Patents Issued in September 6, 2011
  • Patent number: 8011652
    Abstract: A sheet feed device includes an air flow generating part that generates an air flow for floating a sheet; a feed member that feeds a sheet by rotating, while applying a load to the top one of sheets stacked; and a transport condition sensing unit that is positioned not to obstruct an air flow generated by the air flow generating part and senses a transport condition of a sheet fed by the feed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tsukamoto, Shin Takeuchi, Minoru Ohshima, Yoshinari Iwaki, Takao Furuya, Kaoru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8011653
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding device includes a tray for holding sheet media of various widths and a shaft extending across the tray. A plurality of pick assemblies is mounted to the shaft. The pick assemblies are spaced along the shaft so that one or more of the pick assemblies contact sheet media in the tray depending on the width of the sheet media. Furthermore, the spacing of the pick assemblies is such that the pick assemblies in contact with the sheet media define a total offset relative to the centerline of the sheet media that is sufficiently small enough to avoid skewing of sheet media for a variety of different media widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Doug Mayne
  • Patent number: 8011654
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking apparatus including: a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveying portion which conveys the sheet onto the sheet stacking portion; a first aligning member moving along a sheet conveying direction to align the position of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion; and second aligning members which move in a width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction to align the position in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, wherein the second aligning members align the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, and the first aligning member aligns the sheet aligned by the second aligning member, and the sheet conveying portion conveys the next sheet onto the sheet stacking portion while the first aligning member is moving for aligning the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8011655
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatsugu Ohishi, Masaharu Kimura, Norichika Katsura, Masaya Asakawa, Yasuaki Fukada
  • Patent number: 8011656
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which does not need height adjustment of the main body and the sheet post-processing device at the time of attaching the sheet post-processing device to the main body and which can prevent jam from occurring while securing the conveying force to convey paper sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Morita
  • Patent number: 8011657
    Abstract: A sheet transport device comprises a sheet feeding path through which a sheet is transported, first and second elements which are located face to face with a particular point in the sheet feeding path and have first and second surfaces, respectively, constituting part of the sheet feeding path and arranged therealong, an interposed element disposed insertably into and withdrawably from a space formed between the first and second elements, and a discharge arrester disposed in first and second surfaces for providing protection against a discharge of static electricity from the sheet, the discharge arrester having a projecting part extending in a direction intersecting the sheet feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Tadahiro Kiyosumi
  • Patent number: 8011658
    Abstract: A damping device for a media feed mechanism for a peripheral device includes a media feedpath having a feed shaft and a downstream exit shaft. In one form a damping hub is mounted on said exit shaft, a resilient biasing member extending between the damping hub and the feed shaft to create a damping force on the damping hub. In another embodiment damping is provided by a brake structure engaging said damping hub. In yet another embodiment, a brake structure is pivotably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Acton, William M. Connors, Walter K. Cousins, Stephen E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8011659
    Abstract: A sheet transport switching device include a rotary guide that is pivotal about an axis orthogonal to a sheet transport direction to align a guide passage with one of two discharge destinations. A stepping motor changes the posture of the rotary guide and a controller controls the stepping motor. A lead end in-timing acquirer acquires a timing when a lead end of the sheet enters the guide passage. The controller performs, in a state that the exit of the guide passage aligns with one of the two discharge destinations, an in-timing retaining operation of retaining a rotated position of the stepping motor by supplying an energizing current of a first current value to the stepping motor at the acquired lead end in-timing, and a pass timing retaining operation of reducing the energizing current to a second value when the lead end of the sheet passes the guide passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 8011660
    Abstract: A lawn game uses a pair of markers toward which each player rolls a disk while standing proximate the other maker. Once all disks have been rolled, the disk closest to the marker determines which player scores points for that round. For the player scoring points, all of that player's disks that are within a certain distance from the rolled to marker score, with each disk laying flat, the number showing on the side of the disk equals the points gained for that disk, the sum of the numbers on each side of a disk remaining on its outer edge equals the points gained for that disk, and the number showing on the side of the disk laying against the rolled to marker multiplied by a multiplier equals the points gained for that disk. A rope removably attachable to the markers helps with measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Matthew J. Butler
  • Patent number: 8011661
    Abstract: A playing card shuffling device has a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the shuffling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Stasson
  • Patent number: 8011662
    Abstract: A hand-held opaque playing board has a different maze structure on each of two faces with holes passing through the board between the two maze structures. Each maze structure is divided approximately in half by an impassable barrier. Gravity moves the playing piece when the board is tilted. When the ball passes through the board from one maze structure to the other, the board must be turned over to view the other maze structure. The ball must travel from the start position at one end on one face through the maze structures back and forth through the board until the playing pieces lands in the finish position at the other end on the other face in the shortest time. The maze can also be played on a hand-held electronic device or on a stationary screen device, such as a computer, using a controller to simulate tilting and turning the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: David N Black
  • Patent number: 8011663
    Abstract: A method of playing a game of chance comprising the steps of defining a set of wagers on the outcome of a plurality of differentiable random events, said random events defining an aggregate event, defining a set of payout odds associated with said wagers, accepting at least one player wager for at least one wager in said set of wagers, generating said plurality of differentiable random events, and paying winning wagers according to said payout odds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Scheb, Jr., Michael Scheb, Paul Scheb, III, Patrick Scheb
  • Patent number: 8011664
    Abstract: A multi-player ring toss game is described. The game includes multiple arms extending from a support stand. Players toss rings or similar objects that are tethered to the arms and attempt to hook them on hooks. In specific implementations, the ring toss game is foldable and portable using a folding mechanism to convert the apparatus from a playing position to a storing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: 5 Mississippi LLC
    Inventors: Cleighton L. Hilbert, Jr., Joseph Hewes Parrish, III
  • Patent number: 8011665
    Abstract: A target apparatus adapted to receive projectiles such as bottle caps tossed or otherwise launched towards the target. Three vertically aligned catch structures are disposed to receive and retain the bottle caps. The three catch structures have different sizes resulting in different degrees of difficulty in projecting a bottle cap into the respective structures. The lowest catch structure is the largest, the middle catch structure being the smallest, and the uppermost catch structure being sized between the lower and the middle structures. Chains completely surround the middle and upper catch structures. Chains only surround the sides and rear of the lowest catch structure. An opening in the front of the lowest catch structure is adapted to receive a projectile therein that is routed to a special basket. A scoring system is provided that awards points depending upon which of the catch structures retains a bottle cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Stanley
  • Patent number: 8011666
    Abstract: A seal capable of providing a seal for an air gap between a rotor and a stator. The seal incorporates a container for the textile insulators fixed on the rotor or the stator. The textile insulators are subjected, on one side, to an upstream pressure and, on another side, to downstream pressure, the upstream pressure being greater than the downstream pressure. The textile insulators are supported on the stator or the rotor so as to be at an angle to the side of the seal where the pressure is lower, namely the downstream pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventor: Daniel Georges Plona
  • Patent number: 8011667
    Abstract: A mechanical seal face has a significant increase in the ability of the seal to tolerate poor lubrication conditions such as dry running. The mechanical seal employs a thin, non-corrugated flat sheet of flexible thermally conductive graphite material placed between one of the mechanical seal faces and a metal surface such as a metal surface defined by a shaft sleeve or gland serving as a seal ring holder. The graphite sheet is located axially between a back face of the more thermally conductive mechanical seal ring and the metal face holder part. The conductive seal face material preferably is a ceramic or cermet material such as silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, or a metallic material such as stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Jason C. Ferris, Larry E. Jacobs, Steven D. DeSmit, Daryl L. Griffith, Anne L. Saad, R. James Seaman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8011668
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular gland member for use in a mechanical seal, wherein the gland member has a radially or axially extending cavity adjacent to a seal face, and the cavity includes a solid or fluid thermal conducting member to dissipate heat from the seal face into the surrounding components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: AES Engineering Ltd
    Inventor: Alan James Roddis
  • Patent number: 8011669
    Abstract: A valve stem seal can include an elastomeric component having a first portion for having a sealed engagement with a valve stem, a second portion for engaging a valve guide, and a pressure relief lip extending from the second portion. The first portion can be configured to extend away from or within the second portion, and the second portion can have a channel formed therein. The pressure relief lip can have a sealing configuration and a venting configuration. The venting configuration can allow excess exhaust gases to vent from a combustion chamber. After the venting of excess exhaust gases, the pressure relief lip can close to the sealing configuration to prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: David Sakata, Tigree Milam Butcher
  • Patent number: 8011670
    Abstract: A sealing device formed to seal between a fixed side member and a rotating side member, comprising a slinger having a fitting cylindrical part fitted to the rotating side member and a flange part formed at one end part of the fitting cylindrical part positioned on the outer side of a sealed portion so as to be extended in the radial direction. A core comprises at least a fitting cylindrical part fitted to the fixed side member. The sealing device is characterized in that one end part of the fitting cylindrical part positioned on the outer side of the sealed portion is positioned on the sealed portion side more than the sealed portion side inner surface position of the flange part of the slinger and a part of a seal lip part is formed to be projected from near one end part of the fitting cylindrical part of the core and to be brought into elastically slidable contact with the extended end face of the slinger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Masanori Shibayama, Hiroshi Seno
  • Patent number: 8011671
    Abstract: A dynamic shaft seal assembly has inner and outer cases that are clamped together to secure a seal element therebetween for dynamic sealing about a rotatable shaft. The inner case is formed with integral pull tabs that are engageable by a seal removal tool to facilitate the removal of the seal assembly from a bore in which the seal assembly is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Madigan
  • Patent number: 8011672
    Abstract: To enable to use a lip type seal at installation positions where shaft diameters are same but shaft hole diameters are different, an installation structure is made such that a lip type seal (1) is installed to an inner periphery of a shaft hole (72) via a cartridge (51) arranged at an outer peripheral side of the lip type seal, the cartridge (51) has a large-diameter tube portion (54) and a small-diameter tube portion (52) via a step portion (53), and is fitted to the inner periphery of the shaft hole (72) by an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter tube portion (54), while the lip type seal (1) is fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter tube portion (52), and only a diameter of the large-diameter tube portion (54) is set in conformity to a diameter of a shaft hole to be installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Shimomura, Hideki Tomoto, Masamitsu Sanada
  • Patent number: 8011673
    Abstract: A dynamic shaft seal assembly is provided including a dynamic seal for engaging a rotary shaft. The dynamic seal includes a base portion that is mounted within a casing and has an axially extending barrel portion extending from a radially inner end of the base portion. The axially extending barrel portion terminates in a radially extending leg portion which extends inwardly from an end of the axially extending portion. A generally conically shaped seal portion extends from an end of the radially extending portion and the seal portion includes a radially inner face engaging the shaft and a radially outer face having a stiffening bead integrally formed thereon. The stiffening bead reduces the seal's propensity for “bell mouthing” while the axially extending barrel portion provides improved shaft followability for the dynamic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Alexander Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 8011674
    Abstract: A metal laminate gasket to be arranged between two members includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate laminated together. The first metal plate has a first hole to be sealed, a first bead around the first hole, and a plurality of second holes around the first bead as bolt holes. The second metal plate has a third hole and fourth holes corresponding to the first and second holes, respectively, and depressions formed at a side facing the first metal plate around the third hole. Each of the depressions is formed on two sides of a line connecting a center of the third hole and a center of each of the fourth holes so that a compressing force of the bead when the gasket is compressed becomes substantially equal around the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Imai
  • Patent number: 8011675
    Abstract: In an expansion actuator employing a screw feed mechanism, when a screw feed mechanism (60) formed from a male thread member (58) and a female thread member (59) that are screwed one into the other is driven by a motor (33) via a reduction gear (44), relative displacement between the male thread member (58) and the female thread member (59) in the direction of an axis (L) can be outputted as expansion and contraction due to relative movement of first and second housings (31, 32). Since the screw feed mechanism (60) is disposed so as to surround outer peripheries of the motor (33) and the reduction gear (44), which are disposed on the axis (L), compared with a case in which the motor (33), the reduction gear (44), and the screw feed mechanism (60) are disposed in series on the axis (L), it is possible to make the dimension of the expansion actuator (14) in the axis (L) direction smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Suyama
  • Patent number: 8011676
    Abstract: A snowboard assembly includes an elongated panel has a top side, a bottom side, a front end and a back end. One of foot engaging member is positioned nearer to the front end and one foot engaging member is positioned nearer to the back end. Each of the foot engaging members comprises a first rail and a second rail each attached to the top side. A plate is positioned on the top side and extends between and engages the first and second rails. The plate is selectively slidable along the first and second rails. A foot covering is couplable to the plate to releasably secure a person's foot to the plate. A resistance apparatus engages the plate to increase or decrease a frictional force between the first and second rails and the plate to selectively alter ease of movement of the relative to the first and second rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Keast
  • Patent number: 8011677
    Abstract: A system and method for delivery of packaged goods on a pallet with a pallet jack is described. The pallet jack enables substantially easy navigation over rough terrain through the configuration and placement of the left and right rear wheels and the configuration and placement of the left and right front wheels, as well as the design and implementation of handle bars. Other useful features include a basket for holding personal items, and jacks for retaining hand held devices that can be used to track and update deliveries and orders for goods. Accordingly, the pallet jack is preferably used to deliver consumer soft drink beverages but can be used to deliver any type of packaged product, goods and/or raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Charles Ellington, John P. Barry
  • Patent number: 8011678
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a zero-turn radius vehicle using a steering mechanism coupled to a first set of wheel assemblies by a plurality of cables. User input to the steering mechanism causes the cables to turn the first set of wheel assemblies about a vertical axis. Specifically, the cables link the steering mechanism to cam mechanisms that are attached to each wheel assembly. The design of the cam mechanism, which preferably includes two cams of varying radii, enables the two wheel assemblies to rotate about their vertical axes at varied degrees of rotation and greater than ninety degrees from the forward facing position, thereby resulting in zero-turn radius capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Douglas W. Bell, Bryce E. Steenburg
  • Patent number: 8011679
    Abstract: A wheel suspension device for a vehicle includes a wheel supporting member rotatably supporting a wheel. The wheel supporting member is linked to a vehicle-body side by a first link and a second link, with the second link arranged substantially parallel to the first link in a vehicle width direction. The first link has a projecting portion, and at least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion to the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawabe, Masahiko Nishida, Isao Watanabe, Kenji Sagara, Kazuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8011680
    Abstract: A wheelchair suspension system includes a suspension member which clamps to longitudinal bars of the wheelchair frame located below the seat of the wheelchair. The suspension member is elongate with upper and lower parallel leaf springs extending between the opposing ends of the suspension member. An axle support member is hinged to each end of the suspension member, by pivotal connection to each of the leaf springs. Each axle support member receives the axle of one of the opposing large rear wheels of the wheelchair. As the large wheels encounter uneven areas on the ground surface on which the wheelchair moves, the leaf springs flex reducing vibrations and shock to the wheelchair occupant. The axle support members maintain their generally upright orientation as the leaf springs flex so that camber angle of the rear wheels does not change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Eric Mark Chelgren
  • Patent number: 8011681
    Abstract: A vehicle side panel step structure includes a step, a mounting structure and a sub-side body panel. The mounting structure movably couples the step to the structural support for movement of the step between a retracted step position and an extended step position relative to a structural support of the vehicle. In the extended step position the step is approximately horizontally oriented relative to a main side body panel of the vehicle. A sub-side body panel is coupled to the mounting structure to move between a fascia mating position when the step is in the retracted step position and a non-fascia mating position when the step is in the extended step position. The sub-side body panel includes a contoured edge configured such that in the retracted step position the contoured edge of the sub-side body panel and a contoured edge of the main side body panel at least partially define the wheel well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 8011682
    Abstract: A transportation system cradle cradles and moves a transportation system structure of a transportation system in an assembly process. The transportation system cradle contains a drive unit connectable to the transportation system structure to move or transport the transportation system structure. The transportation system cradle also has at least one first and second cradle units that are designed to cradle a first or second foot area of the transportation system structure. Intermediate products, formed of a transportation system structure and a cradle, may be moved between assembly stations in an assembly plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Klein, Andreas Hein, Michael Matheisl
  • Patent number: 8011683
    Abstract: A watercraft trailer has a releasable connector for releasably connecting a watercraft to the trailer. The releasable connector has a lever pivotally connected to a connector support and a hook connected to the lever. Pivoting of the lever towards a front of the trailer moves the releasable connector to a locked position and pivots the hook towards the front of the trailer. A locking mechanism prevents the releasable connector from moving to an unlocked position by applying forces to any one of the lever and the hook that would otherwise pivot the lever and the hook towards a rear of the trailer. Unlocking the locking mechanism moves the releasable connector to the unlocked position and pivots the hook towards the rear of the trailer. A method of securing a watercraft to a watercraft trailer and a method of releasing a watercraft from a watercraft trailer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Brisson, Christian Labbe, Daniel Mercier, Joey Larouche, Bruno Girouard, Eric Fournier
  • Patent number: 8011684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trailer towing-control apparatus comprising a towing means connectable between a trailer and a towing vehicle; the towing means having a first connection means at its operative forward end pivotably connectable to a towing vehicle and a second connection means pivotably connectable to the trailer on the other side of the axis of the trailer relative to the first connection means; and a restraint means to selectively allow for articulation of the first connection means relative to the towing vehicle or to prevent articulation of the towing means relative to the towing vehicle in a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: John Walton Abel
  • Patent number: 8011685
    Abstract: An interchangeable hitch ball assembly that may be easily interchangeable with the hitch of a towing vehicle and that may prevent a trailer socket from being connected to the hitch ball prior to securing the hitch ball to the hitch bar. The hitch ball assembly may include a ball member, a body, a passageway, at least one locking member, an elongated member located within the passageway and biased toward the at least one locking member, and a plunger capable of being moved by the elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked or release position. The plunger may be moved toward the locking member to force at least a portion of the locking member outside of the body to lock the assembly. The plunger may be moved away from the locking member to allow the locking member to retreat into the body and unlock the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cequent Towing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Belinky, Neal Weipert
  • Patent number: 8011686
    Abstract: A folding wagon has a folding frame with a stowed position and an open position. The folding frame comprises a pair of front and rear vertical support. The folding frame further comprises a pair of front supplemental links and a pair of rear supplemental links. A plurality of flatbed supports form a central flatbed support joint in the middle of the wagon. The central flatbed support joint folds upward when the folding frame is being configured into stowed position, and the plurality of flatbed supports are pivotally connected to the pair of front vertical supports and the pair of rear vertical supports. Wheels attach to the folding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Zhaosheng Chen, Yishun Chen
  • Patent number: 8011687
    Abstract: An air bag module arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to an air bag module a one driver-side dashboard panel that is fastened to an internal transverse support. In order to allow a simply constructed and simple fastening, the air bag module is fastened to an external transverse support of the external vehicle structure. An air bag and a method for fastening an air bag module, in particular for producing an air bag module arrangement, are also provided for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8011688
    Abstract: An air bag door in which the remaining thickness of a substrate at a centerline of a fracture groove formed into the shape of an air bag door on a back surface of the substrate is set to be smaller than other portions, and dotted fracture perforations for braking the superficial material are selectively provided at the centerline portion and near meeting points between sidelines and the centerline. According to the invention described above, the substrate and the superficial material of the air bag door are broken in a desirable order of breakage by portions synchronously with each other when the air bag is expanded and deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Komura, Junya Usami, Hideyuki Hayashi, Takahiro Muranushi, Kenji Katou
  • Patent number: 8011689
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an airbag apparatus for vehicles, which is capable of minimizing the loss of pressure of an airbag cushion. The airbag housing of the airbag apparatus accommodates an airbag cushion which is deployed through an opening. An airbag deployment door is placed to face the opening and separated from the cut notch of a crash pad cover when the airbag cushion is deployed. A chute is connected to a surface of the airbag deployment door through a curved hinge portion which is placed to be parallel to the sidewall of the airbag housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Byung Seok Kong
  • Patent number: 8011690
    Abstract: A trim panel overlaying a pillar includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion separable from one another. A handle attaches to the pillar at first and second points by fasteners extending through the second trim portion, the first and second points being vertically spaced apart from one another. An airbag disposed between the trim panel and the pillar deploys such that the first trim portion completely separates from the pillar and the second trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The airbag extends along the pillar alongside at least one of the first and second points and alongside an area between the first point and the second point. The first trim portion and the handle are configured such that the first trim portion is restrained to a limited distance of movement away from the pillar by the handle in response to deployment of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: James Zucal, Jeremy Thurston, Thomas Yang, Lauren Parkins
  • Patent number: 8011691
    Abstract: An air bag deployed from a mounted member mounted with the air bag toward an occupant by an insertion of a gas, the air bag includes a front surface portion confronting the occupant, the front surface portion being arranged to be deployed toward the occupant. The front surface portion includes a lower expansion portion arranged to inflate to abut on a breast portion of the occupant, a pair of side expansion portions arranged to inflate to left and right sides of a head portion of the occupant to avoid the head portion of the occupant, and a recessed portion surrounded by the lower expansion portion and the side expansion portions, and recessed toward the mounted member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akito Urushibata, Yasuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 8011692
    Abstract: A system to provide ballast weight and to secure accessories on a vehicle load bed includes a plurality of hollow planks placed on the load bed adjacent to each other with end edges of the planks substantially aligned with each other and with side edges of the planks adjacent to each other such that top surfaces of the planks form a substantially flat load surface. At least one plank includes a filling orifice with a removable cap to allow filling with ballast. Recesses at corners of the planks are configured to form a substantially horizontally oriented lobe on each corner of the planks, and adjacent planks are connected at right and left ends thereof by a clip extending into the corresponding recesses of the adjacent planks, and fastened to the lobes on the adjacent planks. At least one clip is fastened to the load bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Nolan Friesen
  • Patent number: 8011693
    Abstract: The designed invention relates to a temperature regulation device for both hot and cold climates primarily for occupants of human transport mediums such as strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters and secondarily for the caregivers who use these mobile mediums. The invention comprises of an enclosed compartment to hold the occupant, and at least one thermoregulatory unit, comprising at least one thermoelectric element, connected to the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Seyed Ali Reza Nooshin
  • Patent number: 8011694
    Abstract: A steering member unit includes a metal steering member body disposed to extend substantially in a vehicle width direction; metal side brackets that are fixed respectively to both ends of the steering member body and are attachable respectively to vehicle body side parts; and a metal stay that is fixed to an intermediate part of the steering member body and is attachable to a vehicle body floor. In an intermediate part of the steering member body, multiple ground current connecting members connectable to a vehicle body metal part are provided at intervals in a longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction) of the steering member body. Thereby, a resonance frequency of a wavelength depending on the distance of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing into the steering member body can be changed and adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Suzuki, Fumihiro Okazaki, Takeshi Anzai, Kazuhiko Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 8011695
    Abstract: There is provided an underbody structure capable of exactly distributing and transmitting a front collision load to front and back skeleton portions of an underbody even in a case where the front collision load to be input from the front of a vehicle is concentrated on one side in a vehicle width direction. When a power unit 1 moves rearward due to an offset collision load of a right front face of a vehicle, a right connecting arm 7G of a sub-frame 7, an engine rear mount 7E, and right and left stoppers 7H and 7I receive an offset collision load from the power unit 1, thereby suppressing generation of an unintended rotative force in the power unit 1. The sub-frame 7 distributedly transmits an offset collision load to a rear portion 4A of a right front side member 4, and right and left tunnel reinforcements 5 and 5 mainly through four paths of a right beam 7D, a right load transmission beam 7J2, and right and left load transmission beams 7J3 and 7J4 of an intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kosaka, Koji Tamakoshi, Takeo Mori
  • Patent number: 8011696
    Abstract: A pre-tensioning device for a seat belt with a piston which is guided in a bent tube, and which in case of triggering is influenced by gas generated by a gas generator located in one section of the tube, to which a cable led into the tube by a cable opening is attached. The gas generator section (12) of tube (10) which accommodates gas generator (16) is offset from the piston path section (11) of tube (10) which accommodates piston (17) by creation of a narrowed cross-section inside the tube with a defined gas flow path (29, 41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Singer
  • Patent number: 8011697
    Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of imagery or items comprising imagery using semiconductor processing or fabrication techniques and methods of using such techniques to make imagery. For example, according to one embodiment, a method of making imagery having nano-scale or micro-scale portions can include providing a silicon wafer, coating the silicon wafer with a layer of oxide, depositing a layer of photoresist onto the oxide layer, and removing a patterned portion of the photoresist to expose a patterned portion of the oxide layer. The method can also include removing at least some of the patterned portion of the oxide such that the patterned portion of the oxide layer has a predetermined thickness resulting in a predetermined viewable color. The patterned portion of the oxide layer can define at least one of the nano-scale or micro-scale portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nanojewelry LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Adams, Steven Malekos, Grant Korgan, Al Brandano
  • Patent number: 8011698
    Abstract: A tubular joint in which radial expansion caused by the passage of an expander, inclined shoulder fittings formed respectively on a peripheral surface of the female element facing radially inwards and on a peripheral surface of the male element facing radially outwards, are subjected to a relative axial displacement towards each other to be urged into sealed mutual contact with radial interference. The tubular joint is, for example, useful in hydrocarbon wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas France
    Inventors: Eric Verger, Albert Bruneau, Antoine Durand
  • Patent number: 8011699
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for a movable closure element to releasably engage a strike assembly on a frame support and thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a predetermined position relative to the frame support. The operating mechanism has a base with a wall extending around a first axis and defining an elongate tubular passageway. The operating mechanism includes a latch system having: (a) a latched state; and (b) a released state. An actuating system on the base is changeable from a first state into a second state to thereby change the latch system from the latched state into the released state. The actuating system has an elongate flexible cable with a length residing at least partially within the passageway and made up of an elongate sheath and a movable core. An actuating system has an actuating assembly for the elongate flexible cable that is mounted to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher M. Lane
  • Patent number: 8011700
    Abstract: A door lock system includes a ratchet, a latch, a ratchet lever that disengages the ratchet from the latch when a disengaging operation is performed, a first link lever that moves to and from a transmitting position and a non-transmitting position, wherein when the first link lever is at the transmitting position, the ratchet lever is allowed to disengage the ratchet from the latch, and when the first link lever is at the non-transmitting position, the ratchet lever is inhibited from disengaging the ratchet from the latch, a second link lever that is pivotally coupled to a base end of the first link lever at a base end of the second link lever and that moves in response to a locking operation and an unlocking operation. A distal end of the first link lever and a distal end of the second link lever constantly overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 8011701
    Abstract: A receptacle securing device designed to at least partially secure a receptacle in a generally static position during manipulation of contents in the receptacle. The receptacle securing device includes a base member that is designed to receive a bottom of a receptacle, at least one pressure pad that is designed to receive user generated pressure, and a plurality of arm members that are connected to the base member. At least one of the arm members is designed to pivot toward and grippingly engage the receptacle when the receptacle is positioned on the receptacle securing device. The receptacle securing device can be designed to be foldable upon itself to facilitate its shipping and transport by minimizing its size profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Process4
    Inventor: Curtis Taylor