Patents Issued in December 11, 2007
  • Patent number: 7305739
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening a crimped multifilament tow comprising: a source of crimped multifilament tow; at least one pair of opposed gripping rollers comprising a first roller which is a metal roller and a second roller which is a smooth-surfaced roller made of a material selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane or silicone rubber; where the multifilament tow passes between and in contact with both of the rollers and filaments of the tow are separated from one another and opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Celanese Acetate, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph D. Gombash, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7305740
    Abstract: A self-locking clamp (1, 1?) is described, which comprises a body (9) formed by a profile bent so as to have a substantially cylindrical shape and provided with a first end (6) and a second end (2), substantially overlapping each other in the region of the opening (10) substantially longitudinal, and screwable, the longitudinal opening (10) being substantially adjacent the second end (2), the second end (2) having at least one locking element (4), the second end (2) being substantially concurrent to the plane defined by the body in the region substantially adjacent to the second end (2) and comprising a second locking recess-shaped element (7), located in a region (5) substantially adjacent to the first end (6), the second locking element (7) being inserted into the plane defined by this region (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Progeral Industria De Artefatos Plasticos LTDA.
    Inventor: Antonio Carlos Pina
  • Patent number: 7305741
    Abstract: A binder clip, having a structure that removably binds several sheets of documents rotating and pressing hinged pressing levers that function to open or close the mouth of a clip body, thereby binding the documents prior to keeping them in a desired place, is disclosed. The binder clip has a clip body. A coupling guide, formed as a U-shaped frame body, is placed outside each of upper and lower surfaces of the clip body, with a locking projection provided at each end of the U-shaped coupling guide in order to be seated in the pocket. A pair of hinge holes is formed on opposite positions of the inner surface of the coupling guide. A plate-type pressing lever is formed as a plate-shaped body having a hinge hole so that the pressing lever is hinged to the hinge holes of the coupling guide using a hinge pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Yeong-Gi Joe
  • Patent number: 7305742
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recloseable bag, the bag having a mouth and including a closure at the mouth, the closure having a first end and a second end. The recloseable bag also includes a first crushed section at the first end of the closure, the closure further including an intact portion. It also includes a first transition area between the first crushed section and the intact portion, and a sealing material in the first transition area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: CTI Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Brent Anderson
  • Patent number: 7305743
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic compound expressed by a basic formula of Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)aZrxTiyO3 (where 0.90<a+x+y<1.00) is provided. The starting materials for the piezoelectric ceramic compound are calcined. The calcined material is milled to provide powder. A formed body containing the powder is provided. The formed body is degreased at a temperature having the formed body not sintered. A sintered body is provided by sintering the degreased body. The sintered body is heated to subject the sintered body to predetermined heat treatment. The sintered body subjected to the predetermined heat treatment is polarized to provide the sintered body with a piezoelectric property, thus providing a piezoelectric ceramic device. This piezoelectric ceramic composition can be sintered together with an electrode consisting mainly of Ag at a low temperature. Even after the sintering, the composition has its insulation resistance not decrease and has its piezoelectric properties not decline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okuda, Yasushi Goto, Seiichi Minami, Hiroki Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 7305744
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a power transmission belt/belt sleeve with first and second shafts around which a belt/belt sleeve preform is trained. The belt/belt sleeve preform is guided and driven in an endless path around the shaft. A cutter bears against the belt/belt sleeve preform to bias cut side surfaces thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Hara, Akihiro Nagata, Yoshihiro Kanayama, Eisuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7305745
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the tool selecting operation of a turret according to the contents of a machining program in a turret tool rest allowing a rotating tool to be fitted thereto, including a step (101) for determining whether the rotating tool is contained in various types of tools fitted to the turret, a step (102) for, when the rotating tool is contained, selecting whether the phase of the rotating motion of the rotating tool fitted to the turret is adjusted to be identical in each time the rotating tool is disposed at an indexing position, a step (103) for, when the phase of the rotating motion of the rotating tool is adjusted to be identical, performing a “less than one rotation control” in which the cumulative sum of the turning indexing motion of the turret in a same turning direction is less than one rotation, and a step (104) for, when the rotating tool is not contained in the fitted tools or the adjustment of the phase of the rotating motion is not performed even if the rotating tool is contained
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Shibui
  • Patent number: 7305746
    Abstract: A system is disclosed to use a first rotary milling head to break or cut the bond of a heat transfer fin base to a boiler tube, thereby removing the heat transfer fins from the boiler tube, and a second rotary milling head to bevel the exposed end of the boiler tube, thereby facilitating the more efficient repair of the boiler tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Esco Tool
    Inventor: James Moruzzi
  • Patent number: 7305747
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence to cut threads progressively deeper into a substrate. The present invention provides a method of aligning and orienting each progressive tap to begin its cut at the same initial starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph W. Hughes, Jr., Troy F. Walters
  • Patent number: 7305748
    Abstract: An automated floor assembly machine is provided for attaching longitudinally aligned floor boards to transverse positioned cross-members of a wheeled trailer. The machine comprises a carriage for longitudinal movement relative to the floor boards, a drill mounted on the carriage so that the drill is vertically and laterally movable with respect to the carriage, a fastener driver mounted on the carriage so that the fastener driver is vertically and laterally movable with respect to the carriage, a sensor operably mounted to the carriage so that the transverse mounted cross-members are detectable by the sensor, a drive motor in communication with the carriage for moving the carriage longitudinally along the floor boards into alignment with the cross-members, and a control system having a processor in operative communication with the carriage, the drill, the fastener driver, the sensor, and the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Great Dane Limited Partnership c/o CC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Sprague, P. Alan Whiten, R. Wayne Achtziger
  • Patent number: 7305749
    Abstract: A wire terminal crimper is comprised of a frame, a crimping bolt, an anvil, a detent pin and a wire guide. The frame has an anvil bore, a threaded bolt opening and a detent pin opening. The bolt is screwed into the bolt opening. In use, the bolt is tightened upon a wire terminal to crimp the terminal to a wire. The anvil fits within the anvil bore and contains wire terminal seats for holding a terminal in place during crimping. The anvil has a channel containing detent notches for aligning the wire terminal seat with the bolt. The detent pin projects within the anvil channel to align the wire terminal seat with the bolt and to secure the anvil within the frame. The wire guide is comprised of a wire support and the clamp. It maintains the position of the wire terminal and wire during the crimping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: James M. Kramer
  • Patent number: 7305750
    Abstract: A loudspeaker and method of assembly according to this invention provides for precise alignment between the frame and motor structure before they are connected to one another, and employs a fixture to form the moving assembly of the speaker, i.e. the voice coil, upper and lower suspensions and diaphragm, outside of the frame so that concentric tolerance stack-up is minimized. The moving assembly, once formed, is mounted as a unit to the frame and motor structure to facilitate assembly and repair of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: JL Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio Proni
  • Patent number: 7305751
    Abstract: An electrical connection set-up for manufacturing an ignition coil is provided, which includes, on the side of the low-voltage outlet, a contact spring which is installed by being lifted over corresponding secondary windings without touching them and which then snaps into place due to spring-like form or support, while elements provided on the contact spring break through an insulating layer surrounding the secondary winding, thus establishing the electrical connection without the use of thermal methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Lerchenmueller, Konstantin Lindenthal, Thomas Breckle, Juergen Raedler
  • Patent number: 7305752
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an inductive coil having inner and outer winding portions formed from one or more metal sheets. The method includes wrapping a fiber strand around an outer surface of the inner winding portion, positioning the outer winding portion around the inner winding portion, and electrically coupling the inner winding portion to the outer winding portion to form an electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: ThinGap Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Graham, Gerald W. Yankie
  • Patent number: 7305753
    Abstract: A first magnetic layer is formed on a first magnetic layer formation surface, and then a first material layer-forming layer is deposited on the first magnetic layer formation surface and on the sides and the top of the first magnetic layer and is etched to form first material layers so that the width dimension of each first material layer in the track width direction gradually decreases in the upward direction. Then, a second material layer is formed over the first material layer formation surface, the first material layers, and the first magnetic layer. Then, the first material layers, the second material layer, and the first magnetic layer are polished to expose the upper surface of the first magnetic layer and form the upper surfaces of the second material layer and the first magnetic layer as the same planarized surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7305754
    Abstract: In manufacturing a chip resistor by dividing a chip resistance substrate which includes an insulator, resistance film formed on a surface of the insulator, and a plurality of conductive strips disposed on the resistance film at fixed intervals, grooves are formed by removing a predetermined width of the resistance film including at least second prescribed severing lines. After forming the grooves, the chip resistance substrate is severed in longitudinal and lateral directions along first prescribed severing lines for dividing the conductive strips into two parts and the second prescribed severing lines perpendicular to the first prescribed severing lines so as to produce discrete chip resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Sekiya, Toshiaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7305755
    Abstract: A hydraulic processing tong for processing workpieces, with a tool, has a first tool part with an axially movable press ram or plunger, which with a first end or a tool located there and an opposing workpiece assembly forms a work area or work gap and with the first end can move toward and away from the workpiece assembly, and with a hydraulic actuating device for applying a force to the press ram, causing it to move in the direction of the workpiece assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Heiko Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7305756
    Abstract: The invention is related to a tube extracting device for compressing a tube end extended from a conventional drum of a boiler to remove the tube. The device includes a housing comprised of an outer clamping plate and an inner clamping plate pivotally connected by a pin. A grip for receiving the tube extends down from the housing. A hydraulically-powered ram moves the outer clamping plate relative to the inner clamping plate so that the grip closes around and compresses the tube. The power to the hydraulic ram is then shut, springs return the outer clamping plate and the inner clamping plate to their original position, which, in turn opens the grip so that the removed tube can be released from the device. The device is then lifted by a handle and the tube is removed from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Barcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Regan
  • Patent number: 7305757
    Abstract: A die ejector system and method for removing a die from an adhesive surface. The system includes an ejector tool that is operative to move relative to the die whereby to push the die. The ejector tool may consist of a collet holder and an ejector pin array. A shaft holds the ejector tool and is in turn coupled to a forcer of a linear motor. The forcer is movable relative to a stator of the linear motor flexure bearings coupled to the shaft guide movement of the ejector tool relative to the die. After the die is pushed by the ejector tool, a die pick-up device removes the die from the adhesive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Ajit Gaunekar, Gary Peter Widdowson, Gang Ou
  • Patent number: 7305758
    Abstract: A terminal crimping device is used to manufacture an electric wire with terminal by crimping a terminal fitting onto an end portion of an electric wire. This device includes: an electric wire holding portion to hold the end portion of the electric wire at a predetermined crimping position; a terminal crimping portion to crimp the terminal fitting onto the end portion of the electric wire at the crimping position; and a crimping portion moving mechanism to move the terminal crimping portion along a crimping portion moving direction. The terminal crimping portion is provided to be movable with respect to the end portion of the electric wire held at the crimping position by the electric wire holding portion along the crimping portion moving direction that intersects with a direction along which the end portion of the electric wire extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: J. S. T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Kurooka, Junji Onishi, Shigeo Minomura, Masataka Nishiura
  • Patent number: 7305759
    Abstract: In order to improve a device for the manufacture of a shaft assembly for a hydrodynamic bearing by pressing a shaft into a fit bore in a bearing disk, comprising a first pressing tool and a further pressing tool, in such a way that enables high accuracy to be achieved when the shaft is pressed into the bearing disk, with the lowest possible cost and effort in setting up the press, it is proposed that a shaft receiving portion which receives and guides the shaft aligned exactly to a central axis is associated with the first pressing tool, that a bearing disk receiving portion which receives and guides the bearing disk with a flat surface aligned exactly perpendicular to an axis is associated with the first pressing tool, and that for the pressfitting process, the first pressing tool acts on the shaft or the bearing disk by means of a first pressing element and a second pressing tool acts on the bearing disk or the shaft by means of a second pressing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Carsten Etling
  • Patent number: 7305760
    Abstract: Power supplied to an information handling system electronic component through a circuit board has component package inductance parasitic effects compensated by configuring connections to the electronic component to have increased parasitic capacitance. For instance, power and ground vias that connect a processor to power and ground planes of the circuit board are aligned to create a desired parasitic capacitance that reduces the impact of parasitic inductance relating to signal compensation, power delivery and high speed decoupling. The desired distributed capacitance is modeled by altering the radius associated with the equivalent line charge of the power via, the distance associated with the line charges between power and ground vias, and the via barrel length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Abeye Teshome, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7305761
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wiring substrate includes the steps of: (a) forming a ground layer precursor having reactive groups including nitrogen atoms in first and second areas of a substrate; (b) irradiating light energy to remove the reactive groups from the ground layer precursor to thereby form a ground layer charged in cathode; (c) patterning a cationic surface-active agent of anode to be left on the first area of the substrate with the ground layer as a ground; (d) providing a catalyst at the surface-active agent; and (e) forming a wiring along the first area of the substrate by precipitating a metal layer to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kimura, Hidemichi Furihata
  • Patent number: 7305762
    Abstract: An improved method for production of a rotor (10) of a centrifugal compressor, wherein the rotor (10) is produced from a monolithic disc; this disc is worked in a radial direction by at least one tool (20) of a numerical control machine, such as to remove shavings, so as to produce radial cavities (12) in the rotor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paolo Mola
  • Patent number: 7305763
    Abstract: A cylinder head (10) for an internal combustion engine has hydroformed port liners (18) positioned within selected ports, either exhaust and/or intake ports (14, 16). The hydroformed port liner (18) includes an air gap (24) for an insulation layer within the selected port (14, 16) between an outer surface (19) of the hydroformed port liner (18) and the wall of the port (14, 16). A cylinder head (12) with a predetermined port configuration has selected ports (14, 16) cast with protrusions (22). The selected ports (14,16) have a larger diameter than a standard size port diameter for that cylinder head to provide a predetermined port configuration by a preset amount based on the thickness of the hydroformed port liner (18) and a desired air gap (22). Protrusions (22) in the wall of the selected ports (14, 16) or on the insert sleeves (17) facilitate formation of the air gap during the hydroforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: David Gerard Genise, Suzanne M. Zampaloni, Andrew P. Harman, Michael A. Zampaloni, Farhang Pourboghrat
  • Patent number: 7305764
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording head has a plate-shaped member including a first layer with a partition wall formed by a first etching process and defining a pressure chamber, an ink inlet passage and a common ink storage chamber, a second layer with a land formed by a second etching process so as to correspond to the pressure chamber, and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the first and the second layers. The recording head also has a pressure producing device disposed with its extremity in contact with the land, and a nozzle plate with a nozzle hole bonded to the front surface of the plate-shaped member. An ink particle is jetted through the nozzle hole when the pressure in the pressure chamber is changed by the pressure producing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 7305765
    Abstract: Respective constituent members of a wheel bearing unit 5 are assembled and also a cover 74 is fixed to an inner end portion of an outer ring 6. The wheel bearing unit 5 is fitted to a turning machine 38 in a state that a space in which an encoder 72 is provided is sealed tightly from an outside by fitting a stop plug 96 into an insertion hole 84 provided in the cover 74. A top end portion of a rotating shaft 40 of a turning machine 38 is engaged with an engaged concave portion 102 provided to a hub 8a. A turning process is applied to an outer side surface of a rotary flange 13 while turning the hub 8a around the outer ring 6 by the rotating shaft 40, and thus the outer side surface is processed in predetermined shape and dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Mitsue, Junshi Sakamoto, Yuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7305766
    Abstract: A method for constructing a bus, wherein a module associated with the front end of the bus is separately constructed and assembled to the shell after interior components of the bus have been installed. The shell of the bus can be fabricated at a first work station. The shell can be made transversely or laterally with respect to the longitudinal access of the bus to one or more work stations. At the subsequent work stations, interior components of the bus can be moved through the open ends of the bus. After the majority of the interior components have been installed with respect to the bus, the module supporting the windshield and bumper can be installed with respect to the shell. The module can also support the dashboard and steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Timmermans
  • Patent number: 7305767
    Abstract: A system is provided for securing a rotating member with respect to a non-rotating member. A hollow member, such as a mounting hub or an inner ring of a bearing assembly, includes an extension having an annular outer groove. One or more tapered sleeves serve to lock the hollow member about a mechanical component, such as a shaft. A nut engageable on a sleeve includes an eccentric front aperture adjacent to a concentric groove, thereby forming a lip of varying depth The system is engaged by rotation of the nut on the sleeve in one direction, and disassembled by counterrotation of the nut such that a portion of the varying depth lip co-acts with a lip formed by a groove on an outer sleeve or on the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald L. Nisley, James E. Mickelson, Roman M. Wajda
  • Patent number: 7305768
    Abstract: A hand tool—typically embodied as a knife—incorporates a blade or implement lock mechanism for securely locking the implement such as a blade in the open position. The lock mechanism locks the blade in the open position and allows it to be released so that the blade may be folded back into the closed position. The locking mechanism incorporates a safety mechanism that prevents the blade engaging lock from becoming unintentionally disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mentor Group, LLC
    Inventor: Rick Hinderer
  • Patent number: 7305769
    Abstract: An out-the-front automatic knife incorporates dual locking and release mechanisms that define a three-point blade-handle interconnection between the blade and the handle when the blade is locked in the open position. A single trigger is operable to automatically open the knife, and to automatically close the knife. Separate firing and retraction springs may be provided with different spring strength to vary the speed and strength of the blade moving to the open position, and to the closed position. Blade guide systems cause the blade to travel longitudinally and linearly. The handle substantially encloses the blade and incorporates an access port to facilitate cleaning and maintenance of components housed in the handle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mentor Group, LLC
    Inventors: William McHenry, Steven Ingram
  • Patent number: 7305770
    Abstract: A utility knife has a blade carriage having a blade-receiving bay and moveable relative to the knife's housing to move a cutting blade disposed in the bay from a retracted position to a deployed position. A locking mechanism is operative to releasably couple the cutting blade to the carriage and may include a lock plate having an blade-engagement element and moveable by non-pivoting, generally vertical displacement between a locked position and an unlocked position. An actuator engages the locking mechanism and moves the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position. The actuator may directly contact an underside of a protrusion of the locking mechanism, may be moveably mounted on the sidewall to which the bay opens toward, may be prevented from being moved as far when the actuator is not aligned with the locking mechanism, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Cooper Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Critelli, Stephen E. Donelson
  • Patent number: 7305771
    Abstract: A rotation sensor comprising a Y-shaped strip and a conducting strip is disposed in a digital imaging device. The conducting strip is disposed below the Y-shaped strip. The Y-shaped strip has two sensing arms and a fixed arm. A metal piece is disposed on each of the two sensing arms. When the sensing arm hangs down due to the weight of the metal piece to touch the conducting strip, the Y-shaped strip and the conducting strip will form a closed circuit and send out a signal. Whether the digital imaging device is rotated is determined based on this signal. Whether the device body is horizontal or vertical can thus be accurately and quickly determined. Moreover, because the detection is accomplished through gentle deformation or rotation of the sensing arms, there will be no noise during the detection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 7305772
    Abstract: A system for monitoring inclination of a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the system comprises a clinometer in communication with a computer. The clinometer is configured to measure at least one inclination angle of the vehicle and send an electrical signal representing the at least one inclination angle to the computer. The computer is configured to transform the signal back into the at least one inclination angle and present a graphical display. The graphical display comprises at least one representation of the vehicle which rotates in real-time as the at least one inclination angle changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Becky L. Clark, Tina L. Ricco, Christopher W. Fay
  • Patent number: 7305773
    Abstract: A hand tool of a substantially hexagonal shape to facilitate a variety of tasks, such as pipefitting, is provided wherein the tool includes two 90-degree internal angles formed by the intersection of the sides of the tool. At least one slot is provided along and in the perimeter of the tool. Planar or geometric tools are selectively secured within the at least one slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Rudy Hios
  • Patent number: 7305774
    Abstract: A tool is provided for sizing a gap between adjacent deck boards or other objects. The tool includes a primary element of elongate rigid form and a secondary element affixed to the primary element. The secondary element is adapted to be placed within a gap to be sized. The secondary element has a cross-section which exhibits a greater thickness in a first direction than in a second direction. This tool is used in a gap sizing method, typically with multiple similar tools, where the tool is first oriented with a greater thickness aligned with adjacent objects on each side of the gap. The tool is then rotated about a long axis of the secondary element to exhibit lesser thickness and facilitate easy removal of the tool from the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Frank Whaley
  • Patent number: 7305775
    Abstract: Clothes drying machine comprising a rotating drum, an exhaust conduit into which flows the air issuing from the outlet aperture of the drum, a lint filter formed in the shape of a sector of a cylindrical surface, which is arranged in said exhaust conduit below said outlet aperture of the drum, with the axis thereof extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, in which there are provided automatic means adapted to ensure cleaning of said filter through a brushing action; said automatic means comprise a brush connected to an end portion of a moving arm, which is hinged, on the other end portion thereof opposite to said brush, on to a rotation pin, said moving arm being slidably linked with a driving pin which is rotating, by means of a respective rotation arm, about a driving spindle that is driven rotatably about its own axis by automatic driving devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Flavio Noviello
  • Patent number: 7305776
    Abstract: A unitary flexible metatarsal guard is disclosed which extends to cover a toe protector in a safety shoe or boot. The metatarsal guard of the present invention acts to transfer and disperse impact forces from the region of impact to a broader region, including the metatarsal and toe regions, thereby distributing the force over a greater surface area. The metatarsal guard of the present invention allows a full range of motion of the foot and conforms to natural crouching, walking, and running movements is designed so as to prevent any pinching, cutting, or other irritation of the wearer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Mark Hess
  • Patent number: 7305777
    Abstract: A snow throwing machine including a housing, an engine, an impeller and an auger for collecting snow and directing it to the impeller. The auger including an auger shaft disposed transversely in the housing and drivable by the engine, and a plurality of flytes mounted on the auger shaft. Each flyte includes a hub and a plurality of fins and is mounted on the auger shaft with a shear pin extending through the hub and auger shaft. The flytes are configured such that an outer peripheral edge of adjacent flytes forms a helix around the auger shaft directing snow toward the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Travis Kettering, Roy G. Pullum
  • Patent number: 7305778
    Abstract: A self-propelled working machine has a pair of transporting parts, a working part, an engine for driving at least the working part, and a main switch for turning the engine on and off. A locomotion preparation switch produces a command for moving the transporting parts when turned on and produces a stop command for stopping movement of the transporting parts when turned off. A locomotion speed setting member orders a target locomotion speed of the transporting parts. A work switch switches the working part on and off. A control part stops the engine when a first condition that the main switch is on, a second condition that the locomotion preparation switch is off, a third condition that the transporting parts have stopped moving and the target locomotion speed ordered by the locomotion speed setting member is zero, and a fourth condition that the work switch is off, are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Norikazu Shimizu, Toshiaki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7305779
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft that has proximal and distal end portions. The shaft includes spaced grip covers conjoined about an outer surface thereof and is provided with a centrally registered sleeve formed therein. An arcuately shaped plow section is affixed to the distal end portion and includes a heel support that has an arcuately shaped top surface for assisting to maintain the plow section registered along a horizontal plane. The plow section further includes fastening members spaced along the bottom edge for removing the bottom edge to be sharpened or replaced. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for pivoting the plow section between alternate radial paths during operating conditions. A mechanism is included for automatically biasing the plow section to an equilibrium position after the plow section is biased to a pivoted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Richard A. Purvis
  • Patent number: 7305780
    Abstract: Pressing iron composed of a soleplate fixed to a heating body, wherein the soleplate has a pattern of at least 200 steam outlet holes each having a passage cross section smaller than 4 mm2, with spacings of less than 10 mm between hole centers, and wherein the pattern of steam outlet holes is interrupted by an imperforate band having a width greater than 10 mm, which band extends over the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Andrea Lukas, Matthias Hahn, Michel Forest
  • Patent number: 7305781
    Abstract: A weatherproof gravesite picture frame assembly displays photographs, letters, cards, and other flat memorabilia at a gravesite. The assembly has a planar frame, an elongated stake, and an elastomeric collar. The frame has an inner recess for receiving a picture, a slot opening in its top surface for inserting and removing the picture, and a shallow channel along its perimeter. The collar has front and rear flanges and a raised wall that runs along its inner surface and mates with the channel of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Holly L. Mowry
  • Patent number: 7305782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pet tag holder, namely a device for holding a pet tag on a pet collar. The pet tag holder comprises a planar, inverted “U-shaped” mounting member, for connection to a pet collar, and the mounting member further has two downwardly positioned extension arms in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the mounting member. One of the arms further comprises a post supported on a first mounting member and the other arm comprises a snap fit receptacle for the post on a second mounting member. One arm is fixed in space and the other arm is hinged to permit opening and closing of the post and receptacle. One or more pet tags can be held on the post, and secured to the tag holder when the post is engaged with the snap fit receptacle, the opening of the hinged arm also permits easy movement of the tag holder from one pet collar to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Sandra A. Olsen
  • Patent number: 7305783
    Abstract: A lenticular fireplace and methods for simulating a fire within a fireplace. In one respect, a fire is simulated with a lenticular screen. The lenticular screen includes a lenticular lens layer and an image layer, wherein the image layer comprises one or more images of a fire. A device is coupled to the lenticular screen that moves the lenticular screen to alter a viewed image of the fire. In another respect, the lenticular screen is disposed within a fireplace enclosure. In another respect, a fireplace includes a convertible heated glass apparatus. The apparatus is used in a front wall of an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Devin Eugene Mix, David Charles Lyons
  • Patent number: 7305784
    Abstract: An index tab adapter, suitable for retrofitting an existing file folder for use with a particular index tab style. The adapter has adhesive portions, located on either side of a non-adhesive portion. The non-adhesive portion is slotted and is spaced apart from the file folder. The slots are shaped to engage a particular style of index tab, so that when a given index tab is inserted into the slots in the adapter, the given index tab becomes attached to the file folder, and the file folder may be identified by the given index tab as if it were originally configured to accept the style of the given index tab. Put another way, an index tab removably engages slots in the adapter, rather than slots in the file folder itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven Charles Black
  • Patent number: 7305785
    Abstract: A shadow box scrapbook page adapted to hold and secure three-dimensional objects for storage and display. The page includes a binder portion having openings to receive standard rings or posts common to binders, and a frame device, having a front, back and side, top and bottom sections, defining a cavity. The front is generally transparent for the viewing of the stored objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: David R. Sharp
  • Patent number: 7305786
    Abstract: A centerfire autoloading pistol including a loaded chamber indicator to identify the presence of a cartridge loaded in the firing chamber. The pistol may generally include a housing having an external surface and defining a chamber to receive a cartridge, a barrel unit disposed at least partially in the housing, and an indicating element having two ends. In one embodiment, the indicating element may be pivotally mounted to the housing proximate to one of the ends. The indicating element is displaceable in response to contact by the cartridge from a first position which may in one embodiment correspond to an absence of a cartridge loaded in the chamber, to a second position which may in one embodiment correspond to a presence of a cartridge loaded in the chamber. A biasing member, such as a spring, may be provided for biasing the indicating element towards the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
    Inventor: James McGarry
  • Patent number: 7305787
    Abstract: A system and method provide immediate monitoring of a physiological function, such as ECG, of a subject before, during, or after application of an electric shock intended to temporarily incapacitate the subject. The electric shock may be delivered via at least one electrode ballistically implanted into the subject's skin. Systems and methods may further include performing time domain and/or frequency domain analysis of the results of monitoring, recording results of monitoring and/or analysis, and preventing follow-on shocks, or altering energy characterizing parameters of follow-on electric shocks so as to lessen the risk of injury to the subject, such as cardiac malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: TASER International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Stratbucker
  • Patent number: 7305788
    Abstract: A noise generation device is taught which is used in conjunction with a shotgun generating a blast which has a) at least one chamber for receiving the blast from the barrel; b) a connecting bolts for joining the one chamber to the barrel; c) at least one exhaust port for venting the blast from the barrel; d) a channeling ramp for directing the blast towards the vent, and a blade and drive for pushing the device through a wall. It also includes various noise and blast generators which may be used to supplement the initial blast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: John McLain