Patents Examined by Thach H. Bui
  • Patent number: 7172031
    Abstract: A fire extinguisher for automotive vehicles, boats, and technical environments which is either automatically controlled, in case of fire, by the action of a thermosensitive cable or, in case of front impact, by the action of a percussion pin switch or manually by a push button located in the interior compartment. It consists of a cylindrical cell box, a valve assembly, a pyrotechnic charge, a bottle of carbon dioxide. When the pyrotechnic charge is electrically energized, it explodes and the percussion pin perforates the diaphragm of the CO2 bottle. The gas pressurizes the cell box and causes the extinguishing substance to flow out through a hose at the end of which a nozzle is disposed that sprinkles the extinguishing substance through a circular crown. The fire extinguisher has two small pipes within the cell box which mix CO2 with the extinguishing substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Domenico Piatti
  • Patent number: 7159791
    Abstract: A system for retaining and locating a jewel of the type comprising a nozzle for a water cutting system includes a first support structure component having a water discharge passageway extending therethrough and having an exterior locating surface formed at the water receiving end of the water directing passageway. A second support structure component has a water directing passageway formed therein and has a jewel receiving cavity formed therein at the discharge end of the water receiving passageway. The second support structure component further comprises a chamber for receiving and retaining the first support structure component with the locating surface thereof positioned in engagement with the locating surface of the jewel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Perfect Score Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard L. Lambden
  • Patent number: 7114575
    Abstract: An fire-fighting system for arresting a fire in a flammable or combustible liquid storage vessel comprising a portable discharging apparatus and a portable installation apparatus. The portable discharging apparatus receives a fire-fighting agent from a supply hose and applies the fire-fighting agent to arrest a fire in a storage vessel. The portable discharging apparatus can be attached to a distal end of the portable installation apparatus so that the portable discharging apparatus can be mounted on a storage vessel. Furthermore, a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses can be mounted on a single storage vessel, using the same portable installation apparatus, to provide a large amount or a variety of fire-fighting agents or to provide fire-fighting agents at a specific location on the storage vessel. The portable installation apparatus can be extended to a variety of lengths so that it can mount a portable discharging apparatus on a variety differently sized storage vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Viasa Incorporated, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Victor Manuel De Anda-Uribe, Ignacio Luis Ayala, Nikhll S. Nagaswami, Leopoldo Cardenas-Siller, Manuel Gerardo Balderas-Ayala, Fernando Serna-Garza, Gerardo Gutierrez-Ortega
  • Patent number: 6994274
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tank having a bottom portion that is adapted to be received by a truck platform between the wheel wells so that the tank can be easily moved past the wheel wells. In addition, the tank preferably has a first top panel that is adapted to receive the pump, engine, hose and/or reel. Since the foregoing are mounted onto the tank, the useable space on the platform is increased. Further, the first top panel is preferably positioned near the edge of the platform so that the sprayer system controls are accessible and convenient for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Commercial Turf Products
    Inventors: Peter Thompson, Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr., Michael Utz
  • Patent number: 6978947
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aerosol spray container comprising: a container main body to contain the contents, a valve means provided on the top of the main body, and a cap means. Within the cap means, a control pressing lever means being connected with the cap means at one of its end covers onto the valve, a control pressing lever means being connected with the cap means at one of its end covers onto the valve, an actuation button means is connected with another end of the pressing lever through a spring means There are two protrusions provided on the cap means and two recesses provided on the button means, the protrusions and recesses are engaged so that the button can slide downwardly. A locking device is provided on a designed portion of the protrusions and recesses to lock the button. A time delayed device closely under the said another end of the pressing lever is arranged to extend the time during the period that the pressing lever moves downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Xianyang Jin
  • Patent number: 6971588
    Abstract: A cleaning head for installation in a swimming pool floor fitting (9) includes a pop-up cylinder (5) having a plurality of first camming elements (44) disposed on its outer wall, a compression spring (6) disposed around it, and an outer cylinder (11) having a plurality of second camming elements (42) and third camming elements (40) disposed along the inner wall (47A) of the outer cylinder (11) for engagement with the first camming elements. A nozzle cap (15) is removably attached to the upper end of the pop-up cylinder (5), and includes a plurality of nozzles having various diameters, respectively, only a selected one of the nozzles being aligned with a clearance opening (20) of the pop-up cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Shasta Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Tarr, Andy F. Blake, Paul A. Womack
  • Patent number: 6951311
    Abstract: A pool cleaning tool for producing one water jet directed toward an area to be cleaned and a second water jet directed away from the area to be cleaned includes a substantially rigid water conduit having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end has an opening therein defining an outlet and an inlet extends into the water conduit and is positioned generally adjacent to the upper end. A coupler is fluidly coupled to the inlet for releasably coupling a water supply hose to the water conduit. A tubular member is fluidly coupled to the lower end of the water conduit. The tubular member has a first aperture and a second aperture therein. The first and second apertures are positioned on generally opposite sides of the tubular member. Each of the first and second apertures is angled downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: James Moran
  • Patent number: 6942161
    Abstract: A painting machine includes a powder paint spray gun, a mixer for mixing a plurality of powder paints having different colors, and a control device controlling an amount of each powder paint supplied to the powder paint spray gun so that a mixing ratio of the powder paints is continuously changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Asahi Sunac Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shimada
  • Patent number: 6935579
    Abstract: A dual spray cleaning apparatus (10) for sweeping, de-greasing, wiping, and drying a waterproof floor surface wherein, the apparatus (10) includes a generally T-shaped spray wand member (30) having a primary spray gun member (34) formed on one end wherein, the other end of the spray wand member (30) has a cross arm (32) provided with a plurality of spray nozzles (33) wherein, the cross arm (32) is also operatively connected to an elongated wiper blade member (23); and wherein, the primary spray gun member (34) is releasably associated with an auxiliary single nozzle spray gun member (40) having an elongated length of hose (42) that is operatively connected to a portion (36) of the primary spray gun member (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 6932281
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for injecting fuel that is at high pressure into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine. A control part which is movable up and down by actuator actuation is received in a bore in the housing of the injector. By means of the actuator, the control part is movable into a position that enables the fuel delivery into a nozzle inlet. The valve chamber in the housing of the injector can be opened and closed during the injection phases by control edges toward the control part, while the pressure relief of the injection system is effected via slide portions disposed on the control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6929192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve for controlling fluids, in particular a fuel injection valve, which has a valve member (3) disposed in a housing (11) for opening or closing a communication with a downstream chamber (18). An actuating element (2) is provided for actuating the valve member (3). The valve member (3) is prestressed in a prestressing direction by means of a prestressing element (10). The valve member (3) is also in communication with a sensor element (9), for picking up pressure information from the chamber (18) downstream of the valve member. The sensor element (9) can be provided as a separate component, or in an especially preferred embodiment, the actuating element is simultaneously used as the sensor element as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Till Schmauser
  • Patent number: 6921025
    Abstract: A unit (1) for the transfer and distribution of a liquid (27) using capillary action has an elongated shaft (2) and a screen (3). The shaft (2) includes a first capillary medium (4) suitable for drawing the liquid (27) from a reservoir (26) into the shaft (2) when a bottom portion (20) of the shaft (2) is disposed in the liquid. The screen (3) is connected to the shaft (2) and includes a second capillary medium (5) suitable for receiving the liquid (27) drawn by the first capillary medium (4) and distributing it over at least a major part of the screen (3) where it evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Givaudan SA
    Inventors: Gerald Leslie Hart, Guy Edward Naish, Kishen Gohil
  • Patent number: 6918551
    Abstract: A coating material dispensing system including a coating dispenser having a terminal for coupling to a high-magnitude potential supply, supply valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, first purge valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, a second purge valve having an input port, an output port and a control port, and means for coupling: the output port of a first one of the supply valves to a common point in a fluid circuit; the output port of a second one of the supply valves to the common point; the output port of the second purge valve to the common point; and, the common point to the coating dispenser, the common point also coupled to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Baltz
  • Patent number: 6915961
    Abstract: There is provided a drinking straw assembly. The assembly has a first straw portion and a housing that can be removably secured to the first straw portion. The housing has a housing cavity, and a valve that can be removably connected to the housing cavity. The valve is also adapted to receive a second straw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Renz, Joshua S. Lieberman
  • Patent number: 6913213
    Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating apparatus including a housing with an interior coating area for receiving a workpiece. The interior coating area includes a vortex inducing surface and a pressurized air input device directs air against the surface to form a swirling pattern of air around the workpiece. A powder introducer directs charged powder into the swirling pattern of air and the powder is then electrostatically attracted to the workpiece. The powder introducer may be a powder fluidizing bed disposed in the housing or other suppliers, such as electrostatic powder spray guns. In alternative embodiments, vortex generators in the form of tubular structures connected proximate the housing inlet and outlet have tangential ports for introducing positive pressure air or inducing vacuum in the tubular structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Bertellotti, Joseph Rogari
  • Patent number: 6913214
    Abstract: In a powder atomizer for series coating of workpieces, additional air is led from a separate channel into the path of the powder-air mixture which exits from the powder channel of the atomizer, air which can be used during the coating to influence and change the mixture and, during pauses in the coating, as rinsing air for cleaning, for example, the powder path leading through an atomization bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Behr Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Duerr
  • Patent number: 6908048
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (10) for supplying a powdery coating product to a sprayer (1) in an installation spraying such a product. The invention is characterized in that it comprises at least two modules (11, 14) connected each to a source (B1-B4) of coating product and forming each part (112, 113) of a common manifold (C) connected to said sprayer (1) for circulating said product (P1-P4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Sames Technologies
    Inventors: Michel Di Gioia, Francois Vasseur
  • Patent number: 6905082
    Abstract: A sprayer device includes an opening formed by a peripheral wall, and a mouth for receiving water. A head is rotatably attached to the peripheral wall and includes a number of ports to be selectively aligned with the mouth, and to selectively receive water from the mouth. The head includes an outer peripheral portion having a number of apertures, a cover is secured to the head. A buffering plate is spaced from the cover to form a gap between the cover and the buffering plate. The cover includes one or more inlets for allowing the water to selectively flow through the inlets of the cover and flow into the gap formed between the cover and the buffering plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Sheng Li Wu
  • Patent number: 6899282
    Abstract: An injection spraying system for mixing additives in controlled amounts to water for spraying, which improves handling and calibrating of the concentration of the mixture. The system includes a water tank, mixing globe, pump device, unloader chamber and a worm reduction element for reducing pumping of one gallon of water into one revolution of a drive shaft. The shaft extends through a clutch device and a plurality of injection chambers. The injection chambers supply and meter the amount of additives injected. Rotation of the shaft through the injection chambers loads a set amount of additives for suction into a mixing globe. The unloader chamber controls the spraying cycle and by-pass cycle of fluid flow through the system. The present invention provides a versatile injection spraying system for multiple tasks. The types and amounts of additives sprayed can be easily adjusted without requiring adjustments to sensitive metering or measuring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Raymond G. Hill
  • Patent number: 6899283
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection method and apparatus comprising a base member and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element. The interior of the base member includes a pressurizing chamber and an ejection opening. When the interval from the last pressurizing operation to the current pressurizing operation exceeds a predetermined time, applied voltage to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is increased at a first increase rate so that liquid within the pressurizing chamber is pressurized for ejection at a first pressurizing increase rate. When the interval from the last pressurizing operation to the current pressurizing operation is shorter than the predetermined time, the applied voltage is increased at a second increase rate smaller than the first increase rate so that the liquid is pressurized for ejection at a second pressurizing rate which is relatively small. This ensures proper pressurization of a liquid whose viscosity increases over time, achieving proper ejections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ohnishi, Toshikazu Hirota, Yoshihiro Iseki