Patents Issued in December 18, 2012
  • Patent number: 8332983
    Abstract: A rotating brush assembly for a street sweeper utilizes a hub to connect a hydraulic pump to a rotatable brush plate. A collar on the hub extends upwardly from a base flange and a tapered bore extends through the collar and the base flange and receives a mating tapered portion of a rotatable shaft of the pump. A downwardly extending rim on the bottom of the base flange locates the hub relative to a central aperture in the brush plate. The bottom of the base flange includes a recess which extends upwardly from the rim. The tapered bore communicates with the recess. The recess receives a threaded bottom portion of the rotatable shaft of the pump and a nut which is disposed on the threaded portion of the pump shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Phillip W. Prohoroff
  • Patent number: 8332984
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for printed circuit board. The cleaning apparatus includes a base, a clamping plate fixed to the base, at least one holding member, at least one cleaning roller, and a driving mechanism. The holding member is elastically supported on the base. The at least one cleaning roller is pivotably disposed on the at least one holding member respectively. The cleaning roller includes a cleaning layer attached to a surface of the cleaning roller. The clamping plate is opposite to and departs from the cleaning roller at a distance. The driving mechanism is coupled to the cleaning roller and configured for driving the cleaning roller to rotate. The cleaning apparatus can clean printed circuit board high efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Zhen Ding Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tso-Hung Yeh, Hung-Yi Chang, Chih-Lung Hsiao, Cheng-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 8332985
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a proximal end and a distal end furthest from the proximal end. The head also includes a top face having a plurality of bristle tufts disposed therein, a back face opposed to the top face, and a tip. An elastomeric support element covers a portion of the back face, and the tip is uncovered by the elastomeric support element. A first plurality of elastomeric elements is integrally formed with the elastomeric support element. Each of the first plurality of elastomeric elements extends individually from the elastomeric support element and terminates in a free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Sanjay Amratial Solanki
  • Patent number: 8332986
    Abstract: A mop holder which provides fast changing of mop cloth and ease of use is characterized in that a shaft (5) is disposed on a middle top of the frame (1); and a circular groove (6) is set on an inner bottom of the shaft (5). A tube (7) which fits into said shaft (5) is screw jointed onto an outer bottom of a handle (3); and a projection (9), corresponding to said groove (6) is disposed on a bottom of said tube (7). Said projection (9) comprises pluralities of slots (8), disposed on a surface thereof; and a tapered surface (10) for guiding said tube (7) into the shaft (5) is disposed on an outer bottom of said projection (9). By coupling the projection (9) and groove (6), said tube (7) is partially fitted into the shaft (5) firmly and allowed to rotate freely therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Yinshang Mfg Brushes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: GuoMing Hu
  • Patent number: 8332987
    Abstract: A fabric steam towel for mounting onto a steam frame of a steam appliance is provided. The pocket includes two complimentary substantially planar layers of fabric joined at their peripheral edge with an open section for mounting onto the steam frame and allowing the open edges to butt against each other. The fabrics are constructed of an outer terry layer and inner material with an upper jersey layer, padding and a lower mesh layer with a 45 degree quilting pattern to improve performance. The fabric is sealed about the frame a first length of a fastener is secured to the inside face along the open edge of one layer with a complimentary length of fastener secured to the inside face of the second layer and extending beyond the edge to allow the open edges of each layer to abut each other and for the fasteners to engage and secure the fabric pocket about the edge of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Kaminer, Charles A. Boulos, James N. Lewiecki, Kathleen V. Jones, Ognjen Vrdoljak
  • Patent number: 8332988
    Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly also has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint. The guide arm mounts to the roller frame between a first bend extending from a shank that extends from a cage section of the roller frame that receives the roller cover and before a second bend that bends back to meet a handle grip of the roller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Zibra, LLC
    Inventors: Danny Sweeney, Michael M. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8332989
    Abstract: An adapter intended for fixing a windscreen wiper blade, by pivoting connection around a spindle, on an arm comprising an end rod designed to be inserted in the adapter, where the adapter is intended to be mounted on the windscreen wiper blade. The adapter has a substantially U-shaped cross-section in which the flanges each have an orifice for snapping onto the said spindle and one end of which, called the entry end, is open for inserting the end rod of the arm. The adapter includes transverse locking means and longitudinal locking means of the said arm. The adapter further includes a first longitudinal locking means including an articulated part provided with a tenon fitted in an orifice arranged on the rod, and a second longitudinal locking means including a housing arranged on the adapter in which a stop on the rod comes into engagement, when the latter is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Systémes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Pascal Vacher
  • Patent number: 8332990
    Abstract: A wiper blade device with a durable mesh sponge member attached between two removable wiper blade members. The combination sponge and wiper blade construction provides a unitary device that combines the two distinct functions of cleaning solids and wiping water from vehicular windshields. The device further provides minimal windshield obstruction given its construction, improving current wiper blade capabilities without degrading visibility or impacting safety of the vehicle. The device may comprise a wiper blade refill attachable to a wiper blade mount, providing the practitioner with an improved windshield wiper blade that is cost effective and one that requires no modification of the vehicle to implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Jeffrey Cooper
  • Patent number: 8332991
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner having a main module and a cleaning head being connected with the main module by means of a suction hose. The main module comprises a debris compartment (8) for accommodating a disposable debris bag (9), which compartment (8) is covered by a hinging cover (18). A hinging part (20) of a suction tube (12) is attached to the hinging cover (18) and a stationary part (21) of the suction tube (12) is connected with an opening (13) to be connected with the suction hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hans J. Blaak, Harrie W. J. Baltussen, Pritesh R. Patel, Auke-Jan Veenstra
  • Patent number: 8332992
    Abstract: In a device at a card in which at least one flat bar having a flat clothing is present, wherein the flat clothing, preferably small wire hooks, arranged in a strip-shaped supporting layer, is attached to the flat bar and lies opposite to the clothing of a roller, for example of the cylinder, and at least the regions of the flat clothing that face the flat bar consist of an iron material, especially of steel, there is present between the flat bar and the regions of the flat clothing that face the flat bar at least one magnetic element. In order to increase the degree of adhesive forces between flat bar and clothing element in a structurally simple manner, the supporting body of the clothing strip comprises a sheet-like structure that consists at least in part of a ferromagnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Truetzschler GmbH & Co. Kg
    Inventor: Thomas Landmesser
  • Patent number: 8332993
    Abstract: A slider actuates profiled closure shapes for a closure assembly equipping a sachet. The slider includes a base, two flanks, means adapted for stressing respectively said profiled closure shapes, by moving towards or moving away according to a direction of displacement of the slider along the profiled closure shapes, such that the profiled closure shapes are movable between a closed latch position and an open separated position, and a stiffening bar extending along a longitudinal free edge of each of the two flanks. The stiffening bar has a greater thickness than a thickness of its respective flank, extends over an external face of its respective flank, is made from a piece with its respective flank, and has a same longitudinal range as its respective flank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: S2F Flexico
    Inventor: Antony Roger
  • Patent number: 8332994
    Abstract: A shoelace with a shoelace fastener includes a first retaining base at an end of a first lace and/or a second retaining base at another end of the first lace, and a ratchet and an elastic clipping element are disposed in the first retaining base and the second retaining base respectively, such that the ratchet can be pressed at an end of the elastic clipping element, and the ratchet is pressed by the elastic clipping element into a normal slantingly pressed down status. When use, a fabric shoelace or a serrated plastic groove is passed into the retaining base, and ends of the ratchets are provided for clamping a surface of the fabric shoelace or plastic shoelace to facilitate adjusting the tightness of the shoelace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Jih-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 8332995
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component manufacturing method is provided. The method includes preparing an integrated piezoelectric substrate, and forming comb-shaped electrodes and wiring electrodes having element wiring connecting to the comb-shape electrodes on a primary surface of the piezoelectric substrate, forming an SiO2 layer, performing a characteristics inspection on the piezoelectric substrate and marking defective piezoelectric elements, coating said SiO2 layer surface with photosensitive resin, and then exposing and developing to form an insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimasa Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8332996
    Abstract: Provided are a conductive paste composition for inner electrodes and a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the same. The conductive paste composition for inner electrodes includes a metal powder having an average particle size ranging from 50 nm to 300 nm, and 4 to 10 parts by weight of a binder resin. The binder resin contains at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a high-molecular-weight polyvinylbutyral resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 250 thousand to 400 thousand, a low-molecular-weight polyvinylbutyral resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 50 thousand to 150 thousand, and a rosin ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Han Kim, Hyun Chul Jung, Jwa Jin Yoon, Jae Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 8332997
    Abstract: A dental prosthesis manufacturing machine is disclosed. The machine includes two spindles each having a roughing tool and a finishing tool, a workpiece holder for holding a workpiece which forms the dental prosthesis, and a base supporting the two spindles and the workpiece holder. The machine is capable of simply alternating the roughing tool with the finishing tool according to the accuracy required when the workpiece is machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Vatech Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae Doc Kim, Yeong Kyun Kim, Sung Kuk Kim, Heon Joo Kim, Jae Yun Park
  • Patent number: 8332998
    Abstract: A method of shot peening in which with respect to a carburized and quenched metal part, only its surface abnormal layer detrimental to the fatigue strength thereof is scraped without scraping of the martensitic structure underlying the surface abnormal layer, namely, in which the fatigue strength can be rendered stable and enhanced without surface cracking. As bombardment shot, use is made of a shot with hardness higher than that (first hardness) of the surface abnormal layer occurring at a surface layer portion of metal part prior to shot peening but lower than that (second hardness) of the martensitic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8332999
    Abstract: An improved method and device for securely inserting a tubular element (30) into a through-aperture (40) in a flexible wall (60) accessible from one side only. The tubular element has a retainer (31, 32) projecting transversely at each end thereof, said retainer being resiliently foldable towards the axis of said tubular element. The element is inserted into a loading tube (11), wherein the retainers are automatically folded into the correct orientation by an automatic bending means (18). The bending means is part of a self-contained device for inserting said tubular element (30) into said through-aperture (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Atos Medical AB
    Inventors: Jonas Karling, Gregory Margolin
  • Patent number: 8333000
    Abstract: A method of crimping a stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly is provided. A polymeric stent is disposed over a balloon in an inflated configuration. The stent is crimped over the inflated balloon to a reduced crimped configuration so that the stent is secured onto the balloon. The balloon wall membrane is wedged or pinched between the strut elements of the stent for increasing the retention of the stent on the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Huang, David C. Gale, Daniel Castro
  • Patent number: 8333001
    Abstract: A method of shortening an end of a well car includes removing a plurality of parts that would inhibit the shortening process; cutting a shear plate and a set of side sill angles at a location on the well side of the end assembly; detaching the end assembly from a main body of the well car; on each side of the main body: cutting the top tube at a location above a monument plate that is just beyond a reinforcement plate attached to the monument plate; cutting through a weld between the monument and reinforcement plates and a side sheet; cutting through the side sheet generally at the attachment location of the monument and reinforcement plates; and cutting the shear plate of the main body with a contoured cut such that the remaining shear plate has a contoured pattern substantially matching the cut shear plate under the removed end assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: TTX Company
    Inventors: William R. Halliar, Frank F. Stec, Bruce E. Keating
  • Patent number: 8333002
    Abstract: In a surface finishing method for a stainless steel material, excimer irradiation is made on a surface of the stainless steel material by emitting ultraviolet light to improve wetness. Then, a surface finishing is applied on the surface of the stainless steel material wherein the wetness is improved. In manufacturing a gasket, the stainless steel material or plate is cut in a predetermined shape, and holes and bead are formed in the metal formation plate. Then, the plate may be assembled with other plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kasuya, Shinichi Sato, Mizuhiro Toki
  • Patent number: 8333003
    Abstract: A stent crimping system and method for use in preparing a bifurcation catheter assembly for use in a patient. The catheter assembly includes main and side catheter branches and a stent. The stent includes a side branch aperture through which the side catheter branch extends. The stent is crimped onto the main and side catheter branches with a crimping mechanism in two crimping steps. In the first crimping step, only a distal end portion of the stent is crimped while the side catheter branch remains extending through the side branch opening of the stent and remains positioned outside of the crimping mechanism. In a second crimping step, the entire stent is crimped with the crimping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sagedahl, Adam Jennings, Robert Lucas
  • Patent number: 8333004
    Abstract: A method for manufacture of an electronic interface card including defining a pair of apertures in a substrate layer, associating an antenna with the substrate layer such that opposite ends of the antenna terminate at the apertures, placing a conductor in each of the apertures, connecting the antenna to the conductor, forming a recess in the substrate layer, attaching continuous connection wires to a plurality of chip modules, attaching the continuous connection wires to a plurality of conductors on a corresponding plurality of the substrate layers, cutting the continuous connection wires so as to retain portions thereof which connect each chip module to a corresponding pair of conductors and sealing the chip module in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Smartrac IP B.V.
    Inventors: Oded Bashan, Guy Shafran
  • Patent number: 8333005
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the fabrication of a tunable radio frequency (RF) power output filter that includes fabricating a core body and then forming a plastically deformable metallic shell over the exterior surface of the core body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventors: James Thomas LaGrotta, Richard T. LaGrotta
  • Patent number: 8333006
    Abstract: A method for removing a crack in an electromechanical rotor, including: forming a plurality of slots on a periphery of a core portion of an electromechanical rotor along an axial direction thereof; inserting coils into the slots, respectively; forming a plurality of wedges for maintaining the coils in the slots, respectively; and forming a cut hole at at least a part of the core portion from an outer surface of the core portion toward the side of a center axis thereof so as to contain a crack along a circumferential direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji Matsuyama, Hideki Chiba, Hiromichi Ito, Yomei Yoshioka, Kazuhiro Saito, Yasuo Kabata, Ryoji Nagano, Hiroaki Koinuma, Kaname Hirai, Toshio Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8333007
    Abstract: A fuel pump includes a pump portion for pumping fuel. The fuel pump further includes a magnet having magnetic poles circumferentially alternate with each other. The fuel pump further includes an armature on a radially inside of the magnet. The armature includes a rotor core provided with a coil formed of a wire. The armature is rotatable for driving the pump portion. A commutator, which is in a substantially disc shape, is provided to an axial end of the armature for rectifying electricity supplying to the coil. The rotor core has an axial end having an outer circumferential periphery defining a commutator-side collar portion extending toward the commutator. The coil is formed by winding the wire between an outer circumferential periphery of the commutator and the commutator-side collar portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyonori Moroto, Akira Kuroyanagi, Tadashi Hazama
  • Patent number: 8333008
    Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording head, and the head so formed, are described. The method includes depositing an underlayer directly on an insulating layer. The underlayer preferably includes at least one of a nonferromagnetic metal, silicon oxide, and silicon nitride. A pole layer, which has a pole removal rate, is provided on the underlayer. The method and system further include forming a perpendicular magnetic recording pole from the pole layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording pole has a top and a bottom that is narrower than the top. The process of forming the perpendicular magnetic recording pole further includes removing a portion of the pole layer such that a pole removal rate for the pole layer is less than or substantially equal to a removal rate of the underlayer during the removing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Kyusik Sin, Lei Wang, Yingjian Chen
  • Patent number: 8333009
    Abstract: An aligning device for electronic components and a bonding device using the aligning device. The aligning device includes a chamber, a flexible bellows within the chamber, two block used to hold an electronic component, a driving unit configured to move either of the two blocks relative to each other and located in an airtight chamber and an image port having a window through which one of the electronic components can be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Shigeki Fukunaga, Shigeki Yamane, Mitsuhiro Namura, Arata Suzuki, Tomonari Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8333010
    Abstract: In an electronic component mounting apparatus that is used in an electronic component mounting line for producing a mounted substrate by mounting electronic components on a substrate and that subjects the substrate to predetermined operation, a working unit attachment section 30 is provided within a range of movement of a working head, such as a loading head and a paste coating head, wherein a nozzle stocker 9 and a paste trial coating unit 10 can be removably attached as a working unit for performing specific additional operation appropriate for working function of the working head. The nozzle stoker 9 and the paste trial coating unit 10 are attached to the working unit attachment section 30 according to the type of working head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzuru Inaba, Osamu Okuda, Yuji Tanaka, Tetsutaro Hachimura
  • Patent number: 8333011
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention a method for making an electronic assembly is provided. The method comprises positioning a substrate having a plurality of segmented portions. A first segmented portion has a first plurality of conductive traces terminating to form a first plurality of conductive pads. A second segmented portion has a second plurality of conductive traces terminating to form a second plurality of conductive pads. A flex circuit is placed onto the conductive pads. The flex circuit includes a third plurality of conductive traces terminating at a first end to form a first plurality of connecting pads and terminating at a second end to form a second plurality of connecting pads. Electronic components are electrically coupled to the first and second plurality of conductive traces to form a primary PCB and a daughter PCB. The connecting pads are electrically coupled to the conductive pads for electrically coupling the daughter PCB to the primary PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Still, David R. Stoscup
  • Patent number: 8333012
    Abstract: Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Voyage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Rothe, Isidro M. Gandionco, Edmund Tam, Vahid Saadat, David Miller, Zachary J. Malchano, Veerappan Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 8333013
    Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a heat exchanger assembly including the steps of extruding a plastic and an adhesive from a co-extrusion die into a plurality of tubes spaced from each other with each tube having an adhesive disposed on its exterior surface. A plurality of corrugated air fins are serially fed into the co-extrusion die and spaced from each other by a predetermined space and ejected between adjacent tubes with the corrugations extending transversely between the tubes. The adhesive is then cured to secure the tubes to the air fins. The method proceeds by cutting the tubes at each predetermined space with a guillotine shear to produce a plurality of unified heat exchanger cores. The ends of the tubes of each core are inserted into tube slots in manifolds, and the tubes and manifolds are adhesively secured together to define a heat exchanger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Suresh D. Shah, Mohinder S. Bhatti, Karl P. Roetsch
  • Patent number: 8333014
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid ejecting head is provided. The liquid ejecting head has nozzle openings and ejects liquid supplied through a liquid supply passage from the nozzle openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamikura, Hiroshige Owaki, Kazuhide Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8333015
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the camber of a vehicle's axle comprising attaching collars (30, 30?, 32, 32?, 44) to the axle (12) of the vehicle attaching links (38, 38?) to the collars, introducing a deflection in the axle in a concave downward direction and modifying the length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventor: Zachary A. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8333016
    Abstract: A sundial for telling apparent solar time and clock time across a range of latitudes and longitudes. A solar dial is formed with an index point and a noon hour point. A plurality of concentric latitude indicia are centered at the index point and at least one map indicium is overlaid by the concentric latitude indicia where the map indicium has geographic latitudes corresponding with the concentric latitude indicia on the solar dial. The solar dial also includes a plurality of solar time indicia radiating generally outward from the index point drawn with respect to the noon hour point according to the hour line equation at each concentric latitude indicia intercept. An elongated gnomon projects from the index point, whereby the sun's shadow cast by the gnomon intersects the solar time indicia in relation to the concentric latitude indicia to provide a reading of apparent solar time for the user's location on the map indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Richard Keele
  • Patent number: 8333018
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a composition for enhancing evaporation of a solution and a method thereof. A far-infrared ray is released by a far-infrared releasing substance in the composition so as to induce evaporation of the solution. The far-infrared releasing substance may be ceramic minerals and mainly comprises 80˜99.9 wt % of oxide minerals including 60˜95 wt % of the aluminum oxide. The present invention can enhance evaporation of the solution by a simple physical method. Hence, the present invention not only promotes the application of the products but also reduces the pollutants generated by a chemical reaction, thereby achieving the object of protecting the environment from the pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Yung-Sheng Lin, Ting-Kai Leung, Chien-Chung Chen, Jiann-Shiun Kao
  • Patent number: 8333019
    Abstract: A laundry dryer with a blower and an air duct configured to convey a flow of air toward the blower. The air duct includes one or more flow chambers with curved sections. The curved sections are configured to deflect the flow of air toward the blower. The laundry dryer also includes a displacement member disposed in the flow chamber in front of the blower and configured to produce an irrotational flow onto a wheel of the blower so as to reduce a formation of vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Gossel, Christian Maiss
  • Patent number: 8333020
    Abstract: A shoe assembly with a retractable fin assembly that moves between two extreme positions. One of the positions is the retracted position with the fin assembly housed within a longitudinally and transversely extending cavity along the shoe's sole. The other extreme position for the fin assembly being distended outside the sole for maximum propulsion use in a body of water. Resilient support members are mounted to the lateral sides of connecting flexible web portions. A releasable fastening mechanism with a stopper for the smallest support member causes the web portions to stay taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Abelardo Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8333021
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a sole and a collapsible upper attached to sole. The collapsible upper includes a first portion and a second portion which is below the first portion and extends from the sole to the first portion. Further, the collapsible upper also includes a seam which is positioned above the sole and is not in contact the sole. The seam joins substantially the entire perimeter of the first portion with substantially the perimeter of the second portion. Additionally, when the upper is in a collapsed state, the seam becomes the widest points of the article of footwear and defines the perimeter of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8333022
    Abstract: A footbed promotes complimentary movement and proprioceptive feedback of a user's foot (e.g., to help an adult balance on an uneven surface) while wearing the article of footwear. The footbed includes a base and a plurality of pads. The base has a first side opposite a second side, each extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A first portion of each pad extends away from the first side of the base and a second portion of each pad extends away from the second side of the base. The second side of the base is positionable adjacent to an outsole of an article of footwear such that the first side of the base is adjacent a user's foot during use of the article of footwear. Each pad is movable substantially independently of the each of the other pads, relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: SRL, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Crowley, II, David M. Nau, Marc R. Loverin
  • Patent number: 8333023
    Abstract: A composite footwear insole has a front portion (2) designed to interact with the foot at the metatarsal region and at least partly at the plantar arch, and a rear portion (3) designed to interact with the heel. The rear portion (3) has at least one layer (4) of gel material whose size is at least substantially equal to that of the rear portion (3) to uniformly support the heel and absorb stresses acting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Technogel Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Massimo Losio
  • Patent number: 8333024
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a pivot portion including a plurality of flex grooves is disclosed. The plurality of flex grooves provides increased flexibility in different portions of a sole of the article. In addition, a periphery of the sole includes sole pods to increase the traction on the periphery of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Marie Catherine Fallow, Timothy S. Ferrigan, Patricia J. Graser, Young jin Kim, Bradley S. Long, Ann-Marie Paz, Christine L. Saito, Helen Woo
  • Patent number: 8333025
    Abstract: A wearable badge for displaying removable indicia includes a backing having an attachment fastener and defining an indicia portion. The wearable badge also includes a frame defining an opening and having a first frame edge and a second frame edge. The first frame edge is joined to the backing such that the first and second frame edges at least partially surround the indicia portion. The indicia portion is viewable through the opening and the second frame edge is moveable away from the backing to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of indicia between the backing and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Contemporary, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Peterson, Arnold M. Kapitz
  • Patent number: 8333026
    Abstract: A system for hanging multiple pictures, photographs, picture frames, or other objects, collectively referred to herein as pictures, in a collage, using a regularly-spaced grid of pegs or other supports that are attached to a wall. Each picture includes one or more sockets, generally along the top of the picture, or one or more of its edges, although in some embodiments a picture can include sockets located elsewhere on the picture. A picture can be attached to the grid by placing it on the grid so that its sockets are supported by the pegs. In accordance with an embodiment, to add a picture to the wall, a user places the top edge of the picture over the grid until its sockets fit around the pegs, and then allows the picture to swing into the wall until it rests against the wall or other supports. To remove the picture, the user gently lifts the picture off the pegs and removes it from the wall. This process can be repeated with multiple pictures to create or change a wall-mounted collage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: CollageWall, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Southard
  • Patent number: 8333027
    Abstract: An interchangeable address signage system utilizes one or more address tiles retained on a backplate. The backplate has a top rail and a bottom rail, with tabs extending from the rails. The address tiles each notches on their top surfaces and their bottom surfaces which correspond to the tabs on the rails of the backplate. The address tiles are either retained between the tabs extending from the rails or by the positioning of the tabs within the notches of the address tiles, depending on the number of tiles being placed on the backplate. A separable support frame attached to the backplate maintains the backplate and tiles in position. A display member which extends from the support frame provides for interchangeable decorative displays to be attached to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Zenith Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Peter S. Vosbikian, Robert Petner
  • Patent number: 8333028
    Abstract: A mode selection mechanism for a firearm is provided including a lever having an exposed surface and an inner surface and a pivot pin and a detent pin depending from the inner surface, the pivot pin extending through a orifice in the frame, the detent pin extending generally parallel to the pivot pin. The lever is pivotable from a first position to a second position about the pivot pin, wherein the detent pin moves in an arc-shaped aperture in the frame. A flexible stop includes an open ring of spring metal and is disposed in a ring orifice in the frame. The detent pin is disposed against the flexible stop wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, the flexible stop compresses and then uncompresses thereby creating a detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kimber IP, LLC
    Inventors: Yury Karfiol, John Goliber
  • Patent number: 8333029
    Abstract: An extreme duty machine gun barrel has body having a central bore. The rear opening of the body includes a chamber formed to receive a cartridge. The body has a surface layer covering all surfaces of the body. The body has a diffusion layer extending below the surface layer into an underlying material of the body. The central bore may have rifling defined by lands and grooves formed in the bore. An interior portion of the body may have a hardness of at least 50 HRC and not greater than 55 HRC after the surface layer and diffusion layer are created on the body. The surface layer and diffusion layer may be created by subjecting the body to a ferritic nitrocarburizing treatment followed by an oxy nitrocarburizing treatment. The nitrocarburizing treatments may be repeated. The body may be AISI H13 grade tool steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: John Noveske
  • Patent number: 8333030
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fishing line guide includes a step of cutting a plate to form a guide including a holding part, a step for forming a ring-shaped holder by pressing the holding part such that a first opening is formed at one end of the holder and a second opening is formed at the other end of the holder, a step for inserting a ceramic ring into the holder to extend through the first opening and the second opening so that the ceramic ring is in contact with the inner surface of the holder in the first opening and is spaced apart from the inner surface of the holder in the second opening, and a step of filling an adhesive in a space between the ceramic ring and the inner surface of the holder in the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kigan Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Jae Jeong
  • Patent number: 8333031
    Abstract: Devices, methods of manufacture, kits and methods of use for attracting aquatic animals to be caught are provided. In various embodiments the device includes a body, with an interior bar extending lengthwise in a channel in the body, an anterior loop and exterior loop on the anterior end and posterior ends of the bar respectively, a plate set into a transverse dorsal exterior slot in the body, and a weight in an interior chamber. The anterior loop of the device is attached to a vessel and the posterior loop is attached to one or more lures for hooking aquatic animals. In various embodiments the device is manufactured and/or painted to resemble a bait fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: John H. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8333032
    Abstract: Cylindrical encasement devices and methods for planting mangrove propagules or seedlings along shorelines and non-native environments. The devices can use interior (or exterior) longitudinal grooves or thinned channels or lines of holes that hinge the device along the longitudinal axis to facilitate increases in displacement which results in acceleration of plant development and adaptation, improving survivability and reproductive maturity to establish self-sustaining mangrove trees and forests. A manufacturing enables control of the structure, color and opacity, to facilitate applications in habitat creation, restoration, shoreline stabilization, erosion control, and environmental remediation. Safe and easy removal of the device from the environment occurs without harm and damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Robert W. Riley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8333033
    Abstract: A device and method for growing vegetation. The device and method can be used for repairing a divot in a grass lawn. The device includes a packet having a water-soluble film surface that contains a mixture of soil and seeds. An example device includes a water-containing device in the packet. When the packet is placed on the ground, such as the divot, and subjected to water, the film dissolves so that the mixture comes into contact with the ground and the seeds can begin to germinate and grow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Michael Bell