Patents Issued in April 3, 2007
  • Patent number: 7197770
    Abstract: A rolling kneepad having a weight transfer support assembly with swivel casters to support a user, a kneepad cushion provided above the support assembly to comfortably receive a user's knee, and a shin guard peripherally attached to the support assembly and extending outwardly therefrom. The elongated shin guard has a distal end which abuts the upper surface of a user's shoe or boot. Consequently, when the user moves from a kneeling to a standing position, the weight of the rolling kneepad is supported on the top surface of the user's shoe or boot. Downward slippage of the rolling kneepad along the user's leg is prevented and manual reposition of the rolling kneepad prior to the user resuming a kneeling position is avoided. Straps having hook and loop fasteners at the ends are typically used to affix the rolling kneepad to the body of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Wesley Warren
  • Patent number: 7197771
    Abstract: A garment adapted for wear by persons desiring to maintain their arms in a fixed position along their upper body. The garment includes an upper portion, such as a shirt, adapted for wear on the upper body, and at least one hand portion, such as a glove. The shirt is preferably made of a loop material and the glove includes a region of hook material. Utilizing the loop and hook materials, the glove can be releasably attached to the shirt to maintain the user's hand in a fixed position along the user's upper body. The garment is primarily intended for maintaining one or both of the user's arms close against the body to facilitate relaxation while in cramped or tight positions, such as in an airplane seat. However, the garment may also be used in a wide variety of applications wherein it is desired to support one or both of the user's arms in a releasably fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Scott Hollander
  • Patent number: 7197772
    Abstract: An article with a flexible substrate has a pocket or vent opening with a resealable closure such as a zipper, snaps, or hook and loop fasteners, which is operable between a closed position, in which the opening in the substrate is closed, and an open position, in which the opening in the substrate is revealed. A resilient spring member of springy plastic, composite, metal or other material is mounted to the substrate around the opening, and has two arms which have portions which are displaced vertically from one another when the closure is open, but which are resiliently compressed into a common plane when the closure is sealed. Each time the closure is opened, the spring member urges portions of the shell on either side of the flap apart, to thereby enlarge the area of the opening and permit access or air flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: LineWeight LLC
    Inventors: Caleb Clark Crye, Eric Owen Fehlberg, Gregg M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7197773
    Abstract: This invention relates to a protective headgear for use by wrestlers and other athletes who require protective covers for their ears during practice and contests. The headgear provides shock absorbency and protection for the ears and forehead in an easily adjustable and comfortable device that is also disassemblable and interchangeable for ease of repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: John Purnell
  • Patent number: 7197774
    Abstract: A supplied air helmet 10 comprises a visor 14 and a face seal 12 that is secured to the visor. The face seal 12 includes a sealing member 18 and a frame member 16. The sealing member 18 extends radially inward from the frame member 16 and has first and second regions of permeability 20 and 22. The second region 22 has greater permeability than the first region 20. The use of a face seal 12 that has differentiated permeability allows for a controlled flow of air through the interior of the supplied air helmet 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Desmond T. Curran, Peter D. Lee, Richard D. Williams, Peter N. Yates, Derek S. Baker
  • Patent number: 7197775
    Abstract: A bath lift apparatus locatable near a bath to raise or lower a person sitting thereon. The lift apparatus features a support for positioning on the floor and a canopy mounted above the bathtub. Extending from the support is an arm capable of both translation and rotation, from which, a chair is attached. Located within the canopy is a prime mover that is connected to the arm and provides lifting force for the chair and occupant when the lift is assembled and in use to elevate a user from and into the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: William Steadman
  • Patent number: 7197776
    Abstract: A holder device for attaching to a pipe of a shower nozzle includes an attaching device having a hooking member extended from a block for attaching onto the tube, a pipe having an upper portion secured to said block, a seat slidably attached onto the pipe and having a bracket which includes an engaging hole for removeably supporting the shower nozzle. A catching device is disposed in the seat for catching the seat to the pipe, to adjustably support the seat and the shower nozzle to the pipe. A base may include a conduit slidably engaged onto the pipe, and a latch biased to engage with the pipe, to adjustably secure the pipe to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Pi Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7197777
    Abstract: A flexible, plastic collar for sealing the space between a water supply line or pipe and a wall aperture, the collar including an annular, generally conical surface, a convex front face, a concave rear face, a centered opening provided with a sleeve for receiving and sealing against the pipe, a tapered edge for sealing against the wall and an annular ridge for preventing over-deflection of the collar when pressed against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sioux Chief Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Ismert, Frank D. Julian
  • Patent number: 7197778
    Abstract: A patient transfer system for transferring a patient to an operating table in a prone position from a supine position, and vice versa. The patient transfer system includes a chassis, a platen, and restraint/support system. The chassis has wheels secured thereto for movement of the chassis across a floor. The platen is coupled to the chassis and is rotatable about an axis. The platen is adapted to receive a patient in a supine position and rotate the patient to a prone position, and vice versa. The restraint/support system is adapted to hold the patient stationary on the platen while the patient is rotated from the supine position to the prone position, and vice versa. The restraint/support system also provides support to the head, torso, and legs of the patient when the patient is deposited on the operating table in a prone position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Patient Safety Transport Systems GP, LLC
    Inventor: Lewis Sharps
  • Patent number: 7197779
    Abstract: Side rail assemblies for beds are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to adjustable side rail assemblies. The side rail assemblies discussed herein have an under-mount frame support for supporting a brace member, which has a coupling assembly for coupling a rail guard to the brace member, and hence to the under-mount frame support. The rail guard is movable to a non-blocking position to permit ingress and egress to a bed and to a blocking position to limit ingress and egress to the bed. In the blocking position, the rail guard may be used by a user to upright himself or herself from a lying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Medical Equipment & Supplies Discount Center Inc., Two
    Inventor: Mohtasham Shalikar
  • Patent number: 7197780
    Abstract: The universal hospital bed designed for nursing the immobile patients with additional bathing equipment” belongs to the category of the health equipment, intended for the health institutions, gerontology institutions and family households. The essence of the invention is in its constructive solution of the three-part bed, which using the mechanism for electrical and mechanical adjustment of the angles of the slope of the mobile parts of bed, could be converted into the form of (arm) chair. The belt holders and belts for fastening the patients are installed on the back part of the bed, and the antidecubitus mattress is placed along the whole bed, used as preventive protection of the patients against decubitus, or if patient already has it, for healing of the wounds. On the middle sitting part of the bed-mattress, part of the mattress is cut and the basic insert (41) is made of it, which if necessary, could be replaced with WC insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Dobrica Petric
  • Patent number: 7197781
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a neck support comprising a top portion for receiving a user's head; a bottom portion having a pair of wings for resting on shoulders of said user; a middle portion, connecting said top potion to said bottom portion; said top and middle portions are made of a compressive mould material having memory characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventors: John E. Ramsbottom, Damon G. Racicot
  • Patent number: 7197782
    Abstract: An improved nursing aid device and methods of using the device provide support over a person's lower abdominal area while also providing support for the person's arm while nursing in a chair or in a bed. The shape of the nursing aid device acts like a substitute “lap” for the person and the nursing aid device is configured to tuck under her arm for comfortable nursing sessions. The nursing aid device may include a covering having a short length, a long length opposite the short length, and a wing on each end of the long length. The covering may define a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape, and may include a plurality of undulating curves on an outer periphery. The nursing aid device is designed to fit within or on a person's lap, rather than around her torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Carol Ann Veravanich
  • Patent number: 7197783
    Abstract: An appliance having a driving mechanism is provided, the appliance (10) comprising two rotatable portions (32, 34) which are rotatable by the driving mechanism (50) about an axis (40). The driving mechanism (50) comprises a gearbox (60) having an input gear (116), two output gears (240, 304) and a locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) movable between a first position and a second position. The arrangement is such that, when the locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) is in the first position and the input gear (116) is driven, both output gears (240, 304) rotate in the same direction and, when the locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) is in the second position and the input gear (116) is driven, the output gears (240, 304) rotate in opposite directions. The arrangement of the axis (40) is horizontal or substantially horizontal. The invention is particularly suitable for use in a front-loading washing machine (10) having a drum (30) comprising two rotatable portions (32, 34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Edward Wilson, Simon Paul Wells, Geoffrey Michael Burlington
  • Patent number: 7197784
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes a casing having a handle and a neck extending from the handle. A motor is situated within the handle and has an output shaft with an eccentric cam on it. A tuft block is located at a remote end of the neck. A rocker arm extends longitudinally within the neck and has a proximal end driven by the cam, and a distal end driving the tuft block. A resilient bushing is sealed within the neck and intermediate-portion of the rocker arm extends through it in sealed manner to allow pivoting of the rocker arm across the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Truly Electronics Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: James Pong Chun Wong
  • Patent number: 7197785
    Abstract: A connecting assembly for a sweeping and wringing apparatus is used in conjunction with a sweeping and wringing apparatus having a cleaning head, a main rod and a U-shaped wringing rod and comprises a connecting rod, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with the U-shaped wringing rod and a lower end reaching down inside the main rod, and a connecting part, having an upper end with a joint that is hingedly connected with the lower end of the connecting rod, an extended middle part and a fixing part that is fastened to the cleaning head, so that assembling and replacing of the cleaning head are facilitated and damaging of furniture during sweeping is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7197786
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing apparatus wash brush includes a cover encircling a rotatable shaft. Spokes extending radially from the shaft fix the cover relative to the shaft. Upon rotation of the shaft, centrifugal forces urge the cover radially outwardly away from the shaft toward a vehicle being washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Edward Holbus
  • Patent number: 7197787
    Abstract: A wall-supported conical wringer for round-based string mops and method of making said wringer is provided with some new features integrated into a special mounting system which permits the conical wringer to be attached and held in a usable position at any kitchen twin sink divider or can be used on a utility or washroom sink sidewall. The device provides a convenient means of removing the excess water from a water-soaked mop without the need of a wringer equipped mop bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: John H. Sehestedt
  • Patent number: 7197788
    Abstract: A range hood cleaning assembly utilizes compressed air to drive accumulated grease on range hood surfaces towards drainage holes. A plurality of air dispensers, preferably air hoses and directional nozzles, through which compressed air from at least one source of compressed air is blown, direct compressed air against surfaces within a motor housing interior, on the fan(s) and within grease trays to drive accumulated grease towards drainage holes. The air dispensers may be attached to a plate mounted within the motor housing interior about a motor and above a fan, may be integral or releasably attachable to the motor housing or may be integral or releasably attachable to grease trays. The compressor may be set to activate automatically or may be activated manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Yeung
  • Patent number: 7197789
    Abstract: A beater bar assembly for use within a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The beater bar assembly is capable of both axial oscillation (horizontal motion) and axial rotation, thereby providing an efficient cleaning motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Emery Emmert
  • Patent number: 7197790
    Abstract: A hinge which includes a gas strut. The hinge in one embodiment further includes a first control arm and a second control arm which is coupled to the first control arm. The gas strut in this one embodiment is coupled to both first and second control arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: PE Marine Designz, Ltd
    Inventor: Paul Charles Edmondson
  • Patent number: 7197791
    Abstract: An adjustable door stop system and method for a hinge mounted door having at least one hinge leaf connected to the door and at least one hinge leaf connected to the doorway. The door stop system includes a hinge pin having an axis about which the hinge leaves rotate. A first disk extends radially from one end of the hinge pin. A second disk has an opening to receive the hinge pin therethrough. A finger extends from the first disk substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge pin. A finger also extends from the second disk substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge pin. The first disk finger engages the hinge leaf connected to the doorway and the second disk finger engages the hinge leaf connected to the door to thereby stop movement of the door without contacting either the door or the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: B. Jack Smith
  • Patent number: 7197792
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door handle for a refrigerator. According to the present invention, a bar holder 41 of a door handle 40 includes a fixing portion 42 fixed to a front surface of a refrigerator door 30 and a coupling portion 44 coupled to an upper or lower end of a handle bar 47. Fitting grooves 44a are formed in both sides of the coupling portion 44, whereas fitting ribs 47a, which are fitted into the fitting grooves 44a downward or upward, are provided on both sides of the upper or lower end of the handle bar 47. At this time, the upper and lower ends of the handle bar 47 are supported by the upper and lower coupling portions 44, respectively. According to the present invention so configured, the number of parts of the door handle can be decreased, the assembly of the door handle can be simplified, and an error occurring in the manufacturing process can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sun-Nam Moon
  • Patent number: 7197793
    Abstract: A former head allows processing of long fibers while achieving a carding action and a fibre distribution fulfilling high quality standards. The former head contains at least one needle roller. A mixture of air and fibers are injected above the horizontal plane of a center axis of the needle roller and directly onto a periphery of the needle roller. There may be a number of adjustable needle rollers. With a former head, where fibers and air are injected in a controlled and new way, it is possible to process longer fibers and maintain a high distribution quality. By using a number of adjustable needle rollers, the fibre material can go through a carding process during the distribution. This carding process is optimized by the needles injecting onto the periphery of the stationary needle roller as well as the subsequent contact with the adjustable needle rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Dan-Web Holding A/S
    Inventor: Jens Erik Thordahl
  • Patent number: 7197794
    Abstract: A modular drip tray for use in a casket includes a plurality of modules and an overlapping member. The plurality of modules are placed into a casket adjacent to each other and the overlapping member creates an overlap region that spans a portion of the two modules and any gap between the modules such that liquids impinging upon the overlap region will be impaired from progressing beneath the overlap region. The overlapping member may be formed integrally with one or more modules. Each module may further comprise a plurality of discrete isolated compartments for retention of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Vandor Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald H. Davis, Gary L. Cox, Chad L. Eversole
  • Patent number: 7197795
    Abstract: The nozzle beam on a device for producing liquid jets in order to impinge said jets upon the fibres of a web of continuous material guided along the beam consists of a beam housing extending along the working width of the continuous web of fibre material, whereby two longitudinal bores placed on top of each other are accommodated in said housing and are separated from each other by means of an intermediate wall provided with continuous boreholes. The nozzle strip required to produce the liquid jets is mounted in a liquid-tight manner in the lower part of the housing and is cross-flown by pressurized water. In order to enable more needle water to reach the fabric than is usual with such a construction, two strips of nozzles are mounted in a housing and must be provided accordingly with pressurized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fleissner GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Gerold Fleissner
  • Patent number: 7197796
    Abstract: A yarn withdrawal apparatus for continuously withdrawing a yarn from a feed yarn package and then from a reserve package, where the trailing yarn end on the feed package is knotted to the leading end of the yarn on the reserve package. The transition of the yarn from the feed yarn package to the reserve yarn package is detected by a sensor, which includes a movable yarn guide, which moves during the transition from an inactive position to a signaling position in a first degree of freedom of movement. To prevent the movable yarn guide from rebounding when it reaches the signaling position, the yarn guide or an element connected thereto defines a second degree of freedom of movement which is different from the first degree of freedom of movement, and such that after the rebound the movement is of such a kind that a departure from the signaling position back toward the inactive position is geometrically not possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Saurer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Bartkowiak, Bernd Neumann, Manfred Stüttem
  • Patent number: 7197797
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle door hinge having a hinge axis, the method including providing a first hinge part having a first arm and a second arm axially spaced from the first arm, the hinge axis passing through the first arm and the second arm. The method also includes bending a strip of material to form a second hinge part having a first end, a second end, and a bent section between the first end and the second end, the first end having a first section and the second end having a second section, the first section and the second section being parallel relative to one another. In addition, the method includes fixing the first section and the second section relative to one another, and disposing the bent section between the first and second arms about the hinge axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Edscha North America
    Inventors: Wojciech Janczak, Craig Spalding, Jonathan Smith
  • Patent number: 7197798
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuator comprises making a piezoelectric fiber sheet by providing a plurality of wafers of piezoelectric material, bonding the wafers together with an adhesive material to form a stack of alternating layers of piezoelectric material and adhesive material, and cutting through the stack in a direction substantially parallel to the thickness of the stack and across the alternating layers of piezoelectric material and adhesive material to provide at least one piezoelectric fiber sheet having two sides comprising a plurality of piezoelectric fibers in juxtaposition to the adhesive material. The method further comprises bonding two electrically conductive films to the two sides of the piezoelectric fiber sheet. At least one conductive film has first and second conductive patterns formed thereon which are electrically isolated from one another and in electrical contact with the piezoelectric fiber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: W. Keats Wilkie, Robert G. Bryant, Robert L. Fox, Richard F. Hellbaum, James W. High, Rosemary Jalink, legal representative, Bruce D. Little, Paul H. Mirick, Antony Jalink, Jr., deceased
  • Patent number: 7197799
    Abstract: A method is provided for effectively manufacturing a piezoelectric device equipped with a piezoelectric film with a crystal orientation that is aligned in a desired direction. An interlayer that is bi-axially oriented is formed on a surface of a substrate by conducting ion beam assisted laser ablation in a disposition in which a center axis of an ablation plume to be irradiated is angled at approximately 55 degrees to a direction normal to the substrate. A lower electrode is formed on the interlayer. A piezoelectric film is formed on the lower electrode. An upper electrode is formed on the piezoelectric film. The lower electrode and the piezoelectric film are formed by epitaxial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Higuchi, Setsuya Iwashita, Hiromu Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7197800
    Abstract: A high impedance surface and a method of making same. The surface includes a molded structure having a repeating pattern of holes therein and a repeating pattern of sidewall surfaces, the holes penetrating the structure between first and second major surfaces thereof and the sidewall surfaces joining the first major surface. A metal layer is put on said molded structure, the metal layer being in the holes, covering at least a portion of the second major surface, covering the sidewalls and portions of the first major surface to interconnect the sidewalls with other sidewalls via the metal layer on the second major surface and in the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel F. Sievenpiper, Joseph L. Pikulski, James H. Schaffner, Tsung-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 7197801
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing an insert suitable for placement within a seat of an automotive vehicle. The insert preferably includes multiple layers, one of which includes a heater for providing an occupant of the seat with warmth. The insert also preferably includes a blower or air pump for providing ventilation and/or cooling to the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd., Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Goran Bajic, Lindy Brennan, Brennon Lewis White, Anne Patrice Liss, Lucas Fernandez, Valerija Drobnjakovic, Marinko Lazanja
  • Patent number: 7197802
    Abstract: According to a method, initial temperatures (T1) of strip points (101) are detected when the hot-rolled strip (6) is fed to the production line. The strip points (101) are monitored on their way through the production line. The hot-rolled strip (6) is subjected to temperature influences (delta T) in the production line (3). The strip points (101), the initial temperatures (T1), the monitored values (W(t)) and the temperature influences (delta T) are supplied to a model (9) for the production line (3). The model (9) determines expected actual temperatures (T2) of the strip points (101) in real time and allocates them to the strip points as the new actual temperatures (T2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Kurz, Michael Metzger, Klaus Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 7197803
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a fixture and a method to assist in the alignment of the inlet end of a transition duct and a combustor component in a turbine engine. Among other things, the fixture can include a flange adapted for mounting to a combustor component, an elongated mandrel, and a plurality of radially extendable jaws. After mounting the fixture to a combustor component, the jaws can engage an inner peripheral surface of a transition so as to properly align the transition with a target axis of alignment. The fixture can be configured to measure the size of any shims needed at the base of the flexible support bracket. Further, the fixture can also include various gauges to validate the alignment of the inlet end of the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Daesung Kemsley, Thomas James Ronge′
  • Patent number: 7197804
    Abstract: A thermal conductor is made of copper and carbon nanotubes powders that are compressed together and then cold rolled into sheets for aligning the carbon nanotubes for providing a composite matrix having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, and high electrical conductivity, for preferred use as a conducting heat sink, such as a laser submount, for heat sinking dissipation and electrical grounding of high-power electrical components and circuits, such as a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Heinrich G. Muller
  • Patent number: 7197805
    Abstract: Draft tube embedments of a hydroelectric turbine are removed for replacement and/or upgrading. Several shafts for saw wire access, forming a horizontal polygonal shape are drilled outside the draft ring and a circular slot cut below the bottom ring to meet the shafts. Shafts and slot encompass the embedments. Additional shafts are drilled for hoist slings. Generally radial cuts are made using diamond saw wires attached to saw wire machines from selected saw wire access shafts to the draft tube through the embedments. Back cuts are made between adjacent saw wire access shafts, again by diamond saw wires attached to saw wire machines, cutting the polygon into sections. Hoisting slings are passed down the hoisting sling shafts around the sections. The sections are then cut free by further back cuts and then hoisted from the draft tube. The method is quicker than conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Edward P. Johnston
  • Patent number: 7197806
    Abstract: A fastener assembly comprising a first wedge portion having an angled end, a second wedge portion having an angled end, and a fastener extending through the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion, wherein a portion of the fastener protrudes from one of the first and second wedge portions for interfacing with a component to be mounted, wherein the angled end of the first wedge portion and the angled end of the second wedge portion are interfaced when the fastener is extended through the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Brent Boudreaux, Eric Peterson, Brandon Rubenstein
  • Patent number: 7197807
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for releasably retaining at least one coil spring. The present invention utilizes a circumferential castellation formed within a housing operable to receive within the notches formed by the castellation a complimentary number of fingers formed from a retainer plate. The retainer plate is operable to hold the coil springs in compression and is fixed in place by an internal snap ring disposed within an inwardly facing circumferential grove formed on the radial inner side of the protruding blocks or dentils formed by the castellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Schoch, William S. Reed
  • Patent number: 7197808
    Abstract: Device for forming of at least one groove (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98) in a friction layer (91) of a covered disk (90) for a force transmission aggregate, in particular for a disk clutch, with a rolling device (1, 11, 21, 31) with at least one roller flange (7, 17, 27a . . . 27f, 37a . . . 37c) for rolling in the at least one groove (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Zimprich
  • Patent number: 7197809
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a stranded cable particularly for mechanical motion transmission, which cable is composed of multiple strands or wires, helically wound around a common longitudinal axis, including the steps of: a—winding the strands that form the cable in a helical arrangement around a common longitudinal axis, b—flattening and smoothing the exterior profile of the each strand of the cable. Cable produced by that method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Giorgio Gai
  • Patent number: 7197810
    Abstract: In a transport system for flow line production, especially in the car manufacturing industry, workpieces are movable along at least two first guides between working stations in transportation direction. At least one working station is configured as a screwing and/or assembling means which particularly comprises a plurality of working tools. To improve such a transport system in a way that with little constructional efforts and at reduced costs the assignment of working station and workpiece to be worked thereby is simplified and made possible in an accurate and reproducible manner, the screwing and/or assembling means is integrated into the transport system and is movable at least over a working path in parallel with the first guides in the transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Cooper Power Tools GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Werner A. Lutz, Klaus Wohlfarth
  • Patent number: 7197811
    Abstract: A technique for separating the stator leads of an electric motor during the manufacturing process. The technique comprises a system having a lead gathering assembly, a lead separator, and a drive mechanism. The lead gathering assembly is adapted to gather together a plurality of stator windings extending from a stator. The lead separator having a plurality of teeth adapted to separate a stator winding from the plurality of stator windings gathered together by the lead gathering assembly. The drive mechanism is adapted to drive the lead separator into the plurality of stator windings. The lead separator has teeth to separate each of the stator windings gathered together by the lead gathering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hobart DeHart
  • Patent number: 7197812
    Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: ESGW Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Goei Sheu, YuQing Niu
  • Patent number: 7197813
    Abstract: The magnetoresistance is measured for a magnetoresistive layered-structure, such as a spin valve film, prior to formation of an upper shield layer as well as patterning of a lower shield layer. The magnetic influence of the upper and lower shield layers can completely be eliminated during the measurement of the magnetoresistance. The magnetoresistive layered-structure is allowed to reliably receive the magnetic field over a wider range including a lower magnetic field range. It is accordingly possible to measure the magnetoresistance properly reflecting the magnetic characteristic of the magnetoresistive layered-structure. It is possible to find deficiency of a magnetoresistive read element at an earlier stage of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Mukoyama, Kenichiro Yamada, Hitoshi Kanai, Manabu Watanabe, Norikazu Ozaki, Kazuaki Satoh
  • Patent number: 7197814
    Abstract: A writing magnetic pole portion composed of a first magnetic film and a second magnetic film formed on the first magnetic film via a gap film is fabricated on a given wafer. Then, the writing magnetic pole portion is swung forward and backward around a rotation standard axis parallel to a center line of the writing magnetic pole portion in a direction parallel to a surface of the. Then, the writing magnetic pole portion is milled during the swing of the writing magnetic pole portion to define the width of the writing magnetic pole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Oike, Makoto Yoshida, Tetsuo Miyazaki, Shin Narushima, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7197815
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprises a core with a coil wound around a stator magnetically coupled to each end of the cored a movable element that can be displaced relative to the stator, and a supporting means for supporting the movable element. The stator and the movable element each have a projection and a depression parallel to the displacement direction of the movable element and are placed in such a way that the projection and depression of the stator engage with the projection and depression of the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Yasuda, Futoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 7197816
    Abstract: Hand-held devices that can be used to quickly install flashover protection covers around energized electrical conductors and equipment are provided. Each device includes a guide assembly that defines a pair of spaced-apart, converging passageways that are configured to slidably receive the elongated edge portions of a flexible panel therethrough. The converging passageways force together the opposite edge portions of a flexible panel being advanced through the guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Terry Edward Frye
  • Patent number: 7197817
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming bump electrodes on wired circuit boards. A high-concentration impurity Si template doped with boron and having a pit formed therein is prepared. A plated resist is formed on the high-concentration impurity Si template and an opening is formed at the position of the pit. Then, an electric field is applied to the high-concentration impurity Si template and Au is buried in the opening in the plated resist to form a Au-plated buried layer. An electrode pad is formed on a semiconductor chip. With the plated resist separated from the high-concentration impurity Si template, the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip is aligned with the Au-plated buried layer and is bonded by thermo-compression bonding. The Au-plated buried layer is transferred to the electrode pad to form an Au bump on the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: NEC Electronics Corporation, NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Takahashi, Yuji Akimoto, Mikio Oda, Hikaru Kouta
  • Patent number: 7197818
    Abstract: A method and structures are provided for implementing customizable dielectric printed circuit card traces. A void is defined near selected signal traces. The void is then filled with a dielectric material having a predefined dielectric property. The dielectric material is selected to alter at least one predefined electrical property of the selected signal traces, such as, coupling, propagation delay and attenuation. In one embodiment, an outer layer of a printed circuit card includes a plurality of signal traces and a mating circuit card layer including a plurality of matching signal traces is attached to the outer layer of the printed circuit card to create a cavity near selected signal traces. The cavity is filled with the selected dielectric material. In another embodiment, dielectric material is selectively removed near signal traces on an outer layer of the printed circuit card to define a void near selected signal traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Arthur Cannon, William James Csongradi, Jr., Benjamin Aaron Fox, Roger John Gravrok, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, David Lawrence Pease, Ryan James Schlichting
  • Patent number: 7197819
    Abstract: A method of assembling and providing an electric power apparatus. The method uses a heat resistant housing having a structure adapted to accommodate and retain a power circuit card and also including a bracket adapted to accommodate and constrain a rigid conductive member. A power circuit card having an electrical terminal is placed into the housing and a rigid conductive member into the bracket. The rigid conductive member is flow soldered to the electrical terminal, thereby exposing the heat resistant housing to heat and creating a solder bond. Finally, the rigid conductive member is affirmatively connected to the housing. The bracket constrains the rigid conductive member so that the act of affirmatively connecting does not weaken the solder bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Rinehart Motion Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Rinehart, Guillermo L. Romero