Patents Issued in October 15, 2013
  • Patent number: RE44541
    Abstract: A method for customer promotion includes sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order. The price of each item is accumulated after processing. A marginal discount associated with each item processed is generated. This marginal discount is generated in response to a signal that indicates the accumulated price exceeds a predetermined threshold. Unapplied marginal discounts are accumulated for application to the customer order. A discount is applied to the customer order in response to a signal that is generated that indicates the accumulated discounts exceeds a predetermined minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Midnight Blue Remote Access LLC
    Inventors: David W. Deaton, Rodney G. Gabriel
  • Patent number: RE44542
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying a check that is being used for an on-line transaction, utilizes a hash code value either printed directly on the check, or obtained from an insert card provided by a check printer. To conduct an on-line transaction using a check, the customer enters in data obtained from a MICR line of the check, whereby the data includes a one-way hash value that is based on the data provided on the MICR line as well as private data not provided on the MICR line. A web server of an e-tailer for which the customer seeks to make the on-line transaction, receives the data entered by the customer. The web server of the e-tailer transmits, to a check verifier, the data entered by the customer. The check verifier verifies whether or not the check is valid, by comparing the hash code value entered in by the customer with a hash code value that is separately calculated by the check verifier, based on private data of the customer obtained by the check verifier from a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Pyfrm Holdings Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: William D. Meadow, Randall A. Gordie, Jr., Sanjay P. Ahuja
  • Patent number: 8555412
    Abstract: A ballistic vest-like garment using a torso pattern sloper as a base structure frame so that the garment can be adapted to various types of garments and wearers. Vest-like garment can contain unitary and detachable panels of pliable ballistic material capable of stopping bullets from most handguns. This garment is designed to be used as outerwear that can compliment casual, business, or other professional attire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Doo Kalmanson Aquino, Martha Ellen Pearl, Tania Gabbay, Quoc Luyen Pham, Philip Cabrales Kalmanson
  • Patent number: 8555413
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a flexible nose guard is provided for protecting the nose from sunlight, the cold, and other outdoor elements. The nose guard is configured to cover the bridge and sides of a user's nose. In a preferred embodiment, the nose guard has a pentagonal body, resembling an upside-down pentagon with rounded corners. The top portion of the nose guard is substantially flat and sized to conform around the bridge of the nose. The bottom portion of the nose guard is a rounded corner or hyperbolic-shape configured to rest on top of the bridge of the nose. In a preferred embodiment, the nose guard is composed of an outer first layer of spandex having a sun protective factor, an intermediate second layer of open-cell foam, and a third, skin-facing layer of micro-suede material that contacts the skin. The nose guard offers different means of attachment to a user's face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Gregory Beliveau
  • Patent number: 8555414
    Abstract: Garments may include: (a) one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft3/min per ft2; and (b) another garment portion including one or more vented zones, wherein a material forming the vented zones has an air permeability of at least 550 ft3/min per ft2. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment. Methods for forming such garments may include: (a) providing one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft3/min per ft2; (b) providing another garment portion including at least one vented zone, wherein a material forming the vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft3/min per ft2; and (c) forming a garment structure including these garment portions. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Carrie Lynn Davis, LaShurya M. Wise, Jordan J. Wand, Michael Robert Baron, Loren G. Myhre, Ian H. Muir
  • Patent number: 8555415
    Abstract: An article of apparel may include a waistband for extending around a waist of the wearer. The waistband may have a first layer and a second layer that lay adjacent to each other, and the waistband may have a plurality of strand segments located between the first layer and the second layer. The strand segments extend at least partially around the waistband. Additionally, the strand segments may lay substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters. In some configurations, the strand segments may be bonded to the first layer and the second layer along the distances of at least five centimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Ellen Bradstreet, Sebastian Huff, James C. Meschter, Bruce Yin Moore, Ryan Michael Hurley
  • Patent number: 8555416
    Abstract: Gloves for forming a figure are designed to represent a figure such as an animal with one glove forming a first portion of the figure and a second glove forming a second portion of the figure. For example, for a pair of shark gloves, one glove is the top of the shark's mouth with upper teeth and the second glove is the bottom of the shark's mouth with lower teeth. When worn by a user, the user is able to move the two gloves in an open and closed motion so that the shark appears to be opening and biting down. The gloves provide entertainment as well as motivation for the fans and players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: David Sierra
  • Patent number: 8555417
    Abstract: A sleeping cap for lifting the face of a person away from a sleeping surface to prevent facial wrinkles comprises a U-shaped basic form covered with a fabric and having first and second extensions, each of the extensions being flexibly positioned within the fabric adjacent to each leg end of the U-shaped basic form, and the fabric covering the end of first extension is attached to the fabric at the end of the second extension to form the sleeping cap. Straps from each side of the sleeping cap secure the cap on the person's head. An alternate embodiment provides an elastic encased in the sleeping cap not having straps, and including a one piece foam rubber basic form enclosed within two stitched pieces of fabric, a lace ring with a ribbon at the top edge of the lace ring, and the lace ring is tacked to a portion of the basic form, to form a gathered top of the sleeping cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Insook Choi
  • Patent number: 8555418
    Abstract: A combination hat/face covering which comprises a hat for covering the entire head and an attachment for covering parts of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Jagvir Singh, Michael Tizol
  • Patent number: 8555419
    Abstract: A resilient band for use with articles of apparel, the band is formed with a first fabric operably secured to a strip of more resilient material that is preferably a second fabric such as powermesh or the like. The band is formed by stretching the first fabric and resilient material into a stretched position and operably securing the two materials together with a fastening structure. Preferably, the fastening structure is a plurality of spaced-apart stitching line that are parrellely aligned with each other and substantially perpendicularly aligned with the longitudinal length of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nate Demarest, Travis Harvey
  • Patent number: 8555420
    Abstract: A combination sock and shoe includes a shoe sole, an exterior sock that is secured to the shoe sole, an intermediate sock positioned inside the exterior sock, and an interior sock positioned inside the exterior sock and inside the intermediate sock. The intermediate sock is constructed as an anklet having an elastic ankle opening. The exterior and interior socks conceal the intermediate sock from view by sandwiching the intermediate sock between them. When a wearer's foot is inserted into the combination sock and shoe, the elastic ankle opening of the intermediate sock securely engages around the ankle of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the shoe sole, thereby preventing the shoe sole from separating away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Converse Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Paul Duclos
  • Patent number: 8555421
    Abstract: Suspenders having a pair of strap members particularly for wearing under outer garments. At least one side of each of the strap member has loop members thereon which mate with pieces of hook-type material secured adjacent one end of each of the strap members. The pair of strap members are connected together to allow fasteners to the wearer's pants with just two fastener members. Adjustment buckles are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Sal Herman
  • Patent number: 8555422
    Abstract: A male undergarment, including at least one enclosing panel, a cover panel, disposed substantially at the front of the undergarment, and a separation panel disposed interiorly of the cover panel, wherein the cover panel has a portion thereof selectively attachable to a portion of the undergarment, and a portion thereof coupled to the at least one enclosing panel, and the separation panel has an opening defined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Tyrone Steele
  • Patent number: 8555423
    Abstract: Goggles, protective wear, and methods attaching and detaching a goggle are disclosed. In a described example, protective wear includes a goggle and a helmet. The goggle include first and second strap attachments coupled to a strap. The first strap attachment is pivotally connected to a goggle assembly and the second strap attachment has a post. The helmet includes an anchor positioned in an opening in the helmet and is oriented to position an anchor channel to be in line with a recess formed on an exterior of the helmet. The anchor is configured to receive the post and pivotally secure the post therein to attach the goggle to the helmet. The anchor is further configured to release the post responsive to the second strap attachment pulled in a direction substantially parallel with the anchor channel of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Giroux, Hans Lindauer, James A. Chilson
  • Patent number: 8555424
    Abstract: A helmet comprises a shell, a visor, a face seal, a biasing means and two guiding mechanisms. The two guiding mechanisms, each located on a different side of the shell, connect the visor to the shell. Under a bias of the biasing means, the guiding mechanisms are operative to guide the visor along a pre-determined trajectory defined by the geometry of the guiding mechanisms. Each one of the two guiding mechanisms is further provided with a guiding track arrangement which comprises a first track portion and a second track portion. The first slider slidingly engages the first track portion while the second slider slidingly engages the second track portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Danny Higgins
  • Patent number: 8555425
    Abstract: Aquatic goggles may incorporate a pair of eyepieces, a nosebridge extending between the eyepieces, and a headstrap. In some configurations, at least one of the eyepieces includes a lens, a gasket extending around the lens, and an extension member extending outward from the lens. The extension member defines a strap connection point, with a distance along the extension member and between the lens and the strap connection point being at least three centimeters, and the headstrap is secured to the strap connection point. In other configurations, a fairing extends outward from the lens, and a majority of the fairing may be located within an outer area of the lens. In further configurations, the gasket defines an indentation with varying depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Louis Keegan
  • Patent number: 8555426
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and displacing structure for athletic protective equipment, such as an athletic shin-guard, is provided using a flexible web-shaped body to hold a rigid band-shaped member in place. The inner rigid band-shaped member follows the contour of the desired area to protect. The outer flexible web-shaped body is made of a softer rubber like material and works as a locator and supporter keeping the inner, rigid band-shaped member, in proper location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Brian Kamradt
  • Patent number: 8555427
    Abstract: The present invention is an automated seat and/or lid assembly for a toilet. The invention includes switch automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via a switch, and manual-urging automation, wherein movement of a bowl attachment is initiated via manual urging by a user. An automated attachment assembly may be configured to provide both switch and manual-urging automation concomitantly based upon predetermined logic. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of identifying manual movement and of assisting the movement of a bowl attachment. The invention further includes an object sensor incorporated within the seat or lid to detect the presence or absence of an object near the bowl attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Stauber, Erich C. Vierkant, Brian M. Kaule
  • Patent number: 8555428
    Abstract: Plumbing fixtures with a valve actuator for automatically controlling pivoting of a flush valve, and methods of calibrating movement of the flush valve, are disclosed. The motor of the valve actuator may be positioned between the bowl of the fixture and a leg of a trapway to provide compact assembly. A belt drive laterally extending along the trapway links the motor to the flush valve. The method of calibrating includes establishing stop points which are at positions of less resistance than hard stop positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Blake, Joseph L. Stauber
  • Patent number: 8555429
    Abstract: A contoured adjustable baby or pet bathing cushion with a substantially oval shaped outer portion and a depressed central portion, the substantially oval shaped outer portion being provided with adjustable tabs to facilitate adjustment of the length of the cushion to accommodate an infant, a larger baby, or a pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Jamie S. Leach
  • Patent number: 8555430
    Abstract: An in-shower foot scrubber which includes an interchangeable scrubbing module having a scrubbing pad that attaches thereto, a wing that protrudes from each side thereof and a finger that protrudes from the front thereof, the finger includes a depressible spring-loaded button, and a scrubbing platform having a top portion and a base, the top portion includes a sloping region, the region includes an inlet that receives the finger of the module, an aperture receives the depressible spring-loaded button of the module to engage the platform to the module and a track disposed at each side of the region wherein each track defines a channel for slidably engaging each wing of the module to the platform, the base includes a shoulder that juts out horizontally therefrom to resist movement from the platform during a scrubbing session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Edgar L. Nicas
  • Patent number: 8555431
    Abstract: A linear actuator device for pieces of furniture, e.g. beds, is described which include an adjustable section (2, 3) pivotally embedded in a frame (1). The section (2, 3) is raised and lowered by at least one rod (23, 24) mounted on a pivot shaft (4, 6). The actuator comprises a housing (8) with a bushing (10) receiving the pivot shaft (4, 6), and a spindle (14) driven by a low-voltage DC motor (11). The spindle (14) carries a spindle nut (12) fixed against rotation which in one direction of motion operates an arm (5, 7) mounted on the pivot shaft (4, 6) for adjusting the section within the piece of furniture. By designing the arm (5, 7) such that, when it engages the spindle nut (12), it will rest against an area (17) of the nut's end which faces farthest away from the shaft, an expedient moment curve for pivoting the section is obtained, as a large moment occurs at the beginning and the end of the section's movement just when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Jens Jørgen Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8555432
    Abstract: A lift strap device and method of use for a human patient. The device and method are configured for single-use applications with disposable materials. The device comprises: a main support member consisting of a Velcro® (or the like) compatible fabric and adapted for positioning above a person's knee or below the person's knee; one or more Velcro® (or the like) surfaces secured to the bottom of the main support member; nylon webbing (or the like) secured to the bottom of the main support member; and one or more eye member(s) secured to the top of the main support member and the nylon webbing (or the like), wherein the eye member(s) has a plurality of eyelets enabling device attachment at a plurality of patient leg lift settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Manuel Sierra Lavin
  • Patent number: 8555433
    Abstract: A device for the assisted loading of a stretcher (2) provided with a chassis (3), comprises at least one driving wheel (4) circumferentially connected to a driving member (5) fed by connectivity member (6) and controlled by controller (7) to activate the at least one driving wheel (4) at least during the loading of the stretcher into the ambulance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrico Carletti, Alessandro Lapini
  • Patent number: 8555434
    Abstract: A child retaining structure includes a wall assembly defining a child receiving area, a platform disposed within the child receiving area, and a support member connected to the wall assembly and supporting the platform. The support member and the platform are reconfigurable between a raised position so that the child retaining structure functions as a bassinet, and a lowered position so that the child retaining structure functions as a playpen, or alternatively, as a playhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda J. Chapman, Timothy J. Trapp
  • Patent number: 8555435
    Abstract: A box spring (9) having a rigid perimeter wall (16) to provide a firm foundation to support an edge of a mattress (1) where individuals normally sit. A layer of coil springs (20) rests on a center portion (2) of the box spring and extends above the rigid perimeter wall to provide active support to a center portion of the mattress where individuals normally lie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Pranasleep, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Schiller, Lucien Sammartano
  • Patent number: 8555436
    Abstract: A horizontally expandable bed rail having a guard rail frame that confronts a first side of a bed to prevent a child from falling out of the bed. The guard rail frame includes a pair of vertical support members interconnected by upper, lower and intermediate horizontal support members that slide horizontally in and out such that the vertical support members have an extended position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a first distance and a drawn in position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Porter R. Million
  • Patent number: 8555437
    Abstract: A massage and chiropractic table having a supporting frame and a surface supported on the frame, and having one or more comfort features, including a recess formed in the surface of the table for accommodating a person's anatomical configuration, such as a woman's breasts, a removable recess insert that may be removed and replaced to expose the recess as desired, a neck recess for facilitating supporting a user's neck in a comfortable position, and a head rest that is configured to reduce or eliminate pressure on a user's face when the user is lying face down on the table. The massage table may be foldable and may have a handle so that it may be readily stored and transported, or, according to other embodiments may be stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Marvin Gorovitz
  • Patent number: 8555438
    Abstract: An articulable occupant support system for supporting an occupant, includes an upper frame, an articulable assembly comprising at least one section articulable relative to the upper frame and a motion control system. The motion control system is arranged to govern motion of the articulable assembly based on a relationship relating scheduled motion of the sections to anthropometric information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc,.
    Inventors: Jonathan D Turner, Richard H Heimbrock, Joseph A Ernst
  • Patent number: 8555439
    Abstract: A padded head support for use during surgery includes a head wrap and a chin wrap. The head wrap includes a headrest pad adapted to cover the back of a patient's head and a forehead band having a first portion and a second portion extending from the headrest pad to form a first closed loop around a patient's head. The chin wrap includes a chin pad adapted to cover the bottom of a patient's chin and a chin band having a first portion and a second portion extending from the chin pad to form a second closed loop around a patient's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Allen Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Orlando Soto, Dustin T. Libby, Thomas K. Skripps
  • Patent number: 8555440
    Abstract: An air mattress has a top chamber and a bottom chamber separated by a barrier. The patient rests on the top surface of the top chamber, which has a plurality of apertures discharging air through apertures that are not blocked by the patient. The top chamber is provided with temperature-controlled heated or cooled air at a regulated pressure. Heated or cooled air from the top chamber is delivered to an area substantially surrounding the patient. The bottom chamber has a bottom surface containing a plurality of apertures that remain closed due to the weight of the mattress and the patient when the pressure-regulated air is beneath a pre-selected value. When the air pressure is increased, the apertures at the bottom surface of the bottom chamber emit air, creating an air cushion underneath the air mattress that facilitates lateral movement of the mattress over a flat or irregular surface, such as from a hospital bed to a stretcher, or from a stretcher to an operating table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Randall J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8555441
    Abstract: A cellular structure includes a base, a plurality of hollow cells coupled to the base, a sealing layer, and a pressurization system. The base includes at least a first layer and a second layer. The cells each extend outwardly from the base, and are grouped together in at least a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone. The cells in each of the first, second, and third zones are only coupled in flow communication with the cells in that respective zone. The pressurization system is coupled to the first, second, and third zones for selectively and independently pressurizing each of the zones. The pressurization zone is configured such that in a first mode of operation, the first zone is pressurized and the second and third zones are depressurized, and in a second mode of operation, the first zone is depressurized while the second and third zones are pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Star Cushion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Gerard Fraser
  • Patent number: 8555442
    Abstract: The invention provides a special launching carrier with variable position platform and a method for bridge erection using the same. The special launching carrier with variable position platform comprises a special carrier for erection bridge beam and an under-bridge machine with platform. The special carrier for erecting beam comprises a main beam, a front wheel group, a rear wheel group and a lifting device; the under-bridge machine with platform comprises a under-bridge, a rotatable rear leg, a front roller, a middle roller, a rear roller and an erecting trolley arranged on the under-bridge, and the variable position platforms are installed on both sides of tail portion of the under-bridge. When erecting bridge beam, the front wheel group moves onto the variable position platforms, which may be elevated and folded in terms of conditions of the first and last spans of different bridges, so that the bridge erection is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing Wowjoint Machinery Co.
    Inventors: Yabin Liu, Shengjun Zhang, Da Pan, Fude Zhang
  • Patent number: 8555443
    Abstract: A vehicle ramp system has multiple configurations. The simplest embodiment provides a ramp which can move between a retracted configuration and an extended “step in” configuration in which an outboard end of the ramp is closer to the ground than in the retracted configuration, so that the outboard end of the ramp functions as a lowered step. A preferred embodiment provides a fully retracted configuration, a partially extended “step in” configuration, a partially extended “curb ramp” configuration in which the outboard end of the ramp can engage a curb or sidewalk, and a fully extended configuration in which the outboard end of the ramp can engage a road surface of the road on which the vehicle carrying the ramp is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: MMC Bus Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally Couto, John Goddard
  • Patent number: 8555444
    Abstract: A joint equipment of a boarding bridge is provided, which is suitable for joining with a downwardly turned boarding gate of the aircraft and includes a floor frame having a concave notch at its front end; a first floor arranged at the opening of the concave notch; a sliding plate arranged under the first floor and slidable with respect to the first floor through a slide device arranged under the sliding plate; a joining plate rotatably connected in the front end of the sliding plate; a pair of front cover plates rotatably connected to the joining plate respectively; a pair of rear cover plates rotatably connected to the first floor, wherein the front cover plates are partly lapped over the rear cover plates respectively; an activating device for operating sliding movement of the sliding plate; and a pair of turning mechanisms for turning the pairs of the front and the rear cover plates respectively with respect to the joining plate and the first floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Cimc-Tianda Airport Support Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Shi, Yuefeng Yang, Zhaohong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8555445
    Abstract: A swimming pool bottom hydraulic pushed automatic cleaner includes an underwater cleaner and a control power supply connected by a buoyancy cable. The underwater cleaner includes a housing cover, housing body, filter, double extension shaft motor assembly, hydraulic driven jaw-type clutch impeller combination, water inlet/outlet flow passage, wheel and bracket, an isolated hood and a cable with floaters. Along with the changing of the rotating direction of the motor, the impeller combination is engaged and disengaged under the action of hydraulic power to change the working state of the impeller, thereby changing water outlet of injection water flow and further changing the travel direction of the cleaner. The housing touches a wall to cause the cleaner to adjust the direction after touching the wall. Furthermore, two or more axial-flow pumps are arranged horizontally and parallelly, so that the cleaner has turning function and orderly complete coverage cleaning is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Guilan Fu, Qian Yu, Jian Liu, Bichang Wang, Xinru Gong, Xianozhou Lv, Zhi Yi Zou
  • Patent number: 8555446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brush assembly suitable for use in a wet floor cleaning device. The brush assembly comprises a brush that includes a hollow core. An inner surface of the core is compartmentalized into a number of compartments. An outer surface of the core is furnished with brush material, and the core is pierced with a number of outflow openings. The brush assembly further comprises a first fluid injector for injecting a fluid into the core, and a drive mechanism configured for rotating the brush around an axis. Also disclosed is a method for operating the brush assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Freddy Moes, Bastiaan Johannes De Wit, Peter Christian Eshuis
  • Patent number: 8555447
    Abstract: A brush assembly using a spacer and the spacer permit multiple brushes to be combined on a driveshaft that is driven in rotation. The use of multiple brushes allows one to vary the characteristics of the brush assembly along the assembly's length. This also permits one to change fewer than all brushes when needed, thereby saving the cost of replacing an entire brush assembly's brushes when worn. The spacer is a body with a central opening that is preferably polygonal in section, opposing ends that form shoulders and a radially extending gasket located intermediate the opposing ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Vanmark Equipment, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Mathues, Chris Hudson
  • Patent number: 8555448
    Abstract: This relates generally to devices used in the removal of excess spray-applied insulation from building components, and more particularly to an improved roller for rotary scrubbers used in the removal of such excess insulation. A rotary scrubber generally comprises a hand-held device having a roller assembly rotatably associated with a forward end of an arm or a pair of arms of the device. The roller assembly, comprised of one or more rollers and adapted for driven, rotatable association with the scrubber, is driven to rotate by a motor and one or more associated drive belts located on the device. The improved roller comprises a cylindrical body having an at least an outer surface defining a plurality of longitudinal ribs, with each rib defining at least one longitudinal edge to enhance the removal of excess spray-applied insulation. The ribs may be machined or cut into the outer surface of each roller, or the ribs may be formed by a molding or extrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: Thomas J. Fellinger
  • Patent number: 8555449
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor cleaning apparatus includes a roller arrangement for carrying rolls of soiled and unsoiled cleaning media thereon. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes an actuation arrangement operable to simultaneously unwind unsoiled cleaning media and wind soiled cleaning media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Fernando Garcia
  • Patent number: 8555450
    Abstract: A residential wood floor cleaning machine provides an easily attachable and removable cleaning cloth to a rotating orbiting head mounted in a lightweight structure for use in cleaning wood floors in residences. The cleaning machine includes LED's for illuminating an area of the wood floor adjacent to the head. A mechanical spray pump with a removable reservoir controllably sprays a controlled amount of cleaning solution on the illuminated area. An electrical control requires that the light is on whenever the power is on. A mechanical sprayer operating means is mounted within a tubular structure which supports the sprayer. The tubular structure is preferably interconnected with a pivoting handle with a truss like structure which reduces the overall weight of the machine. The handle bracket is provided with a stop to prevent pivoting by more than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Christine A. Sabol, Eugene C. Bowman
  • Patent number: 8555451
    Abstract: An optical connector cleaning device which cleans a connecting terminal surface of a to-be-cleaned object protruding from an optical connector with a cleaning body, and includes: a main body; an extending part which extends from the main body; and a guiding part attached to a tip portion of the extending part, wherein the extending part includes an extending tube body and a tip extending part; the guiding part includes a fitting part and a tube-shaped guiding body, which is flexible and extends from the fitting part towards an extending direction; an insertion hole is formed; and the to-be-cleaned object is cleaned by inserting the to-be-cleaned object into the insertion hole, and by pressing the cleaning body against the connecting terminal surface of the to-be-cleaned object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Nakane, Kunihiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8555452
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight. Various tools may be made, at least in part, using a material including magnesium to reduce the weight of the tool. For example, a trowel includes a tang, support member or attachment member that may be made, at least in part, of a magnesium material so as to create a more light weight trowel. The tang, support member or attachment member connects the trowel handle to the trowel blade. The trowel blade may be made of a steel material or a high carbon steel material for high durability. The trowel may be, for example, a concrete trowel including a cross-ground trowel, a flat back end finishing trowel, or a round/round finishing trowel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Exceptional IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Scott A. Murray
  • Patent number: 8555453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removing residue in a furnace chamber of a furnace, in particular a sintering furnace, comprising a scraper frame which is designed in such a way that it can be inserted into the furnace chamber and moved in the latter, and also at least one scraper element, which is arranged on the scraper frame in such a way that, by means of the scraper element, the residue can be removed at least on side walls and/or a ceiling of the furnace chamber when the scraper frame is moved. With said device, it should be possible to remove deposits in the furnace chamber in a simple and efficient manner without substantially impairing the progress of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Industriekeramik Rodental GmbH
    Inventor: Erhard Winkler
  • Patent number: 8555454
    Abstract: A windshield wiper having a unitary structure including: a blade with a spine; at least one drain including a plurality of inlets, integrated with the blade such that the at least one drain is aligned with a flow path of precipitation guided up the blade sidewall. A coupler for connects the at least one drain via tubing to a pump. A system incorporating the windshield wiper and vehicles having the system installed are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Wiper Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Jacobowitz
  • Patent number: 8555455
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device includes 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 to be wiped. the wiper blade includes at least one groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed. The windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises an internal reinforcement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 8555456
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Trico Products Corporation
    Inventor: Dan Ehde
  • Patent number: 8555457
    Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly for a car includes a wiper unit connected with a support arm. The wiper unit includes a blade having a mounting seat, a wiper connected with the blade, a movable bracket movably mounted in the mounting seat, at least one support pin secured on the mounting seat and extended through the movable bracket, and at least one pair of elastic members each biased between the mounting seat and the movable bracket. The movable bracket is biased between the elastic members. Thus, the movable bracket is moved relative to and deflected from the mounting seat when the wiper unit is driven by the support arm to reduce the frictional resistance. In addition, the elastic members provide a shock-absorbing function between the mounting seat and the movable bracket to eliminate vibration produced during movement of the wiper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Faidek Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Yi Kuo
  • Patent number: 8555458
    Abstract: A cleaning sponge roller 1 is made of a polyvinyl acetal porous material having elasticity in a wet state, and includes a roller body 3 in an approximate cylinder form, and a plurality of protrusions 5 formed integrally on an outer peripheral surface 3a of the roller body 3, and rotates the multiple protrusions 5 to make contact with a surface to be cleaned so as to clean the surface. Outer surfaces of the protrusions 5 respectively have a top outer surface 5a (interior exposed surface) making contact with the surface to be cleaned while cleaning in a state where internal structures of the protrusions 5 are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Aion Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tadashi Kawaguchi, Hidehiko Tsukada, Takashi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8555459
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for collecting swept waste material are described herein. The apparatus includes a dustpan having a base and a wall, a handle, and a plurality of protrusions. The base is configured to be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned and includes a front lip over which debris can be swept. The wall extends upwardly from at least a portion of the base other than the front lip and is configured to contain debris in the dustpan. The handle is coupled to a top edge of the wall opposite the front lip and extends away from the wall and downwardly from the top edge so that an end of the handle is disposed approximately even with the base. The plurality of protrusions extend inwardly from the wall and are configured to remove debris from bristles of a broom when the broom is swept across the plurality of protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Quirky Incorporated
    Inventors: Bill Ward, Jordan Dialto, Kate Vallon, Gareth Brown, Nikki Kaufman