Patents Issued in January 18, 2011
  • Patent number: 7870648
    Abstract: A disk-shaped object of synthetic thermoplastic material has contact surfaces on opposite sides that possess a rough texture. In a method for production of the disk-shaped object, synthetic material is injected under pressure in a plasticized state into a cooled molding tool and removed therefrom after a cooling phase, the molding tool having correspondingly rough molding surfaces to form the rough contact surfaces of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Harald Schäty
  • Patent number: 7870649
    Abstract: A waterproof slide fastener in which an entire surface of a fastener tape is covered with elastomer, through holes are made in a side edge of the fastener tape, and fastener elements each comprising a coupling head, a neck portion, an engaging projection, a leg portion and a tongue piece, are molded by injection molding so as to cover the through holes. Reinforcing portions are provided projectingly from sides of the leg portion so as to cover at least a part of each of the through holes in a longitudinal direction of the through holes made in the fastener tape so that the reinforcing portions surround the through holes, so the reinforcing portions prevent the through holes from being exposed even when the fastener tape is bent, thereby maintaining water-tightness and airtightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Mikuma, Masahiro Kusayama
  • Patent number: 7870650
    Abstract: A slide fastener slider comprising: a slider body; a pull tab holder body attached to the slider body in a cantilevered state with one end portion thereof fixed to a top face side of the slider body; an opening/closing member disposed slidably on the slider body so as to open and close a gap formed between an other end portion of the pull tab holder body and the upper blade; and an elastic member for urging the opening/closing member to a closing position of the gap, so that a pull tab is detachably held between the slider body and the pull tab holder body, the slider further comprising a fitting sliding structure in which the pull tab holder body is fitted to the slider body from a front or rear end thereof so as to be relatively slidable in a length direction of the slider body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Keyaki, Yoshikazu Hamada
  • Patent number: 7870651
    Abstract: The disclosure provides embodiments for elasticized members used as closures for garments, such as diapers, jacket cuffs, and similar articles, the elasticized member having an elastic body having an attachment region adapted for attachment of the elastic body to a garment and a fastener positioned on a distal portion of the elastic body, wherein the elastic body is structured to reduce curl along longitudinal edges and corners of the elastic body upon application of tension to the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Middlesworth, Andrew J. Peacock, Matthew J. O'Sickey, Stephen D. Bruce
  • Patent number: 7870652
    Abstract: A fastening member has inboard and outboard ends, a panel region, an end region, and a stiffening element. The panel region is disposed adjacent to the inboard end and has first and second layers. The first and second layers are joined in a face-to-face orientation. The end region is disposed adjacent to the outboard end and has a fastening element zone and an intermediate zone. The intermediate zone is disposed between the fastening element zone and the panel region adjacent an interface between the panel and end regions. The stiffening element is disposed in the end region and has a stiffness of greater than about 200 N/m. A portion of the stiffening element is disposed between the first layer and the second layer and is joined to the first layer and the second layer. The portion is disposed adjacent to the interface between the panel region and the end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Anna Elizabeth Macura, Michael Irwin Lawson, Ronald Joseph Zink
  • Patent number: 7870653
    Abstract: A product package clip has tamper evident protection which is formed integrally with the clip. Breakage of frangible connectors indicates that the clip, and thus the package, has been the target of tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Edmund Maresh, Eric Allen Stegner, Robert William Stegner
  • Patent number: 7870654
    Abstract: A primary technical goal of a mechanical seal device of the present invention is to decrease assembly cost thereof as well as machining cost thereof and to prevent wear of seal surfaces by preventing occurrence of squealing noises of the seal surfaces. The mechanical seal device comprises a first seal ring which is one of a pair of seal rings and disposes an engagement portion at the outer circumferential surface, a retainer ring which has a first support portion supporting an inner diameter surface of the first seal ring and a second support portion engaging the engagement portion and is fixed with either a seal housing or a shaft, and a gasket which joins the retainer ring and the first seal ring in a sealing manner, wherein an engagement clearance (C) formed in a rotational direction between the engagement portion and the second support portion is within 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kametaka, Kenji Kiryu
  • Patent number: 7870655
    Abstract: A method for endforming a tubular member for use assembly for a hydraulic system comprises (1) a connector member having an inner surface exhibiting a stepped configuration and a fixing member at the distal end thereof, and (2) an endform tubular member having an outer surface corresponding to the inner surface of the connector member, wherein the endform tubular member mates with inner surface of the connector member to provide an endform tubular assembly having an improved design for conveying fluids in a hydraulic system. The endform tubular assembly has inherent features therein that are measured to provide quantified values for assessing the robustness of the assembly and predict the performance of such assembly in high pressure applications for prolonged periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: YH America, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Skiba, Randy Stanley, Herb Lemaster
  • Patent number: 7870656
    Abstract: Method for connecting two or more metal sheets or profile parts, especially of an automobile body segment as well as said automobile body segment. A method is described for joining two or more metal sheets and/or profile parts of which typically one is a high strength steel with the following steps. a) mechanically joining in a force-locking or frictional manner the metal sheets or profile parts at one or more connecting sites and subsequently b) thermally joining the connecting sites by means of pressure welding. With the method according to the invention in particular in the motor vehicle sector automobile body segments can be produced which display qualitatively very high quality point weld joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Eberlein
  • Patent number: 7870657
    Abstract: The manufacturing device for bending an electromagnetic element of an electrical machine, which includes a stator lamination (5), has a first device (10) for bending the stator lamination (5) to form a pre-curved stator lamination and a second device (25) for final forming of the pre-curved stator lamination. The second device (25) includes a first assembly (29) for axially fixing and pressing the pre-curved stator lamination and a second assembly for radially centering and pressing the pre-curved stator lamination. The first device (10) includes a bending mandrel (11) around which the stator lamination (5) bendable, which has an outer diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the fully bent electromagnetic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Rau, Martin Henne, Klaus Pflueger
  • Patent number: 7870658
    Abstract: A method for sheathing an armature for electric machines, in which a stack of lamellae that is equipped with grooves for armature windings is mounted on an armature shaft by means of a bore and is provided with at least one groove insulation with the aid of the sheathing process. The sheathing plastic flows through ducts that extend along the bore of the stack and the armature shaft. The plastic is molded in only on a first face of the stack and flows into the grooves and through the ducts. The plastic invades the grooves also from the second face after being discharged from the ducts and converges with the plastic discharged from the first face. The method implements fixing and insulation of the grooves while the groove insulation is provided with a minimum layer thickness for such sheathings at the bottom thereof in order to allow for maximum copper fillings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Neubauer, Pascal Chaumet, Dirk Altmeyer, Helmut Huber
  • Patent number: 7870659
    Abstract: A method for defining a perpendicular magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a portion of the read and write head including depositing a sensor film on a surface only over a region of the read head to form a sensor; depositing a full-film shaping pole layer over the write head; defining a track width of the sensor; patterning a photoresist to define a pole tip of the write head including write track width and flare position, and at the same time to define a back edge of the sensor; removing material of the sensor and pole tip from the areas not covered by the photoresist; completing the fabrication of the write and read head layers; and lapping the write pole concurrently with the sensor to define the flare position of the pole tip and to define a sensor height with accurate positioning of write head flare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nikitin, Samuel Wei-san Yuan
  • Patent number: 7870660
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes: an encasing layer made of a nonmagnetic material and having a groove that opens in the top surface; a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, disposed on the top surface of the encasing layer, and having a penetrating opening that is contiguous to the groove; and a pole layer made of a magnetic metal material and encased in the groove of the encasing layer and in the opening of the nonmagnetic metal layer. The pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, the end face having a first portion and a second portion that is located farther from a substrate than the first portion and connected to the first portion. The first portion has a width that decreases as the distance from the substrate decreases. The second portion has a uniform width that defines the track width. In the medium facing surface, the nonmagnetic metal layer exists on both sides of the second portion, the sides being opposed to each other in the direction of track width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Itoh, Hironori Araki, Takehiro Horinaka, Shigeki Tanemura
  • Patent number: 7870661
    Abstract: A die machine for manufacturing a laminated iron core includes a first working row for punching out iron core pieces from a steel sheet material and a second working row for punching out electrically insulating sheet pieces from an electrically insulating synthetic resin sheet material. Each iron core piece includes a spindle hole and a plurality of slot holes for receiving coil windings. Each electrically insulating sheet includes a spindle hole and a plurality of slot holes which have a substantially similar configuration to, but are smaller than, the slot holes of the iron core pieces. The die machine includes a stacking die mold for selectively receiving the iron core pieces and the electrically insulating sheet pieces such that successive stacks of iron core pieces are sandwiched between electrically insulating sheet pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kuroda Precision Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishizawa, Hideo Horii
  • Patent number: 7870662
    Abstract: A terminal insertion apparatus having a wire holding unit holding two wires, each wire having a terminal, a connector holding unit holding a connector housing having at least two holes for receiving terminals, and a terminal insertion head is disclosed. The terminal insertion head has a wire gripping unit having a first holder and a second holder. The first holder and second holder are movable in a vertical direction toward and away from the wire holding unit and are movable in a horizontal direction toward and away from the connector holding unit. The first holder has an outer grip and an inner grip that together hold one of the two wires while the second holder has an outer grip and an inner grip that together hold the remaining of the two wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
    Inventors: Koji Imai, Minoru Abe, Jun Funakawa, Koichi Nakajima, Daisuke Toma, Hirohide Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7870663
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a multilayer wiring board, by which interlayer connection is efficiently performed and a non-penetrating hole having a hollow structure or a through hole can be formed at the same time without damaging a plated portion on the inner wall of the through hole. A first printed board (1) is provided with a wiring, which has a wiring section and a bump mounting pad (14), and a substrate section. The method is provided with a step of forming a solder bump (3) on at least a bump mounting pad on the first printed board or a pad section of a second printed board (2) having the pad section (15) by using a solder paste, and a step of bonding the first printed board and the second printed board in layers by having an insulating adhesive (4) between the first printed board and the second printed board and electrically connecting the first printed board with the second printed board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinada, Masahiro Katou, Noriaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7870664
    Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate including a resistor comprised of material which includes a polymer resin and a quantity of nano-powders including a mixture of at least one metal component and at least one ceramic component. The ceramic component may be a ferroelectric ceramic and/or a high surface area ceramic and/or a transparent oxide and/or a dope manganite. Alternatively, the material will include the polymer resin and nano-powders, with the nano-powders comprising at least one metal coated ceramic and/or at least one oxide coated metal component. An electrical assembly (substrate and at least one electrical component) and an information handling system (e.g., personal computer) utilizing such a circuitized substrate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rabindra N. Das, John M. Lauffer, Vova R. Markovich
  • Patent number: 7870665
    Abstract: A conductor circuit and method of manufacturing a conductor circuit. The method includes forming a continuous conductor pattern on an insulating substrate, and connecting a short-circuit wire at a first position on the continuous conductor pattern such that two or more points on the continuous conductor pattern are short-circuited to each other by the short-circuit wire at the first position. An electrolytic plating film is formed on the continuous conductor pattern while the short-circuit wire is connected to the continuous conductor pattern at the first position, and the short-circuit wire is removed from the first position on the continuous conductor pattern to uncover a first exposed portion of the continuous conductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nomura, Naotaka Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7870666
    Abstract: A wire routing tool includes a guiding tip, a malleable shaft having a first end operatively connected to said guiding tip and a second end, and a guiding head having a first end operatively connected to said second end of said malleable shaft and a second end including a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Scosche Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Michael McSweyn
  • Patent number: 7870667
    Abstract: To provide a reliable terminal crimping apparatus and a terminal crimping method, which crimps an electric wire to a terminal having crimping pieces, ends of which curve in a direction of approaching each other, the terminal crimping apparatus includes a first die for placing the terminal on a surface thereof, a second die arranged correspondingly to the first die and freely approaching and parting the first die to crimp the crimp pieces by approaching the first die, and a third die arranged correspondingly to the first die and freely approaching and leaving from the first die to approach the first die before the second die crimps the crimping piece so as to push the electric wire toward the bottom plate and insert the electric wire between the pair of crimp pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 7870668
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a sleeve defining an axis and a contact assembly inserted in the sleeve, the contact assembly including pieces that move axially relative to one another during a fault close operation. An interface between the sleeve and the contact assembly is configured to permit replacement of the contact assembly without replacing the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: David Charles Hughes, John Mitchell Makal, Paul Roscizewski
  • Patent number: 7870669
    Abstract: A multi-axially forged mono-bloc piston includes a lower crown part forged of steel and including a pair of pin bosses and an integral skirt formed as one piece with the pin bosses 20. The lower crown part is friction welded to an upper crown part to form at least one closed oil gallery within the piston head. The lower crown part is forged in the longitudinal direction of the piston as well as laterally to impart longitudinal and laterally forged features of the piston. The laterally forged features may comprise undercut recesses formed in the piston skirt to reduce material in the overall piston structure. The lateral forging may also result in the piston skirt portion being discoupled from the piston head by laterally forged slots formed in the lower crown part 14 between the skirt and head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Carmo Ribeiro, Richard R. Gofton, Hongsheng Lin, Randall R. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 7870670
    Abstract: The invention proposes a process for producing components (10) or semi-finished products which contain intermetallic titanium aluminide alloys, which includes the following process steps: rough contouring of a plurality of plate-like bodies (11) so as to correspond to a desired final shape of the component (10) or semi-finished product, some of these plate-like bodies or all the plate-like bodies consisting of titanium aluminide alloys; carrying out surface-to-surface joins between the plurality of plate-like bodies (11) stacked on top of one another so as to form an overall body (10); and forming the desired final shape of the overall body (10). The invention also concerns a component, in particular for jet engines, which is produced using this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Oehring, Jonathan Paul, Fritz Appel
  • Patent number: 7870671
    Abstract: Brazed double wall plate heat exchangers are manufactured so that the double walls are connected and sealed to each other around port holes of the exchanger. This is obtained by providing areas that are shaped so as to include areas not covering each other. The brazing is provided by capillary suction of brazing material from other plate areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: SWEP International AB
    Inventors: Per Rissler, Peter Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7870672
    Abstract: A method of making a stainless steel composite door is accomplished by forming an oversized composite core by gluing a sheet of lightweight plywood to a sheet of brushed metallic laminate formed of a layer of metal and phenolic plastic. The thus formed core is cut to form an undercut step through only a portion of the plywood section, leaving the laminate intact. A pan is then laid down on a flat table with flanges pointing up. One-quarter inch thick spacer pads are placed in each of the four corners of the pan. The oversized metallic laminated core, with an undercut step, is placed on top of the pan and centered. Overhead clamps are tightened to hold the core in place in the pan. The metallic laminated core is routed by a trim router having a rotatable bearing and a cutting bit, with the bearing having a lesser radius than the router bit. The difference in radii between the bearing and the router bit is equal to the thickness of the flanges of the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Tom Braun
  • Patent number: 7870673
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a spherical bearing having an inside member with a metal ball portion and an outside member having a ball support portion enclosing and supporting the ball portion of the inside member and connected to the inside member swingably or rotatably relative to each other, including the steps of performing injection molding in which the ball portion of the inside member is inserted as a core in a mold to mold a resin liner covering the ball portion, molding the outside member covering the resin liner by a casting in which the ball portion and the resin liner are inserted as a core in the mold, and after the completion of the casting, heating the resin liner covering the ball portion through the ball portion of the inside member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Tomozumi Murata, Tetsuhiro Nishide
  • Patent number: 7870674
    Abstract: An end surface 1a of sintered bearing 1 is abutted on a die 10 so that the sintered bearing 1 is mounted thereon, and a tool 40 is abutted on the other end surface 1b of the sintered bearing 1. While the sintered bearing 1 is pressed by the tool 40, high frequency vibration in an axial direction is supplied from a horn 30 to the tool 40 by operating a vibrator 20 so as to give repeated impacts to both end surfaces 1a and 1b of the sintered bearing 1, and pores of the end surfaces 1a and 1b are thereby sealed. The die 10 and the tool 40 have surfaces abutting the sintered bearing 1, and the surfaces have roughness of 0.4 s or less and hardness of HRA 60 or more, and the tool presses the sintered bearing at a pressure of 70 to 700 kPa. The high frequency vibration supplied to the tool 40 has a power of 50 to 3000 W/cm2, and it has a frequency of 10 to 50 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Kondo
  • Patent number: 7870675
    Abstract: A blade shank that can be used for cutting corrugated sheets incorporating improvements to blade design and cutting geometries for an improved cutting action on corrugated sheets; that may include a handle, but does include a blade shank or blade base, at least one cutting edge, at least one guide member attached to the blade base or blade shank; the blade shank can be attached to a handle with the cutting edge facing rearward while the guide member is directed rearward wile the guide member straddles the cutting edge or edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Della Polla
  • Patent number: 7870676
    Abstract: An eyeglass frame shape-measuring apparatus is provided in which deformation of the frame shape is determined at each measurement point based on the actual measurement values and even in the case where the frame shape changes in a direction that differs from prediction, measurement of the lens frame shape of the eyeglass frame can be performed precisely, the eyeglass frame shape-measuring apparatus that measures a shape of a lens frame of an eyeglass frame includes a feeler 37 for a lens frame, a drive motor 6 and a control device (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventor: Takahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7870677
    Abstract: A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. Examples include a wheel clamp having an upper sliding bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel, a lower sliding bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel, a guide bar simultaneously slidably engagable with the upper and lower brackets, and a lead screw threadingly engagable with the upper and lower brackets for adjusting a distance between the upper and lower brackets to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel. The lower bracket has a plurality of measuring device mounting locations for adjustably mounting a wheel alignment element. The mounting locations are disposed such that when the wheel alignment element is mounted to one of them, the wheel alignment element can sight to a second wheel alignment element on the opposing side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian K. Gray, David A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7870678
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid sensor module including first and second sensors that are attached on one surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) so as to detect two-axis signal components parallel to the PCB; a third sensor that is attached on one surface of the PCB such that the axial direction of the third sensor is tilted at a predetermined angle from a vertical direction of the PCB, the third sensor detecting a signal component sensed in the axial direction; and a signal correction unit that is connected to the first to third sensor and corrects signal components, detected from the respective sensors, into signal components of an orthogonal coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh Jo Kwon, Won Tae Choi, Kyoung Soo Kwon
  • Patent number: 7870679
    Abstract: A tape measure having a support structure and an elongate spike mountable on the support structure. The elongate spike is moveable relative to the support structure for mounting in any selected one of two or more positions relative to the support structure. The two positions can include a position can include a position for use and a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fisco Tools Limited
    Inventors: Barry Howard Lee, Mike Elam, Michael John Levick
  • Patent number: 7870680
    Abstract: Support liners and cushions which include including a plurality of compressible protrusions. An arrangement is provided for interconnecting the compressible protrusions, the interconnecting arrangement being adapted to ensure strict compression of the compressible protrusions upon acceptance of a compressive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Pittsburgh Plastics Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Zona
  • Patent number: 7870681
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: James Meschter
  • Patent number: 7870682
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Meschter, Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7870683
    Abstract: A method for trenching below the water table in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Florida Keys is shown. A first pass made by a trencher digs a first trench from the surface to the water table. During the first pass, relatively dry spoil is removed from the first trench. Next, a much deeper second trench is dug below the first trench; however, wet spoil remains in the now combined first and second trench, the combined first and second trench being large enough to accumulate the wet spoil with expansion. Thereafter, the combined first and second trench may be filled with the relatively dry spoil, packed and driven upon. Later, the packed spoil may be removed and water pipes, electric cables, sewer lines or the like buried in the trench. According to the requirements of the work area, the spoil may be used to partially fill the combined first and second trench or be hauled away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: H.L. Chapman Pipeline Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Everett Leslie Waid, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7870684
    Abstract: A method and system for creating a levelling surface for use in levelling a substantially uneven ground surface, optimised for a single plane, row cropping, or dryland cropping with no rows (a surface for row cropping will typically optimise the surface with a defined water flow direction and a surface for dryland cropping will typically optimise the surface to allow water flow in any direction). Terrain data is collected, at least one constraint corresponding to desired surface characteristics is inputted, and a data transformation engine is operated, wherein the data transformation engine optimises the terrain data for at least one terrain variable, generates an optimised terrain model that substantially complies with the at least one constraint, and outputs a levelling surface. The levelling surface may be outputted to a three-dimensional controller for land-levelling machinery which could then shift the soil from the existing terrain to match the levelling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Davco Farming
    Inventors: David Cox, Graeme Cox
  • Patent number: 7870685
    Abstract: A method for the treatment of covering materials for use with a vehicle component, in particular for pieces of trim or vehicle seats, whereby the moisture content of the covering material is temporarily increased, such that the covering material is softened in a treatment chamber by the introduction of moisture and then smoothed by the action of a drawing force extending the covering material is disclosed. A vehicle component treated by the above method, in particular seats, roof linings, and trim pieces for motor vehicles is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventor: Henry Wurm
  • Patent number: 7870686
    Abstract: A subway tunnel light box for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer inside of a subway car traveling in the subway tunnel in which a transparent video display for displaying a number of images, such as an LCD, is mounted in the light box and a narrow light source, preferably having a width of one pixel, is positioned in the box behind each of the images at a distance less than a typical viewing distance so that each image is illuminated by an associated narrow light source with an associated narrow light source horizontal illumination angle substantially the same as a preselected perceived horizontal viewing angle calculated for the typical viewing distance based upon a physical height of the transparent video display and a desired aspect ratio of a perceived image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen P. Hines
  • Patent number: 7870687
    Abstract: A readily modifiable modular sign apparatus is especially useful for fast food restaurants as backlighted menu boards in both indoor and outdoor applications. The apparatus comprises a preferably translucent substrate or mounting board which is preferably planar and has a front surface and a back surface. Precisely positioned holes are prepared at selected locations. These holes are formed to be aligned with thin metal shims which are affixed on the back surface of the mounting board and receive cylindrical magnets on the front surface. The magnets are attached directly to the rear of printed sheets, each of which may have wording or pictorial information or both. The magnets contact the metal shims through the mounting board holes, and are held firmly in position by virtue of both the magnetic attractive force and the shape of the walls of the mounting board holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Kirk Pemberton
  • Patent number: 7870688
    Abstract: A clamping device for coupling optical devices in coaxial, tandem alignment includes a front clamp assembly that has elastically deformable split collar halves tightenable onto a front optical device by a screw tightenable into bores disposed transversely through a pair of arms extending radially from the split collar halves. A rear optical device support protrudes rearward from the front clamp assembly, and has a releasable fastener such as a screw or dovetail joint for supporting a rear optical device in coaxial alignment with the front optical device. Preferably, the arm is mounted to the front clamp assembly by means of a pivotable joint which is latchable in a first, rearward position, and a second, forward position in which the rear optical device is positioned along the side of the front optical device, so that the front device may be used independently of the rear device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Night Optics USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Dasiukevich
  • Patent number: 7870689
    Abstract: A mount comprising a connecting portion attachable to a firearm, a first member connected to the connecting portion to be rotatable about a first axis, a second member connected to the first member to be rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and an attachment system connected to the second member for receiving an accessory. Also, a mount attachable to a firearm and having a dampener system connected to base and body portions thereof, the dampener system acting to dampen a recoil force produced by the firearm. Further, a mount attachable to a firearm and allowing a first rotation varying an azimuth of an accessory and a second rotation varying an angle of elevation of the accessory, and control means adjusting the second rotation to obtain a desired value and automatically producing the first rotation to correct a lateral drift of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Serge Dextraze
  • Patent number: 7870690
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a magnetic mouse trap for catching mice including a magnet, a holding member, a trap bar, a spring bar, and a base to allow a person to trap mice without having the mice steal the bait before the trap is released. A person can attach the bait to the holding member using the magnet to prevent mice from stealing the bait without triggering the trap bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Peter Dylla
  • Patent number: 7870691
    Abstract: Green roof systems are provided comprising a plurality of tile sheets. Each tile sheet in turn may comprise a plurality of tiles. The tiles are connected to one another by one or more bridges. The tile sheets may be disposed above a layer of growing medium. The tiles are spaced apart from one another so as to form a channel between each tile. The channels formed between the adjacent tiles are contiguous with neighboring channels and are arranged so as to form a circuitous pathway for water runoff. The channels so formed allow plant growth between each tile. Advantages of certain embodiments include improved strength, reduced weight, reduced costs, increased life spans, reduced maintenance, easier installation, improved building energy conservation, reduced urban island heat effect, improved sound insulation, improved water retention, improved environmental aspects, improved irrigation, and reduced erosion of the growing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: David A. Williams, Jonathan W. Kinder
  • Patent number: 7870692
    Abstract: A gutter cover distributing water across the face of the cover and controlling the rate of water ingress through the cover into the gutter thereby assisting in the separation of water and shedding of debris from the passing runoff water and debris, and preventing debris from building up on the gutter cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Premier Futter Cover LLC
    Inventor: David Gregg
  • Patent number: 7870693
    Abstract: A system for protecting tile roofs that includes a wire mesh assembly that substantially covers the shingle tile roof structure. The wire mesh assembly includes peripheral sides defined by outermost wire members. Strap members with some degree of deformability have two folded ends. One of the ends hooks over the outermost wire member and the other end removably mounts to the distal peripheral end of the drip guard. The system can be readily deployed over the roof structure and removed for volumetrically efficient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Piñero Gudelio
  • Patent number: 7870694
    Abstract: The panelized roof sheathing construction system includes a plurality of panels attached to a building frame structure in substantially abutting relationship. Each panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop the outward facing surface of the panel. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. Joints between panels are sealed by strips of water resistant tape or the like. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Huber Engineered Woods LLC
    Inventors: John L. Bennett, Joel F. Barker, Rick D. Jordan, Thomas L. Schuman, Nian Ou, Neil C. Swiacki
  • Patent number: 7870695
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for assisted walking on stairs or other sloped surfaces. The apparatus may also be used for assisted walking on slippery surfaces. The apparatus comprises a fixed support and a moveable support. The fixed support is fixed relative to the stairs or other walking surface, while the movable support is selectively moveable relative to the stairs and fixed support in a direction substantially parallel to an incline of the stairs. The movable support is selectively positionable relative to the fixed support in one of a plurality of closely spaced discrete locking positions in which the movable support can support a personal relative to the stairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: David Christopher Manson, Christina Lynelle Manson, Sylvan Sherwood Browne
  • Patent number: 7870696
    Abstract: A panel assembly for decoration glass is disclosed herein, which is to be attached to a side of a pane of transparent glass. The panel assembly includes a panel piece and at least one embedding piece. The panel piece is a thin plate and has at least one through hole. The embedding piece is corresponding to and fitted in the through hole. The embedding pieces are configured as a pattern or a character and have various colors. When the panel assembly is attached to the glass, it gives the glass a vivid appearance. The individual embedding pieces or the whole panel assembly may be replaced with other colors or patterns to make the glass present a diverse appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Chia-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 7870697
    Abstract: A skirting board comprising a base profile and a guard profile. The base profile comprises a receiving portion and a deflecting arm. The guard profile comprises a protruding portion, that interfaces with the receiving portion of the base profile, and a curved portion. The guard profile combines with the base profile to provide at least one open space. Finally, the deflecting arm and the curved portion combine to provide a surface used to finish a corner produced by a floor and a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Adam Galas