Patents Issued in April 24, 2001
  • Patent number: 6220586
    Abstract: A multiple torsion spring assembly according to the present invention may be provided with a coiled helical torsion spring. The spring has first and second end coils, and a plurality of intermediate coils between the first and second end coils. The first end coil inner diameter is less than the inner diameter of the intermediate coils. The second end coil inner diameter is less than the inner diameter of the first end coil. The spring may be used to control a throttle return of a throttle body. Methods of manufacturing spring assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Precision Products Group
    Inventors: Robert J. Pavlin, Todd K. Watkins, Gary T. Wehnes, Curt A. Converse, James E. Adams
  • Patent number: 6220587
    Abstract: A vibration dampening assembly and a suspension system for use, for example, between a cab and a flame of a truck, has a link with a first end pivotably interconnected with a second plate at a first support pivot, a lever with a first end pivotably interconnected with the second end of the link at a link pivot, a shock absorber, the first end of which is pivotably interconnected with the lever second end at a shock pivot and the second end of which is pivotably interconnected to a first or the second plate at a second pivot support spaced from the first support pivot wherein the lever is pivotably interconnected with the first plate at a main pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends thereof. In one embodiment, the shock absorber central axis and the lever longitudinal axis are parallel when the supporting body and the suspended body are in a static condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Holland Neway International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McKenzie, Richard L. Conaway
  • Patent number: 6220588
    Abstract: A toggle clamping device or piston-cylinder unit including mechanism for adjusting the opening angle of the clamping arm. Within the cylinder there are a number of interrogator devices that function to determine the position of pistons within the cylinder and transmit this information to a micro processor. The location of the interrogator devices can be adjusted. Also within the cylinder there are damping mechanism, the location of which can also be adjusted. When the toggle clamping device is in use, the opening angle of the clamping arm, the final-position of the interrogator devices and the final-position of the damping mechanism can be adjusted and locked simultaneously and jointly through a single adjusting element from the outside of the device without dismantling the toggle clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Tunkers Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Josef-Gerhard Tünkers
  • Patent number: 6220589
    Abstract: A two-way dual action clamp for accurately clamping together two or more workpieces. The clamps are particularly useful in temporarily clamping together two European style wall cabinets prior to permanently joining the units together with a plurality of screws. Each clamp has two jaws, one L-shaped and one I-shaped which, when assembled form a U-shape. The jaws are manipulated by a hand operating screw so as to clamp together workpieces such as abutting sides of frameless cabinet units. A second hand operating screw carries a pressure plate and extends transversely through a threaded opening in the bight portion of the U-assembly. The pressure plate acts to bring edges of the cabinet units into flush relationship. The distal ends of the jaws are provided with spring actuated workpiece engaging and retaining cams which are spread apart to a limited extent when workpieces are inserted between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Adjustable Clamp Company
    Inventors: Eugene L. Smith, III, James J. Gurule
  • Patent number: 6220590
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a hopper loader apparatus for separating and forming an overlapping shingled stream of individual signatures of sheet materials from a vertically aligned, parallelepiped shaped stack of such signatures for subsequent handling operations. The hopper loader has a slippage resistant belt which engages a bottom edge of each signature and assists in preventing the signatures from slipping by keeping them upstanding. Preferably the slippage resistant belt has an array of projections extending upwardly from a belt surface which secures the signatures in place. This produces a smooth, regular, even signature stream. Individual signatures flow reliably, one-by-one off of the downward conveyor to another conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Systems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry L. Bates, Everardo Garza
  • Patent number: 6220591
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for conveying flexible sheet-like products wherein a plurality of conveying elements (12) are arranged one behind the other on a rotatable support member in a circular array, and each conveying element comprises a roller segment (24), which is driven continuously in the direction of rotation (D), and a mating element (26), which interacts with the roller segment. In the product receiving region (14), a recess section (44) of the respective roller segment (24) forms, with the mating element (26), an introduction gap (48), of which the leading end is closed. The forward position of the recess section (44) forms a stop (62) for engaging the leading edge (52) of the fed product (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: H. Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 6220592
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a stacking device for stacking a sheet, a delivering device for delivering the sheet to the stacking device, and a pulling device for pulling in a direction opposite to a delivery direction the sheet delivered to the stacking device. The pulling device is structured to keep approximately constant a contract pressure exerted to the topmost sheet delivered on the stacking device, and the pulling device is formed in a tapered shape whose one end is narrower than the opposite end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Yamada, Yuji Morishige, Kazuo Onodera
  • Patent number: 6220593
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6220594
    Abstract: A device is provided for automatically discriminating a spot number of an upward face of a die with six faces. The device includes a signal transmitter embedded in the dice and a receiver device. The receiver device includes a set of receiver and an operation computer. The signal transmitter includes a substrate embedded in the die with respect to one of the six faces of the die. A sensor chip is mounted on the substrate. The substrate further includes four comer areas each having a conductive element mounted thereon. Each mercury switch extends upward and outward from and electrically connects to each conductive element in a manner that each mercury switch is at an angle of 15°˜75° with the substrate. Each mercury switch contains conductive mercury therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Yun-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 6220595
    Abstract: In a game in which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, the rules provide for movement of movable playing pieces over spaces on a game board and for acquisition of property-type playing pieces from another player incident to a confrontation that occurs upon movement of one player's movable playing piece onto a space occupied by another player's movable playing piece. The outcome of the confrontation is determined by chance by using a random-output device, such as dice, or a random-output routine executed by a computer. The outcome of a turn involves an element of chance, as determined by a random-output device, and indicates either a number of spaces for movement of a movable playing piece, or that the player taking the turn has a choice of changing a variable rule that currently is not most favorable to such player so that such variable rule becomes more favorable to such player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Edward William Callan
  • Patent number: 6220596
    Abstract: A game which is played on a matrix having three columns and three rows. There are a pair of headers on the opposed sides of the rows. There is also a header on the columns. The letters in BINGO are distributed in any five spaces in these eight header spaces. The players may select the numbers in the matrix. A game which has similarities to BINGO, but which provides additional variables and player participation is thereby provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Michael J. Horan
  • Patent number: 6220597
    Abstract: A novel game and board or surface is played in combination by at least two players, one being a player and bettor and the other being a dealer or croupier using at least one standard deck of 52 cards. Also used by the croupier are a shuffling machine for cards, a dealing machine for cards and a catch bin for discarded or played cards. The order of play and payoffs for each bet are set by the house or the croupier. The novel game is played by a player first placing a bet in a betting spot using chips, for example. Next, the dealer deals six cards to each player face down onto an area on the table called a pot and designated for that player and afterwards deals six cards to another area on the table called a dealer's pot in a location on the table designated for the dealer's pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph Scibetta
  • Patent number: 6220598
    Abstract: A protective skirt is disposed on the surface of a gaming table of the type having a player area and a dealer area. The gaming table additionally includes a rail covering the margin of the gaming table proximate the player area. The skirt includes an inner edge, which may be optionally tapered, and an outer edge disposed proximate the rail such that the skirt extends onto the gaming table surface to overlay at least a portion of the player area of the gaming table. Optionally, the outer edge has a shape to substantially conform to the shape of the gaming table. Thus, for a gaming table that is arcuate, the outer edge is substantially arcuate. In an optional embodiment, the skirt may be fixed by securing the outer edge between the rail and the gaming table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Ira Kweitko, Wayne Bossung
  • Patent number: 6220599
    Abstract: The dive stick is a one piece molded flexible polymer having four elongated wings joined at a common edge at right angles to each other. An enclosure is molded to one end of the four elongated wings and a first shelf is molded to the opposite end. A second shelf is parallel and spaced apart from the first shelf. In a first game, one or more dive sticks are thrown into a pool. Different players are timed to determine who can retrieve the dive sticks the fastest. A second game is played by dropping a dive stick at one end of the pool and having a race to see who can retrieve a dive stick and return to his/her side of the pool the fastest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Florida Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Eisch
  • Patent number: 6220600
    Abstract: An annular wear sleeve for a shaft seal is fabricated of an elastically deformable metal material and includes an annular body portion and an end flange portion. The sleeve is slightly oversized relative to the shaft on which it is installed to provide a low force slip-fit installation on the shaft. Once installed, the end flange is elastically deformed, imparting a radially inward bending force on the body portion causing the inner surface of the wear sleeve to constrict about and engage the outer surface of the shaft, providing intimate metal-to-metal contact therebetween to dissipate heat from the seal member and to secure the wear sleeve against rotation on the shaft in service. Releasing the deformation force on the end flange enables the wear sleeve to recover its elastic deformation, causing the wear sleeve to release the constricting engagement with the shaft enabling it to be dismounted from the shaft with low force in the same manner as was required for installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhawani Sankar Tripathy, David Michael Toth, Brent Ryan Sedlar
  • Patent number: 6220601
    Abstract: A mechanical face seal device includes a bellows assembly comprising a bellows member of resilient material having axially spaced mounting portions interconnected by an intermediate foldable portion, one of said mounting portions being adapted to be fixed relative to a rotary component whilst the other is in torque transferring relationship with a rotary annular seal member, and a biasing means for diasing the rotary annular seal member against the stationary annular seal member. An essentially stiff support member having a predetermined radial dimension is provided for axially supporting the rotary annular seal member and is itself supported by the bellows member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Feodor Burgmann Dichtungswerke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Keller, Ulrich Reinfrank, Wolfgang Ries, Reinhard Svejkovsky, Robert Woppowa, Dieter Ziegenbein
  • Patent number: 6220602
    Abstract: A seal arrangement (40) between relatively movable components (42,48) includes at least one magnet (54) on a first component (48) and at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42). A clearance (55) is defined between the at least one magnet (54) on the first component (48) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42). Springs (58) bias the at least one magnet (54) on the first component (48) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42) towards each other. The at least one magnet (54) on the first component (42) and the at least one magnet (56) on the second component (42) are arranged to repel each other against the spring (58) to control the clearance (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: John R Webster, David S Knott
  • Patent number: 6220603
    Abstract: A segmented seal ring and spring system for very low pressure drop zones in steam turbines for minimizing leakage between rotating and stationary components, and preventing damage and wear thereto, including a segmented seal ring, with first springs biased against the seal segments to urge the segments radially inwardly toward a small clearance position of the seal ring with respect to the turbine shaft secondary springs to counter the weight of the segments; with the combination of said springs gently urging the seal segments into the small clearance position while allowing clearance enlargement with small resulting forces on the shaft during periods of misalignment and rubbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Ronald Earl Brandon, David Earl Brandon
  • Patent number: 6220604
    Abstract: A self-adjusting interlocking throat bushing is provided in which mating concentric bushing rings are provided with an interlocking annular slot in the outer bushing ring and an annular ridge at the periphery of the inner bushing ring to hold the two rings in axial alignment when bushing is installed and the packing gland is tightened to compress the packing ring between the gland and the bushing. The annular slot/ridge structure prevents canting of the parts of throat bushing during packing ring compression thereby eliminating packing extrusion between the shaft and the annulus of the bushing. Before compression, the concentric rings are held together in alignment so that the bottom ring cannot drop out of its proper position prior to compression. After compression, the locking structure comprising the slot and ridge structure results in the bushing being compressed evenly about the shaft, thereby to eliminate misalignment and shaft sleeve wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: George B. Champlin
  • Patent number: 6220605
    Abstract: A slip joint for an engine exhaust system having a male and female manifold section which utilizes a sleeve assembly that is disposed about one of the manifold sections. The sleeve assembly has a positioning portion and locating portion. The positioning portion is in sealing engagement with one of the manifold sections and the locating portion is in resiliently sealing engagement with the other manifold section. The principle use is for exhaust manifold connections, however any joint that has thermal expansion or encounters vibrational loads will benefit from this invention. For example, exhaust gas recirculation systems may have passages connected with this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore H. Becker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6220606
    Abstract: A laminate-type metallic gasket comprising adjacent combustion chamber holes (A, A), a pair of bead substrates (3, 4) made of an elastic metallic plate with a bead (1) formed along each of the combustion chamber holes (A, A) and first and second intermediate plates (6, 8), in which peak portions of beads (1) are symmetrically opposite to each other, disposed between the two bead substrates (3, 4) according to the present invention wherein a first intermediate plate (6) is provided with a step (9) having a thickness less than that of a second intermediate (8) formed along an edge portion (7) of the combustion chamber holes (A, A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignees: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidousha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kawaguchi, Kenji Kubouchi, Tadaumi Matsumoto, Jin Hashioka, Takeshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6220607
    Abstract: A thermally conductive medium includes a body with a first melting point and phase-changing material encapsulating a portion of the body, with the phase-changing material having a second melting point. The first melting point is greater than the second melting point, and the phase-changing material is configured to be in a liquid phase at temperatures above the second melting point and a solid phase at temperatures below the same. In the liquid phase, an adhesive force is present between the body and the phase-changing material due to capillary attraction, and the phase-changing material may be wettable to one of the two surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard M. Schneider, Edwin C. Weldon, Ananda H. Kumar, Kadthala R. Narendrnath
  • Patent number: 6220608
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a chucking system. The body of the chucking system preferably houses cam plates which may be driven manually by an independent worm shaft, or hydraulically by a piston/gear rack in lieu of a worm shaft. A face plate preferably houses four master jaws. The jaws may be engaged to the cam plates by pins. The jaws may be moved inward and outward preferably by rotation of the cam plates due to the ascending/descending slope of the slots in the cam plates. Each set of two jaws may be driven independently of the other because of the two separate cam plate mechanisms. The top cam plate is preferably held concentrically to the bottom cam plate by a needle bearing. The entire cam plate may “sandwich” pivot on a center tube which may be anchored in the base of the body and the top face plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: American Workholding, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard T. Varnau
  • Patent number: 6220609
    Abstract: A ride-on vehicle having a longitudinal axis includes a body; a rear axle having a crank portion therein and rotatably secured to the body; a pair of spaced-apart driven rear wheels eccentrically fixed to the rear axle; a forward crank rotatably secured to the body and driven by a vehicle rider; and a shaft extending between the rear axle crank portion and the forward crank; wherein rotation of the forward crank results in a driving force being transmitted through the shaft to the rear axle crank portion, thereby causing the vehicle to move along its longitudinal axis and wherein the body oscillates vertically when the vehicle moves along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Columbia-Inland Corporation
    Inventor: Micheal D. Jones
  • Patent number: 6220610
    Abstract: A carrier for a gravity discharge, liquid reservoir is provided with a waste receptacle beneath the reservoir. The reservoir and receptacle are mounted to a mobile tubular frame. An upper shelf spans the space between the legs of the frame and supports the reservoir. A security strap is extensible across the front of the reservoir and around the front legs of the frame. Retaining brackets attach the receptacle to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Alert Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lem L. Cox
  • Patent number: 6220611
    Abstract: A wheeled carrier device is provided which includes a plurality of foldable walls supported on a base member and movable between an erected state wherein the walls define a carrier space and a collapsed state wherein the walls are folded on top of the base member. The carrier device has at least two wheels and a wheel mounting assembly pivotably mounts the wheels on the device on opposite sides thereof such that the wheels are movable through 270° from a first, operative position wherein the wheels support the carrier device and a second, inoperative position wherein the wheels are folded over on top of the folded walls in the collapsed state thereof. A handle is affixed to the carrier device and is movable between an operative state wherein the handle can be used to pull the carrier device and an inoperative state wherein the handle is stowed in substantially flush relation with the remainder of the carrier in the collapsed state of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Richard N. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6220612
    Abstract: A cambering vehicle includes a single steerable front wheel and a pair of rear wheels at the rearward ends of trailing arms extending from the front structure. The two trailing arms are articulated to the front structure, and may move arcuately in a plane parallel to the front wheel column of the vehicle. The two trailing arms are linked together by a novel yoke mechanism, and move in opposite directions but in equal arcuate distances relative to one another. The vehicle operates using the principle of conservation of angular momentum, with the vehicle traveling a sinusoidal path and the operator leaning to the inside of the turn. This moves the center of gravity of the vehicle and operator to the inside of the turn, thus accelerating the vehicle and operator along the path of the turn to increase the velocity of the device. The yoke mechanism of the vehicle may be quickly and easily removed, thus allowing the vehicle to be folded for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: J. Gildo Beleski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6220613
    Abstract: An X type hydro-pneumatic vehicle suspension system has diagonally opposite wheel support cylinders cross connected rod side to bore side to make a pair of discrete hydraulic circuits for each pair of diagonally opposite wheels of the vehicle. Each discrete circuit has two gas charged accumulators, one near the front and one near the rear. The gas chambers of accumulators in the two pairs of discrete hydraulic circuits are connected in a variety of ways to equalize pressures between the pairs of circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Franzini
  • Patent number: 6220614
    Abstract: An improved bicycle includes a selective positioning system for providing rider-controlled vertical movement of a passenger support construction relative to the bicycle wheels. The bicycle employs an energy conversion construction that converts rotational energy from one of the bicycle wheels into translational energy. This translational energy is utilized by cooperative lifting assemblies to move the passenger support construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: David S. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 6220615
    Abstract: A therapeutic wheelchair that includes an auxiliary frame attached to the main frame of the wheelchair. An auxiliary drive wheel is mounted in the auxiliary frame and is coupled through a drive linkage to a pair of leg operated levers whereby the auxiliary drive wheel is rotated as the levers are moved up and down to propel the wheelchair. A lifting mechanism is provided for raising the auxiliary drive wheel so that the wheel can be driven through the levers without propelling the wheelchair to provide therapy to a person confined to the chair or alternatively, allowing the chair to be used in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: H. F. Brown Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Chubbuck
  • Patent number: 6220616
    Abstract: An arm rest assembly for a wheelchair movable between a lowered position suitable for resting an arm thereon and a raised position suitable for gaining access to the seat of the wheelchair. The arm rest assembly comprises two generally parallel arm elements, each of which are pivotally attached to the wheelchair frame at a point adjacent to the back of the wheelchair. The lower arm element is linked to the upper arm element by way of a sliding pin positioned within a longitudinal slot in the upper arm element. One end of the longitudinal slot includes an angled segment into which the sliding pin falls when the arm rest assembly is in a lowered position. This angled segment of the slot locks the two arm elements into a parallel configuration and prevents their rotation with respect to the attachment points on the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Teftec Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Finch
  • Patent number: 6220617
    Abstract: An improved coupling device for connecting a towing vehicle to a semi-trailer and including a kingpin for attachment to a trailer and a tractor coupling plate for attachment to a towing vehicle, the tractor coupling plate having locking elements for positive and rotatable grasping of substantially rotationally symmetrical surfaces of the kingpin. The kingpin surfaces are formed by the outer surfaces of a thermally coated sleeve disposed about a kingpin stud and rotatable thereon. A method for corresponding modification of used coupling devices is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Walter Hunger
  • Patent number: 6220618
    Abstract: A Trailer hitch for towing a four wheeled vehicle. The hitch has a fixed in place portion attached to the towing vehicle and a translatable portion attached to the vehicle being towed. The translatable portion is spring biased to a center position. A damper is attached between the fixed portion and the translatable portion to prevent abrupt movement of the translatable portion. The hitch provides controlled lateral movement between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle to diminish wear on the front end parts and tires of the towed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Philip Smith, Joann Smith
  • Patent number: 6220619
    Abstract: Holding device comprising a body (1) mounted so as to slide in a rail (4) on which it is maintained in position by means of a lock (9) that is articulated to the body (1) and is provided with an unlocking lever (20). This unlocking lever is provided with two lateral flanges (21, 22) extending toward the rail, on each side of the central region of the latter. The flanges (21, 22) are preferably divergent and their rear edge (23) is inclined. This form of unlocking lever secures the lock against accidental unlocking in the event of impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Skis Rossignol S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Bardin, Florence Mandon
  • Patent number: 6220620
    Abstract: A rehabilitation chair comprises upper frame, lower and intermediate frames. The upper frame has a seat, side frames with arm assemblies, a pivotable front cross-arm and a back, while the intermediate frame includes a height adjustment unit and the lower frame includes legs and wheels. The wheels are located outboard of the seat to enhance stability, while the legs are positioned to provide a free space for the user's legs to facilitate user propulsion of the chair when the user is either in a standing or seated position. The seat of the chair is of narrow depth, allowing freedom of leg motion when the user is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Mary M. Harroun
  • Patent number: 6220621
    Abstract: A adjustable and foldable stroller for giving less-than-able adults mobility. The adjustable and foldable stroller includes first and second frames each having a support base member and a plurality of tubular support members attached to the support base member and further includes handle members each being telescopingly received in respective tubular support members, and also includes tubular leg members each having wheels attached thereto and each being telescopingly received in respective tubular support members, and further includes a seat member, a footrest member both made of fabric material and both being detachably attached to respective tubular support members, and further includes a tote bag which can be fastened to the stroller and can be carried on a user's back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Julie L. Newton
  • Patent number: 6220622
    Abstract: A new Wheelbarrow Rear Wheel System for improving the ease of use of a wheelbarrow. The inventive device includes a frame assembly secured to the underside of the tray of a wheelbarrow adjacent the rear end of the tray and a wheel assembly coupled to the frame assembly. The wheel assembly includes a pair of spaced wheels and is adjustable relative to the frame assembly so as to enable a user thereof to raise and lower the rearward portion of the wheelbarrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Guadalupe Garcia
  • Patent number: 6220623
    Abstract: A side airbag device is formed of a casing and an airbag within the casing. The casing is made of an extruded resin and is provided with a plurality of mounting portions at intervals of 500 mm or less by heat pressing. Portions of the airbag are clamped by the mounting portions. The side airbag device can be installed easily to a vehicle body and manufactured at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Yokota
  • Patent number: 6220624
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (26) having a seat (24) for the occupant and a vehicle side structure (28) comprises an air bag module (22) including an air bag (70) inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (10) also comprises a bracket (20) for supporting the air bag module (22) on the vehicle seat (24). The bracket (20) comprises a first bracket portion (90) connectable to the seat frame (50), and a second bracket portion (100) for mounting the module (22). The bracket (20) includes a hinge (120) disposed intermediate the first and second bracket portions (90, 100) and interconnecting the first and second bracket portions. The hinge (120) enables the second bracket portion (100) to pivot relative to the first bracket portion (90) during inflation of the air bag (70) to affect the direction in which the air bag deploys from the vehicle seat (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle M. Abraham, Andrew M. Haig, Anthony C. Burgi
  • Patent number: 6220625
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) which has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprises a pair of overlying panels (40, 42) having overlapping portions that are secured together at points of connection (60). First and second points of connection (70, 72) are spaced vertically apart from each other and positioned along a first straight line (74) that extends between the first and second points of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Wallner, Ayad G. Nayef
  • Patent number: 6220626
    Abstract: A portion of a shoulder belt 6 of an air belt apparatus touching the breast portion of an occupant is composed of an inflatable rubber bag 12 shaped like a tube, a webbing 13 for covering the outside of the bag 12 so that tension is produced in case of a car collision, and a pad 28 for further covering the outside of the webbing 13. The pad 28 has a three-layer structure: the outermost layer is made from raised cloth 29 such as moquette, or the like, which feels pleasant to the touch; the intermediate layer is made from an urethane sheet 30 having elasticity; and the innermost layer is made from base cloth 31 for protecting the urethane sheet 30. The pad 28 has rifts 281 extending longitudinally. The pad 28 and an elastic element 32 made of a belt-like rubber sheet are sewed together with stitches 33 so that the rifts 281 and 281 are connected to each other. When the bag 12 is inflated in case of a car collision, the webbing 13 is inflated by the pressure of the bag 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Utsumi, Hidetsugu Okazaki, Hiroshi Akaba
  • Patent number: 6220627
    Abstract: An occupant detection system (10) for controlling the activation of an air bag inflator (40) incorporates a transmitter/receiver subsystem (20) that generates a beam of wave energy (28, 25) through a region that is occupied by a normally seated occupant and that is not occupied by either an out-of-position occupant or by a rear facing infant seat. If a normally seated occupant is detected from the interaction of an occupant with the beam of wave energy (28, 25), then the air bag inflator (40) is enabled. A range/proximity sensing subsystem (30) determines if an occupant is sufficiently close to an air bag inflator (40) to be at risk of injury by deployment thereof, and if so the air bag inflator (40) is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: James G. Stanley
  • Patent number: 6220628
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an occupant protection device (20), such as an air bag module, that is actuatable for protecting a vehicle occupant (14). The protection device (20) has first and second stages (44 and 46). A first driver (38) actuates the first stage (44) of the protection device (20) and a second driver (42) actuates the second stage (46) of the protection device. An enable arrangement (64) is responsive to actuation of the first stage (44) of the protection device (20) to enable the actuation of the second stage (46) of the protection device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Raad Konja
  • Patent number: 6220629
    Abstract: An inflatable cushion (100,100a) includes a first panel (22a) and a second panel (22b) attached together along a peripheral joint. The joint (30) is subjected to a shearing or peeling load upon inflation of the cushion tending to separate the panels. Each of the first and second panels includes a first layer (24) of flexible structural material and a second (26) bondable layer. A reinforcement (50) is provided to prevent the joint (30) from separating. The reinforcement includes first (52a) and second (52b) strips of material, each having a structural layer (24a) and a bondable layer (26a). The first and second strips are sewn together at a seam (56a) to retard separation of the strips. The seam (56a) separates each of the strips into two portions. The structural layers of the strips face each other and the bondable layers of the strips face outwardly abutting a corresponding bondable layer of one of the first and second panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Robert Tobian
  • Patent number: 6220630
    Abstract: A method and a steering wheel suspension system for reducing the extent of injuries sustained by a driver in the event of a head-on collision of a vehicle that includes a steering wheel fitted with an air bag and having a steering shaft (8) which is rotatably carried in a holder device for steering purposes, wherewith the holder device is, in turn, mounted for rotation about a support shaft (2) which is based from the steering shaft and extends across the vehicle and, under normal conditions, is locked in a determined position relative to the support shaft (2) by means of a breakable locking device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Lars Sundholm, Mats Lindkvist
  • Patent number: 6220631
    Abstract: Skeg structure for a snow-traveling device, such as a snowboard, a ski, and the like including structure appropriate for anchoring to such a device, a deployable, movable skeg blade, and mounting structure which is associated with that blade that promotes adjustable, travel-limited, yieldable, spring-biased motion of the blade relative to an associated snow-traveling device, and specifically, relative to the underside, snow-contacting surface in that device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Doink, Incorporated
    Inventors: John C. Pritchard, Lizlott Pritchard
  • Patent number: 6220632
    Abstract: A binder device for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers. The binder device includes a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: John C. Rosebush
  • Patent number: 6220633
    Abstract: A tamper-evident form for securely carrying information includes a scrambling pattern (4) which underlies the printed information such that the printed information cannot be read. Separation of the printed information and scrambling pattern, or other disabling of the scrambling pattern, is tamper-evident and renders the information readable. In preferred embodiments the information is printed on a lamina (6) which overlies the scrambling pattern (4). The information can be printed by conventional printers and no post-processing of the form is required to render the information secure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Documotion Research Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Bryan Van Boom, Chuck Casagrande, Bernard Willem “Wim” Scheggetman
  • Patent number: 6220634
    Abstract: A branched hose construction contains an insert having at least three legs and a plurality of hoses equal to the number of legs of the insert. Each hose has one end fitted over a leg of the insert. A molded saddle encapsulates the rigid insert and the junctions of its legs with the hoses. The improvement of the invention includes the particular rubber composition used for the molded saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Anh Tran Burrowes
  • Patent number: 6220635
    Abstract: A device 7 for the assembly of a straight spigot 1 and a flange 3 of two pipe elements 2, 4, containing an axial compression sealing elastomer gasket 8. The gasket has a support body 15 bearing against a counter flange 11 to apply pressure to the gasket. To the front of the body 15, and interdependent of it, is a support heel 16 for bearing against the flange. A radial exterior surface 22 of the body is designed to rest on a reaction surface 27, 27a of the counter flange, a radial interior surface 18 of the body is designed to rest on the radial exterior surface 20 of the straight spigot, and a forward surface 31 of the heel is designed to press against the flange to insure the waterproofness of the assembly. The body has at least one recess 26 for the expansion of the elastomer of the pressurized gasket, and the device is fitted with a ring 9 to limit the radial expansion of the heel toward the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Pont-a-Mousson SA
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Vitel, Noel Favier, Andre Schneider, Didier Lescot, Rene Bourgin