Patents Examined by Tania Courson
  • Patent number: 11959741
    Abstract: This is a measuring tool for use in the installation of metal roofing when such metal roofing must be cut in order to fit along valleys in the roof structure. Valleys are places where the roof surface changes direction, such as where the roof of a gable joins the main body of the roof. The tool measures the point at which the metal roofing panel is to be cut by sliding the base of the tool down the last rib of the last installed panel until the tip of the pointer arm touches the chalk like along which the next panel must fit. The distance from the top of said last panel to the bottom of the base of the tool corresponds to the distance from the top of the new panel to the point at which its leading edge should be cut to fit along the chalk line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Joseph Edward Martin
  • Patent number: 11947330
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tool orientation and/or position determining system are described herein. In one example, a plurality of tool sensors can be coupled to a tool. The tool sensors can provide data to a control module or system controller. The orientation and/or position of the tool can accordingly be determined from the data. If the orientation and/or position of the tool matches a desired orientation, the tool and/or control module can provide an indication that the tool is in the desired orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Arthur Thompson, Jonathan T. Davis
  • Patent number: 11944852
    Abstract: A firefighter safety system and tools purposed for extracting oneself from out of a burning and smoke infested compartment of a building structure where the floor has caved in. Disclosed is a hand tool and foot tool that a firefighter can use alongside with a pressurized fire hose whereby the hand tool and foot tool can engage the fire hose in frictional contact whereby the firefighter can pull with their hand on the tool and push with their foot on the foot tool until they extricated themselves from dangerous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: John H Meredith
  • Patent number: 11940270
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for measuring coordinates or properties of a workpiece includes an extended stylus. The extended stylus includes an extension element and a connection element. The extension element includes a carrier portion mounted at the connection element so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The extension element includes, on a side remote from the connection element, a shaft portion that is aligned so as to deviate from the axis of rotation. The coordinate measuring machine includes a measurement head to which the extended stylus is attached. The measurement head is configured to measure deflections of the stylus resulting from contacts of the extended stylus to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Ruck, David Höcherl
  • Patent number: 11922914
    Abstract: A desk bell that has a good sound reverb and a long lingering sound includes a swingably supported bell body and striking section that hits the bell body. The striking section includes a striker, an operating part for operating the striker, and separating part that quickly separates the striker from the bell body after the striker striking the bell body. The bell body is placed and supported on or point-supported on a supporting member. The bell body has a conical shape with an open bottom or an inverted bowl shape and has an inner top part placed and supported on or point-supported on the supporting member. The striker is disposed inside the bell body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Koizumi Factory
    Inventor: Toshihiro Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11920952
    Abstract: A removeable level endcap is disclosed where the endcap safeguards the end of the level apparatus against drops and impacts. The endcap assembly includes a sliding C-clamp slidably housed inside a locking hook structure. Both locking and locking hook structures are “C” shaped with two end portions coupled to a middle portion. With the sliding C-clamp in a fully pushed backward position within the locking hook housing structure, a single linear forward push of the sliding C-clamp couples the locking hook structure end portions with the level end and locks the endcap onto the level end using locking tabs on locking hook structure end portions with the sliding C-clamp in a pushed fully forward position within the locking hook structure. Unlocking, detaching, and removing the endcap from the level apparatus is accomplished with a single linear backward pull of the sliding C-clamp within the locking hook structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Michael H Panosian, Joshua M Keeler
  • Patent number: 11906386
    Abstract: A wheel balancing tool includes a body member, an attachment member and an alignment member. The body member includes a notch configured to be aligned with a balancing mark on a rim of a vehicle wheel. The attachment member is connected to the body member. The attachment member includes at least one hook configured to attach the tool to the wheel rim. The alignment member extends outwardly from the body portion and is configured to indicate an attachment position on the wheel for a balancing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan North America Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Miller, Eric Cohen
  • Patent number: 11898876
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a device for determining orientation of an object. The device comprises a hollow spherical member. A plurality of sensors are positioned within a cavity defined by an inner surface and an outer surface of the hollow spherical member. Further, the device comprises a light source fixed within the hollow spherical member, and a solid sphere provided within the hollow spherical member. The solid spherical member is configured to displace within the hollow spherical member, pointing towards gravity and occupies lowermost position of the hollow spherical member, and thus blocks impingement of light on to corresponding one or more sensors at the lowermost position of the hollow spherical member. The blocked one or more sensors activate or deactivate, and generate a signal, which is received by a computing unit, to determine orientation of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Tilak Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11898877
    Abstract: A level device may include a housing, a vial, a retention well and a multidirectional vial protection assembly. The housing may have a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, a first end and a second end. The vial may include a generally cylindrical tube with a bulge formed at a middle portion thereof. The vial may contain a liquid therein and an air bubble formed in the liquid such that the air bubble sits in the bulge when the vial is oriented such that one of the bottom face, front face, rear face, first end or second end is level or plumb. The retention well may be formed in the top face and extend through portions of the front and the rear faces toward the bottom face. The vial may be retained at opposing axial ends thereof in the retention well and may include an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to respective planes of the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Baxter, Sujith Sunny, Bryan Washburn
  • Patent number: 11893908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular advertising system. One object of the current invention may be to provide a modular advertising system that may be secured to a pole or other external surface and elevated by a user to a desired height without the need of a ladder or lift. Another object of the current invention may also be to provide a quick-release assembly that may be used to quickly couple and de-couple the assembly from a pole or other external surface/structure. Another object of the current invention may be to provide a modular assembly that can be adaptable to a number of surfaces, such as a pole surface, ground surface or horizontal surface. An additional object of the current invention may be to provide a modular advertising display having interchangeable modular structures that may be configured to vary the position and number of advertising displays presented to consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BALLOON INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wicken, Gregg A. Wicken
  • Patent number: 11884530
    Abstract: An apparatus for communicating the status of a consumable having a tubular housing with a channel, wherein the channel includes a proximal section and a distal section separated by an internal flange, a power module assembly including a coaster coupled on the proximal section of the tubular housing, a top cover, and a bottom cover coupled to the distal section of the tubular housing, a sensor coupled to the coaster for determining a level of beverage in a beverage container, and electronic circuitry for controlling a status indicator, wherein the sensor is in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry, wherein the status indicator is operably coupled to the sensor; and wherein the status indicator is covered by a lampshade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan Honkawa, Clarence Chia
  • Patent number: 11879763
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a telemetric fitting for a liquid-level gauge, the telemetric fitting being configured to derive liquid-level information from the liquid-level gauge when attached thereto and wirelessly transmit at radio frequencies the liquid-level information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: John Richard Haddy, Michael Alexander St. Leger Neuman
  • Patent number: 11881124
    Abstract: A portable multi-purpose safety triangle includes: a tripod including: a sign unit; and a support unit which supports the sign unit and is configured to be selectively set in one of a folded state and an unfolded state; and a frame including: a frame body having an accommodation space for accommodating the tripod therein; and a frame cap selectively coupled to the frame body. The support unit includes: a first assistant support and a second assistant support that support the sign unit; an elastic member whose both ends are respectively connected to the first assistant support and the second assistant support, the elastic member providing a restoring force to the first assistant support and the second assistant support; and a main support that supports the elastic member. The sign unit includes a flexible material such that the size thereof is changed according to the state of the support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Jin Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11881204
    Abstract: Dual-tone horn assemblies and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example dual scroll assembly includes a nozzle having a first portion of the nozzle has a first diameter and a second portion of the nozzle has a second diameter that has a size that is different from the first diameter, a first spiraled channel that receives air from the first portion of the nozzle. The air traveling through the first spiraled channel produces a first tone at a first frequency. A divider plate is disposed between the first spiraled channel and a second spiraled channel. The second spiraled channel receives the air from the second portion of the nozzle. The air traveling through the second spiraled channel produces a second tone at a second frequency. The first tone and the second tone when produced simultaneously create a dyad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marco Sanchez, Beatriz Barrios, J Elias Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11862044
    Abstract: A flag display apparatus includes a frame comprising first and second support legs having upper and lower opposed ends when placed for display. A horizontal support member having a predetermined length can be connected to the upper end of the first and second support legs. A flag or banner having a predetermined length is attached to and supported by the frame. The predetermined length of the horizontal support member is less than the length of the flag or banner so that a portion of the flag or banner extends beyond the first or second support leg thereby providing a first portion of the flag or banner that is unfurled and a second portion of the flag or banner that is at least partially furled in the absence of wind moving across the flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BANKS AVENUE, LLC
    Inventor: Brent M. Milgrom
  • Patent number: 11853013
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods which can be used to indicate the period of time elapsed since the occurrence of a triggering event. More particularly, this application relates to systems and methods which can be used to visually indicate the time period elapsed since an article has been removed from its packaging. The system can include an indicator disposed on or within the article and a trigger disposed within the receptacle and in contact with the indicator. The article may be enclosed within a sealable receptacle of the package. The indicator is responsive to a change in a concentration of the trigger in contact with the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Gu, Paul Chen
  • Patent number: 11852469
    Abstract: A length measuring apparatus for use in combination with a cutting device having a cutting blade to measure length of a workpiece cut by the cutting blade comprises a slide rail which is secured relative to the cutting device when length is measured; and a sliding unit that is slidably mounted to the slide rail, the sliding unit having a sliding body, a length measuring unit that measures distance along which the sliding body slides relative to the slide rail, and an arm member that comes in contact with the workpiece when the workpiece is placed at a cutting position; wherein the sliding unit further comprises an angle gauge member, mounted at that tip portion of the arm member which comes in contact with the workpiece, that comes in contact with the cutting blade and measures a cutting angle of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kan Mechanical Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji Kan
  • Patent number: 11828660
    Abstract: This invention relates to thin indicating devices, such as time-temperature indicators and a method of making by applying and UV curing one or more layers of indicating composition are disclosed. For example, an indicator layer is applied on substrate and cured with UV light, immediately followed by an application of an activator layer which is cured by UV light. The device can have other layers, such as a permeable barrier between the activator and indicator layer and a top protective layers which are also UV cured. This fast curing method prevents premature reactions, e.g., diffusion of activator into indicator layer and vice versa during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: JP Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordhanbhai N Patel
  • Patent number: 11821727
    Abstract: A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The spring-based retraction system includes at least two springs that drive a tape spool during tape retraction. The springs are indirectly coupled to each other via a single center post, in one embodiment, two center posts on a single spool, in another embodiment, or two center posts that are on different spools, in another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Abhijeet A. Khangar, Jonathan F. Vitas, Collin J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11815730
    Abstract: A sanitary in-line sight glass assembly is provided having separate first and second hollow connection bodies and a transparent tube retainable between and within the connection bodies when the connection bodies are secured together in an end-to-end abutting relationship. Gaskets are located within the connection bodies at opposite ends of the transparent tube and a clamp is provided for securing the ends of the connection bodies together such that the gaskets are compressed and form seals. The connection bodies include sidewalls having at least one opening through which the transparent tube is exposed for providing a viewing window into a flow path defined by the assembly. The clamp may be a circumferentially-extending clamp having ends secured together with a winged fastener able to be gripped by the hand of an installer such that the assembly can be assembled and disassembled manually without the use of a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dixon Valve & Coupling Company, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Paasch