Patents Issued in March 23, 2004
  • Patent number: 6708379
    Abstract: A fastening device comprising a pair of attachment pads, one pad having a surface from which stems project, a second pad formed with openings and receptacles, each opening and receptacle adapted to receive a stem, the pads becoming interlocked by the fit of the stems in the receptacles. A woven, knit or knotted material of open texture having holes, preferable evenly spaced holes such as those of a screen or net, is secured between the pads by passing the stems through the mesh and into the receptacles. The pads and mesh material, so arranged, are secured to a structure by a bracket or clamp that is fixed to the attachment pads and mesh material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Eric P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6708380
    Abstract: A breakaway latch plate for use with the seat belt system is disclosed. The breakaway latch plate includes a latch plate body that may be selectively secured to a buckle. An orifice may be disposed within the latch plate body. Seat belt webbing passes through the orifice. A locking mechanism is coupled to the latch plate body. In a locked state, the locking mechanism prevents movement of the seat belt webbing relative to the latch plate body. When a predetermined load is applied to the seat belt webbing, the locking mechanism changes to an unlocked state, in which the seat belt webbing may move relative to the latch plate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Pontus Soderstrom
  • Patent number: 6708381
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a nonwoven material by hydroentangling a fiber web by water jets at a high pressure, wherein the fiber web is supported by a moulded, close-meshed screen (12) of a thermoplastic material during the hydroentanglement. The screen can be reinforced with reinforcement wires (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Mikael Strandqvist, Hannu Ahoniemi
  • Patent number: 6708382
    Abstract: In a complex tool to be installed on a machine tool capable of turning machining and milling machining operations, a main body is provided, and carries inserts for turning machining, inserts for milling machining and inserts for drilling machining. Turning machining and drilling/milling machining operations can be executed using the inserts installed on the main body, without the need for tool exchange, saving time and labor. The inserts as installed have opposite rotational cutting directions, and are placed on opposite sides of concavities that extend radially inwardly and axially back from the end of the main body. The inserts can be placed at the same or different cutting distances and can be brought into engagement with the workpiece by selection of the relative orientations of the rotation axis and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Yamazaki, Sadami Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6708383
    Abstract: A free-state diameter, upon cutting each metal ring, is set so that when the ratio of a continuously variable transmission is a value in a TOP state and a metal ring receives a severe load, a corrected amplitude of a stress on an outer peripheral surface of the metal ring calculated from an amplitude and a middle value of the stress on the outer peripheral surface of the metal ring is equal to a corrected amplitude of a stress on an inner peripheral surface of the metal ring calculated from an amplitude and a middle value of the stress on the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring. Therefore, an appropriate free-state diameter is set in consideration of a stress based on a tensile load of the metal ring and a stress based on the bending load of the metal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Arikawa, Shigeru Kanehara
  • Patent number: 6708384
    Abstract: An apparatus for making notched muntin bars. The apparatus includes an uncoiler or support for a supply of ribbon stock, a notching device, a roll forming machine and a severing device. The ribbon stock has a surface with first and second finishes. The notching device receives ribbon stock from the supply of ribbon stock. The notching device includes a punch that is moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position the punch is activated to remove sections of material having the first finish. In the second position the punch is activated to remove sections of material having the second finish. The roll forming machine receives the ribbon stock from the notching device to form hollow muntin bar stock that has a first side with the first finish and a second side with the second finish. The formed muntin bar stock has notches in the first side having the first finish and notches in the second side having the second finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Glass Equipment Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Bryan McGlinchy
  • Patent number: 6708385
    Abstract: A machine tool method employs a plurality of tools which may be sequentially or simultaneously automatically controlled to perform preprogrammed operations by either the same or different workpieces. A unit of work is conveyed to be operated on by selected of the plurality of tools that are controllably operated at respective work locating positions. A plurality of command control message signals are generated to perform preprogrammed operations either in sequence or simultaneously on the same workpiece or simultaneously on separate workpieces spaced apart on a common conveyor such as a flight conveyor while the conveyor is either in motion or stationary. In another form, the conveyor is automatically stopped with units of work thereon, each disposed so as to be predeterminately located with respect to a respective machine tool which has been prepositioned adjacent the work-holding conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Lemelson Medical, Education and Research Foundation, LP
    Inventor: Jerome H. Lemelson
  • Patent number: 6708386
    Abstract: A substrate, preferably constructed of a ductile material and a tool having the desired shape of the resulting device for contacting contact pads on a test device is brought into contact with the substrate. The tool is preferably constructed of a material that is harder than the substrate so that a depression can be readily made therein. A dielectric (insulative) layer, that is preferably patterned, is supported by the substrate. A conductive material is located within the depressions and then preferably lapped to remove excess from the top surface of the dielectric layer and to provide a flat overall surface. A trace is patterned on the dielectric layer and the conductive material. A polyimide layer is then preferably patterned over the entire surface. The substrate is then removed by any suitable process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Reed Gleason, Michael A. Bayne, Kenneth Smith, Timothy Lesher, Martin Koxxy
  • Patent number: 6708387
    Abstract: A back plate having a stationary back electrode is secured to a substrate. A diaphragm electrode is mounted on the back plate interposing a spacer. A frame having a sound collecting hole is mounted on the diaphragm electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Tanabe, Megumi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6708388
    Abstract: A permanent magnet field-type compact DC motor having a high output and a low cogging torque is made by fixing a pair of rare earth magnets mainly composed of rare earth-iron-based rapidly quenched and solidified flakes to a soft magnetic frame so as to extend along an inner peripheral surface thereof, and by unsaturation-magnetizing the rare earth magnets so that demagnetization curves at circumferentially opposite end portions of the rare earth magnets are made smaller than a demagnetization curve at a central portion of a magnetic pole of each of the rare earth magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Yamashita, Shinji Toda, Eiji Uenishi, Yuichiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6708389
    Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head suspension assembly includes attaching a slider with a magnetic head to an intermediate flexible circuit. The attached combination is then inserted into a spin stand tester for the testing of electrical performance. If the attached combination fails the test, it is discarded, thereby avoiding the cost of discarding an entire head suspension assembly. On the other hand, if the attached combination passes the test, it is mounted to a load beam to form the head suspension assembly. Thereafter, a flex circuit can be attached to the load beam and intermediate flexible circuit to provide electrical connections to the magnetic head through the intermediate flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Carlson, Daniel P. Schott
  • Patent number: 6708390
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetoresistive element that can suppress the characteristic degradation even after high-temperature heat treatment, specifically at 400° C. to 450° C. This element is manufactured by a method that includes the following processes in the indicated order: a film formation process for forming at least a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer on a substrate; a preheat process at 330° C. to 380° C. for not less than 60 minutes; and a heat treatment process at 400° C. to 450° C. This element has a resistance value that changes with a change in relative angle formed by the magnetization directions of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kawashima, Akihiro Odagawa, Nozomu Matsukawa, Yasunari Sugita, Yasunori Morinaga
  • Patent number: 6708391
    Abstract: The present invention provides magnets having a metallic pin mounted therein with high bond strength and with high reliability and exhibiting good productivity. It also provides magnets in which the bond strength of the metallic pin remains high even at high temperatures or in organic solvents. Specifically, the present invention relates to a magnet having a metallic pin mounted therein without using an adhesive, and this magnet can be made by sintering the magnet and the metallic pin at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Yamakage, Hisanori Niwamoto
  • Patent number: 6708392
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a colossal magneto-resistive detector using a thin film transfer method includes the use of a rock salt structure material as a substrate. In a second embodiment, the method includes the use of a perovskite oxide material as the substrate, and the rock salt structure material as a buffer layer, template layer, and release layer. Advantages associated with the method include not only the ability to produce a detector of the requisite film quality, but one which satisfies the temperature coefficient of resistance and fabrication temperature constraints. In addition, when employed as either the substrate or the buffer layer, template layer, and release layer, after bonding the rock salt structure material can be easily removed using water, and the excess rock salt structure material/water solution can then be removed with known techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Meimei Tidrow, Steven Tidrow
  • Patent number: 6708393
    Abstract: A fixture and method for aligning a vehicle fender and door, particularly a fixture for an assembly line point that attaches to a vehicle door and moves a front edge of the door to a spacing element, attaches to a vehicle fender, moves the fender to the spacing element and to a pre-defined 3-dimensional relationship with the door, and holds the fender in the pre-defined relationship while the fender is secured in place on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Roy, Anthony J Osborne, John LeBlanc, Ronald R Moore, Larry Weatherall, Lawrence J Guc
  • Patent number: 6708394
    Abstract: A basket assembly fixture is useful in the construction of a basket assembly for interring spent nuclear fuel rods. The basket assembly fixture has an elongate base and a pair of lifting beams disposed above the base. Lifting beam raising means are provided at both ends of the base to raise the pair of lifting beams. A transverse beam is provided below the two lifting beams and above the base. Transverse beam raising means are provided for raising the transverse beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Southern California Edison Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Busnardo, Robert Hill
  • Patent number: 6708395
    Abstract: A tool for driving a stator slide under a stator wedge within a radial slot of a stator core includes a frame including a pair of elongated rail members, the frame provided with a pair of handles at respective opposite ends of the elongated rail members. A force application cart is located between the rail members, the force application cart having a drive block thereon. A drive is connected to the frame, substantially intermediate opposite ends of the frame, the drive having an on/off trigger located on one of the handles. A lead screw is threadably engaged at one end with the force application cart and connected at an opposite end to the drive such that the drive rotates the lead screw when actuate; wherein in use, rotation of the lead screw causes axial movement of the force application cart and the drive block along the elongated rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonard Pezzano, Alan Michael Iversen, William Gene Newman, Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley
  • Patent number: 6708396
    Abstract: A hand-held tool for terminating connectors onto a coaxial cable has an elongated body and an end stop and plunger on the body, the plunger being controlled by a lever arm which will axially advance the plunger toward and away from the end stop to radially compress a portion of the connector into firm crimping engagement with the end of the coaxial cable. To accommodate different lengths of connectors, a receiver is resiliently mounted on the plunger for insertion of different length adapter tips to vary the axial spacing between the receiver and the end stop according to the length of connector being terminated; and in still another form the body may include a hinged adapter adjacent to the end stop to vary the effective distance between the end stop and plunger according to the length of fitting being terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Communication Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Randall A. Holliday
  • Patent number: 6708397
    Abstract: In a soft contact lens manufacturing process, an injection molding machine (IMM) produces many thermoplastic injection molded front curve (FC) and back curve (BC) mold parts, each of which mold parts is subsequently used only once to mold a single soft contact lens. An inlay station with alignment assemblies and transfer tubes provide for the precise transfer to and alignment of the FC and BC molds in pallets during their transfer from the IMM to pallets on an assembly line in a high speed automated commercial production operation. A rotatable FC transfer arm and a rotatable BC transfer arm transfer the FC and BC molds from the IMM machine to the pallets in an inlay station. The precisely aligned transfer is provided by two alignment rods of an alignment assembly which pass through two alignment apertures in the pallet and then pass through two alignment apertures in one of the FC or BC alignment arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip K. Parnell, Sr., David Dolan, Richard W. Abrams, Michael F. Widman, Ronaldus Joannes Cornelis Maria Kok, Edwin van Doorn
  • Patent number: 6708398
    Abstract: A substrate for use in a semiconductor package is fabricated by preparing a composite metal laminate consisting of a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a carrier layer positioned in this order. The first metal layer has etching characteristics different to those of the second metal layer with respect to the same etchant. The first metal layer is selectively etched until the second metal layer is exposed, thereby forming pillar-like interconnections. The gap between the interconnections is then filled with a resin so as to form a resin base with interconnections. The carrier layer is removed from the second metal layer, and the second metal layer is selectively etched until the first metal layer or the resin base is exposed, thereby forming a conductive pattern on the resin base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Wakashima, Naoki Fukutomi, Kazuhisa Suzuki, Takeshi Funaki
  • Patent number: 6708399
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an interconnect for testing semiconductor components forms contacts on a substrate configured to support and electrically engage bumped contacts on the components. Each contact includes a support member suspended on the substrate on cantilevered spring segment leads. The method includes the steps of forming a polymer material on the substrate, forming a metal layer on the polymer material and the substrate, forming the support member and leads in the metal layer, and then removing the polymer material to suspend the support member. In a first embodiment the polymer material fills a recess in the substrate and the support member is suspended on the recess. In a second embodiment the polymer material is formed as a bump, and the support member is suspended on a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6708400
    Abstract: Reflow soldering of a variety of circuit boards (9, 11, 15) in a variety of sizes and shapes to assigned locations on the base or carrier (13) of the electronic module housing (3) is simplified by eliminating custom made metal blocks previously used to clamp the circuit boards against the carrier metal. Instead, the solder-backed circuit boards are placed in assigned positions in the module housing and the inside volume of that housing is filled (22) with particulate, such as small beads (17), covering the circuit boards, but leaving the edges of the upstanding metal shields (5 and 7) visible. A plate (21) backed foam sheet (19) is placed over the module housing (24) and clamped down (26), pressing against the beads. The clamped assembly is then heated (28) to reflow the solder, soldering the circuit boards in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Charles G. Turner
  • Patent number: 6708401
    Abstract: A package is formed by covering a circuit board with a thermoplastice film. The cylindrical or sheet-like thermoplastic film is decompressed and used to cover the circuit board to protect the board and components mounted on the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyakawa, Yoshio Maruyama, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Mikiya Nakata, Takashi Akiguchi, Yoshinori Wada, Kazuhiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6708402
    Abstract: In a component mounting device in which a component is picked up and mounted on a circuit board by a suction nozzle, an amount of displacement between a center position of the suction nozzle 11 and that of the picked-up component 12 is measured, and when it is larger than a preliminarily determined value, a warning is generated indicating that the parts cassette 3 from which the component 12 has been fed is in abnormal condition, as well as the mounting action of the component 12 is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Hirano, Yoshinori Sakai, Tateo Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6708403
    Abstract: A method is described having the steps of providing a surface having a plurality of wire bondable locations; wire bonding a wire to each of the wire bondable locations using a wire capillary tool; controlling the position of the capillary tool with respect to the substrate; after forming a wire bond of the wire to the wire bondable location moving the capillary tool relative to the surface as the capillary tool is moved away from the surface to form a wire having a predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Samuel Beaman, Keith Edward Fogel, Paul Alfred Lauro, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 6708404
    Abstract: A method of making a high-density copper-clad multi-layered printed wiring board having a reliable through hole including providing a stacked assembly including three copper foil layers and at least two resin layers; providing an auxiliary material on a top surface of the stacked assembly and providing a backup sheet on a bottom surface of the stacked assembly to form an assembly; subjecting the top surface of the assembly to pulsed oscillation from a carbon dioxide laser to form at least one through-hole to produce a pulsed assembly; reducing the thickness of the front and reverse copper foil layers and simultaneously with reducing, removing copper foil burrs, to produce a cleaned assembly; and plating the cleaned assembly with copper to produce the high-density copper-clad multi-layered printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Morio Gaku, Nobuyuki Ikeguchi, Yoshihiro Kato, Hiroki Aoto
  • Patent number: 6708405
    Abstract: A method is described for producing a conducting connection through insulating layers by way of a contact hole and conducting materials with which the contact hole is filled. The method permits the production of a contact hole resembling the shape of a wineglass, into which conducting filling material and barrier layers can be inserted without the known problems such as void formation, overetching trenches, and dielectric close-off. It is possible in this way, for example, to produce an electric connection between the diffusion zone of a selection transistor and the lower electrode of a storage capacitor of large-scale integrated DRAM and FeRAM components with the aid of only a few mask steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Barbara Hasler, Rainer Florian Schnabel, Guenther Schindler, Volker Weinrich
  • Patent number: 6708406
    Abstract: Compressor shoe is manufactured by cutting a wire into cut pieces each having a volume approximately equivalent to that of a desired shoe. The cut piece is sequentially forged with forging dies having three cavities. The cut piece is first forged to a cylindrical shape with a small rounded portion, then to a rugby ball shape, and then to a shape corresponding to a shoe shape. A finishing step, including heat treatment, is then carried out to obtain a compressor shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masanobu Tomita, Yasuhiro Miura, Kazuhiko Nagao, Tadashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6708407
    Abstract: A thermoroll for a paper/board machine or a finishing machine, the thermoroll having a shell of metallic, ceramic or composite material, and the shell having ducts for passing a heating medium from one axial end of the thermoroll to the other axial end of the thermoroll. The shell is made by casting or by powder metallurgical methods, and the ducts are formed in the matrix material of the shell which is metal and/or ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Erkki Leinonen, Mika Viljanmaa
  • Patent number: 6708408
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shaving system having an indicator for indicating when the blades are becoming dull and in need of replacement. As razor blades dull, the user must exert greater force during shaving to achieve a satisfactory shave. Upon exertion of this extra force, a piston which is adjacent to the blades moves away from the blades in response to the increased forces encountered by the blades during shaving. Upon moving a sufficient distance, the piston activates a sensor, such as a potentiometer, which initiates a signal processing circuit which in turn activates an indicator, such as a light-emitting diode. The activation of the indicator is a signal to the user to replace the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Glennis J. Orloff
  • Patent number: 6708409
    Abstract: A cigar cutting device includes a body with an aperture for an insertion of an end of a cigar, and two blades are movably inserted in two open ends of the body. A first end of each of the blades is located in the aperture and a base is connected to a second end of each of the blades. A holding ring is rotatably connected to each of the two bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Chin-Tung Yu
  • Patent number: 6708410
    Abstract: A cutter knife in which a blade connected to a slider is slidably held in an elongated sleeve member. The slider is provided with a first engagement protrusion and a second engagement protrusion located on a forward end and a backward end in the sliding direction of the slider, one of which is to be inserted into a connection hole of the blade for connecting the slider and the blade. The distance from each of the first and the second engagement protrusions to the inner surface of the sleeve member when the slider is inserted into the sleeve member is smaller than the distance between the connection hole and the back of the blade. This results in biasing the blade back against the inner surface of the sleeve member for protecting the blade edge. When the inserting direction of the slider is reversed, the biasing direction of the blade is also reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Olfa Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Okada
  • Patent number: 6708411
    Abstract: A circular saw (1) cutting a workpiece at a generally right-angled corner formed between the workpiece and a structure is provided. The saw (1) includes a base plate (2) and a saw blade assembly (3) which has a saw blade (5) rotatably attached thereto and is tiltably mounted on the base plate by first and second pins (12,15) aligned with each other and oriented parallel to the saw blade. This arrangement permits the saw blade (5) to be manually tilted in two directions to desired angles with respect to the base plate (2) within a predetermined range. When the saw blade (5) is disposed at 90 degrees relative to the top surface of the base plate (2), the common longitudinal axis (O2) of the first and second pins (12) and (15) is spaced apart from the center plane (L) of the saw blade (5) toward the motor by a predetermined distance (S) as measured along a path orthogonally intersecting the center plane and the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kani
  • Patent number: 6708412
    Abstract: A bench plane jointer fence having a fence body secured to the side of any conventional ferromagnetic bench plane by two rare earth magnets mounted in the fence body and by the cooperation between a fence registration surface that bears against the sole of the plane and a repositionable stop screw. The fence is usable to facilitate planing of a workpiece edge square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface and may utilize a one-piece fence body. Planing of a workpiece edge at angles other than square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface is possible by pivoting a lower portion of the fence relative to an upper portion or, in the case of a one-piece fence body, by attachment of an auxiliary fence having a wedge-shaped cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Lee Valley Tools, Ltd.
    Inventors: Terry Ross Saunders, Leonard G. Lee
  • Patent number: 6708413
    Abstract: An envelope or package cutting system for cutting a material having a surface. The envelope cutting system includes a cutting unit and at least one template having the opening that is the shape of an unfolded envelope. The cutting unit includes a frame, a blade adjustment assembly and a blade assembly which are coupled to the frame. The blade assembly is positioned at least partially within the frame such that a longitudinal axis of the blade assembly is substantially perpendicular to a lower support surface of the frame. The blade assembly includes a blade retainer and a blade connected to the retainer. A rigid collar of the retainer is configured to operatively engage at least one of a periphery and the edge of the opening of the template thereby enabling the blade to cut a shape in the cutting material which assimilates the shape of an unfolded envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Alterra Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Robert Carlson, William J. Schulz, Jamieson A. Foght
  • Patent number: 6708414
    Abstract: Apparatus (4) for converting an optical theodolite (2) into a laser theodolite, which apparatus comprises a laser diode adapter (6) for connection to the optical theodolite in place of an eyepiece of a telescope (8) of the optical theodolite, and driver means (10) for the laser diode adapter (6); the laser diode adapter (6) comprising a housing (12), a laser diode (14); a holographic image reshaping lens (51), and a focusing lens (52) in the housing (12), and an externally threaded male portion (16) for screwing into the telescope (8) in place of the eyepiece; and the driver means (10) having securing means (18) for securing the driver means (10) to the optical theodolite (2) remote from the laser diode adapter (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph De Witt Clinton
  • Patent number: 6708415
    Abstract: An Improvement to enhance the usability of magnetic compasses by eliminating acceleration and turning errors, especially in aviation applications, without compromising simplicity and reliability. The improvement includes the addition of a weightless mass to the bar magnet of a conventional magnetic compass to counteract undesirable inertial forces on the bar magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Eugene Victor Osten
  • Patent number: 6708416
    Abstract: An inclination sensor includes a tubular chamber extending along a curved longitudinal axis. A mass is located within the chamber and moves by gravity to the lowest point of the chamber. A pair of location sensors are mounted on opposite ends of the chamber and determine the location of the mass along the chamber axis by emitting light toward the mass and measuring the intensity of the light reflected off the mass. The inclination of the inclination sensor is calculated from the axial location of the mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Motts and Havens Patents Pending
    Inventors: Daniel W. Havens, Steven H. Mott
  • Patent number: 6708417
    Abstract: A framing square for marking transverse, gable, hip/valley cut lines on a large standard sheathing panel includes an elongated rectangular scale with a transverse T-bar handle of equal width having transverse guide surfaces terminating a pivot point at the lateral ends thereof. The scale includes a first set of pitch angle lines for establishing gable cuts extending across the width of the panel and a second set of pitch angle lines for establishing hip/valley cuts. A series of holes are formed in the scale for attaching the scale to the panel at a select radius from a marker carried by the handle for establishing circular cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Neal Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6708418
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for masonry brick laying of a column, such apparatus employing an apparatus for setting a layer of brick or other structural material, allowing the column of bricks to be placed in a straight, or spiral, format while keeping each layer within the column both plumb and level. Each layer of brick column can consists of a shape that can be square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. whereas such shape can be spiraled from one layer of brick to another. Alternate embodiment of apparatus allows a curvilinear wall to be constructed, guiding each layer of brick as the wall is constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Larry J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6708419
    Abstract: A device for supporting checking heads or sensors, to be coupled to vehicle wheel rims, presents a central member having on one side the support for the head or sensor and comprising, on the opposite side, self-centering means carrying elements for engaging structural parts of the wheel rim which lie on a circumference coaxial therewith, and means for operating said self-centering means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Corshi S.p.A
    Inventor: Remo Corghi
  • Patent number: 6708420
    Abstract: The instant invention is a dynamic piezoelectric touch probe for use with coordinate measurement machines. The touch probe is characterized by five subsystems; (1) piezoelectric vibrator controlled by a self-tuning drive circuit that adjusts operating frequency and amplitude, (2) a high sensitivity, resonant accelerometer unit coupled to the piezoelectric vibrator, (3) a flexible suspension/stylus with transverse resonant frequencies tuned to the operating frequency band of the piezoelectric vibrator, (4) a digital control circuit that automatically sweeps the operating band of the piezoelectric vibrator to (a) detect the resonant frequency of the stylus/suspension, (b) set the drive signal frequency at the resonance of the stylus/suspension and (c) control the drive signal amplitude, and (5) a triaxial load cell system that is useful for detecting excessive low frequency suspension/stylus vibration, and excessive impact force during a touch event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Patrick M. Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6708421
    Abstract: A locating device for locating a body such as an electrical box behind a wall or ceiling. The device includes a first member positionable in the body and a second member that can be positioned on the outer surface of the wall or ceiling. A magnet positioned in the first member cooperates with a magnet positioned in the second member to maintain the second member in an aligned position with respect to the electrical box. Two magnets can be used to enhance the alignment of the second member with the electrical box. A circular first member can be used for locating circular boxes or lights. A second member having an arm can be used with a circular first member. The second member can include a plurality of apertures, each aperture sized to correspond to a specific size light or electrical box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Crorey
  • Patent number: 6708422
    Abstract: A saw guide for guiding hand-held power saws of the type having a moving blade and a parallel guide edge used for cutting sheet and stock material. The saw guide includes a fixed arm of L-shaped cross-section comprising respective horizontal and vertical legs. The horizontal leg rests on the upper surface of the material with the vertical leg extending downwardly to engage an edge of the material. The fixed leg is affixed to the material using a C-clamp which clamps the horizontal leg to the material. An elongate variable angle arm also of L-shaped cross-section comprising respective horizontal and vertical legs is pivotally connected to the fixed arm by an adjustable angle locking assembly. The horizontal leg of the variable angle leg rests on the surface of the material with the vertical leg extending upwardly to form an elongate, straight saw guide surface for guiding the power saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Dimitrije Stojanovski
  • Patent number: 6708423
    Abstract: Device and process for dewatering a fibrous material web by expelling water via gas pressure. The dewatering device includes at least four rolls arranged to radially limit at least one pressure chamber and sealing units arranged to axially limit the at least one pressure chamber. Adjustment devices are arranged to at least partially individually axially adjust positions of the at least four rolls and the sealing units. A pressure gas is introducible into and the fibrous material web is guidable through the at least one pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Dölle
  • Patent number: 6708424
    Abstract: A construction for a shoe, particularly an athletic shoe such as a running shoe, includes a sole that conforms to the natural shape of the foot, particularly the sides, and that has a constant thickness in frontal plane cross sections. The thickness of the shoe sole side contour equals and therefore varies exactly as the thickness of the load-bearing sole portion varies due to heel lift, for example. Thus, the outer contour of the edge portion of the sole has at least a portion which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane for providing natural stability and efficient motion of the shoe and foot particularly in an inverted and everted mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Anatomic Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Frampton E. Ellis, III
  • Patent number: 6708425
    Abstract: A ski boot, in particular a ski-mountaineering or telemark boot, having a shell made of plastic material; a shank hinged to the shell; and a control mechanism, located at the rear portion of the boot, for controlling the tilt of the shank and having a lever hinged to a projection of the shank and movable between a work position in which one end cooperates with a rear projection of the shell to prevent rearward rotation of the shank, and a release position. The control mechanism has a ring hinged to the lever and engaging a recess formed in the rear projection of the shell to also prevent forward rotation of the shank with respect to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Calzaturificio S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Davide Parisotto
  • Patent number: 6708426
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an outsole for use with a shoe and a shoe having an improved outsole. The outsole includes a forward portion and a rearward portion that are connected by a ball-and-socket connection that allows the portions to move freely. The outsole may include a flexible member disposed between two pieces, for example, of the forward portion to allow these pieces to flex freely. The outsole may be used with a sole construction that includes a gel cushion that is adjacent a transparent window member of the outsole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John J. Erickson, Douglas K. Robinson, Joseph Hamill, Saunders N. Whittlesey
  • Patent number: 6708427
    Abstract: The invention concerns a sole, used as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe, e.g, a football boot with a flexible outsole. The sole ensures that when shooting on the volley in football or with similar loadings, the entire force can be transmitted to the ball or similar sports equipment by means of a special stiffening of the sole by tension elements attached to raised walls of the edge area of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport
    Inventors: Reinhold Sussmann, Horst Widmann
  • Patent number: 6708428
    Abstract: A cleat holder is fixed to an underside of footwear and comprises a base and a hub projecting from. The hub includes a plurality of lobes on an outer periphery thereof and a screw-threaded bore. Grooves are defined in a side of the base, each groove having a portion extending to an indentation between two adjacent lobes. A shoe cleat comprises a cleat body and a screw-threaded spigot projecting from the cleat body. The screw-threaded spigot is releasably engageable with the screw-threaded bore of the cleat holder through rotary insertion. Protrusions are formed on a side of the cleat body and located around the screw-threaded spigot. Each protrusion of the shoe cleat is retained in place by an associated groove and an associated indentation of the cleat holder when the screw-threaded spigot is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004