Patents Issued in April 1, 2014
  • Patent number: 8684244
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted equipment carrier includes a single-piece frame member. The vehicle-engaging and equipment-engaging members extend outward from a central portion. Optionally, the equipment carrier may be mounted in at least a first and second operational orientation. The interior of each equipment support is hollow such that one equipment support may be stacked within another. Straps pass through and are secured to the frame member. The straps are further connected to a vehicle to secure the frame member to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Fabio Pedrini
  • Patent number: 8684245
    Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a nose assembly having a drive channel, a magazine for carrying a supply of fasteners through a feed channel along a feed channel direction toward the nose assembly, and one or more mechanisms for preventing undesirable movement of fasteners. The mechanisms may include a first stop pawl and a second stop pawl for preventing the supply of fasteners from moving along a direction opposite to the feed channel direction. The stop pawls may extend from a common side of the feed channel and pivot on a common axis. The mechanisms may also include a first nail stop, a second nail stop and/or a movable nail stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Fastening Systems, L.P.
    Inventors: Prudencio S. Canlas, Jr., Jeff Peng, Hao Chang, Adam C. Tillinghast
  • Patent number: 8684246
    Abstract: A driving device for resetting a hitting nail bar of the pneumatic nail gun, which is mounted in a gun body including a main air chamber, a trigger valve, a hitting nail bar and a bottom cylinder chamber disposed therein is provided. The driving device includes a main gas channel and a sensing valve component slidably disposed in the main gas channel. The main gas channel communicates with the main air chamber and the bottom cylinder chamber via the trigger valve. The sensing valve component is controlled by the position of the hitting nail bar to be either opened or closed. The sensing valve component is opened on the condition that a reset state of the hitting nail bar is excluded, and the high-pressure air is introduced from the main air chamber into the bottom cylinder chamber to drive the hitting nail bar to move upwardly to reset rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: De Poan Pneumatic Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Sheng Liang, Chu Hsiang Tseng
  • Patent number: 8684247
    Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, an elongated member and a disposable loading unit. The handle assembly includes a mode selection mechanism configured to alternate the surgical device between a first grasping mode of operation and a second clamping mode of operation. The handle assembly includes a rotation control member and an articulation lever. The rotation control member is configured to facilitate rotation of the elongated member with respect to the handle assembly. The articulation lever is configured to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongated member. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly configured to clamp and staple tissue in the second clamping mode of operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul A. Scirica, John W. Beardsley
  • Patent number: 8684248
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a safety mechanism, an elongated body portion and a head portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle, an approximation mechanism, and a firing trigger. A lever of the safety mechanism is movable between a first position where the firing trigger is prevented from being actuated, and a second position where the firing trigger is able to be actuated. A first jaw member of the head portion is movable in relation to a second jaw member of the head portion between spaced and approximated positions. Movement of the first jaw member in relation to the second jaw member from the approximated position towards the spaced position causes the lever of the safety mechanism to move from its second position to its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Keith Milliman
  • Patent number: 8684249
    Abstract: An anvil assembly for use with a surgical stapler having a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple pockets formed in the tissue contact surface. Each of the plurality of staple pockets including first and second staple forming cups, each of the first and second staple forming cups having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in close relation to each other and the outside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in spaced relation to each other. Each of the first and second staple forming cups being defined by sidewalls and an elongated base surface, wherein upper portions of the sidewalls intersect the tissue contact surface at a line of intersection, and wherein the line of intersection is curved along a majority of its length between the outside portion and the inside portion of each of the staple forming cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David C. Racenet, Hanspeter R. Bayer, Scott Nelson Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8684250
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a circular surgical stapler having an anvil assembly with an anvil shaft and an anvil, the circular surgical stapler further having a tubular body portion with an annular knife and a body portion shaft selectively attachable to the anvil shaft; and a seal structure for deposition between the intestinal sections of tissue including a hub configured to engage attachment structure on at least one of the anvil shaft and the body portion shaft. The attachment structure is positioned so that the seal structure is located between the intestinal sections of tissue when the circular surgical stapler is disposed within the intestinal sections of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael J. Bettuchi, David N. Fowler, Frank J. Viola, Christopher J. Criscuolo, Danyel J. Tarinelli-Racenet, Robert Capella, Kevin Sniffin, Ahmad Robert Hadba
  • Patent number: 8684251
    Abstract: A head for a stapler used during a mucosectomy is disclosed that includes an external body, an internal body, an anvil, and a blade. The internal body includes a central hole into which a rod is slidingly inserted. One or more annular grooves are formed on a lateral surface of the rod, and are intended to receive a portion of mucosa which is included in a purse string suture as the mucosa is tied around the rod. By retracting the rod in the central hole of the internal body, the mucosa to be removed is carried into the internal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Dante David, Piera Rebuffat, Franca Rebuffat
  • Patent number: 8684252
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle assembly having a proximal end, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The shell assembly includes a shell and a staple guide housing a plurality of staples. A flexible engagement structure attaches the staple guide to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Nihir Patel, Guido Pedros, Stephen R. Paul, Keith L. Milliman, Ryan Williams, Michael J. Havrilko
  • Patent number: 8684253
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system that has a control unit and a shaft portion that includes an electrically conductive elongated member that is attached to a portion of the robotic system. The elongated member is configured to transmit control motions from the robotic system to an end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Giordano, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 8684254
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is designed for clamping, cutting, and/or joining tissue. This surgical instrument includes a handle portion, an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion, first and second jaw members disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, a shaft movable upon actuation of the handle portion, and a knife bar operatively coupled to the shaft. At least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The knife bar has a curved profile and moves along at least one of the jaw members upon movement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 8684255
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elongate insert configured to be integrated by CIC in a metal container, including coated yarns bonded together, the coated yarns being formed from metal-coated ceramic fibers. The method includes placing the coated yarns side by side in a bundle and pulling the fiber bundle through a shaping element so as to compact the fiber bundle transversely while forming the fiber bundle so as to have a defined cross section. A metal part incorporating a fibrous insert can be manufactured by the CIC technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: SNECMA, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilles Charles Casimir Klein, Richard Masson, Louis Salvat
  • Patent number: 8684256
    Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a continuous layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the time at temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Component Re-Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Grant Elliot, Brent Donald Alfred Elliot, Frank Balma, Richard Erich Schuster, Dennis George Rex, Alexander Veyster
  • Patent number: 8684257
    Abstract: A plurality of conductor bars are positioned within slots of a laminated electric steel disc stack, and the ends of the conductor bars are brazed to end rings to manufacture a rotor. The method includes inserting the conductor bars into the slots of the disc stack, providing the end rings with slots for receiving the ends of the conductor bars; positioning spacers of braze material adjacent each end of each of the conductor bars to create a gap between the end rings and the steel disc stack; and applying heat to melt the braze material of the spacers whereby braze material is furnished by the spacers of braze material to braze the first and second ends of the conductor bars to the first and second end rings. Channels are provided in the face of the end rings facing the steel disc stack to drain away excess braze material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Osborne, Qigui Wang, Yucong Wang
  • Patent number: 8684258
    Abstract: A process for reducing aluminum pick-up and adherence during the ultrasonic welding of aluminum braids which are welded in a vertically and/or horizontally adjustable compression chamber of an ultrasonic welding device. The static tool parts which delimit the compression chamber have working surfaces made from polycrystalline diamond (PCD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schunk Sonosystems GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Steiner
  • Patent number: 8684259
    Abstract: The pocket folder is made from a single sheet blank and has a pair of pockets and reinforced side edges. The pockets may be open pockets or one of the pockets may be closed while the other is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Conformer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin A. Makofsky, Robert Makofsky, Sari Makofsky McConnell
  • Patent number: 8684260
    Abstract: Paperboard plate includes a base having a substantially smooth flat surface, a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base, and a plurality of corner walls. Each side wall and each corner wall has a substantially straight upper edge. Each corner wall is disposed between a pair of adjacent side walls. The length of the upper edge of each corner wall is less than the length of the upper edge of each side wall. Furthermore, each side wall can include a lower portion and an upper portion at different angles relative each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joel P. White, David J. Bulcher, David C. Schiltz
  • Patent number: 8684261
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes receiving, in a proximity coupling system, holder consent to provide a human understandable indication of an account balance associated with a payment account; and providing a human understandable indication of the account balance associated with the payment account via an output device, in response at least in part to the consent; wherein receiving holder consent comprises receiving holder consent provided via a proximity payment device associated with the payment account. In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes storing account data and preference data in a proximity payment device, the preference data indicative of a preferred method to provide a human understandable indication of an account balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Burdett, Colin Tanner, Chris Leech
  • Patent number: 8684262
    Abstract: An automated banking machine is operative to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative to cause a determination to be made that read card data corresponds to stored data for an account authorized to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine is operative to cause the value of cash dispensed or received to be assessed or credited to the financial accounts corresponding to card data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems, division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Eastman, Pedro Tula, Nam Le, David Nikkel, David Vidmar, Jhansi Arikatla, Erie S. VanKeulen, Wayne Wellbaum
  • Patent number: 8684263
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing documents of value from an automated transaction machine that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader, cash dispenser, and display device. The machine can display data representative of selectable documents of value, such as a ticket that provides access to an entertainment event. After appropriate user selection and payment, the machine produces an electronic document corresponding to user selection. The machine can wirelessly dispense the electronic document to a mobile phone of the machine user. Information in the document corresponds to a description of value associated with the document. Unique information in the document enables the document to be authenticated with a validating device at a location where the document is to be redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventor: Dale Blackson
  • Patent number: 8684264
    Abstract: A mobile communication device and a data verification system applying a smart card having double chips are applicable to data verification processing when the mobile communication device drives the smart chip to perform transaction with a front end access device. The mobile communication device includes a wireless communication unit, a processing unit and a smart chip. When the processing unit receives a transaction request sent by the front end access device or the processing unit executes a transaction procedure, the processing unit performs data verification processing during transaction through the smart chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Abancast Limited
    Inventors: Joshua Yu, Pao-Chieh An, Chih-Hung Kuo, Meng-Tsung Liu
  • Patent number: 8684265
    Abstract: A set of Web pages are provided for a Web site for a different loyalty program of a commerce partner. Non-negotiable credits are identified that are earned by a member as part of a loyalty program of an entity. During a Web session involving the member and the Web site, a request is received to transfer or convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits to entity independent funds. The entity independent funds are different loyalty points of the different loyalty program. During the Web session at least a subset of the non-negotiable credits are transferred or converted into entity independent funds that the commerce partner accepts for commerce partner goods or services. The commerce partner goods or services are available for member purchase via the Web site. Non-negotiable credits are not accepted for the commerce partner goods or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Sean I. McGhie, Brian K. Buchheit
  • Patent number: 8684266
    Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Enpulz, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
  • Patent number: 8684267
    Abstract: Method for broadcasting a magnetic stripe data packet from an electronic card by measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head during a swipe of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head and then adjusting a broadcast signal containing the magnetic stripe data packet according to the measured swipe speed so that the magnetic stripe data packet in the broadcast signal is read by the magnetic reader head during said swipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: PrivaSys
    Inventors: Eric Foo, Joan Ziegler, Mark Poidomani, Lawrence Routhenstein, Ziv Alon, Charles McGuire
  • Patent number: 8684268
    Abstract: A product display system has a product carrier and a lighting device including a plurality of light sources, each having two or more LEDs of different light color, and a control device. The control device can control the various light sources, and even the various LEDs in the light sources, in order, in this way, to achieve a different luminosity and/or light color per light source. The control device reads an information carrier having information associated with the product, and adjusts a light source which illuminates a place of the product carrier designed for the product on the basis of information read from the information carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Ireneus Johannes Theodorus Maria Pas
  • Patent number: 8684269
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for image based bar code scanning. A rotating spinner is positioned to reflect images to an imaging device within the scanner so that a field of view of the scanner encompasses images reflected by the spinner to the imaging device. The rotation of the spinner causes the field of view of the scanner to change. Fixed mirrors positioned and oriented to reflect images to the spinner and from the spinner to the imaging device further shift the field of view of the scanner as the rotating spinner causes images reflected from different mirrors to be delivered to the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: David Lee Gregerson
  • Patent number: 8684270
    Abstract: Apparatus capable of enhancing an incident electric field to drive an electromagnetic tag (124) into operation, comprising a resonant dielectric cavity which extends out of a single plane defined between two conducting surfaces (102, 104, 106). The cavity may extend over two or more layers, and can adopt C or S shaped or spiral profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: OMNI-ID Cayman Limited
    Inventors: James Robert Brown, Christopher Robert Lawrence, William Norman Damerell
  • Patent number: 8684271
    Abstract: A code that stores a history of what has been done to it and where it has been. The history can be stored in a local memory. The code can be changed based on that history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Harris Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Harris
  • Patent number: 8684272
    Abstract: A mobile communication device having an antenna structure includes a grounding element and an antenna element. The grounding element includes a main ground and a protruded ground being connected to an edge of the main ground. Antenna element includes a feeding portion and a radiating portion. The feeding portion includes a feeding point, a first strip and a second strip. The first strip and the second strip are both connected to the feeding point. The radiating portion includes a first open end, a second open end and a shorting point which is connected to the protruded ground by a short-circuiting strip. There is a first coupling gap between the first strip and a first section of the radiating portion having the first open end. There is a second coupling gap between the second strip and a second section of the radiating portion having the second open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Kin-Lu Wong, Fang-Hsien Chu
  • Patent number: 8684273
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a cover structure for a personal identification document is provided. The cover structure may include a cover formed as a single layer; a chip module; the cover having a recess for completely receiving the chip module; and an antenna that is connected to the chip module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Scherl, Frank Pueschner, Juergen Hoegerl
  • Patent number: 8684274
    Abstract: A cooling enhancement apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate having a face in contact with at least one hot medium and having another face in contact with a secondary gas. The second substrate includes a face in contact with the secondary gas and has the other face in contact with a main gas. The faces of the first and second substrates in contact with the secondary gas generally oppose each other. One or more flexible seals can be attached to the first substrate and to the second substrate to form one or more closed enclosures including the secondary gas so that the second substrate moves relative to the first substrate when the secondary gas undergoes volumetric thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim A. Khaled
  • Patent number: 8684275
    Abstract: Devices and methods for increasing and decreasing cooling capacity as thermal load increases by utilizing bimaterial. For increasing the cooling capacity, the upper plate of a thin film microchannel can be configured from a bimaterial, such that the upper layer possesses a higher linear thermal expansion coefficient than that of the lower layer material. Excessive heating causes the coolant temperature to increase which in turn heats the upper plate. As such, the upper plate bends outward allowing for more coolant to flow within the thin film. For decreasing the cooling capacity, the upper plate can be configured from a bimaterial such that its lower layer has a higher linear thermal expansion coefficient than that of the upper layer material. Excessive heating can cause the coolant temperature to increase, which in turn heats the upper plate. As such, the upper plate can bend inward resulting in less coolant flow within the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim Assaad Khaled
  • Patent number: 8684276
    Abstract: Provided is a portable heating device comprising a combustion-powered heater, a regulator, and an oxygen depletion sensor. The combustion-powered heater may be supplied by an associated fuel source and may comprise a combustion region comprising a catalytic surface. The regulator may be adapted for fluid communication with the associated fuel source. The oxygen depletion sensor may comprise a burner and a temperature detector. The burner may be in fluid communication with the regulator and may be adapted to combust fuel form the regulator with air to produce a flame. The temperature detector may be adapted to detect the temperature of the flame and may be adapted to selectively render the combustion-powered heater non-functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Enerco Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian S. Vandrak
  • Patent number: 8684277
    Abstract: A multi-layer build-up system for floor coverings when using floor heating systems, particularly for laying ceramic floor coverings using the thin-bed method, has, on the underside, an essentially plate-shaped component for planar laying and for the accommodation of pipelines of a floor heating system. Component accommodation spaces for the pipelines are formed in the plate-shaped component and an uncoupling mat is disposed on the surface of the plate-shaped component. The uncoupling mat has an uncoupling layer on top of which an anchoring layer is disposed. The anchoring layer forms a structure element for a filler mass to be introduced in the top of the build-up system. The mass is plastic during processing and hardens afterwards. A reinforcement layer is disposed on top of and rigidly connected with the anchoring layer, at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Blanke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Wilhelm Blanke
  • Patent number: 8684278
    Abstract: A vehicle traction jack that functions as a traction mat platform, ramp, and vehicle jack to assist a vehicle's tire when a tire is stuck in a rut, hole, or some sort of terrain or weather condition such as sand, gravel, dirt, mud, or snow is disclosed. The traction jack comprises a first plate and second plate, a hinge assembly, and a jack. The first and second plates can extend to a partially-opened or fully-opened position, forming a ramp and traction mat platform. The extended traction jack can be placed in front of or behind a vehicle's tire to provide addition traction. A jack extends from at least one plate of the vehicle traction jack to raise a vehicle for repairs to the vehicle's tire. Easily stored in a vehicle at all times, a single user can use the traction jack to help move any type of vehicle's tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Traction Jack, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brown, Jr., Carlos Amaro
  • Patent number: 8684279
    Abstract: A railroad alignment system for easily and efficiently lifting and aligning railroad tracks during installation. The railroad alignment system generally includes first vertical support and a second vertical support with a horizontal support extending therebetween. The vertical supports are vertically adjustable through use of a pair of adjustment members. A clamp assembly extends downwardly from the horizontal support at a position midway between the first vertical support and second vertical support. Through use of a pair of adjustment members, the clamp assembly may be closed to secure a track in place for alignment and lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Jessie L. Bledsoe
  • Patent number: 8684280
    Abstract: A concrete railway rail foundation wherein an uppermost face of the foundation comprises a rail seat area for supporting a railway rail extending in a first direction across the rail seat area, two anchoring device seating regions located on either side of the rail seat area for accommodating respective anchoring devices, and, on each side of an anchoring device seating region, an upstanding portion having a height substantially the same as or higher than that of an anchoring device and a depth, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, which is substantially the same as or deeper than that of the anchoring device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Stephen John Cox
  • Patent number: 8684281
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a spray system is provided with a spray tip including a core tip structure having a first material, wherein the core tip structure includes a liquid passage extending to a liquid exit orifice. The spray tip also includes a wear resistant coating disposed about the core tip structure, wherein the wear resistant coating has a second material relatively harder than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Finishing Brands Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Micheli, Christine Laub, Al Suopys, Michael Starozhitsky
  • Patent number: 8684282
    Abstract: An atomizer delivery manifold or spray head with an adjustable spray pattern tip is provided. The adjustable spray pattern atomizer is especially useful for delivery of fibrin glues, and enables a fluid admixture to be applied precisely to a specific site in a wide range of spray patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Plantation Key Design Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis L. Steffen
  • Patent number: 8684283
    Abstract: A variable range sprinkler apparatus includes a sprinkler portion, a bypass unit housing a plurality of valves, and a water inlet portion. The sprinkler portion of the apparatus, which may be a rotary sprinkler unit, is attached to the bypass unit, and the bypass unit is coupled to the water inlet portion. Inside the bypass unit is a plurality of valves, at least one of which is adjustable, that are designed to open a water passage in the bypass unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Melnor, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen Nies, Ha Van Duong, Vicky Ann Michael
  • Patent number: 8684284
    Abstract: Methods, processes, and apparatuses for the large scale synthesis of carbon nanostructures are provided. The apparatus for continuous large scale production of SWNTs includes a chamber. Positioned in one end of the chamber is a piston and at the other end is a tangential vortex created by gases forced into the chamber from opposite sides of the chamber walls. The chamber can be heated to reduce or eliminate agglomeration of small particles. The piston is used to push the catalyst towards the vortex, and the injection rate is controlled by the speed of the piston and the gas flow rate to create the vortex that also act as the transport gas. Thus, greater than 1 kg/h of an aerosolized, deagglomerated dry powder catalyst can be delivered to the reactor at a constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Avetik R. Harutyunyan
  • Patent number: 8684285
    Abstract: A movable core includes a through-hole, which receives a main body of a needle therethrough, and a receiving recess, which is axially recessed in a stationary core side end surface of the movable core. The receiving recess is configured into an annular form and radially outwardly extends from the through-hole to receive a flange of the needle. A movable plate is placed on an axial side of the movable core, which is opposite from the nozzle. An axial length of the flange is smaller than an axial distance between a contact surface of the movable plate, which is contactable with the needle, and a bottom wall of the receiving recess in a contact state where the movable core and the movable plate contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 8684286
    Abstract: An injection valve has a valve body and a nozzle body which is resting in a sealing fashion against the valve body, with a first valve body bore, in which bore a control piston and a stroke adjusting bolt are arranged so as to be moveable in the axial direction, with the control piston being embodied in order to be moved by a control means, with a second bore being provided in the nozzle body, with a nozzle needle being arranged in the second bore, the nozzle needle being provided to open or close an injection opening, with a tension spring being provided in the second bore, the tension spring stressing the nozzle needle in the direction of a sealing seat for the injection opening, with the first and second bore being actively connected to one another and with the stroke adjusting bolt being actively connected to the nozzle needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Manuel Hannich
  • Patent number: 8684287
    Abstract: A coffee grinder includes a machine base, in which a crushing unit, a separating unit, and a grinding unit are provided. The machine base has an inlet and an outlet, and the crushing unit is under the inlet to crush coffee beans into parchments and beans. The separating unit has a rotary member and a collection container that the rotary member provides an air flow to send the parchments to the collection container. The grinding unit is between the crushing unit and the outlet to grind the beans from the separating unit and send the ground beans to the outlet. The present invention crush the coffee beans to separate the parchments and the beans, and the parchments are removed by the separating unit. Next, the beans will be ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Yuan-Hung Lee, Bing-Yang Lee
  • Patent number: 8684288
    Abstract: The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Organic Energy Corporation
    Inventor: George Gitschel
  • Patent number: 8684289
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a substrate and first and second disks. The disks are rotatably located over the substrate, each disk having an outer circumference with teeth thereon. The first disk is positioned to interleave one or more of its teeth with the teeth of the second disk. The substrate includes a channel with an exit port located near the teeth of one of the disks. Another apparatus comprises at least one disk rotatably located over a substrate and in a well of the substrate, the disk having an outer circumference with teeth thereon. The disk is positioned to provide a maximum distance of less than about 10 microns between each one the teeth and a nearest wall defining the well. The substrate includes a channel with an exit port located near the teeth of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Joanna Aizenberg, Thomas N. Krupenkin, Paul Kolodner, Joseph Ashley Taylor
  • Patent number: 8684290
    Abstract: A pill or tablet fracturing set including a striking device, a pill support board upon which the pill or tablet is struck by the striking device using a control grip, and a supply of transparent pill retentive bags to contain the pills while being struck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: George L. Allerton
  • Patent number: 8684291
    Abstract: A feed system that is configured to more effectively grab and pull brush and tree materials into a chipper is provided. The system of the present disclosure is configured such that a large, heavy tree trunk can be effectively pulled into the chipper. The system includes a hydraulic pump that applies variable down pressure on a feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edwin N. Galloway, James L. O'Halloran
  • Patent number: 8684292
    Abstract: A multiple tool attachment system is adapted to be attached to demolition equipment. The system includes a universal body attached to the demolition equipment. A series of tools is independently attachable to the universal body. The universal body includes a guide slot extending longitudinally along the universal body. Each tool generally includes a pair of pivotable jaws adapted to be pivotably attached to the universal body with at least one linkage extending from the universal body and attachable to each jaw of the tool. A slide member is received within the guide slot, with each linkage attached to the slide member, and a piston cylinder arrangement is attached to the universal body and coupled to the slide member for moving the slide member and the jaws. The multiple tool attachment system is provided with quick change features and is designed to optimize the cutting characteristics throughout the movement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: John R. Ramun
  • Patent number: 8684293
    Abstract: Apparatus, system and methods of using the apparatus and system to manipulate fiber(s) into a chopper, winder or other fiber(s) processing equipment. By using the apparatus the operator(s) are freed up for pressing duties that will increase productivity and also create a safer workplace. The apparatus supports and constrains slowly or rapidly running fiber(s) and moves through a sequence of movements that reposition the fiber(s) into a path that places the running fiber(s) in the proper location for processing in the chopper, winder or other processing equipment and also places the running fiber(s) into a desired groove or valley on a separator roll or guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Michael David Folk, Brian Samuel Hamby, Jerry Eugene Skelton, Randall Clark Bascom