Patents Examined by Alvin Chin-Shue
  • Patent number: 9038776
    Abstract: A ladder system is disclosed which allows for stabilizing a ladder on multiple surfaces without the need for a second person or a great deal of setup time. The collapsible ladder system includes a larger ladder section and a smaller ladder strut section which are pivotally connected at a point which is at or below the midpoint of the larger ladder section. The larger ladder section and smaller ladder strut section are connected by a rigid adjustable linkage, or spreader, at a point that is below the pivotable connection. The ladder further includes a means for stability on a variety of surfaces. At the ground contact point, the point where the ladder side rail ends and the ground meet, there are adjustable gripping feet, which can be independently or in combination vertically or angularly adjusted for maximum stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: LOCK N CLIMB, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Green, Floyd LaVern Vestal
  • Patent number: 9038777
    Abstract: A fall protection system is provided providing all protection for all workers in building erection. The system involves an interior net, and a perimeter net if needed. The net system may be both horizontally and vertically mobile, allowing it to be easily moved as building erection continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: James F. Stearns Company LLP
    Inventors: Jim Stearns, Michael McDermott, Christopher Conley, Steve Conley, Jr., Cori Amadon, Francis Greenwood, Bernard Greaney
  • Patent number: 9033103
    Abstract: A traveller for a fall arrest system including a body having a bore and a slot narrower than the bore linking to the bore to the exterior of the body. A load member is connected to the body for pivotal movement relative to the body and suitable for attachment to fall safety equipment. The body has a center of gravity positioned so that when the traveller is supported on a safety line passing through the bore, the body will be urged by gravity to rotate about the safety line towards a position in which the slot has a predetermined orientation relative to the safety line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Julian Renton, Peter Nott
  • Patent number: 9033106
    Abstract: A system for substantially enclosing the periphery of a building top with a netting system which is easily and efficiently movable or reconfigurable during the building construction process comprises a lightweight netting system for extending above a completed work area or floor, a strong lightweight structural support system for the netting, wherein the structural support system is vertically adjustable via slidable engagement with brackets attached to the floors which are already completed, provides enhanced safety for workers and for pedestrians below by preventing passage of workers or debris through the netting and enhances efficiency of construction by providing an easily reconfigurable, inexpensive and lightweight system for providing such enhanced safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Lawrence Blinn
  • Patent number: 9033104
    Abstract: A stabilizer support for extension ladder having a pair of frame members. A pair of spring loaded telescoping extension legs, one of each disposed within each of the frame members. A plurality of adjustment mechanisms and hinges. A pair of adjustment feet having non-skid frictional engagement surfaces. Each of the adjustment feet configured to rotate about an axis of one of the hinges. A lateral support member disposed upon and longitudinally traversing between an inner wall of each frame member. The support member having a medially disposed pivot. A spring loaded adjustable rung support disposed upon the pivot. A pair of mounting plates disposed on an upper end of each of the frame members. A hinging surface configured to angularly adjust within a slit of the upper end. A mounting surface configured to engage a mounting member of a ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: James A. Calloway
  • Patent number: 9027710
    Abstract: A surgeon lift comprising a base, wheels attached to the base, each wheel comprising a locking mechanism, a cylinder supported on the base, a platform operatively connected to the cylinder, a lifting mechanism for adjusting the height of the platform relative to a horizontal surface, a connector for operative attachment of the surgeon lift to a surgical table, the surgical table comprising an assembly comprising a power source for receiving the connector, and one or more controllers for automatically controlling the position of the lift relative to the surgical table in the x, y, and z dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Abacus Innovations, Inc
    Inventors: Miriam Machovic Basic, Howard S Mellin, Faranak Sarbaz
  • Patent number: 9027712
    Abstract: An apparatus that provides selectively deployable worker access with fall protection to at least a portion of the top of a container disposed above the ground. A gangway and its associated fall protection cage are selectively deployable from an elevated platform over the top of the container. The gangway and its associated cage are slidably connected to the platform via a track carried along the side of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sam Carbis Asset Management, LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Melton, Allyn Thomasson, Rodrick Williamson
  • Patent number: 9022172
    Abstract: A ladder accessory that is used with a ladder that extends out from the side of the ladder to provide footing for a worker. The accessory comprises an elongated rectangular open box structure defining at least one set of two parallel ladder rail channels that are placed crosswise (perpendicular) to the length of the box structure and are spaced apart a distance such that one of said channels can engage one rail of a ladder and the other channel can engage the other rail and both channels engage a rung. The rectangular elongated box defines two side walls that contain single hook key slots that can be engaged with rungs of the ladder when the accessory is placed lengthwise parallel to the rails of the ladder and, with a rung lock mechanism, can be fastened to the ladder and carried with the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventors: William Edward McCarthy, Derron Alan Suchodolski
  • Patent number: 9010490
    Abstract: An apparatus to secure a ladder to a ferromagnetic work surface, such as a metal storage tank, comprises a pair of brackets removably attached near the top of the ladder. The brackets are hinged to magnet mounts, which each hold a permanent magnet that releasably holds the ladder in place against the work surface. The apparatus prevents the ladder from slipping while a worker is climbing the ladder or while working from the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ladder Safety Magnet, LLC
    Inventor: Tim Mosier
  • Patent number: 9004227
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a ladder access system. The ladder access system may include a base having a clamp disposed proximal an excavation end thereof. The clamp may be configured to secure the base to an excavation support structure. A first side rail may be disposed on a first side of the base and a second side rail may be disposed on a second side of the base. The ladder access system may also include a gate disposed at a surface end of the base and extending between the first and second side rails. The ladder access system may further include a ladder support disposed proximal the excavation end of the base and extending from the first or second side rail, the ladder support being configured to uphold an upper end of a ladder disposed in an excavation and leaning thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: National Trench Safety, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald W. Chilton
  • Patent number: 8997932
    Abstract: A climbing safety assembly for securing a ladder to a stanchion includes a plate that may abut a stanchion so the plate extends laterally away from the stanchion. The plate selectively engages a ladder. The ladder is retained proximate the stanchion so the ladder may be safely climbed by a user. A hook is operationally coupled to the plate. The hook may selectively engage the stanchion so the hook retains the plate on the stanchion. A belt is operationally coupled to the plate. The belt may be extendable around the stanchion so the plate is retained on the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Steven Ochoa
  • Patent number: 8997929
    Abstract: A ladder locking designed intended to prevent access to a tree stand and an attached ladder includes a two-piece interlocking frame, top and bottom hooks to engage rungs of the ladder, and a locking bar. The frames include a mesh covers having a width greater than the tree stand ladder. The frame is secured to the ladder by the top and bottom hooks, which provide opposing hangers hooked over and clamping ladder rungs. A bottom of the frame includes a locking bar which insertingly engages between the two frame sections and secured with a padlock. The frame is placed over a ladder and locked to prevent unwanted persons from ascending the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventors: David A. Todd, John Todd
  • Patent number: 8997928
    Abstract: The fall restraint traveler device has a hollow body structure, two or more spacers, one or more lanyards and a leash. The hollow body structure has a first end and a second end. A safety rope extends passing through both first and second ends. The body structure has an elongated slot extending between the ends. The two or more tubular spacers are placed internal of the body structure with the safety rope passing through each spacer. The one or more lanyards are for attachment to a climber. Each lanyard has at least one locking element. The device is aligned with and free to slide along the safety rope during ascent or descent of the climber and in the event of a fall, the at least one locking element tightens as it pulls on the safety rope pulling the rope out of alignment and thereby cinching to the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Morgan Todd Ellis
  • Patent number: 8991556
    Abstract: A fall arrest block has a drum (40) on which a lifeline is wound and from which the line can be drawn off or drawn back on, as the work man moves towards and away from the block. One end of the lifeline is permanently secured to the drum, and the drum has sockets (50) for securing ends of more than one different type of lifeline. The block also has a brake (24) in the form of a sealed unit which can be removed and replaced with a fresh unit, when servicing of the brake is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Checkmate Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Auston, Duncan Barrier
  • Patent number: 8978820
    Abstract: The invention provides a fall protection system for an individual maneuvering about a structure, the structure having structure sections disposed equidistant from each other and at least one transverse section extending between the equidistant sections, the system generally including a first cable support disposed on one of the equidistant structure sections, a second cable support disposed on another of the equidistant structure sections, a transverse cable support extending between the first and second cable supports, a rigid member operably associated with the transverse cable support and configured to span the distance between the first and second cable supports, and a personal fall arrest assembly attached to and movable relative to the transverse cable support, the transverse cable support and the rigid member are further configured to move relative to the equidistant and transverse structure sections and relative to the first and second cable supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Solomon Marini
  • Patent number: 8973709
    Abstract: A lift includes a mast and a brake module. The mast is for disposing on a working surface and has at least one track. The brake module is connected to a lift module mounted on the mast and includes at least one friction member and at least one forcing member. The friction member has a pressing portion and an axle oppositely arranged. The pressing portion is substantially shaped to engage the track. The forcing member is rotatably disposed on the axle for pivoting axially between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the pressing portion can be moved along the track and stopped by the lift module. At the second position, the forcing member displaces the friction member to force the pressing portion tightly against the track. Thus, the brake module is held in position relative to the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Syncmold Enterprise Corp.
    Inventors: Der-Wei Lu, Chung-Cheng Hu
  • Patent number: 8973710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ladders and, more particularly, various configurations of ladders including straight and extension ladders, as well as to methods relating to the use and manufacture of such ladders. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a ladder is provided that includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The ladder also includes a pair of lateral support members, wherein each support member is selectively displaceable in a lateral direction relative to an associated rail. Additionally, the ladder includes a pair of adjustable legs, each leg having a first end slidably coupled to an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails and being slidably coupled to an associated lateral support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Wing Enterprises, Incorporated
    Inventors: N. Ryan Moss, Gary M. Jonas, Chad Grotegut, Sean R. Peterson, Brian B. Russell, Stephen E. Boynton, Ryan Crawford, Darius S. Penrod
  • Patent number: 8973706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a life-saving apparatus and method for escaping from a second floor or a third floor of a burning building, wherein the life-saving apparatus includes a container, a set of wheels, an inflatable pillow, an inflatable slide, a set of canisters full of compressed gas, and a set of activators operatively connected to the canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: David Patrick Bambrick, Mary Katherine Bambrick
  • Patent number: 8967333
    Abstract: A method for securing a pole for use of a pump jack system having the steps of pivoting a latch plate assembly about a first leg of a yoke member from an open position about the pole to a partially closed position about the pole. There is the step of sliding the assembly forward to a second leg of the member relative to the first leg into a fully closed position about the pole wherein a tab of the assembly is inserted into a yoke slot of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Werner Co.
    Inventors: Brett A. Latimer, Robert D. Beggs
  • Patent number: 8944214
    Abstract: An automatic locking system for a self-adjustable leveling ladder engages when the ladder is placed on the ground and disengages when the ladder is lifted off the ground. The automatic locking system includes a clamping mechanism, a first support, and a second support. The clamping mechanism includes a first member, a second member, a central pivot, a pair of key plates, and a cross rail. The first support pivotally connects to the first member, and the second support pivotally connects to the second member. The first member hingedly connects to the second member by the central pivot, which allows the key plates to grasp the cross rail if the first support and the second support are pressed against the ground. The first member and the second member are able to slide along the cross rail, which properly adjusts the first support and the second support for an uneven ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Landon Worthington