Patents Issued in May 2, 2000
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Patent number: 6055681Abstract: A urinal anti-splash-back apparatus and associated methods are provided which preferably include a frame, a urine anti-splash-back filtering device mounted to the frame for filtering urine so that major portions of urine being deposited against an outer surface thereof are prevented from splashing back toward the urine depositor, and a urinal frame mount connected to the frame and positioned to be mounted to an inner back wall of a urinal for readily mounting the frame to the inner back wall of the urinal. The urine anti-splash-back filtering device preferably includes a urine filter material which absorbs urine and is preferably formed of a fibrous material, such as a fabric fibrous material. A method of reducing splash-back in a urinal is provided which preferably includes attaching a urine absorbing and filtering material to an inner back wall of a urinal.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: James P. Lyons
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Patent number: 6055682Abstract: A portable lane line protection device, or "line-saver", is positioned on the edge of a swimming pool and bypasses the sharp edge of the pool by creating a smooth surface over the pool's edge. A lane line is placed over the smooth surface of the line-saver, thereby preventing the lane line from contacting the relatively sharp edge of the pool, as the lane line is extended into and out of the pool from a storage point or location (usually on a reel) well above the surface of the pool deck to the water level of the pool (which is usually a foot or so below the surface of the pool deck). The line-saver has a U-shaped channel centrally located therein through which the lane line slides or glides as it transitions between the water level and its storage level or vice-versa. Such channel includes smooth edges that are sufficiently high to prevent the lane line from slipping or pulling out of the channel. The line-saver is made from a light weight material, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Robert Sanchez
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Patent number: 6055683Abstract: A swimming pool lane marker for the visually impaired generally includes a perforated tube that extends the length of a swimming pool. The perforated tube is in fluid communication with a source of compressed gas, such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers pressurized air to the tube. The pressurized air escapes through the perforations forming a line of bubbles along the swimming lane. The blind swimmer can feel these bubbles and determine his position in the swimming lane. The perforated tube is held under the water by a wire that extends between a pair of frame assemblies that connect the wire to the sidewall of the pool. Pads may be carried on the frame assemblies to protect the swimmer from the sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: John M. Komer
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Patent number: 6055684Abstract: A sauna having (i) a sauna chamber of a size to accommodate a person therein, and two side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a ceiling, (ii) a ventilation opening in a wall of the sauna chamber, the opening being at a height corresponding to the location of the head of a person within the chamber and having a size sufficient to provide a low temperature sauna due to the communication of air between the interior and the exterior of the sauna chamber, (iii) a lid for selectively opening and closing the ventilation opening, and (iv) a detachable engaging mechanism for maintaining the lid in a preselected position relative to the opening, wherein the ventilation opening is substantially circular and has a diameter and an inner peripheral surface on the wall, and the detachable engaging mechanism has an annular engaging groove formed on the inner peripheral surface, a slider, an engaging claw on the slider, the slider being diametrically movable on the lid, a spring biasing the engaging claw into engagement wiType: GrantFiled: February 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Yoshihiko Azuma
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Patent number: 6055685Abstract: Apparatus for bathing a disabled patient, comprising (a) a bathtub, (b) a flexible membrane positioned above the tub for lowering the patient into and lifting the patient from the tub, (c) membrane engaging members for engaging opposite ends of the membrane, one of the membrane engaging members including a rotatable driven shaft which is rotated in a first direction to raise the membrane and a patient therein and in a second direction to lower the membrane and a patient thereon, and (d) a drive mechanism for rotating the driven shaft in order to raise of lower the membrane and patient thereon. The preferred membrane is a woven nylon cloth.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventors: Joseph P. Norton, Patricia A. Norton
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Patent number: 6055686Abstract: A baby bunting which enables a shoulder harness to be fit snug against the infant's clothing to thereby hold the infant securely in the infant carrier, without having to remove the infant from the bunting, wherein the bunting has a contoured shape which enables the shoulder harness to fit closely on top of the infant's shoulders, and has a drawstring through an integral hood of the bunting which draws the hood around the infant's face so as to fit snugly while preventing the drawstring from getting near to the infant's mouth.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Kathryn Knight
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Patent number: 6055687Abstract: A support pillow comprises a resilient cushion body having a medial region and first and second opposing cantilever arms extending from the medial region. The cantilever arms are curved about a vertical axis to define a substantially toroidal configuration for the cushion body and to position first and second end portions of the arms in a confronting relation to one another. The cantilever arms and medial region cooperate to define a generally circular open well. A head member is attached to the cushion body proximate to an end portion of one of the cantilever arms. The head member is attached to the cushion body such that the head member extends in a direction generally parallel to the vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Susan H. MatthewsInventor: Susan H. Matthews
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Patent number: 6055688Abstract: A wall-mounted station for changing the diapers of a baby comprises a base configured for being vertically mounted to a wall and defining a base plane and a baby platform hingedly mounted to the base and defining a platform plane. The baby platform is operable for being movable between an opened position wherein the platform plane is disposed generally perpendicular to the base plane for the platform to receive a baby and a closed position wherein the platform plane is generally parallel to the base plane. A stop structure extends from a rear edge of the baby platform proximate the base and generally perpendicular to the platform plane. A mounting pad is positioned on the base and is disposed generally parallel to the base plane. The stop structure is operable for abutting against the mounting pad when the baby platform is moved to an open position to support the platform and maintain the baby platform perpendicular to the base when the weight of a baby is placed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: John A. HelmsderferInventors: John A. Helmsderfer, David Memke
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Patent number: 6055689Abstract: A modular mattress having a plurality of innerspring modules with a peripheral border strip extending around the outer periphery of the mattress between top and bottom mattress covers through a releasable connecting means.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Frank G. Cavazos
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Patent number: 6055690Abstract: Rebreathing carbon dioxide and overheating of the infant are contributing causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and asphyxiation. The characteristics of conventional crib mattresses, beddings and bumper pads contribute to rebreathing of carbon dioxide and overheating of the infant and may be contributing environmental causes of SIDS, asphyxiation, apnea syndromes and hypoventilation. The present invention consists of improved sleeping pads, beddings and bumper pads which reduce rebreathing of carbon dioxide and overheating and provide increased crib ventilation to stimulate breathing.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1995Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: J. Frank Koenig
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Patent number: 6055691Abstract: A method of mounting and tensioning a freely tensioned tension member, particularly a stay cable for a cable-stayed bridge, and a device for carrying out the method, wherein the polyethylene casing of each individual strand is removed during the tensioning process over the length of the extension distance occurring during tensioning at the tensioning end. The peeling tool of the device for carrying out the method is composed of a sleeve having at one end thereof at least one cutting edge, wherein the sleeve surrounds the respective strand over at least an essential portion of the circumference thereof. The sleeve can be positioned in a stationary manner between the anchoring disk and the tensioning press, wherein the strand is pulled through the sleeve during the tensioning process.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Dyckerhoff & Widmann AktiengesellschaftInventors: Oswald Nutzel, Dieter Jungwirth, Lorenz Schnitzler
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Patent number: 6055692Abstract: A telescopic boarding bridge mounted at ground level for bridging the space between a small aircraft and a terminal gate doorway. The bridge includes a terminal bridge section supported in a fixed position adjacent the terminal gate doorway and at least one moveable bridge section adapted to slidably receive a front end of the terminal bridge section. The moveable bridge section has idler wheels for allowing movement thereof on the ground. A drive mechanism is operational to selectively push and pull on each side of the moveable bridge section to linearly displace the same relative to the terminal bridge section. The telescopic boarding bridge further includes a flexible canopy enclosure which is displaceable between a retracted position for providing wing tip clearance and an extended position for covering the doorway and the sides of the stairs of a small aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Accessair Systems, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Pell, Luc Fafard
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Patent number: 6055693Abstract: A railway short span trestle is designed for quick erection at an installation site by assembly of a minimum number of parts. Those parts include a pair of spaced apart girders and whatever number of modular floor assemblies are required to span the length of those girders. Each floor assembly may be preassembled in the shop to include crossbeams for connection to the girders, a ballast floor plate which interconnects the crossbeams, and the bent curb plates which contain and support the ballast for a railway track. The invention is further directed to a method of constructing a railway short span trestle including tho preassembly of the modular floor assemblies and final connection of those floor assemblies to a pair of girders to provide a unitary trestle ready for placement onto a substructure.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1995Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Owen Industries, Inc.Inventors: Bradley R. Lehr, Jerry Martin, Mark V. Holland, Mark L. McCune
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Patent number: 6055694Abstract: A wafer scrubbing machine is provided with a network of wafer holders which can be moved from a retracted position adjacent each other at a wafer receiving station to an expanded position spaced apart from each within a scrubbing station. The wafers are picked up simultaneously by pairs of depending arms in the scrubbing station and passed between pairs of rotating brushes for cleaning purposes. A common drive wheel is provided to rotate the wafers simultaneously during scrubbing between the brushes. A second network of wafer holders is provided to receive the scrubbed wafers in the scrubbing station and to move into a retracted position within a delivery station for transfer of the cleaned wafers into a cassette for subsequent processing. Two sets of networks may be provided on a common rotatable assembly in order to accommodate two different sizes of delivered wafers.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: TSK America, Inc.Inventor: Colby R. Steere
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Patent number: 6055695Abstract: A lint roller assembly is disclosed for rotatably supporting a tubular and cylindrical adhesive lint remover roller. The assembly includes a pair of elongated housing parts which are substantially identical to each other. Each housing part includes an elongated handle section and a semi-cylindrical lint roller support section longitudinally adjacent the handle section. The lint roller support section has an outer diameter less than the diameter of the adhesive roller. The housing parts are secured together in a facing relationship by registering pins and sockets formed on the housing parts. In doing so, the lint roller support sections form a cylindrical lint roller support for the adhesive roller while the handle sections abut against each other to form a handle.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Helmac Products CorporationInventor: Nicholas D. McKay, Jr.
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Patent number: 6055696Abstract: A squeezing structure for water-absorbent swab, comprising a stem, a fixing seat, a roller shaft, a locating bar, a link, a pull handle and a foam rubber. The center of the roller shaft is disposed with an axially extending shaft rod. Multiple rollers are fitted around the shaft rod by stages. An outer circumference of the roller is formed with multiple axially extending and annularly arranged slipproof bodies. An end face of the roller and a lateral side of the roller contain an arch shoulder angle. The roller shafts with the stripes roll on the surface of the foam rubber so as to accurately squeeze and tension the foam rubber and effectively drain the water from the foam rubber. Furthermore, the arch shoulder angle of the end face of the roller tenderly contacts with the foam rubber without hooking or tearing the foam rubber.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Pan-Chun Lin
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Patent number: 6055697Abstract: A windshield wiper blade (10) is proposed for the cleaning of windshields of motor vehicles. The windshield wiper blade has an elongated, flexible support element (12), and is provided with devices for connecting a powered wiper arm (14). An elongated wiper lip strip, made of rubber-like material, having a tip and a wiper strip lip is disposed on the support element and is equipped with an elongated spring runner enclosed by the tip. A simple means of mounting the wiper blade results, if the spring runner (30) is disposed in a prefabricated longitudinal channel (28) penetrating the entire length of the tip (24), and further if the spring runner (30) projects with its two ends (32, 33) from the tip (24), and if further these two ends (32, 33) of the spring runner (30) form support devices to secure the wiper strip (18) on the support element (12).Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Dieter Wollenschlaeger
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Patent number: 6055698Abstract: An adjustable wringer can wring a variety of different types and sizes of mops, wipes, sponges and other wringable items for use in cleaning clean rooms. The wringer has two side plates situated in a spaced relationship relative to one another, each of the side plates having a slot. The wringer has a lever which has a handle and a rod. The handle has side posts, with the lower end of each side post being rotatably mounted to a respective side plate, and a handle bar extending across and connecting the upper ends of the first and second side posts. The rod is attached at each end to a handle side post, with each end of the rod passing through a respective slot in the side plates. The wringer also has a crank which has a crank handle and a rotatable crank shaft that extends from one side plate to the other. A substantially lint-free, flexible web is supported at one end by the rod and at the other end by the crank shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Micronova Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Joselito De Guzman
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Patent number: 6055699Abstract: An adapter plate, removably mounted with respect to the cleaning tool head of a continuous flow recycling cleaning device, supports a fluid flow barrier. The barrier is formed of multiple resilient filaments parallel to one another and packed closely together to resist air passage through the barrier. The filaments are supported in cantilevered fashion, and are individually and locally deformable as the tool head is placed in an operating position near a floor or other surface to be cleaned. The barrier thus conforms to the topography of the surface being cleaned, to achieve a better seal. The barrier is used in combination with a more porous layer, e.g., a carpet tile or a less tightly packed filament arrangement, to channel air from outside of the tool head into an intake compartment while blocking passage to an exhaust compartment inside the tool head.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: CFR CorporationInventor: Sung K. Cho
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Patent number: 6055700Abstract: A vacuum appliance is disclosed, comprising a collection canister having a lid and a powerhead housing a motor and impeller assembly for establishing vacuum pressure within said canister. The powerhead is removably secured to the lid of the collection canister, such that the powerhead can be removed from the lid and separately used as a blower. Self-actuationg latching devices are provided for removably securing the powerhead to the lid. In one embodiment, the latching device is a unitary, multi-segmented structure having a spring biasing member and a retaining member formed integrally therewith. A journal formed integrally with the latching device is adapted to be received in a bearing defined in a latch socket on the lid, such that the latching device is allowed to pivot with respect to the lid. The spring biasing member functions to bias the latching device to a home pivot position, such that the latching device automatically engages the powerhead when it is lowered onto the lid.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Stuart V. Holsten, Michael F. Martin, Chris Steger
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Patent number: 6055701Abstract: An appliance for using suction to pick up liquid includes a collection container (10) with an air/liquid separator (30) arranged at a corner between two adjacent walls (13, 14) of the container and extending obliquely relative to both side walls. The separator (30) includes an inlet tube (31) which terminates in an outwardly widening outlet end portion (33) which discharges directly into the collection container (10). The inlet tube (31) and end portion (33) extend into the container (10) through an air outlet chamber (20) which is connected at an outlet opening (17) of the container (10). A filter element (40) is provided at the mouth (24) of the outlet chamber (20) and around the outlet end portion (33) of the inlet tube (31).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Vax LimitedInventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey, Norman Brown
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Patent number: 6055702Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an optical dust sensor for detecting a quantity of dust which sensor is provided at a predetermined position of a suction path for sucking air by a suction force of the vacuum cleaner, whereby an output signal is supplied to a display device so that a display corresponding to the quantity of the sucked dust, which signal is output from the optical dust sensor and is varied in a stageless manner corresponding to the quantity of the dust.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Imamura, Jun Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6055703Abstract: An upright steerable vacuum cleaner comprised of a handle, body, nozzle base and air duct therein further having a swivel joint at the junction of the nozzle base and body. The swivel joint or steering mechanism comprises a trunnion pivotably connected to the main air duct of the vacuum. The pivotable connection causes the nozzle base of the vacuum to turn right with a clockwise twist of the vacuum handle and turn left with a counter-clockwise twist of the vacuum handle. A locking mechanism is provided for preventing rotation of the trunnion with respect to the air duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLCInventors: Glenn K. Redding, Kevin Nason
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Patent number: 6055704Abstract: A caster for rollably supporting a device with respect to a surface is disclosed. The caster includes a body and a rotatable member operably connected to the body. The member is rollably cooperable with the surface. The caster further includes a connector operably connected to the body for connecting the body to the device and a support operably connected to the connector.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Bernard Leibman
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Patent number: 6055705Abstract: The present invention relates to an opening/closing hinge construction for an electronic and electrical equipment housing. By improving the hinge construction so that the hinge construction between a body case and body cover is contained within the housing, the housing is prevented from being large-sized and the assembling property is enhanced, whereby the whole manufacturing cost including the assembly cost is reduced. The construction is such as to open and close the body case forming an equipment housing by the body cover of cover member, and a hinge sheet having flexibility formed into a sheet form is used for a hinge connection portion. One end of the hinge sheet is fixed to the interior of the body case by using hinge bosses and set screws as a fixed locking end, and the other end is fixed to the inside of the body cover as a movable locking end.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Kazuo Komatsu, Takayuki Yamazaki
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Patent number: 6055706Abstract: The invention is concerned with a new constructive form of hinge for junction and opening of the arms (A) on the front (F) of the glasses, and being the automatic closure of the arms (A), when the glasses aren't being worn. The innovative peculiarity of the invention is to provide the presence of an elastic means (6), operating on a pin (26) of a gear (27), arranged in direct grip with a crown wheel section (11) of a disk (10), where it determines and regulates the movement of the gear (27), the gear (27) itself being solid to the arm (A) to open, whereas the crown wheel section (11) is fixed with the extremity of the hinge of front (F) of glasses.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Adriano GaianiInventors: Franco Dioguardi, Marco Sottsass
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Patent number: 6055707Abstract: Fastener for a sports shoe comprising, on the one hand, a strip (1) carrying a clasp (3) the position of which can be adjusted along the strip and, on the other hand, a tensioner (4) fitted with a strap (8) which catches on the clasp. The strip has sawtooth teeth (2) and the clasp (3) has a pawl for holding it in place between the teeth.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Lange International S.A.Inventor: Matteo Simioni
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Patent number: 6055708Abstract: A seat belt buckle (12) includes a buckle base (34) having a passage (36) for receiving a tongue (16) by movement of the tongue in a first direction into the passage. An ejector (40) in the passage (36) is biased in a second direction opposite the first direction. The ejector (40) moves in the first direction against the bias upon insertion of the tongue (16) into the passage (36). A latch (42) latches the tongue (16) in the passage (36). The buckle (12) includes structure (24, 32) defining an opening (22) through which the tongue (16) is inserted into the passage (36). A shield (60) blocks the opening (22) and blocks foreign matter from passing through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Robert P. Ellis, Duan W. Chisnell
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Patent number: 6055709Abstract: A method of bulking tufted pile fabrics by means of the controlled application of dry heat thereto. The method of the present invention is particularly well suited to the continuous in-line bulking of carpet.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Craig M. Martek, Keith Henry
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Patent number: 6055710Abstract: The permeable drum for needling tissues, nonwovens, or other permeable materials of a certain width consists of a normally perforated sheet metal drum on which strips that are thin and extend axially over the length of the drum are arranged with small distances between them around the drum. The strips radially support a very thin sheet metal jacket with microfine perforations and produce a uniform flow of liquid through the material that rests externally against the sheet metal jacket. The strips can be joined together for example to form a honeycomb profile and thus uniformly transfer the hydrodynamic load developed during needling to the screen drum.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Fleissner GmbH & Co. MaschinenfabrikInventor: Gerold Fleissner
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Patent number: 6055711Abstract: A fabric is constructed by weaving on a loom, with a loom setting of between about 78%-88% in the greige, using false twist textured polyester warp yam (about 140-160 denier, preferably about 150 denier with about 55-65 filaments in either single or 2 ply form) and air textured polyester weft yam (2-ply or 3-ply about 140-160 denier, preferably about 150 denier with about 90-110 filaments, preferably about 100 filaments), and finishing the fabric by scouring (on a jet or on a continuous scouring range) and printing or jet dyeing, and then heat setting at temperature of at least about 350.degree. F. The fabric scores between 4.5 and 5.0 on each of random tumble pilling, brush pilling, and Klopman method roughing and pilling, tests. The fabric also has a surface SMD of at least about 4.3, a bending rigidity 2HB of about 0.1 or less, a compressibility EMC% of less than about 28, a shearing stiffness G value of about 2 or less, and an extensibility EMT% of at least about 3.0.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Burlington Industries, Inc.Inventors: Albert J. Weil, E. Keith Adams, Jeffrey L. Moorman, Lawrence J. Hulighan
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Patent number: 6055712Abstract: Method of manufacturing air textured threads comprising at least one ground thread and at least one effect thread, wherein at least the ground thread is drafted before it is fed, together with the effect thread, to a texturizing unit and wherein the texturized yarn consisting of ground and effect threads is heated. A ground thread is used with a fineness between 80 and 200 dtex and an effect thread is used with a fineness between 60 and 165 dtex, with the effect thread being finer than the ground thread.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Guetermann AGInventor: Wilfried Thoma
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Patent number: 6055713Abstract: A unitary, four-side container having a bottom is formed from two smaller container units each of which originally has a bottom and four upstanding sides. A corresponding side of each of the smaller units is removed from the level of the associated bottom to form two half units and the two half units then are positioned adjacent one another so that their bottoms and corresponding side walls confront and abut one another. Anchor bolts secure the two half units to one another along and beneath their bottoms and along their abutting side walls. An uncured, curable adhesive polymer is applied to the junctures of the bottoms and side walls and cured to provide a bond between the bottoms and side walls of the half units and between the anchor bolts and the half units.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Genei Industries IncorporatedInventor: Martin R. Genei
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Patent number: 6055714Abstract: A method of renewing decorative tassels after they have become unsightly from wearing of an item to which they are attached, particularly shoes wherein the one or more tassels is made up of strands of moisture-absorbent leather or synthetic leather extending integrally side-by-side from a stem base attached to the shoe. The method comprises encasing the tassel, as straightened and rearranged, in a tube length of heat-shrink material; applying moisture to the strands of the tassel; heating the heat-shrink tube along its length to shrink it tightly against the tassel as straightened and rearranged, so as to press it into renewed condition; and removing the shrunken tube from the renewed tassel substantially without disturbing the straightened and rearranged strands thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Ted K. Sproul
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Patent number: 6055715Abstract: A method for hydroforming a large surface area, double paneled, hollow auto body part, such as a hood, in which the inner and outer panels are concurrently shape formed and seamed structurally together in the same apparatus. A pair of upper and lower dies crush the edges of a double walled blank together between the dies so as to simultaneously clamp, seal, and form the seam. Then, a special face seal and fluid inlet assembly grips and holds the edges of an inlet hole near the center of the blank to allow the interior to be successfully pressurized and expanded.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Chi-Mou Ni, Charles J. Bruggemann, William Henry Todd, Jr., Joseph Michael Lendway, IV
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Patent number: 6055716Abstract: The method for fixing clips to a furniture rail comprises the steps of: providing two or more spaced apart clip-clamping machines which are arranged adjacent each other and which have clip magazines aligned, respectively, with an outlet end of each machine; positioning each machine adjacent to and perpendicular one side of the furniture rail and with the magazine of each machine being parallel to each other and with each magazine being perpendicular to the rail; feeding an elongate strip of sheet metal anchor clips including a series of separate, identical anchor clips, assembled end-to-end in a line and held together in a line by a strip of flexible material fixed to each clip, to each magazine of each clip-clamping machine in a direction perpendicular to the furniture rail; and fixing the clip at the front of each magazine to the furniture rail at the same time, thereby fixing a plurality of the clips required by the furniture rail to the one side of the rail at approximately the same time to greatly reduceType: GrantFiled: June 8, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Vertex FastenersInventors: Donald B. Ayres, Glenn Gustafson
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Patent number: 6055717Abstract: A securing method of a polymer insulator including the steps of inserting an FRP core into a depression portion of a metal member having an open end portion, and connecting the metal member to the FRP core by compressing the FRP core and the metal member is disclosed. The improvement includes the steps of: determining a first region defining a part of a compression portion of the metal member, to which a compression pressure is applied, from a side of the open end portion; determining a second region defining the other part of the compression portion in succession with the first region; and controlling a deformation of the first region in such a manner that a deformation amount of the first region is increased gradually toward the second region.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Itsushi Nakamura, Yasushi Ohkawa, Tomio Suzuki, Eiji Kitagami
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Patent number: 6055718Abstract: There is described a method and a system for edging a core, comprising a carrier adapted for connection to a contiguous edge of a core, a surface casing adapted for a conformable fit over the carrier and means for connecting the surface casing to the carrier for a conformable fit therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Evans Consoles Inc.Inventors: David Catta, Geoffrey William Gosling
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Patent number: 6055719Abstract: The present invention relates to a charged particle beam exposure apparatus, deflecting a charged particle beam formed into a predetermined shape by being passed through a predetermined transmission mask, and irradiating a predetermined location on the surface of a sample with the charged particle beam. The apparatus comprises: a mirror barrel through which the charged particle beam is passed; and an electrostatic deflector, provided in the mirror barrel, for deflecting the charged particle beam. The electrostatic deflector has a plurality of pairs of electrodes, which are made of a conductive material having carbon as a primary element and are embedded in an internal face of an insulating cylinder. The present invention also relates to a method for forming the electrostatic deflector.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yoshihisa Ooaeh, Tomohiko Abe, Hiroshi Yasuda
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Patent number: 6055720Abstract: A device and method for manufacturing a coil arrangement (21) with a matrix support (11), a winding matrix (12) for receiving winding wire turns and at least two holding devices (13, 14) arranged on the matrix support (11) for holding winding wire end regions (26, 27), the winding matrix (12) and the matrix support (11) having a common axis of rotation (23), and the holding devices (13, 14) being arranged at the circumferential edge of the matrix support in such a manner that the winding wire guided by a wire conductor (24) beyond the circumferential edge in the direction of the rotational axis is guided through the holding devices and held therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventors: David Finn, Manfred Rietzler
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Patent number: 6055721Abstract: A chip inductor has a magnetic member which is formed by sintering and a coiled conducting wire which is embedded in the magnetic member. The magnetic member has a clearance in each axial end portion thereof such that each terminal end portion of the coiled conducting wire is exposed to an outside of the magnetic member in a linear configuration. An external electrode is formed on each end portion of the magnetic member such that the external electrode penetrates into the clearance into contact with the terminal end portions of the coiled conducting wire.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Kabushiki KaishiInventors: Nobuo Mamada, Masataka Kohara
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Patent number: 6055722Abstract: Shielded stripline multi-lead flex cable is successfully attached to solder pads on a circuit board by applying a hot bar to the backside of the cable placed in abuttment with the associated solder pads. The hot bar generates sufficient heat to reflow pretinned cable elements and the corresponding solder pads of the circuit board. An attachment is attained in which the outer ground plane metal layer of the cable covers the signal lines and the other ground plane metal layer is attached adjacent those signal lines, producing effective RF shielding of the signal leads and minimizing introduction of inductance into the ground current circuit. A novel cable end configuration and cable termination is disclosed to implement the attaching procedure.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Thomas S. Tighe, Gershon Akerling
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Patent number: 6055723Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an electrical connection to a high temperature superconductor (HTS) circuit, where a polymer material is applied to the HTS surface covering the circuit contact disposed on one surface of the HTS circuit, a via is created in the polymer material exposing the circuit contact, a diffusion barrier is applied into the via covering the circuit contact; and, a solder bump is applied to the diffusion barrier.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Gershon Akerling, James M. Murduck
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Patent number: 6055724Abstract: A method and device for sealing an IC chip are provided, by which a sealing material is surely discharged onto the upper surface of a circuit board, and the occurrence of imperfect sealing can be eliminated. A first gap (h1) is provided between an application nozzle (15) and a circuit board (13) on which an IC chip (12) is mounted before discharging the sealing material (17), after which a second gap (h2) which is greater than the first gap (h1) is provided between the application nozzle (15) and the circuit board (13) while discharging the sealing material (17), thereby accomplishing the sealing of the IC chip (12), and ensuring that the sealing operation is performed after the sealing material (17) has completely come to contact with the upper surface of the circuit board (13).Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Nishino, Shinji Kanayama, Hiroyuki Otani, Kohei Enchi, Hiroyuki Yoshida
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Patent number: 6055725Abstract: An edge connector for a circuit board having a top layer and at least one layer underlying the top layer to form a composite structure. The edge connector comprises a first set of metallic tabs formed on the top layer in a row spaced from an edge of the top layer, with each of the first set of metallic tabs having a plating spoke associated therewith formed in the one layer underlying the top layer. A second set of metallic tabs is formed on the top layer in a row adjacent the edge. A metallic tab of the first set is positioned between a pair of metallic tabs in the second set, however, the surface area of the top layer between each pair of metallic tabs in the second set is substantially free of a plating spoke.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel James Berto, Jimmy Melvin Coe, Lloyd Archibald Barrington Lawrence, Jr., Todd Allen Lee
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Patent number: 6055726Abstract: A water-cooled, two-stroke crankcase compression internal combustion engine for powering a motor vehicle. The engine includes a piston, piston rings, and cylinder bore arrangement that are constructed to inhibit piston ring sticking by cooling the piston ring gaps by holding them against rotation and spraying fuel from a fuel injector toward the gap for cooling it. Overheating of the small end of the connecting rod is inhibited by surface treating portions of the piston to render them harder and less heat conductive. Scuffing of the piston, piston rings, and cylinder bore are reduced by surface treating the area of the head of the piston around the ring grooves so as to trap and retain lubricant. The surface treatment includes the steps of utilizing an acid wash to dissolve and remove silicon particles and subsequently alumitc treating the washed area.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiichi Ito, Akihiko Okubo
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Patent number: 6055727Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine includes a helical inlet port with a sharp edge swirl lip on a generally cylindrical valve stem recess. The helical inlet port has an inlet passage, a bowl-shaped chamber which has a rim that terminates in an annular valve seat and which encompasses an annular space about a generally cylindrical valve stem guide for a poppet valve stem. One surface of the bowl meets one wall of the inlet passage along a swirl edge, which has a radius of less than about 0.5 mm, and preferably a sharp edge with a radius of less than about 0.1 mm. Such swirl edges may be formed by casting the inlet port with excess material, which is then machined away only within the bowl along a cylindrical cutting line.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allan Brignall, Philip Baker, Paul Turner
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Patent number: 6055728Abstract: An automatically assembling method to connect two members while providing an intermediate member therebetween, including first, second, and third steps. In the first step, a first member and a second member are connected together without interposing the intermediate member therebetween. In the second step, the first and second members are separated away from each other in a predetermined direction, and the first member is set in a predetermined position with respect to the intermediate member while keeping a positioning relationship with the second member. In the third step, the first and second members are approached and connected to each other while providing the intermediate member therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tomoaki Nakano
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Patent number: 6055729Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid jet recording head comprises the steps of obtaining a laminated body by laminating a liquid path formation layer forming liquid paths on a metallic base board having discharge energy generating elements on it, forming an orifice surface by cutting the laminated body thus obtained, and grinding the orifice surface thus formed by use of a cutting tool or a milling cutter. With this method that uses a metallic base board, it is possible to obtain a high-performance yet an inexpensive liquid jet recording head without any defects on the orifice surface, which contributes to implementing more stabilized liquid discharge.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1996Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshio Suzuki
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Patent number: 6055730Abstract: A tool and method provide a labor saving procedure for positioning the collars of screw jacks on base frames at desired heights at construction heights. A conventional electric motor driven drill is coupled to the screw jack pipe by the tool to rotate the pipes for positioning the collar at desired levels on the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: John Michael Burke