The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2005
Randall Stuart Bradley, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Jason Edward Shearer, Sac City, IA (US);
David Ross Blecha, Jr., Carlyle, IL (US);
Randall Stuart Bradley, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Jason Edward Shearer, Sac City, IA (US);
David Ross Blecha, Jr., Carlyle, IL (US);
Evapco, Inc., Westminster, MD (US);
Abstract
A dimension sensor is used in conjunction with a tube and includes a body member and at least one detector element. The body member has an inner surface defining an opening sized to receive the tube. The at least one detector element is connected to the body member and has a detector portion extending into the opening. When the tube is received in the opening, the detector portion is initially disposed apart from the tube. A method using the dimension sensor stops expansion of the tube expanding from a pre-expanded state to a desired expanded state. A pumping device is actuated to pressurize a fluid by an amount sufficient to cause the tube to expand from the pre-expanded state to the desired expanded state. When the tube expands to the desired expanded state, the pumping device deactivates thereby stopping expansion of the tube at the desired expanded state.