Having Spherical Head Patents (Class 411/380)
  • Patent number: 8353653
    Abstract: An anchor bolt providing for fall protection. The anchor bolt has an anchoring device that may be of any standard type, for making use of an aperture either in or through a structure as an anchoring point, an elongate flexible member connected to the anchoring device at one end of the elongate flexible member, and a handle connected to a second end of the flexible member. The handle member is pivotally attached to the second end, for pivoting about the elongate axis of the flexible member as it extends from the second end. Preferably, the anchoring device is a novel, toggling type in which a toggling member is pivotally attached to the flexible member at a ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventors: Karl Guthrie, Joseph Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8235636
    Abstract: A precision kinematic adjustment screw for optical mounts controls the position of the stage plate relative to the base plate so that the position is stable, consistent and reproducible. Use of a spring-loaded spherical member that is free to rotate independent of the screw minimizes friction between the proximal end of the screw and the contact surface of the stage plate and reduces the potential for deformation and/or abrasion of the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Eugeniusz Kozak
  • Patent number: 8083453
    Abstract: A screw which can be manufactured at a low cost with a relatively simple constitution by performing precise machining suitable for tightening a screw without employing a tapping thread structure as a threaded portion shape and machining only the distal end of the threaded portion to have a shape projecting spherically, and which can ensure smooth and quick screw tightening work without causing such problems as heat generation or molding powder at all at screw tightening. The screw includes a head (12) provided with a bit fitting groove (13) at one end, and a threaded portion (14) which is machined precisely with substantially equal circular diameter over a full length, wherein the distal end (20) of the threaded portion (14) is shaped to have a spherical projection varying in a plurality of stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Totsu
  • Patent number: 7883306
    Abstract: Attachment bolts and tensioned support systems (e.g., aircraft access systems) are set forth herein. According to one embodiment, an attachment bolt for use in a tensioned support system includes a head portion and a shaft portion extending from the head portion. The head portion has an end face, and the shaft portion has at least one thread and a tip distal to the head portion. A cavity extends entirely through the head and shaft portions and has a linearly extruded segment, an extended diameter at the end face, and an enlarged diameter at the tip. The extended diameter is larger than a diameter of the linearly extruded segment, and the enlarged diameter is larger than the diameter of the linearly extruded segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cessna Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Ryan Draney, Grady Harrison
  • Patent number: 7645106
    Abstract: A thrust screw (14) for applying force against an object. The thrust screw (14) comprising a housing having a ball (12) secured therein. The ball (12) having a flat planar surface (16) which contacts the objects for applying force against the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Mark Gordon
  • Patent number: 7399150
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a fastener arrangement made of a component and a screw element with an area for the application of force for a turning tool, where the component and the screw element, when fastened to each other, are in contact with each other by way of contact surfaces, and where the contact surface of the screw element on the side facing the component, has a convexly curved outer surface, and where the contact surface of the component has a concavely curved inner surface, while the outer surface and the inner surface are positioned coaxially with respect to a common longitudinal axis, which runs through the component and the screw element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Altenloh, Brinck & Co. GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Hofschneider
  • Patent number: 7118317
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a fastener arrangement made of a component and a screw element with an area for the application of force for a turning tool, where the component and the screw element, when fastened to each other, are in contact with each other by way of contact surfaces, and where the contact surface of the screw element on the side facing the component, has a convexly curved outer surface, and where the contact surface of the component has a concavely curved inner surface, while the outer surface and the inner surface are positioned coaxially with respect to a common longitudinal axis, which runs through the component and the screw element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Altenloh, Brinck & Co. GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Hofschneider
  • Patent number: 6585740
    Abstract: The central portion of the screw according to the invention has a series of segments varying in diameter, typically having a segment located near the screw head with a large diameter, a segment located near the front portion with a small diameter, and intermediate segments tapering in the direction of the segment with the small diameter. A continuous thread extends along the central portion from the screw head to the screw tip where the thread has a substantially uniform outside diameter along the entire length of the central portion. The screw, which is particularly well-suited as a pedicle screw, has improved resistance to tearing, cutting and bending, and, largely independent of bone quality, good hold in bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)
    Inventors: Fridolin J. Schlapfer, Martin Hess
  • Patent number: 6564669
    Abstract: A remote handling device includes a master arm and a slave arm adapted to reproduce the movements of the master arm. The slave arm is located within a confinement chamber. The master arm is located outside the confinement chamber. The master and slave arms are interconnected by a mechanism passing through a wall of the confinement chamber. The master arm is connected by a connection tube to the mechanism. The master arm and the connection tube are connected to coupling and uncoupling means adapted to permit their modular connection or disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Ste d'Innovations Techniques “S.I.T.”
    Inventor: Andre Garnier
  • Patent number: 5833419
    Abstract: The angularly accessible head for a threaded connector comprises a spherical structure having a centered slot therein, the slot having a bottom surface or wall in the shape of an inverted V, with a center point thereof extending toward and terminating below the center of the sphere. The head is functionally accessible from a plurality of planes which are not coplanar with a center plane of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventors: Mark Franciskovich, Steve August Masnjak
  • Patent number: 5833418
    Abstract: To make it easy to manufacture a stud 1 provided with a spherical surface bearing, a race (3) is composed of a first member (3a) and a second member (3b) so that a ball receiving portion (301) is separated. Coupling surfaces (5) and (6) that couple with each other are formed in the first and second members (3a) and (3b). Screw portions are formed on the coupling surfaces (5) and (6), respectively. When the stud (1) provided with the spherical surface bearing is manufactured, a ball (2a) is held by the first and second members formed indivisually, and the first and second members (3a) and (3b) are threadably engaged with each other at the screw portions. In this case, by adjusting an amount of a engagement at the screw portion, the positional relationship between the first and second members (3a) and (3b) is set as desired, to thereby suitably adjust a gap between the ball receiving portion (301) of the race (3) and the ball (2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Shoji
  • Patent number: 5263997
    Abstract: A plate for spreading bolt loading around the horizontal joint flanges of a turbomachine, such as a steam turbine, is provided. The plate is contoured so that its surface area substantially matches that of the surface of the steam turbine flange against which the compressive load associated with the joint bolt preloading is applied. The plate is disposed between the flange and the nuts on the joint bolts and is made from a high yield strength material so that the locally high stresses under the nuts do not cause creeping or yielding of the plate. The plate serves to distribute the compressive joint loading around the entire surface of the flange, thereby eliminating the locally high compressive stresses that can cause creep and yielding in the flange. Spherical counter bores are machined in the plate bolt holes and spherical washers are installed between the plate and the nuts so that misalignment of bolt holes does not cause the nuts to impose bending forces on the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David M. Parker, John A. Moreci
  • Patent number: 4749288
    Abstract: A support for a rolling bearing is provided with an essentially annular transition region between sleeve-shaped portion and a flange connected thereto, the flange having a plurality of circumferentially distributed, axially extending mounting holes. The transition region has a concavely curved or linearly inclined profile. A substantially spherical base surface is provided axially of each mounting hole, the base surface connecting the rim of the hole with the inner surface of a substantially part-cylindrical recess in the transition region, the recess having a diameter greater than the hole diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Tilch, Paul-Gerhard Hoch, Uwe Brockmuller