Patents Issued in November 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9809014
    Abstract: A method for producing a resin joined body in which a specific region L1 of a welding portion of a second resin member (21) is provided to form a low-laser-light-transmissible portion, and the low-laser-light-transmissible portion has a laser light transmissibility lower than that of a region of the welding portion other than the specific region L1. Welding is carried out so that a portion between points S2 and F2, serving as a weld overlap portion (112), is present in the specific region L1 forming the low-laser-light-transmissible portion. Also disclosed is a resin joined body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Kawagishi, Yusuke Fuji, Takashi Koda, Yoshihiko Kohmura
  • Patent number: 9809015
    Abstract: A method of customizing an article with graphics applied using a graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The method includes a step of creating or selecting a customized graphic to be applied to an article. The article and the customized graphic are placed within the graphic transfer assembly. A deformable membrane may apply the customized graphic to curved portions of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Scot Hull, Elizabeth Langvin
  • Patent number: 9809016
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for bonding a silicone or silicone based material to a polyurethane and use of the bonded silicone-polyurethane in the manufacture of biomaterials, devices, articles or implants, in particular long term implantable medical devices in the fields of cardiology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery and gastroenterology. The process involves the steps of (a) flame treating a surface of the silicone or silicone based material and (b) bonding the polyurethane to the flame treated surface of the silicone or silicone based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Aortech International plc
    Inventor: Ajay D. Padsalgikar
  • Patent number: 9809017
    Abstract: To allow short time spreading for adhesive, verifying whether the adhesive is spread out to a member end. In obtaining a bonded member by applying the adhesive to a surface of one of two members and bonding the members with a member bonding device, a tilt adjusting device acquires with a camera an image of spreading state of the adhesive in the members' bonding surface, and adjusts the tilt of the bonded member when a non-spreading part of the adhesive between ends of the bonded member and the adhesive has a size bias so that the adhesive moves to the larger side of the part, and a spreading adjustment device controls a pushing amount and a pushing time interval of a pressing-side member to adjust spreading of the adhesive so that the part size reduces to a predetermined size depending on the part size acquired with the camera, and cures the adhesive in the bonded member edge with the non-spreading part eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ORIGIN ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuto Yamashita, Tomoyuki Saito, Masahiro Sudo
  • Patent number: 9809018
    Abstract: A structural element that includes a central part formed of a fibrous material suspended in a thermoplastic matrix and at least one side part formed of a fibrous material suspended in a thermoplastic matrix and having at least one void therein. The central part and the at least one side part are bonded together while in a heated thermoplastic state to form a single, integral structure characterized by the absence of discontinuity across the bond plane of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventor: Alexander Nicholas Pozzi
  • Patent number: 9809019
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to apparatus and methods for dismantling a hermetically sealed chamber. In one embodiment, an apparatus facilitating the opening of a hermetically sealed chamber in a device comprises a fixture configured to hold the device, and a system configured to create sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. In one embodiment, a method for opening a hermetic seal between first and second elements forming a chamber in a microfluidic chip comprises using a release technique creating sufficient tensile or shear stress at a bond interface of the seal to open the seal under controlled conditions. The release technique comprises introducing a tool to the vicinity of the interface without any contact between the tool and any material within the chamber. The breaking of the seal results in the complete separation of the first and second elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Raymond Miller Karam, Thomas Wynne, Anthony Thomas Chobot
  • Patent number: 9809020
    Abstract: An automatic screen registration device for a registering a screen printing frame and method of use that includes generally (1) a print head or plurality of print heads; (2) frame or frames attached directly to the print head(s) and (3) a means for positioning a screen in the frame(s). The present invention uses a multi-point registration system that is attached to each print head of a screen printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lawson Screen Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoff McCue
  • Patent number: 9809021
    Abstract: A variable lithographic inking system includes a chamber blade system configured to supply ink to an anilox member of an inking system. The inking system includes a soft ink transfer roll and a hard form roll. Ink is transferred from the anilox roll to the form roll by way of the transfer roll, and from the form roll to a reimageable surface layer of an imaging member of a variable data lithographic system. An ink layer free of ink history is uniformly applied onto a surface of the form roll, and subsequently transferred to the reimageable surface layer while avoiding or substantially eliminating image ghosting related to inking non-uniformities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy D. Stowe
  • Patent number: 9809022
    Abstract: A drying assembly is disclosed. An example apparatus includes fans; a temperature sensor; a print engine to access instructions to cause a printer to perform a printing operation on media; and a processor responsive to an output of the temperature sensor to control the fans to force air onto the media to cause a substantially uniform temperature to be maintained across a width of the media during the printing operation and to cause a sum of air flow output by the fans to be maintained at a substantially constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Perez Gellida, Mikel Zuza Irurueta, Oriol Borrell Avila, Juan Manuel Valero Navazo, Roger Bastardas Puigoriol
  • Patent number: 9809023
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting device, including: a flow-path defining member having a pressure chamber formed therein; a piezoelectric actuator constituted by a plurality of layers which includes a piezoelectric layer, a common electrode, and an individual electrode, superposed on the flow-path defining member, and having a through-hole communicating with the pressure chamber; an annular conductor disposed on one of opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric actuator remote from the flow-path defining member such that a part of the layers are sandwiched between the annular conductor and the common electrode, the annular conductor surrounding a periphery of the through-hole; and a liquid supply member having a supply path communicating with the through-hole and bonded to the one of the opposite surfaces via the annular conductor, wherein the annular conductor is connected to a terminal configured to be given a predetermined constant potential and is exposed to a flow path defined by the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohei Koide, Keita Hirai
  • Patent number: 9809024
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a recording head to discharge a liquid on a recording medium while scanning in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction relative to the recording medium. The recording head includes a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array. The first nozzle array discharges the liquid in a first discharge amount per unit time per unit length in a longitudinal direction. The second nozzle array discharges the liquid in a second discharge amount per unit time per unit length in the longitudinal direction. The second nozzle array is shorter than the first nozzle array in the longitudinal direction and disposed not overlapped with the first nozzle array in the main scanning direction. The second discharge amount is larger than the first discharge amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiroh Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9809025
    Abstract: A printing system comprising a pen comprising a number of print bars; each print bar comprising a number of printheads in which the printheads are grouped to a number of printheads from each of the number or print bars, the grouped printheads forming a slice and in which the printheads of the slice are electrically coupled to a common power supply unit. A printing pen comprising a number of print bars in which each of the number of print bars comprises a number of printheads, in which the number of printheads are grouped together to form a slice, the slice comprising a printhead from each of the print bars, and in which the slice is powered by a common power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Jose Miguel Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9809026
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a first substrate having an empty chamber, a diaphragm defining a surface of the empty chamber, a piezoelectric element formed by stacking a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer in sequence from the diaphragm side, the piezoelectric element provided on the side of the diaphragm opposite to the empty chamber, and a second substrate provided on the side of the first substrate opposite to the diaphragm. The thickness of at least a part of the first substrate in an opening peripheral area of the empty chamber is thicker than the thickness in an area outside the opening peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoki Takabe
  • Patent number: 9809027
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structure includes (1) positioning a first resin layer provided on a first supporting member on a substrate having a through hole, with the first resin layer facing toward the substrate, and releasing the first supporting member from the first resin layer; and (2) positioning a second resin layer provided on a second supporting member on the first resin layer from which the first supporting member has been released, with the second resin layer facing toward the first resin layer, and releasing the second supporting member from the second resin layer. A first resin layer portion that is above the through hole is removed before or simultaneously with the releasing of the first supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Matsumoto, Jun Yamamuro, Kazuhiro Asai, Kunihito Uohashi, Seiichiro Yaginuma, Masahisa Watanabe, Koji Sasaki, Ryotaro Murakami, Kenji Fujii
  • Patent number: 9809028
    Abstract: A printer has a print head check unit that performs an ink ejection check to confirm whether or not ink is being ejected normally from nozzles, the printer sets a flag F to 1 so as to start an ink ejection check and starts a paper feed process. When the processes has been terminated, the printer starts printing. Accordingly, ink ejection check takes place concurrently with the paper feed process, the overall time required for the processes can be reduced. In this way, the overall time required for the processes of the ejection check of the print recording liquid and an image forming process can be reduced. Further, the ink ejection check may be performed in parallel with or partly overlapping with a process of receiving print data, a process of conversion into print data, a process of ejecting paper after printing, or a flashing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji Izuo
  • Patent number: 9809029
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, and an absorption member which is able to contact the nozzle surface, in which it is possible to perform a first contact operation which causes the absorption member to contact the nozzle surface at a position which corresponds to a nozzle region that includes an opening region of the nozzle, and a second contact operation which causes the absorption member to contact the nozzle surface at a position which corresponds to a non-nozzle region that is a region outside of the nozzle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Suzuki, Koji Harada, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Kazuhiko Hara, Yasunori Koike, Ryo Oguchi
  • Patent number: 9809030
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes an ejecting unit which ejects liquid, and a collecting unit which collects mist which occurs along with ejecting of the liquid from the ejecting unit from a collecting port, in which the collecting unit includes a backflow prevention unit in the collecting port. By adopting such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to suppress backflow of mist of the liquid from the collecting unit which collects mist of the liquid which occurs along with ejecting of liquid from the ejecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Suzuki, Tsutomu Sasaki, Satoru Katagami, Kazutoshi Fujishima
  • Patent number: 9809031
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a partitioning wall partitioning the liquid chamber into a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber, a communication opening through which liquid can flow from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber, and a movable member which is movable between a block position and a communication position. When the movable member is in the block position, the movable member is configured to prevent the liquid from flowing from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber through the communication opening, and when the movable member is in the communication position, the liquid is allowed to flow from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber through the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Suguru Tomoguchi, Kenta Hayashida, Taro Nagano, Ayako Ohishi, Hirofumi Kondo, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 9809032
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a chamber configured to store liquid therein, with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the chamber. A detector is positioned in the chamber so as to be rotatable between a released position and a restricted position. The detector has a detection portion and a restriction portion with a first contact surface defining a first length. A restriction member includes a second contact surface that defines a second length greater than the first length. The restriction member is movable straightly between a first position in which the first and second contact surfaces contact one another, a second position in which the first and second contact surfaces do not contact one another, and a third position between the first and second positions in which the first and second contact surfaces contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihito Ono
  • Patent number: 9809033
    Abstract: A liquid container including: a liquid container part; a liquid injection part; an air introduction part; and a buffer part that is in communication with the liquid container part via a first communication path, and in communication with the air introduction part via a second communication path. the buffer part, when the liquid container is in a second orientation that is rotated from the first orientation by 180°, is configured to store the liquid having a volume that is equal to or larger than a volume of the liquid in the liquid container part such that a surface of the liquid is located below a second opening end of the first communication path in the buffer part and a third opening end of the second communication path in the buffer part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Matsuda, Shoma Kudo, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9809034
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid to a liquid inlet of a liquid jet apparatus. The liquid supply unit includes a liquid housing part configured to house a liquid, a liquid outlet configured to draw the liquid from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part, and a filter provided upstream of the liquid outlet in a channel of the liquid that is drawn from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part via the liquid outlet. The filter includes a first filter and a second filter that are constituted by a plurality of fibers laminated in a flow direction of the liquid. The first filter is provided upstream of the second filter in the channel of the liquid, and the first filter and the second filter differ in coarseness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Masahiro Karasawa, Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9809035
    Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing colors of a color printer by printing color patches on a test sheet of paper associated with a paper type, determining spectral data of the color patches using an inline full width array spectrophotometer of the color printer, determining measurements based on the spectral data, determining that a measurement is equal to or within a range of a measurement associated with an existing paper profile; and printing subsequent sheets of paper associated with the paper type using parameters associated with the existing paper profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthew J. Ochs
  • Patent number: 9809036
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing an image of a first flushing pattern applied on a medium during production of a print job to detect presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles and adjusting to a second flushing pattern during the production of the print job upon detecting the presence of one or more defective print head nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kartheek Chandu, Carl Bildstein
  • Patent number: 9809037
    Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method including: applying a reaction liquid to a recording medium by sending the reaction liquid from a reaction liquid container to a nozzle orifice in an ink jet head through a reaction liquid passage and discharging the reaction liquid from the nozzle orifice, the reaction liquid passage connecting the reaction liquid container to the nozzle orifice; and applying an ink composition to the recording medium by discharging the ink composition from a nozzle orifice in the ink jet head, the ink composition at least containing a color material. The reaction liquid contains a (meth)acrylic resin and a polyvalent metal salt, the polyvalent metal salt serving as a coagulating agent that is reactive with a component of the ink composition. At least one of materials that constitute the reaction liquid container and the reaction liquid passage and that make contact with the reaction liquid contains a C6 or higher aliphatic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Yano
  • Patent number: 9809038
    Abstract: A droplet drying device includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in a two-dimensional manner to irradiate droplets with light to dry the droplets, the droplets being ejected on a recording medium by an ejection unit, a regular irradiation capability portion provided in a region corresponding to an image forming region of the recording medium where an image is formed, the regular irradiation capability portion having a predetermined light irradiation capability, and a low irradiation capability portion provided in a region corresponding to a region of the recording medium set to have a lower image-forming density than the image forming region, a light irradiation capability of the low irradiation capability portion being lower than the predetermined light irradiation capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Ishihara, Takeshi Zengo, Takehiro Niitsu, Akira Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9809039
    Abstract: A plasma generating device includes a first plasma electrode and a counter electrode facing each other. The first plasma electrode extends in a lateral direction and includes two projections. Each of the two projections protrudes from the first plasma electrode in the direction of the counter electrode over a predetermined distance. The plasma generating device further includes a preload mechanism adapted for urging each of said two projections of the first plasma electrode against the counter electrode. The two projections cooperatively define a plasma gap between the first plasma electrode and the counter electrode. The counter electrode includes a support surface facing said plasma gap. The support surface is substantially flat along the plasma gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Guido G. Willems, Hermanus M. Kuypers
  • Patent number: 9809040
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a drive roller, a driven roller, a recording unit and a control unit. The driven roller is configured and arranged with respect to the drive roller so that the recording medium is grasped between the drive roller and the driven roller. The recording unit is configured and arranged to record an image on the recording medium arranged further to a downstream side than the drive roller in a first direction. When the control unit stops conveying of the recording medium in the first direction, the control unit is configured to stop conveying of the recording medium in a state in which an area of the recording medium different from an area, in which the image is planned to be recorded after a timing at which conveying of the recording medium is stopped, is in contact with the driven roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Akihiro Toya
  • Patent number: 9809041
    Abstract: An inkjet printer which is finely adjustable as to elevation above a printing medium includes an inkjet head and an adjustment module. The adjustment module includes a magnetic track, a platen, and two electromagnetic elements. The platen supports the printing medium and the two electromagnetic elements are coupled to a power source. The two electromagnetic elements can slide in the magnetic track, and are moveable relative to the magnetic track in a direction perpendicular to the printing medium, to adjust a distance between the inkjet head and the printing medium. A printing system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hui-Huang Lin
  • Patent number: 9809042
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage which can move in a reciprocating direction, in which the carriage is provided with an ejecting unit which ejects liquid, a circuit board which inputs a signal to the ejecting unit, and a fan which can blow air toward the circuit board, and includes a separator which separates a path through which mist which occurs along with ejecting of liquid from the ejecting unit reaches the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Suzuki, Tsutomu Sasaki, Satoru Katagami, Kazutoshi Fujishima
  • Patent number: 9809043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an advent calendar (1) comprising: a central axis (10), from which at least three side parts (2) extend substantially radially outwards, wherein i) the side parts are joined together, preferably in the region of the central axis, ii) at least one side part is removable or can be swung or folded over onto an adjacent side part and can preferably be attached to the adjacent side part, iii) there are distributed over the side parts at least 24 pre-punched recess fields (3), which can be removed from the side parts and, after removal, each provide recesses (4) in the side parts, each of which has a first suspension device (5), for example a hook (6, 7) for hanging an article in the recess and/or wherein there are distributed on fields of the side parts at least 24 pre-punched second suspension devices, which can preferably be folded or bent out of the fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Marcell Tauber
  • Patent number: 9809044
    Abstract: A marketing system implemented at one or more target sites having a contaminated user interface includes a plurality of sanitary glove assemblies each having at least one advertising indicia visibly displayed thereon, and which are provided to end users for use at the target site without charge. At least one dispenser assembly having an advertisement media support disposed at each target site proximate the contaminated user interface, and a replaceable advertising media displayed therein. Each dispenser assembly comprises a storage compartment dimensioned to contain at least some of the plurality of sanitary glove assemblies, and a dispensing aperture through which an end user can remove one or more of the plurality of sanitary glove assemblies, as needed. In at least one embodiment, a disposal assembly is provided proximate the dispenser assembly at the target site. A method for implementing the present system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Antonio Lyon
  • Patent number: 9809045
    Abstract: A hands-free portable work surface includes a rigid work surface substrate and a strap connected thereto. The strap extends away from the work surface at two points along a perimeter thereof, and is routed along the perimeter of the work surface between the two connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: James Raeburn
  • Patent number: 9809046
    Abstract: A binding device (10) is provided which can be performed opening/closing of binding rings smoothly; comprising a plurality of openable/closable binding rings (12, 14), a holding member (16), an operating member (18), and an opening/closing member (40); the operating member comprises a pair of operating pieces (30, 32); base portions of one and the other of the binding rings are secured to the operating pieces respectively; the binding device has a button member (80) in the vicinity of one and/or the other end portion of the operating member; the button member has a first and a second arm portion (800, 820) for moving the one of the operating pieces; and the first and second arm portions are respectively configured to move the operating piece (30) to the first arm portion and to move the operating piece (32) to the opposite side to the second arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LIHIT LAB., INC.
    Inventors: Kanji Tanaka, Yoshiteru Arimoto, Hiroyuki Yamashita, Hiroshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 9809047
    Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: U.S. Ring Binder, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Whaley, Christopher Whaley
  • Patent number: 9809048
    Abstract: Adjustable rods for use in a filing system are disclosed. An example rod includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end, a first hook extending from the first end, and a second hook extending from the second end. In addition, the example rod includes a first resilient member having a first length. The first hook is coupled to the elongated body via the first resilient member, and the first length of the first resilient member is automatically adjustable during movement of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LSC COMMUNICATIONS US, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Goodfellow, David Gruza, Christopher Holman, Candie Harris, Braden Jones
  • Patent number: 9809049
    Abstract: The present invention provides tablets with interconnection features and a system of multiple tablet assemblies removably interconnected to one another. The tablets may be removably mounted to a vertical surface or positioned on a horizontal surface. Features of the present invention allow a user to remove or move one tablet from the system without disrupting or moving the other tablets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Comsero, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Franco
  • Patent number: 9809050
    Abstract: A media display assembly that includes a base assembly, including a base and a steel plate that forms a front surface of the base assembly and is removably affixed to the base, and wherein the base defines a set of resiliently deformable inwardly facing side surfaces. A cover, including a sheet having transparent display portion, is fit and held by tension between the resiliently deformable inwardly facing side surfaces. Finally, display media is interposed between the steel plate and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: REVOLUTION SIGN AND MEDIA GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Richard Wendell Hiatt
  • Patent number: 9809051
    Abstract: An improved transparent template and positioning device for aligning material to be stitched, marked or cut, the template including two overlapping lines with one or more being translucent and one or more using fluorescent pigment that will overlap their colors to create a third color forming an outline or “halo” effect of enhanced visibility, enabling the darker more precise opaque lines on the ruler to be easily seen or found on light and dark materials. The translucent lines will allow the user to see through the template to the actual material that he or she is working with in order to provide improved viewing and more accurate alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rulersmith IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Elmer J. Norgard
  • Patent number: 9809052
    Abstract: Containers for products such as glue sticks are provided. The containers include a valve and a mechanical device for advancing a product through the container and for opening the valve. The mechanical device includes a screw component having a base portion and a threaded portion, a valve lifter component selectively slidable between a retracted position, in which the valve is closed, and alternatively an extended position, in which the valve is open, a biasing element that engages and applies force to the valve lifter component, and an elevator component for advancing the product through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Elmer's Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn D. Heipp
  • Patent number: 9809053
    Abstract: Systems and methods directed to the art of transferring a fluid, such as to a work surface, are provided. A fluid applicator capable of being received within a standard hobby knife handle and used to apply a desired amount of fluid to a work surface. The fluid applicator has a loop end for collecting, supporting, and depositing a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Alfter
  • Patent number: 9809054
    Abstract: A panel includes a thermoset material, and an image comprising sublimation ink. The sublimation ink is absorbed in the thermoset material. The rigid component may be a rigid structure formed by the thermoset material. The panel may be for a bath or shower enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Steven Grunwald, Jonathan Kyle, Robert D. Hill
  • Patent number: 9809055
    Abstract: A wheel locking assembly is provided for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle. That wheel locking assembly includes a locking cylinder and a wheel retainer. The wheel retainer is displaceable by means of the locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of the wheel from the wheel hub and a locked position securing the wheel to the wheel hub. A related method for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Prescott Hickey, Jordan Mazaira, Ka Wai Kevin So Zhao
  • Patent number: 9809056
    Abstract: Holonomic bases, and drive shafts and roller assemblies that can be used in the holonomic bases. In some implementations, a holonomic base includes at least two pairs of roller assemblies, with each of the pairs being coupled to a corresponding drive shaft. In some of those implementations, each of the roller assemblies of each pair includes three roller segments that are each coupled to the corresponding drive shaft and that each include an exposed outward facing spherical zone that approximates a portion of the surface of a sphere. The roller segments of each roller assembly are in fixed relation to one another relative to the rotational axis of a drive shaft to which the roller assembly is coupled, but the roller segments each freely rotate about a corresponding roller segment rotational axis that extends outward from the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Justine Rembisz, Christopher Lynn Morey
  • Patent number: 9809057
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining an information transfer rate between a driver and a vehicle, where the information transfer rate is calculated using driver information measured directly from the driver and vehicle information measured directly from the vehicle. The method also includes retrieving a baseline information transfer rate for maintaining control of the vehicle from a baseline information transfer rate database. A driver safety factor is calculated using the information transfer rate and the baseline information transfer rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin C. Fung, Timothy J. Dick, Charles William Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9809058
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a circumferentially zoned tread. The tread zones are comprised of three circumferential load bearing zones, with each zone containing a portion of the running surface of the tread, comprised of a silica-rich intermedial rubber zone positioned between and extending beneath two carbon black-rich lateral tread zones. The tread configuration contains an underlying carbon black-rich base rubber layer. The intermedial and stratified lateral zones are comprised of rubber compositions having differentiated rebound physical properties. A path of least electrical resistance extends from a lateral carbon black-rich rubber tread zone to the carbon black-rich tread base layer by an extension of a lateral tread zone or by an intermediate carbon black-rich rubber bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Roberto Cerrato Meza, Junling Zhao, Austin Gale Young
  • Patent number: 9809059
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire capable of exhibiting improved on-snow cornering performance on a snowy road and improved on-ice cornering performance on an icy road surface. Specifically, the pneumatic tire comprises: a tread portion (1) including a ground contact surface (5) to be brought into contact with a road surface when the tire is rotated; a pair of sidewall portions (3) forming side surfaces of the tire and extending from the tread portion (1) toward the inner side in the tire radial direction, respectively; and buttress portions each forming an outer surface region (7) ranging from an end portion in the width direction of the ground contact surface (5) to the corresponding sidewall portion (3), wherein polygonal blocks (11) are formed in the outer surface region (7) by demarcation by grooves (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Ochi
  • Patent number: 9809060
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion provided with a middle land portion 6 which is arranged between a central main groove 3 and a shoulder main groove 4. The middle land portion 6 is provided with an inner middle lateral groove 8 and an outer middle lateral groove 9. The inner middle lateral groove 8 comprises a first inclined portion 10 that extends axially outwardly from the central main groove 3 at an angle ?1 of from 10 to 40 degrees with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire, and a second inclined portion 12 that is inclined at an opposite direction to the first inclined portion 10 so as to extend axially inwardly, and a bent portion 11 connecting the first inclined portion 10 and the second inclined portion 12. The outer middle lateral groove 9 is communicated with the second inclined portion 12 of the axially inner middle lateral groove 8 without including an axially outermost groove edge 8e of the inner middle lateral groove 8, and is communicated with the shoulder main groove 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Iwata
  • Patent number: 9809061
    Abstract: A tire is provided with multiple projection parts in a groove bottom of a groove portion. The projection parts extend from one side wall to the other side wall opposed to the one side wall, the side walls forming the groove portion. The projection parts are arranged at predetermined intervals in the groove portion. A relationship of 0.75L?P?10L is satisfied where L denotes a length of the projection parts and P denotes the predetermined intervals. In addition, a relationship of TWf/cos ?f?0.9W is satisfied where W denotes a groove width of the groove, TWf denotes a width of the projection parts, and ?f denotes an angle formed by an extending direction of the projection parts and a groove center line in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the tire in a tread face view of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9809062
    Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential direction main groove on a tread surface, first and second circumferential supplemental grooves located on both sides of the circumferential direction main groove, and first and second central land portions formed between the circumferential direction main groove and the first and second circumferential direction supplemental grooves. The first and second central land portions have plural width direction sipes, respectively, and each of the width direction sipes extends to the circumferential main groove, the circumferential main groove has shallow grooved portions and deep grooved portions. The deep grooved portions are deeper than the shallow grooved portions, and the shallow grooved portions are shallower than the circumferential supplemental grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kiwaki
  • Patent number: 9809063
    Abstract: A low compaction cantilevered tire construction is provided which is designed for use at relatively low inflation pressures and which has sidewalls with a relatively uniform bending resistance through the majority of the sidewall. When the tire is placed under high loads at low inflation pressures the sidewall deflects substantially radially and allows the tread portion of the tire to maintain its intended shape thus improving the contact area of the tire and providing a tire having a relatively high contact area and thus relatively low soil compaction for a given loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Jason R. Barr, Samuel O. Givens, Robert W. Asper, Dennis W. Snyder