Patents Issued in August 5, 2008
  • Patent number: 7407038
    Abstract: A lifting framework for an industrial truck has an extendible mast guided on a guide mast by rollers. Means are provided for bracing the extendible mast with the guide mast so as to prevent the extendible mast from inclining in the lateral direction of the lifting framework relative to the guide mast. The bracing means are configured such that, when the extendible mast is located in the top end position, a vertical movement of the extendible mast relative to the guide mast is prevented in the region of each of the two columns. A hydraulic lifting cylinder and a stop for the top end position of the extendible mast are arranged here in the region of each column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH
    Inventors: Barry Michael Warner, Paul John Eckersley, Keith Francis Messer
  • Patent number: 7407039
    Abstract: A portable hoist lifting frame kit has a cross beam 12 that can support an electrically, mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated hoist. The cross beam is secured to or supported by cantilever arms 9 which in turn locate into extension arms 4. The cross beam can move laterally along the length of the cantilever arms. The extension arms locate into protrusion blocks which in turn locate into a wall mounted bracket support system designed to support the load to be raised. The bracket support system is of the mild steel channel type with return lip such as “unistrut”. The portable hoist lifting frame kit can be assembled in various configurations i.e. it can be used with or without the protrusion blocks and extension arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Bailey
  • Patent number: 7407040
    Abstract: There is disclosed a coupling arrangement for coupling a motor to a hoist machine. The coupling arrangement comprises a first drum flange comprising an outer body having a first end and a second end, and an inner wall surface defining a cavity of substantially circular cross section. The cavity has a given diameter along a first length of the body, and of reducing diameter along a second length of the body. The flange is adapted to receive at the first end a tapered bushing of increasing diameter and dimensioned such that, upon insertion of the bushing within the body a given length, the bushing frictionally engages with the inner wall surface of reducing diameter for retention therein. The bushing has a central cavity for receiving the shaft of the motor and capable of securing onto the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Paul J. Doran
  • Patent number: 7407041
    Abstract: A method of constructing an elevator installation having a support plate with a drive unit in a first installation position, an elevator car and a counterweight and in which the drive unit is connected by a support cable with the elevator car and the counterweight. A cross member has a chain hoist and is mounted above a second installation position, the chain hoist being connected with the support plate by a chain, the support plate being released from the first installation position, raised by the chain hoist from the first installation position to the second installation position and finally is mounted in the second installation. An elevator installation has at least one recess, which serves for mounting the support plate, formed in a shaft wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Manfred Jungbauer, Claus Luther, Beate Sbielut, Peter Kron
  • Patent number: 7407042
    Abstract: A brake actuator mechanism has an inner shaft received at least partially within an outer shaft. The overload protection device is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The device selectively couples the inner shaft and the outer shaft so that when the outer shaft receives a torque beyond a predetermined limit, the device allows the outer shaft to rotate about the inner shaft without rotating the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Banks, Michael R. Brown, II, Alan Hendershot
  • Patent number: 7407043
    Abstract: A front disk brake includes a brake caliper having a pair of caliper side mount portions, and a caliper bracket having a pair of bracket side mount portions. The brake caliper includes an oblong-shared lower-side counterbore and a circular-shaped upper-side counterbore, the lower-side counterbore being oblong sectional shaped in the arrangement direction of the lower-side counterbore and the upper-side counterbore paired therewith. The caliper bracket includes lower-side and upper side circular-shaped counterbores which are opposed, respectively, to the counterbores of the brake caliper. The brake caliper is fixed to the caliper bracket by mounting fastening bolts in bolt passing holes and screw holes formed respectively in the mount portions. The bolt passing holes and the screw holes are provided at their portions on the sides of opposed surfaces with counterbores in which collar members are to be fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Fujita, Koushi Nakamura, Hidetoshi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7407044
    Abstract: A variable damping valve of a shock absorber is capable of properly adjusting a damping force according to read conditions, travel conditions and the like while a vehicle is traveling, thereby improving ride comfort and control stability. A flow of oil is controlled to generate a damping force and the damping force is simultaneously adjusted according to pressure in a pilot chamber. The damping valve comprises an upper retainer communicating with a high-pressure side and a main valve installed below the upper retainer. The main valve comprises a valve body defining a pilot chamber, a disk ring installed on a top surface of the valve body, and a housing for containing the valve body and the disk ring and integrally confining the valve body and the disk ring by being curled at upper and lower ends of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Young Whan Jee
  • Patent number: 7407045
    Abstract: A wheel bearing having fixed part accommodating the brake caliper. The fixed part of the wheel bearing is connected to the wheel carrier by connecting elements. At least one projection is integrated with the fixed part, the wheel carrier or the connecting element. The projection transmits to the wheel carrier at least the torque acting in the fixed part during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fag Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Jens Heim, Peter Niebling, Horst Masuch
  • Patent number: 7407046
    Abstract: An externally controlled fan drive includes a fluid clutch that alters torque delivered to a fan housing to rotate the fan housing at a target fan speed. An adaptive controller measures the actual fan speed and adaptively updates the control logic to compensate for variable physical characteristics of the fan device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: USUI International Corp.
    Inventors: Nikhil D. Bhat, Masato Yamada, Sameer A. Joshi, Ananthakrishnan Surianarayanan
  • Patent number: 7407047
    Abstract: Disk-shaped object thickness-restricting means is provided in a disk-shaped object guiding path for transferring a disk-shaped object, inserted through a disk-shaped object slot, in an inclined direction. The disk-shaped object thickness-restricting means comes into contact with the inserted disk-shaped object and changes its position depending on the thickness of the disk-shaped object in the contact, restricting the thickness of the inserted disk-shaped object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Ryoji Yamagishi, Yukio Ito, Yasuyuki Furusawa
  • Patent number: 7407048
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of disabling a drive system of a passenger conveying system is provided. The passenger conveying system is monitored with switches each arranged to detect a respective malfunction of the passenger conveying system. A shutdown signal is produced by a respective one of the switches detecting the respective malfunction and is coupled to a corresponding shutdown contact and to a controller. The corresponding shutdown contact operates to interrupt a drive enabling signal of the drive system in response to receipt of the shutdown signal. The controller monitors the shutdown signals from the switches and the drive enabling signal. The controller sends a signal to open a redundant contact to interrupt the drive enabling signal if the shutdown signal is detected and the drive system remains enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Boom
  • Patent number: 7407049
    Abstract: A pallet arrangement for a people mover includes a plurality of pallets arranged one after the other to form a track. Each pallet comprises a pallet body, at least one surfacing element attached to the pallet body and a fastening mechanism to attach the at least one surfacing element to the pallet body. The fastening mechanism comprises at least one coupling element included in each surfacing element of the pallet, a form-locking groove included in the pallet body of the pallet and a locking element performing a locking operation with a locking movement and a releasing operation with a releasing movement. The locking element acts on all the coupling elements in the form-locking groove of the pallet body substantially simultaneously during the locking movement and the releasing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
  • Patent number: 7407050
    Abstract: It is to provide a tablet filling device having improved quality and productivity by correctly filling the tablets in pocket parts of a container film even when the tablets have a non-circular shape such as triangle. The tablet filling device 52 has a rotary drum 2 provided with holding recesses 3 for storing the tablets 1 and transferring the tablets 1 to the downstream for filling the tablet 1 in a pocket part 44 of a container film 41. The holding recess 3 has a tablet receptacle section 3a that is larger than the tablet 1 supplied from a tablet feeding chute 5, and a posture correction section 3b that corrects the posture of the tablet 1 received in the tablet receptacle section 3a during the conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Maruyama, Hisanao Wate
  • Patent number: 7407051
    Abstract: A nozzleless belt-cleaning sprocket support shaft for cleaning endless conveyor belts has a first end, a second end, a central portion of generally square transverse cross section with a plurality of elongate narrow slits in each of the side walls in longitudinally spaced apart relation along its length, and a plurality of sprockets mounted thereon. Cleaning fluid is simultaneously discharged through the slits in a fan spray pattern onto the inside surface of the conveyor, through crevasses, joints, hinges, interfaces and openings in the belt to effect cleaning of the belt, and between the exterior surfaces of the shaft and interior surfaces of the bores of the sprockets and the bearings that support the shaft to effect cleaning of the overlapping surfaces, during rotation of the belt. The cleaning shaft may be used with various types of conveyor belts and the ends may be mounted in conventional bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Mike Farris, Douglas I. Manchester
  • Patent number: 7407052
    Abstract: A stabilized and guided conveyor belt (202) includes multiple transport chains (108) and interchangeable conveyor plates (100) that form the surface of the conveyor belt (202). The conveyor plates (100) can be easily attached independently of one another in a side by side fashion onto the transport chains (108) and are readily detachable from the transport chains (108) to facilitate replacement or rearrangement. Certain of the plates (100) function selectively as a platform on which to mount accessories such as lug members (136) and include means for receiving (134) accessories and for locking (138) accessories into place. The conveyor belt (202) is guided and supported by a smooth rail (420). Both the plate (100) and the rail (420) include interacting stabilizing features (130, 132, 424a, 424b) that cooperate to prevent buckling and rippling of the transport chain (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mead Westvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Cash, III, Michael F. Flagg, Larry D. Chuba
  • Patent number: 7407053
    Abstract: A boxed disc package has a box with a base and a foldable rigid creased board having multiple parallel creases. Mounting board-receiving panels and spines are formed and separated by the creases. Plural tray-holding boards are mounted on the board-receiving panels. Plural disc-holding trays are mounted on the plural tray-holding boards. One of the board-receiving panels of the foldable right creased board is secured in the box base. The remaining board-receiving panels with the attached tray-holding boards, trays and discs are folded around the spines for overlying each other and folding into the box base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Shane P Rossiter
  • Patent number: 7407054
    Abstract: Packaged systems for implanting a marker in a patient and methods for manufacturing and using such systems. In one embodiment, a packaged system comprises an introducer having a cannula and a stylet configured to be received in the cannula, a marker in the cannula, and a package having a sterile compartment. The marker can have a casing configured to be implanted in a patient and a resonating circuit in the casing. The resonating circuit can comprise a coil configured to wirelessly transmit a target signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal. The introducer is contained within the sterile compartment. In another embodiment, the marker is not loaded in the introducer within the compartment of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Seiler, Eric Hadford
  • Patent number: 7407055
    Abstract: A hair roots coloring kit includes a plurality of kit components carried in a drawstring bag for mixing and applying standard hair coloring materials to the uncolored outgrown roots of a user's hair. One or more measuring devices such as a measuring cup, a syringe, or an eyedropper are used for measuring the hair coloring materials to produce a matching color to previously colored hair shafts of the hair. A reusable mixing bowl or a plurality of disposable mixing bowls hold the measured hair coloring materials. A reusable stirring stick or a plurality of disposable stirring sticks are provided for mixing together the measured hair coloring materials in the mixing bowl. An applicator brush is used for applying the mixed matching color of hair coloring composition to the uncolored hair roots. A pair of protective gloves are provided to protect the user's hands during application of the hair coloring composition to the hair roots. A cleaning brush is used to aid in cleaning the kit components following use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Deborah T. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7407056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unit for automatic recycling apparatuses for containers, e.g. cans and bottles made of glass, plastic, or metal. Said unit comprises a conveying device with a conveyor belt for advancing the containers in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, and rotating rollers that are provided with a surface area and can be moved from a neutral position into an identifying position in which said rotating rollers disengage the container from the conveying device and make the container rotate. According to the invention, the rollers are embodied as hollow elements and are provided with a breakthrough in the longitudinal direction. At least one conveying device is disposed in the rollers, respectively, while the conveyor belt is arranged in the area of the breakthrough. The rotating rollers and the conveying device are mounted separately, the surface area of the rollers overlapping the conveyor belt of the conveying device when the rotating rollers are rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Lutz
  • Patent number: 7407057
    Abstract: A plastic transmission filter (1) composed of mating upper (2) and lower (3) shells of synthetic resin material with at least one set of registering weld posts (10) extending between inner surfaces of the upper and lower shells; a fluid pervious centertube (4) interposed between the mating shells around the weld posts, and a filter material (5) wrapped around the centertube to form a bag filter. The filter assembly can be welded together in a single vibration welding operation and provides enhanced flow of transmission fluid by avoiding flow restrictions caused by prior art reinforcement poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Vichinsky, Stuart Miller, Bruce Bounnakhom
  • Patent number: 7407058
    Abstract: A filter element for filtering fluids has at least one filter unit (12, 14, 16) that is disposed concentrically around the axis of the element. The unit is supported on at least one supporting element (24, 26, 30) in the direction of the flow of the fluid. At least part of the supporting elements (24, 26) is provided, at least on the side facing the filter unit (12, 14, 16), with channels (28) for guiding the fluid. Longitudinal ribs (50) delimit the channels (28), and extend along the supporting element (24, 26) in the form of spiral tracks. The two free ends of each channel (28) emerge at opposite ends of the corresponding supporting element (24, 26). The channels (28) extend continuously along the supporting element, are devoid of multiple deviations in the fluid flow and only partially surround the corresponding supporting element (24, 28) to form a torsional guide for the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Mertens, Andreas Schunk
  • Patent number: 7407059
    Abstract: A storage rack for retaining items to be dried, which can be used in conjunction with a drain basin, such as a sink, or as a stand alone system is disclosed. The rack includes a support body having a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and a plurality of foot members extending from the body in a direction opposite the side surfaces. The rack also includes three detachable basins: two side basins and a lower drain basin. The lower basin includes a flexible spout extending beyond an edge, the spout being capable of movement between a downward position extending below the surface of the basin and an upward position extending the spout above the surface of the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Ann Sullivan, Allan Cameron, Patrick F. McDormott, Paul Gregory, Guerav Rohatgi, Zach Traina, Dean DiPietro
  • Patent number: 7407060
    Abstract: A wall-mounted shelving system includes a track and a bracket engagable with the track. The bracket has a collar for supporting a shelf-carrying pilaster and an engaging element protruding from the collar that includes a floor and an arm projecting upwardly from the floor to define an elbow. The track is adapted to be mounted horizontally on a wall and includes a downwardly open channel at its top and an outwardly projecting ledge at its bottom. The upper extreme of the engaging element arm is received in the channel of the track while the elbow can be supported to rest on the ledge. A pilaster is adapted to then be supported in the collar through an intermediate wedge member, and shelves and other objects can be supported on the pilaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Swartz, Kenton J. Droppers, Robert J. Welch, James J. Janick, Jeffrey C. Olson, Robert R. Steele
  • Patent number: 7407061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container with a closing device. Said container comprises a base, a lid (C) and a vertical partition joining the base and the lid, a tongue element comprising a grip end (4) and an opposite bearing end (8), said tongue element (4,8) comprising a lug (3), being integral with the lid (C) by means of a plug (2) fixed to the lid (c). The tongue can be rotationally displaced around the longitudinal axis XX of the plug (2) and can be inclined at a certain angle ? in relation to the plane of the lid, an opening zone (1) being defined by a precut (10) in said lid (C) and being able to be opened using the tongue, whereby the bearing end thereof (8) exerts a force from the outside to the inside of the container on said area (1) defined by the precut (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Abdel Nasser Fares, Mourad Boutebakh
  • Patent number: 7407062
    Abstract: A method of forming a fitting assembly in a filament-reinforced pressure vessel, and a pressure vessel having a fitting assembly secured therein. In the method, a first fitting portion is bonded to an inner surface of a thermoplastic liner in a fluid tight manner. A layer of commingled reinforcing filaments and plastic material is applied to an outer surface of the thermoplastic liner to form a vessel wall. A portion of the vessel wall adjacent to the opening bounded by the fluid-tight seal between the first fitting portion and the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner is removed. Then, a second fitting portion is bonded to the first fitting portion so as to define a port for access into the interior of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Enpress, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Carter
  • Patent number: 7407063
    Abstract: A container that can hold a liquid, such as paint, or a granulated material includes a side wall portion, a bottom portion formed at one end of the side wall portion, and a well region formed in the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes an inclined surface. Alternatively, the bottom portion can be shaped to be frustoconical, hemispherical or an inverted pyramid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Dwight Rockwell, lll
  • Patent number: 7407064
    Abstract: An article storage container for use in an article handler which uses a suction-type gripping device. The container comprises a bin having wall portions and a bottom portion, for storing in a columnar manner, articles to be retrieved by the gripping device. The gripping device enters a dispensing end of the bin which is opposite the bottom portion of the bin. An airflow path providing device at the bottom portion of the bin prevents the gripping device from developing enough suction force to grip to the bottom of the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Munroe Chirnomas
  • Patent number: 7407065
    Abstract: A method of discharging a plurality of aerosolized fluids from a plurality of aerosol cans to an ambient environment, including the steps of: fluidly coupling a first solenoid valve of an aerosol delivery system with a first aerosol can; fluidly coupling a second solenoid valve of the aerosol delivery system with a second aerosol can; determining a first release sequence of a first aerosolized fluid from the first aerosol can; determining a second release sequence of a second aerosolized fluid from the second aerosol can, the second release sequence being independent of the first release sequence; actuating both the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve using an electronic controller electrically coupled to the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to release the first aerosolized fluid according to the first release sequence and the second aerosolized fluid according to the second release sequence to the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron L. Hooks, Scott Dewitt
  • Patent number: 7407066
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a housing (1) defining a portion (2) for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container (20), the housing containing a dose counter comprising an annular counter member (40) and a driving member (41), the driving member comprising a planar ring portion (50) and first and second sets of flexible teeth (51, 52) depending from opposite sides of the planar ring portion, the first set of dependant fexible teeth (51) engaging a first series of teeth (47) formed on the annular counter member, wherein on movement of the received dose-dispensing container towards the driving member the first and second sets of dependant flexible teeth are caused to flex towards the plane of the ring portion to thereby incrementally rotate the annular counter member in a first direction relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Bespak, plc
    Inventors: Tianhong Ouyang, Geoff Brace
  • Patent number: 7407067
    Abstract: Pourer consisting of an elongated, tubular part of plastic material. This part of plastic material is made resilient and has an external diameter greater than that of the associated bottles. The tubular part is provided with a split, as a result of which the diameter can be reduced to some extent and the pourer can be accommodated with a clamping action in a bottle. This clamping can be even further promoted by providing ribs. The pourer is provided with a search point to facilitate introduction into a bottle and the pouring end is flared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Vacu Vin Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Lambertus Kerkhof, Eelco Jan Gerardus Witteveen, Arnoldus Willem Zweekhorst
  • Patent number: 7407068
    Abstract: A fill tube assembly is for a casting mold. The fill tube assembly includes a fill tube having a tubular member with a receiving end, a mold-engaging end and an intermediate portion. The mold-engaging end has a tapered flange radially extending therefrom, the remainder of the tubular-member has a substantially uniform cross-section. A clamping assembly is structured to maintain a substantially leak-proof seal at the fill tube, casting mold interface while accommodating dimensional variations. The clamping assembly includes a gasket, a load ring, a clamping plate and a pre-load gap between the clamping plate and the casting mold and optionally includes a dimensional compensating ring. When tightened, the clamping plate biases the load ring against the flange thereby distributing a uniform load against the casting mold, compressing the gasket therebetween while narrowing the pre-load gap to accommodate dimensional variations. A method of use is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Marshall A. Klingensmith, Mark A. Ripepi, Rabindra K. Bhattacharyya, James T. Burg
  • Patent number: 7407069
    Abstract: A fishing stringer is structured with multiple fishing related tools integrated into a tether and an elongated member of the stringer. Specifically, the elongated member acts as a standard retention bar, while also providing a hook disgorger tool at a first end, and a fishing line cutting tool at a second end. Similarly, the tether acts as a normal stringer' tether, while also incorporating a measuring capability along a substantial length of the tether. Once the tether and stringer are deployed, each of the integrated tools, including the line cutter, the disgorger, and the measuring tape, are also thereby fully available for convenient and immediate use—without any risk of being dropped and lost. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Paul J. Trafas
  • Patent number: 7407070
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool to install fasteners, such as rivets, risers, standoffs, and other types of fasteners operates upon vacuum and air pressure. Fasteners are installed with minimal reactive forces to the operator's hand, thus reducing the risk of repetitive injuries to the operator's body. Vacuum retains the fastener within the tool tip and retracts a piston, until an operator simultaneously presses the fastener against a work piece and actuates an actuation element on the tool. This causes air pressure to quickly thrust the piston against a hammer pin to drive in the fastener, transferring kinetic energy from the piston to the fastener without appreciable kick-back to the operator. A control system provides a source of vacuum and air pressure to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Alton W. Hezeltine
  • Patent number: 7407071
    Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements in a constructional component includes piston stop device for braking the setting piston, and is located at an end region of the hollow chamber of the piston guide in which the setting piston is displaceable, and has a damping element supported against a bottom, a stop element for the setting piston and adjoining the damping element in a direction of the hollow chamber, and an inertia body cooperating with the stop element and displaceable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal extent of the setting piston between first and second stops both of which are connected with the stop element and a distance between which, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the setting piston, is greater than a length of the inertia body in a same direction by length of a decoupling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Sperrfechter, Wolfram Hahn
  • Patent number: 7407072
    Abstract: A desktop stapler uses a spring to store energy to install staples by impact blow. The force required to fasten papers together is reduced. A very compact mechanism is used, including a dual coil power spring with a nested lever. A multi-function base provides a sloped front all the way down to a desktop surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk while in its horizontal or vertical resting positions, and integrated soft grip under surface. The base surrounds the rear of the stapler body to provide a smooth exterior so that the device is natural to use both horizontally and vertically. A simple re-set spring provides a smooth re-set action as the handle is raised. A staple track includes enlargement features to fit a larger staple pusher spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: 7407073
    Abstract: A nail-guiding device comprising a sleeve having a linear passage therethrough, the linear passage having a first end at least partially covered by a flexible membrane with an opening, the membrane operative to engage and hold the nail, and a piston slideably engaged in the linear passage and operative to transfer the impact of the driver to the nail in a drive-in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: M.G.H Agricultural cooperative Society Ltd.
    Inventor: Gilad Rafaeli
  • Patent number: 7407074
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for effecting movement of one or more components of a multifire device, such as a clip applier, hernia tacker, or skin stapler. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical fastening instrument is provided having an elongate shaft with an end effector coupled thereto and adapted to apply one or more surgical fasteners to tissue. An electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to drive a fastener advancing or forming assembly through the elongate shaft, thereby driving a surgical fastener into tissue. In another embodiment, an electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to effect movement of an articulation joint formed between the elongate shaft and the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ortiz, Frederick Shelton, IV, Joseph Hueil, Jeffrey Swayze
  • Patent number: 7407075
    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: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Frank J. Viola, Clifford L. Emmons
  • Patent number: 7407076
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device for applying an array of surgical staples to tissue is provided. The stapling device includes an approximation mechanism for moving a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly between spaced and approximated positions and a firing mechanism for ejecting the array of staples from the cartridge assembly. A single trigger is operable to effect approximation and firing of the device. The device also includes an alignment pin assembly which can be selectively manually or automatically advanced. The anvil assembly includes a stiffener plate which allows the device to have a reduced head portion profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: David C. Racenet, Timothy N. Wells, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 7407077
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for actuating and/or articulating a surgical stapler. In one embodiment, a surgical stapler is provided having a stapling mechanism or end effector that is movably coupled to a distal end of an elongate shaft. An electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to pivotally or angularly adjust a position of the stapling mechanism relative to the elongate shaft by delivering energy to the electroactive polymer actuator. In another embodiment, an electroactive polymer actuator can be used to actuate the staple applying assembly, thereby driving one or more staples, and preferably at least two linear rows of staples, into tissue. The actuator can alternatively or additionally drive a blade distally to cut tissue being stapled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ortiz, Frederick Shelton, IV, Joseph Hueil, Jeffrey Swayze
  • Patent number: 7407078
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for being endoscopically or laparoscopically inserted into a surgical site for simultaneous stapling and severing of tissue includes force adjusted spacing between an upper jaw (anvil) and a lower jaw (staple cartridge engaged to an elongate staple channel) so that the height of staple formation corresponds to the thickness of the tissue, yet does not exceed the height range that may be accommodated by the length of the staples. In particular, resilient structures are formed into an E-beam firing bar that includes a cutting surface (knife) that severs tissue between a top pin that engages the anvil and a middle pin and lower foot that engage the lower jaw. The resilience responds to the force exerted by clamped tissue to vary the spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Ehthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7407079
    Abstract: A filament attachment system includes a bond head comprising a de-spooling system with a spool and balanced dancer arm assembly, a clamp having a curved filament entry, a narrower gripping region, and a wider filament exit, and a bond tool comprising a guide portion, a grooving portion, and a staking portion. The grooving portion forms a groove into a bond and the staking portion closes the groove over the filament, securing the filament in the bond. Thus, the filament can be attached with a single pass of the bond head using a single bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Orthodyne Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore J. Copperthite, Todd J. Walker, Vartan Babayan, Martin R. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 7407080
    Abstract: A capillary tip for a wire bonding tool has a chamfer provided with at least one annular groove. The annular groove is generally oriented in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the capillary. In a sectional view through the capillary axis, the groove profile may be generally part-oval or part circular, such as semicircular or half-oval; or generally rectangular; or generally triangular. In some embodiments the width of the groove profile at the face of the chamfer is at least about one-tenth, more usually at least about one-fifth, the length of the chamfer face; and less than about one-half, more usually less than about one-third, the length of the chamfer face. In some embodiments two or more such grooves are provided. The grooved chamfer can improve the transmission of ultrasonic energy to the wire ball during formation of the bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Chippac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny Lee, Hun-Teak Lee, Jong Kook Kim, Chulsik Kim, Ki-Youn Jang
  • Patent number: 7407081
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a programmable transfer device is provided for transferring conductive pieces to electrode pads of a target substrate. The programmable transfer device includes (1) a transfer substrate; and (2) a plurality of individually addressable electrodes formed on the transfer substrate. Each electrode is adapted to selectively attract and hold a conductive piece during transfer of the conductive piece to an electrode pad of a target substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Claes H. Bjorkman, Jun Zhao, Kenneth S. Collins, Thomas Miu
  • Patent number: 7407082
    Abstract: The invention includes a cermet composition represented by the formula (PQ)(RS) comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ) and a binder phase (RS) wherein, P is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Fe, Mn and mixtures thereof, Q is carbonitride, R is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, S comprises at least one element selected from Cr, Al, Si and Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: ChangMin Chun, Narasimha-Rao Venkata Bangaru, Hyun-Woo Jin, Jayoung Koo, John Roger Peterson, Robert Lee Antram, Christopher John Fowler
  • Patent number: 7407083
    Abstract: A heat pipe housing assembly (22) includes a pair of silicon housing pieces (24, 26) and a bond joint (42) between the housings (24, 26), with the bond joint (42) preferably including a eutectic layer (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Thermal Corp.
    Inventor: C. James Rogers
  • Patent number: 7407084
    Abstract: A method for mounting a semiconductor chip onto a substrate the side of which facing towards the substrate is coated with an adhesive layer is characterised by the following steps: (1) Lowering the semiconductor chip until the semiconductor chip touches the substrate, (2) Waiting a predetermined period of time during which a force exerted on the semiconductor chip disappears or is at least comparatively small, and (3) Applying a bond force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Unaxis Trading Ltd
    Inventor: Matthias Urben
  • Patent number: 7407085
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and method for attaching a semiconductor die to a heat spreader (or other thermal component) are disclosed. The apparatus includes a substantially flat surface to receive a number of die, and the die may be held in place on the surface by a flux, the flux being subsequently removed prior to bonding. The apparatus may further include a number of registration elements to hold a heat spreader in a relative position over each die. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jadhav G. Susheel, Daoqiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7407086
    Abstract: A base for display units that can be made as a product of the paper-transformation industry including a box-like body with a lateral wall that extends between a bottom part and a top part. The base also includes a wall on which rests a display unit selectively mobile between: a lowered position in which the mobile wall is situated in correspondence with said bottom part, and the base is capable of acting as a container for a display unit, and a raised position in which the mobile wall is situated in correspondence with the top part of the base and is capable of supporting a display unit in the exhibiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Soremartec S.A.
    Inventor: Pierangelo Borio
  • Patent number: 7407087
    Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a tear line in each side panel that extends across to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn, the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. DeBusk, Colin P. Ford