Antifrictionally Mounted Patents (Class 16/25)
  • Patent number: 11014759
    Abstract: A roller ball assembly is provided. The assembly includes a primary roller ball supported by a support element that is composed of a superhard material. The assembly includes a cup defining a cavity within which the support element is positioned. A cap is coupled with the cup and positioned to retain the primary roller ball within the cavity. Also, a cup is disclosed for supporting roller balls. Additionally, disclosed are system and apparatus incorporating the assembly, as well as to methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: XR Downhole, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Miess, Gregory Prevost, Michael Williams, William W. King, Michael R. Reese
  • Patent number: 10668771
    Abstract: A caster configured to be attached to an object and provide for rolling movement of the object. The caster may include a main wheel and multiple support members that contact against and support the main wheel. One or more support members include a first sphere that may contact against a top of the main wheel. One or more support members include a second sphere that may contact against the main wheel along lateral sides of the main wheel and offset from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventors: Koshy Cherian, Usha Cherian
  • Patent number: 9963232
    Abstract: A floor panel apparatus comprises: beams arranged inside an aircraft main body; floor panels arranged on the beams; and ball transfer unit bolts each including a ball transfer unit in which a rotatable ball is disposed and a bolt portion which is integral with the ball transfer unit, the ball transfer unit bolts configured such that the floor panels and the beams are detachably fastened together by the bolt portions with the balls protruding on the floor panel side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bachhao Rajeev
  • Patent number: 8533908
    Abstract: A ball wheel assembly including a wheel ball is provided. The assembly further includes first and second legs. The legs include a mounting portion and a ring-shaped leg cover. The legs are secured together proximate to the mounting portions. The legs further include a leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings. The leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings are positioned between the leg cover and the wheel ball. The assembly further includes a top housing. The top housing includes a top housing cover, a housing ball bearing retaining ring, and housing ball bearings. The top housing is secured to the legs, and the housing ball bearing retaining ring and housing ball bearings are positioned between the top housing cover and the wheel ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tumi, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Scicluna
  • Patent number: 8272939
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for providing a bonus round responsive to a bonus trigger in a wagering game. The method includes providing at least one bonus spin. The method includes awarding a prize associated with a bonus spin result. The method includes, responsive to a termination trigger occurring, awarding a termination bonus and terminating the bonus round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Spielo Manufacturing ULC
    Inventor: Francois Romeo Leger
  • Patent number: 8221222
    Abstract: To provide a game system that makes players' play order comply with a predetermined rule but nevertheless allows, with appropriate measure, any delaying player to join the game, each terminal device constituting the system stores in a storage unit game's stage/delay information regarding all players including players operating other terminal devices, a stage updating unit updates the storage unit based on an operation entry accepted by an operation entry unit from an owner player as a play determining unit determines that the owner player's turn has come, and an operation entry received by an operation receiving unit from any other terminal device, and a delay updating unit updates the storage unit when an abort entry unit accepts an abort entry from the player or an abort notification is received, or updates delay information when stage information is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100186192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel construction, particularly for furniture and furnishing pieces and trolleys, comprising a box-like body including two half-shells which can be coupled to one another and defining a cylindric hub, rotatably supporting an annular band defining the wheel sliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: O.G.T.M. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.R.L.
    Inventor: RUGGERO TRIVINI
  • Patent number: 7222476
    Abstract: A hand-pushed mower of which blade height setter is provided with a sphere rolling on the ground, many small spheres holding the sphere as to freely roll, a semi-spherical receiving member forming a gap between an upper spherical face of the sphere to hold the many small spheres in the gap, and a scraping ring frame portion disposed to be parallel to and having a predetermined interval with a lower end edge of the semi-spherical receiving member. The scraping ring frame portion is disposed to be near the surface of the sphere as to scrape foreign matter on the surface of the sphere. A window portion for removing the foreign matter is formed between the lower end edge of the semi-spherical receiving member and the scraping ring frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: VIV Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Hishida
  • Patent number: 6877185
    Abstract: A caster device is disclosed for movably supporting a load. The caster device includes a wheel for supporting the load and a wheel support having a first and a second extremity. The first extremity of the wheel support supports the wheel for rotation of the wheel about an axis of rotation. The second extremity of the wheel support defines an aperture and the wheel support has a first surface and a second surface. A support stem has a first and a second end, the support stem extending through the aperture such that the aperture is disposed between the first and the second end of the support stem. The second end of the support stem is connected to the load for supporting the load. Also, a leaf spring is disposed between the aperture and the second end of the support stem such that the leaf spring resiliently contacts the load and cushions the load relative to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Earl J. Reilly, Robert F. Karas, Stephen M. Devine
  • Patent number: 6675820
    Abstract: The safety support device of this invention includes a frame having a mounting section. A pair of forward legs are attached to a forward end of the mounting section and a pair of rear legs are attached to a rear end of the mounting section. Each leg has a distal end to which is attached a roller assembly that includes a roller member mounted so that with the weight of the user bearing down on the assembly the roller member is prevented from moving. In a second embodiment used to assist injured or elderly person stand erect, the legs are long and arm support members engage the arm pits of the user when the user is being supported by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ruben Balan
  • Patent number: 6475086
    Abstract: The necessity for spontaneously transmitting each individual wager from a remote terminal or terminals to a host computer in a computerized lottery system is completely eliminated. As a result, the total amount of data transmitted between the remote terminals and the host computer is substantially reduced. This reduces the consequent cost of transmission and enhances the number of economically viable transmission alternatives. A total number of sequential plays is conveyed from the remote terminal or terminals to the host computer. Pseudo-random wager numbers and serial numbers associated with each of the plays is reconstructed at the host computer from the total number of sequential plays. The reduced data exchange facilitates novel methods of data transfer, such as satellite packet transmission and cellular service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Robert W. Zach
  • Patent number: 6195838
    Abstract: A dual roller assembly adapted to simultaneously rotate along perpendicular surfaces. The roller assembly comprises a pair of telescopically engaging shaft members sized to rotate and move axially of one another. A first of the shaft member, mounts first and second interfitting cylindrical members receiving a rotary caster ball, where the rotary caster ball is supported for rotative movement within the roller unit formed by the interfitting cylindrical members, by a first ball bearing ring. The second shaft member mounts a cylindrical cap member for receiving a second ball bearing ring in rotary contact with the second cylindrical member, and finally, the second shaft member further mounts a fixed annular ring spaced from the cylindrical cap member, and an encircling compression spring on the second shaft member extending between the cylindrical cap member and the annular ring, to provide shock obsorbing features thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: David R. Mains, Everett B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5701634
    Abstract: A grommet (1) is provided for sealing an opening in a panel, through which at least one cable passes, comprising a tapered hollow body which sealingly engages the cable at least at a first end (10) and the edge of the opening via a groove (30) formed on a second end (20), wherein at least one means for reducing stiffness, in particular a recess (12, 14, 16) is provided on an inner surface (5) and/or on an outer surface (6) of the hollow body, so that elastic deformation of the grommet (1), in particular of its second end (2) is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Uemura, Koji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5694662
    Abstract: The Global Force Caster, acting as a multi-directional unhindered wheel permits an object, i.e. furnitures, shopping carts, mobility aids etc., resting on the global Force Bearer's threaded casing or in bored hole in the object's body, with instantaneous movements at will in any direction upon a negligible external lateral force without the jerking movement or hinderance of delays due to a dispositioning of the wheel in relation to the direction of the external lateral force, commonly found in conventional wheels assemblies. Additionally, the "Bearer" is free of extra efforts needed when a change in direction is unavoidable when changing elevations, as opposed to the typical wheel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Pierre G. Bordeleau
  • Patent number: 5419008
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly comprising a base member, a spherical member, a ring of at least three rolling members mounted around the spherical member such that a point on a rolling surface of each of the at least three rolling members contacts a point on a first great circle on the surface of the spherical member, the ring of rollers being freely rotatable around the axis of the first great circle, at least two capture rolling members, one capture rolling member being mounted such that a rolling surface of the one capture rolling member is in contact with a point on the surface of the spherical member above the plane of the first great circle and another capture rolling member being mounted such that a rolling surface of the other roller member is in contact with a point below the plane of the first great circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Mark West
  • Patent number: 4382637
    Abstract: There is disclosed a weight transfer roller apparatus including a barrel type housing formed on one extremity with a radially inwardly projecting retaining flange forming a circular protrusion opening. A roller ball is received within the bore of such barrel, has one side projecting from such opening, and has its opposite side nested on an annular high lubricity plastic ring formed with a bearing seat defining a sector of a sphere corresponding with the spherical roller. The annular bearing ring rests on a retainer secured to such housing whereby the housing may be mounted in a weight transfer platform and loads passing thereover will weight downwardly on such ball to be carried by the bearing ring. Preferably, the ball, annular bearing ring, and retainer are telescopically received in the bore of the barrel with the retainer being selectively removable for removal of the bearing and ball for replacement thereof upon deterioration or damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Inventors: Robert V. Blackburn, Ian Blackburn
  • Patent number: 4285550
    Abstract: There is disclosed a weight transfer roller apparatus including a barrel type housing formed on one extremity with a radially inwardly projecting retaining flange forming a circular protrusion opening. A roller ball is received within the bore of such barrel, has one side projecting from such opening, and has its opposite side nested on an annular high lubricity plastic ring formed with a bearing seat defining a sector of a sphere corresponding with the spherical roller. The annular bearing ring rests on a retainer secured to such housing whereby the housing may be mounted in a weight transfer platform and loads passing thereover will weight downwardly on such ball to be carried by the bearing ring. Preferably, the ball, annular bearing ring, and retainer are telescopically received in the bore of the barrel with the retainer being selectively removable for removal of the bearing and ball for replacement thereof upon deterioration or damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventors: Robert V. Blackburn, Ian Blackburn