Patents Examined by Leslie Braun
  • Patent number: 7140159
    Abstract: An in-turned annular flange of a refrigerator door panel is interconnected to an out-turned flange of a door liner through the use of individual seal and liner retainer elements which enable the liner to be snap connected to the door panel. More specifically, with one of the retainer elements initially attached to the door panel and the remaining elements are attached to respective side portion of the liner. One side of the liner is initially attached to the door panel and then the liner is pivoted until the remaining sides of the liner are snap-connected to the door panel. After the door panel, liner and retainer assembly are foamed during an insulation procedure, all the components are securely held in place. Finally, a door seal, which includes primary and secondary seal elements, is interengaged with first and second seal connecting structure defined by the retainer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Jose G. Avendano, Larry Corbin, John P. Myers
  • Patent number: 7077373
    Abstract: A mount for an appliance such as a TV monitor which includes a box-like frame having a catch part at the top of the frame. A swivel part which may be attached to either the ceiling or the wall is provided. The catch part has a slot into which the swivel part is fitted, thus engaging the catch part to support the frame and the appliance. The disclosed support provides for ease of assembly as the appliance is supported from the ceiling or wall by the mere placement of said swivel in the catch part, without requiring any other assembly. The appliance may be tilted or rotated in the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Da-Lite Screen Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Hoebener, Jon A. Lofgreen, Troy A. Bush
  • Patent number: 7040582
    Abstract: A hanger for hanging bags wherein a card body (2) cooperates with a holding strip (11) that is connected to the card body by a film hinge (10) to define a gap between the card body and the holding strip. A means for latching the holding strip (11) to the card body (2) includes a first mechanism (9) for latching the holding strip to a fastening surface (7) of the card body (2) or a second mechanism for latching the holding strip to a side edge (14) of the card body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Peter Rosler
  • Patent number: 7021018
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with adhesive-edge building panels. The adhesive-edge building panels are preferably fiber cement. The front surface of each panel has an adhesive preapplied to an edge of the panel. Panels are fastened to a frame with the adhesive-edges adjacent to each other. A joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape adhere to the adhesive-edges of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: James Hardie International Finance B.V.
    Inventor: Weiling Peng
  • Patent number: 6988696
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for pivotally mounting a workpiece holder to a support structure includes a mounting member having an opening at least partially therethrough and a swivel member. The swivel member has a generally cylindrical passageway therethrough for at least partially receiving a support structure. The swivel member defines a truncated, generally spherical shaped swivel member having a curved outer surface for engaging an inner surface of the opening of the mounting member. The swivel member includes a reduced diameter or chamfered portion at the outer surface to facilitate insertion of the swivel member into the opening of the mounting member, whereby the swivel member is substantially retained within the opening after insertion therein. The mounting member may be a mounting bracket for adjustably mounting to a workpiece holder or may be a mounting block which is attachable to a workpiece holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith S. Attee
  • Patent number: 6969037
    Abstract: A desktop organizer including a curvilinear support having an integral locking groove including at least one retaining slot and an attachment means formed contiguous to the support and aligned with the at least one retaining slot is disclosed. The desktop organizer further includes a flexible back deformable into an arc having geometry complimentary to the curvilinear support and at least one retaining tab formed integrally on an edge adjacent to the locking groove, wherein the at least one retaining tab is aligned with the at least one retaining slot. The retaining tab is formed to have an attachment slot aligned with the attachment means. The desktop organizer includes at least one support leg having a base and an arcuate portion, wherein the arcuate portion has a fixed end and a moveable end. The support leg further includes an attachment member arranged on the moveable end distal to the fixed and, the attachment end arranged to engage the attachment means through the attachment slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Eby, Gilius A. Gaska, Aaron W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6966528
    Abstract: A holder for attaching a remote control to a piece of furniture. A bracket attaches to the piece of furniture and a platform is pivotally attached to the bracket and holds the remote control. The bracket includes a mounting plate, a stationary arm, and a movable arm. The platform has a lowermost surface which is concave allowing the platform to be used with remote controls having either flat or convex lower surfaces by merely inverting the platform accordingly, and a first portion of hook and loop fasteners screwed to the platform. A second portion of hook and loop fasteners is attached to the remote control and releasably engages with the first portion of hook and loop fasteners so as to releasably engage the remote control with the platform. A joint pivotally attaches the platform to the bracket and includes a pair of plates and a post with a second ball bearing and a screw boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: David Hare
  • Patent number: 6959822
    Abstract: A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: David Caplan, Charles E. Taylor, Andrew J. Parker
  • Patent number: 6953176
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical support standard and track into which the standard can be mounted. The standard contains a plurality of slots in its front surface such that one or more ordinary shelving brackets can be mounted thereon, and contains an opening on its back surface such that it can be mounted to a track upon which the wall standard may be able to slide. The track contains a lip and support portion. The lip extends over the front of the standard to keep it mounted to the track, and the support portion can be inserted into the opening on the back of the standard to provide added support and to allow sliding of the standard if desired. This standard and track configuration thus not only allows greater flexibility for the consumer as to the placement of shelving brackets, but provides greater support and increased loading capacity such that more items can be placed on a shelf that is mounted to the disclosed shelving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Lee Remmers
  • Patent number: 6953180
    Abstract: An anchoring device for an umbrella for driving and securing the umbrella to a ground surface such as, for example, one comprised of sand or dirt. The anchoring device for an umbrella includes a base plate that has an upper side and a lower side. A stake member mounted to the lower side of the base plate is provided for removably penetrating the surface. A tubular member is coupled to the upper side of the base plate. The tubular member includes a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second ends of the tubular member. The second end of the tubular member includes a bore extending therein toward the first end of the tubular member. In one embodiment, an end of the shaft of the umbrella is removably insertable in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventors: Jose Luis Ruvalcaba, Raul Ruvalcaba
  • Patent number: 6951080
    Abstract: A culm block and a method of manufacture are disclosed. The culm block comprises a plurality of straw stalks that are “vertically aligned”, i.e., perpendicular to the ground when the block is laid flat. The straw is treated with a moisture inhibitor and/or a binder. Throughholes, which may have tubes associated therewith, are formed into the top and bottom walls of the culm block. A lath or external strapping sleeve is wrapped about the front, rear, and side walls of the block for added structural support. The method of manufacture may include sorting the stalks according to length, checking the stalks for moisture content, and drying the stalks depending upon their moisture content prior to compression and formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Oryzatech Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Z. Korman, John A. Ruskey, III, Doug C. Priest
  • Patent number: 6951326
    Abstract: A mast support to support a multi-section mast comprising a central mast support sleeve having a plurality of connector brackets extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof and a correspondingly plurality of support legs each pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the corresponding connector bracket and slidably coupled to the mid to lower portion of the corresponding connector member to permit the support legs to be selectively moved between a stored and deployed position and to advance successive mast sections through the central mast support sleeve from beneath or below the central mast support sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Scott Vanover
  • Patent number: 6951323
    Abstract: A new half round gutter hanger provides a stronger product and maintains circles that are interchangeable with existing shanks installed on structures. A double thickness center section has four precise holes located on an engagement surface that is more than two times larger than the prior plate. Extrusions extending from around the through-holes in the circles fit tightly in holes in the double thickness mounting extensions of the plates. A fastener inserted through a single one of the holes holds the circle supported on the plate. Engaging the rolled lip with both end hooks of a U-shaped wire spring extending from the closed slot in the opposite end completes the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Berger Bros Co.
    Inventor: John McNichol
  • Patent number: 6948693
    Abstract: A vehicle seat adjuster has a first track member attached to a vehicle frame and a second track member attached to a vehicle seat and is movable relative to the first track. The adjuster includes a drive mechanism, having a threaded shaft connected with the second track member, a drive block attached to the first track member, and means for moving the threaded shaft within the drive block, for moving the track members. The drive block is made of a base, an isolator made of a urethane material, and a nut. The isolator fits within an opening on the base, and the nut fits within an opening within the isolator. Each of the components has a bore formed therethrough such that the threaded shaft can pass through the drive block. The isolator and the nut are pivotable within the base component in order to maintain alignment between the shaft and the drive block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Neil G. Goodbred
  • Patent number: 6948291
    Abstract: A slab bolster upper for supporting rebar in a reinforced concrete structure while the concrete is poured and thereafter cures, is of molded plastic construction and is formed with horizontal and vertical voids that facilitate concrete placement and break up potential shear planes. Opposite ends of each unit are provided with complementary buckles to interconnect with like units to form a continuous support of desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Aztec Concrete Accessories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Haslem, Ken Lee
  • Patent number: 6948689
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for demarcating a region with respect to the ground comprising a plurality of posts adapted to be removably inserted into the ground. The apparatus further comprises an adjustable connecting means which is secured by a receiving member in an upper portion of the post. A pedestal extends radially from a lower portion of the post. The pedestal is adapted to facilitate the removable insertion of the post. At least one pennant depends from the connecting means. The connection between the posts and the connecting means defines an adjustable border region or perimeter wherein the connection means, the posts, and/or the pennants are elevated above the ground and are thereby highly visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Gregory M. Kenney
  • Patent number: 6945614
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub, a frame extending around the tub, and a door pivotally secured to the frame for movement between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. Hinges are provided on each side of the door to provide a door pivot axis, and are fixed to the frame of the dishwasher. The hinges are accurately positioned relative to the tub by providing at least one boss on each side of the tub, and a recess or hole in each hinge to receive the boss. The hinges are then secured to the frame with screws or by welding. Thus, the hinges are accurately aligned with one another at the proper location on the frame so as to provide proper sealing between the door and the tub when the door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Flowers, Thomas M. Johnson, Barry E. Tuller
  • Patent number: 6945505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seat mount assembly for a vehicle having a seat, such as a tractor. The seat mount assembly, in one embodiment, includes a seat support, one or more seat securing members connected to the seat and movably engaged with the seat support and at least one seat adjust handle. The seat mount assembly enables users to conveniently change the seat position while remaining seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gary David Hohnl, Brian Thomas Mallaney, Michael Ray McClain, Dimitri Nunez
  • Patent number: 6942188
    Abstract: A hanging pole with a sucking disk including a sucking disk body with a threaded shaft on top and a rubber sucking disk on bottom, a compression stand with connecting sleeve on top and a shell plate on bottom, and a pole that connects to the connecting sleeve of the compression stand. The shell plate is smaller than the rubber-sucking disk. A through hole is on the center of the shell plate and leads to the slot hole on the middle of the compression stand; an adjustable threaded nut is inside the slot hole; the threaded shaft of the sucking disk body passes through the through hole of the compression stand and screws with the adjustable threaded nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventors: Wen-Feng Tsay, Ta-Shuo Chang
  • Patent number: 6938864
    Abstract: A display device configured to receive a board shaped sporting device. The display device has substantially parallel arms that extend away from a mounting surface thereby forming at least one slot. A board shaped sporting device, such as a skateboard, is received by the slot and thereafter cantilevered in a storage position. The display device leaves the design of the received board substantially unobstructed for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Astro Studios
    Inventors: Michael Arthur Simonian, Daniel W. Peter