Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Matthews

Thomas E. Matthews 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: 5209614
    Abstract: An template positioning jig. In a preferred embodiment, a deformable member is used which is deformed inwardly along a first axis such that it bulges or otherwise deforms outwardly along a second axis, until contacting the sides of a cavity, whereupon it tends to center itself within the cavity. An operably associated template is likewise centered or otherwise positioned as desired relative to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Kawneer Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Matthews
  • Patent number: 5007221
    Abstract: A snap-in glazing pocket filler is disclosed for use with a structural frame member having an unused glazing pocket. The glazing pocket filler includes an elongated metal plate having front and rear faces and being dimensioned to cover said glazing pocket. A pair of plastic retaining legs are fastened to the elongated metal plate and extend rearwardly and outwardly thereof to engage the walls of the glazing pocket. In one aspect of the invention, the plastic retaining legs are pivotably fastened to the metal plate such that when the glazing pocket filler is snapped into the glazing pocket, the legs pivot outwardly to facilitate engagement of the legs with the pocket walls. In the disclosed embodiment, the plastic retaining legs comprise rigid stems having flexible barbs projecting outwardly therefrom to engage the pocket walls. The flexible barbs and rigid stems are coextruded of flexible and rigid polyvinyl chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Kawneer Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Matthews, Charles P. Touton
  • Patent number: 4841700
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal break configuration in a flush glazed, two-piece mullion which permits a reduced face dimension without reducing the depth of the glazing channels of the mullion. The invention is directed to a thermal break segmented filler assembly for the shallow glazing pocket in narrow flush glazed two-piece framing for curtainwalls, storefronts, and the like. The two-piece mullions have a major portion and a filler portion, both of which are extruded profiles. The filler assembly incorporates a thin thermal break which makes it possible to reduce the mullion face dimension and still provide a glazing pocket depth equal to that of conventional flush glazed thermal framing. The thin thermal break of the filler assembly includes a plastic channel extrusion having rigid upturned legs with relatively soft barbs which engage channels in aluminum extrusion filler halves. The thermal break filler element is snap fit onto and between the filler halves to form a three-piece filler assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Kawneer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4448001
    Abstract: A moisture control dam system for curtain wall structures including spaced apart vertical and horizontal members in a framework for supporting wall panels. The horizontal frame members have an upwardly opening channel for receiving a lower edge portion of the panels and the channel includes an upstanding outer wall, a spaced apart upstanding inner wall, and a bottom wall. The upstanding walls are provided with thickened ribs on the inside surfaces adjacent the upper edges and sealing strips are mounted on the ribs for providing moisture seal around the edges of the outside face of the panel. Each rib projects outwardly of the adjacent inside wall surface toward a rib on an opposite channel wall and a pair of vertical grooves are formed therein adjacent the ends of the horizontal frame member for receiving vertical dams of sheet material that are inserted therein to dam up any accumulated moisture in the channel and prevent the discharge thereof out the end of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Kawneer Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Whitmyer, Thomas E. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4327532
    Abstract: An adjustable angle eave apparatus for building curtain walls, skylights, greenhouses and the like, comprises an elongated sill forming a gutter for receiving moisture from a sloping roof structure projecting upwardly thereof. The roof structure includes one or more sloping rafters and an elongated baffle member secured to the lower ends of the rafters and extending along the sill forming a framework for supporting one or more roof or skylight panels. A bearing system is provided for pivotally interconnecting the sill and the baffle members permitting angular adjustment of the slope angle of the roof structure and an elongated sill cover is provided for enclosing the space between an outer edge portion of the sill member and an upper edge portion of the baffle member of the roof structure to provide a weather sealed enclosure at the eave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: Kawneer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Matthews