Patents Issued in April 1, 2014
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Patent number: 8684444Abstract: The present invention provides a compact covering for automobiles. This device is configured to be located on a windshield of vehicles, where it is anchored to the necks of side mirrors by elastic straps. The device has four rolls of cover-sheets and a housing which is constructed of two halves inserted fitly into each other. It is easily placed onto its working position by way of a wheel and suction-cups. Cover-sheets will be pulled out via apertures on the housing and stretched over the vehicle. To help pulling easily, each of the cover-sheets will have a pipe-shaped stopper attached at its outer end. Each of the pipe-shaped stoppers will have hooks which hooks onto the edge of the chassis of the vehicle. The axes of cover-sheets rolls are mounted with the constant springs, so they can rewind after each use. Brushes above the apertures will swipe off dust, tree leaves, etc. from cover-sheets when they are rewound.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Thang Manh Dao
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Patent number: 8684445Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement having a vehicle door for closing a door opening in a bodywork of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and having a pivoting device, which comprises a carrier arm bearing the weight of the vehicle door and at least one guide arm controlling the movement of the vehicle door, wherein the carrier arm and the guide arm are of the same length and are arranged pivotally mounted on the vehicle door and the bodywork in such a way that the arms form a parallelogram. The support arm is pivotally mounted level with a horizontal bodywork section defining a lower limit of the door opening.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Thomas Ellinghaus, Frank Heinisch
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Patent number: 8684446Abstract: An energy-saving vehicle including a housing, a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a steering wheel. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, at least a first air inlet, and at least an air outlet. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The first air inlet is disposed in the front of the vehicle. The air outlet is disposed at the back of the vehicle. The first air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the air-flow channel. The front wheels and the rear wheels are driven by a power unit. The length of the air-flow channel is no less than that of the upper portion of the housing. The vehicle consumes less energy and travels more stably compared to conventional vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Xiaoyi Zhu
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Patent number: 8684447Abstract: In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle trailer is described that further includes a shelf component. The shelf component is separate from the rain gutter component. The shelf component extends from the rear wall of the trailer and includes a sloped surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: SmartTruck Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael Lorenzo Henderson, Stephen Alfred Wulff
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Patent number: 8684448Abstract: A system and method aerodynamic fairings including a gap fairing. The gap fairing includes multiple panels. The multiple panels are interconnected utilizing connectors to form a half conical shape extending from a front portion of a trailer. The gap fairing also includes supports connected to the multiple panels through support structure of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Heil Trail International, Co.Inventors: James Michael Johnson, Robert Joseph Winder, Sean Graham
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Patent number: 8684449Abstract: The invention relates to a B-pillar for a vehicle including a main section (20) with a hat-shaped section (21) comprising a central flange (22), two web portions (23, 24) and two side flanges (25, 26). At least the hat-shaped section (21) is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa and the side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section (21) have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa along at least part of the length of the side flanges (25, 26). The B-pillar (13) includes a cover plate (40) welded to the side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section (21) so as to form a closed profile, the cover plate (40) having a breaking strength below 1100 MPa at least in the region in which it bears against the side flanges (25, 26). The side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa in the region in which the side flanges bear against the cover plate (40).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech ABInventors: Hans Bodin, Jan Krispinsson, Paul Akerstrom, Daniel Berglund, Lars Wikstrom, Martin Holmberg
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Patent number: 8684450Abstract: A structure for a vehicle may include first and second spaced-apart members, first and second internally-threaded members, a module, first and second connecting members, and first and second fasteners. The first and second internally-threaded members may be connected to the first and second members, respectively. The module is positioned between the first and second members for a predetermined alignment relative thereto. The first and second connecting members include an outer surface having external threads and an inner surface having internal threads. The outer surface may engage a corresponding one of the internally-threaded members. The external and internal threads have opposite thread-handedness. The first and second fasteners engage the internal threads of the first and second connecting members, respectively. The first and second fasteners may move the first and second connecting members toward the module to clamp the module relative to the first and second members and maintain alignment therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventors: Dennis F. Stedman, William R. Schmidt, Douglas P. Smith
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Patent number: 8684451Abstract: A front vehicle body structure may include a front side member extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a fender apron upper member disposed in an outer direction of the front side member in a traverse direction of the vehicle, and a fender apron front reinforcement member extending in the traverse direction of the vehicle and connecting the fender apron upper member and the front side member.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Ki Bong Park, Log Won Do
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Patent number: 8684452Abstract: A high-seat folding chair includes two pairs of front legs and rear legs pivotally connected with each other so as to be operable to unfold or fold the folding chair. When unfolded, each of the front legs and the rear legs form an angle relative to a horizontal plane. A footrest is mounted between the two front legs. Two opposite portions of the footrest bend symmetrically in a horizontal direction to form horizontal portions, respectively. The two horizontal portions further bend upward to form inclined extensions, and a portion of each inclined extensions forms a flat portion. An angle defined between the inclined extension and the horizontal portion is equal to an angle defined between the front leg and the horizontal plane. The inclined extensions of the footrest are respectively affixed with the two front legs, such that the footrest is mounted in horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventors: Mei Chuen Lin, Tzu Mei Wang
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Patent number: 8684453Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a device for transporting picnic tables. A transporting apparatus that connects to a hitch of a vehicle that is specifically designed to hold a foldable picnic table. The picnic table further comprising condiment shelves, wheels and side tables.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Eric Alexander Furst
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Patent number: 8684454Abstract: An infant car seat including a seat shell that forms a seat capable of receiving and retaining an infant, a hip contour defined by the seat shell, and a lifting handle rotatably attached to a connection point on the seat shell. A method of carrying the infant car seat by one carrier. A method of carrying the infant car seat by two carriers.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventors: Robert Chipman, Kevin Keenaghan
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Patent number: 8684455Abstract: A motor vehicle seat including a seat portion having a wind deflector provided in a storage compartment thereof, the wind deflector being mounted for movement between a rest position in the storage compartment and an active position out of the storage compartment. The seat portion also has a rotational joint configured to permit rotation of the seat portion between a first orientation in which the seat portion permits a user to assume a seated position, and a second orientation in which the seat portion permits the wind deflector to assume the active position.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KGInventors: Sabine Bernhard, Manuel Erlacher, Achim Schmidt
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Patent number: 8684456Abstract: The object of the invention to improve significantly the safety of a child sitting in a safety seat in a vehicle in case of a side impact will be solved by a child safety seat for a vehicle according to the invention comprising an outer shell with a seating area for a child and side wings located on both sides of the seating area, whereas at least one side wing comprises at least one side-impact-pusher-element.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GmbHInventor: Iain Powell
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Patent number: 8684457Abstract: There is provided a chair and multimedia player comprising a sound transmission apparatus performing human-body communications. The chair and multimedia player comprise at least one sound transmission apparatus, wherein the sound transmission apparatus is disposed in a surface of the chair and multimedia player to allow a user to hear a sound signal when the user is in contact with or adjacent to the surface, and the sound transmission apparatus generates a composite signal including a sound signal and a demodulation signal restoring only the sound signal from the composite signal and outputs the generated composite signal and demodulation signal into a human body in order to restore the sound signal within the vicinity of the ears of the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Sung-Eun Kim, Sung-Weon Kang, Tae-Wook Kang, In-Gi Lim, Hyung-Il Park, Chang-Hee Hyoung, Jung-Hwan Hwang, Jin-Kyung Kim, Jung-Bum Kim, Kyung-Soo Kim, Ki-Hyuk Park, Jae-Hoon Shim
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Patent number: 8684458Abstract: A swing assembly has a seat with a folding back that locks the swing automatically when the back folds from an upright configuration to a flat configuration so the swing is stable. The swing assembly includes an upper cross bar having two ends, a lower cross bar having two ends and a lateral support attached to each end of the upper cross bar and the lower cross bar, respectively. The swing assembly has a seat with two ends and a back. The back foldably attaches to the seat. A pair of seat supports attached to each end of the seat and moveably attach to a hanging support mounted on the upper cross bar adjacent each lateral support. A lower back support hangs from the seat back to automatically aligns with and lock with the lower cross bar when the swing moves from the upright configuration to the flat configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Numark Industries Company LimitedInventor: Clifton Shao-ming Lee
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Patent number: 8684459Abstract: A vehicle seat, especially a utility vehicle seat, includes a seat frame (16) and a seat shell (22) which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the seat frame (16) in the longitudinal direction of the seat (x) to adjust the seat depth. The seat depth can be adjusted by means of a motor (25) which is mounted on the seat shell (22).Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ingo Teufel, Kai Schumann
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Patent number: 8684460Abstract: A backrest structure for a seat comprising a backrest frame which has a support structure and a front side facing the back of a seat user, a backrest cushion at the backrest frame a lumbar support mounted on the front side of the backrest frame for supporting the back of a seat user, an adjusting device for adjusting the position of the lumbar support perpendicular to the extension plane of the backrest frame and a curving element arranged on the front side of the backrest frame between the lumbar support and the backrest cushion. The curving element is secured to the support structure and the adjusting device acts on the curving element in order to adjust a curvature of the curving element. Furthermore, the backrest structure comprises at least one connecting element being connected to the curving element and the support structure, which connecting element applies a pre-tensioning force to the curving element in order to maintain the curving element in contact with the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, CoburgInventor: Raymond Weir, III
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Patent number: 8684461Abstract: The invention relates to a seat for a vehicle, in particular for all-terrain vehicles, with at least one seat area extending in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle and in the width-wise direction (Y) of the vehicle for receiving a person, a backrest for supporting the back of the person and a holding device connected in the vertical direction (Z) under the seat area and to the latter for keeping the seat area at a distance from a coupling region for coupling the seat to the vehicle, wherein the holding device has at least one spring device for the movable arrangement at least for a time of at least the seat area with respect to the coupling region in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle and/or in the width-wise direction (Y) of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Grammer AGInventors: Erwin Haller, Jens Kolb
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Patent number: 8684462Abstract: An adjuster mechanism (14) includes a tilt bracket (52), a sector (54), and a motor and transmission assembly (56) and has minimal mass. The adjuster mechanism (14) is useful hi providing adjustability to a vehicle seat (12) for adjusting the front portion of a seat base cushion (16) between a plurality of positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: William Shawn Brewer, Ronald R. Siegrist
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Patent number: 8684463Abstract: An apparatus for selectively moving a seat back of a motor vehicle seat relative to a seat bottom includes an armrest movably mounted to the vehicle seat, a seat back actuator and mechanical linkage engaged with and between the armrest and the seat back actuator. The armrest has a first position that supports an arm of an occupant of the motor vehicle seat, and is movable from the first position to a second position. The seat back actuator is responsive to actuation to allow the seat back of the vehicle seat to be moved relative to the seat bottom, and is responsive to release thereof to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. The mechanical linkage is responsive to movement of the armrest from the first position to the second position to actuate the seat back actuator and to otherwise release the seat back actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Rumler
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Patent number: 8684464Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a latch (11) that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), and at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state. A cap (17) which rests on the latch (11) covers at least part of the edge of a hook opening of the latch (11).Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
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Patent number: 8684465Abstract: The headrest has a carrier element, which has joining means for fixing to a backrest of a motor vehicle seat and an upper base, and having a cushion part which has a supporting member and is displaceable with respect to the carrier element in a direction of displacement. The carrier element features a latching strip having several latching elements, and the supporting member has a locking means which in a locking position engages with one of the latching elements and in a release position is disengaged from the latching elements. The supporting member further forms at least one oblong hole surrounding the upper base. The supporting member also has a spring-loaded strip which extends along a lower edge of the oblong hole and abuts against the upper base and pushes the same into contact with the upper edge of the oblong hole.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Nectec Automotive S.R.O.Inventor: Rolf Steinmetz
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Patent number: 8684466Abstract: A knock-down, modular furniture frame including a plurality of panels having interlocking sides and at least one tensioning device having a band that girds the plurality of panels to secure the plurality of panels together under tension into an interlocking relationship.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Michael Blair
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Patent number: 8684467Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for a novel configurable ottoman. The configurable ottoman comprises a pair of rear legs, a pair of leg connectors each coupled to a rear leg, a pair of stub front legs each coupled to a leg connector, a pair of hinged front legs each coupled to a stub front leg to form an ottoman frame, and a support surface coupled to the ottoman frame having the pair of rear legs coupled to the support surface and the pair of hinged front legs coupled to the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Numark Industries Company LimitedInventor: Clifton Shao-ming Lee
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Patent number: 8684468Abstract: A back support for use in combination with a chair is provided. The back support may be used to remove body weight of a person from lower regions of the body, including the spine and pelvic region. The back support generally comprises first and second harness supports positionable at an upper region of a backrest of the chair, first and second harness supports being spaced apart and extending generally upwardly from the backrest when positioned at the chair, first and second harness supports each having an upper portion, and first and second harnesses suspendable from the respective upper portions of first and second harness supports, each of first and second harnesses being engageable with the body of the person or being engageable with additional harness structure that engages the body for transferring at least a portion of the weight of the person to the first and second harness supports.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Alveus Innovations Inc.Inventor: Denis Bourdon
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Patent number: 8684469Abstract: A vehicle seat belt apparatus includes: a webbing; a lap anchor to which one end portion of the webbing is fixed and that is pivotable in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a position retaining member that allows the webbing to be slidably inserted therethrough, and that is rigid in the vehicle longitudinal direction and is flexible and elastic in a vehicle transverse direction. In a seat belt retracted state, the position retaining member extends obliquely forward and upward from a lower end portion, and an upper end portion is located ahead of a side support of a seat back and above a seat shield.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Fukuzawa, Seiji Naito
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Patent number: 8684470Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head having a main body and a drive stem rotatably mounted within the main body. The main body defines a vacuum passage offset from the drive stem that extends through the main body from a proximal end to a distal end of the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes an axial bearing structure for transferring axial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The axial bearing structure is proximally offset from the distal end of the main body of the drill head. The tunneling apparatus further includes a first radial bearing structure for transferring radial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The first radial bearing structure is positioned between the axial bearing structure and the distal end of the main body of the drill head and is distally offset from the axial bearing structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Stuart Harrison, Andis Normunds Salins, Matthew Arlen Mills, Matthew Stephen Vos, Tod Jason Michael, Robert Hoch Shuman, V
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Patent number: 8684471Abstract: A bicycle rim includes a body having an axis defining a center thereof. The body includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery. The outer periphery and the axis have an outer radius therebetween, and the outer radius is constant. The inner periphery includes a first portion having a non-constant diameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Tien Hsin Industries Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wen-Feng Tsai
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Patent number: 8684472Abstract: This invention discloses a hydraulic braking system (1) for a vehicle comprising: two pressure supply means (2, 3), two rear braking means (4, 5) and one front braking means (6), said hydraulic system (1) being characterised in that it comprises a rear inlet distributor (12), a front inlet distributor (13), a first brake distributor (10) and a second brake distributor (11), defining a standby configuration, three braking configurations pressurising: a first rear brake, a second rear brake, the two rear brakes and the front brake respectively, pressure for the front axle braking means (6) being applied through the front inlet distributor (13), the first brake distributor (10) and the second brake distributor (11).Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Poclain Hydraulics IndustrieInventors: Jean A Heren, Romain Gostomski, Dominique P Costaz, Fablen A Roger
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Patent number: 8684473Abstract: A gear pump includes: a drive shaft; a first gear; a second gear; a first plate disposed between the first gear and the second gear, and arranged to liquid-tightly seal the first surfaces of the first and second gear; a pair of second plates disposed, respectively, on the second surfaces of the first and second gears, and arranged to liquid-tightly seal the second surfaces of the first and second gears, each of the second plates including a tooth top sealing portion having a seal surface arranged to seal a tooth top of the first gear and a tooth top of the second gear, and to form a suction portion with the first plate and the second plate; and an urging member arranged to urge the drive shaft toward the seal surface of the tooth top sealing portion of one of the first and second plates.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Chiharu Nakazawa, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Ryohei Maruo, Toshihiro Koizumi
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Patent number: 8684474Abstract: A roller of a tracked vehicle includes a lubricating oil reservoir having an open end closed by a sealing body having an outer face and an opposed inner face facing the reservoir, and which is transparent to provide visual access into the reservoir through the open end for lubricating oil level and quality monitoring purposes. A depression with a raised rim is formed in the outer face of the sealing body, and a port is formed in the sealing body, which extends through the sealing body at the depression from the outer face to the inner face of the sealing body. A removable plug is applied to and closes the port, and is positioned in the depression and extends outwardly from the outer face of the sealing body no further than the raised rim isolating the plug from shearing forces across the outer face of the sealing body.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Ronald J. Kile
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Patent number: 8684475Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Todd B. Niemann, Gopal S. Revankar
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Patent number: 8684476Abstract: A protective cabinet having an angled deflection bracket, the angled deflection bracket can include a first surface for catching falling debris, wherein said first surface is attached to an uninterruptible power supply, wherein said first surface is positioned at such an angle so as to make the debris impacting it, slide downward along its surface and reach a second surface configured to stop said sliding debris, wherein said second surface is attached to said first surface by a first corner.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Toshiba International CorporationInventor: Zaheer Rangwala
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Patent number: 8684477Abstract: A cabinet door assembly is moveably mounted to a cabinet to selectively close a chamber. The cabinet door has a substantially planar first panel and a substantially planar second panel in a planar parallel configuration. The second panel may retract relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel. A stop member may be incorporated to limit the downward movement of the second panel. Ramp surfaces and a guide member cooperate to facilitate upward and/or inward directional movement of the second panel relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Joseph D Maresh
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Patent number: 8684478Abstract: A food container and a refrigerator including a food container capable of simultaneously separating fixing members of a cover according to sliding of a handle and of taking out of food kept therein by opening an auxiliary cover even with a main cover being closed. The food container includes a main body having an entrance formed on a topside thereof, a cover opening and closing the entrance, a plurality of fixing members including one end rotatably secured to a side surface of the main body and the other end detachably connected with an edge part of the cover, to secure the cover to the main body selectively, and a handle sliding-movable on a top surface of the cover and contactable with the plurality of the fixing members, to push the plurality of the fixing members according to the sliding to unlock the securing between the cover and the main body.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Kyu Tae Park, Hong Sik Kwon, Kyeong Chul Cho, Seon Il Yu
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Patent number: 8684479Abstract: A refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, includes at least one internal container having at least one storage shelf. An edge strip or framing element is attached along at least one edge portion of the storage shelf. Seated on the edge strip or framing element of the storage shelf along part of or all of its longitudinal extent is at least one outer profiled strip and connected by at least one snap connection, plug-in connection and/or clamp connection.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Yufa Bai, Lulu Huang, Wuba Lei, Alexander Rupp
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Patent number: 8684480Abstract: There is provided a posture detecting device including: a detecting mechanism movable in a scanning direction relatively to a medium to detect a detection target; and a posture determining mechanism determining a tilt of the medium from a reference posture based on a detection result of the detection target, wherein as the detection target, the medium has a plurality of first detection targets each extending in an intersecting direction intersecting with the scanning direction at a predetermined angle and arranged at equal intervals in the scanning direction; and a plurality of second detection targets each extending in the scanning direction and arranged at equal intervals in the intersecting direction, under a condition that the medium is in the reference posture.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroto Sugahara
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Patent number: 8684481Abstract: This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a feeder, a thermal head, an energizing device configured to selectively energize heating elements of the thermal head, a driving device configured to control a driving of the feeder, a battery storage part, a voltage detecting device configured to detect an output voltage value of the battery, a display device, and a control device. The control device executes a dot count identification process where a dot count is identified at a first timing and a second timing, a dot voltage fluctuation value calculation process where a voltage fluctuation value per dot is calculated, a maximum load voltage estimation process where a voltage value of the battery is estimated at a time equivalent to maximum load, a consumption level determination process where a consumption level of the battery is determined, and a display process where a predetermined display is executed on the display device.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Tanizaki, Yuichiro Suzuki, Takahiro Miwa
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Patent number: 8684482Abstract: A textile printing apparatus includes a liquid remaining amount grasping unit which grasps remaining amounts of respective two or more kinds of liquids, and a control unit which performs control of execution of printings onto a plurality of printed textile materials, the control unit has a control mode for, in advance of starting the execution of printings, specifying any print-executable printing specification from among the printing specifications on the basis of the remaining amounts of the respective liquids and the contents of the respective printing specifications, and then, starting execution of any printing based on the any print-executable printing specification having been specified.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Nobuhiro Kanaya, Takuya Fujita
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Patent number: 8684483Abstract: A liquid stream is caused to jet from a nozzle. A small or large drop waveform applied to a drop forming mechanism causes the liquid stream to break up into a small or large volume drop, respectively. The small drop waveform includes a pulse having a width wS, and a period x, where x?1/fR, where fR is the Rayleigh frequency of the liquid. The large drop waveform includes a period Nx, with the large volume drop being N times the small volume drop. The large drop waveform includes a first pulse having a pulse width wL1, where wL1?wS, and a second pulse occurring within a period of (fR/fC)x of an initial pulse of a subsequent small or large drop waveform, where fC is the cut off frequency of the liquid. The second pulse includes a pulse width wL2, where wL2<wS.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jeremy M. Grace, Ronald L. Oyer, Giuseppe Farruggia
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Patent number: 8684484Abstract: An image forming method for use in an inkjet head includes a pressure chamber filled with ink, a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and in which a meniscus of the ink is formed, a piezoelectric element which pressurizes the pressure chamber, and a drive circuit which performs an operation of ejecting the ink in a printing state and generates a basic pulse for vibrating the meniscus in a non-printing state. The basic pulse is generated by turning off a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element for substantially the same period as a natural vibration period of the ink. An additional pulse is generated at least once before or after the basic pulse when the basic pulse is generated by the drive circuit in the non-printing state. The additional pulse is generated by turning off the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Kenichi Satake
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Patent number: 8684485Abstract: A printing device includes a nozzle row for chromatic ink comprising K nozzles and a nozzle row for achromatic ink comprising (n·K) nozzles. In a color region, an image-forming operation is performed m times in which the movement direction of the nozzle rows switches alternately between forward and reverse directions, whereby a region of the image having a predetermined width is formed. The image-forming operation performed m times includes the image-forming operation performed once in which both of the nozzle rows for chromatic ink and for achromatic ink are used, and the image-forming operation performed (m?1) times in which only the nozzle row for chromatic ink is used. In a monochrome region, the image-forming operation is performed once in which only the nozzle row for achromatic ink is used, whereby a region of the image having a predetermined width is formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Akito Sato, Bunji Ishimoto, Takahide Miyashita, Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Yasuhiro Takeuchi
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Patent number: 8684487Abstract: A disclosed conveying apparatus includes plural conveyance paths arranged in parallel and configured to receive plural conveyance objects fed from an upstream side of the plural conveyance paths and convey the received plural conveyance objects to a conveyance destination situated at a downstream side of the plural conveyance paths. The plural conveyance paths are configured to convey the plural conveyance objects in the order in which the plural conveyance objects are received.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Shinji Imoto
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Patent number: 8684488Abstract: A liquid ejecting device is provided. The liquid ejecting device includes a conveyer, liquid ejecting heads with nozzles to eject droplets of liquid, an liquid purging unit to purge the liquid out of the nozzles, a detector unit to detect presence of a recording medium, a storage unit to store length of the recording medium, a judging unit to judge whether the recording medium is jammed in a conveyer path, a head identifier unit to identify an overlapping liquid ejecting head assumedly facing the jammed recording medium based on the detected result obtained by the detector unit and the length of the recording medium, and an purge controller unit to control an amount of the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles in the remaining liquid ejecting heads to be smaller than an amount of the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles in the identified overlapping liquid ejecting head.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadao Kyotani
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Patent number: 8684489Abstract: A system cuts media printed with phase change ink in a manner that reduces the ink debris produced by cutting solidified ink. The system includes a heater configured to heat phase change ink on the media moving through the heater to a temperature at which the ink is malleable, the temperature being above room temperature and below a temperature at which phase change ink melts, and a cutter configured to receive the media after the media has been heated by the heater and to cut the media. The blade of the cutter may also be heated to facilitate media cutting with a reduced likelihood of solid ink debris being generated.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael J. Levy, Mojgan Rabbini, David A. Mantell
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Patent number: 8684490Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a joint head in which a plurality of heads, each having a plurality of nozzles, are arranged in a nozzle arranging direction, and end portions of the heads adjacent to each other overlap, an overlap processing unit that distributes recording dot pattern data used for forming dots by using nozzles of an overlapping portion of the heads out of recording dot pattern data to the nozzles of the recording head adjacent to each other, a first tone correcting unit that performs tone correction, by a first correction characteristic, on recording dot pattern data using the nozzles other than the overlapping portion, and a second tone correcting unit that performs tone correction by a second correction characteristic on recording dot pattern data by using the nozzles of the overlapping portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Yasunobu Takagi, Toshihito Kamei, Takayuki Ito
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Patent number: 8684491Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting recording liquid to perform image formation on a recording medium; and a correcting unit. The correcting unit is configured to divide the recording head by different division patterns each indicating that the recording head is divided into a plurality of segments by at least one different dividing point, correct input and output characteristics for each of the segments in each division pattern to calculate correction effect of the each division pattern, and determine one of the division patterns based on the calculated correction effects of the division patterns as a specified division pattern to correct input and output characteristics of the recording head.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Yasunobu Takagi, Toshihito Kamei, Takashi Kimura, Taku Satoh
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Patent number: 8684492Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a transport unit that unrolls and transports a recording medium being wound in a roll to the downstream side along a transport path of the recording medium; a recording unit that performs recording processing on the recording medium in a recording region positioned halfway on the transport path; and a control unit that controls the transport unit so that an amount of protrusion of the leading edge portion of the recording medium from the recording region to the downstream side is varied based on an amount of curling of the leading edge portion of the recording medium due to the curling tendency of the recording medium having been unrolled by the transport unit when the recording processing is performed on the recording medium by the recording unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masato Mitsuhashi, Koji Higuchi
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Patent number: 8684493Abstract: A droplet-discharging-head manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a droplet discharging head that includes a piezoelectric element formed by a laminated body of ferroelectric layers includes: a film forming unit that forms a ferroelectric precursor film on a silicon wafer having a conductive layer; a heating unit that heats and bakes the ferroelectric precursor layer to form the ferroelectric layer; a cooling unit that cools the ferroelectric layer; a conveying unit that conveys the silicon wafers one by one; and a control unit that controls the film forming unit, the heating unit, the cooling unit, and the conveying unit so as to repeat a series of processes including formation of the ferroelectric precursor layers by the film forming unit, heating of the ferroelectric precursor layers by the heating unit, and cooling of the ferroelectric layers by the cooling unit, for a predetermined number of times for each of the silicon wafers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yukitoshi Tajima, Keiji Ueda
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Patent number: 8684494Abstract: An apparatus applies release agent to a printhead face to prevent ink from wetting the surface of the printhead face. The release agent is applied by an applicator that is coupled to a release agent supply by a wicking member. The applicator can be integrated into a wiper for the printhead to enable release agent application and printhead facing wiping to occur at approximately the same time.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ficarra, Christine Ann Steurrys