Patents Issued in July 9, 2013
  • Patent number: 8479325
    Abstract: A spa cover includes first and second spa cover portions that are rotatable along a pivot axis. The first spa cover portion has a first length traverse to the pivot axis, and the second spa cover portion has a second length extending in the same direction as the first length. The first length is longer than the second length. When the cover is moved from a closed configuration into an open configuration, lower surfaces of the first and second spa cover portions, which face the water at the interior of the spa tub when in the closed configuration and can become unsightly, are moved into a position in which they face each other, whereas the upper surface of the second spa cover portion faces the users in the tub. A lifter is provided for moving the spa cover between the closed and an open configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hottubproducts.com, LLC
    Inventors: W. John Gardenier, Andrew Tournas
  • Patent number: 8479326
    Abstract: Disclosed is a physical therapy support, comprising a planar structure having a first and second end and an upper and lower surface that reduces friction between the lower body of a patient and a hospital bed. The device is positioned between a patient's hips and the underlying bed sheets, whereby the patient is elevated and separated from the sheets to allow freedom of movement and increased support when engaging in hip and lower body movements for recovery and physical therapy sessions. The shape of the device includes a first rounded end and a second flat end to form a triangular shape having tapering longitudinal sides. The cross section comprises a thin, rigid and uniform material having a low friction upper surface and a high friction lower surface. A slot penetration along the one of the tapering sides allows for handling of the device and for transporting between patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Lee Roberts, Kirk Holle, Scott Roberts
  • Patent number: 8479327
    Abstract: The invention is a support device for lifting and transporting a patient or other type of load. The support device has a frame mounted on a support base equipped with wheels and a brake. Long handles are attached to the frame, to provide a significant mechanical advantage to an operator. Lifting the handles tilts the frame on the support base and brings it down close to the load to be lifted. A lifting support, such as a seat or a sling, is secured around the load and the lifting support coupled to the frame. The operator moves the lifting handles back to a home position, thereby lifting the load. The lifting handles and wheels allow the operator to guide the support device to a desired location, to lower a patient to a chair or a bed or to move a load to a new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Standaid Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael McKenney
  • Patent number: 8479328
    Abstract: The adjustable bracket for a crib mattress platform includes a first embodiment having a slotted plate (26) attached to each rear corner post (20), (22) of the crib (10). Each plate (26) includes a series of lands (30) extending from the slot (28). A mattress platform corner bracket (42) attaches to each rear corner of the mattress platform (24), with a pin (50) extending from each corner bracket (42) and engaging the slot (28) of the corresponding corner post plate (26). The pin (50) selectively engages one land (30) of the corner post plate slot (28) to set the mattress platform height. A second embodiment includes two sliding sleeves (102) installed upon spaced apart vertical slats (104) of the crib rear wall (14). A mattress platform attachment bracket extends pivotally from each sleeve. The crib wall slats (104) have a series of receptacles (132), with locking pins (114) extending from the assemblies and engaging the receptacles (132, 134) to fix the height of the mattress platform as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Srour, Joey Srour
  • Patent number: 8479329
    Abstract: A medical examination table is provided. The medical examination table comprises a base providing a storage area, a patient support movable independent of the base between a lowered position and a raised position, and a lift mechanism coupled to the patient support for moving the patient support between the lowered position and the raised position. The patient support comprises a backrest and a seat. Movement of the patient support independent or separately from the base and without interfering with the storage areas within the base may allow for the efficient use of the examination table as a storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Brewer Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jack A. DeBraal, Michael J. Marchant, Mark E. Jensen, Michael Bargiel, Michael F. Hoft, Richard Walters
  • Patent number: 8479330
    Abstract: A scarf hides the upper portion of a made bed from view. The scarf includes a portion of material having a length and a width, opposite first and second ends and opposite top and bottom edges. The length of the scarf is sufficient to cover pillows placed on a made bed of standard size, with the opposite first and second ends reaching opposite first and second edges of the bed. The width of the scarf is sufficient so that its top edge hides the top edge of a pillow on the made bed, and the bottom edge hides the bottom edge of the pillow on the made bed. The scarf may be used to cover up the top edge of a bed sheet, blanket or bedspread on a made bed so as to hide said top edge of the bed sheet, blanket or bedspread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Susan A. Martenson
  • Patent number: 8479331
    Abstract: A mattress mount gun holster is described for storing a firearm adjacent to a mattress for easy access by the occupant of the mattress. The mattress mount gun holster may be removed from the mattress and stored in a flat configuration during travel or when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Crossbreed Holsters, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Craighead
  • Patent number: 8479332
    Abstract: Support device, adjustable by electric motor, for supporting cushioning of a piece of furniture for sitting or lying on, in particular a bed mattress, has base body with first adjustable support part, in particular pivotable, relative to second support part. Electric motor adjusting device adjusts first support part, and has first and second adjusting unit provided on opposite longitudinal sides of base body. Rotationally supported component of first adjusting unit is connected, rotationally fixed, to similar component of second adjusting unit by a connecting shaft, and axial ends of connecting shaft engage in recesses in rotatably supported components. Connecting shaft is axially movable between a first position in which rotatably supported components are connected rotationally fixedly by connecting shaft, and a second position in which one end of the connecting shaft is released from recess, and connecting shaft is pretensioned in first position by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bionical Systems AG
    Inventors: Eckhart Dewert, Jörg Henle
  • Patent number: 8479333
    Abstract: A foot/leg cradle cushion prevents crossing of ankles or legs for long periods of time, which has been associated with circulatory problems related to cardiac or stroke episodes. The cradle cushion is a soft yet sufficiently supportive device whereby the feet and/or lower legs are held separated from each other and prevented from being crossed. The cradle cushion has a pair of outer flange walls extending upward from a base with a taller middle wall that separates the feet or lower legs of the user. Thus is formed a U-shaped recess on either side of the central wall which would receive each foot and/or leg separated by the width of the central wall. This effectively prevents leg crossing which causes compression of the user's circulatory system in both lower legs and ankle regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Edward S. Gould, Peter Georgatos
  • Patent number: 8479334
    Abstract: A pillow for supporting a baby at play. The pillow comprises a compressible, shape-sustaining, endless bolster having a center opening sized to receive the baby in a sitting position. Preferably, the bolster is toroidal in shape. The pillow includes a removable, washable cover with a center panel that spans the bottom of the center opening forming a seating area for the baby. The bottom of the cover has an elastic border that it grips the bottom of the bolster. In this way, downward tension on the center panel of the cover pulls the bolster portion of the cover inwardly, restraining the pillow around the baby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jamie S. Leach
  • Patent number: 8479335
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a user comprising a platform extending between first and second edges each having two corners, a frame having four substantially parallel uprights located proximate to each of the first and second edges of the platform, each of said uprights slidably locating said platform proximate to a corner of said platform and an elastic support member extending between each of the first and second edges of the platform and the frame so as suspend the platform from the frame. The platform is biased from a first position located proximate to a ground surface to a second position vertically spaced above the first position by the elastic support members, wherein said first and second positions are substantially parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Perry Kneelers, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Franklin Perry
  • Patent number: 8479336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multifunctional primer, comprising a first solution including 15 to 55 parts by weight of natural rubber and 750 to 1350 parts by weight of an organic solvent; a second solution from 100 parts by weight of the first solution and additionally 45 to 90 parts by weight of a polyurethane-dispersion; comprising a third solution from 100 parts by weight of the second solution and 100 to 250 parts by weight of a butadiene-based rubber solution containing 50 to 200 parts by weight of a butadiene rubber and 800 to 950 parts by weight of an organic solvent. Additionally a method of manufacturing a shoe is disclosed in an environmentally friendly manner by application of the primer to a transfer sheet, this being dried and cut into appropriate pieces, and this film-type multifunctional primer applied on a non-vulcanized outersole of a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Sung-Hwan Huh
  • Patent number: 8479337
    Abstract: A wheelchair bound person's riding lawnmower mounting apparatus being a rectangularly shaped platform support unit having heightwise adjustable support leg units held within laterally positioned leg compartment components welded to the support unit and atop of which there is to be found a rectangularly shaped mounting platform and connectable to which support unit there are arched support railings as well as a rectangularly shaped mounting ramp unit affixed to which is a downwardly extending ramp plate unit fittable into L-shaped lipping welded to the mounting platform together with the support unit and ramp unit also each having wheel assembly units affixed to the bottom portions of each so as to facilitate moving the support unit and ramp unit, when dissassembled and not in use, to a convenient storage site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel Lewis Morris
  • Patent number: 8479338
    Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device having a compact structure. A recovery unit (17) is configured such that dust collection boxes (76, 77) are disposed with respect to a cleaning brush (6) and a metallic roller (7), respectively. A cleaning blade (9) is fixed to a blade holder (79) via a bolt (78). When the recovery unit (17) is incorporated in a frame unit, the recovery unit (17) is moved in a predetermined direction so as to be brought into contact with a positioning section (14Bbb) of a side plate 14B of the frame unit (11). When the recovery unit (17) is moved, a fixing bolt (85) is loosened so that a straight portion (86a) of a fixed washer (86) is aligned with the vertical direction, and then, the fixing bolt (85) is tightened so that the recovery unit is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bando Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Matsumoto, Masashi Ohta
  • Patent number: 8479339
    Abstract: Detailed are swimming pool cleaners and components including discs and bumpers. Discs may include upwardly-extending hooks or similar features connecting directly with the bumpers. The direct connections additionally may be configured to allow substantial (i.e. non-trivial) upward movement of the discs from their normal locations while preventing substantial downward movement of the discs that might cause the discs undesirably to fold in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhardus Johannes Stoltz
  • Patent number: 8479340
    Abstract: A powered toothbrush includes a handle having a neck. A head is mounted to the neck and has a first surface and an opposed second surface. At least one fixed tuft block is mounted to the head in a fixed orientation and has a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending outwardly away from the first surface. A movable tuft block is flexibly connected to each fixed tuft block and has a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending outwardly away from the first surface. A drive assembly is operably connected to the movable tuft block to move the movable tuft block with respect to each fixed tuft block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Alan Sorrentino
  • Patent number: 8479341
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes bristles, a bristle driving unit, an orientation detection sensor, and an electrode-based contact detection unit for detecting contact with a body. The contact detection unit includes a first detection unit for detecting contact with or proximity to a rear surface side of a brush portion. The electric toothbrush detects orientation information based on an output from the orientation detection sensor, and estimates a brushing area based on at least the orientation information. In the area estimation, in the case where the brushing area determined based on the orientation information is a dentition surface on a right buccal side or a left lingual side or a dentition surface on a left buccal side or a right lingual side, it is determined whether the brushing area corresponds to the buccal side or the lingual side based on an electric signal obtained from the first detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Iwahori
  • Patent number: 8479342
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning rubberized, plastic, or foam exercise mats is disclosed. The apparatus includes a machine having a frame structure, at least two sets of rollers, a mechanism coupled to the rollers to push and/or pull the mat through the machine, a cleaning solution application system, a scrubbing system, a cleaning solution removal system, and a housing to enclose the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Mindy Benson, Nathan Benson
  • Patent number: 8479343
    Abstract: A hand-held, collapsible, self-adjusting mechanism, which is an improvement to the Spatula, for removing the remaining contents inside a plurality of containers. The device consists of three attached arms, two lower arms geared around their pivot ends to each other to keep their rotation symmetrical in relation to a drive arm, and pressurized with a double torsion spring to rotate towards said drive arm to apply pressure to a swiveling attachment receiver at the opposite end which makes contact with the inside walls of a container. The drive arm has a foldable crank arm assembly which allows you to quickly rotate and slide the mechanism in and out within a container with one hand while the other hand supports said container thus removing the contents from the walls of the container without difficulty or a mess. References Cited U.S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Matthew J. Smetana
  • Patent number: 8479344
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning wick for a channel of a medical instrument, particularly an endoscope. Said cleaning wick supports at least one, preferably several wiping elements (9) on the elongate, flexible wick (1) that can be inserted into the instrument channel. The wiping elements (9) are designed as flock coating that adheres to the wick (1) in a section of the length thereof. Unflocked zones (11) that are left between the wiping elements (9) absorb substances which are to be discharged from the instrument channel during the cleaning process. An unflocked final region (13) located at the longitudinal ends (3, 5) of the wick (1) makes it easier to introduce the cleaning wick into the instrument channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Herbert Maslanka
  • Patent number: 8479345
    Abstract: A system and method for retrieving a pipeline tool from a pipeline includes a speed control drive section that includes a primary bypass flow valve and a failsafe valve located in a central bypass flow passageway of the drive section. The failsafe valve is placed under the control of a controller. The controller is programmed to release the failsafe valve under prescribed failure conditions. An actuating means moves the failsafe valve between a normally opened positioned and a closed position in response to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Jed Ludlow, Keith Glass, Jonathan Warkentin, Paul Laursen
  • Patent number: 8479346
    Abstract: A grill cleaning device has a handle, a scraper and a rotatable bristled cleaning wheel assembly. The handle has a handle end portion and a cleaning end portion. The scraper projects from the cleaning end portion. The rotatable bristled cleaning wheel assembly has a rotatable axle held in the cleaning end portion. The bristled cleaning wheel assembly is affixed to the axle. The bristled wheel assembly has substantially radially extending cleaning bristle wheels on each of the lateral ends of the cleaning wheel assembly and two sets of opposing laterally extending bristles. Each set of lateral bristles projects inwardly from a wheel rim toward a lateral center of the wheel assembly. The bristles are made from sturdy non-rusting metal. The ends of the laterally extending bristles are spaced from the center of the wheel assembly a distance equal to or slightly less than a grill rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Puthalath Koroth Raghuprasad
  • Patent number: 8479347
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an elevated tower-mounted surveillance camera in situ at an operational altitude on a camera tower. The apparatus incorporates a plurality of elongated elevating rods adapted for being assembled together end-to-end to extend from a ground elevation substantially to the tower-mounted camera. A head support assembly is attached to one of the plurality of elevating rods, and is adapted for being located proximate the tower-mounted camera. At least one cleaning head is attached to the head support assembly, and is adapted for engaging and cleaning a lens of the tower-mounted camera. A tower-traveling guide is attached to one of the plurality of elevating rods, and is adapted for engaging and moving along the camera tower as the elevating rods are assembled and extended from the ground elevation towards the tower-mounted camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Marvin D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8479348
    Abstract: A stain applicator comprising a pad frame, a handle assembly attached to an upperside thereof, and an applicator pad wherein said applicator pad includes a slit therein allowing the retraction and extension of an applicator blade frame and attached applicator blade pad to allow staining of both the tops of generally flat decking boards mounted having gaps therebetween and the sides thereof through the extension and retraction of the applicator blade frame and applicator blade pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Newell Operating Co.
    Inventor: Gary Allan DeCarr
  • Patent number: 8479349
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with at least two windscreen wiper devices each comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen of the vehicle to be wiped, each wiper blade including opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper devices each comprise a connecting device for a respective oscillating arm, with the interposition of a joint part, with the special feature that each joint part and its corresponding oscillating arm comprise mutually cooperating protrusion/recess means resulting in an asymmetric form of joint part and of oscillating arm with the respect to their respective middle longitudinal planes, seen in vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventors: Xavier Boland, Pierre Henin, Dieter Desaedelaere
  • Patent number: 8479350
    Abstract: A wiper device for vehicles is disclosed. The wiper device (1) for vehicles according to the present invention provides compatible standardized parts, such that the wiper device can be applied to various kinds of drive arms having different shapes and sizes. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design for the standardization of products can be increased, thus markedly reducing the production costs. Furthermore, thanks to the standardization of products, the present invention can be easily adapted for mass production. Hence, there are industrial effects in that products can be economically produced, distributed and spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: CAP Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Woong Kim, Tae Hun Kim, Kyung Min Kim
  • Patent number: 8479351
    Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly includes a pair of leaf spring elements supported generally parallel to each other with a space therebetween, a flexible blade supported within the space between the leaf spring elements, a bracket fixed to the intermediate portion of the pair of leaf spring elements and supporting said pair of leaf spring elements to provide the space therebetween, the bracket including a pair of pressure distribution tabs, and a bracket cover connected at opposite sides of the bracket, the bracket cover having a skirt extending below the bracket to cover a portion of the pair of leaf spring elements at the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Alberee Products Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Lee, Choon Bae Lee
  • Patent number: 8479352
    Abstract: Mop bucket with two compartments positioned horizontally, one for containing clean water and the other for containing dirty water, where each compartment is connected to its corresponding wringer. It comprises three pieces that can be coupled together: a first and main piece that comprises the clean water container, on whose mouth a second piece is coupled, comprising a compartment for dirty water, which is smaller in size and has a lower height, in such a way that after it has been fitted, its bottom is higher than the bottom of the main body, with two mouths for the whole bucket. Said whole is then finished off at the top with a third piece that can be coupled to it and which contains a pair of wringers that coincide with the mouths of each water compartment, together with an opening for the mop head to gain access to the clean water compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Carlos Rivadulla Oliva
  • Patent number: 8479353
    Abstract: A hose valve for central vacuum cleaning systems that employ retractable suction hoses of the type that retract into a system vacuum pipe. The hose valve comprises a valve box with a connection port wherein a locking assembly is secured within the valve box. The locking assembly includes a compression cylinder. A cylindrical deformable sleeve is coaxially disposed within the compression cylinder. The deformable sleeve is radially inwardly deformable responsive to an axial compressive force. A thrust means is provided for engagement with the compression cylinder to impose a compressing force on the deformable sleeve. The thrust means being axially movable from a first unlocked non-compressing position where the deformable sleeve is in its non-deformed condition, to a second locked compressed position where the deformable sleeve is compressed to cause deformation with its walls collapsing radially inward to form a seal around a retractable hose disposed through the locking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Rod Drivstuen, Robert Lee Rawls
  • Patent number: 8479354
    Abstract: The drill brush and vacuum attachment apparatus provides for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and to a drill. The diameter reduction of the shaft first end is removably chucked into a drill of choice. The drill thereby turns the shaft as the free-wheel sleeve is free to be held stationary by a user via the angled reaction bar. The bar with associated collar may adjustably positioned along the sleeve, then tightened in the desired position by the thumb screw. Various shapes and sizes of removable brushes and other tools may be threadably attached to the shaft second end and used to clean various work pieces, and especially to clean out pre-drilled holes. As a work piece is cleaned by brushes and tools, the vacuum connected to the free-wheel sleeve vacuum tube draws debris and potentially airborne materials in, thereby negating potential mess, material clouds, and ensures a healthy work place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Peter T. Doyle
  • Patent number: 8479355
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a filter, an optically sensitive filter replacement indicator associated with the filter, and a light source configured to provide light on the optically sensitive filter replacement indicator. The light source is variably energizable according to a selectable power level of the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Seyfettin Kara, Stefan Kreimeyer, Monika Seifert, Stefan Tiekoetter, Cornelius Wolf
  • Patent number: 8479356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising an inlet opening, a retaining plate, which is situated on the exterior of the bag in the vicinity of the inlet opening and can be attached to a retaining device of a vacuum cleaner in order to fix the vacuum cleaner filter bag, and a closing device situated in the vicinity of the inlet opening, which is configured in such a way that it adopts a first position when the retaining plate is not attached to the retaining device and a second position by the attachment of the retaining plate to the retaining device, wherein the inlet opening is closed in the first position of the closing device and is open in the second position of the closing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Sauer, Jan Schultink
  • Patent number: 8479357
    Abstract: A moquette carpet cleaning machine (10) having a machine body (11) with main rear wheels (12) and a suction mouth (14) placed at the front of the machine body. A support (19) with an auxiliary wheel is attached to the machine body (11). At least one of the main wheels (12), the suction mouth (14), the auxiliary wheel (16) and the support (19) being movable with respect to the machine body (11) between at least a first position (A) and a second (B) position such that, the auxiliary wheel (16) is in the first position (A), the suction mouth (14) is maintained against the ground (20). When the auxiliary wheel is in the second relative position (B), the suction mouth (14) is maintained in a position that is substantially raised from the ground (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Santoemma S.R.L.
    Inventors: Nicola Santoemma, Massimiliano Santoemma
  • Patent number: 8479358
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus has an upper section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an in use position and a storage position. The upper section is rotationally mounted to the surface cleaning head. The upright surface cleaning apparatus has an alignment mechanism comprising a first cooperating alignment member associated with the surface cleaning head and a second cooperating alignment member associated with the upper section, the first and second members guiding the upper section to a particular orientation or range of orientations when the upper section is moved into the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8479359
    Abstract: A hinge device includes a first frame member having a securing section at which the first frame member is secured to a first body, a rotation shaft supporting the first frame member allowing rotation thereof, a stopper provided on the first frame member in such a manner as to project in a direction in which the rotation shaft extends and to rotate together with the first frame member about the rotation shaft, and a second frame member. The second frame member having a securing section at which the second frame member is secured to a second body, a rotation-shaft-supporting section supporting the rotation shaft, and a stopper-receiving portion receiving the stopper. The stopper and the stopper-receiving portion are subjected to load-redirecting processing such that a load produced upon contact between the stopper and the stopper-receiving portion is applied in such a direction that a thickness of the stopper becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Yabe, Yuichi Yamada, Tomoyuki Sonoda
  • Patent number: 8479360
    Abstract: A clamp that attached to fabrics is provided that includes a tubular member and a locking member. The tubular member has an elongated tubular shape with a lengthwise slot disposed therein between a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, and a protrusion that extends out of an inner surface of a lengthwise cavity within the tubular member. The protrusion is disposed within the tubular member biased toward one side of the slot to create an asymmetrical cross section in the tubular member. The locking member has thickness smaller than a width in the slot and a width greater than the width in the slot allowing the locking member to be inserted into and out of the slot in a first orientation but not in at least one other orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Elmer V. Vera
  • Patent number: 8479361
    Abstract: A flexible strap fastener includes a head portion having a passage and a locking pawl disposed within the passage. The flexible strap fastener further includes a strap portion connected to the head portion. The strap portion includes a first surface and a plurality of locking ridges disposed on the first surface. Additionally, cushioning material is disposed adjacent the plurality of locking ridges on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Every
  • Patent number: 8479362
    Abstract: A method whereby a body is held securely in a dignified position within a non-horizontal burial container so as to not crumple downward when interred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Donald E. Scruggs
  • Patent number: 8479363
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an acoustically coupled device including a stack having a first resonator, a second resonator and a decoupler, the decoupler formed between the first and second resonators, and each resonator having a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between a bottom electrode and a top electrode, includes providing a substrate having a first sacrificial layer formed in or on a selected portion of the substrate, forming the first resonator of a first stack over the sacrificial layer on the selected portion of the substrate and the first resonator of a second stack on the substrate, respectively, such that the first resonators of the first and second stacks are distanced, forming a gap underlying the second stack, performing a measurement on the second stack, trimming the top electrode of the first resonator of the first stack, and forming the second resonator over each of the first and second stacks, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8479364
    Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element includes a laminated vibrator made of laminations of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film and an electrode film, with the electrode film having an internal electrode film. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element has a coating formed on a part of a surface of the laminated vibrator so that the coating selectively and completely covers a defect that would otherwise be exposed on the surface of the vibrator before the coating coats the defect. The defect extends to the internal electrode film and the remainder of the surface of the laminated vibrator is free of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Koizumi, Hideki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8479365
    Abstract: A barrel support device supports a barrel rotationally about an axis of the barrel with the axis being arranged vertically and an opening of the barrel through which a plunger rod is inserted being directed upward. A chuck of a plunger rod support device holds the plunger rod in a first holding state in which the plunger rod is prevented from rotating about and sliding along its axis and inserts it into the barrel. Then, the chuck enters a second holding state in which the plunger rod is prevented from rotating about its axis but is not prevented from sliding along its axis. A load application device places a load acting downward on the plunger rod, and a rotation application device rotates the barrel in a direction in which the plunger rod is screwed into a gasket in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutaka Tubota
  • Patent number: 8479366
    Abstract: A method for changing rollers in a roll stand adapted for bearing at least one working roller for a continuously-running steel-strip roll mill, includes providing the stand as part of a plurality of roll stands disposed in series along the roll mill in a continuous running direction. A rolling standby function in a free clamping position of the roller(s) is allocated to at least one dedicated stand among the plurality of stands. Original setpoint values controlling an adjustment of the roller clamping are individually allocated to the other stands in an active rolling position. In the case of a roller change when passing into the free clamping position of the stand, the original setpoint value of the stand and the original setpoint values of the stands remaining in an active rolling position are redistributed individually among each of the stands, including the dedicated stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens VAI Metals Technologies SAS
    Inventors: Vincent Cronier, Bernard Rossigneux
  • Patent number: 8479367
    Abstract: An inventive spark plug boot puller removes a spark plug boot from the spark plug on which it is booted, without damaging the spark plug boot. A method for removing a spark plug boot so that the boot can be reused is provided. Kits containing reusable spark plug boots with cooperating spark plug boot puller tools are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Charles Hurley, Thomas J. Zagami
  • Patent number: 8479368
    Abstract: An anchoring device comprising a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, and an anchor attached to the second end, wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of flukes to secure the anchoring device to a wall and at least one hole in fluid communication with the shaft to deliver a securing compound injected into the first end of the shaft to the flukes to facilitating securing the anchoring device to the wall. The flukes may be bendable or hingedly attached to the base of the anchor so as to accommodate a closed configuration to be insertable into a hole in the wall and expandable into an open configuration to prevent the anchoring device from being removed from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Brent Hanratty
  • Patent number: 8479369
    Abstract: A device for mounting a vehicle instrumental panel has an assist machine and work robots. The assist machine has an instrument panel holding mechanism for holding an instrument panel, conveys the instrument panel, and has an assist function for holding the weight of the instrument panel. The work robots have connection mechanisms removably connected to the instrument panel holding mechanism and operate the instrument panel holding mechanism to place the instrument panel in a vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sugimoto, Mitsugu Takahashi, Masaru Maruo
  • Patent number: 8479370
    Abstract: A method of preventing inadvertent interconnection between a first medical system and a second medical system utilizes a luer fitting connector/adapter that acts as a modified-to-standard size converter piece. The adapter may complete a fluid tight medical system. The adapter may have one end having at least one non-standard sized luer fitting dimension. The non-standard end of the adapter may sealingly interconnect with a luer fitting member having a corresponding non-standard sized dimension. As a result, the adapter and luer fitting member may be directly interconnected with one another while remaining incompatible with standard sized luer fittings. Using the adapter may facilitate preventing the inadvertent direct interconnection of standard sized luer fitting members intended for different purposes, such as the delivery of a feed paste or a medication to a desired location within a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey P. Grant
  • Patent number: 8479371
    Abstract: A process and an associated assembly for supporting a porous media during a treatment which exposes the media to a fluid that modifies at least one property of the media. The assembly includes a supporting core. The media is wrapped in a plurality of layers about the core to form a first roll of the media. The assembly includes first securement mechanisms exerting diametrical pressure on the ends of the first roll to prevent fluid flow axially out of the ends of the first roll. An additional amount of the media is being wrapped in a plurality of layers about the first roll to form a second roll of the media. The assembly includes second securement mechanisms exerting diametrical pressure on the ends of the second roll to prevent fluid flow axially out of the ends of the second roll. The assembly may be part of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Martin Gregory Hatfield
  • Patent number: 8479372
    Abstract: A ring fixture system for rotating a ring to perform engraving work. The system comprises a vise-securable fixture base with opposing mandrels connected through spaced arms of the fixture base at a ring-engraving location between the arms to form a mandrel assembly. The mandrels are provided with sets of detents with different degrees of rotational spacing, and the detents on one mandrel of the mandrel assembly can be engaged independently of the other set of detents on the other mandrel. The fixture base further includes a tool-supporting bridge connected between the fixture arms above the ring-engraving location to hold an engraving tool orthogonally to the ring axis, and may further include a sliding tool support on the bridge. Also, a method is disclosed for engraving a ring using the ring fixture system with the detents and tool-supporting bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SDL Precision, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Lark, Christian DeCamillis, David W. Skrzypczak
  • Patent number: 8479373
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of caps comprises a first operating turntable device associated with a first operating arrangement and a further operating turntable device associated with a further operating arrangement, between said first operating turntable device and said further operating turntable device a transferring turntable device being interposed such as to transfer said caps between said first operating turntable device and said further operating to turntable device; a device for positioning a tool in relation to an object to be processed comprises a toolholder element suitable for bearing said tool, an adjustable member operationally associatable with said toolholder element and an abutting member suitable for pressing said toolholder element against said adjustable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
    Inventor: Ivan Bonzi
  • Patent number: 8479374
    Abstract: A method for producing an image sensor includes providing a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is provided that is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is provided that is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes first and second outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is provided that is electrically connected to the first output of the charge directing switch. A bypass horizontal shift register or an amplifier is provided that is connected to the second output of the charge directing switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Truesense Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Parks