Patents Issued in December 9, 2003
  • Patent number: 6659369
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a handheld and hand operated liquid trigger sprayer includes a nozzle housing and a flow control member contained in the nozzle housing. The nozzle housing has an oblong liquid discharge orifice and a plurality of liquid breakup channels that radiate outwardly from the orifice. The flow control member has a head with a conical surface that engages over the liquid breakup channels and together they break up a flow of viscous liquid into separate liquid streams that impact with each other at the entrance to the discharge orifice and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle orifice in a narrow, fan spray pattern of the viscous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Continental AFA Dispensing Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6659370
    Abstract: A liquid spray device, comprising a container (1), a spray injection nozzle (2) for injecting oil spray into the container (1), a spray feeding path (5) for feeding oil spray in the container (1) to the outside of the container (1), oil (11) stored in the container (1), a gas exhaust port provided in the oil (11) by discharging gas into the oil (11), whereby the flow velocity of the oil spray in the spray feeding path can be increased and the amount of oil spray can be increased because an internal pressure of the container can be increased and an oil spray different from the oil spray from the spray injection nozzle can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji BC Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6659371
    Abstract: A fuel injector seal for preventing the intrusion of liquid fuel into the working moving parts of a fuel injector. The seal is in the form of a flexible bellows, assembled from first, inner and second, outer caps joined together. The seal is positioned in the injector to create a liquid tight seal between the reciprocating injector jet needle and the enclosure for the remaining fuel-sensitive components of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Senior Investments AG
    Inventor: Thomas James Carney
  • Patent number: 6659372
    Abstract: Shower heads are disclosed providing for varying types of spray. One spray head provides three different spray patterns, each of which provides spray through outlets at different force levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Windsor B. Marsh, Donald N. Jursich
  • Patent number: 6659373
    Abstract: A one touch valve for activating fluid flow between an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit is disclosed. The valve has a flow cylinder defining an inflow chamber in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and an outflow chamber in fluid communication with the outlet conduit. The flow cylinder includes an end plate and an intermediate plate having a center collar with an aperture. A flexible diaphragm is provided with a sealing surface in contact with the collar to create a seal. The diaphragm has an edge coupled to the intermediate plate and a small diameter hole providing fluid contact between the inflow chamber and an intermediate chamber which is defined by the intermediate plate of the flow cylinder. A plunger is placed on the diaphragm to create a seal with the opposite surface of the diaphragm from the sealing surface. A shaft has one end connected to the plunger and extends through the aperture of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Heren, Scott Jacobs, Timothy R. Casica
  • Patent number: 6659374
    Abstract: A spray head which includes a plurality of interconnected hollow spindles wherein each of the hollow spindles is arranged to be axially rotated and means is provided for fluid flow through the spindles sequentially. Each of the spindles is provided with at least one motor configured so as to facilitate, in use, 360° rotation of the hollow spindle about a central longitudinal axis thereof, each hollow is substantially perpendicular to an adjacent hollow spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Goldenvale Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Dante Vincenzo Chiera
  • Patent number: 6659375
    Abstract: A lid assembly for a rotatable atomizer wheel with an atomizing chamber therein for the receipt of a slurry through the lid assembly. The lid assembly includes a lid member with a first opening there through adapted to fit onto the rotatable atomizer wheel over the atomizing chamber. The lid assembly further includes a wear ring fitted inside and extending through the first opening through the lid member for protecting the exposed surface of the first opening through the lid member from wear caused by slurry flowing through the lid into the atomizing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: RPM Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Mudge, Shawn Veurink
  • Patent number: 6659376
    Abstract: A spreading device for confined application of grain type materials along a well-defined path on a road from a conveyor of a storing tank mounted on a moving vehicle includes a chute member mounted thereon that receives the materials from the conveyor and substantially drops them generally vertically under gravity on the road along the path in proximity and in front of a roller. The latter stops the materials relative to the road and confines, or packs, them on the road. The spreading device is adapted to be mounted on either side of the vehicle, in line with its wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Normand Savard
  • Patent number: 6659377
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for installing insulation from bound insulation bales having a feeder for contacting and moving the insulation bales and a receiving apparatus for disengaging the insulation from unbound bales. A cutter disengages insulation from the insulation bales and has at least one vertically arranged member rotatable about a vertical axis toward which the bales are moved and also has a circumference upon which is vertically positioned a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from said circumference for severing the insulation away from the bales. An air blower blows the insulation out from said system onto a surface to be insulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventors: Jack D. Coulter, Robert A. Wright
  • Patent number: 6659378
    Abstract: A mobile field shredder adapted to move continuously through an orchard, pick up pruned branches from the ground, and shred the branches into sawdust and small shredded pieces. The front end of the shredder includes a pair of counter-rotating feeder rollers for picking up the branches. A shredding chamber receives the branches from the feeder rollers. First and second shredder rollers within the shredding chamber, include plural knife blocks on their respective outer peripheries. The shredder rollers are driven in tandem, in the same direction. A chamber screen is provided at the after end of the shredding chamber, in close proximity to the second shredder roller. The shredder rollers reduce the size of material so it is can pass through perforations in the screen. The consistency and size of the shredded material is such that it rapidly decomposes in the field and enriches the soil in the orchard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Guiseppe Di Anna
  • Patent number: 6659379
    Abstract: A pepper grinder comprises a revolving cylinder having its upper opening provided with a cap and its lower opening end inserted into a cylinder wherein a grinding toothed quadrant is provided. Two recesses are provided in symmetrical sides at the bottom and a groove provided on the external surface of the revolving cylinder, A gradation is formed at the top edge of a fluted surface inside the lower part of the cylinder and a fixation ring is inserted into a ring groove disposed above the gradation. The revolving cylinder is connected to the grinding toothed quadrant to become an integral part with the cylinder. The bottom of the revolving cylinder holds against the gradation and the fixation ring is inserted into the groove with the grinding toothed quadrant placed inside the fluted surface. The grinding toothed quadrant rotates within the fluted surface as directly driven by the rotation of the revolving cylinder with the positioning piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Wen-shou Chen
  • Patent number: 6659380
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves connected together, and a single reel around which a magnetic tape with a leader pin fixed to the leading end of the magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The leader pin is removably held in a tape draw-out opening with its axial direction directed in the vertical direction under urging force of a spring member acting on its upper and lower end portions sideways with the upper and lower end portions received in recesses respectively formed in the upper and lower casing halves. An inclined surface directed obliquely downward is formed at least a part of the side wall of the recess formed in the upper casing half opposed to the direction in which the spring member urges the leader pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Yusuke Ishihara, Kiyoo Morita, Daisuke Takahashi, Seiji Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 6659381
    Abstract: A light-shielding cloth to be fitted to a photographic film cartridge at its slit through which a film is draw out, which does not produce defects in photographic images, particularly defects in enlarged photographic images, is prepared by subjecting a cloth to raising treatment and has fiber wastes remaining on its surface cloth in a of 30 pieces per 1 cm2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Tsurumaki, Akio Imai
  • Patent number: 6659382
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying mobile phones and other hand-held devices comprising a clamping system, a retracting system, and a positioning system. The clamping system holds a hand-held device between two parts, which are fastened together by a fitting and a security screw having a head with a slot requiring a special key. The retracting system includes a retractable tethering cable wound on a spool. The positioning system includes a male component, which anchors the tethering cable to the fitting, and a female component, which is mounted on the retracting system. The tethering cable passes through the female component of the positioning system so that when the hand-held device is retracted, the male component of the positioning system is received by the female component thus assuring proper orientation of the hand-held device on display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Vira Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Ryczek
  • Patent number: 6659383
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor of a vehicle with a belt reel for the seat belt has a frame with two frame legs in which a belt reel is rotatably mounted. A torque rod is arranged in the belt reel with one end if the torque rod connected to a first belt reel part arranged inside an aperture in a frame leg. Another end of the torque rod is connected to a second belt reel part which receives the wound seat belt. A blocking device capable of engagement with the first belt reel part with support in one of the two planes of the two frame legs. In the event of an excessive force issuing from the seat belt the second belt reel part can be rotated with respect to the first belt reel part blocked on the frame by torsion of the torque rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus Junker
  • Patent number: 6659384
    Abstract: A pre-wound bobbin for sewing, having a single flange or a pair of flanges, in which one flange of the bobbin comprises a magnetized material such that the flange magnetically adheres to the end wall of a steel bobbin case in which the bobbin is carried in a sewing machine. The flange is sized to provide a contact area with the end wall that, in relation to the magnetic strength of the magnetized material, achieves a magnetic attraction force exceeding the weight of the bobbin so that the bobbin is held in the bobbin case. The flange preferably is flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: J. & P. Coats Limited
    Inventors: Dennis A. Milanese, William C. Stuckey, Michael W. Moennig
  • Patent number: 6659385
    Abstract: A wire-winding machine for forming coils (20) on individual magnetic pole teeth (11a) of a core member (13) which is produced by joining a plurality of core segments (11), each of the core segments (11) having a yoke portion (11c) and a magnetic pole tooth (11a) projectingly formed on an inside surface (11d) of the yoke portion (11c), comprises a core member positioner including a rotating roller (14), large-diameter guide rollers (21) and small-diameter guide rollers (22) which together serve to bend the core member (13) and hold it in a position where the core segments (11.3, 11.5) adjacent to the core segment (11.4) on which the coil (20) is currently wound do not project in the direction of its magnetic pole tooth (11a) beyond a boundary surface (S) of the yoke portion (11c) of the core segment (11.4) on which the coil (20) is currently wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Akita, Yuji Nakahara, Nobuaki Miyake, Kazuya Omura, Keiji Takai, Kazunari Tomita, Naoki Kawasugi
  • Patent number: 6659386
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for contactless yarn monitoring in a textile yarn winding operation wherein a yarn is wound on a bobbin while being delivered lengthwise in a yarn travel direction toward the bobbin and simultaneously executing traversing motions generally perpendicular to the yarn travel direction. A sensor device (6) is provided which detects measured values such as diameter or mass in a moving yarn. The measurement errors caused by the traversing motions may be compensated for by ascertaining position-dependent correction values, monitoring the position of the yarn in the measurement region to determine one or more instantaneous position of the yarn, and compensating for the applicable measurement error is performed on the basis of the instantaneous position of the yarn (3). The invention is applicable to sensor devices (6) that perform measurements in the traversing region of the yarn (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Rienas
  • Patent number: 6659387
    Abstract: A rewinding machine for the production of logs of web material around a tubular core includes a first winding roller around which the web material is fed, a second winding roller forming a gap with the first winding roller, through which gap the core is inserted, and a third roller mounted movably to allow the diameter of the log to increase and the log to be discharged at the end of winding. A blade is carried by a rotating member which is pivoted on the axis of said first winding roller and protrudes from the profile of the roller. The blade rotates in the same direction as the first winding roller at different speeds, so as to undergo a deceleration or an acceleration when it is in contact with the web material in the winding space defined by the three rollers to cause severing of the web material at the end of winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Co.
    Inventors: Mauro Biagioni, Sergio Casella
  • Patent number: 6659388
    Abstract: A contact roller system of a winding machine for thin strip material has a shaft and pivot levers arranged in a row adjacent to one another on the shaft. The pivot levers have two contact roller segments moveable against slit rolls during a winding process by an actuating drive of the pivot levers. The two contact rollers are arranged on opposite sides of the pivot levers, respectively, and form a contact roller segment pair positioned adjacent to one another such that between neighboring end faces a gap required for rotational movement of the contact roller segment pairs is formed. The contact roller segment pairs are freely rotatably supported and rotate about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot levers. The axes of rotation of the contact roller segment pairs have a common pivot radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: WT Wickeltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Frank, Dieter Pflitsch
  • Patent number: 6659389
    Abstract: A dual-mode hose roller including a crank and a mounting plate may be used to roll up collapsed hose into either a compact hose roll or an expanded hose coil. The crank and mounting plate are arranged to facilitate transmission of torque from the crank to the desired type of hose winding. When a compact hose roll is desired, torque is transmitted directly to the hose. When an expanded hose coil is desired, torque is transmitted to the hose through the mounting plate and several extension arms. The extension arms are sized so that the hose roller forms an expanded hose coil having a suitable diameter for structural fire hose. The mounting plate is rotatably mounted on a fixed support through a bearing and, optionally, a ratchet mechanism. Using the hose roller, preparation is made for fighting a structural fire arranging a section of collapsed hose into a hose bundle. A section of hose is rolled up into an expanded hose coil and arranged into a number of hose loops to form a hose bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventors: Richard W. Hoffmann, Richard L. Garner
  • Patent number: 6659390
    Abstract: A material dispensing system for allowing convenient replacement of a spool of elongate material. The material dispensing system includes a tubular main body formed for receiving a spool of material, a handle attached to the tubular main body, and a set of retaining prongs positioned within the main body for selectively retaining the spool of material upon the main body. The retaining prongs are comprised of a resilient material for allowing the distal portions thereof to be forcibly contracted thereby allowing the spool of material to be unloaded and a replacement spool to be loaded. The retaining prongs have a flanged portion that extend outwardly and have a total width greater than an inner diameter of the spool of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: New Products Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Charles D. Black
  • Patent number: 6659391
    Abstract: There is provided a method for dispensing wet wipes. The method may include mounting a dispenser, inserting a container of wet wipes, threading the wipes through the dispenser, and separating a portion of wipes. The container may have the ability to be inserted into the dispenser in a pre-selected manner based on the desired orientation of the wipes contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Faulks, John Eugene Peluso, Herb F. Velazquez, William Robert Newman, Yung Hsiang Huang, Paige Annette Dellerman, Steven John Romme, Walter Theodore Schultz, Ligia A. Rivera, Frederick J. Lang, Jennifer Cappel Larson, Jeff Lindsay, Cherry A. Bochmann, Gerald P. DeGreen, Craig Martin Saunders, Jeffrey M. Kalman
  • Patent number: 6659392
    Abstract: A standardized control panel for aircraft provides manually operable controls that are configured to activate an aircraft function if the requested aircraft function is installed on the aircraft or, are otherwise configured to activate a visual indicator if the requested aircraft function is absent from the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Goldberg, Ken L. Snodgrass
  • Patent number: 6659393
    Abstract: A retarding and locking mechanism for use between two mutually translatable bodies. A first body can be induced into motion and guided into a second body and, after a predetermined movement of the first body, the first body is subject to retardation and interlocked to the second body, such that the first and second bodies together form a unitary, integrated body. The first body has a radially outwardly directed shoulder and the second body has a radially inwardly directed shoulder corresponding to the radially outwardly directed shoulder of the first body. A compressible element is provided between the shoulders of the first and second bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nammo Raufoss AS
    Inventor: Hans B. Biserød
  • Patent number: 6659394
    Abstract: An aircraft including a fuselage, a compound tilting wing (CTW) and aircraft engines mounted on the aircraft. The CTW includes a leading edge wing portion and a tilting main wing portion. The leading edge wing portion and the tilting main wing portion each include a leading edge, a trailing edge, a chord, a lower surface and an upper surface. The tilting main wing portion is pivotally mounted on the fuselage for rotation from a cruise flight position to various low flight speed positions. In the cruise flight position, the tilting main wing portion fits conformably with the leading edge wing portion forming an aerodynamically single wing. In one embodiment, two aircraft engines are mounted on a fixed leading edge wing portion and two aircraft engines are mounted on the tilting main wing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Barth W. Shenk
  • Patent number: 6659395
    Abstract: A propeller related vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is described as a helicopter having an airframe housing a motor mechanism for powering a main propeller attached to a main drive shaft that extends vertically through the airframe and for powering a tail rotor. The helicopter further includes a horizontal stabilizing mechanism attached between the main propeller and the main drive shaft, which permits the main propeller to freely pivot about the main drive shaft independently from the airframe. As such when the main propeller is rotating and the main propeller begins to pitch, the rotating main propeller has a centrifugal force created by the rotation thereof and will tend to pivot about the horizontal stabilizing mechanism in a manner that offsets the pitch such that the helicopter remains in a substantially horizontal position. In addition various main propeller configurations may be employed that provide additional self-stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Rehco, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rehkemper, Keith Johnson, Nicholas Grisolia
  • Patent number: 6659396
    Abstract: An air vehicle having an elongated body structure, which has an aft portion and an arch wing device that is coupled to the aft portion of the body structure. The arch wing device includes a lower wing, which has a swept back leading edge and a swept back trailing edge, an upper wing, which has a swept back leading edge and a swept back trailing edge, and a pair of interconnecting portions that couple each of the opposite outboard lateral edges of the upper wing to an associated outboard lateral edge of the lower wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Henry August
  • Patent number: 6659397
    Abstract: An ornithopter with two set of opposed wings maintains powered flight by flapping each set of wings. To dampen vibration, each set of wings move 180 degrees out of phase. To further dampen vibration, the empennage and cockpit are articulated to move vertically in response to the movement of the wings. Changes of flight direction result from wing warping and changing the center of gravity of the ornithopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Charron
  • Patent number: 6659398
    Abstract: The apparatus of the invention enables a two-brake torque limiting device to fix the position of one or more flaps and/or slats on an airplane wing when unplanned or abnormal conditions exist. The two-brake torque limiting device may include a trigger brake, a lock down brake, and a speed-increasing device. The trigger brake may use an electromagnetic brake to apply a braking force to the lock down section. The braking force transferred to the lock down section from the trigger section may be transferred through a speed-increasing device. The speed-increasing device allows for the use of a small and a lightweight electromagnetic brake. The invention also provides a method for reducing asymmetry in the wings of an aircraft using an asymmetry detection device, using a trigger brake, using a speed-increasing gear, and using a lock down brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Smiths Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Serven
  • Patent number: 6659399
    Abstract: An aircraft control surface actuator assembly 12 is provided, including a flight control surface 14. A mechanical drive mechanism 18 is in communication with the flight control surface 14. An actuator rod assembly 24 is mounted to the mechanical drive mechanism 18 and includes a first segment 26 having a first segment outer diameter 34 with a plurality of first segment outer threads 36. A second segment 38 has a split sleeve passage 50, a second segment inner diameter 40 with plurality of second segment inner threads 42, and a second segment outer diameter 44 a plurality of second segment outer threads 46. The second segment inner threads 42 engage the first segment outer threads 36. A third segment 52 includes a third segment split sleeve passage 60 as well as a plurality of third segment inner threads 58 engaging the second segment outer threads 46. Rotation of the second segment 38 causes the first segment 26 and third segment 52 to move in opposing lateral directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Bagnoli, Neal V. Huynh, Gordon Tylosky
  • Patent number: 6659400
    Abstract: The optimal control design for antiskid brake control uses a discrete Kalman filter scheme in combination with a conventional aircraft brake control system, comprising sensors for measuring a speed of a wheel and brake torque, and for providing output signals indicative of the speed and torque values, and an optimal antiskid braking controller. The optimal antiskid brake controller includes a wheel speed filter, a reference velocity module, an optimal controller, and an integrator module. The optimal controller includes a discrete Kalman regulator utilizing a discrete Kalman filter, which compels the wheel velocity to quickly converge to the reference velocity, while the integrator produces appropriate antiskidding control and compensates for low frequency torque disturbances. The discrete Kalman filter estimates brake pressure, and the difference between the wheel velocity and a reference velocity, and these estimated states are regulated by a control feedback gain matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventor: Duk-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 6659401
    Abstract: A door lock system for an airplane is operative to alternately operate spaced doors to provide controllable entry into a restricted area located between the spaced doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Robert M. Semprini
  • Patent number: 6659402
    Abstract: A modular seating system (12) for a vehicle is provided. The seating system (12) includes at least one seat assembly (14) having a primary seat structure (24) and an integrated base panel (26), which is mechanically coupled to and actuateable with the primary seat structure (24). A base structure (22) is mechanically coupled to a vehicle support structure (16) and includes at least one attachment mechanism (76). The seat assemblies (14) are engageable with the attachment mechanisms (76). A method of installing the seating system (12) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Charles R. Prochaska
  • Patent number: 6659403
    Abstract: An aeronautical apparatus, the combination comprising a primary airfoil having at least one panel which is an upper panel, a lower panel, and multiple gas containing tubes associated with the airfoil and extending lengthwise thereof, the tubes including relatively larger cross-section tubes positioned chordwise of the airfoil, and relatively smaller cross-section positioners located to stabilize the relatively larger cross-section tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Yu Hsia
  • Patent number: 6659404
    Abstract: An inflation system for inflating an inflatable evacuation slide includes an enclosure containing an uninflated, stored evacuation slide. The enclosure is sealed by means of a tightly fitting enclosure door that optionally includes a seal for excluding dirt and moisture. The system also includes a source of pressurized gas comprising a conventional pyrotechnic gas generator, stored pressurized gas, or hybrid inflator. The inflation system includes an overpressure relief vent, which vents inflation gas outside of the inflatable member in the event of an overpressure condition in the gas source. The overpressure relief vent includes a directional vent connected to a conduit. The conduit passes from the overpressure relief vent to an opening in the aircraft fuselage, which allows any vented gas to be safely directed away from the inflation system enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Lowell W. Roemke
  • Patent number: 6659405
    Abstract: An operation panel turnabout mechanism for vehicle mount audio equipment is provided which is simple and allows an operation panel to be prevented from being stolen without removing it. A panel supporting member 6 which rotatably supports an operation panel 1 is provided to freely project from a housing and urged in the direction of projection using elasticity of a spring 14. The operation panel 1 is manually made to face backward with the panel supporting member 6 projected from the housing, and the panel supporting member 6 is moved back against elasticity of the spring 14 to allow the operation panel 1 to be installed on the front surface of the housing when the operation panel 1 faces backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaishi Kenwood
    Inventors: Manabu Takagi, Takashi Nakamura, Masayoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6659406
    Abstract: A knife stand is comprised of a cover plate and a container shaped main body. An upper aperture of the main body is covered with the cover plate. Insert slits are provided on the cover plate to insert a base part of knife holders into the main body. At least one or more holder parts are provided on a bottom face of the inner main body to fix and hold a base part of each of the knife holders after said knife holders are inserted into the main body. Slot shaped insert parts are provided on the knife holders, respectively. Both a blade part and a grip part are inserted into the knife holders by turning the whole edge of the blade downward. Similarly, both a blade part and a grip part are inserted into the holder by turning the whole edge of the blade downward as well. Each holder parts and the main body are integrally molded with plastic. The holder parts are provided on the bottom face of the inner main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Master Cutlery Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 6659407
    Abstract: A collapsible trash bag stand having a sleeve-shaped body made from durable semi-rigid sheet material and having a plurality of punch-out, retainer tabs that snap into position to prevent the bag from slipping into the stand and to accommodate loading of multiple layers of trash bags at one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Vito Frank Asaro
  • Patent number: 6659408
    Abstract: A free size automatic watch display holder includes an upper holder providing an arc shaped upper supporting surface, a lower holder providing an arc shaped lower supporting surface, and an extendable supporting frame mounted between the upper and lower holders. The supporting frame includes an upper support member transversely extended from an inner surface of the upper holder, a lower support member transversely extended from an inner surface of the lower holder, and a movable operating frame including a base, having a slider slot, upwardly extended from the lower support member and a slider arm which is downwardly extended from the upper support member and arranged to slidably insert into the slider slot such that by frictionally sliding the slider arm along the slider slot so as to selectively adjust a distance between the upper and lower holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventors: Kinsen Ka Fai Au, Kin Keung Chiu
  • Patent number: 6659409
    Abstract: A positioning pole comprising an elongated center pole, a first guide disposed on an outer surface of the center pole, a first support leg, and a first attachment coupler which pivotally attaches the first support leg to the first guide. The first guide has an elongated dimension oriented parallel to the elongated dimension of the pole. The first attachment coupler has an elongated dimension oriented parallel to the elongated dimension of the guide, a first face, and a second face. The first face of the first attachment coupler has a contoured surface interfitting with the pole's first guide and enables the first attachment coupler to slide along the elongated dimension of the first guide without separating from the guide in directions that are perpendicular to the guide's elongated dimension. A locking mechanism locks the attachment coupler to a corresponding guide once a desired position is found for the support leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Topson GPS LLC
    Inventor: Javad Ashjaee
  • Patent number: 6659410
    Abstract: A leg of a table includes a connecting portion, and an elongated supporting portion. The connecting portion includes two lateral plates secured to bottom of a table's top, and several horizontal portions formed between the lateral plates. The horizontal portions have through holes aligned with each other. Annular walls are formed around the through holes. The annular walls are shaped such that the inner sides thereof taper off towards an upper end of the inner side of the uppermost one. The elongated supporting portion has pads on an upper end, of which the outer sides taper off towards an upper end. The elongated supporting portion is joined to the connecting portion with the pads being inserted into the annular walls; thus, the pads will be forced further into the connecting portion when more weight is placed on the table, making the table more steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Jin-Chu Lu
  • Patent number: 6659411
    Abstract: Screw-covering legs and caps are adapted for a case assembly. The legs are received in leg sockets arranged on the assembly, while the caps are received in cap sockets arranged thereon. The legs, caps and their respective sockets are all configured so that only the legs fit into leg sockets and only the caps fit into cap sockets. The legs and caps are designed to appear similarly and the construction prevent their misplacement with respect to the case assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Takamasa Araki
  • Patent number: 6659412
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided designed to hold extension ladders to fences for storing purposes. A wood or plastic base or back structure that is hung from the top rail of the fence by two large rafter-type hooks. A ladder hook is then mounted to the face of the base or back structure to support the ladder. Other applications are envisioned as well such as hanging hoses, potted plants, gardening tools and supplies, pool tools or toys, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Larry C. Roach
  • Patent number: 6659413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bracket comprising a first bracket part (1) with a first spherical surface (2), a second bracket part (3) with a second spherical surface (4), and a fastening element (5) for fastening the first bracket part (1) movably to the second bracket part (3). The second bracket part (3) comprises a groove (6) or the like, the fastening element (5) is at least partly placed in the groove (6), the first bracket part (1) is movable with respect to the second bracket part (3) so that a relative movement is generated between the fastening element (5) and the groove (6), and the first bracket part (1) is turnable with respect to the second bracket part (3) so that the fastening element (5) simultaneously remains substantially in its place with respect to the groove (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Roni Koli
  • Patent number: 6659414
    Abstract: A hanger (100) comprising a suspension hook (102), a shank (104) and a retainer (106) is fashioned from a single piece of heavy gauge wire curved into a predetermined shape. Suspension hook (102) has a tip (114) capable of easily penetrating heave gauge sheeting material such as 6 mil polyethylene or canvas. Retainer (106) is configured to engage a ceiling tile support rail either between a support rail and a ceiling tile or between a support rail and a wall. In other embodiments, the hanger (100) may be configured to engage a masonry nail or other fastener or may be configured to be driven directly into the wall. The hanger may be bent in a single plane or bent in two or more planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Paul L. Guilmette
  • Patent number: 6659415
    Abstract: A ceiling mount for a medical light shall positions a light body at different points of a treatment table in a simple manner. A bracket system is fastened to a lifting arm that can be actuated by a motor and which has at its free end a bracket guided in parallel for the mounting flange of the bracket system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Dräger Medical AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ryszard Kummerfeld, Lothar Petermann
  • Patent number: 6659416
    Abstract: A computer keyboard/mouse support apparatus including a keyboard support having three layers which are rigidly sandwiched together is disclosed. The top layer is for supporting a keyboard while the bottom layer is for attachment to a keyboard arm. The center layer has a surface area which is substantially less than that of the top and bottom layers so that it defines a gap in which left and right mouse extensions pivot between extended usable positions and retracted stored positions. In their extended usable positions, the front edges of the keyboard support and the mouse extensions are flush with each other and define an ergonomic curve. The top surface of each mouse extension also preferably frictionally engages the underside surface of the keyboard support so that the extensions are not easily moved by the user when moving a mouse supported on the surface of the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ergonomic Design Inc
    Inventors: Jack C. Hicks, Randy W. Woods
  • Patent number: 6659417
    Abstract: An elevating device includes a casing with an upper opening defined to allow the upper tube to extend into the casing and a lower opening defined to communicate with the upper opening and allow the lower tube to extend into the casing, a worm gear rotatably received in the casing to mesh the rack of the upper tube, and a worm shaft extending into the casing to mesh the worm gear so as to drive the movement of the upper tube relative to the lower tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Wu-Hong Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6659418
    Abstract: Picture frames and frame bases attached to pictures that are able to be mounted flush against a wall are described. Special recessed areas and frame connections make contact with one or more special wall brackets. The wall brackets are anchored into the wall and are connected to the frame in a number of ways. One of the ways is with the use of a screw that has a threaded bar moving on it. The screw goes through the top of the frame and is locked to the inside face of the frame so that it remains in place when the screw is turned. When the screw is turned the threaded bar moves into a recess in the wall bracket and pushes the picture up until the picture bottom hits a second wall bracket. This second bracket locks the picture onto the wall. The embodiments presented demonstrate various other means of locking the picture flush against the wall, as well as, means for leveling and adjusting the position of the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Lemire