Patents Examined by Richard R. Stearns
  • Patent number: 4734989
    Abstract: Preferred forms of viewing apparatus according to the teachings of the present invention are shown as including an enclosed and elongated see-through passage having a hooded front opening. The rear end of the enclosed and elongated see-through passage includes a visually opaque annular perimeter portion extending around a rear opening of a size smaller than the front opening. The effect of the passage, the size relationships of the front and rear openings, and the annular perimeter portion is to separate the targeted object from its immediate surroundings and to create a visual window effect rather than a tunnel effect. In its most preferred form, the passage has a constant size throughout its length and the annular perimeter portion extends radially into the passage. The viewing apparatus includes a camouflage cover which can be removably secured thereto and a range finder on the annular perimeter portion for judging distances to the targeted object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Pursuit Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 4733475
    Abstract: An extension level apparatus suitable for use with a carpenter's level includes in combination a pair of elongated frame members adapted to receive therein the carpenter's level and also includes a spring loaded extension member which permits the extension level to be retained in a wall opening into which a door is to be inserted. The extension level permits the user thereof to determine rapidly the exact vertical position of one vertical edge of the door jamb, allowing for shimming where necessary, and permits a measurement to be taken from a starting point to an end point where the second edge of the door opening is to occur. Hereagain the vertical alignment may be rapidly obtained with the use of shimming when necessary, thereby permitting the door jambs to be inserted rapidly and with accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: John W. Youmans
  • Patent number: 4733477
    Abstract: A chalk line framing square is provided to aid in placing right angle intersecting chalk lines upon a floor so that tiles can be properly installed on the floor. The framing square can check the squareness of the tiles as they are installed without being placed in the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventors: James R. Fincham, George Spector
  • Patent number: 4731934
    Abstract: Metrological apparatus is provided with a turntable (4) which is movable horizontally and pivotally for centering and levelling. The turntable (4) is supported at three points (A,B,P), one (P) of which is fixed and the other two (A,B) of which are vertically movable by motorized jacks. Centering and levelling is achieved automatically by means of a computer (72) which calculates the required horizontal and pivotal movements of the turntable (4) from data obtained by sensing the workpiece surface with a transducer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Rank Taylor Hobson Limited
    Inventors: Anthony B. Barnaby, Michael W. Mills
  • Patent number: 4731935
    Abstract: A contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively making outline (gap) and contour checks of parts positioned proximate thereto is provided with a slidably movable carrier arm within the gage housing in selective spring biased operative engagement with a linear potentiometer fixedly provided within the gage housing. Selective movement of the carrier arm in relation to the linear potentiometer causes a gaging electrical signal to be generated for read-out on associated data collector means. A movable cover plate is provided externally of the gage housing in fixed actuating engagement with the movable carrier arm. An adjustable contour check pin support assembly is provided on the movable cover plate so as to provide selective horizontal, vertical and angularity adjustment of a part-engaging contour check pin mounted on the contour check pin support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: James E. Struble
  • Patent number: 4731931
    Abstract: An improved caliper apparatus comprises a host caliper including a jaw assembly having two opposing, flat reference edges for measuring edge-to-edge and point-to-point distances; and further includes removable, reference off-setting assemblies which are removably attached to the jaw elements of the host caliper; and which reference off-setting assemblies reposition the reference points of the caliper to provide hole-to-hole and edge-to-hole measurements while maintaining the integrity of the direct reading off the caliper scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Andromeda Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Goodman, John M. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4729173
    Abstract: An adjustable carpenter's square is formed by having a main beam with a head secured to an upper portion of the main beam with a slide secured to the upper end of the main beam. The head and the slide are partially rotatablely secured to the main beam. The head and the slide are slideably and adjustably connected to each other also in addition to being connected to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Inventor: Dale D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4724618
    Abstract: An improved thread measuring tool. The tool translates linear motion into rotational motion to provide the motive power for turning a thread gauge into a threaded bore in a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Charles A. Van Horssen
  • Patent number: 4723446
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a device for measuring a displacement of a movable member relative to a fixed member by putting the electromagnetic induction into practical use. The device comprises a first coil having first and second coil sections which are coaxially aligned along a common axis, a second coil arranged to establish a magnetic coupling with the first coil and extending along the common axis, and a short circuit ring arranged to establish a magnetic coupling with the first and second coils and movable relative to the same. The winding density of each of the first and second coil sections is gradually decreased from the outside end to the inside end thereof, and the winding density of the second coil is substantially even throughout the length of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Kanto Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Saito, Koichi Shimizu, Yuji Seki
  • Patent number: 4719704
    Abstract: A gauge which in its preferred form consists of two vertical members and two cross bars with means for relatively adjusting the relative position of the cross bars on the vertical members is disclosed. Each of the cross bars also carries a pair of threadable castings together with a reversely threaded screw which, on rotation, moves the threadable casting toward and away from the center of each cross bar. When a plurality of such gauges are employed, one located in each of preselected cross-sectional planes of a vehicular body, the dimensions of the boey relative to datum references and from the gauge can be determined and thereupon whether the vehicle be damaged or "true" and hence undamages. Such gauges avoid the use of prior art racks and frames upon which the vehicle was placed in order to measure the vehicle trueness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Inventor: John W. Hogg
  • Patent number: 4719705
    Abstract: The described invention is a precisely adjustable transporter for moving a reticle past an optical slit as a step in the production of semiconductor wafers. The reticle stage rides along a pair of optically flat planar, intersecting, bearing surfaces supported by air bearings on each bearing surface. Pressurized air and vacuum may be simultaneously employed to effect substantially friction-free motion while preventing displacement from the bearing surfaces. Axial adjustments on each air bearing permit precise adjustment of the reticle stage and reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Laganza, Orest Engelbrecht
  • Patent number: 4718171
    Abstract: A levelling system with a rotating laser beam and an optoelectronic stadia is proposed, in which the height of the laser beam is varied. Several individual measurements are made during a measuring cycle and as a result of the height variation of the laser beam these give different height values. Thus, for example, 20 individual measurements can be used for determining the arithmetic mean, which considerably increases the precision of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Nestle & Fischer
    Inventors: Harald Schlemmer, Rainer Stuhlmuller
  • Patent number: 4716657
    Abstract: A machine has a movable member capable of releasably supporting a tool for performing an operation on a workpiece, and a supply of pressurized fluid. The tool includes an electric circuit which is provided with power from an electrically generator drivingly connected to a turbine driven by the machine's supply of pressurized fluid. The turbine may be in the form of a Pelton Wheel, the buckets of which are rotated by directing the pressurized fluid at them in a jet. The pressurized fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The tool may take one of several alternative forms, such as a boring bar or measuring probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Renishaw plc
    Inventor: David Collingwood
  • Patent number: 4716656
    Abstract: A stylus (15) for contacting a workpiece (13) to sense its position is suspended on a movable member (16) within a fixed housing (10). The suspension is by means of three connecting units (20, 30, 40). Taking the connecting unit (20)as an example, the movable member (16) is connected to an intermediate member (22) by a first pair of links (21), while the intermediate member (22) is connected to the fixed housing by a second pair of links (23). The pairs of links are rigid in tension and compression so as to prevent rotation of the stylus about a respective one of the three orthogonal axes X, Y, Z. Nevertheless, the links permit translational movement along all three axes. The similar connecting units (30, 40) likewise permit translation on all three axes, while preventing rotation about a respective one of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Renishaw plc
    Inventors: Neil A. Maddock, David K. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4715125
    Abstract: A drilling template for accurately positioning latch holes and lock cutouts in door stiles. The template includes a pair of spaced, parallel, rectangular, frame member that are rigidly interconnected at one end. The frame members straddle a vertical door stile with the interconnecting end firmly against the edge of the stile. Clamps on one frame member are then tightened. A latch hole drilling guide is centered in a plate at the interconnecting end of the frame, and various diameter hole saw guides on removable side plates are positionable at any of a plurality of selected positions along the length of the frame to provide cutout positions for any of many lock backsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Inventor: Lester R. Livick
  • Patent number: 4713891
    Abstract: A column marker (10) to be used for marking columns on a book layout sheet (42) comprises an elongated ruler member (12) defining a straightedge (14) and a display surface (16) having unique column-marking indicia thereon. The unique column-marking indicia includes a plurality of sets (18A-G) of three side-to-side adjacent elongated bars (20A, 22A; and 24A; 20R; 22B, and 24B, etc.). The bars are parallel to the straightedge and many of the bars in each set are longer than other bars in the set. The longer bars are positioned further from the straightedge than the shorter bars. First ends (26) of the bars are aligned, while perpendicular tails (28 and 30) at second ends of the longer bars extend to the straightedge beyond ends of the shorter bars (32A-32G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Educational Experiences, Inc.
    Inventor: Nancy M. Cayton
  • Patent number: 4713887
    Abstract: An XY table for processing an object (22) such as an iron plate, comprising frame (2) having an opening formed thereby, a moving member (2) moving in an X-direction and in a Y-direction at a right angle to the X-direction, a head (21) for cutting, marking or machining attached to the moving means (20) for processing the object (22) through the opening, and a setting mechanism (23) for detachably setting the frame (2) to the object (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Kitamura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 4713890
    Abstract: An improved mislevel sensing device having a balanced pair of capacitive pick-up circuits includes a pendulously-suspended common electrode assembly comprising a leaf spring member in the available flexing length of which is located a centrally-disposed hole which effectively reduces the cross-sectional dimensions of the suspension leaf member in that area, consequently restricting the beam-like flexure of the leaf to that area and away from sharp stress-imparting edges of leaf-clamping members of the device. The device further includes means for readily adjusting its attitude with respect to a primary reference axis of the host instrument, and means for providing protection of the functional capacitive couples from variable stray capacitive fields arising within the instrument, and from the intrusion of capacitance-effecting ambient moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Leon W. Wells, Werner Hauschild
  • Patent number: 4712307
    Abstract: The rafter angle device includes a body in the form of a generally U-shaped plate of metal or the like having a horizontal base and spaced first and second vertical arms at opposite ends thereof. A third arm is pivotally connected to the plate at about the end of the base bearing the first arm and extends beyond the second arm. The third arm may releasably receive and is releasably securable to at least one of the first and second arms in any position between about horizontal and vertical, as by a locking nut. The first arm has a generally triangular support portion secured to the base about halfway along the length thereof and defining a spaced pair of curved slots, with angle, hip rafter valve and common jack plumb cut indicia disposed along the perimeter of the slots thereof. The support portion may also bear door sill and window sill indicia, while at least one margin of each of the three arms and base bear linear indicia in fractions of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Inventor: Karl E. Kish
  • Patent number: 4712309
    Abstract: The template described herein comprises one that is adjustable to be suitable for use with tile of various sizes. A first series of parallel longitudinal bars are dovetailed with a second series of lateral bars positioned perpendicularly to the bars in the first series. The positioning of the bars can be adjusted to give the desired individual spacing for each tile and the bars can be fixed to each other to give sufficient rigidity for use as a template and sufficient rigidity to allow lifting of the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Inventors: Arthur G. Kingston, Carl R. DeLong