Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8992069
    Abstract: A plasticizing system (100) for plasticizing a solidified-resin particle (202), the plasticizing system (100), comprising: (A) opposite-facing surfaces (104) being spaced apart from each other, and defining, at least in part, a convergence channel (105) being configured to receive the solidified-resin particle (202), and (B) a plunger assembly (124) being movable, at least in part, relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104), the plunger assembly (124) being configured to move, at least in part, the solidified-resin particle (202) relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104) along, at least in part, the convergence channel (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Manon Danielle Belzile
  • Patent number: 8992070
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for blending process materials. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process material contacting system to increase wetted surface area for liquid contact as well as increase forced convective mixing efficiency of the liquid mixture. Use of a novel process material contacting apparatus allows one solid feeding element to serve multiple process material tanks, thus reducing overall system costs and decreasing set-up time/process variability while increasing operational efficiency. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, rather than adding a process material to a volume of liquid held in a blending tank, the added process material is remotely blended with the liquid outside the process material tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8992071
    Abstract: A mixing device produces a multi-component mixture, in particular for medical applications, and has at least one first component and one second component, whereby the first component is a pasty fluid mass, whereby the mixing device has a housing having at least one first opening and a hollow body, whereby the hollow body has an internal space that contains the second component, and the mixing device has a feed plunger for expelling the second component from the internal space of the hollow body, whereby the hollow body has a thread and the feed plunger has a counter-thread that engages the thread of the hollow body, and the mixing device has a propulsion element that is arranged inside the housing, whereby the propulsion element converts a flow of the first component through the housing into a rotary motion, whereby the rotary motion of the propulsion element screws the feed plunger into the internal space of the hollow body, and whereby the second component can thus be extruded from the hollow space into the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Heraeus Medical GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Vogt
  • Patent number: 8992072
    Abstract: A nozzle system for mixing contents in a tank and scouring surfaces of debris and sediment is disclosed. The system is capable of use either below or above a tank's liquid content surface as well as being adaptable to flow channels and other surfaces which may become impeded with sediment and debris. The nozzle system includes at least one nozzle receiving fluid from a pump, and a splash plate positioned to deflect a discharged stream from the nozzle in a spread and downward direction. The number and positioning of additional nozzles in the system can be determined by mapping the discharge of each splash plate equipped nozzle and arranging for the desired area of coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vaughan Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn R. Dorsch
  • Patent number: 8992073
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for maintaining fluid in suspension in a mixing tank including particles includes providing a reversible mixer, rotating the mixer in a normal direction in which particles buildup on the mixer, and, rotating the mixer in an abnormal direction to shed the particles from the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Milton Roy Mixing
    Inventors: Didier Lefebvre, Gael Poulleau, Antoine Godde
  • Patent number: 8992074
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting heating, ventilation, and Air Conditioning Analytics is disclosed. The system uses one or more wireless pneumatic thermostats (WPT) and/or various other sensors in communication with a control device to maintain, troubleshoot, calibrate, optimize, or otherwise adjust an installed pneumatic HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Kramer, Moses Derkalousdian
  • Patent number: 8992075
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, N. Christopher Perry, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey, Arun D. Chawan, Kevin L. Grant
  • Patent number: 8992076
    Abstract: A dilatometer for measuring metallic samples. The dilatometer includes a sample holder configured to receive and clamp a sample, an induction coil arranged on the sample, the induction coil configured to heat the sample, and a sensor for measuring the temperature of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Waters GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Ludwig Bahr
  • Patent number: 8992077
    Abstract: An ultrasensitive ratiometric capacitance dilatometer and related methods are described. The dilatometer provides a capacitance measurement based on a ratiometric capacitance, or the capacitance ratio measured between two or more parallel plate capacitors of the dilatometer. In this regard, an absolute capacity bridge is not required, and even more advantageously, the effects of adsorbed gas are greatly reduced compared to conventional dilatometers. The ratiometric capacitance dilatometer provides a symmetrical configuration, which reduces the effects of temperature gradients. Moreover, certain embodiments provide a “v-groove design”, wherein a first parallel plate capacitor forms an angle with a second parallel plate capacitor of the dilatometer along a key centerline of the dilatometer cell, which improves manufacturability due to simpler grinding, metalizing and assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Quantum Design International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Bancroft Simmonds
  • Patent number: 8992078
    Abstract: During contactless transmission of energy between a receiver (6) for receiving the energy and a transmitter (7) for transmitting the energy for the purpose of charging a battery of a motor vehicle (1), a temperature is measured in a region between the transmitter (7) and the receiver (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Björn Elias, Florian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8992079
    Abstract: A temperature measurement apparatus for estimating a temperature profile in a process container, includes a radiation temperature measurement unit configured to measure the temperature of plural temperature measurement areas at a surface of the rotating table in a radius direction of the rotating table by scanning the surface of the rotating table in the radius direction; an operation control unit that controls to start heating of the process container by a heater while keeping the rotating table immobilized, and controls to repeat a scanning operation, in which the radiation temperature measurement unit scans the surface of the rotating table in the radius direction to obtain the temperature of the plural temperature measurement areas while the rotating table is rotated in a circumferential direction of the rotating table, after a predetermined period has passed from starting the heating of the process container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Moroi, Hitoshi Kikuchi, Masato Koakutsu
  • Patent number: 8992080
    Abstract: A temperature detection device includes a diode and an analog-digital converter. An output voltage signal of the diode is applicable to an input of the analog-digital converter. The temperature detection device is adapted for the purpose of coupling a reference voltage of the analog-digital converter and the diode current of the diode such that effects of variations of the reference voltage or the diode current on the digital output signal of the analog-digital converter are partially or completely suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Polichronis Lepidis, Uwe Schiller
  • Patent number: 8992081
    Abstract: A high temperature measurement probe comprises an elongate probe body having a measuring head which in use is located in a hot fluid flow. The probe further comprises a thermocouple extending along the interior of the probe body to terminate at a temperature-sensing thermocouple junction inside the measuring head. The probe body has internal passages for circulation of a coolant fluid therein. The measuring head contains a channel, one end of the channel forming an inlet for receiving hot fluid from the hot fluid flow and another end of the channel forming an outlet for discharging the hot fluid received at the inlet. Between the inlet and the outlet a section of the channel extends along the length direction of the probe body. The thermocouple runs along the section of the channel with the thermocouple junction proximate the upstream end of the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Peter Ireland, Andrew Wilson, Steven Thorpe, Damian Martin
  • Patent number: 8992082
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus is provided having advantages of both C-shaped, G-shaped, and ring-shaped arm configurations. The device consists of a gantry that supports X-ray imaging machinery. The gantry is formed to allow two bi-planar X-rays to be taken simultaneously or without movement of the equipment and/or patient. The gantry is adjustable to change angles of the X-ray imaging machinery. Further, in some embodiments, the X-ray receptor portion of the X-ray imaging machinery may be positioned on retractable and extendable arms, allowing the apparatus to have a larger access opening when not in operation, but to still provide bi-planar X-ray ability when in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Jun Zhang, Liu Cao, Shiyu Wei, Sean Zhu
  • Patent number: 8992083
    Abstract: A system for determining the position of an X-ray imaging apparatus mounted on an automatic mobile device is provided. The system comprises at least one mechanical link jointed to a reference point and to the X-ray imaging apparatus, and at least one measuring device configured to measure a variation of rotation angles of the at least one mechanical link relative to the reference point and to the X-ray imaging apparatus when moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Romain Moulin, Carlos Martinez Ferreira
  • Patent number: 8992084
    Abstract: Provided are pouches with rigid handles and/or internal supports and methods of making such pouches. In one aspect, a pouch with internal support includes a flexible pouch including a fitment coupled to a flexible pouch body and at least one inner support piece coupled to the fitment and extending into the inside of the pouch through the interior of the fitment. The fitment includes a fitment inner engagement feature and the at least one inner support piece includes an inner support engagement feature and at least one inner support extending from the inner support engagement feature. The fitment inner engagement feature and inner support engagement feature are interlocked to keep the at least one inner support piece from falling into or out of the flexible pouch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ampac Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore Pellingra, Allyson Smith
  • Patent number: 8992085
    Abstract: A reclosable bag or pouch configured to store, and to easily pour, material. The reclosable bag is configured with an integral pour spout having a reclosable fastener to facilitate the pouring of material from the bag, and subsequent resealing. By locating the pour spout along an upper side of the bag, material is focused downward from the bag, and not outward, when poured. Bags configured in this manner thus provide end users with enhanced control over the dispensing rate and direction of their contents. In some embodiments, the bag is also configured as a self-supporting bag capable of resting generally upright upon its bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Alan D. Olin, Diana S. Olin
  • Patent number: 8992086
    Abstract: Provided are X-Y constraining units having excellent yawing attitude precision as well as a stage apparatus and a vacuum stage apparatus, each including the X-Y constraining units. The X-Y constraining units 8 and 9 includes: Y-axis bases 81 and 91 respectively connected to Y-axis sliders 4 and 5 and having a through hole extending along Z direction; X-axis bases 82 and 92 respectively connected to an X-axis guide rail 6; shafts 83 and 93 respectively inserted into the through hole and fixed to the X-axis bases 82 and 92; and a plurality of bearing balls which are located between an inner peripheral surface of each of the through hole and an outer peripheral surface of the shafts 83 and 93, and are arranged so as to circumferentially surround the shafts 83 and 93. Each of the stage apparatus 1 and the vacuum stage apparatus includes the X-Y constraining units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Akashi, Youichi Shimizu, Yoshihisa Oae
  • Patent number: 8992087
    Abstract: A crank drive includes a crankshaft journal having a concave-shaped surface, a bearing element in which the crankshaft journal is rotatably mounted, and a bearing shell disposed between the crankshaft journal and the bearing element and having a first convex-shaped surface matched with the concave-shaped surface of the crankshaft journal. The bearing shell has a second surface associated with the bearing element and is constructed such that the bearing shell has a non-constant cross section in the longitudinal direction of the crankshaft journal. The bearing element surface facing the bearing shell is adapted to the second surface of the bearing shell regarding the shape of the bearing element surface, and the second surface of the bearing shell is cylindrical or concave and has a smaller curvature than the concave-shaped surface of the crankshaft journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Metalurgica Campo Limpo Ltda.
    Inventors: Alex de Souza Rodrigues, Luis Antonio Fonseca Galli, Tavares Walter Oliveira, Stefano Sergio Guerreiro
  • Patent number: 8992088
    Abstract: A tilting pad radial bearing for a single-shaft turbomachine is provided having a support ring, tilting pad, and tilting pad support with an aligning device rigidly fixed to the inner face of the support ring and which has a convex sliding surface facing inwards and concave sliding surface facing outwards, the concave sliding surface rigidly fixed to the outer lying rear face of the tilting pad. The sliding surfaces lay one above the other, and each surface is a circular arc in each sliding surface longitudinal section. The aligning device keeps the axial position of the tilting pad adjustable relative to the support ring such that an angle of attack of the sliding surface of the tilting pad is adjustable relative to the axis of the tilting pad radial bearing dependent on the axial position of the concave sliding surface relative to the axial position of the convex sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernadette Brahm, Frank Bockel, Diethelm Dettmar, Anna Christina Droschinski, Bernd Luneburg, Umit Mermertas, Jan Soggeberg, Marcel Stranger, Andreas Winkler
  • Patent number: 8992089
    Abstract: A bearing for retro-fit or repair of an engine provides high reliability through a sleeved bearing design having externally-supplied lubrication. The bearing assembly may be supplied as a kit including a lubrication delivery tube and an oil filter adapter having a port for supplying the external lubrication to a mounting flange of the bearing. In order to install the bearing a captive sleeve is inserted in a hollow end of the shaft being supported. A cap having a threaded stud is inserted with the sleeve into the hollow end of the shaft and secured by the required snap ring. Then a nut is used to secure the cap and the sleeve to a stud affixed to the mounting flange that secures the bearing assembly to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IMS Solutions
    Inventors: Jacob Dean Raby, Charles Lauren Navarro
  • Patent number: 8992090
    Abstract: A gravity drained bearing compartment with two oil shields that are located near to an air vent and an oil scavenge line, where the oil shields function to reduce circumferential momentum of the oil to prevent oil from entering the air vent and direct oil into the scavenge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob A Mills
  • Patent number: 8992091
    Abstract: A bearing seal, which has a rubber body impregnated with an electrically conductive material such as graphite. A level of conductivity of the bearing seal depends upon an amount of graphite integrated into the rubber body. A bearing is also disclosed, which includes at least one closure element, such as a seal, arranged between an outer and inner ring of the bearing that is impregnated with an electrically conductive material, such as graphite, to create a conductive pathway for an electrical current to circumvent the rolling elements of the bearing. The closure element aids in ensuring electric current is kept away from the rolling elements by diverting electric current from the outer ring to the inner ring of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Cudrnak, William Moratz
  • Patent number: 8992092
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring has a tubular core of steel and an outer flange of a light metal in which there are formed axial through bores for accommodating bolts for mounting a wheel to the ring; fixed in each bore is a steel insert which forms a threaded inner cylindrical cavity extending between two opposite faces of the flange, and one or two transverse shoulders which are in contact with the material of the flange so as to oppose relative axial movements of the steel insert with respect to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Carmelo Gulli
  • Patent number: 8992093
    Abstract: A wheel bearing for aircraft, that has a long service life and is reliable. The wheel bearing has a small number of individual parts and components that are simple to handle, to mount or to dismount. The wheel bearing of an aircraft landing gear has a wheel rim that is rotationally mounted about an axis over two roller bearings of a bearing arrangement. The external rings of the roller bearings are received together in a single-piece external ring bearing housing. The wheel rim can be detachably connected to the bearing arrangement in such a manner that it can be mounted or dismounted independently from the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Torsten Dotzel, Robin Lang, Christian Proeschel, Wilhelm Sebald, Gerhard Kreiselmeier
  • Patent number: 8992094
    Abstract: A suspension strut bearing including a guide ring arranged along a suspension strut axis, and a cap. The guide ring is configured for mounting a coil spring, and the cap is configured for supporting the suspension strut bearing on an undercarriage of an automotive vehicle. The guide ring includes a radial flange and further includes a guide nozzle adjoining the radial flange, the guide nozzle serving to guide said coil spring, the suspension strut bearing further including a thrust bearing arranged between the radial flange of the guide ring and the cap. The guide ring includes a reinforcement ring spray coated with a plastic, which reinforcement ring further includes a bushing section for reinforcing the guide nozzle and an integrally formed adjoining radial collar for reinforcing the radial flange, wherein the reinforcement ring is configured as a bearing part of the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Stautner, Andreas Woellner, Rainer Lutz
  • Patent number: 8992095
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter includes a main body configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through a first end and a second fiber optic connector through a second end for mating with the first fiber optic connector. The adapter includes a ferrule alignment structure located within an axial cavity of the main body, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount and a ferrule sleeve, the sleeve mount including an axial bore and at least one latching hook extending from a center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the main body and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion toward the second end of the main body, the latching hooks configured to flex for releasably latching the first and second fiber optic connectors to the fiber optic adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Nelson
  • Patent number: 8992096
    Abstract: An optical module package is provided, the optical module package including a housing main body, a cover body, first and second holding members, and a fiber unit. The first and second holding members may form, inside thereof, a unit accommodating part according to the outer size of a fiber unit in a direct opposing state. The housing main body has locking projections set an arrangement interval between two opposing surfaces of outer surface of the first and second holding members arranged to oppose each other, and a space sandwiched between locking projections is set as an accommodating space for the first and second holding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd, SAE Technologies Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukaya, Nai Kang Liang
  • Patent number: 8992097
    Abstract: There is provided an optical connector configured to receive a plurality of MT ferrules attached to terminal ends of multi-fiber cables. The optical connector includes a housing through which multiple receiving holes receiving the MT ferrules are bored. The receiving holes are arranged in the direction of the long side of front end faces of the MT ferrules. A pair of holding elements is provided in each of the receiving holes. The pair of holding elements is positioned at both ends in the direction in which the receiving holes are arranged and protrude to a side at which the MT ferrules are inserted. Both ends of a rear end flange of each of the MT ferrules placed in the receiving holes are held by the pair of holding elements. The optical connector enables easy setting-in of MT ferrules and reduction in size of optical connectors can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Koreeda, Naoki Katagiyama, Kohji Nakagawa, Rika Nomura
  • Patent number: 8992098
    Abstract: A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly includes a loose tube fiber optic cable and a connector assembly. The cable has a termination end and includes: an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers; at least one strength member; and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the at least one strength member. The connector assembly includes a rigid portion and defines a fiber passage. The connector assembly is mounted on the termination end of the cable such that the optical fiber bundle extends through at least a portion of the fiber passage. The plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle have a ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly and a loose, non-ribbonized configuration outside the rigid portion. The plurality of optical fibers undergo a transition from the ribbonized configuration to the loose, non-ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Timothy W. Anderson, Richard L. Case
  • Patent number: 8992099
    Abstract: Optical interface cards, assemblies, and related methods, which may be suited for installation and use in antenna system equipment, are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an optical interface card (OIC) comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one optical sub-assembly (OSA) mounted to at least one first opening end of the PCB and extending into at least one opening and related methods are disclosed. In other embodiments, optical interface assemblies comprised of two OICs mounted together are disclosed. In other embodiments, a communications equipment enclosure including at least one fan configured to draw in air from a first side of the communications equipment enclosure into a lower plenum and across a plurality of communications components into an upper plenum to provide air cooling are disclosed. In another embodiment, a modular distributed antenna system assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Chois A. Blackwell, Jr., Terry D. Cox
  • Patent number: 8992100
    Abstract: There is provided a bi-directional optical transmitting and receiving apparatus. The bi-directional optical transmitting and receiving apparatus includes: a package having a cavity and allowing a plurality of lead wires to pass therethrough; a platform mounted on the package and including a through hole formed above the cavity and having sloped surfaces; a reception unit mounted within the cavity and generating an electrical signal corresponding to input light made incident to the cavity through the through hole and outputting the generated electrical signal to at least one of the plurality of lead wires; a transmission unit mounted on the platform and generating output light according to an electrical signal transmitted through at least one of the plurality of lead wires; and a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) filter mounted on the platform to transfer the output light toward an optical fiber and the input light toward the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Kwon-Seob Lim
  • Patent number: 8992101
    Abstract: An optical fiber reinforcing heating device has a base part, to which a first lid part for covering a sleeve accommodation groove for containing a fiber reinforcement sleeve covering a fusion-splicing part of optical fibers is attached so as to be openable and closable. A pair of fiber holders for holding and securing the optical fibers are disposed on both end sides of the first lid part. Each fiber holder has a second lid part which is attached to a fiber container so as to be openable and closable and presses the optical fiber against the fiber container. A switch lever which is movable longitudinally of the sleeve accommodation groove is disposed on the upper face of the second lid part built in with a pin adapted to move in conjunction with the switch lever. A joint hole adapted to engage the pin is formed within the first lid part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Fukuda, Ryuichiro Sato, Hisao Yui, Hiroshi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 8992102
    Abstract: A square camera housing accommodates a square camera with a substantially square profile. The square camera housing includes a latching mechanism to secure the camera in the housing, a mounting mechanism to secure the housing to a mounting device, and multiple openings in the housing body to accommodate the camera interface. These features allow the square camera to be inserted and secured in the square camera housing in one of a plurality of orientations relative to the square camera housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Lucas Samuels, Christopher Aaron Clearman
  • Patent number: 8992103
    Abstract: A dome camera includes an inner cover covering a camera lens and a semi-spherical outer cover covering the inner cover, the camera lens being rotatable in a tilt direction and in a pan direction. The inner cover includes a partially spherical portion having an inclined support plane on which the outer cover is supported such that a radial line perpendicular to the inclined support plane is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a line passing through a center of the partially spherical portion and extends perpendicular to the installation face. A semi-spherical portion has a window, the semi-spherical portion is covered by the outer cover supported on the inclined support plane, and the outer cover rotatable in the pan direction, so as to orient the window in accordance with the orientation of the camera lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyouji Wada, Tamotsu Uchida, Tetsuro Kajino
  • Patent number: 8992104
    Abstract: Fiducials having substantially continuous portions made on a substrate allow the position of the substrate to be determined. An approach for making fiducials involves moving first and second fiducial devices together back and forth across the substrate along a trajectory having a component along the lateral axis of the substrate while the substrate and the first and second fiducial devices are in relative motion along the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The first fiducial device operates to make one fiducial on the substrate during the movement along the trajectory and the relative motion. The second fiducial device operates to make another fiducial on the substrate during the movement along the trajectory and the relative motion. The fiducials may be formed so that they have a constant spatial frequency with the first fiducial being out of phase with respect to the second fiducial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Daniel H. Carlson, Daniel J. Theis, Brian K. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8992105
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: William Berson
  • Patent number: 8992106
    Abstract: An optics cleaning apparatus includes a buffing cloth section where the buffing cloth section includes a buffing cloth housing and a buffing cloth removal clip. A scrub pad section where the scrub pad section includes a scrub pad and a dust bush housing. And a cleaning section, where the cleaning section includes a dust brush, a reservoir section and a fluid applicator, where the fluid applicator is connected with the reservoir section and where the fluid applicator includes an air channel connected with the reservoir section and where the reservoir section includes a fluid cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Melvin A. Burklow
  • Patent number: 8992107
    Abstract: An oral cavity cleaning device includes a stem having a mainly longitudinal extension and a pointed profile at a first end; a fluid channel enclosed within the stem and extending along such stem; a fluid reservoir operably connected to the second end of the stem to establish a hydraulic connection with the channel; and a tip having bristles and designed to be removably associated with the first end of the stem, the tip having a plurality of through holes for the passage of fluids from the channel to the area external to the tip, at the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Luigi Mangiarini
  • Patent number: 8992108
    Abstract: A self-driven articulation designed for automatically deploying the elements that it connects including two articulation fittings made to rotate under the action of at least one passive drive element. The articulation includes at least one flexible duct for regulating the speed at which it deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Yannick Baudasse, Stéphane Vezain, Julien Ducarne
  • Patent number: 8992109
    Abstract: A butt-welded joint of a welded structure which includes a pair of target metals; a weld bead formed by irradiating a high-energy density beam to a butt portion between the pair of the target metals and has a width W on the irradiated side surface; and a pair of altered zones consisting of heat-affected zones formed by irradiating another high-energy density beam to both sides of the center of the weld bead in the weld bead width direction such that the pair of the altered zones are located on respective sides of the center of the weld bead and each has a band shape extending in the weld bead length direction and a method for manufacturing the butt-welded joint of the welded structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Ishikawa, Ryuichi Honma, Kazutoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8992110
    Abstract: A spacer plate (3, 6, 7) for interconnecting support profiles (1, 5, 8, 9) of a display support structure (23) is described, including at least one alignment opening (11) for receiving an alignment stud (2) for aligning a first profile (1, 8) with respect to a second profile (5, 9) via the spacer plate (6), and at least one connector opening (13) for receiving a connector bar (4) for connecting the first profile (1, 8) to the second profile (5, 9) via the spacer plate (6), wherein the connector opening (13) is connected to the alignment opening (11) such that the relative position of the alignment stud (2) inside the alignment opening (11) is adjustable by the position of the connector bar (4) inside the connector opening (13). This allows to easily put the alignment stud (2) into the alignment opening (11) of the spacer plate (3, 6, 7) or vice versa and to eliminate all free play between the alignment stud (11) and the spacer plate (3, 6, 7) at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Oscar Cornelius Decroos, Tom Adriaan Gerard Dewaele
  • Patent number: 8992111
    Abstract: A set of connectors connects buckets, such as five gallon, to each other, to the ground, to dimensional lumber and/or to pipe for the purpose of producing objects such as benches, stepstools, tables, sawhorses, shelters, platforms, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Primordial Soup, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Bachman, Matthew Vail Leyden, Christian Richard Trifilio, Jeff Waffensmith, Rod St. Michel
  • Patent number: 8992112
    Abstract: The mounting structure includes a pair of first shape portions, a pair of second shape portions, and a pair of third shape portions. The pair of first shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a passage which allows the component to be inserted into and withdrawn from the mounting structure therethrough. The pair of second shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a space which allows the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape portions to rotate therein. The pair of third shape portions come into engagement with the engagement arms when the component positioned between the pair of second shape portions is rotated through a predetermined angle. The pair of third shape portions are opposed to each other and incorporated in the pair of second shape portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Matsui
  • Patent number: 8992113
    Abstract: An assembly for releasably connecting an end effector in the form of a robotic tool or component to a robotic arm is disclosed. The connection is manually operated and formed of a first and second joint member including a cylindrical body, a locking collar, and a locking wall extending from the cylindrical body. The locking collar is coaxially aligned with and rotatably connected to the first joint member. The second joint member has a cylindrical mating body and a coupler, and engages the first joint member. The coupler also includes key pins, the pins being engageable in keyed relationship with the locking wall, the coupler and locking collar further includes intervening circumferentially spaced teeth, wherein the collar is rotatable to releasably engage the first joint member with the second joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: RE2, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank F. Campagna, Nabil Michael Rizk, Keith M. Gunnett
  • Patent number: 8992114
    Abstract: A connector assembly to fasten two members including an elongate fastener with a transverse aperture where the transverse aperture has a countersunk surface and a screw threaded nipple positionable in the transverse aperture so that when the nipple is placed into the transverse aperture it moves down the countersunk surface and forces the fastener to move and bring the two fastened members closer together. The connector assembly can also include a housing to assist with the positioning of the nipple. The connector assembly has relatively few parts and provides a tight and aesthetically pleasing connection finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Boseth Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Alosman Ajanovic
  • Patent number: 8992115
    Abstract: A surface drainage structure formed above a subgrade may include an elongate drain conduit disposed partially within the subgrade. The elongate drain conduit may define at least one drain slot extending through a wall thereof. The structure may include a pavement layer with an exposed top surface and a drainage channel extending therefrom. The drainage channel may be in fluid communication with the drain slot of the elongate drain conduit. A method of forming the surface drainage structure includes placing the elongate drain conduit in the subgrade, forming the pavement layer, cutting an upper channel along the elongate drain conduit, and cutting a lower channel and the drain slot in the elongate conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shaw & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Shaw, Ronald D. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8992116
    Abstract: A vehicle barrier fence for arresting an impacting vehicle of substantial mass within a selected distance of the fence. The fence having, in part: a retaining structure, at least one cable having a first end comprising a cable terminator, a post having an orifice defined there through sized to receive the cable terminator into the post, and a cable retainer for retaining the cable terminator within the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sloan Security Group, Inc
    Inventors: Gregory Jack Sloan, Collin Ray Sloan
  • Patent number: 8992117
    Abstract: A form-fitting connection between two components (5 and 14) has a break-away function in one direction. At least one connection element, designed as a shear bolt (6), is formfittingly connected to the first component (5) to be connected. The end of the shear bolt (6) is formfittingly and functionally connected to a second component (14) via an attached component (17) that is resilient in the direction of the formfitting connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ski Data AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Schieren
  • Patent number: 8992118
    Abstract: A method for repairing an aged or damaged asphalt pavement is provided. The method involves preparing a surface of the aged or damaged asphalt pavement by filling in deviations from a uniform surface plane with dry aggregate and compacting the dry aggregate; applying a reactive asphalt emulsion to the prepared surface; and passing an emitter over the prepared pavement, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2-5 mm that penetrates into the pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches. The asphalt pavement is repaired by disturbing voids and interstices in the damaged pavement without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, such that oligomers present in the aged asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains to improve ductility of the aged asphalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: William B. Coe