Patents Issued in October 12, 2010
  • Patent number: 7810783
    Abstract: A fastening structure for fastening a member to the rim of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is disclosed to include a mounting base frame, which has two mounting holes at two distal ends for the mounting of an external member and two sets of hooks bilaterally protruded from the top wall between the mounting holes, and two elastic fastening belts, which have a hook hole one each of the respective two distal ends respectively hooked on the hooks at the mounting base frame to secure the mounting base frame to the rim of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle firmly in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventors: Wen-Feng Tsay, Wen Hong Shen
  • Patent number: 7810784
    Abstract: A roller clamp is configured to maintain at a prescribed rate the flow rate of a fluid that flows through a tube. The roller clamp includes a tube winding shaft part around which a fluid flow tube is passed and which prevents the setting of the flow rate being disturbed if the tube is subject to a tensional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Ichiro Kitani
  • Patent number: 7810785
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a pressure-energized seal configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seal is a metal J seal retained within a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 7810786
    Abstract: In combination with an external actuator for electrically operating a gate valve for use with a recreational vehicle, a gate valve within a housing, a flow passageway, a valve closure member moveable transversely of the flow passageway to cause the passageway to open and close. The valve closure member comprises a valve stem and a connected handle. Also provided is an electrical control unit with a motor, an electrical drive means and a drive shaft to engage the handle. A switch means electrically connected to the control unit has an on and off position. In the on position, the actuator lifts the handle to move the gate and open the flow passageway. In the off position, the actuator retracts the handle to move the gate linearly to close the flow passageway. Also provided is a releasable ring pin which confines the handle and which, when removed, enables the manual override of the external actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Valterra Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Ontiveros Frias
  • Patent number: 7810787
    Abstract: An animal watering valve has an elastomeric diaphragm disposed in a bore of a housing upstream of a valve seat and having apertures formed therethrough for the passage of water. A valve stem has a head clamped between the diaphragm and the valve seat and a tail that is laterally deflectable to move the valve stem head relative to the diaphragm from a seated position. Upon moving it to an unseated position, the valve stem head pivots relative to the valve seat to permit water to flow out of the valve. At least portions of the flow aperture outlets in the diaphragm are located radially inwardly of and axially upstream of the upstream surface of the valve stem head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Edstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7810788
    Abstract: In one form, a belt lifter apparatus provides increased lifting force and belt lift height by a scissors mechanism having crossed lifting arms each having a translatable end and having a translatable pivot axis between the lifting arms. Preferably, other ends of the lifting arms are fixed to an upper belt lifting member and to a lower support base member at locations such that the pivot axis translates to a position located substantially at the center of the lifted belt when the belt is lifted to the highest lift height. Lightweight, aluminum tubular members are used for the lifting member and the base support and each includes a track for supporting the translatable ends of the lifting arms. The span width of the base member is adjusted by sliding telescoping, tubular legs within the base tubular element. Pivoted wing arms are supported by braces extending to the belt lifting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Brett Edwin DeVries
  • Patent number: 7810789
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a generally rectangular base with two longitudinal containment lips and two semi-arcuate lips on the front and rear for the containment and display of motorcycles or similar vehicles. The apparatus is uniquely suited to hold and display motorcycles or similar vehicles in an aesthetically pleasing manner while also containing and fluid leaks or spillage that may occur during the storage or display. A pair of adjustable stands holding the vehicle. Each stand can be selectively raised and fixed in a vertical position and adjusted to hold the vehicle. The stands can be lowered to the surface when not in use or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Clark
  • Patent number: 7810790
    Abstract: A vehicle, configured to transport an object, said vehicle among other components, comprising: a load bearing member; a line; an actuator coupled to said vehicle and adapted for applying a tensile force to said line in response to an actuator command, and disposed and adapted for transmitting at least a portion of said tensile force to said load bearing member; an end-effector mechanically coupled to said line and adapted for transmitting said tensile force and an operator force to said object and for generating an operator input signal; and a controller adapted for generating said actuator command from said operator input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Homayoon Kazerooni
  • Patent number: 7810791
    Abstract: A servo motor driven hoist includes a float mode in which a load is raised lowered in response to manually applied forces on the load exerted by an operator in which forces applied to the load as a result of accelerations of the load generated by hoist movement of said load are compensated for by sensing the accelerations and computing the forces resulting therefrom, and subtracting those forces from the sensed total magnitude of forces acting on the load to eliminate the effects of dynamically generated forces when in the float mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Ryan DeVos
  • Patent number: 7810792
    Abstract: A modular lift assembly configured for attachment between two substantially parallel support beams includes a chassis, at least one lift component attached to the chassis, a telescoping or other adjustable stiffener, and at least one attachment assembly. The chassis has a plurality of grooves formed in one surface thereof. The telescoping or other adjustable stiffener is disposed in at least one of the grooves and engages facing surfaces of adjacent parallel support beams. The attachment assembly is disposed in another of the grooves formed in the chassis for engaging at least one of the adjacent support beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daktronics Hoist, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Hoffend, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7810793
    Abstract: A pulley actuator implements a motor to drive a screw and a guide rod to relatively expand or retract while utilizing one flexible rope and two pulleys to drive three telescoped tubes to relatively expand or retract move correspondingly. The pulley actuator has a simplified structure as compared with the known devices and is easy to fabricate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-An Chiang, Jin-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 7810794
    Abstract: There is disclosed a portable misting fan formed by upper and lower body portions which are joined together along a joint. The joint is improved by providing the lower body portion with a non-circular neck portion along its top end, and wherein the upper body portion includes two halves which terminate in lower body collar sections, intended to be joined together in overlying relationship relative to the neck portion. A rail and groove system is employed as between the upper first and second body portions, and the neck portion, so that the rails will slidingly engage the grooves in the neck portion rendering the joint resistant to rotation. The neck portion includes an aperture into which a sleeve is press fitted, the sleeve includes upper and lower lips, and the lower body collar sections include inwardly extending flanges which overlie and engage the upper and lower lips formed in the sleeve, thereby brace and secure the pump assembly within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Yung Chen
  • Patent number: 7810795
    Abstract: In a method for the foaming of at least one liquid or viscous substance, provision is made such that the substance is introduced into at least one closed chamber and that the chamber is set into an oscillatory motion during the introduction. A device for the foaming of at least one liquid or viscous substance, with a mixing apparatus, preferably for the performance of the method, is characterized in that a drive device for generating an oscillatory motion is arranged on the mixing apparatus. With the method and the device, the possibility arises, to particular advantage, of foaming a liquid or viscous substance without, for example, a rotating stirring tool heating the substance to be foamed or a stirring tool being present that projects into the mixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: beba Mischtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Witte
  • Patent number: 7810796
    Abstract: The invention involves a spacing element situated between a vapor-liquid contacting tray and a tray support to reduce the dead zone typically caused by the tray supports blocking of the perforations in the vapor-liquid contacting tray directly above the tray support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Kevin A. Richardson, Robert J. Miller, Nicholas F. Urbanski
  • Patent number: 7810797
    Abstract: A fluid filled vibration damping device including an elastic body connecting a first and second mounting member, a pressure-receiving chamber defined by the elastic body and an equilibrium chamber defined by a flexible rubber film. The second mounting member is press fitted into a tubular holder member having an annular holding portion integrally formed at its lower end projecting radially inwardly. A cover plate member having an outside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the holder member is disposed within the holder member with an outer peripheral portion is fixedly clamped by the second mounting member and the annular holding portion. A sealing rubber is disposed for fluid-tightly closing a gap formed between the clamped portion so that an tightly closed air chamber defined by the cover plate member is formed on a back side of the flexible rubber film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Minamisawa
  • Patent number: 7810798
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator having: a stator and a movable member disposed in a central hole of a coil member of the stator movable in an axial direction; a coupling rod fixed to the movable member; and an elastic stopper having a ring shaped sealing unit at its outer periphery part, a first stopper unit at its center part, a coupling unit that mutually couples the sealing unit and the first stopper unit, and second stopper units located radially between the sealing unit and the first stopper unit at respective circumferential positions. The sealing unit is compressed between the bottom wall of a housing and a lid member to form a sealing mechanism that fluid-tightly close an opening of an adjustment hole. The first stopper unit axially faces the coupling rod bottom with a first separation distance, and the second stopper units axially face the movable member bottom with a second separation distance greater than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayoshi Yasuda, Motoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7810799
    Abstract: A moveable, collapsible engine test stand having adjustable engine supports and additional accessory supports that are all collapsible adjacent the base of the stand for convenient, compact storage. The stand may include accessories such as a radiator, fuel tank, instrument panel, battery, cooling lines, fuel lines, wiring harnesses, engine dynamometer and the like to permit prolonged operation and monitoring of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: PRW Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William P. McGloghlon
  • Patent number: 7810800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for depositing a flexible material web, said web being introduced into a folding unit and being deposited from said folding unit at a depositing point. The aim of the invention is to achieve higher production speeds with an excellent fold quality, even for material webs with a low weight. To achieve this, compressed air is applied to the material web after the latter has exited the folding unit in order to support the festooning process by means of a blower device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Udo Schlicher
  • Patent number: 7810801
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating and aerating sheets of material arranged in a stack include a stack support member on which the stack is retained in a generally flat condition, and a clamping member which clamps onto an edge portion of the stack. Upper and lower rollers are positioned above and below the stack of sheet material, and an adjustment member converges and diverges the same into and out of engagement with the stack. A conveyor member shifts the stack of sheet material between the upper and lower rollers. The upper roller and lower roller are arranged in a staggered relationship, such that an imaginary plane extending between the two rollers is disposed at an angle with respect to both the horizontal and the vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Stemmer
  • Patent number: 7810802
    Abstract: The sheet conveying roller includes a shaft member and a sliding portion arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft member. The sliding portion is adapted to make sliding contact with the shaft member. The sheet conveying roller also includes an elastic member configured to fasten the sliding portion to the shaft member and makes contact with a conveyed sheet at an outer circumference thereof. The elastic member generates a frictional resistance between the shaft member and the sliding portion by a clamping force of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumimitsu Kishimoto, Tomoo Akaba, Shimpei Kogawa
  • Patent number: 7810803
    Abstract: An apparatus in an example comprises a sheet holder, a separator surface, a feed head, and one or more arms. The sheet holder supports one or more sheets of media. The separator surface receives a leading edge of a sheet of the one or more sheets of media. The feed head is selectively positionable against a face of the sheet. The one or more arms extend toward an intermediate location of the separator surface to constrain the sheet from movement away from the separator surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Tim M. Hoberock, David F. D. Buck, Samrin Sing
  • Patent number: 7810804
    Abstract: In order to maintain stackability while taking printing conditions into consideration, a control method for controlling a printing system for a stacking unit stacking a sheet printed by a printing unit, includes: determining whether or not a predetermined number of sheets on which the same printed data is printed by the printing unit are stacked continuously by the stacking unit; and controlling, in a case where a predetermined number of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed are determined by the determining unit to be continuously stacked by the stacking unit, the stacking unit so as to not continuously stack more of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed than the predetermined number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kasiha
    Inventor: Junichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7810805
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet discharging apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which even a curled sheet can properly be discharged to and stacked on a sheet stacking portion. A projection is provided in a central portion in a width direction of a tailing end regulating portion while projected toward an upstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The tailing end regulating portion regulates a tailing end position of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The tailing end position of the sheet discharged to the sheet stacking portion is supported by the projection, and the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet are pushed down below an upper surface of the projection by pressing portions at both ends of a full load detecting flag, thereby bending the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7810806
    Abstract: This paper feed mechanism includes a paper feed cassette integrally having a paper contact portion on a position deviating from the center of a rear-side inner wall surface in the cross direction by a prescribed distance in the cross direction and an apparatus body mountable with the paper feed cassette, and the apparatus body includes a driving portion rotating a paper feed roller in a paper feed direction and a paper discharge direction and a control portion bringing the rear end of the paper into contact with the paper contact portion for generating torque for the paper and thereafter transporting the paper to the apparatus body in paper feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takasaka, Takahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 7810807
    Abstract: The device comprises a driven conveyor with a transport element for the horizontal guidance of an overlapped flow of product. Driven alignment units for aligning the sides of the overlapped flow are positioned on a support. A first alignment unit is arranged on the left side of the driven conveyor as seen in transporting direction, and a second alignment unit is arranged on the right side of the conveyor as seen in transporting direction. At least one device is provided for loosening up the overlapped flow from below, thus reducing the friction between adjacent individual products of the overlapped flow. As a result, the operation of centering the overlapped flow in an intake region and a steady-flow region is aided considerably. The device for loosening up the overlapped flow can be realized particularly cost-effectively through raised regions on the transport rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Stefan Liebheit
  • Patent number: 7810808
    Abstract: A register roller conveys a recording sheet to a transfer position. A sheet feed roller conveys the recording sheet toward the register roller. A conveyance control unit controls rotation-start timings of the register roller and the sheet feed roller in such a manner that a rotation-start timing of the sheet feed roller is prior to a rotation-start timing of the register roller at a time of starting a registering process to convey the recording sheet to the transfer position at a right timing with the image formed on the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hamahashi
  • Patent number: 7810809
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which with a guide surface that is disposed upstream of a reference guide and is oblique so as to come close to a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of a re-conveying path as it extends from upstream to downstream, a sheet having been conveyed with deviated on the opposite side to the central portion side in the re-conveying path from a reference surface of the reference guide, is guided while being changed its orientation to the direction of the reference guide side. Furthermore, with a guide portion disposed along the guide surface, there is formed with respect to the guide surface a space acting to flex an edge portion of the sheet when the sheet is contacted with the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumiki Inui
  • Patent number: 7810810
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressing flat materials onto a transport module includes pressing elements acting on the flat material with a spring force through an opening in a feed table for flat materials. The feed table is mounted above a lower housing shell. The pressing elements are configured as spring elements which can be lowered and are anchored in the lower housing shell. An actuating element is disposed in an indentation of a front wall of the lower housing shell in order to actuate a lowering apparatus disposed in the lower housing shell. The lowering apparatus has a lever connected mechanically to the actuating element and a slide coupled to the lever for lowering the spring elements upon actuation of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hantel, Wolfgang Muhl, Michael Winck, Dieter Wölm
  • Patent number: 7810811
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus including: a first sheet conveying rotary member; a second sheet conveying rotary member provided upstream of the first sheet conveying rotary member; and a third sheet conveying rotary member provided upstream of the second sheet conveying rotary member, in which: the first sheet conveying rotary member, the second sheet conveying rotary member, and the third sheet conveying rotary member can convey the same sheet at the same time; a relationship between a peripheral speed V1 of the first sheet conveying rotary member, a peripheral speed V2 of the second sheet conveying rotary member, and a peripheral speed V3 of the third sheet conveying rotary member is V3>V1>V2; and a velocity of a sheet at a portion where the sheet is ejected from the second sheet conveying rotary member is equal to or lower than the peripheral speed of the first sheet conveying rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Suzuki, Kazuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7810812
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting sheet elements into a folder-gluer comprising two longitudinal support structures between which there extend one or more movement slides, one or more lead screws and a drive shaft for a belt. At least one longitudinal member supports at least one endless conveyor belt driven by the shaft. The longitudinal member is mounted in sliding connection on the movement slides and on the drive shaft and is in helical connection with the lead screws. A protecting device over the drive shaft blocks user access to the shaft. It is illustrated as a profile over the shaft and slide. The protecting device transversely connects the two longitudinal support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Lionel Cailloux
  • Patent number: 7810813
    Abstract: A dice game and a method of playing the same, the game including a dice throwing arena having a floor and a circumferential barrier wall for confining thrown dice, a set of chips with each bearing a point value, a chip rack for visually displaying the set of chips in stacks organized according to the indicated point value of the chips, and a set of set of five six-sided dice, either having conventional markings on the respective faces signifying integers 1-6 and wherein odd numbered faces are marked with one color and even numbered faces are marked with a different color, or having alphabetic letters marked on the respective faces. Players roll the five dice in turns and collect chips under a set of rules that encourages strategic decision making to take advantage not only of chip values, but potential bonus points awarded for the particular combinations of chips collected during the course of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Thierry Denoual
  • Patent number: 7810814
    Abstract: A game apparatus for a strategic pattern building board game with a feature for ejecting playing markers is defined. The game board has a multiplicity of channels having a first end and an opposite second end for receiving and ejecting playing markers respectively. The multiplicity of channels may be disposed between a first wall having a multiplicity of first apertures that define a matrix within the first wall and a second wall having a multiplicity of second apertures juxtaposed relative to the first wall. One or more openings disposed at the second end allow a player to eject playing markers. A retainer may be used to maintain playing markers in the matrix, and the retainer may comprise a pivoting and shifting set of bars that allows or prevents ejecting and emptying the matrix of playing markers. Some playing markers have indicia that define game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Katharine Chapman, Lee Lenkarski
  • Patent number: 7810815
    Abstract: A new baseball player card is disclosed. A new baseball game is also disclosed. The baseball player cards have game playing indicia on the face of the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Casey Connaway
  • Patent number: 7810816
    Abstract: A seal is inserted into a space to be sealed. First and second end portions of the seal are engaged with first and second end surfaces of the space. The seal is compressed between the first and second end surfaces. The compression strains the seal. The strain includes the rotation of a cross-section of the seal so as to bias the seal into engagement with a surface forming one of an inboard surface and an outboard surface of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Horace P. Halling
  • Patent number: 7810817
    Abstract: A holder for replaceable tools and having a body with an opening along a longitudinal axis for snugly and individually receiving various tools. Two balls are on the body for engagement with the tools, and there is a projection into the opening for contacting the tool in a location diametrically opposite the location of the balls. A sleeve member is slideable on the body, and has two sets of camming ramps and cylindrical surfaces extending radially over the balls for controlling the radially location of the balls relative to the tool. The tool has a surface for abutting the body projection to thereby hold the tool free of radial deviation relative to the holder axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Hua Gao
  • Patent number: 7810818
    Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle includes an active suspension element that is substantially rigidly attached to a frame of the vehicle such that a motion of an armature of the active suspension element is mechanically decoupled from a lateral motion of a wheel of the vehicle. A control rod is attached between the active suspension element and the wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Dariusz Antoni Bushko
  • Patent number: 7810819
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for damping vibrations on chassis bearings of motor vehicles, and a device for implementing the process. A process and a device are to be presented with which outstanding vibration damping and vibration isolation and noise insulation can be achieved over a wide frequency range with consideration of the driving states and roadway conditions which occur in motor vehicles. For this purpose it is proposed that the driving state of the motor vehicle and/or the roadway conditions are detected by way of sensors and that the at least one chassis bearing is modified to different characteristics to change its stiffness and/or damping depending on the detected parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Stephan Lamers, Thomas Conrad, Matthias Muller, Wolfgang Unger, Josef Wenger, Roland Hudler
  • Patent number: 7810820
    Abstract: Lightweight inexpensive sleds, made of tough plastic or similar material, are disclosed for transporting injured people or inert loads. For rescue sleds, a strong strap is passed through slots around the periphery. This distributes forces in ways that avoid tearing, and it provides secure handholds, allowing people to lift and carry an injured person in a manner comparable to a backboard. A rescue sled including straps weighs only about 6 pounds, and can be carried on foot for miles, affixed to a backpack, making these sleds available immediately when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: ARC Products LLC
    Inventors: Bryan A. Wolf, Clifford G. Adkins
  • Patent number: 7810821
    Abstract: A pallet jack assembly includes a pallet jack having a frame assembly. An attachment includes a shell having a bottom wall and at least one side wall. The bottom wall and the at least one side wall define a storage cavity. The bottom wall is supported by the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Vestil Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Barry Trine, Robert A Link, Deryl T Webster, Matthew Clements, Ralph Trine
  • Patent number: 7810822
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, and a push handle that is coupled to the frame and that is gripable to maneuver the patient support apparatus along a floor. The patient support apparatus also has a brake handle that is coupled to the push handle and that is movable to brake at least one of the casters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Figel, Kenneth Q. Rudolf, David A. Albersmeyer, Richard Henry Heimbrock, James L. Walke, Brian P. Michael, Glenn C. Suttman, Jonathan D. Turner, Brian T. Wiggins, Martin D. Weiler
  • Patent number: 7810823
    Abstract: An oscillating in-line steering system for a pulled agricultural implement includes first and second in-line axles pivotably coupled with a frame. The system also includes at least first and second in-line wheel arrangements pivotably coupled with the first and second axles respectively. Each wheel arrangement has a plurality of pivotable wheel assemblies arranged in-line and wheel linkages coupling the in-line wheel assemblies such that in-line wheel assemblies oscillate together. A right-to-left linkage couples the wheel linkage of the first in-line wheel arrangement to the wheel linkage of the second in-line wheel arrangement so that the first in-line wheel arrangement oscillates at a steering angle proportional to that of the second in-line wheel arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ron Schlimgen, John Walvatne
  • Patent number: 7810824
    Abstract: A skateboard deck is formed of several layers pressed and bonded together. Apertures are formed through the bottom-most layers, and impact support members are arranged within the apertures. The impact support members are more rigid than the other portions of the skateboard deck, and provide localized impact support while allowing the remaining layers of the deck to retain their performance characteristics and feel while strengthening the most vulnerable areas of the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Chomp, Inc.
    Inventors: Eben Woodall, Chi Leung, Scott Jensen
  • Patent number: 7810825
    Abstract: A steering enhancement and braking system for a skateboard or wheeled platform having an actuating element configured to change the position of the skateboard deck relative to the skateboard truck. The actuating element comprises a deck plate configured to be attachable to a skateboard deck, and a truck plate configured to be attachable to a skateboard truck and the deck plate. Upon an application of a force to the skateboard deck the position of the truck plate relative to the deck plate changes. In addition, the system can achieve braking action by transferring the differential motion to the skateboard deck and the truck by the use of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey Cole
  • Patent number: 7810826
    Abstract: A bicycle including a suspension system operably positioned between the bicycle frame and at least one of the front wheel and rear wheel of the bicycle. The suspension system includes a damping system including a first valve and a second valve, which cooperate to provide desirable damping forces throughout a broad range of relative velocities of the suspension system, while also being relatively lightweight and compact. The first valve includes a first orifice and a first valve body configured to regulate fluid flow through the first orifice. The second valve includes a second orifice. In one arrangement, the second orifice is defined by the first valve body. In another arrangement, the second valve includes a second valve body configured to regulate fluid flow through the second orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael McAndrews
  • Patent number: 7810827
    Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use in a system and process for controlling vehicle loading on a multi-axle vehicle and improving maneuverability. The valve partially exhausts air from an axle air bag when the vehicle is maneuvering at slow speed, reduces the load on the axle, and thus reduces damaging forces that affect tire wear and suspension component wear. The valve is a normally open, pilot operated valve that delivers supply air pressure upon receiving a sustained air pressure input of a pilot signal. Using an inversion function, the valve then dumps the delivery pressure through a high capacity exhaust upon receiving the pressure input of a secondary control signal. The hold function of the valve traps a reduced amount of delivery air pressure by closing the exhaust valve, and the hold function is actuated at a predetermined delivery pressure to trap a volume of air in the associated air suspension system until the valve member is returned to a supply position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Sheehan, Randy S. Wise
  • Patent number: 7810828
    Abstract: A splash shield for an automobile which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle panel of the automobile, wherein the splash shield is adapted to be conform to the vehicle panel and to cover a tire, the splash shield comprises: at least two divided portions which are arranged in a front-rear direction of the automobile; a hinge which pivotably connects the divided portions to each other; at least two vertical walls which are formed on edges of the at least two divided portions and extend in a direction that is away from a rotation center of the tire, wherein two vertical walls from among the at least two vertical walls are formed on the edges of two divided portions from among the at least two divided portions, respectively, the two divided portions being adjacent to each other, and wherein the two vertical walls are arranged adjacent to each other on both sides of a gap that is located at a position that corresponds to the hinge, respectively; and a shielding member for covering the gap, the shielding member be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Hayashi Telempu Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sugiyama, Shigeki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7810829
    Abstract: A fender assembly comprising a fender and an adjustable bracket assembly that is adapted to adjustably mount the fender to the vehicle. The bracket assembly includes an arm with a longitudinal axis offset from and a fastener for rotationally mounting the bracket to a vehicle frame through and adjustable link. A vibration decoupler is mounted between the arm and the fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy R. Hawes
  • Patent number: 7810830
    Abstract: A boat trailer that includes a first front sidewall and a second front sidewall connected to a frame. The front sidewalls include at least one compartment to store equipment, tools, gear, or other items. The front sidewalls may be comprised of fiberglass and may include at least one toe socket. The boat trailer may include a rear sidewalls connected to the frame. The first front sidewall and the second front sidewall may be substantially contoured to the hull of a boat. An adapter sidewall may be attachable to the front sidewalls so that the front sidewalls are substantially contoured to the hull of a second boat. The boat trailer may include a nose cone with a recessed step connected to each front sidewall. The boat trailer may include means to selectively connect the boat trailer to the motorized vehicle in addition to a typical tongue and hitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: William Travis Warren
  • Patent number: 7810831
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a trailer hitch isolation assembly that attaches to the tongue of a fifth wheel trailer and that provides a moveable connection between a tow vehicle and the trailer. The hitch assembly includes a floating hitch attachment member such as a king pin, which is adapted to be attached to a tow vehicle. The hitch isolation assembly allows the hitch attachment member to move at least vertically relative to the tow vehicle to which the hitch assembly is connected. One or more air springs connect the floating hitch attachment to the frame of the trailer. These air springs permit relative movement between the attachment support member and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventors: Jeff Wilkens, Andrew Donald Browen
  • Patent number: 7810832
    Abstract: A steerable caddy trailer is provided that has an improved structure including a main frame assembly, spindle assemblies attached to each end of the main frame for attachment of a wheel, a pair of swinging arms forwardly extending from the main frame and pivotally attached to the main frame, and tie rods connecting the swinging arms with the spindle assembly such that pivoting of the swinging arms steers the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Roger A. Montag