Patents Issued in November 12, 2013
  • Patent number: 8579138
    Abstract: The cocktail glass cover is a cover for beverage glasses. The cover is designed with raised ridges on its underside that permit the cover to rest securely on glasses of various sizes. An opening is formed in the cover to receive a straw therethrough. The opening can be optionally closed with a removable knob. The knob is color-coded to allow a drinker to distinguish one beverage from another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventors: Will C. Jamison, Lynette P. Jamison
  • Patent number: 8579139
    Abstract: This gauge well mixer works off of the differential pressure in a storage tank and gauge well. Slot covers with dividers are installed in the gauge well. The slot covers and dividers are staggered for better mixing. The gauge well has a vertical interior space extending the length of thereof; wherein the slots open into the vertical, interior space. A first horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space below a first slot; and a second horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space above a second slot. The slot covers are installed on slots located between the first slot and the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventor: Steven A. Sablak
  • Patent number: 8579140
    Abstract: A child-resistant dispensing closure for a container may include one or the other or both of a dispensing cover non-removably securable to a container, or an outer cover non-removably securable and rotatable with respect to the inner cover and cooperable with the dispensing cover to render the closure child-resistant. According to another embodiment, an outer cover may include a flange to aid users in pushing and turning the outer cover with their fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Paul Delagrange, Philip D. Bourgeois, Gregory A. Geisinger, Maurice R. Gnepper, Darin M. Pugne
  • Patent number: 8579141
    Abstract: A fitting structure for two members includes a body and a lid member. The body includes an open space portion therein, a closed portion closing the open space portion, a fitting portion provided at the open space portion, and a front face. The lid member includes an elastic claw portion. A window portion is provided on the closed portion. A tip portion of the elastic claw portion is viewed through the window portion in a direction opposite to the fitting direction of the lid member to the body under a condition that the lid member is attached to the body. A fitting confirmation portion is provided at a peripheral edge portion of the window portion and indicates position of the tip portion of the elastic claw portion fitted to the fitting portion at a regular fitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Akihito Tejima, Hiroaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8579142
    Abstract: An assembly of a container and a closure: the container comprising an outer shell having a neck portion defining a first access opening and a flexible inner bag having a neck finish defining second access opening; the closure being fixed to the container, said closure comprising at least two access ports positioned in front of said access openings and; the assembly comprising sealing means positioned between the closure and the container, characterized in that said sealing means comprise at least two distinct sealing members, one positioned between the closure and the neck portion, the other positioned between the closure and the neck finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A.
    Inventors: Sarah Vanhove, Daniel Peirsman, Vanessa Valles
  • Patent number: 8579143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reserve tank comprising a tank main body that has a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inflow port that allows coolant to flow into the tank main body, and an outflow port that allows the coolant to flow out of the tank main body, the plurality of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber partitioned by the partition walls, and a third chamber that accumulates the coolant that should flow from the inflow port into the first chamber, the first chamber having a first communicating portion formed to allow the coolant to flow into the second chamber, the third chamber having a second communicating portion formed to allow the accumulated coolant to flow into the first chamber, the flow rate of the coolant passing through the second communicating portion being set smaller than the flow rate of the coolant passing through the first communicating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Koshino
  • Patent number: 8579144
    Abstract: During installation and before a floor or foundation slab is put in place, a sewage ejector basin is set below grade and a basin extension of the present invention set in place around the basin. The basin extension of the present invention is rectangular in shape and comprises four basin extension sidewalls in communicable relation to each other at right angles; an opening within a top of the basin extension to allow access to the basin; and an opening within a bottom of the basin extension to accommodate a basin. An inlet pipe is routed underground and into the basin. A discharge pipe and a vent pipe are routed out of the basin and through a basin lid, oriented horizontally in relation to the floor, passed through a basin extension sidewall of the basin extension of the present invention, routed under the floor and toward a wall of a mechanical room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Kirk J Cheney
  • Patent number: 8579145
    Abstract: There is provided an infant feeding bowl comprising a bowl container defining an inner bowl surface, an outer bowl surface and a bowl rim; and projecting away from said bowl rim, a bowl handle defining an arc form handle rim. The bowl handle includes a lamellar portion that extends from said handle rim to the bowl rim and provided to the lamellar portion, a thumbhole arranged for receipt of the user's thumb in use. The thumbhole is arranged symmetrically about a chord axis extending from the arc form handle rim to the bowl rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Max Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Morris Gold, Daniel Jason Tyler
  • Patent number: 8579146
    Abstract: A gas storage apparatus comprises a pressure vessel in the form of a cylinder, closed by a valve, containing a non-permanent gas having under its storage conditions a gas phase and a liquid phase. A jacket formed of plastics sachets surrounds and is in heat transfer relationship with the outer surface of the cylinder. The sachets define closed compartments containing a heat release substance which is liquid at 20° C. On opening the valve, the non-permanent gas is delivered from the cylinder. The liquid phase of the non-permanent gas absorbs heat from the heat release substance which undergoes fusion. The heat release substance may be water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andrew Richard Thomas Tatarek
  • Patent number: 8579147
    Abstract: A collapsible plastic storage and transport container has four sidewalls configured to be collapsible inwardly towards a bottom part. Two opposing first sidewalls have recesses and upper corner regions with a spring clip. The spring clip is fixedly connected to a first sidewall and has a free end with a locking projection. The other two opposing second sidewalls have detents disposed on edges of the two second sidewalls. The free end of the spring clip is moveable in a plane of the first sidewall against a spring force of the spring clip, and the locking projection engages behind a corresponding detent to lock the first sidewalls with the second sidewalls. The upper corner regions of the first sidewalls are double-walled, with a closed outer surface and an inner surface with a grip hole. Each spring element can only be actuated from inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Georg Utz Holding AG
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Dubois, Yves Hug
  • Patent number: 8579148
    Abstract: A reusable straw includes a first part having a hollow elongated body that has a first end and an opposing second end and a second part having a hollow elongated body that has a first end and an opposing second end. The second part has a width that allows the first part to be received within a hollow interior of the first part. A first coupling member is formed along an inner surface of the first part proximate the first end; and a second coupling member is formed along an outer surface of the second part at the first end thereof. The first and second coupling members mate together to securely and sealingly couple the second part to the first part. The first coupling member is either a male member or a female member and the second coupling member is complementary and is the opposite member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GreenPaxx LLC
    Inventor: Cindy Slansky
  • Patent number: 8579149
    Abstract: A drinking vessel holder includes a drinking vessel receptacle arranged in a housing and a height-adjustable bottom element. The bottom element is arranged in the drinking vessel receptacle and can be displaced between an upper rest position and a lower set-down position, wherein a drinking vessel can be set down on the bottom element in the drinking vessel receptacle. A positionally adjustable supporting element prevents the drinking vessel from toppling over, and wherein the bottom element in the drinking vessel receptacle forms a first piston or else is connected to a first piston and the supporting element forms an annular piston between the housing and the drinking vessel receptacle or else is connected to at least one second piston, wherein movement of at least one of the first piston, the second piston, and the annular piston causes fluid overpressure and fluid underpressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: F.S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Henke, Roman Funk, Walter Mehling
  • Patent number: 8579150
    Abstract: A container for storing products includes a tub and a cover which is equipped with a seal positioned in a peripheral groove formed in the inner face of the cover. The tub includes an inner and outer flat peripheral rim, the cover including a vertical peripheral rim designed to cover the outer peripheral rim upon closure of the cover, and in that the inner and outer peripheral rims are in different planes and constitute a shouldered shape, the cover including, between its vertical peripheral rim and its inner face, a clearance with a shape matching the shouldered shape of the tub, the distance between the plane of the clearance and the plane of the inner face of the cover being less than the distance separating the planes of the peripheral rims of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Pierre Janny
  • Patent number: 8579151
    Abstract: A roller shutter storage container includes a container body, a roller shutter accommodating portion, a pair of guide grooves, and a roller shutter. Each of the guide grooves extends linearly in an opening formed in the container body and is curved in the roller shutter accommodating portion. The roller shutter is configured by connecting a plurality of slats each having shafts formed at two ends of the slat with respect to the widthwise direction in a bendable manner. As the two shafts of each of the slats slide in the corresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter slides between an open position for opening the opening and a close position for closing the opening. Each one of the shafts is spaced from a vertical wall surface of the corresponding one of the guide grooves. A projection formed of soft material projects outward from each shaft of each slat in the widthwise direction and contacts the corresponding vertical wall surface in an elastically deformed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kodama, Masataka Inoue
  • Patent number: 8579152
    Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: 8579153
    Abstract: A tablet dispenser includes a device body and a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body. Each tablet cassette is capable of accommodating a plurality of types of tablets and of dispensing the tablets contained therein in a lateral direction. A plurality of chutes are in communication with the plurality of tablet cassettes. Each chute is disposed on the one face of the device body, adjacent to a corresponding tablet cassette. Each chute retains tablets dispensed from the corresponding tablet cassette and dispenses the tablets in a downward direction into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Naoki Koike, Takafumi Imai, Yoshinori Kumano, Akira Maeda, Mitsuhiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 8579154
    Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Rudolph Spivey, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8579155
    Abstract: A vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine has a selector for a plurality of beverage types and a selector for a plurality of ice types. The vending machine has a first store for storing a supply of the plurality of beverage types and a second store for storing a supply of the plurality of ice types. The vending machine also has a dispenser for dispensing into a container a selected beverage type and a selected ice type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventors: Michael William Malachowsky, Jeffrey Wayne Malachowsky, Chris Alan Malachowsky
  • Patent number: 8579156
    Abstract: A method and a system of cleaning and flushing a beverage dispensing system comprising a sealable pressure chamber for receiving a collapsible keg containing a beverage and a dispensing valve, comprises: providing a first cartridge containing a cleaning fluid, positioning the first cartridge in the pressure chamber and pressurizing the pressure chamber, opening the dispensing valve and dispensing the cleaning fluid from the dispensing valve, and causing the cleaning fluid to flow from the first cartridge through the dispensing line and being dispensed from the dispensing valve, disconnecting the first cartridge after the emptying of the cleaning fluid from the first cartridge, and removing the first cartridge, providing a second cartridge containing a flushing fluid, positioning the second cartridge in the pressure chamber and pressurizing the pressure chamber, and repeating the steps (iii)-(v) while using the second cartridge instead of the first cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Carlsberg Breweries A/S
    Inventors: Jan Norager Rasmussen, Steen Vesborg
  • Patent number: 8579157
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a reservoir for storing the fluid to be dispensed, an outlet for dispensing the fluid, a pump in the reservoir for pumping the fluid to the outlet, a motor external of the reservoir, and a coupling magnetically transferring a force generated by the motor to the pump for operating the pump for pumping the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Branko Bem, Dikran Babikian, Robert A. Riccomini, Amelia Ngai
  • Patent number: 8579158
    Abstract: A container includes a bottle formed to include an interior region and a collapsible bag in the interior region. The collapsible bag is formed to include a chamber for holding a dispensable product. A dispenser is coupled to the bottle and arranged to communicate with dispensable product held in the collapsible bag. The dispenser is operable by a consumer to discharge the dispensable product from the collapsible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Chad E. Rice
  • Patent number: 8579159
    Abstract: A foam dispenser includes a foam pump communicating with the contents of a container holding a foamable liquid. The foam pump includes a pump body, a passage extending through the pump body from an inlet to an outlet, an inlet valve including an inlet flow regulator, and an outlet valve including an outlet flow regulator. The inlet receives foamable liquid from the container. The inlet valve and outlet valve are positioned in the passage to define (a) an inlet stage, (b) an outlet stage, and (c) a transition stage. A liquid port extends through the pump body and communicates with the transition stage, and an air port extends through the pump body and communicates with the outlet stage. A liquid bellows surrounds the liquid port and an air bellows surrounds the air port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Nick E. Ciavarella
  • Patent number: 8579160
    Abstract: A dispensing gun has a gun body, a first component inlet, a second component inlet, a dispense head, a first valve, a second valve, a clamp, and a trigger. The component inlets are attached to the gun body for receiving components. The dispense head is for dispensing the components. The valves are attached to the gun body and there are valve stems for controlling the dispensing of the components. The clamp has an upper portion and a lower portion, with the first and second valve stems positioned in between the upper and lower portions. The two portions are attached such that the first and second valve stems move with movement of the valve actuator in a direction parallel to the axes of the valve stems. The trigger is attached to the gun body and controls movement of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. McMichael, Steven R. Sinders
  • Patent number: 8579161
    Abstract: A low profile batter dispenser, for the housing of batter on a counter top for an extended period of time while cooling the batter to resist bacterial growth therein. The batter dispenser includes a housing, a batter container, and an ice pack assembly for holding an ice pack on the bottom of and in contact with the batter container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: William R. Steeb
  • Patent number: 8579162
    Abstract: An enclosure for use with a gravity fed fluid dispensing system includes a housing with a base member and a cover member that is movably connected with the base member. The base member and cover member define an interior chamber for receiving a bottle. An actuator is movably connected with the housing and arranged to rotate the bottle within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John J. Dyer, Arthur V. Lang
  • Patent number: 8579163
    Abstract: A dental rack and dispenser. The dental rack and dispenser can include a toothpaste compartment, the toothpaste compartment further having an openable cover and receiving a toothpaste canister through the openable cover, a toothpaste dispensing mechanism disposed inside the toothpaste compartment and operably coupling to the toothpaste canister, a plurality of openable toothbrush containers, each toothbrush container further having an interior for receiving a toothbrush therein, the interior of each toothbrush container being isolated from the interiors of the other toothbrush containers, and a wall-mountable structure coupled to the toothpaste compartment and the toothbrush containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Charmine Ellis
  • Patent number: 8579164
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a bowl attachment for use in connection with a bottle having a threaded opening and configured to contain a fluid. The bowl attachment includes a main bowl portion and a cover portion. The main bowl portion has a thread connection to secure to the bottle neck. A wall extends from the connection section and is shaped as a bowl. An interior spout is connected to the thread connection section and permits fluid from the bottle to squeeze into the main bowl portion. A cover portion is secured to the main bowl portion and includes an aperture with a flip top lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Sanguinet, Brett Niggel, Scott Jost
  • Patent number: 8579165
    Abstract: A pump type dispenser that is able to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within a container. In order to achieve this result, the pump type dispenser utilizes a suction mouth portion that is positioned along a bottom portion of the container. The pump type dispenser may also utilize a plurality of straw type extensions to reach a plurality of locations along the bottom portion of the container in order to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Yoon Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8579166
    Abstract: The invention concerns a dosing device for dosing a metered amount of a powdered product comprising: —a fixed body (2) made of at least a disc presenting a single pierced aperture (5), —a rotary top disk (1) disposed on the top of the fixed body (2) and presenting a taking out pierced aperture (4), —a rotary bottom disk (3) disposed on the bottom of the fixed body and presenting a discharging pierced aperture (6), —a rotary shaft (7) connecting the bottom disk (1) and the top disk (3), wherein in the stand-by position of the device the metered pierced aperture (5) is empty and closed to the atmosphere. The invention also concerns a beverage preparation apparatus implementing such a dosing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Raphael Bernhardsgruetter, Cedric Beausire, Lucio Scorrano
  • Patent number: 8579167
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear part structure in which a spare tire is stored underneath a rear floor via a spare tire carrier. The vehicle body rear part structure includes a frame part and a tire cover. An embedding groove is formed in an external surface of the tire cover. The frame part is embedded in the embedding groove. Left and right front connecting parts of the frame part are rotatably connected to left and right front support parts. A rear connecting part of the frame part is vertically movably connected to rear support part. Vertical movements of the rear connecting part via the rear support part causes a spare tire to be disposed in a tire storage position and a tire accessing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Kengo Ishibashi, Takayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Ohkubo, Masayuki Ogawa, Kunihiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8579168
    Abstract: There is provided is an infant carrier having a lumbar belt to enhance the comfort and support during usage thereof. The infant carrier is adaptable to support an infant in a forward facing position or a rearward facing position. The infant carrier may also be configured to allow for easy adjustment to fit the infant carrier to the specific size of the wearer. The infant carrier may also be configured to be connectable with a bib in a variety of configurations to protect the wearer or infant carrier from fluids or objects which may fall from the infant's mouth. The bib may also be connected to the infant carrier in a position to provide shade to the infant. In this regard, the bib may provide three-in-one functionality to the infant carrier to enhance the overall experience of wearing the carrier for both the wearer and the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Infantino, LLC.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Zack, Sara Lighthall
  • Patent number: 8579169
    Abstract: A mounting system for removably mounting an accessory on a fender of a motorcycle includes a mounting bracket, mounting tab, and latch. The mounting bracket is configured to be mounted on the fender. The mounting bracket includes a base plate, cover plate, standoff, mounting slot, upper recess and lower recess. The base plate is disposed upon the fender. The cover plate is configured to cover a portion of the base plate. The standoff is sandwiched between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting slot is disposed between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting slot is generated by the standoff being disposed between the base plate and cover plate. The upper recess is disposed at an upper edge of the mounting bracket between the base plate and the cover plate. The lower recess is disposed at a lower edge of the mounting bracket between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting tab is configured to mate with the mounting slot. The mounting tab is affixed to a first accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Motorcycle Company
    Inventors: Joseph Andrew Racz, Bryce Thomas Metcalf
  • Patent number: 8579170
    Abstract: An air breathing battery apparatus is connected to the hollow tubing of a backpack frame to provide an uninterrupted, water-resistant, light-weight power supply during extended remote operations in the field. Air breathing power sources are connected to the hollow tubes of the backpack assembly to provide a constant uninterrupted air supply in a relatively small package that fits easily into the backpack frame with only negligible added weight. The positioning of the air breathing power source in a backpack composed of hollow tubing also protects the battery from inclement weather or when the user is in water, for example, while fording a river or stream, to permit the uninterrupted use of the electronics powered by the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Fee Chan Leung
  • Patent number: 8579171
    Abstract: A backpack system is provided including an external frame, a pack bag and a sling configured for extending between the frame and pack bag providing a space between the frame and pack bag for accommodating heavy or bulky cargo therebetween. The sling can be extended or retracted in order to selectively adjust the distance between the pack bag and frame. The backpack system may also include a pouch for supporting a lower end of relatively long object therein, which may be carried in the space between the pack bag and frame. In one embodiment, the pack bag is equipped with stiffening members for supporting the pack bag when not mounted directly to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mystery Ranch, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dana W. Gleason, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8579172
    Abstract: Holders for supporting portable handheld electronic devices, such as but not limited to iPhones®, IPODS®, IPADS™, cellular phones, and the like. Another embodiment has a portable handheld electronic device holder with a built on bottle opener, where the bottle opener in the outer face of a slightly raised box shape on the upper back of the case. The bottle opener can also be attached to a tab that slides in and out of the casing when needed. The bottle opener can include one or a pair of upwardly extending triangular tabs (with blunt tips) that can be used to pry open can tabs on soda and beer cans. A belt clip adapter can snapably fit into the bottle cap opener to allow the holder to attach to belts and pockets. A spring biased version also allows the belt clip adapter to be attachable detachable from the bottle cap opener holders. The belt clip adapter can include a bendable disc(s) to fit into the bottle cap opener, or into a keyhole slot on the back of a case holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eat Dirt, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Monaco, John Santo, III
  • Patent number: 8579173
    Abstract: A stapler (1) by which a workpiece (11), preferably a sheaf of papers, is stapled together with a staple, which stapler (5) comprises a stapling head (2) accommodating staples and a driver (6) and connected pivotably by a pivot pin (4) to a bottom part (3) which comprises a lower element (9) and an upper element (8) which are connected to one another in such a way that they can be moved towards and away from one another (P) and which in an initial state are held in a locking position at a distance from one another by a locking device (17), with forming means (14, 15) arranged between the upper and lower elements, which forming means, when the staple has been fully driven into the workpiece at its insertion area (26) by the driver, are activated to bend the staple legs towards the workpiece as a result of the upper and lower elements moving towards one another when the locking device is released by an activating means (22) which is part of the locking device (17) being acted upon by an unlocking means (7) disp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Isaberg Rapid AB
    Inventors: Trygve Gustafsson, Martin Elonsson, Torbjörn Lönkvist
  • Patent number: 8579174
    Abstract: A tag-attaching pin attaching apparatus is used with a tag-attaching pin unit which is formed with a plurality of tag-attaching pins each having an insertion head section and a holding section both of which are provided on both end portions of a fiber section. The plurality of tag-attaching pins are mutually and adjacently arranged in parallel and connected with each other via connecting members. The tag-attaching pin attaching apparatus of the present invention is configured so that under a situation in which one of an end portion of the tag-attaching pin unit, without using any connecting bars, is arranged at an insertion head portion shooting out position, a tag-attaching pin unit pushing member applies a bias force directing to the insertion head portion shooting out position, to another end portion of the tag-attaching pin unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: M.I.T. International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ueno, Hitoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8579175
    Abstract: A pneumatic nailer includes a tool housing enclosing a cylinder with a reciprocating drive piston, and having a trigger and a workpiece contact element both connected to a trigger valve. A valve cap is mounted to the housing and includes a cycle valve and a dump valve, each valve reciprocating in a respective valve chamber. The dump valve controls drive pressure for the drive piston, the cycle valve controls the return of the dump valve to allow piston return. The valve cap and the valves are constructed and arranged such that the piston is returned to a start position independent of positions of the trigger or the workpiece contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Mina
  • Patent number: 8579176
    Abstract: A medical device includes a control handle having an articulation joint actuator, a surgical end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the control handle. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the passive articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the passive articulation joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector with respect to the control handle dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector. A method for operating the end effector includes retaining the passive articulation joint in a stable position with an articulation lock and actuating a release of the articulation lock to unlock the passive articulation joint and, thereby, permit articulating motion of the end effector through the passive articulation joint dependent upon the external forces acting upon the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Korey Robert Kline, Derek Dee Deville
  • Patent number: 8579177
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument for operating on tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector including a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member in juxtaposed relation to the first tissue engaging member; a gap determination element operatively associated with each of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member for measuring a gap distance between the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member; and a tissue contact determining element operatively associated with a respective tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Robert J. Beetel
  • Patent number: 8579178
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Frank J. Viola, Clifford L. Emmons, John W. Beardsley, Russell Heinrich, Nicola Cullinan
  • Patent number: 8579179
    Abstract: A septal stapling apparatus includes an instrument body having proximal and distal end portions. A handle at the distal end portion enables a user to hold and manipulate the instrument body. A pair of spaced apart arms are extending from the handle and include a staple arm and a tensioning arm. The body provides a trigger that moves between resting and firing positions. An actuator link moves between first and second positions, the actuator link being moved by the trigger, wherein the actuator link includes a staple moving member that is attached to the staple arm. The staple arm has a staple bank that includes multiple staples. The trigger, actuator link, staple bank, and staple moving member are configured to move a staple to a stapling position when the trigger is pulled. The staple arm and tensioning arm move together when the trigger is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: ENTrigue Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Larson
  • Patent number: 8579180
    Abstract: A mandrel tool probe is provided for performing a friction-stir process. The mandrel tool probe includes a shank and a tip coupled to the shank, where the shank and tip are concentric and rotatable about a given axis. The tip includes a set of a plurality of physically-separate, spiraled surfaces each of which has a linear or curved cross-section that extends along a length of the tip at a constant or varying spiral angle around the circumference of the tip. The tip also has a cross-section with a constant shape along the length of the tip, with the cross-section of the tip including a plurality of major segments each of which is formed of the cross-section of a respective spiraled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Dwight A. Burford
  • Patent number: 8579181
    Abstract: A method of forming an internal structure in a hollow component that includes the steps of forming an assembly having first, second, and third plates the first and second plates each with a substantially planar surface and a surface that includes at least one protrusion and is on the exterior facing surfaces of the assembly. The third plate is sandwiched between the first and second plates. The method also includes the steps of selectively bonding portions of the third plate to sections of the first and second plates substantially opposite the at least one protrusions of the first and second plates; and forming the assembly against a die such that the at least one protrusions of the first and second plates are transferred from the exterior facing surfaces to the interior facing surfaces of the first and second plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Oliver Michael Strother, Keith Christopher Goldfinch
  • Patent number: 8579182
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for providing an inerting gas during the application of soldering to a work piece. In one aspect, there is provided an enclosure for providing an inerting gas into an atmosphere above a solder reservoir during soldering of a work piece comprising: a tube in fluid communication with an inerting gas source wherein the tube comprises one or more openings for the flow of the inerting gas therethrough, a base wherein the tube resides in therein and comprises an interior volume, a neck comprising an opening and an interior volume in fluid communication with the interior volume of the base, and a cap proximal to the opening wherein the inerting gas source travels through the tube into the interior volume and into the atmosphere through the opening defined by the neck and cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Christine Dong, Victor Wang, Jerry Wu, Ranajit Ghosh, Gregory Khosrov Arslanian
  • Patent number: 8579183
    Abstract: A container for storage and shipping of objects includes a lid assembly having two configurations and an open-top box. In the first configuration the container can be loaded with objects for storage or collection while limiting physical and visual access to the contents of the box and in the second configuration, the container is sealed for shipping. The lid assembly contains side flaps which may be used to stabilize the lid assembly in the first configuration, and in the second configuration, secure the lid assembly to the open-top box. Preferably, the container is formed from one contiguous blank. The blank is preferably made of corrugated cardboard but may be formed from any substantially rigid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Call2Recycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Belfort, Gilberto Lopez, Robert McCaffery, Carl Smith, Cheryl Lofrano-Zaske, Linda Gabor
  • Patent number: 8579184
    Abstract: A collapsible cardboard box including, in an erected state, a back wall, an opposing front wall, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. In its collapsed state, the box includes a first through hole in the front portion and a second through hole in the back portion. In the collapsed state, the box has been unfolded in such a way that the first and second through holes are in line with each other forming a handle for allowing a person to carry the collapsed box by use of the first and second through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Claes Pettersson, Kristian Grennfelt, Jan Kolehmainen, Lennart Wernersson, Marcus Hansson, Mateus Cander, Patrik Thonfors, Peter Andersson, Susanne Gungner
  • Patent number: 8579185
    Abstract: The present invention includes a package for holding comestible products and blanks for forming the same. The packages can have opposing side walls with generally rounded contoured bottom and top ends and bottom and top walls that conform to the round bottom and top end so that the bottom and top walls have a curved surface that follows the curvature of the bottom and top ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Allen Aldridge, Simon Richard Gainey, Rita Dombroski
  • Patent number: 8579186
    Abstract: A system and method of tracking a plurality of items during transfer from a source location to a destination. One embodiment is a method comprising associating information identifying the plurality of items with a radio frequency (RF) tag that identifies a carrier unit. The method further comprises storing said associated information in at least one of the RF tag and a computer memory. The method further comprises communicating with the RF tag to identify the location of the carrier unit. The method further comprises identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of items based at least in part on the location of the carrier unit. Another embodiment is a system configured to perform an embodiment of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventor: Glenn E McDonald
  • Patent number: 8579187
    Abstract: A method and a system to identify machine-readable codes using a web crawler are provided. Machine-readable codes include, but are not limited to, Universal Product Codes (UPC), quick response (QR) codes, stock-keeping units (SKUs) and international standard book number (ISBN) codes. A web crawler downloads pages from the World Wide Web. A determination module accesses the downloaded pages and identifies a machine-readable code corresponding to a product description included in the downloaded pages. The machine-readable code is included in a downloaded page of the downloaded pages. The determination module further extracts the product description from the downloaded page. A code database stores a record of the machine-readable code and the product description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Normile