Patents Examined by Shantese L. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10895082
    Abstract: Implementations of rebar jigs may include: a ring including a first member and a second member. The first member may be configured to couple to the second member through a second connector. The rebar jig may also include a stand including a first leg, a second leg, and a support bar. The support bar may be positioned between the first leg and the second leg. The ring may be configured to receive three or more rebar thereon through at least three pegs coupled to a perimeter of the ring. The stand may couple with the ring through two or more couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventor: Gary Werlinger
  • Patent number: 10870193
    Abstract: A combination handle clamp, beverage bottle and can opener having a generally curved shaped body and integral attachment point to allow connection to other personal item such as a key ring. A secondary and tertiary integral curved section form a pair of loading points for fixing open a handle-trigger assembly and incorporate a gripping edge to facilitate opening a crimped or vacuum sealed bottle top. The tertiary curved section additionally functions as a second clamp position for the larger handles and also doubles as a pry mechanism to assist opening a pop-top can. The said gripping edge of the invention which contacts with said bottle top to be constructed of a durable material that won't abrade from its intended use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Robert M. Kristiansen
  • Patent number: 10843232
    Abstract: A rotary cleaning tool assembly for cleaning difficult to clean articles includes a housing that defines an interior space. A power module and a motor are coupled to the housing and are positioned in the interior space. The motor is operationally coupled to the power module. Each of a plurality of cleaning heads is selectively couplable to the housing so that the cleaning head is operationally coupled to the motor. The motor is positioned to rotate the cleaning head to clean an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Robert C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10828116
    Abstract: Described herein is a surgical instrument holder for use with a robotic surgical system, for example, during spinal surgery. In certain embodiments, the surgical instrument holder is an interface between the robotic arm and a surgical instrument used during surgery. This interface may hold the surgical instrument precisely, rigidly, and in a stable manner while permitting a surgeon to easily and quickly install or withdraw the instrument in case of emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KB Medical, SA
    Inventors: Szymon Kostrzewski, Billy Nussbaumer
  • Patent number: 10801160
    Abstract: Draw tape for cables including an elongated flexible element made of a helical multifilament rope composed of three filaments or strands helically wound about a common longitudinal axis. According to an additional feature, the rope is hammered. Still according to an improvement, the rope is externally covered by a jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventor: Marcella Gai
  • Patent number: 10794414
    Abstract: A joint is formed between first and second workpieces. The first workpiece defines a cavity, while the second workpiece includes a shear member. The shear member is at least partially inserted into the cavity to secure the first workpiece to the second workpiece. One of the workpieces has a lower hardness and/or shear strength than the other workpiece and includes at least one shear tab with a base portion and an end portion. In inserting the shear member into the cavity, the end portion of the shear tab is broken away from the base portion, leaving the base portion to extend between the cavity and the shear member, thereby securing the first workpiece to the second workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jason P. Shiffler, Ashley T. Dudding, Joseph A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10787354
    Abstract: A tool includes a resilient relatively soft tool body defining a closed top surface and a surrounding side surface extending downwardly therefrom. The tool further includes a bottom surface which defines an upwardly extending generally cylindrical recess therein. The recess includes interior sidewalls which in their preferred form support a plurality of gripping ridges or edges. The recess is sized and shaped to receive a portion of a bottle cap thereby allowing the user to grip the tool and squeeze the tool body to force its recess surfaces against the bottle cap in a gripping engagement and thereafter applying a torque or twist to the tool allowing the bottle cap to be easily removed. In its preferred fabrication, the tool further includes a plurality of radially extending relief slots formed in the recess wall to facilitate better gripping action and to allow the recess wall to stretch and expand thereby accommodating different bottle cap sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Robert W. Ranftl
  • Patent number: 10780659
    Abstract: A tire repair tool includes a body portion and a cartridge portion. The tool is used to inject an adhesive or glue and a patch into a puncture in a tire, while the tire is still engaged with the wheel, in order to permanently patch a punctured inner tube of the tire. More particularly, a push rod is used to rupture an adhesive pod, elevate an elevator assembly and eject the adhesive and patch through an outlet tube of the tool and into the existing puncture of the outer tire. A patch is affixed over a puncture in the inner tube by the adhesive to permanently patch the inner tube without having to remove the tire from the wheel or rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Patch N Ride LLC
    Inventor: Ted Eric Ahrenholtz
  • Patent number: 10779906
    Abstract: A cleaning device for lumens includes a plurality of microfiber tails and a flexible leader. The microfiber tails are elongated, flat tails having substantially the same length and width. At two ends of the tails, the width of the tails tapers to form a cone shape. The microfiber tails are oriented in planar parallel relationship to one another or layered on top of one another when laid on a flat surface. The flexible leader has a first end and a second end, the second end of the flexible leader is adapted to be fed through the lumen and pulled by the first end thereof through the lumen, with the microfiber tails also being adapted to be pulled through the lumen due to its being coupled to the second end of the flexible leader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Cygnus Medical, LLC
    Inventor: Shaun Sweeney
  • Patent number: 10784142
    Abstract: A lift pin system and a lift pin assembly are disclosed. In one or more approaches, a lift pin system includes a wafer support, such as an electrostatic chuck or a platen, and a lift pin assembly coupled to the wafer support. The lift pin assembly may include a plurality of pins. Each of the plurality of pins may include a tip extending through a housing, a spring within the housing, wherein the spring biases against the tip, and a support arm coupled to the housing. In some approaches, the housing is threadably coupled with the support arm to allow access to the tip of each pin above a top surface of the wafer support for easy replacement. The replaceable pin tips further permit easier customization of pin tip geometries, materials, spring force, etc., depending on specific process and/or wafer characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacia Marcelynas, Riordan Cayabyab, Jonathan D. Fischer
  • Patent number: 10773364
    Abstract: A pinch clamp removal tool that includes a tool body having a slot extending partially across a top portion of the tool body and adapted for receiving a nub extending radially-outwardly from a pinch clamp to be removed from a pipe and a stop positioned at an end of the slot for engaging the nub when the nub is positioned in the slot. The tool body is adapted for being rotated to impart a twist to the pinch clamp nub sufficient to break the nub in order to loosen the pinch clamp and permit removal of the clamp from the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Conbraco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Polofsky, Lisa A. Stokes, John T. Hembree, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10774973
    Abstract: A pipe liner re-flaring system and method for use with a water pipe containing a pipe liner. The pipe liner re-flaring system and method generally include a compression coupling comprising a pair of female compression fittings and a dual ended male compression fitting connected between the female compression fittings. The female compression fittings are adapted to fit over and secure the lined water pipe and a second pipe to be joined with open ends of the pipe liner and the pipe to be joined in direct contact within the male compression fitting. A pipe liner expansion tool and a pipe liner flaring tool are used to expand and re-flare the open end of the pipe liner so that the pipe liner is in contact with an inner wall of the compression coupling to prevent leakage and contact between fluids flowing in the pipes and the material of the pipes and compression coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Tanner
  • Patent number: 10770337
    Abstract: A lift pin assembly includes a lift pin having a first longitudinal axis substantially parallel with a first direction, a pin connection block combined with a lower end portion of the lift pin and including a first guide recess in a lower end portion of the pin connection block, the first guide recess extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a lift pin holder having a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the first direction and including a first sliding portion to be received movably in the second direction within the first guide recess by an eccentricity distance of the second longitudinal axis from the first longitudinal axis when the lift pin holder is connected to the lower end portion of the pin connection block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ja-Woo Lee, Seung-Won Shin, Su-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10759026
    Abstract: A vise with an adjustable operating angle includes a base member, a front pier and a rear pier disposed on two opposite ends of the base member. A rotary seat mounted onto the front pier and the rear pier. A platform is pivoted to the front pier and the rear pier. A fixed jaw is secured on a rear end of the platform and a movable jaw is movably mounted on the platform. A lead screw is disposed in the platform for driving the movable jaw. A front turntable and a rear turntable are disposed to two opposite ends of the platform and rotatably disposed on the front pier and the rear pier. A front fastening seat and a rear fastening seat are mounted onto the front pier and the rear pier for selectively holding the front turntable and the rear turntable in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Po-Hsien Yang
  • Patent number: 10759126
    Abstract: A carrier for carrying an ophthalmic lens comprises: a basket (10) comprising a basket wall defining a concave cavity for accommodating an ophthalmic lens (100), the basket further comprising at least three recesses (12) arranged in the basket wall at different locations along the circumference of the basket (10); and a retainer (20) comprising at least three retainer arms (21) arranged in a star-shaped configuration corresponding to the arrangement of the recesses (12) along the circumference of the basket (10). In an assembled state each retainer arm (21) of the retainer (20) engages with a corresponding one of the recesses (12) in the basket wall of the basket (10) to retain the ophthalmic lens (100) in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stutz, Thomas Leibold, Jennifer Schmitt, Roger Biel, Matthias Braun, Katrin Sylke Struckmeier, Michael Frederick Waldern, Daniel Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 10743652
    Abstract: A method for providing bristles for automated production of brushes, in particular toothbrushes or parts thereof may comprise providing a plurality of bristles in a storage container, applying oil to at least a part of the plurality of bristles in the storage container, separating a bristle tuft from the storage and transporting the bristle tuft in a tube using an airflow. The plurality of bristles tufts can be transferred to a providing unit, in which the bristles tufts are arranged in a pre-defined tuft pattern and may be over-molded by injection molding in order to form at least a brush head. A device suitable to perform the method comprises at least an immersion unit to apply oil to bristles and an airflow-using transportation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Klaus Eimann, Marko Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10743739
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning mops comprising a top plate adapted to be engaged upon and spaced apart from a floor surface so as to form a cavity therebetween, an open face formed along an edge between the top plate and the floor surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the top plate in a direction toward the floor surface, spaced apart along the open face, and a conduit extending between a proximate and a distal end, the proximate end extending through the top plate so as to place an interior of the conduit in fluid connection with the cavity, the distal end having a connector operable to be engaged in fluidic communication with an in-wall vacuum outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Willy Kerntopf, Michael Wayne Malinosky
  • Patent number: 10744546
    Abstract: A wire cleaning apparatus and method is provided, in which a wire cleaning apparatus includes a passive brush mechanism comprising a helical brush, the helical structure having a helical axis substantially coincident with path of a wire passing through the wire cleaning apparatus. The helical brush includes a plurality of first bristles generally oriented inwardly from the helical structure toward the wire, and the helical brush may be compressed or extended to adjust the inner diameter of the helical brush. The wire cleaning apparatus further comprises an active brush mechanism disposed around the wire and configured to rotate around the wire. The active brush mechanism comprises at least one cylindrical brush having a plurality of second bristles disposed on a cylindrical surface such that one or more of the plurality of second bristles impinge upon the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Automated Industrial Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Konstantine Goudis
  • Patent number: 10743651
    Abstract: This method of manufacturing a brush 1 comprises: a first step of forming a support body 10 in which through holes 14 are formed; and a second step of inserting a brush bristle 20 in a bent state into each through hole 14 from one side of the through hole 14 to cause a looped bristle to project from the through hole 14 on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SANWA TOOTH BRUSH INDUSTRIAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Keiji Taniguchi, Katsutoshi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10742005
    Abstract: A cable processing apparatus including a first housing member having a first interface surface, a second housing member having a second interface surface, the second interface surface opposes the first interface surface. At least one abrasive member unit coupled to at least one of the first and second housing members so as to be disposed between the first and second interface surfaces. A controller coupled to the first and second housing members and the at least one abrasive member unit for moving the first and second housing members to clamp a cable extending through the first and second housing members, actuating the at least one abrasive member unit, and moving the second housing member relative to the first housing member to radially expand shielding of the cable where the radially expanded cable shielding is ground off of the cable by the at least one abrasive member unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eerik J. Helmick