Patents Issued in September 7, 2004
  • Patent number: 6786516
    Abstract: A coupler for coupling a male end of a hose to a female end of a faucet or another hose. In the first embodiment, the female end of the coupler is mechanically locked in sealing engagement with a male end by simply translation thereof by means of wedges and an outer retaining sleeve. In a second embodiment, hydraulic pressure provides the final seal, with the female end being a spring split-ring locked and compressed by means of an outer locking sleeve, which outer locking sleeve is released by squeezing it in order to deform it. A third embodiment combines the first and second embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald Cronley
  • Patent number: 6786517
    Abstract: A novel concentric pipe joint restraint is disclosed. The restraint is specifically designed to resist axial movement of an inner spigot pipe relative to an outer socket pipe with which it has been joined. The restraint, which operates within the annulus, generally comprises a spigot wedge ring, a socket wedge ring, and one or more specially designed wedge housings. The spigot wedge ring features one or more spigot gripping protrusions which, upon contact, frictionally engage the spigot pipe. The socket wedge ring similarly features one or more socket gripping protrusions which, upon contact, frictionally engage the socket pipe. The wedge housings position the spigot wedge ring and/or the socket wedge ring so that the gripping protrusions grip the pipes, preventing axial movement (whether separation or compression).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Dennis D. Shumard
  • Patent number: 6786518
    Abstract: A load floor latch that can be installed in a vehicle floor for storage having a biasing means for actuation but allows slam action closure. The latch comprises an actuation assembly that is attached to a housing or lid and is designed to accommodate a pawl member for engaging and disengaging a frame. The flat lid and out-of-way handle allow extra room within the vehicle and prevent damage or breakage of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Fabrice Vitry
  • Patent number: 6786519
    Abstract: The locking bolt of a swing bolt lock has an elongated opening that fits on a shaft in the lock's housing. The shaft has a compression spring that biases the bolt toward one side of the shaft. In normal operation, the compression spring urges the bolt such that the shaft is at one end of the elongated opening. There, the swing bolt pivots about the shaft to unlock the lock. When a person tries to force the lock, the elongated opening of the bolt moves against spring bias along the shaft. In one embodiment, flat surfaces in the opening and on the shaft engage each other and a notch on the outside surface of the bolt engages a stationary safety key. This prevents the bolt from applying sufficient force to break weaker parts within the lock mechanism and force the lock open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: U-Code, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus W. Gartner
  • Patent number: 6786520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle bumper with an inside bumper unit which can be fastened to a vehicle body and a bumper outside unit which is fastened section-wise to the bumper inside part. According to the invention the inside bumper unit supports the outside bumper unit solely in the area of its sill portion which is to be arranged under a vehicle trunk lid. Use for lightweight bumpers for motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Burkhardt, Dietmar Preissler, Anton Sautner
  • Patent number: 6786521
    Abstract: A composite material for application during a vehicle manufacturing stage. A selected thermoplastic/thermoset material encapsulates a sheet of a mesh substrate, typically resulting from a first heat forming stage. The composite material is formed into a desired three-dimensional shape. A second heating stage is applied to bond and seal the material to the vehicle. The material selection of the thermoplastic/thermoset may further incorporate a desired coefficient of thermal expansion to provide a desired degree of expansion of the material once applied to the vehicle. The material section of the thermoplastic/thermoset may further incorporate a desired structural enhancement to provide a desired degree of structural rigidity of the material once applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventors: Elmer L. Jaffke, Lenny B. Francis, II
  • Patent number: 6786522
    Abstract: A modular, reconfigurable rack system including a plurality of members each including a tenon on selected external surfaces thereof, and a plurality of joint members each including a mortise section releasably clampable on the tenon of a first member and a tang receivable in the end of a second member, the tang including an adjustable bearing block which engages an internal surface of the second member to releasably lock the tang inside the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventors: Stanley F. Kench, III, Thomas J. Kench
  • Patent number: 6786523
    Abstract: A vehicular drawer apparatus includes a case installed in an interior member and a drawer member that slides in and out of the case. Energy absorption devices for absorbing impact energy applied to the drawer member in a drawn-out direction are disposed on at least one of the case and the drawer member. The energy absorption devices, which are engaged by a striker, are constructed to absorb impact energy in a stepped manner and to fail sequentially. Due to this, the energy absorption devices are not required to have a high strength. In addition, even in the event that a very large impact energy is applied to the drawer member, the energy can be absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Ogura
  • Patent number: 6786524
    Abstract: In a vehicle glove box including a main body provided movably to an instrument panel, a lid portion provided to the main body on the interior side and forming a closed section with a surface of the main body on the interior side, and a reinforcing member of a substantially plate-like shape extending across the closed section in the width direction of the main body, a plurality of support portions provided to the main body on the interior side in the form of protrusions which extend toward the interior. These support portions support a peripheral surface of the reinforcing member, so that the reinforcing member can be thus provided to the main body to form an integral structure. In this way, it is possible to provide the glove box which can be assembled through a simple and easy assembling process and thereby reduce the burden to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6786525
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle has a carbody with a rear area provided with a trunk lid. A roof is stowable within the rear area of the convertible vehicle underneath the trunk lid. The trunk lid is movable in a first direction for releasing a passageway for the roof and in a second direction for releasing a receiving opening for luggage. The trunk lid is divided into several parts along at least one joint extending substantially in a transverse vehicle direction. When opening the trunk lid in the first direction, a frontmost one of the several parts of the trunk lid, viewed in a travel direction of the convertible vehicle, is moved in the travel direction at least partially into a position above a rear part of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Russke, Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 6786526
    Abstract: A windshield which may be removably attached to an all-terrain vehicle to shield a rider on the ATV from wind. The windshield includes a base portion having notches for receiving various frame elements on the front frame of the ATV and a windshield panel extending upwardly from the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Larry Blalock
  • Patent number: 6786527
    Abstract: The invention concerns a roof retractable into the rear deck (5) of a vehicle. The retractable roof includes a front roof element (3) and a rear roof element (1) linked together by an intermediate element (2). Displacement of the elements (1, 2, 3) is controlled by a first mechanism for controlling and guiding the displacement of the rear element (1) towards a stowed position wherein the element (1) extends substantially horizontally to the upper part of the rear deck (5); the first mechanism co-operating with a second mechanism for controlling the lifting of the intermediate element (2) relative to the rear element (1), then for superposing the intermediate element (2) above the rear element in the rear deck (5); the second mechanism co-operating with a third mechanism for controlling the pivoting downwards of the front element (3) during its movement towards the rear deck (6) up to a position wherein the element extends substantially vertically to the front of the rear deck (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: France Design
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Guillez, Gérard Queveau
  • Patent number: 6786528
    Abstract: The invention concerns a motor vehicle retractable roof, comprising front (1), intermediate (2) and rear (3) roof elements. The displacement of the rear element (3) towards the rear deck is controlled by at least an arm (6) articulated to the vehicle chassis and to the rear element (3). The rear element (3) is linked to the intermediate element (2) through two levers (9, 10) forming a deformable quadrilateral. The intermediate element (2) is linked to the front element (1) through two other levers (15, 16) forming a deformable quadrilateral. The arm (16) is linked in articulation to one (10) of the two levers linking the rear (3) and intermediate (2) elements, through a hinge link (21). The other lever (9) linking the rear (3) and intermediate (2) elements is linked to one (16) of the levers linking the intermediate (2) and front (1) elements through a hinge link (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: France Design
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Guillez, Gérard Queveau
  • Patent number: 6786529
    Abstract: In a vehicle roof which is movable between a closed position, in which the roof covers an interior vehicle space, and an open position and wherein the roof part includes a locking bolt for engagement with an adjacent vehicle part when the roof is in a closed position, the roof part and the adjacent vehicle part each has a guide tube incorporated therein and the locking bolt is movably supported in one of the adjacent guide tubes and, upon closing of the vehicle roof, is insertable into the adjacent guide tube and lockable thereto so that the guide tubes and the locking bolt form a continuous tube structure with a common axis when the vehicle roof is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: CTS Fahrzeug-Dachsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hasselgruber, Wojciech Wezyk, Klaus Laue
  • Patent number: 6786530
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one door releasably securable in a closed position by a power operable latch. The latch is operable by a remotely operable unlatching mechanism to release the door. There is no unlatching mechanism provided on an unsecured part of the vehicle when the vehicle has been secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney Edward Fisher
  • Patent number: 6786531
    Abstract: A vehicle closure body structure is provided with an outer panel, an inner panel opposed to the outer panel, with the outer panel and the inner panel forming a hollow structure of a closure body adapted to be mounted to an opening portion of a vehicle body through a hinge secured to the inner panel, a reinforce joined to the inner panel, inside the closure body, in at least a hinge fixing area thereof at which the hinge is fixed, and a tunneled portion formed in the reinforce to form a passage between the tunneled portion and the inner panel so as to permit wiring harness to be arranged therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitake Miyahara, Akira Nakazato
  • Patent number: 6786532
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for truck utility bodies. The hinge assembly comprising three female hinges, a male hinge, and a hinge pin aligned along the pivot axis of door of the truck utility body. The hinge assembly is mounted inside the utility body of the truck, thereby eliminating the problems associated with externally mounted hinge assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Christopher McNally
  • Patent number: 6786533
    Abstract: A modular segmented structural reinforcement system for use with closed forms or cavities defined with automotive vehicles having a plurality of modular segments designed to be secured within a defined portion of an automotive vehicle applications. An expandable or bonding material, such as an epoxy-based reinforcing foam or other sound absorption, damping, vibration reduction, or sealing material is disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of each of the plurality of segments. Once the system is flexible fitted within the closed form or placed within a selected cavity of an automotive vehicle, the material expands and cures during an automobile assembly operation, bonding the reinforcement system to the segments. As a result, the reinforcement system provides enhanced load distribution over the vehicle frame without adding excessive weight and further serves to reduce noise and vibrational characteristics of the automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: L&L Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lothar Josef Bock, Bendan Keenan, Ken Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6786534
    Abstract: An automotive body includes a floor pan and a door for accessing a passenger compartment, a cross member attached to the floor pan and extending laterally under the floor pan, and a longitudinally extending frame rail underlying the floor and cross member. A flexible tensile member fastened between the frame rail and the cross member arrests lateral displacement of the door relative to the frame rail resulting from side impact upon the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Zheng James Peng
  • Patent number: 6786535
    Abstract: A vehicle body has a first compartment for carrying passengers or cargo and a second compartment for carrying cargo rearwardly adjacent the first compartment. The body includes a frame defining an opening between the first and second compartments. The opening includes lower and upper portions. A window is mounted to the frame to close the upper portion of the opening. A closure panel is mounted to the frame and includes first and second hinged panel sections each pivotable between an open position permitting access through first and second portions, respectively, of the lower portion of the opening, and a closed position closing the first and second portions, respectively, of the lower portion of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce M. Grzegorzewski, William Charles Bisnack, Vincent L. Ruma, Richard J. Lange, Andrew J. Novajovsky, Ajay Mahesh Kharod, John J. Mascarello
  • Patent number: 6786536
    Abstract: This body structure is suitable for motor vehicles, especially for passenger cars and comprises a passenger compartment structure and at least one supporting structure adjoining thereon, for example, for accommodating a driving unit and wheel suspension elements. The supporting structure is connected to the passenger compartment structure through holding elements. To optimize the supporting structure, having a region connecting with the passenger compartment structure and a rear end region, the supporting structure is formed as an enveloping device of a high-strength, especially a fiberglass reinforced plastic, which is reinforced with a supporting device and surrounds the driving unit at least regionally, the enveloping device having several openings, each of which forms an access to the driving unit, and being provided with bearing mountings for the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Oliver Stoffels, Dieter Steinhauser, Thomas Meier
  • Patent number: 6786537
    Abstract: A water management system of the present invention provides a sunroof drain member formed as a continuous piece. The drain member supports a sunroof guide track, and removes water from the guide track and sunroof area. The sunroof guide track is secured to the drain member by a plurality of interlocking features. By forming the interlocking features as integral parts of the guide track and drain member this prevents leakage in weakening in the areas where fastening devices would otherwise need to be attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Troy Allan, Steven J. Engelgau, Hyong Chol Park, Joachim Roeder, Daniel Cooney, Michael Cherry, John Long, Keith Roberts, Gregory Kerwin
  • Patent number: 6786538
    Abstract: A reinforcing support frame structure, for use in a roof portion of a vehicle body, includes a panel enclosure with an opening for supporting a roof panel therein. The panel enclosure includes an intermediate portion, which may have two parts situated at different levels, with a curved border therebetween. The reinforcing frame also includes a brace operatively attached to the panel enclosure. The brace may include a triangular portion, having a narrow end facing toward the opening of the panel enclosure. The reinforcing frame structure may also include a plurality of interconnected crossmembers, which are operatively connected to the panel enclosure. Where used, the crossmembers give additional strength to the structure. The reinforcing frame structure may be substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daniel Turk, Sachin K. Raje, Christopher S. Weatherbie
  • Patent number: 6786539
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) with a vehicle roof (2) with a sequence of cover elements (8) which are guided on roof-mounted guides for selective closing or at least partial clearance of a roof opening (6) in the vehicle roof (2), and the cover elements (8) can be swung out and are located stacked in their swung out position on the back end of the roof opening (6) for complete clearance of the roof opening (6), the roof opening (6) extending as far as the rear trunk lid (9). The cover elements are louvers (8) of a louvered roof (7) and at least the rear louvers, which in their rear closed position are located in the rear window area, are transparent louvers or glass louvers. In this configuration, the cover elements or louvers (8) are located in a compact stacked arrangement in the area above the hat rack (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6786540
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a drive device for motor vehicle sliding sunroofs or the like are proposed, in which the drive cables wound with wire in screw thread-like manner used hitherto as drive transmission elements in particular for the drive of the displaceable cover but also for the drive of displaceable shading or wind deflection elements are replaced by endless, tensile stress-resistant, low-noise guided toothed belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Friedrich, Rainer Hattass
  • Patent number: 6786541
    Abstract: A ventilated vehicle seat includes an imperforate foam air plenum member located in a foam cushion top. The air plenum member is assembled from a molded box-like foam member and an integrally molded cover. The air plenum has an air port for application of positive or negative pressure. The cover has apertures for air to pass into or out of the air plenum member. One preferred embodiment of the air plenum member includes an integrally molded portion that is assembled into an air conduit for said air port. The cover can have various sizes that are larger than the box-like member and can have inner and outer surface conformations to suit various purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gregary A. Haupt, Jeff Montgomery, Gary Reynolds, Hilding Holcombe
  • Patent number: 6786542
    Abstract: An improved design in bicycle, unicycle or tricycle seats as related an articulating, adjustable resistance seat, which acts in reducing perineal pressure, providing support to proper parts of the pelvis while allowing variable seat resistance adjustments and width adjustments according to the anatomy of the rider. The ability to allow an upward/downward movement of the seat with downward resistance provides the rider with an energy assist when the leg is moving in the upward position. This action will result in less fatigue to the rider especially when engaged in racing over long periods. Resistance can be applied by a spring, spring-hinge, torsion bar or other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph Nuzzarello
  • Patent number: 6786543
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom. The vehicle seat also has a recliner mechanism for adjusting the angle between the seat back and the seat bottom. The recliner is capable of substantially supporting the seat back relative to the seat bottom below a threshold force acting on said seat back during normal operating loads. The operating loads are below a threshold level. The seat also has an impact control mechanism operatively connected to the seat back and the seat bottom. The impact control mechanism is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In the disengaged position, the seat back is permitted to move relative to said seat bottom. In an engaged position, the impact control mechanism restrains the seat back from moving relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Andersson, Odd Jaegtnes
  • Patent number: 6786544
    Abstract: A seat back structure of vehicle seat which is reduced in thickness and yet deformable to provide a deep cushiony touch to a back of passenger. According thereto, an elastic back support element and a back board element are respectively provided in one and another sides of seat back, and a movable connection element is provided so as to allow displacement of the back board element from a home position, while allowing the elastic back support element to be resiliently warped. The back board element is normally biased by a biasing element of the home position. A stopper element is defined in the seat back for preventing movement of the back board element from the home position to the elastic back support element. The back board element per se may be formed by a plurality of plate elements connected movably with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Muraishi
  • Patent number: 6786545
    Abstract: A wind protection device for an open motor vehicle includes a passenger cell that has at least one car seat with a backrest. There is on a level with the top area of the backrest at least one air outflow opening of an air supply system. Thereby, the head, shoulder and neck area of the seat occupant is impinged on with an air stream that can be regulated to avoid an undesired air draft. The air supply system has at least one sensor to measure a parameter value, whereby the air stream, issuing from the air outflow opening, is regulated as a function of the parameter value by way of a regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Peter Nordberg, Vasilios Orizaris, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 6786546
    Abstract: There is provided a seat cover for accommodating a child safety chair upon a seat. The seat cover comprises a lower protective member which is disposable upon a seating portion of the seat. This lower member can accommodate the child safety chair when positioned in a rearward-facing direction to prevent it from permanently compressing the seating portion. The seat cover further comprises an upper protective member that is disposable against a seat-back portion of the seat. This upper member is selectively attachable with and detachable from the lower member. By doing so, the upper member can further prevent the chair from permanently compressing the seat-back portion when it is repositioned in a forward-facing direction and placed in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Prince Lionheart, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. McConnell, Michael E. Henley
  • Patent number: 6786547
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a car headrest cover with protective and beatifying features, which is primarily used for a car headrest having a video device. By means of an accommodating space on the car headrest, a video device having a viewing window is installed on the car headrest at a position corresponding to the headrest cover. A protective unit is disposed on the headrest cover corresponding to the position of the viewing window, and a beatifying unit is disposed at the external surface of the protective unit. The foregoing components constitute a car headrest cover for protecting a video device, which has the dustproof, sun block, and anti theft features, and the beatifying unit with animal or doll styles can further adds an artistic effect to its appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Asiasonic International Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fa-Yu Chu
  • Patent number: 6786548
    Abstract: A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a link(s) pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. In one form, the chairs are nestable and stackable for dense storage. In another form, the chairs are desk-type pedestal chairs. Several of the structural support members of the chair are gas-assisted injection molding to form a hollow tubular perimeter frame that is lightweight, strong, and dimensionally-accurate A flexible panel is integrally molded between opposing sides of the perimeter frame. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style. Also, the armrests are movable to remote storage positions to provide unobstructed side access to the seat of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Pearce, Kurt R. Heidmann, Robert J. Battey, Dale M. Groendal, Bruce M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6786549
    Abstract: A seat connection mechanism includes a saddle bracket portion having an upper channel and a rearward channel and a protective cap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the upper channel, and a pin portion having an upper pin and a rearward pin protruding therefrom. The upper pin and the rearward pin are positioned such that, and are spaced apart by a distance such that, when the rearward pin is inserted into the rearward channel with the pin portion being tilted upwardly, the pin portion is pivotable downwardly such that the upper pin is insertable into the upper channel. The protective cap is movable from an open position wherein the upper pin is insertable into the upper channel to a dosed position wherein the protective cap inhibits objects from falling into the upper channel and inhibits removal of the upper pin from the upper channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Multiple LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 6786550
    Abstract: A reclining device including a recess formed as a low-rigidity portion in a lateral portion of each of slide pawls which faces a lateral wall surface of a guide groove of a stationary disc (the lateral wall surface of a bearing wall portion). The stationary disc holds the slide pawls. If an enormous circumferential turning force is applied to the slide pawls from a ratchet, the recess functions as a point upon which a pawl body of each of the slide pawls is deflected in the direction in which the turning force is applied. As a result, the pawl body quickly sinks into the lateral wall surface of the bearing wall portion. Thus, the slide pawls are prevented from moving away from the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Uramichi
  • Patent number: 6786551
    Abstract: A seat latching assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback having first and second sides. A first latch is provided for latching the first side of the seatback to a portion of a vehicle, the first latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A second latch is provided for latching the second side of the seatback to another portion of the vehicle, the second latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A mechanism is operatively connected to the first and second latches, and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When one of the first and second latches is in the unlatched position, the mechanism is prevented from moving into the unlocked position, and when the first and second seat portions are both in their latched positions, the mechanism is permitted to be moved into the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Brewer, Eric G. Exner, Timothy S. Myers
  • Patent number: 6786552
    Abstract: A catch hook for a backrest adjustment armature in seats of motor vehicles, which hook is mountable rotatably on a part of the armature to lock and release it. The armature part is designed to pivot forward together with a part of the seat and to rest, when in a locked position, against a stop on a base frame of the seat. Force is exerted on the catch hook by a stored-energy device in the locking direction. The opening of the catch hook gripping behind the stop when in the locked position, where a tension latch, which also grips behind the stop when in the locked position, is arranged next to the catch hook. The latch itself is pivotably supported on the catch hook so that it can, as needed, be released from the locked position by an actuating element. The tension latch is connected to the catch hook by way of support elements so that it can move in advance of the catch hook in a direction of travel. Force in the locking direction is exerted only on the tension latch by a single stored-energy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Peter Thiel
  • Patent number: 6786553
    Abstract: A chair with a chair back pivotally mounted to a pair of armrests which are fixedly secured to a seat. The chair back can be moved from a collapsed position located directly adjacent the seat to an upright position which is substantially transverse to the seat. When in the upright position, a pair of spring biased pins engaged with the chair back in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: James E. Grove
  • Patent number: 6786554
    Abstract: An apparatus to support the curve of the posterior aspect of the upper and lower portion of the neck and upper thoracic portion of the spine and behind the ears to provide support to these areas so that the head and neck will remain in a supported position while the individual is asleep. The device also provides a residing area for the skull supporting the weight of the head posteriorly. The invention holds the spine in the ideal position during sleep. The device does not support the head and neck of a passenger when awake and holding his/her head and neck in the appropriate vertical position by the supporting contraction of the muscles. In such times, the passenger's head and neck area are completely free of any uncomfortable contact with the device. The device is not strapped to the neck and does not support the head or neck interiorly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Hormoz Zahiri
  • Patent number: 6786555
    Abstract: A convertible inflatable furnishing is disclosed. The furnishing can form a chair shape that can be converted into a supportive shape for massage and stretching by deflating and securing the backrest inside the furnishing. The chair is also capable of being rocked, reclined, and packed into itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Sapoty Brook
  • Patent number: 6786556
    Abstract: A concrete grinding apparatus for use with a hand-held concrete grinder that can be detachably mounted in either a right-facing orientation or a left-facing orientation. The apparatus providing a variable wheelbase to modify grinder pressure acting upon a working surface. The apparatus further providing a mechanism to adjust the levelness of the hand-held grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph E. Due
  • Patent number: 6786557
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly including a protective wear sleeve that is fixed in the cavity of a bit holder by a tapered wedge portion that is compressed in a correspondingly tapered portion of the bit holder cavity and an accompanying retainer both combine affix the wear sleeve to the bit holder cavity in a secure manner. The applicant's protective wear sleeve invention can be set in the bit holder by several axial blows with a hammer or other appropriate tool. Unlike some other designs in the prior art which require the insertion of a pin or nut threaded onto a bolt or clip connected to the rear end of the cutting to secure the wear protection sleeve to the bit holder in the invention no other assembly step is necessary to secure the protective sleeve inside the bit holder cavity. The protective sleeve will remain in this position with no relative axial movement or rotation between the wear sleeve and the bit holder during operation of the cutting tool machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6786558
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, and to a method of manufacturing such a brush head. The brush head includes a bristle carrier and bristles fixedly secured thereto, said bristle carrier having a slot-type recess in which a multiplicity of bristles is received forming an elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour corresponding essentially to the contour of the slot-type recess. According to the invention the brush head is characterized in that the slot-type recess is divided by means of at least one transverse wall into several segments, a separate tuft is inserted and secured in each of the segments, and the at least one transverse wall is constructed so that the separate tufts converge, forming in combination the elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Thomas Fritsch, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6786559
    Abstract: A wheel assembly which includes a bearing assembly housed in an electrically conductive outer shell. A hollow sleeve of synthetic resin material impregnated with electrically conductive material is operatively electrically coupled to a peripheral surface of the electrically conductive outer shell. The hollow sleeve has at least one radially outwardly extending stem integral therewith. A synthetic resin material hub and tread is configured to envelop the metallic outer shell, the hollow sleeve and the stem. A distal end of the stem terminates either flush with or projects radially outwardly of a peripheral surface of the tread to contact a surface supporting the wheel construction with each revolution of the wheel construction and to effectively facilitate a discharge of static electricity through the hollow sleeve and the stem in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Colson Caster Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Kidd, Bowdie Isanhart
  • Patent number: 6786560
    Abstract: An air supply system for a large vehicle air brake system includes an air compressor for supplying compressed air. The compressed or pressurized air is routed to an air dryer which includes a desiccant bed through which the compressed air flows for drying. The air dryer is located between a wet tank and a dry tank for the air supply system and air moves from the dryer to the wet tank. From the wet tank the air passes through a conduit through the air dryer to the dry tank. The air dryer is mounted on tracks allowing it to withdrawn from between the air tanks for replacement or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen P. Heath
  • Patent number: 6786561
    Abstract: A tool box adapted to be positioned onto a joist or beam. The tool box has front and rear end walls attached to right and left side walls, and a handle. A tiered passageway extends between the central portions of the front and rear end walls. The tiered passageway includes an upper passageway tier having a first width, a middle passageway tier having a second width, and a lower passageway tier having a third width. Right and left floor portions extend between the bottom edges of the box side walls and the bottom edges of the lower passageway tier. The third width is greater than the second width, and the second width is greater than the first width. The various widths are adapted to fit over joists and beams of varying width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: William F. Glenn
  • Patent number: 6786562
    Abstract: A refrigerator shelf has an upper surface and a perimeter edge defined by a front edge, two side edges, and a rear edge. A reservoir for liquids spilled on the shelf is partially created by upwardly turning the front and rear edges of the shelf member. At least two end caps, which extend above the upper surface, are applied to the two side edges to complete the walls of the reservoir. The shelf may be supported within the refrigerator compartment in a horizontal orientation either by cantilever beams, or by slidably engaging the shelf with channels located within the sidewalls of the refrigerator compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Obrock, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 6786563
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for interleaved printing of individual ink objects at target print sectors disbursed around an annular surface on a circular spinning media such as on a CD, dynamically during the radial printing process, are described. Mechanisms for interleaving printing during the radial printing process, enabling the use of commercially available ink jet pens for radial printing directly on CD devices at greater than 2× rotation speeds, and thus reducing pen limitations in firing frequency and recovery time, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Elesys, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Q. Jones
  • Patent number: 6786564
    Abstract: An inkjet printer for recording dot patterns corresponding to image contents is disclosed. The printer comprises an inkjet head (51) for performing recording by moving in a main scanning direction of a recording medium and injecting ink particles, drive waveform generating sections (24, 25) for generating drive waveforms for injecting said ink particles, and a head drive section (50) for selecting said drive waveforms and driving said inkjet head (51) in accordance with print data. The drive waveform generating sections (24, 25) generate drive waveforms for injecting said ink particles having different ink speeds within a unit cycle, in cycles each corresponding to one of the parts obtained by dividing the unit cycle by an integer. Thereby, by varying the speed of the ink particles injected in one cycle of the drive waveforms, the landing position of each dot in the cycle is controlled and hence the dot pattern in one cycle is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6786565
    Abstract: One general aspect of the invention provides for creating half-tone ink-jet proofs on print-enhanced sheets based on an effective image cell pitch that substantially matches a cell pitch used to create press plates. Print process variables can be adjusted for the ink-jet proofing printer based on received color matching information. These adjustments can define preprint ink mixing ratios that allow at least some image cells to be printed with ink mixtures. Or they can define sub-area printing values that allow at least some dots to be printed with areas of different inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Creo Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam I. Pinard, James M. Enge, Bradley S. Winslow, Andrew Masia, Foster M. Fargo, Jr.