Patents by Inventor Dennis Black

Dennis Black has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11963691
    Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Ryan M. Asher, Brian D. Black, John E. Brady, Joseph Dennis, Geni M. Giannotti, Bryce L. Heitman, Timothy S. Holland, Joseph E. Hollo, Andrew Kolpitcke, Amy M. Krumm, Jason R. Lesko, Matthew C. Miller, David A. Monroe, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Matthew S. Schneider, Richard C. Smith, Shawn C. Snyder, Sarah A. Worthington, Monica L. Rivard, Fajian Zhang
  • Patent number: 8317977
    Abstract: This specification is generally related to reinforced, parchmented paper, composite, reinforced parchmented paper and methods of manufacture thereof. The reinforced, parchmented paper may be used to form a sausage casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dennis Black, Alan Wightman, Noël Cartier, Raymond Volpe, Julien Bras, Carlos Vaca-Garcia
  • Publication number: 20100139877
    Abstract: This specification is generally related to reinforced, parchmented paper, composite, reinforced parchmented paper and methods of manufacture thereof. The reinforced, parchmented paper may be used to form a sausage casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Dennis Black, Alan Wightman, Noël Cartier, Raymond Volpe, Julien Bras, Carlos Vaca-Garcia
  • Patent number: 7731401
    Abstract: An exterior automotive lamp may be formed with LED light sources by efficiently using the available light. The LEDs are arranged in an array to illuminate a central lens to produce the horizontal spread from the central portion of the LED beam. Meanwhile a reflector gathers the more disperse side-emitted portion of the LED beam and directs that light as an outer sheath to form a supplementary portion of the beam. The lamp efficiently provides a beam that may be adapted for highbeam, lowbeam, fog, or signal purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Sylvania LLC.
    Inventors: Robert Lee King, Dennis Wilkerson, Dennis Black
  • Publication number: 20080094852
    Abstract: An exterior automotive lamp may be formed with LED light sources by efficiently using the available light. The LEDs are arranged in an array to illuminate a central lens to produce the horizontal spread from the central portion of the LED beam. Meanwhile a reflector gathers the more disperse side-emitted portion of the LED beam and directs that light as an outer sheath to form a supplementary portion of the beam. The lamp efficiently provides a beam that may be adapted for highbeam, lowbeam, fog, or signal purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO SYLVANIA LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lee King, Dennis Wilkerson, Dennis Black
  • Patent number: 4175915
    Abstract: An improved drive lug and shaft through bore structure for use with a wobble plate compressor, the output of which is modulated in response to refrigeration requirements by varying the piston displacement to match the cooling requirement. The drive lug has a cylindrical body formed with a radially outer flat-sided wobble plate connection portion and a radially inner shank of reduced diameter separated by a radiused neck transition portion. A flared opening in the shaft bore receives the neck portion while means on its free end of the shank portion cooperate with the shaft securing the lug in the shaft bore so as to establish a clearance fit between the lug shank and the bore providing extended fatigue life together with ease of manufacture and assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis A. Black, Raymond N. Mantey
  • Patent number: 4108577
    Abstract: A wobble plate compressor in which the output of the compressor is modulated in response to refrigeration requirements by varying the compressor piston displacement to match the cooling requirement. The compressor housing front end has an axial protruding integral tubular extension which supports one end of a drive shaft by means of a journal bearing supported in the tubular extension. A cup-shaped hydraulic modulating cylinder is located in an axial fixed relation on the drive shaft adjacent the front end cover such that a disc-shaped piston, mounted on an axially slidable sleeve surrounding the drive shaft, is telescopically received in the cylinder rearwardly facing open end so as to define with the cylinder an expansible hydraulic chamber. An axially extending recess in the shaft defines an open-ended passage providing hydraulic fluid flow communication between radial passage means in the housing front end and the expansible chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byron L. Brucken, Dennis A. Black
  • Patent number: 4065229
    Abstract: A compact variable capacity radial refrigerant compressor suitable for use in automotive refrigeration systems includes cast cylinder housing having cross bores and intake and discharge chambers formed therein which communicate with a central suction cavity. One end of the compressor housing has a modulator port surface coaxial with the unit axis while each cylinder side wall has port means therethrough for conveying gas from the cylinder compression chamber to the suction cavity with the port means having their exits located in the modulator surface. A variable capacity modulator plate is movably mounted in the recess for selectively opening and closing the port means by the rotary adjustment of the ring relative to the port means, thereby regulating suction bypass through the port means to selectively control the compressor capacity to match demand to maximize pumping efficiency and minimize horsepower requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis A. Black
  • Patent number: 4061443
    Abstract: A wobble plate compressor in which the output of the compressor is modulated in response to refrigeration requirements by varying the compressor piston displacement to match the cooling requirement. An expansible chamber power unit including a sleeve surrounds the drive shaft in sealing relation therewith for axial movement with said sleeve including a wobble plate connected thereto for pivotal movement relative to the shaft. The wobble plate angle is varied during the axial movement of the sleeve by means of a drive lug on the drive shaft having a cam track therein connected in rotary driving relation to cam follower means on the wobble plate. The cam track opposite ends define respectively, maximum and minimum stroke lengths for each of the pistons whereby under controlled pressure conditions the force system results in the pistons tending to go to their full stroke positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis A. Black, Byron L. Brucken
  • Patent number: 3981157
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system including series connected condenser, expansion valve and evaporator components having refrigerant supplied thereto by a mechanical refrigerant compressor; the refrigerant compressor includes a drive shaft connected to the output of a variable speed traction drive transmission having an input shaft connected to a belt pulley for drive from the vehicle engine. The transmission includes a compact carriage that supports friction cones at opposite ends thereof and includes an axially adjustable speed transfer spool for bridging first and second pluralities of friction cones on either end of the carriage to vary the power transfer from the input shaft to an output shaft so as to manually adjust the circulation of refrigerant flow through the system in accordance with ambient temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis A. Black, Byron L. Brucken
  • Patent number: D642303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Sylvania LLC.
    Inventors: Robert Lee King, Dennis Wilkerson, Dennis Black