Patents Issued in February 19, 2008
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Patent number: 7331617Abstract: A lock for a cabinet of the type wherein a door of the cabinet is movable through a frame of the cabinet is provided. An exemplary lock of the present invention includes a first and second restraining member connected by a rod and rotatable around an axis of rotation between a first position wherein a cabinet member is trapped between the restraining members and the door can not move through the frame and a second position wherein the door is freely movable through the frame. The lock optionally includes a mounting member having a rod-retaining section and optionally one or more rotation locks and/or one or more rotation restraints. The restraining members are optionally sized and shaped to facilitate rotation between the first and second position while accommodating different sizes and specifications of cabinet types. The lock optionally includes one or more strengthening members and end extensions angled on one or both ends of the rod.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventor: Brian D. Johnson
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Patent number: 7331618Abstract: An outside door handle includes a handle and a switching component which is coupled to the handle in such a manner that, when there is an opening force which acts in a correct manner on the handle in order to open it, the switching component automatically responds and generates a switching signal. Operating convenience may be achieved by a response threshold of the switching component selected to be at such a low level that the switching component responds even before the opening force overcomes a restoring force counteracting it and prestressing the handle into an unactuated starting position.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Juergen Jooss, Rudi Koelle, Martin Lindmayer
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Patent number: 7331619Abstract: A latch-spring assembly has a handle with prongs extending from a finger-grip portion. One prong has a circumferential groove. A leaf spring has an anchor portion for attachment to a subassembly wall and a spring portion flexibly coupled to the anchor portion. The spring portion has a latching tab extending from one side and cylindrical portions. The prongs pass through openings in the subassembly wall to enter the cylindrical portions. One cylindrical portion has a compressible region, which is compressed within the groove of the one prong to secure the handle to the leaf spring. The latching tab extends through an opening in the sidewall when the leaf spring is attached to a subassembly sidewall. When the subassembly enters an enclosure, the latching tab engages a latch-receiving mechanism in the enclosure. Deflecting the handle laterally disengages the latching tab from the latch-receiving mechanism, thus releasing the subassembly from the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: EMC CorporationInventor: Jeffrey M. Lewis
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Patent number: 7331620Abstract: A shovel has a main handle, a blade member, a pivot base and an auxiliary handle. The blade member is mounted at an end of the main handle, the pivot base is pivoted on the main handle adjacent to the blade member and the auxiliary handle is pivoted on the pivot member. The main handle is rotatable independently relative to the pivot base. A user operates the shovel of the present invention by holding the main handle and the auxiliary handle and need only to turn the hand holding the main handle to tip the blade member for throwing the shoveled objects off.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventor: Kuang Pin Wang
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Patent number: 7331621Abstract: A dump box including a pair of opposing side walls joined to a bottom and a back; and a cable, including front ties, at least one front connector, at least one front cable, each front tie being sized and configured to selectively secure to the connector, the front cable being joined to the connector, the connector and front tie being secured when the front cable is taut and the connector and front tie being disengaged when the front cable is slack and a method of lowering material from an elevated location, including the steps of raising a dump box to an elevated location using cable joined to a crane; lowering the dump box onto the elevate location; placing material into the dump box; moving a connector to a front tie of the dump box; applying tension to the cable joining the dump box to the crane to secure the connector and front tie; raising the dump box off the elevated location; lowering the dump box onto a dumping location thereby releasing the connector from the front tie; and partially raising the dumType: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Alltech Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Jeremy Johnson
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Patent number: 7331622Abstract: A carrier is provided for use with containers including handles. The container carrier comprises a flexible platform having a perimeter, a longitudinal axis, and an opening, with a portion of the platform at least partially defining the opening and adjacent the closest side of the perimeter of the platform so as to form a handle including a strap. The strap is located such that the longitudinal axis of the platform transverses the strap. Recessed portions are located in the perimeter of the platform, and the recessed portions are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the platform that transverses the strap. Each recess portion receives a container handle of the adjacent containers. The opening is sized so as to receive at least one of a user's fingers for lifting and transporting the containers.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Roberts Polypro, Inc.Inventor: James H. Sewell
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Patent number: 7331623Abstract: A removable canoe transporting rack carries two canoes on the bed of a pickup truck with an upper canoe positioned over a lower canoe. A first rack having a first horizontal member mounts in the front stake wells of the pickup truck. A second rack having a second horizontal member mounts in the rear stake wells. A third rack having an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member includes an engagement bar insertable into a hitch mount of the pickup truck. The lower canoe is supported by the bed of the pickup truck and the lower horizontal member of the third rack. The upper canoe is supported by the first horizontal member, the second horizontal member and the upper horizontal member of the third rack.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: K & J OutdoorsInventors: James O. Wall, Kyle W. Bomar
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Patent number: 7331624Abstract: A folding top for a cabriolet vehicle, that includes a first roof part which rests on a rear element of the vehicle, which can be opened, in the closed covering position, a second roof part which is pivotably mounted on the vehicle and is disposed in front of the first roof part in the direction of traffic when said second roof part is in a closed covering position, a third roof part which is disposed in front of the second roof part in the direction of traffic when said third roof part is in a closed covered position. The first roof part can be lifted from the rear element. A folding top with a particularly simple kinematic configuration is provided for allowing the third roof part to be moved over the second roof part.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Edscha Cabrio-Dachsysteme GmbHInventor: Klaus Obendiek
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Patent number: 7331625Abstract: A closure panel assembly for a vehicle comprising a closure panel capable of movement between an open position and a closed position, and a garment hook assembly mounted to the closure panel. When the closure panel is closed, the garment hook is presented to an interior space of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.Inventors: Steven Martin Kowalski, David J. Krysiak
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Patent number: 7331626Abstract: In an automotive vehicle body including a first annular frame (29) formed by front pillars (11, 12), a second annular frame (34) formed by center pillars (13, 14) and a front door (7) internally provided with a front door beam (51) and fitted between the front pillar and center pillar one each side of the vehicle body, the front door beam overlaps the first annular frame and second annular frame as seen from sideways, and includes a door beam main body (61) providing a channel member having an open side facing inboard and a tension wire (71) extending along an inboard side of the door beam main body. Thereby, when another vehicle hits the front door from sideways, because the front door beam overlaps the first annular frame and second annular frame as seen from sideways, the impact energy can be effectively transmitted to the vehicle body. Furthermore, because the door beam main body supports a compressive load while the tension wire supports a tensile load, deformation of the door beam is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Yoshimoto, Hitoshi Kato, Kosaku Tomozawa, Kazuo Arai
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Patent number: 7331627Abstract: A lateral control rod for use in a vehicle cab suspension wherein the control rod has an attenuation assembly imposed therein between the ends thereof which reduces the transmission of vibration and shock therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventors: Joel Dean Van Den Brink, Gregory W. Hulstein
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Patent number: 7331628Abstract: A folding chair with safety folding device comprises a safety hook, a pin, a torsion spring, a bottom cover, a seat, a back, a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, a front crossbar, a rear crossbar and a pivotal shaft. The safety hook is employed to position the pair of rear legs after the folding chair is unfolded, when the folding chair is being folded, the pair of rear legs can be released safely by pressing the safety hook, thus preventing an undesired pinching injury as a result of improper operation or impact.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventor: Wei-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 7331629Abstract: The invention relates to a child bicycle seat comprising a seating surface and a backrest and also fixing means for fixing the seat on a bicycle. The child bicycle seat furthermore comprises a belt assembly for securing a child in the seat. The belt assembly comprises two shoulder belt parts which are connected by one end to the backrest and are provided with a closing element. A second closing element which can be connected to the closing element of the shoulder belt parts is connected to the seating surface of the seat and in use lies between the legs of the child. The child bicycle seat is provided with a common tautening device for tautening the belt assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Dremefa B. V.Inventor: Franciscus Arnoldus Knaven
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Patent number: 7331630Abstract: A folding backrest in a vehicle, comprises a bearing arm which is assigned to the backrest and is connected to a positionally fixed bearing block in an articulated manner, the bearing arm being assigned a locking element which, when the bearing arm is rotated rapidly about the joint, is guided by the bearing arm along a slotted guide toward a stop or into an end region of the slotted guide, but, upon slow rotation, allows the bearing arm to rotate freely, and the slotted guide has a recess which, when the bearing arm is rotated slowly, allows the locking element to get out of the way of the pivoting region of bearing arm.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Kochendorfer & Kiep Metallverarbeitung GmbHInventor: Stefan Emmrich
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Patent number: 7331631Abstract: The present invention discloses a pillow cushion having a main body, and the main body includes a headrest portion, an accommodating portion and a neck rest portion. The headrest portion is concavely disposed on a top side of the main body and coupled to a front side of the main body, with an end extended to the top side, and another end extended to the front side. The accommodating portion is concavely disposed on the front side of the main body and both lateral sides of the headrest portion. The neck rest portion is concavely disposed on the front side of the main body with an end coupled to another end of the headrest portion, and another end proximate to the front side of the main body for supporting heads of different sizes and providing comfortable supports to the head without leaning towards a side of the pillow cushion.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventor: Jui-Kuan Yeh
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Patent number: 7331632Abstract: A footrest for wheelchairs or the like comprises a foot plate (37) for the foot of a wheelchair patient, a supporting element for connection of the foot plate (37) to a wheelchair, and a bearing unit for supporting the foot plate (37) on the supporting element. The bearing unit, in turn, comprises a bearing body (36) that is in contact with the foot plate (37) and with the supporting element, a first bearing element (76) that pivotably connects the foot plate (37) to the bearing body (36), and a second bearing element (47) that pivotably connects the bearing body (36) to the supporting element.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Aquatec GmbHInventor: Roland Wendt
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Patent number: 7331633Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat base and a backrest. The backrest is mounted on the seat base and includes a seat back that is retained in an upright fixed seat-forming position relative to a seat bottom included in the seat base.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.Inventors: Eugene R. Balensiefer, Philip W. Burbrink, Ronald F. Munn, William Horton
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Patent number: 7331634Abstract: The headrest support tubes are secured to the seat frame member not by the usual welding, but by gripping the web of the member between two rings or lock-beads swaged into the metal of the tube. The first ring is swaged-out by compressing the tube. The tube, with the one ring, is then assembled into a through-hole in the web of the frame member. Then, the second ring is swaged into the metal of the tube, on the other side of the web, and the web lies gripped between the rings. The seat frame member may be an I-section extrusion, or a round tube with localised squeezed-flat areas, flanked by flanges.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Bend All Automotive IncorporatedInventor: Horst Udo Petersen
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Patent number: 7331635Abstract: The invention relates to a seat part for a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a seat pan (1) made of sheet metal, a seat cushion applied to the seat pan (1) and a cable assembly (17) running in the seat cushion. In order to make possible simple and economical installation of the cable assembly and manufacture of the seat part, the invention provides that the seat pan (1) is formed as a deep-drawn part and channels (8, 11, 12) are formed in the seat part (1), in which the cable assembly (17) is accommodated.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbHInventors: Tobias Schwarz, Frederic Meyer, Andre Dohm, Ulrich Riegler, Titus Falbesaner
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Patent number: 7331636Abstract: A milling machine comprising a housing including a frame, a front wheel assembly supporting the housing, at least a first rear wheel assembly and a second rear wheel assembly supporting the housing, a milling drum mounted within the housing and extending below the housing, and an electric motor for providing power to at least one hydraulic system for operating milling machine functions. The first rear wheel assembly is ideally switchable between a first position and a second position to allow the milling machine to reach corners and other tight spaces in a building. The milling machine preferably further includes a dust collection system mounted within the housing to provide dust-free operation. The electric motor is also ideally mounted within the housing to provide a compact, dust-free and emissions-free milling machine for indoor use.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Prep Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Donald D Troudt, John Easton, Robert A. Platek, Mark E. Vesely, Michael A. Paulick
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Patent number: 7331637Abstract: A commercial vehicle wheel includes a wheel hub surface formed with alternating raised and recessed segments that allows mounting two of the wheels upon a single axle hub.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.Inventor: Ross S. Hill
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Patent number: 7331638Abstract: A spoked wheel for a bicycle is described herein, comprising a hub, a rim and a plurality of spokes that connect the hub to the rim. The spokes comprise a first set of spokes arranged on one side of the wheel, made up of spokes connected to a first portion of the hub, and a second set of spokes arranged on the other side of the wheel, made up of spokes connected to a second portion of the hub. The second hub portion is set at an axial distance from said first portion. The spokes of the first set are grouped together into pairs set at angular distances apart from one another with the spokes of each pair that have their outer ends set close to one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Campagnolo, S.r.l.Inventor: Maurizio Passarotto
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Patent number: 7331639Abstract: A bicycle rim is configured with an annular metallic rim, a plurality of individual reinforcement members and at least one adhesive attachment material. The annular metallic rim has an annular tire attachment portion adapted to have a tire mounted thereon, and a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings. The individual reinforcement members overlie discrete exterior surface areas of the spoke attachment portion surrounding the spoke openings. The at least one adhesive attachment material overlies the individual spoke reinforcements and exterior areas of the spoke attachment portion adjacent to the reinforcement members.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Shinpei Okajima
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Patent number: 7331640Abstract: A control unit 10 controls brake forces of brake systems of a pair of brake operation elements L1, L2 operated independently to perform an anti-lock brake control for eliminating a locked state of a wheel. The control unit 10 applies the brake force to one of the wheel brakes B1, B2 of the brake system which differs from the brake system of the operated brake operation element when the brake operation elements L1, L2 is operated. When one or both of the brake operation elements L1, L2 are operated and so the wheel likely falls in a locked state, the control unit 10 performs an anti-lock brake control on the brake system of the wheel likely falling in the locked state and also performs a brake force application control on the other brake system which is different from the brake system of the wheel likely falling in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tooru Koyama
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Patent number: 7331641Abstract: The present invention is directed to a braking stroke simulator for use in a brake system, which comprises a simulator piston moved in response to operation of a manually operated braking member, and an elastic element for providing a stroke to the simulator piston in response to braking operation force applied to the manually operated braking member, wherein restoring amount of the elastic element is restricted to set an initial load to be applied thereto. The elastic element includes a first elastic member made of rubber, and a second elastic member made of a helical spring, which is disposed in series with the first elastic member. The initial load applied to the first elastic member and the initial load applied to the second elastic member are set to be substantially equal to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akihito Kusano
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Patent number: 7331642Abstract: A method is provided for vehicle stability control of a vehicle where the vehicle includes a slip control braking system that applies independent braking pressure to respective vehicle brakes of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a steering system for applying steering intervention for stability control. The method includes detecting a split-mu braking condition and applying a steering assist torque to the steering system. A determination is made whether a steering wheel angle condition is within a predetermined threshold. An aggressive braking strategy is applied if the steering wheel angle condition is within the predetermined threshold, else applying a non-aggressive braking strategy.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes CompanyInventor: Joe Miller
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Patent number: 7331643Abstract: A piece of furniture with a movable furniture component, in particular a drawer or door, includes a drive unit and a device for the mechanical transmission of force from the drive unit to the movable furniture component or the body of the furniture. In particular, a pin is arranged on a lever that can be powered by the drive unit, for the ejection and/or insertion of the movable furniture component. The device for the mechanical transmission of force is arranged in a guide track for the transmission of tensile and thrust forces.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Julius Blum GmbHInventors: Edgar Huber, Uwe Scheffknecht
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Patent number: 7331644Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide assembly for installation between a drawer and the interior of a cabinet is disclosed in conjunction with a compatible mounting socket for mounting the rear of the cabinet member to the rear wall of the cabinet. The socket telescopically accepts the declining rear portion of the cabinet member and is telescopically adjustable to suit a range of variations in the length of the drawer slide or the length of the cabinet. The socket also has a range of lateral adjustment which is transferable into lateral adjustment for the drawer slides assembly once installed.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Inventor: Mark Jeffrey Lowe
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Patent number: 7331645Abstract: The method of detecting a liquid amount includes applying a drive signal to a piezoelectric element provided at a predetermined position in a liquid containing section for containing a liquid, detecting an output signal from the piezoelectric element due to a residual vibration after the application of the drive signal, and detecting whether or not the liquid is present at the predetermined position based on the output signal utilizing difference in resonance frequency of the residual vibration depending on whether or not the liquid is present at the predetermined position. The drive signal includes a first drive waveform portion for driving the piezoelectric element at a resonance frequency of the residual vibration when the liquid is present at the predetermined position and a second drive waveform portion for driving the piezoelectric element at a resonance frequency of the residual vibration when the liquid is not present at the predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 7331646Abstract: A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead chips in an array of two or more printhead chips where an end portion of a first printhead chip overlaps an end portion of a second printhead chip, each printhead chip including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, includes generating continuous tone print data for the array of printhead chips, The continuous tone print data for said overlapping end portions is interpolated according to an algorithm such that ink ejection nozzle utilization decreases in each said overlapping end portion towards respective ends of the printhead chips.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
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Patent number: 7331647Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing images on both sides of a recording medium. The timing of starting conveying the next recording medium is determined from a schedule that satisfies three conditions. The first condition a leading end of the next medium reaches a housing section, while maintaining a page gap, when the medium passes completely through the housing section. The second condition both media are not at a recording-medium supply position and the leading end of the next medium reaches the supply position, while maintaining a page gap, when the medium passes completely through the supply position. The third condition when the medium is turned upside down, both media are not at a reversing path section, and the leading end of the next medium reaches the reversing path section, while maintaining a page gap, when the medium passes completely through the reversing path section.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Masahiro Nakanishi, Kenichi Okawa
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Patent number: 7331648Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus having: a recording head having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon to jet ink; a feeding device to feed a recording medium; and a control unit to control ink jetting from the nozzles of the recording head so that the recording head is driven with multi-phase drive to record with recorded pixel locations shifted at every drive phase switching by an integer times a pixel width of a recording resolution.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.Inventor: Yukihiro Niekawa
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Patent number: 7331649Abstract: An inkjet recording method includes: forming a color image with color inks by while scanning a recording head multiple times on a same recording area, forming a thinned-out image, the recording head having a plurality of nozzle sections for jetting the color inks, wherein a nozzle pitch of the recording head is from 10 to 50 ?m, the color inks comprise C, M, Y and BK inks and at least one special color ink, the color inks contain pigments, at least one organic solvent with high boiling point and water, a dot formed by the color inks has a size of 10 to 50 ?m, the recording medium has a transferred amount at 0.04 seconds of absorption time, and the recording medium comprises a micro-porous layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Takahiro Matsuzawa, Atsushi Tomotake, Kenzo Nakazawa, Miyako Sugihara
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Patent number: 7331650Abstract: A printhead and method of printing are provided. The printhead has a body with portions of the body defining a fluid chamber and a nozzle orifice. The nozzle orifice is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A drop forming mechanism is operatively associated with the nozzle orifice of the body. A plate is removably positioned over the body and has at least one orifice with the at least one orifice being in fluid communication with the nozzle orifice of the body.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, James M. Chwalek
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Patent number: 7331651Abstract: A printhead suitable for minimizing cross-contamination between nozzles is provided. The printhead comprises a substrate, which includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto a print medium. Each nozzle has a nozzle aperture, which is defined in an ink ejection surface of the substrate. The printhead also comprises a plurality of formations on the ink ejection surface. The surface formations are configured to isolate each nozzle from at least one adjacent nozzle, and typically take the form of enclosures surrounding each nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
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Patent number: 7331652Abstract: A joint structure including a first member and a second member which are jointed to each other to define a flow passage in which a fluid flows. One of the first and second members includes a weldable portion which projects toward an opposed surface of the other of the first and second members in a first direction and whose end portion is fused and welded to the opposed surface, so as to joint the first and second members to each other at a first position in the first direction. One of the first and second members includes a first projecting portion which is provided between the weldable portion and the flow passage in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and projects toward the other of the first and second members such that a free end of the first projecting portion is located at a second position different from the first position in the first direction, while the first projecting portion cooperates with the weldable portion to define a first space therebetween in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shingo Hattori, Yoichiro Shimizu
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Patent number: 7331653Abstract: A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate support structure. An ink feed member is mounted on the support structure. The feed member defines a number of ink channels, the ink channels extending in the direction of the support structure and being in fluid communication with an ink supply, the ink feed member having a plurality of outlet openings from which ink can be fed. A plurality of printhead modules is mounted, in a releasable manner, on the support structure to be positioned along a length of the ink feed member. Each printhead module has an ink delivery assembly that defines a mounting formation for an elongate printhead integrated circuit and a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with respective outlet openings of the ink feed member and an elongate printhead integrated circuit mounted in said mounting formation.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
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Patent number: 7331654Abstract: The invention relates to a solenoid valve made using certain materials which is capable of operation at high frequencies and which can be made as a compact unit. The plunger (1) is made from an electromagnetic material having a saturation flux density greater than 1.2 Tesla preferably more than 1.6 Tesla, the bore leading from the valve head chamber (14) to the nozzle orifice (12) has a length to diameter ratio of less than 5:1 preferably between 2:1 and 4:1 and the nozzle orifice (12) has a diameter of 80 micrometer or less. The invention also relates to method for operating a drop on demand ink jet printer incorporating such a valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Willett International LimitedInventors: David Andrew Horsnell, Matthew Brian Tomlin, Ammar Lecheheb, Oliver John Prime, Michael John Fox, Christopher Michael Bates
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Patent number: 7331655Abstract: Plural film layers are disposed on a substrate. Each film layer has regions devoid of film material, thus forming film layer cavity openings. Each film layer has its cavities arranged to provide fluid coupling with its adjacent film layer or layers. The film layer cavities form a traverse channel coupling the top and bottom film layers and also one or more lateral channels coupling cavity openings in the top film layer. The film layer traverse channel couples with a substrate channel that extends from the substrate top surface to one or more of its other surfaces. A device such as a fluid dispenser, fluid ejector, sensor or bioprocessing device is disposed on the top film layer and fluidly coupled to the plural film layers traverse and lateral channels. The traverse channel and the one or more lateral channels are arranged to transport or flow one or more fluids.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Peter J. Nystrom, John R. Andrews
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Patent number: 7331656Abstract: An ink jet recording head, which can effectively prevent any bubble and solid matter such as dust existing in supplied ink to reach the vicinity of a nozzle, includes a plurality of energy generating elements for generating energy for discharging the ink, a plurality of discharge ports provided at locations opposed to the respective energy generating elements to discharge the ink therethrough, a plurality of ink flow paths communicating with the respective discharge ports, and an ink supplying port for supplying the ink to the plurality of ink flow paths. Water repellent protruding portions having their surfaces formed of a material having surface energy smaller than the interfacial energy between them and the ink are provided upstream of the discharge ports with respect to an ink flow direction in which the ink flows from the ink supplying port into the ink flow paths and is discharged from the discharge ports.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinori Shinohara, Akemi Ishizaki
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Patent number: 7331657Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a deflection electrode assembly is provided for use in a continuous ink jet printer of the type which projects a stream of ink drops toward a substrate and controls placement of the ink drops on the substrate by selectively charging the individual ink drops and passing the charged ink drops through a deflection field created by the deflection electrode assembly. The deflection electrode assembly includes a high voltage electrode, a low voltage electrode, and an insulating housing which positions the high and low voltage electrodes in a predetermined spaced relationship along the ink drop stream. The insulating housing also has an internal resistor in electrical connection to the high voltage electrode and an external circuit. The insulating housing also contains an insulating member which supports the high voltage electrode as well as minimizes the possibility for arcing between the two electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Videojet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dilip Shrivastava, Mick Rybicki
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Patent number: 7331658Abstract: A printing system includes a catcher having a length with portions of the catcher defining a fluid drop contact region and an opening for passage of the fluid away from the fluid contact region with the opening having two ends. A fluid drop generator is operable to form fluid drops at least some of which contact the fluid drop contact region of the catcher. An eyelid is operatively associated with the catcher. A pair of walls are positionable at locations outside of the ends of the opening such that the pair of walls and the eyelid are operable to form a fluid seal at least partially around the opening of the catcher. A first portion of the each of the pair of walls extends in a first direction toward the fluid drop generator, and a second portion of each of the pair of walls extends in a second direction at least partially toward each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul K. Hengesbach, David F. Tunmore
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Patent number: 7331659Abstract: A printhead comprises a plurality of nozzle chambers that house an ink ejection actuator for ejecting ink from said nozzle chamber. An ink jet supply unit connects directly to the printhead which includes a storage chamber for holding ink and for communicating ink to the nozzle chambers. The ink supply unit has a series of spaced apart baffles disposed between the storage chamber and the nozzle chambers which is configured to reduce acceleration of the ink within the unit as may be induced by movement of the portable printer, whilst allowing for flows of the ink to the printhead in response to active demand from the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7331660Abstract: A cradle unit for an inkjet printer is provided. The cradle unit has a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and a refillable ink supply, and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing. The body includes a cover assembly for enclosing the removable inkjet cartridge within the body. The cover assembly has at least one port formed therein through which a refill unit is received for refilling the ink supply of the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian MacKey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7331661Abstract: An ink refill unit 155 is adapted for use with an ink cartridge that has a negatively pressurized ink storage compartment 46 that supplies ink to a printhead assembly 22, and an interface for receiving the refill unit 155. The refill unit has a body 157 containing a quantity of ink and a docking portion with an ink outlet. During use, the docking portion establishes fluid communication between the body and the ink storage compartment through the ink outlet upon releasable engagement with the interface, such that ink is drawn from the body into the cartridge because of the negative pressure in the ink storage compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7331662Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink containing section including an ink absorbing body made of a porous material for retaining ink. The ink cartridge satisfies 200?N·R?320, where N is the cell density, expressed in the number of pores per inch, of the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section; and R is a compressibility, which is a volume ratio of the ink absorbing body when the ink absorbing body is contained in a compressed state in the ink containing section to the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Matsushita, Hirokazu Nakamura, Naozumi Ueno, Hisashi Yoshimura, Takashi Goto, Hiroshi Ishii
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Patent number: 7331663Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge unit has a body portion having one or more ink storage compartments, and a pagewidth printhead assembly which is mountable to the body. The printhead assembly is configured to receive ink from the compartment(s) and to distribute the ink along the length of the printhead assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian MacKey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7331664Abstract: An ink delivery system having a fluid supply and a printhead assembly, separate from and in fluid communication with the fluid supply. A primary flow path is configured to facilitate the delivery of fluid from the fluid supply to the printhead assembly, and a return flow path, at least partially separate from the primary flow path, is configured to facilitate the evacuation of fluid from the printhead assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jeffrey D Langford, Harold F Mantooth, Carrie E Harris
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Patent number: 7331665Abstract: An inkjet recording method includes: forming a color image with respective inks on a recording medium by while scanning a recording head multiple times on a same recording area, forming a thinned-out image according to an thinning-out pattern without regularity in each scanning, the recording head having a plurality of nozzle sections for jetting inks, wherein a nozzle pitch thereof is from 10 to 50 ?m, the respective inks contain pigments, one organic solvent with high boiling point and water, at least one of the respective inks contains a compound of the general formula (I), a surface tension of the respective inks is from 30 to 50 mN/m, a transferred amount at 0.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Atsushi Tomotake, Takahiro Matsuzawa, Kenzo Nakazawa, Miyako Sugihara
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Patent number: 7331666Abstract: An eyewear having a frame, at least one temple attached to the frame, and a radio frequency transceiver for short-distance wireless communication. The radio frequency transceiver is mounted on either the frame or the temple and is configured to form an ad hoc wireless network with a plurality of devices. The radio frequency transceiver communicates with these devices within a frequency band of 2.45 gigahertz (GHz).Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Q.R. Spex, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Swab, James E. Malackowski, Mikal Greaves, Rolf Milesi, Christiaan Ligtenberg, Thomas Meier