Patents Issued in September 17, 2013
  • Patent number: 8534635
    Abstract: A support includes a base frame, a rotatable frame, an adjusting knob assembly and a spring element. Each leg of the base frame has a through hole formed with a protrusion and an L-shaped sliding groove. The rotatable frame pivotedly coupled to the base frame through a first shaft, which is rotatably inserted into the through hole and formed with a plurality of inner teeth. The adjusting knob has a guiding rib and a plurality of outer teeth respective to the inner teeth, and the guiding rib is slidable in and along the guiding groove portion and engagable in the engaging groove portion. The spring element surrounds the second shaft of the adjusting knob, as compressed between the protrusion and the insertion portion. Through operating the adjusting knob, the relative angle of the base frame and the rotatable frame switches between adjustable and fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Gang Yang, Qi-Chao Liu, He-Hui Yang, Ping Yu
  • Patent number: 8534636
    Abstract: Mounting construction for mounting an adjustment instrument to a carrier for an outside mirror unit, comprising first mounting parts on the adjustment instrument and second mounting parts on the carrier, which mounting parts guide the adjustment instrument from a first position to a second position in a direction along the carrier, the mounting parts cooperating with each other in the second position to fix movement of the adjustment instrument relative to the carrier in a direction transverse to the carrier, while in the first position the adjustment instrument and the carrier are clear of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Frits Brouwer, Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 8534637
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus seats a card on an element. The mounting apparatus includes a fastening member mounted on the receiving element, a latching member extending through the fastening member to be mounted to the element, and an elastic member fitting about the latching member. Opposite ends of the elastic member resist the latching member and the element. One end of the card is received in the fastening member and clamped between the latching member and the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Szu-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 8534638
    Abstract: A removable stand assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first stand removably mountable to a gas turbine engine on one side of a center of gravity of the gas turbine engine and a second stand removably mountable to the gas turbine engine on a second side of the center of gravity of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Alexander, David Lau, David Eugene Martinez, Brian C. DeDe
  • Patent number: 8534639
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic control valve includes a solenoid actuator that slides a valve element within a valve body to control fluid flow between a workport and each of a supply port and an exhaust port. The solenoid actuator has an armature that incorporates an element which digressively damps bidirectional motion of the armature. The element preferably damps the motion of the valve element according digressive damping velocity-force relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: HUSCO Automotive Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis L. Van Weelden
  • Patent number: 8534640
    Abstract: A valve switch unit has a detector configured to detect an input, such as current, from a machine controller. The valve switch unit also has a switching circuit configured to switch control of the one or more valves an automatic controller to the machine controller if the input from the machine controller exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the current detected exceeds the predetermined threshold, the circuit switches control from the automatic controller to the machine controller. In a similar fashion, when the current falls below the predetermined threshold, the circuit switches control back to the automatic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Winistoerfer, Gregory D. Chiocco
  • Patent number: 8534641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element for the electric connection of a solenoid valve to a circuit board, having a first electric contact element for electrically contacting the solenoid valve, a second electric contact element for electrically contacting the circuit board, and at least one tolerance adjusting element, and a related fluid assembly. According to the invention the connecting element is configured as one piece, and the first electric contact element and the second electric contact element are connected to each other via the at least one tolerance adjusting element. A first modifiable tolerance adjusting element enables a length adjustment in at least one spatial direction in order to predetermine a desired spatial positioning of the first contact element and the second contact element relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Schalowski, Bernd Kellner, Volker Weeber, Rainer Fuerst, Heiko Fresser, Martin Haas, Wolfgang Mailaender, Bernd Lutz
  • Patent number: 8534642
    Abstract: The specification discloses a seal member for selectively completing a fluid passageway defined between an upstream member and a downstream member separated by an intermediate space, the seal member comprising an elongate stem portion dimensioned to be movably positionable in an opening defined through the upstream member between opposite first and second surfaces thereof, the elongate stem portion having provided at one end thereof a resiliency deformable, radially-extending flange and at the other end thereof a sealing face, and a fluid passageway defined through the stem portion between the flange and the sealing face. The flange is deformable under fluid pressure to increase the area of contact between the flange and the first surface of the upstream member and to simultaneously move the stem portion within the opening defined in the upstream member so as to bring the sealing face into sealing contact with an opposing surface of the downstream member across the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Dale Moretz, Carl Romack
  • Patent number: 8534643
    Abstract: A hammer includes a handle and a head. The handle includes a bottom end and an upper end. The head is disposed on the upper end of the handle. The handle and the head are separately formed structures. The handle is formed from sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith M. Lombardi, Joshua Brown, Karl Vanderbeek
  • Patent number: 8534644
    Abstract: A steam dispersion system is disclosed. The steam dispersion system includes a header and a mounting plate spaced from the header. A steam dispersion tube including a first end and a second end and an interior cavity defined between the first end and the second end is mounted between the mounting plate and the header. The steam dispersion tube defines a longitudinal axis. A biasing structure is mounted between the mounting plate and the header, wherein the biasing structure applies a biasing force on the steam dispersion tube along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steam dispersion tube when mounted between the header and the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: DRI-STEEM Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Lundgreen, Jeffrey Martin Horejsi
  • Patent number: 8534645
    Abstract: A steam dispersion apparatus includes a steam chamber communicating in an open-loop arrangement with a first steam source for supplying steam to the steam chamber. The steam chamber includes a steam dispersion location at which steam exits therefrom at generally atmospheric pressure. A heat exchanger communicates in a closed-loop arrangement with a second steam source for supplying steam to the heat exchanger at a pressure generally higher than atmospheric pressure. The heat exchanger is located at a location that is not directly exposed to the air to be humidified, the heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the steam chamber so as to contact condensate from the steam chamber. The heat exchanger converts condensate formed by the steam chamber back to steam when the condensate contacts the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: DRI-STEEM Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Lundgreen, Robert Russell Nelson
  • Patent number: 8534646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat suspension device for a vehicle seat, in particular a commercial vehicle seat, comprising at least one air spring, said air spring being disposed between an upper seat portion of the vehicle seat and a lower seat portion of the vehicle seat, and at least one hose-like member connected to the air spring via a first connection line for an extension volume of the air spring is provided, said hose-like member being arranged along at least one fold of a bellows-like facing extending between an upper seat portion and a lower seat portion of a vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Rupert Bauer, Nikolaus Haller, Johann Meier, Hubert Wittmann
  • Patent number: 8534647
    Abstract: An elastomeric bush bearing, with hydraulic damping, comprises a metallic inner part (1), an elastomeric bearing element (2) encompassing the inner part (1) with a cage (3) for reinforcing the bearing element (2) vulcanized thereto. At least two chambers (5), for accommodating a fluid damping medium, are separated from one another by partitions (8), constructed between the bearing element (2), adhesively bonded to the inner part (1) by the vulcanization, but are mutually connected by a damping medium channel (7). A prestressing is applied to the elastomer of the bearing element (2). However, the prestressing is not applied over the bearing shell (4), but instead over the cage (3). Calibration takes places thus by a pressure force exerted on the cage, before assembly of the bearing element (2) in the outer shell (4), which is a deviation from the state of the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schnaars, Thomas Conrad
  • Patent number: 8534648
    Abstract: An elastomeric load bearing surface with different load support characteristics in different directions. In one embodiment, the surface includes an elastomeric membrane that is oriented in only a single direction, for example, by compression or stretching. In another embodiment, the surface includes mechanical structures, such as connectors, variations in thickness and apertures, that vary the load support characteristics in different directions. In another aspect, the present invention provides a multilayer load bearing surface in which the layers cooperate to provide a controlled force/deflection profile that is variable in different regions of the surface. In one embodiment, the upper layer includes a plurality of loosely connected nodes and a lower layer having a plurality of resilient elements that separately support each node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Coffield, Daniel S. Sommerfeld, Joseph D. Ward
  • Patent number: 8534649
    Abstract: A mount structure for a vehicle damper, configured in such a manner that an end of the piston rod (33) of the damper (17) is supported by a vehicle-side member (51). A nut (57) engaged with the male thread section (42) formed on a reduced diameter section (41) of the piston rod (33) collectively fastens upper and lower gripping members (55, 56), a collar member (54), and upper and lower elastic sections (52, 53) to the reduced diameter section (41). An input from the damper body (38) side is transmitted to the vehicle body-side member (51) through a transmission member (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Abe, Kosuke Uemori
  • Patent number: 8534650
    Abstract: A holder system for fastening an aircraft interior component to a transporting apparatus and to an aircraft structure includes an interior component holder configured to be connected to the interior component and which has a fastening device for fastening the interior component holder to the transporting apparatus. A structure holder is configured to be connected to the aircraft structure. A connecting element is fastened to the interior component holder and is configured to be connected to the structure holder in order to fasten the interior component to the aircraft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Humfeldt, Thomas Basler, Sebastian Umlauft, Niklas Halfmann, Dieter Krause
  • Patent number: 8534651
    Abstract: A temporary attachment device for securing a number of parts or sheets together has an elongated hollow body with three, slidable and spreadable prongs spaced apart 120°, protruding from an open end of the elongated body over a substantially Y-shaped spreader held in the elongated body and extending through the open end to more evenly and accurately maintain the spacing between and spread the three prongs. The three prongs and spreader more accurately fill pilot holes, after insertion into the openings and the prongs have outwardly facing heads, lobes or noses to more securely clamp at least two sheets of material together. The device may include an internal spring and a movable plunger to allow the prongs to be operated by the pliers, or may include a threaded shaft and a nut secured to the shaft to allow operation of the device by turning the nut and the shaft to slidably move the three prongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ino Scapa, Thomas H. Lomas
  • Patent number: 8534652
    Abstract: A positioning machine includes a base, a support portion mounted on the base for supporting a workpiece and a first positioning mechanism received in the recessed portion. The base defines a recessed portion. Two sidewalls of the recessed portion respectively define a pair of first tracks. The first positioning mechanism includes a first motor, a first coupler, a first positioning block, a first screw rod, and a first nut movably mounted over the first screw rod and fixed to a low surface of the support portion. The first coupler is forced by the first motor to drive the first screw rod to rotate to drive the first nut to move along the first screw rod, causing the support portion to be moved along the first tracks, and the workpiece to be moved in a predetermined position relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhang-Yong Zheng, Ju-Yuan Zhang, Xin Lu, Shih-Fang Wong
  • Patent number: 8534653
    Abstract: A fixture for machine tools and the like includes a base member and first and second workpiece support units that are movably connected to the base member and define a space therebetween. The fixture includes a drive assembly that is operably connected to the workpiece support units to move the first and second workpiece support units towards and away from one another. The workpiece support units each include a wedge member extending toward the space between the workpiece support units. The wedge members include opposed engagement surfaces that taper towards one another for engaging slots in opposite ends of a workpiece. Each of the workpiece support units also includes a clamp for clamping a workpiece as it engages the wedge members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Tooling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Huisken, Drew H. Boersma
  • Patent number: 8534654
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and products are disclosed for welding ground wires to a grounding rod. A jig retains the ground wires to the grounding rod. The jig has a first horseshoe oriented to a second horseshoe to form a crucifix. Each horseshoe has a pair of legs supporting the jig from earth and providing electrical ground to the earth. A central passage bisects each horseshoe through which the grounding rod inserts. Means are included for clamping a ground wire to at least one of the legs, such that the ground wire is retained for welding to the grounding rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: James Thomas Vandergrift, II
  • Patent number: 8534655
    Abstract: A quick-release vise utilizing one or more clamp shafts that can be easily re-configured to clamp with CW or CCW rotation of a clamp handle. The clamp shaft is received in a housing secured to the underside of a workbench, and is free to slide in and out. The clamp shaft passes through aligned holes in a pair of opposing jaws, at least one of which is moveable. A pinion freely slides on the clamp shaft within the housing and converts rotational movement from the clamp shaft into linear movement via a meshing rack gear. The linear motion actuates a bridge which slides against a laterally fixed wedge causing the bridge to displace a locking element which clutches and moves the clamp shaft to affect clamping between the jaws. The wedge and bridge pair can be inverted to allow clamping to occur with a either CW or CCW rotation of the clamp handle and/or re-oriented to cause a spreading motion between the jaws rather than a clamping motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Len Alan Hovarter
  • Patent number: 8534656
    Abstract: A clamp has first and second movable jaws and a catch mechanism having a movable detent arranged to engage with a locking element in a number of different positions dependent upon the degree of separation of the jaws. The tightening force to tighten the jaws is transmitted through the catch mechanism and an actuator may be used to both engage/release the catch mechanism and move the jaws to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Simon Mills, Paul Jenkins
  • Patent number: 8534657
    Abstract: An automated clamping system for securing a work piece to the table of a machine tool. The clamping system automatically retracts away from the work piece as the material manipulating device moves into the area of each clamp. This allows manipulation of the work piece without stopping to move the clamp to a new location so that the clamp does not interfere with the metal manipulating device. A typical embodiment is the use of the system on a milling machine. The clamping system could be used with milling machines (both manual and computer controlled), routers, water jet cutters, laser cutters, flame cutters, and many other types of cutting machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Pasic
  • Patent number: 8534658
    Abstract: A mounting system with a receiver arrangement having a double sided configuration, the bushing having an inner passage and an oppositely facing outer surface, the outer bushing surface having at least one receiver bearing surface shaped to engage a bearing surface of the mounting opening to align the receiver laterally within the opening, the bushing being locked or lockable within a mounting opening and further including two locking arrangements for allowing the selectively locking of a shank from either end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Schron, Harry P. Fuller, Esther Schron
  • Patent number: 8534659
    Abstract: A substrate carrier for performing a deposition process comprises a supporting element and a cover element. The supporting element having a through hole is used to carry a substrate. The cover element is removably engaged with the supporting element, so as to secure the substrate therebetween and expose a deposition surface of the substrate from the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsing Tung, Fei-Tzu Lin
  • Patent number: 8534660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus that forms folding lines at a predetermined position of a sheet after image formation and outputs the sheet. The apparatus includes a contact unit with which a tip end or a rear end of the conveyed sheet comes into contact and by which a deflection is formed at a middle part of the sheet; folding units that form the folding lines by conveying the middle part of the sheet, at which the deflection is formed by the contact unit, between the folding units; and a deflection controlling unit that controls the deflection at the middle part of the sheet formed by the contact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Honda
  • Patent number: 8534661
    Abstract: A system for preparing a collation of sheets for a subsequent folding operation wherein edges of the collation are aligned to eliminate the need for additional trimming operations. The system comprises: a cutting device operative to cut each sheet of the collation based upon a length dimension of each of the inner and outer sheets, an accumulating device operative to stack the sheets to form the collation, a registration device operative to register at least one edge of the collation, a conveyance device for transporting the sheet material along a feed path to the cutting, accumulating and registration devices, and a processor operatively coupled to, and controlling, the cutting, accumulating, registration and conveyance devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S Hancock, Robert F Marcinik
  • Patent number: 8534662
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a plurality of feeding units each formed by an exchangeable part, and selects one of the plurality of feeding units based on priority levels of the plurality of feeding units in a feed operation, comprises: a monitoring unit which monitors a consumed level of the part forming the feeding unit; a notification unit which sends a notification to a user in a case where the monitoring unit detects that a life-time of the part has been reached; an ordering unit which orders the part before the monitoring unit detects that the life-time of the part has been reached; and a changing unit which changes the priority level of the feeding unit formed by the part being ordered to be lower than the priority levels of other feeding units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8534663
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper pick-up device, a transfer roller assembly, and a duplex feeding channel. The transfer roller assembly includes a shaft, a first roller, a second roller, a first idler, a second idler, and a power-coupling device. When the power-coupling device is connected with the shaft and the first roller for transmitting a paper, the first roller is driven to be rotated by the shaft. When the front edge of the paper is moved to the second roller, the first roller is driven to be rotated at a higher speed by the paper. Consequently, a power connection between the first roller and the shaft is released by the power-coupling device. Then, the first roller reaches a static status in order to correct the skew phenomenon of a next paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 8534664
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a feed roller; a separation unit; a position detection part includes: a detection member that can move to a retracted position, and a detector which detects that a image formation target material is disposed at the feed position or the feed setup position in a case of having detected that the detection member is at the retracted position; and a restricting member that is disposed at a restricting position that restricts the detection member from moving from the initial position to the retracted position by abutting the detection member, in a detached state in which the separation unit is detached from the mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyonori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8534665
    Abstract: A paper input tray includes a support plate for holding the sheets of paper, two latching members slidably connected to the support plate, a cover rotatably connected to the support plate, and a driving mechanism. Each latching member includes a latching plate. The cover is capable of being rotated open and rotated closed. When the cover is down in the closed position, the distance between the two latching plates is slightly less than that of the sheets. When the cover is rotated open, the two latching members are driven by the driving mechanism so as to increase the distance between the two latching plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8534666
    Abstract: A sheet discharged from a sheet discharging portion arranged at a distance from a sheet stacking portion, to a stacking portion, is conveyed along the sheet stacking portion while the sheet edge on an upstream side in a sheet discharging direction is held. A shifting unit arranged downstream of the sheet stacking portion in the sheet discharging direction shifts the discharged sheet from the sheet discharging portion toward the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction while a pressing member presses the sheet to the sheet stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Obuchi
  • Patent number: 8534667
    Abstract: A medium alignment apparatus may include an alignment body to form a transfer path is formed for passage of a medium and include an alignment reference surface for alignment of the medium is formed, an alignment roller portion mounted to the alignment body to align the medium while driving the medium simultaneously, and at least one alignment sensor portion to detect whether the medium is aligned by detecting a position of the medium passing along the transfer path. The alignment body may include a first body forming a transfer path for the medium, to which the alignment roller portion is mounted, and a second body disposed at one side of the first body to be movable relative to the first body at a speed corresponding to a transfer speed of the medium, providing a side directed to the first body as the alignment reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Hwan Cha
  • Patent number: 8534668
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container unit that stores a plurality of sheets, an image forming unit that forms an image on a particular surface of a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet container unit, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-conveying unit includes a conveyor roller set that conveys the sheet. The conveyor roller set includes a pinch roller and a driving roller that receives a driving force and that contacts the particular surface of the sheet. The driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the pinch roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Patent number: 8534669
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a support unit that supports a sheet; plural suction ports placed on the support unit; a suction unit that suctions the sheet toward the support unit, the suction unit being connected to the plural suction ports; plural valve systems, each valve system being placed between the corresponding suction port and the suction unit, each valve system being openable and closeable; plural valve interlocked suction ports that are to be covered by the sheet when the sheet is conveyed, the plural valve interlocked suction ports being arranged separately from the plural suction ports; and plural opening and closing units that open and close the plural valve systems, each opening and closing unit being placed between one of the valve interlocked suction ports and one of the valve systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Yuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8534670
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first rotating shaft, a driving roller fixed to the first rotating shaft, a driven roller that faces and is pressed against the driving roller, and a second rotating shaft supporting the driven roller. The driving roller or the driven roller includes a cylindrical center portion, and end portions located at both ends of the center portion and having an approximately circular truncated cone shape. Surfaces of the center portion and the end portions are made of an elastic material. An outer surface of the center portion is matched with outer surfaces of one end of the end portions, and a diameter of another end of the end portions is larger than a diameter of the one end. The end portions have a hollow inside, and have a thin surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Keisuke Sugiyama, Tomohiro Furuhashi
  • Patent number: 8534671
    Abstract: A gaming device having a primary Three Card Poker game is provided. The Three Card Poker game includes three cards dealt to the player and the dealer, where all cards are dealt face-up. First, the player has an option to replace one card from the players hand. Then, the dealer may replace one card according to a set of predetermined rules. The player makes a primary wager and an optional secondary wager. A primary award is provided if the players hand beats the dealer's hand. In the secondary wager is placed, a secondary is award is provided if the either the player's or the dealer's hand is of a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo, Paul B. Stroube
  • Patent number: 8534672
    Abstract: Describe herein is a target apparatus that includes a base with a flat surface and a rocker assembly. The rocker assembly includes a curved surface operatively disposed in rolling engagement with the flat surface. The rocker assembly also includes a target support that is configured for supporting a target thereon. The rocker assembly rolls on the flat surface in a first direction between an upright position and a lowered position. The rocker assembly has a weight sufficient to return the rocker assembly to the upright position from the lowered position. The target apparatus may be configured such that a target mounted on the target support moves in a direction toward or away from the front of the target apparatus or in a direction perpendicular to a direction that runs from the back of the target apparatus to the front of the target apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Challenge Targets, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Brune
  • Patent number: 8534673
    Abstract: An inter stage seal housing for a turbine engine having upper and lower half inter stage seal housings in which a contact sealing surface of the seal housing is restored after an interval of engine operation. The contact sealing surface is restored by fitting a replaceable wear strip on the downstream sealing surface of the seal housing. In order to fit the replaceable wear strip, a circumferential groove is machined along an outer peripheral edge of the seal housing. The groove is machined to include axial location and radial retention such that the wear strips can be slid into the upper half and lower half inter stage seal housing circumferentially from the horizontal joint. The groove includes through holes and the wear strips include corresponding threaded holes such that the wear strips can be fastened in the groove by fasteners and fastener retention hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Santo F. Scimeca, Chad Garner
  • Patent number: 8534674
    Abstract: A unitized radial fluid seal includes a shell having a first elastomeric seal body affixed thereto and defining a primary seal lip. A sleeve includes a substantially cylindrical, axially-extending sealing flange and a protective flange extending substantially radially from the axially-extending sealing flange. A spring radially urges the primary seal lip into sealing contact with a sealing surface of the axially-extending sealing flange. A second elastomeric seal body is affixed to the sleeve and includes a resiliently-elastic angled lip extending from a terminal end of the axially-extending sealing flange opposite of the radially-extending protective flange. The sealing surface and an axially-outward facing surface of the angled lip define an angle (?) that is between about 130-170°. The primary seal lip is axially retained between the angled lip and the radially-extending protective flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Linas L. Maskaliunas, Bret Thomas Dana
  • Patent number: 8534675
    Abstract: A strip seal and method of configuration thereof for sealing two adjacent non-rotating gas turbine hot gas components exposed to pressure pulsations. The strip seal has at least two clamping projections distributed along discrete points of the strip seal length that extend out from a pressure face of the strip seal. The location of the projections are defined by two ratios. The first ratio, of less than 25, is the strip seal length extending free of clamping projections from any one of the ends of the strip seal to a clamping projection to the ratio of strip seal thickness. The second ratio, of less than 200, is the ratio of the strip seal length extending free of clamping projections between any two projections to the thickness of the strip seal. This seal arrangement ameliorates detrimental effects of induced resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Thomas Heinz-Schwarzmaier, Ulrich Steiger, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 8534676
    Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a rotatable chuck assembly and an actuating mechanism. The chuck assembly may include a chuck housing movable between retracted and deployed positions. The chuck assembly may further include a pair of jaws pivotable between open and closed positions in correspondence to the retracted and deployed positions of the chuck housing. The actuating mechanism may be coupled to the chuck assembly for rotation between “Off”, “Neutral”, and/or “On” positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jeff Whisenand, Wayne Russell
  • Patent number: 8534677
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a wedge-lock coupling configured to connect a jaw to an actuator arm of a chuck. The wedge-lock coupling includes a wedge portion having a path of travel between a release position and a lock position, and a locking direction along the path of travel gradually wedges the wedge portion between the actuator arm and the jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Forkardt Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Dejonghe, Douglas L. Roush, Thomas M. Grobbel
  • Patent number: 8534678
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, which has a tie rod (1) formed from two rod parts (2, 3). In order to achieve speed-dependent adaptation of the compliance of the tie rod, the proposal is that the first rod part (2) have a compensating space (4) filled with a compensating medium, in which the other, second rod part (3) is arranged by means of the engagement end (7) thereof, the compensating space (4) being connected to a, preferably pressurized, medium reservoir (18) via a switching element (17) arranged at a connecting element (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Hintzen
  • Patent number: 8534679
    Abstract: A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that movement of the frame relative to the rear castor causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Gerold Goertzen, William A. Null, Jr., Robert L. Cuson
  • Patent number: 8534680
    Abstract: An ice skate blade assembly comprising an ice skate blade comprising first and second hooks projecting upwardly, a blade holder having a bottom portion having a longitudinal groove extending therealong for receiving the upper edge of the ice skate blade and wherein the bottom portion further defines a recess extending upwardly from the longitudinal groove for receiving the first hook, and a single actuator having a wall accessible by a finger of a user, a resilient portion having an end wall facing a section of the inner surface of the second pedestal and a base with an inner wall and a bottom wall having an upper surface, an end and a bottom surface, wherein the inner wall and the bottom wall define therebetween a channel opens to the bottom aperture for receiving the second hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Bauer Hockey, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Corbeil, Conrad Payeur, Ivan LaBonte, Sebastien Dubois
  • Patent number: 8534681
    Abstract: A first bucket cart with a central rigid horizontal elongate support member, a downwardly facing support member, an axle member, an upwardly facing vertical support member, a first hoop member , a second hoop member, an elongate handle member and a pair of wheels. The axle is perpendicularly attached to the central elongate support member. The wheels are attached to either end of the axle. The upwardly facing vertical support member is attached to the central support member. The elongate handle is attached to the forward end of the central support member. The first and second hoop members are each attached at one point in a horizontal position aligned with the central elongate support member to the top of the vertical support member. The downwardly facing support member is attached at one end to the forward portion of the central support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Andrew Tomsha
  • Patent number: 8534682
    Abstract: A unique five-device-in-one system comprises the five following devices, which are combined into one system to save cost, time, labor, and space, and can change their shapes and functions while in motion and can function, simultaneously: a wheelbarrow, a wheel harvest-bag trash-bag caddy, a wheel tool-refreshment caddy, a dump truck, and a hand truck. The unique five-device-in-one system comprises left and right multi-purpose foldable handles, left and right frames, left and right sleeves, a roll bar, a nut-washer-axle combination, a wheel, a multi-position locking device, left and right multi-purpose shock absorbers, left and right utility-bag spreaders, left and right attaching screws, a quick-release multi-purpose container, expandable tool-carrying pockets, left and right horizontal hooks and loops, left and right vertical hooks and loops, left and right dustpan hooks and loops, and a multi-purpose foldable dustpan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Dee Volin
  • Patent number: 8534683
    Abstract: A mobility device including a frame, a plurality of wheels, a pair of telescopically arranged assemblies and a pair of handgrips. The plurality of wheels are rotatably coupled to the frame. The pair of telescopically arranged assemblies are coupled to the frame. The pair of handgrips are each coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of telescopically arranged assemblies. The pair of handgrips are arranged to adjust a height of the pair of telescopically arranged assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brookefield Hunter, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd L. Lautzenhiser, Wade Wolf
  • Patent number: 8534684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, comprising a wheel carrier (14), which has a wheel-side carrier part (16) that rotatably supports a vehicle wheel (12) and an axle-side guide part (18), between which a control element is connected, wherein the wheel-side carrier part (16) can be pivoted about a pivot angle relative to the axle-side guide part (18) to set a toe angle and/or camber angle when the control element is actuated. According to the invention, the wheel carrier (14), in particular the guide part (18) thereof, is guided directly or indirectly on a linear guide (26) affixed to the body in form of a slotted guide, allowing movement in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Michel, Hugo Müller, Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Christoph Kossira, Wolfgang Schmid