Patents Examined by Eileen D. Lillis
  • Patent number: 8225577
    Abstract: A method of using liner-like cores or core assemblies for creating in-ground concrete spas or swim pools. For larger projects, that is for enlarged scale spas or swim pools, the inventive liner-like core comprises an assembly of sections. The cores or core assemblies are re-usable at least for several projects if reasonably maintained and cleaned. The core assembly comprises two long walls and two short wall defining the perimeter around a split level bottom with a shallow end, a deep end, and an intermediate transition slope. The liner-like core is constructed from a suitable rigid material like fiberglass for stiffening purposes and is an assembly of sections and also comprises: leveling blocks, transverse support beams, and hangers that attach to the walls of the core assembly and stiffens the long walls against being warped inward during the concrete pour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Douglas L. Fender
  • Patent number: 8202380
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow core door is disclosed, as well as a corresponding hollow core door. The method includes the steps of providing a solid flat door skin, moisturizing the flat skin, applying a conditioning resin thereto, pre-heating the flat door skin, and thereafter pressing the flat door skin between a pair of heated platens in a press in order to reform the flat skin into a molded skin including a plurality of panels defined therein. The press continuously closes in order to reform the flat skin into the molded skin, with the rate of press closure being a function of the determined hardness of the flat skin to be reformed. The resulting door skins have an improved bond strength, and are efficiently manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Moyes
  • Patent number: 8203657
    Abstract: A mobile entertainment system includes a video system designed for reducing energy consumption. The video system includes a battery permitting proximity charging of the video system. A supporting structure supports the video system within a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Vitito
  • Patent number: 8199262
    Abstract: A filter frame is provided suitable for use in conjunction with a light filter and a display head assembly including a display head and a bezel. The filter frame comprises a frame member configured to removably hold the light filter between the display head and the bezel. At least one guide member is fixedly coupled to the frame member and configured to engage a peripheral portion of the light filter to retain the light filter within the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Fierro
  • Patent number: 8186105
    Abstract: A retractable load-bearing cover apparatus is selectively deployable and retractable along a track defining a path of travel between first and second terminus points. The load-bearing cover apparatus includes a plurality of sections that are deployable along the track in a first direction, and retractable along the track in a second, opposite direction, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of sections are releasably engagable to one another. The cover apparatus includes a drive system for deploying and retracting the sections along the track, and a storage system for disengaging the sections and arranging such disengaged sections into a vertically stacked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Wutpol, Inc.
    Inventors: Judd Jackson, Scott Uram, Brian Weisner, Lee Debeau
  • Patent number: 8186125
    Abstract: A is provided for constructing a jump pit with a sand area. The form is constructed in sections. Each section has an inside wall and an outside wall. A support member is located between the outside wall and the inside wall. The sections are secured together onsite. Caps are mounted on the support members. The caps include an inclined surface which slops upwardly and away from the sand area forming the inclined surface. A cover over the sand area is supported by the inclined surface. Optionally, a chamber is located adjacent the outside wall. A grate covers the chamber and the grate is supported by a brace. A mat covers the grate. Openings in the grate and in the mat permit sand through them, thrown from the sand area to drop into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sportsfield Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Burt Goulet
  • Patent number: 8186107
    Abstract: A convertible stadium includes a playing field, a seating area, a stationary roof structure and a large, heavy roof panel mounted for movement with respect to the stationary roof structure, A plurality of cable drums are mounted for movement together with the roof panel. Each cable drum has at least one cable wound thereabout. The cable is secured to the stationary roof structure and is payable from the respective cable drum. The system is designed so as to minimize movement between the cable and the roof panel, so there will be no possibility of frictional engagement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Cyril Silberman, Barton L. Riberich, Lennart Nielsen, Michael Becker, Alan Wilcox, Timothy J. Kline, Neil Tolin, Mark Silvera, Randy Grems
  • Patent number: 8186118
    Abstract: A profiled cover for floor covering is made from an extruded profile and has a covering flange and at least one clamping web which protrudes downward from the covering flange, extends in the longitudinal direction of the profiled cover, and is used for fastening the profiled cover in a fixture. The cover also comprises a compensating strip fastened to the profiled cover by means of a form-fitting tongue and groove joint. The tongue and groove joint is formed by at least one longitudinal groove in an underside of the covering flange for retaining a tongue in the compensating strip, all sections of the covering flange lying flat over the floor covering they cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Franz jun. Neuhofer
  • Patent number: 8186114
    Abstract: A door threshold may comprise a main body formed from two feet. In certain example embodiments, a male-female connection between the feet may be used to adjust the depth of the door threshold. In certain other example embodiments, a center bridge insert to be used in connection with two female feet to adjust the depth of the door threshold. In still further example embodiments, one or more center layers may be disposed between two feet, with the size of the center layer(s) determining the depth of the door threshold. Also, the door threshold may include upper and lower members for sandwiching carpet and/or carpet padding therebetween which, in certain example embodiments, may grip the carpet to reduce the ease with which it may be pulled out from between the upper and lower members. Thus, certain example embodiments may reduce and/or eliminate the need for tacks proximate to the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Rissone
  • Patent number: 8181410
    Abstract: A metal building insulation system and method for by-pass wall girt metal building systems which facilitates the installation of wall insulation applied from the interior of the building for the full depth of the wall girt. Integrally faced vapor barrier blanket insulation combined with vapor barrier extensions installed behind perimeter structural and corner columns before wall girt erection are preferred system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Armand Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael D. Stensrud
  • Patent number: 8181417
    Abstract: An improved acoustical damping wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminar structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more constraining layers, such as metal, cellulose, wood, or petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl, plastic or rubber. In one embodiment, standard wallboard, typically gypsum, comprises the external surfaces of the laminar structure; and one or more constraining layers are fabricated between the gypsum exterior. The resulting structure improves the attenuation of sound transmitted through the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Serious Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Surace, Marc U. Porat
  • Patent number: 8181420
    Abstract: The device has a first lower substantially flat body, which has in its upper part a flexible post with a narrowed or weakened portion and a second upper body with the passage for receiving and securing said post. The flexible post, which has a rectangular cross section, has in its main surfaces respective mutually opposed toothings, which teeth are offset in the lengthwise direction and the passage of the second body has two latching pawls mutually opposed, so that in the operative position of the devices, the teeth of the flexible post engage in an alternate form with said latching pawls. The second body has a bell like hollow form with a lower widened contact mouth or border.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Germans Boada, S.A.
    Inventor: Josep Torrents I Comas
  • Patent number: 8176686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structure that is a stage and roof system. The present invention is a system that allows a stage and roof system to be moved and folded up into a compact area in a very short period of time to be placed at an event location to broadcast talent directly on or near a terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick Santini
  • Patent number: 8176706
    Abstract: A building framework includes plural column assemblies interconnected by plural full-length beam assemblies, with the union of the column assemblies and beam assemblies forming beam-to-column joint assemblies according to this invention. The column assemblies include pairs of side plates spanning the column members of the column assemblies and projecting toward another column assembly of the plurality of such column assemblies. The full-length beam assemblies include beam members for being received between column assemblies to be interconnected and defining an end gap with respect to each column member. Additionally, the full-length beam assemblies include at each opposite end portion thereof a pair of cover plates, including an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate, which cover plates are sized and configured to be united with the side plates of a column assembly, as by welding applied at a construction site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mitek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Houghton, Jesse E. Karns, Enrique A. Gallart
  • Patent number: 8171684
    Abstract: A glass wall configured to be used as a wall or partition wall includes at least two insulating glazing units. Each glazing unit includes at least two sheets of glass spaced apart by an air gap and assembled by at least one substantially flat insert that is secured by one of its faces to the edge faces of the sheets of glass. The glazing units are secured together by a securing mechanism that collaborates with the inserts placed facing each of the glazing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Yves Demars, Ivo Smets, Geurt Roelofsen, Anne Minne
  • Patent number: 8166718
    Abstract: Horizontally engineered floor boards are provided by this invention. The floor board includes a top decorative layer placed on a plurality of strips. The plurality of strips are arranged to have some in X-axis orientation and some in Y-axis orientation. The plurality of strips also has characteristics that allow the wood floor board to be installed as a tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: David C. Liu
  • Patent number: 8161701
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing floor panels, wherein is started from panels (1), these panels (1), at their lower side (9), are provided with at least one guiding groove (22) and these panels (1), at least at two opposite sides (3A-3B/4A-4B), are provided with profiled edge regions (5A-5B) that comprise coupling parts (17A-17B), characterized in that at least one of the aforementioned two profiled edge regions (5A-5B) is formed such that this region, seen in a cross-section of the panel (1), transverse to the guiding groove (22), extends at the lower side (9) of the panel (1) at least up to the guiding groove (22). Further, the invention also relates to still other methods, for manufacturing as well as packaging of floor panels, and also relates to devices used therewith, as well as to floor panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARL
    Inventors: Mark Cappelle, Lode De Boe
  • Patent number: 8156705
    Abstract: A groutless tile system including groutless tiles, wherein each groutless tile includes a substrate, a durable surface disposed within a groove defined by the substrate, the durable surface having bottom surface, and a first coupling member disposed on an edge of the substrate. The first coupling member comprises a first bendable portion and a groove, the groove having an upper surface and a lower surface. The bottom surface of the durable surface is substantially coplanar with a point between the upper and lower surfaces of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mohawk Carpet Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Alford, Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 8146322
    Abstract: A building framework includes plural column assemblies supporting plural beams supporting floors of the building, with the union of the column assemblies and beams forming beam-to-column (or beam-to-column-to-beam) joint connection assemblies according to this invention. The joint connection assemblies inventively include novel features which remarkably and surprisingly improve the distribution of strain and plastic deformation in the joint connection structure when subjected to extreme load challenges to the building structure (as may occur during earthquake, explosion, progressive collapse load conditions, or massive impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse Karns
  • Patent number: 8146311
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for insulating piping installed in an exterior wall in a manner that protects the piping from freezing. Generally, the system includes an insulation block that has an interior side, an exterior side and a slot formed therein for receiving a pipe to be insulated adjacent the interior side, wherein the block is dimensioned particularly for installation into a building wall cavity. When installed, the block insures that the piping is positioned immediately adjacent the back surface of the interior sheathing material. The insulation block reliably provides a thickness of insulation material behind the piping such that the insulation material is positioned between the piping and the exterior wall surface while also maintaining the piping in contact with the rear surface of the interior wall sheathing to facilitate heat transfer from the interior of the building and into the piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Insulation Systems, LLC
    Inventor: John Certuse, Jr.