Thimble Patents (Class 285/359)
  • Patent number: 9808249
    Abstract: A connection portion for attaching a disposable loading unit to the shaft of a surgical instrument. The connection portion can include a rotatable collar, which can be rotated relative to the disposable loading unit and the shaft. The connection can include a spring for biasing the collar and/or the disposable loading unit into a locked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 7984933
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a multi-use torque fitting, a length of tubing, and a compressible ferrule, wherein the assembly is configured to couple an end of the length of tubing to a port of a fluid-handling device in a hermetically sealed or substantially leak-proof manner. Generally, the fitting is configured to provide a degree of compression to the compressible ferrule sufficient to prevent fluid leakage at the ferrule/port interface. This fitting generally comprises a threaded body portion and a torque-limiting body portion, wherein the threaded body portion and the torque-limiting body portion are arranged concentrically along a longitudinal axis of the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Diba Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary C. Helstern
  • Patent number: 7695025
    Abstract: A coupling for tubes with a body with a neck (14) provided with two or more longitudinal recesses (15) and each of which is positioned a jaw (12) able to move radially between an expanded release position and a contracted lock position. The jaws can move from one position to the other by means of cam surfaces (24) provided inside a tightening nut (13) assembled and susceptible to partial rotation on the neck of the coupling body. Furthermore the nut has means for interacting with the neck to block it and prevent it from turning in the release direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: DARVAS S.r.l.
    Inventor: Gualtiero Ghidini
  • Patent number: 7566079
    Abstract: A duct connection assembly suited to connect a thermoplastic fluid duct to a metal intake port. A connector housing is affixed to the end of the fluid duct and functions to releasable seal the fluid duct onto the intake port using an annular projection around the end of the port. When the port is inserted into the connector housing a snap lock connection is provided by a plurality of locking teeth that project inwardly through the housing from a collar to engage with the annular projection. Quick disconnect of the port from the fluid duct is effected by rotation of the collar with respect to the connector housing so that cam surfaces on the housing interact with the locking teeth to move the teeth radially outward to disengage from the annular projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas Callahan, Christopher Herbert Corbett
  • Patent number: 6007108
    Abstract: An adapter for use with a nozzle manifold of a hot runner injection molding system for fluidly connecting at least two runner sections and thereby distribute and conduct melt to cavities of an injection mold, includes a plug having at least one end face formed with a first opening for fluid connection to one runner section and a cylindrical or conical wall surface formed with a second opening for fluid connection to another runner section and extending at an angle with respect to the one end face, and a force-applying unit so acting upon the plug as to urge the end face and the wall surface into a fluid-tight pressure fit upon mating surfaces of the nozzle manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ewikon Heisskanalsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Braun
  • Patent number: 5890746
    Abstract: A tube coupling assembly has independent primary and secondary sealing elements. The coupling assembly includes first and second coupling members which define a fluid passage therethrough. The coupling members are arranged relative to one another so as to define a contact seal therebetween. An annular fluid path extends between the contact seal and the fluid passage, and a seal element, such as an O-ring is disposed in said fluid path. Accordingly, the seal element is always in contact with, and thus cooled by, the fluid in the passage. The coupling assembly also includes a coupling nut disposed over a portion of one of the coupling members and threadingly engaging the other coupling member to retain the coupling members together. A plurality of resilient fingers is provided on one of the coupling members, and a plurality of grooves is formed in the coupling nut. The fingers are received in the grooves so as to oppose rotational displacement of the coupling nut from its assembled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Peter W. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5366262
    Abstract: A quick connect fitting for connecting a plastic or metallic tube (42) in a fluid circuit includes a fitting body (20) having an interior cavity (22) opening to the exterior of the body (20) via a generally circular port (36). A peripheral step (48) is located in the port (36) and an O-ring (50) is abutted against the step (48). A washer (52) is located in the port (36) and has a central opening (54) slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plastic or metallic tube (42). A peripheral flange (56) is disposed on the washer is directed away from the O-ring (50). A retaining ring (62) is disposed in the port (36) and nominally abuts the flange (56). The retaining ring (62) has a central opening (64) substantially greater than the outer dimension with a plurality of resilient, radially inwardly directed, angularly spaced fingers (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Furnas Electric Co.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Couvreur
  • Patent number: 4667927
    Abstract: A device for metering the flow of a liquid medium passing therethrough comprises a plastic stem member having a cylindrical metering drum element projecting into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical wall of a bore chamber in a body member to rotatively mount the stem member therein. A diametrically slotted headed stud projecting endwise from the drum element is contracted and inserted through a bore opening in the end wall of the chamber in the body member to cause the head end of the stud to snap-lock behind the chamber end wall and thus secure the stem and body members together in assembled rotative relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Rao Medical Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Rolf A. Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 4194768
    Abstract: A resuable liquid-tight connector for flexible liquid-tight electrical conduit comprises a body member and a compression member which cooperate to simultaneously grip the conduit radially by means of an eccentric action and compress the conduit axially into a sealing seat by means of an axial camming action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: The Scott & Fetzer Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 4103712
    Abstract: A disconnect composed basically of two halves each consisting of a poppet valve operable to isolate fluid with essentially zero fluid loss. The two halves are coupled together by a quickly releasable coupling which may be either a coupling ring tightened or loosened by a twisting motion, or a clamp operated by a pivoted handle. In either case an interlock device is provided to prevent disconnecting the two halves until both valves are in closed condition.The "positive" feature of the device is one requiring a valve closing step before a disconnect step, and takes structural form in an eccentric lobe mounted on the valve operating stem. If some obstruction prevents the poppet from moving to its seat, the eccentric lobe cannot be rotated to the closed position, and the interlock prevents a disconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Morley V. Friedell
  • Patent number: 4036512
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pipe joint for the butt jointing of pipes in the form of a sleeve to receive the respective pipe ends and provide a resilient seal between the sleeve and the pipe surfaces, said seal having peripheral lips adapted to effect an increase in sealing engagement by fluid pressure in the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Francis