Patents Assigned to Fukuvi USA, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6736366
    Abstract: Adjacent tilt-up concrete wall panels are poured on a horizontal concrete floor or forming surface and are separated by a bulkhead device including a base member or channel of extruded semi-rigid plastics material and secured by screws to the forming surface. The base channel has upwardly projecting walls with inwardly projecting opposing teeth which releasably engage outwardly projecting teeth on spaced side walls of a generally U-shaped bulkhead member of extruded semi-rigid plastics material. The spaced side walls also have opposing ribs for gripping a bulkhead extension member, and the bulkhead member is also extruded with outwardly and downwardly projecting walls which have tapered lower edge portions engaging the forming surface to form chamfer corners on the concrete panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignees: Miller-Valentine Construction Inc., Fukuvi- USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Eyring, Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6732995
    Abstract: A casting support is provided including a brace and a bracket. The brace includes bracing end portions and the bracket includes first and second bracing faces that include one or more pairs of bracing projections. A distance between the bracing end portions of the brace is greater than a distance between opposite bracing projections on the first and second bracing faces. The brace is positioned to lend structural support to the bracket by urging it past the bracing projections into a secure bracing position. A casting form is also provided including a plurality of form panels and a plurality of casting supports. The casting supports are configured to support the form panels in a substantially vertical orientation and each of the casting supports includes a brace and a bracket. A casting form is also provided where each of the casting supports comprises a brace and a bracket and each bracket comprises an integrally-formed form face spaced from and oriented parallel to a first bracing face of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6702247
    Abstract: A chamfer for forming precast concrete wall panels used in tilt-up construction. The chamfer includes an elongate base portion and at least one chamfer portion coextensive with the lengthwise direction of the elongate base portion. The base portion defines a substantially horizontal base plane. The chamfer portion includes a first leg disposed upstanding relative to the base portion, and a second leg portion angularly disposed relative the first leg. The second leg further includes at least one flexible edge that projects beyond at least the base plane or the plane defined by the lengthwise direction extension of the first leg. Depending on which part of the second leg the edge is cantilevered from, it forms a sealed relationship between the chamfer and a casting surface, the chamfer and a plank used as part of the wall form, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6685021
    Abstract: Extruded article-packaging members are arranged to form a frame and are bound about a set of elongate articles like tubes, rods, poles, beams, etc. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an article-packaging member is provided defining an extruded cross section. The extruded cross section extends along substantially an entire length of the packaging member and comprises a structural framework, a bundling channel, and at least one set of pliable projections. The structural framework is formed of a relatively rigid extruded plastic material. The bundling channel is formed in the extruded cross section along an exterior face of the article-packaging member. The pliable projections are formed of a relatively pliable plastic material extending from the structural framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Charles Dodson, Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6631599
    Abstract: A panel insert for attaching objects to a precast panel surface. The insert is made from a one-piece elongate body of plastic and comprises one or more attachment securing chambers that form a secure engagement with an attachment, where the attachment preferably includes architectural or related decorative features. At least one inward-facing spine can be included on the insert to help secure the insert to the panel. Preferably, the secure engagement between the decorative attachment and the attachment securing chamber is in the nature of an interlocking, male-female connection, where such connection may include either numerous shaped members on complementary surfaces to form a frictional fit, including a permanent snap-fit, or complementary trapezoidal shapes so that a protrusion, or detent, on the decorative attachment may be slid or pressed into the chamber for either a removable or permanent locking arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Publication number: 20030189268
    Abstract: A rustication for preparing reveal bands in a precast panel surface. The rustication is made from a one piece elongate body of extruded foam and comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and laterally-spaced sidewall surfaces that extend between the upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface defines a base plane. One or more downward-extending edges that project below the lower surface base plane are included such that they can bend under the application of a load, such as when concrete is poured around it to form the precast panel. Under such a load, the edge scrapes along the top of a panel-forming surface so that an enhanced sealing engagement between the panel-forming surface and the rustication is effected. The rustication can further include a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apertures that extend from the upper surface to the lower surface to facilitate the securing of the rustication to the panel-forming surface, thereby precluding rustication shift once the concrete is poured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6513862
    Abstract: A door assembly is provided comprising a plurality of interlocked door panels. Each of the door panels defines a length dimension, a height dimension, and a thickness dimension. Each of the door panels also defines a female portion, a male portion, and a panel body portion. The female portion and the male portion are defined near opposite extremes of the height dimension. The panel body portion mechanically couples the female portion to the male portion. The female portion defines an inside diameter. The male portion defines an outside diameter. The inside diameter of the female portion is sized to accommodate the outside diameter of the male portion. Each of the door panels are interlocked to an adjacent one of the door panels via accommodation of a male portion of one of the panels within a female portion of another of the panels. The female portion is preferably a rigid metal, e.g., Aluminum, and the male and panel body portions are preferably a plastic material, e.g., polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Charles Dodson, Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6467226
    Abstract: An improved window frame is provided. The window frame utilizes one or more locking panels coupled to the frame body via a living hinge. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the window frame includes a plurality of frame segments extending between respective corners of the window frame. Each of the frame segments defines a cross section comprising a frame body including a locking structure catch formed therein, a frame locking structure arranged to engage the locking structure catch, and a locking panel secured to the frame body via a living hinge. The living hinge is arranged to permit the first locking panel to pivot relative to the frame body between a closed state and an open state. The locking panel is arranged to engage the frame body and define a window securing dimension between the frame body and the locking panel upon pivoting to the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Charles Dodson, Kyozaburo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6398180
    Abstract: Adjacent tilt-up concrete wall panels are poured on a horizontal concrete floor or forming surface and are separated by a bulkhead device including a base member or channel of extruded semi-rigid plastics material and secured by screws to the forming surface. The base channel has upwardly projecting walls with inwardly projecting opposing teeth which releasably engage outwardly projecting teeth on spaced side walls of a generally U-shaped bulkhead member of extruded semi-rigid plastics material. The spaced side walls also have opposing ribs for gripping a bulkhead extension member, and the bulkhead member is also extruded with outwardly and downwardly projecting walls which have tapered lower edge portions engaging the forming surface to form chamfer corners on the concrete panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: Miller-Valentine Construction Inc., Fukuvi USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Eyring, Kyozaburo Takagi