Patents Examined by Alvin Chin-Shue
  • Patent number: 8944213
    Abstract: A stepladder having a front side, a rear side and a top. The stepladder can include a conduit holder attached to the front side for holding conduit. The stepladder can include a first wire spool holder attached to the front side and a second wire spool holder attached to the rear side though which a conduit having a wire spool extends. The stepladder can include a hacksaw hook attached to the front side. A method for cutting a conduit. A method for using a hacksaw. A method for obtaining wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Werner Co.
    Inventors: Kyle G. Astor, James J. Grebinoski, Craig Werner, Kevin J. Moran
  • Patent number: 8939256
    Abstract: There is provided a collapsible ladder having several collapsible ladder sections, where each or at least part of the ladder sections comprises two hollow ladder bars arranged parallel to each other and interconnected at an upper end by a rung, and where each collapsible ladder section is telescopically inserted into a lower ladder section. Each ladder bar of a collapsible ladder section has a locking hole adjacent the lower end part of the ladder bar and an extension below the locking hole, and retaining mechanisms are provided in at least part of the rungs for locking the collapsible ladder sections relative to one another when the collapsible ladder sections are extended. Each of or part of the retaining mechanisms comprises a locking pin, which can be brought into an extended and locked position in order to engage a corresponding locking hole provided in the ladder bar of a ladder section positioned there above, and a release part for bringing the locking pin into a retracted and un-locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Patentselskabet af 10. december 2010 ApS
    Inventor: Otto Martinus Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8936134
    Abstract: A three-step pool ladder having the capability to have a fourth step and/or a curve-about ladder apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Confer Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Lipniarski
  • Patent number: 8910750
    Abstract: An improved tree stand includes an elongated frame having a vertical and horizontal section. A central platform extends in an opposite direction from the frame and includes a tree connection member. A seat is provided along the upper horizontal portion of the frame, and a shooting rail having a vertically adjustable back and side sections connect the top portion of the frame to the tree. An improved tree stand also includes a swivel mounted seat platform that transitions between an open and closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Rhett Butler
  • Patent number: 8910749
    Abstract: A scissor lift platform adapted to attach to an existing skid steer loader provides the functionally of a scissor lift to elevate personnel and equipment. The platform comprises hand rails and a lift control panel supported by a hydraulic scissor lift assembly section. The base of the scissor lift assembly is provided with a box-like frame attachable to a front loader portion of the skid steer loader and equipped with a hydraulic pivoting mechanism to keep the platform level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Dallas S. Jensen
  • Patent number: 8893852
    Abstract: A non single point of failure member slide having two members that extend from a second washer, downwardly through a sheath to a belt. The glide being slidably disposed within a track member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: James Allen Liggett
  • Patent number: 8881868
    Abstract: A material support assembly (21) for use on an aerial lift work platform (12) surrounded by a safety barrier (17) with a kick plate (14) adjacent the platform (12), the assembly (21) having at least one leg (22 or 23) mounted on a foot (24) which rests on the platform (12), the leg and foot having a first coupling means (31) for securing the assembly (21) to the kick plate (14) on one side of the platform and a further coupling means (32) for engaging the kick plate (14) on the opposite side of the platform, the further coupling means (32) preferably being located at the end of an arm (25) extending away from the foot (24) and resting against the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bluesky Solutions Limited
    Inventor: Paul Cummings
  • Patent number: 8869934
    Abstract: A shuttle member for a horizontal lifeline system having at least one elongate line attached between at least two anchorage points. The shuttle member includes: a body having: (i) an upper portion configured for attachment to the line by at least partially surrounding the line; (i) an intermediate portion that, together with the upper portion, defines at least one passage slit that is sized such that the elongate line cannot pass therethrough; and (iii) an attachment portion configured for attachment of at least a portion of a lanyard. A shuttle member arrangement and a passing method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Bodnar, Zoe Bridges, Nadeem Haidary, Jason Jura, Jung Hwan Park, Ruqian Zhou
  • Patent number: 8869935
    Abstract: A work platform unit (1) mountable to a ladder (3) the unit including a platform (2) upon which a work person may stand and which is adapted for mounting to the upper end of the ladder (3) such that when the ladder is located in a position of use the platform (2) may be set to a horizontal position, and a safety barrier construction for providing all round safety protection to a person when standing upon the platform, the safety barrier construction involving a framework (22) upstanding from the perimeter region of the platform (2) and incorporating a gate arrangements (42,43) such that when closed the framework (22) effectively totally surrounds a person when present upon the platform (2) to provide said all round protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Easi-Dec Access Systems Limited
    Inventor: Neil Ernest Baglin
  • Patent number: 8869937
    Abstract: A combined step stool and workpiece support device (4) has a folding frame with a rigid front leg structure including front legs (2,3) and a first support bar interconnecting the front legs at an upper end thereof. The frame also includes a rear leg structure including rear legs (10,11), each being pivoted to a front leg via a first hinge (15, 16) for movement of the rear leg structure between a use position and a storage position. Portions (2a, 3a) of the front legs above the first hinges and the first support bar form a first workpiece support bracket (20). The device includes a pivotable rigid second workpiece support bracket (25) with a pair of arms (25a, 25b), each having a lower end pivotally connected via a second hinge (27, 28) to the frame. The second support bracket is pivotal between a use position and a collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Lampe Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Caspar Bernard Lampe, Maarten Olden
  • Patent number: 8863902
    Abstract: Designs for adapting a ladder rail so that accessories to the ladder can be quickly and securely mounted and released without using tools. Aspects of the invention include attachment bases permanently mounted to the ladder rail with structures for toolless attachment and release of accessories to the base, including guide lips that allow the accessory to be easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Philip F. Lanzafame
  • Patent number: 8863903
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerial platform for a wind turbine with a tower and rotor blades arranged on the tower, which aerial platform comprises: a vehicle; at least a first pair of cables and a second pair of cables, which are each attached with one end to the vehicle and can be attached with the other end close to the upper side of the tower of the wind turbine; a lift cradle which is guided by at least a first pair of cables; and hoisting means for hoisting the lift cradle with the second pair of cables along the first pair of cables. The invention further comprises a lift cradle for an aerial platform according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Special Blade Service B.V.
    Inventors: Mikel Hendrikus Jozef Besselink, Marco Johannes Bernardus Oostenbrink, Gerhard Reineke
  • Patent number: 8851232
    Abstract: A rope climbing apparatus includes two spaced side members. Each side member has a climbing rope end and a tethering end. The climbing rope ends each include a pair of spaced apertures. The tethering ends each include a cooperative aperture. Two friction elements are disposed between the spaced side members. The friction elements are axially disposed between the pair of spaced apertures in the climbing rope end for receiving a rope therebetween the friction elements. A tether connector is axially disposed between the cooperative apertures in the tethering end for connecting a tether thereto. The climbing apparatus is useable as a brake while descending a rope through angular movement of the tethering end relative to the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Samuel Kevin Raoul Bingham
  • Patent number: 8851236
    Abstract: A safety lockout system for releasably locking a mast guided working surface to a mast is provided. The safety lockout system may include an outer rollcase, an inner rollcase, and a lockout assembly. The lockout assembly includes a retractable dog that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The lockout assembly may include a dog release device that operates both manually and automatically to move the retractable dog from the disengaged position to the engaged position. Automatic operation of the dog release device is triggered when the working surface experiences a tilted condition. A dog emergency release device may be provided to manually move the retractable dog to the disengaged position in the event of a malfunction. The lockout assembly may include a lockout assembly locking device that allows a portion of the lockout assembly to fold up and move the retractable dog to the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sky Climber, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Burchfield, Robert E. Eddy
  • Patent number: 8851233
    Abstract: A folding emergency escape ladder for a dwelling includes a fixed vertical riser for fitting to the external wall of a dwelling, spaced apart, retractable rails pivoted thereto from a first end to function as rungs of the ladder and a movable vertical riser fitted in correspondingly from a second end of the rails such that the ladder is moveable between a retracted state with the rails folded up into the fixed and retracted vertical risers and an expanded, deployed state with the rails and risers functioning as a ladder mounted to the wall, one or more rails including an elongate rail rung terminating at the first and second ends in a rung head including an integral pivot and a projecting lobe extending radially from the pivot, the lobe including a buffer foot abutting a portion of the vertical risers coincident with the deployed state to buffer deployment of the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Russell Edward Murphy
  • Patent number: 8844675
    Abstract: A portable ladder has two stiles interconnected by rungs. The ladder is provided with a stand off device, including two stand off arm assemblies, each being telescopically inserted into a receiving space. Each stand off arm assembly has a base part and a stand off arm interconnected by a hinge that allows the stand off arm to be pivoted between a position in alignment with the base part and an angled stand off position. The stand off arm assemblies are each configured such that—in extended position—the hinge is located outside the receiving space with the base part being located within said receiving space, and also such that—in retracted position—the base part, the hinge, as well as at least a portion of the stand off arm are located within the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lampe Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Caspar Bernard Lampe, Maarten Olden
  • Patent number: 8839908
    Abstract: A ladder safety apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. An example ladder safety apparatus includes a stabilizer bar for a top portion of a ladder, the stabilizer bar configured to rest on a roof top. The example ladder safety apparatus also includes a balance rail for the top portion of the ladder to provide substantially upright handles for a user to grasp when the ladder is positioned on the roof top. Further, the safety apparatus may be engaged to a ladder using one or more engagement rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Don M. Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8839907
    Abstract: A ladder safety apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. An example ladder safety apparatus includes a stabilizer bar for a top portion of a ladder, the stabilizer bar configured to rest on a roof top. The example ladder safety apparatus also includes a balance rail for the top portion of the ladder to provide substantially upright handles for a user to grasp when the ladder is positioned on the roof top. The balance rail and the stabilizer bar are formed as a unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Don M. Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8833516
    Abstract: A tool for use with elevators and escalators, having two or more slidably connected assemblies, is provided. The assemblies have rails connected together and arranged in a parallel orientation. Support members are connected to the rails and a plurality of treads is attached to the support members. The treads are configured to provide a working surface upon which personnel can stand, sit or kneel and upon which materials can be placed. An extension member is connected to one end of the rails. Each extension member includes a locking member and a stop. Each locking member includes a first arm, a second arm and a third arm. In an open position, the third arm is in contact with the stop and in a closed position, the second arm is in contact with the stop. The assemblies are configured to bridge gaps formed within and around the elevators and escalators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Wurtec Elevator Products & Services
    Inventors: Steven P. Wurth, Terry Rodebaugh
  • Patent number: 8833520
    Abstract: A fall safety barrier for use around a hole has anchor means removably secured adjacent a perimeter of the hole, first collapsible barrier means pivotally mounted about a first pivot location of the anchor means, and second collapsible barrier means pivotally mounted about a second pivot location of the anchor means opposite the first location. There are means for allowing the first collapsible barrier means to pivot between a first contracted position, where it lays upon the second collapsible barrier means, and a first expanded position, where it is upright and forms a first side of the fall safety barrier. There are also means for allowing the second collapsible barrier means to pivot between a second contracted position, where it lays adjacent the anchor means, and a second expanded position, where it is upright and forms a second side of the fall safety barrier opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: C. & V. Engineering Company Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Mario Pizzolato