Patents Examined by Sarang Afzali
  • Patent number: 12042211
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a medical device are provided, which include injection molding a substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell having an inner lumen and a plurality of ribs spaced longitudinally and extending partially circumferentially around the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell with elongate slots separating each rib. At least one flexible divider can be injection molded and advanced into the inner lumen to separate the inner lumen into first and second elongate channels and can be freely slidable relative to the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell. Proximal and distal ends of the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell can be respectively mated to a distal end of the elongate shaft and a proximal end of an end effector. First and second articulation bands can be advanced through the elongate shaft and channels and mated to opposed sides of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Randolph C. Stewart, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Barry Worrell
  • Patent number: 12037974
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a hydroelectric power generation system includes removing a transaxle including a first motor generator from an end-of-life hybrid electric vehicle, and assembling a hydraulic turbine to a rotary shaft coupled to the first motor generator in the removed transaxle. The rotary shaft to which the hydraulic turbine is assembled may be an engine shaft connected to an engine of the hybrid electric vehicle when the transaxle is mounted on the hybrid electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohsuke Tagawa, Michinobu Suzuki, Satoru Katoh, Naoyuki Miyara, Tomonori Ogura, Ryuichi Tsutsumi, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yoshihiro Taniyama
  • Patent number: 12030144
    Abstract: A bolt setting method and device for a nail-shaped bolt with a head and a shaft, ending in a tapered manner. The bolt setting method includes: joining the bolt into a component with a deforming stroke during which the bolt reaches a first joining speed of ?4 m/s and the shaft completely penetrates the components with a portion of a maximum diameter with respect to a shaft length, without a bottom side of the head abutting the at least one component, and after the deforming stroke, driving the bolt into the at least one component until a head abutment of the bottom side of the head on the at least one component by at least one friction stroke with which a frictional connection between the shaft and the components is overcome and with which the bolt reaches a second joining speed that is smaller than the first joining speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Rehling, Adnan Kolac
  • Patent number: 12025264
    Abstract: A ceiling mount support tool for temporarily mounting an electrical device, such as a ceiling fan to a ceiling bracket. The ceiling mount support tool has a shaft, a ball joint at the proximal end of the shaft, and a socket at the distal end of the shaft. The ceiling mount support tool is mounted to a ceiling flange, and the ceiling fan is mounted to the ceiling mount support tool. Thereafter, electrical wires can be connected, and then the ceiling fan and the ceiling mount support tool can be removed. The ceiling fan with the wires connected can then be mounted to the ceiling bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Inventor: Eduardo J Trujillo
  • Patent number: 12025163
    Abstract: A fastening means having a blind rivet element and a sealing element, wherein the blind rivet element has a head portion and a shaft adjoining the head portion in an axial direction, wherein the shaft has an internal thread or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt and, between the internal thread or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion, a deformation portion for forming a closing head when the deformation portion is deformed. The sealing element has a closed lateral portion and a closed cover portion adjoining the lateral portion in the axial direction, wherein the lateral portion circumferentially encloses the shaft of the blind rivet element at least in the region of the deformation portion, and the cover portion is formed at an end of the shaft of the blind rivet element facing away from the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: BBA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Paul Hanratty
  • Patent number: 12016555
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a surgical stapler anvil with a first punch having a first plurality of protrusions and an opposing second punch having a second plurality of protrusions. A workpiece having first and second sides is positioned between the first and second punches. The first side is contacted by the first punch, thereby plastically deforming the first side with the first plurality of protrusions to displace material of the first side toward the second side. The second side is contacted by the second punch, thereby plastically deforming the second side to displace material of the second side toward the first side. A plurality of pockets is formed in the first side via the contact of the first punch with the first side and the contact of the second punch with the second side. Each of the pockets is configured to deform a leg of a surgical staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Bingshi Wang
  • Patent number: 12018590
    Abstract: A method for a turbine blade assembly for a rotor groove is disclosed. A dovetail of the turbine blade includes a mounting arm and an end surface facing radially inward relative to the rotor axis. An extension insert includes a first end configured to contact the end surface of the dovetail and a second end. At least one positioning leg extends radially inward relative to the axis from the second end of the insert. The dovetail and the extension insert are configured to be positioned in the rotor groove to mount the turbine blade to the rotor. The mounting arm engages a radially inward facing rotor hook of the rotor groove and positioning leg(s) engage one of a radially outward facing surface of the rotor groove and a planar plate shim between the positioning leg(s) and the radially outward facing surface of the rotor groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Federico Cervetto, Salvador Mata López, Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 12017247
    Abstract: A neck hole of a dispense tip is formed through a length of a body from an input end to an output end. An inlet hole is formed at a distal end of the neck hole, the inlet hole having a first inner diameter. An outlet hole is formed at a distal end of the inlet hole, the outlet hole having a second inner diameter less than the first. A first inner taper transitions the inlet hole from the first inner diameter to the second inner diameter. An outer taper is formed having a width that decreases along a longitudinal axis of the length of the neck hole at a distalmost end. The width of the outer taper is reduced at the distalmost end at the output end of the body of material from a first outer width to a second outer width less than the first outer width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: DL Technology, LLC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Fugere
  • Patent number: 12021364
    Abstract: A method for mounting an electrical box to a structural element of a building includes drilling an opening in a structural element, and passing a tubular portion associated with an electrical box through the opening in the structural element. The tubular portion is locked in position with respect to the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Inventor: Glenn Liubakka
  • Patent number: 12013123
    Abstract: A combustion cylinder mounting method, wherein a preparation step, a first contact maintenance step, a second contact maintenance step, and a combustion cylinder fixing step are executed. In the preparation step, a combustion cylinder mounting jig equipped with a spacer portion capable of maintaining a predetermined spacing between a first combustion cylinder and a second combustion cylinder adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is prepared. In the first contact maintenance step, the spacer portion is brought into contact with the first combustion cylinder attached to the stationary portion of a casing. In the second contact maintenance step, the second combustion cylinder is brought into contact with the spacer portion. In the combustion cylinder fixing step, the second combustion cylinder is attached to the stationary portion while the first combustion cylinder and the second combustion cylinder are in contact with the spacer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Higuchi, Seitaro Muranaka
  • Patent number: 12005537
    Abstract: A fastener removal assembly comprises a drive housing operable to receive a drive unit, wherein the drive housing comprises a shaft configured to rotate based on operation of the drive unit, the shaft extending downwards and out of the drive housing. The fastener removal assembly further comprises a set of gripping jaws disposed under the drive housing and around a portion of the shaft and a first pneumatic actuator coupled to the set of gripping jaws configured to actuate the set of gripping jaws to expand and retract. The fastener removal assembly further comprises at least one second pneumatic actuator disposed on top of the first pneumatic actuator. The fastener removal assembly further comprises an intermediate coupler, wherein the intermediate coupler is coupled to a side of the drive housing, and wherein the at least one second pneumatic actuator is coupled to a bottom side of the intermediate coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Max Nelson Winter, III, David Bielski, Ashish Prashant Kulkarni, Jay A. Smith, Tyler Martin Rup
  • Patent number: 12007171
    Abstract: A method for forming an annular heat pipe wick in a controlled atmosphere includes wrapping a plurality of layers of a fine mesh screen around a mandrel to form a wick. The method also includes inserting the mandrel and the wick into a sheath, and compressing the wick between the sheath and the mandrel to form an assembly. The compressing of the wick comprises applying pressure to an exterior of the mandrel and the sheath. The method further includes diffusion bonding the assembly at a temperature sufficiently high achieving self-diffusion of the plurality of layers of the fine mesh screen used to form the wick to themselves. The method also includes cooling the diffusion bonded assembly to room temperature, and etching the mandrel and sheath from the diffusion bonded assembly, leaving the wick as a porous tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Stowers Reid, Morgan T. Biel, Lindsey M. Gaspar, Kirk Weisbrod, Katrina M. Sweetland, Robert A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 12005980
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for supporting a component part in an automated line. The apparatus includes two or more process stations disposed along a component part transport path, a plurality of component part supporting units installed on each of the process stations to be movable to a position depending on a type of the component part, and a component part transport unit installed to be movable forward and backward along the component part transport path and configured to transport the component part to each of the process stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Il Jung, Sungchul Yang
  • Patent number: 11987388
    Abstract: A tensioning method for a tensegrity keel is provided. The method includes the step of determining target values at an attainment of tensegrity. An outline of the integral keel is formed. A middle stiffening ring is tensioned through stretching a hub shaft, thereby attaining a self-equilibrium state. Telescopic rods are provided between stiffening rings and central trusses so that the stiffening rings and the central trusses are connected together. Longitudinal ties are mounted and constraints on bisection points and the central trusses are released and the integral keel is tensioned by stretching the telescopic rods, thereby introducing tension to the longitudinal ties. The lateral stiffening rings are tensioned by stretching the hub shaft, thereby attaining a self-equilibrium state. Adjustments are made using iterative methods so that target values at the attainment of tensegrity will be reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY, NEW UNITED GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wujun Chen, Yibei Zhang, Chengjun Gao, Jianhui Hu, Jiandong Xu, Jing Liu, Haijun Xiang
  • Patent number: 11980989
    Abstract: A combined transfer and storage device for machining comprises a storage level, a transfer device, at least one machining interface, and a feeding interface. The storage level comprises two or more storages that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction and having storage spaces for workpiece carriers, which are arranged one above the other for holding blanks or machined workpieces. The transfer device extends in the longitudinal direction. The machining interface is used for directly or mediately coupling with a machine tool. The feeding interface is accessible for a driverless transport vehicle. The transfer device accomplishes a workpiece transfer between the feeding interface, the storage level and the at least one machining interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CHIRON Group SE
    Inventors: Samuel Vuadens, Dylan Maret, Blaise Mettan, Mathieu Cheseaux
  • Patent number: 11980979
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assembles, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly Ziegler
  • Patent number: 11969838
    Abstract: An assembly processing device for outdoor foldable chair components is provided. The assembly processing device includes an operating platform, a conveying mechanism, and a component placement boss. The operating platform is provided with a component placing platform and a predetermined number of concaving mechanisms, positioning mechanisms, and assembly mechanisms. The positioning mechanisms and the assembly mechanisms are disposed on the component placing platform. The conveying mechanism is disposed between the component placing platform and the operating platform. The conveying mechanism conveys a component to be processed to one or more of the concaving mechanisms for concaving, on the component placing platform. The component placement boss is disposed on the component placing platform. The assembly processing device improves the assembly and concaving of foldable chair components and improves production efficiency of a foldable chair assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Yotrio Group Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongwei Wu, Jianqiang Xie
  • Patent number: 11958412
    Abstract: A structure and method for mounting a flag-type side mirror securely fastens the flag-type side mirror on a door panel of a vehicle. The method includes: passing a wiring mounted to the flag-type side mirror through through-holes formed in an outer belt rail, a quadrant reinforce, and an inner panel of the door; placing the flag-type side mirror at a position to be installed; arranging a mirror neck of the flag-type side mirror to abut on the quadrant reinforce through an outer panel of the door; passing a fastening member through the outer belt rail and the quadrant reinforce; and fastening the fastening member to an end of the mirror neck by operating a tool in a direction from inside to outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Je-Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11959148
    Abstract: A preventive maintenance method includes performing abrasive blast-cleaning; performing shot peening: applying a fluorescent coating material before the shot peening is performed; and irradiating a portion applied with the fluorescent coating material with an ultraviolet ray after the shot peening is performed. Coverage is calculated based on a residual fluorescent coating material that fluoresces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAMADA INFRA TECHNOS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Yamada, Shohei Yamada
  • Patent number: 11951271
    Abstract: A high aspect ratio in-plane metal microneedle array, a manufacturing method and a clamping and inserting auxiliary device thereof is disclosed. A large-size metal sheet is cut into small metal sheets. A clamping tooling composed of two upper and lower metal cover plates is processed. Inner sides of the upper and the lower cover plates of the tooling are provided with grooves in which the metal sheets are placed and fastened by bolts. Wire cutting is conducted on the tooling and the metal sheets as a whole to obtain a plane metal microneedle array with a plurality of microneedle bodies. In addition, an assembling and clamping device and an inserting auxiliary device of the high aspect ratio in-plane metal microneedle array is provided. The assembled inserting auxiliary device is placed on skin, and the microneedle array is inserted into the skin through the auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Guojun Ma, Chengwei Wu, Xiaolong An, Xiao Han, Wei Zhang, Yongtao Lv, Jianli Ma