Patents Issued in December 4, 2012
  • Patent number: 8322083
    Abstract: An articulating downspout assembly for a downspout system of a building has an elbow component and an end component each having an integrated or integral configuration that cooperatively join with each other to form a hinge. The hinge allows the end component to pivot between a prone position and an upright position. In the upright position the end component is at an angle relative to the elbow component such that a downspout extension section coupled to the end component leans toward and/or against a vertical downspout portion of the building's downspout system. This prevents the end component and thus the downspout extension from spontaneously falling (pivoting) back to the prone position. The integrated configuration of the elbow component is characterized by one or more configured slots while the integrated configuration of the end component is characterized by one or more configured tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lynch Aluminum Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Wayne Kessler
  • Patent number: 8322084
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular room with rectangular floor space, a roof and side walls of a skeletal framework construction with sections, which is designed in such a way that it can be easily assembled, disassembled and connected to other modular rooms. The floor space is formed of a foundation consisting of grid-shaped floor plates, which form partial floor sections of the foundation. Furthermore, the modular room exhibits a support or spine portion that is attached to the roof at its top end and is attached to the foundation at its bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Rolf Kestermann
  • Patent number: 8322085
    Abstract: A structure to protect occupants from storm debris comprising components that are pre-fabricated and assembled on site. Upon assembly, the void cavities in the floor, walls and ceilings are pumped with concrete to increase the unit strength and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Roger Dale Plumley
  • Patent number: 8322086
    Abstract: The off-site manufacture and on-site assembly of a prefabricated dwelling unit (“Unit”) are described herein. The Unit may be a single stand-alone Unit or an individual Unit within a group of Units such as a duplex or apartment building. The Unit is substantially prefabricated and nests within itself through a configurable design that utilizes a floor framing system. The Unit may also include fold down floor assemblies, moveable walls of 96? height, pre-installed floors and fixtures. The Unit may be configured for a decreased footprint that will fit into a single shipping container along with the other necessary components for completion of the Unit on-site. The Unit may be loaded and unloaded from a single shipping container without substantially limiting the size, shape, or aesthetics of the Unit while being substantially prefabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: James D Weber
  • Patent number: 8322087
    Abstract: Modular landscape borders can include curb and planter sections, and adjacent modular borders can engaged to each other via coupling members. The curb section can include channels for receiving electrical and/or irrigational devices. The curb section can include a face having openings for receiving illumination devices and/or irrigation devices. The planter section can include irrigation drainage and a conduit for receiving irrigation tubing and/or for distributing irrigation water. Openings can be provided for receiving retaining spikes for securing the modular border to the ground. Supporting structures can provide rigidity and/or structural support to the curb and/or the planter. The modular border may include partition lines for division into smaller partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Eduardo L. Lascano
  • Patent number: 8322088
    Abstract: A ventilated roofing structure includes a modular roofing panel unit adapted to form part of an outermost layer of a roof, a wall unit which is secured to the roofing panel unit, and which extends downwardly to terminate at an anchored end to partition a space under the roof into outside and inside spaces, and which has a ventilation opening communicating the inside and outside spaces, and a modular drainage-route forming panel unit which is fastened to an overhanging eave of the roofing panel unit to form a gap therebetween. The drainage-route forming panel unit extends downwards to separate the outside space into an airflow transit chamber and an outdoor space, and has an anchoring edge secured to the anchored end, and a drainage port communicating the airflow transit chamber with the outdoor space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel C. L. Huang
  • Patent number: 8322089
    Abstract: A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end along the ridge of a roof covering a vent slot formed therealong. Each ridge vent section has an elongated longitudinally flexible top panel with a central portion, edge portions terminating at extreme edges of the top panel, and ventilation grids extending beneath and along the edge portions spaced from extreme edges thereof. The space between the extreme edges of the top panel and the ventilation grids forms or defines an overhang configured to receive edges of shingles in a course of shingles installed next to the vent section and to inhibit the edges of the shingles from rising up. The ridge vent sections also have depending deflectors for deflecting blowing rain and snow that might enter through the ventilation grids and filter fabric may be affixed to the bottom of the ridge vent sections to provide additional deflection of rain and snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Building Materials Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhir Railkar, Adem Chich, Walter Zarate, Jeffrey Avitabile, Breck Hudson, Tim Manasterski
  • Patent number: 8322090
    Abstract: A window assembly according to various embodiments includes a frame, a sash, an insulating unit (e.g., one or more glass panels), a glass stop, an elongated frame insulating element slidably disposed on an inner surface of the frame, an elongated sash insulating element slidably disposed on an outer surface of the sash, and an elongated inner sash insulating element slidably disposed on an inner surface of the sash. The elongated frame insulating element, the elongated sash insulating element, and the elongated inner sash insulating element each define a plurality of chambers that extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of each element. These chambers reduce the size of the space between the frame and sash and the size of the space between the sash, the insulating unit, and the glass stop, which results in smaller convection currents within these spaces and a more thermally efficient window assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: YKK Corporation of America
    Inventors: Masanori Moriya, John Uhl, Tsutomu Ito, Richard Braunstein
  • Patent number: 8322091
    Abstract: A plastic window frame assembly is disclosed that includes rigid molded corner sections. Each of the corner sections has opposite ends. A pair of offset tabs extend outward from each of the opposite ends. The corners are molded so as to include integrally formed non-rigid seals. Lineal rail sections are located between the corner sections. Each of the rail sections has channels, one each formed in an exterior and an interior surface of the rail section for receiving, respectively, the offset tabs of the corner sections to locate and to align the corner sections with a rail section. The channels include a glazing channel extending along the length of the rail section for receiving a glass or plastic pane. The tabs are connected to a rail section such that the tabs and a portion of a rail section together define stake holds, each of which proceeds from an exterior surface of the frame and extends therethrough but does not penetrate the interior surface or the tabs of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Atwood Mobile Products, LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Smith, Roch Tolinski
  • Patent number: 8322092
    Abstract: A geosolar temperature control construction for buildings and method of controlling building temperature by using both geo-exchange and solar means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: GS Research LLC
    Inventor: Mark Isaacs
  • Patent number: 8322093
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Different types of concrete are used between upper and lower sections of the stacked cylinders. The lower section uses reinforced concrete while the upper section used ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tindall Corporation
    Inventors: Bryant A. Zavitz, Kevin L. Kirkley
  • Patent number: 8322094
    Abstract: The present application is directed toward fire-rated wall construction components and wall systems for use in building construction. Embodiments can include tracks for holding studs which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, flat straps for use between tracks and fluted wall components, fire sponges for use in fluted wall components, and tracks with protruding grooves or other structures which prevent unwanted air movement between a wallboard component and the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: California Expanded Metal Products Company
    Inventors: Don A. Pilz, Raymond E. Poliquin, Fernando Hernandez Sesma
  • Patent number: 8322095
    Abstract: A header assembly for a movable partition includes an overhead track and a header pan. The header pan is configured to extend from the overhead track to an adjoining structure. The header pan, the overhead track, or a combination of both may form a fire-resistant barrier extending from a wall of the adjoining structure to an opposing wall of the adjoining structure. Movable partition systems may include header assemblies. Methods of forming header assemblies include positioning a header pan proximate to an overhead track and extending the header pan between a first wall and a second wall to at least substantially occlude a section of space therebetween. Methods of installing a movable partition include securing an overhead track to an overhead support structure, securing a retainer clip to an adjoining structure, extending a header pan from the overhead track to the retainer clip, and suspending a partition from the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. George
  • Patent number: 8322096
    Abstract: A fire-resistant assembly may be attached to a wall frame assembly of a building and configured to transfer loads from a load-bearing assembly into the wall frame assembly. The assembly provides for a desired amount of fire resistance by virtue of a fire-resistant filler and provides for a desired amount of structural capacity by virtue structural sheets that form a cavity for the filler. In addition, a load-limited connector may be coupled to the assembly to transfer loads from the load-bearing assembly up to a desired load threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Visser
  • Patent number: 8322097
    Abstract: A method of constructing a building or building appurtenance, optionally without structural use of concrete except for floor slabs. The method contemplates excavating a hole to establish a natural base on which the structure is to be constructed, establishing layout locations where upright walls or other supports of the structure are to be erected, establishing a fabricated footer, optionally a fiber-reinforced polymeric footer, along the laid-out locations of the supports, placing pre-fabricated load-bearing fiber-reinforced polymeric building panels or other supports on the fabricated footer, and connecting the pre-fabricated wall panels or other supports to each other according to the structure plan thereby developing load-bearing walls or other supports, and erecting overlying structure on the load-bearing walls or other supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Composite Panel Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn P. Schiffmann, Gerhard P. Schiffmann
  • Patent number: 8322098
    Abstract: A tough, water-proof building system provides wall, ceiling, and floor structures, as well as accessories. The walls can be designed to have vertical and horizontal strengths sufficient to be used in place of concrete, as an engineered solution, both above grade and below-grade, including in severe weather conditions. Walls have inner and outer layers, and structurally reinforcing members extending, typically as a layer and/or stud, the full height of the wall, at spaced locations along the length of the wall. The spaces between the structurally reinforcing members are optionally filled with insulating foam. An optional reinforcing stud is attached to, or overlaid by, the inner layer, and extends inwardly into the building from what is otherwise the inner surface of the building panel/wall panel. A building floor can be supported from the load-bearing wall, at locations on the floor support members which are below the top of the load-bearing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Composite Panel Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn P. Schiffmann, Gerhard P. Schiffmann
  • Patent number: 8322099
    Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in forming a decorative feature on a structure, and a method of forming a decorative feature on a structure. In an embodiment of the invention, apparatus (10) for use in forming a decorative feature on a structure such as a building is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: David Michael Reid
  • Patent number: 8322100
    Abstract: An easy-to-install and remove flooring system comprises three components: 1) a plurality of rolled-out liners, 2) a plurality of tiles, particularly resilient tiles, and 3) an adhesive adhering the tile to the liner. A grid pattern matching the size of the tiles is printed on the liner to enable easy centering and balancing of the tile in the room. The edge portions of adjacent liners are adjacent or overlapped. At least some of the tiles are adhered to two of the liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn M. Wise, James F. Mathis, Kean M. Anspach, John R. Eshbach, Jr., Michael E. Buckwalter, Charles H. Hines
  • Patent number: 8322101
    Abstract: Disclosed is a roofing system including an anchored seam, the system including a roof deck, roof assembly components disposed upwardly adjacent of the roof deck, a first waterproofing membrane disposed upwardly adjacent of the roof assembly components, a second waterproofing membrane, a portion of which being disposed upwardly adjacent of the first waterproofing membrane, the portion of the second waterproofing membrane overlapping a portion of the first waterproofing to create a seam region between the first waterproofing membrane and the second waterproofing membrane, a termination bar including a convexity away from the roof deck disposed upwardly adjacent of the second waterproofing membrane in the seam region, and a mechanical fastener extending through the termination bar, the fastener being long enough to extend from the termination bar, wherein the mechanical fastener and the termination bar anchor the seam region to the roof deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8322102
    Abstract: A modular wall system 10 includes a number of decorative panels that are received in an extruded panel frame 22. The panel frames 22 are positioned by connecting them to a wall rail 16 that is attached to the building. The wall rail 16 and the panel frame 22 each have a groove 52, 62 that accepts a fastener or clip 18 by interference or snap fit to attach the panel frame 22 to the wall rail 16. The grooves 52, 62 have a dove-tail shape that permits a snap fit to secure the panels 12 yet permit the panels to be easily removed or reconfigured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Marlite, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Krieger
  • Patent number: 8322103
    Abstract: A suspension system secures thin, light-weight, monolithic panels which appear as adjacent courses of brick to be suspended adjacent a substrate in a manner permitting sliding movement in the x-direction while inhibiting motion in the y- and z-directions, and, such that air can circulate behind the panel to prevent mold growth. The primary suspension hardware is an H-shaped channel with two vertically extending arms which secure the panels at the desired spaced position from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Charles D Kownacki
  • Patent number: 8322104
    Abstract: Building or structural panels may be joined, such as to form walls or floors. The panels have edge anchors with mounts. The anchors may comprise elongate members defining a trough having spaced cross-pins. A connector is positioned between adjacent panels. The connector engages the mounts of the anchors, such by having the cross-pins slide into slots of the connector. The panels may have outer skins located over an expanded core comprising a matrix of supporting elongate members and voids or openings, with the anchors located slots formed in the edges of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph C. Fleming, III
  • Patent number: 8322105
    Abstract: Pultruded and extruded structures are presented. The pultruded and extruded structures are hollow structures, are used for structural distribution poles and transmission towers for electricity, may include lighting components and may include antenna wires in the hollow structures for telecommunications. The pultruded and extruded structures include combination pultruded-filament wound or “pull wound” structures. The pultruded and extruded structures are pultruded or extruded in pre-determined sizes and shapes, plural colors, are environmentally safe, aesthetic pleasing and resistant to damage from weather, animals, insects and resistant to corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Duratel, LLC
    Inventor: Donald S. Williams
  • Patent number: 8322106
    Abstract: A column-base, ground-moveable stand for stabilizing an elongate upright building-frame column, or the like, in a manner which creates and enables adjustable verticality for such a column's long axis. The stand includes (a) spaced, upper and lower, selectively openable/closeable clamping collar structures which are operable to grip the base of such a column at vertically spaced locations along the base of the column, with the collar structures, with respect to a gripped column, defining the disposition in space of the column's long axis, and (b) tilt-adjustable, load-spreading, ground-engaging, outrigger leg structures supportably joined to the collar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: ConXtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Simmons
  • Patent number: 8322107
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower in which a horizontal force received by an upper part of the tower is dispersed to a lower part of the tower or to a base so as to reduce the load acting on a tower shell and suppress deformation of the tower caused by an external force is provided. A monotype-type wind turbine tower 2 in which mainly a tower shell 21 is configured to bear load includes a platform 22 connected to an inner wall of the tower shell 21 and dividing an internal space of the tower in the vertical direction; an elastic bearing 30 attached by fixing one end thereof to the platform 22; and a load transmission member 23 disposed in the internal space of the tower and connecting another end of the elastic bearing 30 to the platform 22 located at a position facing the elastic bearing 30 or to a base B so as to transmit a horizontal force from the elastic bearing 30 to the tower shell 21 or the base B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Murata
  • Patent number: 8322108
    Abstract: A chair for supporting and spacing post-tension cables having a generally tapered body with an upper receiving area for securing the cables and a planar base adapted to rest on a flat support surface. The body has inner and outer surfaces that are substantially complementary to one another to allow a plurality of chairs to be stacked together. The receiving area includes posts extending upwardly between notches. The posts define passageways for guiding the cables into the notches. Detents project inwardly from the tops of the posts and fixedly retain the bars within the passageways. The chair may be formed from a resilient polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dayton Superior Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee, Clifford D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8322109
    Abstract: A spacer for positioning and locking spaced reinforcing cages into a combined integral unit for reinforcing large concrete structures is disclosed that is readily snapped into place even with narrow lattice cages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Royal Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Julian P. Trangsrud
  • Patent number: 8322110
    Abstract: A vehicle trim component includes a trim body, with a primary fastener extending from the trim body. The primary fastener includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes a push clip head that is configured to substantially fit and project through an aperture in the vehicle panel. The second end is connected to the trim body. The secondary fastener is rotatably connected to the trim body by a living hinge and is positioned to engage the vehicle panel at an edge portion of the vehicle panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ShuiFang Chou, Jennifer Macalaguin, James M. Park, Richard Louis Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8322111
    Abstract: A method of applying thermal and acoustical insulation by spraying an air entrained stream of high velocity pils onto an overhead surface in concert with a liquid-based adhesive is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Daniel Elden Near, Ralph Michael Fay
  • Patent number: 8322112
    Abstract: A multi-piece interconnected body for use in at least structural support and/or in creating internal cavities for an improved strength-to-weight ratio in a variety of structures is nestable prior to its assembly and use. When assembled, the device preferably forms a generally spherical and hollow body, with (1) one or more ribs or similar structural support network associated with and/or integrally formed in the body; (2) at least one latch mechanism to help hold the pieces in a desired assembled relationship with each other; and (3) a hinge or other interconnecting element that facilitates nesting and/or stacking of a plurality of the bodies with each other prior to assembly, association of the multiple parts of each body with each other prior to assembly, and ready repositioning of those parts into a desired assembled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ropak Corporation
    Inventor: Frano Luburic
  • Patent number: 8322113
    Abstract: Provided is a roofing system comprising a thermoplastic roofing membrane and one or more raised metal profiles attached to the thermoplastic roofing membrane. In an embodiment, provided is a method of improving a roofing system comprising a thermoplastic roofing membrane. The method comprises installing one or more thermoplastic coated raised metal profiles on the roofing system. A side of the one or more thermoplastic coated raised metal profiles comprises a thermoplastic layer. Installing the one or more thermoplastic coated raised metal profiles on the roofing system comprises welding the thermoplastic layer to the thermoplastic roofing membrane. The presently disclosed raised profiles provide not only desirable aesthetics to thermoplastic roofing systems, but can also provide structural benefits to the roofing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Hal Steven Shapiro, Brian Francis Olson, Timothy J. Olehowski, Brian Gregory Shamas
  • Patent number: 8322114
    Abstract: A cladding assembly comprises first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, and a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels together. The corner connection element includes top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with the female connectors, or wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with the male connectors of the corner connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Certainteed Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Scott Waters, Michael William Nachreiner, Gregory F. Jacobs, John Zarynow
  • Patent number: 8322115
    Abstract: A formwork assembly is adapted to receive concrete to produce structures such as wall structures. The formwork includes PVC tubular form elements having recessed female engagement portions. The female engagement portions are adapted to receive respective male engagement portions. An octagonal form element has a female engagement portion positioned at each vertex between adjacent sides. A recessed female engagement portion is closed to the interior of the form element but open to the exterior of the form element. Thus, the form element includes a plurality of vertices open to the exterior. The form elements also include male engagement portions at an open side. Wall panels, corner panels, and joint connectors can also include the male engagement portions. The male engagement portions and female engagement portions are adapted to mate to form a formwork arrangement having a substantially flat exterior wall. A formwork assembly can additionally include concrete flow apertures and insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: PolyOne Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Foell, William M. Bjerke
  • Patent number: 8322116
    Abstract: The device for the roll-sealing of sheets has a mating roll and a sealing roll, which presses against the mating roll with a sealing force, so that a molded sheet and a cover sheet can be guided between the sealing roll and the mating roll and sealed to form a sealed composite sheet structure. The surface of the mating roll has recesses to accept blister pockets of the molded sheet and a rippled structure. The elevations formed by the rippled structure comprise contact areas of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krahl, Joerg Knueppel
  • Patent number: 8322117
    Abstract: A deflator apparatus for use in a farm, fill and seal bagging machine to deflate excess air from and form a filled or partially filled package of bulk goods includes a first deflator having a plurality of first flexible bands that extends between a pair of first arms. The apparatus further includes a second deflator having at least one second flexible band that extends between a pair of second arms. The first and second deflators are spaced from one another and movable relative to one another to sandwich the package of bulk goods between the plurality of first flexible bands and the at least one second flexible band to remove excess air from the package and form the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: David C. Ours, Sharon B. Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8322118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for packaging information handling systems such as notebook computers. Information handling systems may be configured in a bulk shipping configuration to allow multiple information handling system units to be shipped in a bulk configuration, and then converted to a single pack shipping configuration to allow an individual information handling system to be shipped separately and alone, or vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Orin Ozias, Kevin Mundt
  • Patent number: 8322119
    Abstract: The agricultural system includes a baling device having a bale forming mechanism to form a bale including a pivotable rear flap to open a baling chamber in which the bale can be formed, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in wrapping material, the wrapping device including a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping and wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has one or more movable parts that can be rotated during wrapping along a trajectory around the bale supported on the wrapping table. The wrapping device is partially located below the baling device, wherein the trajectory of the one or more moving parts of the wrapping device and a trajectory of the pivotable rear flap of the baling device are non-overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8322120
    Abstract: A fly blanket for laying atop a horse's rump behind a saddle comprising a mesh sheet having a generally rounded trapezoidal shape; two attachment components both for attaching the mesh sheet to a saddle ring disposed on the saddle; and stitched binding disposed along edges of the mesh sheet, wherein a weighted rope is disposed in all of or a portion of the stitched binding, wherein the weighted rope functions to help keep the fly blanket from flopping around while the horse is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Linda Barber, Beverly Micomonaco
  • Patent number: 8322121
    Abstract: An electric trimmer attachment for lawn tractors comprises an attachable apparatus for use with existing lawn tractors which provides trimmer capabilities. The apparatus comprises a mounting bracket, an arm, and a line trimmer. The mounting bracket provides a means for removably securing the device to a deck of an existing mower. The arm comprises a gooseneck arm attached to the bracket, which extends outwards. An outside end portion of the arm comprises a line trimmer with an electric motor and features such as automatic line advancement and safety controls. The motor is powered via a converter or battery pack on the mower. The arm provides an arc-shaped rotating motion to the trimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Roland J. Marcell
  • Patent number: 8322122
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a harvesting header of a harvesting machine is provided. The harvesting machine has a chassis on which a feeder housing is fastened. On the front side of the feeder housing a fastening device is attached. The fastening device is movable with respect to the feeder housing. On the fastening device, a harvesting header can be attached. The drive arrangement comprises an output shaft for driving the header, the output shaft being be set in rotation by the harvesting machine and is coupled with the fastening device and can move with the fastening device relative to the feeder housing. A harvesting header drive shaft of the harvesting header can be drivingly connected to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew George Dold, Stefan Groβ
  • Patent number: 8322123
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (100) for stripping irregular material (2) from a line (1) during relative movement between the apparatus (100) and line (1). The apparatus (100) includes a line guide (200), material guide (210) and stripping mechanism (101). The line (1) passes through the line guide (200). The material guide (210) is configured to guide, constrict, compact and/or re-orientate the irregular material (2) into engagement with the stripping mechanism (101). The stripping mechanism (101) has stripping elements (102) movable with respect to the line guide (200) and line (1) to strip the material (2) from the line (1). The method includes stripping material (2) from a line (1) extending between two end supports (4) and being releasably attached to intermediate supports (3). The material (2) is stripped by causing relative movement between a guide (100) and the line (1) after the line (1) is detached and moved away from the intermediate supports (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeypot Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Hamish George, Marcus James Wickham, Garry Trevor Love, Albert Arnold Love
  • Patent number: 8322124
    Abstract: A pair of rake wheels in an assembly is referred to as a center splitter assembly. Each rake wheel is configured for free-rotation, meaning it is powered by contacting the ground. The center splitter is used to separate material, each wheel moving material in a different direction. The rake wheel on the left side of the center splitter assembly will rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed from behind the wheel, which will cause the material to move from the right to the left. The opposite applies to the rake wheel on the right side of the center splitter assembly, where it will rotate counter-clockwise, moving material from the left to the right. Since these rake wheels are attempting to move material in opposite directions, the spacing between the wheels has been found to be critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventor: Jesse T. Munk
  • Patent number: 8322125
    Abstract: The de-icing system comprises a flexible bladder (5) filled with de-icing fluid, pressed by the centrifugal forces produced when the rotor tip (1) is rotating against the inner wall thereof to apply a pressure favoring the progressive and calibrated discharge of the fluid, in the absence of a pump and any other active means. For this, the bladder comprises a concavity (11) at the rear which is automatically enlarged under the effect of centrifugal forces during operation and discharges the fluid continuously from the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Michel Paul Lucien Vernet
  • Patent number: 8322126
    Abstract: An exhaust device is disclosed that includes a duct that turns an exhaust flow from a gas turbine engine from a first direction to a second direction. A diverter cup is disposed within the duct and serves to split the exhaust flow into two streams as well as introduce cooling air through an ejector pump at the downstream end of the diverter cup. A splitter is disposed downstream of the diverter cup and serves to split the cooling air into two streams which are thereafter mixed with the split exhaust flow. A diffuser is created in the exhaust device between the duct and the splitter. Various cooling slots are also provided in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bies, Stephen A. Bergeron, Bryan H. Lerg, Emil R. Dejulio
  • Patent number: 8322127
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a turbine engine has a convergent portion for converging fluid flow from a turbine engine core. A divergent portion for diverging fluid flow from the turbine engine core is in fluid communication with the convergent portion. A conduit is in communication with a bypass fluid flow. The conduit has a thrust vectoring port located near the divergent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sean P. Zamora, Michael J. Murphy, Gary J. Dillard, Glenn R. Estes
  • Patent number: 8322128
    Abstract: A hydrogen engine 10 supplies hydrogen, oxygen, and an argon gas serving as a working to a combustion chamber 21 to combust the hydrogen. H2O in a recirculating gas discharged from the combustion chamber 21 is separated and eliminated from the gas by a condenser 66. A three-way valve 72 is switched over in such a manner that the recirculating gas flows through a product eliminating section 70 (a carbon dioxide absorbing unit 71), when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the recirculating gas is higher than a predetermined concentration, so that the carbon dioxide is separated and eliminated from the recirculating gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Mitani
  • Patent number: 8322129
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an exhaust temperature for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method and system include determining a range of acceptable charge flows within the internal combustion engine to meet a desired exhaust temperature. The method and system further include controlling the charge flows to fall within the range. Control strategies to utilize the charge flow as a lever to control turbine outlet temperature are disclosed. These strategies utilize the inversion of the cylinder outlet temperature virtual sensor as well as a new turbine outlet temperature virtual sensor to determine the charge flow required to achieve the desired turbine outlet temperature given the current turbine inlet and outlet pressure, SOI, charge pressure, charge temperature, fueling, and engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Jennifer W. Rumsey, Larry J. Brackney, B. Jerry Song, J. Steve Wills, John N. Chi, John M. Mulloy
  • Patent number: 8322130
    Abstract: When the operating state of an internal combustion engine (10) is under low load, the supply of unburned fuel is controlled by using post-injection without using in-exhaust-pipe direct injection. Under medium load, the supply of the unburned fuel is controlled by using both the post-injection and the in-exhaust-pipe direct injection. Under high load, the supply of the unburned fuel is controlled by using the in-exhaust-pipe direct injection without using the post-injection. Thus, in air-fuel ratio rich control performed during regeneration to recover the purification capability of an exhaust gas purification apparatus, both black smoke and white smoke are reduced when the supply of the unburned fuel for supplying the unburned fuel into exhaust gas is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuza, Teruo Nakada, Daiji Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8322131
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is basically provided with a NOx trapping catalytic converter, a sulfur poisoning amount estimating section and a sulfur poisoning removal section. The NOx trapping catalytic converter is arranged in an exhaust passage to trap NOx contained in an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust passage when an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean and to release trapped NOx when an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is rich. The sulfur poisoning amount estimating section estimates an estimated sulfur poisoning amount of sulfur poisoning of the NOx trapping catalytic converter based on a fuel consumption amount and an oil consumption amount. The sulfur poisoning removal section raises a temperature of the NOx trapping catalytic converter to a sulfur poisoning removal temperature based on the estimated sulfur poisoning amount to remove sulfur poisoning from the NOx trapping catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Risa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8322132
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system associated with a power source is disclosed. The exhaust treatment system may have a filter located to remove particulate matter from an exhaust flow of the power source. The exhaust treatment system may further have a heat source located to elevate the temperature of the exhaust flow. The exhaust treatment system may also have a first sensor and a second sensor. The exhaust treatment system may further have a controller in communication with the heat source, the first sensor, and the second sensor. The controller may be configured to receive a particulate matter load value and a power source load value and activate the heat source when the particulate matter load value is above a particulate matter load threshold value and the power source load value is below a power source load threshold value that is indicative of the exhaust flow being within an exhaust flow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Susannah E. Danby, David Mark Heaton, Stephen Anthony Faulkner, Robert Southall