Patents Issued in February 17, 2004
  • Patent number: 6691359
    Abstract: A washing machine and a method of controlling the same by braking a spin-drying tub after interrupting the power of a motor for the spin-drying tub is disclosed. The washing machine comprises a mode selection unit for selecting a spin-drying mode, and a spin-drying timer for selecting a spin-drying time. The spin-drying timer includes a spin-drying switch and a motor control switch each having a different operation time. When the spin-drying mode is selected by the mode selection unit, the spin-drying switch of the spin-drying timer is connected to the solenoid of a drain motor and the motor control switch is connected to a motor driving circuit via a starting switch of the drain motor. As the motor control switch is turned off (the spin-drying switch is turned on) at a time earlier than a selected spin-drying time to interrupt power for the motor, the rotation speed of the spin-drying tub is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choong-Ill Park, Yang-Jo Jung
  • Patent number: 6691360
    Abstract: A method for making footwear including forming an upper assembly; providing an outsole including a recessed region and a groove region formed around a periphery of the outsole; and attaching the upper assembly to the outsole. The upper assembly is formed by a fitted upper having a vamp to a socklining, the fitted upper then attached to a gasket. The present method provides the gasket which can readily receive a Opanka stitch series for joining the upper assembly and the outsole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Anup Mukherjee, Thomas E. McClaskie
  • Patent number: 6691361
    Abstract: When a loading bridge is connected to a small aircraft to allow passengers to board or deplane, a large size difference exists between the aperture of a loading bridge and the entry/exit hatch of a small aircraft; the loading bridge aperture being larger than the aircraft hatch. Accordingly, the size difference creates a potentially dangerous gap. The extensible platform on an extensible passenger loading bridge is for alleviating the gap and as such for providing a safe pathway to passengers when they board or deplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: DEW Engineering and Development Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Rolfe, John Savage
  • Patent number: 6691362
    Abstract: A device is operably attached to a swimming pool cleaner for dislodging and permitting a steering of the swimming pool cleaner away from obstacles within a swimming pool. The device includes a coupling slidably attached to the swimming pool cleaner near its hose coupling. An upper, generally horizontally positioned, resilient elongate bumper has its opposing ends affixed to the coupling to form the upper bumper into an arcuate shape extending partially around a forward portion of the swimming pool cleaner. A second resilient, elongate vertical bumper has one end attached to the upper bumper and an opposing end attached a weight assembly of the pool cleaner at a location proximate the sealing flange. A roller is attached to the vertical bumper near the upper bumper for rotation thereabout when the swimming pool cleaner encounters an obstacle such as a step from which it is to be dislodged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Sebor Family Trust, Phillipson Family Trust
    Inventors: Brian H. Phillipson, Paul Sebor
  • Patent number: 6691363
    Abstract: A power-driven toothbrush comprising a brush head 1 mounted on a brush handle 2 for vibratory movement relative thereto, a vibration transmitting arm 33 extending between said handle 2 and said head 1 and a vibration actuator 3 located within the handle 2, said vibration transmitting arm 33 including a magnet 34 located within said handle 2 and the actuator 2 including a solenoid 32 adjacent said magnet 34 and means for supplying AC current to the solenoid 32 a frequency which is the same as the resonant frequency of the vibration transmitting arm 33. The means for supplying AC current to said solenoid includes a printed circuit board 31. The frequency of the AC current delivered to the solenoid and the natural frequency of the vibration transmitting arm are in the range of 100-300 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Oasis Global Limited
    Inventor: Raico Huen
  • Patent number: 6691364
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted broom that has a modular construction, improved sweeping action and versatile mounting capabilities. The broom has brush strips and integral channels formed in a bottom side of the housings that reduce greatly or eliminate rocking of the brush strips with respect to the housing to which they are removably mounted. The main housing is extruded from aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Trynex, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Truan, James Truan, Joshua Scott, Paul Mandrik
  • Patent number: 6691365
    Abstract: A mirror housing contains an electrical motor. A drive arm is mounted to the output shaft of a speed reducer mounted on the motor. A linkage arm rotatably couples the drive arm to a rocker disk which is rotatably mounted within the housing. Three hundred sixty degree rotation of the drive arm by operation of the electric motor imparts a back-and-forth arcuate rocking motion to the rocker disk which in turn imparts a linear back-and-forth motion to a wiper mounted over the mirror glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Eric C. Graf
  • Patent number: 6691366
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper system having a wiper motor, which via a motor crank, seated on a motor shaft, and two connecting rods drives a drive shaft of two windshields wipers, wherein a first connecting rod is pivotably connected directly to the motor crank while a second connecting rod is connected to the first connecting rod, in spaced-apart fashion from the crank joint, via a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6691367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper apparatus in which a pair of pivot axes are provided, one pivot axis at the central portion and the other pivot axis one side portion in the left and right direction of the window surface. In the invention, wherein the rod rush angle formed by a link arm, which rotates the pivot axes clockwise and counterclockwise, and a link rod can be made as small as possible. The second pivot axis at one side portion is disposed so that the plane, including the swinging locus, of the second link arm, that is coupled to the corresponding second pivot axis, and the axial line of the second link rod, in the lengthwise direction, are made roughly parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6691368
    Abstract: A mounting plate is provided, having a receptacle for a wiper drive and having bearing points for wiper bearings as well as fastening points for installation in a vehicle, wherein the mounting plate comprises at least two components, including one half-shell-like bent sheet-metal part connected by injection molding to a plastic body that braces the bent sheet-metal part on the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6691369
    Abstract: A wet/dry chamber assembly for a hand held vacuum cleaner is provided. The chamber assembly includes a body member which is attached to the vacuum cleaner. Liquid, other fluids and other materials that are accumulated within the wet/dry vacuum chamber assembly are prevented from escaping from within the chamber by at least one occluding object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6691370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unique door hinge which does not employ pin receiving knuckles which are normally us in more conventional hinges. The unique hinge, provides two hinge leafs, the first of which has a flat web which terminates at an open end loop which is coextensive with the web and defines a space for matingly receiving a head portion which is at the termination of the web of the second leaf. The head portion is rotatable within the loop portion and is segmented by longitudinally spaced spaces for receiving plastic bearings which facilitate rotation of the hinge and support the movable hinge leaf relative to the fixed hinge leaf of a normally mounted door hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Markar Aritectural Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley R. Tatara
  • Patent number: 6691371
    Abstract: A hinge for furniture comprises a fastening base (11) carrying the hinge articulation (14). The fastening base has a slot (18) passed through by a screw (12) for fastening to the piece of furniture. The slot (18) is open towards the base edge through a channel (19) of a width smaller than the slot width. The fastening screw under the head is provided with a collar (21) which is housed in the slot (18) and the diameter of which is greater than the width of at least one channel portion (19). Thus passage of the screw through the channel is inhibited if the screw is not untightened a sufficient amount to bring the collar out of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Agostino Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 6691372
    Abstract: An extendable tool handle with a hollow gripping handle (1) comprised of 2024 T3 aluminum with a knurled segment (2), through which an extendable slide shaft (3) comprised of 6AL 4V titanium with a longitudinal slide groove (4) may travel. The slide shaft (3) can be locked in either the extended or collapsed position by means of a lock comprising a spring plate (5), and spring cap (6) of 2024 T3 aluminum, and a 19/64 button head screw (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew Ruhland
  • Patent number: 6691373
    Abstract: A carding machine includes a carding cylinder and a plurality of traveling flat bars. Each flat bar has a flat bar clothing carried on an underside of the flat bar for cooperating with the cylinder clothing. The flat bar clothing of the flat bars is oriented at an adjustable angle to the cylinder clothing. Each flat bar has first and second flat bar parts at a longitudinal flat bar end. A first arcuate slide guide is supported adjacent a radial face of the carding cylinder, and the first flat bar part of the flat bars rides on the first slide guide. A second arcuate slide guide is supported adjacent the radial face of the carding cylinder, and the second flat bar part of the flat bars rides on the second slide guide. The second slide guide is wedge-shaped and is shiftable in a circumferential direction of the carding cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Armin Leder
  • Patent number: 6691374
    Abstract: An eyeglasses holder that includes a frame and a displaceable holding member. The frame may be integrally formed from a single piece of flexible, resilient material such as plastic or metal. The frame includes a base section and a holding section. These sections are connected to one another at a first pair of their ends while a second end of one of the sections is separated the section to form an entrance. The sections define between them a receiving space that is opened at opposite sides. In one embodiment, the entrance is normally sufficiently closed to bar the crossed temple bars or arms of a pair of eyeglasses. The resiliency of the frame allows the entrance to be enlarged sufficiently to allow the arms to pass through the entrance and into the receiving space, and to later pass outwardly through the entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Coyne
  • Patent number: 6691375
    Abstract: The closure device (121) includes interlocking fastening strips (130, 131) and a slider (132) slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips when moved towards first and second ends thereof. A flexible slider (132) is provided for facilitating the attachment of the slider onto the fastening strips (130, 131) in the vertical Z axis (106). The slider (132) includes legs (240, 242) which provide resistance against the removal of the slider from the fastening strips (130, 131) in the vertical Z axis (106) thereafter. The closure device also provides resistance against the removal of the slider (132) from the fastening strips (130, 131) in the horizontal X axis (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: 6691376
    Abstract: A firmly secured paper clip comprises a foldable paper clip and a retainer. The paper clip is capable of being folded as three paper plates. The first paper plate is the longest one, and the third paper plate is the shortest one. The first paper plate is connected to the second paper plate and the second paper plate is connected to the third paper plate. In assembly, the second paper plate is folded and then is adhered on the first paper plate. Then the third paper plate is folded from the second paper plate and is located between the first paper plate and second paper plate. The retainer serves to fix the first paper plate and second paper plate to form the whole paper clip. Thereby, when a notepaper is inserted into a clamping opening between the first paper plate and third paper plate, it is firmly secured therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Hung-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 6691377
    Abstract: A new buckle structure on the two sides of a diving mask, these buckles are used to connect to the strap; the structure includes a frame on each side of the mask frame, a setting hole on the frame, a holder fixed and a fixed cover of the setting hole, a button on fixed cover, the strap goes between holder and a roller, the stopper on the button allows the users to adjust the strap; the structures allows the users to lose the strap by pressing down the button, also the strap can rotate within a small angle due to the holder structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: QDS Injection Molding LLC
    Inventor: Chen-Lieh Pan
  • Patent number: 6691378
    Abstract: A buckle includes a body having a pressing portion, a clamping portion, and a bendable connecting portion between the pressing portion and the clamping portion. The pressing portion includes two sidewalls and a post fixed between the sidewalls. The clamping portion includes a clamping hole. The connecting portion is mounted around a mounting peg of a main body of a pair of swimming/diving goggles. An end of a head strap of the pair of swimming/diving goggles extends into the body, winds around the post, and extends out of the body. The end of the head strap is pullable to obtain a desired tightness, exerting a force to the post to press against retaining edges on two lateral sides delimiting the clamping hole, thereby reliably positioning the head strap in place. The pressing portion is manually movable to disengage the post from the retaining edges, allowing loosening of the head strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Terry Chou
  • Patent number: 6691379
    Abstract: A hose clamp band member and a hose clamp comprising same, of the type having opposing looped ends connected to one another by a connection means such as a T-bolt, wherein the band is provided with two radially inward projecting ribs along at least a portion of its length, but that region of an outer portion of at least one of the loops that includes the connection point between the loop's outer- and inner portion is characterized by a substantially flat cross-sectional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Epicor Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin Schaub
  • Patent number: 6691380
    Abstract: This invention discloses fasteners characterized by the use of barbs to secure a primary object in place. More particularly, the barbs which are used are critically shaped barbs resulting in considerable increase of the holding force without sacrificing the flexibility of the barbs, the force needed to insert part of the primary object into the fastener, and without sacrificing the broad acceptability of various thicknesses of the primary object to be fastened. The distance between the front point of a barb and the respective opposite side structure may preferably be smaller than the thickness of said material, such as sheet metal for example, that the fastener is made from. The fasteners of this invention may also be provided with spring members of intricate and critical structure, which despite easy insertion of the fastener into a slot of a secondary object, the removal force is greatly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Eustathios Vassiliou Revocable Trust
    Inventor: Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Patent number: 6691381
    Abstract: A a clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a mounting portion at an intermediate positon along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine includes a recess. The clip comprises a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, and a second portion adapted to be slidably received in the recess along a generally transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis. The first portion partially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is adapted to engage the mounting portion so as to prevent relative displacement along the longitudinal axis. The second portion is adapted to be releasably retained with respect to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Scollard, Stephen C. Bugos
  • Patent number: 6691382
    Abstract: A retainer injection-molded from tough plastics for securing two wire meshed/grilled members together, for enabling the two secured members to be turned relative to each other between the operative position and the collapsed position. The retainer has two transverse through holes arranged in parallel, and two peripheral gaps through which the respective wire rods of the first and second wire meshed/grilled members are respectively set into the transverse through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Lien-Cheng Su
  • Patent number: 6691383
    Abstract: A zipper (10) having interlocking profiles (16, 20) wherein the male profile (16) has at least two male ribs (26, 30) bordering a male rib (28). The male profile (16) is engagable with a female profile (20), wherein the female profile (20) includes grooves (38, 48). The grooves (38, 48), attached to each other by a bridge (54), engage the male ribs (26, 32). With the profiles (16, 20) engaged, the male rib (28) pushes against the bridge (54) and thereby pushes the bridge against the packaging film during attachment such that the profiles (16, 20) are stabilized during sealing to the packaging film. As part of a pre-made zipper (10), the male rib (28) can be attached to the bridge (54) to form a barrier seal within the zipper (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Basil Linton
  • Patent number: 6691384
    Abstract: A buckle for safety belts is provided, especially for the waist belt of a life preserver. The buckle has a tongue plate, the pins of which are insertable into a slot-shaped recess of a main body in which are displaceably disposed two securing elements, which cooperate with the pins for locking the buckle, and which are resiliently biased into the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Bernhardt Apparatebau GmbH U. Co.
    Inventor: Stefan Glasa
  • Patent number: 6691385
    Abstract: A casket corner piece display pedestal and associated methods for memorializing a deceased individual. The casket corner piece display pedestal has a center piece having first and second ends with a casket corner piece receiving surface disposed therebetween. The center piece includes either a memorabilia receiving container, a cremation urn, or both disposed within the first end of the center piece. A base member is attached to the second end of the center piece for supporting the casket corner piece display pedestal. The base member includes an extended portion protruding transversely to the casket corner piece receiving surface on the center piece. A cover member is removably disposed on the first end of the center piece to cover the memorabilia receiving container and/or cremation urn. The cover member includes an extended portion protruding transversely to the casket corner piece receiving surface on the center piece such that the casket corner piece display pedestal has an approximate C-shaped profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Bell, David Todd Bowers, Anthony Casablanca, William Anthony Colson, Michael L. DiBease
  • Patent number: 6691386
    Abstract: A single step method and apparatus for the production of expanded metal mesh from deformable metal strip such as lead or lead-alloy strip for use in lead-acid battery manufacture. The apparatus comprises a pair of opposed rolls each having a plurality of spaced discs having opposite side walls and circumferential, equally spaced, convexly shaped tool surfaces alternating with substantially flat surfaces, said discs having radial notches formed in the opposite sidewalls of alternate circumferential flat surfaces, whereby peripheral surfaces of opposing rolls are adapted to interact on deformable strip passing therebetween to concurrently slit and form convex wire segments and alternate nodes in said strip by intermeshing of said shaped tool surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.
    Inventor: John V. Marlow
  • Patent number: 6691387
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array is provided in which the transducer array is formed by a plurality of transducer elements sequentially arranged in the azimuth direction and each transducer element has a non-uniform thickness and each transducer is divided into a left and a right half which can be independently excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Acuson Coporation
    Inventor: Amin M. Hanafy
  • Patent number: 6691388
    Abstract: A portable tool for fitting a channel-shaped sealing, trimming or guiding strip onto a mounting flange comprises a gear box having an input shaft rotated by suitable motor and which drives two rollers in contra-rotating directions about respective axes. When the motor is energized to contra-rotate the rollers, the tool is driven along the strip and the rollers force the sides of the channel of the strip into tight frictional contact with the flange. The axis of one of the rollers is fixed in relation to the tool body. The other roller is mounted on a sub-frame so that its axis can pivot about a pivot axis which intersects with the rotation axis of that roller. The tool also includes a third roller for engaging the outside of the inverted base of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: GenCorp Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Jürgen Kuppers, Klaus Krawczyk, Ewald Strehl, Markus Reuvers
  • Patent number: 6691389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for closing for example the ends of a sausage that have been gathered to a tress, especially by means of a metal closing clip. The inventive closing device comprises a matrix (3) and a tap device (4) that can be displaced from a rest position in which they are located outside the space occupied by the sausage (30), towards each other into an operative position at the tress (32). A magazine (23) is provided in the path of displacement of the tappet (13) and can be filled with closing clips that are continuously fed. Said stationary magazine (23) interferes with the advance path of the tappet (13) close to the delivery opening of the tappet device (4) only when said tappet device (4) is in the rest position, thereby requiring only a short travel of the pneumatic cylinder. The clip magazine does not have to travel to the operative position of the tappet device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 6691390
    Abstract: A portable tub/shower valve assembly workstation used to assemble tub/shower valve assemblies having a frame, a template, the template arranged and constructed to support at least one tub/shower valve, the template being pivotally carried on the frame for 360° rotation about a horizontal axis, whereby when the template is at a first angular position, the at least one tub/shower valve can be mounted and temporarily secured on the template, and when the template is rotated about the horizontal axis from a first angular position to a second angular position, the at least one tub/shower valve is retained on the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Plumbing 2000, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome M. Arvin
  • Patent number: 6691391
    Abstract: A concentric alignment assembly device for assembly of a first component and a second component. The concentric alignment assembly device includes a first base and a second base for receiving the first component and the second component. The first base has a pedestal and an adjusting portion, in which the adjusting portion is movably and rotatably coupled to the pedestal, and has a first platform for receiving the first component. The second base is provided on a side of the first base, and is movable within a fixed range and direction in relation to the first platform. When the second base moves toward the first base, the adjusting portion adjusts radial displacement and axial deviation of the first component in order to assemble the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Tung-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 6691392
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for the assembly of body components to an automotive body that has undergone a progressive series of framing and welding steps so as to produce a structurally rigid body frame, termed a body-in-white. More specifically, this invention relates to creating a new net locating scheme (X-Y-Z coordinate system) for a body-in-white to direct associated tooling to create net attachment features on said rigid body frame so that components may be attached to said automotive body at a net location eliminating the need for any slip plane attachment techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Utica Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Savoy, John A. Kline
  • Patent number: 6691393
    Abstract: Carbon fiber brake preforms (20), specifically, annular discs built up of fabric arc segments (21) composed of continuous fibers (25) and staple fibers (26). Most of the continuous fibers (25) in the fabric segments (21) are arranged to be located within 60° of radially from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the annular disc (20). The fabric arc segments have substantially all of their continuous fibers oriented in the radial direction and parallel to the segment arc bisector, or the segments are arranged in alternating layers in which, respectively, half the continuous fibers are oriented at a +45 degree angle with respect to the segment arc bisector and half the continuous fibers are oriented at a −45 degree angle with respect thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. James, Terence B. Walker, Neil Murdie
  • Patent number: 6691394
    Abstract: A dispensing package for fluent products includes a container of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a hollow flexible body, and a rigid integral finish defined by a deck that spans one end of the body, a package dispensing opening in the deck and a wall upstanding from a perimeter of the deck surrounding the deck and the opening. An actuator disk is mounted within the peripheral wall overlying the deck and the dispensing opening, and is pivotal between a closed position closing the opening and an open position for dispensing product from the opening through the actuator disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Craig E. McClean
  • Patent number: 6691395
    Abstract: A presetting table for preparing a system of converting tools in a stripping station of a converting press positions the following face to face, in a position simulating cantering along the machine axis and positioning at the first rule: the stripper-holder plate of an upper stripping die, a central stripping board and a replica of a pull-out frame carrying telescopic pins. The upper stripping die is prepared by using the central stripping board as a template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Bobst SA
    Inventors: Mauro Chiari, Sylvain Rebet
  • Patent number: 6691396
    Abstract: A method of assembling a wet/dry vacuum and a wet/dry vacuum assembly in which each of the component parts of the assembly are placed in a fixture and attached to a unit without requiring reorienting the assembly. More specifically, the method includes attaching the various components of the wet/dry vacuum to a lid component, without requiring reorienting the assembly, simplifying the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Michael F. Martin, Christopher J. Steger
  • Patent number: 6691397
    Abstract: A method of forming clad piping or tubing includes the steps of providing a support billet, finished to a desired, predetermined dimension, having a cladding surface, and providing a CRA cladding material billet, similarly finished to a desired, predetermined dimension. The dimension of the CRA cladding material billet is predetermined such that the CRA cladding material fits onto a cladding surface of the support billet establishing an interface gap. Sealing the interface gap, evacuating the interface gap to form an assembly and Hot Iso-statically Pressing the assembly to metallurgically bond the CRA cladding material billet to the support billet to form a composite billet. The composite billet is extruded at high temperature to form the clad piping or tubing. The clad piping or tubing formed in also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Chakravarti Management, LLC
    Inventor: Bhaven Chakravarti
  • Patent number: 6691398
    Abstract: A device for electrically interconnecting and packaging electronic components and method for manufacturing the device. A non-conducting base member having a component recess and a plurality of specially shaped lead channels formed therein is provided. At least one electronic component is disposed within the recess, and the wire leads of the component are routed through the lead channels. A plurality of lead terminals, adapted to cooperate with the specially shaped lead channels, are received within the lead channels, thereby forming an electrical connection between the lead terminals and the wire leads of the electronic component(s). The special shaping of the lead channels and lead terminals restricts the movement of the lead terminals within the lead channels in multiple directions during package fabrication, thereby allowing for the manufacture of larger, more reliable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Pulse Engineering
    Inventor: Aurelio J. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 6691399
    Abstract: A method of mounting a coil inside a rotatable member for heating an image, includes a winding step of winding wire into a coil in a plane to provide a planer coil; and a mounting step of bending the planer coil and mounting it to a supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hayashi, Tomoichirou Ohta, Takashi Fujita, Ryuichirou Maeyama
  • Patent number: 6691400
    Abstract: A compact and high-speed automatic electronic parts mounting apparatus is provided which includes first and second parts feeders, first and second mounting heads, a printed board-holding table, and a controller. Each of the first and second parts feeders includes a plurality of cassettes storing therein electronic parts and having pick-up stations. The second parts feeder is arranged at a preselected interval away from the first parts feeder in a first direction. Each of the first and second mounting heads is movable in the first direction and includes a plurality of pick-up nozzles movable in a vertical direction for picking up the electronic parts from the pick-up stations of the cassettes. The printed board-holding table is disposed within the preselected interval between the first and second parts feeders so as to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Negishi, Takeshi Nishiguchi, Mikio Yasuda, Takashi Munezane, Manabu Morioka, Takayoshi Kado, Takaharu Fuji, Noboru Furuta
  • Patent number: 6691401
    Abstract: A device for mounting components using mounting heads having a plurality of suction nozzles that provide a plurality of component pickups, positions or mounting operating positions. The mounting heads are positioned on a rotating table that is cooperatively positioned adjacent a component supply table having a plurality of component feeder members. The control unit can rotate the rotating table to position a mounting head at a component supply position and further position one of the plurality of suction nozzles to a first, second and third section operating position for picking up a component from a component feeder. The relative movement of the component supply table and the positioning of first and second suction operating positions relative to our reference point where the edge of the rotating table contacts the line of movement of the component supply table can increase the pickup speed of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Hata, Shiro Oji, Shigetoshi Negishi, Makito Seno
  • Patent number: 6691402
    Abstract: A mold structure of an extrusion tool for extruding and sealing a connector is disclosed. The mold structure is capable of being inserted into a mold supporting seat for receiving a coaxial cable; the mold structure clamping the coaxial cable. The mold structure has the following components. A seat is installed with a hole for receiving a coaxial cable. A chuck passes through the seat so that the chuck can move toward or leave away from the coaxial cable along an axial direction. A movable element is installed at one side of the seat for control an extent of movement of the chuck moving toward the coaxial cable along an axial direction. Thereby, the chuck moves toward or leaves from the axial direction; and the coaxial cable is clamped and fixed by a sufficient force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Chi-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 6691403
    Abstract: The present invention is a hand-held stripping tool. The tool is adapted for cutting an outer sheath of a first electrical cable. Inside the sheath is parallel spaced apart insulation covered wires and a core member containing an uncovered ground wire between the insulation covered wires. The sheath has spaced apart curved sides conforming to the covered wires. The tool has spaced apart first and second jaw members adapted to be pressed together. The jaw members have cutting edges that receive a portion of the first cable along its length. The cutting edges define an opening configured to cut the sheath and the core without significantly cutting the insulation on the wires or the unsheathed ground wire when the jaw members are pressed together to form the opening. The portion of the sheath is then removed in one continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Stride Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard R. Murg
  • Patent number: 6691404
    Abstract: A flat-panel display is fabricated according to a process in which a liquid-containing film (92, 116, 124, 132, 144, or 166) is formed over a substrate (80). In addition to suitable liquid, the liquid-containing film contains oxide or/and hydroxide. Liquid is removed from the liquid-containing film to convert it into a solid porous film (82 or 150) having (a) a porosity of at least 10% along an exposed face of the film, (b) an average resistivity of 108-1014 ohm-cm at 25° C., and (c) an average thickness of no more than 20 &mgr;m. A spacer (24) formed with at least a segment of the substrate and overlying solid porous film is positioned between opposing first and second plate structures (20 and 22) of the display. The second plate structure (22) emits light upon receiving electrons emitted by the first plate structure (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Candescent Intellectual Property Services, Inc., Candescent Technologies Corporation, NanoPore Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Michael J. Nystrom, Bob L. Mackey, Lawrence S. Pan, Shiyou Pei, Stephen Wallace, Douglas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6691405
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to simplify the construction of an assembling apparatus and shorten a tact time thereof for inserting a plurality of fuse into a box. In a fuse box assembling apparatus 1, fuses are fed one by one through outlets 2a of parts feeding units 2 provided for the respective kinds of fuses, and are inserted into a movable magazine 30. The movable magazine 30 is displaced to the respective outlets 2a by a displacing unit 5, thereby collecting necessary fuses in a specified order. The fuses are transferred from the movable magazine 30 to a fixed magazine 40 at once by a transferring mechanism 6 of the mounting unit 4, and are inserted one by one into a box by an inserting mechanism 7. Simultaneously with a fuse inserting operation, fuses to be inserted next are collected in the movable magazine 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kagei
  • Patent number: 6691406
    Abstract: Methods for attaching an integrated circuit die to a substrate. Specifically, substrates which are used for BOC/COB or F/C surface mounting comprise protrusions on the surface of the substrate. The protrusions are configured to form barriers to hold an adhesive paste within the barriers. An integrated circuit die is disposed on the top of the barriers and coupled to the substrate by the adhesive paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey L. Prindivill, Tongbi Jiang
  • Patent number: 6691407
    Abstract: A method to retain an assembled component on one side of a double-sided printed circuit board. In one embodiment, an adhesive body, in a solid state, is coupled with a component by disposing a coupling member extending from said component within a channel formed in said adhesive body such that the coupling member is engaged with at least one engaging member, said at least one engaging member each extending into said channel from an internal surface defining said channel. The component is then assembled onto a printed circuit board and adhered onto the printed circuit board via the adhesive body when the adhesive body is in semi-liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tom E. Pearson, Christopher D. Combs, Arjang Fartash, Raiyomand Aspandiar
  • Patent number: 6691408
    Abstract: A method for forming electrical interconnects for printed circuit boards and the like includes the steps of laminating a first surface of a rigid dielectric substrate with a first conductive laminate such that the first conductive laminate extends beyond at least one edge of the dielectric substrate, patterning the first conductive laminate to define a plurality of electrical interconnects which extend beyond the edge(s) of the dielectric substrate, forming a plurality of conductive traces on a second surface of the dielectric substrate and forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric substrate, each opening extending from a first location on the first surface of the dielectric which is proximate at least one electrical interconnect to a second location on the second surface of the substrate which is proximate at least one conductive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mack Technologies Florida, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Biron