Patents Issued in July 3, 2007
  • Patent number: 7237747
    Abstract: Device assisting with interception by an aircraft of a flight path segment located in a horizontal plane and a system of assistance with interception and follow-up of such a segment. The device includes means of determining a ground speed vector and means of displaying to present, on a screen, a means of indication (10) of the ground speed corresponding to a first rectilinear section (11) in the horizontal plane, connected to a symbol (7) whose angular orientation corresponds to the direction of said ground speed vector and whose length is variable, a means of interception approach indication (12) corresponding to a second rectilinear section (13) in the horizontal plane of variable width and provided for as an extension of first rectilinear section (11) and a means of indication (14) of the interception turn corresponding to at least one circular arc (15) in the horizontal plane, provided to extend second rectilinear section (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Baudry
  • Patent number: 7237748
    Abstract: Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The wheel hub motor/generator can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is applied, which may be applied prior to touch-down thus decreasing the difference in relative velocities of the tire radial velocity with that of the relative velocity of the runway thus greatly reducing the sliding friction wear of said tire. After touchdown the wheel hub motor/generator may be used as a generator thus applying a regenerative braking force and/or a motorized braking action to the wheel. The energy generated upon landing maybe dissipated through a resistor and/or stored for later use in providing a source for motive power to the aircraft wheels for the purpose of taxiing and ground maneuvers of said aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Delos Aerospace, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7237749
    Abstract: An interior structure for a mobile platform is provided. The interior structure is constructed of a lightweight collapsible frame that can be reconfigured from a compact, substantially flat collapsed state to a non-compact, substantially sprawling expanded state. In the expanded state, the collapsible frame provides at least a portion of a structural load bearing frame for the interior structure. The interior structure additionally includes a plurality of interchangeable panels that attach to the collapsible frame to form interior surfaces of the structure. The panels form such things as the interior wall, ceiling and floor surfaces and can also include amenities such as shelves, lights, beds, closets, electrical outlets, Internet connections and entertainment equipment. The interior structure can be carried though the typical man-door of a mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael A Ritts, Gregory W Davidson, Christopher J Mills
  • Patent number: 7237750
    Abstract: A modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage, a nose cone, a left wing piece, a right wing piece, and a tail section. The tail section and nose cone each join to the fuselage through mating bulkhead structures that provide quick connection capability while being readily separated so as to enable the UAV to break apart at these connection points and thereby absorb or dissipate impact upon landing. The UAV is capable of rapid assembly in the field for two-man launch and data retrieval, as well as quick disassembly into these five component parts for transport and storage in a highly compact transport case that can be carried as a backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: L3 Communications
    Inventors: Tien Seng Chiu, Jay Willmott
  • Patent number: 7237751
    Abstract: An aerofoil, particularly a helicopter main rotor blade has a leading edge protector comprising a strip of resilient polymer, preferably polyurethane, adhered to the leading edge of the flex section of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Composite Structures Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Anning
  • Patent number: 7237752
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for reducing plasma induced communication disruption utilizing electrophilic injectant and sharp reentry vehicle nose shaping. Injecting electrophilic gas into plasma accomplishes reduction of plasma induced communication disruption by removing free electrons in the plasma which causes the communication disruption. For reentry vehicles, a multi-section sharp nose also reduces plasma effect during reentry. By combining electrophilic gas injection and a multi-section sharp nose shaping, the present invention reduces and further eliminates plasma induced communication blackout, such as GPS communication blackout, for a reentry vehicle during reentry. As a result, the present invention improves targeting accuracy for a GPS-guided reentry vehicle by reducing plasma induced GPS blackout during the critical reentry phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: J. W. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7237753
    Abstract: A debris collector is provided that includes a sleeve including a top opening and a bottom opening, the sleeve being operable to be attached to a bag adjacent to the bottom opening, the sleeve defining an interior. A support structure is connected to the sleeve, the support structure consisting of at least one support element, wherein the support element is manually operable to bring the sleeve in a generally upright position that permits debris to be readily inserted into the opening. The sleeve also includes a connecting means for connecting the bag to the sleeve. The sleeve is operable to funnel debris inserted in the top opening from the interior into the bag through the bottom opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Donna Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 7237754
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a sign and adapted to engage a pole includes a pair of mounting plates disposed contiguously with a pole. Each mounting plate comprises a second aperture through which a band is inserted to connect each mounting plate to the pole. A crossmember is fed through a first aperture to support a sign or banner. The crossmember is receptive to an alignment device to prevent unwanted lateral movement. Additionally, the crossmember is receptive to two stops on either of its two ends. Each end stop prevents the sign or banner from sliding off the crossmember under adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Chicago Display Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Sparkowski
  • Patent number: 7237755
    Abstract: A display apparatus having a display body displaying a picture, a stand supporting the display body, and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly has a tilting hinge provided between the display body and the stand to allow the display body to tilt relative to the stand; a pivoting hinge provided between the display body and the tilting hinge to allow the display body to pivot relative to the stand; and a swiveling hinge provided between the tilting hinge and the stand to allow the display body to swivel relative to the stand. Additionally, the display body can be installed on various kinds of arm stands in accordance with the VESA FDMI standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-il Cho, Sung-ki Min, Young-tai Kim, Soon-haeng Heo
  • Patent number: 7237756
    Abstract: A removably attachable manual support for a binder, folder or book and adaptable for outwardly extending, one-hand support of a binder and its contents when in use by soloists, choir members or lecturers. The manual support further includes an articulated rest structure for supporting the lower marginal edges of the spine and of each of the laterally extending cover panels of the binder or folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Theodore A. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 7237757
    Abstract: An article support comprises a supporting plate provided with a resinous slide stopper on a face for supporting an article, and a holding plate, a hinge, a hook bar and an engagement groove as a holding means for maintaining the supporting plates in a predetermined position, thereby facilitating fitting and removal of the article, and expanding an range of application for the article of various kinds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Wayo Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hiroshi Wakura
  • Patent number: 7237758
    Abstract: A stand holding virtually any vehicle engine and gearbox respectively during repair and renovation allowing clear access to every side of thereof, carrying a base structure (1) an immovable column (7), a horizontal immovable tube (9), includes a movable support assembly (12) and a pair of rotatable adjustable carrier assemblies (20) being distanced from one another. The support assembly is capable of varying the distance between a pair of carrier assemblies to correspond with the size of engine and of gearbox respectively. Each of the pair of carrier assemblies including an arm and a carrying plate connected by way of the connecting member; rather two handles adjustably coupled to corresponding carrying plate by first ends and having bolts threaded through second ends and corresponding adapters for receipt within corresponding holes of engine and gearbox respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ljubomir Nikolic
  • Patent number: 7237759
    Abstract: An air passage 2 is provided with an air passage groove 5 that supplies a required volume of air to the side downstream from the fully closed position of a valve body for control purposes. Further, a taper is formed in such a way that a predetermined volume of air can be supplied, even if positional variations have occurred to the valve body. This arrangement allows the volume of air required for the traveling of a car to be supplied, without increasing the number of parts, even if the valve body 3 has stuck downstream from the controlled area. This arrangement also permits a stable supply of air flow at the idle position of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Andoh, Masahiko Soshino, Takahiro Shimura, Kenjo Ono
  • Patent number: 7237760
    Abstract: A check valve actuator has a body, a sliding seat, a drive shaft, a spring assembly and a knob. The body has a mounting collar, a convex ridge, an internal cavity and a through hole. The mounting collar is formed on the front end of the body and has an internal surface. The internal cavity is formed inside the body. The through hole communicates with the internal cavity. The sliding seat is mounted slidably against the internal surface of the internal cavity and has an annular seat. The drive shaft is extends through the internal cavity and the through hole in the body. The spring assembly is pressed between the closed rear wall of the internal cavity and the annular seat and the drive shaft. The knob is attached to the drive shaft at the rear end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ching-Su Chiu
  • Patent number: 7237761
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a valve which includes a housing having a valve seat for a flap that is rotationally mounted on a drive shaft. A double wound lamellar ring is arranged outside and around the flap in a peripheral groove of the flap. The invention also relates to the use of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Peter Kohlen, Michael Rennen
  • Patent number: 7237762
    Abstract: A lifting mechanism and spacer block arrangement is disclosed to include a magnetically attractive lifting mechanism installed in a lifting jack and driven to move a lifting rod vertically, and a plurality of magnetically attractive spacer blocks for attaching to the lifting mechanism at the bottom in a stack to space the lifting mechanism above the floor, each spacer block having a top side mounted with a magnet in a flush manner, and a bottom side fitting the top side for enabling the spacer blocks to be arranged in a stack and secured to the bottom side of the lifting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Shinn Fu Corporation
    Inventor: Chin Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 7237763
    Abstract: An apparatus that attaches to the end of the electrical fish tape to eliminate or reduce drag and friction while the fish tape is pushed through bends in electrical pipe with a roller attached to the end of an electrical fish tape or snake to drastically reduce friction and drag when the fish tape or snake is being pushed through bends in electrical pipe. The roller is designed to rotate when coming into contact with the inner pipe wall at any position. Inner bearing further magnifies roll, takes advantage of the flat side of the fish tape to position the roller going into and through the bend for optimum roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ricky Eugene Brown
  • Patent number: 7237764
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a pin block for use with carpet gripping tools that comprise a plurality of downward extending pins that are canted towards the front of the pin block. Each pin is centered and supported in a pin support that forms an end surface thereby allowing only a pin tip to be exposed. Extending between each pair of pin supports is a fin that has a downward edge which is flush with the end surfaces of the pin supports to form a continuous contact surface that prevents the pin tips from penetrating through the carpet backing. Each pin block is adapted to stack together with other pin blocks to form ganged pin blocks to increase the gripping power of a carpet gripping tool comprising the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Beno J. Gundlach Company
    Inventor: Maurice Despins
  • Patent number: 7237765
    Abstract: Speed limiter system to detect over speed and generate a signal to cut the power and if necessary operate brakes. It consist of the limiter itself, with a tension pulley. The limiter consists of weights connected by a mechanism that moves asymmetrically and by centrifugal force when an over speed occurs to operate the lever of an electrical contact, with the possibility of remote resetting using the necessary means. On the other hand, the tension pulley provides sufficient tension to both sections of the cable via an adjustable compression spring or by means of weights suspended on an articulated arm, both transmitting sufficient tension to the tension pulley axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Dynatech, Dynamics & Technology, S.L.
    Inventor: Francisco de Asis Mateo Mur
  • Patent number: 7237766
    Abstract: Retaining device for use with two elongated slats longitudinally located in a chain linked fence. Each slat has first and second slat surfaces and first and second slat edges, and has a notch located in a portion of a slat end. The notch extends transversally from the first to the second slat edge. The device includes a cap having a first panel connected to an intermediate panel. A guide rail connects to the first panel. The guide rail has first and second spaced apart longitudinal stop ends located inwardly away from respective first and second panel side edges for cooperation with notches of respective slats. The guide rail is slidably and longitudinally engageable by the notches in generally opposed directions along restricted paths of travel from one of the stop ends toward the other one of the stop ends to retain the notches thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: General Plastiques Extrusion
    Inventor: Gerald Lemay
  • Patent number: 7237767
    Abstract: Hot water (12) in a bath (11) is pumped up by a suction pump (9) and introduced into a carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) through solution flow rate adjusting means (14) and then, poured into the bath (11). Carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder (1) is introduced into the carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) through gas flow rate adjusting means (5). At this time, the quantity of bubbles existing in artificial carbonated spring in a take-out pipe (15) is measured with a measuring device (13), and the solution flow rate adjusting means (14), gas flow rate adjusting means (5) and the like are controlled by means of a control device (16) using a relational expression between a preliminarily set quantity of bubbles and carbon dioxide concentration to obtain a desired concentration of carbon dioxide gas in carbonated spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakakibara, Ken Ooyachi, Hiroshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7237768
    Abstract: A fuel injector is coupled to a fuel source. A vortex generator is coupled with the injector and a gas source and has a passageway there through. A portion of the passageway has a generally tapered configuration. At least one manifold tube has a generally hollow tubular configuration. A throttle body is coupled with the manifold tubes. A head adapter has a plurality of holes there through. The holes are located and configured to mate with the intake ports of the head of an internal combustion engine. The head adapter is configured to couple the throttle body to the internal combustion engine head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: David Scott
  • Patent number: 7237769
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus for a cooling tower having first and second corrugated film, fill sheets. Each film fill sheet includes a plurality of arch shaped dimple features oriented to forms various rows of the arch shaped dimple features. The first and second sheet are connected wherein the spacing between the sheets is equal to approximately 1.0 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., Kenneth P. Mortensen, Eldon F. Mockry
  • Patent number: 7237770
    Abstract: A humidifier for use with a breathable gas supply apparatus includes a hollow body adapted for partial filling with water to a predetermined maximum water level, a gas inlet to the body above the maximum water level and a gas outlet from the body above the maximum water level. The humidifier further includes a temperature heating element for heating the water and/or an adjustable flow divider adapted to divide the interior of the body above the maximum water level into a relatively dry gas region and a relatively wet gas region. The position of the divider is variable so as to vary the relative proportion of the gas flowing from the inlet to the outlet that passes through the relatively dry and relatively wet gas regions to thereby vary the amount of humidification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Lipscombe, Richard L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7237771
    Abstract: A document forming apparatus, comprising a substrate feeder for storing and dispensing substrates to a printing engine, a controller for controlling the operation of the document forming apparatus, wherein the controller includes at least one database for storing information for the operation of the substrate feeder, and a user interface for controlling the operation of the document forming apparatus. The user interface includes a stock library view, a stock settings dialog screen having an expert feeder controls section with a manual mode operator and an auto mode operator, and a control panel screen for manual mode operation. The control panel screen includes means for adjusting a plurality of feeder parameters, indicators for manual and auto modes, and a save settings operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph H. Lang, Neil J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 7237772
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image former for forming an image on a sheet at a predetermined image-forming speed; a plurality of feeders; a carrier for carrying the sheet fed from either of the feeders to the image former; and a controller for controlling the carrier to suspend the sheet fed from either of the feeders at a first position upstream of the image former. The controller determines whether a subsequent sheet is suspended at a second position upstream of the first position and/or controls a speed at which the carrier carries the sheet, based on a feeder that feeds the sheet among the plurality of feeders and/or on the image-forming speed of the image former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Kamamura
  • Patent number: 7237773
    Abstract: A system for feeding and transporting documents includes a feeder stage and a transport stage. The hopper assembly includes a hopper floor that carries the document stack and a flag that provides a force to move the documents along the hopper floor toward the feeder. A fixed force means biases the flag with a fixed force while a spring means biases the flag with a variable spring force. The spring force varies with flag position to cause each document in the stack to be fed with an appropriate force due to spring force decreasing as the stack size diminishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: J. Michael Spall
  • Patent number: 7237774
    Abstract: The trailing edge of a sheet delivered to a treating tray for treating the sheet with respect to a delivering direction is made to abut against a trailing edge regulating member to thereby regulate the trailing edge position of the sheet. Next, a sheet delivery lever is reciprocally moved between a first position in which it is retracted to the upstream side of the trailing edge regulating member with respect to the sheet delivering direction and a second position in which it protrudes into the stacking area of the treating tray, to thereby push the trailing edge of the treated sheet and deliver the sheet onto a sheet stacking tray. Also, when this sheet delivery lever is to be moved from the second position to the first position, the sheet delivery lever is moved so as to be capable of passing by the sheet delivered to the treating tray, whereby even during the time when the sheet delivering lever is moved to the first position, the delivery of a succeeding sheet to the treating tray is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hironobu Ata
  • Patent number: 7237775
    Abstract: A method of conducting a wagering game includes selecting at least one randomly-selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager from a player. The randomly-selected outcome is displayed in the form of an array of symbols, and a special symbol is presented in a fixed location of the array of symbols. The special symbol is independent of the array of symbols and combinable with the symbols of the plurality of reels to indicate the randomly-selected outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Dion K. Aoki
  • Patent number: 7237776
    Abstract: Apparatus 10 discloses a mathematically-based game comprising a game board 12 having four parallel rows of eight depressions 14 for retaining game pieces 24 such as marbles. Game pieces 24 are arranged by each player 26 in the depressions 14 which are disposed within their area of play. The players 26 then sequentially manipulate the game pieces 24 around the game board 12 according to mathematical calculations with the objective of eliminating all of the opponent's game pieces. The apparatus 10 requires the user 26 to apply addition, subtraction, thinking and reasoning thereby promoting the concentration, creativity and problem-solving abilities of the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Yeme Ngoto
  • Patent number: 7237777
    Abstract: Bag toss game target assemblies that include a deck and a base unit. The deck includes at least one through-aperture dimensioned to allow a bag to pass entirely therethrough. The base unit has a bottom portion that is configured to rest on a generally horizontal surface and a top portion that is configured to support the deck during game play. In one preferred embodiment, the base unit further includes an open-top storage receptacle that is covered by the deck during game play, but can be accessed by moving the deck independent of the base unit. In another preferred embodiment, the deck from at least target assembly can be removed from its corresponding base unit, and the corresponding base unit can be nested beneath and partially within the base unit of another target assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: KT Games Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph E. Digges, III, Robert D. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7237778
    Abstract: The invention is a shut-off seal assembly for use with the drive assembly of fluid-containing vessels. The shut-off seal assembly first locks the seal carrier of the drive assembly in place so that it may not rotate in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction. The seal carrier includes a pair of notches into which a pawl may be fitted preventing seal carrier rotation. The seal carrier surrounds a sleeve which includes a plurality of slots. A backwards rotation of the drive shaft causes drive pins to slide in the angled slots, thereby causing the seal element to move forward and create a seal between the drive assembly and the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ProQuip, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Althouse, III
  • Patent number: 7237779
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjusting apparatus includes a suspension spring supporting a sprung weight of a vehicle, a pivotal unsprung member carrying a road wheel and connected to a lower end of the suspension spring so as to pivot in response to deformation of the suspension spring, and a drive mechanism adapted so as to be free from the sprung weight and capable of moving the unsprung member so as to cause the suspension spring to increase or decrease in length and thereby adjusting a vehicle height at the road wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kondo, Yoshihiro Kawabe
  • Patent number: 7237780
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting vehicle height, the apparatus being disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly, the apparatus including a first suspension coil spring adapted to be connected to the vehicle body, a second suspension coil spring adapted to be connected to the wheel assembly, the second suspension coil spring being different in diameter from the first suspension coil spring and arranged in serial relation to the first suspension coil spring in an axial direction thereof, and an actuator substantially disposed within an inside space defined by the first and second suspension coil springs. The actuator is operative to axially move one of the first and second suspension coil springs relative to the other thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ohki
  • Patent number: 7237781
    Abstract: A creeper chair having a frame, a seat and at least one side platform flanking said seat. The platform includes a product-retaining holder in any combination of number, sizes and shapes to secure various products and supplies or tools to said platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: James D. Canova
  • Patent number: 7237782
    Abstract: A vertically swingable rear gate assembly for closing an open rear side of a shopping cart basket. The gate assembly includes a monolithic one-piece plate-like molded plastic gate member sized to substantially close off the rear side of the basket. A rigid one-piece connecting frame is disposed primarily adjacent a rear side of the gate member and includes a pair of generally transversely aligned top hinge parts for vertical hinged connection to the shopping cart. The connecting frame, adjacent an upper edge, has a downwardly-opening, transverse channel structure which engages over and confines an upper edge portion of the gate member. The lower part of the connecting frame is fixedly joined to the gate member at a location adjacent the bottom edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: United Steel & Wire Company
    Inventors: James B. Tucker, Verlyn C. Ruger, Larry S. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7237783
    Abstract: An accessory cart having a J-shaped frame for removable mounting of a spray gun to convert a conventional airless paint sprayer into a line striper to paint lines on parking lots, curbs, warehouse floors and other pavement surfaces, and which can alternately be used in conjunction with a traditional line striper in cramped spaces or between parked cars, and which is easily converted from a 3-wheeled device to a 2-wheeled device for painting curved lines, and which permits adjustable positioning of the spray gun at a desired location on the cart to optimize the spray pattern in a particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Titan Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kieffer, Norman Alvin Cyphers, Michael Dosch
  • Patent number: 7237784
    Abstract: Apparatus 10 for a skateboard deck 14 connected to a skateboard carriage 22 by means of a rotative mechanism 24 positioned between the deck and carriage. The carriage 22 is comprised of a platform having the trucks and wheels 18 mounted thereunder with fasteners fixedly positioning a bearing insert 34 and carriage retaining ring 32 to the top side of the platform. The deck 14 has a friction ring 30 fixed to the underside with fasteners 28 passing through the deck and friction ring into the carriage retaining ring thereby enabling the deck to rotate relative to the carriage 22. Additionally fastened to the underside of the deck 14 are pivot brakes or segments 16 positioned on opposing ends of the deck 14 and within the perimeter of the carriage platform. Once the carriage platform 22 and deck 14 are relatively aligned, a user 12 shifts their weight causing the segments 16 to engage the carriage ending or preventing any further rotation of the deck relative to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph Monteleone
  • Patent number: 7237785
    Abstract: A vehicle roll stabilizer for the chassis of a motor vehicle is provided, with its actuator (3, 38) being energized with independent energy, as necessary, for counteracting a roll. The actuator (3, 38) is provided with at least one additional energy accumulator (33a, 57), with its stored energy additionally counteracting the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: Schaeffler KG, Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Manfred Kraus, Jürgen Osterlänger, Harald Hochmuth, Thomas Dirnberger, Wolfgang Reik, Thomas Pfund
  • Patent number: 7237786
    Abstract: A rowing bicycle comprised of a frame (1), a steering unit (55), a powering unit (56) having a dual motion gear (23), wheels (2) and (3) and a seat (5). The frame (1) is designed so as to have the user sit in a position where his or her legs are almost horizontally straight. The steering unit (55) pivots left and right about a center bar (19) located in between the frame (1) to allow a user to turn the bicycle while the dual motion gear (23) allows the user to power the bicycle both when pushing the steering unit (55) forward and when pulling the steering unit (55) back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: Iaz's Custom Welding, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas R. Montez
  • Patent number: 7237787
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising a bicycle fork (1) and a headset (J) on a steering column (2) of a bicycle frame. According to the invention, the fork is solidly connected to a pivot (3) which extends (3a) beyond the end of the steering column, opposite that comprising the fork, such that a handlebar stem can be fixed thereto using the external screw thread of the pivot. The aforementioned headset (J) comprises a lower bearing (7) and an upper bearing (8) and an adjustment means (M) is provided for the axial clamping of said headset. Moreover, in the area at the end of the steering column opposite that comprising the fork, the outer surface of the pivot (3) contains a zone (B) which is equipped with first connecting means (13), while the above-mentioned pivot extension (3a), which is disposed at the end opposite that comprising the fork (1), has no such connecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Time Sport International
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Gueugneaud
  • Patent number: 7237788
    Abstract: A system enables a boat to be loaded from water onto a trailer that is partially submerged on a ramp at the edge of the water. One part of the system is a connector that is mounted on the keel of the bow. Another part of the system is a transversely mounted removable pin that is positioned on the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: G. Theodore Norbits
  • Patent number: 7237789
    Abstract: A hitch and axle assembly including a support structure detachably securable to a vehicle and an axle assembly. A hitch is mountable on the support structure. The axle assembly includes a primary axle member defining a primary axis. Torsion beam assemblies are coupled to opposite lateral sides of the primary axle member. The torsion beam assemblies each include a torsion member that extends substantially coincident with the primary axis and a lever arm that extends substantially transversely from the torsion member. Wheel assemblies are mounted on a distal portion of the lever arms wherein the wheel assemblies each define an axis of rotation that is parallel and spaced from the primary axis. The two wheel axes are substantially coincident. The torsion bar assemblies may be rotationally adjustable relative to the primary axle to thereby provide for the vertical adjustment of the wheel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Anthony Herman
  • Patent number: 7237790
    Abstract: A system for coupling a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a trailer (2) to a motor tractor (1), is provided with an image sensor (5), which is located in the coupling area. The coupling process involves connecting a trailer coupler (4) of the motor vehicle (1) and a tow bar (3) of the trailer (2), which is detected by an image sensor (5) detecting a movement of a locking element (8) associated with the trailer coupling (4). Thereupon a process of braking of the motor vehicle (1) is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ottmar Gehring, Harro Heilmann, Frederic Holzmann, Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Gernot Spiegelberg, Armin Sulzmann
  • Patent number: 7237791
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trailer hitch system that is configured to rotate to a stowing position and an operating position. When in the operational position, a coupler arm of the trailer is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the trailer so that the coupler arm contributes to the length of the trailer. When in the stowing position, the coupler arm of the trailer is bent at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the trailer so that the coupling arm does not contribute to the overall length of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Pivit Hitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Dana Stettler
  • Patent number: 7237792
    Abstract: This invention relates to a protective cushion assembly that is adapted to protect equipment involved with vehicle towing, particularly the towing vehicle's rear bumper which contemporarily may be comprised of plastic. The cushion assembly includes an elastomeric plastic body and an associated bracket means for fastening the plastic body to an arm member that extends outwardly from the location of a vehicle-associated trailer hitch. The cushion and the bracket means can each be embodied in various forms and constructions. Combinations of the cushion assembly with various arms are disclosed. The arm preferably is a transversely extending, horizontally oriented, elongated cross bar that extends across and medially adjoins the rear end of a tow bar, more preferably the cross bar is part of a trailer hitch extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventors: Robert J. Mrofka, Ted Kowalski
  • Patent number: 7237793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a snowboard binding for soft boots. The fixing straps can be pivoted by means of a joint from a closed position to an open position close to the opening for entry. The straps are kept in an open position by means of a holding device. The holding power of the holding device stems from the resistance of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Head Sport AG
    Inventor: Karl Messmer
  • Patent number: 7237794
    Abstract: A snowboard binding having a base element that can be fastened to the top of a snowboard. At least one instep element extends over part of a snowboard boot fastened to the base element. The instep element is movable along at least one arc-like path to improve mobility of the boot in the binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Goodwell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Elkington, Ralph Kohler
  • Patent number: 7237795
    Abstract: A folding mechanism of a golf cart includes a fixed member secured to a middle rod part of a golf cart frame, first and second moving members joined to upper and lower rod parts of the frame respectively, and a spring-biased pivotal plate. The moving members each have a toothed portion, which has an engaging protrusion at one end. The toothed portion of the first moving member further has a stop portion. The moving members are pivoted to the fixed member, and engaged with each other such that angular displacement of one of the moving members will cause angular displacement of the other. The golf cart will be fixed in a stretched position when the engaging protrusions engage. The pivotal plate is normally in a first position, in which position the front end thereof will engage the toothed portion of the first moving member to prevent the golf cart from folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sports World Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang-Li Wu
  • Patent number: 7237796
    Abstract: An actuatable fastener assembly is disclosed. The actuatable fastener assembly includes a fastener body and a fastener head attached to the fastener body. An initiator is embedded within the fastener body. Activation of the initiator causes the fastener head to separate from the fastener body. The actuatable fastener assembly also includes a retainer that is slidably movable along the fastener body toward the fastener head. The retainer includes a retention feature that resists movement of the retainer away from the fastener head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Barker, Mike Ayers