Patents by Inventor Abraham M. Underkofler
Abraham M. Underkofler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8397458Abstract: The invention provides a bracket and method of its use for adapting standard wall angle trim for use in sloped ceiling construction. The disclosed bracket arrangement can be used for the top edge or bottom edge of a sloped ceiling and be adjusted to match the angle of any practical ceiling slope. In disclosed embodiments, the bracket has the form of a rectangular flat steel sheet. The sheet has a hinge or bend line running lengthwise in its mid-area. The bend line is made by cutting the sheet intermittently along its length and thereby dividing the sheet into two sections. The cuts may be made, for example, by punching elongated slots along the bend line in a blank being formed into the bracket. Also punched into the bracket blank are a plurality of holes distributed lengthwise on marginal areas of the two sections of the blank.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: Lee M. Tedesco, James J. Lehane, Jr., Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Patent number: 8397462Abstract: A suspended ceiling grid runner comprising separate parallel upper and lower chords, a plurality of identical web plates fixed between the chords and the plates having a height less than the height of the grid runner and a width, the chords being made of roll-formed sheet metal strips and symmetrical about a vertical plane, the chordal strips each having marginal sections folded parallel to one another and on opposite sides of the vertical plane, the web plates including vertical slots for receiving connectors of cross runners, the web plates being spaced at regular centers along the grid runner with a distance that is a small fraction of the nominal length of the grid runner, the gaps between adjacent web plates being longer than the height of the grid runner.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: Peder J. Gulbrandsen, James J. Lehane, Jr., Abraham M. Underkofler
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Publication number: 20130061550Abstract: A cross runner connector receivable in a through runner hole that locks with an identical opposed connector and locks with the through runner hole with increased tensile strength, both locks being releasable without tools by manipulation of the associated cross runner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, James J. Lehane
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Patent number: 8381486Abstract: Suspended ceiling grid runners include a flange extending laterally to both sides, the flange forming a three dimensional face including sides visible from below a plane of the grid, opposed cross runners intersecting through runners with their ends joined by mutually interlocking end connectors extending through a slot in the through runner, the cross runner ends including end edges configured to abut a respective side of the flange of the through runner, a connector when connected to an opposite connector causes the associated end edges to resiliently locally deflect the abutted flange side to substantially eliminate any gap therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, Abraham M. Underkofler
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Patent number: 8359801Abstract: A roll-formed grid runner comprising a sheet metal strip folded into an upper hollow single wall reinforcing bulb, a double wall web below the bulb, a channel extending laterally from both sides of a lower end of the web to a bend and upwardly from the bend to a panel supporting elevation, the bend on each side of the web existing at a longitudinally extending score line where a thickness of the strip is locally reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, John L. Hammond, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Patent number: 8336843Abstract: An attachment device useful with suspended ceiling systems is provided. In disclosed embodiments, the device comprises a clip that matingly engages a bulb of a ceiling grid tee. The device may include a reinforcing sleeve and can be used to increase the load carrying capacity of suspended ceiling systems while providing a simple, quick method of attaching the suspended ceiling grid to the true ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Publication number: 20120304574Abstract: A suspended ceiling grid runner comprising separate parallel upper and lower chords, a plurality of identical web plates fixed between the chords and the plates having a height less than the height of the grid runner and a width, the chords being made of roll-formed sheet metal strips and symmetrical about a vertical plane, the chordal strips each having marginal sections folded parallel to one another and on opposite sides of the vertical plane, the web plates including vertical slots for receiving connectors of cross runners, the web plates being spaced at regular centers along the grid runner with a distance that is a small fraction of the nominal length of the grid runner, the gaps between adjacent web plates being longer than the height of the grid runner.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: Peder J. Gulbrandsen, James J. Lehane, JR., Abraham M. Underkofler
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Publication number: 20120180420Abstract: A wall brace support for an acoustical ceiling tee having a bulb includes an elongated main portion having two ends; a wall attachment tab at one of the ends, the tab being operable to abut the wall and receive at least one fastener therethrough to fasten the tab to the wall; and an acoustical ceiling tee attachment structure at the other end, the structure being operable to receive at least one fastener therethrough to fasten the structure to the bulb at a location spaced away from the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: USG INTERIORS, LLCInventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen, James J. Lehane, JR.
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Publication number: 20120023854Abstract: A roll-formed grid runner comprising a sheet metal strip folded into an upper hollow single wall reinforcing bulb, a double wall web below the bulb, a channel extending laterally from both sides of a lower end of the web to a bend and upwardly from the bend to a panel supporting elevation, the bend on each side of the web existing at a longitudinally extending score line where a thickness of the strip is locally reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: James J. Lehane, JR., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, John L. Hammond, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Publication number: 20110283634Abstract: A seismic bracket for supporting ends of suspended ceiling grid runners from a wall comprising a stamped sheet metal body, the body having a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, the vertically extending portion, in its installed position, rising above the top of a standard grid runner a distance at least 1½ times the height of such standard grid runner, the vertically extending portion having two sections generally coextensive in the vertical direction, a first section being integral with the horizontally extending portion and a second section arranged to be in a vertical plane that intersects a vertical plane occupied by the horizontally extending portion, the horizontally extending portion being arranged to support a grid runner to move longitudinally a limited distance, the second section of the vertically extending portion having an aperture for securing the bracket to the wall at a location substantially above the grid tee.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, James J. Lehane, Lee M. Tedesco
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Publication number: 20110078969Abstract: The invention provides a bracket and method of its use for adapting standard wall angle trim for use in sloped ceiling construction. The disclosed bracket arrangement can be used for the top edge or bottom edge of a sloped ceiling and be adjusted to match the angle of any practical ceiling slope. In disclosed embodiments, the bracket has the form of a rectangular flat steel sheet. The sheet has a hinge or bend line running lengthwise in its mid-area. The bend line is made by cutting the sheet intermittently along its length and thereby dividing the sheet into two sections. The cuts may be made, for example, by punching elongated slots along the bend line in a blank being formed into the bracket. Also punched into the bracket blank are a plurality of holes distributed lengthwise on marginal areas of the two sections of the blank.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: Lee M. Tedesco, James J. Lehane, JR., Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Publication number: 20110011023Abstract: An attachment device useful with suspended ceiling systems is provided. In disclosed embodiments, the device comprises a clip that matingly engages a bulb of a ceiling grid tee. The device may include a reinforcing sleeve and can be used to increase the load carrying capacity of suspended ceiling systems while providing a simple, quick method of attaching the suspended ceiling grid to the true ceiling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.Inventors: Peder Gulbrandsen, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Patent number: 7475599Abstract: A handheld wet slurry thickness gauge and method for its use. The thickness gauge includes a distance displacement measurement gauge, a skirt, a platen and support legs. The distance displacement measurement gauge includes a case, a vertical stem, and a vertical spindle. The stem extends from the case. The spindle is slidably supported to move in an axial direction within the stem. The case body has a display for indicating a linear displacement of the spindle. The skirt has a central through-hole for receiving the stem of the gauge and retaining the stem in an upright position. The measuring platen has a platen base and a platen shaft extending upwardly from the platen base and attached to the spindle. The support legs extend downwardly from the skirt. The platen is below the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: United States Gypsum CompanyInventors: William A. Frank, Abraham M. Underkofler, William J. Rago
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Publication number: 20080110276Abstract: A handheld wet slurry thickness gauge and method for its use. The thickness gauge includes a distance displacement measurement gauge, a skirt, a platen and support legs. The distance displacement measurement gauge includes a case, a vertical stem, and a vertical spindle. The stem extends from the case. The spindle is slidably supported to move in an axial direction within the stem. The case body has a display for indicating a linear displacement of the spindle. The skirt has a central through-hole for receiving the stem of the gauge and retaining the stem in an upright position. The measuring platen has a platen base and a platen shaft extending upwardly from the platen base and attached to the spindle. The support legs extend downwardly from the skirt. The platen is below the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANYInventors: William A. FRANK, Abraham M. UNDERKOFLER, William J. RAGO
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Patent number: D641500Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, John L. Hammond, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Patent number: D641501Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, John L. Hammond, Abraham M. Underkofler, Mark R. Paulsen
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Patent number: D678549Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: USG Interiors, LLCInventors: James J. Lehane, Jr., Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, Abraham M. Underkofler