Patents Issued in January 20, 2004
  • Patent number: 6679639
    Abstract: Prior collapsible keyboards for personal digital assistants are overly complex and large. The present invention provides a folding keyboard for a personal digital assistant which folds up simply and in a small size and which is useful for standard typists. It is divided into two halves hingedly connected along a fold line. While the central or home row keys are standard size, the other two rows of keys are of reduced transverse dimension and are preferably so shaped as to allow a touch typist to use existing movements without missing the keys of reduced size, as are the keys at either end of all three rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pocketop Computers Corp.
    Inventor: Michael Katz
  • Patent number: 6679640
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for a printing system that includes a threaded bolt that engages a threaded bore of a first dovetail nut. The assembly also includes a second dovetail nut with a bore through which a shaft of the bolt passes. Each dovetail nut has two tapered portions located on opposite sides of the bore of the respective nut. When the bolt/dovetail nut combination is assembled, the two dovetail nuts are located a distance apart so that the tapered portions of the two nuts define a pair of slots. To connect sections of the web guide together, each slot engages a flared connector of a respective section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Vutek, Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6679641
    Abstract: A tooth brush with reservoir having a body that is releasably attached to a head with the bristles. Releasable attachment of the body is accomplished with an aperture that also serves for dispensing tooth paste from a reservoir within the body. A blade within the body is attached to a tab outside the body with a stem that passes through a linear aperture in the body. Pushing the tab toward the aperture, thus, forces the blade toward the aperture. Consequently, when the reservoir contains tooth paste, pushing the tab toward the aperture urges tooth paste toward the aperture, eventually resulting in the dispensing of tooth paste from that aperture. Either a foldable membrane or a central partition impedes the escape of tooth paste through the linear aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Michael J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6679642
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a water reservoir in the handle and squeezable to force water therefrom through a plurality of spaced apart orifices located at the base of bristles that project from the head of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventors: John B. Dillingham, Brenda W. Dillingham
  • Patent number: 6679643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for jointing poles of a tent. The device has a housing and a rotor body. In this case, the housing consists of a first pole insert hole for receiving a pole, a seat slit in which the rotor body is seated, and a locking recess formed on each sidewall of the seat slit. The rotor body consists of a longitudinal hinge hole receiving a hinge pin therein such that the rotor body seated in the seat slit of the housing is rotatably jointed to the housing. A locking lug is inserted into an associated locking recess of the housing to limit rotation of the rotor body. A second pole insert hole receives another pole. Furthermore, the device includes a unit for automatically releasing the rotor body from the housing. The automatic releasing unit consists of an elastic member mounted by a locking member to an end wall provided at the inside end of the seat slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Northpole Unlimited
    Inventor: Se Il Ham
  • Patent number: 6679644
    Abstract: A modular elongated element (1), an intramodule tensile device (11), a pair of securing and linking devices (12), and an intermodule connector device (13), interconnected using the devices and methods disclosed herein, are used to construct a virtually limitless variety of inherently-tensile constructs. In the most elemental module, the intramodule tensile device (11) connects a pair of securing and linking devices (12) which are in turn secured to two ends (14) of the modular elongated element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Heller
  • Patent number: 6679645
    Abstract: A furniture support system generally includes a first frame member, a second frame member, at least one pin inserted into the first frame member, and at least one fastener inserted into the second frame member. The fastener is engageable with the pin via an eyelet in the pin so as to secure first and second frame members together at a substantially right angle. The pin is inserted into the first frame member through a bore, and the fastener is inserted into the second frame member through a channel. One end of the fastener is located within a recessed portion of the second frame member, while the other end is inserted into the first frame member through a cross-bore that intersects the bore at a substantially right angle. The eyelets on the pin are substantially aligned with the cross-bores such that the end of the fastener inserted into the first frame member can engage the eyelet. A perimeter of the recess is surrounded by a reinforcing ring, and a reinforcing plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pulaski Furniture
    Inventor: James H. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6679646
    Abstract: An electronic housing system is provided which includes at least two, especially plate shaped, electronic housings which can be snapped onto a mounting rail. The housing system includes a locking system including at least two housing portions, namely a starter unit and an end unit, and a key element. The starter unit is constructed as a key receptacle and the end unit is constructed as a lock complementary to the key element. The two housing portions can be locked with one another by rotation of the key element in the end unit. The locking system further includes an intermediate housing portion for positioning between the starter unit and the end unit, whereby the intermediate portion has an intermediate end unit for interlocking with the end of the key element, and an intermediate starter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Keba AG
    Inventors: Dirk Quardt, Jörg Söfker, Reinhard Gottlieb Starzinger, Hans Peter Wintersteiger
  • Patent number: 6679647
    Abstract: An electrical fixture is mounted adjacent a stable surface via a standard J-box using a quick-connect fastener which allows the electrical fixture to be electrically coupled to wires extending through the J-box prior to physically coupling the electrical fixture to the J-box, while also minimizing twisting of the wires in the J-box during attachment of the electrical fixture to the J-box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Palmer Hargrave, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Hixon
  • Patent number: 6679648
    Abstract: A chain joint for a high-strength link chain is disclosed. The chain joint is formed from two joint parts form-fittingly connected with one another and a center piece braced on the two opposing longitudinal side bars of joint parts. The center piece is detachably disposed with respect to the joint parts. The center piece is formed from a fitting plug and at least one fitting element indicating the specified set-in position of the fitting plug based on resilient material properties. The fitting element serves a fitting sleeve, into which the fitting plug can be set and in which the fitting plug is at least predominantly enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: J. D. Theile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Benecke
  • Patent number: 6679649
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of constructing barrier wall structures. More particularly, the invention relates to a manner in which to use common building materials and methods in erecting a barrier wall system more efficiently than in the past. The apparatus includes among its essential elements a formed reinforcement cage; a plurality of spacers that are used to support the reinforcement cage; a plurality of cable anchors each being an elongated member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is anchored to the ground and the second end is adapted to be attached to a cable; a plurality of elongated cable members that connects the reinforcement cage and the anchor member; a plurality of cable gripping members for holding the cables taut wherein the cables secures in place the reinforcement cage; and, a formed outer concrete layer that is molded over the reinforcement cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: SPS New England, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne P. Capolupo
  • Patent number: 6679650
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved thermoplastic pavement marking composition system that comprises a pavement surface that is light in color (white or off-white). A first marking stripe is applied and adheres to the top of the pavement surface. This first marking stripe has a thickness of at least about 40 mils to about 110 mils, and comprises a solidified thermoplastic resin composition. The solidified resin composition comprising a black pigment. A second marking stripe is applied and adheres to the surface of the first marking stripe, the second marking stripe having a thickness of at least 40 mils to about 750 mils or more. It is narrower than said first marking stripe and also comprises a solidified thermoplastic resin composition. The thermoplastic resin composition of the second marking stripe is comprised of a pigment that visibly contrasts with the first marking stripe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ennis Paint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Britt, Darrell Thompson
  • Patent number: 6679651
    Abstract: Method of replacing a blind flange manhole cover of the type including a bolted on blind flange mounted on a bolting flange of a negative pressure storage tank manway with a manhole cover having a hinged door assembly includes the step of removing the blind flange manhole cover from the bolting flange of a tank-installed manway. The manhole cover may be attached to the bolting flange of the existing manway. A seal may be provided for creating a leakproof joint between the cover and a cover receiving surface when the hingedly attached manhole cover is in a closed position. A manway having a hingedly attached manhole cover may be provided with a hinge frame. A locking assembly may be provided adjacent the cover that includes a locking and sealing element for engaging the cover with a seal for locking and sealing the manway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6679652
    Abstract: A concrete finishing tool includes a float and texturing brush installed upon the distal end of an elongate handle. The float and handle connection may include a mechanism for adjusting the plane of the float relative to the handle axis, if desired. A pair of brackets extends from the upper surface of the float, with a texturing broom or brush adjustably secured to the distal ends of the brackets. The brackets allow the broom to be adjusted linearly and/or angularly relative to the plane of the float, to provide a bristle rake angle and/or penetration depth as desired. The finishing tool, with its adjustable texturing broom, allows a concrete worker to begin texturing a freshly poured concrete surface as it is being smoothed, with the worker adjusting the broom for a consistent finish texture as the concrete changes its viscosity during the curing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony J. Suriano
  • Patent number: 6679653
    Abstract: A gallery for guiding liquid through a leaching or drain field and allowing liquid to seep into adjacent ground is provided. The gallery includes an elongated main body portion having an undulating wall defined by a plurality of laterally spaced apart ribs, the undulating wall defining an outer surface and an interior space for liquid and particles to flow therethrough. A plurality of area enhancing elements are formed on the outer surface of the undulating wall for increasing a surface area of the outer surface to promote the growth and flourishing of the bacteria and other microorganisms on the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Cultec, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. DiTullio
  • Patent number: 6679654
    Abstract: A flood control system including a substantially rigid exterior shell and a flexible bladder having one or more valves for introducing and removing a desired amount of fluid, the shell including opposite first and second rigid sides hingedly connected to one another to permit the shell to be positioned in a desired orientation exterior to and substantially overlying the flexible bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Aqua Levee Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Donn Wittenberg, Charles T. Shankles, Bruce A. Knobloch
  • Patent number: 6679655
    Abstract: A system for supporting pipe within soil or fill material which minimizes positional disturbances of the pipe despite seasonal fluctuations in atmospheric temperature is provided. The system provides a length of double walled pipe, a support member placed in the soil or fill material and a wicking device which transfers energy between the inner pipe of the double walled pipe which is typically full of a cryogenic fluid and the support. The energy transfer stabilizes the soil or fill material, typically by freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Bonn
  • Patent number: 6679656
    Abstract: A connection for securing a geogrid fabric to between two tiers of concrete blocks which are stacked to form an earth retaining wall. A groove is formed in the top of each block in the lower tier to extend across the width of each block substantially parallel to the face of the block. The fabric is positioned to extend from the rear of the block over the groove and a first rod is positioned in the groove over the fabric. The fabric is folded to wrap around the first rod to extend past the groove towards the rear of the block and a second rod is positioned in the groove over the fabric to the rear of the first rod. When an upper tier of blocks is stacked on the lower tier, the rods and fabric are locked into the groove in the lower blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Redi-Rock International, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Manthei
  • Patent number: 6679657
    Abstract: In the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention, first and second insert restraining faces are provided opposite each other on a insert installation section, and have projecting V-shapes parallel to the longitudinal direction of a shank. The top and bottom faces of the insert have indented V-shapes in correspondence with the first and second insert restraining faces. When a clamp bolt is tightened, the first insert restraining face elastically changes shape toward the second insert restraining face, pressingly securing the insert in the shank. Therefore, the insert can be easily attached and removed, and high installation rigidity of the insert can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimomura, Tomoyoshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6679658
    Abstract: A combined rotary hand tool and accessory attachment includes a rotary hand tool having an output shaft and a nose end associated with the shaft. An accessory attachment has a mounting portion configured for releasable attachment to the nose end and an engagement formation provided to the nose end and the mounting portion and configured so that the mounting portion is securable upon the nose end upon an approximate ¼ relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Landt
  • Patent number: 6679659
    Abstract: A milling machine with a rotating drivable machine tool spindle perpendicular to a work piece stage slanting downward and away from the front side of the machine bed displaceable along the Z-axis that may be displaced via a first carriage along the Y-axis, and via a second carriage along the X-axis on guides mounted to the machine bed. A chip collection chamber is provided behind the work stage surface when in the operating position. The guides for the second carriage are provided on opposing struts of a portal frame parallel to the work tensioning surface, that is connected on its front side by means of lateral front support areas and on its rear side directly with the machine bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Seebach GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Lasch, Frank Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 6679660
    Abstract: A rotatable clamping device (10) which can clamp a corner fitting of a freight container to an underlying support includes: a main housing (11) which defines an upright cylindrical passage (12) in which an actuator shaft (13) is rotatably mounted; a clamping head (14) secured to an upper end of the actuator shaft (13) and rotatable with the shaft between a release position and a clamping position with respect to a corresponding corner fitting; an actuator (15) coupled with the shaft (13) and operative to rotate the clamping head (14) at least from the clamping position to the release position; and a detent arrangement (16) acting between the outer surface of the shaft (13) and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical passage and operative to define a detent position and permit location of the shaft in at least one predetermined angular setting relative to the passage which corresponds to at least one of the release and clamping positions of the head: in which the detent arrangement comprises at least one rec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Reynard
  • Patent number: 6679661
    Abstract: An improved fastener for boarding, particularly to a fastener adopted for use on fragile boards and panels such as gypsum boards mainly comprises a shank, a flange formed on one end of the shank, a drill bit formed on another end of the shank, a screw thread section formed on the peripheral surface of the shank and a center hole formed in the center of the shank for accommodating a screw nail. The shank has at least two debris troughs. Each debris trough is extended diagonally from a blade nib of the drill bit to a front section of the screw thread section. The debris troughs have a through hole formed on a rear section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Joker Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pan-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 6679662
    Abstract: An expansible plug has a plurality of expansible tongues which extend over an expansible region and are expandable radially away from one another under the action of an expanding member, the expansible region being radially oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Nehl
  • Patent number: 6679663
    Abstract: The locking nut and bolt system utilizes a bolt with thread having a plurality of notches generally longitudinally spaced in a predetermined pattern. Each notch has a lock face and an opposing slope. The locking unit carries one or more tines. The tine has a distal tine end adapted to latch onto the lock face of the notch on the bolt and, when the distal tine end is not disposed in one or more notches, the tine end moves on the bolt thread crest. When the distal tine end is in the notch or notches, the lock face of the notch prevents counter-rotational movement of the bolt with respect to the nut when the distal tine end abuts the lock face. The locking unit supports the tine and may be cylindrical, rectangular or on a perpendicular support face normal to a radial plane through the axial centerline of the nut thread. The locking unit may be on a nut insert or may be carried on the leg of a U, J or S-shaped clip. The locking unit may be recessed as a blind hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Permanent Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Robert J. DiStasio, Stephen G. Bowling, Carl Richard Stanley, David Ruyl Luster, Irwin I. Silberman, William Kurt Feick
  • Patent number: 6679664
    Abstract: A plate nut assembly is provided in which a protrusion provided on a nut has a centering guide function relative to a circular hole so that the protrusion reliably fits in the circular hole to prevent displacement of the nut assembly, even if an external force is applied in a direction perpendicular to an axis of a bolt threaded to the nut. Around an entrance of a threaded hole on one side of the nut, of such a dimension so as to be received within a circular hole formed beforehand in a wall or the like, at a position where the nut is inserted into the hole, the protrusion is formed so that height of the protrusion decreases in a direction away from the threaded hole. A recess having substantially the same outer shape as that of the protrusion is formed around the threaded hole on another side of the nut. The recess has opposed end walls that are inclined such that a distance between the opposed end walls decreases in a direction toward a bottom of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Wakai & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuichi Ikuta
  • Patent number: 6679665
    Abstract: An apparatus, used for holding a coupling pin at a desired position in a pin-coupled structure regardless of a relative movement of two or more pin-coupled parts in the structure, is disclosed. This pin holding apparatus has two pin holding blocks, with an elastic member interposed between the two pin holding blocks, and is inserted into a pin slot with the two holding blocks radially compressed by an external force to reduce the outer diameter of the apparatus. The apparatus elastically expands in the pin slot due to the restoring force of the compressed elastic member when the external force is removed from the apparatus, thus being set in an annular groove formed on the inner surface of the pin slot and holding the pin at its desired position in the pin slot. The pin holding apparatus is easily set in and removed from the pin slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Soosan Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6679666
    Abstract: A screw capable of simplifying an assembly work and shortening a release hole for causing the screw to abut thereagainst and of clamping a part being clamped with a high sealing property. The screw comprises a temporary holding member 12 provided on a screw shank 1 for temporarily holding the screw on a part being clamped, and the temporary holding member 12 is a molding of plastics formed on an intermediate, outer periphery of the screw shank 1 and comprises elastic blade pieces extending radially and provided on an outer periphery of a short cylinder portion having a female thread portion matching a male thread 8 of the screw shank 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Mizuno, Katsuhisa Kato, Muneyuki Onogi, Hiroyasu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6679667
    Abstract: A hot-melt fastener filler placeable within a void atop an in-place fastener countersunk within a surface such as an exposed aircraft surface. The filler includes an electrically-conductive mat fabricated of at least one ply having a plurality of non-woven electrically conductive fibers each having a core strand coated with a nickel layer, preferably coated with two additional layers of copper and nickel, and generally uniformly dispersed within a thermoplastic elastomer. Electrically conductive carbon black particulate can be distributed throughout the elastomer, and the mat preferably is fabricated of two plies oriented at 0° and 90° to each other. A pressure sensitive adhesive can be provided on one side of the sheet to thereby permit secured placement prior to completion of installation. The fastener filler allows not only regularly scheduled maintenance, but also permits quick and generally uncomplicated field-level repairs for assuring equipment availability at remote sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Brown, Susan LaColla Wade, John W. Tully, George V. Case
  • Patent number: 6679668
    Abstract: A fastener and an installation tool are disclosed. The fastener is double-ended and allows two opposed items to be joined. The fastener also produces a blind joint, so that the fastener itself is invisible after the joint has been formed. An accompanying installation tool assists in installing one end of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bell South Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Dannie E. Martin, Michael S. Lee
  • Patent number: 6679669
    Abstract: Various embodiments of improved fasteners for joining at least two pieces of wood are disclosed. The fastener includes a plate-like member or folded rectangular member defined between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge is configured to enter the wood pieces before the trailing edge. The fastener may also include at least two corrugations formed on the plate-like member, extending in a generally longitudinal direction. The fastener includes a locking portion, having one or more projections, an adhesive, or a non-corrugated section, disposed on the plate-like member or folded rectangular member near the trailing edge, for locking the fastener within the wood pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Masa
  • Patent number: 6679670
    Abstract: An enhanced pop rivet capable of joining materials that may not be joined using a conventional pop rivet is provided. The pop rivet has contains a detachable shank that exposes a sharpened brad when removed. A user may then impale a second material with the sharpened brad so that the second piece of material becomes securely attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Cingular Wireless, LLC
    Inventor: Dannie E. Martin
  • Patent number: 6679671
    Abstract: A magnetic drive system for moving a substrate transfer shuttle along a linear path between chambers in a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. A rack with rack magnets is secured to the shuttle, and a rotatable pinion with pinion magnets is positioned adjacent the rack so that the pinion magnets can magnetically engage the rack magnets. Thus, rotation of the pinion will cause the shuttle to move along the linear path. The magnets may be oriented with a helix angle between their primary axis and the axis of rotation of the pinion. One rack and one pinion are located on each side of the shuttle. A set of lower guide rollers supports the shuttle, and a set of upper guide rollers prevents the shuttle from lifting off the lower guide rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell T. Blonigan, John M. White
  • Patent number: 6679672
    Abstract: A transfer port facilitates transfer of a material between clean room modules, and/or between a clean room module and a clean box transporter that can travel through the contaminated ambient environment. A transfer port permits transfer of clean material between Class 1 clean rooms without degrading their cleanliness levels. The clean box transporter cars each comprise a small self-propelled clean room with laminar air flow and a HEPA filter. A door on the clean box mates against a similar door on one wall of the clean room module. A seal between a transporter car door and its opening, and a seal between a clean room door and its opening, a pair of seals disposed inside and outside a split line together define a limited contaminated volume. This volume is evacuated and/or flushed with clean gas to remove as much particulate matter as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventor: John F. Barrows
  • Patent number: 6679673
    Abstract: A trailer storage rack for transporting material and fluids with a livestock trailer. The trailer storage rack mounts to the livestock trailer to transfer the weight and forces of operation to the trailer. The storage rack may be spaced above the trailer to allow for the use of trailer roof vents. An open compartment, dry storage compartment and a fluid compartment are described. Loading and unloading means for the open and dry storage compartment include a rotatable lifting crane that may be compacted and stored in the storage compartment. Access for filling and the draining the fluid compartment is provided by connecting the fluid compartment to side conduits of a ladder such that the side conduits of the ladder act as pipes connected to the fluid compartment. A water hose connection valve is attached to the conduits for access at the ground level to provide easy access for filling and draining the fluid storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Trailer Tack, LLC
    Inventors: Jayson D. Stahler, Kenny W. Kingins
  • Patent number: 6679674
    Abstract: An offset connection for a skid steer loader or other work vehicle having right and left boom assemblies, an implement connected to boom assemblies, and a body. An offset connection assembly is provided that includes (i) a seat member attached to one of the triangular plate member and the lower link member, the seat member having a first passage formed therethrough, and a seat formed therein, (ii) a hollow offset pin journaled within a hole in the other of the triangular plate and the link member, the offset pin having (a) a surface offset from a center of the pin constructed to engage the seat of the seat member at a selectable orientation, and (b) a second passage formed therethrough, and (iii) a fastener passing through the first and second passages and securely fastening the hollow offset pin and the seat member in the selectable orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Branham
  • Patent number: 6679675
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafers one at a time. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber 1 into which wafers are loaded through a pair of loadlocks 3, 4 which are spaced one above the other. A robot within the vacuum chamber 1 has a pair of gripper arms 22, 29 which are moveable along and rotatable about a vertical axis 23 so as to be moveable between the loadlocks 3, 4 and a wafer processing position. Each of the loadlocks 3, 4 has a vertically moveable portion 8, 26 which is moveable away from the remainder of the loadlock to provide access in a horizontal plane for one of the gripper arms 22, 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. C. Mitchell, Keith D. Relleen, John Ruffell
  • Patent number: 6679676
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vacuum generating device wherein the vacuum pump body (1) comprises cavities forming regulating chambers (12), closed at their ends by closure means such as sealing plugs (26, 27), and run through by an exchange pipe (14) wherein flows a liquid coolant coming from a heat source. The regulating chamber (12) is connected by a pipe wherein thermal conduction liquid (16) flows to a reserve of thermal conduction liquid (17) which through a piston (18) stressed by an actuator (19), adjusts the upper level (22) of a thermal conduction liquid (15) in the regulating chamber (12), thereby modifying the thermal conductance between the pump body (1) and the liquid coolant flowing in the exchange pipe (14). Thus the risk of scale deposit is reduced in the exchange pipe (14) of a vacuum pump (1), while controlling the temperature of the pump body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: François Houze
  • Patent number: 6679677
    Abstract: A vacuum pump has a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a flange integral with the casing and having a peripheral inner surface defining the inlet port and an end surface for connection to a container to be evacuated, and exhaust means for drawing in a gas through the inlet port and discharging the gas through the outlet port. A coating of material having low heat conductivity is disposed on the end surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6679678
    Abstract: One or more stator seal assemblies are mounted in the housing of a rotating machine such as, for example, an air turbine starter for a gas turbine engine, and surround a rotating shaft. The seal assemblies each include a seal case and a seal. The seal has a face that engages an axial face of a face seal rotor to form a seal. One or more anti-rotation tabs in the seal case engage anti-rotation notches formed in the peripheral surface of the seal. The anti-rotation notches each include substantially arcuate sections formed in notch end surfaces. The arcuate sections increase the amount of wear in the notches that can be tolerated before a potential seal lock-up, thus increasing seal assembly lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Giesler, Kellan Geck
  • Patent number: 6679679
    Abstract: The stator shroud is made up of components (2) juxtaposed so as to form circumferences, which are successive and assembled separately to a common housing which surrounds them. Characteristically, the assembly is made with only one single fixing point (7) per component (2), while being completed by a support point (21) sliding along the circumference. The result is a more flexible component assembly and a more even distortion, which allows better control of the clearances between the shroud and the rotor blades it surrounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: SNECMA Moteurs
    Inventors: Pierre Emmanuel Etienne Debeneix, Philippe Roger Fernand Guerout, Olivier Louis Fernand Huppe, Gilles Gérard Claude Lepretre, Olivier Jean-Jacques Louaisil, Thierry Jean-Maurice Niclot
  • Patent number: 6679680
    Abstract: A built-up gas turbine component is prepared by providing a gas turbine component having a component surface and being made of a component base metal having a component base metal composition. A buildup tape is supplied having a net metallic buildup composition different from the component base metal composition. The buildup tape includes a first metallic constituent having a first melting point, and a second metallic constituent having a second melting point. The first metallic constituent and second metallic constituent together have the net metallic buildup composition. A nonmetallic binder binds together the first metallic constituent and the second metallic constituent. The buildup tape is applied to the component surface and heated to a brazing temperature greater than the first melting point and less than the second melting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jae Y. Um, Craig Carmichael, David E. Budinger, Joshua L. Miller, Ronald L. Galley, Douglas M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6679681
    Abstract: Steam turbine buckets have radially projecting tenons received in openings of covers. The covers are provided with a profiled surface, with recesses or radially outwardly projecting teeth, or both, to form a gap between the cover and a stationary component having increased pressure drop with resulting decreased leakage flow and reduced potential for solid particle erosion. In the profiled cover surface, the outer surface of the tenon and outer surface of the cover are machined to form the recesses or teeth, affording a flush cover/tenon design with improved sealing efficiencies and reduced solid particle erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Edward Burnett, Daniel Randolph Trembley, Maurice David Fournier
  • Patent number: 6679682
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a turbofan in an air conditioner, which facilitates unitary formation of a turbofan, and easy formation of a turbofan mold, and has a longer lifetime of the mold. Another object of the present invention is to provide a turbofan in an air conditioner, which can minimize noise produced during operation of the turbofan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Nee Young Lee
  • Patent number: 6679683
    Abstract: The present invention provides the art with a scroll machine which has a plurality of built-in volume ratios along with their respective design pressure ratios. The incorporation of more than one built-in volume ratio allows a single compressor to be optimized for more than one operating condition. The operating envelope for the compressor will determine which of the various built-in volume ratios is going to be selected. Each volume ratio includes a discharge passage extending between one of the pockets of the scroll machine and the discharge chamber. All but the highest volume ration utilize a valve controlling the flow through the discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Seibel, Michael M. Perevozchikov, Norman Beck
  • Patent number: 6679684
    Abstract: A pump device comprising a support member having a fitting recess, a movable member which is reciprocated in said fitting recess to suck a working fluid, pressurize the fluid and deliver the pressurized fluid, and a movement restricting device operable to deform a wall at least partially defining the fitting recess of the support member, such that the wall is deformed toward the movable member, for restricting a reciprocating movement of the movable member in the fitting recess, at least when an amount of the pressurized fluid required to be delivered by the pump device is smaller than a nominal delivery amount of the pump device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kominami
  • Patent number: 6679685
    Abstract: A method of discharging a fluid, includes feeding a fluid into a gap defined between two surfaces in a closed space, and relatively oscillating the two surfaces to apply relative oscillation with high frequency to the gap so as to occur a squeeze pressure to the gap, and thus intermittently discharging the fed fluid through a discharge port provided in either one of the two surfaces by using the squeeze pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Maruyama, Takashi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 6679686
    Abstract: In a motor-driven air pump, a bottom wall and a surrounding barrier wall cooperatively confine a receiving space in which an impeller is mounted. The barrier wall is provided with angularly displaced first and second internal ports that communicate fluidly with first and second chambers, respectively. A first external port is disposed upstream of and communicates with one of the first and second chambers. A second external port is disposed downstream of and communicates with the other one of the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Cheng-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 6679687
    Abstract: A pump formed from an asymmetric tube, which is pinched to form asymmetric forces, that pump fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Morteza Gharib
  • Patent number: 6679688
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor has a member forming a compression chamber with a discharge port and a discharge reed valve. The reed valve has a valve cover portion at one end for opening and closing the discharge port and a portion at another end that is fixed to the member. A valve restricting plate is fixed to the member forming the compression chamber together with the fixed portion of the discharge valve so as to overlie the reed valve and to restrict the opening amount of the reed valve cover portion. The valve restricting plate has a head portion wider than a middle portion thereof which head portion opposes the valve cover portion of the discharge valve against which it can come into contact A through hole or notch is provided in the restricting plate head portion to provide back pressure flow communication that acts on the cover portion of the reed valve to prevent it from sticking to the valve restricting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Kenzo Matsumoto, Yoshiaki Hiruma