Patents Issued in December 25, 2001
  • Patent number: 6332508
    Abstract: The loudspeaker comprises a cone (2) and a beading (4) attached to the cone (2). The beading (4) is composed of a sprayable plastic layer which is soft in its solid state. The manufacture of the loudspeaker is facilitated by a process in which an open negative mold (16) is used in which the cone (2) is arranged and immobilized. Following this, the plastic is sprayed into the open negative mold (16) and the beading (4) is formed as a soft plastic layer which attaches itself to the cone (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Siegfried Schriever
  • Patent number: 6332509
    Abstract: A noise reducer for construction machinery, which efficiently reduces noise at low cost with durability, is provided. For this purpose, lamination plates (8) which are the plates being laminated are bonded, discretely at a predetermined interval (a1), to a part of or the entire of a noise generating element. Lamination plates (8A, 8E) may be bonded discretely at a plurality of kinds of bonding intervals (a1, a2). The lamination plates (8) with the different number of laminations may be bonded according to a noise generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishikawa, Haruhiro Tsubota, Masao Tsujino
  • Patent number: 6332510
    Abstract: A device (a silencer) for silencing a flow of gas, such as an exhaust gas, comprises at least one acoustic chamber (1, 2, 3) through-flowed by gas, at least one inlet pipe (6) for leading gas into the device and at least one pipe or passage (4, 12, 13) interconnecting two chambers or a chamber and an exterior environment or chamber and is designed with such features, including such cross-sectional area transitions between pipes or passages (4, 6, 12, 13) and the chambers (1, 2, 3) that the sound attenuation achieved by the device is high while the pressure drop across the silencer is low and that high attenuation at low characteristic frequencies of flow systems comprising the device are obtained. One or more diffusers (10a, 12a, 13a) for diffusing at least part of the gas flow, e.g., at the inlet to the chambers may be comprised in the device. One or more monolithic bodies or catalyzers may be comprised in the device. Devices with curved or helical passages (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Silentor Holding A/S
    Inventors: Eyvind Frederiksen, Svend Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 6332511
    Abstract: A silencer assembly having a cylindrical chamber having a closed cylindrical outer wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, the first end wall having an inlet therein, and the second end wall having an outlet therein, an internal annular chamber proximate the cylindrical outer wall, the internal annular chamber bounded by the cylindrical outer wall and by a perforated cylindrical inner wall, the internal annular chamber containing single strand fiberglass acoustic fill material, the internal annular chamber having no internal barriers therein, and, a perforated generally cylindrically shaped core located inside of the cylindrical chamber positioned in spaced relation to the internal annular chamber and also in spaced relation to the inlet and outlet, creating a generally annular shaped passageway for exhaust gas, the core containing single strand fiberglass acoustic fill material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Burgess-Manning, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Parlato, James Dennis Stell, Stephen Witt
  • Patent number: 6332512
    Abstract: In a chair type stair elevating device in which upper and lower rails and a rack or chain parallel to the rails are provided along the stairs, an elevating mechanism mounted on the rails is moved by a pinion or sprocket of a driving machine meshing with the rack or chain. A chair is mounted on the elevating mechanism, and the rack or chain is received in the rail in a hidden state. In this way, the rack or chain is invisible, so that the design value of the entire device improves, and it is also possible to prevent injury and soiling of clothes by the rack or chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kumalift Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Muranaka
  • Patent number: 6332513
    Abstract: A safety wheel of a baby's wheeled chair has a support member, a right wheel part, a left wheel part, a ball and a side cover. The support member is connected to a lower side of the wheeled chair. The right wheel part is turnably connected to the support member. The left wheel part is connected to the right wheel part, and has an elongated confining trench. The side cover is connected to the support member adjacent to the left wheel part with the ball confined within the trench and the side cover. The ball can move to a lower end portion of the confining trench due to gravity for same to be stopped by a stopping part of the side cover when the wheel rolls in a first direction, and not to be stopped by the stopping part when the wheel rolls in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Jin Sun Gee Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: A-Chueh Chuang
  • Patent number: 6332514
    Abstract: A mechanically actuated brake or a mechanically actuated clutch comprises a lever block (24) installed between a supporting member (22) and a first driving part (6), a voussoir (21) installed between the supporting member (22) and the lever block (24). Abutting against the supporting member (22), the voussoir (21) is connecting with an operating device and is moved by the operating device which is equipped with a restoring spring (11, 35) for resetting the voussoir (21) while the brake is relieved or the clutch is jointed. There are three force-bearing points (A, B, C) on the lever block (24) which may swing around the second force-bearing point (B) under the coition of the voussoir (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Kun Chen
  • Patent number: 6332515
    Abstract: A brake system for a railroad vehicle having first and second brake beams, two levers pivotally mounting an actuator to the first beam and push rods connecting the levers to the second beam. The first and second brake beams each include a pair of vertically spaced beam members. The levers are mounted to the first brake beam in the space between the beam members to pivot in a plane offset from a center plane of the space. Also, the first and second push rods are mounted to the second brake beam in the space between the beam members to pivot in a plane also offset from the center plane of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: New York Air Brake Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey F. Sauter
  • Patent number: 6332516
    Abstract: A device comprising a generally transversely extending wall (2) with a guide ring (6) securely fastened thereto, an axially movable piston (9) sealingly slidable along the guide ring (6) and rotationally linked to the transverse wall (2) while being axially movable, via tangential resilient blades (40) secured to a driving member (44). The driving member (44) is transparently welded to said wall (2) with a sub-assembly of the member (44), the blades (40) and the piston (9) being formed in advance. Application for motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Rabah Arhab
  • Patent number: 6332517
    Abstract: For a torque converter lock-up clutch (7) a method is proposed in which an application pressure is adapted. To this end, within a first interval, a pressure change is output after a transition function and the existence of the reaction of the torque converter lock-up clutch is tested after output of the application pressure during an application phase from an electronic gear control (13). In the absence of reaction, additional intervals are then output. The application phase is then terminated when the reaction of the torque converter lock-up clutch occurs. The control/regulating phase for the torque converter lock-up clutch (7) follows after the application phase terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6332518
    Abstract: A device for overload protection and for braking a machine part driven by a motor (2), in particular, a tool driven by a cam gear in a stamping and/or bending machine, comprises a module (3), an overload clutch (4) disengaging after exceeding a torque threshold, and a freewheel (6) which, during the braking of the drive shaft (1) blocks in the direction of drive, each being arranged on the drive shaft (1) behind one another in the drive line extending from the motor (2) to the machine part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Hinterlechner
  • Patent number: 6332519
    Abstract: A rolling-element clutch assembly including a first race member, a second race member and a plurality of rolling elements. The first race member defines a first race surface having a first ratchet surface portion. The second race member defines a second race surface having a second ratchet surface portion. The first race surface and the second race surface define a raceway therebetween. A plurality of rolling elements are disposed in the raceway. The rolling elements provide rolling support between the first race member and the second race member when the first race member moves in a first direction relative to the second race member. At least one of the plurality of rolling elements engages the first and second ratchet surface portions when the first race member moves in a second direction relative to the second race member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: General Dynamics Government Systems
    Inventor: John Edward Roberts
  • Patent number: 6332520
    Abstract: The invention is a planar clutch having a plurality of pawls and a related plurality of notches numerically selected so that two more pawls are engaged at substantially the same time, thus sharing and balancing the eccentric forces of engagement between the drive plate and the driven plate. The pawls have a cross-sectional design, wherein each pawl has surfaces for receiving compressive loading forces and is thicker at a middle point between the surfaces for receiving compressing loading forces. A pivot ridge is located at the thickest area of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Costin
  • Patent number: 6332521
    Abstract: In a starting clutch having input side elements and output side elements that are frictionally engaged with each other by receiving an axial load, urging means for permanently urging such elements is provided. Further, in a starting clutch comprising a multi-plate clutch having a hub, a damper device and a housing for covering the multi-plate clutch and the damper device, an outer peripheral side of the hub of the multi-plate clutch is connected to drive side elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Masao Shoji
  • Patent number: 6332522
    Abstract: A control valve of a hydraulic coupling controls pumping through a casing inlet port by a hydraulic pump and/or through a casing outlet port to control coupling between two rotary members such as by operation of a clutch. The casing is connected to one of the rotary members while a pumping component embodied by an impeller is connected to the other rotary member and meshed with an internal ring gear having one more tooth than the number of impeller teeth to provide sufficient pumping capacity so that the pump can act as a brake while still having relatively constant pumping pressure. A pressure port plate creates a hydraulic flow path for a gerotor pump and maintains pressure equalization about the gerotor pump. The pressure/torque controlling groove formed in the grooved port plate creates an efficient use of space, and the dimensions and cross sectional area of the groove can be changed easily to produce different pressure/torque curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: David Marshal Morse, Jun Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6332523
    Abstract: A brake mechanism for braking an axle shaft rotatably supported within an axle housing. A pair of arcuate brake pads are pivotally pinned within the axle housing such that each of the arcuate brake pads can pivot from an brake position engaging the axle shaft and a free position allowing the axle shaft to rotate freely. The arcuate brake pads are spring biased to the free position allowing axle rotation. A simply pulley system is arranged within the axle housing to allow remote actuation of the arcuate brake pads forcing the brake pads into the brake position to frictionally engage the axle shaft thereby providing a braking force. The axle shaft may be splined to engage a corresponding reverse spline profile formed on the inner surface of the arcuate brake pads to provide a positive braking force to lock the shaft preventing rotation. The brake arrangement is preferably employed to brake an input shaft in a differential assembly or in any drive shaft of a transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Spicer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Elwood, Eric W. Swardson
  • Patent number: 6332524
    Abstract: A shift lock device for vehicle, the device comprising: a selector lever shiftable to lots of mode set-up positions including parking, neutral and driving positions; a lock pin movable disposed at the selector lever for engaging to or disengaging from the engagement holes; and lock release means interlocking for the selector lever to be shifted from the parking position to the neutral position or from the neutral position to the parking or driving position when a brake pedal is not depressed, while moving the lock pin to release an engaged state between the lock pin and the engagement holes when the brake pedal is depressed, such that the selector lever is individually locked at the parking position or at the neutral position when the brake pedal is not depressed, and when the brake pedal is depressed, the selector lever can be shifted from the parking position to the drive position direction, or from the neutral position to the other set-up positioning direction, to thereby prevent an occurrence of sudden ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae-Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 6332525
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber for flat substrates features transport rollers for transport of the substrates. These transport rollers are held from the sides in bearings and are additionally braced between the bearings by at least one middle bearing. These middle bearings are each located on a plunger which is guided hermetically through an opening in the bottom of the vacuum chamber and is braced against a support underneath the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Leybold Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Gebele, Gert Rödling
  • Patent number: 6332526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a loading station for receiving and delivering workpieces (WP), which loading station (L) comprises a table (3) arranged to be movable between a first position (S1) and a second position (S2) to support changing workpieces (WP) and for transferring them between said positions (S1, S2), and at least a first protective door (1) which is arranged to be transferred between said positions (S1, S2) to separate them from each other when the table (3) is in its second position (S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fastems Oy AB
    Inventor: Juhana Kantola
  • Patent number: 6332527
    Abstract: A transport apparatus for handling rows of units of multi-ply material such as rolls of bathroom tissue or paper toweling and stacks of folding facial tissue or toweling includes a pair of movable shuttles which can be moved together to provide a bridge for conveying the units over an opening and which can be moved apart to provide a gap so that trim pieces or selected units can fall through the opening. When the shuttles are moved to an upstream position, the shuttles bridge the opening, and units can be moved over the shuttles and over the opening. When a trim piece or selected unit is positioned just upstream of the downstream shuttle, the downstream shuttle is moved in a downstream direction away from the upstream shuttle to provide a gap between the shuttles so that the trim piece or selected unit falls through the gap and the opening. The upstream shuttle can then be moved in a downstream direction toward the downstream shuttle to close the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Wierschke
  • Patent number: 6332528
    Abstract: A plurality of packages and/or products disposed next to each other transverse to the transport direction can be transported together by a transport device in a packaging machine. A guiding device facilitates a change in the mutual sideward separations of the packages and/or products transverse to the transport direction. In order to prevent a retardation of the products in the guiding device, the guiding device has a plurality of conveyor belts disposed next to each other and extending in the transport direction, each for the acceptance of one package and/or one product which are slanted with respect to each other in such a manner that their mutual separation transverse to the transport direction increases in the transport direction. The conveyor belts are substantially of equal lengths and are driven by a common drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Rink
  • Patent number: 6332529
    Abstract: A component conveying device can reliably separate a head component and a second component and can easily take out the head component. A guide groove for aligning and guiding a component P, a conveying member M which is arranged on a bottom surface of the guide groove and is movable forward and backward in the direction of the groove, and a driving means to provide backward and forward movement of the conveying member M are provided. The component P is conveyed forward by moving the conveying member forward in a low speed and moving the conveying member backward in a high speed. A first stopper S1 holds a second component P2 from the head component P1 conveyed on the conveying member M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nikei Kaishita, Akira Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6332530
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting successive at least partially wrapped blocks of cigarettes or the like, e.g., in a packing machine, employs a mobile block supplying member which advances successive blocks of a series of blocks on top of an opening in a bottom wall at a level below a turntable indexible about a vertical axis and carrying several open-bottom receptacles which are movable radially of the axis. An empty receptacle is located above the opening of the bottom wall in response to completion of each indexing step. At such time, a pusher is moved upwardly through the opening of the bottom wall to raise a block into the registering receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Grossmann, Michael Kleine Wächter
  • Patent number: 6332531
    Abstract: A first modular unit (1) for the fabrication of conveyors (2), said first modular unit (1) comprising an upper surface (3) and a lower surface (4) and means (5) along at least one, preferably two long sides (13) lying diametrically opposite each other, for pivotal hinging of the first modular unit (1) to a second modular unit (6), and where extending from the upper surface (3) said first modular unit (1) comprises a flat carrier (7) with a front surface (8) and a rear surface (9), an upper concluding end (10) and two side edges (11) lying opposite each other, the middle/center plane (12) of said carrier (7) standing substantially at right angles to the upper surface (3) and extending parallel with the long sides (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-chains A/S
    Inventor: Poul Erik Damkjaer
  • Patent number: 6332532
    Abstract: An eyeglasses maintenance kit includes a hollow casing body, a pincer, and a screw driving tool bit. The casing body has an open top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end, and includes upright front and rear walls and opposite lateral walls that interconnect the front and rear walls. The bottom end of the casing body is formed with a bit engaging member. The pincer is mounted removably in the casing body via the open top end of the casing body, and includes a pair of resilient clamping arms with upper and lower end portions, and a bridging portion that interconnects the upper end portions of the clamping arms. The tool bit is mounted to the bit engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Brothers Promotions Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 6332533
    Abstract: A media holder mouse pad having an upper half casing and a bottom half casing that when sandwiched together forms a storage compartment therebetween for storing 3.5 inch floppy diskettes, CDs, DVDs, mini DVDs, and the like. In the diskettes/disk storage mode, the casing can be but not limited to triangular, rectangular, and polygonal shapes and can easily be placed in the mail and/or stored similar to traditional diskette/disc cases. The upper half casing and the bottom half casing can be completely separated and has connectors on their respective sides for allowing each half to be attached in a side by side arrangement so that it can be used as a work surface for supporting mouse pads, and the like. The arrangement is expandable so that other casing halves can be attached side by side so that a larger workplace surface can be formed for supporting other objects such as laptop computers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: H.H.H. Incorprorated
    Inventor: Harry J. Howisen
  • Patent number: 6332534
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a container is provided for receiving at least the sharp portion of at least one medical instrument. The container has a wall on one end penetrable by the sharp instrument, and is separated into two fluid-tight compartments by a frangible membrane. One of the compartments contains a hardenable substance, such as epoxy, resin or other material, and the second compartment is configured to have a small internal free volume and contains an activator to react with the hardenable material to cause it to quickly harden when the two are admixed. The hardened material bonds to and encapsulates the sharp portion of the instrument, rendering it incapable of further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Innovative Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Hammett
  • Patent number: 6332535
    Abstract: A pallet includes a loading member made from paper onto which a load is loaded; leg members made from paper which are fixed to the loading member and, as well as supporting the loading member when a load is loaded on the loading member, form an insert body receiving member into which is inserted an insert body used during transportation; and a base member made from paper which is fixed to the opposite side of the leg members to the loading member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Usui, Takehiro Sone
  • Patent number: 6332536
    Abstract: A component tape includes a carrier tape with an elongate cover tape applied over pockets of the carrier tape. The component tape includes information printed on a portion of the component tape. The printed information includes a count or quantity of electronic components carried by the component tape, where the count at a particular location on the component tape indicates the position of the corresponding electronic component on the component tape. An indicator is printed corresponding to each quantity count that indicates which component position of the tape corresponds to the printed count. The printed information may also include a variety of information associated with the components, information comprising part number, tolerance and value description, batch number, lot number, component manufacturer, and component vendor. The printed information is produced by direct marking, as with laser etching or printing, or by imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Solectron Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Easton
  • Patent number: 6332537
    Abstract: A packaging box is formed by a bottom surface member disposed at the side of a bottom surface of goods to be packaged, and a top surface member disposed at the side of a top surface of the goods to be packaged. The bottom surface member includes a base panel, side panels formed extending integrally from the base panel and further shaped to correspond to side surfaces of the goods to be packaged. An attachment panel extends integrally from the end of each side panel. The top surface member and base panel typically include corrugations. The corrugations in each item are preferably oriented generally transverse to one another, thereby increasing the strength of the structure without requiring additional material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Usui, Takehiro Sone
  • Patent number: 6332538
    Abstract: A reclosable container (10) is disclosed comprising a box (12) having an opening and comprising a base panel (20), end panels (22, 24), a back panel (26), a front panel (28) and a lid (14) which is hingedly connected to the box. The lid comprises a top panel (30) and a skirt (16) which incorporates a tamper evident seal, preferably formed as a tear strip (18). When the seal has been broken the lid can pivot between a position in which it closes the box and an open position. The container may be formed from a single sheet and a back folded locking arrangement (60) is incorporated in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: R. Twining & Company Limited
    Inventor: Barry Douglas Pritchard
  • Patent number: 6332539
    Abstract: The present invention is a part retainer for housing and retaining various electronic and mechanical parts wherein a retaining unit has an engaging piece that stably stops at both a position at which it protrudes toward the opening of a part housing space and a position at which it withdraws, and which can move between these two positions under a specified or more amount of force, and wherein when protruding toward the opening, the engaging piece prevents the part housed in the housing space from falling out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Maruyama, Yoshinori Wada, Shinji Kadoriku, Osamu Yamazaki, Osamu Hikita, Daisuke Nagano
  • Patent number: 6332540
    Abstract: A device for separating polymeric beads from a suspension of such beads comprising a flow cell through which the suspension of beads flows, and a radiation source which the stream of beads crosses. A detector detects the presence of a bead in the flow cell and control means directs the bead to a bead outlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham p.l.c.
    Inventors: Frank Paul, Philip John James, Richard C Payne
  • Patent number: 6332541
    Abstract: An apparatus which manipulates particles suspended in a fluid includes a duct for the flow of the fluid in which the particles are suspended, and a mechanism for establishing an acoustic standing wave field across the width of the duct, the duct being formed with an expansion in width downstream of the standing wave field. In use, the particles in the fluid are displaced into a series of parallel bands by the acoustic standing wave field. The particles remain in these bands as the fluid flows downstream from the section in which the standing wave field is present. When the fluid reaches the expansion of the duct, the stream of fluid expands accordingly in width and, in so doing, the bands of particles are spread further apart, so increasing the spacing between adjacent bands. The bands can then be observed or separated from the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd
    Inventors: William Terence Coakley, Jeremy John Hawkes, David Anthony Barrow, Joseph Cefai
  • Patent number: 6332542
    Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventors: Vic L. Bilodeau, R. Fred Chasse, James R. Prough, C. Bertil Stromberg, Craig A. Walley
  • Patent number: 6332543
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus which can simplify, expedite and enhance the segregation of undesirable particles from desirable particles in a multiple-layer flow wherein the desirable and undesirable particles are randomly intermixed with each other. This is accomplished by a stepwise reduction of the thickness of the flow to thus locate all or nearly all undesirable particles at or close to the exposed sides of the resulting relatively thin flow so that the undesirable particles can be readily detected and segregated from the thin flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Heiko Niehues, Torsten Koch, Renke Schlarmann, Harry Drewes, Hans Dierken
  • Patent number: 6332544
    Abstract: A system is for sorting an article on shipping the article. The article has a tag label in which a symbol is written. The article has an ID tag in which tag information is written. The article is conveyed on a conveyer. A first detector detects the article conveyed on the conveyer to produce a first detection signal. A second detector is located downstream of the first detector and detects the article conveyed on the conveyer to produce a second detection signal. A control device controls a symbol reading device in response to the first detection signal to make the symbol reading device read the symbol as read-out symbol information out of the tag label. The control device controls an ID tag writing device in response to the second detection signal to make the ID tag writing device write the tag information in the ID tag in accordance with the read-out symbol information. The article is sorted on the basis of the tag information written in the ID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Mitani
  • Patent number: 6332545
    Abstract: A solid-liquid separating apparatus comprising: a strainer which is in a cylindrical shape formed by a plurality of flat ring members with gaps in between; a casing which has an accommodating section for setting the strainer therein so that the accommodating section is divided by the strainer into a strainer inner region and a strainer outer region, and an intake port that introduces a mixture of a solid and liquid is formed in the strainer outer region and an outlet port that discharges to the outside the liquid that is separated from the solid and passes between the circular ring members and advances into the strainer inner region is formed in the strainer inner region; and a scraper that has plate-form protruding portions with tip ends thereof located in the gaps between the circular ring members of the strainer so as to scrape off the solid matter adhering to the flat surface of the circular ring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Izumi Products Company
    Inventor: Shunji Izumi
  • Patent number: 6332546
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting multimedia packages employs a corrugated support having at least one crowned surface for supporting the multimedia packages from below in a closely spaced side-by-side configuration. A pair of front and rear retainers confine the series of packages therebetween. The crowned surface includes a series of curved projections for defining a series of equally spaced apart notches disposed at intersections between adjacent ones of the projections to receive corner portions of the packages for supporting them in an inclined position and for enabling each of the supported packages to be repositioned to another one of said notches so that the packages can be flipped between forwardly and rearwardly inclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6332547
    Abstract: An indexable gravity flow shelving system provides resilient comb members along the front and rear rails of each inclined shelf to removably and releasably secure track members to the inclined shelf. Each resilient comb includes a row of downwardly-extending tangs that define slots therebetween to receive elongated flow ribs extending the length of the upper surface of each track member. The tangs contact the sides of the elongated flow ribs and prevent transverse movement of the track members. The spacing of the tangs allow for the shelving system to be used effectively with track members besides track members having elongated flow ribs. The resilient comb members deform and rebound to readily allow for rearrangement of track members within each inclined shelf. The resilient comb members can cooperate with price tag moldings along the front and rear rails of the inclined shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: B-O-F Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Alfred Shaw, Henry J. Massett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6332548
    Abstract: A shelving apparatus is provided having a first set of cross members and a second set of cross members which are adapted to slidably couple with one another to form an adjustable shelf. Both sets of cross members have single or plurality of corresponding projecting and female surfaces such that the male surfaces of the first set of cross members are slidably received by the female surface of the second set of cross members. The cross members, which are formed from light-weight material, have a cavity therein which assists in making the shelving apparatus strong and light weight. A support bracket is also provided for additional strength for the shelving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Westerlund Products Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. West, W. Gregory Coward
  • Patent number: 6332549
    Abstract: The repair kit for an industrial pallet rack frame has a front post having an upper end and a lower end, and an intermediate post having an upper end and a lower end. The front post and the rear post are connected by an upper cross member and a lower cross member in parallel and spaced apart relation defining a rectangular or square frame having an interior. The front and intermediate posts and the upper and lower cross members are preferably made from rectangular tubular metal stock. Both the front post and the rear post have an anchor plate attached to the lower end of the posts facing the interior of the frame. The front post has an outer clamp jaw defined by a U-shaped channel attached to its upper end, as well as a support plate perpendicular to the outer clamp jaw which caps the front post. An inner clamp jaw is removably attachable to the outer clamp jaw to clamp the front post of a pallet rack frame therebetween, the bottom of the pallet rack frame post resting on the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Shawn D. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 6332550
    Abstract: A tamper-evident closure for a container includes an outer tamper-evident cap engagable over an inner container sealing cap which may form part of the tamper-evident closure or part of the container, cap retaining prongs on the outer cap which permit placement of the outer cap on the container neck over the sealing cap but prevent upward removal of the outer cap from the container, a tear strip for severing the outer cap between its upper and lower ends to permit upward removal of the upper portion of the outer cap from the container, and a circumferential rupture line along which the outer cap separates to evidence tampering if an attempt is made to forcibly remove the outer cap from the container without tearing the tear strip from the outer cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventors: Paul H. Bennett, Thom M. Perlmutter
  • Patent number: 6332551
    Abstract: An improved container, comprising, a receptacle having at least one opening; and a lid adapted to releasably cover at least a portion of the receptacle opening, comprising, one or more lower leaves having one or more ports, through which at least a portion of the receptacle opening may be accessed and having a perimeter defining a plane; one or more upper leaves, which, in a closed position, covers one or more of the ports and which, in an open position, exposes at least a portion of one or more of the ports, wherein one or more of the upper leaves, when in an open position, is adapted to return automatically to a closed position by a means for rotating about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Stephan Copeland
  • Patent number: 6332552
    Abstract: There is provided a container closure that can easily be manufactured, has improved drop strength and is convenient for opening operation. The present invention provides a container closure which includes a substrate having adequate property for retaining an object which is enclosed in a container, a peripheral section formed on the periphery area of the container closure on the opposite side of a side where the substrate is attached to a container body, a panel section covering an area of the substrate surrounding by the peripheral section on the same side where the peripheral section is provided, and a score section formed between the peripheral portion and the panel section to provide a weakened region. The peripheral section and the panel section is a plastic layer formed with the same heat-fusible plastic as the substrate. A substantial area of the score section is constructed of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Iwasaki, Akira Morita, Hirotsugu Mori
  • Patent number: 6332553
    Abstract: An annular groove is formed in a cap body of a cap. An elongated coupling member has a ring part formed integrally therewith, and is coupled to the cap as the ring part is engaged in the annular groove. The cap and the coupling member are each formed of electroconductive resin, and the surface resistance from the cap to the vehicle is set to be greater than or equal to 1×1012 &OHgr; and less than 5.30×1012 &OHgr;. Hence, when the human body is brought into contact with the cap, static electricity in the human body is discharged to the vehicle side, and no shock is imparted to the human body. In addition, the amount of residual charge also declines without causing secondary spark discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Yamada, Shinji Araki
  • Patent number: 6332554
    Abstract: A storage box comprises a rectangular bottom, a rear wall, a front wall, a first end wall closing one end of said box, a second end wall hinged to one of the front and rear walls for opening and closing the other end of the box and a cover hinged to the rear wall for opening and closing the box at the top, the box being dimensioned to permit a lawnmower or the like to be run into said box through the end with the hinged end wall swung open and then stored within the box with the hinged end and the cover closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Royal Group Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Peter McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6332555
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle has a connecting portion which extends around an opening in the tank wall which is closed by a holding cover, with the interposition of a sealing ring. The connection between the connecting portion and the holding cover is made by a fixing means urging the holding cover towards the connecting portion. The sealing ring is disposed in a groove in the connecting portion or the holding cover and the cross-sections of the groove and the sealing ring are so selected that, in its operative position of closing the opening, the holding cover is supported directly by the end surface of the connecting portion, bearing against that end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Oskar Stangier
  • Patent number: 6332556
    Abstract: A stackable tray assembly for paint rollers includes a tray formed with an inclined roller surface and a paint reservoir, the paint reservoir being partially bordered by a rear wall located opposite the inclined roller surface. The tray is preferably configured so as to allow nested stacking with a plurality of other similar trays. The assembly also includes a splash guard element configured for snap-on engagement with part of the tray so as to provide a splash guard overhanging part of the reservoir along substantially the entire length of the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Plasgad Plastic Products
    Inventor: Amnon Shalman
  • Patent number: 6332557
    Abstract: A vacuum-insulated beverage container has a body and a vacuum-insulated liner enclosed by the body. Seals between the body and the liner prevent all types of leaks of the beverage held in the liner. A handle is attached to the container in a manner that the handle is removable and is only attached with one removable fastener. Nesting drinking cups are provided that removably attach to the container and to one another. The drinking cups can be separated from one another by directly pulling the cups apart or by rotating one cup relative to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Megatrade International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge E. Moran