Patents Issued in December 18, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030230180
    Abstract: A guide for use with a cutting member, such as hand saws, that is easy to use, is readily portable and can be adjusted to permit cutting of precise compound angles on work pieces of various configurations. The guide mechanism comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a work piece, the other member functions to glidably engage a cutting member, such as the blade of a hand saw with the teeth thereof in cutting relation with said face of the work piece. In one form of the invention, locking mechanisms are provided to lock the member in any selected angular relation and a magnet is carried by the guide member which uniquely functions to continuously urge the saw into engagement with a plurality of rollers that are also carried by the guide member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen P. Hines
  • Publication number: 20030230181
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tape cutting device of an automatic roll tape cutter capable of automatically cutting a tape fed out by a proper length. The tape cutting device includes: a frame detachably assembled onto the front surface of a case of the tape cutter, and having a slot formed therethrough and movable blade guide channels formed on both sides of the rear surface thereof; a fixed blade mounted on the upper portion of the rear surface of the frame; a movable blade mounted on the lower portion of the rear surface of the frame in such a manner as to be parallel with the fixed blade, and having a horizontal hole formed on one side of the lower end thereof, an inclined hole formed on the other side of the lower end thereof, and a sensor inserting hole formed at the center thereof; and a lubricating oil supply part for supplying lubricating oil to sides of the blades or a side of the fixed blade or the movable blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Myon Ki Hong
  • Publication number: 20030230182
    Abstract: A cutting tool for removing material from a workpiece wherein the cutting tool is held in a pocket of a tool holder. The cutting tool includes a cutting tool substrate with a rake surface and flank surfaces, as well as a notch at the intersection of a pair of adjacent ones of the flank surfaces. The substrate includes opposite flank surfaces that are opposite from the notch and are disposed at a substrate disposition angle with respect to the rake surface of the cutting tool substrate. The cutting tool further includes a cutting blank that is within the notch. The cutting blank has a rake surface and a pair of exposed flank surfaces wherein a cutting edge is at the intersection of the rake surface and the exposed flank surfaces. The exposed flank surfaces of the cutting blank are disposed at a cutting clearance angle with respect to the rake surface of the cutting blank. The cutting clearance angle is not equal to the substrate disposition angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Oles, Stephen T. Belsheim
  • Publication number: 20030230183
    Abstract: A scroll sawing machine includes a first transmitting shaft driven by an output shaft of a motor, a second transmitting shaft rotatable to move a blade-driving member in an upright direction so as to enable a saw blade to perform reciprocating movement, and a speed ratio varying device disposed to couple the transmitting shafts. The device includes two pitch-variable first and second pulleys mounted on the transmitting shafts, a belt trained on the pulleys, and a control unit operable to move a movable disc of the first pulley toward or away from a fixed disc of the first pulley so as to vary the radial distances between the belt and each of the transmitting shafts, thereby varying the speed ratio of the second transmitting shaft to the first transmitting shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Juei-Seng Liao, Pei-Lieh Chiang
  • Publication number: 20030230184
    Abstract: An improved guitar bridge and tailpiece is provided for use in facilitating the tuning and retuning procedure for a guitar. The new guitar bridge and tailpiece each include a setscrew hole at each end of their respective base pieces. The setscrew holes are formed from an outer vertical edge to a vertical hole or slot therein. Into each setscrew hole is placed a setscrew which, upon fastening into the setscrew hole, contacts adjustment posts or studs which are mounted to a body of the guitar. By tightening the setscrews against the adjustment posts or studs, the bridge or tailpiece is fixedly mounted to the body of the guitar. Because the bridge and tailpiece remain fixed to the guitar body, once tuned, the strings do not require extensive tuning adjustment each time the strings are replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Sharon C. Devereaux, Kurt O. Laubhan
  • Publication number: 20030230185
    Abstract: In a drumhead stretching mechanism adapted to a drum, a bolt for tightening or loosening a drumhead stretched at ends of a hollow cylinder under tension is inserted into a latch that is hooked on a clamp frame for clamping and holding outer circumferential ends of the drumhead, wherein a hollow space is formed inside of the latch to store an anti-extraction member having a U-shape, which is engaged with the bolt. Alternatively, the latch and anti-extraction member can be integrally interconnected together. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the bolt from being extracted, from unnecessarily rotating, and from floating in the axial direction of the bolt even when the bolt is taken out from a lug nut, which normally engages with the tip end portion of the bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Norihiko Ishimatsu
  • Publication number: 20030230186
    Abstract: In a music system, an input unit is manipulated for inputting a signal representative of a performance operation amount rendered by a performer, and an output unit is provided for outputting a music sound in response to the signal fed from the input unit. The input unit has a grip part that is grasped by the performer and shaped to receive a dynamic pressure caused from grasping by the performer for inputting the performance operation amount. A conversion part is provided in the input unit for converting the dynamic pressure applied by the performer into a force acting in a specified direction. A detection part is positioned to align a sensitivity thereof with the specified direction for sensing the force generated by the conversion part and outputting the signal indicative of the performance operation amount in response to the sensed force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kenji Ishida, Yoshiki Nishitani
  • Publication number: 20030230187
    Abstract: There is provided a musical tone generating apparatus which enables beginners inexperienced in musical performance and like players to play a musical instrument such as an electronic harp without practicing repeatedly. The musical instrument has a plurality of operating elements such as strings to which a plurality of musical tones are assigned, respectively. Musical tones are generated in response to operations of the operating elements. Ones of the musical tones, assigned to ones of said operating elements which are not to be operated are muted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kenji Ishida, Yoshitaka Masumoto, Kenichi Miyazawa, Yoshiki Nishitani
  • Publication number: 20030230188
    Abstract: There is provided a performance apparatus that can reduce energy consumption while allowing sounding elements to appropriately generate sound. A CPU supplies driving energy to an actuator to drivingly control the same based on pulse width modulation. A rotary pick is rotatively driven by the actuator to pluck reeds to generate sound. The CPU sets the duty of a driving pulse for driving the rotary pick during time points t3 and t4. Thus, higher driving energy is supplied to the actuator in timing in which the rotary pick plucks any of the reeds than in timing in which the rotary pick does not pluck any of the reeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Kaneko, Shigeru Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20030230189
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) comprises a first bearing surface (38) that is formed on a surface (36) that defines a passage (24) in housing (12). An input assembly (120) that includes a first portion (124) of a control valve (132) extends into the passage (24) of the housing (12). An output assembly (80) that includes a second portion (84) of the control valve (132) is located in the passage (24) of the housing (12). A second bearing surface (96) is formed on an outer surface (94) of the output assembly (80). The first bearing surface (38) cooperates with the second bearing surface (96) to define an annular space (162) for receiving fluid and for supporting rotation of the output assembly (80) relative to the housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jack L. Place
  • Publication number: 20030230190
    Abstract: Apparatus for surface control of a sub-surface safety valve set within the production tubing of a drilling well, the apparatus comprising a hydraulic actuator for opening the sub-surface safety valve, a control line for supplying hydraulic control fluid to the actuator, a first control valve for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the control line, a non-return valve in the control line path, between the actuator and the control valve, for preventing any contaminants entering the hydraulic fluid at the actuator from reaching the first control valve by migration up the control line, and an exhaust line connected to the actuator and control line and an associated second control valve enabling flushing of fluid from the actuator and control line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Neil Irwin Douglas
  • Publication number: 20030230191
    Abstract: A composite diaphragm for diaphragm pumps comprises an elastomer body and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) coating on its back side. The elastomer body has a shape of a circular dish that has an edge region with a clamping area, a bottom and a flexible section of the diaphragm that connects the edge of the dish with the bottom. The flexible section of the diaphragm comprises a multitude of naps forming elevations on the coated side of the elastomer body. The PFTE coating is a plane ring surface with the area of the flexible section of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Joachim Ohrle, Leon Radom
  • Publication number: 20030230192
    Abstract: A composite diaphragm for diaphragm pumps comprises an elastomer body and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) coating on its back side. The elastomer body has a shape of a circular dish that has an edge region with a clamping area, a bottom and a flexible section of the diaphragm that connects the edge of the dish with the bottom. The flexible section of the diaphragm comprises a multitude of naps forming elevations on the elastomer backside of the elastomer body. The PFTE coating is a plane ring surface with the area of the flexible section of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Joachim Ohrle, Leon Radom
  • Publication number: 20030230193
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for deaerating a liquid layer such as a coating solution using electrostatic forces. A flow of charged particles is created above and moved towards a low conductivity liquid layer. The flow of charged particles causes localized thinning of the liquid layer which facilitates the removal of bubbles of entrained gas from the liquid by bringing those bubbles closer to the exposed surface of the liquid and rupturing them at that surface. This electrostatic deaeration technique is combined with other non-electrostatic liquid layer thinning techniques or degassing techniques to further facilitate removal of bubbles from the liquid in preparation of further processing of the liquid. The liquid layer may be stationary or flowing with respect to the application of charge particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Louks, Steven H. Gotz, Luther E. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20030230194
    Abstract: Activated porous carbon fibers, whose active centers are formed by pores that are filled at least in part by carbon and/or metal and/or metal carbide, obtainable by carbonization of organic or inorganic polymers, the use thereof for the adsorption or separation of gaseous substances, in particular of CO2, and also a method for the production thereof. The method includes the following steps. The first step is production of a spinning mixture containing polyacrylonitrile-based polymer A and an organic or metallo-organic polymer B. The next step is spinning of the spinning mixture to form mixed fibers of polymer A and polymer B. The next step is stabilization of the mixed fiber by oxidation. The next step is carbonization or graphitization of the mixed fiber under non-oxidizing conditions in such a way that the polymer B forms a carbon and/or metal and/or metal carbide residue of at least 25 wt %, this residue forming active centers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Heine, Richard Neuert, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Publication number: 20030230195
    Abstract: A process and equipment for extracting and disposing of sour reservoir components initially contained in natural hydrocarbons. The stream of natural hydrocarbons extracted from a reservoir is initially subjected to an optional gas/liquid separation. The gaseous hydrocarbons are then scrubbed with a liquid absorbent to dissolve sour reservoir components such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide and thereby form a solution. The liquid absorbent may be water that is preferably sufficiently free of oxygen and solids to be of a quality suitable for re-injection. The solution is pumped back into a well. The well may be the reservoir that produced the hydrocarbons, or adjacent geological formations, with the re-injected sour water being employed for production stimulation. Alternatively, the well may be a depleted reservoir. The scrubber may be a multiple-stage packed column or tray column that preferably allows for condensate skimming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: INGEN PROCESS LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert Alexander Leask
  • Publication number: 20030230196
    Abstract: Provided is an oxygen supply device for common use in a vehicle and indoors, that generates oxygen and supplies the same to the vehicle or a place indoors, and can provide an oxygen concentration display operating in combination with the oxygen supply device for vehicle- or indoor-use. The oxygen supply device for generating oxygen of a constant concentration has a simple structure and operational mechanism and a compact case where various components such as an oxygen separator and a pump mechanism are contained to thereby allow a user to easily mount and dismount the oxygen supply device in and from a vehicle and a place indoors as necessary, and then carry the same by hand. The oxygen supply device has a display for enabling users to verify a current oxygen concentration so the user is reassured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Tai-Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20030230197
    Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus that includes a housing, a fan, an ultraviolet lamp, and a cylindrical filter. The housing has a separation plate that defines an air inlet region and an air outlet region inside the housing. The separation plate has a vent. An air inlet is formed through an outer surface of the air inlet region. An air outlet is formed through an outer surface of the air outlet region. A holder is located in the longitudinal direction of the housing. A fan is mounted in the air inlet region proximate to the vent of the separation plate. An ultraviolet lamp is mounted inside the holder. A cylindrical filter has a rotating part at one end thereof. The holder is arranged inside the cylindrical filter, and the rotating part is rotatably engaged with the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Jason Yan
  • Publication number: 20030230198
    Abstract: A lift bucket, food product transport mechanism, food product processor and method of processing food product while providing improved dewatering. The processor is equipped with a lift that includes at least one bucket of latticework construction that preferably is made of wedgewire. The bucket has a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and interlocking wires that define dewatering perforations. In one preferred embodiment, wires defining dewatering slots are supported by wire retainers. In a preferred embodiment, each dewatering slot preferably has a width of at least 0.02 inches and no greater than about 0.13 inches. Each wire retainer can be equipped with a knife edge that minimizes dewatering flow obstruction through the slots. In a preferred method, an auger food product transport mechanism equipped with a lift bucket of the invention is rotated at a speed of at least 5 RPM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: LYCO MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: William D. Zittel
  • Publication number: 20030230199
    Abstract: A pot cover structure includes a cover and a number of clips, the center bottom of the cover is formed with a rim of wall with at least of two holes on the wall for the clips to secure therein, each clip has a stop section at the top portion, a contact section at the center portion and a block extending from the contact section downwardly, the block has a pair of clipper edges extending there from, the clips are equally set along the wall of the cover, when the cover is placed onto the pot, the stop section slows down the movement to prevent an abrupt engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Li-Sui Huang
  • Publication number: 20030230200
    Abstract: A rotisserie oven includes a heat source, a continuous conveyor mounted adjacent the heat source, a number of attachment devices affixed along the conveyor, each for holding a food-supporting device adjacent the heat source while being conveyed by the conveyor. A turning device is attached to each attachment device for rotating each food-supporting device as it is conveyed past the heat source, and there is a detachment device adjacent the conveyor and cooperative with each attachment device to detach any food-supporting device attached thereto as the holding devices pass the detachment device in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Chun Kong Ian Cheung
  • Publication number: 20030230201
    Abstract: A novel finger vacuum apparatus comprises a syringe and a sealable food container. One best mode combines a syringe, a food container having a hole-like opening, and a fluid exchange connecter. The pulling of the plunge in a syringe directly makes a vacuum. Hypodermic injection adapter and flexible flap can be used to open and close a hole-like opening on a food container. This vacuum is useful for nursing mother, lightweight traveling, lunch box, energy saving, e.g., vacuum cooking under 100° C. after energy supply has been stopped, green house storage against aerobic bacteria, pressured aroma development, and for school as a education tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Iris G. Zhao
  • Publication number: 20030230202
    Abstract: The flexible press fits onto the rim of standard sized cans for the purpose of compressing the contents of canned food and forcibly evacuating liquids from the solid food. The device comprises; a flexible center section, an oblique band molded such that it is held in place by a friction fit on the outer edge of the can; and an opening radially-located on the flexible center section of the device, designed so that when the device is affixed onto a can and the center section is then depressed against the can's severed lid, the liquid is forced out of the can in a controlled manner and discriminately directed thru the opening in the device without contact to the user's body or clothing. As the press is removed, the compressed suction cup draws the severed lid away from the solid food and removes it from the can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Arnost Costahaude, Patricia Marie Costahaude, Dalton Winfield Costahaude
  • Publication number: 20030230203
    Abstract: A cream solder cartridge used in a screen printing apparatus which prints cream solder on a board through pattern holes by sliding, on a mask plate, a closed squeegee that is stored with cream solder inside is composed of a long and narrow concave portion made of a flexible film-like material, a brim portion projecting from the outer periphery of the concave portion, and a film-like cover sheet that is stuck to the brim portion and thereby closes the opening of the concave portion. This configuration makes it possible to supply paste at a low cost and to perform a viscosity adjustment easily by externally stirring the paste accommodated inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiko Abe, Seiichi Miyahara, Yuji Otake
  • Publication number: 20030230204
    Abstract: A screen printing machine including a stencil sheet assembly having a frame member having outer peripheral sides for partitioning an outer configuration and inner peripheral sides for partitioning an opening and stencil sheet adhered to one face of the frame member to cover the opening, a tension frame projected to inner sides of the inner peripheral sides of the frame member, having a raised portion raised toward the stencil sheet and arranged on other face of the frame member for applying tension to the stencil sheet, and holding means for holding the tension frame and the stencil sheet assembly which are put together such that a front face of the tension frame in a direction of raising the raised portion and the other face of the frame member are brought into contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Satoru Komata
  • Publication number: 20030230205
    Abstract: A compensation device (9) for vibrations of an angle variable in a printing material processing machine (1) having an associated actuator (6) which acts on the angle variable, the compensation device (9) receiving a signal representative of the angle variable characteristic, and the compensation device (9) generating an output signal for the actuator (6) is disclosed. The compensation device (9) has at least one filter (13) in the form of a transfer function or a sum of transfer functions whose frequency parameters correspond to the vibration frequencies to be compensated, through whose effect the output signal of the compensation device (9) is obtained from the signal at at least one of the discrete frequencies to be compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Mutschler, Matthias Noell
  • Publication number: 20030230206
    Abstract: A printing press for processing continuous webs has a machine frame and printing cylinders exchangeably mounted in the machine frame. A drive is provided. An inking system is mounted in the machine frame. The drive has a two-row gear wheel having a first toothing and a second toothing, wherein the first toothing has an inch-based division and the second toothing has a metric division. The printing cylinders are driven by the first toothing for printing an inch-based size and the printing cylinders are driven by the second toothing for printing a metric size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Muller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Ruoff
  • Publication number: 20030230207
    Abstract: An integrated ink rail assembly includes at least one page pack mounted directly to a manifold, an ink rail mounted to the manifold, and an orifice rail mounted to the ink rail. An ink source is connected to the page pack. The page pack, manifold, ink rail, and orifice rail define a plurality of ink passages to deliver ink from the ink source to a drum. The ink passage may be directed towards the middle of the assembly such that a web smaller than the page pack can be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stanley Momot
  • Publication number: 20030230208
    Abstract: A gripper for screen printing applications comprises a gripper body supporting a tensioning assembly comprising a gripping element designed for gripping the edge of a fabric to be tensioned on a frame, and a bottom abutment cam providing a variable lowering stroke based on a withdrawal tensioning stroke of the tensioning assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Marco Mietta
  • Publication number: 20030230209
    Abstract: A blister packaging production line preferably includes an unmarked supply of backing for blister packaging, a printer for selectively printing on the backing and a host system controlling the printer and providing a variety of desired designs to the printer. The design being printed on the backing can be changed on-demand by transmitting a new design from the host system to the printer. Additionally, a blister packaging production line may include an unmarked supply of material backing for blister packaging, a printer for selectively printing on the material and a shaping device for forming recesses in the material that will receive items being blister packaged. The printed design can be of any desired length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Jose M. Gonzalez, Enrique C. Abreu, Angel L. Enriquez, Jorge E. Badillo
  • Publication number: 20030230210
    Abstract: A rotary printing press for printing on different width paper. The printing press utilizes multiple rotating plate cylinders of different width size housed in an independently rotating magazine which allows for printing on sheet fed or web paper without having to change printing modules or ink transfer cylinders. The multiple rotating cylinders of different width size are engaged with a continuous ink transfer device which transfers the ink from the imaged inked plate to the paper or printed substrate. This press may be utilized to print on both sides of the paper or printed substrate by combining two printing presses on either side of the paper or printed substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Avi-Ben Porat
  • Publication number: 20030230211
    Abstract: A single break shell has an elongated body provided with a convexly rounded upper end, a convexly rounded bottom end, and a midportion disposed between the two rounded ends. In a preferred embodiment, the shell is ellipsoidal in shape with the opposite ends having radius of curvature that are identical to one another. Other embodiments include variations on the basic elongated, rounded configuration. The shell is useful in both a self-propelled aerial pyrotechnic device in which the engine travels along with the shell, and an explosive lift charge type device in which the lift charge propels only the shell out of the launch tube after detaching from the lift charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory P. Shelton
  • Publication number: 20030230212
    Abstract: An arrangement for self-steering, radial bogie, truck or vehicle frame for locomotives and other railroad vehicles, which mount unitized brakes to steering beams located either ahead and/or behind their respective leading and trailing wheelsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Xiaoying Ma, Hans-Dieter Schaller, David Jason Goding
  • Publication number: 20030230213
    Abstract: An arrangement for self-steering, radial bogie, truck or vehicle frame for locomotives and other railroad vehicles, which includes steering beams for and located behind their respective leading and trailing wheelsets, and whose rotary motions are coupled by an inter-axle link to provide opposite transverse movement of the first and third wheelsets upon traversing curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Schaller, Xiaoying Ma, David Jason Goding
  • Publication number: 20030230214
    Abstract: A railcar unit has a pair of deep sidewalls and a cradle mounted between the sidewalls for carrying coils. The sidewalls span the distance between the two railcar trucks, and act as a pair of deep beams for carrying vertical loads. The deep sidewalls are arranged to extend above and below the centre sill of the cradle and to give vertical stiffness to the car. The centre sill is a straight through sill for carrying buff and draft loads between the couplers. The cradle is made from a set of cross bearers welded to the centre sill to form a series of segmented beams, covered by plating. The cross bearers are welded to the sidewalls at lap joints. The cross bearers are all of the same design and can be made from a rolled beam. The sidewalls have their deepest section at mid-span, and are tapered to a thinner section toward the end structure of the cars. The tapering includes provision of an access way between the railcar truck wheels and the sidewall to permit brake maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventor: James W. Forbes
  • Publication number: 20030230215
    Abstract: Pretreated aluminum and aluminum alloys and the process and composition for pretreating said aluminum and its alloys to provide a coating with color recognition for identification purposes and to improved the corrosion-resistance, electrical conductivity, and adhesion properties which comprises pretreating said aluminum and its alloys with an effective amount of an acidic aqueous solution having a pH ranging from about 2.5 to 5.5 comprising water soluble trivalent chromium compounds, alkali metal hexafluorozirconates, divalent zinc compounds, alkali metal fluoro-compounds, and effective amounts of water soluble thickeners, surfactants or wetting agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Craig A. Matzdorf, William C. Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20030230216
    Abstract: An ink jet recording liquid including a compound represented by the following Formula (1), (2) or (3): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kyoko Iwamoto, Satoru Ikesu, Takatsugu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030230217
    Abstract: A clay plaster formulation and application. The clay plaster is a mixture of various clays, and aggregate. This plaster is both functional and decorative and is for use on new and existing construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Armin Croft Elsaesser
  • Publication number: 20030230218
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste disposal apparatus with an extensible connection for integration into a piece of furniture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Richard J. Sidor, Mark Stenftenagel, Salvatore S. Graziano
  • Publication number: 20030230219
    Abstract: A table that includes a table top with a first half which is pivotally connected to a second half. The first and second halves of the table top are movable between a first position in which the halves are generally aligned and a second position in which the halves are generally placed adjacent to each other. The first and second halves of the table top are preferably constructed from blow-molded plastic and each of the halves desirably have a generally hollow interior. The first and second halves of the table top may include interlocking portions that are interconnected when the halves are in the aligned position. Desirably, the interlocking portions have generally hollow interiors that are integrally formed with the generally hollow interiors of the halves of the table top during the blow-molding process. The table top may also include one or more overlapping portions that are interconnected when the halves of the table top are in the aligned position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: L. Curtis Strong, Jacob Kearl, Thayne B. Haney, Ray Adams, Ed VanNimwegen, David C. Winter
  • Publication number: 20030230220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary portable desk for use in a chair's arms having an arched center region having a pair of substantially rectangular side regions, each located at one end of the arched region. The portable desk includes two parallel-positioned handles located near the bottom sides of the right and left substantially rectangular regions to provide ergonomic carrying and positioning of the desk. It also includes releasable securement devices that are removably positioned to secure desktop items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Barbara J. Evans, Herbert J. Evans
  • Publication number: 20030230221
    Abstract: The dresser bumper prevents items from falling off the backside of a dresser, desk, vanity, or other horizontal surface with a gap between the surface and the wall. The dresser bumper occupies the space between the furniture and the wall, thus preventing things from falling between the furniture and the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen Leonard Savoy
  • Publication number: 20030230222
    Abstract: A lifted type computer desk set includes a desk body and a movable desk board. The desk body has a main desk board at the top thereof, a recess opening at the front side thereof and a keyboard rack at the lower side thereof and is supported with a leg device. The movable desk board has the size and the shape thereof corresponding to the recess opening and is pivotally connected to one or two lateral edges of the recess opening with a pivot part. A keyboard on the keyboard rack can be revealed while the movable desk board is lifted such that a sight distance to the display can be shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Yu-An Liu
  • Publication number: 20030230223
    Abstract: A picnic table system is provided that is modular in design for ease of storage out of inclement weather when not in use. A bench assembly sits atop two pedestal-type legs and the table top and is supported by the upper portion of the pedestal legs. Both the top and the benches are secured by frictional impingement. When the invention is to be moved, the bench assembly, table top and the two pedestal legs are stored in a manner conserving floor or storage space. The ability to store the invention inside during inclement weather or during off season allows for increased life of the invention, thus saving the user replacement or repair costs as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Dolphus A. Dodd
  • Publication number: 20030230224
    Abstract: An apparatus for destroying the contaminants found in contaminated soil prior to soil reclamation. The apparatus preferably includes three major sections or components and they are: a soil infeed section, a heating section, and a soil extraction section. The preferred infeed section includes a hopper placed in conjunction with an incline conveyor and a distally positioned dump chute. The heating section has a material receptacle in the form of a material receiving chute, a heater disposed adjacent to the interior of a longitudinal spirally internally veined rotating drum which communicates with the third section, which is a material extraction or expulsion section also in the form of an incline conveyor and a chute. The heater section includes a heater station which enables a supply of propane or LP gas to be connected thereto and ignited to fire heat the internal chamber of the rotating drum. The heating enables the contaminants such as hydrocarbons to be burned from contaminated soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Floyd E. Bouldin
  • Publication number: 20030230225
    Abstract: A planting device includes a housing for engaging into soil and having a rear and two side walls, and a pivotal jaw pivotally secured to the housing and rotatable toward and away from the rear wall of the housing. The pivotal jaw and the side walls and the rear wall of the housing form an enclosed peripheral portion for preventing the soil from entering into the housing when the pivotal jaw is moved away from the rear wall of the housing. A conduit is secured on top of the housing, a tube secured to the housing and the conduit, and a handle adjustably secured to the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Lee Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20030230226
    Abstract: A thrust measurement system includes a water pool for receiving therein a watercraft in a floating condition, a bow holding apparatus disposed on an edge portion of the water pool for holding a bow of the watercraft, a thrust measurement device mounted in the bow holding apparatus, and an anchoring device spanning between an edge of the water pool and a hull of the watercraft for anchoring the watercraft in position against swinging movement about the bow. In order to permit free rise and fall of the bow of the watercraft, the bow holding apparatus has a floating structure that can move freely in a vertical plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan
    Inventors: Masatoshi Murakami, Yasuo Torii, Tomoyasu Katayama
  • Publication number: 20030230227
    Abstract: A ramp assembly for a pontoon boat, or the like, on which a boat user can come and go from the pontoon boat without having to get wet. A cylindrical float, rotatably attached to the free end of the ramp, keeps it and at least one user thereon afloat. Moreover, the float acts like a roller during docking, enabling one to move the ramp, in its extended position, up and onto the shore at most beaches. The ramp assembly comprises a support structure attached to the underside of the boat and a ramp including a platform which is slideably connected to the support structure by a shaft. Bearing blocks suspend the shaft and the platform, which is pivotally connected thereto, horizontally between a pair of rails. Riding on elongated bearing surface tracks mounted within the rails, the bearing blocks allow the platform to be easily extended outwardly from the support structure for use or, alternately, retracted into it for storage. The platform can be readily extended or retracted, as needed, manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: William C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20030230228
    Abstract: A handle stem attached to a head tube of a bicycle includes a speed indicator housed in an indicator housing. The indicator is formed of a body including a circuit board and a liquid-crystal display and a battery housing which is detachable from the body. The body is fixed to the indicator housing and accordingly the speed indicator is attached to the handle stem and the battery housing is freely attachable/detachable. The handle stem and the speed indicator are thus obtained with which batteries are easily replaced without detaching the whole of the indicator from the handle stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Osamu Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20030230229
    Abstract: An adjustable loop bookmark assisting the reader in marking the page in a book. The adjustable loop bookmark includes a folded cord which is knotted at one and includes a plurality of beads moveably located to adjust the size of the adjustable loop. The beads are used to vary the size of the loop, thus making the bookmark adjustable in size to accommodate varying sizes of books, fitting snugly around the marked pages of the book. The adjustable loop may be loosened so that a new page may be marked, without having the need for the adjustable loop bookmark to leave, or be placed out of the book.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Marjorie Monroe