Patents Issued in December 14, 2004
  • Patent number: 6830383
    Abstract: A small form factor pluggable optoelectronic transceiver module includes top and bottom housings (1, 2), a chassis (3), a receptacle (4), a PCB (5), an optoelectronic subassembly (6), and a shielding shell (9). The optoelectronic subassembly is received in the receptacle. The shielding shell is fixed on the PCB, and encases a transmitting circuit on the PCB. The chassis is attached to the PCB with screws, and accommodates and protects the PCB. The top housing is attached to the chassis and the receptacle. The top and bottom housings are attached together, encapsulating therein the receptacle, the chassis, the PCB and the shielding shell. The shielding shell provides EMI protection and ESD shielding, and reduces electrical crosstalk. The module also forms multiple grounding paths between a grounding circuit of the PCB and the top and bottom housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., LTD
    Inventor: Nan Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 6830384
    Abstract: An optical fiber module of the invention is a small-sized optical fiber module with small electric power consumption in which the characteristics are hardly deteriorated in association with environmental changes. The optical fiber module has a package, an optical component housed inside the package, and optical component holding parts disposed between the optical component and the package for holding the optical component. The configuration of holding the optical component by the optical component holding parts has a configuration of reducing heat conduction for reducing the heat conduction between the optical component and the package. The configuration of reducing heat conduction is such that the optical component holding parts hold the optical component in line contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hasegawa, Tsunetoshi Saito, Kanji Tanaka, Kazuhisa Kashihara
  • Patent number: 6830385
    Abstract: A package having lock mechanism which enable easy lock releasing and easy extraction and insertion of package is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishigami, Yoshinori Sunaga
  • Patent number: 6830386
    Abstract: A low splice loss optical fiber transmission line is disclosed which has a first optical fiber portion and a second optical fiber portion, the first and second optical fiber portions having different mode field diameters. The optical fiber transmission line is advantageously loss-flattened. Additionally, a method of making an optical fiber transmission line is disclosed such that the loss due to the spliced connection is reduced during the fabrication of the optical transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas R. Chapman, Richard E. Rebis
  • Patent number: 6830387
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a camera housing, a first pair of tracks formed on an outside of, and along a length of, the camera housing, a second pair of tracks formed on the outside of, and along the length of, the camera housing, a camera disposed in the camera housing, and an adjustable mounting device that includes a pair of protrusions configured to engage either the first pair or the second pair of tracks and a threaded mounting hole formed therein configured to couple to a mounting screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: John L. Rife
  • Patent number: 6830388
    Abstract: A camera rotation device comprises motors provided on rotated sides rotating with a camera with respect to their rotating sides which rotate the camera. More specifically, regarding a pan direction, a pan motor is provided in a pan section which rotates with respect to a base section. With regard to a tilt direction, a tilt motor is provided in a tilt section which rotates with respect to the pan section. Torque of each motor is transferred to each rotating side so that the camera on the rotated side rotates with the motor by reaction force of the rotating side. This structure, in comparison with conventional devices where a motor and a rotation mechanism are provided separately, has a motor provided on the rotated side and therefore reduces space for mounting a motor. As a result, this configuration enables the camera rotation device to be made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Nanshin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsurou Kajino, Shouichi Tada
  • Patent number: 6830389
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for applying a developer to a photoresist material layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The developer system and method employ a developer plate having a plurality of a apertures for dispensing developer. Preferably, the developer plate has a bottom surface with a shape that is similar to the wafer. The developer plate is disposed above the wafer and substantially and/or completely surrounds the top surface of the wafer during application of the developer. A small gap is formed between the wafer and the bottom surface of the developer plate. The wafer and the developer plate form a parallel plate pair, such that the gap can be made small enough so that the developer fluid quickly fills the gap. A differential voltage is applied to the developer plate and the wafer causing an electric field to be formed in the gap. Transportation of negatively charge photoresist material is facilitated by exposure to the electric field during the development process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Templeton
  • Patent number: 6830390
    Abstract: In a printer having a stapling function for binding together a plurality of sheets of printing paper that have been printed out, processing for performing stapling at a set position cannot be carried out if the set staple position and the orientation of printing paper actually set in the printer are not in conformity. Accordingly, the invention is such that a printer driver within a host computer acquires information such as the transport direction of printing paper that has been placed in a paper feed unit of the printer and limits, on the basis of this paper information, staple positions that can be set by a user. This makes it possible to execute stapling in reliable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6830391
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing machine and media cartridge. The printing machine has a housing, a printing mechanism and a processing unit connected to the housing, a media cartridge interface connecting the media cartridge to the printing machine, and a look-up table for storing media cartridge parameters. The media cartridge has a media support for a media source, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit has a plurality of conductive traces with fusible links connected together in a circuit pattern on at least one of its sides. The circuit pattern includes an encoding of at least one media cartridge parameter that may be stored in the look-up table of the printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Clayvon, James J. McElligott
  • Patent number: 6830392
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Kobayashi, Hajime Isono, Wataru Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 6830393
    Abstract: A printing method for a dot impact type printer including a printer head with a plurality of printing pins arrayed; a moving mechanism for the printer head, and a control unit for controlling printing operation of the printing pins and the moving mechanism of the printer head, characterized in that when characters, symbols or the like are printed according to predetermined print data, the printing pins to be driven for each step movement of the printer head are driven plural times for each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: MAX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Iwaki, Kenji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6830394
    Abstract: A combination of a track ball mechanism and a scroll mechanism. The combination may be placed proximate a standard portion of a keyboard so that a user can access either the track ball mechanism or the scroll mechanism without removing either hand from the standard portion of the keyboard. The track ball mechanism and the scroll mechanism may be integrated with one another to some extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chris Felcman, David P. Eichberger, Gary Landrum, Ty Rarick
  • Patent number: 6830395
    Abstract: A keyboard 10 includes a housing 12. An alphanumeric keypad 14 is carried by the housing 12. A printer 16 is arranged in the housing 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventors: Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6830396
    Abstract: A system for configuring keyboards using both frequency and alphabetical bases. The Keyboard Configuration System uses alphabetized frequency-based sets of keys in rows in order to fulfill the requirement that the keyboard must provide a key for each letter of the alphabet. The alphabet is analyzed for letter use on a frequency basis. The frequency-ranked list is then broken into rows according to the number of rows needed for the keyboard. Each row resulting from the frequency-ranked list is then alphabetized independently so that each resulting key row represents a certain segment of the frequency-ranked list. Each key row is alphabetized separately. Each key row may be of different length and the resulting keyboard may have a number of configurations depending upon the relative shift between each of the independently arranged key rows. Generally, the longest key row determines the number of key row shifts, or cases, as left or right justification rules generally apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Francis N. Kurriss
  • Patent number: 6830397
    Abstract: An expandable keyboard includes a plurality of expandable keytops, a keyswitch corresponding to each keytop and a force vectoring device arranged between each keytop and corresponding keyswitch. The force vectoring device is configured to direct force applied to any portion of the keytop to the keyswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: RAST Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Roy J. Lahr
  • Patent number: 6830398
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a feed mechanism for feeding a recording medium loaded on a recording-medium loading section; a recording unit for recording on the recording medium fed by the feed mechanism; and a recording-medium discriminating device for discriminating the type of recording medium loaded on the recording-medium loading section. The type of recording medium is discriminated by the recording-medium discriminating device before the feeding operation by the feed mechanism, and the operation of the recording unit is controlled according to the type of recording medium stored in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Yokoi
  • Patent number: 6830399
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for compensating for media indexing errors in a printing device. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying a desired amount by which the print receiving medium should be indexed in order to print at the next location for the image being printed. The method further comprises determining an ideal indexing command for causing the indexing command based upon a compensation factor in order to compensate for imperfections in the indexing system. In this embodiment, the ideal indexing command is adjusted only once per indexing of the print receiving medium by the desired amount, and the adjusted ideal indexing command is utilized to move a roller and to index the receiving medium by the desired amount in order to print at the next location for the image being printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Adkins, Michael A. Marra, III, Barry B. Stout, Jay W. Vessels
  • Patent number: 6830400
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a multi-position print media feed tray are described. In one embodiment, a print media feed-tray comprises a structure for holding print media. The print media feed-tray further comprises a coupling device for orienting the structure relative to a printing device. The coupling device can be capable of orienting the structure in at least two positions from which print media can be received by the printing device from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Robin P. Yerg nson
  • Patent number: 6830401
    Abstract: A printer including an input tray including a input print media support surface and an output tray including an output print media support surface separate from the input print media support surface of the input tray, wherein the output tray nests in the input tray or the input tray nests in the output tray when the input tray and the output tray are in the closed position, and wherein the input tray is configured to prevent input print media in the input tray that has not been circulated through the printer from contacting output print media in the output tray that has been circulated through the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Pete Hwang, Michael Janczyk
  • Patent number: 6830402
    Abstract: A retractable pen comprises a pen and a cap. The pen comprises a hollow case, an ink cartridge, a mechanical spring and a mobile magnetic element. The cap comprises a cap body and a stationary permanent magnet. The pen is capable of attaching to the cap by the magnetic attraction force in a single-hand operation when a user places the mobile magnetic element of the pen in proximity to the stationary permanent magnet of the cap. The writing tip of the ink cartridge of the pen retracts into the hollow case of the pen when an upward magnetic attraction force is greater than a downward mechanical expansion force. This invention relates to pens, and the principal use of the invention is for operating a pen with a single hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Go Simon Sunatori
  • Patent number: 6830403
    Abstract: A writing implement having a built-in illumination system and a light reflecting chamber includes a transparent cone of front pen tube accommodating an ink cartridge, a hollow cylindrical barrel surrounded by a light reflecting tube, a middle ring housing the light-emitting body and an annular light reflecting plate, a power chamber housed in the rear pen tube and consisting of a LED conducting wire channel and a battery room, a conducting spring, a push tube, a switching cap, and a pen cap with clip protecting the ink cartridge tip. When light switches on, a part of the emitted light passes straightly and directly toward the cone of front pen tube through the hollow of the front pen tube to light up the surface to be written on, simultaneously, another part of the light is reflected at the surface of the annular light reflecting plate and the polished mirror-like inner wall surface of the light reflecting tube and is propagated toward the cone of front pen tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Hsueh Chen Tsai
  • Patent number: 6830404
    Abstract: An input pen is capable of being held in any one of input pen holding parts, respectively having different shapes, of various personal digital assistants. The input pen has a barrel, and stopping members fitted in opposite end parts of a metal tube. An elastic member is placed between the stopping members so as to push the stopping members outwardly. The metal tube is fitted in openings formed in the barrel. When the input pen is inserted into an input pen holding part of the personal digital assistant, the stopping members, properly projecting exteriorly through the openings of the barrel, are pressed against an inner surface of the input pen holding part. Thus, the input pen will not move even if there is a space between the barrel and the inner surface of the input pen holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Pilot Precision Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshimasa Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6830405
    Abstract: A fastening member which is designed to receive a downwardly directed component force on the occasion of fixing it to a post or a stud of a building frame, thereby preventing it from being inadvertently floated up, thus ensuring always a stably fastened state of the building board. This fastening member is featured in that the inner wall of the concave portion formed in the substrate of the fastening member is provided at a lower wall portion thereof with an obliquely projected portion which enables a downwardly directed component force to be acted on the fastening member by allowing the projected portion to be contacted with a large head portion of the fixing member at a final stage of fixing it to a post or a stud of a building frame through an opening formed in the bottom of the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nichiha Corporation
    Inventor: Morimichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6830406
    Abstract: A rotation device of a buckle for use in an automobile seat belt is provided with a base having a plate-like shape to be mounted on a bottom surface of a main body and provided with a circular plate portion at its one end, the circular plate portion provided with a through hole formed therethrough, and a pair of side walls bent upwardly each of which has a lug bent inwardly to be integrally formed with the circular plate portion as well as the pair of side walls, a stalk whose one end is rotatably mounted on an upper surface of the circular plate portion of the base has a hole formed therethrough and a stopper portion formed around the end of the stalk and provided with a protrusion for being contacted with an inner surface of the side wall of the base and an abutment for limiting a rotation angle of the main body, the stalk having a protrusion for stopping a rotational movement, an elastic member whose one end is contacted to the protrusion for stopping a rotational movement and having an elasticity and a th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Sungwoo Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-han Kim, Jae-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6830407
    Abstract: A guardrail beam for installation along a roadway includes a first edge and a second edge. A plurality of crowns may be disposed longitudinally along the guardrail beam between the first edge and the second edge. A first fold may be disposed upon the first edge and a second fold may be disposed upon the second edge. The beam may also include an upstream end, a downstream end and an intermediate portion disposed between the upstream and downstream ends. The first and second folds may form generally tubular first and second curls having elliptical cross sections and located within the upstream and intermediate portions. The guardrail beam may also include hemmed portions at the first edge and/or second edge at the downstream ends of the guardrail beam. In a particular embodiment, one or more fluted beads may be disposed longitudinally along at least one crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Icom Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos M. Ochoa
  • Patent number: 6830408
    Abstract: A system for repairing roads is provided. The system includes a highly strain tolerant, substantially impermeable, reflective crack relief interlayer. The interlayer includes a polymer modified asphalt binder mixed with a dense fine aggregate mixture. About 100% of the aggregate should be able to pass through about a 9.5 mm sieve. The interlayer mix is designed using volumetrics and verified using a Flexural Beam Fatigue test and a Hveem Stability test. Preferably, an HMA overlay that is compatible with the interlayer, as well as the demands of local traffic, is placed over the interlayer so that a protected, smooth road surface is provided. The system may delay the first appearance of cracks and the severity of cracks for several years compared with traditional hot mix overlays and extend pavement service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: KMC Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip B. Blankenship, Joseph Drbohlav, III, Michael L. Hines
  • Patent number: 6830409
    Abstract: A concrete deposition device includes at least a concrete delivery unit and a leveling element in a single unit. The device can be moved across an edge of a concrete mass under deposition to simultaneously place and level plastic concrete. The device may also include a screed trailing the leveling element to provide additional compacting and control of the top surface of the concrete mass. In a preferred embodiment a carrier translates the deposition device along a predetermined path to provide for improved ease and accuracy in the formation of the concrete mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Gregory P. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6830410
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting the hull of a watercraft using a flexible bunk beam and a convex cushion attached to the beam using locking elements. The beam has a longitudinal recess with a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower anchor portion, and the cushion has an elongated cushion locking member lockably insertable into the recess. The cushion locking member has a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower portion sized to snuggly fit within the recess. The cushion includes internal voids and walls. The beam includes sidewalls with bores forming bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sunstream Corporation
    Inventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey
  • Patent number: 6830411
    Abstract: A method of making artificial barrier islands or break waters. The method consists of driving a series of piles in the shape of the island, attaching a number of wire mesh sections, to form a fence around the perimeter of the piles, connecting the tops of the piles with cables, and then filling the formed enclosure with riprap (rock) material. Once the rock has reached the water surface, it is covered with suitable soil and vegetation to create the island. The piles and mesh are hidden below the water surface and the formed island takes on a natural appearance. In this way, the artificial island is a barrier to storms, thus protecting the shoreline and wetlands from erosion. Moreover, the artificial island creates an ideal habitat for birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. In certain environments one island can protect approximately 10 times the amount of shoreline that lies behind it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Dominick Amari
  • Patent number: 6830412
    Abstract: A trencher comprising a cutting disc (2) with a prefabricated tongued and grooved element feeder comprising a sweeper box (32) with a U-shaped transverse cross section closed at the front by a rake (34), in such a way that earth cannot fall inside it, and powered drive wheels operably frictionally pushing prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) in order to urge the elements together and to keep the different prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) coupled together during their descent into the inside of the sweeper box (32). This produces a temporary plank mould for the trench, so that the lowering and laying of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) inside the trench may be carried out automatically, safely, and in a working environment that is free of earth, thus enabling the correct linking of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Eduardo Gómez Pérez
  • Patent number: 6830413
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for ballasting and de-ballasting a vessel having a hull with a plurality of watertight ballast compartments wherein each ballast compartment has an individual pump caisson extending vertically to the top of the hull, but the ballast/de-ballast system contains no valves within the hull. An external caisson is used to provide a source of seawater. Several submersible pumps are available for rigging into and out of the internal and external caissons and provide the ballast and de-ballast operations via an installed manifold system at the top of the columns. Venting of the ballast tanks may be accomplished through a connection to atmosphere near the top of the pump caissons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Modec International, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Pieter G. Wybro, Terry Kryska
  • Patent number: 6830414
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying multi-color powder paint material to an applicator in which at least one canister is used. This invention can be utilized with multiple or with a single color of powder paint material. The preferred system includes two canisters that alternate in supplying powder to the applicator. While one canister supplies powder to the applicator, the other canister is purged of the previous material and filled with the next material to be sprayed. The canister has an interior sized to store a predetermined quantity of powder material. During operation, a powder transfer pump and a color changer transfer powder material from a storage container/hopper to the canister interior. A venturi pump then supplies the applicator with powder. After the object is painted, purge air is opened and the canister is purged of the previous material. The canister is then ready to start another cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sheila Farrokhalaee Kia, Christopher M. Murphy, Brian Thadeus Prylon, Frank P. Rauch, Fred I. Blair
  • Patent number: 6830415
    Abstract: A portion (14a, 14b) of a chip remover (14) is defined to be vibratory to give an NC machine tool (MT 1) a vibration transferable onto a surface (FS) of a work (13) under a finishing by the NC machine tool (MT1), a decision is made whether the NC machine tool (MT1) enters the finishing, and vibration of the vibratory portion (14a, 14b) is controlled, as the decision is true. A chip removal method and an NC machine tool equipped with a spiral chip remover (113) as a chip remover have various chip removal rules for determining permission/prohibition of the operation of the spiral chip remover (113). This spiral chip remover (113) operates based on commands described in a machining program. When a command in the machining program is executed, the permission/prohibition of the operation of the spiral chip remover (113) is controlled according to the chip removal rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shiba, Minoru Hamamura, Katsuhito Endo, Takao Date
  • Patent number: 6830416
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a machine whereby a workpiece is held on a worktable of the machine with a suction force. When the work piece has a surface area insufficient to receive a full cut from a tool mounted in a tool head of the machine, the machine automatically adjusts the depth and the cutting speed of the tool to lesson the cut so the workpiece is not moved or ejected from the worktable. The depth and speed of the tool may be adjusted in a single cut pass of the tool or they may be adjusted in successive cut passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Michael P. Hardesty, David Hildenbrand
  • Patent number: 6830417
    Abstract: In a first preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a passenger truck cab unit which includes a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis and a lower structure mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for additional support of the body; a freight transport unit; and a hitch mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for attaching the freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit. The body comprises a door opening extending into the lower structure for providing a vehicle operator entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door. The passenger truck cab unit tows the freight transport unit. In a second preferred embodiment, the hitch is removed and replaced by decking of sufficient strength to support and transport a load of freight. The present invention also includes the method of simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger, as well as the passenger truck cab unit used in simultaneously transporting the freight and at least one passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Deets
  • Patent number: 6830418
    Abstract: A system including apparatus and methods for compressively retaining cargo to a vehicular surface may, upon adjustment, frictionally engage the underside of the upper lip of a truck bed sidewall and transmit a compressive force to a cargo retention element positioned substantially above vehicular cargo. A vertical compression force enhancement element, which may be the same as an adjustable vertical compression force transfer element, may be a threaded rod and threadably mated nut system. The invention also discloses an extendable vertical compression force base element to fit differently sized truck beds, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Bill V. Keramidis
  • Patent number: 6830419
    Abstract: A dome of a domed aerosol can end is initially formed and then a crown of the can end is formed so that material flow within a workpiece from which the can end is formed is controlled to substantially eliminate wrinkling problems associated with the use of sheet material which is thinner than conventionally used, for example double reduced steel. The peripheral portion of the workpiece is initially clamped between a blank punch and a draw pad, and also between a knockout and a crown ring. An outer first portion of the dome is then formed by an outer redraw sleeve and a dome form die. An inner second portion of the dome is next formed by a dome punch and the dome form die. There may be limited contact of the dome punch with the workpiece during formation of the first portion of the dome and the workpiece may also be clamped between the outer redraw sleeve and the dome form die during formation of the second dome portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Alfons Haar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Turner, Carl W. Hoying
  • Patent number: 6830420
    Abstract: A jig is provided that includes a support portion configured to receive and vertically support a container thereon. The support portion has at least one retaining portion that is configured to non-rotationally lock with a retaining element of the container to substantially prevent relative rotation between the jig and container. Additionally, a method is provided for forming a container. The method includes forming a container body having a retaining element and providing a jig to support the container body thereon and having a retaining portion configured to non-rotationally lock with the retaining element. Additionally, the method includes positioning the container body relative to the jig so as to effect the non-rotational lock between the retaining element and retaining portion and positioning a lid on the container body. Furthermore, the method includes forming a seam between a periphery of the lid and the open end portion of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Scott K. Westphal
  • Patent number: 6830421
    Abstract: An apparatus for inverting a container is disclosed. The apparatus has a column that is generally vertically disposed and having a base end connected to a floor plate that can rest on a floor and a top end at the end of the column opposite the base end. The column is capable of rotating about the floor plate and the column has a carriage that moves vertically within the column. The carriage has connected thereto an arm that moves in a horizontal plane. The arm inverts a container such that the contents of the container may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Clifford Broderick
  • Patent number: 6830422
    Abstract: A container transport apparatus for transporting a shipping container between two locations, such as between residences or business locations, includes a front unit and a separate rear unit for supporting the respective forward and rear ends of the shipping container. The front and rear units each include a frame structure with upper and lower hydraulically extendible vertical arm members. Locking pins on the vertical arm members engage sockets on the corners of the shipping container to facilitate vertical lifting and support of the container above the ground without tilting the container, thereby preventing damage to articles packed in the container. A forwardly extending trailer tongue on the front unit attaches to a hitch of a towing vehicle. The rear unit is provided with drive wheels and steering wheels for maneuvering the rear unit into position against the rear end of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Allstate Storage, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Whitley
  • Patent number: 6830423
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle (PMV) lift for loading and offloading a personal mobility vehicle (PMV) into and from a rear portion of a vehicle, the vehicle having an interior floor and a trailer hitch rigidly attached to the rear of the vehicle to which the PMV lift is rigidly engageable. The PMV lift receives substantially all of its support from the trailer hitch and includes an elongated laterally extending lifting boom and a drive mechanism connected adjacent a proximal end thereof. The drive mechanism includes an elongated flexible lifting cable or belt which is operably connectable for raising and lowering the PMV by operation of the drive mechanism. An upright stanchion is supportively connected to the lifting boom while an elongated lift support arm is supportively connected to a lower end of the stanchion. A trailer hitch engaging member is connectable at one end to the trailer hitch, the other end of which is connected to a proximal end of the lift support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Chadco Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Williams, Jeff DuVal
  • Patent number: 6830424
    Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for separating and supplying plates from a stacked plate assembly capable of highly efficiently separating and conveying one plate by one from a stacked plate assembly of a storage cell without interruption and conveying and supplementing, one by one, the separated plate to a next step with improved reliability. In this apparatus, separation suction disks (6) for sucking, separating and holding the uppermost plate P are arranged on a support table (2) at an upper end portion of an elevation rod (1a) of an elevation mechanism (1) above a stacked plate assembly (A1) for separation having a large number of plates stacked in such a fashion as to be capable of moving up and down also included are rotary bodies (13) each having rotary suction disks (12) arranged along a circumference with predetermined gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignees: The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd., Iken Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujino, Shun-ichi Izawa
  • Patent number: 6830425
    Abstract: Process and plant for handling and stacking a plurality of thermoformed containers or lids, including the steps of: obtaining during a thermoforming phase mouldings of lids and containers, having at least three stacking protrusions or spacers, all having the same space arrangement in all the thermoformed products of the same moulding, at least one of the stacking protrusions or spacers of a same thermoformed object being set out in a non specular symmetric way with respect to at least a center line of the respective container or lid and at a distance from the same center line of the respective container or lid different from that of the others, arranging one or a moulding of said containers or lids in at least one support template to keep them in order according to the spatial arrangement that they had during the thermoforming phase, turning through a predetermined angle every other object or moulding of objects either containers or lids before or during their transfer to a stacking station, and stacking
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: ISAP OMV Group SpA
    Inventor: Pietro Padovani
  • Patent number: 6830426
    Abstract: A set of seals is installed on the impeller of a centrifugal pump that allows a low viscosity fluid to be injected into a chamber between the impeller shroud and the casing sidewall. A seal ring, with a number of grooves formed in it is installed on the tip of the impeller. Another seal ring is mounted at the leading edge of the eye of the impeller. The gas is picked up by the grooves in the impeller tip ring inside diameter and is compressed by centrifugal force to a higher pressure than the discharge pressure of the impeller. It is then injected into the pumpage stream. The eye ring seals have pockets or grooves and inject gas at a low volume into the eye of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: David T. Stilcs
  • Patent number: 6830427
    Abstract: A high-pressure turbine nozzle-vane band for a gas turbine engine. The band includes an inside surface supporting at least one guide vane having a trailing edge that is directed towards a downstream end of the band, and an outside surface, opposite the inside surface, from which a flange extends radially, defining firstly, upstream from the flange, a passage for cooling-air, and secondly, downstream from the flange, a cavity. The inside surface of the band is provided, between the trailing edge of the guide vane and the downstream end of the band, with a coating forming a thermal barrier enabling a temperature gradient generated in the band by the air spinning in the cavity to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Grégory Lafarge, Christophe Texier
  • Patent number: 6830428
    Abstract: The coating of abradable material presents cavities opening out into the surface of the coating, the cavities extending over a fraction of the thickness of the coating and being defined by walls which form a plurality of continuous paths at the inside surface of the annular portion between the axial end faces thereof, and which form an angle of not less than 5° relative to the general direction of end portions of blades that might come into contact with the abradable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: SNECMA Moteurs
    Inventors: Philippe Le Biez, Joël Vigneau
  • Patent number: 6830429
    Abstract: A small cooling fan includes a rotating fan body with a vane in a flat fan housing, and an air channel for backflow prevention. The air channel is provided outside of the vicinity of the tip of the vane of the rotating fan body, extends to an air outlet, and has an inner height larger than that of a fan chamber. This structure can prevent the backflow of the wind at the air outlet and reduce the loss of the static pressure, thereby increasing the airflow quantity in spite of the small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Hirata
  • Patent number: 6830430
    Abstract: A Frisbee™ fan comprises a fan body made from a fabric bordered by a flexible strip on the peripheral rim thereof and a folding plate clamping the fan body for generating a strong air flow. The fan body may be printed with a selected pattern. The fan body may be separated from the folding plate to become a Frisbee™ for recreational use. The flexible strip allows the fan body be twisted and folded to a smaller size and be encased in the folding plate to facilitate carrying and storing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Jack Lien
  • Patent number: 6830431
    Abstract: A moving blade for a high pressure turbine of a turbomachine. The blade has at least one cooling circuit including at least one cavity extending radially between a tip and a root of the blade, at least one air admission opening at one of radial ends of the at least one cavity to feed the at least one cooling circuit with cooling air, and a plurality of slots opening out from the at least one cavity and into a side of the blade in a vicinity of the trailing edge of the blade. The slots are arranged along the trailing edge between the root and the tip of the blade substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the blade, at least the slot closest to the root of the blade presenting an inclination towards the tip of the blade lying in the range 10° to 30° relative to an axis of rotation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: SNECMA Moteurs
    Inventors: Christian Bariaud, Jacques Boury
  • Patent number: 6830432
    Abstract: A turbine fluid guide member (10) including an airfoil portion (12), a platform portion (14) and fillet (16) joining the airfoil portion to the platform portion. Fillet cooling holes (18a-18f) are positioned in the turbine fluid guide member relative to a pressure side vortex flow (22) so that a cooling fluid flow (20) exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film (32) over the fillet. The cooling holes may be positioned in the airfoil portion, the platform portion, or any combination thereof, depending on the geometry of the airfoil and resultant vortex flows around the airfoil. A method of cooling a fillet of the turbine fluid guide member may include identifying a vortex flow around the fillet and selectively positioning a hole relative to the vortex flow such that a cooling fluid flow exiting the hole is directed to form a cooling film over the fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kenmer Scott, Joseph Theodore Tapley