Patents Issued in August 14, 2007
  • Patent number: 7255317
    Abstract: An adjustable support structure for a panel computer includes: a cradle having a slide slot at a middle section, at least two fastening slots placed at a bottom surface of the slide slot, and at least two pairs of positioning holes separately corresponding to the fastening slots are placed on two side walls of the slide slot. The back end of the support prop is optionally pushed against one of the fastening slots in the cradle; therefore, the cradle, the back support and the support prop which form a triangularly linked structure. The elastic unit can be pressed to drive the two positioning tabs to leave the positioning holes, so that the support prop can slide along the parallel track until the back support is at a desired leaning angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tatung Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Wen-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 7255318
    Abstract: A housing for a motor is described. The housing extends between a pair of endshields and includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one raised projection extending outwardly from at least one of the housing inner and outer surfaces. The projection includes at least one opening extending therethrough and at least one fastener configured to attach to the inner surface and extend outwardly through the housing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thaylen K. Leany, Lynn Edwin Fisher, Marc D. Pape
  • Patent number: 7255319
    Abstract: A square tubular steel frame extends between inner and outer concrete footing form walls and prevents the inner and outer form walls from bowing inwardly and causing an undesirable narrow footing width, or bowing outwardly and causing a form blowout. The steel frame is adjustable in width to accommodate the narrowest to the widest footings. A lower bracket supports the bottom of the form, and is adjustable in height. Each end of the frame is replaceable to accommodate a single form thickness, or to accommodate overlapping forms. The frame is reusable, easy to set up, and simple to take down and move to the next job, and is safe to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Rocchino Albano
  • Patent number: 7255320
    Abstract: A mold, for molding a cylindrical filter having a narrow-pitched mesh structure through resin injection molding, has a cavity divided into sections radially freely attachable/detachable. The sections of the cavity being formed as stacked assemblies bodies each having a number of thin plates, and with edge portions of alternating ones of the thin plates projecting further radially inward than edge portions of interposed alternating ones of the thin plates A core fits in the cavity a defines inside surface of the mesh structure. Air existing between the core and the cavity is externally released from gaps in the stacked thin plates during resin injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Juken Fine Tool Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 7255321
    Abstract: A pinch valve is provided with a main body (10) accommodating a tube body (11), a cylinder body (2) having an upper cylinder portion (17) and a lower handle support portion (3), a piston accommodated in the cylinder portion, a pressing piece (9) fixed to the piston for pressing the tube body, a cylindrical handle (1), a hollow stem (4), and a piston pusher (5, 6). The handle has a female screw portion, and a male screw portion having a pitch larger than the pitch of the female screw portion and adapted to be screwed with the female screw portion formed on the handle support portion. The stem has a male screw portion adapted to be screwed with the female screw portion of the handle on outer periphery, and is accommodated in the cylinder body. The piston pusher is inserted into the stem so that the bottom end surface thereof comes into contact with the top end of the piston and is urged toward the piston by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Asahi Organic Chemicals Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miki Tomioka, Toshihiro Hanada
  • Patent number: 7255322
    Abstract: There is provided a pinch valve system for controlling a fluid flow in a fluid flow path. The pinch valve system has an elastic sleeve member having a pair of outwardly extending elliptical folds on the circumference. The sleeve member is novel because the elliptical folds provide additional axial lengths that match the circumferential extension of the sleeve member when the sleeve member is in a pinched condition, thereby allowing the sleeve member always to be in a stress-free state. The sleeve member is novel because the inner surface is coated with a fluorocarbon material having superior chemical inertness and high operating temperature, thereby providing the elastic sleeve member with a long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventors: John Tiwet, Rebecca Tiwet
  • Patent number: 7255323
    Abstract: A pressure activated valve incorporates arrangements of permanent magnets within the valve housing to establish a pressure threshold at which the valve is either opened or closed. The magnets are mounted relative to one another with opposing polarities; so that the repelling force between the magnets establishes the pressure threshold at which the valve is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Praetorian, Inc.
    Inventor: Mahmood Kadhim
  • Patent number: 7255324
    Abstract: A quarter-turn valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a diaphragm adjacent arranged in said valve body for movement between a closed and opened position for restricting and controlling fluid flow. The valve further includes an input shaft for receiving a torsional input load in a closing direction and a torsional input load in an opposite opening direction. A cam is mounted on the input shaft. The cam transforms input loads to linear output loads that flex the diaphragm between its closed and opened positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Schlude
  • Patent number: 7255325
    Abstract: A sensor assembly which is located within a wall is disclosed. The sensor assembly is typically attached to a unit for automatically flushing a toilet or urinal. The sensor assembly includes a housing, a flange, a fastening means, a face plate, a power source, and a sensor. The housing is located in a hole in a wall and fastened by flange and fastening means. The housing will hold the power source and the sensor, which will be enclosed by the face plate. A key which fits in indentations in the face plate and is used to attach and remove the face plate is disclosed. Finally, a method of installing the sensor assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Technical Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Muderlak
  • Patent number: 7255326
    Abstract: A single-and-continual shot changeover device for a nailing gun includes a trigger shaft positioned in an interior of a trigger body, a trigger inner member pivotally connected with an intermediate fitting stage of the trigger shaft, which also has two slide shaft stages at two sides of the fitting stage for two springs and two press buttons to fitting around respectively. The two press buttons are elastically pushed to shift outward to engage one of two—an upper and a lower—grooves of the two sidewalls of the trigger body. When the two press buttons are pressed inward, the trigger inner member can be shifted up and down to let the press buttons secured at either of the two limit grooves by means of the trigger shaft. Then the trigger inner member is controlled to separate or not from the safety connect rod for changing firing a single shot or continual shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Bentley Fastening Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Wang
  • Patent number: 7255327
    Abstract: Hands free system providing user control and regulation of water flow and temperature mix using “foot actuated” devices. Hands free system is adaptable to pre-existing water faucets and conventional plumbing, enabling full integration of an adjustable foot operated device with conventional hand operated water faucets. The hand free water system includes a control state module for providing a user with BYPASS, ON, OFF, HOT and COLD modes of operation. Hardware can include a sealed chamber body adapted for containing a mixing ball valve and having chamber ports further serving as internal passages to channels adapted to said sealed chamber body for connection to water line tubing. The mixing ball can include delivery and exit ports through which water can enter and exit and is adapted for rotation in relation to the fixed chamber body for selective alignment with said chamber ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Harmon Houghton
  • Patent number: 7255328
    Abstract: A gate valve has a body, the body having a cavity and a flow passage intersecting the cavity. A seat ring is mounted to the body at the intersection of the flow passage and the cavity, the seat ring having an engaging face. A gate in the cavity has an engaging face that slidingly engages the face of the seat ring while being moved between open and closed positions. A polymer coating is on at least one of the faces. The polymer contains a quantity of carbon nanotubes for stiffening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Rick C. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7255329
    Abstract: An improved gate valve has a main body defining a flow passage, and a cylindrical gate member, which has a continuous seal disposed within a groove in the gate surface. The gate is actuated by a valve stem movable through a bonnet connected to the main body, with the longitudinal axis of the stem being offset from the longitudinal axis of the gate. The inner end of the stem is retainingly received in a recessed slot in the gate such that the valve stem can rotate relative to the gate and such that longitudinal movement of the stem will cause corresponding movement of the gate. The offset between the stem and gate axes keeps the gate in the same orientation relative to the gate chamber regardless of the gate's longitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Domino Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Dietmar R. Sedens, Werner Harder
  • Patent number: 7255330
    Abstract: A field adjustable block for use with a bridge crane having a rotating cylindrical drum for rope. The block includes a cylindrical center pin having a key way recess parallel to an axis of the center pin. An inner side plate has an opening therethrough and an extending key receivable in the key way recess to prevent rotation of the inner side plate. Multiple sheaves are receivable over the center pin. At least one toroidal spacer is receivable over the center pin. A lock washer has an inwardly extending key receivable in the key way recess of the center pin and has a plurality of radially extending tabs. A nut has at least one notch to receive one of the extending tabs therein. An outer side plate is removably attached to the inner side plate by fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Crosby Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest E. Lutter, Paul A. Boeckman, Alan C. Doughty
  • Patent number: 7255331
    Abstract: A carburetor assembly includes a base plate (12) having an air bypass passage (30) extending there through, with air channels (71-74) formed in the surface of the base plate intersecting the air bypass passage and each of the butterfly bores (25-28) of the base plate. An adjustable air bypass valve (31) is mounted on the base plate and controls the movement of air through the bypass passage. A valve needle (50) is adjustably mounted to the valve body (48) for adjustably constricting the flow of fluid through the radially extending air inlet ports (60) and through the base plate air bypass passage, to allow for the adjustment of the volume of the air delivered to the engine at idle speed, independently of the movements of the butterfly valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Barry Grant, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry S. Grant
  • Patent number: 7255332
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dissolving a gas into a liquid comprises a saturation tank, a high pressure liquid pump in fluid communication with the tank, and a pressurized gas source in communication with a regulated gas head space of the saturation tank. The saturation tank comprises a pressure vessel for containing the liquid and has a regulated gas head space above the liquid, contains at least one liquid spray nozzle that permits passage of liquid into the pressure vessel, and an outlet for the liquid containing dissolved gas. Upon passing the gas-containing liquid into a second fluid, the gas is released in the form of microbubbles. The microbubbles aid in flocculation of suspended particles and promote dissolution of the gas in the second fluid. Preferred gases for use with the apparatus are oxygen, air, and ozone. Anticipated uses include treatment of rivers, streams, and ponds in natural or industrial settings, as well as smaller scale applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Osborn, Marty D. Matlock, Shandi S. Teltschik
  • Patent number: 7255333
    Abstract: Membrane strip diffusers are disclosed, useful for example in aerating wastewater in activated sludge plants. These diffusers have membranes, diffuser bodies and gas conduits elongated in the same general direction. Such conduits may be attached to or formed integrally with the diffuser bodies. Gas chambers form beneath the membranes when they inflate, and these are separate from but communicate with the gas conduits, e.g., through passageways distributed along the lengths of the membrane supports. Preferably, the passageway flow cross-sections are small, thus tending toward uniform distribution of gas along the membrane's length. Ways to edge- and end-seal the membranes to the diffuser bodies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Casper, Mark A. Schoenenberger, Brad D. Laubenstein, James A. Reilly, Joseph G. Krall
  • Patent number: 7255334
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air suspension piston, with the air suspension piston being tube shaped and being made of aluminium. The air suspension piston is formed by a longitudinal-seam welded tube made from an aluminum alloy, and the tube has been longitudinal-seam welded without any weld metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: VAW Alutubes GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Schulze, Franz Steimmel, Michael Opitz, Frank Wahner
  • Patent number: 7255335
    Abstract: A fluid-filled active damping apparatus having a pressure receiving chamber partially defined by a rubber elastic body connecting a first and second mounting member; an oscillation plate defining a part of the pressure receiving chamber, and supported in a displaceable fashion; an electromagnetic actuator disposed on one side of the oscillation plate remote from the pressure receiving chamber, with its output member connected to the oscillation plate; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible diaphragm; and an orifice passage connecting the pressure receiving chamber and equilibrium chamber. A rigid annular guide member is disposed about the oscillation plate with a slight gap therebetween, such that these members are mutually displaceable in the axial direction. The guide member is elastically supported by and connected to the second mounting member via an elastic support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Muraoka, Atsushi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7255336
    Abstract: A workpiece clamp device comprising a workpiece cradle for placing a workpiece, and endless belts for holding the workpiece down on the workpiece cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Terabe, Daiji Sukawa
  • Patent number: 7255337
    Abstract: A post processing apparatus for processing image-recorded sheets, having: a transporting unit for transporting a booklet comprising a plurality of image-recorded sheets; a trimming section for trimming the booklet; and an oscillating mechanism for oscillating the transporting unit to change a transporting plane angle of the transporting unit; wherein, the oscillating mechanism oscillates the transporting unit to arrange a first transporting plane angle at the time when the transporting unit receives the booklet and a second transporting plane angle at the time when the transporting unit conveys the booklet to the trimming section different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Toshio Shida, Masaaki Uchiyama, Masato Hattori, Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 7255338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing by separation means. In order to avoid mixing of sheet material, it is provided to restrain the singling of separation means and bank notes until release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Wilfer, Alexander Steinkogler
  • Patent number: 7255339
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus with a paper stopper includes a sheet-feeding base having a sheet-placing stand for placing sheets, a roller shell located on the sheet-feeding base having two side walls, a preliminary feeding roller unit and a feeding roller unit contained in the roller shell, a stopper member rotationally attached to the side wall of the roller shell and a follower member rotationally attached to the feeding roller unit and located at the downstream side of the stopper. Before starting a feeding operation, the stopper member is pushed by a sheet in the sheet-feeding base to move forward and presses on the follower member. The follower member would not move any further because the follower member is restricted by an upright wall of the sheet-feeding base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Te Hung, Kuo-Ming Lai
  • Patent number: 7255340
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a sheet stack ejecting apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a sheet stack processing apparatus applicable to ejection of a sheet stack while ejection errors are prevented by reducing disorderliness of ejected sheets of paper. A sheet ejecting apparatus 10 carries and ejects a sheet stack by holding the sheet stack with an ejecting roller pair 10 that consists of a top roller 21 and a bottom roller 22. The sheet ejecting apparatus 10 further includes a motor 24 for shifting the top roller 21 to switch between pressing state and separated state with respect to the ejecting roller pair 15 and a controller 20 for controlling the motor 24. The controller 20 works as ejection means that makes the ejecting roller pair 15 pressing state so as to eject a sheet stack and as separation means that makes the ejecting roller pair 15 separated state before a back end of a sheet stack escapes from nips of the ejecting roller pair 15 by using the motor 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Anezaki, Riichi Hama
  • Patent number: 7255341
    Abstract: In the bill handling apparatus 100, there are provided the bill validating unit 10 which judges whether the bill received from outside is valid or not, the stacker 1 which is detachable with the main unit 2 and receives the bill judged as valid by the bill validating unit 10, the bill feed unit 30 which feeds the bill from the bill validating unit 10 in the length direction of the bill and the bill guide part 4 which temporarily holds the bill discharged from the bill feed unit 30. When the force P is exerted to the press force receiving plate 43, the push-in late 40 is contacted to the bill by the parallel crank mechanism 4P, thereby the bill is moved toward the bill support plate 50, thereafter the bill is stacked in the bill piling part 5 between the partition walls 4A, 4B and the bill support plate 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuei Yoshioka, Jun Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7255342
    Abstract: In a mail processing machine comprising a reception plate for receiving, in the form of a stack of items, the mail items to be printed, a jogging means for jogging this stack of items against a reference wall, a selection means for extracting the mail items to be printed from this stack of items one by one, and a printing means for printing a postal stamp on the selected mail item, an anti-skew device is provided, comprising a plurality of pivoting levers which are each positioned at a defined distance from the reference wall and a first end of which extends through an orifice made in the reception plate, in order to form, above the plate, a removable lateral obstacle for the mail items. These defined distances each correspond to a width of envelope of different format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Gregoire, Alain Multignier, Roman Rackwitz
  • Patent number: 7255343
    Abstract: A media sensing method of a media dispenser is disclosed capable of discriminating various media and accurately discriminating whether a media is normal by using the least sensors. The media sensing method of a media dispenser includes: setting an initial reference range for width and thickness of a media; comparing the initial reference range and a reference range of a currently discharged media; and variably setting a new initial reference range on the basis of the comparison value, thereby discriminating whether media is normal or abnormal. Accordingly, without using an additional sensor, a cost in manufacturing the media dispenser can be reduced, an error caused by various environmental conditions or a deflection taking place in setting sensors can be effectively prevented, a multi-media overlap can be accurately discriminated, and the thickness of discharged multimedia can be precisely measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Young So
  • Patent number: 7255344
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into a second group of cards, wherein the second group of cards is randomly arranged or shuffled. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack for moving cards one at a time into a selected one of the compartments, another card moving mechanism for moving cards from one of the compartments to a second card receiver and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanisms and the elevator. A count of cards within specified areas of the card handling system is maintained and card handling is halted and all cards counted by adding a count of all cards not within the specified areas to the total of cards counted within the specified areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, James Phillip Helgesen, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James Bernard Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7255345
    Abstract: A game or puzzle comprising a plurality of polyomino pieces, each piece having on opposite faces one or more squares, said squares on each said piece and on opposite faces having markings wherein such said markings of said squares in total on both faces of said pieces comprise four or more different markings such that the pieces are capable of being assembled using their obverse faces only into a first set of one pattern comprising squares with the markings of the squares on the obverse faces of the assembled pieces forming a checkerboard pattern of two alternating markings which may be used for playing a checkers or chess type game, and the pieces may be further assembled into a second set of one or more patterns using the reverse faces of some of the pieces and the obverse faces of the remaining pieces, each pattern in the second set comprising squares forming a further checkerboard pattern of four or more markings, one of said markings being in an alternating checkerboard pattern with the remaining marking
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Global on Puzzles Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Thornton Wood, Francis Henry Dyksterhuis
  • Patent number: 7255346
    Abstract: A game method and apparatus includes a substantially circular game board configured to resemble a galaxy. A circular metallic ring borders the game board. A plurality of magnetic lighted game pieces are moved about the board in an attempt to approach a target game piece in the center of the board. If a player's game piece magnetically adheres to another game piece, the player who caused the event loses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel J. Madock
  • Patent number: 7255347
    Abstract: A game includes a board (10) having a start position (30) and at least two possible finish positions (31). A number of sequential positions (35, 36, 37, 38, 39) are located between the start position (30) and the possible finish positions (31). Each player has a playing piece (21) which starts on the start position (30) and a player designating one of the finish positions (31) prior to starting the game. The game finishing when a player's playing piece (21) lands on the designated finish position (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Learning Brain International Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Eng Hiong Clinton Lim
  • Patent number: 7255348
    Abstract: A board game for two to eight people to play. The board game utilizes eight separate colored zones for each player, a pair of dice, four game pieces per player, a circular path with game spaces, and an ultimate goal of each player parking their game pieces on four distinctly defined ending points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Jake Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7255349
    Abstract: A bingo game pattern indicator and game display preferably includes a display surface and a plurality of magnetic pieces. The display surface is fabricated from a magnetic material or magnetic material is applied to the display surface. A pattern indicator is applied to one end of the display surface. The pattern indicator includes a plurality of spaces. A game display is applied to the other end of the display surface. The game display includes several rows of sequential numbers. A number at the beginning of each new row continues sequentially from a number ending the previous row. Magnetic pattern pieces are placed over the spaces in the pattern indicator to form some pattern for a game of bingo. A magnetic numeric piece is placed over each number that has been called during a game of bingo. The display surface is preferably attached to a wall with at least two fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: James Hynes
  • Patent number: 7255350
    Abstract: A dice game is disclosed. A method of playing a dice game is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: William P. Timmons, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7255351
    Abstract: A multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table BLACKJACK-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to standard blackjack or Twenty-One with an additional bonus event present in the play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Yoseloff, R. Brooke Dunn, Philip S. Smith, Roger M. Snow
  • Patent number: 7255352
    Abstract: A brush seal extends between static and rotary components. The brush seal includes a fence on the high pressure side, a bristle pack behind the fence, a bristle pack backing plate and a pressure plate. The backing plate includes a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced arcuate slots arrayed in staggered relation about the brush seal segment. The pressure plate includes radially extending grooves opening toward the backing plate and intersecting each of the slots along that radius to afford a substantially uniform distribution of pressure on the downstream side of the bristle backing plate. In another embodiment, the grooves extend along the downstream faces of the bristle backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture
  • Patent number: 7255353
    Abstract: The seal can be used at high temperature. It is composed of a central flexible graphite core (10) maintained in its shape by two metal cups (12) that do not touch. It is all surrounded by a tight sheath (15) enabling the flexible core (10) to be maintained in a neutral atmosphere such as a partial vacuum or a neutral gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Garlock France SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Caplain, Christian Rouaud, Patrick Le Gallo, Fabienne Le Guyadec, Michel Lefrancois, Jean-Marie Gentzbittel, Richard Levoy
  • Patent number: 7255354
    Abstract: A gas-permeable plug is adapted to be inserted in an insertion hole formed through a part of a casing in an inward-outward direction. The gas-permeable plug has a plug body and a permeable sheet including therein countless minute permeable pores. The plug body is injection molded from a material having rubber-like elasticity and the permeable sheet is integrally bonded to a sheet bonding portion by an anchor operation such that when the plug body is injection molded, at the sheet bonding portion, a part of a heat-melted liquid resin enters the minute permeable pores and/or the permeable gaps in irregular directions by the injection molding pressure and is solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Company Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tamura, Kouichi Hara
  • Patent number: 7255355
    Abstract: A portable collapsible stand includes first, second, and third support frames, a work surface frame, and a telescoping strut pivotably connected to the first and work surface frames. The second frame projects perpendicularly from a lower portion of the first frame. A first end of the third frame is rotatably connected to an upper portion of the first frame such that the third frame pivots from a first parallel position to a second perpendicular position with respect to the first frame. An upper portion of the work surface frame is rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first frame. In operation, the stand can assume a collapsed position in which the first, third and work surface frames are generally parallel, and an operating position in which the third frame and first frame are perpendicular and the work surface frame and surface supporting the stand are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: MK Diamond Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Chisholm, Shawn Tsung, Paulo Carrolo
  • Patent number: 7255356
    Abstract: A skateboard includes a deck with two trucks connected to an underside of the deck and each truck has a case with two axles so that two rollers are rotatably connected to the two axles. Two protection members are connected to the two cases respectively and at least one cushion member is connected between respective one of the protection members and respective one of the cases. A rolling shaft is connected each of the two protection members and includes a mediate section which extends out from an opening of the protection member corresponding thereto so as to provide smooth grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Great Lotus Corporation
    Inventor: Chorng-Jiang Lin
  • Patent number: 7255357
    Abstract: A suspension for, and a method for suspending, a vehicle having a body is provided. The suspension includes a first suspension assembly and a second suspension assembly. The first suspension assembly extends between a first surface contact assembly and the body, and the second suspension assembly extends between a second surface contact assembly and the body. The first and second suspension assemblies each have a transverse instant center. The first suspension assembly and the second suspension assembly are aligned so that a vertical centerline of each surface contact assembly lies within a transverse vertical plane that extends therebetween. The transverse instant center of each suspension assembly is located within the transverse vertical plane, below a roll center located within the transverse vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: NC-M Chassis Systems, LLC
    Inventor: J. Todd Wagner
  • Patent number: 7255358
    Abstract: An air suspension system includes an air tank, an air drier, a compressor, and an air spring, which are sequentially provided in a first line. The air suspension system further includes a second line, a third line, an intake line, and a discharge line, which are connected to the first line. The first line, the second line and the third lines can be switched by a 4-port/2-position solenoid valve, and the first line is selectively connected to the intake line by a 3-port/2-position solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7255359
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle adjusting device, in particular an adjusting device for adjusting the height of the front wheel suspension, the rear wheel suspension, the saddle or of the steering mechanism of a bicycle, e.g. of a mountain bike, a bicycle with at least one bicycle adjustment device, as well as a bicycle-steering head bearing system, whereby the adjustment has at least one double-acting piston-cylinder assembly with a first cylinder space (14a, 34a) and a second cylinder space (15a,35a) in each case, and whereby the two cylinder spaces of the two adjustment devices are interconnectable by means of a fluid duct fitted for that purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Felsl, Stephan Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7255360
    Abstract: A rider support assembly for a bicycle, motorcycle or other multi-wheeled vehicle that utilizes a harness to suspend the rider from a support frame that is attached to a ball-type mounting structure. The support harness includes straps or a sling that is secured to the rider's torso and/or legs. A base section of the support frame includes a connecting structure (e.g., a socket) that is movably connects to and supported by the mounting structure such that the support frame can be pivoted in any direction by the rider during operation. A flexible spine extends upward along the rider's back and is secured to the rider's upper body by the support harness. An optional mounting structure pivots relative to the vehicle to facilitate a relatively stiff spine that supports the rider when sitting upright or leaning back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Patrick T. Bever
  • Patent number: 7255361
    Abstract: A load coupling apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes load linkage members that pivotally suspend the vehicle and load weight below the axles of the vehicle, allowing limited relative displacement of the axles and the load in the direction of vehicle travel. The load is displaced by moving the axles in the desired direction of travel, whereafter the suspended load follows the axles in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the load inertia. The effort required to initiate movement of the load is significantly reduced due to the relative displacement of the axles and the load, and the mechanical advantage afforded by the load linkage members. Once in motion, the load continues to track the axles in the direction of travel, providing continued reduction in motive effort even when the load reaches a constant forward speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Herman R. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7255362
    Abstract: A tiltable trailer hitch for assisting in the loading and unloading of a trailer. The hitch includes a shank adapted to be received within a conventional trailer hitch and a ballmount pivotally mounted on the shank. An adjustment bracket is carried by the shank and is adapted to attach a ballmount. The adjustment bracket defines cooperating pairs of first openings and cooperating pairs of second openings. The second openings are radially spaced apart about a first of the first openings. The first openings are radially spaced apart about a first of the second openings. The ballmount defines first and second openings for cooperatively receiving the first and second ballmount locking pins. The trailer is tilted up or down by moving the first and second ballmount locking pins up and down within the cooperating pairs of first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Lane Smith
  • Patent number: 7255363
    Abstract: An air bag support belt cover structure is suitable for an air bag attached to a motorcycle. A right air bag support belt cover covers the top of a storage space for a support belt connected to an air bag. The belt cover is fixed to the support belt by set plates and squeezed portions each formed by squeezing a boss on the rear face of the belt cover. Therefore, the belt cover does not fly off when the support belt deploys along with the expansion and deployment of the air bag. A plurality of engaging hooks provided in the outer edge of the belt cover come off engaging slots located in the vehicle body at the instant when the tension load of the support belt reaches a predetermined value. The support belt can be fixed to the belt cover by a fitting groove formed on the boss and a collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tandanori Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7255364
    Abstract: An air bag module (20, 20a) comprising: an inflator (300), a first support member (200-200a), a second support member (250, 250a-250d) and a cover (30) for enclosing an air bag (100); the cover includes a plurality of resilient tabs (48), the tabs are situated in a predetermined pattern about a cavity (38) which receives the air bag (100), a formation having a thickened tip is formed on a distal end of each tab, the thickened tip is configured as lock feature (50) which prevents the cover from disengaging from the first and second support members, each tab and associated lock feature is movable from a rest position to a deflected position upon contact with one of the plates; the first and second support members are locatable about each tab and configured to cooperatively define an effective narrow opening which is of smaller dimension than the thick tip, thereby preventing movement of the thick tip through the first and second support members and hence the disengagement of the cover from the first and second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Bonam, Brian C. Ford, Eric J. Baumbach
  • Patent number: 7255365
    Abstract: An air bag module including a canister and a cover coupled to said canister. One of the cover and canister has a projection and the other of the cover and canister has an opening. The projection is disposed in the opening and engages the other of the cover and canister to restrict movement of the cover relative to the canister and create a frictional force acting to resist movement of the cover relative to the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Geyer, Ronald J. Misetich, Darrell A. Kellogg, Michael A. Schorle, Peter L. Vigeant
  • Patent number: 7255366
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for operating a vehicle packages mechanical components and electrical devices normally found in or around the steering column of the vehicle into a single unit. An on-board processor accepts signals from the electrical devices, which may include a steering sensor, an acceleration pedal sensor, a brake pedal sensor, a turn signal switch, a cruise control switch, a windshield wiper switch, etc. The on-board processor connects to a vehicle communications bus to communicate data received from the electrical devices to various systems throughout the vehicle. The on-board processor also receives data from the various systems. The steering column assembly also includes a display connected to the on-board processor. The operator receives information about the operation of the vehicle from the display. All components, including the on-board processor, are operatively connected to a column support, allowing the steering column assembly to be installed as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Davis, Richard K. Riefe, Frederick J. Berg, Paul E. Balius, Ronald H. Dybalski