Patents by Inventor Francis M. Niekrasz

Francis M. Niekrasz 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).

  • Patent number: 4656781
    Abstract: A door assembly describing a stationary frame having doors mounted therein for relative translational movement. Each door includes a self-closing mechanism comprising a flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other end of the tubular member for loose positioning in an active position adjacent a side of the door for urging the door in a closed position, and a self-opening means comprising a similar flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other for loose positioning in an active position adjacent an opposite side of the door for urging the door to a fully open position. The self-closing and self-opening mechanisms both are adapted to be deactivated as an incident to positioning the door to respective locations within the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Ardco, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Niekrasz, Melvin C. Kaspar, Gerald J. Bockwinkel
  • Patent number: 4641461
    Abstract: A door assembly describing a stationary frame having doors mounted therein for relative translational movement. Each door includes a self-closing mechanism comprising a flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other end of the tubular member for loose positioning in an active position adjacent a side of the door for urging the door in a closed position, and a self-opening means comprising a similar flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other for loose positioning in an active position adjacent an opposite side of the door for urging the door to a fully open position. The self-closing and self-opening mechanisms both are adapted to be deactivated as an incident to positioning the door to respective locations within the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Ardco, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Niekrasz, Melvin C. Kasper, Gerald J. Bockwinkel
  • Patent number: 4578902
    Abstract: A refrigerator door construction including a mounting frame having at least one vertical mullion disposed between side members and interconnecting upper and lower members, at least a pair of reversible doors swingably mounted in the frame in selective left- and right-hand operating directions, hinge means for mounting the doors in the frame about a hinge axis disposed along one vertical edge of each of the doors. The doors each having a rearwardly facing recess adjacent the hinge axis substantially centrally between opposite ends of the door, handle means mounted on the other vertical edge of each of the doors substantially centrally between opposite ends thereof and electrical heater means in each of the doors having a flexible cord connected at one end thereto and having plug means at the other end disposed in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Ardco, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Niekrasz, Gerald J. Bockwinkel