Patents Issued in October 21, 2008
  • Patent number: 7438586
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed to include two conducting terminals mounted in each terminal slot of the electrically insulative housing thereof and electrically coupled together for connection to a respective external electronic member, and a spring member accommodated in an accommodation space between the two conducting terminals in each terminal slot to support the associating conducting terminals against external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Ted Ju
  • Patent number: 7438587
    Abstract: A multipolar electrical connector with spring contacts has, for each conductor to be joined to the connector, a first substantially cylindrical aperture adapted to receive the conductor and a second aperture, parallel to the first aperture, adapted to receive an actuator pin which, sliding in the second aperture, according to its position acts on a spring contact of the connector to lock the conductor to the connector or to release it from the connector. When the conductor is blocked in the connector by the spring contact, the actuator pin is inserted completely into the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Industria Lombarda Materiale Elettrico I.L.M.E. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Emilio Germani
  • Patent number: 7438588
    Abstract: An encoder includes a base member and a cover attachable to the base member. The cover includes a surface with an opening and a strain relief device associated with the opening. The strain relief device includes at least one extension member extending from the surface of the cover and at least one bar member extending from the at least one extension member. The strain relief device is integral with the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Renco Encoders, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Rhodes, Esteban Cortina
  • Patent number: 7438589
    Abstract: An electrical connector system for use with an electrically powered accessory mounted to a vehicle is disclosed. The electrical connector system includes a connector adapted to be mounted to the vehicle as well as a cord having a first end adapted to be electrically coupled to the accessory and a second end having a plug. The plug is adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source remote from the vehicle, is removably coupled to the connector and includes a flexible finger having a tab engaging the connector. The electrical connector system also includes an indicator mounted to the connector and in electrical communication with the plug. The indicator is operable to provide a visual indication when electrical power is present at the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Fleury, Darrell Van Mol
  • Patent number: 7438590
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing receiving a plurality of terminals therein, an upper cover mounted on the insulative housing, a flexible bus, and a casing shielding the upper cover and fixed to the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a mating portion for mating with a mating connector. The flexible bus has a plurality of contacts on an end thereof. The upper cover presses against the flexible bus in assembly, forcing the contacts to contact the terminals. The casing biases against the upper cover, forcing the contacts of the flexible bus to contact the terminals reliably. The flexible bus of the electrical connector does not contact a mating connector directly, thereby lengthening the life of the flexible bus even after repeated plugging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: P-Two Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Liang, Wang-Kun Tsai
  • Patent number: 7438591
    Abstract: A connecting module includes a single housing including a front end, a first receiving hole and at least one second receiving hole. The first receiving hole is formed on the front end. The profile of the first receiving hole is used to receive a first external connecting plug. The second receiving hole is formed on the front end. The profile of the second receiving hole differs from that of the first receiving hole and is used to receive a second external connecting plug. The first and second receiving holes are arranged in a horizontal array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Tse Chen, Ching-Man Kao, Han-Cheng Hsu
  • Patent number: 7438592
    Abstract: A coaxial panel comprising a frame and a designation tray slidably coupled to the frame is disclosed. The designation tray is movable between an open position and a closed position. The designation tray includes at least one designation space visible when the tray is in a closed position and includes at least two designation spaces that are visible when the designation tray is slidably moved to an open position, the two designation spaces being on different faces of the designation tray. A method comprising providing a movable tray with a front designation visible from a front of the tray when the tray is in a closed position and sliding the tray from the closed position to an open position to expose a side designation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Allen Skluzacek, M'hamed Anis Khemakhem, Todd Bade, Zakh Bluband, Jeffrey Louis Peters
  • Patent number: 7438593
    Abstract: A printed circuit board component includes a housing carrying a peg that engages a printed circuit board hole. This peg has a radially projecting detent lug extending beyond the plug outer periphery. The lug is located and formed on the peg so the peg outer periphery is smaller in the area of the lug than the diameter of the hole. The outer periphery of the section of the peg projecting into the hole is such that, between the outer periphery of this section and the hole inner wall, a space having a capillarity for solder is formed over a portion of the outer periphery. During soldering, solder on the printed circuit board surface enters and fills the space by capillary action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Willem Blakborn
  • Patent number: 7438594
    Abstract: An electrical plug-and-socket connector includes a housing having chambers for receiving contacts. Latches of the chambers hold contacts inserted in the chambers. The housing has first and second openings with pairs of the first and second openings respectively leading into the chambers. A flap attached to the housing is pivotable to either open away from the housing or close against the housing. The flap includes first projections which extend through the first openings into the chambers when the flap is closed to lock contacts held in the chambers. The flap includes second projections which extend through the second openings into the chambers when the flap is closed and when the contacts held in the chambers are positioned correctly in the chambers to engage the contacts and thereby reinforce the locking of the contacts held in the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kostal Kontakt Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Brantley J. Natter
  • Patent number: 7438595
    Abstract: In an electrical connector to be connected to a mating connector having a locking portion for locking a connected state between the electrical connector and the mating connector, a conductive shell includes a recessed portion adapted to be engaged with the locking portion in the connected state. The recessed portion has a bottom adapted to come into contact with the locking portion in the connected state. The conductive shell is coupled to a housing holding a contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventor: Yuichi Saito
  • Patent number: 7438596
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member configured for mounting in an opening in a panel. The cage member has at least one compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. An EMI gasket is mounted externally on the cage member. The EMI gasket includes a dielectric carrier holding a plurality of electrically conductive springs that are configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7438597
    Abstract: An electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) clamp for an electrical connector which allows in one embodiment the reduction of a 12x cabling system to four 3x cabling system. The construction of another embodiment is compatible with the Infiniband technology especially when using Octopus cables. One embodiment of the clamps is in compliance with FCC Class B requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Scea, Lynda L Anderson, Robert L Nicoletti, Andrew Rybak
  • Patent number: 7438598
    Abstract: The connector housing 30 is formed with a pair of guide grooves 50a, 50b and a pair of side walls 60. The guide grooves 50a, 50b support the both side edges of the upper body portion 21 of the thick first card 20 and also the both side edges of the card body 11 of the thin second card 10 and guide these cards as they are inserted or extracted. The side walls 60 define, below a space between the paired guide grooves 50a, 50b, a space in which to accommodate the lower body portion 23 of the first card 20. This construction ensures that, whichever of the first and second cards is inserted, the elastic displacements of the contact terminals 40 of a card connector 1 remain the same, allowing the card to be electrically connected stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Ito, Masaaki Oya, Kazutaka Taguchi, Takashi Torii, Hideki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7438599
    Abstract: In a connector housing (2), resinous guide walls (4,5) that slide and guide a card holder (3) are erected on both sides in a width direction (B) perpendicular to a direction (A) in which the card holder (3) holding a memory card (C) is inserted. The metallic guide walls (4,5) are provided with metallic reinforcement tabs (6,7) molded integrally with the guide walls (4,5) simultaneously. The metallic reinforcement tabs (6,7) can give rigidity and elasticity to the resinous guide walls (4,5). Therefore, after the card holder (3) is inserted, the card holder (3) inserted therein can be stably held so as not to easily slip off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Uchida, Tetsuichiro Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 7438600
    Abstract: A memory card connector includes an insulating housing defining conductive terminal grooves and a switch terminal groove. A metallic shell coupling with the insulating housing to form a card cavity therebetween has a top section and two side sections. The front of a top surface of one side section extends and inclines to the front of the top section to form an anti-mismating portion connecting with the front of the top section to form an inclined corner at the front of the metallic shell. One side section extends rearward to form a touching portion protruding toward the inner of the card cavity. Conductive terminals received in the conductive terminal grooves have a base portion, a soldering portion and a contacting portion. A switch terminal assembled in the switch terminal groove has a main body extending rearward to form a resilient arm received in the card cavity. The resilient arm defines a contacting projection facing the touching portion and a pressing portion facing the inner of the card cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-Chiao Hung, Mei-Chuan Yang
  • Patent number: 7438601
    Abstract: A connector includes a plurality of first contacts each having a contact arm that contacts a first surface of an object of connection and a plurality of second contacts each having a contact arm that contacts a second surface of the object of connection. The plurality of first and second contacts are alternately disposed in a contact arrangement direction in a housing. Each of the first contacts has a first projection that extends from a front end of the base member adjacent to a lower press-fitting member along an axial direction of a first contact accommodating compartment. Each of the second contacts has a second projection that extends from a front end of a base member adjacent to an upper press-fitting member along an axial direction of a second contact accommodating compartment. The first and second projections contact inner wall surfaces of projection receiving openings formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7438602
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a robust USB connection configured to occupy the space heretofore utilized by a motor vehicle cigarette lighter. The USB connection is designed to adapt the pin for pin connection between a standard USB pin configuration and a common electrical harness connection used on off road heavy equipment. The USB female portion of the adaptor is designed to be readily replaced with minimal disassembly and cost in anticipation of high wear rates on the USB pins in the severe heavy equipment environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James L Montgomery, Jeffery R Kreiling
  • Patent number: 7438603
    Abstract: A test terminal connector for use in selectively interconnecting electrical leads of a railway circuit is provided and includes a mounting block; a first and a second terminal supported in and extending from the mounting block; a test strap supported on and extending between the first and second terminal; at least one fastening element selectively connectable to the first and second terminals; and a dielectric spacer disposed between the test strap and an electrical lead of the railway circuit. The test strap is constructed of an electrically conductive material, and each fastening element is constructed of the same material as the test strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: TDH Solutions, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Blaine Lewis
  • Patent number: 7438604
    Abstract: A distributor block exhibits multi-connectors at its front side in the manner of block terminals and at least one additional connector for each pole at its rear side, whereby a contact area is provided for each pole where terminal points are arranged in one common clamping plane. To reduce the number of current-conducting components and to provide clamping of the cables using a spring force, terminal points are formed through clamping supports that are at a distance from each other and that each interact with a contact tongue. To this end, each contact area houses a current-conducting board with the clamping supports being formed onto it, where two each of the contact tongues are components of a torsion spring with a bending joint that is followed by the contact tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Andresen
  • Patent number: 7438605
    Abstract: A wire connecting device is adapted for connecting a plurality of wires, and includes a base seat having at least one mounting portion, a cover body coupled to the base seat and covering the mounting portion, a conducting unit, and a resilient pusher unit. The conducting unit is disposed between the base seat and the cover body, and includes at least one conductive plate that is mounted on the at least one mounting portion and that has a first through hole and at least one second through hole. Each of the first and second through holes is adapted for extension of an exposed conductor of a respective one of the wires into the corresponding first or second recess in the base seat. The resilient pusher unit is provided between the cover body and the conducting unit, and cooperates with the conducting unit to clamp the wires therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kuan-Chih Huang, Wen-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 7438606
    Abstract: Terminal block comprising a body having, formed internally, a chamber for housing a clamp for retaining the ends of electric cables or wire, which can be operated by an operating mechanism, at least two openings for introducing said wires, at least one opening for access to the operating mechanism, the clamp consisting of at least two jaws which are situated opposite each other in the direction (Z-Z) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the electric wires and respectively comprising at least one base and at least one pair of lugs which are discontinuous in the longitudinal direction (X-X) so as to define respective seats suitable for engagement in the vertical direction (Z-Z) with corresponding lugs of the other jaw and each of the lugs having a cross-section substantially in the form of an isosceles triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Morsettitalia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giordano Pizzi
  • Patent number: 7438607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and improved connector bar and techniques for making the same. The connector bar includes a metal body having side-by-side conductor ports, transverse threaded pedestal mount apertures, and set screw openings. The transverse threaded pedestal mount apertures extend completely through the body of the connector bar and are adapted for attachment to a pedestal box. The set screw openings are adapted to each receive a set screw for securing a conductor in one of the conductor ports. Preferably, the transverse threaded pedestal mount apertures and set screw openings are formed from the same side of the connector bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Fong
  • Patent number: 7438608
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel socket connector and female terminals therein. The female terminal has a contact portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion is set to attach to a wire core, while the contact portion is set to permit a pin to plug in and contact conductively. A neck with a smaller diameter is provided between the contact portion and the attachment portion. The contact portion comprises an outer barrel and an inner tube having a plurality of spring elements extending axially. Each spring element has a biasing section toward the inner tube axis near the plug-in entrance for matching the contact pin. The other side of the spring element distant from the biasing section is connected to the inner tube. The inner tube and the outer barrel are made of a metal sheet in one-piece construction while the inner tube is connected to the neck at one end and connected to the outer barrel via the folded part at the opposite side. The outer barrel is shorter than the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: K.S. Terminals, Inc.
    Inventor: fute Hung
  • Patent number: 7438609
    Abstract: A metal terminal includes a base plate portion for placing an electric wire thereon and a pair of crimping piece portions which extend upwardly respectively from opposite side edges of the base plate portion for press-contacting the electric wire. Each of the crimping piece portions has a distal end portion and a body portion such that a thickness of the each of crimping piece portions is tapered toward a distal end surface of the distal end portion from the body portion. A thickness of a distal end of the distal end portion relative to a board thickness T of the body portion of the each of crimping piece portions is not smaller than ?T and is less than ½T. An exterior angle of an angle formed by the distal end surface of the distal end portion and a tapered surface of the distal end portion is 60° to 30°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yagi, Shigeharu Suzuki, Tetsuro Ide, Hideto Kumakura, Kenji Suzuki, Naoki Kakuta
  • Patent number: 7438610
    Abstract: A grounding connector includes a base with a first crimping structure extending from the base for crimping to the cable and securing the cable relative to the base along a cable axis. A first contact member can extend from the base laterally adjacent to the first crimping structure. The first contact member can have a narrowing first cable slot for receiving the cable to engage and form electrical contact with the cable when the first crimping structure is crimped to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Antaya Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Manuel H. Machado, Jonathan D. Young
  • Patent number: 7438611
    Abstract: Amphibious vehicle (10), with reference to FIG. 1, which may plane on water, has a propulsion system comprising prime mover (20), power transmission means (30), marine propulsion means (40), and land propulsion means (50). Vehicle (10) is operable in marine mode or land mode. Common controls are used on land and water, the steering control travel may be the same in each mode. Power is transmitted to the marine propulsion means in marine mode; and to both marine and land propulsion means in land mode. The power transmission ratio between land and marine propulsion means may be variable in land mode. The propulsion control means (60) may comprise electronic processing means and/or electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or electromechanical actuation devices, or any combination thereof. Prime mover (20) may comprise an internal combustion engine; an electric motor, a fuel cell; a hybrid engine; or any combination thereof. The transmission means may be mechanical, electric, or hydraulic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Gibbs Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Alan Timothy Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7438612
    Abstract: A paper tube of a propeller tube 12 is made by winding a single faced corrugated fiberboard 16 in which a wavy corrugating medium 16b is fixed to one side of a flat linerboard 16a so that the corrugating medium 16b is oriented outwards, and the corrugating medium 16b contacts with an inner surface of the propeller tube 12, so as to enhance a vibration controlling function. When winding the single faced corrugated fiberboard 16, since the single faced corrugated fiberboard 16 cannot be wound in a direction oblique to a direction of ridges of the corrugating medium 16b, there are no fears that the shape of the single faced corrugated fiberboard 16 is collapsed to taper axially, thereby it becomes possible to prevent a reduction in vibration controlling function that would otherwise be caused due to a change in the shape of the paper tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Wada, Tohru Iiizumi, Masaki Inoue, Yasushi Sugiura, Takuya Nishikoji
  • Patent number: 7438613
    Abstract: A marine engine quick drain system that is comprised of several engine block drain connections, provided in the area of the engine that must be drained, which drain by means of flow tubes to a drainage connector, a drainage connector which preferable is mounted on a slight incline, stably supported upon a bracket, to the boat hull, the lower end of the collector having a drain valve, such as a spring loaded lever valve, connecting with another singular drain tube, to the hull drain port, such that when the levered valve is opened, all of the coolant fluids and water within the boat engine will drain back into the lake, to empty the engine of any freezable water, when the boat is stowed, upon a boat lift, as when not in usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: William O. Hubbs
  • Patent number: 7438614
    Abstract: A boat has an outboard motor mounted to a hull and a remotely mounted cooling air system. The outboard motor has a cowling housing an engine. The cooling air system receives air from within the hull and includes a ventilating fan box. The ventilating fan box may be located within the hull or the cowling of the outboard motor. Cooling air is routed via one or more ducts to the cowling so as to cool the engine while inhibiting moisture from the entering the cowling. The cooling air is preferably blown toward the bottom of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koshiro Inaba
  • Patent number: 7438615
    Abstract: Outboard drive for boats, including a gear housing, an underwater housing connected rotatably to the gear housing, and a mounting element arranged between the gear housing and the underwater housing for mounting the drive in a boat hull with the gear housing on the inside and the underwater housing on the outside of the hull and including an exhaust passage with an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is surrounded by a plate made of polytetrafluoroethylene fixed on the underside of the mounting element. The underwater housing is rotatable relative to the gear housing by an electric servomotor communicating with a control computer, which communicates with an engine control computer for an internal combustion engine connected to the drive and is arranged so as, when the engine is shut off, to give a signal to the servomotor to put the underwater housing in a position corresponding to moving straight ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Lennart Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 7438616
    Abstract: A protective cover fits over assorted marine mooring buoys and protects a boat or other such vessel against impact and abrasion from the mooring buoy. The mooring buoy cover is constructed from impact and abrasion resistant materials. The cover includes a dome shaped section that is constructed of an impact resistant material and that is formed so as to fit with a top part of the mooring buoy and a collar section contiguous with the dome shaped section and extending to cover a shackle that is disposed at the top of the mooring buoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Rhett Nanson
  • Patent number: 7438617
    Abstract: A cryogenic transfer system includes: a cryogenic fluid storage and/or processing structure, an off shore loading and/or offloading structure having a base and a reel element rotatable relative to the base around an axis, a transfer duct extending from the fluid storage and/or processing structure to the loading and/or offloading structure, a flexible hose windable around the reel element, connectable with a first end to the duct, and with a second end to a floating structure. The transfer duct includes a first and a second duct, each having an end part at or near the loading and/or offloading structure, the flexible hose being with the first end connectable to the end part of at least the first or the second duct. The loading and/or offloading structure includes lifting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
    Inventors: Leendert Poldervaart, Hein Wille, Hein Oomen
  • Patent number: 7438618
    Abstract: An aquatic flotation device includes an outer covering having a first side and a second side formed of a polymeric sheet and substantially continuously joined together to retain foamed material such that the covering is under tension. The first side and polymeric sheet are each continuously joined along an edge portion interconnecting the first and second sides, e.g., by stitching. The edge portion overlaps an outer surface or edge of the polymeric sheet in finished condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: D&S Toys Company Limited
    Inventor: Ying Lung Lam
  • Patent number: 7438619
    Abstract: A swimsuit includes a vest provided with buoyant floatation members, a bottom portion in the form of swim trunks, and a coupling mechanism for selectively coupling the vest to the trunks. The vest may be uncoupled from the swim trunks to permit a user to remove the swim trunks while still wearing the vest, or to remove the vest while still wearing the swim trunks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Nuvative, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Staver, Nicholas Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7438620
    Abstract: In an arc tube for discharge lamp, an electrode assembly is formed by integrally joining an electrode rod, a molybdenum foil, and a molybdenum lead wire. The electrode assembly is sealed into pinch seal portions located at both ends of a glass tube. The electrode assembly, before being pinch-sealed into the pinch seal portions, receives vacuum heat treatment at 200 to 800° C. Hereby, the water content of the assembly is adjusted to 10 ppm or less, and desirably to 3 ppm less and an oxide film attached to the surface of the electrode assembly is removed. Therefore, the quantity of impurity (water or gas) enclosed in the closed glass bulb is very small, so that it is possible to provide an arc tube in which the flicker is not produced, luminous flux of 3000 lm or more is obtained, and starting voltage can be lowered to about 15 kV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Homma, Takeshi Fukuyo, Michio Takagaki, Shinya Misonou
  • Patent number: 7438621
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed lamp having at least one end-to-end seal. The end-to-end seal may be a material diffusion bond, a seal-material bond, or any other suitable bond. For example, the hermetically sealed lamp may have one or more endcaps butt-sealed to an arc envelope, such as a ceramic tube or bulb. The hermetically sealed lamp also may have one or more tubular structures, such as dosing tubes, which are butt-sealed to the endcap and/or arc envelope. Localized heating, such as the heat provided by an intense laser, also may be used to enhance any of the foregoing bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anteneh Kebbede, Bernard P. Bewlay, James A. Brewer, Sylvain S. Coulombe, Sylvia M. DeCarr, Luana E. Iorio, Timothy J. Sommerer, James S. Vartuli
  • Patent number: 7438622
    Abstract: The present invention provides a field emitter electrode and a method for fabricating the same. The method comprises the steps of mixing a carbonizable polymer, carbon nanotubes and a solvent to prepare a carbon nanotube-containing polymer solution, electrospinning (or electrostatic spinning) the polymer solution to form a nanofiber web layer on a substrate, stabilizing the nanofiber web layer such that the polymer present in the nanofiber web layer is crosslinked, and carbonizing the nanofiber web layer such that the crosslinked polymer is converted to a carbon fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyun Ra, Kay Hyeok An, Young Hee Lee, Jong Myeon Lee
  • Patent number: 7438623
    Abstract: A geometric construction system includes: a plurality of flat panels; and a plurality of connecting units provided on side edges of the flat panels. Each connecting unit includes first and second engaging parts. The first engaging part is formed with a protrusion, and the second engaging part is formed with a recess such that the protrusion of the first engaging part on one of the flat panels is releasably engageable with the recess of the second engaging part on another of the flat panels. The second engaging part is further formed with resilient claws that project from a periphery of the recess. The claws of the second engaging part on one of the flat panels clamp resiliently the protusion of the first engaging part on another of the flat panels when the protrusion is moved into the recess of the second engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 7438624
    Abstract: A device for generating sounds associated with movements of animals, the device including a movable member operatively associated with a motion generation system and configured to be set in a desired motion by the motion generation system, and an extension assembly configured to replicate a leg and foot of an animal and move in a desired path for contact with a desired contact medium to generate sounds that mimic sounds associated with movements of animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Halstead Services Group, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Halstead, Gary L. Harding
  • Patent number: 7438625
    Abstract: A brassiere having a body portion having a first breast cup with a lower edge and a second breast cup with a lower edge is provided. A first elastic crosspiece adjacent the lower edge of the first breast cup and a second elastic crosspiece adjacent the lower edge of the second breast cup is provided. The first crosspiece and the second crosspiece overlap at a portion to form a connection between the cups. A brassiere having a body portion having a first breast cup with a lower edge and a second breast cup with a lower edge, a first elastic crosspiece connected to the lower edges of the first and second breast cups, and a second elastic crosspiece connected to the lower edges of the first and second breast cups is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Louise Tremblay, Ella Rusinowicz, Raymonde Tranchemontagne
  • Patent number: 7438626
    Abstract: Machines and systems for removing materials from microfeature workpieces using fixed-abrasive mediums. One embodiment of a method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece comprises rubbing the workpiece against a surface of a fixed-abrasive medium having a matrix and abrasive particles attached to the matrix, and sensing a parameter indicative of frictional force at an interface between the workpiece and the surface of the fixed-abrasive medium. This method continues by moving at least one of the workpiece and the fixed-abrasive medium relative to each other in a direction transverse to the interface based on the parameter. For example, the workpiece and/or the fixed-abrasive medium can be vibrated or oscillated to reduce the frictional force and/or maintain a desired relative velocity between the workpiece and the fixed-abrasive medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy T. Blalock
  • Patent number: 7438627
    Abstract: A polishing state monitoring apparatus measures characteristic values of a surface, being polished, of a workpiece to determine the timing of a polishing end point. The polishing state monitoring apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for applying light from a light source to a surface of a workpiece being polished, a light-receiving unit for receiving reflected light from the surface of the workpiece, a spectroscope unit for dividing the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit into a plurality of light rays having respective wavelengths, and light-receiving elements for accumulating the detected light rays as electrical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Ebara Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Kobayashi, Shunsuke Nakai, Hitoshi Tsuji, Yasuo Tsukuda, Junki Ishimoto, Kazunari Shinya
  • Patent number: 7438628
    Abstract: A belt sanding system comprising a segmented sanding block including a plurality of individually controllable segments and one or more sanding belt deflecting rollers, a plurality of sensing elements corresponding to the plurality of segments, and a device for interconnecting the plurality of sensing elements, interconnecting the plurality of sensing elements with the segmented sanding block, and effecting lateral movement of the plurality of sensing elements as the segmented sanding block is rotated to an oblique alignment relative to the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Stephan Kundig
  • Patent number: 7438629
    Abstract: An in-line profile sander is disclosed. The in-line profile sander includes a sander housing configured to be grasped by a user. A plurality of interchangeable profile sanding pads can be mounted at a head of the housing. The sander includes an in-line oscillating mechanism for moving the profile sanding pads in a linear oscillating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Robert Bosten, John Robert Kriaski, Randy Glen Cooper, John Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 7438630
    Abstract: There are disclosed a polishing method and a polishing device in which cleaning of a glass substrate surface can be achieved to a high level. A glass substrate (MD substrate 1) in the shape of a circular disc having a circular hole in a center portion is polished with an abrasive liquid 50 containing free abrasive grains being supplied, and an inner peripheral end surface of the glass substrate is polished using the abrasive liquid containing the free abrasive grains by rotating a rotary brush 4 or a polishing pad in contact with the inner peripheral end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Takemi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7438631
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface protective sheet and a method for grinding a semiconductor wafer, by the use of which any dimple is not formed, nor occurs breakage and fouling of a wafer even when a wafer having high bumps which are highly densely arranged is ground to an extremely small thickness, and besides, no adhesive is left at the roots of the bumps after the surface protective sheet is peeled. The surface protective sheet of the invention is used for grinding a back surface of a semiconductor wafer, and in the surface protective sheet, one surface of a base sheet is provided with an opening portion having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a semiconductor wafer to be stuck, on said opening portion no adhesive layer being formed, and a portion which is provided around the opening portion and on which an adhesive layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Nagamoto, Hitoshi Ohashi, Kazuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7438632
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a web-based chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) system. Specifically, a fluid spray bar is coupled to a frame assembly which may be mounted on a CMP system. The fluid spray bar will move along the frame assembly. As the fluid spray bar traverses the length of the frame assembly, a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the web in order to clean the web between planarization cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Moore, Dinesh Chopra
  • Patent number: 7438633
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus (1), preferably for grinding a surface, including at least one grinding unit, a screen (2, 3) and a guide member (5), where the grinding unit is a rotatable and preferably horizontally arranged grinding cylinder, which at a cylinder surface is provided with a number of preferably exchangeable grinding elements, where the screen (2, 3) entirely or partly encloses the grinding unit, and where the guide member (5) is connected with the screen (2), and where the screen includes an outer screen (2) and an inner screen (3) which are mutually movably connected, and where the inner screen (3) includes a first suction screen (11) and a second screen (12) which are mutually movably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Flex Trim A/S
    Inventor: Poul Erik Jespersen
  • Patent number: 7438634
    Abstract: A clamping fixture for detachably fastening a disk-shaped tool on a rotatably driven working spindle with a driven gear includes a fastening element a supporting flange arranged so that the tool is accommodated between the fastening element and the supporting flange and rotatably displaceable relative to the working spindle in the tightening direction and axially in a direction toward the tool. The supporting flange is displaceable relative to the working spindle in a release direction and axially away from the tool when the fastening element is released, and is lockable with the working spindle or a component which is non-rotatably connected with the working spindle in a position which is displaced axially in a direction of the tool, and the supporting flange cannot be displaced axially away from the tool until a lock is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Habele
  • Patent number: 7438635
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasive product intended to be driven in a particular grinding direction over the object to be abraded. The abrasive product is composed of parallel threads placed at a distance from one another and running in the grinding direction and transverse abrasive threads provided with an abrasive coating placed at a distance from one another and fastened to the parallel threads. The open structure allows to easily remove the grindings from the abrasive product during abrasion, thus extending the working life of the abrasive product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: OY KWH Mirka AB
    Inventor: Göran Johannes Höglund