Including Telescopically Movable Rigid Elements Patents (Class 248/616)
  • Patent number: 11802361
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus having a horizontally rotatable drum with a plurality of variable lifter blades protruding from the drum inner cylindrical surface toward drum inner space and in parallel to the axis of drum rotation. The variable lifter blade is rotatably mounted on a hinge rod which is attached to the drum inner cylindrical wall such that the lifter blade is predisposed to tilt to a variable angle in relation to the drum circumference by different directions and speeds of drum rotation and influence from the laundry mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Jyhjia Eric Wang
  • Patent number: 10556710
    Abstract: A lightweight passive attenuator (1) for spacecraft includes two omega cross-section rings (2), placed symmetrically and defining a gap therebetween, and being the main load path of the light passive attenuator (1). A plurality of damper elements (3) are placed in the gap defined between the two omega cross-section rings (2), and not in the main load path of the light passive attenuator (1), such that the omega cross-section rings (2) and the damper elements (3) are assembled at their ends by attachment elements. The omega cross-section rings (2) have a protruding central part (5) with a plurality of holes (6) for connection with adjacent structures (7, 8) of the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Lancho Doncel
  • Patent number: 10051955
    Abstract: A table assembly comprising a leg assembly having upper and lower ends, the leg assembly including a fixed first member having upper and lower ends, a movable second member disposed in sliding engagement with the first member, the engagement including a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration, a cam member including a cam section, the cam member operably coupled to one of the first and second members, the cam member having a rotational range of travel from a first angular orientation corresponding to the expanded configuration of the first and second members to a second angular orientation corresponding to the contracted configuration of the first and second members, a spring supported by the leg assembly and operably coupled to the cam member, wherein the cam member and the spring cooperate to apply a force to the second member tending to drive the second member toward the expanded configuration, a velocity governor supported by at least one of the first and second members for, while the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David K Jones, Kurt Heidmann, Todd Andres
  • Patent number: 9677775
    Abstract: Provided is a door for a cooking appliance, such as an oven range, with multiple spaced apart glass panels. An interlocking mechanism promotes a proper installation of the glass panels, and interferes with the installation of the glass panels or with operation of the appliance if at least one of the panels is not properly installed. A switch with a plunger can be installed in the door, which allows the appliance to operate only when a failsafe electrical circuit is closed corresponding to a selected position of the plunger when the door is closed. The plunger is prevented from retaining that selected position if at least one of the glass panels is improperly installed or if a top cap is not properly seated or installed above the glass panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ELectrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Thomas Phillips, Brian Martin, Steven Baas
  • Patent number: 9494237
    Abstract: A live-loading assembly for exerting a sealing force on a compressible packing structure of a fluid handling device, such as a valve or pump, includes a pair of gland bolts each movably extending through opposite end lids of a tubular cartridge and through a Belleville spring stack disposed within the cartridge and bearing on a tubular piston rod having an end portion extending outwardly through one of the lids and having a spring force indicating scale disposed thereon. When packing force adjustment nuts are tightened onto the bolts, to increase the compression force exerted on the packing structures, one of the lids on each cartridge moves along the associated exposed piston rod scale to thereby provide a visual indication of the amount of spring force being created by each tightened nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Teadit N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Carlos Veiga, Carlos Daniel Braga Girao Barroso
  • Patent number: 8833511
    Abstract: In a conventional hard material insulator, reproduced sound can be tuned with use of characteristics of the material; however, various types of acoustic materials have specific high frequency characteristics, and thus their acoustic effects lack versatility, require compatible audio devices, and change with environment, musical genre, etc. To address this, a wind-bell member (resonant member) is arranged in parallel with a main propagation path of vibration transferred from an audio device to an insulator. Accordingly, a vibration system of a wind-bell having a tone determined by many factors such as a fundamental tone, harmonic tones, lingering sound, and fluctuation assists (enhances) high frequency vibration propagated from the audio device. As a result, due to the above assist action that is different in principle from a conventional type, acoustic characteristics such as a sense of localization, resolution, and a sense of transparency and scale a sound image can be dramatically improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tokkyokiki Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Maruyama, Kozo Okamoto, Satoki Yamaguchi, Akio Tajima
  • Patent number: 8607809
    Abstract: The invention is a multi-legged walking cane where each leg operates independently of each other by employing compressible legs, enhancing stability thru the complete gait cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ranjam, LLC
    Inventors: James D. Jordan, Randy G. Misenheimer, Shyh Min Chen
  • Patent number: 8297011
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a protective panel over a window includes at least one telescoping retainer bar that is tightly fixed within a window frame, adjacent the panel. Spring-biased locking buttons removably seat within one or more longitudinally-disposed apertures to fix the retainer bar at a desired length. At each end of the bar is a resilient pad that firmly engages one of two opposing sides of a window or door frame. One of the pads is movable relative to the bar to further tighten the bar within the frame once the telescoping bar has been extended as far as possible. The pad at the opposing end includes a biasing means for further anchoring the bar within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Quick, Gaetano Dominick Paternostro, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110248144
    Abstract: A lifting-adjusting assembly for a shaft has an outer device, an inner device and multiple positioning elements. The outer device is adapted to mount around a shaft and has a base and a mounting casing. The mounting casing is mounted around the base and has a chamber, an opening and a cone surface. The inner device is movably connected to the outer device and has a moving mount and at least one spring. The moving mount is movably mounted in the outer device and has a mounting chamber, a pressing segment and multiple positioning holes. The at least one spring is mounted in the chamber to enable the positioning holes to face to the cone surface. The positioning elements are mounted in the positioning holes of the moving mount and abut with the cone surface and the shaft to hold the lifting-adjusting assembly on the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Kuo-Su Lee
  • Patent number: 7821786
    Abstract: A computer includes: computer body enclosing computational circuitry and having a bottom surface; a keyboard disposed on an upper portion of the computer body; a cover supporting a monitor, the cover coupled to the computer body so as to be rotatable about a first axis in relation to the computer body, the first axis being disposed rearwardly of the keyboard; a support member coupled to the computer body so as to be rotatable about a second axis in relation to the computer body, between an open position and closed position, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, the support member including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the support member, when rotated into a closed position, is parallel to the bottom surface of the computer body, the support member, when rotated into an open position, extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the computer body, the support member is linearly extendable in a radial direction with respect to the rotation of the support member between a non-extend
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher P. Hadad, Kieraj Mumick
  • Patent number: 7566043
    Abstract: An angle regulator (10) includes an outer shell (14) having a deflecting arm (146) and an inner supporting pole (15) received in the outer shell. The deflecting arm includes a main rod (1464), and a press-button (1462) and a hook (1466) respectively located at two opposite ends of the main rod. The press-button extends from the main rod and protrudes out of the outer shell. A plurality of spaced grooves (156) are defined in the inner supporting pole along an axial direction thereof. When the press-button is pressed, the hook is detached from one of the grooves that is engaged with the hook such that the inner supporting pole can slide with respect to the outer shell, and when the press-button is released, the hook is selectively engaged in another one of the grooves so that the inner supporting pole and the outer shell are fixed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 7484707
    Abstract: Disclosed is a supporting apparatus for a refrigerator capable of preventing a transfer of an inter-vibration between a refrigerator main body and an installation surface and of adjusting a height of the refrigerator more conveniently, by comprising: at least one or more lifting rods mounted on a lower surface of a refrigerator main body to be adjustable for a height thereof; an upper cap fixed to a lower end of the lifting rod and having an opened lower side; a lower cap movably inserted into the upper cap in an up and down direction; and a damping spring set between the upper cap and the lower cap, for performing a damping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Lee, Tae-Hee Lee, Yong-Gu Kim, Young-Hoon Yun
  • Patent number: 7427052
    Abstract: Disclosed is a leg assembly for electric home appliances for supporting an electric home appliance such as a washing machine and a clothes dryer. The leg assembly in accordance with the present invention includes, a leg bolt (100) having a screw (110) coupled with the electric home appliance and a head (120) provided at an end of a screw (110) a pad made of a soft material and closely adhered to the head (120) an being in contact with a floor; and at least one holder (300) being coupled with the head (120) for fixing the head (120) and the pad (200) by pressing the pad (200) toward the head (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woong Kil Cha, Bo Yon Kim
  • Patent number: 6371498
    Abstract: The present invention is for a device for mounting of wheels so that they may move in a preferably vertical direction at right angle to the wheel shaft. The invention is also standing board for prams having such wheel mounting. At its from end the standing board has a mounting means by which the standing board is pivotably mounted to the rear axle of a pram the main direction of movement of which is shown by arrow. The turning shaft of the wheel is mounted in a movable sleeve the movements of which are controlled both by a brushing which surrounds the sleeve and by a tube which is partially inserted into a groove in the sleeve. A spring is placed into the groove in the sleeve so that the spring contacts both the bottom of the groove and the end of the tube which penetrates the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Joran Lundh
  • Patent number: 5810038
    Abstract: A medical walker foot includes a shell having a base portion for engaging a floor or the ground when weight is applied to the walker and a sleeve portion for receiving the lower end of the medical walker leg. A biasing member is disposed within the shell for biasing a tip member into an extended position, disengaging the base portion from the ground, and allowing the tip member to glide along the ground when weight is removed from the walker. The biasing member provides a substantially uniform pressure throughout its full stroke and may comprise a cup-like urethane cushion or a coil spring. The base portion of the shell includes a wiper seal which extends radially into the opening in the base portion to form a watertight seal with the stem of the tip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Carpinella
  • Patent number: 5639059
    Abstract: A shock absorbing assembly for coupling to a pedestal for mounting a seat of a boat, the shock absorbing assembly including a shock absorber mounted in a housing, a pair of guide shafts being provided and being slidably mounted through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Inventor: Adrian Nash
  • Patent number: 5499791
    Abstract: A machine with vibration source includes a frame for carrying a vibration source such as a motor. A housing is attached to a bottom of the frame, in which a sphere made of a rigid material is housed rotation free in a manner that a portion of the sphere is projected from an opening at the bottom of the housing. The surface of a plate made of a rigid material contacts the portion of the sphere projecting from the housing and the plate is surrounded by a member of an elastic material. The elastic member has an upwardly extending portion which surrounds the housing, and therefore, the elastic member controls the relative position between the sphere and the plate, and resultingly, rolling of the machine can be suppressed. In addition, since the sphere can be rotated on the plate, horizontal vibration of the machine is absorbed to be suppressed. Furthermore, since the sphere is supported by the plate and the plate is supported by a floor via the elastic member, vertical vibration of the machine is also suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakagawa, Koichi Yoshizaki, Tadashi Nukaga, Yoshikazu Banba, Shigetaka Hattori, Kentaro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5156451
    Abstract: An apparatus having a high center of gravity incorporating an energy absorbing device is disclosed. The energy absorbing device includes a rapidly extending shock absorbing device to absorb and thereby dampen the forward motion of an apparatus having a high center of gravity such as a vending machine subjected to a tipping force in the lateral direction. A method of fabrication for example a vending machine having an energy absorbing device is also described. In the vending machine example, the energy absorbing device prevents an individual from using a rocking motion to develop sufficient angular momentum enabling the individual to tip the vending machine into a forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: The Vendo Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Pollock
  • Patent number: 5054953
    Abstract: A locking device is described which is self-adjusting in length and it is therefore adapted to compensate possible differences in the distance between the points of mutual fastening of two bodies.The device of this invention includes a first and a second member, one of them being integral with one of the bodies to be connected, while the second is non-rotatably slidable within the first member, and is biased to partially project out of the latter, by a spring interposed between the first and the second members. The spring keeping the second member abutting against a fastening portion of the second body. The device includes a fastener for mutual fastening of the first to the second member, and to the fastening portion of the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Videoplastic S.p.A.
    Inventor: Silvio Mattiolo
  • Patent number: 4717130
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shock and vibration damping suspension system for mounting a power unit in relation to an engine bed or the like. The power unit comprises a motor or engine and a power transmission arrangement coupled thereto, preferably an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft. The suspension system includes suspension elements which are mounted between the power unit and the engine bed and are provided with damping devices made of resilient material. The invention is characterized in that the suspension elements located in parts of the power unit which, in operation are subjected to lifting forces, are of a first kind where the damping device is subjected to compression and shear forces under the influence of the lifting forces, while the suspension elements located in remaining parts of the power unit are of a second kind where the damping device is subjected to compression and shear forces under the influence of downwardly acting forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: AB Volvo Penta
    Inventor: Ralf I. Barkhage
  • Patent number: 4462612
    Abstract: A telescopic supporting device for heavy loads of trailers is disclosed which device has a supporting leg projecting from a guiding tube and on the lower end of the supporting leg there is detachably fastened an articulated foot. The foot features a supporting plate which has fastened thereto a holding ring. The lower terminal section of the supporting leg has a ground plate that overlaps the lower edge to laterally jut out. A coupling articulately connects the holding ring with the supporting leg, the coupling being provided with a bolt system traversing diametral circular holes. An elastic compression body is placed between the ground plate and a supporting plate. The upper terminal section of the holding ring overlaps the laterally jutting-out edge section of the ground plate. The supporting leg and the ground plate are separated. To the ground plate there is fastened a supporting tubular sleeve, that fits within the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Dreyer, Gerald Muller
  • Patent number: 4196775
    Abstract: A shock-mounted, liquid cooled cold plate assembly for dissipating heat f electronic packages mounted on it. A U-shaped cold plate is cast about a tube to provide a passageway for carrying a turbulent flow of coolant along its length. The cold plate is mounted on a vehicle frame by shock-mounted isolator studs which are encapsulated in an elastomer and contained in a housing secured to the frame. An electronic package is mounted on the cold plate by a flange on the package which makes intimate contact with the surface of the cold plate for maximum heat transfer capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: The Unites States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leon H. Groh