Patents Issued in April 29, 2003
  • Patent number: 6554337
    Abstract: A grapple device for grasping, holding and releasing an object having a deformable cover material such as sacks and bags, has a mounting bracket and two rollers. The rollers are pushed toward each other by the force of at least one spring. When the rollers are powered to spin, the inward spinning of the rollers causes the sack material to be dragged in between the rollers due to friction between the surfaces of the rollers and the sack material. The spring pushes the rollers toward each other with sufficient force to hold the sack material in place between the rollers. The grapple device also includes a holding mechanism to engage at least one of the rollers and prevent rotation of the roller when engaged, so that when sack material is located in the inter-roller region and the holding mechanism is engaged, the contact between the sack material and rollers causes the sack to be held by the grapple device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Christopher Jude Foley
  • Patent number: 6554338
    Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a grab handle for installation on the exterior of the truck to aid operator access to the vehicle. The handle includes an inner and outer tubular member. The inner tubular member has two opposing ends, a closed end formed to define a first truck mating surface and an open end. The outer tubular member has two opposing ends, a closed end formed to define a second truck mating surface and an open end. The inner tubular member is slideably engaged within the outer tubular member such that the inner and outer tubular members are coaxial and define a length of the grab handle. The length is adjustable over a range by sliding the inner tubular member with respect to the outer tubular member. The handle may include an annular shaped seal mounted on the outer tubular member open end to protect an operator's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
    Inventor: William Jason Spence
  • Patent number: 6554339
    Abstract: A barrier net for motor vehicles of the type having a forward passenger compartment and cargo area behind the passenger compartment. The barrier net comprises a netting member adapted to restrain stowage within the cargo area from entering the passenger compartment. A mechanism is provided for removably attaching both the netting member top to the cargo area and the netting member bottom to the cargo area. The barrier net further comprises a mechanism for rendering the netting member taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Polytech Netting, L.P.
    Inventor: Donal Moore
  • Patent number: 6554340
    Abstract: A cover and extender unit for the bed of a truck bounded by a forward wall, opposing side walls and a rear tailgate mounted for movement between fixed upright and horizontal positions comprising a pivoting frame stowed in the bed having laterally spaced sides, a transversely extending gating panel, and a rigid top cover roofing the bed; the top cover is hinged at forward points to the sides so it can be turned upwardly from the aft end of the bed for bed access, side pivot construction connects the frame to the side walls of the bed near the aft end thereof allowing the unit to be turned 180 degrees rearward from the stowed and bed cover position to a horizontal position thereby to extend the bed beyond the extremity of the lowered tailgate with the cover now serving as the bed extension and the forward gating panel as a rear tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6554341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fender panel impact absorption structure having a pedestrian protection function in which an impact absorption unit is installed between a fender panel and the top of an fender shield panel to secure space enough to absorb the impact energy to the maximum level and minimize a pedestrian's injury when the pedestrian is bumped to the fender panel, the structure being constructed by fastening together the end of a bent part of a fender panel positioned under a hood panel and the top of an fender shield panel with at least more than 2 impact absorption units positioned between the lower side of the bent part of the fender panel and the upper side of the fender shield panel along the upper surface of the fender shield panel in a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Wan-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 6554342
    Abstract: A storage structure configured to be mounted to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the storage structure comprises a frame having a pair of side panels, a top panel, a bottom panel and a wall panel attached to the side, top and bottom panels so as to define an interior region of the frame, at least one tool securing device attached to the wall panel wherein the tool securing member is configured to allow tools to be removably secured thereto, and at least one door panel movably attached to the frame. The door panel is movable to a closed position so as to prevent access to the interior region and to an opened position to allow access to the interior region. The door panel is configured to allow viewing of substantially the entire interior region when the door panel is in the closed position. The storage structure further includes a device for attaching the storage structure to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Scott A Burnett
  • Patent number: 6554343
    Abstract: A safety seat for a baby including a baby container, a mounting rod and a baby restraint pad. The baby container is made of a shell and a wire frame. The shell is an elastic material, which is either net-like or opaque. The wire frame is covered by the elastic material and forms the shell into a three-dimensional curved triangular shape with an interior volume for holding a baby. The shape has a rectangular base, parabolic sides and curved end pieces. The mounting rod connects to the baby container along a top edge of the triangular shape so as to form a single axis of rotation for swinging the container. The mounting rod also attaches to a support frame of a motor vehicle, stroller or rocker. The baby restraint pad has a rectangular base corresponding to the base of the baby container so that the pad can be placed in an interior volume of the baby container. The baby restraint pad also has stabilizer blocks longitudinally spaced on the top surface of the pad so as to securely hold a baby when swinging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Iwao Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6554344
    Abstract: The fuel filler door catch includes a catch body mounted to a fuel filler housing, a rotary unit mounted on the catch body and rotating as a driver manipulates a cable, and a catch slide performing a rectilinear sliding movement as the rotary unit is operated, and released from a hook plate provided on a fuel filler door to open the fuel filler door. The present invention is directed to provide a fuel filler door catch, which is operated without applying a great force, in addition to an improvement of durability and a facilitation of maintenance due to a modular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byeong-Lag Son
  • Patent number: 6554345
    Abstract: A motor vehicle impact absorbing beam having, at least along a major part of its length, two flanks (13, 14) having a catenary cross-sectional configuration substantially in the form of a free-hanging chain suspended only at its ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: SSAB Hardtech AB
    Inventor: Martin Jonsson
  • Patent number: 6554346
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a wing door 1 of a truck, which is hinged to a vehicle body of a truck is accommodated in a space defined by a frame 2 when the wing door 1 is closed. The apparatus comprises a first arm 4 pivotally mounted on the vehicle body so as to pivotally move in association with the opening and closing of the wing door; a second arm 6 swingably linked between one end of the first arm 4 and the wing door 1; a spring 16 having one end supported relative to the vehicle body for generating a biasing force to lift up the wing door 1; a spring rod 11 connected to the other end of the spring 16 so as to move in association with the extension and retraction of the spring 16; a third arm 9 swingably linked between the other end of the first arm 4 and the spring rod 11; and a guide 13 for guiding the spring rod 11 or a link point 10 between the third arm 9 and the spring rod 11 for moving the spring rod in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the spring 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6554347
    Abstract: An independent transport container or a transport container mounted on a vehicle such as a truck, trailer or railway car, includes a generally rectangular-shaped horizontal loading surface whereby at least one lateral surface is fitted with tarpaulin side walls that are mounted in such a way that they can slide in a longitudinal direction on an upper rail. The tarpaulin side walls are hooked to a set of rigid louvers which can be folded like an accordion, whereby the upper end of the louvers slides on an upper rail with the aid of carriages which are provided with casters and the lower end slides on a lower rail, bearing the upper rail, with the aid of lower chariots which are provided with rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: S.A. Libner
    Inventor: Hervé Libner
  • Patent number: 6554348
    Abstract: A bus body comprising opposite side walls, a rear wall and a roof including inner and outer fiberglass wall members which define a space therebetween. The space between the inner and outer wall members is filled with a polypropylene honeycomb material. In a modified version of the bus body, the polypropylene honeycomb material is only positioned between the inner and outer wall members in those areas which may be subjected to moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Dan H. Gernstein
  • Patent number: 6554349
    Abstract: A windbreak device for a motor vehicle, in particular for an open passenger vehicle, has a lower frame which can be attached to the vehicle, an upper frame which is mounted on the lower frame so as to be capable of pivoting about a pivot axis, and at least one flexible, planar windbreak element which is mounted on the frames. In order to simplify the design of such a windbreak device, it is proposed that both frames be of C-shaped construction, with open sides facing the pivot axis, and to provide a common windbreak element, for both frames, attached to both frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Gloss
  • Patent number: 6554350
    Abstract: A structure absorbs impact energy in an upper vehicle body portion provided with a vehicle body structural member and an interior trim spaced inward from the structural member. The structure includes an energy absorbing member disposed in the interval between the structural member and the interior trim and extending along the structural member in a lengthwise direction of the structural member, and a spacer substantially filling a gap formed between the energy absorbing member and the interior trim. The energy absorbing member is formed so that a section thereof taken on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction has a substantially uniform shape along the lengthwise direction. The energy absorbing member may be an extended pipe or a hybrid pipe including a core member formed from a metal foil, and sheets of a different material laminated on opposite surfaces of the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Takahara
  • Patent number: 6554351
    Abstract: A three piece monocoque cab assembly with a base portion having spaced frame members that extend upwardly, a roof portion secured to the base member and having spaced frame members that extend downwardly and mate with the frame members of the base portion, and an interior portion that is nested within and secured to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Mohamad S. El-Zein
  • Patent number: 6554352
    Abstract: A cross car structure member including a beam comprising a hollow extended aluminum metal tube extending across the vehicle between the vehicle pillars, preferably, with the interior of the tube being used as a heating, ventilating and air conditioning duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Van-Rob Stampings Inc.
    Inventor: Louis A. Nagy
  • Patent number: 6554353
    Abstract: A dual-purpose chair comprises a seat structure and a base structure fastened detachably with the seat structure. When the seat structure and the base structure are fastened together, the chair serves as an office chair. The seat structure can be separated from the base structure for use as a deck chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Cheng-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 6554354
    Abstract: A seating unit comprises: an armrest having an inwardly facing surface that includes an aperture; a table having a support surface mounted on and above a mounting post; and a mounting bracket mounted within the armrest. The mounting bracket is configured to receive the mounting post through the aperture in the armrest and to detachably secure the mounting post such that the support surface is generally horizontally disposed. In this configuration, the seating unit can provide a table-type surface in a convenient location for an occupant of the seating unit, yet the table can be removed when its presence is undesirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6554355
    Abstract: A bicycle seat for a bicycle having a frame with a seat post. A seat base plate is mounted at the upper end of the seat post. Passenger supporting extensions are mounted pivotally on the base plate for limited angular displacement relative to a fore-and-aft centerline of the seat. A cushion member is supported on the base plate, a cushion with a rounded peripheral surface is secured to each extension, the cushion for the base plate having a rounded periphery that registers with the rounded surface of each cushion on the extensions. The cushion for the base plate has a rearward margin defining a shoulder providing a reaction location that accommodates rearward force reaction to forces applied by the right ilium and the left ilium of the pelvis of a bicycle rider. Each cushion for the extensions cooperates with the rounded periphery of the base plate cushion to form a crease that is positioned to receive an ischium extremity of the pelvis of a bicycle rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Kaptur
  • Patent number: 6554356
    Abstract: The frame of a crash resistant school bus seat is designed to undergo plastic flow when an impact is applied to the back rest portion of the seat. One or more stopping mechanisms are provided to retard movement of the back rest farther than a predetermined limit, thereby keeping a passenger in an upright position in the seat as a result of a crash. The frame is made from inexpensive, off-the-shelf metal tube and sheet stock and hence is inexpensive to design and build.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The C.E. White Co.
    Inventor: Corwin L. Crose
  • Patent number: 6554357
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for removably associating a child seat to a dual occupancy stowable seat. In addition to being able to secure a child seat, the stowable seat has a deployed position and a stowed position. The stowed position provides space for storing a wheel chair or other item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The deployed position is utilized for seating or for statically securing up to two child seats. For the purpose of securing a child seat, the stowable seat has one or more anchor systems, which are an integral and permanent part of a previously existing seat frame of sufficient strength and durability or are installed as OEM in the vehicle. The anchor system is arranged and positioned such that when it is not being used to secure a child safety seat it will not interfere with the ability of the stowable seat to provide seating for an occupant or interfere with the stowable seat's movement from the deployed to the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Moffa
  • Patent number: 6554358
    Abstract: A tiltable base is adapted to rest on a vehicle seat and support a juvenile vehicle seat in a desired position with respect to the underlying vehicle seat. The base includes a support foundation, a seat support movable relative to the support foundation, and a retainer configured to retain the seat support in selected positions relative to the support foundation and to release the seat support for movement relative to the support foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 6554359
    Abstract: A sprung vehicle seat has a base member and a top member, and a scissor support assembly operatively disposed therebetween. The scissor support assembly comprises first and second pivotably interconnected scissor levers. Secured to the first scissor levers is a sliding guide in the form of a plate member which is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the seat. A spring member bears against the sliding guide and the top member and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the seat for the purposes of weight adjustment of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Josef Kohl, Hermann Meiller
  • Patent number: 6554360
    Abstract: Described is a seat (10) comprising a seat squab (12) and a backrest (14) which is displaceable in respect of its inclination. In order to achieve a load relief for the intervertebral disc of a user of the seat and thus optimum seating comfort, the seat (10) provides that the backrest (14) is displaceable between convex lordosis positions and concave kyphosis positions in dependence on the respective backrest inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Wilke, Hermann Meiller
  • Patent number: 6554361
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism comprising a fixed cheek plate, a moving cheek plate provided with a circular set of teeth, two toothed slugs disposed at 120° relative to each other, which slugs are slidable relative to the fixed cheek plate and are adapted to co-operate with the circular set of teeth in order to lock the moving cheek plate, a cam for controlling radial displacement of the slugs, and two abutments belonging to the fixed cheek plate, each plate facing the rear end of a corresponding one of the slugs and serving as a bearing surface for the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventors: Yann Reubeuze, François Cilliere
  • Patent number: 6554362
    Abstract: A seat back adjustment mechanism for a seat assembly enabling a seat back to be selectively positioned in various fold-forward positions relative to a seat, and locked into at least one forward position, includes a quadrant supporting a cam plate that interfaces with a locking member to block an arm rotatably supporting the quadrant. The arm preferably includes a series of pawl teeth for selectively engaging the locking member to lock the seat back in a selected fold-forward position. Alternatively, the arm includes a corner portion for locking the seat back in a single fold-forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: James V. Pospeshil
  • Patent number: 6554363
    Abstract: The present device is a seat belt pillow apparatus for removably attaching a pillow to a sash strap of a conventional lap and sash type seat belt. The seat belt pillow apparatus has a sash strap cover, which cover is removably fastened to the sash strap. A pillow is provided with a fastener on its outer surface whereby the pillow may be removably attached to the sash strap cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Scott D. Silva
  • Patent number: 6554364
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a support and a body rotatably mounted on the support. The support includes a pair of protrusions and the body includes a notched channel for receiving the protrusions. By rotating the body on the support, the protrusions are repositioned in the notched channel between selected stable use positions. The notches are located on both sides of the channel such that the body can be located in a first position with the first surface on the body facing generally upwardly for use, and a second position with the second surface on the body facing generally upwardly for use. By varying the surfaces on the body, and also the engagement of the protrusion with the notched channel, various spacial positions and functional surfaces can be selectively positioned for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold B. Dammermann, David A. Bodnar, Michael L. Deimen, Thomas R. Hahn, Duane F. Nagel, Charles P. Roossien, David L. Rundhaug, David S. Teppo
  • Patent number: 6554365
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, part of the seat structure has a frame which encloses a construction space within which a module for optionally receiving subassemblies is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Recaro GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Karschin, Peter Bertenburg
  • Patent number: 6554366
    Abstract: A retaining plate is provided for use in the assembly of a chair to couple a J-back to a tilt mechanism. The J-back is provided with a number of mounting holes. Similarly, the tilt mechanism is provided with a number mounting holes that can be aligned with the mounting holes in the J-back. The retaining plate has a number of mounting holes disposed therethrough that are located to align with the mounting holes of the J-back and the tilt mechanism. The plate also includes a nut-retaining wall that is formed around the mounting holes and that is dimensioned to hold a threaded nut. The plate has a mechanism that is used to couple the plate to the tilt mechanism. In use, nuts may be placed within and held by the nut-retaining wall, and the plate may be coupled to the tilt mechanism so that the J-back may be coupled to the tilt mechanism by threading bolts into the nuts, the nuts being held in place by the nut-retaining walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Bryan H. Zeeuw, Steven K. Meek, Joseph T. Percy
  • Patent number: 6554367
    Abstract: A side dump body is disclosed wherein the bottom wall thereof is formed from overlapping sheet members which are welded together with the bottom wall being either substantially flat or curved. The side walls of the body may also be formed from overlapping sheet members which are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Thurston Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Layton W. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6554368
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Oil Sands Underground Mining, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Drake, Michael Helmut Kobler, John David Watson
  • Patent number: 6554369
    Abstract: A cutting tool has a tool body with a hardened insert brazed into a cylindrical seat having a given diameter at the forward end of the tool body. The insert has a cutting tip portion, a generally cylindrical base portion positioned behind the tip, and a frustoconical midsection extending from the tip section to the base section. The base section of the insert has a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the seat and a plurality of radial projection extending outward of the base section assist in aligning the base section within the seat prior to brazing the parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Sollami Company
    Inventor: Phillip A. Sollami
  • Patent number: 6554370
    Abstract: A wheel spinner assembly mountable onto a corresponding wheel of a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a wheel mount supportable by the wheel. A spinner mount is connected to the wheel mount. A bearing assembly is supported by the spinner mount. A spinner is supported by the bearing assembly, wherein the bearing assembly allows the spinner to rotate independently relative to the corresponding wheel as the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: David Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 6554371
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel cover retention system wherein the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the associated wheel includes a unique construction for securing a wheel cover to the wheel. In particular, the vehicle wheel includes a disc which defines an outboard facing wheel surface and includes an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The outboard tire bead seat retaining flange includes an outer surface having a circumferential, radially inwardly facing groove formed therein. A relatively thin wheel cover (which may or may not conform to the exact contour of the disc) covers at least a portion of the outboard facing wheel disc surface. In particular, the wheel cover includes an outer annular lip which extends into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Maloney, Thomas E. Heck, James A. Lumm, James H. Kemmerer
  • Patent number: 6554372
    Abstract: A brake system (10) having a brake booster (12) that is responsive to an operator brake input for providing a first input force to a master cylinder (13) to develop a first brake application and is responsive to a hydraulic input for providing a second input force to a master cylinder (13) to develop a second brake application. An electronic control unit (ECU) (40) receives first input signals from sensors (19) indicative of a speed for each wheel (14,14′,18,18′) in a brake system of the vehicle. The ECU (40) supplies a pump (42) with an operational input signal when a sensed wheel speed indicates a wheel lock may occur between a wheel and a surface during a brake application and simultaneous activates a decay valve (17) to release pressurized fluid from actuation of the wheel brake associated with the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Mackiewicz, Timothy Jay Albert
  • Patent number: 6554373
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a brake system for automotive vehicles including a vacuum brake power booster which is operable preferably by a solenoid irrespective of the actuation by the driver. In order to sense the actuating speed during actuation introduced at a brake pedal by the driver, the present invention provides a travel sensor of proportional operation which is operable by the axial movement of the movable wall of the vacuum brake power booster, and the output signal of the travel sensor is directly proportional to the actuating travel of the movable wall and is subjected to a time differentiation processing operation in an electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Karlheinz Bill
  • Patent number: 6554374
    Abstract: A motor vehicle tandem brake power booster with two booster units each including a vacuum chamber and a working chamber each arranged in a partition divided housing. The pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum chamber and the pressure that can be influenced by a switching device in the corresponding working chamber in each booster unit acts on a piston separating the vacuum chamber from the working chamber. The forces, which are proportional to the pressure difference and act on the pistons are bundled via mechanical intermediate members by at least one transmission element each with the forces applied by the driver of the vehicle to a corresponding brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Metin Ersoy
  • Patent number: 6554375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake pressure control device, more particularly, for anti-lock pressure control and for automatic brake intervention for the purpose of traction slip control and/or driving dynamics control in automotive vehicle brake systems, including accommodating bores for pressure modulation valves arranged in a housing, pressure sensor connecting ports which lead into the housing and into which there are inserted pressure sensors that sense the pressure in a housing-side pressure fluid conduit respectively connected to a brake pressure generator. The pressure sensor connecting port either opens into the pressure fluid conduit between two accommodating bores that are directed into the housing, or is part of the pressure modulation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Dieter Dinkel, Axel Hinz, Hans-Dieter Reinartz
  • Patent number: 6554376
    Abstract: By allowing for the possibility that light-weight spare wheels or spare wheels are mounted, a demonstration of the possible ways for replacing the output signals of one or more defective wheel speed sensors is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Schmitt, Klaus-Peter Mattern
  • Patent number: 6554377
    Abstract: A rubber track T has a plurality of guide lugs 50 arranged in two rows, one row being on each lateral edge. The guide lugs 50 of the first row are circumferentially offset from the guide lugs 50 of the second row. The track T is molded on an axially separating mold core D that is designed to form the radially inner guide lugs 50 without requiring a radially collapsible core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Albert James Yovichin, Richard Alan Thomas, Ronald Paul Homolak
  • Patent number: 6554378
    Abstract: A group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry interchangeable, in a compound bezel assembly, with at least one other group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry to produce multiple, bilaterally symmetrical, compound bezel configurations with different appearances using a minimal number of component plates; and method and apparatus for providing a venting bezel assembly with a plenum chamber formed between component plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Foslien, Joseph M. White, Seiya Ohta
  • Patent number: 6554379
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly is provided having first and second slide rails, with the second slide rail being telescopically extendible from the first slide rail. A latch is mounted to the slide rail assembly to retain the second slide rail in a forward, extended position, cantilevered from the first slide rail. A rigid release member is slidably mounted to the second slide rail, and extends from a forward portion of the second slide rail to an intermediate portion of the second slide that is disposed substantially adjacent to the latch, such that movement of the release member in a forward, lineal direction releases the latch from securing the second slide rail in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Central Industrial Supply Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon E. Devine
  • Patent number: 6554380
    Abstract: A liquid detection method and a liquid discharging device to detect whether or not a liquid can be supplied in a state in which a liquid channel from a tank for accommodating the liquid to each discharging port of a recording head is not disconnected by a bubble. A detection-signal input terminal is provided at a position where it contacts the liquid. A detection terminal is provided at a position where it does not electrically contact the liquid and is isolated from the liquid within the tank via a lower wall of the tank, made of an insulating plastic material, and the air. An electrical signal is input from a recording apparatus to the detection-signal input terminal via a connection terminal. The input electrical signal is transmitted through the ink within the recording head, the liquid channel within a joint, and the liquid within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Moriyama, Yoshio Uchikata
  • Patent number: 6554381
    Abstract: A system is provided for registration of a fluid level of a fluid in the fluid chamber of an invention-specific receptacle (1), in particular of ink in an ink cartridge, with a light source (11) which beams into the chamber of the receptacle, a reflection body (2) which is designed as a float, which moves in the chamber of the receptacle in dependency upon the filling level of the fluid and which variably reflects the light in dependency upon its movement, and a light detector (10) which receives a variable amount of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Pelikan Produktions AG
    Inventors: Philippe Georges Locher, Markus Bürgin, Joachim Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 6554382
    Abstract: A replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printhead of a printing system. The ink container has a housing that includes and ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink, and an ink level sensor for sensing a low ink condition in the ink reservoir. The ink reservoir includes a capillary ink storage member. The ink level sensor includes resistance probes that are in fluid communication with the supply of ink, but are free from contact with the capillary ink storage member. The resistance probes are mounted to the housing by way of sensor ports that extend through the housing and prevent contact between the capillary ink storage member and the probes. The resistance probes protrude slightly from an exterior surface of the housing to define electrical contacts for engaging corresponding electrical contacts of the printing system. A change in electrical resistance measured across the resistance probes indicates a low ink condition in the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Roger R. Sleger
  • Patent number: 6554383
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a liquid ejecting head with increased ejection force and ejection efficiency and also realizes a liquid ejecting head having compatibility with the conventional products, and a head cartridge and a recording system incorporating the liquid ejecting head. A liquid ejecting head or a head cartridge having an ejection outlet for ejecting a liquid, a liquid flow path in fluid communication with the ejection outlet, and an ejection energy generating element, provided corresponding to the liquid flow path, for receiving an electric signal to generate ejection energy, which comprises an energy adjusting device for adjusting an amount of energy supplied from the outside to the liquid ejecting head and utilized as the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nagatomo, Mikio Shiga, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Shinya Matsui, Toshio Kashino, Hiroshi Tajika, Tetsushi Kohno, Yoshie Asakawa
  • Patent number: 6554384
    Abstract: A gray scale level data of each pixel is obtained as data taking 5 levels between 0 and 4 corresponding to the number of ejections from 4 individual discharging portions by the pseudo-halftoning processing. The pointer directs sequentially the memories every time an ejection data is set in responsive to the 5 level data. As a result, in forming a plurality of pixels sequentially, 4 individual discharging portions are used sequentially. So far, it will be appreciated that even if ejection failures occur in either of a plurality of discharging portions of the ink jet recording head, relatively high-quality recorded images are obtained and the lifetime of the recording head can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6554385
    Abstract: A process computes a combination of chromatic and achromatic color dots for reproducing an input color signal based on a result of colorimetric measurement for a CIELab value. The process finds the sum of chromatic and achromatic color dot diameters. The process extracts combinations of chromatic and achromatic color dots wherein the sum of chromatic and achromatic color dot diameters is greater than or equal to a specified value. From the extracted combinations of chromatic and achromatic color dots, the process further extracts chromatic and achromatic color signals for recording a combination of chromatic and achromatic color dots containing the minimum achromatic color dot diameter and determines these signals as a color signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kikuchi, Hiroki Umezawa
  • Patent number: 6554386
    Abstract: A method of printing a receiving material using an ink jet printer provided with a print head having at least one print element, the print head being fixed on a support element, wherein the print head is heated to a working temperature higher than room temperature, moving the support element with respect to the receiving material in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, image-wise actuation of the print element so that ink drops are ejected from the print head in the direction of the receiving material, and guaranteeing that the position that the print head occupies with respect to a fixed point on the support element during the printing of the receiving material is substantially a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Peter Johannes Classens, Hendricus Gerardus Josef Boerstal