Patents Issued in August 31, 1999
  • Patent number: 5943699
    Abstract: The firefighter's turnout pants according to the invention are designed so that each pant leg comprises a front panel and a back panel above the knee region, the panels being joined by an outseam and an inseam, and cylindrical panels below the knee region, the cylindrical panels being each joined by only an outseam and connected via a circumferential seam at the knee to the two-panels above the knee. The absence of an inseam below the knee of the firefighter's pants eliminates a chronic problem of abrasion of the threads used in that portion of the inseam and subsequent failure of the inseam. The absence below the knee of an inseam with the potential for failure reduces the maintenance and repair of the firefighter pants, reduces the risk of burn injury resulting from a breach in the protective envelope of the firefighter's pants, and reduces the incidence of reflective trim becoming coincidentally detached from the pants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Marcanada Inc.
    Inventor: Claude Barbeau
  • Patent number: 5943700
    Abstract: A vest or garment is made of two independent halves which are removably connectable to each other. Each half has a body portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a shoulder loop extending up from the body to position the body portion of each half below an underarm of a person wearing the vest. At least one pocket is formed on the body portion to enable the vest to removably receive a weight. To connect the two halves together, so that the garment may be worn, an upper strap extends from the shoulder loop and a lower strap extending from the body portion. The upper straps are adapted to be connected to each other to extend across the person's back and the lower straps are adapted to be connected to each other to extend across the person's abdomen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Coach Hammer, Janice Hawk, Thomas M. Hawk
  • Patent number: 5943701
    Abstract: A combined hand glove and aerosol repellent device. A small cylindrical canister of an aerosol repellent is held unobtrusively and securely in a glove and worn by a person for protection against sudden assaults from humans and animals. The repellent canister has a hook material patch which attaches to a loop material patch positioned approximately between the first and third knuckles of the index finger. The glove has a pocket which secures the bottom portion of the canister. The glove can be tipless (open fingered) or a complete glove for cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Valerie V. Seats
  • Patent number: 5943702
    Abstract: A headwear piece having a body with an opening to accept the head of a wearer. The body has an exposed external surface. An element defines at least a part of the exposed external surface of the body. Frangible structure connects the element to the body so that the frangible structure can be ruptured to at least partially separate the element from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: American Needle
    Inventor: Robert Kronenberger
  • Patent number: 5943703
    Abstract: An ear-protector is provided as a flexible element preferably made of PVC, having a first enlarged section used for covering over an ear, and a second, forwardly-extending, reduced mounting section extending from the first enlarged section. Each section has formed therein a vertical slit, forming together a pair of forwardly-positioned slits through which may be passed the temple part of eyeglasses or sunglasses, by which the ear-protector is mounted over an ear. The temple part of the eyeglasses is inserted through the pair of slits, so that the section of the temple part of the eyeglasses between the pair of slits is located exteriorly of the ear-protector, and whereby the second reduced section of the ear-protector and part of the first enlarged section of the ear-protector adjacent to the first section is bowed inwardly in a concave manner for forcing the ear-protector against the ear, whereby the ear-protector is snuggly positioned against the ear, for protecting the ear against cold and wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Hector M. Avila, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5943704
    Abstract: An airfoil-shaped attachment to a visor is described which makes unlikely the unintentional removal of the cap to which the visor is attached by wind. The visor attachment, in accordance with the invention, has a cross-section from its front edge to its rear edge which resembles an inverted airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Wind Wear Designs Partnership
    Inventor: Scott E. Oxman
  • Patent number: 5943705
    Abstract: An athletic equipment attachment strap for holding athletic equipment in place against a user's body includes elastic and non-elastic portions for providing a comfortable and flexible fit. The preferred embodiment provides a loop attached to an elastic portion and hook and loop fasteners for fastening the non-elastic portions to each other around the loop. In an alternate embodiment, two non-elastic portions are positioned at either end of an elastic portion. The two non-elastic portions include hook and loop fasteners for fastening the two non-elastic portions to each other to form a band for holding a piece of athletic equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Michael D. Sink
  • Patent number: 5943706
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a helmet including a shell formed from a thermoplastic resin, for example, by blow molding or injection molding, and a shock absorbing liner disposed on the inside of the shell. The shock absorbing liner is formed of polyvinylidene chloride foam. By forming the shock absorbing liner of polyvinylidene chloride foam, it is possible to provide a helmet having less temperature dependent change in compression strength upon molding, excellent shock adsorption and restorability, excellent impact shock adsorbing performance upon a second hit on one identical portion and excellent dimensional accuracy in manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Miyajima, Hideshi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 5943707
    Abstract: A shower device for a toilet seat includes a shower head, a water supply conduit leading thereto, and a carrier on which the shower head and at least a portion of the conduit are arranged and which is moveably arranged in relation to a support construction to move the shower head in a pivoting movement between an active position in which the shower head is located for giving a person sitting on the toilet seat a shower from beneath in his or her seat region, and an inactive position in which the shower head is brought aside. The carrier and thereby the shower head, are pivotable around a generally vertical axis to effect the pivoting of the shower head in a generally horizontal plane of pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Henning Bergenwall
  • Patent number: 5943708
    Abstract: An adjustable tank ball assembly mounted in the water tank of a ballfloat toilet controlled by two trip handles to close/open the water discharging outlet of the valve seat of the water tank of the ballfloat toilet between a full-discharge flushing mode and a water-saving flushing mode, the adjustable tank ball assembly including a ball shell having a bottom center hole, a valve rod coupled to the ball shell and pulled by a first trip handle to lift the ball shell from the valve seat so as to achieve the full-discharge flushing mode, and an actuating plate driven by a second trip handle to force down the valve rod in opening the bottom center hole of the ball shell so as to achieve the water-saving flushing node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Ching-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 5943709
    Abstract: A swimming pool assembly includes a plurality of connectors, a plurality of struts, and a plurality of horizontal poles of a rhombic cross-section. After connecting the horizontal poles to engagement slots of the connectors, the structural strength of the swimming pool assembly can be considerably increased. Spring retaining pin elements are disposed inside the horizontal poles at both ends to engage positioning poles of the connectors so as to achieve firm connection. The connectors are further provided with canopy pole insert holes for mounting a canopy framework. The canopy framework can be formed by utilizing a plurality of canopy poles, a connecting tube seat, and a canopy. A sprinkling structure including L-shaped bent pipes disposed inside the engagement slots of the connectors can further be installed on the swimming pool framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Hsin-Yuan Chiu
  • Patent number: 5943710
    Abstract: The invention provides a water jet generating a system capable of applying water jet massage while a bather takes a bath by generating water jet at an appropriate pressure. More specifically, water is sucked in from a water source or a bathtub by a pump, and water jet is spouted out at an appropriate pressure through water jet spouting means or a nozzle so as to generate water jet in the bathtub. The water jet can beat at the surface of the body of the bather, and a complex stimuli caused by thermal effect of water or hot water and pressure of water jet and friction occurring between the water jet and the skin of the bather can be applied to the skin of the bather, attaining massaging effects of the water jet with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Takagi Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Takagi, Michihiro Shimizu, Kenji Takagi, Kenichi Ito, Masaru Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5943711
    Abstract: A jet for use in spas and hydrotherapeutic reservoirs having a first set of nozzles aligned in a plane at the water entrance side of the jet and a second set of nozzles aligned one-to-one with the first set of nozzles at the water exit side of the jet. A chamber separates the two sets of nozzles and includes a slot which is used to introduce air into the fluid stream. The amount of air introduced into the chamber is controlled by the user by rotating the jet within its housing from a maximum air intake position to a "no-air" intake position, air being introduced through a slot surrounded by a rectangular seal structure. A housing is provided to mount the jet within the wall of a spa comprising a rear wall mounting, an end cap, and a front wall mounting. Water is introduced to the multiple jet structure via a single horizontal water inlet. The servicing of multiple jets by the single water inlet and air line improves plumbing reliability and further reduces labor by minimizing the number of plumbing joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Phillip Dudley Loizeaux, Thai Ton
  • Patent number: 5943712
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a water valve in response to the presence of a human body part by providing a passive detecting apparatus to produce a human-presence-indicating signal in response to variation in radiation by the body part, detecting with a first level detector circuit having an input coupled to the passive detecting apparatus whether the human-presence-indicating signal is between a first upper threshold level and a first lower threshold level, producing with a first circuitry responsive to the first level detector circuit a first active mode signal if the human-presence-indicating signal is either higher than the first upper threshold level or lower than the first lower threshold level, opening the water valve with a second circuitry responsive to the first active mode signal, after production of the first active mode signal, further detecting with a second level detector circuit more sensitive to the presence of a human body part than the first level detector circuit and having an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: International Sanitary Ware Manufacturing Cy, S.A.
    Inventor: Karel Carl Van Marcke
  • Patent number: 5943713
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for use with a sink having a faucet hydraulically connected to an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink. The sensor assembly includes a short focus optical sensor mounted adjacent the sink which directs an infrared ray toward a user's legs for detecting the presence and absence of a user in the immediate vicinity of the sink. The senor assembly also includes an adjustable pipe clamp for connecting the sensor assembly to the drain tube of the sink, and a ball-and-socket flexible connector for interconnecting the optical sensor to the adjustable clamp. The optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism, via a conduit provided in the ball-and-socket flexible connector, so as to turn on the faucet when the presence of the user is detected and turn off the faucet when the absence of a user is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 5943714
    Abstract: A vertically-displaceable bed platform suspended from a ceiling having a platform with two forward and two rearward engagement regions, and four pulley members each disposed an equal vertical distance from the engagement regions such that two correspond with the forward regions and two with the rearward regions. Four cables are each connected to one of the engagement regions, with a first pair of cables connected to the forward region about the corresponding forward pulleys and joining the corresponding rearward pulleys, and a second pair of cables connected to the rearward regions about the rearward pulleys to join with the first pair of cables. The joined pairs of cables are attached to a counterweight, such that downward motion of the counterweight causes an equal reduction in the four vertical distances and retraction of the platform in the direction of the ceiling to a fully retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: David Dignam
  • Patent number: 5943715
    Abstract: A system including associated equipment used in combination with a bed for a sick or wounded patient is provided. A separable frame of the bed is adapted to be placed on associated equipment with a patient on it. Said associated equipment includes a wheelchair stand, a toilet stool or a bathtub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Matsura Kenkyujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuura, Reiko Matsuura
  • Patent number: 5943716
    Abstract: An air-conditioned bed hood for a baby, which is connected with an air cleaner having a heater and a humidifier for inputting clean air of constant temperature and moisture, and has the function of air-pressure sealing to provide the lying baby with a comfortable environment and avoid diseases caused by smoke, dust, pollen, etc. Moreover, when the connected power is shut down accidentally, the air-pressure seal of the bed hood will be released automatically so that the lying baby will not be asphyxiated due to lack of fresh air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Yun-Yuan Chu
  • Patent number: 5943717
    Abstract: A bed blanket for bed is provided including a pair of blankets of fabric each having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a periphery formed therebetween. The periphery of each blanket is defined by a linear first side edge of a predetermined length, a linear top edge perpendicular with respect to the first side edge, a linear bottom edge perpendicular with respect to the first side edge, and a second side edge including a top extent perpendicular with respect to the top edge. The top extent has a length of about 3/4 the predetermined length. A bottom extent of the second side edge is perpendicular with respect to the bottom edge and has a length of about 1/4 the predetermined length. Also included is a pair of seams each including a thin strip secured about the entire periphery of the associated blanket. The bottom extent of the second side edge of each blanket are fixedly coupled together along an entire length thereof such that the top extent of the second side edges of the blankets overlap freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Tim Alexander
  • Patent number: 5943718
    Abstract: A leg fitting, preferably for a wall folding bed, includes an angle-shaped member with first and second arms, wherein the first arm is mounted in a support member such that the angle-shaped member can be pulled out and turned, and wherein the second free arm forms a standing leg when the angle-shaped member has been pulled out and turned. The leg fitting is provided with a forced guide device at least for the pulling out movement of the angle-shaped member. The forced guide device ensures that the angle-shaped member can only be turned into its standing leg position once the free arm of the angle-shaped member can be turned into this position without damaging other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Hafele GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Jochen Krauter
  • Patent number: 5943719
    Abstract: A method for inserting an invasive tool, including: attaching a frame to a human body adjacent to a portion of the body; acquiring an image of the body; determining a trajectory of the tool on the image; calculating points of intersection between the trajectory and two sheet which are adapted to be inserted into the frame; perforating the sheets at the calculated points; placing the sheet within the frame; and inserting the invasive tool through the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Picker Medical Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Feldman, Rafael Blumenthal, Ludmila Natanzon
  • Patent number: 5943720
    Abstract: An improved dry cleaning machine and process which eliminates solvent emissions while simultaneously providing cost and quality benefits. The solvent filtration apparatus and process currently used in typical dry cleaning operations is eliminated and the solvent is instead separated based on the anticipated extent of contamination wherein the less clean solvent is cleaned via a distillation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Jong Wha Chung
  • Patent number: 5943721
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning an article with cleaning fluid comprising a liquified gas, preferably carbon dioxide, maintained at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure in the wash chamber of a pressure vessel. A basket holding the article is rotated in the wash chamber by a drive shaft passing through a wall of the pressure vessel, and a seal mechanism for this passage prevents escape of the cleaning fluid. The seal mechanism includes a first seal component adjacent to the wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of the first seal component to provide a sealant chamber in which a pressurized sealant fluid is provided such that a pressure differential across the first seal component is substantially less than the pressure differential between the wash chamber and atmospheric pressure The sealant fluid may be a gaseous component or a liquid component of the cleaning fluid. Fluid and control systems are provided for automating washing, rinsing and sealing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: American Dryer Corporation
    Inventors: Ricky D. Lerette, Maurice O. LeBlanc, George A. Silvia
  • Patent number: 5943722
    Abstract: A contact cleaning machine for removing particulates and other undesirable debris from the surfaces of articles moving along a curved path under the cleaning machine, without disturbing the orientation of the articles which cannot be clamped against movement. Cleaning is performed by a roller (22) which is mounted in the machine to roll across the tops of articles as they pass underneath. The peripheral surface (28) of the roller is coated with a tacky adhesive to lift off the undesirable particles. To avoid the roller applying differential forces to the article, the roller is made conical and convergent towards the axis of curvature of the path followed by the article. The avoidance of differential forces on the unclamped articles eliminates any tendency for the cleaning roller to turn the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Teknek Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Sheila Hamilton, Jonathan Kennett, William Crookston
  • Patent number: 5943723
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric toothbrush (1) in which a timing element (13) is provided whose purpose it is to indicate to a user the end of at least one cleaning period when the electric toothbrush (1) is activated. Still further, means (12) coupled to the timing element (13) are provided to enable the user to trigger the beginning (T4) of the cleaning period (PZD2). The effect thereby achieved is that the end (T2) of a cleaning period (PZD1) does not automatically start the beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2), but that this particular beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2) is freely selectable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Philipp Jung
  • Patent number: 5943724
    Abstract: A floor cleaning machine of the type having a fluid driven scrub brush utilizes fluid pressure for applying down force on the scrub brush to a floor surface being cleaned. The fluid pressure applied is controlled by a fluid pressure regulator which has a movable valve element and an electrical coil for controlling the position of the movable valve element. There is a feedback circuit for controlling current through the coil which includes a source of power and a pulse width modulation switching device. The switching device in turn is controlled by a comparison between the current sensed in the coil circuit and an operator set value for the desired current to provide a desired down force on the cleaning brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Robert Erko, Daniel L. Mundt, Terry B. Schwartz, Paul D. Henderson
  • Patent number: 5943725
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) serves for cleaning surfaces on boards, for instance, and has a cleaning device (2) which is circumferentially continuous and has an upper strand (2) and a lower strand (4) and two guide pulleys (5, 6) in between. The one strand is the cleaning strand which is held by a guide (8) and is pressed onto the surface to be cleaned. A carrier belt (7) is recessed or flattened in some regions of at least one longitudinal side and is therefore narrower in relation to the rest of its longitudinal area. At least one part (8a) at the entrance end of the guide (8) as considered in the feed direction of the cleaning strand, is deflectable or flexible outwardly from the feed direction and can thereby be applied to the inside (7a) of the carrier belt (7). The guide (8) has a substantially C-shaped cross section accommodating the entire width of the carrier belt (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Wandres GmbH Micro - Cleaning
    Inventor: Claus G. Wandres
  • Patent number: 5943726
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus adapted to properly perform a substrate scrubbing process with the use of a scrubbing member. The apparatus includes a retention member for retaining a scrubbing member for scrubbing a substrate and a vertical drive mechanism for vertically moving the retention member. The state of the scrubbing member and the vertical position of the retention member are sensed, and a vertical position of the retention member suitable for the scrubbing of the substrate is determined on the basis of the results of the sensing. Then, the retention member is moved to the position thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuro Eitoku, Takao Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 5943727
    Abstract: A foldable cleaning implement is foldable into a compact form for ease in transporting and storing. The cleaning implement has a handle and a head. The handle may be formed from a plurality of segments coupled together by foldable elements. The head is attached to the handle, preferably by a pivotable or universal joint, and is formed from segments which are displaceable relative to one another so as to selectively be oriented in a coplanar relationship relative to one another, angular disposed relative to one another, and in opposing directions relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: David Freer
  • Patent number: 5943728
    Abstract: A motor vehicle screen wiper blade comprises an articulated structure which carries, by means of a set of grips, a wiping strip of flexible material which it applies against the glass surface to be swept, so that the wiping strip follows the curvature of the latter. The grips grasp a longitudinal support or claw portion of the wiping strip, and the wiper blade includes at least one accessory such as a flexible aerodynamic deflector. The accessory includes at least one fastening lug for fastening it on the blade, this fastening lug being interposed between a grip of the latter and the claw portion of the wiping strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage
    Inventor: Daniel Maubray
  • Patent number: 5943729
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing material from an elongated member having known dimensions and traveling through known air densities, in which applied compressed air removes the material from the elongated member in a chamber configured to optimize the decompression and acceleration of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Keir Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David K. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5943730
    Abstract: A surface maintenance machine has a body, wheels for supporting the body, a source of cleaning solution on the body and a conduit for applying the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned. There are scrub brushes on the body and there is a squeegee carried by the body. A container for used cleaning solution is located on the body and there is a vacuum system, including a vacuum fan, for removing used cleaning solution from adjacent the squeegee and conveying it to the used cleaning solution container. The vacuum system includes a conduit between the used cleaning solution container and the vacuum fan. There is a seal extending about this conduit, with the exterior of the seal being exposed to atmospheric pressure and the interior being exposed to the less than atmospheric pressure of the vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Steven L. Boomgaarden
  • Patent number: 5943731
    Abstract: An accessory holder for a vacuum cleaner having a base member for supporting a plurality of vacuum accessories. The base member has a pair of arms for attaching the holder to a support structure on the vacuum cleaner. The arms include a tapered wedge projecting from the base member for intermeshing with a tapered channel in the support structure to provide a frictional retaining attachment of the base member to the support structure.The holder further includes a cradle portion extending from the base member for selectively engaging a portion of the vacuum cleaner wand to detachably secure the holder to the wand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Rexair, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Wood
  • Patent number: 5943732
    Abstract: A unique valve door mechanism is disclosed for use in a dual chambered utility type vacuum cleaner having two suction inlets whereby the inactive suction inlet may be selectively closed and sealed off from the atmosphere. The valve door is slidingly suspended between guide rails whereby the door may be selectively positioned adjacent the suction inlet to be disabled. Atmospheric pressure is utilized to urge the valve door against the selected inlet opening thereby sealing off the inlet from the atmosphere. The valve may also be in the form of a rotatable, elbow-shaped body having a single plenum. The body may be rotated between at least two positions where the outlet to the plenum is in fluid communication with a wet tank in one position and a dry tank in the other position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Nick M. Bosyj, Donald R. Bowers, Nicholas Koukourakis, Conway Vincent, Richard A. Wareham, Darwin S. Crouser
  • Patent number: 5943733
    Abstract: A sucking and filtering vehicle for dust and trash collecting is provided which comprises wheels (3), driving and steering means (4), dust and trash collecting and transporting means (5) comprising a tank (6), and suction device (7) adapted to form an air stream under suction passing through the tank (6), at least one filter (10) placed along the air stream under suction, and a chamber (13) external to the tank (6) and in communication therewith and housing at least one prevailing portion of the filter (10), the chamber (13) having walls (13a) at least partly spaced apart from said filter (10) in such a manner as to define hollow spaces or gaps (17) around the filter (10), the suction device (7) opening into said gaps (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Dulevo International S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Tagliaferri
  • Patent number: 5943734
    Abstract: Multi-adjustable wheelchair with adjustability features which accommodate the physical size and comfort of the wheelchair user is disclosed and claimed. The wheelchair includes (1) wheelchair frame width adjustment, (2) wheelchair rear axle position adjustment, (3) wheelchair seat height and bucketing angle adjustment, (4) wheelchair seat base width and length adjustment, (5) wheelchair seat back angle adjustment and (6) wheelchair seat fore and aft position adjustment. The wheelchair also includes a truss structure wheelchair wheel caster fork that is lightweight, attractive, strong, durable, and inexpensive to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Teksource, LC
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5943735
    Abstract: A steering assistance device for a castor comprises a cam portion (39) having a lobe (41) which is fixed to the bottom of the fixing bolt of the castor and which is surrounded by a closed portion (43) of a capture device (42). The lobe (41) is engaged in an arcuate recess (49) of the capture device (42) in the dead center position of the castor. The capture device (42) is formed of a plastics material and its sides and ends are resilient slats. The arcuate recess (49) is in one end and the two sides (50 and 52) carry inwardly projecting arms (51 and 53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Flexello Limited
    Inventors: Phillip Stuart Walker, Doris Jessie Walker, Stuart Charles Walker
  • Patent number: 5943736
    Abstract: A door closer includes a casing-like body enclosing a piston member, which is movable back and forth according to the movements of a door and is in cooperation with at least one closer spring, and a closer shaft and a pinion member connected thereto for transmitting the force of the movement of the door to the piston member. The pinion member is mounted on the closer shaft eccentrically with respect to its rolling curve. The piston member is casing-like and is provided with a toothing arranged at its inner surface. The rolling curve of the piston's toothing is at least substantially linear and is inclined relative to the axis of movement of the piston member. The pinion member is located inside the piston member in cooperation with the toothing of the piston member so that the force transmission moment of the pinion member is at its maximum in a position corresponding to the closed position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Abloy Oy
    Inventors: Vesa Karkkainen, Jaakko Junttila
  • Patent number: 5943737
    Abstract: A door grip structure includes a door lining applied to a door panel of a vehicular door. The door lining is provided with an integrally formed grip inner (i.e., formed in a unitary body therewith). The grip inner is fixed to the door panel by screwing two bolts which are inserted through the upper and lower portions of the grip inner, to the door panel. The bolts are covered so that they cannot be seen, by fixing a grip outer to the outer surface of the grip inner. The door grip structure of the present invention both secures rigidity of the vehicular door grip and improves the external appearance of the door grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tomimitsu, Hiroyuki Kawanishi, Yasushi Fujii
  • Patent number: 5943738
    Abstract: A friction hinge is provided, comprising a shaft and a band frictionally wrapped about the shaft, wherein the band is formed with a pair of annular slits for defining a pair of outside annular members and an inside annular finger disposed between the slits, the finger being circularly wrapped about the shaft such that the finger is matingly received within an annular undercut formed along the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: TorqMaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Yury Karfiol
  • Patent number: 5943739
    Abstract: A hinge assembly having a first leaf, a second leaf and linking member. The first leaf has a contact surface. The second leaf has a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The linking member pivotally connects to the first leaf and to the second leaf. The hinge assembly is capable of moving from a closed position to an open position. In the closed position, the contact surface of the first leaf merges with the first contact surface of the second leaf. In the open position, the contact surface of the first leaf merges with the second contact surface of the second leaf. The hinge assembly can include a seal on the contact surface of the first leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Houston Vandergriff
  • Patent number: 5943740
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for forming a sliver with a first regulated drafting arrangement (10) with several pairs of rollers (11, 12, 14) for the regulated drafting of the fibre mass (8) supplied to the drafting arrangement, with the fibre fleece (28) delivered by the drafting arrangement being joined and supplied to a measuring member (32) from where the measured fibre material is thereafter supplied to a second drafting arrangement (40) and with the autoleveller device (35, 52, 21) of the first drafting arrangement (10) intervening in a regulating manner in the drive of the first drafting arrangement (40) in order to compensate fluctuations in mass on the basis of the signals issued by the measuring member (32) by including a predetermined setpoint value.Various regulating and control devices are known in practice in order to obtain a high-quality sliver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Rieter Machine Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Walter Slavik, Gerd Gschliesser, Viktor Pietrini, Thomas Sigrist, Roland Fischer
  • Patent number: 5943741
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a new fastener means in which the inserting part thereof can easily be inserted into the aperture or a through hole provided inside the socket portion, and also to provide a new fastener means with which a desired fastener means can be easily singled out from a bundle thereof without generating any entanglement formed among the fasteners. The label supporting means comprising a linear flexible string portion 3, a holder portion 2 connected to one end of the string portion 3 and a connecting portion 4 connected to another end 32 of the string portion 3. The holder portion 2 is provided with a finger contacted grasping portion 15 between the holder portion 2 and the string portion 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignees: Kotec's Co., Ltd., Akira Furutsu
    Inventor: Akira Furutsu
  • Patent number: 5943742
    Abstract: A strap tightening/loosening device includes two side plates with a connecting plate connected therebetween, an inverted U-shaped handle mounted to the side plates with a shaft extending through the handle and the side plates, two ratchets fixedly mounted to the shaft. Each of the two side plates has two slots and an elongated slot, two members slidably and respectively received in the two slots so that one of the members is engaged with the ratchets. A first rod is connected between the two side plates and has a limit member mounted thereto which has two hooks and two tail members extending therefrom. Two slidable plates are connected to the two side plates with a second rod extending through the elongated slots and the slidable plates. The two hooks are disengagably engaged with the second rod. The first rod together with the two hooks are pivoted by an impact of one of the members which is pushed by the cam device defined in each of the distal ends of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Han-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 5943743
    Abstract: A hose clamp having a self-threading hardened screw extending through tabs on the clamp, the head end of the screw fitting through a clearance opening in the first tab, and the screw threadably engaged with the second tab, the second tab being bendable upon screw tightening to cause the screw angle to change sufficiently for the screw threads to cut slots in the band, forming a worm-type drive engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5943744
    Abstract: The multi-functional clip provides two functions: holding a plurality of multi-layer magnetic transformers together in a vertical stack; holding together the respective E-Cores of each of the plurality of multi-layer magnetic transformers. This is accomplished by the use the multi-functional clip that comprises a body, having four tapered flanges that extend vertically from the periphery of the body to form the arms that enclose and contact the multi-layer magnetic transformers. The vertically oriented arms each include a feature formed at a distal end thereof that mates with a recess formed in a side of a corresponding one of the multi-layer magnetic transformers. The vertically oriented arms are manufactured of a spring material to thereby apply a horizontal force to the multi-layer magnetic transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Norte
  • Patent number: 5943745
    Abstract: A process for angularly sueding a textile web containing fill and warp yarns with the steps of: supplying the web, controlling the tension of the web, engaging the web with at least one abrasive covered treatment roll disposed at an abrasion angle, rotating the treatment roll at a surface speed different from that of the web, and taking up the supplied web. A preferred embodiment comprises a pair of spaced treatment rolls disposed at an abrasion angle, and rotating in opposite directions relative to the web. The related apparatus for this specific process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Louis Dischler
  • Patent number: 5943746
    Abstract: A weft straightener assembly for an automated weft straightener system. The weft straightener system includes proximity sensors, a power roller, and an idler roller rotating on a rotation axis. A biased woven textile planar material is fed to the weft straightener assembly where the assembly stretches the woven planar textile material in a predetermined direction to eliminate or substantially reduce any bias present in the woven planar material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Jet Sew Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst Schramayr, John R. Russo, Tadeusz A. Olewicz
  • Patent number: 5943747
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous drying and shrinking of textile knitted or woven good incorporates at least one drying station that includes several oppositely disposed and oppositely hot-air nozzles which are offset relative to each other and directed into a through-channel defined thereby. At least upper and lower endless rotating, porous guide belts limit the channel above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Kurt Muller
  • Patent number: 5943748
    Abstract: In the case of an arrangement for transporting at least one thread treated in a thread conditioning plant from a delivery roller pair to a transport belt which takes up the thread in the form of thread loops, an adapter is arranged downstream of the delivery roller pair, with which adapter it is possible to equip the arrangement as required with a stuffer box or an oscillating loop laying device. By simply exchanging an aggregate it becomes possible, depending on the type of operation required, to crimp and heat set threads or to treat uncrimped threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: American Suessen Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Steiner, Rolf Mischker