Patents Examined by Tomlyne A Malcolm
  • Patent number: 6315095
    Abstract: It is often necessary to unfold the integral carrying case of a device such as a portable electronic instrument comprising an upper and lower module. However if it is necessary upon unfolding the case to move apart the modules a limited distance while maintaining their relative alignment the common scissor-slider mechanism will not suffice inasmuch as the scissor mechanism does not latch on retraction and rotation. The disclosed invention provides a scissor-slider mechanism that extends without constraint in the usual fashion, but upon retraction and rotation about the slider axis required for folding the scissor-slider mechanism self-latches, keeping the upper and lower modules from separating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventor: Moishe Garfinkle
  • Patent number: 6312186
    Abstract: A fastening device for the fastening of a plurality of furniture fittings to a furniture part includes an anchoring rail which is to be fastened to a side wall of a piece of furniture and has lateral openings for receiving fastening pins of the fastening device has a locking rail (10, 19) which is complementary to the and is displaceable relative to the anchoring rail while advantageously being guided therein and which has edge portions which latch in behind projections of the fastening pins in a locked position. The locking rail is movable by way of an eccentric mounted in the anchoring rail rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Erich Röck, Horst Hörger
  • Patent number: 6309133
    Abstract: A process for securing a guiding member on a support which includes at least one opening which is substantially greater in dimension than an end of the guiding member which is supported therein. A space provided between the at least one opening and the end of the guiding member is filled with a polymerizable resin which is polymerized to secure the guide member within the opening after the guiding member has been precisely positioned in a predetermined position. A marking apparatus incorporates the guiding member secured to the support, and elements are provided for retaining the guiding member in position within the at least one opening and, in some embodiments, for selectively adjusting or removing the guide bar from the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Marie-Christine Curreno
  • Patent number: 6308936
    Abstract: A guardrail post block made from recycled plastic waste material. The block is of generally rectangular construction whose side faces have large radiused channels formed therealong and large transverse voids extending through the center of the block between the channels. The channels and voids substantially reduce the weight of the block while maintaining required strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: William D. Atwood
  • Patent number: 6305723
    Abstract: A tubular body made of a first metal and having a box end and a connection end, the box end having an internally threaded portion and an internal cylindrical thread-free portion axially outward of the threaded portion, the tool joint further including an anti-fretting section, preferably in the form of a sleeve of a second metal that is snugly received in a counterbore formed in the box end, the sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the cylindrical thread-free portion of the box end, the second metal having a modulus of elasticity less than the modulus of elasticity of the first metal, the invention further including a drill pipe made by affixing first and second tool joints as described above to first and second opposed ends, respectively, of an elongate pipe body, the pipe body being affixed to the tool joints by a threaded shrink-grip connection, the first tool joint forming a box connection, the second tool joint forming a pin co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Grant Prideco, L.P., RTI International Metals
    Inventors: Ronald W. Schutz, Jackie E. Smith, Edmond I. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6305871
    Abstract: A system for the modification of the rigidity and damping properties of structural joints comprises at least an intermediate structure (3) to receive, on both sides, two structures (1, 2) to be coupled; releasable blocking means (6) to immobilize, in a coupled condition, said two structures to be coupled and said intermediate structure; first and second sets of bistable components (7, 8), the structural resistance features of the components of the first set being different from those of the second set; the components of the first set being internally connected to one of said structures to be coupled and to said intermediate structure; the components of the second set being internally connected to one and other of said structures to be coupled; said bistable components being in an unstable condition when all the mentioned structures are coupled together. The invention is applicable to the field of space vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Lancho Doncel, Enrique Cabrera Revuelta, Fernando Cespedosa Castan
  • Patent number: 6290426
    Abstract: A strut-rod connector enables the rod to be quickly and easily attached at any adjusted position along the strut, or axially adjusted. The connector has an internal and external head assembled to each other for limited rocking and opening and closing movement. The rod is threaded in the inner head and extends through a transverse slot in the outer head. A lock nut quickly clamps the parts together, and each self-centers on the legs of the strut. The connection can be made by simply rocking the assembly of the two heads and rod to insert the assembly and rod at any desired location. Tightening a lock nut centers and clamps the assembly and rod in place. Optimum loading in either axial direction of the rod is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Erico International Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus Emanuel Cornelius van Gijsel, Stefan Walter Huwer
  • Patent number: 6286919
    Abstract: There is described a device for fixing the front panel (1) of a drawer on a lateral, metallic frame (2) of the drawer by means of a holder (3) provided on the front panel (1) and protruding against the frame (2), which holder consists of a supporting plate (4) and a pressing plate (5), between which the frame (2) can be clamped by means of a clamping screw (6) extending through the frame (2) in an insertion slot (12) open at the front, where the holder (3) on the one hand has an adjusting eccentric (18) vertically supported on a supporting stop (19) of the frame (2) and on the other hand a locating stop (15), which engages behind a locking stop (14) of the frame (2) extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the frame and having an inclined stop face (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Alfit Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Fleisch
  • Patent number: 6267527
    Abstract: An improved dowel that is capable of quickly and easily connecting two or more adjoining components. In one form of the invention, a dowel is provided, that, may be used for connecting two or more components. In one embodiment, the dowel may have three dowel sections positioned between a base and a tip. Each dowel section has a diameter and may be positioned axially adjacent at least one other dowel section wherein the diameters decrease over the length of the dowel from the base to the tip. Alternate embodiments may have two, four or more dowel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 6267525
    Abstract: A board to board coupling structure coupled between at least two panel assemblies, the board to board coupling structure including a tubular shaft, two locating plates respectively mounted in a longitudinal groove at the tubular shaft, two inner socket assemblies respectively mounted on the tubular shaft, two end caps respectively mounted on the tubular shaft, two outer sockets, a plurality of hook plates, and a plurality of plug plates. The hook plates are fixed to the at least two panel assemblies, each having a hooked portion respectively hooked on a top notch at an outer race at one inner socket and a notch at an upright flange at one outer socket. The plug plates are fixed to the at least two panel assemblies, each having a plug portion inserted in between the socket body and outer race at one inner socket and engaged into the notch at the upright flange at one outer socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Su-Lan Wu
  • Patent number: 6260889
    Abstract: A connector includes a body and a clip for fitting on the body. The body has a hose connecting portion and a pipe receiving portion. The pipe receiving portion is adapted to receive a pipe therein and includes a clip fitting part. The clip fitting part has an engaging hole for engagement with an engaging claw formed on the clip. The engaging claw moves from a protruded position for preventing removal of the pipe to a withdrawn position for permitting removal of the pipe from the pipe receiving portion as the operator forces the clip to be enlarged. An enlargement restraining device is provided that is operable to restrain the enlargement of the clip within a predetermined range, so that the clip can reliably resiliently return to the protruded position when the clip is released after the pipe has been removed from the pipe receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Togo Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Tozaki, Masatoshi Harada, Hisatsugu Goto, Yasushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6257558
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the gate of an animal enclosure with an electrified wire that also extends along fencing includes a reel that dispenses and collects the wire to minimize the possibility of shock during gate opening and closing procedures. A hollow reel housing is mounted to a first fence post to which the gate is hingedly attached. A truncate wire connected to a source of electrical power such as an electrified fence wire extends into the hollow reel housing through a first opening and is connected to a nonrotating electrical contact. An annular rotating electrical contact is in electrical communication with a proximal end of wire coiled about the reel and is mounted on the reel so that the wire remains in electrical communication with the source of power when the reel is rotating in a wire-dispensing direction or in a wire-collecting direction. The wire, when uncoiled, extends through a second opening formed in the hollow reel housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: Paul A. Levine, Kristen M. Levine
  • Patent number: 6254303
    Abstract: An industrial quick-release connector for machine tools providing both rotational and axial stability that will permit easy replacements by an individual using only one hand without the use of hand tools to make the connection and reduce the time delays that normally ensue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventors: Bogdan S. Falat, Eugene R. Bozek
  • Patent number: 6254064
    Abstract: An ornamental ring for a picket fence of the type having at least one horizontally extending rail being a top rail and at least one other horizontally extending rail being an intermediate rail spaced slightly below the top rail, and having a plurality of spaced vertical pickets connected to the rails such that the pickets extend through the rails and form rectangular openings with the upper rail and the intermediate rail, each rail having a top wall and an inner bottom wall spaced from the top wall so as to form a relatively narrow raceway wherein a retaining rod passes through each raceway of each rail and through openings in the pickets to retain the pickets in position, a ring filling each rectangular opening, each ring having a vertical tang extending upwardly from the top of the ring and through a slotted opening in the inner bottom wall of the top rail, each ring having a rectangular ear projecting downwardly from the bottom of the ring and extending into a slotted opening in the top wall of the interme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Edward L. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6247869
    Abstract: A tubing connector adapted to receive portions of a plurality of elongate substantially rigid tubes and to hold them in a defined angular relationship relative to each other. The connector has a body with a plurality of tube-receiving and holding apertures formed therein. Stop elements in the apertures spaced inwardly from the mouths of the apertures limit the extent to which end portions of tubes may be inserted longitudinally into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Ultra Lite Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Lichvar
  • Patent number: 6244632
    Abstract: This invention provides a connector for coupling a male and a female component, the connector including a member for locating the female component with respect to the male component and a locking member for coupling the female component to the male component. The locking member rotates with respect to the locating member in order to provide for the coupling and uncoupling of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Jott Australia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Giacomo Salvatore Gasparini
  • Patent number: 6237895
    Abstract: A crowd control rail assembly includes at least two foldable plastic barricades constructed from two substantially similar integrally molded planar frame units. A planar cross-panel at the upper end of the barricade includes a vertically elongated slot into which the end of an elongated plastic rail unit may be inserted. Notches are provided at each end of the rail. Dimensions of the rail are chosen so that it must be inserted into the slot substantially perpendicular to the planar face of the upper portion of the frame unit and, then when the notch engages the bottom of the slot and the barricade is unfolded, the rail is automatically and securely retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Kurt W. Thurston
  • Patent number: 6238125
    Abstract: An improved joint for using on a baby stroller, being structurally provided with a twofold engagement effect, is provided. Whereby, when the baby stroller is stretched or collapsed, the joint can be in engagement and latching state without providing of additional engaging members, and reducing of cost and convenience of using can be achieved. The joint is comprised mainly of a first connecting member provided on an upper bracing rod and a second connecting member provided on a lower bracing rod. Wherein, the first connecting member is provided at the rear side thereof with a receiving chamber for receiving a pulling component. The pulling component has an engaging piece being able to extend into an upper pivotal connecting portion on the bottom of the first connecting member by means of a spring. The second connecting member is provided in a lower pivotal connecting portion on the top thereof with a first engaging groove and a second engaging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Kao-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6237963
    Abstract: A service riser 10 comprises a steel jacket 11 around a polyethylene pipe 12 which terminates in the riser at a transition zone 20. The transition zone 20 comprises a retainer sleeve 30 inserted in the end of the pipe 12 and sealed thereto by an O-ring 38. The retainer sleeve 30 extends out of the pipe 12 and is provided with grooves 46 separated by lands 48 on which an elastomeric sealing band 52 is received. The tube 11 is swaged down forming a swage groove 56 around the retainer sleeve 30 compressing the gasket 52 to a large extent over the lands 48 and a lesser extent over the grooves 46, the ideal compression for the gasket 52 being arranged somewhere between such degrees of compression. By this means the ideal degree of compression at some regions of the gasket 52, forming an annulus around the retainer sleeve 30, is guaranteed, despite tolerances in the dimensions of the tube 11 (especially) as well as the band 52 and sleeve 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Uponor Innovation AB
    Inventor: Howard W. Hall
  • Patent number: 6227756
    Abstract: The mounting assembly is for adjustably mounting an accessory having a substantially planar portion onto a rail member having a longitudinal side channel with opposite longitudinal folds. The mounting assembly has an elongated latch member shaped for passage between the folds when the latch member is oriented substantially parallel to the channel, and for abutment against the folds when the latch member is turned at least partially transversely inside the channel. The mounting assembly has a tightening device for tightening the accessory to the latch member. A locking device is operatively associated with the planar portion of the accessory and the latch member to prevent relative rotation and translation thereof when the accessory is tighten to the latch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Rousseau Metal Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Dubé, Serge Bisson, Michel Lacombe