Patents Issued in December 2, 2003
  • Patent number: 6655350
    Abstract: An idle speed control system of an internal combustion engine controls a speed of the internal combustion engine during idling. In its attempt to shift the idle speed control after the internal combustion engine has been started from an open-loop control to a feedback control, the system brings an actual engine speed in the open-loop control to a target speed of the feedback control in a step-by-step manner. It can thus damp shock that occurs when the open-loop control is shifted to the feedback control after the internal combustion engine has been started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kamoto
  • Patent number: 6655351
    Abstract: An engine control unit, and method of use, uses a power curve or algorithm to pro-actively adjust fuel flow rate to an engine, optionally in combination with a reactive power curve or algorithm, thereby to adjust engine power, in anticipation of changes in loads being imposed on the engine, as well as to respond to engine speed changes. The ECU has a power curve or algorithm stored in memory which responds to certain predetermined operating conditions other than sensed engine speed, by providing a sequence of pro-active change inputs, at predetermined rates of change, in rate of delivery of fuel to the engine combustion chambers, independent of engine speed change, thereby to produce pro-active incremental changes in power output of the engine. Such pro-active incremental power changes are effected in anticipation of changes in load demand on the engine, and correspond generally with expected incrementally progressive changes in load demand on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alan David Sheidler, Kyle John Tingle, Kenny L. Hennings, William A. Brockmann, Mark Peter Sahlin
  • Patent number: 6655352
    Abstract: A mounting fixture for an engine knock sensor is provided. The fixture includes a base and a support member. The support member is joined to the base with a press fit joint. The base includes an aperture and the support member is inserted in the aperture. The support member can be a bolt or a sleeve. The invention can also include a lip, associated with the support member for retaining a spring washer. The spring washer can be deflected between the support member and a knock sensor component for pressing the knock sensor component against the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Viswanathan Subramanian, Efren Solis
  • Patent number: 6655353
    Abstract: An engine control system and method smoothes torque during transitions in a displacement on demand engine. A torque loss estimator generates a torque loss signal based on torque loss due to at least one of friction, pumping and accessories. A pedal torque estimator generates a pedal torque signal. An idle torque estimator generates an idle torque signal. A summing circuit generates a difference between the pedal torque signal and the idle torque and the torque loss signals and outputs a desired brake torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Allen B. Rayl
  • Patent number: 6655354
    Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides, and a width. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces and wherein the widths of the ends do not substantially exceed the hollow member width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Curran, Michael A. Bradley, Charles W. Braun, Peter E. Bartell, Kern E. Haynes
  • Patent number: 6655355
    Abstract: In a pressure-controlled fuel injection system, a nozzle needle is subjected to pressure in the closing direction by a nozzle spring. A nozzle chamber for opening the nozzle needle is connectable to a pressure reservoir via a pressure line. A hydraulic device is embodied to reinforce the closing performance of the nozzle needle. As a result, a faster closing performance of the nozzle needle is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Kropp, Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 6655356
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a cylinder head and fuel injection valves. The cylinder head has seats for the fuel injection valves. Alignment devices on the seats and on the fuel injection valves interact with one another such that, when a fuel injection valve is accommodated in a seat, the fuel injection valve is aligned in the seat with respect to a rotation about a longitudinal axis of the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eduard Lippert
  • Patent number: 6655357
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting apparatus for an intake system of an internal combustion engine, which detects an abnormality of the intake system, is disclosed. The intake system has a throttle valve, a bypass passage bypassing the throttle valve, and an idling control valve for controlling the amount of air supplied through the bypass passage to the engine. A total intake air amount supplied to the engine is calculated. An amount of intake air supplied through the bypass passage is calculated based on a valve opening control quantity for the idling control valve. A parameter indicative of a leak air amount of the intake system is calculated according to the result of a comparison between the calculated total intake air amount and the amount of intake air supplied through the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Manabu Niki
  • Patent number: 6655358
    Abstract: An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high DI fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. When the engine idle speed error magnitude is less than a calibrated threshold, usage of high DI fuel is detected by identifying a surge signal based on the engine speed error fluctuation in a predetermined frequency range attributable to combustion instability due to the presence of high DI fuel in a cold engine. When the average amplitude of the surge signal exceeds a calibrated surge threshold, the presence of high DI fuel is detected. Additionally, the method is disabled for a prescribed period following commanded load transitions associated with the air conditioning system and the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter James Maloney, In Kwang Yoo, Andrew D. Herman, Hallett D. Breidenbach, Deog H. Yoo, Craig A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6655359
    Abstract: A temporary increase in an amount of fuel at start of an engine is controlled on the basis of an estimated amount of fuel that has adhered to the perimeter of intake ports at start of the engine. If the engine is restarted soon after being stopped, the increase in the amount of fuel is reduced by a correction amount that is reduced gradually with the lapse of time. If only a considerably short length of time has elapsed, the amount of fuel is not increased. If the engine is started twice within a short period, the increase in the amount of fuel at the latter start of the engine changes continuously from the increase in the amount of fuel at the former start of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiko Hasegawa, Toshio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6655360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the fuel pressure in a return-free fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine to a desired pressure value. At least one fuel pump is mounted in the fuel supply system. In order to be able to reduce the fuel pressure in the fuel supply system in a simple manner without additional pressure release valves, the suggestion is made that the fuel supply system and the internal combustion engine be operated in a pressure-reduction mode wherein at least one fuel pump of the fuel supply system is so controlled (open loop and/or closed loop) that the desired pressure value is adjusted in the fuel supply system. The fuel supply system is preferably configured as a common-rail storage injection system for a direct-injecting internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Jens Wolber, Thomas Frenz, Hansjoerg Bochum, Markus Amler
  • Patent number: 6655361
    Abstract: In an engine equipped with a variable valve timing mechanism that variably controls the valve timing successively, when variably controlling the valve timing, a transient correction amount of fuel supplied to the engine is corrected based on the detection value of the valve overlap amount of the intake/exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6655362
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump which is suitable above all for use in internal combustion engines with direct gasoline injection, in which the pressure surge upon opening of a check valve between the high-pressure line and the pumping chamber of the fuel feed pump is limited by structural provisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Bruno Schmidt, Dietmar Krieg, Mathias Schumacher, Uwe Mueller
  • Patent number: 6655363
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a vehicle is provided with a fuel pump disposed in a fuel tank sitting astride a vehicle body frame. The fuel pump is disposed along a side surface of the fuel tank in a position opposed to a portion of the vehicle body frame. This fuel supply system for a vehicle provides a system in which a fuel pump can be disposed even in a fuel tank of a saddle-ridden vehicle with minimum modifications required in size and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Kobayashi, Toshihiko Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Kido, Hiroshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 6655364
    Abstract: A fuel supply system in which a fuel filter has a large filtration area is obtained without increasing an outer diameter of the fuel supply system and an outer diameter of a tank hole through which a pump module is inserted in a fuel tank. The fuel supply system comprises a fuel pump 5, a fuel pressure regulator 9 for regulating pressure of fuel, and a fuel filter 6 having a hollow cylindrical filter case 7for filtering the fuel, and in which the filter case 7 has a holding hole 7a for holding the fuel pump, a center line CL1 of the holding hole is eccentric with respect to a center line CL2 of the filter case 7 by a predetermined distance M, and a first enlarged space portion S1 in which fuel system parts such as fuel pressure regulator 9 are accommodated is formed at a part surrounded by an outer circumferential portion of the fuel pump 5 and an outer circumferential portion of the filter case 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6655365
    Abstract: A fuel filter assembly for a fuel delivery module for a fuel system of a vehicle includes a filter housing adapted to be disposed in a fuel reservoir of the fuel delivery module and having a closed end and an open end. The fuel filter assembly also includes a fuel filter disposed in the filter housing and an end cap connected to the filter housing to close the open end. The fuel filter has an integral spring cooperating with the filter housing to urge the fuel filter toward the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon E. Beyer, Dale R. Jones, Matthew Catlin, Ulf Sawert
  • Patent number: 6655366
    Abstract: A vapor separator in an outboard machine which can continuously inject an accurate and stable fuel toward an intake pipe without drawing bubbles discharged from a pump chamber in a high pressure fuel pump and bubbles within the vapor separator by the high pressure fuel pump. The separator is structured such that a filter (2) is arranged in a bottom portion (1A) of a fuel pump receiving case (1), an upstream chamber (10) of the filter (2) is connected to a vapor separator (V) via a fuel inflow passage (1C), a fuel inflow passage (PA) of a high pressure fuel pump (PH) received and arranged within the fuel pump receiving case (1) is connected to a downstream chamber (5) of the filter (2). A vapor discharge chamber (9) is formed so as to face to a bottom portion (PF) of the high pressure fuel pump (PH).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 6655367
    Abstract: An ignition coil unit to be installed in a hole opened through a cylinder head of an engine having a case, an ignition coil installed in the case and comprising a primary coil connected to a power source and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug which is installed in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine for producing spark discharge to ignite air-fuel mixture to generate combustion thereof in the combustion chamber, and a circuit board on which an ionic-current detection circuit, connected to the secondary coil, which detects ionic-current that flows during the combustion of the air-fuel mixture; and a processing circuit, connected to the ionic-current detection circuit, which generates an output indicative of the detected ionic-current, are formed; In the unit, an igniter is also installed in the case, thereby improving detection accuracy of ionic-current and misfiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ohkama, Yoshihito Ozawa, Kazuyuki Kubo, Kenichi Ishida, Gakuji Moriya
  • Patent number: 6655368
    Abstract: In an ignition coil assembly, a plurality of ignition coils is arranged to be electrically connected to spark plugs received in plug holes of an engine, and a base member detachably engages and holds the ignition coils at corresponding positions, which correspond to positions of the plug holes. Disengaging force for disengaging each ignition coil and the base member from each other is set to be smaller than disengaging force for disengaging each ignition coil and the corresponding one of the spark plugs from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Jyunichi Wada
  • Patent number: 6655369
    Abstract: A coating and coating process to improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon fueled engines, wherein the coating includes a high percentage of nickel to create a reaction which improves the combustion efficiency of the hydrocarbon fuel. The coating may also include chromium, iron, and other constituents and is applied to combustion surfaces with a sufficient bonding strength to allow the coating to function in the combustion chamber, while providing a surface having sufficient surface roughness to promote the chemical reaction underlying the combustion efficiency improvement. The nickel causes a catalytic cracking reaction to ease the combustibility of hydrocarbon molecules in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Transformations LLC
    Inventors: Lionel M. Gillston, Ronald P. Pacitti, Richard D. Pacitti
  • Patent number: 6655370
    Abstract: A firecracker launching device for launching a firecracker up to 50 feet so that it would be safely exploded. The firecracker launching device includes a handgun-shaped member having an elongate barrel, and a handgrip stock member. The barrel has an internal cavity, and a longitudinal opening through its top wall and into the cavity. A launching lever is pivotally mounted in the cavity, toward the front of the barrel, the lever having a forward lug member, a rearward catch member, and a firecracker receiving slot. A trigger is pivotally mounted in the cavity, rearward of the lever, the trigger having a latch member engageable with the catch member of the lever, and a finger-engaging portion. A spring extends between the lug member and the trigger, so that when the trigger is pulled, the latch will disengage from the catch, to pivot the lever forward under bias from the spring, to launch a firecracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Darry D. Beckwith
  • Patent number: 6655371
    Abstract: A compound archery bow having a cable guard comprising a cable saver adjustably mounted on the cable guard for movement to and from the bow string to vary the distance between the cables and bow string without disassembling of the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Bear Archery, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry M. Gallops, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6655372
    Abstract: A quick detachable gun barrel assembly for allowing a user to repair one's gun more quickly and easily when needed. The quick detachable gun barrel assembly includes a barrel coupling assembly being adapted to removably attach to a chamber of a gun; and also includes an elongate barrel member being detachably attached to the barrel coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventors: Damion J. Field, Richard A. Prince
  • Patent number: 6655373
    Abstract: A conveyor oven is heated by inshot burners, which eliminate blowers, ducts, and motors heretofore required to supply a force draft of combustion air to the burners. Apertures in front of the inshot burners have a diameter that regulates the amount of combustion air that is delivered to the burners. The only blower in the oven is the one required to circulate and recirculate hot air within the oven which produces three pressure zones that causes an induced draft of combustion air for the inshot burner. A modulating valve adjusts the flow of gas to the inshot burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Middleby Marshall, Incorporated
    Inventor: John Hammons Wiker
  • Patent number: 6655374
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a portable stacking gas grill that can be stacked for ease of transportation and storage. The grill includes a firebox, a at least one cooking grate, a plurality of burners, at least one radiant guard unit, at least one pilot light system, a shelf and a pair of folding legs. The grill is designed so that it can be tilted onto its side to allow the legs to be folded into a recess beneath the firebox without the cook top, burners and radiant guard unit moving out of position. The pilot light system includes a pilot runner tube that allows individual burners to be turned on and off with out the need for an outside ignition source. The firebox is designed so that several grills can be stacked so that the space needed for storage and transportation is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Grillco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Beller, Mario M. Gonzalez, John Hauptman
  • Patent number: 6655375
    Abstract: A solar thermoaccumulator, including a parallel battery of closed-circuit vacuum solar pipes, and provided with a plurality of accumulation bulbs, which are either immersed in a primary conductive fluid that circulates in an annular chamber having an air space, whose internal wall is the containing wall of a reservoir containing a fluid to be heated; or are put in direct thermally conductive contact with tubular tangs that are attached to and inserted in a reservoir, is disclosed. The reservoir may be single reservoir, or may be associated with and sequentially in fluid communication with at least one other upstream, parallel aligned reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Energineering Di Del Duca Amelia
    Inventor: Livio Terraneo
  • Patent number: 6655376
    Abstract: Whether a post surgery intubated patient is at risk for aspiration-based pneumonia is determined by requiring the patient to inhale an aerosol of tartaric acid that will stimulate a sensory innervation of the patient's larynx, if functionally recovered, thereby causing the patient to cough. The resulting cough or lack of cough is graded to determine whether the patient is at risk for pneumonia caused by the aspiration of matter present in the patient's mouth. In a further embodiment, the inability or difficulty of a patient to voluntarily expel potentially threatening fluid and matter from the patient's airway can be remedied by repeated applications of the aerosol chemostimulant spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems L.L.C.
    Inventors: W. Robert Addington, Robert E. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6655377
    Abstract: The configuration and arrangement of the instrument greatly facilitate safe placement of the instrument and an associated endotracheal tube. The instrument includes a handle with an arm extending therefrom. The arm includes a base portion and a distal lifter portion preferably having an angle between 5° and 85°, inclusive, and the lifter is sized and shaped to engage or lift the patient's epiglottis, thereby to expose the glottis. In a preferred embodiment, the base portion and lifter portion are substantially the same length, and a viewing device, which is preferably a Charged Coupled Device (“CCD”) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (“CMOS”) camera positioned near the transition portion between the base and lifter portions, is aligned to provide a perspective view toward the distal end of the lifter. Lights, which are preferably LED units, are positioned toward the distal end of the lifter to facilitate viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Saturn Biomedical Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Pacey
  • Patent number: 6655378
    Abstract: A snorkel including a mouthpiece, a tube and a sealing member is disclosed. The tube extends from the mouthpiece and includes a first end proximate the mouthpiece, a second end and at least one internal passageway having a port proximate the second end. The sealing member is slidably coupled to the tube proximate the second end and is sealed about the tube. The sealing member moves between a closed position in which the member occludes the port and an open position in which the port is open. The sealing member has an interior in communication with the at least one internal passageway when the sealing member is in the closed position. In the exemplary embodiment, the sealing member is sealed to the tube via a flexible membrane. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible membrane preferably includes a bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Swetish
  • Patent number: 6655379
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and devices for delivering an active agent formulation to the lung of a human patient. The active agent formulation may be in dry powder form, it may be nebulized, or it may be in admixture with a propellant. The active agent formulation is delivered to a patient at an inspiratory flow rate of less than 17 liters per minute. The bioavailability of the active agent was found to increase at these flow rates when compared to inspiratory flow rates of 17 liters per minute or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Nektar Therapeutics
    Inventors: Andrew Clark, George H. Foulds
  • Patent number: 6655380
    Abstract: A powder inhaler for administering powder by inhalation, comprising: a flow path defined by a plurality of surfaces through which a stream of air is in use drawn on inhalation by a user; and dosing means (18) for providing a dose of powder to the flow path for entertainment in the stream of air; characterized in that the inhaler further comprises dislodging means for dislodging powder accumulated on a surface of the flow path downstream of the dosing means (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Astrazeneca AB
    Inventors: Jan Andersson, Allan Dagsland, Hans Strid, Jan Trofast, Stefan Friess, Harald Heckenmueller, Uwe Rollwage, Volker Tiedemann, John Conway
  • Patent number: 6655381
    Abstract: A pre-metered dose assembly for consistently supplying precise doses of medicament is provided for a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler. The assembly includes a cap defining a dry powder delivery passageway for providing air to a dry powder supply port of a swirl chamber of a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler, and a magazine including a plurality of reservoirs for holding pre-metered doses of dry powder. One of the magazine and the cap is movable with respect to the other of the magazine and the cap for sequentially positioning the reservoirs within the delivery passageway of the cap. A breath-induced low pressure at an outlet port of the swirl chamber of the inhaler causes an air flow through the dry powder delivery passageway of the assembly and into the dry powder supply port of the swirl chamber that entrains dry powder from the reservoir positioned in the passageway for inhalation by a patient using the inhaler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: IVAX Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence Keane, David O'Leary
  • Patent number: 6655382
    Abstract: A spontaneous breathing apparatus and method. The apparatus includes: a source of oxygen containing gas (7); a catheter (5) in flow communication with the source of oxygen containing gas (7) and configured to be introduced into a subject's trachea (1) through a tracheostomy for delivering oxygen containing gas therein; a tracheostomy tube (9) disposed adjacent the catheter (5) and having one end configured to be disposed in the subject's trachea (1); and a pressure actuated threshold valve (32) connected to another end of the tracheostomy tube (9), the valve (32) being configured for venting a gas existing within the subject's trachea (1) at the one end of the tracheostomy tube (9) when the gas exceeds a threshold pressure of the valve (32), the valve (32) thereby being effective for reducing pressure within the subject's trachea 1) when the pressure within the subject's trachea (1) exceeds the threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
    Inventor: Theodor Kolobow
  • Patent number: 6655383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of checking the working and/or the state of breathing equipment prior to its use, and also to an arrangement for carrying out the method. The breathing equipment includes a control circuit which, in turn, includes a programmed microprocessor (7), a sensor (10) mounted in the breathing equipment and connected to the microprocessor, and an indicating arrangement (11) connected to the microprocessor (7). The inventive method is characterized by activating the control circuit and therewith measuring or determining at least one functional or state parameter, comparing the measured parameter value with a control value, and indicating an acceptable or unacceptable value in the indicating arrangement (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Interspiro Europe AB
    Inventor: Mats Erik Lundberg
  • Patent number: 6655384
    Abstract: A method of intubating a patient includes inserting a tracheal tube into the patient, inserting a gastric tube into the patient, attaching a gastric tube retainer to the tracheal tube, and engaging the gastric tube in the gastric tube retainer to thereby secure the gastric tube in position relative to the tracheal tube. The gastric tube is engaged in the gastric tube retainer by spreading apart portions of the gastric tube retainer along a slit, and sliding the gastric tube into the gastric tube retainer along the slit to a gastric tube opening having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the gastric tube, so that the gastric tube is securely retained in an uncompressed condition in the gastric tube opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventors: Colin Antenbring, Ron Gorospe
  • Patent number: 6655385
    Abstract: A nasal cannula for insufflating a patient with oxygen through one nare of the cannula and separately analyzing the exhaled gases from the patient by drawing the sampling of the exhaled gas from the other nare of the cannula into a conventional carbon dioxide analyzer. A further addition of holes or vents in the nares of the cannula are provided on both the interior and posterior of one or both nares in order to substantially reduce or eliminate the incidence of occlusion of the tip of the carbon dioxide sampling nare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Salter Labs
    Inventors: James N. Curti, James Chua, Peter W. Salter
  • Patent number: 6655386
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for a) revascularization and/or b) performing other medical procedures at vascular or non-vascular intracorporeal locations within a mammalian body. The methods generally comprise the formation of at least one extravascular passageway from a blood vessel to a vascular or non-vascular target location. In the revascularization methods the extravascular passageway is utilized for blood flow. In the medical procedure methods the extravascular passageway is utilized as a conduit for accessing or performing procedures at the vascular or non-vascular target location. Also disclosed are catheter devices and systems which are useable to form the extravascular passageways of the invention, as well as apparatus for modifying, maintaining and/or closing such extravascular passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TransVascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, J. Christopher Flaherty, Timothy R. Machold, Jason Brian Whitt, Philip Christopher Evard, Patrick Edward Macaulay, John Thomas Garibotto, Claude A. Vidal, Russell J. Redmond, Thomas Banks
  • Patent number: 6655387
    Abstract: An improved towel has at least a top edge and first and second side edges, and contains an improvement, which includes a slit cut into the towel, the slit extends partially into the towel from the top edge and is disposed substantially parallel to the side edges, the towel further includes a reinforcement means located on the towel substantially adjacent to an end point of the slit, and an attachment means coupled to two corners of the towel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: 90 Degree Towel, LLC
    Inventor: David Leslie
  • Patent number: 6655388
    Abstract: A cosmetic device comprises an enclosure that contains a liquid color composition and a liquid catalyst composition. The enclosure also comprises a seal that prevents the liquids from mixing when such mixing is not desired, and allows them to be intermixed to form a color altering composition when such mixing is desired. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is a perforatable seal. Methods of using the device involve applying the color altering composition to the skin or hair with an applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Rachel Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6655389
    Abstract: A device for styling hair comprising a pair of side walls, a top support member connected to the side walls, a bottom support member connected to the pair of side walls. The device also includes an intermediate support member connected to the pair of side walls between the top support member and the bottom support member to form an upper opening between the top support member and the intermediate support member and to form a lower opening between the bottom support member and the intermediate support member. A method for styling a goatee comprising providing a device having an upper opening and lower opening, positioning lips in the upper opening and a chin including a goatee in the lower opening, and trimming an area around the goatee as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Bertucci
  • Patent number: 6655390
    Abstract: An applicator capable of applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic or care product, on the eyelashes or eyebrows, the applicator comprising an open support defining at least one opening situated between two opposite regions of the support, with protruding elements connected to at least one of said regions and extending towards the other region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Gueret
  • Patent number: 6655391
    Abstract: A mascara makeup tool having a first mascara container and a second mascara container each containing mascara; a first cap element and a second cap element; and a first applicator brush and a second applicator brush. The first cap element and second cap element are joined together such that the first applicator brush and second applicator brush are aligned on a substantially straight line and face in mutually opposite directions; and the length of the bristled portion of the second applicator brush is 20 to 60% of the length of the bristled portion of the first applicator brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventor: Miyuki Sunago
  • Patent number: 6655392
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning the plenum of a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes an introduction device that is removably attachable to the manifold of an engine in the location of the IAC port. The introduction device atomizes a flow of cleaning solvent and introduces the atomized flow into the plenum at the IAC port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: BG Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold E. Erwin, Ronald R. Leslie
  • Patent number: 6655393
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning passageways such as air ducts or flues. The apparatus includes a body having a nozzle, or plurality of nozzles, rotatably coupled to it. A cage is coupled to the body and surrounds the rotative path of the nozzle or nozzles. The nozzles are configured such that passage of fluid through the nozzle's orifice imparts a rotating motion of the nozzle about the defined axis. The apparatus is placed in a duct or ventilation passageway, preferably at the highest vertical location of the passageway. Fluid is then passed through the nozzle spraying and cleaning the interior of the duct. The rotating motion of the spray causes the apparatus to maneuver its way through the duct system, including through angular transitions, until it travels the entire pathway of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Grease Duct Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mervyn Loughmiller
  • Patent number: 6655394
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reprocessing a dialyzer for hemodialysis, the method comprising the steps of rinsing the dialyzer with water and cleaning it with electrolyzed strongly acidic water, or the steps of rinsing the dialyzer with water, cleaning it with electrolyzed strongly alkaline water, rinsing it with water and cleaning it with electrolyzed strongly acidic water, as well as a reprocessing apparatus for carrying out the reprocessing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventors: Noriaki Tanaka, Tomiya Abe
  • Patent number: 6655395
    Abstract: A device for pickling or cleaning rolled steel strip which is moved in the form of loops through several pickling and cleaning containers arranged within a treatment line, wherein at least one strip side is subjected tot he action of a pickling or cleaning medium. For this purpose, squirting or spraying units are provided which can be switched on or off and/or are adjustable with regard to their spraying width and/or are operated with controllable squirting or spraying pressure and/or volume flow. Deflection rolls for deflecting the strip are arranged before and after the treatment line for deflecting the strip out of the horizontal strip running plane into an upright vertical strip running plane and vice versa, wherein the deflection rolls are elevated or slanted relative to the horizontal strip running plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Withold Richert
  • Patent number: 6655396
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure washing system including a pressure washer device for pressure washing an object having a contaminant, and for recovering the the contaminant. The pressure washing system includes a supporting mechanism arranged to support the object while a washing fluid is flowed over the object to remove the contaminant. A collection arrangement is included at least partially located below the supporting mechanism. The collection arrangement is further arranged to receive raw run-off fluid from the support mechanism. A flush assembly is arranged to at least periodically impinge rinsing fluid onto the supporting mechanism to hydro-dynamically sweep the contaminants collecting on the support mechanism into the collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Art Krenzel
  • Patent number: 6655397
    Abstract: An articulating water monitor-cleaning device for cleaning internal surfaces of large-scale combustion devices. The device is mounted to the exterior of a wall of a combustion device and positions a water spray lance to direct a stream of water against internal surfaces over a range of position. Pairs of orthogonally oriented four-bar linkage assemblies are provided, each having rotary actuators. The relative position between a pair of joints affixed to the lance tube allows the position of the lance to be set over a range of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Diamond Power International, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton A. Brown, William E. Hellyer, Stephen L. Shover, Ryan M. Tooill
  • Patent number: 6655398
    Abstract: An umbrella includes a number of strut assemblies each having a beam and a spring rod pivotally coupled between a strut and a rib. The spring rod includes a middle portion slidably coupled to the beam. A pole is slidably secured to the beam and coupled to the middle portion of the spring rod. For example, the pole includes an aperture for receiving the middle portion of the spring rod and for allowing the middle portion of the spring rod to be loosely coupled to the beam and for preventing the spring rod from being bent or damaged by the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Lu Tsai Huang
  • Patent number: 6655399
    Abstract: A portable, absorbable umbrella stand including a hard casing for supporting an umbrella, a nylon case containing a drawstring, the case being attached to the casing for enclosing the umbrella, a sponge for collecting water, and fold-up legs attached to the casing for supporting the umbrella stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Andrea Samuels Williams