Patents Issued in January 9, 2001
  • Patent number: 6171138
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly combines a latch (34) and electrical contacts (60a-60f) into an integral connector assembly. The latch (34) is partially surrounded by a stacked connector (36). The latch (34) lathes with a housing (22) and the stacked connector (36) includes a connector contact housing (40) that includes a plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) to provide an electrical connection between a first (60) and second (64) electrical circuit. In one embodiment, the connector contact housing (40) is in a “U” shape and partially surrounds at least a portion of the latch (34). The stacked connector (36) engages with a receptacle well (38) having a plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts (62a-62f). The plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) is positioned in a manner to provide balanced contact loading along at least one axis (100) of the stacked connector (36). As such, in one embodiment, the stacked contacts (60a-60f) are arranged in an opposing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: James Donald Lefebvre, Steve Mina, William B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6171139
    Abstract: A right-angle connector unit used for electrical and removable connection between first and second printed circuit boards (600, 700), which comprises two right-angle connectors (100, 200) of printed circuit boards having base portions to be mounted to the first and the second printed circuit boards, vertical portions, and contacts of conductor patterns extending in parallel with each other between the base portions and the vertical portions and having different lengths, and a cable connector (400) having a flexible flat cable connecting between the vertical portions of the two right-angle connectors in a state where the flexible flat cable is twisted by an angle of 180 degree along a longitudinal direction thereof, the flexible flat cable having conductors which are equal to each other in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sato, Masahiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6171140
    Abstract: A joint connector easy to construct and involving less fabricating cost. The joint connector comprises a housing 3 for accommodating a plurality of connecting terminals 2 in a rear-side portion thereof, a bus bar 6 formed out of an electrically conductive metal plate and accommodated in the housing 3 for jointing any individual ones of the connecting terminals 2, a bus bar holder 7 for holding the bus bar 6, and a front cover 9 mounted to the housing 3 in such a way as to cover the bus bar holder 7. The bus bar holder 7 has a plurality of holes to be used for cutting the bus bar 6 to form an arbitrary circuit. The bus bar holder 7 and the bus bar 6 is mounted in the housing 3 so as to be movable in relation to the housing 3 in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the connecting terminals 2 being housed. When the front cover 9 is set in the housing 3, it causes the bus bar holder 7 to be moved and the bus bar 6 to be jointed with connecting terminals 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ryosei Electro-Circuit Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsugio Anbo, Yukifumi Machida, Yoshikatsu Hasegawa, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6171141
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a terminal of a control cable is composed of a fixing member which is provided in a given position of a vehicle such as automobile construction machine, a terminal fixing metal fixture fixed to the terminal of the control cable being engaged with a bracket without substantial play in the axial direction, and is provided for non-detachably fixing the terminal fixing metal fixture from the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Cable Systems
    Inventors: Katunori Yasui, Takashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6171142
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a connector member, a bracket and a pair of board locks. The connector member includes an insulative housing having a front face and a rear face. The bracket is unitarily molded to include a spacer and a standing wall perpendicular to the spacer. A pair of strengthening walls is disposed perpendicularly extend from opposite edges of the spacer. The strengthening walls also perpendicularly extend from the same side of the standing wall. A pair of supporting plates for supporting the rear face of the connector member upwardly extends from an edge of the standing wall proximate opposite ends thereof. An angle between the supporting plates and the spacer is substantially 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Qiang Wang, Zi-Qiang Zhu, Liang Gong
  • Patent number: 6171143
    Abstract: Connectors for connecting multiple coaxial cables are typically complex with many parts and difficult to assemble. The present invention provides an improved multiple coaxial cable connector and a method of using the same. The preferred connector comprises a socket connector adapted to receive a plurality of coaxial cables each terminated in a termination socket and to expose at least a part of each socket when fitted, a connection element, and a casing component adapted to receive the coaxial cables and including at least partial metallisation to a face plate. The connection element bonds each termination socket to the casing component face plate and when connected, to a receiving element for the cable connector. Preferably the socket connector is an SCI connector and the termination sockets are SCI sockets. The connection element preferably includes spring fingers corresponding to each termination socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Alan Rhys Charles, Ian Brown
  • Patent number: 6171144
    Abstract: A sealing plug for a multi-contact electrical connector includes a shaft portion and a locking portion preferably formed of a non-conductive material. The sealing plug is inserted in non-used contact cavities of the multi-contact electrical connector to preclude the necessity of installing separate dummy pin contacts and to effect the environmental sealing of non-used contact cavities. A head portion extends from the shaft portion for gripping purposes and to provide a visual indication that the sealing plug is installed in the connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Stone
  • Patent number: 6171145
    Abstract: The waterproof connector of the present invention, a connector housing of the waterproof connector is penetrated by which a first terminal through hole is parallel to each other at one side, and is provided with a gel accommodating chamber accommodating a gel slab material at the other side. A sustain portion is penetrated by a first terminal through hole which is parallel to each other and coincide with an axial line of each first terminal through hole. A gel slab material is accommodated in said gel accommodating chamber by holding between an inner wall surface of said connector housing and an inner wall surface of said sustain portion. A first gel rubbish accommodating portion, for accommodating gel chip rubbish, formed in said inner wall side of said connector housing. A second gel rubbish accommodating portion, for accommodating gel chip rubbish, formed in said inner wall side of said sustain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshisada Murayama
  • Patent number: 6171146
    Abstract: An electrical connector system including a terminal retainer having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein and aligned in a rectilinear pattern of rows and columns. The terminal retainer includes a front face, an opposite rear face and a plurality of terminal cavities extending from the rear to the front face. Each terminal cavity receives a portion of a terminal, wherein the terminal has an annular abutment. A plurality of flexible locking fingers are provided which extend from the front face, each being positioned to straddle two adjacent terminal cavities. Each flexible locking finger includes a pair of spaced apart locking shoulders, one for each straddled terminal cavity, each locking shoulder having a terminus. When the female terminal is passed into a terminal cavity from the rear face, the terminus of the locking shoulder thereat interferingly abuts the terminal abutment, thereby preventing rearward withdrawal of the female terminal through the rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy L. Fink, Robert W. Rimko
  • Patent number: 6171147
    Abstract: A coupling element is proposed for a single wire or multi-wire electrical cable. The coupling element has a contact support to which a protective body surrounding the cable connection is molded in such a way that a region of the surface of the contact support remains exposed. The exposed region (4) has openings (7) extending through the contact support and contacts that are conductively connected with a wire of the cable (1) and arranged in the openings. A closed cover (8) is provided in close contact with the contact support (2) and extends over the openings (7). The cover (8) is provided with a passage (9) having the edges surrounding and fitting tightly against the cable (1). The protective body (6) surrounds the cover (8) and the passage (9) and is in moisture-tight sealing engagement with the contact support (2) and the cable (1). A method for producing the coupling element provides for molding the protective body (6) so it surrounds the cover (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Otto Nachbauer, Thomas Jakob
  • Patent number: 6171148
    Abstract: An electrical power connector includes a nonconductive housing defining a central channel and two side channels on opposite sides of the central channel. The central channel has an inner step formed on an upper inside surface thereof. The side channels each have an inner step formed on a lower inside surface thereof. A Z-shaped conductor is received in each of the channels. An inner shoulder of the conductor is disposed against the inner step of the corresponding channel and an outer shoulder of the conductor is substantially flush with a rear face of the housing. The conductors in the central and side channels are inverted with respect to each other thus soldering sections thereof are coplanar and surface mountable to a circuit board. The housing is supported against an edge of the circuit board whereby a lower portion thereof is positioned below the circuit board and supported by the surface mounted conductors. The circuit board edge abuts against the outer shoulders of the second conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Allen Chiu, Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6171149
    Abstract: A terminal frame at least partially locatable within an insulative housing of an electrical connector and having: a plurality of contacts and bridges extending between adjacent contacts. An electrical connector formed from a plurality of modules, each module having: an insulative housing; a plurality of first contacts at least partially surrounded by said insulative housing; bridges extending between adjacent first contacts; a plurality of second contacts; and a substrate having conductive traces thereon extending between at least some of the first and second contacts. A method of making an electrical connector, including the steps of: providing a plurality of modules and arranging the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Albertus van Zanten
  • Patent number: 6171150
    Abstract: A connector is provided with a ground terminal, and a side type retainer is mountable in the connector. A connection element receptacle 20 for accommodating an electrical connection element 3 is provided inside a connector housing 2. A retainer 4 for locking the electrical connection element 3 is mounted in a retainer mount hole 25 formed in the upper surface of the connector housing 2. Further, a ground terminal receptacle 29 for accommodating a ground terminal 5 is provided in the bottom wall of the connection element receptacle 20. In this way, since the retainer 4 is assembled at the side of the electrical connection element 3 opposite from the ground terminal 5, it can be constructed as a so-called side retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Saito, Takashi Koide, Masahiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6171151
    Abstract: An isolation module for an RJ-45 modular jack provides isolation and noise control and reduction for the RJ-45 modular jack. The RJ-45 modular jack includes a front surface having an opening for receiving a corresponding modular plug. The RJ-45 modular jack further includes a plurality of electrical fingers arranged in a spring bias fashion within the opening in the front surface for making electrical contact with a modular plug. The RJ-45 modular jack includes a series of sockets or slots along the back surface of said modular jack such that the electrical fingers extend to the back side of the modular jack and terminate in a reverse bent fashion to form a socket or clip portion within a respective socket or slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Halo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lu, Jeffrey Heaton, James W. Heaton, Peter Loh Hung Pao, Robert Loke Hang Lam, Tsang Kei Sun
  • Patent number: 6171152
    Abstract: An RJ-45 style modular connector having a plastic rectangular housing with an open front end to receive a matching RJ-45 style modular jack, and an opposite open back end. A contact spring assembly of a plurality of wires in separate circuits passes forward through said open back end into the back of said open front end of the housing. The contact assembly also includes a plastic block that supports the plurality of wires by a right angle turn and is vertically oriented with respect to the plurality of wires, and the plastic block inserts and locks into the open back end of the housing. A set of mounting pins is disposed at a bottom edge of the plastic block for connection to a printed motherboard. A signal conditioning part is disposed in the plastic block for providing signal conditioning of signals passing from said set of mounting pins to the contact spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Regal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Kunz
  • Patent number: 6171153
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modular jack assembly comprising an outer insulative housing having top and bottom walls and opposed lateral walls which define an interior section of the housing having front and rear open ends, and an insulated insert having a first section superimposed over the rear open end of the insulated housing and a second section extending generally perpendicular from the first section into the interior section of the housing. There are engagement points on both the top wall and the opposed lateral walls of the outer insulated housing. Latches may be positioned on the insulated insert on either their first section or their second section depending on the specific configuration of the insulated insert. If latches are positioned on the first section, the opposed lateral walls will be engaged. If latches are positioned on the top section, the top wall will be engaged. A common housing may, therefore, be used for a number of different types of insulated inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yakov Belopolsky
  • Patent number: 6171154
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face. A mating portion extends from the rear face for mating with a complementary connector. A first contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a first connector. A second contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a second connector and includes at least a contact pin extending beyond the front face. An alignment plate having an opening for insertion of the contact pin is assembled to the front face for securely positioning the contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Juntwait, George Lee, Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6171155
    Abstract: A female electrical terminal of the present invention has a box-like electrical contact section; a resilient contact member contained in the electrical contact section for electrical connection with a male terminal; and a low force insertion enabling means provided on the resilient contact member, which enables a reduction in the force with which to insert the male terminal into the electrical contact section and into electrical connection with the resilient contact member. The low force insertion enabling means is a cutout or a thin wall portion formed between a central portion of the resilient contact member and at least one of its front and rear ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takeya Miwa, Shigeru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6171156
    Abstract: A contact element of an electrical connector includes an anchoring section having barbs for securing the contact element in a bore defined in a connector and a pin engaging section connected to the anchoring section by a reduced connection section. An elongate projection is formed on the connection section and substantially extends therealong for blocking a wicking path between the anchoring section and the pin engaging section thereby suppressing wicking of solder and/or gold coating through the connection section. The projection may be simply formed by pressing the connection section. The projection may be replaced by an elongate opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nick Lin, Jack Lee, E-Feng Lo
  • Patent number: 6171157
    Abstract: A pedal-powered boat that uses a flexible shaft to drive a propeller. By using a flexible shaft, the user's seat can be placed lower in the vessel, thereby increasing stability. The device also uses a pair of foot pegs and a ratcheted straight driver, which eliminates standard pedals, with their sweeping circular motion. This straight drive not only increases the efficiency of the leg power, it also converts the rotary action of the pedals to a linear motion that reduces the amount of space required to operate the unit. Thus, the driver unit can be placed under a seat so that it does not excessively intrude into the space of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Mark Knapp
  • Patent number: 6171158
    Abstract: A water inlet tap for an engine cooling system is provided on a jet propulsion unit of a small watercraft. The inlet tap includes a filter element arranged at the inlet of the tap so as to lie generally flush with in inner surface of the jet propulsion unit. In this position, the principal flow of water through the jet propulsion unit tends to sweep away debris at the inlet of the tap in order inhibit fouling of the filter. The filter, as well as the tap itself, are removably attached to one side of the jet propulsion unit for easy servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Henmi, Yoshihiro Gohara
  • Patent number: 6171159
    Abstract: The inventive apparatus exercises control of the water flow which is discharged from a marine waterjet propulsor. Typical inventive embodiments comprise plural horizontal and plural vertical blade-like structures which together describe an open-ended, box-like rectilinear configuration characterized by at least two adjacent channels. Every vertical blade-like structure includes, at its aft end, a “steering” flap which is pivotable about a vertical axis. Some inventive embodiments advance marine craft reversing by implementing one or more bucket-like devices behind the inventive apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Young T. Shen, Frank B. Peterson, Scott Gowing
  • Patent number: 6171160
    Abstract: A floating devices connection and/or storage system, including a wide variety of hermaphroditic and non-hermaphroditic connectors for interconnecting two or more floating devices together. The connectors may be original equipment or added as after-market items. Storage devices include structure for storing floating devices from a vertical surface, spaced therefrom to guard against mold and mildew formation on the floating devices by assuring air flow about the stored device. A floating table, which is also disclosed, has a unitary structure and is useful in water or on land, having a weighted base and water-draining top surface, the water-draining top surface being slightly convex in structure. Further disclosed is a floating water lounge, the lounge including a floating wedge portion and being anchorable to prevent drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Shelley S. Skaggs, Barry Skaggs
  • Patent number: 6171161
    Abstract: An inflatable water craft including an inboard storage compartment. The storage compartment extends between the top and bottom surfaces of the body of the water craft and includes inflatable sidewalls and an inflatable cover that provide an insulated compartment for carrying items such as beverages and food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sportsstuff Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6171162
    Abstract: In an electron-emitting device including, between electrodes, an electroconductive film having an electron emitting region, the electroconductive film has a film formed in the electron emitting region and made primarily of a material having a higher melting point than that of a material of the electrdconductive film. Alternatively, the electroconductive film has a film formed in the electron emitting region and made primarily of a material having a higher temperature at which the material develops a vapor pressure of 1.3×10−3 Pa, than that of a material of the electroconductive film. A manufacturing method of an electron-emitting device includes a step of forming a film made primarily of a metal in the electron emitting region of the electroconductive film. The electron-emitting device has stable characteristics and improved efficiency of electron emission. An image-forming apparatus comprising the electron-emitting devices has high luminance and excellent stability in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasaki, Masato Yamanobe, Takeo Tsukamoto, Keisuke Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 6171163
    Abstract: A process for producing a field-emission cold cathode, which comprises steps of applying a protective sheet onto a wafer having a plurality of field-emitters formed at the surface and then dicing the resulting material to obtain individual devices, wherein the protective sheet is fitted to a frame for protective sheet and, in that state, is provided with preventive means for flowing adhesive, at the areas of the adhesive layer corresponding to the emitter areas, or wherein, at the time of the application of the protective sheet onto the wafer, the pressure applied to the protective sheet is reduced at the areas of the protective sheet corresponding to each emitter area, or wherein the protective sheet contains microspheres in the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuya Seko, Tadahiro Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 6171164
    Abstract: A method of forming emitter tips for use in a field emission array is disclosed. The tips are formed by utilizing a polymer residue that forms during the dry etch sharpening step to hold the mask caps in place on the emitter tips. The residue polymer continues to support the mask caps as the tips are over-etched, enabling the tips to be etched past sharp without losing their shape and sharpness. The dry etch utilizes an etchant comprised of fluorine and chlorine gases. The mask caps and residue polymer are easily removed after etching by washing the wafers in a wash of deionized water, or Buffered Oxide Etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6171165
    Abstract: A method and an accompanied apparatus for aligning an electron emitter with an extractor hole of a microcolumn. Four V-grooves, defined together with the window for forming the membrane and having bottoms situated on two axis are microfabricated on a chip. The axis intersect at a right angle and defines a center point for the extractor hole. The V-grooves are then used as references to align the electron emitter with the extractor hole, one axis at a time. The emitter is precisely aligned to the extractor hole because the extractor hole was formed with reference to the V-grooves. The thickness of the chip is used as the spacing reference between the emitter and the extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Etec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho-Seob Kim, Kim Y. Lee, T. H. P. Chang
  • Patent number: 6171166
    Abstract: A container, typically for use as a pi{tilde over (n)}ata is disclosed. The container comprises a containing chamber having an opening on one side, and a plurality of handles fixably attached to the containing chamber and extending outwardly from the opening of that chamber; a pull line, fixably attached to the chamber, the pull line passing through at least one face of the chamber, so that when the pull line is pulled with sufficient force the chamber will rupture; and a shroud chamber having an opening on one side, and a plurality of slots on a side opposite the opening of the shroud chamber, that chamber being positioned atop the containing chamber to shroud the opening of the containing chamber with the side opposite the opening of the shroud chamber. The handles of the containing chamber are inserted into the slots of the shroud chamber so as to interlock the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Ramiro Oquita
  • Patent number: 6171167
    Abstract: A currency bank includes a housing having an inlet and an opening. A shredded currency mechanism is located in the housing and selectively appears in the opening. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding associated currency into the housing at the inlet. A motor powers the shredded currency mechanism and the feed mechanism. A timing assembly is provided for activating the shredded currency mechanism when the feed mechanism is activated by an associated piece of currency so that it appears that the associated currency being fed into the housing is being shredded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mag-Nif Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerzy Perkitny, William J. Knox
  • Patent number: 6171168
    Abstract: An electronic device or module which, when in contact with or remote from an object, recognizes the object and plays sounds, creates movement in the object, or turns on lights, or activates other electrical circuits appropriate to the object's identity, environment and/or movement of any parts of that object. The object need not contain any electronics or a power source and need not be connected to the device electronically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Carterbench Product Development Limited
    Inventor: Richard V. Jessop
  • Patent number: 6171169
    Abstract: A toy figure torso supports at least one pivotal arm together with a spring-loaded mechanism urging the arm toward pivotal motion in a forward direction. A spring is coupled to the arm and provides the urging force. A trigger and latch mechanism is supported within the torso of the toy figure and is operable by a push button supported at the torso rear. The mechanism includes a cooperating lock arm and a cam which engage to inhibit return motion when the toy figure arm is raised to the cocked position. Energy is stored in the spring which is released by activation of the push button allowing rapid forwardly pivoting motion of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff A. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6171170
    Abstract: A type of musical rotating luminous device is composed of a base, retarding device, rotating stand, outer shell and a luminous device. It utilizes the battery's power within the base to make the motor drive the retarding device. Within the said rotating stand, a central shaft is connected to a retarding device. At one end of the central shaft, a drive sprocket is fitted on, while the other end is attached to a stand's rotary wheel. Additionally, in each corner of a containment space, a plurality of shaft rods pass through the stand. At the other end of the shaft rods, drive sprockets of different diameter sizes are attached. Between the shaft rods and the central shaft the drive sprockets engage a plurality of driven sprockets, transferring the driven force. Furthermore, the outer shell houses the said base, retarding device and rotating stand. When in use, and due to the different diameter sizes of the drive sprockets, the central shaft and the shaft rods will spin at different speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Cheng-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 6171171
    Abstract: A substantially solid light conductive toy vehicle body is fabricated to include a light cavity in which a light emitting diode is supported. A vehicle drive mechanism is operatively coupled to a pair of charging terminals and a power storage capacitor. The light emitting diode is energized when the power supply capacitor is charged to permeate light into the solid light transmissive body of the toy vehicle. The outer surface of the toy vehicle body is light transmissive and is coated, for the most part, by an opaque coating. A plurality of light transmissive openings are formed in the opaque coating to allow selectively determined points of light to permeate light from the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Barthold
  • Patent number: 6171172
    Abstract: A toy that can move around an object. The toy includes a drive mechanism that can move a housing in either a first direction or a second direction. The toy also includes a sensor that can be used to remotely sense an object. The sensor and drive mechanisms are coupled to a controller that can change the direction of the housing when the object is remotely sensed through the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: George Foster, Elliot A. Rudell, Roger Gardner, Raymond Earl Fisher
  • Patent number: 6171173
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a toy refrigerator with a body and a door that has an activity surface, which is either a metallic surface or a writing surface, such as a whiteboard. The body and the door is made either from plastic material or from wood. The activity surface is used as a space to teach children through use of additional play items such as magnetized alphabets or figures. The activity surface is alternatively used as writing or drawing or posting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: ABC School Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Alcala, Sofia Dumery, Sun Chul Kim, Kimberly Leonard, Andrew Schloss
  • Patent number: 6171174
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a polishing tool having multiple arms is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a first removal rate for each arm based on a first wafer run is determined. A downforce adjustment input for each arm is then determined based on a process model, for the arms, which relates a removal rate for a given arm to downforce adjustments on each of the arms and using each first removal rate. The downforce adjustment input for each arm is provided to the polishing tool for polishing a subsequent run. In this manner, the method takes into account each arms removal rate dependency on the downforce adjustments for all of the arms. This can provide reduced removal rate variations between arms as well as between wafer lots and improve the characteristics of the ultimately formed semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices
    Inventors: William Jarrett Campbell, Christopher Henry Raeder, Michael Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 6171175
    Abstract: Method of automatic finishing of a free-form contoured metal or hard die surface, comprising: providing a rotating brush with a central hub carried by a driving spindle for rotation about the hub axis; providing the brush hub with a plurality of closely spaced resilient and independently flexible strands possessing abrasive polishing particles, each strand being secured at one end in the hub and having its other end extending radially away therefrom to present an apparent curved surface of closely spaced strand ends (the series of touching or closely spaced strand ends forming at least a portion of a spherical surface); and rotatingly driving the hub and strands at a constant torque while dragging the ends of said strands across the die surface while in contact therewith to effect the desired degree of polishing. The coating of abrasive polishing particles can be selected from the group of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide or silicon carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Joseph Carl Schim, Christopher Stoll, Marc A. Walther, Paul Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6171176
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method of forming a series of hills and valleys alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch on the surface of a given workpiece. It comprises the steps of: carrying out a first grinding on the workpiece with a saw-toothed grindstone having a series of hills and valleys alternately arranged at “N” pitches (“N” being two or more integer or whole number), the height measured from the bottom of the valley to the peak of the hill in the saw-toothed grindstone being taller than the corresponding height in the workpiece; moving the saw-toothed grindstone and/or the workpiece one pitch relative to each other to carry out a second grinding on the workpiece; and repeating the relative movement of one-pitch long-distance and sequential grinding until the final “N”th grinding has been finished. All grindings are effected while the workpiece is being cooled by cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Kajiyama, Kazuma Sekiya
  • Patent number: 6171177
    Abstract: Midspan access to selected optical fibers which are encapsulated in an optical ribbon or tube is achieved by placing the desired span of the encapsulated fibers to be accessed between opposing abrasive layers and controllably urging at least one of the abrasive layers in the direction of the opposing abrasive layer to cause both abrasive layers to contact the encapsulant which covers the fibers. The amount of force applied to the at least one abrasive layer is limited by the structure of a resilient element which is coupled to the abrasive surface. Stress concentrators are created in the encapsulant and the encapsulant is removed from the span portion by relative movement of the encapsulated fibers and the abrasive layers. A minimum separation distance between the opposing abrasive layers can be defined, according to the thickness of the specific encapsulated fiber medium undergoing fiber separation, to avoid contact between the abrasive surfaces and the fibers within the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Pirelli Cable Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Fitz
  • Patent number: 6171178
    Abstract: A wave beveling machine is disclosed which produces a wave bevel on a glass work piece. The machine includes a feed path that is adapted to receive a glass work piece and which includes a plurality of spaced-apart treatment heads adjacent the feed path and adapted to sequentially engage the edge region of the work piece as the work piece is moved along the feed path. Each of the plurality of heads includes at least one contact region adapted to contact the edge region of the work piece, and one or more of the heads is adapted to abrade glass from the edge region when in contact with the edge region. The machine further includes a treatment head positioning system adapted to cause the contact regions of the plurality of heads and the edge region of the work piece to be engaged and cyclically moved in an oscillating path with respect to each other to produce the wave bevel on the edge region. The machine may further include one or more conveyors that support and move the work piece along the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Kyung Park
  • Patent number: 6171179
    Abstract: A ball grinding machine for grinding ceramic bearing balls and the method thereto employing a non-rotating upper circular plate and a rotating lower circular plate to perform precision grinding of ceramic balls. The grinding mechanism according to the present invention comprises two or more separate concentric fixed rings, adjacent annular recesses into the lower surface of the upper circular plate, and corresponding two or more concentric hydraulic pressure rings inserted into said recesses, each with a slanted bottom surface towards the adjacent fixed ring for supplying pressure to the ceramic bearing balls on top of the lower circular plate at a sloped angle. The inner surface of the fixed ring, the slanted bottom surface of the pressure ring, and the grinding surface of a diamond grinding wheel installed on top of the rotating lower circular plate together form a grinding track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Yuang-Cherng Chiou, Rong-Tsong Lee
  • Patent number: 6171180
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a method for using an abrasive surface and a particle-free liquid to polish a dielectric, wherein the dielectric is deposited within an isolation trench and across a polish stop surface such that a recess region of the dielectric is spaced below the polish stop surface. In an embodiment, the dielectric is an isolation oxide, and the polish stop surface belongs to an upper surface of a nitride layer formed above a silicon-based substrate. The surface of the dielectric is positioned laterally adjacent the abrasive polishing surface such that the particle-free liquid is positioned at the interface between the dielectric and the polishing surface. The particle-free liquid is preferably deionized water, and the abrasive polishing surface is preferably a polymeric matrix entrained with particles composed of, e.g., ceria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William W. C. Koutny, Jr., Chidambaram G. Kallingal, Krishnaswamy Ramkumar
  • Patent number: 6171181
    Abstract: A polishing pad is formed as a one-piece article having a region which is transparent and an adjacent region which is opaque. The article is formed by solidifying a flowable polymeric material which at least initially has a uniform composition. The flowable polymeric material is processed during a molding operation to provide the transparent region and the adjacent opaque region. Types of polymeric material suitable for making the polishing pad include a single thermoplastic material, a blend of thermoplastic materials, and a reactive thermosetting polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. H. Roberts, Barry Scott Pinheiro, David B. James
  • Patent number: 6171182
    Abstract: A coin sorter for sorting mixed coins by denomination includes a rotatable disc, a drive motor for rotating the disc, and a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom. The lower surface of the sorting head forms a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different denominations to different exit locations around the periphery of the disc. Shunting mechanisms are disposed in one or more of the exit channels or are disposed outside the periphery of the disc adjacent one or more of the exit locations. These shunting mechanisms are used to separate coins into two or more batches for the purpose of either discriminating between valid coins and invalid coins or for the purpose of accumulating a predetermined number of coins in one batch and then accumulating additional coins in another batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Geib, William J. Jones, Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U. Mennie, Gary P. Watts
  • Patent number: 6171183
    Abstract: Actuation means for actuating a structural part in an automobile, particuarly a flap for a fan, wherein the part is pivotally supported about an axis, comprising a pull wire a power transfer component connected to the pull wire and the structural part, and a damper coupled to the power transfer component or the structural part, with the power transfer component including a resilient portion such that upon exerting tension on the power transfer component the resilient portion is deformed until a force is transferred to the structural part or the damper element, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: ITW- ATECO GmbH
    Inventors: Ute Villbrandt, Roland Klein
  • Patent number: 6171184
    Abstract: A window system for defrosting the windows of a vehicle comprises a windshield assembly having first and second spaced-apart panes of glass with an interlayer of air space therebetween. A frame surrounds the panes and maintains the air space therebetween. An inlet extends through the bottom wall of the frame for entry of air between the windshield panes. An outlet extends through a side wall of the frame for discharging air from between the windshield panes. The system also includes a plurality of window assemblies, each window assembly including first and second panes with an air space therebetween. An inlet extends through one side of the window frame for entry of air between the window panes. An outlet extends through an opposed side of the window frame for discharge of the air therefrom. The inlets and outlets of the windshield and window assemblies are positioned such that air may freely pass between adjacent assemblies through channels extending through vehicle support posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Robbins
  • Patent number: 6171185
    Abstract: A power saving operational control method of an air conditioner adapted to maintain a room space at a pleasant state regardless of a distance from an indoor unit and size of the room space, thereby increasing a power saving effect, the method comprising the steps of: turning on or turning off a compressor according to a comparative result between a set-up temperature input by a user and room temperature to maintain the room temperature at the set-up temperature; discriminating whether a power saving operation signal is input; swinging the vertical/horizontal vanes vertically and horizontally to adjust directions of discharged air to the entire area of the room when it is discriminated at the signal input discriminate step that the power saving operation signal is input; discriminating whether the compressor is rendered active when it is discriminated at the signal input discrimination step that the power saving operation signal is input; calculating a power saving set-up temperature according to the room temp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 6171186
    Abstract: In a race game comprising a preliminary round and a main race, a player can start the game without waiting for other players, the boredom of waiting time is eliminated, and skillful players can be satisfied with the game. An image processing device for generating game images, and a plurality of game units each provided respectively with communications control devices connected to this image processing device, which control communications with other devices, are provided, and the communications control devices are connected to each other. When any of the players inserts a coin, the corresponding communications control device immediately starts a preliminary round, and when this preliminary round is completed, it displays a demonstration screen during the waiting period before the start of the main race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Masahito Kurosawa, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6171187
    Abstract: An interface device between a user and a CPU or a network terminal, e.g. a microcomputer keyboard or a game console accessory, includes control apparatus such as keys provided on the top surface of a housing and at least two buttons on each of the two side surfaces of the keyboard, the buttons being connected to the connections of certain keys. The keyboard may also be provided with supporting areas on both front corners and on the front edge of the top side, with a microswitch being provided beneath each of the areas and connected in parallel to any one of the keys on the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Audebert, Josette Riviere-Audebert