Patents Issued in March 13, 2007
  • Patent number: 7189135
    Abstract: An underwater fun toy includes a buoyant body having an upper and lower surface and a receiving portion communicating through the upper and lower surface, an underwater member receivable in the receiving portion having a first and second surface, first and second engaging portions formed on the receiving portion and the underwater member, and a plurality of stand portions for supporting the buoyant body which engages with the underwater member at a desired height from the bottom of water. The first and second engaging portions are engageable with each other and disengageable from each other, wherein in use the buoyant body engages the underwater member and is sank in water such that stand portions keeps the buoyant body at a desired height above the bottom of water, and when the underwater member is depressed to disengage from the buoyant body thereby said buoyant body floats to the surface of the water and the underwater member remains sank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Herman Chiang
  • Patent number: 7189136
    Abstract: An apparatus for retaining children's toys and other materials within a retrievable distance is provided. The apparatus may comprise a generally geometrically-shaped main body with a plurality of integrally formed ribs. The ribs divide the outer periphery of the main body into a plurality of segments for the attachment of multiple toys or other materials, such as, but not limited to, eating utensils, sealed containers, or a pacifier. Each item connected to the main body is connected thereto using an individual strap having hook-and-loop fasteners at each end for securing about said main body's outer periphery or said item. The apparatus may be secured in place using an affixed suction cup or other attachment means for maintaining its placement. Alternatively, said apparatus may be used as a basis for an affixed animal toy or mobile when mounted on a wall or ceiling and the attached items are allowed to dangle therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Randi J. Ehm
  • Patent number: 7189137
    Abstract: A tearing mechanism for a toy includes a fluid chamber, a valve in operable communication with the fluid chamber for allowing or restricting the flow of a fluid from the tearing mechanism, and a motor operable in first and second generally opposite directions. The motor actuates the valve to cause tearing of the toy, when operating in only one of the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventors: Steven Ellman, Lawrence Mass, Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman
  • Patent number: 7189138
    Abstract: There is disclosed a brassiere wire with a plastic protective cap at an end portion of the wire. A liquid primer is coated between the wire and the protective cap, wherein the protective cap is fixed on the wire by high frequency bonding through the liquid primer. Preferably, the wire and protective cap are cooled after high frequency bonding. The brassiere wire is free of a notch or a hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignees: UTAX Co., Ltd., UTAV U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Shohei Utaka
  • Patent number: 7189139
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus can detect completion of initialization of a polishing pad quantitatively. The polishing apparatus has a polishing table having a polishing pad attached thereto and a substrate holder configured to bring a surface of a substrate into contact with the polishing pad and press the substrate against the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus also has a drive mechanism operable to drive at least one of the polishing table and the substrate holder so as to provide a relative movement between the polishing pad and the substrate. The polishing apparatus includes a current sensor operable to detect a drive current supplied to the driving mechanism. The polishing apparatus also includes a polishing pad condition detector operable to detect a condition of the polishing pad based on the drive current detected by the current sensor when the dummy substrate is polished by a relative movement between the polishing pad and a dummy substrate held by the substrate holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 7189140
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating a chemical mechanical polishing (“CMP”) tool having a polishing station with a platen, an eddy current probe disposed within the platen, a polishing pad coupled to the platen, and a metal element disposed within the polishing station and configured to be selectively moved proximate the polishing pad. The method includes the steps of determining a thickness measurement of the polishing pad and adjusting at least one tool parameter based, in part, upon the determined thickness measurement of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Shugrue, Tatyana Korovina, legal representative, Robert J. Stoya, Nikolay Korovin, deceased
  • Patent number: 7189141
    Abstract: The polishing pad for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus and method of making the same has a polishing pad with a bottom layer, a polishing surface on a top layer and a transparent sheet of material interposed between the two layers. Slurry from the chemical mechanical polishing process is prevented from penetrating the impermeable transparent sheet to the bottom layer of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Tolles
  • Patent number: 7189142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sharpening-trimming assembly comprising a base (20), a casing (30) mounted on said base (20), the casing (30) having at least two insertion slots (40, 40?) provided on the upper portion of the casing (30) for receiving the tool to be sharpened, a moveable rod (120) connecting the base (20) to a engine (70) by means of at least one resilient element (110, 110?), a grindstone (80) fixed to and operable by said engine (70), forming a unit moveable by the action of the moveable rod (120) and the resilient element (110, 110?), the rod being able to flex to the vertical axis thereof by the action of the resilient element (110, 110?) in conjunction with the tool to be sharpened contacting the surface of the grindstone (80) upon the insertion of the tool into one of said at least two insertion slots (40, 40?) of the casing (30), and the insertion slots (40, 40?) having a predetermined angling for receiving the tool to be sharpened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Damasio Da Batista
  • Patent number: 7189143
    Abstract: A honing machine for super finishing workpieces, e.g. by honing using a tool spindle (7), can be rotatably driven and can receive a tool. A motor rotates the tool spindle, the tool spindle (12) being arranged on a carriage (12), which can be displaced on a machine frame (16), by means of a drive device, in the direction of the rotational axis of the tool spindle. The drive device consists of a flat primary part (13) and a secondary part (17) of an electric linear motor (18), the secondary part being linearly displaceable along the primary part. One (13) of the components primary part/secondary part (13, 17) of the linear motor (18) is disposed on the machine frame (16), and the other (17) on the carriage (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: KADIA Produktion GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Klein
  • Patent number: 7189144
    Abstract: A centerless grinding apparatus (10) includes an outer diameter surface grinding wheel (11) for grinding the outer diameter surface of a work (1) of a substantially cylindrical shape, a regulating wheel (12) for supporting the outer diameter surface of the work (1) in conjunction with the outer diameter surface grinding wheel (11) and an end surface grinding wheel (21) for grinding the end surface of the work (1). The end surface grinding wheel (21) grinds the end surface of the work (1) while the outer diameter surface grinding wheel (11) grinds the outer diameter surface of the work (1) in a state that the work (1) is disposed between the outer diameter surface grinding wheel (11) and the regulating wheel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Kamamura, Hiroyuki Iwanami
  • Patent number: 7189145
    Abstract: A belt grinding is integrated with an electroerosion machine for contouring the working surface of a mill roll and providing a texture thereon. The belt grinder can superfinish the roll and remove peaks in the surface without significantly affecting the mean surface roughness produced by the electroerosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignees: Waldrich Siegen Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH, Court Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Peter Vinke, Stefan Neuser, Roland Meier
  • Patent number: 7189146
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for wet processing of a conductive layer using a degassed process solution such as a degassed electrochemical deposition solution, a degassed electrochemical polishing solution, a degassed electroless deposition solution, and a degassed cleaning solution. The technique includes degassing the process solution before delivering the degassed process solution to a processing unit or degassing the process solution in-situ, within the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: ASM Nutool, Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent M. Basol, Cyprian E. Uzoh
  • Patent number: 7189147
    Abstract: This apparatus includes a unit for adhering an elastic seal to a lens holder, a unit for causing the lens holder, to which the elastic seal is adhered, to hold a lens, a pivotal arm, an arm driving unit for pivoting the pivotal arm, a clamp unit attached to the pivotal arm to be vertically movable to hold the lens holder, and a clamp driving unit for vertically moving the clamp unit. The pivotal arm is pivoted to sequentially adhere the elastic seal to the lens holder and hold the lens by the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Igarashi, Shinichi Yokoyama, Michio Arai, Masahiko Samukawa, Shuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7189148
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a polishing jig. The polishing jig includes an elastic balloon member, a fixture, and a fluid supply portion. The fixture airtightly closes the rear opening portion of the balloon member. The fluid supply portion supplies a fluid into a space formed by the fixture and balloon member. The balloon member has a cup shape constructed by a dome portion and a cylinder portion extending backward from the outer periphery of the dome portion. The fixture fixes the opening portion of the cylinder portion of the balloon member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Toyoshima, Hideo Toriumi, Shin-ichiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7189149
    Abstract: A truing method for a chamfering grindstone for performing chamfering work on a peripheral edge of a plate-shaped object, comprising the steps of: performing chamfering work on a truing grindstone with a master grindstone having a desired groove shape and forming a peripheral edge shape of the truing grindstone into a desired chamfered shape; and transferring the groove shape of the master grindstone onto the chamfering grindstone by performing grooving work on the chamfering grindstone with the chamfered truing grindstone to form the groove in the desired shape on the chamfering grindstone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignees: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd., Tosei Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Katayama, Youichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7189150
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for edge blending hard drive head sliders by oscillating abrasive lapping tape across the edges of multiple sliders simultaneously. Lapping tape is inserted between each of a number of head sliders bonded to a edge blending jig of an edge blending assembly. The edge blending assembly is adjusted to cause the lapping tape to partially wrap an edge of each slider. The head sliders are edge blended by the relative movement between the sliders and the lapping tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhu Jian Zhan, Ryuji Fujii, Quan Bao Wang, Niraj Mahadev, Kazumasa Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7189151
    Abstract: A pad of an embedding tool is received on a faceplate. The pad is supported on a support member. When the embedding tool is urged against the surface of the faceplate, the pad is allowed to change the attitude relative to the support member in response to undulation generated on the surface of the faceplate. The movement of the flat surface follows the undulation of the faceplate. When a relative movement is induced between the embedding tool and the surface of the faceplate, the surface of the faceplate thus reliably receives the uniform or constant contact of the flat surface. When grains are supplied between the flat surface of the pad and the surface of the faceplate, the grains are uniformly pushed into the surface of the faceplate. In this manner, the grains are uniformly and constantly embedded into the surface of the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Yanagida, Tomokazu Sugiyama, Tsutomu Sooda
  • Patent number: 7189152
    Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for varying the positioning of a rotating tool on a haft of a machine tool, such as a portable power tool, is in the form of a coupler between the blade and tool arbor. A head of the coupler accepts the tool and connects with a tool drive, the depth of the connection defining the working height or position of the tool. A pair of inter-engaged flanges are mounted upon the shaft of the coupler head, and apply forces to the coupler head and tool drive to maintain the connection depth therebetween and to retain the tool in position. A jam nut further maintains the relative orientation of the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nao Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinji Ohata
  • Patent number: 7189153
    Abstract: Retaining rings, planarizing apparatuses including retaining rings, and methods for mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical planarization of micro-device workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a carrier head for retaining a micro-device workpiece during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing includes a workpiece holder configured to receive the workpiece and a retaining ring carried by the workpiece holder. The retaining ring includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a first surface between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a plurality of grooves in the first surface extending from the inner surface to the outer surface. The grooves include at least a first groove and a second groove positioned adjacent and at least substantially transverse to the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7189154
    Abstract: An orbital sander liquid dispenser that includes an adapter that attaches to the head on a sander. Attached to the adapter is a hollow fluid distribution ring with jet openings formed on its bottom surface design to spray a desired liquid onto the working surface. A liquid is pumped by means of a submerged electric pump to the adapter and into the ring from a reservoir. An optional foot switch is provided for control the flow of liquid to the adapter. The adapter may be attached to a pneumatic or an electric sander. Holes are formed on the adapter through which the air conduit and exhaust valve extend to attach the adapter to the sander head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventors: Rodney J. Karppinen, Timothy D. Lindula
  • Patent number: 7189155
    Abstract: The polishing body is attached to a substrates. The polishing body has a structure in which a polishing pad, a hard elastic member and a soft members are laminated in that order from the side of the polishing surface. For example, an IC1000 (commercial name) manufactured by Rodel, Inc. is used as the polishing pad. For example, a stainless steel plate is used as the hard elastic member. A Suba400 (commercial name) manufactured by Rodel, Inc. is used as the soft members. The polishing pad 6 has grooves in the polishing surface side. The residual thickness d of the areas of the grooves in the polishing pad is set so as to satisfy the condition 0 mm<d?0.6 mm. As a result, the ability to eliminate steps can be increased, thus allowing the “local pattern flatness” to be improved, while ensuring the “global removal uniformity”; furthermore, a polishing body with a long useful life can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Hoshino, Isao Sugaya
  • Patent number: 7189156
    Abstract: A polishing pad has a sublayer; a top layer attached to the sublayer, the sublayer having a modulus of elasticity between 300 and 5000 psi and a compressibility of less than 30% at 73 psi, wherein the top pad has a modulus of elasticity which is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the sublayer and a compressibility which is smaller than a compressibility of the sublayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: JH Rhodes Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Renteln
  • Patent number: 7189157
    Abstract: A method and a device is disclosed for the preparation of poultry for picking wherein the bodies of the poultry are scalded. Water vapor (5) is introduced into a scalding compartment (2). The scalding compartment (2) is heated to a predetermined temperature. The bodies (9) of the slaughtered poultry are introduced into the heated scalding compartment (2), within the scalding compartment (2). At least one flow of the water vapor-air mixture (5?) is generated, and the flow is guided against predetermined regions of at least one of the bodies (9) of the poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Linco Food Systems A/S
    Inventor: Bernhard Wichelmann
  • Patent number: 7189158
    Abstract: A dual airflow control system for an environment having a first air zone and a second air zone. The system includes a first input device operable to generate a first input signal indicative of a desired airflow to the first zone and a second input device operable to generate a second input signal indicative of a desired airflow to the second zone. First and second flow regulators are configured to regulate airflow to the first and second zones, respectively, such that the first and second regulators selectively provide the airflow to each of the first and second zones based on the first and second input signals. A single actuator is associated with the first and second flow regulators. The actuator is operable to simultaneously actuate the first and second flow regulators based on an input from the first and second input devices to allow the desired airflows to the first and the second zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Sean Ronald Motszko, Ryan Patrick McEnaney, Jeffrey Alan Brush, Daniel E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7189159
    Abstract: A diffuser cartridge (10) of restricted height is provided for controlling flow of air in an air conditioning system. The cartridge (10) has two axially aligned temperature sensitive elements (34,68) for respectively sensing room temperature and duct temperature variations. Arms (12) are provided for displacing an air flow baffle (B) and a control structure is provided for displacing the arms (12) in response to sensed room and duct temperatures. The control structure pivots the arms (12) cam-fashion as it is moved vertically by the temperature sensitive elements (34, 68). The control structure has two springs (54,56) that act in series to counter movement of the control structure by the temperature sensitive elements (34,68). The springs (54,56) are nested coaxially within each other, with an intermediate component (48) transferring compressive loads from one spring to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rickard Air Diffusion (Proprietary) Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Crichton Caldwell, Gert Willem Van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 7189160
    Abstract: It is proposed that a sensor ascertain a parameter of the harvested crop and send a signal used for changing the speed of feeding devices for the chopping and/or the speed of the chopping device in order for automatically obtaining a change in the length of the cut of the chopping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Peter Pirro
  • Patent number: 7189161
    Abstract: A computer gaming system and method of operation thereof are provided that both drastically reduce the cost of gaming stations and allow contemporaneous access to multiple game programs from a single gaming station. The computer gaming system of the present invention allows for transparent modifications and upgrades to the gaming programs by executing gaming programs on a server/host computer connected to a plurality of client/terminal computers via communication pathways. Each client/terminal computer comprises a client/terminal program that allows input and output streams of the gaming program executed on the server/host computer to be separated and redirected to the client/terminal computers. Since the gaming programs are executed entirely on the server/host computer, with only wagering input and display output operations being executed on the client/terminal computers, the cost of the hardware and software required for each client/terminal computer is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: New Millenium Gaming Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Wiltshire, James J. Lisenbee, Jayant S. Karmarkar, Timothy A. Wiltshire
  • Patent number: 7189162
    Abstract: A universal joint for interconnecting a pair of rotating shafts includes a pair of bifurcated yokes interconnected by a cruciform. The cruciform includes four orthogonal trunnions each including a lubricant passage. A thrust washer engages an inner surface of the lubricant passage to retain a bearing assembly on each trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc M. Menosky, Salvatore N. Grupido
  • Patent number: 7189163
    Abstract: The present invention is to avoid the flange portion of a T-nut of from overlapping the portion between the claws of another T-nut, while the T-nut is supplied on a supply track provided on a nut applying machine, and also to engage the projections formed between the claws into a fixing material when the T-nut is knocked into the fixing material. There is provided a T-nut formed of a metal material in an integrated manner, having a shank portion 49 and an octagonal or almost octagonal flange portion 50, and two pairs of claws 55 to 58. The shank portion 49 has a caulking portion 51 and a female screw portion 52. The caulking portion 51 is formed thinner than the female screw portion 52. Projections 64, 65 are provided between each of the pairs of claws, formed by bending convex portions integrally formed with the flange portion 50 toward the second end of the shank portion 49.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nagayama Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7189164
    Abstract: A swing apparatus comprises a swing and a support stand to which the swing is coupled for swinging movement. The support stand comprises a collapsible frame. The swing comprises a pair of hanger arms coupled to the support stand and a seat coupled to the pair of hanger arms. The seat detaches from the hangers and is at least partially collapsible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Chinawut P. Paesang, Jeff Pemberton
  • Patent number: 7189165
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises: a hollow main body made of at least one metal material and provided in at least one of a crown portion and a sole portion of the head with an opening; and an FRP part covering said opening and made of at least one resinous material reinforced with fibers, wherein the fibers include: longitudinal fibers oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the front-back direction of the head; and traversal fibers oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front-back direction, and the longitudinal fibers are less than the traversal fibers with respect to a total weight of fibers in a unit area and/or a total of tensile elastic moduli of fibers in a unit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7189166
    Abstract: A golfing accessory for supporting a golf club away from a ground surface. The golf club has a shaft. The accessory includes a substantially elongated body defining a body first end and a substantially longitudinally opposed body second end. The body is provided with a shaft receiving recess for receiving at least partially therein the shaft, the recess being provided substantially adjacent the body first end. A ground engaging member is pivotably attached to the body substantially adjacent to the body second end for pivotal movement between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The ground engaging member defines a member distal tip for insertion at least in part into the ground. In the retracted configuration, the member distal tip is substantially in register with the body, and in the extended configuration, the member distal tip extends substantially outwardly from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Jean-Guy Paré
  • Patent number: 7189167
    Abstract: A game apparatus is able to drop the balls one by one on the ground and to pick-up the balls on the ground one by one. The game apparatus includes a ball guide to store a plurality of balls to be movable by their own weight, an upper support provided at an upper portion of the ball guide, a lower housing provided at a lower portion of the ball guide, a ball stopper mechanism provided in the lower housing to stop and release the movement of the ball in the vertical direction, a drive part to stop and release the movement of the ball by the ball stopper mechanism, and a lever to operate the drive part from outside. The lever includes a ball picking mechanism for picking balls on the ground when the game apparatus is turned upside-down and pressed on the ball on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Takeo Imahata
  • Patent number: 7189168
    Abstract: A golf club grip has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve has a first end, a second end, an outer wall and an elongated annular recess. The elongated annular recess is formed in the outer wall near the first end. The outer sleeve is mounted in the elongated annular recess and has a rough external wall. Mounting the outer sleeve in the elongated annular recess can provide enough shock absorbability to prevent hands and arms of players from being injured when hitting a golf ball. The rough external wall of the outer sleeve prevents the golf club from slipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Chin-Pai Lin
  • Patent number: 7189169
    Abstract: A golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The golf club head comprises a club head having a hollow cavity with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow cavity, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Billings
  • Patent number: 7189170
    Abstract: An arrow nock has a nock body, an actuator and a pair of retaining tabs. The retaining tabs retain the bowstring in the arrow nock while the bowstring is drawn. When the bowstring is released, the bowstring moves the actuator to a forward position and the actuator moves the retaining tabs to an open position so that the bowstring clears the arrow nock without friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventors: Stephen P. Korsa, Alan S. Korsa
  • Patent number: 7189171
    Abstract: A bearing is provided to have sufficient durability even when CVT fluid having a low viscocity is used, with its flow rate kept small, so that the efficiency of the belt-type continuously variable transmission is improved. The material of the races including the outer race 4 is made of a iron-base alloy containing, by weight, C of from 0.15% to 0.5%, Si of 0.1% to 1.5%, Mn of 0.1% to 1.5%, and Cr of 0.5% to 3.0%. This material is subjected to carbonitriding, quenching, tempering and quenching finish. The surface portion of the outer raceway 6 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 4 is formed with a surface layer containing C of from 0.8 weight % to 1.2 weight % and N of from 0.05 weight % to 0.50 weight %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Takemura, Yoshitaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7189172
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member including an engagement member for nonrotatably engaging the bicycle frame; a threaded member coupled to the base member for engaging a threaded shaft; a chain guide; and a coupling mechanism coupled between the base member and the chain guide so that the chain guide moves relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 7189173
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bicycle front derailleur mountable to a seat tube of a bicycle frame for fitting a chain around a selected sprocket of a multiple chainwheel by pushing the chain laterally at a portion thereof advancing into engagement with the chainwheel, the front derailleur comprising: a fixed section fixed to a bicycle frame, a chain guide for contacting a chain to shift the chain, and an actuating arm and a linkage rod disposed between and pivotally connected to the fixed section and the chain guide. In the above construction, the present invention has achieved the intended object of providing an improved bicycle front derailleur capable of reliably effecting a change speed operation with the aid of a sufficient restoring force of the return spring and achieving minimized in operation forces required for various change speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: SunRace Sturmey-Archer Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Chih Tsai, Yan-Long Sheng
  • Patent number: 7189174
    Abstract: This invention provides a chain tensioner that is compact, excellent in operation, easy to maintain and handle and low in manufacturing cost. This chain tensioner has a tubular housing 1 having a bottom, a plunger 3 installed in the inner periphery 1a of the housing so as to smoothly slide inside the housing, a return spring 5 providing the plunger 3 with a force pushing outward, a plurality of latching grooves 33a–33d formed on the outer periphery of the plunger 3, a resister ring 7 capable of locking in the latching grooves, and a check valve 6 that is mounted on the bottom of the housing inner periphery 1a, provides the housing inner periphery 1a with operating oil and prevents its reverse flow. The range of backward movement of the plunger 3 is limited by mating the resister ring 7 locked in the latching grooves 33a–33d with a first stopper 21 formed on the housing inner periphery 1a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Yamamoto, Eiji Maeno
  • Patent number: 7189175
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner is provided with a no-return device and with an anti-rotation device capable of being disabled having a pin, integral with the cylinder of the tensioner, which slides in a first longitudinal slot formed on the outer wall of the piston and a means able to disable the anti-rotation device. The disabling means includes a second slot, at right angles with respect to the first longitudinal slot to which it is connected, situated at the end of the first longitudinal slot nearer to the bottom of the cylinder. The second slot may also be a throat connected to the first longitudinal slot to which it is perpendicular, and which extends for the whole circumference of the piston. The second slot is preferably shaped as a ramp to join the bottom of the first longitudinal slot to the outer surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Morse TEC Europe, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Bruno Maino, Daniele Redaelli, Stefano Banfi
  • Patent number: 7189176
    Abstract: A motor-driven steering apparatus includes a steering member reciprocating in correspondence to a steering wheel operation, a ball nut inserted to a ball thread shaft of the steering member, a drive pulley driven by an electric motor, and a driven pulley coupled to the drive pulley via a belt and integrally rotating with the ball nut. The drive pulley is provided with a pulley main body which is rotatably supported in both sides in an axial direction by a pair of rolling bearings, and is provided with a plurality of tooth portions, and a pair of regulating members attached to both end sides in an axial direction thereof. The respective regulating members is pinched between an inner ring of the rolling bearing and an end portion of the pulley main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakaida, Hiroshi Fujita, Katsutomo Takakura
  • Patent number: 7189177
    Abstract: An electrically operated vehicle drive controller used with an electrically operated machine, an output shaft differentially rotatably connected to an engine and the electrically operated machine, and a differential rotating unit having a first differential rotating element connected to the electrically operated machine, a second differential rotating element connected to the output shaft, a third differential rotating element connected to the engine, a rotating body rotatably arranged on a support shaft in one of the first to third differential rotating elements and meshed with the other two differential rotating elements, and an engine control processor that controls the operation of the engine on the basis of the rotating speed of the rotating body. Because the operation of the engine is controlled on the basis of the rotating speed of the rotating body, it is possible to prevent the rotating speed of the rotating body from becoming higher than an upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Takasu, Kenji Douzono, Toshio Okoshi
  • Patent number: 7189178
    Abstract: An axle assembly including a differential gear set having a ring gear. The axle assembly includes a carrier assembly housing that contains the differential gear set and an arcuate fence disposed adjacent to the ring gear that connects to the carrier assembly housing. A moveable plate slidingly connects to the arcuate fence. The moveable plate has an open position, a closed position and a plurality of positions therebetween. The closed position is closer to the ring gear than the open position. The arcuate fence and/or the moveable plate may reduce churning of the lubrication to increase the cooling efficacy of the lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank C. Weith
  • Patent number: 7189179
    Abstract: An on-demand two-speed transfer case is equipped with a planetary gearset and a range shift mechanism to provide high-range and low-range drive connections. The range shift mechanism is arranged to concurrently move two components of the planetary gearset and can be synchronized to permit on-the-move range shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph C. Williams, Aaron Ronk, Stanislav Ponca, Timothy R. Stalloch
  • Patent number: 7189180
    Abstract: Durability and power transmission efficiency are enhanced in a six-speed powertrain of an automatic transmission by a scheme that includes first to forth planetary gearsets. The first planetary gearset includes a first sun gear, first ring gear, and first carrier. The second planetary gearset includes a second sun gear, a second ring gear, and a second carrier. The third planetary gearset includes operational elements of a third sun gear, a third ring gear, and a third carrier. The fourth planetary gearset includes a fourth sun gear, a fourth ring gear, and a fourth carrier. The powertrain also includes an input shaft, an output gear, and a transmission case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong Sool Park
  • Patent number: 7189181
    Abstract: A multi-step transmission comprises an input and output shaft arranged in a housing, three spider supported planetary gear sets, seven rotatable shafts; six switch elements; input occurs via a shaft, in connection with the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set, output occurs via a shaft, in connection with the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set; a shaft is in connection with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set; a shaft is in connection with the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set; a shaft is in connection with the sun gear of the third planetary gear set; a shaft is in connection with the ring gear of the first planetary gear set; a shaft is connected to the sun gear of the second planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger
  • Patent number: 7189182
    Abstract: A power transmission includes a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque, a rotary output member and a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between the input member and the output member. The torque transmitting member includes a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching the one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode. The torque transmitting mechanism also includes a friction clutch and an actuator. The friction clutch is operable to transmit torque to the rotatable member and control the mode of operation of the one-way clutch. The actuator is operable to apply a clutch and brake engagement force to the friction clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D Stevenson, Scott H Wittkopp, Richard A Winship
  • Patent number: 7189183
    Abstract: Stop disks (9, 12) that on both sides delimit planet wheels (6) and that are provided on at least two evenly spaced-apart peripheral positions with inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2) that are linked with their respective location bores (9.1, 12.2) via respective constrictions (9.2.1, 12.2.1) and between the inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2), outer axial passages 99.3, 12.3) are disposed off-set outward in the radial direction, and the inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2), when looked at in the radial direction, are disposed in the area of the rolling bodies (11.1) and the outer axial passages (0.3, 12.3) cover at least a part of the front of the planet wheels (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: INA Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fugel, Alexander Reimchen
  • Patent number: 7189184
    Abstract: The control system comprises: an operating state changing mechanism for an operating state of the prime mover in response to a satisfaction of learning execution condition of the clamping pressure; a torque change suppressing mechanism for suppressing a change in a torque resulting from the change in the operating state of the prime mover; and a clamping pressure learning device for learning the clamping pressure in the operating state of the prime mover after the change, while the operating state of the prime mover is being changed and the change in the torque resulting from the change in the operating state of the prime mover is being suppressed by the torque change suppressing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Takayuki Amaya