Bearings, Adjustable Patents (Class 74/594)
  • Patent number: 11878563
    Abstract: A multipoint link for an undercarriage of a vehicle, having a core element formed from a foamed material and at least one roving of bundled continuous filaments wound around the core element, the at least one roving winding around the core element in at least one layer forming an outer layer of the multipoint link. The recesses serving to guide the at least one roving to be laid by winding are incorporated in the surface of the core element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Müller, Jens Heimann, Andre Stieglitz, Carsten Sohl, Valentin Hörtdörfer
  • Patent number: 11485184
    Abstract: A three-point suspension link for a chassis of a vehicle has two arms and a central bearing area. Each arm has a bearing area. The three-point suspension link comprises two load-introducing elements, a central load-introducing element, a stabilization layer, a core element and a supporting winding. The stabilization layer and the supporting winding are formed from a fiber reinforced plastic composite material. A load-introducing element is arranged at every bearing area. The central load-introducing element is arranged at the central bearing area. The core element is surrounded by the stabilization layer in a subarea. The supporting winding surrounds the load-introducing elements, the central load-introducing element, the stabilization layer and the core element in a subarea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andre Stieglitz, Ingolf Müller, Philipp Bauer
  • Patent number: 11440364
    Abstract: A method for producing a component by a 3D winding method, a filament or a plurality of parallel filaments having a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material is or are laid down on a core in a combination of a plurality of different winding patterns. Every filament is preimpregnated. Every winding pattern influences at least one mechanical characteristic of the component. The mechanical characteristics of the component are selectively adjusted by the sequence, repetition, mixing, and material selection of the individual winding patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Müller, Manfred Bürgmann, Jens Heimann, Andre Stieglitz, Carsten Sohl, Valentin Hörtdörfer
  • Patent number: 11118622
    Abstract: A compressor having curved connecting rods, comprising cylinders (8), pistons (9), piston pins (10), curved connecting rods (11), a swing rod (12), a crank pin (13), a crankshaft (14) and the other components; when the compressor having curved connecting rods works, a power machine driving the crankshaft (14) to rotate, the rotation of the crankshaft (14) driving the crank pin (13) to push the swing rod (12) to swing left and right, and the movement, towards the left and right, of the swing rod (12) driving the curved connecting rods (11) and the pistons (9) to reciprocate within the cylinders (8) and perform work in a compression manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Yu Tan, Shiyuan Tan
  • Patent number: 10919359
    Abstract: A connecting strut of a motor vehicle having a hollow body which is formed from a fiber reinforced plastic. The hollow body has a first bearing body which is positioned at a first end of the hollow body, and a second bearing body which is positioned at a second end of the hollow body. Straps absorb at least tensile forces, which straps are guided on the bearing bodies and extend, starting from a respective bearing body, along the hollow body in the direction of a respective opposite bearing body. An outer shell is formed from a fiber reinforced plastic and surrounds the hollow body, the bearing bodies and the straps on the outside at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Gustav Rapp, Boris Schmidt, Eric Begenau
  • Patent number: 8956049
    Abstract: A method for producing a fracture-divided component, in particular a connecting rod, with an at least partially coated bore includes the steps of: providing an unfinished component; applying a coating of a bearing material to a bore surface; and working the coating, in order to compensate internal tensile stresses in the coating, before fracture division of the component. Alternatively, the method for producing a fracture-divided component, in particular a connecting rod, having an at least partially coated bore includes the steps of: providing an unfinished component; applying a coating of a bearing material to a bore surface before fracture division of the component; and forming a counter-hardness zone before the application of the coating in order to generate compressive stresses which oppose the internal tensile stresses of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Clemens Luchner, Marc Kronenberg, Rolf Koring, Ralf Kowollik
  • Patent number: 8763584
    Abstract: A connecting rod assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The connecting rod assembly may include a first connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a first piston and a second can with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The connecting rod assembly may also include a second connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a second piston and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive the throw of the crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston. Both the at least one inner and the at least two outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston at a point of highest load on the second piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron G. Foege
  • Patent number: 8752523
    Abstract: A piston assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The piston assembly may include a first and second piston crown and a first and second connecting rod. The first and second connecting rods may each have a first end pivotally connected to the first and second piston crowns, respectively, and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston crown. The piston assembly may further include a bearing. Both the inner and outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston crown against the bearing at a point of highest load on the second piston crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron G. Foege
  • Patent number: 8746204
    Abstract: Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a joint between a connecting rod and a piston, the connecting rod rocks with respect to the piston. In some situations, the connecting rod is a pullrod always in tension or a pushrod always in compression making it difficult to lubricate the bearing surfaces. A joint is disclosed in which the bearing surfaces rock with respect to each other with no sliding between the surfaces. The connecting rod has a bearing surface that is part of a cylinder having a radius equal to a distance between a central axis of the journal to which the connecting rod is coupled and the bearing surface. The pin has a convexly- or concavely-curved bearing surface and the local radius is based on material properties and the local peak force that the rocking joint is designed to transmit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: EcoMotors, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter P. Hofbauer
  • Publication number: 20130160604
    Abstract: A load slot bearing system for a mounting system for a gearbox on a geared turbofan engine includes a load slot bearing assembly having a cobalt alloy inner member and a precipitation-hardenable alloy outer member. The inner member defines an outer engagement surface and the outer member defines an inner engagement surface slidably and rotatably engaged with the inner engagement surface. One of the outer engagement surface or the inner engagement surface has boron diffused therein. The load slot bearing system includes first and second slots extending inward from a face defined by the outer member, the second slot being positioned generally diametrically opposite the first slot. A first element is located in the bore of the inner member of the load slot bearing assembly and is connected to the inner member. A second element is connected to the outer member of the load slot bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8418583
    Abstract: A bush bearing 1 is comprised of: a synthetic resin-made bush 15 including a flexible semi-split cylindrical body 5 having an abutment portion 3 for slidably abutting against a rack shaft 25 and including a flexible open-ended annular body 14 which has a portion 6 formed integrally at one end face of the semi-split cylindrical body 5 and circular arc-shaped extended portions 12 and 13 whose distal ends 9 and 10 are opposed to each other with a clearance 11 in a circumferential direction R; and an elastic member 22 including an elastic body 21 for abutting against an outer surface 20 of the semi-split cylindrical body 5 and retained portions 16 and 17 which are respectively retained by both end portions 23 and 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Oki, Hidetoshi Kaida
  • Patent number: 8307939
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering gear for a power steering system of a vehicle, comprising a component that is mounted axially displaceably in a housing of the steering gear, a tie rod fixed in an articulated manner on at least one axial end of the component by way of a joint, wherein a rotational center of the joint is disposed on a radially directed adapter part laterally offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the axially displaceable component, and the adapter part is fixed to the axially displaceable component by way of a shaft-hub connection, which is fastened on the axial end of the axially displaceable component using a nut on an external thread so as to provide a steering gear that has a high-strength, play-free connection between the axially displaceable component thereof and the adapter part, and which is easy to produce, the shaft-hub connection being formed by a play-free, conical serrated connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hauck, Helmut Bareis, Wilfried Doster
  • Patent number: 7836592
    Abstract: A method of producing a connecting rod with a bearing, in which both a process for producing a bearing separately from a connecting rod and a process for assembling the bearing to the connecting rod can be eliminated to reduce processes, labor, and costs to produce the connecting rod. A hollow cylindrical molding of a bearing metal material is inserted and fitted, as an inner member, inside an inner surface of a circular large end hole of a large end section of a connecting rod. A tapered surface of a rotary pressing tool is pressed, while rotating, to the hollow cylindrical molding to heat and soften the hollow cylindrical molding, causing the hollow cylindrical molding of the bearing metal material to plastically flow axially and radially outward, whereby a bearing metal layer is directly joined and formed on the inner surface of the large end hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Hideki Murakami, Takeshi Shinoda, Keishi Nanbu
  • Publication number: 20080216599
    Abstract: A method of producing a connecting rod with a bearing, in which both a process for producing a bearing separately from a connecting rod and a process for assembling the bearing to the connecting rod can be eliminated to reduce processes, labor, and costs to produce the connecting rod. A hollow cylindrical molding of a bearing metal material is inserted and fitted, as an inner member, inside an inner surface of a circular large end hole of a large end section of a connecting rod. A tapered surface of a rotary pressing tool is pressed, while rotating, to the hollow cylindrical molding to heat and soften the hollow cylindrical molding, causing the hollow cylindrical molding of the bearing metal material to plastically flow axially and radially outward, whereby a bearing metal layer is directly joined and formed on the inner surface of the large end hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Hideki Murakami, Takeshi Shinoda, Keishi Nanbu
  • Patent number: 7398752
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rocker arm system for actuating poppet valves in high performance internal combustion engines. The rocker arm provides trunnion journals extending from each side fitted to outboard bearing mounts to guide the motion of the rocker arm. An I-beam rocker arm having high stiffness and low mass is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert R. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7299716
    Abstract: A split type connecting rod has a simple structure that is capable of suppressing rotation of a metal bearing, and avoiding problems such as burning. The split type connecting rod 200 holds a crank-pin through a metal bearing 213 which has locking lugs 213c, 213d. A bearing locking groove 201h locks at least one of the locking lugs 213d when the metal bearing 213 rotates forward in the circumferential direction of a crank-pin hole 101d. A bearing locking groove 201i locks at least one of the locking lugs 213c when the metal bearing 213 rotates backward. The bearing locking grooves 201h, 201i are deviated from each other in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akitoshi Nakajima, Satoshi Kikuchi, Tsuyoshi Kubota, Tsuneo Isobe, Shinya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6854436
    Abstract: An adjustable length composite push rod constructed of a composite bar having two specially shaped ends to which metal end fittings bond via mating surfaces provided thereon for evenly distributing mechanical stress from the metal end fittings to the composite bar. The bar is constructed of a plurality of layers of sheets of thermosetting, epoxy impregnated, longitudinally oriented fiber material that form the inner portion of the push bar and a single outside sheet of thermosetting, epoxy impregnated, woven fiber material forms the outside portion of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Performance Composites Inc
    Inventor: Eric H. English
  • Publication number: 20040206202
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a windshield wiper has wipe angle determined by the pivotable range of the pivot 16 which is driven by a motor 11 through gearbox 13, crank 15, connecting link 17 and a lever 18. The connecting link 17 has more than one connection possibility as does the lever. The drivers 19 which connect the connecting link 17 to the crank 15 and lever 18 are eccentrically mounted so that changes in the wipe angle of the pivot 16 can be effected by changing the orientation of the drivers 19 and/or the attachment points between the connecting link 17 and the lever 18 and crank 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Erik Hultquist, Michael W. Parmelee
  • Publication number: 20040192479
    Abstract: The power transmission comprises a pulley, a damper and a driver. The pulley has a hub, a web and a belt-wound portion. The hub is formed into the shape of a cylinder. The web extends outward from an outer surface of the hub. The belt-wound portion is formed into the shape of a cylinder and extends from an external circumferential edge of the web along the axial direction of the hub. The damper is disposed in the interior of an annular recess which is formed out of an outer surface of the hub, an end surface of the web and an inner surface of the belt-wound portion, and is fixed to the pulley. The driver is connected to the pulley at vertex portions thereof. The recess of the pulley is open towards the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 6490948
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal includes a pedal shaft, a pedal body, first and second clamping members and a first biasing member. The pedal body is rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft. The first clamping member has a first cleat engagement surface and is pivotally coupled to one end, while the second clamping member has a second cleat engagement surface and is fixedly coupled to the other end. The second clamping member is configured to form an unobstructed longitudinal passageway. Preferably, the second clamping member includes two outer attachment points and an inner attachment point. Preferably, an adjustment member is arranged between the first clamping member and a biasing member to adjust tension of the biasing member on the first clamping member. The adjustment member has a head arranged in a hole of the first clamping member, an enlarged section and an adjustment plate adjustably mounted on the adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20020124685
    Abstract: An improved connecting rod assembly and method for making a connecting rod wherein the installation of the bearing sleeve members in the large bearing end of the connecting rod is improved. The connecting rod is forged, and then notches are cut in the large bearing end to define a separation plane about which the large bearing end is subsequently separated to form a cap member and a body member. Sleeve bearing members are inserted into the cap member and body member. Free ends of the sleeve bearing members project beyond associated surfaces of the cap and body members a predetermined distance. Upon compressive re-attachment of the cap member to the body member, the free ends of the bearing members are compressed and deformed to provide protrusions that extend into the notch. The protrusions help to prevent rotation of the bearing members relative to the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Hideyuki Adachi
  • Patent number: 6349615
    Abstract: A lever, for example, for transferring force to another structural component of a mechanism, has a prefabricated connecting piece disposed on at least one of its ends. The lever is constructed as a hollow profile made of material that can be shaped without cutting. The hollow profile forms a receiving chamber on at least one end for the prefabricated connecting piece. The walls of the receiving chamber rest tightly against the circumference and the end faces of the connecting piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Zimmer, Henk Becker
  • Patent number: 5946980
    Abstract: A link construction suitable for use in carrying high dynamic loads between a pair of members generally consisting of an elongated member having a pair of spaced openings for receiving the pair of members, formed of a thermoplastic material, the member having an intermediate section between the openings therein provided with an I-shaped cross-sectional configuration, and a bushing disposed in each of the openings, formed of a polyurethane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Farathane Corporation
    Inventors: Irfan F. Raza, Ronald D. Walther
  • Patent number: 5431540
    Abstract: One embodiment of a main rotor pitch control rod subassembly includes an upper rod end segment having a bearing subassembly, a lower rod end segment having a bearing subassembly, an eccentric bushing disposed in rotatable combination with the upper rod end segment bearing subassembly for varying the axial length of the pitch control rod subassembly, a composite central body structure interposed between the upper and lower end segments, a composite strap member wrapped around and secured in combination with the lower end segment bearing subassembly, the composite central body structure, and the upper end segment bearing subassembly, eccentric bushing combination, a composite overwrap overlayed in combination with the composite strap member, a locking key member and a clamp-up bolt for clamping the composite strap member in tensioned combination with the locking key member, and a locking bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard J. Doolin, Frank P. D'Anna, Stephen V. Poulin
  • Patent number: 4953894
    Abstract: An adjustable fastening of a ball joint to a track rod (1) for steering rods of motor vehicles, in which the ball joint has a ball stud (12) supported movable in all directions around a central axis (17) in a joint housing (16), and the central axis (17) can be pushed along by adjusting the ball joint (2) in relation to the track rod (1), is said, in particular, to be possible to use even with U-shaped profiled track rods. For this purpose, the ball joint (2) has a fastening plate (16) which has a bearing bore (18) arranged eccentric to the axis (17) of movement of the ball stud (12). The fastening plate (16) is supported swingable by its bearing bore (18) on a fastening element (22), and the track rod (1) has fixing elements (23) gripping against the fastening plate (16) for fixing the ball joint (2) in a definite swinging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: TRW Ehrenreich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lothar Broszat, Michael Servos, Dieter Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 4805483
    Abstract: A connecting rod shank of a connecting rod is composed of a plurality of laminated plates having a thickness so that they can be introduced through a gap provided in a partially cylindrical base body of a loop tensioner for a tightening band which encloses the connecting rod shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Beckmann, Siegfried Brudgam, Dieter Roeper
  • Patent number: 4800306
    Abstract: The device comprises an external inertia element which is fixed to a damping member which is coaxially fixed with respect to a shaft of a stepping motor, in such a way that it can rotate together therewith. The external inertia element comprises a metal mass in the form of an annulus of limited thickness. The damping member comprises a first circular flange to which the annulus is fixed, a second circular flange by means of which the device is fixed to the shaft and an annulus of elastomeric material connecting the two flanges. The materials and the dimensions of the device can be calculated, proportioned and pre-arranged in such a way that the device is compact but can stop oscillations of the stepping motor in a very short time. The device is particularly suited to damping the oscillations of a stepping motor which is used for example for positioning a printing member with respect to a print point or for positioning a recording head with respect to a magnetic disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Oberto
  • Patent number: 4798922
    Abstract: Improved blade-type, air dielectric switchgear apparatus is provided having spring loaded, fast acting, operator independent mechanism for selective opening and closing of internal switch contacts. Preferably, the operating mechanism includes a pair of opposed, pivotal, notched, scissor-like arms with a rotatable latch plate therebetween; a pair of latching pins are carried by the plate, and the latter is operably connected with a power spring assembly. A trip element is also provided which, upon rotation thereof in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, serves to shift a corresponding arm away from the latch plate to disengage the latching components. At this point a high velocity rotational movement is imparted to the latch plate by the spring assembly to rotate the latch plate to a second position wherein the plate and the opposed arm come into latching engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: A. B. Chance Company
    Inventor: Gerald B. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4726402
    Abstract: A gear drive for a shuttleless loom having a coupling train between a power input shaft and a power output member for reciprocating a weft thread gripper device into and out of a loom shed. The coupling train has a gear lever journalled for an oscillating motion which transports the weft thread gripper device. The coupling train also includes a piston rod type coupling link between the power input shaft and the gear lever. One end of the piston rod is journalled by a crank pin to the power input shaft. The other end of the piston rod is connected to a fork of the gear lever by a journal bolt having wedge type teeth and grooves in its facing ends which cooperate with respective teeth and grooves in the fork for an adjustment of the coupling point between the piston rod and the gear lever along elongated guide slots in the fork of the gear lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Othmar Oppl
  • Patent number: 4663980
    Abstract: A ball joint connecting an end of a rack gear to an end of a tie rod is constructed to have a center of rotary motion which is offset from the center axis of the rack gear and to be adjustable to selectively change the direction in which the center of rotary motion of the ball joint is set apart from the center axis of the rack gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Narita
  • Patent number: 4301695
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston machine, shown as having a crankshaft with a crank-pin offset from the axis of rotation of the crankshaft and a connecting rod pivotally connected at the end thereof remote from the crank-pin to a piston reciprocatingly received within a cylinder, has first and second eccentric bearings journalled with respect to each other and operatively collectively carried by the crank-pin and situated as to be generally between the crank-pin and the cooperating end of the related connecting rod; one of the eccentric bearings is rotated generally with the crank-pin and completely within the cooperating end of the connecting rod by the crankshaft during each full rotation of the crankshaft while the crank-pin undergoes one full rotation with respect to the other of the eccentric bearings for each full rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Inventor: John H. Reiher
  • Patent number: 4184384
    Abstract: A piston crankshaft connecting rod includes a column having a piston wrist pin engaging bearing collar at one end and a crankpin engaging split bearing collar at the opposite end, the split collar being releaseably locked in assembled condition by a flexible metal band encircling the outer section of the split collar and either the split collar inner section or the full column including the wrist pin collar or another portion of the connecting rod. The band is longitudinally medially slotted at opposite ends and the separate arms are looped, the loops engaging pins on tapped and smooth bored coupling members engaged by a bolt so that contraction and separation between the band ends may be effected by turning the bolt. The inner split collar is integrallly formed with the column or is cradled in a saddle formed at the column end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Inventor: Melvin Levine