Patents Issued in December 20, 2005
  • Patent number: PP16166
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘DVP Pinky’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; large upright flower panicles; and large panicles with white-colored sterile flowers that become purple in color during the fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
    Inventor: Johan Van Huylenbroeck
  • Patent number: PP16167
    Abstract: A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Baldelrasp’, characterized by its burgundy-colored ray florets, yellow-colored disc florets, and upright, mounded growth habit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ball Horticultural Company
    Inventor: Jeroen Gitzels
  • Patent number: PP16168
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘OHMADCAMA’ characterized by its double inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets, cream-colored disc florets, dark green-colored foliage, freely branching character, and compact and upright growth habit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Bonza Botanicals Pty., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Bernuetz
  • Patent number: PP16169
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Nemrowhi’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; and numerous violet and white bi-colored flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Seaview Nurseries Ltd.
    Inventor: Keith Richard William Hammett
  • Patent number: PP16170
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Asiatic Hybrid Lily plant named ‘Tiny Todd’ characterized by its medium to large plant size; vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; light red purple and white-colored tepals that are slightly recurved and ruffled at the apex; and good postproduction longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: MAK 't Zand B.V.
    Inventor: Nicolaas Aloysius Maria Mak
  • Patent number: PP16171
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacwu’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers with whitish centers arranged in rounded umbels held above and beyond the foliage on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Elsner pac Jungpflanzen
    Inventor: Christa Hofmann
  • Patent number: PP16172
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Anastasia Bronze’, characterized by its large quilled spider double-type inflorescences with bronze-colored ray florets; numerous ray florets and few inconspicuous disc florets; dark green-colored foliage; strong and upright flowering stems; low number of lateral branches; short response time; and excellent postproduction longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Deliflor Chrysanten B.V.
    Inventor: Jan Hoek
  • Patent number: RE38922
    Abstract: A magnetooptical recording medium has a first magnetic layer which is an in-plane magnetization film at both room temperature and high temperatures and changed to a perpendicular magnetization film at intermediate temperatures, and a second magnetic layer which is composed of a perpendicular magnetization film. The recording medium enables realization of high S/N reproduction of information recorded at a pitch below the diffraction limit of light with a simple structure, and further improvement in linear recording density and track density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Nishimura
  • Patent number: RE38923
    Abstract: A method of encoding a local time base embedded in the compressed data is disclosed. The local time base is encoded in two parts. The first part has a modulo time base that indicates the specific interval in the reference time base and the second part has a time base increment relative to the reference time. Two forms of time base increment is used to allow for the possibility of different encoding order and displaying order. A mechanism for the synchronization of multiple compressed streams with local time base is also described. A time base offset mechanism is also used to allow finer granularity synchronization of the multiple compressed streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thiow Keng Tan, Sheng Mei Shen, Chak Joo Lee
  • Patent number: RE38924
    Abstract: A sexual aid comprising a cylindrical rod is disclosed. The rod has a length with a first end and a second end. A sphere is integrally formed in the first end of the rod. A loop-shaped handle or a second sphere may be provided on the second end of the rod. The rod, sphere or spheres and/or handle are fabricated of a generally lubricous glass-based material containing an appreciable amount of an oxide of boron. A plurality of spheres may be provided on the rod intermediate the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventors: Steven D. Ritchie, Harlie David Reynard
  • Patent number: 6976272
    Abstract: A universal visual shield apparatus, for use with a hockey helmet, is usable for training hockey players by partially blocking a user's field of vision. The apparatus includes a main shield body formed from an elastically deformable material, and is attachable to the helmet using connectors. The main shield body includes a horizontal floor portion and a vertical edge portion that cooperate to block a user from seeing the puck while it is in the user's possession, while still allowing the user to see forward. When worn, the apparatus forces the user to look forward, beyond the puck and stick. The apparatus may include adjustable apparatus straps, and can be used on any sized helmet without modifying the helmet or the apparatus. Because the apparatus is soft and crushable, the apparatus will not harm the user or another player if they are involved in a collision on the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: I2 Innovative Ideas
    Inventors: Edward Krzysik, Jr., John DeMartino
  • Patent number: 6976273
    Abstract: A protective garment for a firefighter or for an emergency worker comprises a pocket, which is adapted to hold a telecommunications device, and a pouch, which contains the pocket and is adapted to hold a face mask, outside the pocket. The pouch has a first mouth, which when opened provides access to the pocket, and a second mouth, which when opened provides access to the pouch, outside the pocket. When the protective garment is being worn by a person standing erectly, the first mouth becomes an upper mouth and the second mouth becomes a lower mouth. Each mouth of the pouch has manually operable closures or a manually operable closure, such as a flap, which is securable to a wall of the pouch via a hook-and-loop closure and via a metal clasp, at the first mouth and such as a zippered closure at the second mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Patricia Lewis, William L. Grilliot, Mary I. Grilliot
  • Patent number: 6976274
    Abstract: A new safety glove for allowing a user, such as a police officer or a road worker, to direct traffic more easily. The inventive device includes a hand cover having an interior hand space, a front or palm panel and a back or dorsal panel the two panel being fastened to each other on three sides to form the interior hand space and open on one side to form a wrist opening into the interior hand space. The exterior surfaces of the palm and rear panels are brightly and reflectively or retro-reflectively colored; the palm panel being red and the rear panel being green. A pocket, with a closure, in one of the panels is provided to carry a self-contained warming device for keeping the user's hand warm. The palm panel may bear a brightly colored octagonal stop sign including the word “STOP”. The fingers portions of the panels might have a reflective or retro-reflective arrow shape pointing to the finger ends, to increase the visibility of the fingers as they point in a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Rhonda E. Dufresne
  • Patent number: 6976275
    Abstract: A protective ear shield releasably mounted over the top and the rear saddleback portion of an ear suitable for releasing discomfort due to compression pressure of the shield and the weight of the added body accessory. The protective ear shield comprises at least two curved sections joined with an adjustable connecting member for adjusting and fixing the distance between these two sections. The ear shield is configured to fit the contours of the top and the rear saddleback portion of the ear so as to minimize the discomfort feeling. The ear shield may comprise a hook element at each end of the two sections configured for securing the eyeglasses or sunglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Chin Chia Liu
  • Patent number: 6976276
    Abstract: A carotid cooling jacket keeps the wearer cool during outside sporting events, for example. The jacket is reusable, and constructed of a waterproof inner lining and a soft outer cover. The outer cover can be made of various materials and in various colors. Filler caps are provided to fill the jacket inner liner with cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: John D. Corbitt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6976277
    Abstract: A device for dispenses a liquid active substance into the flushing water of a toilet bowl. The device has a supply container provided with an opening on the underside and is filled with the liquid active substance. This supply container is retained in a carrying body which can be fixed on a rim of the toilet bowl. Retained on the underside of the carrying body is a distributor plate, which can be reached by the flushing water and has capillary channels. These capillary channels are connected to the opening of the supply container via distributor channels. The distributor channels here are branched and are each connected to a plurality of capillary channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: SKOT S.A. Chemical Products
    Inventor: Ioannis D. Keramidas
  • Patent number: 6976278
    Abstract: A wheelchair, containing a seat having an opening, seat sections that substantially fill the opening, a commode, wherein the commode is beneath the opening in the seat, wherein the seat sections move vertically and horizontally to provide access to the commode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventors: Martha Oetting, Wayne Oetting, William Koeneker
  • Patent number: 6976279
    Abstract: A portable stand alone treatment station for eyes which have been exposed to corrosive liquids, noxious gases and foreign objects. An eye washing fluid reservoir and one or more applicators are mounted on a two-wheel cart. The eye washing fluid in the reservoir is stored under pressure to discharge the eye washing fluid from the applicator when a resiliently biased valve is opened. The tank is pressurized by a hand pump mounted in the tank or through a valve in a wall of the tank. The portability of the station allows it to be relocated on an as needed basis or to be transported to an injured person and carried in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Berke-Tec, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Berke, Charles T. Michael, Alex Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6976280
    Abstract: An apparatus for resting a head of a user during sleep has a layer of closed cell foam disposed over a layer of open cell foam. A section of the apparatus that resembles a quarter moon in shape is removed to allow space for a head and shoulders of a user to better engage with the pillow sufficient to retain the user in a position of cooperation with the pillow. A pair of spaced-apart parallel cuts is provided from one end of the pillow to a depth of approximately two-thirds of the pillow to provide three hinged portions that are adapted to accommodate a portion of an arm or hand of the user that may be inserted under the pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Alexander Taylor Coutts
  • Patent number: 6976281
    Abstract: A medical cushion (1), in particular an anti-decubitus cushion, is in particular multicellular and is distinguished in that the cushion is equipped, at least in the area where skin contact (6) occurs, with an active membrane (3) based on a skin-compatible matrix (4) into which a molecular sieve is mixed. This molecular sieve is charged with at least one active substance (Z, Z1, Z2), and the molecular sieve/active substance adduct (5) releases the active substance when the active membrane comes into skin contact (6) in conjunction with the transpiration of the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: INTECH Thüringen GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Schunk, Michael Bruder, Karl-Heinz Krause, Gerhard Merkmann, Jörg Vortkort
  • Patent number: 6976282
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rod having a frame connected to an end thereof and a connection member is connected to two assist plates which movably extend through the frame and pivotably connected to a pull handle on the rod. Two boards are pivotably connected to two sides of the connection member and each board has a positioning member to which a cleaning member is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Jai Yi Sie
  • Patent number: 6976283
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cosmetic brush assembly. The cosmetic brush assembly has a brush member, which may be inserted in a case or pulled out from that by the open and close action of a protection cap. Further, the total length of the cosmetic brush assembly may be changed according to the movement of the brush. Therefore, a user may easily reserve the cosmetic brush assembly in a bag or use it for painting with cosmetic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Man Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 6976284
    Abstract: The paint roller cover extender is a paint roller cover accessory that would allow the corner areas of a room to be painted in one motion using a conventional paint roller. The product would feature a cylindrical cap having the same diameter as a roller cover, a closed end, and an open end with an elastic band woven into the inner surface near the open edge. The elastic band would allow the unit to be easily snapped over and secured to the end of a roller cover. The paint roller cover extender would be made of the same material as the roller cover. In use, the standard roller cover would be used to apply paint to one section of a corner while the extender would apply paint at a right angle to the other wall of the corner. The paint roller cover extender could be sold as an after purchase accessory for conventional paint roller covers, or it could be packaged as a unit with a paint roller and cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventors: Peter A. Manfredi, Peter J. Pompeii
  • Patent number: 6976285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a four-hinged wiper arm for a windshield wiper system, especially for an automobile wherein a connecting rod is pivotally connected to a driving arm in a first bearing point and to a control arm in a second bearing point. A hinged part is coupled to the connecting rod. A wiper blade that can be placed on the hinged part or on a wiper rod connected to the hinged part can be pressed against the windshield to be wiped by a spring element that is mounted on the four-hinged wiper arm. In order to ensure good wiping quality and low-noise operation over a long service period, the invention provides that the connecting rod or the driving arm or the control arm is fitted with an antifriction bearing at least one of the two locating points of the four hinged wiper arm. According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, the four-hinged wiper arm is fitted with an antifriction bearing on both bearing points, whereby the antifriction bearing is preferably a deep groove ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Scholl, Herbert Bienert
  • Patent number: 6976286
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a portable, self-draining utility bucket 12. The motorized drainage system of the present invention 10 comprises a bucket 12 on wheels 14, a draining pump assembly 16 which incorporates an electrical motor 18 and a retractable cord assembly 20. The wastewater from the bucket 12 is pumped through the drain hose 22 and dispensed into a sink 24. This eliminates any need to lift the bucket 12 in order to drain it, which saves pain and hard work, and eliminates possible injury at work. An on/off switch 26, a ground fault interrupter circuit breaker (GFI) 28, a clip-on fill hose 30, and a conventional mop strainer 32 are also provided. The present invention has three designs for domestic, commercial and hospital applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Edwin Sanabria
  • Patent number: 6976287
    Abstract: A cart for use in moving a large vacuum nozzle such as that of a grain vacuum within a grain bin has a frame mounted on two pairs of ground wheels. The pipe of the nozzle extends along a center of the cart with a foot pad on each side for the operator to ride and a nozzle of the pipe projecting from the front of the cart. The cart is driven by a pair of motors extending across the cart each driving a respective pair of wheels the motors being mounted underneath the pipe with one in front of the other. A manually operable control in the form of an upstanding support bar is carried on front of the frame and operable by the operator with two switches operable to control the motors separately for forward and rearward movement of the cart and steering movements of the cart to each side for guiding the cart and the nozzle over the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Gordon E. Muth
  • Patent number: 6976288
    Abstract: A bar or rod gripper for arresting the linear axial movement of a rod, e.g. the piston rod of a door closure between a door open or closed position, that includes a compressible bushing slidably disposed about the rod or bar, and a canter washer disposed about the compression bushing whereby the canter washer, when tilted, will cause the compression bushing to compress to impose a surface to surface frictional force onto the bar or rod to resist or restrain the axial movement thereof without scoring, pitting or indenting the outer surface of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 6976289
    Abstract: A door closer having a door arresting mechanism to arrest a door in an opened position that includes a cylinder and piston assembly wherein the arresting mechanism includes a cam member having an arresting dwell cam profile and an indexing profile, and an associated cam follower member wherein one member is connected to the piston rod and the other member to the cylinder so that one member is fixedly connected to either the cylinder or piston rod and the other member rendered rotatable relative to the fixed member so that the arresting mechanism is rendered self actuating upon the opening or closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 6976290
    Abstract: An inventive hinge has the ability to be biased toward open and closed positions and/or is adapted to be hidden in door assemblies. The hinge includes a first bracket adapted to be mounted to a first workpiece. The first bracket comprises a generally tubular sleeve and opposed spaced-apart surfaces including first openings that are aligned with each other. A second bracket is adapted to be mounted to a second workpiece. The second bracket comprises opposed spaced-apart surfaces including second openings that are aligned with each other. The first bracket and the second bracket are oriented with respect to each other effective to align the first openings with the second openings. A hinge pin is received in the first and second openings effective to enable the first bracket to be pivotally movable relative to the second bracket. The tubular sleeve extends from the first bracket generally parallel with an axis of the hinge pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Stahl/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Boyer, Doug L. Juga
  • Patent number: 6976291
    Abstract: A male-mounted tape is composed of a plurality of synthetic resin male snaps moulded and fastened onto a cloth tape at certain intervals in such a way that their engagement sides and non-engagement sides, which are asymmetric to each other, are on the front side and the back side of the cloth tape respectively. A female tape is composed of a plurality of synthetic resin female snaps moulded and fastened onto a cloth tape at the same intervals as the male snaps in such a way that their engagement sides and non-engagement sides, which are asymmetric to each other, are on the front side and the back side of the cloth tape respectively. The cloth tapes, on which the female and male snaps are formed and fastened, are not provided with holes for mounting the snaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Morito Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kimoto, Yoshihiro Chihara, Sadao Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 6976292
    Abstract: A resilient clip having an engagement tab, which terminates at a load distributing element, and wing members that are configured to co-engage a structure to which the resilient clip is to be coupled. The wing members terminate at an engagement edge and are configured to co-engage the structure at a location along a length of their engagement edge. The load distributing element being configured to contact the structure in response to application of a withdrawing force to the resilient clip so that the load distributing element increases an area over which the withdrawing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Terrence B. MacPherson, Jeffrey A. Slobodecki
  • Patent number: 6976293
    Abstract: A slide fastener, of the type having two strips provided with fastening devices, and having a slider that slides along the length of the edges of the strips to control the closing/locking and the opening/unlocking of the fastening devices of the two strips. The slide fastener has a blocking device affixed to one of the strips and that, when the two strips are interconnected by their fastening devices, extends across the path of the slider to block its movement in the opening/unlocking direction. The blocking device includes a feature whereby the retraction of the blocking device is automatically accomplished when the slider passes in the area of the blocking device in the closing/locking direction, and whereby the blocking device automatically returns to its blocking position after the passage of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Florian Traulle, Marielle Deschamps
  • Patent number: 6976294
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 6976295
    Abstract: A compact and thin piezo-electric resonator is provided having a high air-tightness and available at a low cost, in which a piezo-electric resonator element is provided in a housing having a structure which permits adjustment of the frequency after sealing the housing. Further, a surface-mounting type piezo-electric resonator is provided, in which a piezo-electric resonator element is provided in a housing, having a structure which permits frequency adjustment through an opening provided in a base or a lid forming the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Kikushima, Yoshio Morita
  • Patent number: 6976296
    Abstract: A CV boot installation and removing device comprising a base having a connection opening for coupling to a CV boot. With this design, there is a handle coupled to the base and a power connection disposed either inside or adjacent to the handle. There is an adjuster, which can be in the form of a substantially cylindrical shaft, for adjusting an opening size of the connection opening for receiving the CV boot. There is also a biasing device coupled to the base, for biasing the connection opening closed against the CV boot wherein the biasing device can be pressed open by said adjuster to form a connection to the CV boot to a point at which said connection opening opens to fit over a CV boot as controlled by the adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Astoria 2000 LLC
    Inventor: Joselitho Boudreault
  • Patent number: 6976297
    Abstract: A wrench for an engine clutch of a radio control model includes a handle having a receiving space longitudinally defined in the handle. A control unit is rotatably mounted in the receiving space, and includes a first end formed with a press portion and a second end formed with a hook. The press portion presses a centrifugal lever of the engine clutch when mounting and the hook engages to the centrifugal lever when detaching. A drive unit is pivotally mounted to one end of the handle and corresponds to the press portion. The drive unit includes a hole defined in a free end thereof for receiving an input shaft of the engine clutch. A partition is securely laterally attached to the drive unit and has a separation extending therefrom. The separation is provided for easily detaching/mounting a torsion spring of the engine clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Nai Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 6976298
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, the apparatus comprising a stator attachable to said top drive, and a supporting member for supporting a tool, wherein means are provided to allow substantially horizontal movement of said supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Patent number: 6976299
    Abstract: A tree harvesting guide bar adapted for treating stumps with a treatment material as the tree is being harvested is provided, and more particularly a valve arrangement for enabling connection of the guide bar inlet to treatment material sources on a variety of different harvesting machines is disclosed, such that the inlet not connected to the treatment material source does not need to be independently and manually plugged to prevent undesirable outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Seigneur
  • Patent number: 6976300
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inductor comprising a plurality of interconnected conductive segments interwoven with a substrate. The inductance of the inductor is increased through the use of coatings and films of ferromagnetic materials such as magnetic metals, alloys, and oxides. The inductor is compatible with integrated circuit manufacturing techniques and eliminates the need in many systems and circuits for large off chip inductors. A sense and measurement coil, which is fabricated on the same substrate as the inductor, provides the capability to measure the magnetic field or flux produced by the inductor. This on chip measurement capability supplies information that permits circuit engineers to design and fabricate on chip inductors to very tight tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 6976301
    Abstract: A system for and method of manufacturing a finned tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. A continuous fin strip is provided with at one pair of vortex generators. A tube is rotated and linearly displaced while the continuous fin strip with vortex generators is spirally wrapped around the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Manohar S. Sohal, James E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6976302
    Abstract: In a method to manufacture a bar in which a row of slider sections are aligned, a wafer block is made from a wafer in which rows of slider sections are aligned. The wafer block is bonded to a dummy block on a support plate. Next, a processing step and a cutting step are repeated. The processing step is to perform specific processing on the medium facing surfaces of a row of slider sections in the medium facing surface of the wafer block bonded to the support plate. The cutting step is to cut the wafer block together with the support plate such that the row of slider sections whose medium facing surfaces have received the specific processing are separated from the wafer block to be the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Itoh, Kazuo Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 6976303
    Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate. A connector housing is located at one side of the substrate, and a threaded fastening nut is engaged on the housing. A threaded fastener is engaged with the opposite side of the substrate and extends therethrough for tightening the nut toward the substrate in response to rotating the fastener. An assembly tool holds the fastening nut against rotation as the fastener is rotated. The tool includes a first portion for engaging at least a part of the housing to properly position the tool. A second portion of the tool engages the fastening nut to prevent rotation thereof. The second portion of the tool is aligned with the fastening nut automatically in response to engaging the first portion with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Wenzong Chen, Thomas R. Marrapode, Igor Grois, Jeffrey P. Myczek
  • Patent number: 6976304
    Abstract: A substantial apparatus width along a board carrying direction of an electronic component placing apparatus for placing electronic components on a board having a length L along the board carrying direction is a total dimension 4L+SL. Specifically, 4L denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of a first board retreat position, a first component placement position, a second board retreat position and a second component placement position. Further, SL denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of the spaces for positioning a board stop mechanism provided at each of the first board retreat position, the first component placement position, the second board retreat position and the second component placement position. Finally, the substantial apparatus width is between 450 mm and 1000 mm inclusively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Nakamura, Kunio Sakurai, Kazumasa Okumura, Ken Takano, Minoru Yamamoto, Hirokazu Honkawa, Kentaro Nishiwaki, Yoshihiko Misawa
  • Patent number: 6976305
    Abstract: An adjustable leg for a truss fabrication system used in mass production of trusses. The system has a truss set-up table and a gantry press movable relative to the truss set-up table for pressing nailing plates into truss members. The table is supported on legs which are readily adjustable in height even after installation of the table to maintain the table in a level orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish C. Kanjee, Kathy LiuHui Jin
  • Patent number: 6976306
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a modular method for manufacturing circuit boards, which is a method of manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards with blind and buried vias structure by using basic components as the assembly units. The method comprises the steps of producing electric circuits on the surface of a copper clad laminate by photolithographic and etching methods, pressing a dry film dielectric onto the surface of the laminate by the dry film lamination method after the electric circuit layer is formed, drilling a via and plugging a plastic conductive material into the via to obtain a basic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Unitech Printed Circuit Board Corporation
    Inventor: Chou Cheng Hsien
  • Patent number: 6976307
    Abstract: An accelerated vehicle development process includes establishing a common, standardized interface system whereby different types of vehicle bodies may be attached to a single chassis design. Chassis and bodies are designed, manufactured and validated independently of each other in accordance with the standardized interface system, thereby accelerating the development process. As new bodies are designed to mate with the previously manufactured and validated chassis, the newly designed bodies may be developed more quickly in response to market demand and attached to the previously validated chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian B. Chernoff, Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Mohsen D. Shabana, Robert Louis Vitale
  • Patent number: 6976308
    Abstract: A method for conductively connecting first and second electrical conductors is described which consist of different materials. In carrying out the method the ends of the first and second conductors are brought into mechanical contact with each other in an overlapping position. The first and second conductors then are connected to each other by welding without feeding of additional welding material. Finally the overlapping area is formed mechanically to achieve a smooth width transition between the first and second conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventor: Odd Magne Jonli
  • Patent number: 6976309
    Abstract: An underbody for a vehicle includes a floorpan defining a part of an assembly, a rocker slidably engaged with the floorpan, and a rail slidably engaged with the floorpan. The assembly is formed as a unit about a first and a second bend axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Mayer, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 6976310
    Abstract: Provided is a nail clipper comprising upper and lower clipper arms, a lever arm, a retaining pin and an insert. The upper and lower clipper arms are joined at one end thereof and having cutting edges disposed on an opposite end. The retaining pin extends upwardly through holes formed in the upper and lower clipper arms and is pivotably engaged to the lever arm. Manipulation of the lever arm brings the cutting edges into direct engagement with one another for cutting of an article such as a finger nail. The insert includes an annular shoulder extending upwardly from an upper surface into engagement with the hole in the upper clipper arm. Two pairs of posts extend downwardly from a lower surface of the panel member. The posts are configured to restrict outward projection of clippings during cutting of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Jae K. Sim
  • Patent number: 6976311
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a first knife and a second knife. The first knife typically includes a first attachment device and the second knife includes a second attachment device to attach the two knives together. The first and second attachment devices can be detached to detach the two knives from each other. The first and second knives can be folding type knives. The first attachment device may be comprised of a first plate having an opening. The second attachment device may be comprised of a protrusion. The protrusion of the second attachment device can be inserted into the opening of the first plate to attach the first knife to the second knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Victor W. Lee