Patents Examined by Kevin D. Wilkens
  • Patent number: 6256958
    Abstract: A floor joist system including at least one girder having an upper surface, a plurality of joists interconnected with the girder, each joist having an upper surface, the upper surfaces of the girder and the joist being substantially coplanar, a plurality of individual flooring attachment elements attached to the upper surfaces of the girder and joists, the flooring attachment elements having a hardness which is less than the hardness of both the girder and joists, and flooring supported by the upper surfaces of the girder and joists through their respective flooring attachment elements, the flooring attached to the flooring attachment elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Perf-X-Dek, L.L.C.
    Inventor: LeRoy Matthews
  • Patent number: 6253508
    Abstract: A building frontage including first frontage elements fixed to the building each including a cellular core and second frontage elements. The first and second frontage elements are arranged in substantially the same plane. The second frontage elements are fixed only to the first frontage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Elf Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Ginet, Michel Le Feron De Longcamp
  • Patent number: 6253504
    Abstract: The movable manufacturing facility brings standard size home building comprehensively within a controlled factory environment. The main structure of the movable manufacturing facility is sufficiently tall to allow assembly and movement of standard size homes within. Multiple independent production lines are established to each produce portions of the dwelling in the form of subassemblies. Finishes, cabinets, appliances, roofs, paint, etc. are installed in the partially completed dwellings prior to houses leaving the production floor. The movable manufacturing facility allows a standard size home under construction to be advanced via a transport element from one production line to the next until complete. The completed homes are subsequently transported on the transport element over a controlled access roadway to individual sites with pre-constructed foundations specifically designed to accept these standard size dwellings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Cohen Brothers Homes, LLC
    Inventors: David Leslie Cohen, Roger Blair Cohen
  • Patent number: 6250019
    Abstract: A furniture arrangement includes an overhead support defining an elongated overhead utility channel, and one or more lamps attached to the overhead support in recesses formed by the utility channel. A dome-shaped reflector or gull-wing-shaped light-distributing member is attached to the overhead support for distributing light from the lamps downwardly into side areas around the overhead support. The light-distributing members are positioned to both distribute light from the lamp and to visually shield contents of the utility channel from people standing around (or above) the side areas. The utility channel forms light-source recesses for receiving the lamps and lamp ballasts, and wireway recesses for receiving lay-in wiring and utilities, which wiring and utilities are guided by the light-distributing members into the wireway recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: George J. Simons, Jr., Mark A. Buchalter, Howard M. Montgomery, Yasuyuki Hirai, Gregory M. Tanis
  • Patent number: 6250024
    Abstract: A system and method for securing an insulated concrete wall form to an existing support/bracing structure such as a strongback for keeping the form straight and plumb during construction. The attachment system uses a flexible member, such as a tensioning plastic strap, to hold the strongback against insulated panels of the insulated concrete wall form. Openings are cut through the insulated panels to provide a pathway for the strap. A horizontal anchoring bar is positioned in the insulated concrete wall form to secure the strap. The strap is threaded through one of the openings, wrapped around the anchoring bar and then threaded out through the other opening. The strap is wrapped around a strongback and the ends of the strap are secured using a crimp connector. A wedge may also be inserted between the strongback and the strap and pressed downwardly to adjust the tension of the strap and align the insulated concrete wall form against the strongback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Elias Sculthorpe, Bruce R. Cooper, John Maguire
  • Patent number: 6240699
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for anchoring tensioning members in a concrete structure and the like wherein there is provided a wedge support member having wedge-receiving pockets coaxially aligned with the anchor seats in an anchorage block permitting the anchorage wedges to first be inserted into the pockets not allowing the tensioning members to slip during tensioning. This method is used in post-tensioning of monostrand cable. The apparatus anchors the tensioning members by installing wedges into their respective wedge seats. A magnetic tip is utilized to hold the wedges in place while a slide hammer provides and transmits the energy to forcibly insert the wedges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventors: Wayne Alan Scanlon, Dale Andrew Granger
  • Patent number: 6238139
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement includes face walls of two construction parts made of concrete, reinforced concrete or the like, these face walls being pressed against each other, particularly of tunnel tube segments, as well as a strand shaped seal made of elastomeric material for sealing the gap between the construction parts or tunnel tube segments, whereby the seal has a base part which, in relation to the sealing part, is widened on both sides, forming flanges, and which, by means of these flanges and suitable additional anchoring parts, is fastened on one of the two face walls of the construction parts or tunnel tube segments, whereas the sealing part, the latter being joined with the base part in one piece, has a trapezoidal shape, viewed cross-sectionally, and, in relation to the base part, a decreasing width, with lateral flanks tapering off at the same time, and seals the gap when the construction parts or tunnel tube segments are pressed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Siegfried Glang, Werner Grabe
  • Patent number: 6237289
    Abstract: An improved wing-type ground anchor. The ground anchor includes a central body portion, wings radiating laterally from the body portion, and a leg portion at the front end of the body portion GROUND ANCHOR that operates like a star-point drill for penetrating the ground. The sides of the leg portion each include a plurality of sharpened leading side edges which are longitudinally offset from each other. Each of the wings also includes a plurality of sharpened leading side edges which are longitudinally offset with respect to each other. The offset leading side edges and wing edges progressively extend greater distances laterally outward from the body portion along the length of the leg portion and the wings. Since smaller side edges and wing edges are advanced first, the staged side and wing edges facilitate passage of the ground anchor through soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Foresight Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Jewett, John Yapundich
  • Patent number: 6230462
    Abstract: A connector for tying together opposed foam panels in spaced and parallel relationship makes a form for receiving flowable material. The connector comprises a pair of anchor members, one being devised to be embedded in one of the foam panels and the other being devised to be embedded in the other one of the foam panels. Each of these anchor members has a projecting end devised to come out of the foam panel once the anchor member is embedded therein. The connector further comprises a web member extending between the foam panels. The web member has opposite longitudinal side ends, each of the side ends being hingedly connectable to the projecting end of either one of the anchor members. Thanks to such a connector, the tied foam panels of the form wall assembly are movable between an extended position where the foam panels are spaced-apart to make the form and a collapsed position where the foam panels are brought close to each other for transportation purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Béliveau
  • Patent number: 6223497
    Abstract: A window for automobiles or the like, including a frame member which is composed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin material and formed integrally with a window plate. The frame member includes a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional portion formed of lip and web sections which are spaced from and opposed to each other on outer and rear surfaces of the window plate, respectively, and connected with each other by a bridge section having a continuous hollow inner space therein. The frame member is formed by injecting into a mold cavity a relatively small amount, as compared with the volume of the mold cavity, of molten thermoplastic synthetic resin material, and by injecting compressed gas into the resin material to urge the resin material against inner surfaces of the mold defining the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Hashimoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ohtake, Tatsuya Tamura
  • Patent number: 6223482
    Abstract: A portable, easily composable supporting skeleton which serves as a supporting structure of buildings composable in situ. The skeleton comprises a pipe-like spacer. Two dismountable node plates can be fixed to the spacer by way of clamping assemblies. Each node plate includes an eye having a through-hole. A joint assembly which comprises a crosswise tie-piece can be interconnected pivotably to the through-hole of the eye of one of the node plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Herman Zohar
  • Patent number: 6219984
    Abstract: Interconnectable formwork elements for casting vertical concrete structures adapted to interconnect to one another along their longitudinal sides to create a formwork for casting concrete to form a wall other vertical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Francesco Piccone
  • Patent number: 6219987
    Abstract: An arrangement of endcaps particularly formed and arranged for use in connection with composite deck beams particularly adapted to use on rail car running boards but is also suitable to other beam type decks such as those used on semi-trailers, in marine applications or as industrial catwalks. The endcaps close the ends of fiberglass reinforced plastic running boards, complementing the strength, economy and durability of such materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Holland Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Trent, R. Michael Manley
  • Patent number: 6220265
    Abstract: Collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The first panel has a first retaining mechanism that defines an adjustment space, and the second panel has a second retaining mechanism that is movably received inside the adjustment space of the first retaining mechanism to couple the second panel to the first panel. The second retaining mechanism is movable within the adjustment space to allow the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted. Other collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 6216416
    Abstract: A system for installing a metal roof system including an insulation layer placed over a series of purlins and under a metal deck while preventing workers from falling through the insulation. The system is primarily comprised of a material handling assembly and a working deck. The material handling assembly includes at least one conveyor segment positioned across the purlin. Each conveyor segment is comprised of a rectangular frame in which is disposed a series of rollers. The rollers are disposed in parallel fashion relative to each other and in a lateral direction with respect to the frame. A roller assembly is secured to the conveyor segments at each purlin in order to accomplish lateral movement of the system as the roof installation process progresses. At least one winch is mounted to the material handling assembly, from which is extended a winch cable. The winch cable is secured to the far end of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: William D. West, Timothy D. West, Charles M. West, Michael M. West, Gary M. West
  • Patent number: 6216399
    Abstract: A protective device for flooding, comprising a protective cloth provided in a housing and a float connected to the protective cloth. The housing is formed as boxes having elongated sides and open gable ends. Side edges of the protective cloth in the housing are connected to one another for providing a waterproof connection to protective cloths of adjacent housings. A protective cloth for flooding comprises at least one float provided along an edge of the protective cloth, and float elements are provided spaced apart along the surface of the protective cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Flood Protection Systems Bebarli AB
    Inventor: Sahbi Belarbi
  • Patent number: 6212851
    Abstract: A molded inner door panel for an automotive vehicle having a header extending above a beltline. The inner door panel has a notched metal frame insert, and a polymeric molded frame encasing the metal frame insert within the header. Advantageously, the notches provide precise inboard and outboard adjustability of the header of the inner door panel during assembly to the vehicle. The molded inner door panel has a resilient insert, e.g., elastomeric thermoplastic, disposed between the notches of the metal frame insert and the polymeric molded frame. Additionally, the polymeric material of the polymeric molded frame is substantially thinner in the area covering the notches than in the area bordering the notches. These features prevent the polymeric material from cracking upon adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Henry Visconti, Edward Joseph Wenzel
  • Patent number: 6212848
    Abstract: A support device for use in tilt-wall construction including a support body having at least two support legs and a bottom extending between the support legs, and a base formed of a polymeric material. The base is affixed to the bottom of the support body. The base has a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom. The support body is of a generally U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section. The support body is formed of a single piece of a metal material. The support legs each have a slot formed adjacent an edge opposite the bottom. These slots open on opposite sides of the support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Henry R. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6209266
    Abstract: A workspace display comprises a sidewall partition defining a workspace with a portal opening and a door partition to selectively close the portal. A first display screen is disposed on the interior side of the door partition for individual viewing from inside the workspace. A second display screen is disposed exterior of the sidewall partition and positioned a spaced apart distance in general alignment therewith, without substantial interference with user ingress and egress through the portal opening. A video device is positioned overhead in optical communication with the first display screen when the door partition is in its fully closed position to support individual activities. The video device is in optical communication through the portal opening with the second display screen when the door partition is in its fully open position to support group activities. An image on the second display screen can be viewed on either the interior or exterior screen surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Branc, Mark A. Baloga, William L. Miller, Mitchell Niewiadomski, Joel D. Stanfield
  • Patent number: 6206615
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus primarily for laying a foundation for existing building structures. The method and the apparatus are primarily directed to the re-establishment of sufficient support in combination with foundation piles that no longer offer the sufficient support. E.g. this problem may arise in connection with wooden foundation piles in which an upper part of the foundation pile is rotten due to a sinking of the groundwater level. The method comprises removal of the upper part of the foundation pile and establishment of a support between a remaining foundation pile and a foundation on a building structure. The support is established in the aforementionned primary application by casting a fluid, preferably a curable casting material, in a telecospic cylinder, which is positioned between the remaining foundation pile and the foundation of the building structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Adsboll Fundering A/S
    Inventor: Bjarne Adsbøll