Patents Issued in August 5, 2008
  • Patent number: 7406736
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stand alone integrated mattress. The system has a self-contained mattress unit, at least one inflatable bladder, at least one fluid source, at least one dispersion unit and at least one control unit. The self-contained mattress unit has at least a head section and a foot section, and is capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation. There is at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit. There is also at least fluid source. In addition there is at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit. The control system is positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Gaymar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Roland E. Flick
  • Patent number: 7406737
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine in which wash water and laundry contained in a rotating tub are heated by steam supplied into the rotating tub, so as to rapidly increase the temperature of the wash water and laundry, thereby being capable of reducing the total wash time while reducing the amount of wash water to be used, and reducing the consumption of energy caused by heating of the wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung Yull Yang, Hyung Gyoon Kim, Sang Yeon Pyo, Seon-Woo Park, Hye Soon Yang, Seong Min Oak, Seung Ju Choi, Jae-Ryong Park, Hyun Sook Kim
  • Patent number: 7406738
    Abstract: A thruster pig for sending through a pipe from an entrance facility to a receiving location, for servicing or monitoring, by pumping a thrusting fluid into the pipe to force the pig forward is disclosed. The thruster pig includes a body having a front end and a back end, where the back end includes a reaction surface to which said the thrusting fluid applies a motive force. The body is slightly smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the pipe. The pig also includes a seal circumferentially arranged on the pig to seal between said body and said pipe. A desired differential pressure is maintained over the pig to urge said pig forward through the pipe by pumping a fluid into the annulus between the pipe and the return flow line while returning fluid through said return flow line utilizing connected servicing or monitoring equipment. A connector releasably connects a return flow line to the pig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignees: Statoil ASA, Crawford Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Keijo Kinnari, Catherine Labes-Carrier, Jim Bob Crawford
  • Patent number: 7406739
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved grout tool generally employed with a multi-functional surface cleaning machine having a fluid tank, a pump, and at least one receptacle for holding concentrated cleaning chemicals. In one embodiment, the grout tool employs fluid jets, adjustably connected via brackets, such that the jets are positioned at an angle relative to the grout tool body to allow fluid to hit a surface of an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Karcher Floor Care, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Guest, Roger Pedlar, Brian J. Doll
  • Patent number: 7406740
    Abstract: The invention is a cleaning device comprising of a shaft. The shaft has a hollow section and a lower end with a rim. The rim defines an opening at the bottom end of the shaft. The opening is located about the longitudinal axis and is in communication with the hollow section. The shaft also has one or more apertures that extend through the side of the shaft and are in communication with said hollow section. The shaft also has one or more slits that maybe in communication with the one or more apertures. The slit(s) run parallel to the longitudinal axis and may terminate before reaching the rim. The cleaning device is designed in such a way to easily allow a user to employ any flexible fabric or other suitable material in the cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Pallatheri Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7406741
    Abstract: A coating for a rubber or elastomer wiper blade of a vehicle windscreen wiper, of the type comprising an additive for reducing the coefficient of friction between the blade and the window, characterised in that it comprises cavities with microscopic dimensions which open out outside the coating, which confers a hydrophilic character on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Systems d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Alexis Braun
  • Patent number: 7406742
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a blower fan, a motor for driving the blower fan, a blower tube for conveying an air stream from the blower fan, and a potential compensation device that is electrically connected with the motor. The potential compensation device includes a charge compensation element having a free end that projects in an exposed manner into the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Joos, Uwe Gaese
  • Patent number: 7406743
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a handle unit for a vacuum cleaner. The handle unit for the vacuum cleaner for controlling a cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner includes a handle body of the vacuum cleaner; and a supporting unit projected from one side of the handle body, the supporting unit holding an accessory brush, wherein the supporting unit and the handle body is molded in a single piece by the injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Tae-Gwang Kim, Jeong-Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 7406744
    Abstract: A central vacuum system includes a motor-cooling airflow path that provides sufficient cooling for the motor and its drive components even though the cooling air is partially restricted by a downstream filter that captures airborne carbon dust emitted from the motor's commutator brushes. A divider system creates multiple chambers within the vacuum system's canister, and in some embodiments, air passageways in the canister and in the divider system direct the cooling air through the chambers in a flow pattern that avoids contaminating the drive components with carbon dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Marc Bruneau
  • Patent number: 7406745
    Abstract: A wheel assembly has a swiveling shaft, a support member movably assembled with the swiveling shaft, an arresting member and wheels. The swiveling shaft includes a swiveling sleeve, a pressing element disposed on the swiveling sleeve, and a first gear bracket and a second gear bracket. The support member includes a rack with an opening, and a third gear bracket snapped in the opening, The arresting member is mounted on the rack. A first resilient element is provided between the arresting member and the rack. A second resilient element is provided between the arresting member and the third gear bracket. The wheels respectively pivot to the rack, and are limited at opposite sides of the arresting member. The pressing element limits rotation of the wheels, preventing deformation of the wheels thereby effectively stopping the wheels and lengthening lives of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Haion Caster Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuan-Hai Chou
  • Patent number: 7406746
    Abstract: A slider and method of using the same is provided for facilitating the sliding of a load on a supporting surface. The slider includes a support platform having an upper surface for receiving the load thereon and a lower surface. A plurality of slider elements depend from the lower surface of the support platform. Each slider element has an outer surface engageable with the supporting surface. A lubricating pad extends from the support platform and is engageable with the supporting surface for lubricating the supporting surface during movement of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Richard D. Bushey
  • Patent number: 7406747
    Abstract: A hinge apparatus for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge body with supporting brackets, movably inserted into a coupling hole positioned in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the supporting brackets, and a pressure device disposed at the hinge body to press the hinge cam. Accordingly, the hinge apparatus can be implemented with a simple and easy assembly operation, since it is not a complicated structural connection among the component parts of the hinge apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-ha Chol
  • Patent number: 7406748
    Abstract: A hinge including a stiffened leaf. The hinge may generally comprise a first longitudinally-extending leaf having a base portion and a mounting portion offset and preferably parallel to the base portion that defines a cavity. The mounting portion may contain at least one hole for attaching the leaf to a hinged object with a fastener. In one embodiment, the hole further includes an annular reinforcement disposed in the cavity proximate to the hole. The hole may be conical in shape and may extend into the reinforcement to receive and support a conically-shaped fastener head. The hinge is suitable for thin leaf construction and continuous full-length hinge applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Austin R. Baer
  • Patent number: 7406749
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-link hinge (10) for hinging a door leaf (12) to the body of a piece of furniture with a body fitting which may be fixed to the support wall (14) of the body and a door leaf fitting (20) connected to the above by means of a joint mechanism. The support wall fitting, embodied as an extended support arm is arranged on a fitting plate (18) which may be fixed to the support wall of the body and coupled to the door leaf fitting, embodied as a hinge cup fitted in a recess in the back face of the door leaf (12), by means of the joint mechanism, embodied with two joint arms (22; 24) each connected to one of the fittings such as to pivot. A damping device acts on a support wall side hinge piece, for example the body fitting (16) or the fixing plate (18) and one of the joint arms (24), at least during a locking part of the pivoting motion of said joint arm on a closing or opening motion of the door leaf fitting (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mepla-Werke Lautenshlaeger GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Markus Herper
  • Patent number: 7406750
    Abstract: An apparatus at a spinning room machine, especially a spinning preparation machine, for example a carding machine or draw frame, for visual signal display, has at least two light sources in the form of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each of which is associated with a cover, the signal display—which is in communication with a control device—being capable of emitting signals of light of different colours. In order to provide an apparatus which especially is of simple construction and allows a reduced outlay in terms of manufacture and installation, a plurality of LEDs, which are located inside a clear or opaque cover, are capable of emitting coloured or white light corresponding to the particular operating situation of the spinning room machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fritz Hösel
  • Patent number: 7406751
    Abstract: A tensioning device for applying tension to a line extending between first and second objects. The tensioning device comprises a first engaging portion, a support surface, and first and second gripping portions defining a gripping notch. The first engaging portion is adapted to be connected to the first object. The support surface is adapted to support the line. The gripping notch is located adjacent to the support surface. The support surface supports the line to define a first line portion extending in a first direction, a second line portion in contact with the support surface, and a third line portion extending in a second direction. The third line portion is adapted to support the second object. The first line portion is pulled to place the line under tension. The gripping notch is arranged to engage the first line portion to inhibit movement of the line relative to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Homax Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester R. Greer, Jr., Randal W. Hanson, Wilfred Joseph Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7406752
    Abstract: A stretching device for filiform elements comprises a main body member (1) having ends, with one of the ends having a connection opening (2) and the opposite end of the plate member having a rotating mounting opening (3) in the rotating mounting opening there is a rotating part (6) having a command head (11) which forms a winding reel (7) for the wire to be stretched; mounted on the main body (1) is a slide mobile cramp (12). The winding to stretch the element is done by turning the command head (11). Once the suitable stretching has been achieved, the slide mobile cramp (12) is slided until said command head (11) is introduced into the cramp recess (15) formed by the cramp fork (14). Under these conditions, the rotating part (6) is fixed, keeping the tension on the filiform element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Eduardo Roberto Fernández, Cesar Hugo Olivera
  • Patent number: 7406753
    Abstract: A two-piece clip for tying down a sheet of material has an elongated triple tapered wedge insertable in a mating triple tapered groove. The two components bind the covering material therebetween with a tight friction fit and compress a relatively large area of material, especially plastic material with a built-in reinforcing fiber grid. The clip binds a large number of rows and columns of reinforcing elements of a plastic cover sheet in a tight friction fit therebetween for a secure grip and easy release without damaging the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Patrick J. LaScala
  • Patent number: 7406754
    Abstract: A combination memorial and columbarium having a headstone, and a base supporting the headstone. At least one chamber for holding a cremation urn and/or the cremated remains of an individual is formed either in the headstone or the base. The chamber has an opening which is sealed either permanently or with a removable seal. In certain embodiments, the chamber is located in the headstone, and the opening may be plugged with a removable seal, or the opening may be sealed by the base of the monument. In another embodiment, the chamber is formed in the base, and the bottom portion of the headstone forms the seal for the chamber when the headstone is placed on the base. In an embodiment of the invention, one deceased person is interned in the earth ahead of the headstone, and the cremated remains of another deceased are secured in the chamber. The chamber may also be adapted to hold a DNA sample of the cremated individual for future family medical reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Nancy Trail
  • Patent number: 7406755
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric comprises continuous polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier that have been hydroentangled in a complex matrix for interconnecting filament loops, and that is otherwise substantially free of knotting, or of otherwise wrapping about one another. A process for making a nonwoven fabric comprises continuously extruding polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support, pre-entangling the filaments with water jets, and entangling the filaments with a second set of water jets on a three-dimensional image transfer device. An apparatus for making a nonwoven fabric comprises means for continuously extruding substantially endless polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support to form an unbonded web, a pre-entangling station for entangling the web with a plurality of water jets, and a plurality of water jets for final entanglement of the filament web on a three-dimensional image transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Putnam, Richard Ferencz, Marlene Storzer, Jian Weng
  • Patent number: 7406756
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric resonator is provided including: forming a resonator element having a plate-like base and a plurality of arms extending laterally from the base on a substrate made of crystal; emitting laser light for irradiating one surface and the other surface of the arms with laser light and for removing a region irradiated with the laser light, so as to form a groove having a predetermined cross sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove; forming a driving electrode on the resonator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Umetsu, Kazuto Yoshimura, Tsukasa Funasaka, Fumitaka Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7406757
    Abstract: The method manufactures a liquid ejection head comprising: a plurality of nozzles which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which are connected to the nozzles, respectively; a diaphragm which forms wall faces of the pressure chambers; and piezoelectric elements which are disposed on the diaphragm at positions corresponding to the pressure chambers and each are formed of at least a piezoelectric material and electrodes overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mita
  • Patent number: 7406758
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum cup assembly includes a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein, and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing. The vacuum generator is coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and is adapted to generate a reduced pressure region. The sealing member forms an enclosable region in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region. In another embodiment, a method of performing a manufacturing operation includes installing a coordinating pin into an indexing hole, the coordinating pin including a quantum of indexing information. The quantum of indexing information is sensed, and a manufacturing operation is performed based at least partially on the quantum of indexing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Theodore Boyl-Davis, Roger Gage, Laurance N. Hazlehurst
  • Patent number: 7406759
    Abstract: In a method for releasing a work having an adhesive tape from a holding member which sucks and holds the work having the adhesive tape, the work having the adhesive tape is released from the holding member while supplying a gas which reduces a holding force of the holding member between the holding member and the work having the adhesive tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamamoto, Yasuji Kaneshima
  • Patent number: 7406760
    Abstract: The inventions presented herein provide an armor forming tool for use with an armor forming machine. The machine feeds a continuous strip of metal to a sub-assembly of a cable so as to wrap the continuous strip around the sub-assembly. The tool applies appropriate pressures to the wrapped continuous strip to form an interlocked armor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventor: Scotty Joe Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 7406761
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of single crystal silicon micromechanical resonators using a two-wafer process, including either a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or insulating base and resonator wafers, wherein resonator anchors, a capacitive air gap, isolation trenches, and alignment marks are micromachined in an active layer of the base wafer; the active layer of the resonator wafer is bonded directly to the active layer of the base wafer; the handle and dielectric layers of the resonator wafer are removed; viewing windows are opened in the active layer of the resonator wafer; masking the single crystal silicon semiconductor material active layer of the resonator wafer with photoresist material; a single crystal silicon resonator is machined in the active layer of the resonator wafer using silicon dry etch micromachining technology; and the photoresist material is subsequently dry stripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ijaz H. Jafri, Jonathan L. Klein, Galen P. Magendanz
  • Patent number: 7406762
    Abstract: A fabricating method of an electrical terminal connector comprises the following steps: (1) providing an angled insulating housing having a first opening, a second opening and a through passage therein, the insulating housing further including a window and a cover; (2) providing a conducting terminal which has a flat-end connecting portion facing the first opening and a crimped portion facing the second opening; (3) providing a deformable crimp ferrule which has a core-connecting end and a crimping end facing the conducting terminal; (4) assembling conducting terminal with the deformable crimp ferrule; (5) placing the assembly of the conducting terminal and the deformable crimp ferrule through the window in the passage of the insulating housing, then fastening the cover with the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: K.S. Terminals, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuan-Feng Lu
  • Patent number: 7406763
    Abstract: A method of producing a multiconductor cable is provided herein. A plurality of wires are arranged in a flat array with a specific pitch at both ends of them having an intermediate portion that are bundled together and a transforming portion. The plurality of wires have lengths different from one another, where the lengths vary successively from the minimum length, Ls, to the maximum length, Lm. At both end portions, the transforming portion of the wires are arranged using an arranging tool and attached so that the wires are held in grooves. The wires are moved from the arranging tool and a terminal structure is formed for electrical connection at both ends of the multiconductor cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hirata, Shizuyoshi Satou, Hiroyuki Senba
  • Patent number: 7406764
    Abstract: A method of determining the acceptability of a press contact of a wire between press contact blades of a terminal. The method includes the steps of storing a reference data of a relationship between displacements of the press contact blades when the wire is brought into press contact with a normal press contact terminal and contact loads between the press contact blades and the core wire; inserting the wire between the press contact blades of the press contact terminal as an object to be inspected; measuring the displacement of the press contact blades caused by the insertion of the wire; and determining the acceptability of the press contact terminal as the object to be inspected by predicting the contact loads between the press contact blades of the press contact terminal as the object to be inspected based on the measured displacements and the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takayama, Kei Fujimoto, Nobuyuki Asakura, Shigeru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7406765
    Abstract: A method of assembling a port assembly in a cavitation chamber, typically a spherical chamber, is provided. The method is comprised of the steps of boring a port in a cavitation chamber wall, positioning a cone-shaped member within a corresponding cone-shaped surface of a mounting ring, positioning the mounting ring within the port, and locking the mounting ring within the port with a retaining ring. The largest diameter of the cone-shaped member corresponds to the cavitation chamber internal surface. The member can be a window, gas feed-thru, liquid feed-thru, mechanical feed-thru, sensor, sensor coupler, transducer coupler or plug. The member can be secured within the mounting ring with an adhesive. The retaining ring can be coupled to the cavitation chamber external surface with one or more bolts. The port in the cavitation chamber is preferably cone-shaped with the largest diameter of the port corresponding to the cavitation chamber external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7406766
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) of the present invention is designed for assembling a load floor (12) having a peripheral slot (22) and an overlaying layer (24, 28). The apparatus (10) tucks the overhang of the overlaying layer (24, 28) into the peripheral slot (22). At least one holding device (52) holds the load floor (12). At least one tucking tool (54) tucks the overhang of the overlaying layer (24, 28) into the peripheral slot (22) to fold the overhang over the peripheral slot (22) and thereafter tucking the overhang into the peripheral slot (22). The invention includes a method of sequentially folding and thereafter tucking the overhang of the overlaying layers (24, 28) into the peripheral slot (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: BBI Enterprises, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Levesque, Steven G Brown, Guy W Boitos, Karem Akawi
  • Patent number: 7406767
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a section of a support strut member of an offshore oil-drilling rig comprising steps which consist in: a) machining each longitudinal edge of a semi-cylindrical stiffener (13) to provide along the longitudinal edge, a lip (18) for support on a main surface (12A) of a main plate (12), by producing along the longitudinal edge an outer bevel (20) on the side opposite the conduit (17) defined by the stiffener (13); b) applying a base plate (22) of the support lip (18) to weld it with main surface (12A) of the plate (12); heating the support lip (18) to weld it with the plate (12) and constitute a support weld joint; and d) forming a weld bead with filler metal from outside the conduit (17) in the space delimited between the support weld joint, the outer bevel (20) and the main surface (12A) of the main plate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Louis Primot, Pierre-Armand Thomas
  • Patent number: 7406768
    Abstract: In a one-way clutch integrated with a rolling bearing, rolling elements and sprags are arranged in an annular space between an inner race and an outer race in each of which a one-way clutch raceway surface is formed in one axial side of a rolling bearing raceway surface. The rolling elements and the sprags make contact with respective raceway surfaces and are respectively housed in circumferentially spaced pockets formed in a common cage configured by mutually engaging and integrating two annular members in an axial direction. The one-way clutch includes urging means for urging the sprags in a locking direction in the pockets. An annular flat plate portion which seals one axial end portion of the annular space between the inner race and the outer race is integrally formed in one of the two annular members constituting the cage. Respective at least one radial and axial through holes are formed in the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ikeda, Kazuo Iga, Kazushi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7406769
    Abstract: A portable rechargeable apparatus for cutting a pipe with a collar having a throughbore for receiving pipe therein with a blade positioned within the throughbore for cutting the pipe. A gear teeth exteriorly positioned on the housing whereby a drive mechanism having an electric motor driving a gear and spaced apart arms for receiving the collar can rotatively drive the collar for cutting the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Toussaint
  • Patent number: 7406770
    Abstract: A trimmer having first and second cutting blades. The first and second cutting blades are mounted so that first and second flat surfaces, respectively thereon, face and are substantially parallel to each other. A drive causes at least one of the first and second cutting blades to move relative to the other of the first and second cutting blades. At least one fastening assembly has first and second facing shoulders between which the first and second cutting blades reside. The at least one fastening assembly further has at least one biasing element that produces a force that biasably urges the first and second flat cutting blade surfaces towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: William Bradley Mace, Ronald A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7406771
    Abstract: A protective shield (2) is provided for a free-cutting tool (1). The free-cutting tool has a cutterhead (4) rotatable about a rotational axis (3) and carries a cutting filament (5). For a rotating cutterhead (4), the cutting filament (5) rotates in a rotational direction (10), aligns itself approximately radially to the rotational axis (3) and defines a cutting circle (6) having a constructively pregiven nominal radius (R). The cutting radius (6) is at least partially covered by the protective shield (2). A cut-to-length knife (7) having a cutting edge (8) for cutting the cutting filament (5) to length is mounted on the protective shield (2) in the peripheral region thereof. The cut-to-length knife (7) is mounted on the protective shield (2) to be moveable back and forth between a cutting position (11) and a rest position (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Zimmermann, Roland Schierling, Johannes Menzel, Kai-Ulrich Machens
  • Patent number: 7406772
    Abstract: A device for measuring the position, path, or rotational angle of an object exhibits a dimensional gauge that is connected to the object and that can be scanned. The dimensional gauge assigns measured values to the object's positional range, and these measured values repeat themselves cyclically in the object's successive positional ranges. The number of the completed measured value cycles is counted by an encoding unit with code disks (3, 4, 5), which exhibit an absolute angular encoding capability (34, 44, 54). The code disks (3, 4 or 4, 5) are arranged in succession and are coupled by a differential gear (21, 30, 40 or 22, 45, 50). The number of completed measured value cycles is determined from the reciprocal angular position of the code disks (3, 4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Stegmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Josef Siraky
  • Patent number: 7406773
    Abstract: A magnet assembly is provided including a housing having a first end and a second end. A magnet is placed within a recess formed in the first end of the housing and a spring is positioned in at least a portion of the second end of the housing. A method of mounting a magnet assembly in a tool is provided. The method includes providing a magnet assembly including a housing having a recess formed in a first end of the housing and a spring positioned in a second end of the housing. The method further includes placing the magnet assembly into an opening defined in a tool and placing a magnet into the recess, and pressing the magnet against the spring to position the magnet within the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventor: Eric John Helda
  • Patent number: 7406774
    Abstract: An angle measurement tool in which the assembled components result in only two moving parts that are pivoted relative to each other and wherein the pivot axis is the geographic center of the angle measurement component and wherein a miter joint angle, the correspondent actual angle, the complementary angle of the actual angle and the supplementary angle of the actual angle can be read simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Marc Lev Shapiro
  • Patent number: 7406775
    Abstract: The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint including a fixation measurement element and a support arm element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a measurement tool for installing a caudad facet joint including a stem element and a trial caudad bearing surface element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of a caudad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Yet another aspect is a measurement tool holder including a measurement surface connected to a holder element. This tool holder assists in determining the measurements obtained with the caudad facet joint measurement tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Archus Orthopedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Funk, Thomas J. McLeer, Teena M. Augostino, Richard J. Broman, Leonard J. Tokish, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7406776
    Abstract: A mounting tool that includes a base extending along a first direction that is parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the base and a height gage attached to the base. The height gage includes a first leg attached to the base and extending along a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction and a second leg attached to the first leg and comprising a support portion extending along a third direction that is not parallel to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Acu-Rite Companies Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Brumbaugh
  • Patent number: 7406777
    Abstract: An alignment assembly comprises an outer bushing received in an aperture of a work piece, and an eccentric bushing received in a passage of the inner bushing and rotated to align a passage of the eccentric bushing with passages of other work pieces and/or alignment assemblies. An alignment assembly comprises an outer bushing received in an aperture of a work piece, inner bushing received in a passage of the outer bushing, and an eccentric bushing received in a passage of the inner bushing and rotated to align a passage of the eccentric bushing with passages of other work pieces and/or alignment assemblies mounted in other work pieces. Flanges and/or ends may be machined to accommodate off-center passages. The bushings may be secured via cold work expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Gröver, William A. Skinner, Mark R. Weiss, Jude H. Restis
  • Patent number: 7406778
    Abstract: A measuring tape end piece (10) is disclosed having a support portion (28) and a grip portion (32). The grip portion is moulded onto the support portion. The support portion provides a keying interface on which the support portion is moulded. The keying interface includes at least one concave formation such as a hole or channel to allow the grip portion to be firmly secured to the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fisco Tools Limited
    Inventors: Barry Howard Lee, John Richard Fisher
  • Patent number: 7406779
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided for flash drying liquid materials using a variable die. A die and a die body are provided with an adjustably configured pressure regulating variable obstruction in the material flow path that allows control of the pressure applied to the material and consequent control of the temperature of the material as it enters the die. Optimizing pressure and temperature allows optimization of the flash drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Timothy Flanery
  • Patent number: 7406780
    Abstract: There is provided an air inlet structure of a laundry dryer. In the air inlet structure, a base defines an air inlet, a front cabinet is disposed in front of the base and defines a suction hole to pass ambient air into the base, a cooling fan is stably disposed in the base to suck the ambient air, a blower tube forms a flow passage for the ambient air, a blower cover is fixed to the base to connect the blower tube and the cooling fan, and an air guide is disposed between the base and the blower cover, the air guide having a shroud at a center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Doh, Soon Jo Lee, Young Hwan Park, Jun Seok Lee, Kyung Seop Hong, Soo Won Park, Hwan Joo Myung
  • Patent number: 7406781
    Abstract: A modular shoe includes an upper with an upper side and a lower side, a chassis releasably arranged in an interior of the upper, and a plurality of studs. Each stud is releasably attached to the chassis through the lower side of the upper. The lower side of the upper is clamped between the chassis and at least one of the attached studs. The invention also relates to the various components used in a modular shoe in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Scholz
  • Patent number: 7406782
    Abstract: A footwear designed for a plurality of sports for protecting a user's feet and legs includes a first rigid shell defining a body (2) adapted to receive a user's foot and extending along an elongation direction (8); a second rigid shell defining an upper (4) designed to receive the user's leg and extending substantially along a rising direction (10); an articulation (6), linking the body to the upper, having specific mechanical strength characteristics. A range of articulations having different mechanical strength characteristics can be fixed to the first and second shells to accommodate the physiological differences between the various uses of such footwear articles and/or to the differences between the various sports for which the footwear articles may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Random Design
    Inventors: Gerard Valat, Cedric Ragot
  • Patent number: 7406783
    Abstract: The present invention is a clothing iron capable of lifting the iron, and thus the hot sole plate of the iron, away from a surface on which the iron rests when the iron is not in use, to reduce or prevent damage to the surface on which the iron rests. An important characteristic of the invention is that the sole plate of the iron is lifted in a direction including a vertical vector, with a plane of the sole plate remaining roughly horizontal. The elevation of the iron is accomplished through the use of an elevation mechanism including apparatus for extending at least one leg from the underside of the iron when the sensor indicates that the user's hand is not in contact with the iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Ehsan Alipour
  • Patent number: 7406784
    Abstract: An ironing board having an iron rest that is situated at the blunt end of the ironing board. The iron rest (3) is mounted on the ironing board (2) like a drawer and can be pushed in under the ironing board (2) after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Stefano Cevenini, Hannsgeorg Wolf, Johannes Flath, Barbara Helmerking, Carl-Uwe Tintelnot
  • Patent number: 7406785
    Abstract: A display device selectively provides a first and second displays. A first light source emits first light, and a second light source emits second light having peak wavelength different from the first light, and a translucent sheet hit selectively by one of the first and second lights. The translucent sheet has first printed area parts formed on a first surface of the sheet to pass only the first light for providing the first display, second printed area parts formed on the first surface to pass only the second light for providing the second display, third printed area parts formed on the first surface to prevent light transmittance, and printed dimmer area parts formed on a second surface at areas corresponding to overlapped area parts of the first and second displays so as to suppress the first and second lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Noguchi