Patents Assigned to Butler Manufacturing
  • Patent number: 5584147
    Abstract: A freeze-resistant downspout system includes a metal downspout having an interior portion within a building and a contiguous exterior portion outside the building. The exterior portion is shielded from the weather by a thermally insulated shroud so that heat conducted along the downspout from within the building is sufficient to keep the exterior portion from freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Agee, Michael E. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5469665
    Abstract: A threshold system for a door incorporating a seal and a threshold plate. The seal mounts to the door and has a flap extending therebeneath. The threshold plate has a raised inner section connected to a recessed outer section by an upstanding lip. The threshold plate disposed below the door so that the flap of the seal contacts with the upstanding lip of the threshold plate, thereby creating a seal between an outside area and an inside area. An outer deflector is mounted on the door body to deflect air and moisture away from the threshold plate and seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Biebuyck
  • Patent number: 5408797
    Abstract: A mid-roof anchoring system includes a series of anchoring channels secured to the roof structure along a line midway between the eave and the ridge of the roof. Metal roof panels installed over tile substructure are permitted to float laterally on the roof, except where they are attached to the anchoring channels. As a result, the roof panels expand or contract in both directions away from the midway line. This approach minimizes thermally induced movement the upper and lower edges of the roof, and minimizes reaction forces at the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norman A. Bellem
  • Patent number: 5321927
    Abstract: A mid-roof anchoring system includes a series of anchoring channels secured to the roof structure along a line midway between the eave and the ridge of the roof. Metal roof panels installed over the substructure are permitted to float laterally on the roof, except where they are attached to the anchoring channels. As a result, the roof panels expand or contract in both directions away from the midway line. This approach minimizes thermally induced movement the upper and lower edges of the roof, and minimizes reaction forces at the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norman A. Bellem
  • Patent number: 5319882
    Abstract: An angulated door assembly affording reduced entry and exit time and motion therethrough. Each door is angulated relative to the adjacent walls and/or the conventional path of ingress/egress therethrough. Such an assembly configuration affords increased sealing capacity as well as convenience for the user. The door opens and closes faster by swinging less than a conventional door, which presents itself orthogonally to the path of ingress/egress. By utilizing a pair of angulated doorways, the doors self-seal against each other while providing the advantages of angulated disposition relative to the path of ingress/egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Biebuyck
  • Patent number: 5306057
    Abstract: A latch arrangement for an access opening cover on a bulk material storage structure. The access opening will include a frame defining an opening periphery, with the covers hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position. Each cover will include at least one slide bar extending between sides of the cover. Each slide bar has a length such that the ends of the slide bar are in proximity to the frame. Lock studs extend inwardly from the frame, with one stud associated with each end of each slide bar. Each slide bar is mounted for sliding movement perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in the plane of the cover between latched and unlatched positions, and includes a stud face and a lock face. The stud face includes slits through which the studs may pass at the closed position of the cover, allowing the bar to drop down over the stud. When dropped down over the stud into the latched position, the lock face abuts against the stud, arresting movement of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing
    Inventor: George E. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5285009
    Abstract: Two-part floor box disassembled at job site so one part can be connected to conduit without interference from the other part and then the parts reassembled for the pour. Parts are preferably a stamped sheet metal base and a plastic housing which can be slipped into and out of a cavity in base. Radially extending wiring compartments provide for feed thru and for feeding power from outside to the inside of the box structured so any combination of power and communication can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy S. Bowman, J. David Harmon
  • Patent number: 5257487
    Abstract: This patent discloses a floor box for a service distribution system in a concrete floor slab. The floor box has a bottom, end walls, and side walls that define an interior of the box and a frame support that is positioned within the box and engages end walls and side walls to maintain the end walls and side walls in close conformance at their junction. The frame support also supports an activation frame of an activation kit positioned within an upper opening of the floor box. The floor box is less expensive to manufacture than floor boxes that are manufactured to maintain structural integrity independent of a surrounding concrete floor slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kermit Bantz, Timothy S. Bowman, Robert Hadfield
  • Patent number: 5251415
    Abstract: A roofing system includes a strong nonmetallic mesh fabric placed loosely over an array of purlins, and secured fast at the periphery of the roof. The fabric, which serves to support roof insulation between the purlins, also has sufficient strength to protect workers laying the insulation, or roofing panels over the insulation, as well as those on the ground below, in case of an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard H. Van Auken, Lawrence D. Englehart, Ralph C. Hall
  • Patent number: 5222340
    Abstract: A seamed metal roof is formed from an array of panels having lateral edges interconnected by rolled seams, and a plurality of clamps, each comprising a first elongate part having a mating surface, a longitudinal recess having dimensions like those of the seam, a second elongate part having a mating surface opposing the recess and the mating surface of the first part, and a fastener for drawing said parts together, to confine the seam in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norman A. Bellem
  • Patent number: 5195288
    Abstract: This patent discloses a floor fitting for activation of services including electric power and communication services. The floor fitting includes activation sides sized to at least overlie two conventional duplex power receptacles. The floor fitting further provides for routing of service conductors through the fitting to locations above the floor. Additionally, the floor fitting provides for mounting of connectors to the base of the floor fitting and independent of the cover and for accepting decorative cover treatments at ends of the floor fitting adjacent to the activation sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John Penczak
  • Patent number: 5180074
    Abstract: A floor box having structure which eliminates screws for holding the cover assembly on the box, the structure permitting the box and the cover assembly to be shipped in a disconnected condition and arranged, after the box is set up for the concrete pour, to be quickly and easily snapped into and maintained in closure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Timothy S. Bowman, Heidi W. Nufer
  • Patent number: 5160808
    Abstract: Simplified access device for flush floor fittings in the form of a track mounted slider. The slider can be manipulated between a closed position wherein the interior of the fitting is shut off to any desired minimum opening position to accommodate exiting of one or more cables. The slider is never divorced from the fitting and so is available in the event the station is abandoned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Hadfield
  • Patent number: 5090166
    Abstract: An improved rectilinear building structure using diagonal tension members to resist racking to improve the tolerance of transitory transverse loads such as those that are produced by seismic occurrences. The improvement comprises placing a resilient pad in compression between at least one end of a tension member and a structural member whereby the resilient pad is compressed when the tension member is under tension so that the resilient pad deforms under the transitory transverse load thereby increasing the ductility of the structure before fracture of the tension member occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Johnson, Roger A. LaBoube, Suresh C. Satsangi
  • Patent number: 5058344
    Abstract: An improved panel mounting system for curtain wall construction of the type comprising a plurality of transparent and non-transparent panels secured to structural millions and disposed adjacent each other wherein the panels are constructed with an outer hollow region integrally formed with structural interconnection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Biebuyck
  • Patent number: 5049702
    Abstract: An afterset comprising a plastic flush floor fitting assembly to service a work station with high and/or low tension, a metal attaching ring clamped to an in-floor duct, and screws bearing on the assembly and threaded into the attaching ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Hadfield
  • Patent number: 5039827
    Abstract: An elongated power compartment to be disposed inside of a trenchduct. The compartment having a bottom wall and two side walls. Centrally of the compartment, an opening is formed in the bottom. On each side wall and centrally of the compartment there is a downwardly extending barrier. The bottom opening is to provide access to a power cell in a underfloor raceway and the barriers function to prevent the passing of power cable out of the space beneath the compartment into the low tension side of the trenchduct. The bottom opening is in communication with the raceway valleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: J. David Harmon
  • Patent number: 5036637
    Abstract: An improved mullion for a building system. The mullion has a plurality of peripheral wall and web sections defining a load bearing structure adapted for supporting the panel in sealed engagement therewith. The mullion is roll formed from thin gauged metal and further includes an integrally formed, hollow body section having portions defining a glazing pocket therein. Structural members are adapted to be disposed within the mullion body for the engagement and structural integrity thereof. The structural members are secured to the mullion body for maintaining the hollow mullion profile under loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Biebuyck
  • Patent number: 5034567
    Abstract: Three service access units are mounted on a cellular raceway. A bracket inside of the unit is mounted on the power cell. The bracket offers no interference with the passage of communication cable. This bracket carries plural duplex receptacles accessible through the open top of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory L. Mohr
  • Patent number: 5030795
    Abstract: An access hatch for flush floor fitting assembly which is mounted by pivots comprising open ended slots and pins slidingly disposed in the slots. The pivots providing for the hatch to move between a closed position and any of a plurality of open positions and for the hatch, in any open position, to be lifted away from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Charles N. Domigan