Patents Examined by Roberta Delisle
  • Patent number: 8997312
    Abstract: A wheel attachment assembly facilitates attachment of a trailer to a towing vehicle by providing a wheeled surface for transporting the trailer to the towing vehicle. The assembly includes a mount having a back wall and a bottom wall. The back wall is coupled to and extends upwardly from a rear edge of the bottom wall. The bottom wall is configured to support a jack post coupled to a tongue of a trailer wherein the jack post selectively raises and lowers the tongue of the trailer. A swivelable caster is coupled to a bottom surface of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: John E. Harris
  • Patent number: 8998549
    Abstract: A welding stud including a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank has an end region opposite the head and the end region includes at least two angled surfaces which incline towards an axis of the shank in a direction moving away from the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Pimper, Joachim Schneider, Joachim Geist, Wolfgang Werner, Peter Horn
  • Patent number: 8991010
    Abstract: A damping device for movable furniture part, includes a damper housing, a fluid chamber which is arranged in the damper housing and in which a piston is movably mounted, a tappet which is connected to the piston, at least one seal being arranged between the damper housing and the tappet in order to seal the fluid chamber, wherein the tappet passes through the seal, a compensating chamber which is fluidically connected to the fluid chamber, which runs laterally parallel to the fluid chamber. At least one deformable compensating body is arranged in the compensating chamber in order to compensate for a volume change due to the tappet being immersed into the fluid chamber. The deformable compensating body and the at least one seal are designed together as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Brunnmayr
  • Patent number: 8992147
    Abstract: A retainer for a drop-in anchor includes a durable, moisture resistant member insertable into a sleeve of a drop-in anchor and configured to be retained in the sleeve by one or more threads disposed in the sleeve to prevent inadvertent removal of a plug from the sleeve. A drop-in anchor assembly includes a tubular sleeve having a first end including one or more internal threads, and an expandable second end. A plug is insertable in the sleeve such that when the plug is driven into an installed position in the sleeve the second end expands. A retainer formed of a durable moisture-resistant material is insertable in the sleeve behind the plug, and is configured to be retained in the sleeve by the one or more threads and prevent inadvertent removal of the plug from the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Alan J. Armiento, T. J. Bland
  • Patent number: 8992151
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant fastener includes a non-circular drive recess optionally with a non-circular center post. Preferably the recess and center post are at least partially ellipsoidal cylinders that are concentric and aligned (i.e. they share a common major axis direction). This configuration forms a slot having preferably a substantially uniform width into which an authorized driver is inserted. The length of the major maximum dimension of the post is selected so that a circular arc tangent to the maximum radius of the post will pass closely to or intersect the minimum radial dimension of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Parker Fasteners, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 8992150
    Abstract: A device for connecting two components (10) having at least one holding means (16) serves for holding a bolt-type fastening means (14) with which the two components (10) are securely connected and received into a respective mounting opening (18) on a first component (10). The at least one holding means (16) has a receiving section (24) with a receiving opening (25) for the fastening means (14) and at least two flexible holding arms (28) that extend at least radially relative to a longitudinal axis (26) of the receiving opening (25) away from the receiving section (24) in outward direction and with which the at least one holding means (16) can be secured in the mounting opening (18). The at least two holding arms (28), viewed radially relative to the longitudinal axis (26) of the receiving opening (25), each have a wave-shaped or a zigzag-shaped course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Korn
  • Patent number: 8985926
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tapping screw (1) exerting an excellent anti-loosening effect with regard to a workpiece made of a soft material such as resin and an aluminum alloy. The tapping screw (1) includes a shaft part (3), and a normal thread (10) which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft part. A clearance groove (20) is formed by cutting out a portion of a ridge of the normal thread, and an engaging protrusion (30) is provided on a bottom of the clearance groove along a portion or an entirety of an edge of the bottom that continuously extends from a flank surface of the normal thread. The tapping screw (1) exerts an excellent anti-loosening effect even when a workpiece expands, contracts or oscillates because the engaging protrusions (30) are embedded into portions of the workpiece which have been embedded into the clearance grooves (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nitto Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sinnichi Hamano, Naoki Nishimura, Kinya Kowada, Kazuhiro Ueba
  • Patent number: 8979455
    Abstract: A self-clinching fastener for insertion into ductile sheets of varying thicknesses has increased push-out and torque-out resistance. The self-clinching fastener includes a plurality of radial projections and spline teeth that embed into the ductile sheets, causing the material to cold flow into a recess, thereby permanently clinching the self-clinching fastener to the ductile sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rifast Systems LLC
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 8979453
    Abstract: A blind fastener including a pull-type core bolt having a shank with a head, and a sleeve having an elongated body with a head, and a tapered notch formed within an exterior surface thereof and defined by a tapered portion having a slope and a frictional enhanced surface. The core bolt is installed within the sleeve. During installation of the fastener within the plurality of work pieces, an axial force is applied to the core bolt the head of the core bolt engages the sleeve, and a bulb is formed on the elongated body of the sleeve, the bulb defining a portion of a bulbed portion. When a selected axial force is reached, the bulbed portion separates from the elongated body and engages axially the tapered portion of the sleeve, increasing the diameter of the bulb which engages a blind side of one of the work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhart Hufnagl, Douglas DeSalvo
  • Patent number: 8978205
    Abstract: The present invention relates a hinge safety cover and, more particularly, a hinge safety cover in which a hinge installed between a door frame and a door of furniture or a sink, a cabinet, etc. used in a kitchen, is prevented from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing clothes/bedclothes or a hanger being caught in the hinge so that the clothes/bedclothes are not damaged or the hinge is not broken, or preventing an accident which may cause a part of the body of a person, such as a finger, etc., to be trapped and injured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Byeong Gil Kim
  • Patent number: 8974165
    Abstract: A screw has an outer diameter in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.4 mm. The screw includes resin and carbon fiber which is dispersed in the resin and has a fiber diameter in a range of 0.01 ?m to 0.20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yumi, Yasuo Kondo, Makoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8973218
    Abstract: To provide an original cover closer which prevents inner components from exposure to the outside, when the original cover is opened, and from smears of grease on the end of the original lying on the contact glass, the original cover closer comprises the attaching member, the supporting member assembled by rotatably coupling its own both side plates to the both side plates of the attaching member, the lifting member assembled by rotatably coupling its own both side plates to the both side plates of the supporting member, the pressure bearing member provided between the both side plates of the attaching member, a second slider in contact with the pressure bearing member, and slidably housed between the both side plates of the supporting member; an actuating member attached to the side on which the both side plates of the attaching member rotate via said second hinge pin; a first slider in contact with the actuating member, held by the holding pieces and slidably housed between the both side plates of said suppo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kem Hongkong Limited
    Inventors: Kentaro Yabukoshi, Tetsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8974162
    Abstract: An anchor bolt for an expansion anchor, and a method of producing the anchor bolt, is disclosed. The anchor bolt has an expansion body which is arranged coaxially with respect to an axis, where a circumferential surface of the expansion body has ribs and grooves in an alternating manner in a circumferential direction. Top surfaces of the ribs diverge from the axis in a direction along the axis. Bottom surfaces of the grooves converge in the direction of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hideki Shimahara, Mark Winkler, Matthias Wissling
  • Patent number: 8974166
    Abstract: A device (H) to be mounted to a friable wall (W) comprises a body (10) and at least one main saber tooth (12) extending rearwardly from an upper portion of the body (10) and adapted to be driven into the wall (W) for securing the device (H) thereto. The main saber tooth (12) is arcuate and has a pointed rear free end (22), and is adapted to be arcuately driven into the wall (W). An arcuate and pointy secondary saber tooth (14) extends rearwardly from a lower portion of the body (10) for insertion into the wall (W) before the main saber tooth (12) is inserted therein. The main saber tooth (12) defines a lower enlarged, and typically flat, load-bearing surface (30) for bearing against material of the wall (W). The main saber tooth (12) includes an upper transversely curved surface (32). A hook member (20) is provided on a front part of the body (10) for suspending items therefrom once the device (H) has been mounted to the wall (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cobra Fixations Cie Ltee-Cobra Anchors Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Pierre McDuff
  • Patent number: 8967932
    Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided. The fastener assembly includes a nut having an internally threaded portion and an annulus extending from the nut and configured for receiving the shank of an elongate fastener. A compression collar is configured for deflecting the annulus into at least one of fixed engagement with the shank or to impart a spring bias of the annulus against the compression collar upon tightening of the nut about a working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Duraforce Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Pierre A. Dionne
  • Patent number: 8966714
    Abstract: A safety hinge, apt to constrain a door moving with respect to a fixed frame, of the type consisting of two main wing-shaped constituent members displaying a mutual-engagement area consisting of loops interconnected by a small shaft, with a first one of the wings a switch body being associated, which has a lateral opening in correspondence of an appendix thereof, arranged on the extension of the mutual-engagement area, through the opening peg for the actuation of the switch projecting. Within the appendix a bush is arranged, constrained to the by a second one of the wings, the bush displaying along an annular external crown thereof a groove for the housing of the peg in the closing position of the moving door on the fixed frame, that is in the opening position of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: ELESA S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Bertani
  • Patent number: 8961091
    Abstract: Embodiments relates to a fastener having a head portion and an interlock portion comprising a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy comprising a metal alloy. The fastener could further have a screw portion. Other embodiments relate to methods of making and using the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Matthew S. Scott, Stephen P. Zadesky, Richard W. Heley, Dermot J. Stratton, Joseph C. Poole
  • Patent number: 8959712
    Abstract: A door arrester for vehicle doors of motor vehicles, comprising a retaining part for fastening to a door or door pillar and a housing. A door retaining bar passes through a through-opening in the housing in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The door retaining bar is pivotably fastened to the door or door pillar and has a contact surface which comprises at least one first contact portion and at least one ramp-shaped second contact portion. At least one retaining body is pretensioned in the direction of the door retaining bar by a spring element and guided in the housing. The retaining body comprises at least two contact elements, wherein the contact elements have different coefficients of friction relative to the operative connection with the contact surface of the door retaining bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Andrej Rawdin
  • Patent number: 8956097
    Abstract: A staple strip having a plurality of staples connected together for fastening insulating panels to wooden supports, wherein each of the staples has a crown and two legs disposed parallel to each other, connected to the crown, the length of the legs is at least three time as long as the width of the crown, each leg has a cylindrical section and an end section, and each end section tapers with increasing distance from the cylindrical section, and converges tapered to a point disposed on a center longitudinal axis of the respective leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Joh. Friedrich Behrens AG
    Inventor: Klaus Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8950993
    Abstract: A fastener device and assembly comprises segmented arms of rectangular cross section that extend inwardly from a central opening in a surface of the device body. A distal end portion of each segment arm comprises an internally threaded portion, to collectively form a single thread engageable with an externally threaded fastener. Centering portions enhance alignment of the device when applied to the externally threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brainwave Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Guy Gagne, James W. Rodgers