Patents Issued in March 2, 2004
  • Patent number: 6698669
    Abstract: A pivot flow joint for high-pressure fluid-flow devices of the type including a rotating flow member connected to a non-rotating flow member. The pivot flow joint includes first and second axially-aligned seal bushings secured to the non-rotating and rotating flow members, respectively, the first and second seal bushings having opposed adjoining contact surfaces. The seal bushings are biased toward one another for sealing engagement at such contact surfaces. Certain preferred embodiments involve spring-biasing the seal bushings toward one another and/or use of the high-pressure fluid to exert axial pressure for that purpose. The two seal bushings, which are preferably ceramic and of identical size and shape, carry out the sealing function of the pivot flow joint in the transition between the non-rotating and the rotating members of such joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mosmatic Corporation
    Inventor: Karl Rieben
  • Patent number: 6698670
    Abstract: A cover-connector for covering and connecting a fluid supply container to a conduit is provided, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of said container and said conduit has a threaded connecting surface. The novel cover-connector comprises a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connecting therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Gosis, Mark D. Bauer, Michael Velan, Mark E. Charpie
  • Patent number: 6698671
    Abstract: A pistol-type nozzle includes a handle, a barrel, a flow control valve rod with an adjustment nut fastened thereon, a trigger lever provided with a trigger portion and pivoted with the handle, and a movable shield pivoted with the trigger lever to provide the flow control valve rod, the adjustment nut, and the trigger portion of the trigger lever with protection against dust and rust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Shin Tai Spurt Water of the Garden Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6698672
    Abstract: A blow gun with an extensible wand includes a barrel for receiving and storing the wand. The wand passes through an inner collar and an outer collar, the inner collar mounted to the barrel and the outer collar eccentrically rotatable upon the inner collar. Rotation of the outer collar affects alignment of the bore of the outer collar with the bore of the inner collar. When the misalignment of the bores is increased, the wand is locked in a selected extension from the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Weems Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Don R. Linkletter, Steven R. Kunert
  • Patent number: 6698673
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for injecting a fluid under high pressure by means of a nozzle. The injector element includes a high pressure inlet line as well as a pressureless outlet. The injector element is connected with a common high pressure collection space (common rail) and contains a solenoid valve which serves to actuate the nozzle. An axially extending casing is movably accommodated in the injector element, the one face of which is actuatable by means of a valve and the other face of which bounds a control space in which a branch of a high pressure inlet opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jaroslaw Hlousek
  • Patent number: 6698674
    Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular an injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines, has a first actuator which cooperates with a first valve needle. A first valve closing body situated on the first valve needle cooperates with a first valve seat surface to form a first sealing seat. A second actuator cooperates with a second valve needle, and a valve-closing body situated on the second valve needle cooperates with a second valve seat surface to form a second sealing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Dantes, Detlef Nowak
  • Patent number: 6698675
    Abstract: A leader block assembly including a leader block, a tape clamp, and an elastomeric member. The leader block forms a channel defined by opposing sidewalls extending from a base, each sidewall forming a lip having an under surface. The tape clamp is nested within the channel and includes a bottom surface, opposing sides, and at least one cantilevered leg positioned at each of the opposing sides, respectively. Each leg extends upwardly relative to the bottom surface. The elastomeric member is disposed between the leader block and the tape clamp, and biases the tape clamp to a locked position in which the legs engage the under surface of the respect lips providing positive engagement between the tape clamp and the leader block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jerome D. Brown, Dean E. Sitz, Jerry L. Alexander, Arne B. Boberg
  • Patent number: 6698676
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge including a cartridge case. In the cartridge case, a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably housed, and a leader pin coupled with a leading end of the magnetic tape is caught by a pin catching member of a recording-reproducing unit and is inserted into a tape leader opening formed in the cartridge case. The magnetic tape cartridge also includes a pin retaining spring member which elastically engages the leader pin so that the leader pin is detachably retained at a predetermined position within the cartridge case. Furthermore, a wall surface is provided in the cartridge case so that when the leader pin is inserted into the cartridge case, displacement of the pin retaining member due to the engagement of the pin retaining member with the leader pin is regulated within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Yusuke Ishihara, Kiyoo Morita
  • Patent number: 6698677
    Abstract: A pretensioner for tightening an occupant restraint, such as a seatbelt, against an occupant on a vehicle. The pretensioner has a locking reel which is activated when a signal is sent by a crash sensing device. When such signal is sent, the pretensioner causes a rack to turn a pinion, which is attached to a reel which tightens the occupant restraint. The pinion is allowed to turn freely by holding the rack out of its sphere of movement until the piston, which controls the position of the rack, is caused to extend. The pinion turns a shaft which is connected to a locking reel through a connector which is movable between a connected configuration and a disconnected configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: H. Koch & Sons Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Happ, Daniel H. Meggs, Eric Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6698678
    Abstract: In a webbing retractor, a wire is inserted through a through-hole of a spool on which a webbing is taken-up and from which the webbing is pulled-out. At an initial stage of a process of absorbing inertial energy of a vehicle occupant, a large force limiter load is generated by adding a rubbing force of the wire at a peripheral portion of the through-hole, to a twisting load of a torsion bar. An energy absorption amount is made large, and an amount of pulling-out of the webbing is kept low. After a predetermined amount of energy has been absorbed, when the wire is completely pulled-out from the through-hole, the rubbing force of the wire is cancelled, the force limiter load is reduced, and force applied to the vehicle occupant via the webbing is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Seiji Hori, Tomonori Nagata
  • Patent number: 6698679
    Abstract: A manually wound tape measure includes a housing with a mouth, with the flexible tape extending through the mouth. A resilient grip element is slidably mounted on the tape for movement relative thereto. The grip element includes an internal passage through which the tape extends and is resiliently deformable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state. The exterior of the grip element may be tapered. Manually powered retraction of the tape into the housing causes the grip element to be urged into the mouth portion of the housing such that the grip element is, by interaction with the housing, deformed against and compressively grips the tape. The tape measure may include a manually powered retraction mechanism having a drive ratio of greater than 1:1. The tape measure is manually changeable from a deployed configuration to a retracted configuration wherein the grip element deforms against and compressively grips the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Cooper Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Critelli, Stephen E. Donelson
  • Patent number: 6698680
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium winding apparatus for rolling up an original roll of the magnetic recording medium, comprising: an arm member rotatably supporting a pushing roller at one end side thereof and supported turnably around the other end side thereof; a driving unit turning the arm member to push the pushing roller against the original roll of magnetic recording medium at a predetermined set pressure while rolling up the original roll; a strain sensing unit sensing a strain generated in the arm member during a pushing by the driving unit; and a control unit calculating a pressure of the pushing roller against the original roll of magnetic recording medium based on a sensed signal of the strain sensing unit and also feedback-controlling the driving unit such that the calculated pressure coincides with the set pressure at the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigemi Kato
  • Patent number: 6698681
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding tissue webs into a parent roll is disclosed which results in greater uniformity in the wound tissue roll and improved turn-up efficiency. The apparatus and method includes engaging the tissue web against a reel spool with an air permeable flexible member, such as a transfer belt, which traverses a winding region that includes an unsupported span between two support rolls. The web is transferred from the transfer belt to the parent roll as the parent roll is urged against the tissue web residing on the transfer belt at a point within the winding region. Located along at least a portion of the air permeable transfer belt within the winding region is a pressure reduction means adjacent the belt. The pressure reduction means serves to stabilize the tissue web on the belt improving sheet handling and turn-up efficiency. A sensor measures the deflection of the transfer belt during winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick Addison Guy, Samuel Jeb Chambliss, Joseph Kevin Beckett, Bernie Michael Baldwin
  • Patent number: 6698682
    Abstract: A mobile wire dispensing apparatus for carrying and moving spools of wire to desired locations. The mobile wire dispensing apparatus includes a frame including tubullar members and also including connectors interconnecting said tubular members; and also includes wheels upon which the frame is mounted; and further includes handle members being connected to the frame; and also includes a support stand assembly being connected to the frame; and further includes wire-carrying spools being removably mounted to said frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Roger W. Roderick
  • Patent number: 6698683
    Abstract: A bathroom tissue dispenser and holder has arms positioned between and interconnected to the arms of a conventional wall mounted tissue holder. A roller is pivotally connected one arm of the tissue dispenser and holder and pivots away the mounting wall to replace the roll of tissue. When refilled, the roller pivots towards back the wall. A leg suspended from the arms supports two feet above the bathroom floor. Each foot has an upright member for holding a spare roll of bathroom tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: George E. Young
  • Patent number: 6698684
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a spike projecting forward from the leading end of the fuselage and/or rearward from the trailing end of the fuselage. The spike can include a single section or two or more sections of varying cross-sectional area. Transition regions between sections of varying cross-sectional area are located and shaped to reduce coalescence of shock waves created thereby during supersonic flight. The spike can be collapsible and can be retracted into the fuselage. The spike can have a cross-sectional shape wherein the nose thereof lies on a line formed by the intersection of the bottom of the spike with a plane tangent to the bottom of the spike. A spike thus shaped causes an asymmetric pressure distribution during supersonic flight, wherein the ground-directed pressure contour is of lesser magnitude than the pressure contour propagating in other directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Preston A. Henne, Donald C. Howe, Robert R. Wolz, Jimmy L. Hancock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6698685
    Abstract: A circular VTOL aircraft with a central vertically mounted jet or rocket engine 7, (or engines) having below vertical thrust vents 14 at cardinal points, together with a jet/rocket engine 20 (or engines) horizontally mounted on turntable pod 16 which is steerable through 360 degrees and centrally situated below the vertical engine (s). Alternatively the horizontal engine can be replaced by central thrust vent 36 delivering thrust from the vertical engine to vectored thrust nozzle 37 attached to the turntable. Thrust from the four vertical thrust vents is controlled by valves 21 giving VTOL thrust control as well as pitch and bank control. The horizontal engine provides acceleration and retro-thrust for horizontal flight and directional control through 360 degrees. The passenger cabin is situated in the main body of the aircraft. Fuel tanks are installed around the central engines. The flight-deck is situated at the top-centre of the craft above the engines, which are detachable for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Ronald Walmsley
  • Patent number: 6698686
    Abstract: A plurality of bulkheads (23a to 23d) are installed in a hull (21) so as to divide the interior space of the hull (21) into a plurality of compartments (&Dgr;S1 to &Dgr;S5) successively arranged along the axis (22) of the hull (21). The compartments (&Dgr;S1 to &Dgr;S5) are divided into upper flotation gas containing spaces (25a to 25e) and lower air containing spaces (26a to 26e) by flexible diaphragms (24a to 24e) impermeable to air and a flotation gas, respectively. The bulkheads (23a to 23d) have upper parts A1a, A1b, A1c and A1d formed of a meshed sheet, extending upward from joints (27a to 27d) of the diaphragms (24a to 24e) and the bulkheads (23a to 23d), exposed to the flotation gas containing spaces (25a to 25e). The upper parts are provided with a plurality of vents through which the flotation gas is allowed to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daihachi Ogawa, Masanobu Ogaki, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Masahiko Sugawara, Takayoshi Maehata, Katsuji Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6698687
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system and method for heating selected areas of the wings of an aircraft. The heat exchanger apparatus involves the use of a heat exchanger and thermal contact with the fluid of a gear box associated with a geared fan powerplant used on an aircraft. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with at least one, and more preferably a plurality, of conduits which circulate fluid heated by the fluid of the gearbox throughout the selected areas of the wings of the aircraft. This serves to selectively heat various areas of the wings to help prevent icing of the leading edge of each of the wings, as well as to increase the region of laminar flow over the wings, and thus decrease those areas where turbulent flow occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Daggett
  • Patent number: 6698688
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for actuating rotatable members are disclosed. In one embodiment, an assembly for actuating a rotatable member includes an extendible actuator having a first end and a second end, and a drive member having a first portion pivotally coupled to the second end, and a second portion non-pivotally coupled to the rotatable member. The second portion of the drive member is spaced apart from the first portion. The drive member further includes a third portion spaced apart from the first and second portions in a non-linear orientation. The assembly further includes a reaction link having an anchoring end pivotally coupled to the first end of the extendible actuator, and a driving end pivotally coupled to the third portion of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kelly T. Jones
  • Patent number: 6698689
    Abstract: The nose gear of an aircraft comprises a main group of at least one wheel (10) in permanent contact with the ground and a secondary group of at least one wheel (12), which is normally spaced from the ground, when the aircraft is on the ground. In the case of emergency braking due to an aborted takeoff or in the case of a blowout of a tire of a wheel (10) of the main group, the wheel or wheels (12) come into contact with the ground. This avoids an oversizing of the nose gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Matra Airbus
    Inventors: Francis Dazet, Danilo Ciprian, Pascal Chaumel
  • Patent number: 6698690
    Abstract: A two layer door is provided. The first layer is made of a plurality of metallic members with a portion of the metallic members having one or more channels adapted to receive one or more armor panels. The second layer is made of the channels of the metallic members and armor panels disposed within the channels. The door also has one or more pivotally attached panels to the door that are adapted to open at a preselected pressure differential across the door. The door is also available as a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Miloslav Novak, Andrew B. Trageser, Russell S. Long, Jerri F. McMichael, Eric F. M. Winter, Kenneth B. Balazic
  • Patent number: 6698691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for de-icing an air intake cowling of a reaction motor, comprising a lip (6a), a de-icing system (10) for the lip and acoustic attenuation means (11) characterized in that it consists in constituting said acoustic attenuation means by separate islands (12) each formed of a sandwich comprising an acoustically resistive porous layer forming a portion (13) of the external envelope of the fan channel limited by said lip, a cellular core and a deflector (15), in constituting or covering the reflector of each island with the help of a common element (15) extending over all the islands (12), emplacing in communication the space or spaces between islands, on the one hand, with the interior of the lip (6a) and, on the other hand, with the exterior of the cowling so as to create a forced circulation of de-icing fluid from the interior of the lip to the outside of said cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Alain Porte
  • Patent number: 6698692
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank ullage safety system (10) that is designed to maintain the fuel tank ullage (94) of an aircraft fuel tank (90) filled with nitrogen. The nitrogen prevents the fuel tank ullage (94) from becoming filled with flammable fuel fumes which can cause an explosion. The system (10) consists of at least one flexible, resilient, air-enclosing container (12) having a container ullage (50) that is dimensioned to substantially occupy the space of the fuel tank ullage (94), a differential pressure sensor (30) that determines the internal pressure of the aircraft's fuel tank (90) and a microcontroller (64) that controls and maintains the volume of the air-enclosing container (12) as determined by the differential pressure sensor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Clyde L. Tichenor, Irwin Ginsburgh
  • Patent number: 6698693
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to method and apparatus for solar-boost assist and solar-sail assist by a mini-optics light concentrator system utilizing a dynamic ensemble of mini-mirrors. In the boost phase of a rocket ship launch, the system focusses solar energy into the rocket chamber to raise the temperature of the propellant and increase the impulse. In the mid-course phase, the system focusses solar energy onto the rocket's solar sail to increase the thrust. In both cases, the system reduces the weight of the rocket by providing a weightless source of thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Mark P. Davidson, Mario Rabinowitz
  • Patent number: 6698694
    Abstract: A tube position limiter comprises a supporting frame for locking to a wall and a positioning cylinder for receiving a tube. A center of the supporting frame is formed with a receiving hole for receiving the positioning cylinder. A top of the positioning cylinder is formed with a curl lip for receiving the tube. The positioning cylinder is placed into the receiving hole so that the curl lip of the positioning cylinder exactly places on the supporting frame. The helical wound tube is placed in a bottom of the positioning cylinder. A water inlet end of the tube exactly protrudes from a via hole at a bottom of the positioning cylinder. In use of the tube, the curl lip of the positioning cylinder has a round opening so that the tube is taken out easily. When it is desired to wind the tube, the tube is wound easily and conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Wen Li Kao
  • Patent number: 6698695
    Abstract: A cargo hook (10) for organizing and securing bags within a motor vehicle. The cargo hook (10) includes a based (12) adapted for attachment to a motor vehicle surface. A flexible tab (14) extends from the base (12). An inner area (16) is formed between the flexible tab (14) and the motor vehicle surface. This inner area (16) is designed to receive bag handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Waveland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis M. Spoto
  • Patent number: 6698696
    Abstract: A stand for supporting frames of a golf bag includes an anchoring block, a pivot and an L-shape stand. The anchoring block has a flat portion further including a positioning nose. The flat portion has a pair of ear portions constructed at opposite sides thereof, and each of the ear portions has a pivotal hole. Also, the flat portion has a pair of rim fences located respectively outside to the ear portions. The L-shape stand has a pivotal pipe portion formed at one side and a hook formed at an opposite side. The pivot passes through the pivotal hole of one ear portion, die pivotal hole of the pivotal pipe portion, and the pivotal hole of another ear portion so that the L-shape stand can rotate freely about the anchoring block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Fu-Hsiung Yang
  • Patent number: 6698697
    Abstract: A wrist support device for supporting the wrist of user while using a mouse. The wrist support device includes a cradle portion being designed for being positioned against the wrist of the user whereby the cradle portion supports the wrist of the user. A securing portion is coupled to the cradle portion. The securing portion is designed for being extended around the wrist of the user for securing the cradle portion to wrist of the user. A gliding assembly is coupled to the cradle portion whereby the gliding assembly is positioned opposite the wrist of the user. The gliding assembly is designed for gliding across a support surface whereby the gliding assembly maintains a substantially aligned arrangement between the wrist and hand of the user for reducing stress on the wrist of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Lucero, Sharon Lucero
  • Patent number: 6698698
    Abstract: A telescopic tube has an outer tube having a notched post securely mounted inside the outer tube, an inner tube selectively and movably received in the outer tube, a seat securely connected to a distal end of the inner tube and having a spring extendably received in the seat and a connector detachably connected to a distal end of the seat to adapt to connect to a musical device, a handle pivotally connected to the seat to force the spring to extend, and a securing device securely connected to a distal end of the spring and being movable relative to the inner tube to selectively clamp the notched post. A relative position of the inner tube to the outer tube is able to be adjusted by the pivotal movement of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Wu-Hong Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6698699
    Abstract: Working material containers such as paint cans may be effectively stabilized from accidental dislodgment from a ladder shelf, such as a step ladder shelf, through the use of a working material container accessory. The accessory includes a flat upper support plate placed onto the top shelf surface and a lower retaining plate positioned below the shelf surface securely bolted together onto the step ladder shelf. By adhesively applying a strip of the looped member of a hook and loop fastening system to a paint container bottom and another mating hook strip onto the upper surface of the upper support plate, the paint container may be securely retained and stabilized upon the ladder shelf against accidental dislodgment or spillage. The paint container may be easily removed simply by unfastening the hook and loop straps for one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Raymond B. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6698700
    Abstract: A molded fastener for securing an object to a support is herein disclosed. The fastener is capable of bearing tension, shear, and bending stresses and may be installed in a simple aperture or hole formed in the support. The fastener is comprised of a base member from which extends an attachment structure that is adapted to secure to the fastener an object and a hooked tail that is passed through the simple aperture formed in the support to secure the fastener, and hence the object, to the support. A retention member of the fastener prevents the withdrawal of the fastener from the simple aperture by resisting withdrawal forces substantially in compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Moerke, Edward P. Massof
  • Patent number: 6698701
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for an electronic shelf label which is easy to install. The mounting apparatus includes a frame member defining an aperture through which an electronic shelf label is inserted having a top edge and a bottom edge, a bottom member extending behind the frame member from the bottom edge and including first teeth, and a top member extending behind the frame member from the top edge and including second teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Gary C. Dalton
  • Patent number: 6698702
    Abstract: A roofing bracket for use with a platform for working on a roof. The roofing bracket includes a base having a proximal and distal end. At least one nail slot is disposed through the base near its distal end. A platform support arm disposed along the base includes a bottom lip, a platform support and a guardrail. A backside support extends from the proximal end of the base. The backside support includes an angled lip that is attached with a rear portion of the platform support. A heel extends from the backside support. Finally, at least one brace is disposed between the backside support and the platform support. The heel and brace cooperate to provide a roofer with easy means in which to remove the bracket after use, such that the bracket nor roofing shingles are destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph P. Macri, Frank Mellace
  • Patent number: 6698703
    Abstract: A beverage container holder formed with an upright body configured with an open top cavity and includes a downwardly projecting stem configured to complementally fit the cross section of a car door pocket or center console opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Bernard A. Li
  • Patent number: 6698704
    Abstract: A fixing device (1) for fixing at least one support arm (45), in particular a spring arm. Said device comprises a base body (2), which has a connecting section (4) located in the axial direction (28) at the upper end of the base body (2) for suspending the fixing device (1) and at least one bearing section (5), which is at least partially cylindrical, whereby a bearing sleeve (44) of the support arm (45) can be mounted onto said bearing section (5). The latter (5) lies in the axial direction (28) at the lower end of the base body (2) and projects axially beyond the rest of said base body (2). In addition, a retaining ring (46) can be fixed to the bearing section (5) for retaining the bearing sleeve (44) of the support arm (45) on the bearing section (5). The bearing sleeve (44) is at least indirectly supported on the retaining ring (46) and can be rotated about the axis (3) of the bearing section (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mavig GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6698705
    Abstract: An adjustable paint easel and display rack assembly includes a base having first and second legs extending upwardly therefrom. First and second risers are slidably connected to the first and second legs for adjusting the height of the assembly. Extensions may be pivotally attached to upper ends of the risers and movable between folded and extended positions to further adjust the height of the assembly. An arm is attached to the risers or extensions and has a canvas board platform pivotally and rotatably attached thereto, enabling the height and angle of the canvas board platform to be adjusted. The assembly may include pivoting table leaves, and model attachment plates as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Jahanbakhsh Toghanian
  • Patent number: 6698706
    Abstract: In a mirror of a motor vehicle, a mirror support, having a mirror plate thereon, is movable about two mutually perpendicular axes relative to a mounting plate fixedly present in the housing of the mirror plate. Between the mirror support and the mounting plate, at least two damping elements are arranged, by which vibrations of the mirror plate in the housing are counteracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Frits Brouwer, Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 6698707
    Abstract: A mould for producing reverse building modules includes a lower horizontal bottom from which longitudinal walls and cross walls are emerging. The cross walls are provided with protrusions inside which respective bars are arranged where the ends of longitudinal rods are disposed defining the framework module. Between each protrusion of the cross walls a spring is provided disposed outside the bars and which ends act on the corresponding ends of the longitudinal bars maintaining the distance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Innovacions Technologiques, S.A.
    Inventor: Ricardo S. Rizo
  • Patent number: 6698708
    Abstract: An annular gasket may be configured to engage a mold set for forming a mold assembly. The gasket includes at least four discrete projections. The projections are preferably arranged upon inner surface such that they are substantially coplanar. The projections may be evenly spaced around the interior surface of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
    Inventors: Galen R. Powers, Larry H. Joel, Loren C. Lossman
  • Patent number: 6698709
    Abstract: A concrete forming panel with lightweight siderail includes a face plate and a frame, the frame including at least one siderail and a bushing plate coupled thereto, the bushing plate having thereon a wear member of a material having greater hardness than the bushing plate. The wear member is positioned adjacent an opening in the bushing plate, the hole being in registry with a corresponding hole in the siderail, whereby fasteners passing through the hole and opening to couple the forming panel to other structual members in a concrete forming system, such as another forming panel, will engage the wear member. The use of a wear member permits the use of lighter weight siderails and bushing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Western Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip T. Ward, Roman Brewka
  • Patent number: 6698710
    Abstract: An improved system and methods for forming foundations, walls, buildings and other structures having one or more walls made of concrete or other pourable, hardenable materials. The system uses substantially rigid forming panels and is “open” in that forming panels from a variety of sources can be utilized in the system with limited (if any) changes or alterations to the components used in the system. Such panels particularly include insulating foam panels, and also include other substantially rigid panels of other materials which may provide additional insulating properties. The system and methods provide wall tie rail and corner assemblies that are adaptable for use in a variety of construction applications using forming procedures and techniques readily adaptable from conventional forming system construction and assembly procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Portland Cement Association
    Inventor: Pieter A. VanderWerf
  • Patent number: 6698711
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluids having an actuator unit for actuating a valve member, which has a first piston and a second piston, separated from it by a hydraulic chamber, and which actuates a valve closing member that divides a low-pressure region at system pressure from a high-pressure region. For leakage compensation, a filling device connectable to the high-pressure region is provided with a hollow chamber, in which a throttle body is disposed such that a line leading to the high-pressure region discharges into the hollow chamber on one end of the throttle body, and on the other end a system pressure line leading to the hydraulic chamber branches off. The system pressure is built up by geometric definition of a throttle bore in the throttle body and of the dimensions of the piston, along which the system pressure is reduced, as a function of a prevailing pressure in the high-pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Mattes
  • Patent number: 6698712
    Abstract: The ball valve assembly 10 includes a valve body 12, a ball 14, a seat ring 30, a support ring 40, and an actuator sleeve 50 surrounding the ball and axially moveable within the valve body for rotating the ball between the open position and the closed position. A plurality of seals seal with the seat ring, the actuator sleeve, the support ring, and the valve body. The actuator sleeve 50 maintains fluid pressure within the valve body. The ball, support ring and seat ring are each formed from a selective material to enhance life of the ball valve assembly. A pair of pins 80, 82 each extend in a slot within the ball and holes in the sleeve, and preferably the pair of pins and the ball rotate with respect to the sleeve as the sleeve moves axially within the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel J. Milberger, Larry E. Reimert, Jason C. McCanna, Xhemal Kaculi
  • Patent number: 6698713
    Abstract: There is provided a solenoid for electromagnetic valve, which has a small size and large attraction force, and is excellent in economization. In the solenoid for electromagnetic valve, a stationary iron core 5, a movable iron core 6 and the center hole 4a of a bobbin 4 individually have an elliptic or substantially rectangular cross section. Further, a relation of d=(0.4 to 0.8) W is formed between a winding outer diameter W on a shorter axis or side of a coil 7 wound around the bobbin 4 and having an elliptic or rectangular cross section and a diameter “d” of virtual cylindrical iron core having the same cross sectional area as a coil inside cross sectional area S. Further, a ratio of a length “a” of a longer axis or side to a length “b” of the shorter axis or side is set to a range of 1.3≦a/b≦3.0 in the cross section of the stationary iron core 5 and the moving iron core 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Sato, Shinichi Yoshimura, Takumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6698714
    Abstract: A fluid safety discharge system for a relief valve having an inlet and an outlet includes a bushing frictionally engaging the relief valve outlet. The relief valve outlet is internally threaded for engaging with a threaded device, such as a discharge line. The bushing may contain a separate body and engagement region for use with hard-plumbed discharge lines. Optionally, an adapter may be used for retrofitting the bushing to an existing relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Patent number: 6698715
    Abstract: A flow-controlling device is provided for controlling the flow of a fluid. The device comprises a housing, a flow-control element disposed within the housing, at least one seat operably engaging the flow-control element, a biasing device operably engaging each seat for urging the seat into sealing engagement with the flow-control element, and an actuating device operably engaging the flow-control element. The seat operably engages the flow-control element and the biasing device operably engages the seat to urge the seat into a sealing engagement with the flow-control element. The flow-control element, the seat, and the biasing device are comprised of a refractory and/or toughened ceramic material that is fully annealed so that porosity in the material is substantially eliminated and such that the material is substantially homogenous. Components fabricated from such a ceramic are generally heat, corrosion, and wear resistant and are capable of substantial elongation without failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: University of Alabama
    Inventors: James Edwin Smith, Jr., George O. Ellis, David Todd Ellis
  • Patent number: 6698716
    Abstract: A suction valve for water bag, includes a mounting block fastened to the water outlet tube of a collapsible water bag and adapted for guiding water out of the water outlet tube, a rotary valve block coupled to the mounting block for free rotation between a first position where the valve block closes the water passage through the mounting block and a second position where the valve block opens the water passage through the mounting block, a flexible suction nozzle threaded onto a tubular front screw rod of the rotary valve block for enabling the user to suck when the valve block rotated to the second position, and a hygienic cap adapted for protecting the flexible suction nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 6698717
    Abstract: Butterfly valves of this invention generally comprise a flapper element that is rotatably disposed within an annular bore of a valve housing. The valve may be configured to provide an improved degree of gas flow control sensitivity from a closed to a partially opened position through the use of projections that extend radially inwardly from the housing bore, are positioned at diametrically opposed positions within the bore, and that are specifically configured to provide a gradual increase in gas flow across the valve as the flapper is moved from a closed position to a partially opened position. The butterfly valve may be configured having further projections that extend radially inwardly a distance therein, that are positioned at diametrically opposed positions in the bore, and that include faces that are sized and shaped to cooperate with respective opposed surfaces of the flapper to seal off gas flow within the bore when the flapper is placed into a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Brookshire, Kristian N. Dullack, Christopher C. Greentree
  • Patent number: 6698718
    Abstract: A valve assembly including a main body defining a central axis and a gate. The gate includes a curved surface relative to the central axis and the gate is disposed within the main body. The gate is rotatable about an axis of rotation running along the length of the gate. The valve assembly also includes an actuation assembly for rotating the gate about the axis of rotation between a first position where said valve is open and a second position where said valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: WaferMasters, Inc.
    Inventor: Woo Sik Yoo