Patents Issued in September 14, 2004
  • Patent number: 6790006
    Abstract: A flexible metal disk used to mount the fan to the fan drive. The metal disk is a resilient mounting, and as such reduces vibration levels between the fan and fan drive, thereby preventing damage to various components within the cooling system. The flexible metal disk also functions to self align the fan and the fan drive. The flexible metal disk is also durable, and therefore offers improved creep and deterioration resistance as compared with typical elastomeric mountings. In another preferred embodiment, multiple flexible metal disks may be coupled together and used to mount the fan to the fan drive to provide additional damping as compared with single disk systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil E. Robb
  • Patent number: 6790007
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a wind turbine which depends on a vortex down wind of the turbine enhancing the air flow past the vertical turbine. The vertical axis wind turbine structure includes a rectangular shaped turbine with four orbiting panels mounted to rotate at the top of a pyramidal base structure which generates a substantially horizontal vortex immediately down wind of the turbine, thus enhancing the air flow past the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Mitch Gingras, Simon Giasson, Michel Lauriault
  • Patent number: 6790008
    Abstract: An integrated structure of ceiling fan base and frame includes a base and a frame. The characteristics thereof are that, between the base thereof and the frame thereof is a inner rim that is disposed with a plurality of openings and a plurality of reinforcement ribs at equidistant locations of an inner periphery thereof, and each of the pin openings is placed with a pin; the shape of an inner periphery of the frame is corresponded with an outer periphery of the inner rim, and two clasp portions are disposed at the frame so as to fasten and connect the frame around the inner rim; and at positions having largest diameters on a periphery of the base is provided with a plurality of orifices corresponding to the pins at the inner rim so as to wedge the heads of the pins into the orifices of the base for assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Yu-Keng Huang
  • Patent number: 6790009
    Abstract: A fan (10) is disclosed having a base (11), a motor housing (12) encasing an electric motor (13), a blade assembly (14) coupled to the motor, and a grill assembly (15) surrounding the blade assembly. The grill assembly includes a front grill (17), a rear grill (18) and a split mounting ring (19). The rear grill includes a peripheral rim (22). The front grill includes a peripheral rim (26), a bottom flange (32) and a top flange (33). The bottom flange and top flange are configured to releasably engage the peripheral rim of the rear grill. The split mounting ring has an inwardly facing channel (34) therein sized and shaped to encase substantially the peripheral rims of the rear and front grills. The mounting ring has a first end (36) having an internally threaded receiver (37) and a catch (38) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Francisco Javier Carbajal
  • Patent number: 6790010
    Abstract: A pumping system. The pumping system has a cylinder pump, a first group of switching devices, and a second group of switching devices. The first group of switching devices enable the cylinder pump to pump the liquid by feeding the gas provided by the gas source into the cylinder pump through a first ventilator according to a first enabling signal, and the second group of switching devices enable the cylinder to output the liquid by feeding the gas provided by the gas source into the cylinder pump through a second ventilator according to a second enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Chen, Shan Chang Wang
  • Patent number: 6790011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for diffusing drops of at least one liquid, the device being of the type comprising at least one liquid displacement path defined by a series of pairs of close-together surfaces (4a, 6a, . . . , 14a) enabling liquid to be retained and to be displaced from one pair of surfaces to another. The device comprises: both a series of pairs of close-together surfaces (4a, 6a, . . . , 14a) defining at least one displacement path, and co-operating to store the liquid, to form drops of liquid, and to move liquid drops to an outlet from said path leading towards a drop destination site; and electric field application means applying a determined sequence of electric fields between the pairs of close-together surfaces so as to form drops of liquid from the liquid storage, and to move and mix the drops of liquid to the drop outlet of said path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Osmooze S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Le Pesant, Jean-Claude Millet
  • Patent number: 6790012
    Abstract: An air compressor unit having an enclosure that permits adequate cooling air flow, and reduces the amount of noise that emanates from the air compressor unit. The enclosure has a partition that separates the interior of the enclosure into two compartments: a discharge compartment and a component compartment. A discharge aperture is in fluid flow communication with the discharge compartment. A compressor and motor are contained in the component compartment. The component compartment may be separated in a first compartment and a second compartment. Inlets allow cooling air to enter the enclosure, and a discharge aperture permits the cooling air to exit the enclosure. A blower draws cooling air into the enclosure through the inlets. An aftercooler is located between the compressor and the discharge aperture. The enclosure and compartments are configured to reduce the amount of direct “line of sight” noise that emanates from the air compressor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Sharp, Michael J Lucas, Subodh Kumar, Craig Haddock
  • Patent number: 6790013
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane-type fluid pump is provided which permits improved regulation of the pump discharge such that the pump can meet the various requirements of lubrication for internal combustion engines at all speeds with minimized use of power. Of course, the vane pump may also be utilized in a wide range of power transmission and other fluid distribution applications. The vane pump of the invention may also use both hydrostatic and mechanical actuators to control the position of its containment ring or eccentric ring and hence, regulate the output of the pump. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, to prevent inlet flow restriction or cavitation, a valve may be provided to permit some of the pump outlet or discharge flow to bleed into the pump inlet to provide needed velocity energy to the fluid flow into the pump inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Hunter, Albin J. Niemiec
  • Patent number: 6790014
    Abstract: Fluid cooled diaphragms for diaphragm compressors are provided which utilize a multi-layer diaphragm with an upper or gas contacting later, and a bottom or lower layer, which has cooling grooves through which cooling fluid is circulated to reduce the diaphragm temperature. Additionally the upper surface of the diaphragm may be subjected to high loading to indent the surface and produce grooves for gas escape passageways. The gas contacting and grooved layer can be joined over part of the entire surface, or the grooved layer not connected to the other layer. Two or more layers may be used as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: John C. Bowen
  • Patent number: 6790015
    Abstract: A piston supporting structure for a linear compressor includes a piston reciprocating in the axial direction in response to the driving force of a motor, a first spring of which one end portion is fixed to one side of the piston, and a second spring of which one end portion is fixed to the other side of the piston. The first and second springs elastically supporting the piston reciprocating in response to the driving force of the motor are contracted and relaxed in the axial direction without being displayed in a radial direction, and thereby elastically support the reciprocating movement of the piston, so that the piston can linearly reciprocate in the axial direction in the compressing space of the cylinder. Accordingly, a rotation movement is not applied to the piston, thereby preventing the abrasion of the piston and cylinder and the breakage of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gye Young Song
  • Patent number: 6790016
    Abstract: A motor and its blade unit include a blade unit made of a conical fundamental body and a plurality of blades formed around the surface of the conical fundamental body. The blades of the blade unit are multi-sectioned ones of different sizes. These blades increase water flowing speed with help of the centrifugal force produced by rotating of the blade unit, and quickly guide water to flow along the outer wall of a motor and out of the motor, not to flow reversely back to a shaft. At the same time these blades can cut impurities in water preventing the motor from clogged by impurities, increasing water flowing-out speed, lowering motor load and electricity consumption and saving motor horsepower to prolong its service life, and also possible to be combined with various types of motors for extensive use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Yuan Chiang
  • Patent number: 6790017
    Abstract: The present invention is an integrated pump having structure where a plurality of cell pumps having an inlet and an outlet to discharge fluid drawn from a consolidated inlet to the consolidated outlet is connected in series or parallel. A plurality of cell pump may be connected in parallel to constitute an integrated pumps. The integrated pump of the present invention can obtain a desired output connecting in series and parallel a number of cell pumps. For a high output integrated pump where many cell pumps are connected to provide high capacity and high head, by unitizing the individual cell pumps during transportation or installation, the transportation and installation work for the integrated pump can be easily done.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, DMW Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Takura, Yoshifumi Tanabe, Hiroshi Satoh, Kunitomi Cho
  • Patent number: 6790018
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust valve capable of correctly opening/shutting an exhaust port of a cylinder based upon variation of the flux density of an electromagnet. The inventive exhaust valve may comprise a guide connected in parallel to an exhaust port of a cylinder, a needle valve provided inside the guide for opening/shutting the exhaust port while moving in cooperation with the guide. The needle valve may be controlled with an electromagnet. The invention enables complete opening of the exhaust port of the cylinder in exhaustion thereby preventing degradation of compression efficiency due to valve damage while reducing generation of vibration and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: In Won Lee, Kwang Hyup An, Jeong-Ho Lee, In Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 6790019
    Abstract: A rotary vane pump has an open ended pump cylinder mounting a drive motor at one end and a ported end plate and sound chamber at the other end. The cylinder contains a rotor mounted to an eccentric drive shaft and having vane grooves receiving slidable vanes contacting an inner diameter of the cylinder. The end plate has an outlet port and primary and secondary inlet ports in communication with the cylinder interior, the inlet ports being in communication with an area of net expansion. The sound chamber has an intake port and an exhaust port in communication with the respective outlet and primary and secondary inlet ports of the end plate. The sound chamber is partitioned to define a number of internal cavities through which the incoming air is routed to the secondary inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Thomas Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald R. Hinchey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6790020
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system in which carbon dioxide is supplied to a pressure chamber of a molten resin preparing apparatus which has established a certain temperature environment to diffuse the carbon dioxide in a material synthetic resin in a molten state. After turning the material synthetic resin into a gas-dissolving-resin in the pressure chamber, the gas-dissolving-resin is supplied to a mold space of a molding apparatus for compression molding. The pressure inside the mold space is quickly lowered by raising an upper mold of the molding apparatus quickly, whereby a foamed article is produced from the gas-dissolving-resin in the mold space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takeo Kitayama, Nobuhiro Usui
  • Patent number: 6790021
    Abstract: An apparatus for repairing or refurbishing thermoplastic drums. A damaged drum, or at least a damaged portion thereof, is heated until it reaches a softened state and is then drawn over a template, or mold, having the substantially the same shape and size of an undamaged drum. The drum is allowed to cool sufficiently to return to its hardened state, whereby it substantially assumes the shape of the template. The refurbished drum is then removed from the template and is essentially ready to be used again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dowling & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil E. Dowling, Ray P. Richard, Samuel G. Dowling, Johnny M. Seago
  • Patent number: 6790022
    Abstract: A high volume lens curing system is described. The high volume lens curing system may be configured to cure multiple eyeglass lenses in a continuous manner. An embodiment of the lens curing system includes an apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens. The apparatus may include one or more lens curing units and a mold assembly. At least one lens curing unit may include a heating system. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly to, from or through at least one lens curing unit. A movable member may be positioned within a lens curing unit. The movable member may be positionable such that at least a portion of the activating light source is disposed outside the lens curing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Foreman
  • Patent number: 6790023
    Abstract: An extruder includes a barrel having a die attached to one end and at least one material inlet with a feeder for providing material to the material inlet. At least one screw is rotatively mounted in the barrel, and a motor is provided for driving the screw. A plurality of sensors is mounted in the barrel for sensing passage of screw thread edges as the screw rotates. A controller for controlling operation of the extruder receives signals from the sensors and determines local torsional deformations of the screw based on the signals. The controller slows down the extruder if any one of the local torsional deformations falls outside of an optimal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Collins, Nelson R. Corby
  • Patent number: 6790024
    Abstract: A high volume lens curing system is described. The high volume lens curing system may be configured to cure multiple eyeglass lenses in a continuous manner. An embodiment of the lens curing system includes an apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens. An embodiment of the lens curing system includes an apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens. The apparatus may include ones or more lens curing units, a mold assembly and multiple conveyor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Foreman
  • Patent number: 6790025
    Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus capable of improving the extrusion rate of the ceramic material without a major reconstruction of a drive system is disclosed. The extrusion molding apparatus comprises screw extruders (2, 3) including housings (29, 39) having screws (4, 5) built therein, wherein the ceramic material introduced into the housings (29, 39), respectively, is extruded by way of the forward end extrusion ports by rotating the screws (4, 5). The screws (4, 5) built in the screw extruders (2, 3), respectively, include pressure portions (41, 51) with the feed rate per revolution progressively decreased toward the forward end extrusion port, and extended portions (43, 53) with the feed rate per revolution progressively increased toward the forward end extrusion port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaguchi, Hiromi Katou, Yasunao Miura
  • Patent number: 6790026
    Abstract: A method and system for co-molding a thermoplastic material with a thermoplastic sandwich material to form a thermoplastic sandwich article having a thermoplastic inner portion are provided. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic material may be a composite material and the article is a deep-drawn article. In this embodiment, the method and system include a female die having an article-defining cavity defined by inner surfaces of the female die and an outer male die for forcing an inner portion of a blank of thermoplastic sandwich material having a cellular core and a predetermined amount of thermoplastic composite material placed on the blank into the female die along a substantially vertical axis and against the inner surfaces of the female die to obtain deep-drawn sandwich material. In a second embodiment in which the article formed is not deep-drawn, the outer male die is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Patent Holding Company
    Inventors: Francis Vandangeot, Emmanuel Boivin, Loic Durual
  • Patent number: 6790027
    Abstract: A multi-shot injection mold utilizes a minimum of a first shot cavity and a second shot cavity for receiving injected molded plastic to produce a completed multi-component product. In conventional two shot molding, the injection of molten resin, cooling time of such resin, transportation of product to subsequent position and ejection of completed product requires a restrictive sequence. The invention allows flexibility in the sequence to gain efficiency within the molding cycle. The invention uses a three position/station concept which allows each position to act independently of each other. The independent positions allow injection of first shot, injection of second shot and ejection of finished product to occur simultaneously. This effectively removes any additional cycle time required for ejection in the molding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: MGS Mfg. Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Callen, Brian R. Hartlmeier, Theodore B. Lemke, Michael J. Wiedmeyer
  • Patent number: 6790028
    Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprising a rotary table (1) which is rotatable about its axis of symmetry (17) for fixing a plurality of mold halves, wherein for the feed flow, which occurs at the center of the rotary table (1), of media which are capable of flow, there is provided a media coupling (8) which is arranged at a spacing from the rotary table and which has a stationary part a part rotatable together with the rotary table, and wherein tire media coupling (8) is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis (17) of the rotary table (1) and that provided between the media coupling (8) and the rotary table (1) is a connecting bar (14) provided at both ends with universal joints (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Engel Mashinenbau Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Klaus Denkmaier
  • Patent number: 6790029
    Abstract: An injection molding system for molding a hollow plastic article employs a hollow mold core having a longitudinal axis and a core runner cavity that has a uniform cross section throughout and which extends to the open end of the mold core. The mold core includes at least one core ejection gate and at least one core inlet gate leading from the outer surface of the core wall to the core runner cavity. When molding is performed in stages, there is it least one core ejection gate for each stage of molding. The core is clamped in between separate sets of molding blocks for each stage of molding. A core end closure cap having a core extension cavity aligned with the core runner cavity is used to close the open end of the mold core. A molten plastic is injected into the outer molding blocks and is confined to travel through the core inlet gate of the core without entering the mold cavity directly so that the molten plastic is forced to pass through the core runner cavity in order to reach the core ejection gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Philip Downey
  • Patent number: 6790030
    Abstract: Multi-stage combustion technology combined with nitrogen-enriched air technology for controlling the combustion temperature and products to extend the maintenance and lifetime cycles of materials in contact with combustion products and to reduce pollutants while maintaining relatively high combustion and thermal cycle efficiencies. The first stage of combustion operates fuel rich where most of the heat of combustion is released by burning it with nitrogen-enriched air. Part of the energy in the combustion gases is used to perform work or to provide heat. The cooled combustion gases are reheated by additional stages of combustion until the last stage is at or near stoichiometric conditions. Additional energy is extracted from each stage to result in relatively high thermal cycle efficiency. The air is enriched with nitrogen using air separation technologies such as diffusion, permeable membrane, absorption, and cryogenics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Larry E. Fischer, Brian L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6790031
    Abstract: A tangential fired boiler has a circumferential wall defining a combustion zone and a plurality of fuel inlets disposed along the circumferential wall. The plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel at non-uniform rates in order to produce localized fuel rich, oxygen poor zones and fuel lean, oxygen rich zones within the combustion zone, and to cause ambient boiler gases to be entrained into and mix with the oxygen poor zone to achieve fuel staging of the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: RJM Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Berg, Edmund S. Schindler, Nigel John Garrad, John Joseph Halloran
  • Patent number: 6790032
    Abstract: A straight path carbon powder combustion machine uses carbon powders as fuel of the combustion machine. The carbon powders enter into the interior of an igniter from carbon powders inlets. Then the carbon powders further enter into a forced firing internal combustion chamber. The gas in the gas tube of the igniter is fired by an electric shock rod. Part of air input from the whirlwind combustion air inlet to mix in the forced firing internal combustion chamber. When the gas in the igniter is fired by the electric shock rod, the fire jets out from the gas combustion air inlet tube so as to fire the carbon powders. The carbon powders are intercepted by the tinder intercepter to adhere thereon. The carbon powders contact and are fired by the tinder on the tinder intercepter to form a large flame which is sprayed out from the plurality of flame outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Kuo-Yu Wu, Chen-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 6790033
    Abstract: A fireplace fountain having a base, a basin adapted to hold a liquid supported by the base, and a hood supported by the base over the basin. A fire pan is supported by the base over the basin and under the hood, with a burner being supported above the fire pan and adapted to be connected to a fuel source. A perforated tubing is supported in the hood, with a pump and supply tube connected thereto. The pump and supply tube are in fluid communication with the basin so that liquid held in the basin may be circulated by a pump to the perforated tubing. Liquid exits the perforated tubing and falls into the basin, but not into the fire pan so that the liquid does not extinguish any flame generated by the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fleming Sales Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Grady, David Henke, Kent Bach
  • Patent number: 6790034
    Abstract: A controller for a kiln plant, typically a cement plant, has a thermodynamic controller which measures a number of variables including the kiln hood temperature and one or more output gas concentrations, and controls the fuel input to the kiln to maintain the hood temperature within a desired range and a main impeller of the kiln to maintain the measured gas concentrations within a predetermined range. The invention includes a quality controller wich controls the amount of 3CaO.SiO2 present in clinker produced by the plant. The controller comprises an inner controller which controls free-lime content in the clinker and a thermodynamic outer controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Pretoria Portland Cement Company Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Kearns, Tony Brian Lange, Neville Frewin
  • Patent number: 6790035
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a polymeric shell dental appliance, including providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of the type which is removably placeable over a patient's dentition, said shell having a concave trough which conforms to the teeth when the appliance is placed over the dentition and a location in the trough corresponding to a missing tooth; and depositing a flexible, durably affixed material in the location to form the pontic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Tricca, Eric Kuo, Peter G. Knopp, Choi Woncheol, Craig R. Bruns
  • Patent number: 6790036
    Abstract: A removable orthodontic appliance used to align the teeth of patient. The appliance is constructed to represent the patient's teeth in an aligned position. The material the appliance is constructed of is characterized by flexibility allowing a single appliance to move the patient's teeth into an aligned position. A single tooth may be moved with the appliance, but most commonly the appliance works best when teeth are mutually moved, most effectively, the six anterior teeth. The appliance may contain wires to widen or narrow the posterior width of the appliance and it also may contain a habit shield for tongue thrusting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Neil John Graham
  • Patent number: 6790037
    Abstract: A viscous material dispenser for applying a viscous dental material from a capule, cartridge or capsule. The dispenser includes a locking mechanism mounted on the syringe type dispenser to securely retain the capule, cartridge or capsule within the syringe type dispenser while the viscous material is being applied from the syringe type dispenser. The locking mechanism can be positioned so that it rotates around and over the outer circumference of the dispensing barrel of the syringe type dispenser. The locking mechanism can be rotated to an open position where a capule, capsule or cartridge can be inserted or removed from the syringe type dispenser. After a capule, cartridge or capsule is inserted within the syringe barrel, the locking mechanism can be rotated to a closed position where the capule, cartridge or capsule is locked and retained in place for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Confi-Dental Products Co.
    Inventor: Mike Orecchia
  • Patent number: 6790038
    Abstract: A dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories wherein a dental aspirator tip and in the dental operatory is in fluid communication with a vacuum means for providing suction to the system, there being interposed between the aspirator tip and the vacuum means a separation chamber for the separation of effluent, and solids, including amalgam and other particulate matter from the air stream, the separation chamber being in communication with a collection chamber for the separation collection of solids, amalgam and other particulate matter, from the effluent which is discharged, the collection chamber being removably replaceable from the system for the recycling of the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Air Techniques, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Hubner, Frederick R. Fischer
  • Patent number: 6790039
    Abstract: A support structure for a turbine motor for use in a dental handpiece includes a pair of resilient rings to capture and limit rotation of an outer race of a bearing supporting a rotor of the turbine motor. The turbine motor is supported by first and second bearing assemblies, the first bearing assembly being proximate a dental tool and the second bearing assembly being distal the dental tool. The pair of rings are preferably located on the first bearing assembly, but optionally could be located on only the second bearing assembly or on both first and second bearing assemblies. The support structure further includes a resilient spacer ring located on the second bearing assembly to provide axial pre-load to the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dental EZ, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley A. Bowen
  • Patent number: 6790040
    Abstract: The present invention provides a healing abutment for attachment to a dental implant with marking locations thereon. The marking locations either lack or have markers that provide a binary code system for retrieving unique information about the healing abutment and the underlying implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Implant Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Amber, Stephan S. Porter, Theodore M. Powell
  • Patent number: 6790041
    Abstract: A method of training an aircraft pilot using a flight simulator having a controller that generates a plurality of simulated fault conditions and a fault analysis guide. The fault analysis guide includes a fault procedures section printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, and further includes a visual procedure locator section and a nonvisual procedure locator section. The visual procedure locator section includes printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of a plurality of indicators a warning light panel. Each printed indicator symbol is graphically representative of a single indicator and has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section. The nonvisual procedure locator section includes a list of the physical error conditions not associated with the plurality of indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fountain & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Fountain
  • Patent number: 6790042
    Abstract: A display system and related method permitting a prospective purchaser of floor coverings to engage in the contemporaneous physical manipulation and evaluation of various combinations of surface patterns and/or placement orientations for floor covering tile elements prior to actual installation. Simulated tile elements having surface patterns corresponding to the surface patterns of the actual floor covering tile elements are disposed across a display surface in a releasably attachable manner such that one or more of the simulated tile elements may be rotated or replaced to simulate at least one alternative arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Liberty R. Worth
  • Patent number: 6790043
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for microsurgical training using cadaveric anatomy with filling of the vascular system by fluids under pressure to simulate the appearance and function of live surgery. One or more arteries on the specimen of cadaveric anatomy are cannulated and connected to an arterial reservoir having a flexible container holding an arterial fluid simulating the appearance of blood circulating in the arteries of the living organism from which the cadaveric anatomy is derived. Suitable static pressure simulating the arterial pressure appropriate to that of the living organism is applied to the air in an air-tight space surrounding the flexible container in the arterial reservoir. A pulsating machine provides air pulsations to the space surrounding the flexible fluid container to simulate the normal pulsations of the arterial system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Emad T. Aboud
  • Patent number: 6790044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process (1) for the automatic creation and monitoring of a progress plan for a training course comprising at least one training unit by a computer. To increase the efficiency of the training course in a process (1), the invention proposes a process (1) which is characterised by the following steps: definition of first time units by the computer (2), definition of second time units by the computer (4), creation of a progress plan by the computer for the execution of the training course in dependence upon the first time units and the second time units (5), where for each training unit the progress plan specifies a time by which it is to be completed and monitoring by the computer as to whether the corresponding training unit has been completed by the time specified in the progress plan (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Frank Hägebarth
  • Patent number: 6790045
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing student performance defines student performance by classifying student performance into discrete performance classifications associated with corresponding activities related to the electronic course. An observed student performance level for at least one of the performance classifications is measured. A benchmark performance level or range is established for one or more of the performance classifications. It is determined whether the observed student performance level is compliant with the established benchmark performance level for the at least one performance classification. Instructive feedback is determined for the observed student based upon any material deviation of the observed student performance from at least one of the following: the benchmark performance level, the benchmark performance range, a group of benchmark performance levels, and group of benchmark performance ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: UNext.com LLC
    Inventor: Alan Drimmer
  • Patent number: 6790046
    Abstract: An accessory for attachment to a portable electronic device is disclosed. The accessory has a housing, a connector, extending from the housing for electrically connecting the accessory to the portable electronic device, and circuitry located in the housing and electrically connected to the connector. The connector is mounted in the housing and is arranged to be movable with respect to the housing. The accessory is particularly exemplified by a plug in camera accessory for a portable telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Ian David Haffenden, Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 6790047
    Abstract: A coaxial connector with a switch can be used even when an internal ANT and an RF circuit on a printed wiring board are inversely arranged by mounting the connector through the reverse mounting. The connector is mounted on a printed wiring board by engaging a notch portion in an edge thereof and comprises a normally closed terminal, a common terminal, an insulator, a shell, and a housing. A pair of connecting portions of the shell are horizontally symmetric with respect to a vertical plane passing the center or nearly the center of the housing. The connecting portions of the normally closed terminal and the common terminal are also horizontally symmetric with respect to the vertical plane. A top surface and a bottom surface of each of the connecting portions are vertically symmetric with respect to a horizontal plane passing the centers or nearly the centers of the connecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Togashi
  • Patent number: 6790048
    Abstract: A flex connector assembly for connecting circuit boards has been provided that includes a housing having at least one cavity holding a preloaded spring exerting an outwardly-directed force toward top and bottom ends of the housing; at least one pressure support member located at one of the top and bottom ends, the pressure support member exerting an inwardly-directed force on the preloaded spring; and at least one flex circuit having a flex array arranged on one of the top and bottom ends; and at least one compressible socket having a socket array overlapping the flex circuit. The preloaded spring acts to compress the flex array and the socket array onto one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Goodwin, Donald Amaral, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6790049
    Abstract: A package for containing an electronic circuit assembly. The package includes a housing having a bottom surface and walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The walls and the bottom surface define a cavity in the housing. The cavity holds the electronic circuit assembly. A post extends outwardly from the walls. The post is integrally formed with the housing. The post is connected to the wall on one end and a threaded annular sleeve portion is located at the other end. The threaded annular sleeve portion is adapted to receive a female connector portion. A bore passes through the post and the wall. The bore holds a feed through terminal. A cover is located over the cavity and is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Scientific Components
    Inventors: Harvey Kaylie, Guna Mandalap
  • Patent number: 6790050
    Abstract: A distributor box is provided for microprocessor, memory and logic components and/or power semiconductor components, with a housing comprising a lower housing compartment and at least one upper housing compartment, which can be connected to the lower compartment in a tightly sealed, firm manner to provide a high degree of protection. At least one transfer pin-and-socket connector is provided comprising a first and a second connector part, the first connector part of which is fixedly mounted in an upper housing compartment in such a way that when this upper compartment is set onto the lower compartment, the first connector part is brought into electrical contact with a second connector part of the transfer pin-and-socket connector, which fits together with the first part and is fixedly mounted in the lower housing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sew Eurodrive GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Jörg Roth-Stielow, Josef Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6790051
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector of the type fixedly attached to printed circuit boards having the male pins or terminals of the connector designed to go through corresponding bores in printed circuit boards that are then soldered to said board permanently establishing the desired electrical connections and further offering a high degree of resistance to humidity and, consequent humidity caused corrosion in the male pins or terminals through the novel use of ring-like projections around each male pin, stand-off supports, and a insulating and sealing resin filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier Secall, Jordi Bigorra, Gerard Vall, Jordi Sanchez
  • Patent number: 6790052
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for straddle mounting at an edge of a circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing defining a slot for receiving the edge of the board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and include contact portions for connection to the circuit traces on the board. A flexible gripping arm is integral with the housing at one side of the slot for yieldably engaging the circuit board upon insertion of the board into the slot. A ground tab extends from a shielding plate on the mating face of the connector through the housing adjacent to the slot for contacting a ground pad on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David R. Schmidgall, Richard A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6790053
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a molded plastic housing having an elongated body portion defining a front mating face and a rear terminating face of the connector. A plurality of terminal-receiving passages are defined by walls extending between the mating and terminating faces. The walls are of generally uniform thickness between the faces to provide an even flow pattern for the plastic material of which the housing is molded. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted in the terminal-receiving passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hai Bin Lin, Ser Kiat Toh, Swee Hong Ong
  • Patent number: 6790054
    Abstract: An edge card electrical connector is used for receiving the edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on one or both sides adjacent to the so described edge. This two-piece right angle edge card connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a receiving face with an elongated slot running the length of the connector creating a card insertion cavity. A plurality of PCI connector pins (peripheral component interconnect), on one or both sides of the card insertion cavity make contact with the pads located on the printed circuit board when it is inserted into the cavity. The PCI connector pins may also be stepped within the card insertion cavity with the primary engagement connectors forward of the secondary engagement connectors allowing for a staggered positioning and increased separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sullins Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Nop Boonsue
  • Patent number: 6790055
    Abstract: A straddle electrical connector (1) attached to a circuit substrate (60) includes a housing (10), upper contacts (30) and lower contacts (40) accommodated in the housing, and a clamp (20) attached with the housing. Each upper contact includes a bent portion (34). During insertion of the circuit board, the bent portions of the upper contacts are received in the clamp, thereby the upper contacts are heightened. Then, the circuit substrate is put between the upper contacts and the lower contacts with zero insertion force. The circuit substrate is pushed, thereby the clamp is pushed by the circuit substrate to disengage the bent portions of the upper contacts and attached to the housing. The upper contacts rebound and grasp the circuit substrate cooperating with the lower contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Jiun Shiu, Chuck Pickles