Patents Issued in February 13, 2007
  • Patent number: 7175405
    Abstract: A compression molding machine capable of maintaining dies parallel while precisely clamping work pieces and improving quality of molded products and productivity. The compression molding machine includes a fixed platen; a movable platen; a fixed die being held by the fixed platen; a movable die being held by the movable platen; an open-close mechanism including a screw shaft connected to the movable platen, the open-close mechanism turning the screw shaft so as to move the movable die to and away from the fixed die, whereby the dies can be opened and closed. The fixed die can be taken out from the fixed platen in the direction crossing the open-close direction of the movable die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Apic Yamada Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Tsutomu Miyagawa, Tomokazu Asakura, Shusaku Tagami, Hideaki Nakazawa, Naoya Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7175406
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a plastic attachment on an article includes clamping mechanisms which position the article and form a mold surrounding the appropriate section of the article. During the process of molding the plastic attachment, the article may be moved through the mold to facilitate forming the attachment along a length of the article. The apparatus is illustrated by an annular mold for forming mating plastic couplings around the ends of tubes such as corrugated and smooth-walled metal pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: PRD Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Freitas, Robert F. Miller
  • Patent number: 7175407
    Abstract: A linear flow equalizer for distributing thermoplastic material to a spin pack of a meltspinning apparatus that provides for uniform apportionment of a flow of a flowable thermoplastic material at least vertically and in a cross-machine direction of the spin pack. The linear flow equalizer includes an inlet plate with multiple liquid passageways equidistantly spaced in the cross-machine direction that each provide flowable thermoplastic material to a set of equalizer plates. Elongated slots extending through alternating equalizer plates are registered with throughholes extending through adjacent plates in the equalizer plate set. Each throughhole in an upstream equalizer plate is registered with the center of a corresponding slot and each throughole in a downstream equalizer plate is registered with one of opposed closed ends of a corresponding slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Aktiengesellschaft Adolph Saurer
    Inventor: Steven D. Clark
  • Patent number: 7175408
    Abstract: A mold monitoring apparatus for an injection molding machine captures an image of a cavity portion of an opened mold, and determines the state of the cavity portion by means of image processing. The apparatus includes a light emitting unit, an image capturing unit, and an image processing unit. The light emitting unit projects onto the cavity portion light rays other than visible light rays. The image capturing unit includes an image sensor for capturing reflection light rays that travel from the cavity portion to the image sensor via a filter for blocking visible light rays. The image processing unit determines the state of the cavity portion on the basis of an image signal output from the image sensor and through image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Watanabe, Hirokazu Ihara
  • Patent number: 7175409
    Abstract: A lip rolling apparatus for open-mouthed stacked thermoplastic containers is disclosed. One particular apparatus includes components for presenting a nested stack of containers having unrolled lips to a rim roller, engaging individual cups on a screw assembly, heating a supply of air in a heater to a desired temperature, discharging the supply of heated air toward the containers as they are engaged on the screw assembly, and rolling the lips of the containers in the screw assembly. The present invention may be designed to prevent the screw assembly from operating until the supply of air reaches the desired temperature. Additionally, the heater (e.g., a forced air heater) may be moved between an initial position proximate the nested stack of containers and a safety position in response to a signal. Such a signal may be generated in response to a temperature sensor, system error, or any other such triggering episode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Solo Cup Operating Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Golden
  • Patent number: 7175410
    Abstract: A lip rolling apparatus for open-mouthed stacked thermoplastic containers is disclosed. One particular apparatus includes components for presenting a nested stack of containers having unrolled lips to a rim roller, engaging individual cups on a screw assembly, heating a supply of air in a heater to a desired temperature, discharging the supply of heated air toward the containers as they are engaged on the screw assembly, and rolling the lips of the containers in the screw assembly. The present invention may be designed to prevent the screw assembly from operating until the supply of air reaches the desired temperature. Additionally, the heater (e.g., a forced air heater) may be moved between an initial position proximate the nested stack of containers and a safety position in response to a signal. Such a signal may be generated in response to a temperature sensor, system error, or any other such triggering episode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Solo Cup Operating Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Golden
  • Patent number: 7175411
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producting cables, in particular cables for the distribution of electrical energy or cables for telecommunications, more particularly, cables having at least one covering layer comprising a composition of high viscosity. More particularly, the present invention concerns cables having at least one covering layer comprising a polymeric composition comprising a mineral filler capable of imparting one or more specific properties to the aforesaid cables. In accordance with the present invention, said production process comprises the stages of: conveying at least one conducting element inside of an extruder; feeding the polymeric material, optionally premixed with other components of said composition, into said extruder, filtering the material transferred and plasticized by the screw of said extruder; depositing said material onto said at least one conducting element, the filtration operation being performed with a filtration efficiency greater than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Prysmian Cavi e Sistemi Energia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sergio Belli, Angelo Giuseppe Locatelli, Giovanni Pozzati, Paolo Veggetti
  • Patent number: 7175412
    Abstract: A heat pressing die set for forming embossed designs on garments includes a male and a female die seat on which a silicon and a metal die are respectively supported. The silicon and the metal die are cut according to given designs to form complementary male and female die surfaces. Continuous flat belt zones of a predetermined width are separately provided on the silicon and the metal die corresponding to perimeters of the given designs. When an area of a garment is clamped and heat-pressed between the silicon and metal dies, the given designs are embossed on the garment and surrounded by heat-pressed belts, which visually highlight the embossed designs while protect non-embossed areas on the garment against undesired pull and stretch to therefore upgrade the quality of the embossed designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Chin-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 7175413
    Abstract: A system for molding dispensing valves includes first and second mold sections, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other between a closed position in which the mold sections form a plurality of dispensing valve mold cavities, and an open position in which the mold sections are spaced from each other and the mold cavities are open along a mold parting line. A transfer mechanism is movable between the first and second mold sections in the open positions of the mold sections for receiving molded valves from the cavities and transferring the valves from between the mold sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Graham
  • Patent number: 7175414
    Abstract: A mold assembly for producing masonry blocks and adapted for use in a masonry block machine. The mold assembly includes a plurality of liner plates, each liner plate having a major surface, the liner plates positioned within a mold box and configured such that the major surfaces form a mold cavity having a desired form, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable between a retracted position and a desired extended position toward an interior of the mold cavity. A gear drive assembly selectively coupled to the at least one moveable liner plate and configured to move the at least one moveable liner plate between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein the gear drive assembly is positioned substantially external to the mold box when the at least one moveable liner plate is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ness Inventions, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Patent number: 7175415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moulding system (3), in particular a calibration die (17), for an extrusion plant, with preferably parallel inlet and outlet faces (28, 29) spaced at a distance apart and with side faces (30, 31, 32, 33) extending between them. A longitudinal axis for the object to be fed through a calibration orifice (24) is disposed substantially perpendicular to the inlet and outlet face (28, 29). Provided between a shaping surface (25, 26) and a side face (30, 31, 32, 33) is a gap (37, 38) extending at least across a part of the distance between the inlet and outlet face (28, 29). The gap (37, 38) is disposed between several immediately adjacent parts of several shaping surfaces (26) of the calibration orifice (24) and at least one of the side faces (30, 31, 32, 33). At least the parts of the shaping surfaces (26) co-operating with the gap (37, 38) are displaceable relative to the other shaping surfaces (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Greiner Extrusionstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhold Kössl
  • Patent number: 7175416
    Abstract: A nozzle for injection molding is made of at thermally conductive metal material but is thermally conductively blocked or interrupted. An abrupt reduction in wall thickness and/or a gap in the continuity of thermally conductive material occur along the nozzle material passageway. This provides a localized restriction to thermal conduction, causing a reduction in heat flow from the mold to the material supply while cooling the melt material near the end of the nozzle. This material, which is relatively cooled to near the mold temperature, becomes the last injected material when filling of the mold is completed, occupying the area of the sprue. As a result, the sprue is relatively cool, thus reducing stringing and shortening mold cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Thermal Wave Molding Corp.
    Inventors: Frank J. Baresich, Robert F. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7175417
    Abstract: A food patty-forming apparatus for forming food patties from pressurized food product includes a mold plate that is guided to reciprocate longitudinally between a fill position and a discharge position. The mold plate has a cavity that is open to the source of pressurized food product when in the fill position. The cavity is exposed when in the discharge position. A mold pattern having open areas and solid areas is arranged adjacent a first face of the cavity, and indented from a second face. A knockout plunger has open areas corresponding to the solid areas of the pattern and solid areas corresponding to the open areas of the mold pattern. The knockout plunger is shaped to allow the solid areas of the plunger to penetrate into the cavity past the first face of the cavity around the solid areas to displace a patty formed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald F. LaBruno, Douglas Conerton
  • Patent number: 7175418
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for proportioning flow and controlling pressure to a gate of an injection mold. The invention decouples the control surface from the gate closure to reduce the required actuation force. Methods for estimating the pressure and flow rate entering the injection mold are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: David O. Kazmer
  • Patent number: 7175419
    Abstract: This invention teaches a hot runner injection molding apparatus for co-injecting at least two different materials into a mold cavity. A pin valve gated hot runner nozzle includes separate melt channels for each material and a melt chamber for accurately metering one of the materials. The melt chamber is in communication with an injection piston. The controlled movement of the valve pin and of the injection piston insures that the desired amount of a first and at least a second material is injected into the mold cavity. Depending of the composition and the processing window of the materials, the co-injection hot runner nozzle is in communication with either a single or multiple manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Mold-masters Limited
    Inventor: Denis Babin
  • Patent number: 7175420
    Abstract: An injection molding system includes a manifold and a valve gated hot runner nozzle. The gating mechanism includes an actuated valve pin, where the mold gate orifice is open when the valve pin is in a first position to allow melt to flow there through. The mold gate orifice is closed when the valve pin is in a second position to prevent melt from flowing there though. A flow control pin is disposed within the melt stream, either coaxially with the valve pin within the melt channel of the nozzle or within the manifold melt channel. The flow control pin has a head with a complementary geometry with that of the melt channel at a flow control surface. The flow control pin is raised and lowered by an actuation mechanism to constrict or release the flow of the melt stream independent from the movement of the valve pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventors: Denis Babin, George Olaru
  • Patent number: 7175421
    Abstract: The configuration is such that there are provided a slide core 21 (21A) disposed to be movable toward and away from a cavity (molding space) 8a and driven at least in the direction toward the cavity 8a according to the closing action of a mold 8, and a guiding member (guiding means) 11 (11A) disposed at least on one mold member 7 of the mold and having a groove-shaped rail part 12a for supporting the slide core 21 in the directions toward and away from the cavity 8a, wherein one member out of the slide core 21 and guiding means 11 is provided with urging means for urging the slide core relative to the guiding member 11 in the direction away from the cavity 8a. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the size and the maintenance cost of the slide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignees: Misumi Corporation
    Inventors: Michinori Takemoto, Izumi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7175422
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerated aging of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions incorporating volatilized oil consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Cynthia C. Webb, Brent A. Shoffner, Gordon J. Bartley
  • Patent number: 7175423
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for using staged air combustion. The apparatus includes a burner body (10) secured to a port block (42), and a fuel passageway (12) extending through the burner body (10), terminating in a fuel nozzle (22), which injects fuel into the burner throat (40). Primary air jets (20) are configured to inject primary air into a primary combustion region (24), which is normally in the burner throat (40). A dish with a dish surface (28) is connected to the burner throat (40); the dish surface (28) extending in a divergent angle with respect to a burner centerline (35). Secondary air jets (34) are connected to the air passageway (14) and extend through the port block (42). The secondary air jets (34) inject secondary air into a secondary combustion region (38), which may be at the dish surface (28) or the hot face (30) of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bloom Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Pisano, Anthony G. Fennell, John R. Hemmerlin, Glenn W. Baggley, John C. Dormire
  • Patent number: 7175424
    Abstract: The present invention is an indoor/outdoor patio heater which includes a base portion housing a gas source, a gas burner, gas valve, a fan under the burner to create twisting flame patterns and a liquid pump, a pair of concentric see-through tubular portions disposed vertically above said base portion and a top heat deflector portion, with the burner flame enclosed by the inner tubular portion and liquid flowing through the channel formed between the inner and outer tubular portions to create the appearance of a twisting flame enclosed within a waterfall. The invention can be utilized with its aesthetic flame features and its aesthetic water features together, or one or the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventors: Toby Frink, John A. MacPherson
  • Patent number: 7175425
    Abstract: A safety mechanism in a utility lighter which includes a lever spring and cam mechanism having a fuel release lever and the safety button. When the cam mechanism is in the locked position, the lever spring blocks the stopper tab preventing depression of the trigger, and the fuel release lever closes the fuel release valve. As the safety button is depressed, the lever spring is moved out of alignment with the stopper tab to permit depression of the trigger, the hub rotates, and the fuel release lever is actuated to open the fuel-release valve. As the safety button is released, the lever spring urges the cam mechanism into the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Kil Yong Sung
  • Patent number: 7175426
    Abstract: An apparatus for calcining gypsum including a housing having a bottom wall, open top, and a plurality of side walls extending therebetween. A fixture is located adjacent the open top for receiving gypsum from a source and transferring the gypsum into the housing. At least one burner is connected to the housing and operable for combusting an air-fuel mixture to heat the gypsum. At least one serpentine burner conduit extends from the burner through the housing and terminates through a support floor of the apparatus. The exhaust flow is then directed through a fluidization pad and into the gypsum to further heat the gypsum product. An agitation mechanism is operable to mix the gypsum adjacent the fluidization pad to prevent pockets of gypsum from coagulating and preventing fluidization of the gypsum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Bolind, Warner J. Dundas, Michael J. Porter, Christopher R. Nelson, Subhash Deodhar
  • Patent number: 7175427
    Abstract: Visually simulated tooth braces include individual visual tooth brace indicia to simulate real functional braces commonly worn by children and adults alike to adjust human teeth. The visually simulated tooth braces allow for children to temporarily wear braces as many of their classmates, friends, and siblings do.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ingenious Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7175428
    Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets which are at least partially formed of materials exhibiting shape memory each of which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. Each of the opposing tie wings include portions which are normally spaced to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but at least a portion of one of each pair of opposing tie wings is yieldable relative to the other to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slot. Portions of the brackets may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire guide slot and the archwire and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: James A. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 7175429
    Abstract: A device for controlling and dispensing wax for the creation of tracings and moulds comprising a spatula-like tip (3), which is mounted on a hollow handle (4), and a control unit (1). The hollow handle (4) has internally a housing (10) containing a block of solid wax; the housing (10) communicates with a channel (12) for conveying the wax into the vicinity of the spatula-like tip; and heating elements (9) are provided around the housing (10) for the wax. Preferably, the heating temperature may be regulated by the control unit (1) via a spirally wound electrical resistance. According to an advantageous embodiment, the spatula (3) is interchangeable depending on requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Adriano Guidi
  • Patent number: 7175430
    Abstract: The invention relates to deformable, curable or film-forming support materials which contain diagnostically useful additives for locus- and substance-specific intraoral diagnostics, and processes for the preparation of images for intraoral locus- and substance-specific diagnostic purposes, in which diagnostically useful additives are applied to deformable, curable or film-forming support materials containing no diagnostically useful additives, in such a quantity that a diagnostic signal can be observed, the diagnostic result being obtained without a cultivation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Oswald Gasser, Rainer Guggenberger, Bernd Gangnus, Ingo Häberlein
  • Patent number: 7175431
    Abstract: A water guiding mechanism of teeth cleaning machine comprising a center shaft, a plastic base and an ‘O’ shape ring, the major character as following: a stainless-steel head is installed on the front of the center shaft, a bend is on the center of the stainless-steel head, a sleeve in on the front inner side of the plastic base, a silicon sleeve is on the front brink of the sleeve, the silicon sleeve wraps the backside of the stainless-steel head and around the bend, a compression chamber is installed between the back half of the silicon sleeve and the stainless-steel head; based on the structure described above, the compression chamber of the silicon sleeve is applied to guide and compress water, the stainless tip can aim upward, and achieve the effect to minimize the possibility to have water spray on patients' faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Chih-I Tsai
  • Patent number: 7175432
    Abstract: A dental contact matrix system is described for the placement of dental fillings. The dental contact matrix system includes a matrix, a retainer for placing and retaining the 5 matrix and an elastic wedge. The retainer includes two lugs or tines that fit between two teeth on the buccal and lingual sides of the teeth. The lugs are connected by spring member that presses the lugs against the lingual and buccal sides of the teeth. There is an adaptation to hold the elastic wedge in a stretched condition between the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tri-Dent Innovations Limited
    Inventor: Simon Paul McDonald
  • Patent number: 7175433
    Abstract: The invention provides a dental composition including filler and a polymerizable dental material selected from the group consisting of wax-like polymerizable dental material and restorative paste wax polymerizable dental material. The dental composition is useful as restorative material and for making artificial teeth, crowns and bridges of high strength dental polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Dentsply International Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sun, Andrew M Lichkus
  • Patent number: 7175434
    Abstract: In an arrangement with implant and attachment part/dental bridge, the latter comprises one or more recessed walls. The implant is designed or can cooperate with a portion which can be arranged on a spacer sleeve belonging to the implant and extends substantially parallel to the recessed wall. The attachment part and its respective recessed wall is arranged with displaceability in the main longitudinal direction of the implant relative to the outer surface of the portion. The portion is arranged to be expandable so that, in a given position of longitudinal displacement, it is possible to achieve interaction between outer surfaces of the portion and the recessed wall and thus anchoring of the attachment part to the portion or the implant. The invention also relates to a device with two or more implants and dental bridge. By means of the invention, discrepancies between dental bridge and the implants can be taken up in an effective and rapid securing principle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare AB (publ.)
    Inventor: Izidor Brajnovic
  • Patent number: 7175435
    Abstract: In a method and arrangement for allocating prosthetic installation work between at least three parties (A, B, C) a dental situation and fixture application are simulated on a computer screen by the first party. The second party produces first components in connection with the prosthetic installation with the aid of a recording and said simulation. Second components are supplied by the third party (C) and the prosthetic installation is assembled and fitted by the first party by means of said first and second components. The recording includes first and second readings of a loose prosthesis and a portion supporting the prosthetic insallation. The simulation includes collation of representations of the readings on a computer screen. Simulated fixture applications are constructed and a model is produced by one of said parties, or a fourth party. An assembly template guides hole-forming members in an actual substrate in directions which correspond to the directions of the fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nobel Biocare AB
    Inventors: Matts Andersson, Izidor Brajnovic
  • Patent number: 7175436
    Abstract: A radiometer and method for providing an indication of the amount of time (exposure duration) needed to cause a light curable dental resin composite material to maximally polymerize in response to the application of light from any light-curing source during the preparation of a dental restoration. It describes a radiometer comprising a sample holder of a size designed to hold a sample equivalent of said dental light curable dental material such that the thickness of the sample of light curable material in the sample holder will correspond to the depth of the composite material in the dental restoration; a solid state light sensor; a microprocessor programmed to respond to the output voltage or change in electrical resistance of the light sensor based upon an algorithm defining a mathematical model representative of the change in light transmission through the light curable dental material as a function of the degree to which said light curable dental material is being polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Joshua Friedman
  • Patent number: 7175437
    Abstract: A positioning aid, formed T-shaped, is adhesively attached to portions of a broken denture plate prior to placement of the dental plate portions into a dental impression tray whereby the positioning aids extend into and are embedded into the impression material in the dental tray and act as positioners and stabilizers to properly align and hold the dental plate portions while the dental impression material hardens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Emad El Haje
  • Patent number: 7175438
    Abstract: A method of interpreting keypad input includes identifying a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key, identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key, identifying a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal, and then determining the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters. The method is particularly useful in key input devices sensitive to non-activating finger position above the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Digit Wireless
    Inventor: David H. Levy
  • Patent number: 7175439
    Abstract: Devices for training in extinguishing fires comprising a control unit and a flame generation unit as well as methods and systems of use thereof are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Paul R. Darois, Steven Galonska, John Blackburn, Burt L. Swersey, Travis B. Bashaw
  • Patent number: 7175440
    Abstract: A life sized model horse assembly includes a body section with a moveable neck section and a moveable head section. The legs of the body section are mounted to a base member for maintaining the model horse assembly in an upright orientation. The model horse assembly is fitted with a conventional saddle so the rider can practice mounting and dismounting from the full sized model horse assembly without the horse moving. The realistically featured neck section and head section are hinged so that the neck section can move up and down, relative to the body section. Likewise, the head section is hinged to the neck section so the head section can move side to side, relative to the neck section and body section. There are flexible coverings at the junction between the body section and the neck section and the neck section and the head section to cover and protect the hinge mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Linda C. Bateman
  • Patent number: 7175441
    Abstract: A multiple positioning assembly includes a housing having a cavity therein with a circumferential groove disposed proximate a cavity opening. A ball assembly including a ball portion forms a spheroidal joint with the cavity which enables conical movement of the ball assembly. A plunger is slidably disposed within a bore through the ball portion of the ball assembly and electrical connections enable lateral movement of the plunger to control power to a light bulb attached to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Naviaux, Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 7175442
    Abstract: A connection device for electrically connecting contact pins, which protrude from an axial opening of a sleeve-type housing, with terminal pins of a plug connector, which are formed by the device, the connection device having a device body having an insertion section that axially engages the axial opening of the sleeve-type housing and comprises penetration openings for the penetration of the contact pins, and a locating face laterally offset and essentially tangential relative to the insertion section, wherein the locating face interacts with a corresponding locating face of the sleeve-type housing in an anti-rotational manner when the insertion section is inserted in the axial opening, wherein the locating face of the device body comprises inelastic and elastic areas which are tangentially opposite to each other in relation to the insertion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Emanuel Sanftleben, Marcus Unruh
  • Patent number: 7175443
    Abstract: A connector is mounted on a printed circuit board in an enclosure. A member is interposed between the enclosure and the printed circuit board so as to hold the printed circuit board on the enclosure. The member allows change in the attitude of the printed circuit board relative to the enclosure. When the connector is coupled to the other connector, the connector receives a force from the other connector in the electronic apparatus. The force induces the change in the attitude of the connector and the printed circuit board. The change in the attitude in this manner enables consumption of the energy of the force within the member. Generation of stress can be suppressed in a bonding member such as a solder coupling the connector with the printed circuit board, for example. Generation of cracks can be prevented in the solder. Shockproof is improved for the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizuno, Sonomasa Kobayashi, Katsuichi Goto
  • Patent number: 7175444
    Abstract: A plug connector is disclosed that has a body portion and a circuit card extending forwardly of a mating face of the connector. The circuit card is protected in place by one or more protective flanges that extend forwardly from the body portion and which flank the circuit card to protect it from stubbing and to provide a means for aligning the plug connector with the receptacle connector. The body portion has a hollow frame that supports the circuit card and the interior of the frame is filled with a molding material, such as plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Emanuel G. Banakis, Kent E. Regnier, Jennifer Swenson, Timothy R. McClelland
  • Patent number: 7175445
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of slots therein, and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within at least one of the slots. A plurality of electrical wafers, are each received in one of the plurality of slots. Each wafer has a first edge and a second edge. Some of the plurality of electrical wafers are signal wafers and some of the plurality of wafers are power wafers. Each of the power wafers includes at least one trace and at least one contact pad. The contact pad is sized to mate with a predetermined number of the plurality of contacts to transfer a predetermined amount of current through the trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Consoli, Brent Ryan Rothermel, James Lee Fedder, George Richard Defibaugh, Henry Otto Herman, Jr., Lynn Robert Sipe
  • Patent number: 7175446
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing that holds pairs of signal modules adjacent one another. Each signal module includes a mating edge having a row of mating contacts, a mounting edge having a row of mounting contacts, and a plurality of conductors electrically connecting each mating contact with a respective mounting contact. The mating contacts in adjacent modules have a first contact spacing therebetween, and the mounting contacts in adjacent modules have a second spacing therebetween. The conductors in adjacent modules have a third spacing therebetween. The second and third spacings are selected to provide a pre-determined impedance through the signal modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Edward John Bright, Michael Fogg, Douglas Glover
  • Patent number: 7175447
    Abstract: A backplane connector includes an insulative housing (1) defining a number of terminal holes (11), a number of conductive terminals (5), a press block (3) and a spacer (7). Each of the conductive terminals has a mating portion (50) received in the insulative housing, a bending portion (55) extending from the mating portion, a shoulder (57) and a mounting portion (59) mounted on a printed circuit board. The press block has a number of partition walls (37) and a number of slots (39) defined by the partition walls. The spacer defines a number of spacer holes (71) for receiving the shoulders of the conductive terminals to position the conductive terminals. The spacer forms at least one barrier (73) received in the slot and holding the partition walls of the press block in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng Pan
  • Patent number: 7175448
    Abstract: A connector block assembly has a connector block and a plurality of end fittings which are attached to at least one wire. Each end fitting is secured to the connector block by being inserted into the connector block and then being rotated to trap the end fitting within the connector pin. Once assembled onto a conductor pin, the conductor pin prohibits rotation of the end fitting with respect to the connector block and thus the disassembly of the end fitting from the connector block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Berning
  • Patent number: 7175449
    Abstract: An integrated circuit connector for LGA package is used to fix a support assembly and a back assembly to circuit board. An integrated circuit is mounted in the support assembly and corresponding to the circuit board. The support assembly comprises protection board and contact stage and the contact stage comprises contact holes for containing contacts. The protection board includes a plurality of through holes corresponding to the contact holes such that the contacts are movable in the through holes. The protection board includes spring elements on both sides thereof and between the protection board and the contact stage such that the protection board is movable to protect the contact. The contact will not be deformed when the circuit board is manufactured and conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Kuang-Chih Lai
  • Patent number: 7175450
    Abstract: A portable loudspeaker with a replaceable insertion base comprises: the loudspeaker; an insertion base; and a push mechanism. An insertion slot is formed on the loudspeaker for placing the insertion base. A first trench and a second trench are formed on the bottom of the insertion base in parallel with each other. A rib is formed between these two trenches. When the insertion base is coupled with the insertion slot, the hooks protrudent from the insertion slot are located to penetrate through the first trench and hook the rib, thereby inserting the terminal base of the insertion base into the socket of the loudspeaker for electrical connection. Besides, by using the push mechanism, the insertion base can be separated from the insertion slot rapidly. As a result, the insertion base can be replaced easily and it is also suitable for different digital music players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Chen-Tung Lung
  • Patent number: 7175451
    Abstract: A lever mated connector assembly including a housing configured to mate with a header, a wire guide mounted to the housing having a latch with a retaining surface, a lever having a catch with a retaining surface and being coupled to the housing for rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the catch retaining surface engages the latch retaining surface to inhibit movement of the lever out of the locked position, and a connector position assurance (“CPA”) device having a locking surface and being mounted to the wire guide for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the locking surface inhibits movement of the latch, thereby further inhibiting movement of the lever out of the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: John R Shuey
  • Patent number: 7175452
    Abstract: A memory card connector includes an insulative frame, a plurality of conductive terminals, an ejecting mechanism for guiding a memory card in or out, and a conductor connecting with a circuit system. The ejecting mechanism includes a guiding groove, a guiding device displacing in the guiding groove, and an urging element providing returning force for the guiding device. The conductor is located in a position before an ejection portion of the guiding groove for detecting the memory card as which is disconnected from a circuit system at the earliest time that the ejecting mechanism be ejected from a starting position of the ejection portion, thereby the circuit system has sufficient time to protect the proceeded data before the memory card disengages wholly from the terminals during the memory card ejects out, avoiding the proceeded data being lost and preventing the memory card from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Tech. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Sheng Lin, Yen-Lin Chen, Shiou-Chi Shiu
  • Patent number: 7175453
    Abstract: In the rotating connector wherein the rotor having the inner tube is rotatably coupled with the stator having the outer tube, and the flat cable is contained in the annular space defined between the outer tube and the inner tube, the cable winding direction is reversed at the intermediate section, and the intermediate reversing section of the flat cable is passed through the opening of the holder that is rotatably arranged in the annular space. A guiding wall having the outer surface eccentric to the rotating axis of the rotor is provided on the annular flat plate of the holder, and the flat cable is wound on the outer surface of the guiding wall in the wound-back state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Yajima, Kazuhiko Ito
  • Patent number: 7175454
    Abstract: A rotary connector includes a stator housing including a bottom cover having a central hole and an outer cylindrical portion provided along the outer edge of the bottom cover; an upper rotor including an inner cylindrical portion and a top plate protruding outward from the top end thereof; a lower rotor inserted into the central hole and snap-fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion; a holder rotatably disposed in an accommodation space defined between the upper rotor and the stator housing; a flat cable wounded and accommodated in the accommodation space with the winding direction thereof reversed at any point of the length; and a spacer fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the bottom part of the inner cylindrical portion. The spacer and the flange hold the edge of the bottom cover around the central hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Araki, Shu Chiba