Patents Issued in April 13, 2004
  • Patent number: 6719203
    Abstract: Cuvettes in boxes for blood testing and the like, are to be distinguished by bar code cuvette identification codes on each cuvette, together with a box identification code. The cuvettes have very limited space for bar code characters. The cuvette bar code reader is responsive to at least two different kinds of control codes, i.e., two distinct start code values and/or stop code values. The distinct control codes operate the bar code reader, but also contribute to the information that is encoded. A cuvette identification code is developed that combines an information code value with distinctions among the control codes found, to increase the number of values that can be encoded. In one embodiment, four start codes, four stop codes and a single decimal information digit, provide 160 different values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kowa Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taisuke Hirono, Muneharu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6719204
    Abstract: A laser beam having a Mathieu-Gaussian intensity profile is provided, which may be used for various optical scanning applications at various scanning distances. The Mathieu-Gaussian beam exhibits a zone of illumination characterized by a central spot and side lobes centered on an axis of elongation of the zone of illumination. The zone of illumination may be used with scanners that either generate a single scan line, or another omni- or multi-directional raster pattern, to scan symbols over large variations of distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yajun Li
  • Patent number: 6719205
    Abstract: A carrier element for a semiconductor chip and in particular for incorporation into smart cards. The carrier element has an encapsulation composition protecting the semiconductor chip. The carrier element connections are disposed on one of the main surfaces of the encapsulation composition along only two opposite edges. They are made of a conductive material and have a reduced thickness at the ends facing one another, the cross section having a step only on one side. The semiconductor chip is disposed on the connections in a region of the section of reduced thickness and is mechanically connected to the connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Püschner, Jürgen Fischer, Josef Heitzer
  • Patent number: 6719206
    Abstract: A data transaction card having an interface for bi-directional contactless communication, and comprising a support (20) having a cavity (12) for accommodating therein a chip carrier therein module (10). The chip carrier module comprises a substrate (11) having a first side (45) and a second side (46), and an integrated circuit (30) mounted on the first side of the substrate for managing functions of the data transaction card. A coil antenna (40) is electrically connected to the integrated circuit for inductive coupling with remote antenna, connections to the coil antenna being accessible from the first side of the substrate. The chip carrier module is packaged into one discrete unit so as to be amenable to mechanical assembly of the data transaction card without requiring additional electrical connections between the support and the chip carrier module during or subsequent to assembly. Such a construction allows for efficient mass-production of the data transaction card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: On Track Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Oded Bashan, Nehemya Itay, Ronnie Gilboa, Moshe Aduk
  • Patent number: 6719207
    Abstract: An air comfort control device is disclosed, which has a furnace with a furnace fan, an air conditioner with an air conditioner fan positioned remote from the furnace fan, and a temperature controller responsive to temperature changes in air in a partially enclosed environment, wherein the temperature controller sends a fan output signal to both the furnace fan and the air conditioner fan to run together to circulate air through the partially enclosed environment. The thermostat controller may also provide for multiple operation settings, including both automatic and manual options. The air comfort control device may also have a motor controller capable of sending more than one voltage to a blower motor to set a furnace fan at more than one speed. The motor controller can be produced separate from an ignition controller where the ignition controller sets the gas valve to a high position or a low position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Kloster
  • Patent number: 6719208
    Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism for a transmission/engine fluid cooler bypass valve of the type in which a responsive element expands to urge a valve member against a valve seat and thereby causes transmission fluid to flow through an oil fluid cooler. A cast valve housing is utilized which is interposed between the cooler and the oil source. The valve actuating mechanism is designed to allow fluid to pass through the valve once the fluid has reached an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Huron, Inc.
    Inventor: Lanny D. Brown
  • Patent number: 6719209
    Abstract: A spray head includes a sleeve provided with sprayers and divided into several chambers by a core element with several internal partitions. Each chamber is fed by passages and the main chamber is fed by a passage which passes through the cap, the cap including at least a spraying device in the form of a mini snow gun operating as nucleator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: York Neige
    Inventors: Bernard Pergay, Patrick Charriau, Michel Galvin
  • Patent number: 6719210
    Abstract: A sprayer including a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid. The sprayer container has at least a portion thereof including thermochromic color-changing properties. The sprayer container includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A spraying gun is connected to the sprayer container, with the spraying gun including a trigger for selectively spraying pressurized fluid in the sprayer container onto a predetermined object. The sprayer container indicates the amount of fluid in the sprayer container by a color change line located at a transition line between the fluid and gas within the sprayer container when fluid is located within the sprayer container, thereby causing a top area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the gas to be a first color and a bottom area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the fluid to be a second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Root-Lowell Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Michael T. Clarke
  • Patent number: 6719211
    Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a droplet quantity evaluation apparatus, wherein the mass of a droplet ejected onto an article is measured, and a measurement signal is generated based on the measurement result; a feedback control apparatus, wherein the measurement signal is compared with a respective reference value and then a control signal is generated based on the result of the comparison; and droplet ejecting apparatus for adjusting the amount of ejection for the droplet on the basis of the control signal. In the droplet apparatus, the amount of droplets ejected from the droplet ejecting apparatus can be accurately determined in real time, and the variation in the amount of ejected droplets, the presence thereof and the deviation of the arrival position thereof can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Koji Kimura, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6719212
    Abstract: The invention concerns a spray head for high pressure spray gun comprising a rotary element located in a central body and traversed by a channel with a spray orifice and a sealing joint between the rotary element and the gun, the rotary element having in its central part a spherical shape cooperating with the joint located inside the central body and two circular seats located on either side of the spherical part supported by the seats located on either side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Marcel Leisi
  • Patent number: 6719213
    Abstract: An agricultural boom is made up of two sections connected together, including an inner boom section and an outer boom section that are joined together with a hinge assembly in mid portions of the boom. The outer boom section is mounted to the inner boom with a linkage and control cylinder that provides for a knee action, that permits the outer boom section to be raised and lowered. The boom sections are both mounted about upright axes, and are supported against downward loads by separate pairs of cables that have ends joined at the base of the respective boom section at spaced points and connected to the outer or free ends of the respective boom sections at common points. The cables permit the boom sections to pivot about their respective upright axes with one of the cables carrying tension loads and causing the outer or free ends of the boom sections to raise while the other cable becomes slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Edward P. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6719214
    Abstract: A fire-extinguishing device (10) that is disclosed in three embodiments. All three embodiments utilize a water-spraying unit (12), a water hose (20) and a water-delivering tube (28). When the device (10) is attached to a pressurized water source (150) a water spray can be directed into a burning area. The first embodiment of the device (10) utilize a triangular water-delivering tube (28) that when attached to an elongated water supply tube (64) functions as a battering ram for penetrating a building structure. The second embodiment consists of an elongated water-delivering tube (28) having a lower section (36) that has attached a support structure (94) that is angled to substantially fit over a gabled roof. The third embodiment is also comprised of an elongated water-delivering tube (28) that is attached to a side of a fire truck (160). When the truck (160) is parked alongside a burning structure a water spray is produced that is directed into a burning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Gene P. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6719215
    Abstract: A windshield washer system for an automotive vehicle includes a fluid reservoir, a pump mounted within the fluid reservoir, a heater mounted in proximity to the pump so as to provide heat to the fluid contained within the reservoir and a nozzle operatively associated with the pump for applying fluid from the reservoir to an outside surface of the automotive vehicle at an even sub-freezing temperatures, with aqueous-based fluids either none, or minimal freezing point depressants contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jerome R. Drouillard
  • Patent number: 6719216
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing assembly which includes a container defining a volume for containing a first fluid. A valve assembly is fixed to the container, and is in fluid communication with the volume. The valve assembly is connectable to a fluid conduit which supplies a second fluid to the valve assembly. A handle strap is fixed relative to the container and the valve assembly, and has a conduit support engaging the container for supporting a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Hans Hubmann, Kevin Joseph Markey, Dean Ray Maune, Elizabeth Anne Slater, Matthew Egerton Young, Reuben Wu
  • Patent number: 6719217
    Abstract: The invention provides an air fragrance device (10) having a fan (26) driven by a motor (24) and provided in a blowing chamber (35) and an air fragrance tank (13) having a fragrant agent (1) therein and communicated with the blowing chamber (35), in which the blowing chamber (35) is arranged below the air fragrance tank (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tawara, Takashi Yamada, Fumihiko Yoshiro
  • Patent number: 6719218
    Abstract: A shower head has a housing with a water inlet and a control valve which connects to the housing inlet and has a plurality of water outlets. The control valve regulates the flow of water to a plurality of circumferentially arranged spray openings and to a nozzle which is located within the periphery of the spray openings. The nozzle has the ability to turn or spin, thus providing a soft spray which may be independent of or concurrent with the discharge of water from the spray openings. The nozzle may also wobble, which movement may be described as nutational, or the slow movement of the axis of the nozzle about another axis. Wobbling movement provides a somewhat more concentrated spray than that provided when the nozzle only spins. The shower head further has an auxiliary port which may be utilized with other spray devices such as fixed sprays or hand-held shower heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Lonnie F. Cool, Mark S. Kacik, Yaakov Korb, Richard A. Parso, Stephen J. Zaborszki
  • Patent number: 6719219
    Abstract: A sprayer nozzle includes a housing having a center bore to receive water, and a rotor having a center hole to receive a pivot shaft which may rotatably secure the rotor to the housing. The pivot shaft is offset from the center bore of the housing, and the rotor includes a number of passages disposed around the center hole of the rotor, and arranged to be selectively aligned with the center bore of the housing when the rotor is rotated relative to the housing, to allow the water from the center bore of the housing to selectively flow out through either of the passages of the rotor, and to form different water spraying patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Chin Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 6719220
    Abstract: A fuel injector, especially for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine having externally supplied ignition, comprising a swirl disk having swirl channels and a central recess, and having a guide compensator inserted into the recess whose center axis is able to be inclined relative to the center axis of the fuel injector and which has a sealing fit with respect to the valve needle. Formed by a sealing-seat surface, disposed in the swirl disk, and a radial widening of the guide compensator is a sealing seat which tolerates an excursion of the center axis, preventing a swirl-free leakage flow in the same manner as the sealing fit between the valve needle and the guide compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Guenther Hohl
  • Patent number: 6719221
    Abstract: The fuel injector has a housing that is formed from at least one nozzle tension nut, a first injector module and a second injector module. The first injector module and the second injector module adjoin one another and are disposed in the nozzle tension nut. A fuel high-pressure bore is led through the first injector module and the second injector module. A fuel return bore is disposed in the housing. Contact surfaces between the injector modules form a first gap that adjoins the high-pressure bore. Contact surfaces between the nozzle tension nut and the injector modules form a second gap that is connected to the first gap. The return line adjoins the second gap for the discharge of fuel that has entered the second gap from the high-pressure bore via the first gap. The fuel injector is such that the second gap is sealed off relative to the surroundings of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wendelin Klügl, Günter Lewentz, Gerd Schmutzler, Andreas Voigt
  • Patent number: 6719222
    Abstract: A fluid distribution device (9) includes a distribution block (10) having an array of fluid flow passages (11) arranged in a plurality of at least first and second groups (15, 16). Valve mechanism (12) is operable for controlling fluid flow through the passages (11). The valve mechanism (12) includes a first series of valve members (19) each associated with a respective one of the groups (15) of flow passages (11), and a second series of valve members (20) each associated with a respective one of the second groups (16) of flow passages (11). Each valve member (19, 20) is movable between a closed position preventing flow through the associated flow passages (11) and an open position permitting flow along those passages (11). When all of the valve members (19, 20) associated with any one flow passage (11) are in the open position, fluid is able to flow through that passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas Barson Mebberson
  • Patent number: 6719223
    Abstract: A nozzle plate is provided with annular step portions each located on the periphery of a nozzle opening rim on a valve seat side, which rises up towards the nozzle opening rim from the radial outside of the nozzle, to form a fuel flow which flows in reverse from the radial outside to collide at an incline with a fuel flow which flows directly into the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yukinawa, Masatoshi Yanase, Hiroaki Hirata
  • Patent number: 6719224
    Abstract: A fuel supply system has a pump, a common rail, and injectors. Pressurized fuel is stored in the common rail. The common rail distributes the fuel to the injectors. A liquid fuel and a liquefied gas fuel such as dimethyl ether and a liquefied petroleum gas may be used as a fuel. In each injector, a valve element is actuated directly by an electromagnetic actuator. The injector has a low pressure chamber for decreasing a biasing force which acts on the valve element in a valve closing direction. The valve element can be divided for replacement. The injector has means for suppressing the bounce of the valve element. A hydraulic unit which utilizes the fuel suppresses the bounce of the valve element. The fuel supply system is connected to a refrigerating cycle. The fuel leaking from the fuel supply system is cooled and again liquefied by the refrigerating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeiku Enomoto, Moriyasu Goto, Tetsuo Morita, Masaaki Kato, Hisaharu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6719225
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for pre-disintegrating and cutting fibrous plants to staple length for the separation of fibres and woody parts with the goals to accelerate drying, if applied during harvesting, but mainly to facilitate separation of woody parts before the main fiber recovery machine in order to increase useful performance of same. The device includes a cutting rotor, a supply devoce, cutting blades, and one or more impact or snapping tools. In some fields of application, for example, pulp and paper manufacture or manufacture of insulating material, the degree of pre-disintegration or pre-decortication attained with the device and process, is sufficient so that a further decortication can be dispensed thus improving efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Rolf Hesch
  • Patent number: 6719226
    Abstract: The present invention is a truck mounted mobile paper shredding system, with first and second rotary paper feed systems and a hammer mill paper shredder disposed between the feed systems. The feed systems and hammer mill are transversely mounted relative to the truck which, together with the relative positioning of the feed systems and hammer mill. provides increased paper processing speeds and a more efficient shredding operation. The invention further includes a monitoring system to prevent overfeed of the hammer mill and a low profile lift system which allows the truck to be more readily used in confined areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Max Ronald Rajewski
  • Patent number: 6719227
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a gearless grinding mill motor includes fabricating a plurality of linear stator portions and assembling a grinding mill stator from the linear stator portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Serge Louis Scuccato
  • Patent number: 6719228
    Abstract: A baffle for a food waste disposer to reduce noise is disclosed. The baffle has a diaphragm that allows solid and liquid waste to pass through the diaphragm, and accordingly does not substantially affect the normal operation of the disposer. However, because the baffle covers the central opening in the conventional mounting gasket of the prior art, a direct path from the grinding mechanism in the disposer to the sink is blocked, thus muffling the noise coming from the grinding mechanism. Additionally, the disclosed baffles are preferably, but not necessarily, designed so as to create a water dam on their surface by impeding the flow of water from the sink faucet in a way to create a pool of water. The disclosed baffles may be installed in the drain opening of a sink above the conventional mounting gasket, although other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Cynthia Jara-Almonte
  • Patent number: 6719229
    Abstract: The invention provides a crusher which can produce uniform finely pulverised material without having to increase the speed of the rotor, and which has a good rate of productivity. The crusher comprises crushing vanes 3 having extensions 35 formed protruding radially from the outer surface of the rotor 1 and extending below a raw material drop point A of a dead-bed 4, and an annular wall 5 similarly positioned below the raw material drop point A of the dead-bed 4, on an inner rim of a lower plate 22 of the crushing chamber 2, and pulverizing is effected by the material 7 which rebounds and falls from the dead-bed 4, striking the extensions 35 of the crushing vanes 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Minerals (Matamata) Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Aihara, Yuichi Nagahara
  • Patent number: 6719230
    Abstract: A carrier tube is provided for retaining yarn packages during a dyeing operation, the tube including axially aligned rings spaced from one another along at least a portion thereof. Longitudinally extending columns or ribs intersect each of the rings to form a lattice structure over at least a portion of the surface of the tube body in which apertures are defined by the rings and ribs. Each of the ribs includes interspersed reduced load carrying sections that deflect compressively in response to axial load applied to the tube. The deflections of the reduced load carrying sections accumulating over the length of the ribs to permit axial acceptance of the load. The carrier tube also having radial reduction sections connected to the rings to accept a radial reduction of the tube in response to compressive load created by the yarn during the dyeing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Fedar Baranov, Brian P. Couchey, Victor J. DesRosiers, William E. Leidel, James P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6719231
    Abstract: In a tape drive device of the present invention, a window portion, through which a leader pin attached to a distal end of a magnetic tape can pass, is provided in a reel hub for winding the magnetic tape. The leader pin is fed into the reel hub through the window portion and is accommodated and held at an accommodation recess portion of a clamp member. The clamp member holds the leader pin and is rotated a half-turn inside the reel hub. Then, a closing portion is advanced into the window portion. A distal end surface of this closing portion is formed in a circular arc shape in accordance with an outer peripheral surface of the reel hub. Together with the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub, the distal end surface structures a winding surface around which the magnetic tape is wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 6719232
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette includes an ID board for enabling a hardware to identify the magnetic tape by bringing contacts on a circuit board of the ID board which are exposed through an opening formed in a lower cassette half into contact with corresponding contacts in the hardware. Additionally, a plating treatment is provided on the contacts on the ID board. Further, a determined distance is secured between all end portions of the parts of the circuit board. Which are provided with the plating treatment, and the end faces of the circuit board. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the determined distance of the ID boards at a forward position in a moving direction of the magnetic tape cassette at which the contacts on the ID board are adapted to slidably contact with the contacts in the hardware is set to be 0.05-0.25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Ashikawa, Shozo Onmori, Kazuo Hiraguchi, Hiroyuki Naito
  • Patent number: 6719233
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel for seat belt webbing and a load limiter that has a flowable load-limiter medium which is transported through a flow channel, by a displacement device. The displacement device is drivable by the belt reel, at an energy consumption related to a crash, in which the flow resistance of the transported load-limiter medium in the flow channel or the volume of the load-limiter medium transported in the flow channel per unit time is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Thomas Heckmayr
  • Patent number: 6719234
    Abstract: The direct roving winder has a machine frame which carries at least one winding spindle for the production of one or more roving packages and a cross-winding device. An apparatus for contactless detection of the actual diameter of a roving package is also provided which has a laser sensor with a transmitter and a receiver for laser radiation in which the distance of the laser sensor from the package surface is ascertained by means of the radiation from the transmitter to the package surface and back to the receiver. The laser sensor can be mounted in stationary manner on the machine frame or on the displacement device. The laser sensor can be arranged in a housing with an opening for the passage of the laser beam, in which there is a free space between the laser sensor and the inside of the housing into which compressed gas is introduced which exits through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Dietze & Schell Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Rainer Uhde, Ulrich Singer
  • Patent number: 6719235
    Abstract: For improving the quality of rolls (4) in which a large number of flat articles (2) are wound onto a roll core with the help of a winding tape (5), a local additional pressure force is exerted on the periphery of the roll (4) under formation during the winding process. For this purpose, the winding device, which in a known manner includes a device for holding a roll core (1), a device for supplying the articles (2) to a winding point (3) on the periphery of the roll core (1) or of the roll (4) under formation respectively, a device for feeding-in the winding tape (5) under tension to the winding point (3) and a drive for rotating the roll core (1) or of the roll (4) under formation, further includes at least one device (6) for generating the additional pressure force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Conrad Auf Der Maur, Walter Trecco
  • Patent number: 6719236
    Abstract: A strip component (12) is carried by a liner (52) into a storage spool (24) having spiral grooved flanges (36, 38) for edges of the liner (52) which are guided into the grooves by guide rods (66, 74) which do not interfere with the transporting of the strip component (12) into and out of the spool (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
    Inventors: Wayne Antoine Douglas, Donald Chester Kubinski, John Patrick Roman, Matthew Ray Cappelli
  • Patent number: 6719237
    Abstract: Process and winding machine for winding a continuous material web on a reel spool forming a wound reel. The process includes, upon attaining a desired roll diameter in an old wound reel, closing a new winding nip between a reeling drum and a new reel spool brought into a standby position. In this regard, the reeling drum and the old wound reel are jointly displaced while maintaining the old winding nip formed between the reeling drum and the old wound reel. After the closing of the new winding nip between the reeling drum and the new reel spool, the linear load in the new winding nip is adjusted, controlled or regulated by a corresponding displacement and tightening of the reeling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Wohlfahrt, Roland Thomas
  • Patent number: 6719238
    Abstract: Tapes (13), such as magnetic, optic and other recording tapes, and many other kinds of tapes having opposite edges (14,15), are wound into an increasing tape pack (16) about an axis of rotation (18) by floating substantially each newly arriving tape winding (113) on a fluid film (19) on the increasing tape pack. Opposite edges of substantially each new winding of the tape are continuously aligned for a number of turns (23) with corresponding edges of substantially all preceding windings of tape in the increasing tape pack with the aid of that fluid film. Increments of that fluid film between the turns are gradually diminished to zero until each leading turn of such number of turns has become locked to a remainder of the tape pack. Resulting packs (16) of wound tape are substantially fluid-free and co-planar along opposite radial planes (21,22) of the tape pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: John P. Grant, William S. Oakley, Thomas P. Frangesh
  • Patent number: 6719239
    Abstract: An automatic splicing system is provided that includes a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily. The rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hisao Suzuki, Fumio Kubo, Shozo Horikawa
  • Patent number: 6719240
    Abstract: A system and process for unwinding rolls of material is disclosed. The system is particularly well suited for unwinding soft, high-bulk tissue webs. In one embodiment, the system includes the combination of a center unwind device and a surface unwind device to unwind the roll of material in a primary unwind location. Once the roll of material is partially unwound, the roll is then moved to a secondary unwind location while a new roll of material is moved into the primary unwind location. In this manner, multiple rolls of material can be continuously unwound without substantial downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hanson, Robert J. Seymour, Mike E. Daniels, James Baggot, Randy LeValley, Edward Marksman, Preston O'Connor, Kenneth Pigsley, Douglas C. Thomas, Jeffrey Greiner
  • Patent number: 6719241
    Abstract: A novel cable-tie off device for cable lifting assemblies (e.g. elevators and boat lifts) is disclosed herein. The device is an elongated member having, in a series, a head portion, a elongated shank portion, and an end portion. Immediately subjacent the head portion is a hole for maintaining the proximal end of a lifting cable therein. The elongated member is designed for engagement within a pair of holes drilled, in registration, through the spool of a winder assembly. When engaged within the spool holes, the elongated member securely maintains the proximal cable end held within the member between the head portion of the member and the outer surface of the spool. A fastener is secured to the end portion of the member to tightly maintain the member within the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: William Golden
  • Patent number: 6719242
    Abstract: A composite core tube is provided for the winding of a web of material. A hollow cylindrical core is covered by a water-resistant rigid sleeve in a heat fit manner to provide a winding surface. The sleeve is selected and finished to control the winding characteristics of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold B. Floyd, Jr., David E. Rhodes, Gerald L. Lane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6719243
    Abstract: An industrial edger for mounting to a sharp or abrasive edge to protect rope from physical damage caused by contact between the rope and the edge as the rope passes over the edge. The industrial edger comprises an elongated tube having an exterior surface over which the rope passes, a slot cut along the length of the elongated tube to allow placement of the industrial edger over the edge, and end plates attached to both ends of the elongated tube to prevent the rope from sliding off of the elongated tube. Dividing plates may be attached to the exterior surface of the elongated tube to provide multiple channels for the use of multiple ropes protected by one industrial edger. A roller may be placed on the top of each end plate to reduce friction from an object, e.g., a backboard, sliding over the industrial edger. A retaining rod may be removably mounted parallel to the elongated tube, attached at the end plates, to prevent a loose rope from coming off of the industrial edger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Haverty
  • Patent number: 6719244
    Abstract: The invention relates to improvements with regards to the control of VTOL aircraft that use two propellers or fans as the primary lifting devices in hover. More particularly, the invention is a means for effecting control of the aircraft using just the two propellers alone, and comprises the in-flight tilting of them—which are of the conventional, non-articulated type (though they may have collective blade-pitch)—directly and equally towards or away from one another (and therefore about parallel axes) as necessary for the generation of propeller torque-induced and gyroscopic control moments on the aircraft about an axis perpendicular to the propeller tilt and mean-spin-axes. For a side-by-side propeller arrangement, therefore, their (lateral) tilting towards or away from one another produces aircraft pitch control moments for full control of the aircraft in that direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Gary Robert Gress
  • Patent number: 6719245
    Abstract: In a control and energy supply system for the drive units and control units for at least two, preferably adjacent, aircraft seats, all system components are interconnected via a data bus, so that the control system of the one seat is informed of what is happening to the other seat. The servomotors of the seats can be supplied with power via two separate networks. System failure caused by loose or disconnected plug type connections, cable breakage, short circuits or a failed control unit can be avoided by said redundancy concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Wagner
  • Patent number: 6719246
    Abstract: A device for accelerating the destruction of contra-rotating vortices formed at the rear of wings of a moving body by the merging of at least two co-rotating eddies includes, on each of the wings, at least one perturbator which is positioned in the vicinity of the area of creation of one of the co-rotating eddies associated with the wing. Each of the perturbators generates a periodic perturbation of the flow, which has a wavelength capable of exciting at least one of the instability modes of the corresponding eddy in such a way as to increase the core of the contra-rotating vortex which is created from this eddy, in such a way that the diameter of the core becomes greater than a predetermined proportion of the inter-vortex distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Alexandre Corjon, Thomas Leweke, Florent Laporte
  • Patent number: 6719247
    Abstract: A hanger for freely seating a flexible duct. The hanger has a proximal end that can be attached to a support structure, such as a beam or joist, and a distal end with a cradle. The cradle includes a near end defining a transition between the cradle and the distal end, and a remote end opposite the near end such that together they define a duct insertion gap between them. The duct insertion gap is greater than the diameter of the flexible duct such that the duct can be freely seated in the cradle. A duct-engaging surface extends between the near and remote ends of the cradle, and is defined by an exaggerated contact area along at least a portion thereof. The extra surface provided by the exaggerated contact area can engage more of the outer wall surface of the flexible duct, thereby distributing the weight of the duct over a larger area and reducing the likelihood of crimping and sagging such that airflow is not adversely effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: William Andrew Botting
  • Patent number: 6719248
    Abstract: An anti-fatigue platform includes a resilient body having a flat bottom surface and a sloped upper surface. The sloped upper surface promotes vertical equilibrium and relieves lower and mid back muscular stress when a worker is standing for long periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Gordon Lamont
  • Patent number: 6719249
    Abstract: A device used to hold/support a target or multiple targets in the ground for the purpose of target shooting with firearms, air guns, and the like. This target supporting device allows any size or thickness material typically used for target shooting to be securely embedded into the ground, regardless of the slope of the ground to the line of fire. Additionally, any type of card, board, or sign can be supported in the ground to post information such as yard sales, keep off the grass notices, trail maintenance, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: S. Scott MacIntyre
  • Patent number: 6719250
    Abstract: A backpacker's portable cooking stand that can be used for outdoor cooking and can be foldable to a compact configuration includes a cooking platform for mounting over a source of heat, and foldable legs that are pivoted to over center attitudes for stable use of the cooking stand over a fire and are folded to a compact configuration for travelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: S. Dunkin FitzSimons
  • Patent number: 6719251
    Abstract: A frame system attached to the top of a Christmas tree which allows decorations, such as bows, to be secured to the frame and which will decorate the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Carolyn E. Eastland, Dedra E. Pennington
  • Patent number: 6719252
    Abstract: A leg support for furniture is disclosed. The leg support for furniture has a base body and a plurality of rods, characterized in that the base body is provided with a plate body having a top face for locking to the furniture, the bottom face of the plate body is provided with a plurality of sleeves for mounting with the rods such that the sleeves and the rods are formed into a structure having a strong resistance to torque; the top end of the rod is provided with a screw hole such that the rod can be urged to the sleeve by means of the upward pull of an urging bolt, thereby the leg support which can be easily assembled and dissembled is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Tung Tang Cheng