Patents Issued in January 12, 2016
  • Patent number: 9232842
    Abstract: Hair tweezers have a bend section from which a pair of opposing plate-shaped gripping sections extend in the longitudinal direction, and opposing gripping surfaces are respectively formed on the ends of the gripping sections which are located on the side facing the bend section. The hair tweezers do not cause a problem in that, when the hair tweezers are in use, the ends on the side on which the gripping surfaces are formed are displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction, which intersects the longitudinal direction, to make it difficult for the user to grip a targeted unwanted hair. The thickness of a bend portion is equal to or greater than the thickness of the portions of a pair of gripping sections which are not included in the bend section. The pair of gripping sections are respectively provided with thin sections, which have a small thickness, located between the bend section and the ends having the gripping surfaces formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KOWASHOJI CO., LTD
    Inventor: Takuya Ishida
  • Patent number: 9232843
    Abstract: A nail polish curing device comprises: a lower part having a top surface and a reflective lower recess-defining surface that extends downwardly from the top surface and that defines a lower recess; an upper part disposed above the lower part and having a top wall, a bottom surface, and a reflective upper recess-defining surface that extends upwardly from the bottom surface and that defines an upper recess, the top wall being formed with a plurality of through-holes; a circuit board mounted on the top wall of the upper part; and a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on and electrically connected to the circuit board and extending respectively through the through-holes into the upper recess so as to emit light into the upper and lower recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Beauty Bela Cosme Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Li, Yi-Min Wang, I-Chen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9232844
    Abstract: A cosmetics container includes a shelf portion with a cosmetic material retention area which is configured to receive a cosmetic material. The container can include a base portion which can include a shelf portion-receiving section. The container can have a top portion which includes a base portion-receiving section, whereby the top portion can releasably engage with the base portion or the shelf portion or both. The top portion can form a transverse line along a portion of an exterior of the container when the container is in an assembled configuration. The transverse line can form a plane which bisecting the container. The base portion can have a truncated region with a substantially flat area. The substantially flat area can form an angle with the bisecting plane when the container is in the assembled configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL COSMETIC SUPPLIERS LTD
    Inventor: David Julian Cave Thompson
  • Patent number: 9232845
    Abstract: The application device (12) for a cosmetic product (16) comprises a receptacle (20) and a cosmetic article (22), the cosmetic article (22) being suitable for moving relative to the receptacle (20) between a retracted position inside the receptacle (20) and an extended position outside the receptacle (20), the cosmetic article (22) comprising a body (34) and the cosmetic product (16) housed inside the body (34), the body (34) defining a cosmetic product (16) outlet orifice (38) from the body (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Lionel Drugeon, Jean-Marc Lebrand
  • Patent number: 9232846
    Abstract: A mirror apparatus (10) includes a platform (12), a mirror support (14) depending from the platform (12), a mirror member (16) mounted to the mirror support (14) and an illuminating member (34) mounted about at least a peripheral segment of the mirror member (16) for providing illumination. The mirror member (16) may include a first mirror side (24) having a substantially planar mirror surface and a second mirror side (26) having a magnifying mirror surface. The mirror support (14) may be mounted for movement relative to the platform (12) between a first operative position and a second transport position. The mirror support (14) may be mounted for pivotal movement relative to the platform (12) between the first operative position and the second transport position. The mirror support (14) may be adapted to be releasably secured in the first operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventor: Kam Fai Fung
  • Patent number: 9232847
    Abstract: A novel gauging device and associated stencils facilitate the shaping of eyebrows according to a Golden Ratio standard. The gauging device is adapted to be placed over a woman's face and maintained in a fixed position relative to her eyes and nose. A nosepiece and knobs are adjusted such that a lower end of a guide rod may be rotated about various points relative to the nose and held in predetermined angles relative to the nose and eyes, possibly supported magnetically on a lower track adjacent the nostrils and an upper track above the eyebrows. An eyebrow stencil is held in a desired position relative to the previously positioned guide rod, which facilitates convenient application and symmetrical shaping, preferably with frictional clamps for permitting the stencil to be shifted in place so that a particular portion of the stencil is properly aligned with the guide rod after the guide rod has been aligned with an appropriate Golden Ratio marking on the stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Anastasia Soare
  • Patent number: 9232848
    Abstract: A carrier for carrying sporting equipment and other items comprises a base member that is assembled to a pair of shoulder straps, to be carried in the manner of a backpack. Depending on the type of equipment to be carried, one of a plurality of interchangeable equipment-specific members is selected and secured to the base member in a simple and efficient manner, without the use of tools. The chosen type of equipment to be carried is then secured to the corresponding equipment-specific member. The base member may comprise a female dovetail joint, opening toward the top, and each of the equipment-specific members a corresponding male dovetail, so that the desired equipment-specific member can be assembled to the base member by simply sliding the male dovetail into the female dovetail, and gravity will retain the desired equipment-specific member in the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Donald James Krikorian
  • Patent number: 9232849
    Abstract: A tool lanyard wrist cuff includes a fixed closed loop band and an adjustment tab extending therefrom. A first fastener part of a releasable fastener is fixedly attached to a loop outside surface of the closed loop band. The adjustment tab has a tab inside surface, a tab outside surface, and a distal end portion. The adjustment tab has a second fastener part of the releasable fastener fixedly attached to the tab inside surface of the distal end portion. The second fastener part is configured for releasable engagement with the first fastener part when the adjustment tab is folded with the tab inside surface against the loop outside surface to position the second fastener part in engagement with the first fastener part. A lanyard connector is secured to the distal end portion of the adjustment tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ty-Flot, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell A. Moreau, Andre W. Moreau
  • Patent number: 9232850
    Abstract: A tool carrier for attaching to a user's belt or a user's harness includes a rear wall having an upper wall portion, a tool holder disposed on a front wall surface of the rear wall, a tool carrier safety lanyard removably connected to the front wall surface, the safety lanyard having a lanyard first end and a closed loop formed in a lanyard second end, an elongated first attachment member fixedly secured to a rear wall surface of the upper wall portion at a pair of spaced-apart first and second attachment locations thereon and defining a closed loop therebetween, and a first flexible strip forming an openable strip loop when a first strip end mates with a second strip end after being positioned through the closed loop of the elongated first attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventors: Darrell A. Moreau, Andre W. Moreau
  • Patent number: 9232851
    Abstract: A brush for applying mascara or the like, comprising an elongated core and a plurality of coating surfaces axially spaced along the elongated core, distributed around the core over a substantial portion of the length of the core extending from the distal end thereof. The coating surfaces are arranged in a plurality of rows forming turns of at least one helix extending lengthwise of the core and spaced laterally around the core periphery. The axial distance between consecutive rows of coating surfaces varies longitudinally along the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Albea Services
    Inventor: Davide Manici
  • Patent number: 9232852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a toothbrush that is produced by AFT and has a head part and at least one carrier element connected thereto. A front surface of the head part is formed by the top surfaces of the at least one carrier element and has a non-planar three-dimensional configuration, or is capable of assuming such a configuration during intended use. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TRISA HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philipp Pfenniger, Franz Fischer
  • Patent number: 9232853
    Abstract: A toothbrush device having a body defining a cavity and an input port disposed on the body in fluid communication with the cavity. The input port permits brushing by-products to pass through the input port and into the cavity while restricting passage of the brushing by-products outward from the cavity. In one form, the toothbrush device includes an elongated handle with a reservoir having at least a portion disposed within the handle. The reservoir is sized to hold a predetermined amount of oral care product, and a mouthpiece is in fluid communication with the reservoir to discharge the oral care product from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Olson IP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Carl Olson
  • Patent number: 9232854
    Abstract: A oral hygiene tool has a tongue scraper and a toothbrush with an elongate toothbrush body. The tongue scraper is telescopically engaged with the elongate toothbrush body of the toothbrush, so that the tongue scraper can move between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration relative to the toothbrush. A locking system may be included for locking the tongue scraper with the toothbrush so that relative movement is prohibited, and a resilient wall may cover and seal each of the locking apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Suresh Kurji Ladva
  • Patent number: 9232855
    Abstract: A height adjustable desk can include a work surface; and at least one leg assembly connected to the work surface. The at least one leg assembly can include: a first member; and a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis; and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the desk and configured to counteract a force exerted on the work surface. The counterbalance mechanism can include: a wheel; a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston; a wheel moveably connected to the gas spring; and the tension member is connected to the leg assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Ergun, Robert W. Fluhrer, Scott Trish, Jeffrey Mensing
  • Patent number: 9232856
    Abstract: A structural coupler for joining two storage racks of a mobile rack system. The coupler includes three separate components that are movable relative to each other to allow for relative movement between adjacent storage racks while providing the structural stability to prevent tipping of the storage racks. The coupler includes a coupling bracket that includes a pair of tabs that extend through open slots formed in a movement bracket and through receiving slots formed in a receiving bracket. A removable connector prevents separation of the coupler in the assembled condition while the size of the coupling tabs relative to the open slots allows the three components to move relative to each other. A series of individual couplers can be used along the height of the uprights that form part of each of the individual storage racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventors: David Joseph Yaniak, James C. Muth
  • Patent number: 9232857
    Abstract: A modular storage frame includes: at least two storage floors each having four coupling heads, four coupling tubes, at least four opposing elements and a storage board, wherein the coupling head has two coupling portions, two neck portions and a joining portion; at least four joining tubes having four inner tubes and four outer tubes; and four supporting elements coupling respectively with the bottommost ones of the inner tubes, wherein the outer tube has two positioning elements protruding to an outside thereof. The positioning elements may provide the storage floors to be relatively firmly positioned. The opposing elements protruding from the coupling tubes may have the storage board to be easily placed and the plight that the opposing elements are not easily assembled with the coupling heads may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Jung Tan Lai
  • Patent number: 9232858
    Abstract: The invention concerns a stabilizer shoe (13) intended for a shelf (1) for storing objects, which has on its corner points vertical longitudinal posts (2) with lockable recesses (7). Into which a strut (8) provided with mounting hooks (12) is suspended, which possesses a prestressed, open upward retaining pocket (10), in which one or several shelf bottoms (3) are held in a self-clamping manner. The stabilizer shoe (13) is designed as a separate one-piece component and substantially in the form of an L. One branch (14) is designed flat and is inserted between the longitudinal post (2) and the strut (8). The other branch (15) has respectively a right-angled folded edge (17) at its opposed longitudinal sides and hence forms a U-shaped profile (18), into which the longitudinal external side (4) of a shelf bottom (3) is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Gottfried Scholz
  • Patent number: 9232859
    Abstract: A compression lock on a connector for a shelving post has upper and lower, mating collar parts having distal ends encircling more than 180 degrees of the post but separated by a gap through which the post can pass. Each distal end has an axially extending projection with a rounded end and a recess adjoining the projection. The projections of one collar part mate with the recesses of the other collar part to interlock the collar parts around a compression sleeve and form a frusto-conical inner surface that wedges the a mating sleeve against the post to affix a shelf attached to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Pro-Mart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Azad Sabounjian
  • Patent number: 9232860
    Abstract: A foldable leg rest has a seat, a first folding frame and a first stage drive mechanism. The first folding frame is pivotally connected to the seat. The first stage drive mechanism includes two angle adjusters, two first stage DC motors and a drive rod. Each of the angle adjusters is disposed between one of opposite sides of the seat and one of opposite sides of the first folding frame. The first stage DC motors are respectively disposed on the sides of the seat. The drive rod is connected between the angle adjusters. In use, the first stage DC motors are actuated to drive the drive rod and the angle adjusters such that the first folding frame is pivoted relative to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Wan-Yu Li
  • Patent number: 9232861
    Abstract: A portable stand for securely supporting an object or infant above a vehicle seat is presented. The stand is adjustable for use on an angled or flat surface. The stand securely engages the gap in a vehicle seat, thereby providing a stable support surface for an object. The stand is easily collapsible for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Kristin Filseth
  • Patent number: 9232862
    Abstract: A portable, folding table is described. The table includes a left panel, a middle panel, and a right panel and has an extended position in which the panels are substantially co-planar and a collapsed position in which the left and right panels fold between about 90 and about 180 degrees relative to the middle panel. The table optionally includes a handle attached to the front or rear side of the middle panel, legs attached to the left and right panels, and a motor to move the panels between the extended and collapsed positions. Optionally, the left or right panel includes a bottom flange that serves as a leg and further serves to hide the other panels when the table is in the collapsed position. The table is particularly suited for changing a child's diaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Arch
  • Patent number: 9232863
    Abstract: Support structures which can be placed around the waist of a user, for example a mother nursing twins. A front member and a rear member cooperate to provide an openable enclosure which can first be placed around, and then closed around, the waist of the user. The front member provides a platform which is in front of the user and on which are placed one or more babies, or other items desired by the user. The platform has desired characteristics, for example a first surface which is horizontal and a second surface which is inclined towards the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ZENOFF PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew R. Zenoff
  • Patent number: 9232864
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf or tray includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. In one example, the tray or shelf can include a first product retaining member which prevents products from being pushed off of the tray. The pusher mechanism of an exemplary embodiment includes a pusher surface, a second product retaining member, and a pusher floor that extends forward of the pusher surface and between the pusher surface and the second product retaining member. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher mechanism. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the pusher floor. With this configuration, the pusher surface is prevented from pushing the last product off of the shelf and onto the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, John Pirone
  • Patent number: 9232865
    Abstract: An end display includes a base, an end panel coupled to a rear of the base, at least one channel mounted to the base and having an open top, a first wall panel and a spanner. The first wall panel is received by the at least one channel when the first wall panel is in a display position and is removed from the at least one channel when the first wall panel is in a storage position. The spanner is mounted to the end panel and includes at least one flange. The at least one flange has a first through hole for receiving a fastener that secures the first wall panel in the display position and a second through hole for receiving a fastener for securing at least the first wall panel in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Q. Trinh, Daniel K. McDowell, Blake M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9232866
    Abstract: A crib liner or runner made of a soft blanket that is secured in place over a crib mattress's fitted sheet via an easily applied fastener. Design intent is to provide parents of infant and toddler children a practical way in which to “change” their child's bedding in the event it is soiled with formula, drool or other bodily wastes, without requiring them to change the fitted sheet in order to do so. Modified versions of the crib & mattress runner could also be made available for use with children and adult bedding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventors: Anna Hix, Thomas Hix
  • Patent number: 9232867
    Abstract: A pad structure contains a pad unit having a lateral gap formed along a peripheral side thereof. The pad unit has a first pad body and a second pad body which are at least partially spaced apart from each other by the lateral gap. The pad unit is used as a pillow and has two pad bodies for increasing support capability. In addition, the lateral gap between the two pad bodies can absorb a part of deformation. In other words, the two pad bodies flexibly expend and retract in the lateral gap so as to prevent the pad unit from depression and deformation and to well support a user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Min-Chia Chang
  • Patent number: 9232868
    Abstract: A container (1) for drinking drinks is equipped with a body (2) made of shatterproof material and comprising a broad opening (3) for forming a glass, a goblet or a tankard the container has a lid (7) which can be removably associated with the opening (3) and with the base (4) of the container (1) through a threaded coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chalice S.R.L.
    Inventor: Moris Schiavone
  • Patent number: 9232869
    Abstract: A utensil and method for holding a flatbread during preparation. The utensil secures the flatbread between a pair of rods to enable removal from hot oil, rolling, and general preparation of the flatbread, such as a tortilla. The rods that are disposed in a somewhat parallel spaced-apart relationship to one another. A space forms between the rods to securely position the flatbread between the rods for support. Each rod includes a proximal end that joins with a handle for facilitated handling of the utensil, and a distal end that engages the flatbread in a variety of manipulations. The proximal ends join together to form a junction. The junction includes an impeding portion that tapers into a linear portion. The impeding portion is configured to bias the rods slightly towards each other while still maintaining space between the rods. The linear portion fits into a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Tino Ruiz-Najera
  • Patent number: 9232870
    Abstract: A straw includes a straw body, an air return flap and a retaining ring, both the air return flap and the retaining ring are provided on the straw body, and the retaining ring is located above the air return flap and spaced apart from the air return flap. A lid equipped with the straw includes a lid body and an inserting hole, the inserting hole is provided on the lid body and is used for passing the straw therethrough. The present application can achieve the effect of automatic air return, the structure of which is simple, the air return effect is better, and the straw and the lid functioning to air return is easy to clean after being disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YINYAN PLASTIC CONTAINERS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Zhujin Wang
  • Patent number: 9232871
    Abstract: A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes an offset passage in the bottom of the base and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset bottom needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the offset passage providing clearance for the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the reusable coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ARM Enterprises
    Inventor: Adrian Rivera
  • Patent number: 9232872
    Abstract: A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes a recessed region at the bottom of a base of the holder and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the recessed region may be a large annular recessed region or a smaller off-center recessed region thereby avoiding the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ARM Enterprises
    Inventor: Adrian Rivera
  • Patent number: 9232873
    Abstract: A brewing apparatus including a fluid reservoir having a first end and a second end. The brewing apparatus can include a lid portion configured to removably engage the first end of the fluid reservoir and a cartridge holder configured to removably engage the second end of the fluid reservoir. A spring-loaded plunger can slidably connect to the lid portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Amanda L. Juris, Dervala A. Hanley, Charles B. Cook, Sung Hoon Kim, William Sauway Law, Joel Frederic Jensen, David A. Holcomb, Joseph Gray, Robert Sparks
  • Patent number: 9232874
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) having a tank (2) for containing a food-grade fluid, said tank comprising: (i) a reservoir body with side, bottom and top walls, (ii) at least one filling opening, (iii) at least one dispensing opening comprising a dispensing valve for establishing a fluid connecting between said machine and said tank, said tank having a weight WE when less than 5% of its total volume is filled, and a weight WF when at least 5% of its total volume is filled with fluid, said valve being reciprocally movable between a first position where the tank has a weight WE and the valve is open and a second position where the tank has a weight WF and the valve is closed characterized in that said machine comprises a switch disposed in the vicinity of at least one wall of the tank (2), so that: —when the tank has a weight WF said tank is in a first position so that it contacts said switch, and —when the tank has a weight WE said tank is in a second position, away from said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Anders Vestreli, Christian Talon
  • Patent number: 9232875
    Abstract: A fryer pot for a deep fryer having a pair of opposed sidewalls, a pair of opposed end walls and a bottom wall. Each of the pair of opposed sidewalls has three successive vertical portions. Wherein each of the three successive vertical portions of each of the pair of opposed sidewalls is inboard of a preceding vertical portion to thereby taper the fryer pot towards the bottom wall. A fryer pot for a deep fryer having a pair of opposed endwalls and a pair of opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall. Each of the pair of opposed endwalls has a first vertical portion and a second vertical portion that are each connected by an angled offset portion to decrease a volume of the fryer pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lamont Eric Lackman, Charles Milton Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 9232876
    Abstract: In order to achieve both ease of removal and an increase in the rate of impregnation by a predetermined chemical, in this packaging structure of a package of wet wipes, a convex region is formed at a position containing a region that faces the opening of a main package body and that is on the upper surface of a stacked body of wet wipes. The convex region is formed protruding towards the main package body. A space is formed between the region (corresponding to the ends) aside from the convex region formed on the wet wipes and the upper surface to which the opening of the main package body is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Bando, Daisuke Miyake, Ikue Hiramatsu, Yoshihide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9232877
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head, an upright section movably mounted to the surface cleaning head, a portable cleaning unit detachably mounted to the upright section and comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage, wherein the cleaning unit is operable in a first configuration wherein the cleaning unit is mounted to the upright section and is in air flow communication with the floor cleaning head, and a second configuration in which the cleaning unit is detached from the upright section. The air treatment member comprises a filtration member housing that is detachable when the portable cleaning unit is in the first configuration and when the portable cleaning unit is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9232878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an upright type vacuum cleaner including a body having a changeable angle of disposition with respect to an objective surface to be cleaned, a suction nozzle coupled to the body to be movable along the objective surface to be cleaned, a supporting assembly provided under the body to seat the body thereon for supporting a load of the body and guiding movement of the body with respect to the objective surface to be cleaned, and a holding unit rotatably provided to the supporting assembly so as to be brought into contact with the body selectively for limiting rotation of the body to hold the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jinwook Seo
  • Patent number: 9232879
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retaining plate for a vacuum-cleaner filter bag comprising a through-passage opening and a closure flap for closing the through-passage opening, wherein the closure flap comprises a first region comprising a first material of a first hardness and a second region comprising a second material of a second hardness, wherein the second hardness is at a lower level than the first hardness, wherein the second region is arranged, at least in part, on the periphery of the closure flap, and wherein the second material, at least in part, has a thickness of less than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Schultink, Ralf Sauer
  • Patent number: 9232880
    Abstract: A vacuum bag attachment assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a locking handle movably connected to the vacuum cleaner and movable between first and second positions. An opening in the handle receives a fitting of a vacuum bag. When the locking handle is in the first position, an outer shell of the vacuum cleaner is prevented from closing. When the locking handle is in the second position, the outer shell of the vacuum cleaner is closable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Zenith Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Bosses
  • Patent number: 9232881
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a main body comprising a suction motor. The suction motor provided in the air flow path. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes an air treatment member (preferably a cyclone bin assembly) provided in the air flow path. The air treatment member may be removably mounted to the main body. The air treatment member may include a power switch. A circuit may connect the suction motor to an electrical source. The circuit may be open and closed by operation of the power switch, and the circuit may be interrupted when the air treatment member is removed from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9232882
    Abstract: Dishwashers and methods of control for operation of dishwashers are disclosed. The dishwasher may include an upper rack in an upper portion of a washing compartment configured to receive small dishes, such as a cup having a small washing load, and a lower rack in a lower portion of the washing compartment for placing large dishes, such as a dinner bowl having a large washing load. The operation of the dishwasher can include wash and rinse cycles having a plurality of sub-cycles. During the sub-cycles, the upper and lower racks can be selectively sprayed with water and steam can be supplied to the washing compartment based on configured conditions, such as a water temperature or operation time being reached. The operation of the dishwasher can reduce excessive washing of dishes having small washing loads and reduce power consumption of the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Jin Choi, Gap Su Shin, Byeong Hyeon Ju
  • Patent number: 9232883
    Abstract: To provide an endoscope apparatus in which the observation image can be varied continuously as the observation magnification is varied by a zoom magnification varying manipulation so that an observation image suitable for an endoscope diagnosis is obtained at each observation magnification, and to thereby prevent the operator from feeling uncomfortable and increase the accuracy of a diagnosis. An endoscope apparatus is equipped with illuminating unit having plural light sources which generate light beams having different spectra, for illuminating an observation subject; imaging unit for imaging the observation subject; observation magnification varying unit for varying observation magnification of the imaging of the imaging unit; and light quantity ratio varying unit for continuously varying an emission light quantity ratio between the plural light sources according to the observation magnification that is set by the observation magnification varying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ozawa, Takayuki Iida, Yasuhiro Minetoma, Akihiko Erikawa
  • Patent number: 9232884
    Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a tissue obtaining unit that obtains a tissue from a body site of a subject; a detecting unit that detects a state of the tissue obtaining unit that varies depending on whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; an output unit that outputs information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; and a control unit that determines whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue based on the state of the tissue obtaining unit, which is detected by the detecting unit, and causes the output unit to output the information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Aoki, Miho Katayama
  • Patent number: 9232885
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for detecting tumorous cell tissue in a gastrointestinal tract, electromagnetic radiation is emitted in a locally defined manner from an endoscope onto cell tissue and, after deactivation of the radiation, the decay of the inherent fluorescence intensity of the irradiated cell tissue, excited by the electromagnetic radiation, is detected, with temporal and spectral resolution and with a known scanning rate for at least one wavelength. From the intensity measurement values obtained in this manner, the difference autocorrelation function of the intensity decay is determined, from which a fractal dimension for the irradiated cell tissue is determined. The value of the fractal dimension is used to classify the irradiated cell tissue as to a degree to which the cell tissue is tumorous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Fehre, Ralf Nanke
  • Patent number: 9232886
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in an operating theatre equipped with a surgical table, comprises a lifting frame (12) attachable to the surgical table and adapted for lifting a body part of a subject undergoing a surgical procedure upon the surgical table, and comprising an upright support post (18) incorporating a jack (54), and a lifting arm (17) pivotally mounted upon the post, whereby the arm can be turned about the upright support post on thrust bearing (57) to either overhang the surgical table, or be pivoted away to permit access to the surgical table. The arm is adapted to support a retractor that comprises a blade portion incorporating a plurality of independent lighting devices positioned in light ports (71, 72, 73) and configured to provide discrete illumination selectively to zones within the surgical field according to (a) a predetermined sequence program, or (b) a sequence determined by a user of the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CardioPrecision Limited
    Inventors: Ying Sutherland, Fraser William Havern Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9232887
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a fundus image acquisition unit which acquires a plurality of fundus images acquired by imaging fundus of a subject's eye at different times and at least one fundus image that is fewer than the plurality of fundus images and acquired by imaging fundus of the subject's eye at a different time from those for the plurality of fundus images, a unit which generates a new fundus image by averaging the plurality of fundus images, an extraction unit which extracts a feature region from the generated new fundus image, and a unit which tracks the fundus such that positions of a first polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the new fundus image and a second polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the at least one fundus image may be corrected based on the extracted feature region and the at least one fundus image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Goto, Makoto Sato, Hiroyuki Shinbata
  • Patent number: 9232888
    Abstract: Provided is an optical tomographic imaging apparatus including: a tomographic image acquiring unit for acquiring a tomographic image of an eye of a patient; a scanning type two-dimensional image acquiring unit for acquiring a two-dimensional image of the eye; a patient information storage unit for storing images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring unit and the scanning type two-dimensional image acquiring unit together with patient information; and a display unit. The display unit performs a list display of patient information of at least one patient stored in the patient information storage unit. When one patient is selected from a patient group in the list display, at least one past acquired tomographic image and a two-dimensional image acquired substantially simultaneously with the tomographic image of the patient are displayed as thumbnail images in a list. An image parameter of the tomographic image displayed as the thumbnail image is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9232889
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatuses and methods for detecting corneal surface defects. The methods and/or an apparatus of the invention can be used to detect corneal surface diseases, such as dry eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard L. Ornberg, Gary W. Williams
  • Patent number: 9232890
    Abstract: In order to prevent inaccurate position detection caused by overlapping between a position alignment index and an optic papilla of a fundus in position alignment between an eye to be inspected and an apparatus when a fundus image is photographically captured, an ophthalmologic apparatus includes: a projection unit configured to project a plurality of alignment indices onto an eye to be inspected; an optic papilla position detection unit configured to detect an optic papilla position of the eye to be inspected; and an alignment detection unit configured to detect a positional relation between the eye to be inspected and an apparatus main body from a reflection image of the alignment index, wherein the alignment detection unit performs alignment detection by selecting a reflection image of at least one of the reflection images of the plurality of alignment indices depending on the optic papilla position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ono
  • Patent number: 9232891
    Abstract: The invention relates, according to one aspect, to a retinal imaging device including at least one source (LSa, LSr) for emitting a light beam in order to illuminate the retina of an eye (10) of a subject, a retinal imaging path including a detection device (12) having a detection plane (121) and an optical imaging system (L1, L5, L6), an analysis path including a device (15) for measuring optical defects having an analysis plane (151) for receiving a set of light rays backscattered by the retina and optical means for adjoining said analysis plane and a predetermined plane in the input space of said imaging system of the imaging path, a correction device (14) shared by said analysis and imaging paths, which includes a correction plane (141) and which is intended to correct, in said correction plane, the light rays from said emission source and backscattered by the retina according to the optical defects measured by the device for measuring optical defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Imagine Eyes
    Inventor: Xavier Levecq