Patents Examined by Thomas A Beach
  • Patent number: 8505987
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a latch movable between released and restrained positions and a latch spring biasing toward the released position. A first lever is movable between open and closed positions, corresponding to the released and restrained positions, respectively. A first lever spring biases toward the closed position. A second lever is movable between unlocked and locked positions, corresponding to the first lever open and closed positions, respectively. A second lever spring biases toward the locked position. An active material based actuator selectively moves the second lever from the locked to unlocked position in response to an activation signal. A primary activation mechanism selectively produces the activation signal without a mechanical connection to the passenger compartment. An auxiliary activation mechanism does not rely on the vehicle power system. A key or portable energy storage device may cause the activation signal from the primary or auxiliary activation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, David M. Connor, James Holbrook Brown
  • Patent number: 8474540
    Abstract: The connector comprises a male flange 15 and a female flange 14 allowing to assemble a main tube and auxiliary line tubes 11. A locking collar 17 and a locking ring 40 assemble the male flange and the female flange. Locking collar 17 is mounted mobile in rotation on the outer surface of the male flange while cooperating with the outer surfaces of the male and female flanges. Locking ring 40 is mounted mobile in rotation on the male element of the connector while cooperating with the inner surface of the female connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Jean Guesnon, Gérard Papon, Emmanuel Persent
  • Patent number: 8469102
    Abstract: An anti-rotation device prevents an inner wellhead housing from rotating within an outer wellhead housing. The anti-rotation device provides cam rollers within the inner wellhead housing that wedge between opposing surfaces of the inner wellhead housing and outer wellhead housing to arrest either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the inner wellhead housing. The cam rollers are circumferentially spaced apart around the inner wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Eric Yates
  • Patent number: 8459703
    Abstract: A pawl assembly that can be installed to the output shaft of a latch mechanism more easily, and in some embodiments without the use of tools, as compared to prior art pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Anderson, Richard E. Schlack, D. Dale Turner, James Vickers, Stephen K. Spatig, Richard B. Langkamp, H. Allen Riblett
  • Patent number: 8434558
    Abstract: A device for containing fluid flow from a borehole includes: a containment assembly including a body having a cavity configured to receive a leaking portion of a borehole termination structure extending from the borehole and surround the leaking portion, the cavity configured to be adapted to at least partially conform to a shape of at least one of the leaking portion and the borehole termination structure; and a flow control assembly configured to connect a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the containment assembly and direct downhole fluid into the fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Aaron R. Swanson, James P. Dwyer, Todd J. Talbot
  • Patent number: 8430171
    Abstract: Several, preferably three, deflection elements are placed and fixed around the wellhead, preferably in equal circumferential distances around the wellhead. For each deflection element a guiding cable is lowered with its head end from one or several, preferably three workspaces in the direction of the wellhead. Each guiding cable is looped with its head end through the corresponding deflection element, wherein each deflection element forms a point of reversal. Each guiding cable is pulled back with its head end side to the corresponding workspace while in return additional guiding cable is supplied and passed through the corresponding deflection element. A sealing element which is fastened to each guiding cable is lowered in the direction of the wellhead by pulling the guiding cables at their head end sides upwards and, in return, supplying the guiding cables in the direction of the wellhead on the lowering side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: David Robb Cochrane
  • Patent number: 8403384
    Abstract: A door handle device capable of operating a door opening/closing mechanism of a vehicle is disclosed. The door handle device includes a support member, a door handle, a circuit substrate, a lock detection electrode, a capacitance sensor, and an auxiliary electrode. The circuit substrate is arranged in the door handle and includes a ground electrode. The lock detection electrode is mounted on the circuit substrate and capacitance-coupled to an outer panel of the door. The capacitance sensor is connected to the lock detection electrode and detects the issuance of a door lock command based on a change in a first capacitance between the outer panel and the lock detection electrode. The auxiliary electrode is capacitance-coupled to the ground electrode to form a second capacitance connected in parallel to the first capacitance between the auxiliary electrode and the ground electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ieda, Hisashi Inaba, Takehiro Tabata, Tomoo Kakegawa, Tomoyuki Funayama, Shigeki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8403063
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a ball valve having a pivotal ball and providing full drift clearance through a fluid pathway of the valve over a portion of a pivotal range of the ball is described. An internal bore of the ball includes a first opening larger than a second opening, and the internal bore transitions between the first and second openings. The first opening overlays or encompasses an opening formed by a first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, and the second opening may be fully encompassed by an opening formed by a second bore portion over a pivotal range when the internal bore is not centrally aligned with the first or second bore portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Derek Walter Inglis
  • Patent number: 8376421
    Abstract: A magnetic gate latch device to secure a gate in a locked position to a fence or other barrier to close or block a portal formed therein comprising a latch assembly including a lower latch pin coupled to an upper latch pin actuator by an intermediate interconnecting element mounted to the fence or other barrier adjacent the portal wherein the lower latch pin is normally biased in upper or unlocked position and a keeper assembly including a keeper base affixed to the gate and a keeper arm extending outwardly therefrom having a latch pin recess formed therein with a latch pin positioner comprising a vertically disposed magnet disposed adjacent the latch pin recess such that when the gate is closed the vertically disposed magnet of the latch pin positioner moves the lower latch pin, intermediate interconnecting element and upper latch pin from the normally biased upper or unlocked position to a lower or locked position drawing the latch pin into the latch pin recess against the force of the bias and when as the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nationwide Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Simmonds
  • Patent number: 8376049
    Abstract: A running tool for use in handling control modules on a subsea production tree. The running tool is deployable on wire line and includes a column like body and a connector adapted for connection to the production tree. The running tool also includes a hoist system that is selectively positioned by a swiveling jib crane for handling the control modules. A replacement control module can be included with the running tool when the tool is deployed from above the sea surface. After the running tool connects to the production tree, the jib crane can position the hoist for attachment to and removal of an existing control module on the production tree. The hoist can then to attach to and install the replacement control module and can be further manipulated to retrieve the existing control module and stow it onto the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bell
  • Patent number: 8267442
    Abstract: An outer operational device includes a cover mounted to a side of a door. An actuating member is mounted in the cover and includes an end engaged with a handle to rotate therewith. A driving member is pivotably received in the cover and includes a wing. A link includes an upper end pivotably coupled with the wing and a lower end pivotably coupled with an end of the actuating member. A driving rod is coupled with the driving member and operably connected to a latch of a lock mounted in the door, so that rotation of the handle causes retraction of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: I-Tek Metal Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Jen Tien, Chen-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 8262142
    Abstract: A clampable fastening device for mounting fittings or other objects in an opening having opposite edges, such as a rectangular opening in a wall, including a head part which is arranged on the outer side of the thin wall and which covers the outer rim of the opening, and from which there proceeds in the mounted position a foot part which penetrates through the opening, holding elements which are displaceable relative to one another in a channel formed in the foot part project from the foot part in direction of its outer surface. The free end of the holding elements having an inclined surface or obliquely arranged points. Wherein the foot part and the holding element are separate parts. Wherein the holding elements are displaceable along the channel by a screw preferably having a conically shaped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Dieter Ramsauer
  • Patent number: 8225458
    Abstract: A method for controlling a door, comprising the steps of storing energy during a manual opening of a door, sensing an object within a doorway, selectively applying a force derived from the stored energy, to close the door, based on the sensing of an object in the doorway. The closure is preferably controlled by an electronic control. A door closing device comprising an energy storage device for storing energy during door opening and releasing the stored energy to subsequently close the door, a damping system for damping a closure of the door, a sensor for detecting an object within a doorway, having an output, a controllable device for selectively restraining the energy storage device from closing the door, and a control system for controlling the controllable device based on the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Steven M. Hoffberg
  • Patent number: 8220848
    Abstract: In a cover member attaching structure for putting a flat shaped cover member 3 of a synthetic resin in position in a principal part 1, a dummy gate 5 serving as an inlet for resin injection from a submarine gate 4 during molding remains uncut after molding and protrudes from the cover member 3, while the principal part 1 has a portion 6 formed for accommodating the dummy gate 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Minemura, Kousuke Kakita
  • Patent number: 8186727
    Abstract: The present invention is a door lock that eliminates the need for an additional deadbolt lock on a door. The present invention has a deadbolt built into the doorknob assembly. The deadbolt is put into place every time the door is closed. This eliminates the need of having to separately lock and unlock two locks, the first being the doorknob and the second being the deadbolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: James Rishel, James Catherman, III
  • Patent number: 8177264
    Abstract: An article storing structure for a small boat capable of easily carrying out the opening operation of a lid without spending time and effort and capable of easily taking luggage in and out. The article storing structure includes an article storing box for storing luggage in the hull and a lid covering an opening of the article storing box from above. The article storing structure includes left and right hinges provided at the left and right sides of the lid, respectively, for supporting the lid so as to be freely opened and closed and left and right lock members provided at the left and right sides of the lid, respectively, and capable of releasing the left and right hinges in the engaged condition, respectively. By releasing one of the left and right hinges in the engaged condition by the lock member, the lid can be opened and closed laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Iwakami
  • Patent number: 8157302
    Abstract: An electric strike which provides vertical adjustability of the position of the strike relative to the latch bolt in the closure with modification to the doorframe on the dust box. A ramp element on the strike housing is slidably adjustable relative to the strike housing and is securable at the time of installation to align with the center of the latch bolt. The ramp element has a channel to allow entry and exit of a latch bolt having a dead latch. A keeper engages the dead latch and maintains it in a retracted position when the closure is locked and is released when the electric latch solenoid is energized. A travel limiting foot limits rotation of the keeper so that the latch bolt may transition from the keeper to the ramp element without interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Webb, Joshua T. Peabody, Scott Sullivan, Steve Whisel
  • Patent number: 8146966
    Abstract: An electric strike which provides vertical adjustability of the position of the strike relative to the latch bolt in the closure with modification to the doorframe on the dust box. A ramp element in the strike housing is adjustable relative to the strike and is securable at the time of installation to align the center of the latch bolt and strike. The ramp element has a channel to allow entry and exit of a latch bolt having a dead latch. A keeper engages the dead latch and maintains it in a retracted position when the closure is locked and is released when the electric latch solenoid is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Webb, Scott Sullivan, Joshua T. Peabody, Steve Whisel
  • Patent number: 8128138
    Abstract: A vehicle including an anti-chucking striker overmold for minimizing chucking of a vehicle door having a latch therein. The anti-chucking striker overmold may include a striker mount connected to a striker and including one or more wedges including a first portion contiguously engageable with a latch frameplate opening to minimize movement of the vehicle door relative to the striker in a first direction. The wedge may include a second portion formed line-to-line with a fishmouth opening of the latch to minimize movement of the vehicle door in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles G. Bambenek, Kosta Papanikolaou, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Patent number: RE43199
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method to control and regulate the bottom hole pressure in a well during subsea drilling at deep waters: The method involves adjustment of a liquid/gas interface level in a drilling riser up or down. The arrangement comprises a high pressure drilling riser and a surface BOP at the upper end of the drilling riser. The surface BOP havs a gas bleeding outlet. The riser also comprises a BOP, with a by-pass line. The drilling riser has an outlet at a depth below the water surface, and the outlet is connected to a pumping system with a flow return conduit running back to a drilling vessel/platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ocean Rider Systems AS
    Inventor: Borre Fossli