Patents Examined by Thomas Raymond Rodgers
  • Patent number: 10946496
    Abstract: A retaining ring for a chemical mechanical polishing carrier head having a mounting surface for a substrate is provided herein. In some embodiments, the retaining ring may include an annular body have a central opening, a channel formed in the body, wherein a first end of the channel is proximate the central opening, and a sensor disposed within the channel and proximate the first end, wherein the sensor is configured to detect acoustic and/or vibration emissions from processes performed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Simon Yavelberg
  • Patent number: 10945578
    Abstract: A robot cleaner and a control method thereof may judge whether or not water is received in the robot cleaner performing wet cleaning. The robot cleaner includes a main body, moving units, a cleaning unit mounted on the main body and contacting a floor surface to perform cleaning, a water supply unit supplying water to the cleaning unit, and a sensing unit provided on at least a portion of the water supply unit to sense whether or not there is water within the water supply unit. The sensing unit includes a housing, a transmission part radiating electromagnetic waves, a reception part receiving the electromagnetic waves radiated by the transmission part, and a stepped part provided on at least a portion of the housing along a moving path of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the transmission part and received by the reception part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Young Jung, Byoung In Lee, Sang Hwa Choi, Dong Won Kim, Sang Sik Yoon, Sahng Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10934044
    Abstract: A tool comprises housing, elongated member, trigger, first jaw, and second jaw. Housing comprises housing abutment surface. Elongated member comprises distal end, proximal end, and elongated-member abutment surface. Trigger is pivotally coupled to housing and is coupled to elongated member. Elongated member translates along axis when trigger is moved relative to housing. First jaw abuts housing abutment surface of housing and is configured to engage cable tie. First jaw is located between distal end of elongated member and housing abutment surface. Second jaw abuts elongated-member abutment surface and is configured to engage cable tie. Second jaw translates relative to first jaw along axis when trigger is pivoted with respect to housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Robert Ayers, Christine Mary Anderson, David Scott Wright, Donald Wayne Coffland
  • Patent number: 10918255
    Abstract: A cleaning robot, which performs cleaning operation while moving, includes a cover, to which external force is applied, a movement frame fastened to the cover, a fixed body provided in the cover, a traveling unit connected to the fixed body, and an elasticity setting part configured to movably support the movement frame to the fixed body, wherein the elasticity setting part includes a sensor configured to sense movement of the movement frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunsup Song, Jongil Park, Jongjin Woo
  • Patent number: 10920833
    Abstract: Torque-limiting mechanisms comprising an upper shank component with a torque-limiting interface, a lower shank component with a torque-limiting interface, and a biasing element. Torque-limiting interfaces having a plurality of undulations arranged around an axial bore or drive socket and separated by a plurality of transition regions, with each undulation having an upslope, a peak, and a downslope. The torque-limiting interfaces are configured to engage and disengage to provide torque transmission with predetermined torque limits at various rotational speeds and for amounts of actuations while remaining within a specified operational range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ECA Medical Instruments
    Inventors: John Nino, David Ivinson, David Tory
  • Patent number: 10912958
    Abstract: An enhanced claw in a tactical breaching system for breaching a door system having a door and a door frame, the tactical breaching system having a hydraulic cylinder configured to drive a drive piston, the enhanced claw comprising: a stationary static tooth pair mechanically fixed to the hydraulic cylinder, the static tooth pair having top and bottom static tooth surfaces; a dynamic tooth axially attached to the drive piston, the dynamic tooth having top and bottom dynamic surfaces, the dynamic tooth configured to be driven forward and away from the static tooth pair, the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth initially aligned in a closed configuration, the enhanced claw having a plurality of parameters shared by the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth, including; a sharply-tapered and curved profile; a relative tooth length parameter; a robustness of the claw to resist torsion; and opposing sets of grooved teeth on the top surface of the static tooth pair and on the bottom surface of the dynamic tooth,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: San Hitec LTD.
    Inventors: Ran Nakash, Itam Lachiani
  • Patent number: 10907679
    Abstract: A fastening tool system includes a housing including a main body having a proximal end and a distal end. The main body defines an internal chamber extending between a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end. A plunger includes a stem that extends into the internal chamber through the proximal opening. The plunger is configured to be moved in relation to the main body between a retracted position and an extended position. A securing stud is in a collapsed position when the plunger is in the retracted position. The plunger is configured to move into the extended position to engage the securing stud to expand the securing stud into an expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kareem Gamal Shehab
  • Patent number: 10899517
    Abstract: A sanitary wipe is provided, including a pad that is contained beneath or as part of an adhesive sticker or otherwise attachable body that is releasably secured at any convenient point on a surface of a container or containment vessel, such as the side or top of the containment vessel. The pad can be provided with or without a cleaning substance. For use, the user simply pulls the adhesive sticker or attachable body free of the container, and uses the wipe part or pad of the sticker or body to clean and remove contamination wherever contamination is suspected or at any other desired location, like on the lid of the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Taso Georgas, George Michalopoulos
  • Patent number: 10890512
    Abstract: A tire gripping device includes a chuck mechanism having a pair of chuck portions adjacent in a width direction of a tire and contact members disposed on each of the chuck portions in a circumferential manner. The contact members are able to be brought into contact with an open end portion of a bead portion of the tire. The contact members are able to enter a state of allowing relative movement with a contact surface of an open end portion in a first contact stage and enter a state of non-relative movement with the contact surface in a second contact stage subsequent to the first contact stage. The tire gripping device further includes a first driving mechanism for moving the contact members in a radial direction of the tire and a second driving mechanism for moving the pair of chuck portions in the width direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Keiji Nakagawa, Hirofumi Matsuo, Michihiko Yoshimura, Shonosuke Motomiya
  • Patent number: 10875160
    Abstract: A torque wrench with a ratchet and a drive for the ratchet includes a ratchet housing with two opposed side walls which have a specified distance to each other and are connected with each other. A through opening extends transversely through the two side walls, which is designed to accommodate a ratchet rotary body, wherein its axis of rotation extends parallel to the axis of the through opening. The ratchet rotary body includes a fastening means for fastening a supporting device to the torque wrench, by means of which the torque wrench can be supported perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the ratchet rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jorg Hohmann, Frank Hohmann
  • Patent number: 10875504
    Abstract: A wiper blade end cap (22 and 22?), comprising at least one sealing element (22a) for sealing a channel for delivering windscreen washer fluid of a member of the blade (10), characterised in that said at least one sealing element (22a) comprises a channel (22a1), referred to as the end channel, intended to be brought into communication with said delivery channel when said delivery channel is sealed, and at least one spray opening (22a2 and 22a2?) originating at said end channel (22a1) and emerging on the outside of said cap (22 and 22?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Gérald Caillot
  • Patent number: 10857662
    Abstract: A hand-held tool comprises a tool part and a handle surrounding a section of the tool part and connected to same in a torque-transmitting manner. The tool part comprises a connection contour used to connect the handle in a torque-transmitting manner at least in some areas, in a section surrounded by the handle. The handle comprises an inner handle piece which can be connected to the connection contour and surrounds same in a torque-transmitting manner. With the inner handle piece slid onto the connection contour, one or more outwardly-open casting channels are provided between the two parts. The handle further comprises an outer handle piece made of plastic, which during the course of a plastic moulding process is moulded around the unit comprising the tool part which has an inner handle piece connected to the connection contour thereof, wherein the at least one casting channel is at least partially filled with the plastic material which forms the outer handle piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF WITTE GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Rohlfs
  • Patent number: 10857647
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for polishing or planarizing a wafer of at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method includes rotating a polishing pad having radial feeder grooves in the polishing layer separating the polishing layer into polishing regions. The radial feeder grooves include a series of biased grooves connecting a pair of adjacent radial feeder grooves. A majority of the biased grooves have either an inward bias toward the center or an outward bias toward the outer edge of the polishing pad. Pressing and rotating the wafer against the rotating polishing pad for multiple rotations of the polishing pad at a fixed distance from the center of the polishing pad increases polishing or planarizing removal rate of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings
    Inventors: John Vu Nguyen, Tony Quan Tran, Jeffrey James Hendron, Jeffrey Robert Stack
  • Patent number: 10857648
    Abstract: The polishing pad is suitable for polishing or planarizing a wafer of at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The polishing pad includes a polishing layer having a polymeric matrix and radial feeder grooves in the polishing layer separating the polishing layer into polishing regions. The radial feeder grooves extend at least from a location adjacent the center to a location adjacent the outer edge of the polishing pad. Each polishing region includes a series of spaced non-isosceles trapezoid groove structures having parallel base segments connecting two adjacent radial feeder grooves to form leg segments. The series of non-isosceles trapezoid groove structures extend from adjacent the outer edge toward the center of the polishing pad with the perimeter of the series of trapezoid structures also being a trapezoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings
    Inventors: John Vu Nguyen, Tony Quan Tran, Jeffrey James Hendron, Jeffrey Robert Stack
  • Patent number: 10861702
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for polishing or planarizing a wafer of at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method includes rotating a polishing pad, the rotating polishing pad having radial feeder grooves in the polishing layer separating the polishing layer into polishing regions. The polishing regions are circular sectors defined by two adjacent radial feeder grooves. The radial feeder grooves extend from a location adjacent the center to a location adjacent the outer edge. Each polishing region includes a series of biased grooves connecting a pair of adjacent radial feeder grooves. Pressing and rotating the wafer against the rotating polishing pad for multiple rotations of the polishing pad adjusts polishing by either increasing or decreasing residence time of the polishing fluid under the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings
    Inventors: John Vu Nguyen, Tony Quan Tran, Jeffrey James Hendron, Jeffrey Robert Stack
  • Patent number: 10843322
    Abstract: A multi-tool includes a hollow heavy gauge tubular member having a king pin hook secured to an exterior first end a pair of hammer heads secured to an exterior second end opposite each other. A portion of the tube has a grip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventors: Danny L. Williams, Loretta B. Williams
  • Patent number: 10836018
    Abstract: Provided are a substrate holding device and a substrate holding method that enhance the precision of the shape of a substrate while holding the substrate. The substrate holding device includes a first holding member 1, including a plate-shaped first base 10, and a second holding member 2, including a thin plate-shaped second base 20. The first base 10 has an airway 102 extending to the upper surface of the first base 10. The second base 20 has a through hole 202 extending in a thick direction of the second base 20 at a center portion of the second base 20. The second base 20 includes, on the upper surface of the second base 20, multiple protrusions 211, which protrude upward, and at least one annular ridge 212, which protrudes upward in a substantially annular shape coaxial with the first base 10 and surrounds an upper opening of the through hole 202 and the multiple protrusions 211.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ishino, Shinya Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10814460
    Abstract: A method for operating a ratchet wrench having a tangential belt drive mechanism and a ratchet gear therein, including the steps of momentary pulling on the driven end of the belt for rotating the ratchet gear during a forward cycle; continually applying a first resilient tension force on the return end of the belt; continually applying a resilient compression force on the driven end of the belt of a same magnitude as the first resilient tension force toward the return end of the belt, and relaxing the step of pulling and allowing the belt to return to an initial position of the belt before the step of pulling. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tangential drive mechanism comprising a first and second springs, one on each side of the ratchet gear and each acting on the belt toward a return end of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Randy Otterson
  • Patent number: 10816125
    Abstract: An insert for sealing a hole having a diameter. The insert includes a plug having a maximum outer diameter that is equal to or less than the diameter of the hole. The plug also has a sleeve, a core, and a pin. The sleeve has a length and a void. The core and the pin are both press-fit into the void at opposite ends of the void. The core has a first length, a first tapered outer wall, and a threaded hole extending partly through the core. The pin has a second length, a second tapered outer wall, and a passage extending there-through. The plug also has protrusions located on an outer surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Engineered Inserts & Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Turechek, Victor Kirilichin
  • Patent number: 10806314
    Abstract: In one aspect, an autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive configured to propel the robot along the floor surface and a tank assembly. The tank assembly includes a reservoir, left and right receptacles, and a handle extending across a cover of the tank assembly, the handle being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the handle is in the second position, the tank assembly is locked in position. The tank assembly also includes left and right latch assemblies receivable by the left and right receptacles, respectively. Each latch assembly includes a moveable assembly configured to lock the tank assembly in position when the handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Jeffrey Suchman, William Farmer, Johnson Hsu