Patents Issued in January 22, 2008
  • Patent number: 7320171
    Abstract: A fuse component (1) includes a hollow body (2) which is formed from a tubular wall that encloses an inner area (5) and which has two open faces that are situated opposite one another. The fuse component also includes a fuse-element (4) which extends inside the inner area (5) between both faces of the hollow body (2) and two contact caps (3) each provided with a bottom (7) and lateral walls (8) connected thereto. Two end section (10) of a conductor of the fuse-element (4) are led out of the inner area (5) through the faces and around the wall of the hollow body (2). The end sections (10) of the conductor of the fuse element (4) are fastened by an adhesive bond (11) so that the surfaces abutting the inner area (5) are essentially free from organic materials. The end sections (10) of the conductor are preferably fastened to a conductive plastic that, in turn, fastens the contact caps (3) to the outer wall (9) of the hollow body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Wickmann-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: André Jöllenbeck, Frank Althoff, Karin Koch, Ute Lehnhardt
  • Patent number: 7320172
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning inserts in a rotating receptacle. The apparatus includes a magazine for holding a plurality of inserts. An insertion arm is provided for positioning inserts within the receptacle. The insertion arm has a first end and a second end, wherein the second end comprises an insert receiving structure. A first linear actuation device moves the insertion arm between a first linear position and a second linear position. In the first linear position, the insert receiving structure picks an insert from the magazine. A second linear actuation device is connected to the insert receiving structure. When the insertion arm is in the second position, the second linear actuation device causes the insert receiving structure to rotate from about 0° to about 90° to position the insert within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy America Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7320173
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a multi-layer printed circuit board can include forming an etching resist layer on a first metal layer having plating grooves that selectively expose the first metal layer, forming a plated layer at the surface of the first metal layer exposed by the plating groove through a plating process to form connection protrusion, removing the etching resist layer, forming an insulation layer at the first metal layer and positioning a second metal layer at the surface of the insulation layer coupled to an end portion of the connection protrusion. By forming the connection protrusion through the plating process, a loss of material can be reduced and a strength of the connection protrusion can be increased. Further, a complexity of the fabrication process is reduced to reduce costs and increase productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Gue Lee, Jung-Ho Hwang, Joon-Wook Han, Sang-Min Lee, Tae-Sik Eo, Yu-Seock Yang
  • Patent number: 7320174
    Abstract: Methods for creating a ground path between a stainless steel suspension and a copper trace layer in an integrated lead assembly of a disk drive suspension. The invention prevents electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage by providing a means for grounding a lead to a controlled ground potential. Although the lead and suspension are generally separated by an insulating layer such as a polymide layer, connection between the lead and suspension can be made by, for example, creating an opening in the insulation layer and depositing a conductive material such an electrically conductive glue, solder or some other material through the opening to connect the two electrically conductive layers. A rivet may also be used to connect the two electrically conductive layers through a through hole that extends through both electrically conductive layers and the electrically insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Cowles, A. David Erpelding
  • Patent number: 7320175
    Abstract: The invention provides a production process of a gas turbine capable of being applied to various cycles. A principal part of a gas turbine is set in advance based on roughly set conditions, and the number of stages of a compressor and the number of stages of a turbine, which can provide conditions suitable for a desired cycle, are set based on the set principal part. The compressor and the turbine each having the set number of stages and included in the principal part are combined with each other to construct the gas turbine. When the set number of stages of the compressor or the turbine differs among a plurality of desired cycles, a substantially disk-shaped member having an outer periphery, which forms an inner peripheral wall of a substantially annular flow passage of the compressor or the turbine, is assembled into the cycle having a smaller number of stages so that the bearing-to-bearing distance is kept constant in the gas turbine operated in the plurality of desired cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Koganezawa, Takanori Shibata, Nobuhiro Seiki, Shinya Marushima, Shinichi Higuchi, Nobuaki Kizuka, Ryou Akiyama, Masami Noda
  • Patent number: 7320176
    Abstract: An assembly device includes: a push-in unit provided in a vertically movable tool base to push a ceramic catalyst carrier together with a support mat into a recession of a shaping die; a first and second pressing units for pressing both end portions of the mat from side faces to curve them along an arc-shaped upper surface of the carrier; pressure rollers provided at the both pressing units to press the both end portions toward the carrier; a tape presser in the push-in unit for pressing an adhesive tape to an upper surfaces of engagement portions of the depression and projection in a gap formed between the both rollers and operating with the push-in unit in pushing the carrier and mat into the recession of the shaping die; and a push-up unit provided on a bottom of the recession to push up the carrier and mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sugiyama, Isao Kato
  • Patent number: 7320177
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a radiator, the blade of a carving tool is applied at a specific angle to the surface of a metal plate with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity, the carving tool is advanced while the angle is maintained, and the surface of the metal plate is carved out to form plate-shaped heat-radiating fins vertically upward. A radiator is manufactured in which a plurality of heat-radiating fins are integrally formed vertically upward at a specific pitch from a single metal plate by repeating a step in which the carving tool is retracted at a specific pitch, the metal plate is carved out, and a heat-radiating fin is formed. A radiator that has high radiation efficiency and is highly safe during handling can be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nakamura Seisakusho Kabushikigaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 7320178
    Abstract: A standoff for a cold plate and a cold plate using the standoff are characterized by a coil pack consisting of a plurality of individual fluid conveying tubes formed into a coil pack having a desired configuration and held in place by a plurality of retaining wires. The standoffs are slidably attached to the retaining wires and each comprises an elongate body that is triangular in cross-section, has a bottom end, an apex end opposite from the bottom end and a longitudinal bore toward the bottom end and through which a retaining wire extends. The standoffs are made of aluminum and are of sufficient size to maintain their structural integrity during a casting process in which the coil pack is placed in a mold and molten aluminum is poured around the coil pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kirby, Jose L. Rodriguez, Miguel Angel Herrera Bucio
  • Patent number: 7320179
    Abstract: A method in which a bore-hole is drilled through an insulating panel into a substructure, a dowel having cutting devices at the circumference of the lower side of the pressing plate and an expansion element are inserted into the bore-hole, and the expansion element is driven into the pressing plate and the dowel sleeve. The pressing plate is pulled into the insulating panel under compression of the insulating panel which is simultaneously cut at the circumference of the pressing plate. A method also drills through the insulating panel into the substructure, cuts a circle with at least the radius R into the insulating panel by cutting devices, with the dowel and the expansion element inserted into the bore-hole. The expansion element is driven into the pressing plate and the dowel sleeve, and simultaneously the pressing plate is pulled into the insulating panel under compression of the insulating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: EJOT GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Tiemann, Erhard Hackler, Ulrich Knebel
  • Patent number: 7320180
    Abstract: A rigid first loop is rigidly mounted to the first end of at least one of a pair of nail clipper mandibles. A rigid second loop is rigidly mounted to the distal end of the nail clipper operating lever. The first and second loops lie in substantially parallel, adjacent planes, when the operating lever is in either its deployed position or its storage position. The loops are nested side-by-side when the operating lever is folded-down into the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon Lane Phillips, Peter Wayne Dixon
  • Patent number: 7320181
    Abstract: A masonry guiding tool for attachment to a backing wall, comprising a base member for attachment to the backing wall and an elbowed plumb line holder. The plumb line holder comprises an elongated mounting portion defining a first axis therealong, the mounting portion being movably carried by the base member and axially movable relative thereto along the first axis which is destined to be parallel to the backing wall. The plumb line holder also comprises an elongated plumb line support portion transversally connected to the mounting portion, the elongated plumb line support portion defining and extending along a second axis transversal to the first axis, the plumb line support portion for movably holding a plumb line. The guiding tool allows the plumb line to be movable along the first axis by axially moving the mounting portion relative to the base member, and along the second axis of the plumb line support portion by moving the plumb line along the plumb line support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Charpenter Design Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Charpentier
  • Patent number: 7320182
    Abstract: A dehumidifying hanger includes a hanger frame having perforations formed therein, and a dehumidifying perforated crossbar formed as a hollow tube or pipe and transversely hung under the hanger frame, having desiccant or dehydrating agent filled in the perforated crossbar for absorbing moisture carried or existing in the clothes for drying the clothes in situ in the hanger, without requiring any costly electric drying apparatus or equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Tsang-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 7320183
    Abstract: The invention provides a honeycomb formed structure drying method including causing undried honeycomb formed structures 10 placed on stands 12 to pass through a drying apparatus 1, thereby drying the undried honeycomb formed structures through high-frequency heating, to thereby form dried honeycomb formed structures 11; removing the dried honeycomb formed structures 11 from the stands 12; cooling the stands 12 which have been heated dried in the drying apparatus 1 are cooled to a temperature lower than the gelation temperature of the undried honeycomb formed structures 10; placing newly formed undried honeycomb formed structures 10 on the cooled stands 12; drying the undried honeycomb formed structures by passing through the drying apparatus 1; and repeating these operations. The honeycomb formed structure drying method prevents deformation such as warpage of partition walls of honeycomb formed structures during drying thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Ishii, Yuji Asai, Makoto Nakajo
  • Patent number: 7320184
    Abstract: Systems and methods useful for treating a fabric article with a composition comprising polyol-based fabric care materials and a dispersing medium. The dispersing medium is a liquid at room temperature and has a flash point of greater than about 65° C. Specifically, the composition may be dispensed to treat fabric articles in an appliance during the fabric article drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Shulin Larry Zhang, Trace Wendell de Guzman Trajano, Kofi Ofosu-Asante, Joseph Dean Heatherly, Freddy Arthur Barnabas, Jamie Marie Childers, Cynthia Maria Bedell, Dean Larry DuVal, Joia Kirin Spooner-Wyman
  • Patent number: 7320185
    Abstract: A drive device for a household appliance, in which an electromotor is fixed by a fixing screw. An insulation layer of a material with a defined conductivity is located between the fixing screw and the electromotor. The fixing screw is tightened with a defined torque such that, due to the resultant defined contact pressure, a defined resistance for discharging electrostatic charges from the electromotor is obtained. This simultaneously ensures the suppression of leakage currents. A method for mounting an electric motor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraeta GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Heyder, Jörg Skrippek
  • Patent number: 7320186
    Abstract: A door for a household appliance comprising a door body having a cylindrical portal with a ridge extending radially inwardly from an end of the portal. The door body includes multiple receptacles disposed adjacent the portal and spaced around the portal. A rear glass piece is at least partially disposed within the portal and includes a flange extending around an outer edge of the rear glass. A view guide is at least partially disposed within the portal and includes a cylindrical portion having a lead edge and multiple hooks extending back from the lead edge with a barb disposed near an end of each hook. The hooks engage corresponding receptacles to connect the view guide to the door body and retain the rear glass within the door body. The flange of the rear glass is disposed between the ridge and the lead edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventor: Oliver Schöne
  • Patent number: 7320187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for blowing a fluid onto at least one face of a thin element of the band type, comprising, within a containment (2) having a horizontal longitudinal axis (XX?) corresponding to the axis of travel of the band, at least one radial-flow fan (3) with a vertical axis (ZZ?), having at least one outlet connected to at least one pipe (51, 52) for feeding nozzles (43) directed towards the said face, characterized in that the nozzles (43) induce fluid jets in at least one plane perpendicular to the direction (XX?) of travel of the said band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Seva
    Inventors: Georges Bancon, Jean-Jacques Bris, Francois Bonnamour
  • Patent number: 7320188
    Abstract: A sandal for receiving a foot of a wearer, the foot having a heel and a forefoot including toes. The sandal includes an upper, a midsole assembly and an outsole component. The midsole assembly includes a main body and a support component that may include a slightly curved forefoot plate positioned at least partially adjacent to a bottom surface of the main body. When fitted with the curved forefoot plate, the sandal is capable of facilitating a rolling action in the direction of a stride of the wearer. The upper may form a sandal strap system, with an inner or fixed strap layer and an outer or adjustment strap layer. The outer or adjustment strap layer can be used to adjust the sandal upper so the foot of the wearer can be secured to the sandal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Crocs, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Bathum
  • Patent number: 7320189
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wraparound lacing system for use in all manner of footwear. The lacing system includes a lace which encircles the upper and midsole of the article of footwear in a spiral, helical, coiled or similar wound wraparound pattern. The upper includes finger members which independently adjust to the contours of the wearer's foot while providing a snug and secure fit. The upper and midsole are integrally formed as a unitary structure. The housing of the upper and the midsole includes channels therein which receive the wraparound lace. The lace can be affixed at one or both ends to the midsole or to the upper. Removable lace end keepers on the upper permit the user to adjust the length of the lace. Siping and/or elongated, raised ridge members may be positioned along the bottom surface of the outsole for enhanced traction on wet surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Timberland Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Clark, Stephen D. Opie, Martin Keen
  • Patent number: 7320190
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a shell (10) and preferably also a leg piece (20), and features, at least at some portions thereof that do not include the sole (15), a composite structure formed of two layers (30, 40; 30A, 40A) that are made of preferably synthetic materials having different mechanical properties. At least the interfacing surface (34, 34A) of the layer (30) made of mechanically stronger materials is provided with protruding elements (36) that remain inseparably adhering to the interfacing surface (42, 42A) of the other layer (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tecnica SpA
    Inventor: Giorgio Grandin
  • Patent number: 7320191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe (1), in particular a ski shoe (2), consisting of a shoe bottom part (3) comprising a sole (4) and a shell part (5) with a cuff part (7) pivotably connected to the shoe bottom part (3), and a lock mechanism (16) incorporating at least one locking means (17) displaceable between the shell part (5) and the cuff part (7), as well as an actuator drive (29) for the locking means (17). The actuator drive (29) is conductively connected to an energy store and/or an energy source (42) disposed in the shoe bottom part (3) or in the cuff part (7) and a switch means (44) is connected upstream of the actuator drive (29) to supply the actuator drive (29) with power from the energy source (42) and/or the energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ATOMIC Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Trinkaus, Helmut Holzer
  • Patent number: 7320192
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving particulate matter includes a body having a drive mechanism that operatively connects a motor to a shaft of a paddle assembly. A drive housing is disposed on the body and houses the drive mechanism. A cavity having a first side, a second side, and at least a partial semi-circular cross-sectional shape is disposed in the body, and the paddle assembly includes the shaft and a plurality of paddles disposed therefrom. Each paddle includes a bottom wall that is sized and shaped to extend along a width of the paddle in a substantially planar manner between the first side wall and the second side wall of the cavity, and a distal end that travels along the semi-circular cross-sectional shape of the cavity during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventors: Barry Algren, Michael Asher
  • Patent number: 7320193
    Abstract: A structure for supporting a sign board is disclosed. The structure includes: a post clamp having a pair of arched clamping bands which are hingedly coupled and joined to each other by a fastening element, at least one clamping band having a pillar; a hanger having a socket pipe joined to the pillar of the post clamp, a support bar inserted into the socket pipe and joined by a fastening element, the support bar having an axial coupling groove; at least one connector having a first coupling plate with a coupling bulge adapted to be fitted into the coupling groove of the support bar and with a first arched hinge holder, and a second coupling plate coupled to the first coupling plate having a second arched hinge holder; and a sign board having a coupling bulge and a guide slot through which the hinge holders of the connector pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hanyang Frame Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7320194
    Abstract: A plurality of identification bracelets removably attached to one another, each bracelet having a first end which includes a cover tab and a second end defining a closure tab having an adhesive portion. The cover tab of a second bracelet removably overlies the adhesive portion of a closure tab of an adjacent first identification bracelet. Upon separating the first and second bracelets, the adhesive portion of the first bracelet is exposed and the cover tab remains with the second bracelet as it is removed. The adhesive portion of the closure tab of the first bracelet, is adhered to a surface of the identification bracelet as it is moved from an open position to a closed position encircling an object to be identified. The bracelets may be connected end-to-end to form an elongated strip or along elongated side edges to form a sheet of identification bracelets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Precision Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Sherif M. Ali, Dean D. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7320195
    Abstract: The specification discloses a picture display device comprising a pair of transparent plates interconnected and supported for viewing by a single integral fastener. The fastener is able to integrally engage a variety of optional embellishing elements to be chosen and added by the end user. The frame is of knockdown construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Roy Kushner
  • Patent number: 7320196
    Abstract: A tubular fishing rod holder capable of being used from a portable ice fishing shelter, a bucket, a boat, or a lawn chair. The fishing rod holder having a rearward mounting end, and a forward holding end, wherein the holding end is of sufficient length and diameter to accommodate the handle portion of, for example, ice fishing, spinning, and jigging rods. The rearward mounting end portion comprises upper and lower mounting slots, communicating the rearward end with upper and lower apertures, which a portion of the upper and lower apertures are shaped to form upper and lower locking grooves, allowing the fishing rod holder to be removably mounted to a bucket, and a vertical or angled support in a cantilevered arrangement, positioning a fishing rod within easy reach of a fisherman.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Keith William Diederichs
  • Patent number: 7320197
    Abstract: A floating garden device for displaying and watering at least one living plant as the garden floats on a body of water. The device is composed of a buoyant body and at least one plant mounting recess attached to the buoyant body. The recess is comprised of a sidewall and a bottom. The bottom is positioned in a non-horizontal orientation, generally forming an angle between five degrees and forty-five degrees. The recess is located such that only a portion of the bottom is in fluid communication with the water, thus not submerging the entire bottom. The garden device may have at least one fluid passageway extending through the mounting recess bottom such that the water may fill the submerged portion of the mounting recess, or it may have a wicking device attached to the recess bottom such that the wicking device extends into the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Brian Meyer
  • Patent number: 7320198
    Abstract: An integrated gas strut actuator assembly particularly adapted for providing power actuation of a motor vehicle lift gate or other opening closure. The assembly integrates the function of a counterbalancing gas spring and that of a electrically powered actuator. The integrated gas strut assembly includes a gas charged cylinder, internal plunger and a threaded rod. Rotation of the threaded rod through a cable drive system causes the internal plunger to be advanced or retracted within the cylinder. Other features of the invention are various embodiments of couplers between the plunger and rod and connectors for connecting the assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis William Berklich, Jr., Jose Maria Garcia, Gregory Alan Miller, Bradley William Semp, Charles Leroy Hazel
  • Patent number: 7320199
    Abstract: A seal structure for a vehicle, which includes a door member and a seal member attached thereto. The seal member includes a horizontally extending upper seal lip which comes into elastic contact with a peripheral part of an opening provided on a vehicle body, and a vertically extending side seal lip which comes into elastic contact with another peripheral part of the opening. The upper seal lip and side seal lip are connected to each other by die forming, thus forming a connected portion thereof. The upper seal lip and side seal lip have, on a side of the connected portion to be proximate to the vehicle body when the door member is closed, a seal sheet member covering the connected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ueda, Koso Deguchi
  • Patent number: 7320200
    Abstract: A land use-efficient multiplex housing structure (10) is provided having a central housing unit (12) of generally cruciform plan configuration, with a plurality (preferably four) of peripheral dwelling units (14,16,18,20) interconnected with and spaced about the central unit (12). Each peripheral unit (14,16,18,20) preferably has a generally quadrate primary dwelling area (96,134,172,212) and an associated elongated extension section (84,124,162,202) which extends toward and is interconnected with a respective wall portion of central dwelling unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Richard S. Eisner
  • Patent number: 7320201
    Abstract: A kit for forming a hollow block assembly to be used to construct a wall, the kit consisting of two face panels and a plurality of fasteners, each face panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart flanges extending perpendicularly from and attached to each panel so that a hollow block structure is assembled when the flanges of the face panels are connected together, directly or indirectly, by the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Snap Block Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Kitchen, Duane Priddy, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7320202
    Abstract: An apparatus for picking, conveying, stacking and bundling lumber pieces from the ground for example for removing stacked support lumber during laying of a pipe line comprises a tracked vehicle to which is attached a frame carrying a transport conveyer along the side of the vehicle forwardly and downwardly toward the ground. At the forward picking end is provided a picker roller for lifting the lumber pieces from the ground. On one side of the picker roller is provided a drive conveyer which is generally vertical and operable in forward and reverse direction to orient the pieces. On the side opposite to the drive conveyers provided a vertical blade with a rearwardly inclined inner portion which blade can pivot inwardly to push the lumber pieces toward the drive conveyer and to enclose and squeeze the pieces to a position inward of the side of the conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventors: James A. McLeod, Murray Pisony
  • Patent number: 7320203
    Abstract: In a method for packaging articles, a tubular blank is conveyed in flat folded configuration to an erecting station to be engaged and rotated by suction cups. The raised blank assumes a parallelepiped shape with a vertical axis, while a striker hit a lateral wall of the blank, so that the blank is erected in a box. While the box is being moved, first and second lower flaps are then folded before the blank is set resting on a support plane and moved, by driving and guiding conveyors, to a filling station for insertion of articles, supplied along a vertical direction, into the box. Lastly, the box with the articles therein is moved by the driving and guiding conveyors to subsequent stations for folding lower lateral flaps and upper flaps to close bottom and cover of the so obtained box. A machine is provided for carrying out the method, with an erecting station and a filling station joined by a horizontal support plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 7320204
    Abstract: There are disclosed by a process and apparatus for positioning and sealing photostimuable phosphor imaging plates within barriers envelope blanks therefore and formed on a roll thereof wherein a barrier envelope blank including a U-shaped heat sealed portion thereof of such roll is indexed to a positioning station whereat the barrier envelope blank is caused to be opened at a free end thereof thereby permitting insertion of a restored imaging plate into such barrier envelope whereupon the barrier envelope including restored imaging plate is indexed to a station whereat heat sealing of the free end of the U-shaped heat sealed is effected to thereby enclose the restored imaging plate therein and thereafter the thus heat sealed barrier envelope is indexed to a product station for removal from the roll of barrier envelope blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Air Techniques, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Alzner, Henry Hubner, Yehuda Rosenstock, John Sylvester
  • Patent number: 7320205
    Abstract: An assembly line for manufacturing filter canisters is disclosed. The method for assembling filter canisters provides a unique serial number for each canister and a database that associates the component lot numbers, activated charcoal weight, and quality assurance test results with the serial number for the filter canister. The manufacturing method can be adapted for assembly of canisters with activated charcoal and an aerosol HEPA filter, canisters with activated charcoal only, and canisters with an aerosol HEPA filter only. Some embodiments can also enable different testing conditions and specifications, activated charcoal loading requirements, labeling specifications, and packaging requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: TVI Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Cooper, Stephen Kubicsko, Greg A. Tilley
  • Patent number: 7320206
    Abstract: For processing flat objects (10), in particular for packing printed products or small groups thereof, using a continuous packing material, the objects are conveyed in a conveying stream in which they are arranged in succession and essentially parallel to the conveying direction, and possibly between two layers of packing material, along a part of the periphery of a processing drum (1). The processing drum (1) has axially extending support elements (2) and tool elements (3) regularly alternating around its periphery. A radial position of the supporting and tool elements is adjustable, to accommodate varying formats of the objects to be processed. The processing drum also includes a pressing belt (4) extending from an entry point (A) to an exit point (B) on the drum periphery and holding and pressing the objects being conveyed on the drum periphery against the tool elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger
  • Patent number: 7320207
    Abstract: A horse rug provides one or more flex control extender inserts for animal accessories permitting the accessory to flex with the animal while conforming to the animal. In a horse rug or blanket, stable blanket, turnout cover or other named horse cover, the flex control extenders may be used along the neck opening at the withers and or at the shoulders or any suitable combination. A horse rug according to the present disclosure may be suitable for use in rugs or blankets with or without neck hoods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Yan Chi Kwan
  • Patent number: 7320208
    Abstract: An automatic end of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine which is initiated responsive to the machine ceasing harvesting at the end of a crop row, as represented by a condition such as raising a picker drum of the machine from a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position. Steps of the sequence can include ceasing operation of augers of compactor apparatus located in the cotton receiver are turned off, and moving the compactor apparatus downwardly within a cotton receiver of the machine and against cotton accumulated in the lower region of the receiver, one or more times, for further and better compacting the cotton. Then, when the machine is aligned with a new swath or row and a condition such as the picker unit being lowered to the harvesting position, normal operation of the compactor apparatus can be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Covington, Tracy R. Archer, Timothy A. Meeks, Dwight D. Lemke
  • Patent number: 7320209
    Abstract: An automatic end of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine which is initiated responsive to the machine ceasing harvesting at the end of a crop row, as represented by a condition such as raising a picker drum of the machine from a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position. Steps of the sequence can include ceasing operation of augers of compactor apparatus located in the cotton receiver are turned off, and moving the compactor apparatus downwardly within a cotton receiver of the machine and against cotton accumulated in the lower region of the receiver, one or more times, for further and better compacting the cotton. Then, when the machine is aligned with a new swath or row and a condition such as the picker unit being lowered to the harvesting position, normal operation of the compactor apparatus can be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Covington, Tracy R. Archer, Timothy A. Meeks, Dwight D. Lemke
  • Patent number: 7320210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use with a fruit-bearing tree, the device being adapted to be mounted to a tree trunk and when mounted the device includes; a catching means which in use has an upper perimeter and an aperture through which a tree trunk passes; a support means having a collar attachable around the tree trunk, a support ring and at least two support members, wherein the support ring is mounted to the catching means at a location spaced inwardly from the upper perimeter, the collar is located above the catching means and the support members extend between the collar and the support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Straatmans Holding Company Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Tim Straatmans
  • Patent number: 7320211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a press of pressure cell type, which comprises a press chamber in which a diaphragm device is arranged. The diaphragm device includes a diaphragm which together with a press plate forms a pressure cell and is adapted to exert a forming pressure on a workpiece in the press chamber. The edge area of the diaphragm is placed in an annular diaphragm support. The press of pressure cell type also comprises actuating means which are adapted to actively exert a force on the diaphragm support in the direction of the press plate, the diaphragm support pressing the edge area of the diaphragm against the press plate so that an initial seal is provided between the diaphragm at its edge area and the press plate, which seal is built up when supplying pressure medium to the pressure cell by expansion of the diaphragm. The invention also relates to a diaphragm device, a method for applying a pressing power and a method for exchanging a diaphragm in a press of pressure cell type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL) Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Keijo Hellgren
  • Patent number: 7320212
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine, a fuel inlet tube comprising a body, a channel defined in the body and in fluid communication with a manifold, and a side inlet in fluid communication with the channel, such that fuel entering the side inlet is delivered to the manifold through the channel with a pressure generally directed along a radial axis of the body. Also, a fuel inlet tube comprising a heat shield surrounding at least part of a body, a chamber defined between the heat shield and the body and in fluid communication with fuel leak sources, a drain channel defined in the body in fluid communication with the chamber, and a drain hole defined in the body in fluid communication with the drain channel, such that a leak produces fuel received in the chamber and safely directed through the channel and the hole to allow detection of the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jason Araan Fish, Bryan Olver, Vittorio Bruno
  • Patent number: 7320213
    Abstract: A system for ranking combustion chambers in a gas turbine in order of chamber combustion temperature including: at least one fuel nozzle supplying fuel to the combustion chambers at a predetermined fuel rate abnormally near a lean blow out (LBO) condition of the chambers; at least one dynamic pressure sensor in each chamber sensing combustion dynamic pressures in said combustion chambers and generating dynamic pressure signals representative of the dynamic pressure in each of said combustion chambers, wherein the dynamic pressure signals provide information regarding the dynamic pressure at a plurality of frequencies; a signal band pass filter segmenting the signals into a plurality of predefined frequency bands comprising a lean blow out (LBO) precursor frequency band, a cold tone frequency band and a hot tone frequency band; a processor determining a value for each chamber representative of amplitudes of the signals in each of LBO precursor frequency band, the cold tone frequency band and the hot tone frequ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Minesh Ashok Shah, Ajai Singh, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Derrick Simons
  • Patent number: 7320214
    Abstract: Whether discharge of high-concentration, unburned fuel is indicated or not is determined based on air-fuel ratio AF, calculated air-fuel ratio AFc and exhaust temperature thco (S110, S112, S114). If it is determined that high-concentration, unburned fuel would be discharged (“no” in any of S110, S112, S114), amount of fuel addition per one addition is decreased in PM regeneration control (S116). Therefore, in a state where high concentration HC is to be discharged to the downstream of an exhaust purifying filter, the amount of fuel addition at one time is immediately decreased, so that discharge of high-concentration HC to the outside can be prevented, and generation of white smoke can reliably be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Kanazawa, Tatsumasa Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7320215
    Abstract: The system for assisting the regeneration of depollution means (4) associated with oxidation catalyst-forming means (3) integrated in an exhaust line (2) of a motor vehicle diesel engine (1) in which the engine (1) is associated with common manifold means (5) for feeding fuel to its cylinders, the system being adapted implement, at constant torque, a strategy of regeneration by injecting fuel into the cylinders of the engine in at least one post-injection, is characterized in that it includes means (7, 8, 9) for detecting a stage in which the vehicle engine is idling or in which the accelerator pedal is being raised, and means (6) for analyzing the activity state of the catalyst-forming means (3) in order to control the common fuel-feed manifold means (5) in order to regulate the quantity of fuel injected during the or each post-injection as a function of the activity state of the catalyst-forming means (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Peugeot Ciitroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7320216
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a hydraulic system. The system includes a first source of pressurized fluid and at least one fluid actuator. The system also includes a first valve disposed between the first source and the at least one fluid actuator being configured to selectively communicate pressurized fluid from the first source to a source of low pressure. The system further includes a controller configured to determine a first amount of displacement of the first valve, determine a second amount of displacement of the first valve, and modify the first amount of displacement as a function of the second amount of displacement when a first pressure is less than or equal to a pressure of pressurized fluid acting on the at least one fluid actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd
    Inventors: Michael T. VerKuilen, Aleksandar M. Egelja
  • Patent number: 7320217
    Abstract: Disclosed is a load controller for use in a hydrostatic transmission for a work vehicle. Power supplied from an engine is branched to drive an implement system and a traveling system. The hydrostatic transmission connects, in an oil-hydraulic closed circuit, an oil-hydraulic pump driven by the engine and an oil-hydraulic motor driven by the oil-hydraulic pump. The load controller includes a bypass oil line for bypassing an oil line that has high pressure during forward movement in the oil-hydraulic closed circuit to reach an oil line that has low pressure during forward movement or an oil tank; a first opening/closing valve for opening or closing the bypass oil line; and an opening/closing valve controller that detects a load applied to the engine while traveling during working and opens the first opening/closing valve when the load exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Shigenori Sakikawa, Kazuhiko Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7320218
    Abstract: A heat engine enclosing a chamber in housing has two zones maintained at different temperatures. The first zone receives heat energy from an external power source. The second zone is connected to the hot zone by two conduits, such that a fluid (e.g., air, water, or any other gas or liquid) filling the chamber can circulate between the two zones. The expansion of the fluid in the hot zone and the compression of the fluid in the cold zone drive the rotation of the housing to provide a power output. The fluid may be pressurized to enhance efficiency. A cooling fluid provided in a stationary reservoir maintains a preferred operating temperature difference between the hot zone and the cold zone. A heat storage structure containing a fluid with a high heat capacity may be provided as a heat reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventors: Guy Silver, Juinerong Wu
  • Patent number: 7320219
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine using model based control, the engine including a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) driven in response to a VGT command signal and/or an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve driven in response to an EGR valve command signal to recirculate exhaust to an engine intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Min Sun
  • Patent number: 7320220
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The valve arrangement may have a housing at least partially defining a venturi passageway, a first port disposed at an entrance to the venturi passageway, and a second port disposed at a throat of the venturi passageway. The valve arrangement may further have a valve element disposed within the housing to regulate the flow of fluid through the housing, and a sensor mounted to the housing in communication with the first and second ports. The valve arrangement may also have a controller mounted to the housing in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to affect movement of the valve element in response to input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Conway Atkinson