Patents Examined by Steven Cernoch
  • Patent number: 7841549
    Abstract: An electrostatic spraying device has a removable cartridge with a reservoir containing a volume of liquid compositions to be electrically sprayed. The device includes a nozzle for dispensing the liquid and an emitter electrode disposed adjacent to the nozzle for charging the liquid composition just being dispensed from the nozzle. A field electrode surrounds the reservoir in order to charge the liquid composition within the reservoir, thereby avoiding an occurrence of electric current which would deteriorate the composition remaining in the reservoir. The reservoir is at least partially made of deformable material such that the reservoir is capable of receiving pressure to deform and thus supply the liquid composition out of the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir can be designed into a simple and compact structure, thereby providing an increased liquid containing volume in relation to the bulk of the removable cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignees: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Shunichi Nagasawa, David Edward Wilson
  • Patent number: 7766259
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler spray nozzle is provided that includes a first deflector surface defining a first configuration to project a fluid spray having a first distribution pattern, and a second deflector surface defining a second configuration to project a second fluid spray having a second, different distribution pattern. To select the fluid spray, the nozzle further includes a selector having a first position to select the first deflector surface and a second position to select the second deflector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond P. Feith, Kenneth D. Siegel
  • Patent number: 7757964
    Abstract: An air cap for keeping a spray nozzle with a flat spray clean is presented. The air cap contain the nozzle and has a slit for the spray from the nozzle, through which opening an air flow is flowing in the same direction as the flat spray from the nozzle. The air cap is divided into a back component comprising an internal thread, and a front component comprising the slit. The components are rotatable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Baldwin Jimek AB
    Inventor: Birger Hansson
  • Patent number: 7740189
    Abstract: A suspension arrangement mounted in support of a boom lift assembly and boom supported thereon on a chassis of an agricultural sprayer is provided. The boom lift assembly is configured to move the boom between a raised, inoperative position and a lowered, operative position. The suspension arrangement includes a pivot linkage pivotally coupling the boom lift assembly and the chassis, and a dampener located between the boom lift assembly and the chassis. During operation of the sprayer, the dampener of the suspension arrangement reduces transfer of an impact force or stress force from transferring between the chassis and the boom lift assembly so as to isolate suspension of the boom lift assembly from the chassis of the sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Peter R. Meyer, James Keppers
  • Patent number: 7740190
    Abstract: A boom breakaway assembly for a spray boom used by a vehicle. The boom breakaway assembly includes a reciprocating system having a first position and a second position, a retention system, and a bias system. In the first position, the bias system applies a maximum effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system applies a holding force upon the spray boom to maintain the spray boom in a desired outward position. In the second position, the bias system applies a minimal effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system reduces or disengages the holding force upon the spray boom, thereby allowing the spray boom to move from the outward position to a breakaway position when the spray boom encounters an obstacle. The bias system returns the reciprocating system to the first position once the spray boom clears the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: John Peterson, Steve Seubert, Dave Friesner
  • Patent number: 7740191
    Abstract: A shower device includes: a driving unit including a housing and a core allowed to reciprocate by water which is introduced into the housing; a shower part allowed to swing; a water guide channel introducing water which is introduced into the housing to the shower part; and a power transmission part transmitting a motion of the core to the shower part. The shower part sprinkles water while swinging when water is introduced into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Ryoko Ishimaru, Kazuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7717360
    Abstract: An in-ground sprinkler serviceability apparatus that provides a debris free environment for ease of replacement of an in-ground sprinkler head. The sprinkler serviceability apparatus couples to the threads of a sprinkler pipe, expands to provide a sprinkler head receiving section, a seal against the underside of the sprinkler head, and a tapered upper surface. Any debris would be washed away from the sprinkler head serviceability apparatus tapered upper surface when the sprinklers are on, rain, etc. The seal would ensure against any debris falling into the sprinkler head receiving section. Weep holes can optionally be incorporated into the sides or base of the apparatus. The top can be a single section, fabricated in two sections, or be designed to receive a common clay sprinkler donut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Keith S. Kander
  • Patent number: 7712684
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve which injects fuel from a nozzle hole includes a cavitation generation flow path in which a cavitation bubble is generated in fuel flowing inside the injection valve, and a bubble storage flow path which is connected to the cavitation generation flow path and the nozzle hole and which stores the cavitation bubble generated in the cavitation generation flow path. A fuel containing the cavitation bubble stored in the bubble storage flow path is injected from the nozzle hole so that atomization of an injected fuel spray is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Ryo Masuda, Kiyomi Kawamura, Makoto Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7703698
    Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which liquid flows longitudinally from an inlet port to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize liquid within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the liquid being treated in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Allen Janssen, Steve Roffers, Thomas David Ehlert, John Glen Ahles, Paul Warren Rasmussen, Patrick Sean McNichols, Earl C. McCraw, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7703709
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve in which a first resin-molded layer that is made of a synthetic resin, covers a solenoid section, and forms a coupler main portion that defines a coupler is covered by a second resin-molded layer different from that of the first resin-molded layer so that an outer face of the coupler main portion is exposed from a middle part up to the extremity of the coupler main portion. An endless engagement groove is provided on the outer periphery of the middle pad of the coupler main portion of the first resin-molded layer, the second resin-molded layer engaging with the endless engagement groove. An extending portion extending further outward than the engagement groove is formed in the second resin-molded layer so that the extending portion makes contact with an outer face of the coupler main portion when in a non-engaged state and covers the coupler main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Akabane, Hirokazu Tanuma
  • Patent number: 7690438
    Abstract: Characterized in that in a first stage are loaded or produced on board in a mother aircraft at least a product or mixed of products to act on forest fires, pests or atmospheric phenomena; in a second stage the said product is stored in a glider container with gliding flight ability and equipped with a precision guidance system; in a third stage the glider container is dropped from the mother aircraft and guided towards the release point of the load; in a fourth stage the glider container releases of its interior the load of product on the release point, and in a fifth stage the glider container is recovered for a following reusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Luís María Bordallo Álvarez
  • Patent number: 7686234
    Abstract: An irrigation assembly has a main pipeline supported at intervals by mobile towers, a plurality of drop tube assemblies at spaced intervals along the pipeline and a collector positioned to receive water from the drop tube assembly. A plurality of targets are positioned on the ground in the paths of motion defined by the movement of the collectors. The targets may be dishes. Each dish preferably has a perforated drain that penetrates beneath the surface of the ground. Interaction between the collector and the target causes the water stored within the collector to be released into the target. The irrigation assembly may provide for underground irrigation without a collector where a dish or trough receives water from the drop tube assembly and underground drains allow for water to be dispersed below the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Lindsay Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Parod, Charles H. Meis
  • Patent number: 7673813
    Abstract: A portable spray apparatus (1) is provided to selectively discharge liquid spray medium and solid dust medium with a blower airflow (7) generated by a blower (6). An adaptor (8) is provided which has at least a channel section (9) of a liquids channel (10) for the liquid spray medium and a channel section (11) of a solids channel (12) for the solid dust medium. The adaptor (8) is releasably connected to a supply vessel (4). The liquids channel (10) and the solids channel (12) open into the blower airflow (7). Various built-in positions of the supply vessel (4) and of the adaptor (8) are freely selectable relative to each other and to the blower unit (3) by the operator. In one built-in position, the liquids channel (10) is connected via its channel section (9) to an interior space (13) of the supply vessel (4) and, in another built-in position, the solids channel (12) is connected to this interior space (13) via the channel section (11) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Raffenberg, Heiko Rosskamp, Thomas Stark, Markus Pfeifer, Heinz Hettmann, Markus Zeller, Klaus Langhans, Sebastian Hansen, Hans-Georg Wiedmann, Matthias Müller
  • Patent number: 7673818
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic fuel injection valve designed so that the contact of a movable attraction face at a rear end of a movable core with a stationary attraction face included at a front end of a stationary core is inhibited, a ring-shaped stopper (28) made of a material non-magnetic or magnetic weakly more than a movable core (18) is press-fitted into an inner periphery of a rear portion of the movable core (18), and a flat abutment face (51), which is disposed at a location displaced from a flat movable attraction face (41) formed at the rear end of the movable core (18) toward a stationary attraction face (42), is formed at a rear end of the stopper (28) to be able to abut against the stationary attraction face. A slant (52) is formed on an inner periphery of the rear end of the movable core (18) and an outer periphery of the rear end of the stopper (28) to continuously and smoothly connect the movable attraction face (41) and the abutment face (51) to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Akabane
  • Patent number: 7661609
    Abstract: A pressure washer wand having first and second valves that can be opened in a predetermined or user-adjustable manner through movement of a trigger. In one form, the first and second valves are opened sequentially in response to movement of a trigger to transition from a no-flow condition to a relatively low pressure flow and thereafter to a relatively high pressure flow. In another form, the sequencing of the valves can be changed such that only the first valve, which provides a relatively low pressure flow, is opened in response to movement of the trigger. A pressure washing system having the pressure washer wand is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Dexter, Dinesh Koka
  • Patent number: 7661606
    Abstract: An automated spraygun includes a spray/atomization body mounted on a feed foundation. The spraygun includes tensile locking elements between the spray body and the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ITW Surfaces & Finitions
    Inventor: Eric Vacher
  • Patent number: 7648085
    Abstract: A drip emitter is provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. Water enters the emitter through a first inlet and proceeds into a first chamber. When the water pressure is above a predetermined level, a one-directional valve opens to allow fluid flow past the first chamber, through a tortuous path flow channel, and through an emitter outlet. A second inlet is used to compensate for water pressure fluctuations in the supply tube to maintain output flow at a relatively constant rate. Water enters the second inlet and presses a flexible diaphragm toward a water metering surface to provide pressure-dependent control of the output flow. A copper member is mounted to the emitter over the emitter outlet to prevent plant root intrusion into the emitter outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Mavrakis, Brian Pope, Samir Shah, Christopher Leland O'Neal, David Laybourn
  • Patent number: 7631817
    Abstract: A lock assembly operable to secure a lift linkage associated with moving a boom assembly between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position is provided. The lock assembly includes a lock pin mounted at a carrying frame interconnected between a lift linkage and the boom assembly. The lock assembly also includes a lock plate mounted at the lift linkage. In the raised position of the lift linkage, the lock plate includes a slot configured to align so as receive the lock pin. Once aligned, the boom is pivoted toward the folded, stowed position. As the boom pivots, the boom pushes the lock pin through the slot. The lift linkage is then lowered to seat the lock pin in the slot and thereby secure the lift linkage and supported boom in the raised, folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dennis G. Thompson, Dennis W. Chahley
  • Patent number: 7614572
    Abstract: An electrostatic spraying device has a removable cartridge with a reservoir containing a volume of liquid compositions to be electrically sprayed. The reservoir is deformable according to inner pressure and configured to provide a removable cartridge. The device includes a dispensing unit for spraying the liquid composition. The dispensing unit includes a nozzle for dispensing the liquid composition and an emitter electrode which charges the liquid composition for electrostatically spraying the liquid composition out through the nozzle. A suction pump is integrated into the dispensing unit in an immediately upstream relation with the reservoir for feeding the liquid composition from the reservoir to the nozzle. Thus, the suction pump can be concentrated together with the emitter electrode and the nozzle into the dispensing unit on one end of the reservoir, enabling to realize the cartridge of a compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Shunichi Nagasawa, David Edward Wilson, Masayuki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7610966
    Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a bracket, a housing, extinguisher containers and a directing member such as a ramp. The fire extinguisher is designed to be located above a stove and beneath structure, such as microwave oven and vent. Such structure typically has low clearance relative to the stovetop and the burners thereon. The housing and containers are suspended from the bracket. Each container has a fire extinguishing powder and an initiator for breaching a container wall. One of the containers is directly positioned over a burner on the stovetop. The other container is offset laterally from another burner on the stovetop. The ramp is used to direct the fire extinguishing powder of this container onto the burner. The ramp is maintained in a stowed position by a fusible link, which gives way when a fire is present on the second burner causing the ramp to fall to a deployed position before the respective container discharges its powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston N. Weintraub, Don Murray, Michael R. Stevens