system has an installation apparatus, a whisker marker, a marker strip, and a whisker fastener. The installation apparatus includes a housing and a driver shaft connected to a power driver for rotating the driver shaft. A slide body coupled to the housing moves between extended and retracted positions. The slide body has a guide channel for receiving a marker strip. The marker strip includes a series of whisker markers, each bunched together with a bunching device and attached to a threaded whisker fastener. In use, the apparatus rotates the whisker fastener until it passes through the bunching device of the whisker marker. The fastener is driven into the ground until it secures the whisker marker to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Flagshooter Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Michael Carrette
  • Patent number: 8733270
    Abstract: A pressure indication device is provided to connect to an inflation mechanism of an inflation machine. The pressure indication device includes a linearly movable plate and an elastic element. A scale bar having graduations is provided along a moving path of the plate. The elastic force of compression of the elastic element serves as a reaction force (restoration and returning force) for the linear movement of the plate. Correspondingly, a pressure is induced in an air compartment of the inflation mechanism the so that the moving distance of the plate is indicative of the pressure level and thus precise measurement of pressure can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Chi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 8701587
    Abstract: According to a precise critical temperature indicator and a control method thereof of the present invention, the precise critical temperature indicator comprises as one body: a blocking boundary layer which is positioned between a spreading material member including an operation button and spreading medium members including a spreadable area for a spreading material; and a temperature sensor which is controlled and operated as the spreading material passes through the blocking boundary layer and contacts the spreading medium member according to a user's pressing of the operation button. As a result, operation of the temperature sensor is easily controlled using the operation button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery, Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Hoon Park