Patents Issued in April 22, 2003
  • Patent number: 6550117
    Abstract: Internal electrode layers of a multilayer ceramic electronic element are structured such that spaces, which are formed between adjacent internal electrodes, are eliminated so as to substantially flatten the internal electrode layers. Moreover, the thickness of each green dielectric layer is reduced. To achieve this, a laminating process is performed by a thermal transfer printing method such that a thermal transfer conductor material and a thermal transfer dielectric material are used so as to form internal electrode portions and green dielectric portions. Thus, the internal electrode layers are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumichi Tokuoka, Takeshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 6550118
    Abstract: The apparatus and method includes a spindle portion which holds a cutting tool. The drill is initially moved forwardly of a pressure foot portion of the apparatus. The pressure foot portion is then moved forwardly along with the spindle and drill to clamp the mechanical assembly. A thrust control arrangement produces a reduction of the thrust on the tool holder such that as the assembly is being clamped, the tool initially contacts the workpiece and then remains stationary while the pressure foot moves forward to complete clamp-up. The positions of the tip of the tool and the surface of the workpiece are recorded and compensation is then made to the apex position of the spindle stroke, using a previously determined reference position of the tool relative to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Electroimpact, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott O. Smith, Todd W. Rudberg
  • Patent number: 6550119
    Abstract: A press insertion rod is passed through and supported by a press insertion rod supporting portion of a jig body in an advanceable and retractable manner. An inner ring which is to be pressingly inserted into one end portion of a pipe member made of resin is held by a ring holder. The ring holder is coupled idly rotatably and detachably to a tip end portion of the press insertion rod via a holder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Ishida, Nobuhito Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 6550120
    Abstract: An aftermarket retrofit kit is used to prepare control arm bosses of automotive suspension systems to receive new, replacement ball joints. The kit includes a special cutting tool for forming obtuse threads in the apertures of aluminum suspension system mounting bosses for replacement of spent or used steel ball joints originally pressed-fit into forged aluminum control and steering arms. Since unthreaded apertures of bosses of control and steering arm joints in which the original pressed fitted equipment ball joints may be threaded to receive the new joints, avoidance of having to replace expensive original control and steering arms is made possible by the reuse of such arm parts normally discarded. A separate alignment block is included to assure accurate piloting of the cutting tool. Threading of the control arm bosses can be done on or off of the vehicle, and separate kits are provided for upper and lower control arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Garth B. Maughan, Wayne M. Winkler, Anthony S. Szumiesz
  • Patent number: 6550121
    Abstract: The preferred orientation, or planar oscillation plane, of a golf club shaft is located by measuring the oscillation of the shaft when a horizontal impulse is applied and from those measurements determining an orientation in which the oscillation would be substantially planar. In a preferred embodiment an iterative process is used to converge on the preferred orientation. The location of the preferred orientation may be marked on the shaft and used to assemble a golf club with the planar oscillation plane in a predetermined orientation. The assembly of the golf club can be done manually—e.g., in a refitting situation—or automatically—e.g., in a new club manufacturing setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Richard M. Weiss, Joseph H. Butler, Michael J. Twigg
  • Patent number: 6550122
    Abstract: A cylindrical drum is prepared by welding opposite ends of a thin sheet of maraging steel. A first solution treatment is effected on the cylindrical drum, and then the cylindrical drum is severed into a plurality of rings each having a predetermined width. After the rings are rolled, a second solution treatment is effected on the rings which have been rolled, and then the circumferential length of each of the rings is corrected. The rings are aged and nitrided, and then stacked into a laminated ring. The first solution treatment and the second solution treatment are effected using the same heating furnace in the same atmosphere in the same temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Imai, Hitoshi Karasawa, Katsuyuki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6550123
    Abstract: A process comprising taking a plurality of wire rods, laying them out together, side-by-side, ganging them together with a strapping means to form a flat, rectangular shaped array or panel, placing the array into a metal forming press and bending one end of all of the rods together, uniformly and simultaneously. The bound array can then be rotated 180 degrees, if desired, and the other end of the panel inserted to bend that end of all the rods, uniformly and simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Lionel Freeman
  • Patent number: 6550124
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for temporarily bonding reinforcing sheet metal pieces or other metal pieces to a sheet metal blank for forming at an elevated temperature such as is employed in superplastic forming of suitable aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel or titanium alloys. The pieces are bonded to the blank in locations in which the piece will acquire a desired shape from co-formation with the blank. Suitable water suspendible sodium silicate compositions, such as water glass bond the piece to the blank during high temperature forming and permit removal after forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Edward Krajewski, Georg M. Barton
  • Patent number: 6550125
    Abstract: A panel fastener strike comprises a unitary casing formed with two substantially parallel face plates unitarily bridged together by a strap at one end and formed with two substantially coplanar flanges at an opposite end, and a pin mounted to the two face plates spaced from the casing strap. In manufacturing the strike the face plates are bent from a coplanar orientation to a parallel orientation while simultaneously seating opposite ends of the pin in the face plate mounting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kason Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Burl Finkelstein, John A. Fry
  • Patent number: 6550126
    Abstract: A mounting method for mounting an electrode assembly on a plasma etching apparatus includes inserting alignment pins in apertures of the plasma etching apparatus. Apertures of the electrode assembly are aligned relative to the alignment pins. The electrode assembly is then mounted on the plasma etching apparatus, passing the alignment pins through the apertures of the electrode assembly. Each alignment pin is then replaced with a locking arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Electronics, Inc, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Mitchell Szettella, Jeffery Ozee, Augusto James Gonzales
  • Patent number: 6550127
    Abstract: A device for holding a part comprises a retainer member provided for applying and holding the part and having a convexly spherical surface section which is received in a concavely spherical surface section of a receptacle member. To enable movement of the spherical surface sections relative to one another, the device includes an arrangement for forming a temporary friction-free air bearing between the two surface sections, which can be removed once the surfaces of the two parts have been brought into the desired alignment and engagement to fix the receptacle and retainer members in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Auracher, Julius Wittmann
  • Patent number: 6550128
    Abstract: An apparatus for attachment to a pipe handling arm, which apparatus comprises a clamp (3, 4) for gripping a tubular (70), characterised in that said apparatus further comprises means (10) for, in use, aligning said tubular (70) with another tubular (71) prior to connection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Georg Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6550129
    Abstract: A workpiece is assembled by removably mounting an alignment tool to a conventional wing structure so that the alignment tool holds multiple conventional strut fittings to the wing structure. A frame of a CNC manufacturing machine is moved to and removably mounted to the workpiece. The orientation of the workpiece with respect to the frame mounted thereto is quantified. A predetermined pattern of operations to be performed by the CNC manufacturing machine to form attachment holes for use in attaching the strut fittings to the wing structure is adjusted to compensate for the orientation of the workpiece relative to the frame. Thereafter, the CNC manufacturing machine automatically forms the attachment holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James N. Buttrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6550130
    Abstract: In manufacturing the iron core of a divided stator, a plurality of pole pieces with fitting portions formed on both sides of pole portions are laminated and fixed to one another. A plurality of the pole piece laminates are arranged in the form of a ring and the outer or inner circumference is held with a jig. A non-magnetic and high-rigidity connecting member is press-fit in the laminating direction into fitting portions of a plurality of adjacent pole piece laminates, thereby a plurality of adjacent pole piece laminates are positioned with high accuracy and rigidly connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Itoh Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Itoh, Toshiyuki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 6550131
    Abstract: A method for making a thin-film magnetic head with a magnetoresistive layer having a desired shaped to facilitate narrowing of the track width, wherein the surface, in the depth direction, is not curved, and wherein the shape and magnetic anisotropy of each sublayer of the magnetoresistive layer is stabilized to ensure improved reading characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6550132
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of an ink-jet recording head which does not form stagnant ink even at a high density and high speed recording and does not bear stagnant ink due to a heat influence during radiation of excima laser beam on ejecting ports(orifice) 706 and due to defects or deposited foreign particles during connecting the orifice 706 with a top board 102. In order to obtain such recording heads, before fabricating the ejecting ports 706 a by-product removing tape 101 is pasted capable of being peeled off, on eject port forming plate which is fabricated to an orifice plate 102, so as to increase adhesive property between the by-product removing tape and removed portion by the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 6550133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface mounting apparatus installed with a tray feeder in which a mounter is, at its one side, installed with a tape reel feeder and is, at its other side, installed with a tray feeder so that various semiconductor device can be, easily and rapidly, supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Bong Seo, Jae Hyuk Cho
  • Patent number: 6550134
    Abstract: An electric-component transferring apparatus including a component holder which holds an electric component, a shaft member whose lower end portion supports the component holder, a movable member having a support hole which supports the shaft member such that the shaft member is rotatable about an axis line relative to the movable member and is movable relative to the movable member in an axial direction parallel to the axis line, a moving device which moves the movable member in a direction intersecting the axis line of the shaft member, a piston which is supported by the shaft member such that the piston is not movable relative to the shaft member in the axial direction of the shaft member, the support hole including a portion defining a cylinder bore which cooperates with the piston to provide an air-pressure-operated cylinder device, a driven wheel which is substantially integral with the shaft member, and a drive wheel which is supported by the movable member such that the drive wheel is meshed with the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Asai, Kazufumi Suga
  • Patent number: 6550135
    Abstract: When plural board blocks formed in one board undergo sequential part-mountings at plural mounting stages, particular recognition points and recognition points in the board blocks target of a downstream mounting stage are recognized at an upstream mounting stage. Relative positional data of each recognition point of the board block with respect to the particular recognition points are thus obtained at the upstream mounting stage. At the mounting stage on downstream side, only the particular recognition points are recognized thereby detecting a whole position of the board. Based on the whole position and the relative positional data, a positional deviation of the board block at the mounting stage can be detected, so that repeated recognition of the same recognition points is avoided thereby shortening a total time of position recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakahara, Hideki Sumi, Takahiro Noda
  • Patent number: 6550136
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method of fabricating a printed wiring board characterized in that a printed wiring board is fabricated by perforating a slot by a router bit at a central part of a substrate. The method further includes cutting a wiring portion for electric plating by the router bit. According to the method, the occurrence of cut burr on the surfaces of the wiring pattern, caused by electric plating, is prevented, the product yield is promoted and the operational efficiency is improved. The invention also discloses a method of fabricating a printed wiring board by forming a conductor circuit by patterning a metal coating formed on a surface of an insulating substrate, successively subjecting the conductor circuit to a surface treatment by electric plating and thereafter perforating a slot by a router bit. The slot connects the substrate to a semiconductor chip at a central portion thereof by bonding wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., LTD
    Inventors: Hiroki Hata, Kenichi Yamane, Akihiro Nishimura, Noriaki Taneko
  • Patent number: 6550137
    Abstract: The device is a tool for placing a split sheath around elongated items such as bundles of electronic cables. It comprises a guide bush which makes possible the opening of the sheath, a duct for the cables to be sheathed, lateral grooves for guiding the open sheath and is characterized by the presence of a lateral opening which allows the introduction or extraction of cables possibly already fixed at their two extremities during the use of the tool, as well as by the angle which there is between this opening and the duct for the cables in a manner to keep them in position in the tool be their own rigidity. The tool may have a handle for manipulation and for setting the tool in relative motion along the cables to be sheathed. The invention is also directed at the method for using the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Systems Protection Group S.A.S.
    Inventor: Jean Henri Ferrand
  • Patent number: 6550138
    Abstract: A method for reducing the incidence of piston pin failure by providing a retainer assembly for piston pin plugs such that the plugs cannot be removed or shaken lose during operation. A plastic rod is inserted into the piston pin, and the rod is ultrasonically welded to the stems of mushroom-shaped plastic piston plugs such that the plugs cover the open ends of the pin and are held in place by the cooperation of structure between the plugs and the rod. In an alternate embodiment, the stem of each pin plug is hollow and a respective internally threaded brass insert is disposed in the stem and ultrasonically welded therein. An externally threaded rod is then engaged with the two internally threaded inserts to hold the plugs on the piston pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James J. Billimack, Mark W. Jarrett, Neil E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6550139
    Abstract: A technique for fabricating datum surfaces on a print cartridge body. One technique includes fixing the print cartridge in a tooling fixture after the printhead has been affixed to the body, performing a position measurement on the fixed print cartridge to obtain position measurement data, and using the position measurement data, machining precisely located datum surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hai Q. Tran, William S. Colburn
  • Patent number: 6550140
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the finishing of ball cages (1) destined for constant-velocity joints which are provided with spherical annular inner and outer bearing surfaces (3, 2) and ball pockets (4) for the accommodation of torque-transmitting balls. In order that the finishing of such ball cages (1) can be carried out rapidly, at low cost and in as fully automated a manner as possible it is proposed according to the invention that the finishing both of the inner and outer spherical annular bearing surfaces (3, 2) as well as the contact surfaces (5) of the ball pockets (4) located opposite one another in the axial direction and each for one ball ensues by means of lathe machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: IPROTEC Maschinen-und Edelstahlprodukte GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Kochsiek
  • Patent number: 6550141
    Abstract: Razor heads comprising at least one blade and a plurality of guard elements over the leading edge at a plurality of intermediate portions. According to preferred embodiments, the guard elements are integrally molded with at least one or more of a blade support, spacer element(s), forward guard member and cap member. The use of integrally molded guard elements facilitate efficient, quicker and less expensive manufacturing, provide greater design flexibility, and provide greater blade stability. Additionally, in preferred embodiments, when the molded guard elements are aligned with spacers, these guard elements do not interfere with the rinsability of the razor head. The intermediate guard elements also provide additional sites for the placement of shaving aids and other skin flow control materials such as materials having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company
    Inventors: David F. Rivers, Andrew Pennella, Paul D. Richard
  • Patent number: 6550142
    Abstract: A hand tool generally including a base member; an implement displaceable along a line of travel intersecting the base member; a pair of handle segments each having an end pivotally connected to the base member to a side of the line of travel; and a pair of actuating links each having an end pivotally connected to the implement and an opposite end pivotally connected to a handle segment at a point disposed between ends of the connected handle segment whereby upon pivoting the handle segments about their pivotal connections with the base member, the actuating links will be caused to displace the implement along its line of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Taylor Cutlery
    Inventor: Rocky Lee Moser
  • Patent number: 6550143
    Abstract: This invention provides a unique utility knife, which has at least two extendable and retractable parallel blades. The blades are easily operated with one hand by a mechanism on a non-force-bearing surface of the knife. The blade handle of this utility knife may be bent to enhance the ergonomic ease of use of the knife. As a result, the utility knife is efficient, as well as safe, convenient and economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Hermel Pelletier
    Inventor: Robert E. Derome
  • Patent number: 6550144
    Abstract: A razor-knife housing has a neat part retaining a blade and displaceable in the housing through a front-end slot between an extended position with the blade mainly outside the housing and a retracted position with the blade wholly inside the housing. A retaining part in slidable on the seat part between a closed position overlying the blade and holding it on the seat part and an open position exposing the blade on the formation and allowing it to be removed therefrom. The parts have faces normally engageable with each other to prevent sliding of the retaining part on the seat part. One of the faces is displaceable transversely to the other to allow the parts to slide relative to each other. In the extended position of the seat part and open position of the retaining part, the blade is is not retained on the seat part by the retaining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Harald Berns
  • Patent number: 6550145
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a portable handheld work apparatus such as a brushcutter, edge cutter or the like. The work apparatus has a drive motor which drives a rotatable work tool via a drive shaft (3) journalled in a guide tube (2). The guide tube (2) is held in a housing (5) of the drive motor by an anti-vibration unit (6). The anti-vibration unit (6) includes a clamp (7) which surrounds the guide tube (2) and elastic damping elements (8, 9) which lie between the clamp (7) and the housing (5). The clamp (7) surrounds the guide tube (2) and is fixed form tight on the housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Stoll, Andreas Schneider, Jürgen Steinmaier
  • Patent number: 6550146
    Abstract: A sieving ladle allowing separation of solids or coarse material from liquids or fine particles; the sieving ladle comprising a generally concave-shaped bowl, the bowl defining a bowl wall, the bowl wall having a bowl wall peripheral edge, the bowl wall peripheral edge defining an open main surface extending therebetween; a handle extending from the concave-shaped bowl; a sieving wall, the sieving wall defining a sieving wall proximal edge, a sieving wall distal edge, a sieving wall proximal segment and a sieving wall distal segment, the seeing wall proximal segment extending generally tangentially from a connecting section of the wall peripheral edge, the sieving wall having sieving apertures extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Luc Rouleau
  • Patent number: 6550147
    Abstract: An attachment for a reciprocating saw comprises an offset member mounted on the drive head of the saw and comprising a lateral extension which holds a saw blade clear of the saw body The attachment also comprises a guard member having a planar surface adapted to engage a wall, and a slot through which the saw blade extends. The guard member is pivotally mounted on the saw body at a point spaced from the drive head. The attachment facilitates making a saw cut in a surface adjacent an inside corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Dwight D. Fishlock, Glenn R. Peloquin
  • Patent number: 6550148
    Abstract: A shaving razor comprises a finger grip consisting of a body having contoured sides, a top surface and a base. A razor head is affixed to the top surface. The finger grip sides are concave in shape to conform to and accommodate the shape of the user's fingers. When the finger grip is held between the user's fingers and the razor head is placed against the skin, the user's fingers are capable of contacting the skin adjacent to the razor head to provide sensory feed back to the user. The razor head is adapted to contain one or more blades, or pairs of blades, extending in a single direction for unidirectional shaving; or alternatively, the head may contain more than one blade, or pairs of blades, extending in opposite directions for bi-directional shaving. In different embodiments, the finger grip razor may be fitted with non-replaceable blades and is disposable or the razor grip may be fitted with replaceable blades and is reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Corbett W. Cecil
  • Patent number: 6550149
    Abstract: A system and method for sizing one's feet for shoes, and for the fitting of shoes. The system includes a computer having a fitting program, which receives foot data from a user, and shoe data for a selected shoe from a shoe information database and compares them, determining a fit indicator for each compared property. The foot and shoe data includes the length, the metatarsal length, the width and the heel width. A useful shoe length is calculated by the program based on the shoe length and several modifiers including the elevation of the heel, the thickness of the collar and the shape and height of the toebox. The program also receives a sock type indicator from the user, indicating a selected sock to be worn with the selected shoe, and accounts for the thickness of the selected sock when determining the fit indicator. The system enables a person to determine a shoe fit, without the need for trying on the selected shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Dowdell
  • Patent number: 6550150
    Abstract: A surveying instrument which incorporates a magnetic incremental rotary encoder includes a rotary magnetic drum provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a multi-pole magnetized layer having a plurality of equally-divided magnetized divisions; and at least two magnetic sensors, each of which detects a magnetic field generated by the multi-pole magnetized layer therefrom. Each of the at least two magnetic sensors detects a variation in the magnetic field due to a rotation of the rotary magnetic drum to measure an angle of rotation of the rotary magnetic drum, and the at least two magnetic sensors are arranged so that two of the at least two magnetic sensors are offset from each other to have a phase angle of an odd-numbered pitch angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Pentax Corporation, Pentax Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Shirai, Katsuhiko Kenjo
  • Patent number: 6550151
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is an improvement on the traditional measuring wheel. When the odometry information is combined with two robust attitude sensors and an on-board computer, the instrument is able to perform useful measurements such as the calculation of an area or the description of a non-linear contour, as well as the traditional distance measurements and other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Airey, Herman Servatius
  • Patent number: 6550152
    Abstract: A spirit level for the installation of tile and cabinets includes a rigid body having upper and lower parallel planar surfaces separated by a first predetermined width. The body includes a bubble vial oriented to verify the orientation of the level. An auxiliary edge portion has a planar top surface and lower supporting edges parallel to the top surface separated by a second predetermined width. Means are provided for removably attaching the auxiliary edge portion to the upper planar surface of the body, thereby providing a level having two standard widths corresponding to industry standard tiles. A series of evenly spaced holes are provided for removably securing the body to a flat surface. The ends of the body include parallel planar end surfaces normal to the upper and lower planar surfaces. A threaded hole is provided penetrating the surface of the body. A threaded setscrew is provided to engage the threaded hole and to bear upon the auxiliary edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Myrick
  • Patent number: 6550153
    Abstract: A template for installing windows in a wall having studs and a wall panel. The template is for a specific shape and size of window and provides the proper dimensions for receiving the window casing and for framing the studs to receive the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Gary Keith
  • Patent number: 6550154
    Abstract: The level-adjusting apparatus adjusts the level of a tool such as a router having a bit for cutting a piece of work on a working surface. The apparatus has a carriage on which the router is mounted. The carriage is located beneath the working surface and its bit projects above the surface. The carriage may be raised and lowered by means of a handle above the working surface. The handle is removable so that once the router is in position the handle may be removed so that it does not interfere with the routing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Jessem Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Darrin Eugene Smith
  • Patent number: 6550155
    Abstract: A tape rule with an automatic blade extension mechanism in which the internal ruler blade reel is not equipped with a center-wound, spiral retraction spring. The torsion developed by winding the steel ruler blade around the reel is of sufficient magnitude such that when the ruler blade is released, it automatically extends to facilitate taking measurements. As such, the present invention is of higher industrial and practical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Cheng-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 6550156
    Abstract: A pipe fitting method and apparatus for taking simultaneous linear and angular measurements is used for pipefitting. A first pipe joint fitting of a pipe fitting apparatus herein disclosed is attached to a first pipe joint, a second pipe joint fitting of the pipe fitting apparatus is attached to a second pipe joint, and the first pipe joint is attached to a first unconnected end of a first pipe-to-be-joined. Then, the pipe fitting apparatus is extended to an extended length thereof, while an angle measuring device of the pipe fitting apparatus simultaneously maintains an angular reading at a preselected joinder angle, until a top open end of the second pipe joint aligns with a second pipe-to-be-joined at an alignment line. Next, it is determined where to cut the second pipe-to-be-joined with reference to the alignment line. Finally, it is determined how long to cut a third connecting pipe with reference to the extended length of the pipe fitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: David Scoville
  • Patent number: 6550157
    Abstract: A clothes dryer vent system is designed for hollow walls framed with scantling and covered with sheathing secured to the scantling, the walls having a hollow interior space that is uniformly, at least about 3½ inches wide. The vent system includes a rough-in box for recessed mounting within a hollow wall, the rough-in box having a substantially planar rear panel, side panels and nonparallel top and bottom panels, the side panels and the top and bottom panels intersecting and unitary with the rear panel, each side panel intersecting and unitary with both top and bottom panels, the rough-in box also having a depth no greater than about 4 inches, and a stub connector pipe affixed within the top panel, the stub connector pipe having a lower portion of oval-shaped cross section within the box that is couplable to a flexible dryer vent hose and an upper portion outside the box directly couplable to an oblong vent pipe having a minor cross-sectional dimension no greater than about 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Robert W. Harding
  • Patent number: 6550158
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing particles in reactors. The apparatus includes an enclosure with a wafer handling chamber connected by an isolation gate valve to a processing chamber. Pipes deliver purge gas into the wafer handling chamber to eliminate particles from the enclosure. A pilot operated back pressure regulator regulates the delivery and removal of the purge gas. The apparatus actuates the isolation gate valve in a controlled rate to reduce disturbances from the purge gas entering into the enclosure. A Bernoulli wand is provided for lifting and holding a single semiconductor wafer. A dome loaded regulator actuated by a pilot gas is used to control the ramp rates of gas to the Bernoulli wand. The ramping rates of the Bernoulli wand gas can be controlled by restrictions and check valves in the pilot gas line. The apparatus also utilizes ionizers in the purge gas lines entering the wafer handling chamber and load locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Doley, Dennis Goodwin, Kenneth O'Neill, Gerben Vrijburg, David Rodriguez, Ravinder Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 6550159
    Abstract: A skate boot is disclosed which comprises a foot element adapted to be mounted to a ground engaging skating implement and for receiving at least partially the foot of a skater, and an articulated cuff for encircling and supporting the ankle of a skater. The articulated cuff is partially inserted in the foot element and slidably coupled to the foot element to permit unrestrained limited pivotal motion of the articulated cuff relative to an axis coinciding approximately with the pivot axis of the skater's ankle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bauer Nike Hockey Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Madore
  • Patent number: 6550160
    Abstract: A shoe device that is useful in obtaining the proper stance when playing the game of golf. The shoe device has a sole section, wherein the sole section has a left side and a right side. The shoe also includes an upper section that is coupled to the sole section. The upper section is sized to receive a foot. The upper section has a right side area that is disposed above the right side of the sole and a left side area that is disposed above the left side of the sole. A slanting mechanism is disposed within the shoe for selectively slanting the sole section of the shoe so that either the right side area or the left side area is elevated to a height above the opposite area. By slanting the shoe to one side, a golfer is reminded to keep his/her weight the inside of their right foot when swinging a golf club, thereby making for a better swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Eugene T. Miller, II
  • Patent number: 6550161
    Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler has a travel ready lever mounted to one of the left and right handlebars and adapted to be gripped by a human operator to place the electric motors in an operative condition, and a clutch control pushbutton switch disposed on the control board at a position close to the other handlebar, the clutch control pushbutton switch being adapted to be manually operated to actuate the electromagnetic clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jitsumi Hanafusa, Kenji Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 6550162
    Abstract: A sediment removal system includes a vessel adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, and a crawler adapted to be submerged in the body of water, wherein the crawler includes a drive system for moving the crawler across a bottom of the body of water, and wherein the crawler includes a suctioning device that supplies a suctioning force that is utilized to remove sediments resting on the bottom of the body of water. The sediment removal system also includes a sediment removal line in communication with the suctioning device and adapted to carry the sediment from the suctioning device away from the crawler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Robert E. Price, Eugene A. Christenson
  • Patent number: 6550163
    Abstract: A dragline apparatus has an independently controlled front hoist line and rear hoist line. The front hoist line is connected to the forward end of the bucket, and the rear hoist line is connected to the rearward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Esco Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Lee Briscoe, Charles George Ollinger, IV, Ermanno Simonutti
  • Patent number: 6550164
    Abstract: Ironing board comprising an iron conneted with a steam boiler and an ironing plank provided with a pierced upper surface and with a lower tank gathering the condensation water of said steam; said ironing board comprises means for recovering the condensation water which is present in the tank and means for re-circulating water from said recovery means to said steam boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Ariete S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Rosa
  • Patent number: 6550165
    Abstract: A perpetual calendar display device for displaying the calendar date. The perpetual calendar display device includes a calendar housing having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls for forming a first interior compartment. The front wall includes eight (8) elongated vertical spaced-apart strips each having side edges for forming seven (7) elongated vertical spaced-apart display openings. The first interior compartment having mounted therein seven spaced-apart rotatable columns. Each of the rotatable columns includes six (6) vertically spaced-apart display areas, and each of the display areas having up to seven (7) display positions forming a total of at least thirty-seven (37) display positions. Each of the thirty-seven (37) display positions having a number thereon corresponding to the date of a selected month; and the of the thirty-seven (37) display positions being movable into or out of display openings for displaying all of the dates for the selected month.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Chirafesi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6550166
    Abstract: A license plate frame for use, in combination, with a toy license plate, includes upper and lower horizontally extending sections and vertically disposed end sections extending between and integrally connected to the opposite ends of the horizontally extending sections. Each of the horizontally extending sections and end sections has a frontal wall that is substantially parallel to the plane of the license plate frame, and an outer enclosure wall extending rearwardly from the plane of the license plate frame. The frontal walls have a front surface and an opposing rear surface. The front and rear surfaces each terminate at an inner edge and an outer edge. The inner edges cooperate to form a display aperture. An inner frame wall extending rearwardly from the rear surface of each of the frontal walls, between the inner edge and the outer enclosure wall. At least two plate retaining flanges extend inwardly from the inner frame terminal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Michael E. Lyon