Patents Examined by Terrence R. Till
  • Patent number: 7364535
    Abstract: Exercise apparatus has a biased tolerance-compensating engagement system between a seat-supporting carriage and a tubular support column to provide zero clearance between adjustment rollers and the support column, to minimize wobble during user adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Rosenow, Lon L. Monsrud
  • Patent number: 7363712
    Abstract: A cutting tool includes two metal handles each having a first end formed with a mounting portion and a second end formed with a blade portion, and two plastic grips each having an inside formed with a mounting hole mounted on the mounting portion of the respective metal handle. The mounting hole of each of the plastic grips has a first end formed with a first separation slot and a second end formed with a second separation slot. Thus, the plastic grips are detachable from the metal handles when the cutting tool is worn out, so that the plastic grips and the metal handles are separated from each other, thereby facilitating reuse of the plastic grips and the metal handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tai-Wei Scissors Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Che Huang, Ming-Chyuan Ho
  • Patent number: 7364537
    Abstract: A wind resistance mechanism for an exercise apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of bendable blades for changing the form of the wind-facing side thereof or adjusting the wind-facing angle. A movable clamping device includes a hub supported on an output shaft of an exercise apparatus. A first and a second disc are mounted on the hub. At least one of both discs performs a reciprocating movement in axial direction. An external force is applied to the discs for changing the form of the wind-facing side of the blades or adjusting the wind-facing angle, thereby adjusting the wind resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Leao Wang, Peter Wu
  • Patent number: 7356931
    Abstract: A pair of hairdressing scissors, wherein a connecting block is mounted in the hairdressing scissor, on a first wall surface of the connecting block is protrusively formed a rib portion having a retaining ear thereof, and on a second wall surface of the connecting block is defined with a perforation thereof for engaging with the retaining ear, and an elastic member is mounted in the connecting block. Therefore, when the retaining ear of one pair of hairdressing scissors is engaged in the perforation of another pair of hairdressing scissors, the elastic member presses against the retaining ear, in this way, the pairs of hairdressing scissors can be coupled and positioned relative to one another firmly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Hui-Chuan Lai
  • Patent number: 7353591
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing coreless substrates is provided herein. The method first provides a base whose top and bottom sides are covered with metal layers respectively that are detachable from the base. From the two metal layers, the method then develops the bump-pad side or ball side wiring layers required by the coreless substrate simultaneously. The two metal layers along with their respective wiring layers are then separated from the base into two independent semi-products of the coreless substrate. The method then develops from the other sides of the two semi-products the laminate side wiring layers required by the coreless substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kinsus Interconnect Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Tso-Hung Yeh
  • Patent number: 7351187
    Abstract: An exercise device includes pedals, a belt and a hydro-kinetic brake. A user applies muscular force to the pedals and the pedal belt transfers the motion of the pedals to a flywheel shaft of the fluid brake. The pedals may be configured to accept force from a hand, foot, arm, leg and/or neck of the user. The amount of work performed by the user is derived by measuring the relative rotational speeds of two radial-blade impellers of the fluid brake. The wattage exhibited by the fluid brake during the exercise session may be recorded and associated with an identified user, whereby records of the exercise performance of an individual may be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Seliber
  • Patent number: 7341545
    Abstract: Steel cables on fitness equipment, through repeated use, will build up undesired torque, due to irregular and unpredictable turns and spins. Such accumulated and undesired torque has a tendency to cause the cable to derail from the grooves on the gears it is supposed to stay and slide. The grab bar or handle bar, where a user grabs to start workout routine, likewise, has a tendency to turn or spin in an uncontrollable way and could potentially injure a user. Present invention effectively releases the undesired torque and restores the cable to its neutral and relaxed state, so that the fitness equipment will experience less malfunctioning, and user safety is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Guofang Cao
  • Patent number: 7340830
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing LED light string includes the steps of forming an LED light body from multiple serially connected printed circuit boards, fixing the LED light body to a base, and connecting a light-transmissible shell to the light body to form a cluster lamp; preparing a power cord, to which multiple lamp sockets are serially connected; fitting multiple cluster lamps to the lamp sockets on the power cord, so that the LED light bodies are made to emit light. A lampshade is detachably engaged with each lamp socket. The lampshade and the lamp socket may be differently designed to create romantic feeling. The number of LED light bodies on each cluster lamp and the number of cluster lamps on one LED light string may be varied as desired to increase the brightness of the light string while reduce the manufacturing cost of the LED light string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventors: Li-Wen Liu, Wei-Jen Liu
  • Patent number: 7328642
    Abstract: A hole-punching assembly comprising a positioning piece, a clamping piece, a plurality of tool holders, two balancing rods and a plurality of hole mountings. Each end of the positioning piece couples to the hole mounting through a balancing rod, the positioning piece has a gliding rail, a receiving slot and a confining part disposed at an indentation at each end for each of the tool holders to go through the positioning piece, thereby fixing the tool holders. Each of the tool holders has a first end extending to one of the hole mountings and a second end being blocked by the clamping piece. The clamping piece has one rod disposed at each end, with each end of the rod protruding through the receiving slot axially and being restrained by the confining part, thereby fixing the clamping piece and forcing the tool holder to move axially to facilitate easy switching and dismantling of the tool holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventor: Chou-Chih Chiang
  • Patent number: 7325541
    Abstract: An adjustable primary air supply for wood burning device comprises at least one but preferably two thermostatic bimetal elements which, by bending with temperature variations, directly actuate a flap that opens and closes the air entry opening. Primary Air is the air used to control the burn rate and it is adjusted in order to achieve the desired burn rates and Secondary Air is the air used to complete the combustion and is not adjustable. Using these two sources of air, the invention consists of a device, which allows the primary air supply to remain open until proper burning is established. Therefore, when the temperature of the appliance rises, the combustion air gradually decreases to its preset value by having the primary air supply automatically shut off as temperature increases. A higher temperature indicates that the wood is sufficiently hot to decompose into flammable gases, so only secondary air is required to continue the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Emmanuel Marcakis
  • Patent number: 7311065
    Abstract: A powder fuel engine includes a battery, a cylinder and a generator. The battery is connected with an air compressor linked with an air tank, and the generator. The air tank is connected with a mixer and two powder tanks respectively via a pressurization tube. The powder tanks are to store different powders and respectively connected with a powder tube connected with the mixer. A powder jetting device connected to the mixer is connected with the cylinder that is provided with a powder combustion chamber, a piston, a spark plug and an outlet. The piston is connected with a connecting rod that is connected with a shaft. The generator is connected with an ignition device that is connected with the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Yi-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 7272869
    Abstract: The ergonomic multi-functional cleaning machine includes a fresh liquid tank, a waste recovery tank positioned atop the fresh liquid tank, and a vacuum source for enabling a soil-containing fluid to be vacuumed into the waste recovery tank. The machine further includes: (1) a fresh liquid pump positioned above the fresh liquid tank, with the fresh liquid pump enabling a liquid or solution to be pumped from the fresh liquid tank; and/or (2) a spigot operatively connected to the fresh liquid tank, whereby a user may regulate the flow of a liquid or solution from the fresh liquid tank. Also, the machine may include an inline wetting apparatus, thereby providing for vacuuming of dry dirt, dust, and other soils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kaivac, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7269878
    Abstract: A steam stop safety mechanism for a portable steam cleaner prevents discharge of steam at the cleaner nozzle when attaching and disconnecting attachments, even if the cleaner trigger is in a locked open position. The mechanism includes a steel pin that is displaced in an extended position against a shoulder in the nozzle to prevent pressurized steam from escaping the nozzle. Attachment couplings include a pin retractor plate with a central hub that pushes the pin away from the shoulder to allow the steam to flow through openings in the retractor plate and out a concentrator or attachment hose that has a trigger to release steam as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Euro Pro Operatin LLC
    Inventor: Chad A. Reese
  • Patent number: 7266860
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blower-vacuum device with both a blowing mode of operation and a vacuuming mode of operation and having dirty fan operation in the vacuuming mode thereof, which comprises: a hand-holdable unit (10) comprising a motor having an output shaft extending outwardly of said hand-holdable unit; an impeller connected to said output shaft; a first attachment (22, 24, 26, 28) for removable engagement with the hand-holdable unit (10) in the vacuuming mode of operation and comprising both a first volute (22) for enclosing said impeller and a vacuum tube (26) in fluid communication with an inlet of said first volute; a second attachment (16, 18, 20) for removable engagement with the hand-holdable unit (10) in the blowing mode of operation and comprising both a second volute (16) for enclosing said impeller and a blower tube (20) in fluid communication with an outlet of said second volute; wherein the first attachment further comprises a handle (24) on or proximal to said first volute; and t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Clare Tate, John Sadler
  • Patent number: 7260866
    Abstract: A gutter-clearing tool having a scoop-plate and a top-plate where the front end of the top-plate is pivotally attached to the top end of the scoop-plate, and the top plate is attached to a rod. A pivot joint allows the scoop-plate to close upwardly toward the top plate when the apparatus is pushed through the gutter thereby providing a substantially reduced vertical profile, and allows the scoop-plate to open downwardly away from the top plate when the apparatus is pulled through the gutter thereby collecting debris and clearing the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Barry Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7260868
    Abstract: A simple dust collector includes a housing, a base plate horizontally separating the interior of the housing to form a motor chamber for fix a motor to rotate a fan covered by a fan cover under the base plate. A sucking passageway and a wind-exhausting hole are formed under the fan cover, and a tube joint is connected with the sucking passageway connected to a dust tube. The plurality of wind outlets are formed in a lower section of the housing and sealed by an airy cloth ring to filter dust from wind. The housing has an opening in a lower side and the opening is fitted with a dust bag for dust carried by the wind generated by the fan from the passageway and swirled by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the fan to fall and be collected in the dust bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: San Ford Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7260867
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided including a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dust box carried on the housing. Additionally, a partition is provided dividing the dust box into a coarse particle dirt collecting chamber and a fine particle filtering chamber. Further, a filter assembly including a support frame and a filter element is provided. The support frame holds the filter element in the filtering chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Chad D. Overvaag
  • Patent number: 7254864
    Abstract: A floor cleaning device (10) includes a housing (40) and a container (43) removably received by the housing. A suction nozzle (18, 18?, 18?) is fluidly connected with the container and with a suction source (52) when the container is received by the housing. A filter (114) is selectively fluidly connected with the container and with the suction source. A float (170) selectively closes the fluid connection of the filter with the container. The filter and the float may be removable as a unit (42) from the cleaning device. The nozzle may be removable, allowing an appropriate nozzle to be selected according to the type of floor surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cipolla, Michael F. Wright, John S. Murphy, Richard C. Farone
  • Patent number: 7254866
    Abstract: A cleaning implement for cleaning a soiled surface having soiling particles lodge therein includes a body having a cleaning surface defining first and second cleaning section. The first and second cleaning sections are provided respectively with first and second dislodging bristles for dislodging the soiled particles from the soiled surface. The first and second cleaning bristles are configured and positioned so that the dislodging action is performed more efficiently when the first and second cleaning section are move relative to the soiled surface respectively in a first and a second direction as opposed to other directions. The implement is connectable to a vacuum source for suctioning the soiling particles having been dislodged by the first and second cleaning surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Normand Francoeur
  • Patent number: 7254860
    Abstract: In a mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles held between two twisted wire segments, wherein the bristles have varying lengths created by trimming, provision is made for the brush to incorporate a first outer face of a predefined geometry created in a first trimming process after twisting, wherein this outer face is formed by the tips of a first number of longer bristles, wherein a portion of the bristles is trimmed by a second trimming process, so that a plurality of bristles of a shorter length is created, the tips of which form a second envelope of a predefined geometry, wherein the tips of the shorter bristles each lie on an orthogonal line relative to these twisted wire segments extending at a distance to the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Geka Brush GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Dumler, Helmut Stredak