Patents Issued in October 15, 2013
  • Patent number: 8555510
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically driven razor and an associated charging station, wherein at least one drivable cutting or shearing part is supported on a shearing head disposed on the razor housing and wherein at least one active thermocouple that can be electrically actuated is thermally coupled to a passive cooling element on the side that can be cooled relative to the ambient temperature. The passive cooing element in this arrangement is disposed having at least one free end section on or in the region of the shearing head, such that it contacts the skin of a user in shaving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Fuerst, Martin Fuellgrabe, Oliver Von Sartori-Montecroce, Jan Langsdorf, Uwe Schaaf
  • Patent number: 8555511
    Abstract: A lubricated hair clipper drive system includes a clipper frame with a pair of opposed arms separated by a drive space, a drive shaft reciprocating laterally between the arms at high speed, a drive member receiving motive power from a power source and secured to the shaft for common reciprocation within the drive space, and a lubricant reservoir and applicator disposed on the shaft between the drive member and a corresponding one of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: WAHL Clipper Corporation
    Inventor: Russell L. Moseman
  • Patent number: 8555512
    Abstract: Each of handles of a pair of scissors includes a hard core member and a soft member softer than the core member and including a contact face portion with which a finger of a user comes in contact, a bottomed recessed hole portion adjacent to the contact face portion and thinner than portions around it, and a through hole portion continuous with the bottomed recessed hole portion. When the user inserts and removes his/her fingers into and from finger rings, the contact face portions escape while compressing the through hole portions and the contact face portions tilt by using the bottomed recessed hole portions as fulcrums. Moreover, the bottomed recessed hole portions and the through hole portions continuous with each other are molded, which allows an elastic deformation property and a shape retaining property of the contact face portions to go together and also contributes to durability of the soft members including the contact face portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Hanakawa
  • Patent number: 8555513
    Abstract: A hand held rotary cutting device having an annular cutting blade with an interior diameter entirely protectively enclosed by a housing, and with a sharpened periphery partially protectively enclosed by the housing, wherein the housing has similarly configured front and rear components that are movable between an open position that permits removal of the cutting blade for cleaning, and a closed position wherein the front and rear components cooperate to rotatably support the cutting blade, and to define an elongate handle that overlies a housed portion of the cutting blade. Cutting pressure, stability and unusually effective guidance are supplied to the cutting blade by novel C-shaped lower portions of the front and rear components of the housing that extend continuously along opposite sides of the cutting blade just above and quite near to where selected portions of a long, exposed C-shaped reach of the sharpened periphery of the cutting blade is available to sever thin food such as pizza.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Trident Design, LLC
    Inventors: Jessica A. Moreland, Christopher L. Hawker
  • Patent number: 8555514
    Abstract: A collapsible multiblade throwing weapon incorporates a first blade having a shank from which a blade portion extends with a butt portion extending from the shank opposite the blade portion. The shank incorporates an aperture for a first axle and an eyelet extending from the butt portion for a second axle. Second and third blades each have an aperture which receives the first axle for rotation of the blade on the axle and each blade has a closed position engagement cutout and an open position engagement cutout. First and second pawls, associated with the second and third blades respectively, each have an eyelet receiving the second axle. The pawls rotate about the second axle for resiliently engaging the closed position engagement cutout with the associated blade in a closed position and the open position engagement cutout with the associated blade in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Harvey Jensen
  • Patent number: 8555515
    Abstract: An affixing pin for penetrating a dry wall includes a pusher handle and a penetrating pin. The penetrating pin has a sharp penetrating end portion, a tail end portion connected with the pusher handle, and an elongated pin body integrally extend portioned between the penetrating end portion and the tail end portion, wherein the penetrating pin has a non-circular cross section defining at least one penetrating corner having a predetermined inclination angle between two corresponding outer surfaces of the penetrating pin; such that when the penetrating pin is rotatably pressed towards the dry wall by the pusher handle, the sharp penetrating end portion is arranged to rotatably penetrate the dry wall, in which the penetrating corner substantially assists optimally breaking the dry wall so as to maintain an optimal performance of the affixing pin in penetrating the dry wall while maintaining secure engagement between the penetrating pin and the dry wall after penetration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Chin-Hsiung Lien
  • Patent number: 8555516
    Abstract: A saw blade clamping arrangement for a power can include a clamp support base that is operatively coupled for movement with a drive shaft and has a first and a second, saw blade slots. First and second locking members can be operatively associated with the clamp support base and be movable between a locked position that selectively locks the blade in one of the corresponding first and second slots, and an unlocked position that releases the blade. A release member can rotate to cause the first cam surface to urge the first locking member at least partially into the first slot and the second cam surface to concurrently urge the second locking member at least partially into the second slot. In another configuration, the release member can alternatively urge the first or second locking member into the respective slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Da Graca
  • Patent number: 8555517
    Abstract: A hand saw that includes a frame, a lever, and a rod movable in a first direction to increase a distance between a first blade support and a second blade support and the rod is movable in a second direction to decrease the distance between the first blade support and the second blade support. The rod is coupled to the lever and the frame such that the rod is movable in the first direction and with the lever when the lever moves from a release position toward a tension position in order to tension the blade. The rod is coupled to the lever and the frame such that the rod is movable with respect to the frame in the first direction and the second direction and movable in the first direction and the second direction independent of the lever when the lever is in the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Scott, Michael S. Steele, Troy C. Thorson
  • Patent number: 8555518
    Abstract: A method of forming a grout trough for a wind turbine foundation replaces the heavy and single piece template with a plurality of arc-shaped sections which are light weight and connected together to form the grout trough. The individual sections include mechanisms which enable the sections to be removed from the cured concrete by rotation of nuts on the anchor bolts which either pushes or pulls the template section away from the contact with the cured concrete. An embodiment of an individual section has a lifting bale which may be used to pick up an entire bolt package of up to twenty bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Norman Tooman
  • Patent number: 8555519
    Abstract: Apparatus for treatment of multiple articles located in separate chambers (38) for treatment with an ambient or heated, and/or treated air flow stream (44); and processes for drying multiple articles located in the separate chambers (38) using an ambient or heated, and/or treated air flow stream (44). The chambers (38) are within a container or form a container (36), and the chambers (38) are connected in a manner that defines a virtual air flow stream tube having a length in excess of any single nominal length dimension or of any nominal internal width dimension or of any nominal internal height dimension of the container so that any to-be-treated items supported within any chamber is treated with air flow stream (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Martin Allen McFarland
  • Patent number: 8555520
    Abstract: A covered sample plate with wells holding samples to be dried. The cover has through holes that communicate with only a portion of each well. The covered plate is inserted into a cradle of an assembly of cradles that is rotated. The cradle assembly fits into a tub and when rotated the cradles present a sold wall that functions as a centrifugal fan that drives air out through an opening in the tub. The air is dried of solvent and re-circulated back through the through holes in the cover to the sample wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Harvard Bioscience, Inc.
    Inventor: Herbert J. Hedberg
  • Patent number: 8555521
    Abstract: An improved method for the treatment of wood in preparation for manufacture of wooden items comprising the steps of first heat treating the wood and then fashioning the wood into a finished item, whereby the resulting wooden item is darker, harder, more weather and rot resistant, and more stable than items fashioned from untreated wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hot-Woods, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Bies, Raymond R. Emery, Donald Martin Perkins
  • Patent number: 8555522
    Abstract: A method for operating a laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes dryer, having a treating chamber, an air system for supplying and exiting air from the treating chamber, a heating element for heating the air to the treating chamber, and a controller determining an inlet temperature used as a control input for a cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, James P. Carow, Michele A. Paustian, David M. Williams
  • Patent number: 8555523
    Abstract: A method carried out without sealing elements inside fixed parts in the front area of a condensation dryer. A process air channel arranged in a shield is made of a plastic material and is provided with a vertical dividing surface which is placed at the level of a heat exchanger reception area in front of a base module. Said base module and the shield are assembled without additional sealing means. The tightness of the process air guide along the passage from the shield to a condenser is obtainable by supporting surfaces devoid of welds and hitches on the edges of the heat exchanger insertion opening, sealing elements placed on the circumference of a heat exchanger are pressed to each other when the dryer is prepared to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
  • Patent number: 8555524
    Abstract: A footwear article that is a flat sheet of material that can be rolled up and which is configured to be coupled to a wear's ankle and at least one of the wearer's toes. The sheet of material includes a through-hole at one end that is configured to receive a wearer's ankle and at least toe strap at an opposite end configured to receive a wearer's toe(s). According to one embodiment the at least one toe strap is defined by and between a pair of slits formed in the sheet of material. When worn the through-hole surrounds a wearer's ankle and the web or toe strap(s) extends over one of more toes of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: George Hammerbeck, Paul J. VanRisseghem, Daniel R. Blondeau
  • Patent number: 8555525
    Abstract: A footwear article includes an upper assembly attached to a sole. The upper assembly includes an enclosure defining a foot receiving void and a flex feature disposed on a medial portion of the upper assembly. The flex feature connects a medial forefoot portion of the enclosure to a medial heel portion of the enclosure, thus allowing the medial forefoot and medial heel portions of the enclosure to move relative to each other. The sole assembly includes a midsole disposed on an outsole. The midsole defines voids of different depths. The voids are arranged to provide relatively greater cushioning and bendability within at least one of a metatarsus portion and a calcaneus portion of the midsole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Saucony IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 8555526
    Abstract: An improved resilient shoe sole includes an outsole having a substantially inelastic side wall with a heel cavity. A substantially inelastic platform is located below the heel cavity, and a connector connects the platform with the side wall. The connector has a particular length and thickness to maintain the platform substantially below the sidewall when the shoe sole is not under a wearer's weight. When brought under forces of a wearer's weight, the connector bends and stretches as the spring compresses to allow the platform to deflect into the heel cavity. As weight is removed, the connector and spring cause the platform to deflect out of the heel cavity, biasing the platform below the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Alexander Elnekaveh
  • Patent number: 8555527
    Abstract: Graphical element laminate for use in forming a skate boot including: a base layer having inner and outer sides; a first thermoplastic layer laminated on the base layer outer side, the first thermoplastic layer having inner and outer sides; a graphical element printed on the inner side of the first thermoplastic layer, at least a portion of the first thermoplastic layer overlying the graphical element being transparent or translucent such that when the laminate forms part of the skate boot, the graphical element is visible through the first thermoplastic layer from an exterior of the skate boot. Optionally, the base layer includes a design element also visible from the exterior of the skate boot. Optionally, a second thermoplastic layer is interposed between the first thermoplastic layer and the base layer. In such cases, the graphical element may be, or may also be, printed on the second thermoplastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sport Maska Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Koyess, David Dekoos
  • Patent number: 8555528
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an outsole with a circular tread pattern. The circular tread pattern provides sufficient traction in all directions but also allows the wearer to pivot about a pivot portion. The circular tread pattern is generally large, and in some cases, the first and smallest circular tread extends less than 360 degrees. The pivot portion can include a slot that aids in flexibility. The outsole can also include a different tread pattern for the heel portion, or the circular tread pattern may also extend into the heel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 8555529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe having a sole element. The sole element includes a sole area extending below a wearer's foot and a heel cup three-dimensionally encompassing a heel of the wearer's foot. The heel cup alone forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.
    Inventors: Bruno Jean Antonelli, Wolfgang Scholz, JĂĽrgen Weidl, Josh Robert Gordon, Jan Hill, Gerd Rainer Manz
  • Patent number: 8555530
    Abstract: An apparatus for padding a pipeline lying in a ditch separates fine particles from coarse particles in the material excavated from the ditch and windrowed along the side of the ditch. The apparatus includes a frame having an open ended hollow separating drum having a plurality of scoop members adapted to lift and drop excavated material through a screen located beneath the scoop members. The scoop members are spaced above the screen a distance such that the efficiency of the separating drum is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cronk, Jr., Billy W. Cronk
  • Patent number: 8555531
    Abstract: A system for optimizing the dredging of an area by a vessel (25) equipped with a cutter head (4), including an apparatus to measure local seismic velocity in front of the vessel (25), said apparatus including a set of seismic receivers (11, 11?, 11?, 11??) supported by a frame (10) configured for attachment to and projection from the bow end of the vessel, which frame aligns the seismic receivers (11, 11?, 11?, 11??) above and in front of the cutter head (4). A method for optimizing dredging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dredging International N.V.
    Inventors: Luk Verstraelen, Lucien Halleux, Stefaan Vandycke
  • Patent number: 8555532
    Abstract: Detachable fastening system between a male piece (2) and a female piece (1), pin (3) and female piece (1), specifically for use in machines for moving earth and stones. It is formed by a tooth (2) with a transverse aperture, a tooth holder (2) with another transverse aperture, a pin with an intermediate nipple, and an elastic tensor (4) located in a complementary cavity of the tooth holder (2). The penetration and subsequent rotation of the pin (3) immobilizes it axially, as it is held in said angular position by the action of the tensor (4). In addition, the pin (3) has at one end a projection that interacts with a groove ramped helicoidally and fitted in the aperture of the tooth in order to absorb the axial forces, by unloading the tensor (4) thereof, and also in order to limit the angular distance travelled by the pin between the blocking and unblocking positions, and in order to facilitate possible extraction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Metalogenia, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Lopez Almendros, Francisco Perez Soria, Angel Martinez
  • Patent number: 8555533
    Abstract: A steam brush of the present invention, it relates to a household appliance equipped with an electric heater. The steam brush of the present invention, the inside of its housing is disposed with a water tank, a water pump and an electric heating plate, a switch disposed on said housing is respectively connected to the external power line and the electric heating plate; wherein said housing is cylinder-shaped, a steam outlet surface is disposed on the top surface of said housing; a base seat detachably supports said housing. The steam outlet surface of the steam brush can be far away from the desktop, so it is relatively safe. Said steam brush can expand its functions, which can be applied as indoor humidifier, electric iron or cosmetic tool for facial steaming, it is multi-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chien Lin, Chih-hwa Lee, Chien-Chih Pan
  • Patent number: 8555534
    Abstract: Ironing board systems comprising an ironing board having an elongate surface for ironing wherein at an end of its perimeter, said surface for ironing has three adjacent equally spaced arc. The ironing board system includes said ironing board and a wing shaped attachment with an edge having an arc complementary to the arcs of the ironing board. The wing shaped attachment is adapted to detachably couple to said ironing board at any of the three adjacent arcs to extend the ironing surface. The ironing board may comprise a rotatable iron rest, and a braking mechanism for restraining the ironing board in open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Darius Rezza Toutounchian
  • Patent number: 8555535
    Abstract: A traffic sign holder includes a first side for night use and an opposite second side for day use. Both sides of the traffic sign holder removably accept traffic signs which contain traffic control instructions. The first side contains a selectively energizable light and at least one reflector. The second side also includes at least one reflector, and is colored a bright color. Two base members are pivotally connected to the bottom of the traffic sign holder, and are selectively positionable to a locked extended position for placement on the surface of a road, and to a collapsed position for storage. Weights can be selectively connected to the traffic sign holder to provide stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Ted J. Watson
  • Patent number: 8555536
    Abstract: An art frame includes a three-dimensional supporting frame, which includes an image receiving surface and an opposed back surface, a center portion defining a perimeter, and at least three foldable extensions extending from the perimeter. Each foldable extension includes two folds to be folded toward the back surface to form a frame portion. Abutting frame portions form respective corners of the three-dimensional supporting frame. A corner mount is to be inserted into the abutting frame portions at the respective corners. Each corner mount includes first and second opposed surfaces, a shaped portion, and two corner mount foldable extensions extending from two sides of the shaped portion. Each corner mount foldable extension includes two tabs to be folded toward the first opposed surface. An adhesive layer is established on the second opposed surface and is to be adhered to the back surface of the three-dimensional supporting frame at the respective corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christine E Steichen, Julio Cesar Alonso, Xulong Fu, Xiaoqi Zhou, David Edmondson, Ronald J Selensky
  • Patent number: 8555537
    Abstract: A breech device (100) for a handgun has an impact base (120) in a central recess (110) in said breech device (100). The impact base (120) is in the form of a front end face of an impact-base member (160) in the central recess. A main functional region (150) is between said impact base (120) and a rear end face (140) of said breech device. At least one percussion member (300) for firing a cartridge and also a surface of a cartridge slide (211) are in the main functional region (150). The surface of the cartridge slide (211) is adapted to abut cartridges mounted in a magazine (100) in a neutral position of the breech device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Walther GmbH
    Inventors: Wulf H. Pflaumer, Franz Wonisch, Stefan Eith
  • Patent number: 8555538
    Abstract: A holster for a firearm magazine is provided. The holster includes a base configured for being secured to a proximally positioned article and a shield carried by the base and defining a void therein for receiving a magazine. The shield has a first position in which the shield encases the magazine and a second position in which the shield does not encase the magazine thereby allowing for ease of access to the magazine for firearm reloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Trenton Huffines
  • Patent number: 8555539
    Abstract: In a trigger system (100) comprising a hammer (110) for firing a cartridge, a striker (120) adapted to accelerate the hammer (110), and a sear (130) for releasably locking the striker (120), which sear (130) can be unlocked by means of a release device (140) capable of being actuated by means of a trigger bar (160) that can be moved by a trigger (150), wherein a front surface (121) of the striker rests against an end face (111) of the hammer for the purpose of accelerating the hammer (110) to initiate firing, protection of the cocked hammer (110) from external mechanical influences is made possible by mounting the hammer (110), the striker (120), the release device (140), and also a main spring (170) adapted to accelerate the striker (120) for rotation about a common principal axis (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Walther GmbH
    Inventors: Wulf Heinz Pflaumer, Franz Wonisch, Stefan Eith, Martin Werner
  • Patent number: 8555540
    Abstract: A firearm safety device for use with a handgun equipped with a blowback mechanism for automatic operation, comprising a barrel end piece adapted for insertion into or around an end of a barrel of the handgun and a substantially non-stretchable cable attached at a first cable end to a first side of the barrel end piece, is disclosed. According to the preferred embodiment, when the cable is wrapped around a rearward portion of the handgun and a second cable end is secured to a second side of the barrel end piece, the cable is placed under tension, and the tension on the cable pulls the handgun's barrel into a safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Woodford Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Marshall Woodford
  • Patent number: 8555541
    Abstract: A removable butt stock with a curved and rounded butt plate for use in the tactical fighting position is disclosed. The removable butt stock has a single orientation two position release lever for ease of adjustment and removable of the butt stock from the buffer tube of the tactical weapon, ribs incorporated into the receiver bore to reduce drag during insertion of the buffer tube, and anti-rattle springs to securely attach the butt stock to the buffer tube. The body of the butt stock has an angled cheek weld to allow the user to comfortably align the eye on the weapon in the tactical firing position. The butt stock also includes two storage tubes with cam caps designed to be easily removable by twisting in a cam motion up the beveled mouth of the storage tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: P & S Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Ingram
  • Patent number: 8555542
    Abstract: A sighting telescope mounting system for a firearm. The firearm and/or the telescope in the desired position are aligned in an axial direction, with a pivot foot attached to the telescope and with a pivot holding device affixed to the firearm. The pivot foot and pivot holding device jointly form a pivot joint, which enables a pivot of the sighting telescope by a pivot angle around a pivot range, on a plane which is formed by the telescope and the axial direction of the firearm. A connection surface is arranged on the pivot holding device and a clamping surface is arranged on the pivot foot and forms a contact area with the connection surface so that the pivot foot is axially affixed. In the desired position, the contact area is arranged at a distance from an edge of the connection surface in a radial alignment and/or towards the telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Gerhard Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8555543
    Abstract: According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus for killing a soft tissue organism in a salt water environment. The apparatus includes an elongate tubular housing, a probe and a conductive element. The elongate tubular housing reaches from outside a salt water environment to at least a portion of a soft tissue organism disposed within the salt water environment. The elongate tubular housing includes a proximal end and a distal end. The probe targets the soft tissue organism, The probe protrudes from the distal end of the housing, wherein the probe is exposed to the salt water environment when the distal end is submerged therein. The conductive element is rigidly supported by the housing between the distal end and the proximal end. The conductive element is exposed to the salt water environment when the housing distal end is submerged therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Paul N. Baldassano
  • Patent number: 8555544
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a visual attenuation composition is provided to be applicable to a landscape to visually attenuate or camouflage the landscape to approximate color characteristics of the surrounding terrain. The visual attenuation composition includes a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof, and optionally an additive selected from the group consisting of a flocculent, a tackifier, a stabilizer, and combinations thereof. The visual attenuation composition can be formulated to impart colorfastness as applied for a period of up to 6 weeks or longer. The visual attenuation composition described herein can be premixed with an erosion control medium or a blended mulch product described herein to impart desirable color and colorfastness. Alternatively, the erosion control medium and the blended mulch product can be applied to a ground surface prior to coloring and or color reinforcement with the visual attenuation composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Profile Products L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Spittle, Marc S. Theisen, Jessie Clark, James D. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8555545
    Abstract: A vegetative roof system includes modules for holding growth media in which plants can grow. The modules can communicate with each other, sharing moisture/nutrients, increasing airflow to enhance plant respiration, allowing soil-borne animals/insects to travel between modules, etc. A rooting channel and/or a scalloped sidewall allow the roots of plants in the module to extend to adjacent modules. Alignment notches in sidewalls facilitate alignment of rooting channels between adjacent modules. Vertical zones help facilitate placement of abutting modules flush with each other. The rooting channels may be formed at the vertical zones to enhance continuity between and among modules. Sheet inserts can control rooting between modules and restrict undesired spillage through rooting channels (temporarily if biodegradable). Module inserts help control the quantity and depth of growth media, affecting module weight and rooting levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt T. Fischer, Thomas M. Hanzely, Kathy M. Baumann, Timothy McFarland, Darran Sellers
  • Patent number: 8555546
    Abstract: A modular planting system for roof applications includes a plurality of green roof planter modules each comprising a planter including a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with the bottom wall to form an interior space, and a biodegradable insert including a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with the bottom wall to form an interior space, wherein the insert is adapted to retain a plant matter in the interior space of the insert, the plurality of sidewalls of the insert extend above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter, and wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the insert are adapted to retain a plant matter that extends above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hortech, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 8555547
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivating unit that can perform a watering operation in a simple manner and can supply water uniformly to plants in locations where a floor surface is sloped, such as the rooftop of a building, without requiring separate water supply piping work. A plant cultivating unit (1) comprises a water storage tray (2) in which water can be stored and in which receivers (3) for housing the roots of plants can be arranged in an interior thereof, a water storage space (8) in the water storage tray (2) and the receivers (3) being communicated via water feeders (7), and the water stored in the water storage space (8) being able to be supplied to the plants via the water feeders (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Masaki Hashimoto, Katsuro Miyagawa, Masayuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8555548
    Abstract: A window operating system for casement and awning windows has two actuators that are connected to be controlled by one crank to operate simultaneously. The system is modular and the crank is preferably part of a crank assembly that is a separate component from the actuators. In a further embodiment, the operating system has at least one actuator with a crank assembly to operate the actuator being located at a different location on a window frame from the actuator. With a modular system, there are numerous variations for location and number of locks and the location of the crank assembly as well as other components. The system still further describes a lock for a window operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Gregory George Carter
  • Patent number: 8555549
    Abstract: A window regulator cable tensioner includes a screw and nut assembly having an irreversible thread lead angle, a first spring to absorb reversible slack in the cable, and a second spring to actuate movement of the screw and nut assembly. The stiffness of the first spring is greater than the stiffness of the second spring. The cable tensioner absorbs the reversible slack in the cable differently from irreversible slack in the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Inteva Products France SAS
    Inventors: Patrice Cardine, Denis Chevy, Christophe Gavaret
  • Patent number: 8555550
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a window regulator includes the step of providing a cable, a window connection on the cable, sheaths for protecting the cable, cable direction-changers, a cable winding drum, a drum support plate, and springs. The method further includes the steps of passing the cable between the direction-changers, inside the springs, inside the sheaths, and around the drum. The method further includes the steps of tensioning a first cable run extending through a first sheath between a first direction-changer and the drum, tensioning the first cable run urging the first sheath against the drum support plate, and compressing a first spring between the first sheath and the support plate. The method further includes the steps of locking the drum against rotation, compressing a second spring between a second sheath and the support plate, and locking the second spring. A window regulator can include the above features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Inteva Products France SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Robalo, Michel Mounie
  • Patent number: 8555551
    Abstract: A door assembly for disposition in a building includes a vertical member, a weather strip adjacent the vertical member, and a door selectively moveable to be adjacent the weather strip. A threshold extends below the door and the vertical member extends upwardly from a lower end and a corner pad is mounted to the lower end. The corner pad includes a base surface abutting the threshold, a first edge surface extending upwardly from the base surface between the vertical member and the weather strip, and a lower reservoir surface extending upwardly from the first edge surface. The lower reservoir surface extends inwardly into the corner pad defining a reservoir between the vertical member and the weather strip. The corner pad includes a second reservoir surface extending angularly from said lower reservoir surface for preventing the water from splashing out of said reservoir and into an interior of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Meeks, Brian S. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 8555552
    Abstract: A vehicle and method of operation having a first door, a second door, an inflatable door seal assembly and an inflator assembly. The first door has a first opening side and a first seal mount extending along the first opening side. The second door has a second opening side adjacent to the first opening side to define a gap and a second seal mount extending along the second opening side. The door seal assembly has a first seal assembly mounted to one of the first or second seal mounts, the first seal assembly inflatable to extend into the gap toward the other of the seal mounts when the first and second door are closed and deflatable to retract from the gap. The inflator assembly pumps a fluid into the seal assembly to inflate the seal assembly and pumps the fluid out to deflate the seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joel S. Hooton
  • Patent number: 8555553
    Abstract: A suicide prevention door kit has a movable upper segment having a top surface and a mechanism. The movable upper segment is supported by the mechanism. The mechanism is configured to transition between a loaded state and a triggered state. The top surface is approximately horizontal in the loaded state and sloped in the triggered state. The suicide prevention door kit further comprises a switch in communication with the mechanism. The switch is configured to cause the mechanism to transition from the loaded state to the triggered state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Mike Block, Kip Cunningham, Lowell Kramer
  • Patent number: 8555554
    Abstract: An example of the disclosed seating system includes a plurality of seating risers configured to telescope relative to one another, and at least one of the seating risers is a powered seating riser configured to deploy and retract the seating risers. Further included is a control pendant. The powered seating riser is drivable in response to said control pendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Stageright Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Koch, Brian Staten
  • Patent number: 8555555
    Abstract: An automatic retractable hatch guard provides enhanced safety and security to hatch openings and comprises retractable assistive handrails and a retractable access step that retracts to fit within a hatch opening and beneath a hatch cover and automatically extends upwards and beyond the hatch opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Cardwell
  • Patent number: 8555556
    Abstract: The reservoir includes a flexible cover laid thereon. A transverse walkway extends along an end thereof. A transverse handrail is mounted along the walkway, along an inside edge of the walkway. A cover-winding gap extends under the handrail and above the walkway. This cover-winding gap extends in a plane of the handrail. The cover-winding gap extends unobstructed under the handrail and above the walkway and along the full width of the reservoir. Because of this cover-winding gap, the flexible cover can be wound up in a spool in one stride across the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Geomembrane Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Brent Howe
  • Patent number: 8555557
    Abstract: A passive indoor/outdoor stadium structure configured to reduce energy demands from the stadium structure includes a moveable roofing system and a micro-climate cooling system. The moveable roofing system covers an interior space of the stadium and has an open position and a closed position. The roofing system includes a fixed half-dome roof and a revolving half dome roof retractable beneath the fixed half dome roof, both the fixed half dome roof and the revolving half dome roof having an outer half dome clad with a plurality of solar hoods positioned in an overlapping arrangement. The micro-climate cooling system for cooling the indoor/outdoor stadium includes a full circulation mode for cooling a stadium volume when the roofing system is in the closed position, and a micro-climate mode for cooling a portion of the stadium volume when the roofing system is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Qatar Football Association
    Inventors: Lee Hosking, Michael Edward Beaven
  • Patent number: 8555558
    Abstract: A telescoping frame system comprising a non-telescoping frame with a longitudinal side, first and second attachment arms; a main arm that is parallel to the longitudinal side of the non-telescoping frame; a first pivot arm with a top surface that acts as a rail for a first roller wheel; a second pivot arm with a top surface that acts as a rail for a second roller wheel; and first and second brace arms that maintain each pivot arm at a ninety-degree angle to the longitudinal side of the non-telescoping frame when the first pivot arm is fully extended. The first and second pivot arms are pivotally attached to the first and second attachment arms, respectively. The first roller wheel is pivotally attached to a first end of the main arm, and the second roller wheel is pivotally attached to a second end of the main arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Eco-Built Homes LLC
    Inventor: Edward J. Trout
  • Patent number: 8555559
    Abstract: Disclosed is a foldable transportable structure with a three dimensional rectangular shed roof shape having improved component and structural properties, and improved shipping and deployment capabilities. The integrated unique geometric folding pattern means provides enhanced folding accuracy and correct placement of interactive panels during collapse or assembly of the structure, and also greatly increases the flexibility for multiple unit combinations and component materials selection. The folding transportable structure provides a strong, safe, insulated weatherproof structure with a quick setup time, and requires NO tools or separate loose components for assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent J. DiGregory