Patents Issued in July 17, 2007
  • Patent number: 7243904
    Abstract: A door lifting apparatus includes a frame and a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism includes a slide and a lever. The slide includes a plurality of holders and a plurality of glides, wherein the holders are operable to engage and support a door while the glides cooperate with rails provided upon the frame to guide the slide along the rails. Pivotal movement of the lever moves the slide vertically relative to the upright supports, thereby raising or lowering the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mark Grimes
  • Patent number: 7243905
    Abstract: A lifter with an adjustable wheel base comprising a lever assembly, an adjustable axle assembly, and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly may be magnetic and may additionally comprise safety cables having other attachment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Jack B. Henderson Construction
    Inventor: Mark Henderson
  • Patent number: 7243906
    Abstract: A wheeled jack, comprising a chassis shaped like an articulated parallelogram in which a lower horizontal side is provided, at its two front sides, with respective pairs of tilting wheels and the front end of the upper horizontal side is provided with an articulation for the centerline of a transverse arm for supporting clamps for gripping a pair of wheels of a vehicle, each one of the pairs of front tilting wheels being fitted at the ends of a rocker lever and able to swivel about vertical axes, the articulation of the transverse clamp-supporting arm being provided with an assembly for locking at different angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Stefano Pagliarani
  • Patent number: 7243907
    Abstract: A hydroelectric jack system, which is mounted on the underside of the vehicle. It comprises of two conventional double direction hydraulic jacks. The jack has a round flat plate which rests on the ground when jack is operated to lift the vehicle. It can be remotely operated using push button controls installed in the dashboard of the vehicle. It utilizes the existing hydraulic cylinder provided currently in the vehicle for their operation(s) e.g. the hydraulic systems to operate steering unit or any other devices. The jack system has safety checks—the electrical circuit of the hydroelectric jack does not operate till the emergency brake is applied. An auto lock system ensures the jack will not open accidentally. In case of a car, jack can be installed on to the floor beam inside the body. Jack is firmly placed in the specially designed hole of required diameter. Jack on both driver's and adjoining seat duly balances the weight of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventors: Gurbakhash Singh, Sunil K. Ahuja
  • Patent number: 7243908
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cable anchor system for an end terminal includes a cable anchor bracket configured to couple to a guardrail, in which the cable anchor bracket includes a flat plate having an aperture formed therein and a plurality of protrusions extending from a plane containing the aperture. The protrusions are configured to releasably engage the guardrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: The Texas A&M Univeristy System, TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Dean C. Alberson, Roger P. Bligh, D. Lance Bullard, Jr., C. Eugene Buth, Hayes E. Ross, Jr., Stephen L. Brown
  • Patent number: 7243909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus and method wherein a supply sump and turbine are below grade. Water cooled from an above grade cooling tower fan and fill flows into the supply sump and is pumped through below grade pipes into a facility. Heat rejected water from the facility then flows through below grade pipes into a below grade collector sump. A collector sump pump pumps the heat rejected water above grade into a nozzle and back into the fill to be cooled. The present invention is constructed such that water is not idle in any above grade component. Accordingly, the risk of water freezing within the above grade components is drastically reduced. Moreover, the heat rejection water can by-pass all above grade components and travel directly into the supply sump in the event of reduced load from the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Edward C. Koplin
  • Patent number: 7243910
    Abstract: A cone system to produce super-oxygenated and structured water is provided. The cone system includes a source of oxygen, and a plurality of cones in communication with the source of oxygen and configured to receive preconditioned water and spin the preconditioned water to combine it with oxygen received from the source. The system may be used with a system and method for producing and tuning super-oxygenated and structured water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: David Bagley
  • Patent number: 7243911
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for performing a predetermined treatment of substrates includes a treating tank for storing a treating solution, a holder for holding a plurality of substrates arranged in one direction inside the treating tank, and a bubble generating device for generating bubbles in the treating solution stored in the treating tank. The bubble generating device includes a plurality of cylindrical bodies extending in the one direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. Each of the cylindrical bodies is at least partly formed of a porous member extending in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Abiko, Tomonori Kojimaru, Keiji Magara, Toshio Hiroe, Koji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7243912
    Abstract: A diffuser assembly for diffusing a fluid from a fluid source into a medium to aerate the medium. The diffuser assembly including a diffuser body in fluid communication with the fluid source and a membrane connected to the diffuser body. The membrane is circular and includes a slitting pattern divided into a series of similar angular segments. The segments are positioned adjacent each other in a circular arrangement to substantially cover the membrane. Each segment includes a plurality of rows each having a plurality of slits. The slits within the segment are arranged in a parallelogram pattern. A first line extending between adjacent slits in a common row is substantially the same length as a second line extending between adjacent slits in adjacent rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Petit, Tieniu Chen
  • Patent number: 7243913
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, when sending sheets of paper collected on a standby tray to a processing tray, has a standby tray realizing an improved lining capacity of sheets of paper and a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7243914
    Abstract: Proposed is a paper gathering and feeding method, a device therefor, and a rotation member acting sufficiently also on any deformed notes at the time of gathering, and at the time of feeding, feeding is not prevented irrespective of the plasticity deformation, and an object thereof is to reduce the exchange frequency and maintenance of the rotation member, extend the continuous operation time of the paper gathering and feeding device, and realize comprehensive reduction of production cost, service cost, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Tokunaga, Hideyuki Sawayama
  • Patent number: 7243915
    Abstract: The illustrated input and output trays are pivotally attached to the hardcopy device and are movable between a processing position and a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Howard G. Wong, Peter Hwang
  • Patent number: 7243916
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding porous sheets of media from a stack of such sheets includes a support structure for supporting the stack. A gas conduit is mounted on the support structure and has an outlet that is oriented so that, when the stack is positioned on the support structure, the outlet is directed towards a first sheet of the stack. The gas conduit is in fluid communication with a gas supply so that a stream of gas can be directed onto the first sheet to penetrate the first sheet and generate a cushion of gas between the first sheet and a second sheet to separate the first and second sheets. A sheet feed mechanism feeds the first sheet from the stack once the first and second sheets are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David William Jensen
  • Patent number: 7243917
    Abstract: More accurately correcting sheet position and skew in a desired print media sheet trajectory in a printer paper path, with a registration system including sheet drive nips defined by laterally spaced and differentially driven elastomer surfaced frictional sheet drive rollers and mating undriven idler rollers have a non-slip rotational sheet engagement. The undriven idler rollers have rotary encoders producing encoder signals corresponding to their rotation by a sheet in the nip, which encoder signals are provided to a controller for the registration system to control forward and differential drive motor systems for the sheet drive rollers so as to substantially correct for errors in the desired trajectory of said sheet by sheet drag forces acting on the elastomer surfaced sheet drive rollers in the sheet drive nips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Knierim, Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N. M. deJong
  • Patent number: 7243918
    Abstract: An extension for a rotatable puzzle piece that is used with a sliding puzzle, and a sliding puzzle that uses the same. In one aspect the puzzle has an extension for a rotatable puzzle piece, comprising a housing including a backing frame and a front member connected one to the other. The backing frame is formed with a fixedly disposed first recess defined by walls formed on the backing frame. A fixedly disposed second recess is defined by the front member. The puzzle also includes a plurality of puzzle pieces disposed in the second recess, wherein each of the pieces is individually slidably movable in the second recess, whereby the pieces are movable so as to be arranged in a desired solution in the second recess. A channel operatively communicates with the second recess such that the pieces can be moved into the channel and rotated therein, thereby rotationally reorienting the pieces. The rotationally reoriented pieces can be moved into the second recess in an attempt to solve the puzzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Robert D Vernon
  • Patent number: 7243919
    Abstract: The invention features a method of playing a card game using a deck of numbered cards. Each player is dealt a predetermined number of cards, so that each player possesses a card set, or “hand” of cards. The remaining cards form a draw pile, and one card from the draw pile is turned face up to start a separate discard pile. The object of the game is for each player to remove cards from its card set by discarding a card that is either a multiple or a divisor of a card shown on the top of a common discard pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Brian Ringuette
  • Patent number: 7243920
    Abstract: A gaming table for supporting cards and gaming pieces such as dominos. The gaming table has game boards that include first and second major surfaces and first and second sets of slots. The first set of slots is sized and configured for supporting gaming pieces like dominos and is disposed within the first major surface of the game board. The second set of slots is sized and configured for supporting playing cards. The second set of slots is disposed on the first major surface of the game board but within the first set of slots to form a set of compound slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Louis F. Braun
  • Patent number: 7243921
    Abstract: A method providing a self-dispensing additive for buffering a projectile trapping medium and passivating spent projectiles trapped therein. The additive is a buffering compound formed as blocks of low-density foamed-concrete that self-dispenses the additive when contacted by the fired projectiles. The blocks contain dry components that may include one or more of low-solubility phosphate compounds, low-solubility aluminum compounds, iron compounds, sulfate compounds, and calcium carbonate mixed with a cementing material, water, and an aqueous-based foam in substantially stoichiometric amounts. The aqueous-based foam is added in a quantity sufficient to adjust the density of the block to neutral buoyancy in the projectile-trapping medium. The additive chemically stabilizes the medium while also passivating projectiles, in particular heavy-metal projectiles, trapped in the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Steven L. Larson, Charles A. Weiss, Jr., Joe G. Tom, Philip G. Malone, Edward J. Fransen
  • Patent number: 7243922
    Abstract: A drill chuck having an adjustable depth stop to control an amount by which a tool bit, such as a drill or a screwdriver bit, is inserted into the drill chuck. The adjustable depth stop can include a spring, such as a conical spring, that can be coupled to a spindle of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Louis A Gibbons
  • Patent number: 7243923
    Abstract: A drill includes a chuck which has a body member including a bore to receive a tool. Jaw members frictionally engage the tool to retain the tool in the chuck. A member is associated with the jaw members and the body to move the jaw members between clamping and non-clamping position. A centering mechanism extends radially into the body member to center tool bits within the chuck while prohibiting the tool bit from contacting the bore wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Campbell, Louis A. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 7243924
    Abstract: An ice skate comprising an ice skate blade holder and an ice skate blade secured in a longitudinal recess of the ice skate blade holder. The ice skate blade has an ice contacting lower and upper curvatures so as to be positionally changeable in one of two alternative working positions with respect to the ice skate blade holder, wherein the ice skate blade is attached. The ice skate blade has also substantially parallel, opposed side surfaces intersected by at least two longitudinally spaced apart apertures coinciding with at least two longitudinally spaced apart, transversal openings in the ice skate blade holder. Use is made of restraining means inserted through at least two longitudinally spaced apart apertures and at least two longitudinally spaced apart, transversal openings, so as secure together the ice skate blade holder and the ice skate blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventors: Earl Arthur Dahlo, Alan Larry Dahlo, Errol Dennis Shardelow
  • Patent number: 7243925
    Abstract: A skateboard truck assembly (10) having a main body (11) for mounting to the underside of a skateboard deck, an axle (24) carrying skateboard wheels (25) and mounted intermediate its opposite ends to the main body (11) via a rotatable steering adjustment body (20) for pivotal movement in a steering plane, the steering adjustment body (20) being mounted to the main body (11) for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the body (11) such that a change in the rotational position of the steering adjustment body (20) adjusts the pivot axis of the axle (24) and thus the steering characteristics of the truck assembly (10)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: System Boards Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Benjamin Shane Lukoszek
  • Patent number: 7243926
    Abstract: A sled includes a pair of runners that are formed from a single, continuous, hollow plastic pipe. The runners are fixed to a platform at three locations: the rear ends of the runners curve upward and are attached to the rear end of the seat, while intermediate portions of the runners are attached to downwardly extending legs of the seat. The forward ends of the runners curve upward and support a footrest via retainers. The seat and the footrest are connected together by a rope. The runners are twistable during a steering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Reindeer Sled Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Thomas Jordan
  • Patent number: 7243927
    Abstract: A ski for a snow vehicle includes a snow contacting portion that has a generally horizontal surface and a keel depending therefrom. The keel includes a keel base, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface. The keel base extends laterally from a longitudinal central plane of the ski to a lateral extent. The first inclined surface extends between the keel base and an inflection line that extends longitudinally. The second inclined surface extends between the inflection line and the generally horizontal surface. The inflection line is located no farther laterally from the longitudinal central plane than is the lateral extent of the keel base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kubota Takahiko
  • Patent number: 7243928
    Abstract: A lightweight foldable cart for transporting on wheels one end of a small boat including a pair of identical frame or strut members, each being U-shaped with spaced arms extending parallel to each other from ends of a rear plate. Distal ends of the arms each include an opening for a shaft so that when the shaft extends through the openings joining the distal ends of the arms the frame members can be rotated about the shaft from an extended, deployed position to a folded position for storage. Each rear plate has an opening for an axle, which extends through the openings in the rear plate for supporting rotatable wheels at each end of the axle. A boat supporting bumper is mounted on the distal ends of the arms when the strut members are extended into the deployed position. The bumper is shaped to accommodate a bottom of the end of the boat to be supported and transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew Singer
  • Patent number: 7243929
    Abstract: The utility cart has a first pair of corner posts, a second pair of corners posts, a shelf, a front support bar, a pair of parallel side support bars, and a back support bar, which is particularly suited for supporting a drawstring garment bag for receiving garments being dispatched from a conveyor dryer. For added support and rigidity, the utility cart is also provided with a pair of parallel side support bars, each side support bar extending from a first corner post to a second corner post. For added ease of movement, the utility cart can also be provided with swivel-wheel caster assemblies on each of the four posts. The utility cart and drawstring garment bag can be provided as a kit along with a wedge member and a set of size separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Glen R. Suchecki
  • Patent number: 7243930
    Abstract: An inline skateboard assembly for providing a challenging sport activity includes a generally planar elongated board and multiple rollers coupled inline to an underside of the board. A single or multiple frictional brake members are coupled to the underside of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Wakley
  • Patent number: 7243931
    Abstract: A turning device for a wheel set includes a handle strut and an axle pipe. The handle strut comprises a connecting tube at the bottom. The connecting tube comprises swirl tubes at respective ends. Each swirl tube has restricting members. The axle pipe comprises a receiving base corresponding to the connecting tube. The receiving base comprises lids at respective sides. The lids comprise restricting members corresponding to the restricting members of the swirl tubes. The lids and the receiving base comprise through holes for insertion of fasteners to secure the lids to the receiving base. By means of the restricting members, the receiving base and the swirl tubes may be turned with respect to each other to a limited angle. The restricting members are lugs and troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Far Great Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 7243932
    Abstract: A mounting structure of an automobile stabilizer bar includes a support bracket fixed at one end thereof to a lateral surface of a crossmember. The other end of the support bracket protrudes out toward the side of a vehicle body. At least one bushing is coupled to a stabilizer bar and affixed onto the support bracket. A bushing bracket is formed in an arch shape for enclosing the periphery of the bushing. A stud bolt is attached at one end to each outer surface of the bushing bracket. The other end of the stud bolt penetrates each lateral surface of the support bracket. A pipe member into which the stud bolt penetrates is coupled to each lateral surface of the support bracket. A coupling nut is coupled to one end of the stud bolt after the stud bolt passes through the pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung-Dae Kim, Hyun-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7243933
    Abstract: A suspension system including two lateral arms whose lower arms are disposed at the front and rear of the center of wheels is provided. One end of the two lateral arms is mounted to a cross member while the other end is connected to a carrier assembly. The outer wheels of a turning vehicle automatically form a toe-in according to the movement of a turning vehicle, thus inducing an understeer and improving driving stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyoung-Seung Ham
  • Patent number: 7243934
    Abstract: A knuckle is minimized in size to be located in an internal space of a rear wheel. An upper arm is disposed lower than a conventional double wishbone type and one end of the upper arm is secured to the knuckle. A shock absorber couples at a lower end thereof to the knuckle by passing through a space between a lower arm and assist arm. This configuration thus constructed greatly increases the space of the trunk room, reduces noise by minimizing the transmission of road impact and vibration, and improves ride comfort as well as braking stability and turn stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un-Koo Lee, Sang-Ho Lee, Hyung-Bae Jang, Young-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 7243935
    Abstract: Wheelchair of which a sitting support is pivotable about a virtual or non-virtual pivot axis, extending substantially horizontally, substantially at right angles to a main driving direction of the wheelchair, wherein the upper part of the body of the user, at least its center of gravity, viewed in the main driving direction, lies behind the pivot axis and wherein the pivot axis is located preferably adjacent the hinge point of the knees of a user seated in the wheelchair during use. The sitting support may be freely pivotable about said pivot axis or be fixed at a particular pivot angle. The pivot axis can for instance be designed as a torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ludgerus Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Stefanus Theodorus A. G. Beumer
  • Patent number: 7243936
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle frame includes top and bottom connecting bars respectively pivotally connected between front and rear top tubes of the bicycle, a plurality of springs supported between the top and bottom connecting bars for pushing the top and bottom connecting bars vertically away from each other for allowing the front top tube and the rear top tube to be turned relative to each other between an operative position and a non-operative position, and a locking mechanism controlled by a locking lever to lock the top connecting bar and the bottom connecting bar in a position where the front top tube and the rear top tube aren't movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Kuo-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7243937
    Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus comprises a mounting member structured to be attached to a bicycle, a control unit structured to be mounted to the mounting member and a battery unit structured to be detachably mounted to the control unit above the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7243938
    Abstract: An assistive mobility device is provided that includes an automatic positive locking system, which permits an operator to move the assistive mobility device when an actuator is engaged and automatically lock the assistive mobility device when the actuator is disengaged. The assistive mobility device includes a braking system, stowable footrest and armrests, and an adjustable back, which all require the single-handed operation of the operator to function. The collapsible footrest is stowed under the seat permitting an occupant optimal entry into or exit from the assistive mobility device. The assistive mobility device can be formed from non-corrosive materials, including stainless steel, composite fibers, nylon, and plastics, for use in aquatic environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas Wayne Stamps, Janice Lynn Stamps, Samuel Charles Giesting, Edward Thomas Cooper, III, Daniel Edward Schenk, Jarod Daniel Stoll, Adam Jay Nisley
  • Patent number: 7243939
    Abstract: A folding wheelbarrow includes opposed tubular perimeter frame sections each connected to a support wheel and joined to each other at a point along rearward edges thereof by a hinge pin. Integral handlebar sections extend rearwardly from the frame sections and are connected to handgrips which may be selectively positioned for comfort and use by a human operator. A flexible load carrying container is secured to the frame sections. A single wheel embodiment includes perimeter frame members which may be joined by pivot pins supported on a fork structure or by a hinge connection at a single hinge pin also connected to a wheel fork structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Matthew F. Lowe
  • Patent number: 7243940
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a side airbag device for use in a vehicle, comprising: an inflatable cushion for deployment from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. The inflatable cushion is positioned behind a headliner of the vehicle in an un-inflated state and the inflatable cushion is configured to traverse a side of the vehicle when it is inflated. The inflatable cushion also comprising a deploying edge that defines a portion of a periphery of the inflated cushion, wherein the inflatable cushion is folded in a manner that causes the deploying edge to deploy as a first leading edge as said inflatable cushion is inflated to an expanded state by an inflator wherein the deploying edge is the first portion of the inflatable cushion to expand around the headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Tesch, Edward J. Matlack
  • Patent number: 7243941
    Abstract: An air-bag has a primary gas flow duct leading from a gas generator to one or more zones within the air-bag which are to be inflated. The air-bag has a separate inner gas flow duct mounted within the outer gas flow duct. The inner gas flow duct and the outer gas flow duct have areas thereof secured together in the region that is to be connected to the gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Frédéric Charpentier, David Stow, Altay Kismir, David L. Dominissini, Jamie Rawlings
  • Patent number: 7243942
    Abstract: A switch (60) is provided for disabling an airbag assembly (20) in an automotive vehicle when a sun visor (30) in the vehicle is positioned within a defined deployment area of the airbag assembly. The sun visor is movable in and out of the deployment area during regular use. A switch is adapted for signaling the presence or absence of the sun visor in the deployment area, and accordingly disables or enables the airbag assembly, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Intier Automotive Inc., Link Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Claude Evjen, Jon Theodore Riley
  • Patent number: 7243943
    Abstract: An air-bag arrangement in the form of inflatable curtain (1) has a plurality of inflatable regions (12, 19, 25) spaced from the front of the inflatable curtain to the rear of the inflatable curtain. The rear-most inflatable region (25) is connected by a gas flow passage (23) to the lower-most part of an inflatable chamber (22) forming part of the next forward inflatable region (19) at a point remote from the point where a gas flow duct (8) associated with a gas generator (7) injects gas into that chamber (22). The rear-most inflatable region (25) of the inflatable element does not inflate until after the two forward regions (12, 19) have inflated, and possibly does not open until the region (19) connected to the gas flow passage(23) has been struck by the head of an occupant. An occupant in a rear-most row of seats is normally spaced further from the inflatable curtain than a more forwardly positioned occupant, and thus the rear-most chamber (25) will be inflated before being struck by a rear occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Autoliv Devopment AB, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Henrick Öhrvall, William M. Abramczyk
  • Patent number: 7243944
    Abstract: The activating device (20) for an occupant protection device includes a first deceleration detecting means (22) for detecting a first deceleration G in vehicle front/rear direction and an activation judging means (37) for judging whether the activation of the occupant protection device is necessary or not by comparing the first deceleration G detected by the first deceleration detecting means (22) with a first threshold value. The device further includes a second deceleration detecting means (24, 26) for detecting a deceleration LG, RG at a position further front side of the vehicle than the position detecting the first deceleration, a collision condition detecting means (35) for detecting a vehicle collision condition based on a second threshold value by the deceleration LG and RG and a first threshold changing means (36) for changing the first threshold value of an activation judging means (37) based on the detected result of the collision condition detecting means (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuji Imai, Yujiro Miyata, Motomi Iyoda
  • Patent number: 7243945
    Abstract: Weight sensor for determining the weight of an occupant of a seat including a bladder arranged in a seat portion of the seat and including material or structure in an interior thereof which constrains fluid flow therein and one or more transducers for measuring the pressure of the fluid in the bladder. The material or structure might be open cell foam. The bladder may include one or more chambers, and if more than one chamber is formed, each chamber can be arranged at a different location in the seat portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Jeffrey L. Morin
  • Patent number: 7243946
    Abstract: An inflator includes a housing and a gas source material enclosed in a rupturable container in the housing. The gas source material is adapted to undergo decomposition to form an inflation gas. A reactant material is adapted to react with the gas source material to produce decomposition thereof, and is positioned in a cavity extending between a housing outer wall and an enclosure positioned within the housing. The container and an expandable bladder are positioned in the enclosure. Ignition of a propellant within the bladder generates combustion gases, thereby expanding the bladder. Bladder expansion forces portions of the container into openings formed along the enclosure, thereby stressing and rupturing the portions of the container in the openings and releasing gas source material to flow through the openings into the cavity, where it reacts with the catalyst to produce inflation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Stevens, Graylon K. Williams
  • Patent number: 7243947
    Abstract: A central panel forming a duct of an airbag is operatively coupled to first and second lateral inboard panels and to first and second lateral outboard panels, and the associated inboard and outboard panels are operatively coupled to one another, so as to form first and second air bag cushion portions that are split across a central portion of the air bag and separated by a central gap. The central gap is adapted to provide for mitigating injury to an out of position occupant. The central portion of the air bag may be adapted with sufficient depth so as to provide sufficient restraint for a relatively large occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Bosch
  • Patent number: 7243948
    Abstract: A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint arrangement includes an inner fabric layer (16), a middle fabric layer (20) and an outer fabric layer (18) lying one over another. Each fabric layer (16, 20, 18) has a section in which at least one opening (10, 14, 12) is formed. The overlapping of the sections with the openings (10, 14, 12) form a discharge opening of the gas bag. The section of the middle fabric layer (20) is movable relative to the sections of the inner and outer fabric layers (16, 18) depending on the internal pressure of the gas bag and thereby altering the cross section of the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Bernd Issler
  • Patent number: 7243949
    Abstract: A structural member for use in a vehicle body and frame assembly includes an internal air tank for supplying pressurized air to an auxiliary device, such as an active suspension for the vehicle. The internal air tank may be generally cup-shaped, including a closed end portion, a plurality of side portions, and an outwardly extending flange portion that extends about an open end portion. The flange portion is secured to a first portion of the closed channel structural member to define an air-tight chamber. The chamber is adapted to selectively receive and store a quantity of a pressurized fluid therein, and further to selectively discharge such pressurized fluid to an auxiliary device. An opening can be formed through the structural member to facilitate fluid communication with the chamber. Alternately, the internal air tank may include a flexible bladder defining an air-tight chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Juan F. Valdez, Paul A. Christofaro
  • Patent number: 7243950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable seat belt guide (15) which is constructed of a clamping belt (5) around the back support (6) of a car seat (4) in a vertical way and supplied with a tightening retaining clip (7) for a taut fastening, in which through a cover (8) around the clamping belt (5) a rectangular carabiner or other inventable locking mechanism (10) provided with a lockable opening, preferably a turnable bush (11) is attached, in which the car seat belt (1) is applied through the locking mechanism (10) so that a very comfortable complete car seat belt assembly is created for a pleasant ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Solid Jacqed I BV
    Inventor: Veronique Therese Josephine Marguerite Kooter Lenders
  • Patent number: 7243951
    Abstract: Durable security devices that are resistant to chemical attack and mechanical degradation and security articles employing such devices, are provided. By way of the durable security device of the present invention, opposing longitudinal borders adjacent an information-bearing layer are sealed, thereby preventing corrosive and/or degrading materials from reaching this layer through these sealed borders. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the information-bearing layer is fully encapsulated, thereby rendering this portion or layer and the information conveyed thereby, impervious to chemical attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Technical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Cote, Stephen B. Curdo, Gerald J. Gartner, Daniel G. Leeds, Brian C. Page, Gary R. Wolpert, Timothy T. Crane
  • Patent number: 7243952
    Abstract: An authenticity discriminable printed matter in which a latent image cannot be visually identified under ordinary visible light but appears upon being irradiated with UV rays. A basic image is formed on a base material. The basic image is made of a latent image portion and latent image peripheral portion. The latent image portion and latent image peripheral portion cannot be visually discriminated, and each of them is formed from a set of dots continuously laid out at a predetermined period. The resolution of the dots of the latent image portion is different from that of the dots of the latent image peripheral portion. The latent image portion and latent image peripheral portion have the same percent dot area per unit area and different dot peripheral lengths (contour lengths) per unit area. The latent image portion and latent image peripheral portion are printed by color fluorescent ink, thus obtaining printed matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: National Printing Bureau, Incorporated Administrative Agency
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shimada, Hisashi Okumura, Masato Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 7243953
    Abstract: A coupling apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical coupling main bodies which are concentrically and oppositely arranged to each other and which have the same structure as to each other, liners which are accommodated in the coupling main bodies respectively, and a release preventing structure which can selectively resist a rotational force applied to the coupling main bodies coupled with each other, so that a coupling of the coupling main bodies is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakamura, Akira Horimoto, Kazuyuki Tamada