Patents Issued in July 22, 2008
  • Patent number: 7401699
    Abstract: A device for storing upon a wall support surface a quantity of toothbrushes and tube of toothpaste. The storage device is comprised of a toothbrush container or receptacle having a plurality of individual cavities located at a front sidewall thereof, each cavity housing an individual, removable toothbrush storage receptacle; an internal cavity that houses a removable toothbrush carrying case located therein, the toothbrush carrying case storing a plurality of toothbrushes; a container located at the top side of the toothbrush container for storing a tube of toothpaste; and rear panel to affix the storage apparatus to the wall of a bathroom at a convenient location thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Charles Edward Griffin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7401700
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tool accessory case having a first and a second housing member pivotally connected to each other along a hinge portion and forming a tool holding cavity. The tool accessory case also has at least one index configured for receiving at least one elongated tool accessory disposed in one of the housing members. The index has an upper guide for contacting an upper portion of the tool accessory, and a lower guide for contacting a lower portion of the tool accessory. Further, a flexible arm is included on either the index or one of the first and second housing members. The flexible arm is configured for deforming and applying a lateral pressure to the lower portion of the tool accessory for the purpose of positively retaining the tool accessory in the index. The tool accessory is slidingly received by the index, and the lateral pressure is applied by the flexible arm when the tool accessory is generally entirely received by the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hagen W. Dost, Melvin A. Pendergraph, Brian M. Chiaruttini, Patrick M. McAuliffe, Javier Ibarra-Sandoval
  • Patent number: 7401701
    Abstract: A multi-compartment package attachment apparatus and method for coupling a plurality of items with a package, for example a food package. Printed items such as marketing materials or promotional flyers may be inserted into a first compartment while condiments, napkins, hand-wipes or utensils may be inserted into one or more other compartments. The apparatus may then be fixedly coupled with another package and may also cover or hold prizes for example. One or more compartments may comprise thermal protective layers to keep condiments from melting when hot food packages are stacked. Thermochromic materials may be used to show temperatures of items in compartments. Each compartment may utilize any technique for enclosing an item. Embodiments may be constructed from materials that allow underlying package branding to be visible when the embodiment is coupled with the package or may be coupled to an area of a package not covering existing branding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Diana Daitch
  • Patent number: 7401702
    Abstract: A package includes a blank having a face panel and a back panel. The face panel includes apertures and face tabs. The back panel includes gates that correspond with apertures, and tab strips that overlap the gates and are adjoined to back tabs. A blister pack is sealed between the face panel and the back panel whereby blisters align over gates and protrude through apertures, and tabs and form a composite pull tab. To remove an item from a blister, the pull tab is pressed out of the panels, the tab strip is peeled from the back panel, and pressure is applied to force the item through the backing sheet of the blister pack and the exposed gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Hession
  • Patent number: 7401703
    Abstract: A surgical kit, for example a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy kit, includes a tray having a plurality of recesses formed therein for receiving surgical implements. A substantially rigid accessory item container is received in a container recess defined in the tray. The container is removable from the tray and includes a base member and a lid. A securing device may be configured between the base member and the lid so that the container is reclosable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. McMichael, Mark E. Foster
  • Patent number: 7401704
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for conveying solid material in a process vessel includes, a first baffle set comprising a plurality of inclined baffles located above the eductors and arranged to restrict upward flow of solids in the direction of movement of the solids. A second baffle set may be used to prevent particles rebounding from an end wall and back into upper levels of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Cyclotech Limited
    Inventors: David Hadfield, Michael Hess, Alastair Sinker, Ian Smyth, Pete Thompson
  • Patent number: 7401705
    Abstract: An adjustable organizer system has a horizontal top rail with an upward facing top side. At least one vertical upright support has one or more contact surfaces carried on an upper end of the upright support. Each of the contact surfaces has at least a downward facing portion engaged with the top side of the top rail. The upright support is suspended from the top rail such that the one or more contact surfaces can move along the top rail while remaining in contact with the top side to selectively position the at least one vertical upright support laterally along the top rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles W. Craft
  • Patent number: 7401706
    Abstract: A closure having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation includes a plastic inner shell having a skirt with at least one internal thread, an external bead on the skirt and a circumferential array of teeth on the bead. A plastic outer shell has a skirt externally encircling the skirt of the inner shell. The outer shell has an internal bead on its skirt, a circumferential array of first teeth on one side of the internal bead, a circumferential array of second teeth on the other side of the internal bead, and at least one third engagement element adjacent to an edge of the skirt. The inner shell is positionable within the outer shell in child-resistant and non-child-resistant positions, in which the teeth on the inner skirt engage the first or second teeth on the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Shingle
  • Patent number: 7401707
    Abstract: A closure includes an outer plastic shell having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with a central axis, a circumferential array of lugs on an underside of the base wall, and a pair of axially spaced internal beads on the skirt spaced from the base wall. An inner plastic shell has a base wall, a peripheral skirt with a central axis, at least one internal thread on the skirt of the inner shell, a circumferential array of lugs on an outer surface of the base wall, and a circumferential bead on an outer surface of the skirt remote from the base wall. The inner shell is positionable within the outer shell in a non-child-resistant first position with the bead on the skirt of the inner shell captured between the beads on the skirt of the outer shell, such that the outer shell is rotatably coupled to the inner shell and the at least one internal thread on the skirt of the inner shell can be threaded onto and off of a container by simple rotation of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Brozell, Steven R. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7401708
    Abstract: A waste container includes an outer container and an inner container removably mounted in the outer container. The inner container includes a body and two handles. The body of the inner container includes a peripheral wall delimiting an opening. The peripheral wall includes two engaging sections on two opposite portions thereof. Each handle includes two ends pivotally coupled to the engaging sections respectively. Each handle is pivotable to an upward position allowing carriage of the inner container. Each handle is pivotable to a resting position for retaining a peripheral edge of a bag mounted in the inner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Tsong-Yow Lin
  • Patent number: 7401709
    Abstract: An adjustable positioning apparatus for positioning containers on a shelf tray assembly of a vertically accumulating storage and retrieval apparatus has a container abutting portion and engagement structure for securing the container abutting portion on a portion of the shelf tray assembly so as to position the container on the shelf tray. A vertically accumulating storage and retrieval apparatus having adjustable container positioning structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Vertique, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Stingel, Jr., Jeffrey W. Stingel, Frederick J. Stingel, III
  • Patent number: 7401710
    Abstract: A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container sizes. The dispensing system incorporates a rotation sensor, a position sensor, and a lift arm. The sensors enable accurate rotation of the cradle through a plurality of vend angles depending upon the particular product being vended, while the lift arm cooperates with the push arm and load bar to refill the cradle after a series of product containers have been dispensed. In addition, the vend motor includes a soft start control that prevents instantaneous rotation of the output shaft so as to prolong an overall operational life of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.
    Inventors: Talbert James Black, Jr., Thomas Roger Meinardi, Edmund Scott Richardson, Terring M. Ware
  • Patent number: 7401711
    Abstract: A blank capable of being formed into a carton for enclosing a plurality of containers that includes a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, an adhesive flap, at least one first end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank, and at least one second end flap extending along a second marginal area of the blank. A tear line is formed in the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. In some embodiments, the tear line in each side panel extends perpendicular from the top panel and continues to at least one turn to proceed into side panel end flaps. One or more stair steps can be included in each side panel along the tear line. Separation of a detachable portion from the carton along the tear line creates an opening through which the containers can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Rudolph Spivey, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7401712
    Abstract: Described herein is a portable storage device that stores a hydrogen fuel source. The storage device includes a bladder that contains the hydrogen fuel source and conforms to the volume of the hydrogen fuel source. A housing provides mechanical protection for the bladder. The storage device also includes a connector that interfaces with a mating connector to permit transfer of the fuel source between the bladder and a device that includes the mating connector. The device may be a portable electronics device such as a laptop computer. Refillable hydrogen fuel source storage devices and systems are also described. Hot swappable fuel storage systems described herein allow a portable hydrogen fuel source storage device to be removed from a fuel processor or electronics device it provides the hydrogen fuel source to, without shutting down the receiving device or without compromising hydrogen fuel source provision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: UltraCell Corporation
    Inventors: Ian W. Kaye, James L. Kaschmitter
  • Patent number: 7401713
    Abstract: A pack containing medicament, the pack including a base having first and second opposing faces, at least one recess being formed in the first face, a foil secured to the first face so as to form with the at least one recess a sealed compartment for housing medicament and a substantially rigid member housed in the compartment extending generally from the second face to the first face such that the member can be pushed from the second face so as to rupture the foil outwardly of the compartment at the first face without compressing the medicament and a dispensing device for use with or including such a pack having an actuator for pushing the member from the second face so as to rupture the foil outwardly of the compartment at the first place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Meridica Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Ede, Douglas Ivan Jennings
  • Patent number: 7401714
    Abstract: A pump for discharging bubbles is provided on a neck portion of a container body. The pump for discharging bubbles comprises a cylinder for liquid in which a first piston slides, a cylinder for air in which a second piston slides, a pump head on which a nozzle is provided and which is connected to the first piston and the second piston so as to drive the both pistons, a vapor-liquid mixing chamber in which liquid delivered from the cylinder for liquid and air delivered from the cylinder for air are joined and a bubbling member provided between the nozzle and the vapor-liquid mixing chamber. Liquid within the container body and outside air are pumped up to be joined in the vapor-liquid mixing chamber and the vapor-liquid is bubbled via the bubbling member to be discharged in a foamy state from the nozzle by depressing the pump head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Iizuka, Hiroshi Mizushima, Haruo Tsuchida, Tadao Saito
  • Patent number: 7401715
    Abstract: A rotatable strap arrangement for a load carrier of a transporting vehicle. The load carrier includes an elongate tray with a rotation mechanism coupled thereto, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement has a strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap operable for securing an object to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement further includes a strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Edgerly
  • Patent number: 7401716
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf system includes a shelf capable of being moved from a first position slidably mounted within a first pair of track members to a second position slidably mounted within a second pair of track members without being completely removed from said first and second pair of track members. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Svenson, Tom Delano
  • Patent number: 7401717
    Abstract: An automatic lifting mechanism for motorcycle saddle mainly includes a first and a second supporting arm respectively fixed to a saddle and a body of a motorcycle, at least one spiral spring having two sideward extended terminal ends separately pressed against the two supporting arms, and a damping device located in the at least one spiral spring to rotatably engage at two ends with the two supporting arms. While a spring force of each spiral spring quickly elastically stretches open the first and the second supporting arm when the saddle is unlocked, the damping device limits a rotating speed of the two supporting arms, so that the saddle could be automatically lifted or moved downward at a buffered speed without the risk of injuring a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Startech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ke-Chien Chen
  • Patent number: 7401718
    Abstract: The arrangement is for the axial driving of a supply hose (11) for pressure medium or application medium in the form of fluid, gaseous or solid, granule-formed or powder-formed, material. The supply hose (11) is connected to a displaceable cartridge (42) provided with at least one spray nozzle (43). The cartridge (42) is arranged in a guide tube (41) along an object that is to be sprayed. The arrangement has three driving wheels (21), where at least one driving wheel (21a) is driven by driving means and where each driving wheel (21) has a concave jacket surface (27) congruent with the supply hose (11). The concave jacket surface (27) surrounds the supply hose to at least 100° degrees of the circumference of the supply hose (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
    Inventor: Michael A. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7401719
    Abstract: A staple-driving gun includes a gun body having a hollow housing configured with first and second air chambers separated by a partition, and a staple-discharging member mounted on the housing. A piston unit includes an operating member connected fixedly to a sleeve disposed movably in the first air chamber, and a piston rod disposed movably in the sleeve. The operating member is operable so as to move a valve end portion of the sleeve away from the partition such that compressed air flowing from the first air chamber into the second air chamber via a valve hole in the partition urges the piston rod to move toward the staple-discharging member for staple discharging. A biasing member biases the sleeve to a standby position, where the valve end portion of the sleeve seals the valve hole in the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Panrex Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Ho Ou
  • Patent number: 7401720
    Abstract: A dual staple disposable surgical gun, wherein the gun fires two staples in a staggered formation simultaneously to close an incision in the skin to prevent the skin overlapping. The dual staple disposable surgical gun comprises a frame structure, adapted to be held by a hand with a grip having a handle. A first staple track and a second staple track each with an advancing blade and a spring mechanism is incorporated to aid in the injection of the staples. A translatable driver manually actuates both staple tracks to eject a single pair of staples simultaneously when the dual staple disposable surgical gun is squeezed. The dual staple disposable surgical gun additionally includes a biasing means for returning the translatable driver from a staple ejecting position to a staple reloading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Ayaz Mahmud Durrani
  • Patent number: 7401721
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Henry Holsten, Frank J. Viola, Clifford L. Emmons, John W. Beardsley, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7401722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circular stapler used for an operation of cutting off and suturing a jejunum, where a structure of the circular stapler is improved to facilitate manipulation thereof and to enhance the potential for success of the operation. The circular stapler comprises: a detachable anvil; a head section coupled to the detachable anvil and having a head section cover; and a cylindrical body which extends longs and of which the top end is coupled to the head section, and a recessed portion is formed in a side surface of the cylindrical body positioned under the head section cover. According to the circular stapler, it is possible to considerably reduce the potential for constricting the small intestine, to reduce the bleeding, which may be generated due to the stapling in a state where the tension is applied, and to reduce a risk that the small intestine is caught by the head section of the circular stapler during the suturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Inha-Industry Partnership Institute
    Inventor: Yoon-Seok Hur
  • Patent number: 7401723
    Abstract: A friction stir welding tool includes an integral shank-pin unit and a shoulder attached to the shank-pin unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Israel Stol, John W. Cobes
  • Patent number: 7401724
    Abstract: A flux based on alkali fluoroaluminate is described which is highly suitable for dry application (“dry fluxing”). This is a flux which is free of fine-grained fraction, which is defined by a range of grain-size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Solvay Fluor und Derivate GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Walter Swidersky, Alfred Ottmann, Heinz-Joachim Belt
  • Patent number: 7401725
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving hard drive actuator lead attachment. In one embodiment, an actuator board is coupled to an actuator flexible cable by a bonding agent, such as an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). In one embodiment, an actuator flexible cable is coupled to one or more actuator coil leads, such as by solder bump bonding, and the flexible cable/actuator coil coupling is embedded in an actuator frame, such as by polymer injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yiu Sing Ho, Guo Hong Lu, Can Hua Chen, Yuan Neng Luo, Jeffrey L. Wang, Liu Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7401726
    Abstract: For integrally bonding a first member and a second member made of copper or a copper alloy by brazing, a paste brazing material composed essentially of copper (Cu), tin (Sn), nickel (Ni) and phosphorus (P) is beforehand applied to at least one of the first and second members. A base material is exposed at the whole or a part of a contact portion between the first and second members. Thereafter, the first and second members are assembled at a predetermined position, and heated at a temperature in a range of 600° C.-800° C. within a reducing atmosphere furnace. By the brazing method, an oxide film on the surface of the base material can be sufficiently removed, so that the paste brazing material can smoothly flow on the surface at the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Tarui, Masafumi Takahashi, Tsuguharu Shimpo, Koji Onouchi, Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7401727
    Abstract: A mailing and response envelope for conveying an item from a sender to a recipient and back is disclosed. The envelope comprises a base panel, a sender address panel, and a recipient address panel. The sender address panel is affixed to the base panel by an adhesive region. The sender address panel and adhesive region define a pocket sized to accept an item. The adhesive region extends laterally on the base panel in an amount selected to ensure that a postal cancellation is not applied to an area overlying the item. The recipient address panel is joined to the base panel by a detachable joint. In this configuration, a fragile item may be conveyed from the sender to the recipient and from the recipient back to the sender without damage to the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ligia S. Calonje, Roy Carrillo, Thomas R. Dillion, W. Reed Hastings, Gregory K. Stahl, W. Douglas Strabel, Gordon P. Rosete
  • Patent number: 7401728
    Abstract: Communication between machines in an event-based manufacturing system. In an event-based manufacturing system, material-specific data obtained for a material produced during a first manufacturing operation is used to govern a second manufacturing operation to decrease the likelihood of at least a delay event, a waste event, or poor quality of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Earl Markham, Douglas Gordon Barron Barber, Paul D. Fuller, John Harland Hise, Sheryl Annette Ihde, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Jon Ray Matheus, Kurt Sigurd Nygaard, Michael Roy Pokorny, Walter Caswell Reade, Gregory Duncan Shaffer, Flynn Matthew Tiffany, Roger Dale Yosten
  • Patent number: 7401729
    Abstract: A self service terminal comprises a keyboard including a plurality of separate, individually operable keys having user engageable surfaces. Each key includes a display having an image thereon which is produced by electronic ink. The terminal further comprises a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the keyboard and arranged to control each display to control the image displayed by each respective display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Fiona McDade, Michael R. McNamara
  • Patent number: 7401730
    Abstract: A self-service deposit terminal for bank notes, in the deposited notes are subjected to an acceptance procedure in which the deposited notes are passed through a note validator and a decision is made regarding the validity of the notes, so as to differentiate between: a) authentic notes; b) counterfeit notes; and c) suspect notes. Reject notes are then separated from authentic notes and diverted to a purge bin. On route to the purge bin counterfeit notes are marked, so as to render them unusable and suspect notes are marked without rendering them unusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Chao He, Gary Ross
  • Patent number: 7401731
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for implementing a card product or access mechanism with multiple relationships with an issuing entity (e.g., bank, etc.) where each relationship may be defined by one or more sets of rules that are customized for a particular customer. A computer implemented method and system for implementing a mechanism with multiple customized relationships may involve identifying one or more customized rules for an access mechanism associated with a customer; establishing a plurality of accounts for the customer wherein the plurality of accounts comprise different accounts with different account characteristics; and invoking one of the plurality of accounts for a transaction through the access mechanism, based at least in part on the one or more customized rules; wherein the plurality of accounts share at least one funding account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA
    Inventors: Tracy M. Pletz, Howard C. Seidel, Joseph Rochford
  • Patent number: 7401732
    Abstract: An apparatus for reading information encoded on standardized personal identification credentials includes a reading device that reads information encoded on 3-track magnetic stripes as well as barcodes, and connects to a computer system to allow complete automation of information collection. The software application uses the apparatus to automate the collection of data from individuals entering a secure facility, and includes a credentialing for recognizing employees, contractors and visitors. The software system allows for visitor pre-announcement, specification of visit duration, and printing of time-sensitive access passes. The software application supports an unlimited number of printers. Security is enhanced through an automatic checking of government supplied terrorists lists, and other ENTRY NOT ALLOWED lists. The software application encrypts important visitor personal data for privacy purposes, and includes a device for customizing system security and data collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Michael A. Haddad
  • Patent number: 7401733
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for a smart card including: a first card having a device; and a second card having an aperture that is configured to allow a device to be inserted into an aperture when the second card is properly aligned with the first card, thereby allowing a device to protrude into an aperture. Optionally, the first card includes an aperture, and the second card includes a device, so that an aperture of the first card accommodates a device of the second card when the first card is properly aligned with the second card. Optionally, the apertures and the devices are configured to allow a stack of a plurality of the first and second cards to be densely packed Optionally, a card includes a magnetic stripe, an electronic circuit, and/or an embedded electrically-conductive wire for operationally connecting a device to a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: SanDisk Il Ltd
    Inventor: Itzhak Pomerantz
  • Patent number: 7401734
    Abstract: A method of retrieving product information and ordering products is disclosed. A consumer observes a product in its real world usage context and scans an RFID tag embedded in the product. A mobile terminal is used to transmit the RFID tag to a computer connected to a computer network. The computer transmits product specification information to the mobile terminal. The consumer may also be given the option of purchasing the product in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Accenture LLP
    Inventors: Dadong Wan, Anatole V. Gershman, Adam B. Brody
  • Patent number: 7401735
    Abstract: An automated commodity customer delivery driven method/system to manage commodity sales by acquiring a chance of purchase of a selecting customer as well as another new customer for a relevant commodity by assuring availability of the inventory for both customers of the relevant commodity. The shop inventory for the selecting customer is acquired according to acceptance of a temporary reservation status for requesting acquisition of the inventory of the selected commodity and the inventory in the shop that was acquired for the selecting customer is returned to the number of inventories for selling to the other new customer, based upon a specified method of transferring the selected commodity to the selecting customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Toshiya Morisugi, Takeshi Asai
  • Patent number: 7401736
    Abstract: A card reader for reading magnetic stripe cards which are manually inserted, and withdrawn, by a user. The card is constrained to follow a path which displaces the card laterally while the card is outside the reader, and before the magnetic stripe reaches a magnetic sensor within the reader. The lateral displacement prevents an illicit magnetic sensor, positioned externally to the reader by a hacker, from reading the magnetic stripe, since the stripe is moving in an incorrect direction while the card is external to the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: David C. C. May
  • Patent number: 7401737
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a mobile personal computer (MPC) system with built-in scanner. In one embodiment, the method includes detection of the insertion of an item within a paper feed tail exposed on an exterior surface of the MPC system. In one embodiment, if insertion is detected when the MPC system is in a sleep state, a disabled scanner device is enabled to scan the item to capture an item image. Subsequently, the item image may be processed to identify the item as, for example, a business card. In one embodiment, an item image may be further processed to extract contact information from the item image. In one embodiment, when item insertion is performed during a sleep state, subsequent to completion of extraction of the contact information, components of the system awoken during the sleep state may resume the sleep state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaobo Huang, Wen Wei
  • Patent number: 7401738
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for reading a color symbol, which comprises a matrix of color filters arranged in front of a detector. Light received from the filters of some colors is used to locate the color symbol, while light received from all the filters is used to read and decode the located symbol. Preferably, the filters used for locating the symbol are of the colors to which the detector is most sensitive. Preferably, the filters for locating the symbol are dominant in number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazukuni Hosoi, Haruo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7401739
    Abstract: An inventive card-type portable information processing device case permits a user to select a mode in which a card-type portable information processing device is taken out of the case with a cap attached thereto or a mode in which the card-type portable information processing device is taken out of the case with the cap detached therefrom and engaged with the first cover. The inventive case includes a cap engagement portion (15) provided in a first cover (1). By moving the card-type portable information processing device (30) in a direction A, the card-type portable information processing device (30) is taken out of the case with the cap (40) attached thereto. By moving the card-type portable information processing device (30) in a direction C, only the card-type portable information processing device (30) is taken out of the case with the cap (40) engaged in the cap engagement portion (15) of the first cover (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikanori Miyawaki, Mikiya Ueda, Yoshiaki Akutagawa
  • Patent number: 7401740
    Abstract: An RFID tag has a frequency agile RF transceiver that transmits data from the RFID tag to a reader and a direct sequence spread spectrum RF receiver that receives communications from the reader. Messages between the reader and the RFID tag are divided into frames, and each frame contains a frame header transmitted by the reader and at least one time slot containing data transmitted by the RFID tag. The frame header contains a hop sequence and a frequency in a hop sequence to be used by the RFID tag in transmitting data to the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Becker, David W. Meyers, Sabera Kazi
  • Patent number: 7401741
    Abstract: A portable data storage module comprises a control module, a wireless communication module, a rewriteable memory and a data transfer button. When the data transfer button is actuated, the portable data storage module wakes from a sleep mode and the control module initiates a data transfer via the wireless communication module with a device. After the data transfer, the portable data storage module reenters the sleep mode. The portable data storage module may be configured to transfer data, such as a trip plan, between a network host and an in-cab driver communication module. The portable data storage module may also store and maintain additional data, such as a driver log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Xata Corporation
    Inventor: Peter A. Thayer
  • Patent number: 7401742
    Abstract: A temporary heating apparatus comprises a portable heat exchanger which transfers heat from a hot fluid circulating in a primary circulation loop thereof to a heated liquid circulating in a secondary circulation loop thereof. The heat exchanger is connectable to a hot fluid source such that hot fluid from the hot fluid source circulates through the primary circulation loop. A portable remote heating unit comprises a fluid coil releasably connected by flexible conduits to the secondary circulation loop, and a secondary pump is connected to the flexible conduits and the secondary circulation loop to pump heated liquid through the secondary circulation loop, flexible conduits, and the fluid coil of the remote heating unit. The heat exchanger isolates the heating circuit from the hot fluid source, allowing the use of steam as the hot fluid source, and further allowing high pressures in the heating circuit, such as encountered in tall buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: DRYAIR, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Dancey, Claude Joseph Bourgault
  • Patent number: 7401743
    Abstract: A hydronic baseboard heater for use with PEX tubing has a hold-down bracket which is snapped into the baseboard enclosure to engage the tube of the finned tube element and provide additional support when flexible PEX tubing is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Slant/Fin Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Brown, George Weintraub
  • Patent number: 7401744
    Abstract: A jetting device and a method of jetting droplets of viscous medium onto a substrate. The jetting device includes a jetting outlet through which the droplets are jetted. The jetting device further includes a wall located at the jetting outlet, downstream of the jetting outlet seen in the jetting direction. The wall is provided with an orifice through which jetted droplets are permitted to pass through. A gaseous flow is provided within the space past the jetting outlet such that an adverse effect on the performance of the jetting device is prevented, the adverse effect resulting from the accumulation of viscous medium residue at the jetting outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mydata Automation AB
    Inventors: William Holm, Kenth Nilsson, Johan Kronstedt, Mårten Lundberg, Johan Berg, Mikael Bergman, Nicholas Glazer
  • Patent number: 7401745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder diffuser nozzle (2) for an electrostatic dusting device, which is designed to be positioned at the end of an applicator gun. The inventive nozzle (2) comprises: a lateral wall (49) which defines a passage that extends from the powder conduit (8) of the gun (3), and a base (56) which seals said conduit (8) at the end thereof. In addition, a port (57) is provided in the lateral wall (49) close to the base (56) in order to connect the powder conduit (8) with the exterior of the nozzle (2). The axis (A1) of the port (57) forms a determined angle (A) with the axis (A2) of the powder conduit (8). Moreover, at least one deflector (58) is provided on the base of the nozzle (56) or on the lateral wall (49) close to said base in order to divert the jet of powder from the conduit (8) along the axis (A1) of the port (57).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann France Sarl
    Inventor: Adrien Lacchia
  • Patent number: 7401746
    Abstract: An improved design for hammermills. The invention contains a centered rotor from which eight rows of hammers pulverize material against cutting plates inside a working chamber. The cutting plates have slots that are angled. The hammers may have a beveled, angled leading edge. Both the angled cutting plate slots and the angled hammer leading edges work to drive the material through the working chamber in a helical fashion, with a preferred travel profile of 450 degrees, but the helix length is adjustable depending on the specific needs. There are no perforated screens in the hammermill, thus the material is placed in an inlet, is urged through the hammermill by the action of the rotating hammers where the material is comminuted and then removed via an exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Carter Day International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Olson
  • Patent number: 7401747
    Abstract: Blade pairs for a paper shredder comprises two single blades with a flange rib on the surface of each blade, and the flange ribs of two single blades are against each other when shredding the paper. A hole is in the center of each blade. 2-8 corresponding blade points are arranged at the edge of each blade, which slant a certain degree beyond the plane of the blades, and the blade points of each blade pairs meet at a certain angle when assembled. Blade pairs is processed easily and it can save raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Splendid Electronics (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Shuhui Bai
  • Patent number: 7401748
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily attach a sound producing mechanism to a spool of a spinning reel and to compactly dispose the spool. An annular attachment member to which a hitting member of a sound producing mechanism is attached is detachably/reattachably mounted and fixed in an attachment recess that is formed to be annularly concaved in an inner peripheral portion of a bobbin trunk. Here, the annular attachment member is completely mounted in the attachment recess that is formed to be annularly concaved. Accordingly, it is possible to easily attach the attachment member to the attachment recess, and it is also possible to uniformly maintain the weight balance of a spool in the peripheral direction. In addition, here, the attachment member is mounted in the attachment recess. Thus, the attachment member is not likely to protrude backward from a rear end portion of the bobbin trunk, compared to the conventional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Keigo Kitajima, Hirokazu Hiraoka, Shingo Matsuo