Patents Issued in January 25, 2011
  • Patent number: RE42072
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving cellular internalization of one or more compounds are disclosed. The compositions include a compound to be delivered and a biocompatible viscous material, such as a hydrogel, lipogel, or highly viscous sol. The composition also include, or are administered in conjunction with, an enhancer in an amount effective to maximize expression of or binding to receptors and enhance RME of the compound into the cells. This leads to high transport rates of compounds to be delivered across cell membranes, facilitating more efficient delivery of drugs and diagnostic agents. Compositions are applied topically orally, nasally, vaginally, rectally, and ocularly. The enhancer is administered with the composition or separately, either systemically or preferably locally. The compound to be delivered can also be the enhancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: The Penn State Research Foundation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Deaver, David A. Edwards, Robert S. Langer
  • Patent number: RE42073
    Abstract: Thin-film micro-electrochemical energy storage cells (MEESC) such as microbatteries and double-layer capacitors (DLC) are provided. The MEESC comprises two thin layer electrodes, an intermediate thin layer of a solid electrolyte and optionally, a fourth thin current collector layer; said layers being deposited in sequence on a surface of a substrate. The MEESC is characterized in that the substrate is provided with a plurality of through cavities of arbitrary shape, with high aspect ratio. By using the substrate volume, an increase in the total electrode area per volume is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ramot At Tel Aviv University
    Inventors: Menachem Nathan, Emanuel Peled, Dan Haronian
  • Patent number: RE42074
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting device, including the steps of: forming an active layer composed of a compound semiconductor containing indium by a vapor phase growth method; and forming a cap layer composed of a compound semiconductor on said active layer by a vapor phase growth method at a growth temperature approximately equal to or lower than a growth temperature for said active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kunisato, Takashi Kano, Yasuhiro Ueda, Yasuhiko Matsushita, Katsumi Yagi
  • Patent number: RE42075
    Abstract: An electrical connector for engaging with a mated connector in a mating direction comprises a dielectric housing receiving a number of contacts therein, and a pair of retention members for securely fixing the connector to a circuit board. The housing forms a pair of latching members outwardly projecting from opposite ends thereof for securely receiving the retention members therein. Each latching member forms a recess and a projection integrally extending into the recess. Each retention member is L-shaped and comprises a latching portion having a width substantially equal to the width of the corresponding recess for being secured received therein, and a mounting portion perpendicular to the latching portion and extending beyond the corresponding latching member for being surface mounted to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Allen Chiu
  • Patent number: RE42076
    Abstract: A two and three dimensional display medium having a novel transparent polymer composite containing particles of crystals doped with Yb3+ and other rare earth ions. The polymer composite creates homogeneously dispersed compositions without cracking or delamination of the film and can be used for various optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bass, Kevin D. Belfield
  • Patent number: RE42077
    Abstract: A computer system (10) is provided which includes an electronic cash registers (11) electronically coupled to a cooking station monitor (12) and input (13), and a manager's station monitor (15), input (16), and printer (17). The system instructs the cook to initiate a cooking process in response to the number of items on hand and items currently being cooked in view of the number of items typically desired to have on hand at a particular time of the day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: John K. Savage
  • Patent number: RE42078
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preventing IP address cheating in dynamic address allocation. Firstly, check the source MAC address and the source IP address involved in an ARP packet sent from a subscriber terminal, i.e., detect whether there is a matching item in the legal subscriber address table; if so, process it normally, otherwise discard the ARP packet. In this way, an illegal subscriber cannot access to network through IP address cheating, but a legal subscriber can operate normally and continuously. For a subscriber terminal with a static IP address, a static item table is set in the legal subscriber address by manual configuration. When a new subscriber terminal asks for being allocated an IP address, check whether the IP address to be allocated has been set as a static item; if so, inform the subscriber terminal of applying for another IP address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xi Yao, Yihong Xiu, Ning Pan
  • Patent number: RE42079
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a power management method for regulating power to a handheld computer. A source voltage is received from a battery module. The source voltage is regulated to power a plurality of internal components, including a processor and a memory. If the source voltage is detected to be less than a designated threshold, the plurality of internal components powered by the source voltage are reduced to allow a charge of the battery module to increase in absence of an external charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Tate, Sean O'Hara, Gary Responte
  • Patent number: RE42080
    Abstract: A central node for a data bus system includes a bus monitor unit with receiver means for registering signals on the data bus, and evaluation means which detect incorrect communication on the data bus and at least temporarily block communication by the user that causes the incorrect communication or compensate the incorrect communication of a user which is triggered by the interference influences. The bus monitor unit includes timing means which are triggered according to time patterns for the transmission of each user of the data bus, in order to detect an incorrect communication of a user if the latter transmits outside the time provided for it. The bus monitor unit is integrated into the central bus node and a plurality of bus branches of different users are combined at the central node so that the bus monitor unit can check a plurality of users for incorrect communication. In order to increase reliability, in addition to the bus monitor unit, a diagnostic unit is integrated into the central node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventors: Ralf Beischner, Bernd Hedenetz
  • Patent number: RE42081
    Abstract: A notification parameter file, which time-sequentially shows a characteristic of the transmission rate change corresponding to the durable time of a traffic, is notified to a network from a server comprising a storage medium storing data having a traffic characteristic ensured at a transmission starting time. The network adds the characteristic of the transmission rate change designated by the notified parameter to the traffic characteristic already admitted so as to determine whether or not the traffic is admitted. If the traffic can be admitted, the network allocates a transmission bandwidth resource to the sever based on the characteristic of the transmission rate change designated by the notified parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 7874017
    Abstract: A flexible knee pad of the kind to be worn over the knee of a workman who must kneel down for long periods of time while working on a work surface. According to a preferred embodiment, the flexible knee pad includes an upper knee support cushion against which the workman's knee is laid, a lower pivot support base to rest upon the work surface, and an intermediate pivoting reinforcement plate having a flat bed upon which the knee support cushion is seated. The intermediate pivoting reinforcement plate includes a pair of pivots that are coupled to respective pivot slots formed in the lower pivot support base. Accordingly, the pivoting reinforcement plate, the knee support cushion seated thereon, and the workman's knee are all suspended by and rotatable relative to the pivot support base above the work surface so as to advantageously reduce pressure applied to the workman's knee cap by the work surface should he rock his body and shift his weight back and forth over the work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Grant B. Jones
  • Patent number: 7874018
    Abstract: Elastically deformable sheet (18) is bonded, under heat and pressure to a knitted fabric (16). Both the sheet and the knitted fabric (16) are elastically extendable. The sheet is then heat and pressure bonded to a pair of trousers (12) with the clothing of the trousers being extendable. The fibers of the knit (16) allow the clothing of the trousers to extend with the greater elasticity of the sheet (18) subsequently returning the fibers (16) and the clothing to the original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Castlecrafts Limited
    Inventor: Walter Wheater
  • Patent number: 7874019
    Abstract: Garments and garment sets are described that include a jacket having a powder skirt and trousers that can be attached to the powder skirt via at least one fastener. One embodiment of the invention includes a water resistant jacket, an elasticized powder skirt having at least two edges, the first of which is attached to the water resistant jacket, at least one fastener connected to the second edge of the powder skirt, water resistant trousers including a waist opening and two leg openings and at least one corresponding mating fastener connected to the trousers. The fastener and the corresponding mating fastener are constructed to detachably fix the powder skirt to the water resistant trousers. In several embodiments, the fastener and corresponding mating fastener are two mating zipper portions of standard length that can be combined to form a zipper irrespective of the garment size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Volcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Woolcott, Abran Abeyta, Arriana Padron, Jay Twitty, William Anderson
  • Patent number: 7874020
    Abstract: The gloves having snap-on cleaning pads include a front cleaning pad and a rear cleaning pad. Both the front and the rear cleaning pad are capable of contouring the knuckle regions of the hand, and attach to the glove via a plurality of snap buttons and/or nylon hook and loop fasteners. The front and rear cleaning pads are disposable and are made of a scouring material such as metal wool. The gloves themselves are made of a waterproof material such as rubber or latex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Antoine Franklin
  • Patent number: 7874021
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a glove system for operating an electronic device. The glove system may include an inner liner and an outer shell. The liner may be formed from any suitable material, including a material that is thin, electrically conductive, has low thermal conductivity, and/or has an “anti-sticky” finish. The outer shell may include at least one aperture through which the inner liner may extend to operate the input mechanism of an electronic device (e.g., on at least one finger tip). In some embodiments, the aperture may be at a finger tip of the outer shell. In some embodiments, a closing mechanism may be used to maintain the aperture closed when the user is not operating the electronic device. For example, an elastic ring may surround the aperture such that, in its non-deformed state, the aperture is substantially closed. The user may elastically deform the ring to allow the liner to pass through the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin Sunder, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Patent number: 7874022
    Abstract: A protective athletic garment includes a pair of shoulder protection plates, a pair of epaulets coupled to the shoulder protection plate, and at least one rear arch plate adapted to cover an upper lumbar region of a back of a user and wrap about each side of a user and at least one front arch plate adapted to cover at least a portion of a chest of a user and having a body portion defining a forwardly-facing first surface and a pair of relief areas extending outwardly from the first surface defining a cavity that is adapted to receive a pectoral area of a user, a lower portion that is adapted to cover an upper abdominal area of a user, and a pair of second side portions adapted to wrap about each side of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Pamela S. McQueer
  • Patent number: 7874023
    Abstract: A system and method for an inflatable swimming pool cover that is elevated above the water line, particularly for above ground pools, is herein disclosed. The cover is configured with a donut-shaped air pillow around a higher center air pillow. The donut-shaped air pillow maintains the cover above the levels of the pool sidewalls such that rain, snow, leaves and the like are directed off the pool cover to the ground, thus eliminating unwanted debris from accumulating on the cover. Further, since no water can collect on the pool cover, the risk of drowning by young children or pets that may accidentally be trapped upon or within the pool cover is significantly reduced. The two air pillows are interconnected with a tube structure and also an air filling tube that extends to the side of the pool to allow the air pillows to be filled or refilled from the perimeter. A plurality of straps secures the pillows in place to the underside of the pool cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Andy P. Sundling
  • Patent number: 7874024
    Abstract: The invention as presently conceived discloses a padded neck support for beauty salon washing sinks. The invention is an apparatus to aid in the support of a user's head during the hair washing process at a sink in a beauty salon. The head and neck support pad is configured as a conformable pad to be removably attached to the head receiving portion of a conventional hair salon sink. If necessary, means exist to removably attach multiple support pads thereon each other for vertical adjustment due to the physical characteristics of the individual user. The apparatus is covered with a waterproof cover for ease in washing after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Helen Singh
  • Patent number: 7874025
    Abstract: A grab bar assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: a grab bar having a first aperture and a second aperture defined along an axis; a post which receives the grab bar; an insert which pass through the first aperture and abut the second aperture; and a fastener mounted through the post and the second aperture along the axis, the fastener receivable into the insert to retain the grab bar within the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Rohn Bowden, Earl David Forrest
  • Patent number: 7874026
    Abstract: A new and useful system and method of raising and lowering a bed is provided. A bed system comprises a bed, and a balanced movement system for raising and lowering the bed and for maintaining the bed in a stopped position when application of force to the bed is stopped. The balanced movement system is (i) configured to enable the bed to be raised or lowered by application of force to the bed in a selected direction, and (ii) configured such that when application of the force ceases the bed will come to a stopped position and be maintained in the stopped position by the balanced movement system. In order to raise or lower the bed, a relatively modest force is applied (preferably manually) to the bed in a selected direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Double Space Bed Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Gudenkauf
  • Patent number: 7874027
    Abstract: A comprehensive means of providing protection to a bed frame by covering various locations about the bed frame with plastic shields. The plastic shields are adapted to enclose the various locations about the bed frame including the ends of side rails, the junction of side rails and cross members, leg assemblies and the side rails themselves. The shields comprise a pair of housings joined together with a living hinge such that the free ends can be affixed together to surround and enclose the various locations where sharp edges are present. The use of the shields provides overall protection to all of the locations where there may be sharp edges that could harm a person striking the location and thus there is a comprehensive approach to full protection of the bed frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Finger Lakes Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Polevoy, Howard Scott Ryan, Paul Eric Carlson
  • Patent number: 7874028
    Abstract: An easily laundered one piece sofa protector and bedding substitute for couches and sofas having a fitted sheet type element conjoined to a flat sheet in such a way to stay in place while the sofa occupant sleeps. Alternately, the flat sheet may be pulled away from the fitted sheet and laid against the back sofa cushions to protect them from soiling. Additionally, a sewn in pouch for the temporary retention of a typical throw pillow is provided so that the throw pillow may be used as a sleeping pillow without soiling the surface of the throw pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Kenneth Clark Bradford
  • Patent number: 7874029
    Abstract: A retractable toe tent device is provided to elevate the covers at the foot of the bed so that a person may sleep comfortably without the weight of the covers on their feet, thereby preventing pain or discomfort in their toes, feet, ankles, or knees. The device is comprised of a base and a telescoping support which can be raised while in use, or lowered while not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Alston
  • Patent number: 7874030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a cradle transferring device, which moves and withdraws a cradle to and from an examination table of an MRI apparatus in a PET-MRI hybrid system. The cradle transferring device includes: a cradle, on which a subject lies; a shuttle table supporting the cradle and moving and withdrawing the cradle to and from the examination table of the MRI apparatus; and a cradle receiving member provided on the examination table of the MRI apparatus. The shuttle table is provided with a transfer member for holding and transferring the cradle and a transfer member driving means for reciprocating the transfer member along the shuttle table. The cradle transferring device is further provided with a cradle locking means, which locks the cradle to the examination table after the cradle is moved to the examination table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Gachon University of Medicine & Science Industry—Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Zang Hee Cho, Cheol Ok Lee, Young Bo Kim, Ja Weon Yun, Hyung Jin Ahn, Dong Sung Kim, Hong Shim
  • Patent number: 7874031
    Abstract: A patient positioning apparatus for a magnetic resonance device is provided. The patient positioning apparatus includes a positioning unit with a fixing side for fixing to the magnetic resonance device, a supporting frame extending horizontally starting from the fixing side and being arranged in a vertically adjustable fashion on the positioning unit, a patient plate mounted in a moveable fashion on the supporting frame, and a vertical adjusting mechanism operable to vertically adjust the supporting frame, the vertical adjusting mechanism has a first drive motor disposed on a side within the supporting frame that is remote from the fixing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Carsten Groβhauser, Herbert Weiler
  • Patent number: 7874032
    Abstract: A method and device for developing a positional orientation sleep aspect (POSA) to enable an individual to assume at least one preselected side-sleeping orientation on either a left or right side, including the steps of: a) placing first and second cylindrically configured, elongate pillows in parallel orientation on the bed, tethered by an intermediate member having a length approximately equal to a distance from the individual's low back to an extended knee; b) positioning the individual's body in a preselected, side-position on the intermediate member, c) establishing two additional, concurrent points of contact respectively at the individual's low back side with the first pillow and a projecting limb or knee with the second pillow; and d) sustaining the at least three points of contact to establish a sustainable recognition and awareness during sleep of the side-position while allowing the individual freedom of movement to also assume alternate right and left side positions, including free movement of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventors: Vaughn North, Myrna North
  • Patent number: 7874033
    Abstract: A universal support pillow usable by both back and side sleepers includes a first chamber having multiple filled compartments that define a first side of the pillow and a second filled chamber that defines a second side of the pillow. The multiple compartments of the first chamber are designed particularly to receive a head of a back sleeper, and the second chamber is designed to receive a head of a side sleeper. The universal support pillow, in one version, includes a closable opening that is disposed between the two chambers for receiving a pillow insert to provide user-customized thickness and firmness characteristics of the universal support pillow. Multiple types of pillow inserts having different thickness and/or firmness characteristics may be provided, wherein a user is able to select one of the pillow inserts based on the user's sleep pillow preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: United Feather & Down, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Palmer, Robert Hickman
  • Patent number: 7874034
    Abstract: A multiple use tool providing a variety of different features for use by firefighters as a hose coupling wrenches, pin and lug wrenches, valve wrenches, hose carrying and anchoring hooks, a glass cutting tool, a rope rapelling and belay apparatus and several other common firefighter tools all provided in a single tool, compact and conveniently provided in a single device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventors: Tony Lane Mack, Samuel Clint Bowring
  • Patent number: 7874035
    Abstract: Provided are a connection apparatus and a connection method capable of rapidly and fixing a pre-cast deck slab with a beam. The connection apparatus includes a main body buried in the pre-cast deck slab and having a hollow part formed in an axial direction thereof! a plurality of support portions integrally formed with an outer surface of the main body, each of which has a body having a certain length and a hook integrally formed with an end of the body; a bolt having a bolt body inserted into the hollow part of the main body and a fixing hole of the beam, and a head integrally formed with an upper end of the bolt body! and a nut threadedly engaged with the bolt body of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporated Collaboration
    Inventors: Sun-Kyu Park, Sung-Oh Kim, Sung-Nam Hong, Tae-Wan Kim, Kyoung Bong Han
  • Patent number: 7874036
    Abstract: An energy storage bridge includes a plurality of bridge girders. The bridge girder includes a number of steel pipes and a plurality of web plates. The steel pipes are assembled either in a single row or in multiple rows in the structural depth direction to form the girder together with the web plate welded between the two halves of the pipe; or with two web plates welded to each side of the pipe. The bridge girder forms an energy storage unit between two consecutive movement joints of the bridge, and two consecutive storage units can be joined by high pressure flexible pipe to form a giant energy storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventors: Carlos Wong, Livia Wong, Zhaohui Xiong
  • Patent number: 7874037
    Abstract: A wiper system includes a motor bracket to which a wiper motor is fixed, and the motor bracket is fixed to a body with a rubber pad therebetween. A mounting leg made of a hard material extends from a first pivot holder that supports a first pivot shaft, and is directly fixed to the body. Mounting legs made of a hard material extend from a second pivot holder that supports a second pivot shaft, and are directly fixed to the body. According to the wiper system, it is possible to prevent vibration due to a wiper motor from being transferred to the body and a wiper arm from overrunning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7874038
    Abstract: An air gun equipment (10) for cleaning workpieces includes an air gun (20), a switch (50) connected to the air gun and an air source by pipes (206, 70), and a sensor (30) fixed on the air gun. The switch is controlled by an output signal from the sensor to control the flow of air from the air source to the air gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Qiang Wen, Hao Yu, Luo-Jie Zheng
  • Patent number: 7874039
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dust tank is arranged in the lower side of the machine frame. A dust bag is sleeved by the dust tank. The top side of the dust tank is connected to a filter tank. The filter tank has an air inlet pipe at the bottom side thereof, a filter thereinside, and an air outlet at the top side thereof. The air outlet is connected to a closed chamber arranged at the other side of the machine frame via the air suction pipe. A suction blower is arranged inside the closed chamber. A motor drives the suction blower to operate and suck air to flow through the air suction pipe and go out from through-holes on the top of the closed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Meta International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 7874040
    Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator. The apparatus also includes a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes. By providing this arrangement, the separate passageways can be located around other parts of the cyclonic separating apparatus inwardly of the shroud, allowing for better packaging of the components of the cyclonic separating apparatus. The shroud may be reduced in size because some of the space previously required for a single, large passageway can be used for other components of the cyclonic separating apparatus such a collector or a cyclone. The reduction in size of the shroud in turn allows for the cyclonic separating apparatus to be more compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Thomas James Dunning Follows, Andrew Phillip Stokes
  • Patent number: 7874041
    Abstract: A suction hose for vacuum cleaner includes a tubular inner part, a jacket part and a locking device. The inner part is variable in length and includes a hose wall having a coil spring integrated therein, the coil spring being configured to automatically return the inner part from an extended position to a shortened position. The jacket part is configured to completely receive the inner part when the inner part is in the shortened position, the jacket part including a tubular shape. The locking device is configured to fix the inner part, in the shortened position, in the jacket part. The locking device includes a tubular member configured to surround the inner part, the tubular member including a first part of a first snap-fit device configured to cooperate with the jacket part so as to connect the tubular member and the jacket part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Dirk Wegener
  • Patent number: 7874042
    Abstract: A spring hinge for spectacles is described having a central hinge lobe (4) guided so it is displaceable in a bow-side housing (1) in the bow longitudinal direction and having a U-shaped sliding part (3) projecting from the hinge lobe (4) in the displacement direction and engaging in a housing recess (2), which receives a coiled spring (10) between its two legs (7), which is supported at one end on the web (6) connecting the two legs (7) of the U-shaped sliding part (3) and at the other end on a buttress (11), which is held removably in the housing (1) by a rotational adjustment coaxial to the coiled spring (10), the hinge lobe (4) having a through opening (17) running coaxially to the coiled spring (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Redtenbacher Präzisionsteile Ges.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Harald Buchegger
  • Patent number: 7874043
    Abstract: Furniture hinge with damping and/or braking device in alternative to those already existing and capable of guaranteeing an improved efficiency during the closing and/or opening operation of doors, or other furniture parts, without any variations to the overall dimensions of standard hinges. The improved efficiency of the hinge is obtained by increasing the friction surfaces with a viscous medium present in suitable areas of the hinge and/or by allowing regulation of the trend of the angular velocities of one or more circular shaped elements, for example a disc, which act as braking elements in contact with the viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 7874044
    Abstract: A leverage-type hinge is mounted in a portable electronic device with a base, a cover and a driven panel. The cover and the driven panel are connected pivotally to the base. The leverage-type hinge has an actuating sleeve and a leverage bracket. The actuating sleeve is rotated with the cover and has an actuating protrusion. The leverage bracket is mounted pivotally on the base and has a free end abutting the driven panel. When the cover is opened relative to the base, the actuating protrusion presses a receiving end of the leverage bracket to pivot the leverage bracket. Then the free end of the leverage bracket pushes the driven panel to tilt. Therefore, the driven panel is tilted while the cover is opened to facilitate utilization of elements on the driven panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 7874045
    Abstract: Provided is a hinge device for connecting one member and another member so that the hinge device allows opening and closing, including: a movable shaft; a first bracket non-rotatably fixed to the movable shaft and fixed to the one member; a second bracket rotatably and axially movably installed on the movable shaft and fixed to the other member; and a plate spring member formed in a curved configuration, having at a top of the curved configuration of the plate spring member a projection whose surface in contact with the second bracket is flat, and non-rotatably and axially movably installed on the movable shaft, in which the second bracket and the plate spring member are pressed against and held in contact with each other and make relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kitamura, Makoto Saito, Yohei Nakahara
  • Patent number: 7874046
    Abstract: An apparatus on a spinning preparation machine for monitoring and/or adjusting clearances at components has a clothed, high-speed roller located facing at least one clothed and/or unclothed component and the clearance between the components facing one another is alterable. The roller and opposed component(s) are electrically isolated with respect to one another and are connected as contact elements to an electrical power supply line in which a measuring device for ascertaining contact is located. In order to avoid an undesirably heavy contact between the components, electric signals are emitted upon contacts with the clothing of the roller and the measuring device is arranged quantitatively to determine the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Truetzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Leinders, Dieter Wirtz, Thomas Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7874047
    Abstract: A ratcheting tie-down device is provided that includes a main body portion, a hub rotatable relative to the main body portion about an axis, a webbing windable about the hub, and means for attaching at least one end of the webbing to an object. The device further includes means for biasing winding of webbing, a ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth, a lock member resiliently biased into locking engagement with at least one ratchet tooth to inhibit unwinding of the webbing about the hub, and a lever arm rotatable about the axis for moving the ratchet wheel and wind the webbing. In one example, the device a rotational support element is provided to maintain orientation of the hub such that it can freely rotate. In another example, means for braking is provided to inhibit winding of at least some portion of the webbing about the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Winston Breeden
  • Patent number: 7874048
    Abstract: When an operation wall of an inner member is inserted into an insertion portion of an outer member and an engagement piece does not receive a cam operation due to a slanted cam portion, contact pieces of the outer member do not correspond to a positioning hole of the inner member and are located in a position so as not to be inserted into the positioning hole. When the outer member is inserted into an attachment hole of an attachment receiving member with maintaining a state where the engagement piece does not receive the cam operation due to the slanted cam portion, the contact pieces are elastically deformed inwardly and located in a position so as to be inserted into the positioning hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Saiwa Kasei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Katoh, Toshio Iwahara, Haruhisa Kamiya, Tetsuya Ogino, Kosei Asano, Minoru Shibata, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Hiroshi Suyama, Yasuhiro Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7874049
    Abstract: Disclosed is a buckle attached to a belt or a strap which is connected to a rucksack, a bag, clothing, and a helmet, etc. so as to connect the belt or the strap. The buckle includes: a male member including a body and first latching means; and a female member which includes a body and second latching means rotatably coupled to the body so as to latch on the first latching means, for removably engaging with the male member. The buckle constructed as described above has a simple structure. Thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the buckle. Furthermore, there is an advantage in that the second latching means of the female member may be softly pushed, so as to easily release the male member from the female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Nam Il Paik
  • Patent number: 7874050
    Abstract: A synthetic biometric article for use in a cremation process is disclosed. The synthetic biometric article comprises a body, which is to be placed with a deceased individual, including a cremation compatible material that is suitable for mechanical pulverization. At least one synthetic biometric is integrated into the cremation compatible material in order to provide for continuous positive identification of the deceased individual during the cremation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Michael A. Bills
  • Patent number: 7874051
    Abstract: An extractor tool for an ultrasonic flow meter is disclosed. Some system embodiments comprise a bracket configured to couple to a spoolpiece of an ultrasonic flow meter and a tube inserted through and coupled to the bracket. The tube is configured to seal to the spoolpiece and permit a transducer to be selectively installed and removed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Robert Allen
  • Patent number: 7874052
    Abstract: When assembling longitudinal seams, the shells in the region of overlap are moved together over lining-up drill holes, the shells are fastened and subsequently the pilot holes are transferred. Thereafter, these pilot holes are deburred, which involves temporary moving apart of the shells. According to one embodiment of the present invention a rib clamping device is stated that can be used for the longitudinal seam-structure assembly of an aircraft fuselage and that comprises attachment means and fastening means for non-positive and frictionally-engaged fastening of the shells. There is thus no longer any need to temporarily move the components apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Schueler
  • Patent number: 7874053
    Abstract: An assembly of a frame and doors with a lifting device to position the assembly in an open end of a storage container for conversion to access from opposing ends, the frame including side plates and end plates that abut respective side walls and end edges of end of the storage container from which an end panel is removed, and the lifting device attached to the assembly to hold the assembly in the end while rigidly connecting the assembly to the storage container. A method of converting a storage container for dual opposing access is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: John Stangel
  • Patent number: 7874054
    Abstract: A method for producing a tubular component, in which, after machining successively respective threaded elements at both ends of the tubular component, a second orientation gauge is screwed onto the second threaded element to check whether a mark on the gauge comes into alignment with an orientation mark that has been drawn on the component, after the first element has been machined and a first orientation gauge has been screwed onto the first element in axial alignment with a mark provided on this gauge. If not, the machining of the second element is repeated with parameters varied accordingly. Such a method may find particular application to the drilling and operation of hydrocarbon wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas France
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Coulon, Jean-Claude Micmande
  • Patent number: 7874055
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for assembling lighting fixtures where reflective inserts are installed into a reflector frame to create a reflective surface for the fixture. According to one aspect of the method, some type of worker-perceivable indication prompts a worker as to which reflective insert should be installed at which mounting location on the reflector frame. The worker does not have to guess or translate written instructions. The method can be used sequentially to provide such assistance for each of a plurality of reflective inserts for a plurality of mounting locations. The method is particularly helpful if the reflective inserts are not identical for each mounting location. According to one aspect of an apparatus according to the invention, a reflector frame is removably mounted to a machine that holds the reflector frame in an indexed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Musco Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Stone
  • Patent number: 7874056
    Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Box Partition Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon H. Campbell