Patents Examined by Michael McDuffie
  • Patent number: 10975575
    Abstract: The present invention is a construction panel mounting apparatus that temporarily secures a wall or ceiling panel in position until the installer can permanently secure it. The construction panel mounting apparatus of the present invention accommodates various size panels and essentially eliminates the need of a person to temporarily hold the panel in place while another permanently secures it. In addition, the construction panel mounting apparatus of the present invention also serves as a panel foot lift that facilitates the lifting of heavy panels from the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Armen Artinyan
  • Patent number: 10945422
    Abstract: A fishing pole caddy and fishing pole holder assembly for transporting and positioning fishing poles includes a first frame that is pivotally coupled to a second frame. The first and second frames are configured to be selectively positioned in a stowed configuration, with the first and second frames substantially parallel and abutting, and a deployed configuration wherein the second frame extends transversely from the first frame. In the deployed configuration, the first and second frames are inverted V-shaped and the first frame is configured to support a fishing pole for fishing. Each of a plurality of arms is coupled to and extends from the first frame proximate to a first side of the first frame. The arm is horizontally aligned with an associated arm that is positioned proximate to a second side of the first frame so that the arms are configured to support a fishing pole for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Jackie Reese
  • Patent number: 10914406
    Abstract: A tube holder includes at least a set of clamping members having circular arc-shaped clamping concave portions, a spindle pivotably supporting end portions on one side along the circular arcs of the clamping members in a state where the clamping concave portions facing curvature center sides of the respective circular arcs face each other, and a biasing member pivoting and biasing end portions of the other side along the circular arc of the clamping member in a direction of mutual approaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Atom Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakabayashi, Masaaki Oohashi, Yoshiyuki Komiyama, Ichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10899459
    Abstract: A linear guide mechanism for a passenger seat includes a movable carriage and a guide rail. The linear guide mechanism further includes a guide unit for positioning the movable carriage on the guide rail. The guide unit includes at least one guide element and a fastening element. Moreover, the guide unit is substantially fixed to the movable carriage by the fastening element. The guide unit and the movable carriage are displaceably mounted on the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Claus-Peter Gross
  • Patent number: 10895343
    Abstract: The jack stand assembly includes a coupling plate with a plurality of openings for receiving the lugs of a wheel hub to fixedly attach the coupling plate with the wheel hub. The coupling plate is operably supported by a support structure which has an adjustable height. The support structure is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to allow the wheel hub to be rotated in a steering motion when the wheel hub is fixedly attached with the coupling plate. A bearing assembly is interposed between the coupling plate and the support structure to allow the wheel hub to rotate about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
    Inventors: Steven D. Schmitt, Russell Andert
  • Patent number: 10885816
    Abstract: An apparatus and related methods includes a base attached to an upright structure (such as a street light pole), a mounting bracket that releasably engages the base while supporting a hanging banner, and an install adapter that releasably holds the mounting bracket and banner until the mounting bracket attaches to the base. A removal adapter facilitates disengaging the mounting bracket and banner from the base. The mounting bracket and install adapter (and removal adapter) are attached to a pole and engage (and disengage) remotely and without using separate fasteners, thus allowing a worker to install (or remove) banners high on the upright structure while standing on the ground. The base and mounting bracket have tapered shapes that wedgingly engage, secured by a spring-biased friction retainer. The install adapter and removal adapter have structures that facilitate remote install and removal of the mounting bracket from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CP Global, LLC
    Inventor: Calvin R. Peters
  • Patent number: 10876657
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for supporting and moving a product line or pipe string in connection with an underground arcuate path in a ground beneath an obstacle, having a platform on the ground; a pivot member connected to the platform; wherein the pivot member defines a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the ground; and at least one rotator connected to the pivot member; wherein the at least one rotator pivots about the pivot axis in relation to the platform. The disclosure also relates to an omnidirectional roller apparatus for supporting and moving a product line or pipe string in connection with an underground arcuate path in a ground beneath an obstacle, having a stand mounted on the ground, wherein the stand has a frame; a bearing mounted on the frame; a rotational shaft mounted to the bearing, and a Mecanum wheel mounted on the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventor: Pablo Esteban Guerra
  • Patent number: 10876676
    Abstract: Systems and methods for switching tools in an enhanced ring assembly of a gimbal. One embodiment is a gimbal that includes an outer ring and an inner ring. The outer ring is attached to an arm and includes a first hinge to open and close the outer ring, and also a first latch to fasten the outer ring in a closed position. The inner ring is rotatably supported within the outer ring and includes a second hinge to open and close the inner ring, and a second latch to fasten the inner ring in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Rebecca Leigh Cook
  • Patent number: 10851916
    Abstract: An adapter for mounting cable hangers includes: a floor, a ceiling and side walls that span the floor and ceiling, wherein the ceiling includes a mounting hole; and a cross-member that extends between the side walls that defines at least one window between the cross-member, the floor and one of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ronald A. Vaccaro, Aviral Joshi, Christopher Stockman
  • Patent number: 10850818
    Abstract: A marine outboard motor mount fastener retainer, system, and method are presently disclosed. The fastener retainer has a first end portion configured to be held about a first motor mount fastener and a second end portion configured to be held about a second motor mount fastener. An extension extends from the first end portion of the motor mount fastener retainer to the second end portion of the motor mount fastener retainer. The extension is configured to hold the first and the second end portions of the retainer and to prevent rotation of the first and the second motor mount fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: THE LEASH LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod Swift, Joshua T Honaker, Bill Hurle
  • Patent number: 10847960
    Abstract: A wire management clip includes a cable pocket, a first clip pocket with an opening to receive a structure, and a second clip pocket with an opening to receive a structure. The opening of the first clip pocket is accessible from one direction relative to the wire management clip, and the opening of the second clip pocket is accessible from another direction relative to the wire management clip. The wire management clip may also include one or more structure engaging members for engaging or contacting a surface of the structure received within the first clip pocket and the second clip pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kurt Leslie Gray Naugler, Evan Ronald Martin
  • Patent number: 10837206
    Abstract: A vehicle lock device includes a base member, a latch, and a release lever. The base member includes a base groove, into which a striker is inserted. The latch includes a latch groove into which the striker is inserted. The latch is pivotal between a lock position, where the striker is fixed to the base groove, and an unlock position, where the striker is released from the base groove. The release lever is pivotal between a lock release position, where pivoting of the latch is permitted from the lock position to the unlock position, and a restriction position, where pivoting of the latch is restricted from the lock position to the unlock position. The release lever includes an engagement release member that contacts the latch when pivoted from the restriction position to the lock release position to pivot the latch from the lock position to the unlock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ban, Takayuki Hirose, Yuki Abe, Keisuke Nomura
  • Patent number: 10829225
    Abstract: A track fitting for securing a seat pedestal of an aircraft seat to a floor of an aircraft may comprise a strut and a lock assembly. The strut may include an aft section configured to attach to an aft foot of the seat pedestal, a forward section configured to attach to a forward foot of the seat pedestal, and a central section extending between the aft section and the forward section. The lock assembly may be located proximate the aft section of the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle D. Doughty, Keith M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10829009
    Abstract: A vehicle seat height adjuster is configured to allow for a vertically oriented motor and spindle system. A ring-shaped lift plate allows the motor and spindles to pass through the lift plate, thereby allowing the lift plate to travel closer to the vehicle floor while eliminating the need for levered mechanical armature systems and complex transmission systems that convert motor rotation about a horizontal axis to vertical seat movement. The vehicle seat adjuster also offers pure vertical movement in the direction of the motor axis and has a relatively small footprint due in part to most of the components being located within a perimeter of the lift plate when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Mateusz Antoniuk, Jacek Miszczak, Andreas Rohlfing
  • Patent number: 10830375
    Abstract: A tool for gripping a flexible flat electrical cable, the tool having a top and bottom support with the bottom support having a pair of upwardly extending cable alignment notches and the top support having a cushioned strip that is receivable between the pair of cable alignment notches. A flexible electrical cable is sandwiched between the top and bottom supports and is held in an aligned position when the top and bottom supports are fastened together. The top support has at least one thumb grip thereon, and the thumb grip is angled towards one side of the top support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
    Inventors: Edward Djrbashian, Chris Aragon
  • Patent number: 10829962
    Abstract: Securing systems and methods of securing a transport container to an attachment point. In one embodiment, the securing system includes an actuator, an attachment structure, and an electronic controller. The attachment structure is dimensioned to complement the actuator. The electronic controller is operably coupled to the actuator for attaching and releasing the actuator to the attachment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: MOTOGO, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Ruth, Yuan-Chang Lo
  • Patent number: 10816012
    Abstract: A mounting assembly of an electric pump may include a mounting body configured to mount the electric pump, and a bracket including a structure configured for enclosing and fixing the mounting body. Furthermore, force dampening elements of the electric pump hit a seating portion of the mounting body along a fracture line of the mounting body to break the seating portion and move the electric pump toward a front of the vehicle. Accordingly, the safety for driving a vehicle is improved and the injury of a driver is reduced during a collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hark-Koo Kim, Seung-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 10808878
    Abstract: A supporting stand for supporting a panel is provided. The supporting stand comprises a base, a one-way damper, a force module, and a rotating element. The one-way damper is disposed on the first connecting board. The force module is disposed on the base and including a mandrel. The rotating element is connected to the panel, the one-way damper, and the force module, and is actuated together with the one-way damper and the force module so that the panel is capable of rotating around the mandrel in a first rotating direction or a second rotating direction. When the rotating element rotates in the first rotating direction, the one-way damper provides a first backward torque to the rotating element; when the rotating element rotates in the second rotating direction, the one-way damper do not provide torque to the rotating element but the force module provides a second forward torque when the rotating element rotates in the second rotating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SYNCMOLD ENTERPRISE CORP.
    Inventors: Jen-Yi Lee, Ming-Chih Shih
  • Patent number: 10807764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for airflow management around palletized cases of goods in a warehouse storage facility are provided, in which airflow around each individual layer of cases is facilitated while airflow “spillage” around the sides, top or bottom of pallet assemblies is minimized or eliminated. One exemplary device for such airflow management includes palletized product spacers disposed between respective layers of vertically stacked cases, in which the product spacers facilitate a substantially unidirectional longitudinal airflow. Another exemplary airflow management device is a series of automatically adjustable air dams disposed at the tops of respective pallet assemblies which prevent air spillage and establish intermediate air manifold spaces. Yet another device is a lateral pallet spacer prevents direct abutment of the side surfaces of neighboring pallet assemblies and thereby ensures that the air manifold spaces are in fluid communication with the spacers of multiple pallet assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Tippmann Engineering LLC
    Inventor: Daniel J. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 10798936
    Abstract: A trap-holding bracket for holding both conibear style body-gripping traps and tang-equipped leg-hold type traps. The bracket comprises a hollow, generally box-shaped body with top, bottom, front, and rear walls, a tang slot in the front wall, and tab arms extending outwardly from the sides of the top and bottom walls to define extended jaw slots configured to receive and hold the inner wire ends of a body-gripping trap in their set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventor: Casey W. Shope