Patents Examined by Andres Gallego
  • Patent number: 9587837
    Abstract: A door-lock device for retaining a door of a household appliance in a closed position. The door-lock device including a mobile module that slides relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking unit housed within the mobile module. The blocking unit has a blocking member that moves between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the blocking member holds the door of the household appliance in the closed position. A detecting slider slides the mobile module relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking slider prevents the blocking member from moving from the locking position to the unlocking position. A pawl connected to the blocking slider engages one of a plurality of adjustment slots to block the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bitron S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Colucci, Gianpaolo Barone
  • Patent number: 9572287
    Abstract: A server enclosure having a plurality of panels abutted to one another and constrained by a connector having a channel and at least one aperture. Each respective panel has at least one perpendicular portion being perpendicular to a face of the respective panel and adjoining a perimeter of the respective panel. Connectivity media coincident to the aperture can affix at least two panels and a connector to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. LaPree, Stephen P. Mroz, Mark D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 9565929
    Abstract: A two-part tray apparatus that includes a base tray having a desk surface for drawing and writing and a food tray having four food compartments. A resilient bottom of the base tray may rest on a lap. The food tray is nestable into the base tray and is nonslideable relative to the base tray. The base tray includes a proximal side with no upwardly extending walls to make it easy for a child to write or draw on the desk surface. Strap units are included to anchor opposite ends of the tray apparatus or may be connected to each other to form a full length shoulder strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Brian G. Linehan, Elizabeth R. Volk
  • Patent number: 9556656
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latching mechanism maintaining a vehicle door in a closing-stop state; an active lever having a support swiveling around a first support shaft, a link section disposed on the outer side from the support in a radial direction with the first support shaft as the center and having an outer circumferential section linked to and driven by an electric motor, a connection section connecting the support and the link section, and a first engagement section formed in one of an outer circumferential section of the support and an inner circumferential section of the link section; a release lever swiveling around a second support shaft disposed in the recessed portion to be parallel to the first support shaft, interconnected with the latching mechanism, and having a second engagement section engageable with the first engagement section so as to integrally swivel with the active lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9546810
    Abstract: A galley cart system employs a dry ice compartment and a refrigeration compartment in a galley cart in flow communication with the dry ice compartment. A ventilation system is in interruptible flow communication with at least the refrigeration compartment and is for receiving gas discharged from at least the refrigeration compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bryce A. Vandyke, Marcus K. Richardson, Chao-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 9546019
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a pallet comprises a top deck comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate comprises a first plastic material; and a layer disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the layer comprises a composition comprising reinforcing fibers, polyimide fibers, and polymeric binder fibers, wherein the polymeric binder fibers have a melting point that is lower than the polyimide fibers; a bottom deck; and supporting columns disposed between the second surface and the bottom deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Alan Robert Federl, Ralph Robert Buoniconti
  • Patent number: 9540850
    Abstract: A vehicle door handle device, which is mounted on a side of a vehicle door facing a passenger compartment, includes: a door lock knob provided on a base member such that the door lock knob is pivotable between a locking position for placing the door in a locked state and an unlocking position for placing the door in an unlocked position; and a stopper provided on the base member between the locking position and the unlocking position for limiting pivoting movement of the door lock knob. The stopper has an elastic section, and the door lock knob has a locking surface section for abutting against the elastic section of the stopper when the door lock knob is in the locking position and an unlocking surface section for abutting against the elastic section of the stopper when the door lock knob is in the unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD, ALPHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Tanoguchi, Daichi Okamoto, Katsuya Ashizawa, Yutaka Saito
  • Patent number: 9528750
    Abstract: A refrigeration device having a first component and a second component, wherein the first component has an elongated seal element in form of a hollow profile to thermally seal the first component against the second component. The seal element also has an elongated materially-rigid first seal base and an elongated materially-elastic first seal head that is attached to the first seal base. At least one open end of the seal element is closed off by a terminating element. The terminating element has a materially-rigid second seal base and a materially-elastic second seal head that is attached to the second seal base. The first seal base and the second seal base are joined to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Eckartsberg
  • Patent number: 9521772
    Abstract: A housing for receiving electrotechnical components includes a first and a second housing shell having, respectively, a first housing web that forms a sealing face and a second housing web that forms a further sealing face. The first and second housing webs are part of an inner wall of a double-walled casing portion of the housing. Two resilient sealing elements for sealing a transition portion are formed between the housing shells. In the assembled state, the first and second housing webs are aligned one above the other and substantially flush and the longitudinal edges thereof facing each other are arranged at a distance apart. A carrier element forms a bridging element between the housing webs and presses the sealing elements in the transverse direction or in the assembly direction against the sealing faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KEBA AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Etlinger
  • Patent number: 9510670
    Abstract: A height-adjustable table can include a frame supporting a work surface; a pair of lower legs supporting the frame; a pulley mechanism coupling the frame and the pair of lower legs for vertically moving the frame relative to the pair of lower legs; and a spring located within a passage extending through the frame. The spring may have a fixed end secured to the frame and a movable end movable relative to the frame over a first distance for exerting a force over the first distance. The table can have a block-and-tackle assembly located within the passage and coupling the movable end of the spring to the pulley mechanism. The block-and-tackle assembly can transfer the force exerted by the spring over the first distance to vertical movement of the frame relative to the pair of lower legs over a second distance greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Teknion Limited
    Inventors: Hamid Zebarjad, Adam Douglas Haworth Sinclair, Hanna Shaheen, Bin Yu
  • Patent number: 9498054
    Abstract: A foldable table that provides a stable operational position in which the table legs may extend beyond the footprint of the table, and a folded, storage position in which the table legs may be tucked within the footprint of the table. An aspect provides table legs that may slide and pivot within sockets of a table top, to enable the legs to lock into the extended position and to also pivot flat against a horizontal undersurface of the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MEGA Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Roy, Thierry Beauregard
  • Patent number: 9498062
    Abstract: An actuating drive for moving a moveable furniture part includes at least one moveably mounted actuating member for moving the moveable furniture part a spring device for subjecting the actuating member to force; and an adjustment device by which a force of the spring device acting on the actuating member can be adjusted. The adjustment device has an adjustment screw having a thread, wherein the force of the spring device acting on the actuating member can be adjusted via a screw nut mounted displaceably along the thread. At least one spring element is provided via which the screw nut can be subjected, at at least one end region of the adjustment screw, to a force directed away from the end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventors: Armin Baldreich, Kurt Haemmerle
  • Patent number: 9494323
    Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A pair of doors is rotatably mounted to provide selective access to the chamber of the cabinet. The pair of doors is connected with a linkage assembly such that the doors rotate open and closed simultaneously. The linkage assembly includes a spur gear that engages another gear of the linkage assembly. The spur gear can hinder unwanted rotation of the pair of doors or compress the pair of doors against a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Adam Yantis, John Mark Chilton, Scott Thomas Kershner, Eric Sugalski, David Schoon, David Perry
  • Patent number: 9487901
    Abstract: A washing machine in which a touch panel is placed at a door so that an exterior of the washing machine can be improved, the washing machine including: a body in which an opening is formed; and a door disposed to open and close the opening, wherein the door includes: a first door member that constitutes a front side of the door; and a second door member that is combined with the first door member and constitutes a rear side of the door, and wherein the first door member and the second door member are combined with each other so that the first door member is capable of being rotated relative to the second door member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doo Pil Kim, Bong Wha Kwak, Ji Sung Kim, In Cheol Jang
  • Patent number: 9482463
    Abstract: A refrigerator may prevent an internal door from being opened together by an inertial force when an external door is opened, and may also prevent the external door from being opened together by an inertial force when the internal door is opened. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber provided in the main body so that a front surface thereof is opened, an internal door rotatably provided at a front surface of the main body so as to open and close the storage chamber and having an opening part in which a plurality of door guards are provided, an external door rotatably provided at a front surface of the internal door so as to open and close the opening part, and an internal door opening prevention device allowing or preventing opening of the internal door according to whether the external door is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Pil Choi, Dong In Shin, Hyo Seok Noh, Young Kyu Moon, Mu Yeol Sun
  • Patent number: 9482437
    Abstract: A front frame for a cooking appliance having at least one first cooking chamber which has a loading opening and a cooking chamber door for closing the loading opening. The front frame includes at least one first front frame unit. The at least one first front frame unit substantially completely frames the loading opening of the first cooking chamber. At an outer edge region of the at least one first front frame unit, a coupling region having at least one coupling device is formed at which an additional front frame unit can be coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventor: Lars Kemper
  • Patent number: 9474366
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation an adjustable shelf. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9462896
    Abstract: A door for a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area. The door includes a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and a third glass panel. The first glass panel is in communication with an environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser, and has a first surface arranged to face the environment and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second glass panel is positioned adjacent the first glass panel, and has a third surface arranged to face the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third glass panel is positioned adjacent the second glass panel and is in communication with the product display area. The third glass panel has a fifth surface arranged to face the fourth surface and a sixth surface opposite the fifth surface and arranged to face the product display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Craig S. Reichert, Timothy D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9386848
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a front panel on a drawer includes a furniture fitting which is preassembled on the front panel. The furniture fitting has at least one connecting piece which projects from the front panel and a pin which runs transverse to the connecting piece. A catching device is associated with the drawer. The catching device automatically retains the furniture fitting when the furniture fitting is inserted, and the catching device has a movable spring-loaded catching element which is triggered by the pin and which retains the pin. The catching element is moved along a guiding plate. A deflecting element is provided on a guiding plate face near the front panel for deflecting the furniture fitting which is preassembled in the front panel. The deflecting element is formed as a projection which projects laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9386853
    Abstract: A stop mechanism for a drawer displaceable along a line of travel into and out of a compartment of a cabinet, such drawer including a first surface disposed parallel to the line of travel and a second surface disposed at an angle relative to such line of travel, having a member pivotally mountable on such structure, displaceable between a first position resting upon such first drawer surface, in abutting alignment with the second drawer surface, obstructing removal of such drawer from the opening along such line of travel, and a second position out of resting relation with such first drawer surface and abutting alignment with such second drawer surface, permitting the removal of such drawer from such compartment along such line of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara