Patents Examined by Tuyet-Phuong Pham
  • Patent number: 5733086
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a rivet nail which can include two separate pieces or one single piece. Each rivet nail has a hollow rivet part having a head (1) and a cylindrical stem (2) axially connected to the head. The end located opposite to the end carrying the head (1) has a hollow cylindrical space extending inside the cylindrical stem (2) over at least a part of the cylindrical stem (2) length, and a nail part including a hollow cylindrical stem extending taperwise to form a nib (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: ASER
    Inventor: Horst Jakob
  • Patent number: 5730565
    Abstract: An anchor bolt for anchoring with a compound mass in a hole drilled in a building component comprises a bolt element having a leading end and a rear end, elements for fixing an article at the rear end, and a mixing attachment arranged at the leading end of the bolt element and having a point. The mixing attachment has an outer surface provided with a plurality of radially projecting lugs which are arranged circumferentially and axially spaced from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: fischerwerke, Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. K.G.
    Inventors: Bernd Hein, Willi Haug
  • Patent number: 5730566
    Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having a first member with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of a second member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventors: Jerry J. Goodwin, Michael A. Garver, Anthony L. Snoddy
  • Patent number: 5727408
    Abstract: A key device includes a signal processing device for generating a signal containing specific information, a key plate having a stem and fitting device for fitting the signal processing device and the stem, the fitting device provided with the stem and the signal processing device, the fitting device of the signal processing device being formed while preliminarily resin-molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takashi Mizuno, Sadao Kokubu, Hisashi Aoki, Shinichi Koga, Yoshiyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5727270
    Abstract: The invention is an inflatable self sealing valveless fluid or gas container useable for a wide variety of applications including cushioning, package filler, mattresses, rafts and the like. The container is formed from one or more inflatable self sealing elements, each inflatable element being formed from a pair of inflatable cells. Each cell is formed from an inner and outer sheet of thermoplastic or other impermeable material, the sheets being sealed together at boundaries which define the inflatable cell. The inner sheets of each cell in the pair are sealed together such that the boundaries of the seal define a fill channel through which fluid or gas may pass between the cells. Apertures in the inner sheets of both cells within the fill channel allow fluid or gas to pass from the fill channel into both cells to cause inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: AirCelTec Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Allen Cope, John Edward McGrath
  • Patent number: 5727407
    Abstract: An exit door has a security device comprising a flexible member, e.g. a chain, for connecting two locking devices which may be fixed on a door and doorway or on double doors. The first locking device is operable by a first key removable only when the locking device is activated and a second key removable only when the locking device is deactivated. One end of the flexible member is fixed to the second key and the other end is fixed to the second locking device, which is operable by the second key, being removable from the second locking device only when it is activated, and by a third key removable only when the second locking device is deactivated. The security devices are members of a series of such security devices in which the third key of each security device serves as the first key of the next security device in the series. The last key in the series is essential to operation of a control unit permitting use of a building provided with the exit door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Castell Safety International Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Cowen
  • Patent number: 5727265
    Abstract: A collapsible playyard for an infant includes a pair of frame subassemblies and a plurality of collapsible connecting members which normally maintain the frame subassemblies in spaced substantially parallel relation. The frame subassemblies include knuckle joints which cooperate to maintain the frame assembly in an erected position, but at least a portion of which are reoriented as the connecting members are collapsed to allow the frame subassemblies to also be collapsed. The width of one of the frame subassemblies is smaller than the width of the other frame subassembly to allow the two frame subassemblies to be at least partially nested together and then folded in half to form a compact collapsed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Scott Ziegler, Kevin Maloney
  • Patent number: 5724687
    Abstract: A therapeutic cushion with detachable jade protrusions comprises a removable lattice of cylindrical members, an outer cover, and cushion fill. The removable lattice of cylindrical members are attached to a plurality of other cylindrical members in a uniform fashion by a plurality of threads which are interwoven through each member, forming a symmetrical lattice. The lattice is placed inside the outer cover and the plurality of cylindrical members are pressed through the plurality of apertures. The cushion fill is also placed inside the outer cover which presses against the lattice thereby maintaining the plurality of cylindrical members within said plurality of apertures. The outer cover is then sealed by a zipper to maintain the cushion fill and the lattice in place. The result is a cushion with a plurality of protrusions made of jade extending from the cushion, providing a massaging and therapeutic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Young Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 5725342
    Abstract: Spreading dowel, consisting of a dowel component (15) and a non circular spreader screw (1); whereby, the inner notch (17) of the dowel component (15) is fitted in its form for the outer contour of the spreader screw (1); whereby, the spreader screw (1) has one or more thread convolutions (9). By means of these thread convolutions (9), twisting the spreader screw (1) achieves the spreading expansion of the dowel component (15) together with an axial shifting of the spreader screw (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Grass AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Gehrer
  • Patent number: 5722275
    Abstract: A pushbutton console latch is provided. The latch includes a cylindrical housing for housing a pushbutton therein. The pushbutton incorporates a lost motion feature such that when a pushbutton is in the locked position and depressed, the bolt of the latch remains extended. However, when the pushbutton is rotated to an unlocked position, a pushbutton may be depressed thereby retracting the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Price, John E. Bailen
  • Patent number: 5722266
    Abstract: A security device which includes a locking member, a ratchet member, and a plurality of cables. The cables extend through both a fastener and a base of the locking member and are wrapped around all six sides of a book or box-like structure. The fastener is releasably snap-fitted into the base and secured therein by a pair of metal tines. The ratchet member includes a housing containing a gear and bearing member which are latched together in a spaced relationship to form a reel and a pawl. A bottom plate encloses the contents of the housing. The gear includes a multi-sided key hole, a plurality of openings to secure enlarged ends of the cables therein, and a plurality of teeth. The gear and bearing member each include an annular nub which sits in and rotates around a corresponding bearing surface of the bottom plate and housing, respectively. The pawl has a catch and a resilient spring and communicates with the gear to allow the ratchet member to be turned only in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Alpha Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Yeager, James T. Weisburn, Christopher G. Gallagher, Ronald M. Marsilio, William G. Alford
  • Patent number: 5722272
    Abstract: A power operable door latch and lock mechanism for a vehicle having a central locking system includes a power actuator assembly including an actuating lever drivingly connected to blocking means of the mechanism, a main drive motor for selective powered movement of the lever between locked and unlocked positions, a manual locking lever for operative connection to a non-key controlled manually operable element, and a linkage serving to interconnect the manual lever and actuating lever for manual locking and unlocking independently of the drive motor. The linkage includes a sliding length connected at one end to the actuating lever and having a first guide slot accommodating a connecting pin of the linkage. A rocker arm of the manual locking lever has a second guide slot co-acting with the connecting pin with lost motion for selective transmission of movement of the manual lever to the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Rockwell Light Vehicle Systems (Uk) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Bridgeman, Jack Golar
  • Patent number: 5718133
    Abstract: An auto steering wheel lock is provided which has a locking set and which is connected with the steering wheel by means of a gripping trench and an auxiliary block, and is blocked with the outside of the instrument panel by means of a blocking rod. The position of the auxiliary block can be adapted for various steering wheels of different sizes by means of an elastic element. The locking set mainly includes a lock and a lock rod, which has a flat recess for engagement by a blocking pin when turning the lock and so obstruct the lock rod from withdrawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: All Ship Enterprise Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Yu Chen, Shu-Hwa Lin
  • Patent number: 5718135
    Abstract: An electrically operated door lock has a pair of pivotally mounted jaws (12, 13) which can be moved towards and away from each other to capture and release the end of a bolt or style (11). The bolt or style moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the jaws. The jaws are locked in the captive position by a cam (39) which is controlled by a low power electric motor (81). The motor has three positions corresponding to release, locking and deadlocking of the jaws, the jaws being releasable by a handle (49) in the locked position but not when deadlocked. An electronic control system is used to control the motor, and the lock can be released using an electronic coded proximity key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Philip H. Bertenshaw, Andrew M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5718136
    Abstract: A rekeyable look includes at least one chamber housing a tumbler pin stack having a master pin disposed between the driver pin and the bottom pin. The bitting of a change code key inserted in the keyway displaces the tumbler pin stack containing the master pin such that the interface between the master pin and the bottom pin is placed on the shear line defined by the cylinder shell and plug. Rotation of the change code key aligns a first slot on the change code key with the master pin wherein the master pin is received by the first slot. The master pin is carried with the change code key on removal of the key from the keyway. A replacement master pin disposed in the first slot is inserted into the keyway with the change code key. Rotation of the change code key aligns the replacement master pin with the drive pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kaba High Security Locks Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Aldieri, Jerome V. Andrews, John C. Bergstrom, Thomas J. DiVito
  • Patent number: 5713231
    Abstract: An auxiliary lock includes a dead bolt, an interior lock assembly and an exterior lock assembly respectively mounted on two sides of a door. Each of the interior lock assembly and the exterior lock assembly includes a housing, a positioning seat, a lock core seat, and a lock core. A pair of bolts is provided to secure the interior lock assembly and the exterior lock assembly together. A protective cover is mounted to an enlarged end face of the lock core seat of the inner lock assembly to shield bolt heads of the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Mu-lin Shen
  • Patent number: 5713708
    Abstract: A self-locking nut designed to work with a male thread's that have a slot, keyway or hole along their threads. A novel locking ring (13) placed in a cavity (23)in one end of the nut. One or more fingers (24) on the locking ring lock into a slot, recess, hole or keyway in the male thread and multiple projections on the clip lock into recesses (22) in the female component. By locking the male component to the clip and the female component to the clip the device locks the male component to the female component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventors: Richard W. Van derDrift, Robert G. Ullrich, Paul S. Turin
  • Patent number: 5706683
    Abstract: A key operating mechanism is embodied in an elongate housing having an axially disposed shaft defining a helical groove. A shaft end is provided with a key to which rotation is imparted by an actuator slidably disposed on the shaft. A drive member of the actuator cooperates with the helical groove in the shaft to impart rotation to the latter and may serve as a detent to prevent actuator movement. Spring elements, oppositely disposed from the actuator, serve to return the actuator to a neutral or static position wherefrom rotation in either direction may be imparted to the shaft. A thumb operated control button of the actuator slides within a housing defined slot during operation of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Robert M. Napier
  • Patent number: 5704752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rivet device. The device is characterized in that it comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular body (10), an annular collar extending outwards from the first end of the body, and at least two locking elements (20, 22) formed in the body. Each locking element is constituted by an elastically deformable strip (24) cut out in the body, extending in the direction of the axis of the body, and having a first end secured to the first end of the body and a second end secured to the second end of the body, with each strip having folds (30, 32, 34) in such a manner that in an initial state a portion of the strip projects into the inside of the body and in a deformed state the strip projects to the outside of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Amphenol Socapex
    Inventor: Bernard A. Logerot
  • Patent number: 5704232
    Abstract: A positioning device includes a fastener member fixedly mounted on a supporting post and having an abutting base protruding outwardly from a periphery thereof. A recess is defined in an end face of the fastener member. A substantially U-shaped adjusting rack includes a first arm adjustably mounted on the abutting base and a second arm. A flange protrudes outwardly from an end face of the first arm and is securely received in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Wen-tai Kuo