Patents Examined by Roberta Delisle
  • Patent number: 9482259
    Abstract: A fixing unit for a fastening device to fix a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component is disclosed. The fastening device includes a plate element fixed to a coupling section on an essentially flat surface of the first vehicle component. A threaded stud extends from the plate element and is configured to be arranged in a receptacle of a second vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jonas Buettner
  • Patent number: 9476444
    Abstract: An insert according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a body extending along an axis between a proximal portion and a distal portion and a plurality of tabs that protrude radially outwardly from an outermost surface of the body at a location between the proximal portion and the distal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Droste, Jesus Cardoso
  • Patent number: 9476443
    Abstract: A nut and washer assembly, wherein the assembly includes a nut having a body configured with a pair of flanges defining a channel there between, wherein the first flange includes a gap there through, and a washer having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, wherein the washer also includes a plurality of projections, wherein a first projection arises proximate the inner perimeter and is complementary to the gap in the first flange of the nut and a second projection arises proximate the outer perimeter and is complementary to the channel of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GALLAGHER GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Daniel Stoner
  • Patent number: 9476242
    Abstract: A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier. The mounting bracket may include a first mounting surface disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to an exterior surface of carrier when the window balance assembly is in an uninstalled configuration. The first mounting surface may be substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the carrier when the window balance assembly is in an installed configuration and the mounting bracket is disengaged from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company North America, LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Baker, Wilbur James Kellum, III
  • Patent number: 9470254
    Abstract: The invention relates to the fixing of a natural ashlar panel to a substructure with an anchor having an internal thread. The invention proposes that the corresponding blind hole be drilled to residual wall thickness R and the anchor be set in a recessed position. The natural ashlar panels with the anchors can thus be transported to the building site in the form of a compact stack. At the building site, a bolt having a stop element is mounted, which stop element is supported on the anchor. At the opposite end the substructure is clamped against the stop element. In that way, the distance of the outer surface of the natural ashlar panel from the substructure is constant even in the event of varying thicknesses D of the natural ashlar panels. As a result, laborious adjustment work is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: fischerwerke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jochen Burbach
  • Patent number: 9464659
    Abstract: A tolerance equalizing element includes at least two support bodies (120, 122) which are in threaded engagement with one another such that the axial dimension of the tolerance equalizing element can be adjusted by relative rotation of the support bodies (120, 122), at least one of the support bodies (120, 122) including a helical spring which is wound from a wire having a rectangular cross-section, and the rectangle forming the cross-section of the wire is oriented such that its sides extend obliquely relative to the axis of the helical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Jörg Schwarzbich
  • Patent number: 9464656
    Abstract: The self-drilling component includes a body with a cylindrical side wall, a self-drilling head at a first end of the body and a shank opening out at a second end. The self-drilling component includes a deformable area between the self-drilling head and the second end designed to form a flange when crimping is performed. The self-drilling head further includes a tip defined by three concurrent edges at least two of which are internal cutting edges, the tip enabling engagement of the self-drilling component, at least one external cutting edge placed at the end of the cylindrical side wall configured to cut the fibers of the composite material part, and a first surface parallel to and different from the axial plane containing the axis of rotation of the body, the first surface defining a first empty space in the self-drilling head to facilitate removal of the shavings when drilling is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: BOLLHOFF OTALU S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Faguer, Frédéric Bovagnet, Patrick Lejars
  • Patent number: 9464660
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant fastener such as a nut for a bicycle has a smoothly rounded generally dome-shaped body and one or more recesses formed into the body. Each recess has a first and open ended portion which is bounded on radially inward side but not on the radially outward side, and a second and closed ended portion which is bounded on both the radially inward side and the radially outward side. Additionally, each recess can have an additional notch formed therein, the recess and notch together forming a major and minor recess. A wall which bounds the radially inward side of the recess decreases in radial distance from the central axis of the nut as the recess proceeds in the circumferential direction. A mating wrench has teeth that match the recesses and, if present, the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Revlock, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Ahdoot, Amir Atighehchi, Owen Zheng, Huy Tran, Jazzmin Martinez
  • Patent number: 9453525
    Abstract: An assembly includes a pin, a fastener, a first element, and a paddle. The pin includes a first channel. The fastener extends within the pin and has a head extending from a first end of the pin. The first element is mounted to the fastener and is capable of translation relative to the pin with rotation of the fastener. The paddle is movably connected to the first element and disposed within the first channel. At least a portion of the paddle extends from the first channel to protrude from the pin with translation of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph P. Foster
  • Patent number: 9447813
    Abstract: A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Wiley, Palvin Chee Leong Chan
  • Patent number: 9447622
    Abstract: A door actuating device, including a housing, at least one drive unit which is disposed in the housing and can be coupled to a door leaf, and at least one spring energy accumulator, which is in operative connection with the drive unit, and which includes a spring disposed therein under spring pretension, wherein the spring pretension of the spring is realized by means of a spring adjusting device, which includes at least one screwed sealing plug, which can be connected to the housing, and an adjusting nut, where a cylinder is configured at the screwed sealing plug and oriented towards the spring, at which cylinder the adjusting nut is linearly guided, where a setting element which is guided by means of the screwed sealing plug and, at least in sections, can be brought non-positively and positively into engagement with the cylinder, and which bears against the adjusting nut, serves for adjusting the spring pretension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: DORMA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Hellwig
  • Patent number: 9447808
    Abstract: A cap (10) for sealing a mechanical fastener (200), method for making the cap, and driver and method for applying the cap is disclosed. The cap includes a shell having an exterior surface (14) and an interior surface (16) defining a cavity (18), an opening (19) extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces, and a sealant (13) at least partially filling the cavity. A package and a holder for holding a plurality of cap assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: PRC-DeSoto International, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Obuhowich, Soccorso Rizzello, Russell Shellenberger
  • Patent number: 9435367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-tapping screw (1) consisting of a low-strength non-ferrous material, having a screw body (3) which is provided, at least in regions, with a coating (5), wherein the coating (5) is formed from an elastomer or polymer material enriched with fillers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Nedschroef Fraulautern GmbH
    Inventors: Jean Joseph Egele, Joerg Michael Wendels
  • Patent number: 9435369
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus that includes a surface. The apparatus also includes a stop, deformable lock, first retainer, and second retainer coupled to the surface. The deformable lock is spaced apart from the stop in a first direction. The first retainer includes a first overhang. The second retainer includes a second overhang, and the second retainer is spaced apart from the first retainer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eric E. Deck
  • Patent number: 9435365
    Abstract: A rivet sealing washer that includes a washer body with an outer surface and an inner surface and a rivet aperture. Additionally, the rivet washer includes a membrane with at least one raised high pressure point skirt or rib and at least one recessed trough that provides a continuous seal over the outer surface of the washer body, the rivet body, and the mandrel head, and is sealably and continuously connected to the perimeter of the washer body and optionally a circumferential portion of the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ATS Cases, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Orlando, John P. Sanroma
  • Patent number: 9435370
    Abstract: A locking fastener is provided that may be automatically unlocked and locked by sliding a wrench onto the nut and removing the wrench. The fastener includes a biased arm extending outward from a wrench bearing surface that presses against a pawl. The pawl includes ratchet teeth that engage ratchet teeth of a retainer to lock the fastener. The fastener is unlocked by compressing the arm with a wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Hughes, Nicholas P. Tobias
  • Patent number: 9428947
    Abstract: In a state where a panel unit 53 is held at a storing angle with a projecting portion 15 of a click plate 13 fitted in a recessed portion 10 of a bracket 7, the back side of the projecting portion 15 and a pressing piece 20 of a friction plate 18 do not abut on each other, so that only a reaction force of the click plate 13 serves as a resistance. When the panel unit 53 starts turning, the projecting portion 15 abuts on the pressing piece 20 through the elastic deformation at the time when the projecting portion 15 moves out of the recessed portion 10 to get onto a sliding surface 9, so that a sliding resistance is obtained from the reaction forces of the click plate 13 and the friction plate 18 after abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Nagami
  • Patent number: 9429181
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel lock assembly includes a main body and a first sleeve. The main body has a wheel engaging end, a key portion, a first supporting section and a key receiving end. The key portion has a plurality of surface contours defining a first key pattern configured to couple with a tool for torsional movement of the main body. The first sleeve has an open end and a closed end. The open end is installed to the first supporting section of the main body such that the closed end of the first sleeve covers the key receiving end with the key portion exposed relative to the first sleeve. The first sleeve is retained by the first supporting section for rotation about the central axis of the main body and is non-movably retained relative to an axial direction of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel Alejandro Vite Cadena
  • Patent number: 9429179
    Abstract: A retaining wave spring includes a first open-loop that has a wall that is substantially planar. The retaining wave spring also includes a second open-loop continuing from an end portion of the first open-loop. The second open-loop has a wall having curved portions. An outer diameter of the first open-loop and an outer diameter of the second open-loop have different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Hung Duc Tran
  • Patent number: 9422830
    Abstract: A washer of a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine having a round disk-shaped basic body provided with a central recess and a flat contact surface arranged on a first side of the washer, wherein several groove-like air ducts are provided on a second side that extend from a circumferential rim of the washer radially relative to the center axis of the washer, and in the center area of the washer in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Miklós Gerendás, Tijana Filipova