Patents Issued in July 30, 2002
  • Patent number: 6425134
    Abstract: Protective air cushion gloves include hollow 3D straight air cushions for finger backs and a hand back disposed in regular rows inside the glove. Each straight air cushion has sections connected with extensible tubes and inflated with inner pressure to permit the glove to have good flexibility and an air buffer function for protecting every part of a hand, including the joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ing Chung Huang
  • Patent number: 6425135
    Abstract: A multi-layer garment pad construction (10) for attachment to the interior surface (101) of a garment (100) on the knee or elbow portion. The construction (10) including a waterproof layer (11) and a padded layer (12) frictionally associated with one another and also frictionally associated respectively with an outer adhesive layer (13) and an inner overlap layer (14) which are fixedly joined to one another to form a sealed chamber surrounding the waterproof (11) and padded (12) layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Frederick W. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 6425136
    Abstract: A disposable lint glove (10) is constructed from a multi-layer sheet (30) which act as an integral glove packaging means. The glove has front and rear layers (12, 14) of plastic sheeting each having the form of a human hand and heat sealed about their respective peripheries to form a unitary glove having a hand-receiving opening (22). An adhesive coating (28) is disposed upon an outer surface (26) of the glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: Lori A. Schlamp, Steven K. Schlamp
  • Patent number: 6425137
    Abstract: An apparatus to be worn around an extremity of a user. The apparatus including a body portion, the body portion having at least one pocket, the pocket configured such that the pocket is accessible to the user while the user is wearing the apparatus, the body portion also defining a circumference approximately the circumference of the extremity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Mehdi Fakhrai
  • Patent number: 6425138
    Abstract: The present invention includes a article of clothing. The article of clothing comprises a flexible main body, comprising a hood portion and a shoulder portion. The hood portion is attached to the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion comprises a pair of shoulder segments and a back segment. The shoulder segments are attachable to each other. The back segment is attached to each segment of the shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Cheryl E Johnson
  • Patent number: 6425139
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waist adjusting device which allows reduction of the number of parts, an operating piece to exert its elastic performance accurately with respect to a slider body and a smooth engagement/disengagement operation. An adjusting belt has a plurality of adjusting protrusions provided on the surface thereof and a slider body has a through portion through which the adjusting belt is capable of being inserted to the right and left and further insertion holes in which an operating piece is inserted, provided on upper and lower portions of the slider body. Slope portions inclined outward are provided on both sides of the lower insertion hole. The operating piece has engaging protrusions on one face and elastic leg portions on both sides, provided integrally with a main body thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Ida
  • Patent number: 6425140
    Abstract: A pair of underpants include two pieces of flexible material that are attached to the front of the underpants. The attached pieces are superimposed on each other and cover a slot that can act as the flies. The edges of the attached pieces which are furthest from the waistband are slanted with respect thereto in opposite directions and intersect, forming a re-entrant angle, in the vicinity of the opposite end of the slot from the waistband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Odda Finance Internationale S.A.
    Inventor: Vladimir Vitches
  • Patent number: 6425141
    Abstract: A helmet is formed with a rigid outer shell and three energy-absorbing layers made of two types of CONFOR™ ergonomic, open-celled polyurethane foams. The first layer adjacent the rigid outer shell is a CONFOR™ CF-40 yellow foam and the middle layer is a CF-47 green foam, which is of greater stiffness than the outer layer. The inner-most layer is also a CF-40 yellow foam and, therefore, identical to the outer energy-absorbing layer. The three layers are 0.5″ thick. The helmet body is secured to a user's head with straps, affording a helmet design capable of continuously absorbing energy from multiple impacts while retaining the property of returning completely to its original shape. The multiple layering of materials having different stiffnesses results in the reflection of propagating stress waves through the materials, ultimately absorbing larger amounts of energy than the same materials not layered with alternating stiffnesses could absorb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Cerebrix
    Inventors: James Scott Ewing, Maria Maroulis, Andrew F. Conn
  • Patent number: 6425142
    Abstract: An improved retention mechanism for a bicycle helmet is provided. A helmet including a retention mechanism comprises a shell for protecting a head of a person and a fit system elastically coupled to the shell. The fit system comprises a bowl designed to fit an occipital region of the person's head and a hinge for coupling the fit system to the shell, the hinge permitting the fit system to move. The fit system further including a spring element for positioning the bowl against the occipital region of the person's head, to stabilize the helmet against the person's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Sasaki, Kurt Workman, F. Robert Egger
  • Patent number: 6425143
    Abstract: A helmet having ventilation for fog management and respiration. The helmet has a shell shaped to define a cavity for a wearer's head. A transparent shield is engaged with the shell. The shell and shield cooperate to fully enclose the wearer's head. The shield is moveable between an open and a closed position. The shield has a visor attached thereon and moveable therewith. The helmet has at least one first air inlet and first air outlet. The shell and the inner surface of the shield cooperate to define a first airflow path that enables air to enter through the first air inlet, flow across the inner surface of the shield to draw off moisture from inner surface of the shield to control fogging thereof, and exit through the first air outlet. The helmet also has at least one second air inlet and second air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Arctic Cat, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Benedict, Brad Kosel
  • Patent number: 6425144
    Abstract: Protective sports eyeglasses with a buffer being a shock-absorbing function includes a cushion having a hollow sealed endless shape. The cushion has a 3D tubular space instead of 2D (two dimensions) surface. The cushion is attached on an annular edge of a lens contacting the face of a wearer so as to fit the curvature of the face, and has an inner pressure preset in advance so that the cushion may contact closely and comfortably the face of a wearer with a buffer and a shock-absorbing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ing Chung Huang
  • Patent number: 6425145
    Abstract: By depressing a push button (13), a user deforms a flexible diaphragm (30) and thereby causes an incompressible fluid to flow from a first actuation-chamber segment (42) through openings (48) in a divider wall (46) and into a second chamber segment (44). That flow deforms a second flexible diaphragm (40), which accordingly causes an actuator shaft (58) to break the seal formed by an O-ring (57) and thereby permit flow from a main valve inlet (11) through a main valve outlet (12). When the user releases the push button (13), an actuator check valve (50) prevents the incompressible fluid from returning through the divider-wall openings (48) to the first chamber segment (42). The actuator therefore returns only slowly, through a bleed orifice (72). A pressurizer conduit (86) communicates the valve's outlet pressure to a stop chamber (82) and thereby causes the position of a stop member (76) to be dependent on that pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Arichell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natan E. Parsons, Robert S. Shamitz, Kay Herbert
  • Patent number: 6425146
    Abstract: An elevating bath lift seat for assisting elderly and disabled persons to safely get down into, and back out of a bathtub. it comprises a vertically moving seat surface supported by frame structure designed to be situated within most residential bathtubs. It uses household water pressure to elevate and lower the user. Lifting force is provided by a novel lifting bladder arrangement which is totally sealed without the use of sliding type seals. An integral part of the design is a novel frame structure that also serves as a linear guide system for up and down travel of the seat frame, while also providing full water immersion lubrication for linear guide bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: John L. O'Brien, Edward M. Thomas, Donald A. N. Ed
  • Patent number: 6425147
    Abstract: A multi-panel tub/shower surround which facilitates insertion well into the construction process. The panels incorporate assembly clips along a common vertical edge which maintain the panels in sealing engagement. The assembly clip induces a watertight connection between the panels to maintain the common edge in flush engagement. As a result, a tub surround can be positioned later in the construction process while ensuring a watertight connection between the components of the surround.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Aqua Glass Corporation
    Inventor: Darrell Hanson
  • Patent number: 6425148
    Abstract: A water-saving device for a toilet comprises a tank, a tank lid mounted on top of the tank, a sink formed on the sink and communicated with a chamber in the tank via a hole in the sink, and an output tube having a lower end communicated with an inlet tube and an upper end for supplying water into the sink. A guide tube is mounted in the tank and comprises an upper end communicated with the hole of the sink and a lower end immersed in the water in the chamber of the tank such that drainage of water in the sink via the hole of the sink and the guide tube into the chamber of the tank is almost silent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Jung-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 6425149
    Abstract: A connection device for connecting an extension tube to a faucet includes a first member connected to a faucet, a second member which is connected to the extension tube, and a connection member rotatably connected to the first member and fixedly connected to the second member. A positioning member is biased by a spring and received in an engaging recess in the second member. The first member has a plurality of notches so that the positioning member is engaged with one of the notches when rotating the extension tube relative to the first member, and the user feels a click to index the positioning feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Te-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 6425150
    Abstract: A playyard system including a playyard structure and a canopy is provided. The canopy is detachably mounted onto a top frame of the playyard structure by directly connecting support members of the canopy with improved connecting end portions to corresponding corner blocks of the playyard with improved connecting grooves thereby the playyard system may be manufactured with fewer component number and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Kenny Cheng
  • Patent number: 6425151
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article of furniture in the form of a cabinet and folding bed combination that provides a comfortable sleeping surface for the user. The present invention provides a mattress assembly capable of receiving a mattress having a thickness of up to 4″ and capable of being folded in spaced relation for storage inside the cabinet. The present invention is designed for convenient storage inside the cabinet without the use of a locking mechanism. The unique design of the present invention allows the center of gravity of the front panel to change as it is rotated so that the weight of the mattress assembly assists in closing the front panel and keeps the front panel firmly closed against the front opening of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Somnus Company, L.L.P.
    Inventor: Robert R. Barnett
  • Patent number: 6425152
    Abstract: An infant support assembly for supporting an infant using a mesh material to permit free flow of air around the infant to minimize the potential for smothering of the infant. The infant support assembly includes a frame assembly and a mesh material coupled to the frame assembly to form a support surface. Additionally, mesh side rails are provided for facilitating retention of an infant on the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas L. Quarles
  • Patent number: 6425153
    Abstract: A cushion having a sitting surface is provided that includes a three dimensional system of rigid plastic levers used in combination with a foam cushioning material. Weight applied to the cushion is borne by the plastic levers. When sat on, the cushion conforms to the user's body and automatically shapes itself to uniformly distribute support pressure within each of four seat quadrants. As the body shifts in position, the cushion automatically reconfigures itself to maintain substantially uniform pressure distributions. Construction details and a method for low cost manufacture are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: James B. Reswick
  • Patent number: 6425154
    Abstract: A patient self-assist transfer aid provides an open box frame having a base for fitting beneath a mattress of a bed, a riser section extending upwardly from the base for extending around an edge of the mattress and a positioning section for extending out over the mattress from the riser section. The open box frame may be positioned around the mattress end at the foot of the bed to leave the major sides of the bed open for ease of access. A linkage is fitted to the positioning section of the open box frame and may be extended therefrom to position a handle within easy grasp of a person laying in the bed. A spring system biases the linkage to a retracted position in the open box frame. A handle is pivotally attached to the linkage and for grasping by a patient recumbent in the bed or lowering him or herself into bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy B. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 6425155
    Abstract: A hand-held tool useful for a decorator, particularly while wallpapering, comprises a substantially flat body (1) having several retaining means (2, 20, 4, 6) formed in it for holding implements such as a pencil (P), knife (K) and spirit levels (S1, S2). A pair of spirit levels (S1, S2) are retained in retaining means (2, 20) at right angles to one another to enable horizontal and vertical lines to be found. Knife (K) is retained in a groove (6) with its blade shielded to prevent it from accidentally injuring a person. The tool has a flexible edge area (12) which tapers to a straight, ruled edge (12b). This area (12) is useful for pressing pasted paper onto a wall and for removing air-bubbles. Edge (12b), which is parallel to one spirit level (S1) and perpendicular to the other (S2), facilitates the measuring of distances between widths of wallpaper. Studs (9) are provided on a rear face of the body (1) so that the body stands proud of a surface and can thereby be more easily grasped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Karl Carey
  • Patent number: 6425156
    Abstract: Actuators on a control panel for entering single functions of an individual operating program cycle which can be invoked under a given name and can be properly executed under microprocessor control are also used for setting particular operating program sequences or particular parameter values of program functions. The actuators can be actuated in at least one sequence of function entries such that the sequence of function entries is a code for particular update functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Knopp, Frank Böldt
  • Patent number: 6425157
    Abstract: In order to design an infrastructure of an elevated bridge, first a target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td for the infrastructure are set in connection with an assumed earthquake motion. Subsequently, a yield seismic coefficient for the target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td is obtained from a yield seismic coefficient spectrum for the assumed earthquake motion as a design seismic coefficient Kh. On the other hand, a target yield rigidity Kd corresponding to the target natural period Td is obtained. Subsequently, the design seismic coefficient Kh is used to obtain a design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd and a displacement corresponding to the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is obtained as a design yield displacement &dgr;d from the target yield rigidity Kd. Subsequently, the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is distributed into a horizontal force Hf to be borne by the RC rigid frame and a horizontal force Hb to be borne by the damper-brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignees: Obayashi Corporation, Railway Technical Research Institute
    Inventors: Hajime Ouchi, Motoyuki Okano, Hajime Wakui, Nobuyuki Mastsumoto, Masamichi Sogabe, Hiroyuki Arita, Michiaki Oyado
  • Patent number: 6425158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing wafer edges is disclosed. Pressure applied to the wafer at one end of A brush/pad assembly is greater than at the opposite end of the brush/pad assembly. The increased pressure causes wafer rotation to slow or to reverse direction as compared to less pressure applied by the brush/pad assembly. In one embodiment slowed rotation causes a difference in tangential velocity between the roller(s) and the wafer edge/bevel that causes pads in the roller(s) to process the edge/bevel of the wafer. In another embodiment, the opposite direction of rotation causes the wafer to rotate counter to rollers otherwise causing the wafer to rotate. Cleaning surfaces in the rollers clean the edges of the wafer whether rotation is slowed or reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Ravkin
  • Patent number: 6425159
    Abstract: A bathing cleaner comprises a bathing ball and a face cleaner, wherein the face cleaner is provided with a stretchable device. The face cleaner may be detachably fastened to the bathing ball by taking advantage of the stretchable device so that a user can use the bathing ball and the face cleaner to rub and clean his body or face separately or combinedly, and moreover, he may fasten his hair with the stretchable device of the face cleaner when bathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Yi-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 6425160
    Abstract: An intermittent driving apparatus for a rotary window cleaner comprises a first wiper (2) which is connected to a rotating shaft (10) of a first motor (8) and is rotatably disposed on a front window (1), a second wiper (3) which is connected to a rotating shaft (11) of a second motor (9) and is rotatably disposed on a front window (1) adjacently to the first wiper (2), and an electronic control circuit having brush boards (18, 20) of two motors connected to each other so that the second motor (9) is rotated at a predetermined time after the first motor (8) is rotated. The electronic control circuit includes a signal generating circuit (30) for repeatedly sending signals to the brush board (18) of the first motor (8) at fixed time intervals, and a brake mechanism for stopping the two wipers at the start position for a predetermined time every one rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Saito Motors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shosaku Saito
  • Patent number: 6425161
    Abstract: An industrial caster wheel assembly comprises a base member, a wheel, side plates, a housing, a pivot axle, and a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes an adjustable axle, a support member, and a plate. The support member allows one of the wheel and the base member to rotate about the pivot axle as the adjustable axle compresses the support member by contacting the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Superior Tire & Rubber Corporation
    Inventors: Henri E. LeMeur, Jr., John D. Swartz
  • Patent number: 6425162
    Abstract: A retractable handle device includes one or more pairs of tubes slidably received in one or more pairs of conduits, and one or more sleeves engaged between the conduits and the tubes and each having a number of holes. One or more latches are secured to the tubes and each has a spring biased catch for selectively engaging with the holes of the sleeve and for micro-adjusting the tubes relative to the conduits and for allowing the tubes to be micro-adjusted relative to the conduits to different lengths. The latch may include two catches and two actuators received in a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: King Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 6425163
    Abstract: A coiler can for accommodating sliver includes a vertical wall defining an inner can space and a can top through which sliver may be deposited into and withdrawn from the can space; a vertically shiftable bottom disposed in the inner can space; and a tension device connected to the shiftable bottom and exerting a pulling force thereto toward the can top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter von Gehlen
  • Patent number: 6425164
    Abstract: An air-permeable transport belt, drivable by a drive roller, is provided for transporting a fiber strand to be condensed over a sliding surface of a spinning machine condensing zone which includes a suction slit. The transport belt has at least one area arranged to contact the drive roller, which area differs in relation to its surface structure from an area arranged to contact the sliding surface and from an area arranged to contact the fiber strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Fritz Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 6425165
    Abstract: A elongate cylindrical body member has a longitudinal interior passageway formed therethrough for receiving folded, bundled cords such as electrical power cords and other wiring. The interior diameter of the passageway decreases gradually and smoothly radially inwardly from the opposite outer ends of the passageway toward its center. The folded cord is retained in the interior passageway through the body. The organizer may be used with cords that are in use with appliances and the like to keep the cords organized and out of the way, and may be used to efficiently store cords that are not being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Scott Koppang
  • Patent number: 6425166
    Abstract: The present invention provides a strap tab cap for connecting a strap tab to a knee brace wherein the strap tab cap has a very low profile and can rotate within a limited range. The low profile of the strap tab cap reduces the possibility that the knee brace will catch on a foreign object during physical activity. The rotation of the strap tab cap allows the strap to conform more easily to the shape of the user's leg. The strap tab cap is attached to the knee brace with a rivet that extends through a center hole in the strap tab cap. Two posts extend downward from the strap tab cap into slots in the knee brace for limiting the rotation of the strap tab cap and for containing the strap tab in the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: DJ Orthopedics, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Seligman, Brent R. Wiltshire
  • Patent number: 6425167
    Abstract: A clothing accessory clip includes a plurality of elongate cords, each attached at one end to a central support, and each having its free end attached to a fastening device. According to the presently preferred embodiment, one of the fastening devices is a hook for attaching to the ring of a jacket and the other fastening devices are spring biased clips for attaching to a neck gator, goggles, a hat, and a pair of gloves or mittens. The cords are preferably made of a braided cord material and the central support is preferably plastic. The hook is preferably a lanyard hook and the spring biased clips are preferably “alligator” type clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony S. Barbarite, Carolyn M. Barbarite
  • Patent number: 6425168
    Abstract: A reaction tube without occurrence of crack or breakdown or a wafer boat without generation of particles is provided, such various faults being caused by the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of a thin film and one of those quartz glass jigs. The present invention is applied to a quartz glass jig used in a thermal CVD apparatus, and is characterized in that the jig is made of transparent quartz glass material, and that the portion or portions exposed to the heat treatment space or the portions contacting with wafers are sand-blasted. The reason why transparent quartz glass is limited as the material is that, in case of transparent quartz glass, the surface hardness is more uniform in comparison to bubble-mixed or opaque quartz glass and thus a predetermined surface roughness is more effectively achieved by sand-blasting so that the faults as mentioned above due to the stress occurring in the treatment between a CVD film and one of the quartz glass jigs are effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Takaku
  • Patent number: 6425169
    Abstract: A surface working apparatus includes a surface working head arrangement having a frame member and a plurality of surface working members arranged to depend therefrom in the direction of the surface to be worked, each of the plurality of surface working members being mounted resiliently relative to the frame member by one of a plurality of respective resilient mounting arrangements having a resilient member; and a surface working device with a support plate from which a surface working element is to depend from a lower surface thereof, the support plate includes an upper surface which has a central region with a recess provided for the receipt of a drive member for rotating the device, the recess including a formation for receiving a resilient member for engagement by the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: William Anthony Briscoe
  • Patent number: 6425170
    Abstract: A rivet setting tool is provided with a quick connect jaw guide assembly and nose housing. The quick connect feature allows for quicker easier disassembly and assembly of the jaw guide assembly and nose housing for cleaning and general maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Emhart LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Zirps, Joshua P. Kinsley, Donald J. Donofrio, III, Theodore S. Komsta, David J. Banducci
  • Patent number: 6425171
    Abstract: A method of making a wire braid shrouded annularly corrugated metal tube. An annularly corrugated metal tube is formed. A braided wire shroud is placed around the annularly corrugated metal tube. The braided wire shroud is deformed into a corrugation valley of the annularly corrugated metal tube so that the shroud conforms to the adjacent peaks and the intervening valley. The annularly corrugated metal tube and the braided wire shroud are severed at a desired location between the corrugation peaks. The shroud is then bonded to the tube adjacent the end of the shrouded tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: 40 Properties Management, Ltd.
    Inventor: Cosimo Quaranta
  • Patent number: 6425172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of fiber-reinforced pressure vessels and the product produced therefrom. A vessel liner is wrapped with resin-impregnated fibers and cured according to conventional technology. The cured, fiber-wrapped liner is then subjected to a pre-treatment process comprising both elevated temperature and pressure over time. The elevation in temperature allows the resin to soften. The increased pressure imparts a tensile load in the fibers. The tensile load causes fibers to stretch and straighten in the resin. After cooling to typical operating temperatures, and when pressurized for duty, the now straightened fibers are capable of responding immediately to the tensile load and the burst strength of the vessel is increased as a result. The process can be combined with autofrettage in series or simultaneously to achieve even greater final strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Dynetek Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Rene Rutz
  • Patent number: 6425173
    Abstract: A forming die including of a holder having an upper portion and a lower portion, each portion having a main substrate extending in a first longitudinal direction. A fixing substrate is located on one end of the main substrate and a movable substrate is located on an opposite end of the main substrate and is movable along the main substrate in the first longitudinal direction. A plurality of die forming segments are situated between the movable substrate and the fixing substrate. Tie rods extend along the main substrate outside the periphery of the plurality of die forming segments, and connect the movable substrate and the fixing substrate to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Enomoto, Shinji Tada, Hiroshi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 6425174
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Syncor International Corp.
    Inventor: Don E. Reich
  • Patent number: 6425175
    Abstract: In a twisting formation method having an inside jig provided in a ring shape with inside holding portions for folding one of the straight portions of a near letter U shaped wire and an outside jig provided in a shape of ring concentric with that of the inside holding portions with outside holding portions for folding the other of the straight portions, the connecting portion of the near letter U shaped wire being formed in a twisted shape by rotating relatively the inside and outside jigs, the method includes urging leading ends of the straight portions and the connecting portion in a contracting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Sawada, Makoto Takahashi, Masaru Sugiyama, Kazuki Maesoba, Masayuki Asai
  • Patent number: 6425176
    Abstract: A method of securing a stator winding such that it has improved heat dissipation performance includes steps of inserting a stator winding into a stator core soaking these components in a varnish tank while being held together as one, and after the varnish has soaked into the stator winding 15, withdrawing the winding and core from the varnish tank. Then a mandrel comprising an outer peripheral pressing portion made by wrapping a fluororubber around an outer periphery of a mandrel body made of a fluoroplastic, is inserted into the stator winding. After this, the varnish is heat hardened with the stator core, the stator winding, and the mandrel 33 all held together as one. In so doing, the outer peripheral pressing portion is deformed with irregularities replicating the inner periphery of the stator winding 15. Hence on the inner peripheral side of the stator winding, the varnish resin hardens with the irregularities retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Ozawa, Takeo Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6425177
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compliant positioning of an object during an assembly operation wherein the apparatus includes a base plate, a locator plate for mounting an object such as a clamp or a tool spaced from the base plate and a plurality of linear actuators connected between the base plate the locator plate by universal joints providing six degrees of freedom of movement. According to the apparatus and the method a control is connected to the actuators for selectively moving the locator plate to a predetermined position relative to the base plate for contacting a component to be assembled with an object mounted on the locator plate. Tow or more of the actuators can be mechanically coupled to move the locator plate with less than six degrees of freedom. The control is responsive to a force applied to the locator plate through the object during assembly of the component for actuating the linear actuators to change the applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hadi A. Akeel
  • Patent number: 6425178
    Abstract: A module integrated circuit (IC) carrier is used to move module ICs through a testing machine. The module IC carrier has a housing with a pair of installation elements installed parallel to one another in a receiving space of the housing. A plurality of holding members are installed on each of the installation elements. Each holding member on one of the installation elements faces a corresponding holding member on the other of the installation elements. Module ICs are held between corresponding pairs of the holding members. The holding elements can be biased towards each other to help hold the module ICs. Each holding element may include a rotator with a grooved edge which helps to hold a module IC, and which allows the module ICs to be easily inserted into and removed from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Soo Lee, Wan Gu Lee, Jong Won Kim, Hee Soo Kim, Young Hak Oh, Dong Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 6425179
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for creating a package for a semiconductor die, the package comprising a flexible tape, comprises the following steps. A support with an opening has a plurality of arms extending through at a portion of the opening. For example, for a square opening, there may be eight arms, two extending from each side of the opening. The arms preferably form a “z” shape or some other shape with a transverse component. The flexible tape is then attached to the ends of the arms within the opening such that the flexible tape is supported by the arms. A die is attached to the flexible tape, the die is preferably covered with a molding compound, and the die/flexible tape assembly is scribed from the support, thereby creating an individual package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Qwai H. Low, Chok J. Chia, Ramaswamy Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 6425180
    Abstract: A high density connector element and its associated method of manufacture. The high density connector element contains a plurality of conductive wires that are arranged in parallel on the top surface of a flexible substrate. To manufacture the high density connector element, the flexible substrate is coated with an adhesive and wrapped around a cylindrical drum with the adhesive facing outwardly. Conductive wire is then wound around the cylindrical drum in a helical pattern. The conductive wire is densely wrapped around the flexible substrate on the cylindrical drum and is bound by the adhesive, thereby creating the high density connector element. After the winding is complete and the adhesive cured, at least one strip is cut from the high density connector element. The high density connector element has a flexible substrate and multiple conductive wires laid in parallel across the top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: Donald W. Schuenemann, George F. Glatts, III, Bruce C. Cobb, Robert J. Hickey
  • Patent number: 6425181
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of: moving a strip through an expansion machine having at least one expansion punching tool and an associated complementary tool or matrix, causing the expansion machine to operate in synchronism with the movement of the strip so as to form a grid strip having an non-expanded central portion and two longitudinal grid portions adjacent the central portion, and forming, in the non-expanded central band, a plurality of openings or windows separated by transverse bridges which are to form the connection appendages or lugs of the plates. These openings or windows are formed, in the expansion machine, by punches operated in phase with the operation of the expansion punching tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Societa Industriale Accumulatori S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giulio Ghizzoni, Luigi Cucchi
  • Patent number: 6425182
    Abstract: A roller cage made of metal for holding rollers of a roller bearing, includes: separation bars separately defining a plurality of window holes along a peripheral direction of the bearing with a constant interval thereamong. The window holes respectively receive said rollers therein. Each of the separation bars includes: a contact surface being formed by press-molding one of an outer diameter surface side end portion and an inner diameter surface side end portion thereof, and contacting with the rolling surface of the roller; and an expansion portion expanding to a radial direction of the bearing at the other of the outer diameter surface side end portion and the inner diameter surface side end portion which is not subjected to the press-molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Honda, Masahide Matsubara, Kunio Fukuda, Hiroyuki Sawai, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Akiyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6425183
    Abstract: A ring cutting tool for cutting a ring which encircles tubing, the ring cutting tool having a first member with a jaw at one end and a handle at the other end, a second member having a jaw at one end thereof, and a handle at the other end thereof, the first and second jaws being in a substantially abutting relationship when in a closed position, the jaws providing jaw cutting surfaces which define an angle of between 20° and 35°. The ring cutting tool permits an easy lateral cutting and breaking apart of a compression ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph R. Lemmens