Patents Examined by Robert Long
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Patent number: 9987011Abstract: A surgical stapler is provided. The stapler includes a tubular body portion. A cartridge assembly is disposed at a distal end of the body portion for expelling an annular array of staples. Each of the staples of the annular array of staples has a generally bent backspan. An anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion is positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to clinch the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly. The anvil member has a corresponding annular array of staple forming buckets. Each of the buckets is configured to accommodate the generally bent configuration of the staples to facilitate formation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Paul Scirica, David Racenet
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Patent number: 9980724Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly having a movable handle; an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis; a pair of jaw members; and a drive assembly. The jaw members are disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and extend generally distally therefrom. Each jaw member is longitudinally curved with respect to the longitudinal axis. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other between open and approximated positions. A first jaw member includes a channel having a longitudinally-extending slot therein. The drive assembly is advanced distally through at least a portion of the length of the jaw members in response to at least a partial actuation of the movable handle. A lower portion of the drive assembly is configured and dimensioned to travel at least partially within the longitudinally-extending slot of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: David Farascioni, John W. Beardsley
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Patent number: 9981769Abstract: The invention relates to a carton for packing and a method for packing articles. The carton for packing comprises: a central portion (2) which is strip-shaped and in turn comprises a first portion (51), a second portion (52) and a third portion (53); a first reinforcing wing (11) foldable towards the second portion (52); a second reinforcing wing (12) foldable towards the second portion (52); a third reinforcing wing (13) foldable towards the third portion (53); a fourth reinforcing portion (14), foldable towards the first portion (51), a first closing wing (41) foldable towards the first portion (51); a second closing wing (42) foldable towards the first portion (51).Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: F.L. AUTO S.r.L.Inventor: Giuseppe Ponti
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Patent number: 9981370Abstract: A breaking device includes a frame, an impact device having a pressure chamber with a rear pressure chamber and a front pressure chamber. The breaking device further includes a first low pressure port at the rear pressure chamber, a first low pressure channel and a first low pressure accumulator connected to the first low pressure channel. The breaking device further includes a second low pressure port at the rear pressure chamber substantially opposite to the first low pressure port, second low pressure channel and a second low pressure accumulator connected to the second low pressure channel. The first low pressure accumulator and the second low pressure accumulator are arranged at the outer circumference of the frame of the breaking device at different positions in the axial direction of the breaking device.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: SANDVIK MINING and CONSTRUCTION OYInventors: Timo Kela, Timo Muuttonen, Antti Koskimaki
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Patent number: 9980436Abstract: A system for controlling a braking mechanism for a supply roll with wrapping material for a round baler that passes through a first phase wherein, after detection of sufficient crop material in the baling chamber, wrapping material is brought up to the baling chamber and introduced into the baling chamber. The braking mechanism provides a higher braking force during the wrapping operation than the first phase. The wrapping operation is started on detection of movement in the wrapping material. This prevents the braking mechanism from being activated prematurely and leaves sufficient time to deactivate the braking mechanism after the wrapping operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Dirk A. R. Vandamme
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Patent number: 9980730Abstract: A loading unit includes a shell assembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has an annular ring that defines a locking slot and a proximal opening. The proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of the surgical instrument. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ring. The locking collar has a body including a flexible tab that has an inwardly extending lock. The locking collar is moveable about the annular ring between a locked and unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annular ring. In the unlocked configuration, the body of the locking collar is rotated about the annular ring from the locked configuration to move the lock from within the proximal opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Anthony Sgroi
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Patent number: 9969515Abstract: In an automatic horizontal wrapping machine for applying a wrapper to consecutive bread loaves moved along a feed path through the machine, changeover to operation allowing the loaves to pass through the machine without being wrapped is accomplished by: disabling a feed for wrapping material; shifting and maintaining a wrapping material forming box out of the feed path; installing a slide deck defining the bottom of the feed path; providing a transfer component to move loaves along the feed path by sliding on the deck separate and apart from and independent of the transfer mechanism used by the machine when wrapping; and disabling a cutter-sealing component sufficiently so as not to interfere with passage of bread loaves past the cutter-sealer; to allow the bread loaves to pass through the machine along the feed path without being wrapped.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Formost Fuji CorporationInventors: Norman Paul Formo, David Terry
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Patent number: 9969072Abstract: A production method provides for punching holes in a metal strip, cold-forming the metal strip to form a guide tube, and joining the lengthwise edges of the metal strip to each other by a seam or teeth so as to create a uniform material. Subsequently, a piston-like striker is inserted into the guide tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Hilti AktiengesellschaftInventor: Josef Fuenfer
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Patent number: 9969071Abstract: Percussion unit, especially for a rotary hammer and/or percussion hammer, comprising a control unit which is designed for open-loop and/or closed loop control of a pneumatic percussion mechanism, and at least one operating condition sensor unit. According to the disclosure, the control unit is designed to detect at least one percussion mechanism parameter depending on measurement values of the operating condition sensor unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Rainer Nitsche, Matthias Tauber, Gerd Schlesak, Antoine Vandamme, Thomas Winkler, Christian Bertsch, Achim Duesselberg, Ulli Hoffmann, Thilo Henke, Juergen Lennartz, Helge Sprenger
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Patent number: 9962163Abstract: A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue includes a staple and pledget assembly and a circular staple head operable to drive staples toward an anvil. A staple of the staple and pledget assembly has a pair of legs disposed substantially perpendicular to a crown of the staple in a first position. The pair of legs is operable to advance against a pocket in the anvil to form a staple with bent legs. The staple and pledget assembly includes the staple and a pledget configured to receive the pair of legs of the staple. The pledget comprises a bioabsorbable material. The pledget is configured to advance distal ends of the pair of legs to a position in which the distal ends are laterally offset from a plane in which the crown of the staple is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLCInventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 9962572Abstract: Weight lifting strap which is looped around the wrist and wrapped in helical fashion about a weight lifting bar or the like and gripped by the hand with opposite sides of the strap facing the bar and the hand, and the strap being fabricated of a woven material with rubberized strands on the side of the strap which faces the bar.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Implus Footcare, LLCInventors: Kenneth Robert Ingram, Michele Marie Gaedke
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Patent number: 9962823Abstract: A hammer drill includes a main body which houses a driving motor having a brush and a brush holder unit which holds the brush and switches a position of the brush, and a main handle which is movable to the main body. Further, a coil spring which biases the handle is provided. In a state that the coil spring biases the handle, the handle is moved against the main body in a longitudinal direction of a hammer bit and vibration transmission from the main body to the handle is prevented. Further, interference of a lever of the brush holder unit and the handle is prevented by a part of an opening formed on the handle.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshitaka Machida
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Patent number: 9955966Abstract: A surgical device adapter for coupling an end effector to a handle assembly is provided. The surgical device adapter includes a housing and a drive mechanism disposed within the housing and couplable to the handle assembly and the end effector. The surgical device adapter also includes a drive coupling assembly coupled to the surgical device adapter and selectively couplable to the handle assembly. The drive coupling assembly includes retraction assembly movable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the retraction assembly is disengaged from the drive mechanism and in the second configuration the retraction assembly is engaged with the drive mechanism and prevents coupling of the handle assembly to the surgical device adapter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Earl M. Zergiebel
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Patent number: 9956677Abstract: A power tool system which includes a first base unit and a second base unit. The first and second base units each include a housing, a motor housed in the housing, a coupler which is operatively connected to and selectively drivable by the motor and a trigger for activating the motor to drive the coupler. The system also includes a first attachment head which is removably couplable with both the first base unit and the second base unit so that it can be driven by the respective motor of the base unit to which it is attached and a second attachment head which is removably couplable to the first base unit, but which is not couplable with the second base unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: Ashok Samuel Baskar, Brent A. Kuehne, William G. Harman, Jr.
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Patent number: 9956676Abstract: An articulating head of a power tool is disclosed in the present invention, which includes a base member adapted to couple to a main body of the power tool, an articulating member pivotably connected to the base member, and a locking device coupled to the articulating member for locking an orientation of the articulating member with respect to the base member. The base member contains a first power transmission part which is capable of receiving mechanical driving power from the main body of the power tool. The articulating member contains a second power transmission part mechanically coupled to the first power transmission part. The locking device has an actuation lever rotatable about a pivot axis between a free position and a lock position.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Tsz Kin Wong, Brent Gregorich
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Patent number: 9943310Abstract: A buttress material for use with a surgical staple cartridge. In various forms, the buttress material comprises a buttress body that is sized to be operably received on a deck of the surgical staple cartridge. The buttress body includes at least four edges and a central portion. At least two of the edges have a plurality of edge notches formed therein. The central portion may include a plurality of cutout openings therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jason L. Harris, Charles J. Scheib, Bret W. Smith, Lucia M. Casella, Jerome R. Morgan, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 9937606Abstract: A power screwdriver and/or drill has a drive unit and an operating unit that has a first operating surface which is oriented substantially perpendicularly to an actuating direction of the first operating surface. The drive unit is at least activatable by the actuation of said first operating surface. The operating unit also has at least one second operating surface which is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the actuating direction of the first operating surface and is arranged at a distance from the first operating surface in the actuating direction, the drive unit is at least activatable by the actuation of said second operating surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thomas Hampel, Juergen Gairing
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Patent number: 9936954Abstract: Devices and methods for sealing staples in tissue using a plurality of adjunct segments are described herein. In one embodiment, an end effector for a surgical instrument is described that can include first and second jaws, where the first jaw has a cartridge body removably attached thereto and the cartridge body has a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein. The second jaw can have an anvil with a plurality of staple forming openings formed therein, and at least one of the first and second jaws can be movable relative to the other jaw. The end effector can also include a plurality of sealing adjunct segments coupled to one another and at least one of the first and second jaws such that a staple ejected from the cartridge body passes through one of the plurality of sealing adjunct segments and tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Vendely, Jason L. Harris
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Patent number: 9936968Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dissecting tip for use in a surgical stapler or instrument.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Todd Demmy, Paul Scirica, Lee Ann Olson
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Patent number: 9931533Abstract: Weight lifting strap which is looped around the wrist and wrapped in helical fashion about a weight lifting bar or the like and gripped by the hand with opposite sides of the strap facing the bar and the hand, and the strap being fabricated of a woven material with rubberized strands on the side of the strap which faces the bar.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Implus Footcare, LLCInventor: Kenneth Robert Ingram