Patents Issued in July 8, 2008
  • Patent number: 7396137
    Abstract: A projector including a main body and a height adjuster in a bottom of the main body. The height adjuster includes a guide housing connected to the bottom of the main body; a front leg slidably accommodated in the guide housing; a spring between the guide housing and the front leg and providing elasticity to support a weight of the main body; and a stopper to prevent the front leg from separating from the guide housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seon-woo Lim
  • Patent number: 7396138
    Abstract: A tilting device for repeatedly tilting light reflected from a micro-mirror panel is disclosed. A vibration type tilting device, comprising a mirror positioned on a light path which reflects light transmitted from a digital micro-mirror panel, a mirror holder having the mirror joined to a side thereof, a coil joined to the reverse side of the mirror holder, and a magnet which generates a magnetic field passing through the coil, where portions of the mirror holder are removed to decrease the mass moment of inertia of the mirror holder, may not only provide a smooth and natural display by periodically tilting light reflected from a digital micro-mirror panel in constant time intervals but also may improve the tracking ability of the mirror and reduce residual vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang-Ho Moon, Chil-Sung Lee, Dong-Won Choi, Jae-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 7396139
    Abstract: An underwater lighting unit (1) for marine or other underwater use incorporates LEDs (13) as the light source and provides an array of LEDs (13) mounted against the back wall (11) of a metal or thermally conductive plastic housing (10) which utilizes the cooling effect of direct contact between the water and the housing to dissipate the heat generated by the LEDs (13) in use. The LEDs (13) each have an associated collimator (20) protected from contact with the water in which the unit (1) is to be immersed by a sealed glass screen (22), and each LED may be from one to three watts or more in power. There may be 30 or more LEDs (13) and associated collimators (20) in each lighting unit (1). The lighting unit (1) may be mounted in a cofferdam (2) of a marine vessel, directly against or slightly forwardly of the back wall of the cofferdam, or may be surface-mounted on the hull (3) of the vessel directly against or slightly spaced from the hull (3) and below the waterline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Nigel C. Savage
  • Patent number: 7396140
    Abstract: A portable reading lamp of the invention comprises a base, a head portion and a pole to connect the base with the head portion. The head portion is provided with the luminant, which is semiconductor LED. A battery box is provided on the base, the head portion or the pole for supplying direct current. The semiconductor LED is used as the luminant in the invention, so the reading lamp of the invention can save energy in high-efficiency (10% electricity consumption of the traditional reading lamp), which also has the following strongpoint: saturated color and ray, infinite motley, switching rapidly, unpolluted, shock-resistant, dampness-resistant, long usage life (100,000 hours), radiation-free and less maintenance. The invention also provides a battery box in the base for supplying direct current, which is very convenient to be used in the field when no external power source can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Jianping Cai
  • Patent number: 7396141
    Abstract: A flashlight includes a first or top section attached to a second or base section. The top section has one or more elements that are axially moveable relative to the base section, for focusing light. This movement may be achieved, for example, by having the top and base sections joined via screw threads, and by rotating one section relative to the other. One or more lenses are supported in the top section. An LED or other light source is supported on the base section. As the sections move relative to each other, the lens moves relative to the LED, focusing light from the LED. The base section has a housing forming a battery compartment for holding at least one battery. Contacts may be provided on the base section for charging the battery, without removing the battery from the flashlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Chapman/Leonard Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7396142
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) light bulb configured to replicate the light output of a conventional incandescent light bulb is provided. The LED light bulb includes a base for coupling the bulb to a power source having at least one side wall defining a cavity; a generally rectangular substrate having a first end and a second end, the second end disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the base; a plurality of LEDs electrically coupled and disposed on the first end of the substrate, the plurality of LEDS arranged on a front face, back face and top edge of the first end of the substrate to emit light in a spherical output; and a light transmissive cover configured to enclose the plurality of LEDs, the cover being coupled to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Five Star Import Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert S. Laizure, Jr., Wojciech Pawelko, Lee C. Cote, Peng Jin
  • Patent number: 7396143
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising a central controller for generating control signals and one or more lighting subsystems each of which accepts the control signals from the controller. Each of the subsystems comprises first and second lighting units connected in series. Each of the lighting units comprises a plurality of emitting diodes (LEDs), each being a different type emitting a different color of light. Each of said lighting units has a power lead and a respective lead from each of its LEDs. Each of the lighting units comprises similar types of LEDs emitting similar colors of light. Electronic circuitry is included, some of which is arranged between the first and second serially connected lighting units. The electronic circuitry accepts the controller control signals corresponding to power and each of said type of the LEDs. The control signals and electronic circuitry are arranged to cause one or more pairs of the corresponding similar LEDs types in said LED units to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: SloanLED, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Sloan
  • Patent number: 7396144
    Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge tube, a reflector for reflecting a light radiated from the discharge tube, and support members for supporting the discharge tube to the reflector. The support member or the discharge tube is formed of a heat insulating structure so as to prevent a temperature drop of a portion of the discharge tube near electrodes thereof. By this arrangement, it is possible to prolong the operational life of the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7396145
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least a light source generator, a housing, at least a thermal detector, and an inverter. The thermal detector is disposed in the housing for measuring the temperature within the housing when the light source generator is operating, and the inverter is electrically connected to the thermal detector and the light source generator for adjusting the electrical current of the light source generator according to the temperature measured by the thermal detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventors: Mao-Jung Wang, Chuan-Pei Yu
  • Patent number: 7396146
    Abstract: A heat dissipating LED signal lamp emitting structure includes an isothermal board, a light emitting unit on the isothermal board, a heat conducting cylinder connected to the bottom of the isothermal board, a heat dissipating body around the periphery of the heat conducting cylinder and comprised of heat sinks, a circular cover body above the isothermal board for covering the isothermal board, a reflecting groove at the center of the cover body for passing through the light emitting unit, and a transparent lid on the cover body for covering the light emitting unit. With the heat dissipating effect of the heat dissipating body, the operating heat produced by the light emitting unit can be dissipated to the outside. The invention not only uses a single light emitting unit as a signal lamp emitting source, but also enhances the light emitting efficiency and the life expectancy of the light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Augux Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pei-Choa Wang
  • Patent number: 7396147
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle component such as a side mirror comprising a panel having an obverse side and a reverse side, wherein, in use, when viewed from the obverse side the panel has a first appearance when not illuminated from the reverse side, but has a second appearance when illuminated from the reverse side, and further, wherein means are provided for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: John McGavigan Limited
    Inventor: Alastair Munro
  • Patent number: 7396148
    Abstract: A foldable lighting system may include a light housing having a light source. The foldable lighting system may also include a base panel, a back panel, and two side panels. The back panel may be pivotally coupled to the light housing and foldable relative to the light housing. Each of the two side panels may have at least two sections, a first section pivotally coupled to the light housing, and a second section pivotally coupled to the base panel. The first section and the second section of each of the side panels may be pivotally coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Sean Shen Hsun Tsai
  • Patent number: 7396149
    Abstract: Ceiling comprising adjacent luminaries (1), whereby a luminaries (1) is fixed by at least two separate fixation means. The fixation means comprising only one suspension member (2,3) connected to the center of the upper side (6) of the luminaries (1). Furthermore, there is at least one fixation member (22) connecting the luminaries (1) to an adjacent luminaries (1). The lower sides (10) of the luminaries (1) form a substantial flat surface of the ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Norbert Dicken
  • Patent number: 7396150
    Abstract: The lighting apparatus includes a light source, a housing that contains the light source inside and has an exit port for outputting light from the light source, and an optical sheet that is placed in the exit port. The optical sheet includes a lens structure that is placed at a light exit side and aligns an output direction of incident light from the light source, a reflector that is placed at a light incident side and reflects light emitted by the light source, and a light transmitting opening that exists in the reflector and transmits incident light from the light source. The light transmitting opening is placed in a position deviated from an optical axis of the lens structure. The display apparatus includes the lighting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxwell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ogawa, Masataka Sato, Katsusuke Shimazaki, Toshinari Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 7396151
    Abstract: A conditioner and a method are disclosed for the production of food or animal foodstuffs. The conditioner includes at least one detention element and a mixer which is located thereabove, and is provided with a dosing element. The mixer and the detention element have the same face plates enabling them to be connected to each other on at least one front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Andrea Hermsmeyer, Philipp Hanimann
  • Patent number: 7396152
    Abstract: A bladeless mixer/mill for agitating and mixing a compound/product. The mixer/mill comprises a driving shaft rotatable about a first vertical axis of rotation, and a motor unit operatively coupled to the driving shaft for rotating the same. A support plate is mounted onto the driving shaft and is rotatable about the first vertical axis. The mixer/mill also has a stationary ring gear coaxial to the support plate. The stationary ring gear has a portion with an inner surface extending above the support plate. At least one pinion gear is rotatably mounted onto the support plate about a second vertical axis of rotation parallel to the first vertical axis of rotation. The pinion gear has an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of the stationary ring gear. The outer surface of the pinion gear meshes with the inner surface of the stationary ring gear. The pinion gear has a cavity wherein the compound/product to be agitated and mixed/milled is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: G-Explore Ltee
    Inventor: Germain Veronneau
  • Patent number: 7396153
    Abstract: In a magnetically-coupled liquid mixer of the type having a drive mount secured to and extending into a mixing vessel, an external first magnet array adjacent to the drive mount, a stub shaft extending from the drive mount into the vessel and having a first thrust bearing surface, and a driven portion rotatably-mounted on the stub shaft and having a second thrust bearing surface and a second magnet array, the improvement wherein the first and second arrays are positioned with respect to one another such that the first and second thrust bearing surfaces are spaced apart at least in the absence of above-threshold fluid dynamic thrust forces on the driven portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Per-Olof K. Andersson
  • Patent number: 7396154
    Abstract: Regulating element for wristwatch comprising: a balance, a magnetic return member for returning the balance to at least one stable equilibrium position, and an escapement for maintaining the oscillation of the balance around the equilibrium position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: TAG Heuer SA
    Inventor: Thomas Houlon
  • Patent number: 7396155
    Abstract: An antenna is positioned relative to one or more other components within a metal or alloy case member/back cover assembly of an electronic timepiece having a radio communication function to facilitate reception of radio waves by the antenna, and/or to reduce negative effects on the signal reception ability of the antenna caused by one or more other components. Thus positioning the antenna improves its reception, while the external appearance of the timepiece can be maintained or enhanced by using metal or alloy for the case member/back cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Oguchi
  • Patent number: 7396156
    Abstract: The present invention has an object for setting thermal resistance corresponding to a contact condition of a contact face between two elements automatically and generating analysis data including a thermal conductivity of the contact face accurately in a short time when analysis data is generated based on three-dimensional design data of an object formed by a plurality of elements. An apparatus according to the present invention includes a retaining unit for retaining thermal resistance information for obtaining thermal resistance of the contact face in accordance with contact condition of the contact face; a thermal conductivity calculating unit for calculating a thermal conductivity of the contact face based on the thermal resistance information which is retained in the retaining unit and corresponds to the contact condition of the contact face set by a contact condition setting unit; and a generating unit for generating the analysis data including the thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yasushi Uraki
  • Patent number: 7396157
    Abstract: A temperature measuring device includes a local terminal and a measuring element installed at a predetermined distance from the local terminal. The local terminal includes a first measuring unit for measuring a first human body temperature, a signal processing unit for receiving and converting the first human body temperature, a display unit coupled to the signal processing unit for displaying the converted first human body temperature, and a first interface unit coupled to the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Chi-Hong Liao
  • Patent number: 7396158
    Abstract: A mobile flat X-ray detector is for an X-ray diagnostic device. The detector includes an X-ray detector, a detector housing and a carry grip attached on a longitudinal side of the detector housing. The detector housing is provided on at least one further side with a receptacle for a carry grip and/or handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Burkhard Grosse
  • Patent number: 7396159
    Abstract: Apparatus includes a digital x-ray detector panel, a panel support, and a resilient sheet positioned between the panel and the support, the sheet having an area smaller than an area of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Utschig, Jessica Anne Galie, Jason Robert Ertel
  • Patent number: 7396160
    Abstract: A system for cooling an X-ray tube in a CT machine comprising a heat sink for drawing heat away from the X-ray tube and a collimator connected to the heat sink and adapted to collimate the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube and “focus” those X-rays on an X-ray detector, the heat sink body being formed out of the same material as the emitter of the X-ray tube, such that the emitter opening of the X-ray tube will remain aligned with both the heat sink window and the collimator opening even when the emitter of the X-ray tube undergoes thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: NeuroLogica Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Tybinkowski, Lidia Nemirovsky, Eric M. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7396161
    Abstract: In an X-ray installation comprising an X-ray source, a patient support, an X-ray detector and an electronic evaluation system, a distance is determined from an extremity of a patient which is to be imaged to the X-ray detector and is made available as an electronic data value to the electronic evaluation system. If the distance from the X-ray source to the X-ray detector as an electronic data value is also known, then a scale can be calculated for the X-ray image from the two distances on the basis of the imaging laws for the generation of the X-ray image, which scale can be faded into the X-ray image or else electronically assigned to this image for an interrogation of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7396162
    Abstract: A method, system, and machine readable media are provided for correcting scatter in an image. The method comprises sequentially emitting radiation from a subset of radiation sources toward a detector array and measuring radiation on areas of the detector array not exposed to the emitted primary radiation at the time of measurement. Scatter is estimated from the measured radiation. Furthermore, the scatter estimates are subtracted from the measured data and images with improved image quality are reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Michael Edic, Samit Kumar Basu
  • Patent number: 7396163
    Abstract: A package or bag is provided with an easy open re-closable device for allowing ready access to the contents of the bag. The closure device is applied longitudinally in a vertical orientation in plastic bags but the closure device is spaced from the ends. In a layer paper bag, while the position of the closure device is preferably longitudinal, the closure device may have any orientation including a diagonal position. The closure device is incorporated in the fins of a fin bag and the closure devices extends longitudinally of the bag in a vertical direction. The process or making a multi layer paper material with a closure device incorporated therein is carried out in a continuous operation. The process of making zip-fin plastic bag or film containing the fins and closure are performed in a continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: James Ray McGregor
  • Patent number: 7396164
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing design employing inherently compensated orifices whose geometric design is such that the use of multiple orifices is substantially simplified. In normal cylindrical hydrostatic bearings, the orifices are usually employed in rows. There can be from three to 120 orifices per row, and usually from one to six rows in most designs. In these designs, the orifice is usually a separate component, which is pressed into the surface that constitutes the bearing. Inherently compensated orifices are comprised of three sections, i.e. the entrance section, the restricting orifice section, and the exit section. The first two of these sections are of circular cross section. This design employs slots versus cylindrical type of construction, thereby giving square or rectangular cross sections. The manufacturing of this type of hydrostatic bearing is greatly simplified since only three or slightly more parts are required, versus a separate part for each orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Everett H. Schwartzman
  • Patent number: 7396165
    Abstract: An optical connector includes a base member having a first hollow bore extending from a first end toward a second end, and a recess coaxially aligned with the first hollow bore. The recess has a first internal perimeter and a second internal perimeter. The first perimeter is smaller than said second perimeter. The base member can have a post extending up from a bottom of the recess. The first hollow bore passes through the past and terminates at an end of the post. The post can have an end that terminates substantially in alignment with at least a portion of a termination region disposed between the first internal perimeter and the second internal perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Jignesh Shah, Subra Nagarajan, Ramesh Sundaram
  • Patent number: 7396166
    Abstract: An optical transceiver module including a housing and a plurality of optical transceiver devices is provided. The housing has a connector portion disposed at an end thereof. The connector portion includes two receptacles formed thereon. The optical transceiver devices are disposed in the housing, corresponding to the receptacles. Each one of the optical transceiver devices includes a printed circuit board, an optoelectronic component and a connecting interface. The printed circuit board is disposed substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the housing. The optoelectronic component has an optical fiber interface, a reception portion and a transmission portion. The orientation of the optical fiber interface, the orientation of the reception portion and the orientation of the transmission portion are parallel to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: OptoMedia Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Huitsuo Chou
  • Patent number: 7396167
    Abstract: A lens retracting structure includes a housing, an image-forming lens set moveably supported on two parallel guide rods inside the housing, and a driving mechanism for moving the image-forming lens set along the parallel guide rods between a first position and a second position by means of the engagement of a threaded coupling member of the image-forming lens set with a threaded shaft which is rotatably driven by a motor of the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Genius Electronic Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary Cho
  • Patent number: 7396168
    Abstract: A first guide rail (11), and a second guide rail (12) and a third guide rail (13) that are parallel to each other are installed on a base (2) so as to be perpendicular to each other, and these guide rails are rotated about shafts (4) installed on both ends. When the guide rails are rotated, an indication bar (3) installed on a rotor (1) is moved synchronously with the movement of the guide rails, so that the rotor (1) is also rotated. A slider (22) installed on the indication bar (3) slides along a slit (21) of the third guide rail (13). Then a rotation angle of the rotor (1) about the indication bar (3) is determined by the distance between the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ecchandes Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ajioka
  • Patent number: 7396169
    Abstract: A light quantity adjusting device includes a ring-shaped base plate having an exposure aperture at a center thereof, a first light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, a first drive device for opening/closing the first light quantity adjusting blade, a second light quantity adjusting blade arranged in the exposure aperture, and a second drive device for opening/closing the second light quantity adjusting blade. The first drive device includes a magnet rotor and an exciting coil formed in a ring shape, and a guiding member for inducing a magnetic field to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the magnet rotor. The second drive device includes a magnet rotor, an exciting coil, and a guiding member for guiding a magnetic field to a position facing a magnetic pole formed on a circumference side of the magnet rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Naganuma
  • Patent number: 7396170
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for printing one or several objects moving in a feed direction, in particular labels, packaging and packaging sections on a flat strip (1) or labels (2) stuck on a support band strip, comprising a print head (4) and means for introducing the object for printing to the print head. According to the invention, the supply speed of the material for printing and thus the printing capacity or labelling capacity of the device may be increased, without reducing the print quality and without increasing the wear on the print head (4) caused by the abrasive effect of the object, whereby the print head is provided with a drive (9, 11-16), by means of which the print head (4) may be moved in the feed direction of the object for printing and counter to the feed direction of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Espera-Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Korthäuer
  • Patent number: 7396171
    Abstract: A printing machine for use with paper roll stock is disclosed. The print head consists of an expandable cylindrical ring print head where the printing brushes are integrated in a spiral pattern around the ring print head. Ink wells are located outside of the print head, and electromagnets, located outside of the ring print head, attract or repel the print brushes towards or away from the ink wells or paper. The printing machine is ideally suited for advertising or other elongated print media. Due to the use of standard paper roll stock and speed of the printing, signs can be printed on demand and displayed in a real-time basis. Two printing machines can be configured to print on both sides of the paper at the same time with the same or different images being printed on each side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Dwain Gipson
  • Patent number: 7396172
    Abstract: A carriage system for a printing apparatus is disclosed. The carriage system includes a movable carriage for carrying at least one ink pen, a carriage rod on which the carriage is rotatably mounted, an anti-rotation rail that is adjacent to one end of the carriage to prevent the rotation of the carriage in one direction, and a spring-loaded preloader coupled to an underside of the carriage to prevent the rotation of the carriage in the opposite direction and to urge the carriage against the anti-rotation rail. The preloader includes a preloader body made of a nonmetallic material, a roller operable to roll along a surface below the carriage, and a resilient spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ling-Hwee Ong, Ai-Meng Cheah, Hoong-Wai Wong, Wing-Kong Lo, Yew-Sia Liem, Raghuveer Mudambi Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7396173
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a mid-frame for supporting a back side of a sheet of media. A carrier system is configured to transport a carriage in a reciprocating manner with respect to the mid-frame. The carriage includes a bay. A perforation cartridge is configured to be received in the bay. The perforation cartridge contains a perforation forming mechanism. A controller is coupled to the perforation forming mechanism, the controller being configured to select at least one of a vertical perforation resolution and a horizontal perforation resolution of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Jude Ahne, William Michael Connors, Mark Joseph Edwards, William George Goff, III
  • Patent number: 7396174
    Abstract: A coil spring 103 is wound around a rotational shaft 15 with its one end portion 103a being inserted into an engagement groove 100a formed in a side wall of a direct-coupled gear 100 and with its other end portion 103b being inserted in an engagement groove 93a provided in a front wall 93 of a paper cassette 6. The elastic force generated by the coil spring 103 functions as a pressing force for restraining the torque of the rotational shaft 15 that is generated by the driving force from a DC motor 70. The amount of the elastic force increases as the height of a paper pressing plate 8 increases. Accordingly, a variation in the height of the topmost sheet 3, which will possibly occur due to changes in the amount of recording medium 3 placed on a mounting plate 8, can be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hattori
  • Patent number: 7396175
    Abstract: A sheet carrier, includes an upstream side sheet carriage part; a downstream side sheet carriage part; an overlapping detection part which is provided between the upstream side sheet carriage part and the downstream side sheet carriage part and is configured to detect an overlap of a front sheet and a rear sheet carried by the upstream side sheet carriage part and the downstream side sheet carriage part; and a driving control part configured to drive the upstream side sheet carriage part and the downstream side sheet carriage part at the time when the sheets are carried so that the sheets are carried via the sheet carriage path, and configured to stop driving the upstream side sheet carriage part and continue driving the downstream side sheet carriage part at the time when the overlap of the sheets is detected by the overlapping detection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 7396176
    Abstract: The buttering device is a double walled vessel having an interior chamber containing liquid butter, a lid, and a handle. The vessel has a height sufficient to admit a corn on the cob and between the outer wall and the inner wall, an hollow annular space for heated water. The lid closes the top of the chamber and extends over the outer wall of the vessel. The lid has a center opening with flaps that admits the end of corn on the cob and the flaps glide upon the corn. Heated water placed in the annular space melts butter added to the chamber. Corn on the cob, inserted through the opening, coats itself in butter. Once buttered, the corn on the cob is withdrawn from the lid where the flaps retain excess butter within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Karl G. Schoemer
  • Patent number: 7396177
    Abstract: A pen that includes a marking device for marking a visible path onto a first surface. The marking device is electronically controllable to change a value of an attribute of the path such as color, line width, texture, or line spacing. A position sensing device or motion sensing device is connected to the marking device using a controller. An optical sensing device is also connected to the controller for sensing an attribute of a second surface. The controller is operable to change the value of the attribute of the path on the first surface so as to replicate the attribute of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7396178
    Abstract: A pen for marking a visible path on a surface. The pen has a marking device adapted to change one or more attributes of the visible path, and a sensing device having at least one of a position sensor for determining the position of the pen relative to the surface, a motion sensor for sensing the motion of the pen relative to the surface, and an optical sensor for sensing colors and or images on a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7396179
    Abstract: A writing instrument that includes a body provided with an ink reservoir; an inker element mounted at one end of the body; and a feeder device. The feeder device includes a duct that connects the reservoir to the inker element and opens out into the reservoir via an opening. The feeder device also includes a valve that includes a tab received in the duct, the tab being extended by a head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Société BIC
    Inventors: Didier Lange, Franck Rolion, Vincent Bedhome
  • Patent number: 7396180
    Abstract: An applicator device for a fluid, gel-like, pasty or powder product comprising a storage compartment in which the product is accommodated in free form, and an outlet for the product. A barrier is provided which in at least one operating condition at least partially blocks a straight path for the product from the storage compartment to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Schwan-Stabilo Cosmetics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Bugla, Rainer Gaebler, Susanne Emig, Dieter Schiller
  • Patent number: 7396182
    Abstract: An arrangement for releasably securing or connecting together at least two components includes a securing element that interconnects the components and that can be melted, thermally decomposed or otherwise separated by applying heat thereto. The securing element is preferably a monofilament or multifilament thread of natural or synthetic material, such as high strength polymer material. The arrangement further preferably includes a compression bracing structure such as a housing that bears compression forces between the components, while the securing element bears tension forces. The arrangement further preferably includes an electric resistance heating element that can be electrically energized and is arranged to apply heat to the thread, so as to melt or decompose and separate the thread and thereby release and separate the two interconnected components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: EADS Space Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Retat, Barbara Klotz, Jens Wendorff, Oliver Hoeni
  • Patent number: 7396183
    Abstract: A connecting element is illustrated, suited for releasably connecting a first component and a second component, particularly for releasably connecting an actuator with a pedal of a motor vehicle, wherein forces parallel to the assembly direction are transmitted by the connecting element. The connecting element comprises a connecting mechanism which is attached to the second component and a sled, which can receive a fastening end of the first part and which latches in the connecting mechanism in its fastening position. The connecting mechanism is preferably configured in one-piece-form as a housing, wherein the sled, which is connected to the actuator, is connected to the housing in fastened condition and wherein the sled can be released by means of a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Juan M. Dona Contero, David Alonso Gras
  • Patent number: 7396184
    Abstract: A vehicle crash cushion for decelerating a vehicle includes front and rear anchors spaced along a longitudinal direction and at least one deformable attenuator member extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end coupled to the front anchor and a second end coupled to the rear anchor. A support member is positioned adjacent the attenuator member and is moveable in the longitudinal direction relative thereto between at least an initial position and an impact position toward the rear anchor and away from the front anchor. At least one deforming member is mounted on the support member and is engaged with at least a portion of the attenuator member. In another aspect, a vehicle crash cushion includes first and second side panels each having at least one longitudinally extending ridge and at least one longitudinally extending valley. The first side panel is moveable relative to the second side panel in response to an axial force being applied to the elongated frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. La Turner, Michael H. Oberth, Douglas E. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7396185
    Abstract: A process for repairing a crack in a recreational court or surface comprising cleaning the crack to remove loose material, filling the crack with a crack filling material, such as a flexible sealant material which adheres to the edges of the crack and securely seals the crack, applying a laminate to the recreational surface and to the exposed sealant material to completely cover the crack, wherein the laminate comprises a waterproof adhesive applied to a flexible material, and securing a polyester flexible fabric to at least the edges of the laminate using an adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Guardian Crack Repair, LLC
    Inventor: James Christopher Rossi
  • Patent number: 7396186
    Abstract: A screeding device for screeding a concrete surface includes a support member, a screed head assembly mounted to the support member, and a control. The screed head assembly includes a grade setting device and a vibrating member, and is selectively movable in a screeding direction over and along the concrete surface by the support member. The vibrating member is vibratable to screed the concrete surface as the screed head assembly is moved in the screeding direction over and along the concrete surface. The control is operable to automatically stop vibration of the vibrating member when the support member is not moving the screed head assembly in the screeding direction and to automatically vibrate the vibrating member when the support member moves the screed head assembly in the screeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Frank E. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Mark A. Pietila
  • Patent number: 7396187
    Abstract: A trowel device for use by an operator in an upright position comprises a trowel blade receiving assembly and a first elongate handle section, operably coupled to and extending away from the blade receiving assembly toward a proximal end of the device. A second elongate handle section is rotatably fixable with respect to the first elongate handle section and extends away from the blade receiving assembly toward the proximal end of the device. The first handle section is rotatable with respect to the second handle section about a longitudinal axis common to each of the handle sections to allow the operator to adjust an angle of a trowel blade of the trowel blade receiving assembly while the operator is an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Beno J. Gundiach Company
    Inventor: Lawrence G. Meyers