Patents Examined by Ruth G Hidalgo-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10828756
    Abstract: A method of disassembling a surgical instrument includes obtaining a surgical instrument including a housing, an input shaft defining an axis and extending from the housing, and a paddle engaged with the input shaft and configured to pivot about the axis. The method further includes disengaging a cover plate of the paddle from a body of the paddle by providing a force to the cover plate substantially in a direction parallel to the axis and disengaging the body from the input shaft by providing a force to the body substantially in a direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, James D. Allen, IV
  • Patent number: 10820745
    Abstract: A capsule-detecting module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a single-serve capsule, including: an optical sensor, especially a camera, for detecting optical properties of the capsule located in a capsule detection position; a capsule detection window made of a transparent material and arranged between the capsule detection position and the camera; and a module cover that closes an access opening and is designed to be opened and/or removed without using any tools, the side of the capsule detection window facing the capsule detection position being accessible through the access opening when the module cover is open or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10825714
    Abstract: A substrate retention plate system for holding a substrate for processing in an electronic device manufacturing process is described. The retention plate system includes a top plate and a bottom plate to sandwich a flexible substrate. Additionally, the top plate includes a number of cams to stretch the flexible substrate across the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Chavez-Clemente, Joshua D. Heppner, Naida Duranovic
  • Patent number: 10814462
    Abstract: A tool comprises a chassis, a slider, a first jaw, a second jaw and a compression spring. The chassis comprises a distal end, a proximal end, opposite the distal end, and a distal interior wall, facing the proximal end of the chassis. The slider comprises a slider opening and is coupled to the chassis. The first jaw is coupled to the chassis and is located between the distal interior wall of the chassis and the slider. The second jaw is coupled to the chassis and is located between the first jaw and the slider. The compression spring is located between the first jaw and the second jaw. When the slider is moved relative to the chassis, the first jaw is stationary relative to the chassis, and the second jaw moves relative to the chassis and is stationary relative to the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Robert Ayers, Christine Mary Anderson, David Scott Wright, Donald Wayne Coffland
  • Patent number: 10808962
    Abstract: An insulated HVAC duct component such as a transition box includes a first insulation layer and a second, different insulation layer. The transition box includes at least four sidewalls and one of a top and a back wall, the transition box further including a first access port and a second access port, the first access port having a different cross section than the second access port, one of the access ports being spaced from a nearest sidewall by less than 2 inches. The first insulation layer is located along an inside surface of the box. The second different insulation layer overlies the first insulation layer, the second different insulation layer having an air impervious surface, wherein the combined thickness of the first insulation layer and the second different insulation layer is less than 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventor: William R. Gray
  • Patent number: 10808534
    Abstract: A reconfigurable maintenance apparatus includes a body configured to operate within a cavity. The body has a first shape in a first configuration and a second shape in a second configuration. The first configuration facilitates the body entering the cavity. The reconfigurable apparatus also includes at least one maintenance device operably coupled to the body. The second configuration facilitates the at least one maintenance device of the reconfigurable apparatus performing a maintenance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd William Danko, Mark John Zajkowski, Don Mark Lipkin
  • Patent number: 10808701
    Abstract: A supercharger includes a main housing, a front cover coupled to the main housing and having an inner portion received within the main housing, a drive coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft, and a coupling sleeve disposed about the drive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Coates, Brandon J. Elliott, Eric J. Locker
  • Patent number: 10774963
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a gasket for sealing opposing flange surfaces of a pipe having corrosive fluid flowing therethrough. The method comprises defining a gasket profile incorporating a serrated profile core having a flange extending radially inward therefrom. A deformable pillow extends radially inward from the serrated profile core, to define a gasket intermediate portion about the flange, and a gasket inner portion radially inward from the flange. The deformable pillow material and thickness are selected such that upon compression to a thickness no less than the core thickness, the gasket inner portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket inner portion, and the gasket intermediate portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude gas and liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Eriks N.V.
    Inventors: Alan Stubblefield, David Walter Reeves
  • Patent number: 10753636
    Abstract: An insulated HVAC duct component such as a transition box includes a first insulation layer and a second, different insulation layer. The transition box includes at least four sidewalls and one of a top and a back wall, the transition box further including a first access port and a second access port, the first access port having a different cross section than the second access port, one of the access ports being spaced from a nearest sidewall by less than 2 inches. The first insulation layer is located along an inside surface of the box. The second different insulation layer overlies the first insulation layer, the second different insulation layer having an air impervious surface, wherein the combined thickness of the first insulation layer and the second different insulation layer is less than 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: William R. Gray
  • Patent number: 10729285
    Abstract: A heating/stirring cooker includes a stirring body. The stirring body is detachably attached to the interior of a container, and stirs the food. The stirring body includes a blade, a permanent magnet, a magnetic metal plate, a storage, and a clutch. The blade stirs the food. When the stirring body is attached to the container, the permanent magnet is located opposite the inner bottom surface of the container and receives a rotating magnetic field. The magnetic metal plate is provided on the permanent magnet and inhibits magnetic flux leakage. The storage has a perimeter on which the blade is formed, and movably stores the permanent magnet. The clutch transmits the rotational force of the rotating magnetic field to the storage, only when a claw is in engagement with a notch. The stirring body generates high rotational force when attached and suppresses the impact of the magnetic field when detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ohta, Makoto Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10727156
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for fabricating a heat spreader system, including providing a plurality of bottom microporous wicks recessed in a bottom substrate, bonding a center substrate to the bottom substrate, and bonding a top substrate having a top chamber portion to the center substrate to establish a first vapor chamber with said plurality of bottom microporous wicks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TELEDYNE SCIENTIFIC & IMAGING, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Qingjun Cai, Chung-Lung Chen, Chialun Tsai
  • Patent number: 10722989
    Abstract: Provided is a turbine rotor disc repairing method for removing a defect portion created in an outer peripheral portion of a turbine rotor disc having a blade groove formed in the outer peripheral portion and then reforming the blade groove. The method includes: removing a region including the defect portion from the turbine rotor disc with a rotating shaft supported horizontally to form a disc under repair; annularly joining an edge plate along an outer peripheral edge of the disc under repair by welding; performing build-up welding of a surface to be welded while rotating the disc under repair around the rotating shaft; and removing an excess thickness of a build-up weld and the edge plate from the disc under repair, wherein the disc under repair includes a first groove and a first route surface continuous with the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi Terada
  • Patent number: 10718450
    Abstract: A flange joint assembly includes a first structure including a first flange and a second structure including a second flange coupled to the first flange to form a joint therebetween. The second flange includes a radially outer surface. The flange joint assembly also includes a compression ring coupled to at least the radially outer surface and configured to apply a compressive force to the radially outer surface to reduce an amount of tension stress within said second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Antoni Tyburcy, Andrzej Kazimierz Kakolewski, Kamil Rajter
  • Patent number: 10709293
    Abstract: A grilling accessory for moving a cooking surface vertically up and down with respect to a heat source may include a rack holder subassembly designed to be positioned proximate to a heat source, a grilling rack subassembly designed to support food items and engage with the rack holder subassembly, and, optionally, a dish subassembly designed to accommodate the heat source. The rack holder subassembly may include a base frame; at least two arms extending from the base frame; and a plurality of grill rack supports extending from each of the at least two arms. The grilling rack subassembly may include a grill grate with grilling bars; and a pair of hangers extending from the grill grate, the pair of hangers designed to engage with the plurality of grill rack supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Mark George Nathans
  • Patent number: 10711611
    Abstract: A fixture for repairing a fan blade may comprise a base having a first side, a second side, a tip end, and a foot end, a first support coupled at the first side and perpendicular to the base, a second support coupled at the second side and perpendicular to the base, and a footboard, perpendicular to the base coupled orthogonally between the first support and the second support at the foot end of the base, wherein the footboard comprises a chuck adapted to receive the foot of a fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jurij Stakelberg
  • Patent number: 10711840
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a bearing device for a wheel including an inner ring that is fixed to a hub wheel by a caulking portion formed by plastically deforming an end portion of the hub wheel in a radially outward direction. The inner ring includes a raceway groove formed by grinding. A backing plate, which is driven to rotate about an axis thereof, is pressed on a large end surface of the inner ring. The grinding is performed by rotating the inner ring by rotation of the backing plate. A pressing position of the backing plate is apart from a radially-outer-side chamfered portion and a radially-inner-side chamfered portion of the large end surface of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Konishi, Hyuuga Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10702910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a strip for fastening elements, said strip comprising a plurality of interconnected holders, each of which accommodates a shaft of a fastening element. The holders define a fastening direction in which the fastening element can be driven from the holder into a support by a fastening device. The disclosed method comprises the following steps: a) producing a continuous strip defining a longitudinal direction of the strip; b) making the holders from the strip material by means of a deep-drawing process; c) accommodating the fastening elements in the holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Foser, Ho-Tien Chen
  • Patent number: 10697545
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a packing cup for a hyper-compressor is described. The method comprises the following steps: providing an inner disc (25), having opposed first front face (25X) and second front face (25Y), a central axial hole (18) and at least one lubrication-oil duct (23); autofrettaging the lubrication-oil duct (23); after autofrettaging, removing a thickness (D) of the inner disc on both faces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE SRL
    Inventors: Carmelo Maggi, Tognarelli Leonardo, Alessio Capanni, Jan Wojnar
  • Patent number: 10697454
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a two-piece counterweight for a scroll compressor is provided. The method includes molding an outer plate, and molding a base having a first opening configured to receive a scroll compressor drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, and configuring the base for assembly and attachment to the drive shaft. The method also includes attaching the outer plate to the base such that the outer plate is axially offset from the base. In a particular embodiment of this method, the base and outer plate are molded from powdered metal. In certain embodiments, the base and outer plate include one or more openings aligned to permit attachment by inserting a mechanical fastener through the aligned openings. In alternate embodiments, the base and outer plate are attached via brazing or welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: BITZER Kuehlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Carl F. Stephens, Lauren A. Markley
  • Patent number: 10683027
    Abstract: A method for producing a covered steering wheel for a vehicle. A steering wheel skeleton is overmolded with a matrix material. A covering material is coated on its non-visible side with an activatable material. The coated covering material is applied to the overmolded steering wheel skeleton so that its non-visible side faces the overmolded steering wheel skeleton. Longitudinal edges of the covering material are joined together. The activatable material is activated with creation of an integral connection between the covering material and the matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Branislav Zlatkov, Markus Danschacher, Bernd Soltendieck, Henrik Oelbke, Thorsten Richter