Patents Examined by Tania C. Courson
  • Patent number: 10569040
    Abstract: A method and apparatus can be used in the selection of correctly sized respiratory interfaces. The method includes the use of light beams to project sizing markers onto a patient's face, which enables the size of the patient's facial features to be measured relative to a set of interface sizes. A sizing apparatus can include a light source and beam splitters that will refract and project the light source into a series of beams that can be aligned on a patient's face in order to measure the features of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Grant Niccol
  • Patent number: 10508946
    Abstract: A screed hardware apparatus for adjusting a grade height in screeding concrete. The apparatus includes a cap configured to attach to a base. The cap includes a post mount portion, a grade surface portion that abuts the post mount portion, and one or more flexible antenna that extend from the grade surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Stego Industries, LLC
    Inventors: James Steven Lutes, Joe Marks
  • Patent number: 10508917
    Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a carriage including a body having a void, a vertical rod passing through the void, four legs arranged rectangularly and projecting obliquely downward and outward from the body, and a vertical coil spring coaxially encompassing a lower portion of the vertical rod. The carriage is coupled with a retroreflective laser target at the bottom of the vertical rod whereby the top of the spring pushes against the bottom of the body and the bottom of the spring pushes against the top of the target. The target continuously adjusts in height so that the bottom of the target remains in constant spring-tension contact with the surface on which the carriage sits or travels, supported by its legs. The carriage is electromechanically propelled, and laser tracking is conducted to direct laser beams at and receive laser retroreflections from the target at various surface locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Pinkesh D. Bharatia, Robert J. Santoro, Nicholas R. Cifelli, Scott A. Storms, Patrick J. Violante
  • Patent number: 10495447
    Abstract: A laser centering tool for surface areas used to find the center point of a surface. The laser centering tool uses single or multiple laser sources to project a plurality of lines on a horizontal or vertical surface. It may comprise of multiple lasers, rotational plates, prism, beam splitter, gear housing, and/or a gear mechanism. At least one center laser line remains stationary between at least two edge laser lines. The edge lasers may be moved to outline the edge of a surface. At least one center laser projects a beam that indicates the center point of the edge lasers. The edge laser lines may be moved by rotational plates, a set of mirrors, or prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Chris Olexa
  • Patent number: 10487464
    Abstract: A modular traffic cone assembled from a flat sheet and a dish that stores in a minimum of space. In one embodiment, translucent traffic cone has enhanced visibility through a light seated on a platform inside the translucent cone. In one embodiment, the modular traffic cone is included in a traffic directing kit comprising a translucent flat sheet, a dish and a platform, the sheet, the dish and the platform forming the traffic cone. The kit may also include ballast and the light for seating inside the traffic cone. A method of assembly for the traffic cone and the kit is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Rich
  • Patent number: 10481099
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the presence of water proximate to insulation. A system provided includes an enclosure, and insulation disposed over the enclosure. A moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: William N. Yunker, Wayne S. Pon, Patrick M. Moore, Michael T. Matheidas
  • Patent number: 10470829
    Abstract: An indicator mechanism for a surgical instrument includes an aperture fixed to a base. An indicator body is rotatably supported by the base. The indicator body includes features for engaging a motor that rotates the indicator body. A visual indicator, visible through the aperture, is coupled to the indicator body. A detent mechanism holds the indicator body in one of two positions. A first of the two positions provides a visual indication that the surgical instrument is in service and a second of the two positions provides a visual indication that the surgical instrument is expired. A controller may track use events for a surgical instrument to determine expiration. Use events may include operations and conditions in addition to those that occur in the surgical instrument. When the use events tracked by the controller indicate expiration, the controller may rotate a motor to set the visual indication to expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Alden, Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht
  • Patent number: 10460635
    Abstract: A portable signaling device and method of use in which an elongated reflected strip with a broad and flat profile is held taut in air so that the elongated reflective strip freely twists and rotates along a line formed between a first and a second attachment point of the composite strip when a breeze contacts the broad and flat profile to create a visual signaling display as a result of twisting and rotation of the elongated reflective strip in which the elongated reflected strip is twisted at least once through one hundred and eighty degrees so that a first planar surface and a second planar surface of the elongate reflected strip are visible from a single vantage point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Robert W Cameron
  • Patent number: 10458133
    Abstract: A perimeter warning system is provided having a plurality of substantive stand bases and stanchions, which when combined together with a flag line provide a means to demark the perimeter of a surface across which there is danger. The stand bases include a surface onto which an insertion sleeve is placed, for holding the stanchion stably, and an opening symmetrically equidistant from the center of the surface of the stand base from the sleeve. In this way, stand bases can be stacked together with the sleeve of one placed in the opening in the surface of the other for stability. The system includes storage and transportation elements; wherein the surface of the base stand defines an opening through which the pillar of a storage unit can be threaded to stack the plurality of base stands together onto the storage element. Stanchions are provided with storage boxes configured to stack together neatly and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: D & T Industrial Supplies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Davis
  • Patent number: 10451452
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, a needle module on the display panel, the needle module including an indicator needle rotatable with respect to a rotation axis, and a driving module to rotate the indicator needle via magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Nyeng Kang, Mu-Gyeom Kim, Min-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10451396
    Abstract: The present invention consists of a device (1) suitable for use during molding work for the measurement of at least one angle formed by at least one first surface and at least one second surface and for conveying the angle or angles to cutting equipment for the adjustment of cutting angles. The device is comprised of at least one first arm (2) and at least one second arm (3) which are connected to each other via at least one connecting device (4) and pivotally arranged in relation to each other via at least one first axis of rotation (5) and that the device (1) includes at least one angle indicator (36) with which the mutual angle between the first arm (2) and the second arm (3) is measured. The device (1) includes at least one unit which indicates a part of angle (V), preferably half of the angle (V), between the first arm (2) and the second arm (3) and that this unit is suitable for use in the adjustment of the angle in a cutting machine. The present invention also concerns a method for use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Wallerström
  • Patent number: 10435172
    Abstract: A display device for displaying the attitude of an aircraft with respect to a fixed direction in space is described, said device comprising: a first element that can be fastened to the aircraft; and a second element, which is free to move with respect to the first element, following a change in position of first element with respect to the fixed direction; the second element in turn comprising: a mass, which is designed to return the second element to the same stable position with respect to the fixed direction when the first element changes its position with respect to the fixed direction; and a visual indication, which is representative of the position of the fixed direction, as the position of the first element changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: LEONARDO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Abdel Nour, Paolo Brughera, Fabio Monti
  • Patent number: 10436584
    Abstract: A tool, such as a level, including audio and/or visual indicators is provided. The level may include one or more bubble level vials having a controller and a sensor. The visual indicators are associated with the vials. The controller is configured to activate the audio and visual indicators in repose to a signal received from the sensor. The controller illuminates the visual indicators for each vial when that vial indicates it is level or plumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Edward Gray, Scott Terrell Moeller, Gareth James Mueckl
  • Patent number: 10436562
    Abstract: Surface measurement probe comprising: a hollow probe body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end adapted to be mounted to a test apparatus and a distal end; a retaining arrangement situated inside the probe body and extending along said longitudinal axis, the retaining arrangement being arranged to maintain the surface measurement probe in an assembled state; a probe tip supported at the distal end of the probe body and arranged to contact a sample; a bead situated inside the probe body and interposed between the probe tip and the retaining arrangement, the bead comprising a thermally-insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ANTON PAAR TRITEC SA
    Inventors: Bertrand Bellaton, Marcello Conte
  • Patent number: 10422629
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a plurality of spatial coordinates on a measurement object using a working head having an image sensor for recording images of the measurement object. A first image of a first feature of the object with the working head in a first working position is recorded. First spatial coordinates representing a spatial position of the first feature are determined using first position information of the working head supplied by an encoder arrangement. The working head is then moved relative to the object to a second working position, where a second image of the object is recorded. Using the first and the second images, second position information which represents a spatial offset of the working head relative to the object is determined. Spatial coordinates for a second feature of the measurement object are determined on the basis of the second position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Nils Haverkamp, Tobias Held, Dominik Seitz
  • Patent number: 10422638
    Abstract: A tool, such as a level, including a rotating angle indicator is provided. The level may include a gripping structure for coupling the level to a workpiece. The level may include one or more bubble level vials. The level may include a window arrangement to provide viewing of an angle-indicating needle from a variety of angles, and one such window may be located at the end of the level and at least partially surrounds the angle-indicating needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph William Burge
  • Patent number: 10421470
    Abstract: The present invention defines a method of determining a vertical profile signal of a rail surface that includes, obtaining a vertical acceleration signal acc1, by measuring vertical acceleration of a bogie of a rail vehicle that runs on the rail surface; processing the vertical acceleration signal to obtain a vertical velocity signal; determining the vertical profile signal of the rail surface, by using the vertical acceleration signal and the vertical velocity signal as inputs to a simulation model of the bogie, the model having an unsprung mass connected to a sprung mass, the vertical acceleration signal acc1 represents the vertical acceleration of the unsprung mass; and measuring a linear velocity signal of the rail vehicle, the linear velocity signal is used in the step of determining to convert the vertical profile signal from the time domain to the distance domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Elena Pinto, Victor Martinez
  • Patent number: 10415949
    Abstract: A measuring probe includes two supporting members, each having a rotationally symmetric shape and allowing for an attitude change of a stylus, in an axial direction of a probe housing. Four detection elements are disposed at fourfold symmetric positions in one of the two supporting members that includes four deformable arm parts. A signal processing circuit includes a first processing part that processes outputs of the detection elements to output three displacement signals representing displacement components of a contact part in mutually perpendicular three directions, respectively. The measuring probe capable of reducing measurement directional dependency of sensitivity with a simple configuration while maintaining high sensitivity is thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Koga, Akinori Saito, Hiroyuki Kanamori, Yutaka Kuriyama, Nobuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10410546
    Abstract: A crime scene evidence marker includes a base with a central portion and a plurality of coplanar legs extending in spaced relation from the central portion. A projection is connected to the central portion of the base. A post is removably connected with the projection. The post extends vertically and has an opening in a lower end which is configured to complement the configuration of the projection. The post lower end receives the projection in a mating configuration to removably connect the post with the base. The legs and post have measuring indicia placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Gary Louis Vandergriff
  • Patent number: 10408659
    Abstract: A material storage bin has an upright wall supporting a plurality of vertically spaced indicators providing a person with visual information regarding the level of the material in the bin. The indicators have contrasting visual colors as bright yellow and dark black surfaces that are selectively displayed to provide a person with information of the level of material in the bin. An actuator located in the bin cooperates with a motion transmission apparatus to move visual members to an ON position displaying the bright color when the material engages the actuator and to an OFF position when the actuator is free of material in the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LTJ ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Johnson