Patents Examined by Blair Johnson
  • Patent number: 5586595
    Abstract: A curtain attachment connector movable along a curtain railing for holding a curtain comprises a fastener member having first and second engaging faces engageable with male or female engaging faces of the curtain, and an attachment extending from one end of the fastener member and adapted to be attached to the curtain railing directly or indirectly. The first and second engaging faces are composed of a multiplicity of hooks rising from front and back sides of the fastener member. The first engaging face has an engaging strength with respect to the engaging faces of the curtain which is stronger than that of the second engaging face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Kazuo Iwai
  • Patent number: 5584333
    Abstract: A panel member for use in an overhead door assembly has an outer frame defining a panel slot, with a swingable panel seated in the slot; the swingable panel is hingedly mounted to the outer frame by a hinge, retainers on the outer frame hold the swingable panel in the panel slot, however, under impact the panel is released from the retainers, whereafter it is free to pivot or swing about the hinge; after removal of the impact the swingable panel is snapped back into the retainers; the swingable panel thus accommodates impact forces which would otherwise dislodge the door from the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Super Seal Mfg. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinaldo Torchetti, David R. McPhail, Bradley N. Cherkas
  • Patent number: 5584329
    Abstract: An arched-window shade (1) has a plurality of left-side blades (2) and right-side blades (3) with center ends oppositely disposed and attached pivotally to at least one blade axle (7, 8, 28) positioned centrally on a sill (4) of an arched window (5). The left blades are juxtaposed side-by-side and linked together consecutively with at least one left link line (24) and the right blades are juxtaposed side-by-side and linked together consecutively with at least one right link line (25). A left draw string (11) is attached to a select one of the left blades at a design distance from its center end and a right draw string (12) is attached to a select one of the right blades at a design distance from its center end. The draw strings are routed over a lift support (18, 30, 31) positioned centrally above the at-least-one blade axle, then downward and outward on line supports (19, 20, 22, 23). The left blades of the shade are opened and closed by raising and lowering the left draw string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Larry J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5584331
    Abstract: A shutter including a casing, two chain transmission mechanisms bilaterally and vertically mounted inside said casing, two linkages suspended from the top rail of the casing on the inside, a set of louvers pivotably connected between the linkages, a power drive controlled to turn the chain transmission mechanisms, and two hook members fastened to the chain transmission mechanisms and moved to carry the linkages and the louvers between the active position and the inactive position, louvers being carried turned between the horizontal position and the vertical position when the linkages are moved to the active position and the chain transmission mechanisms are continuously turned to a certain extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Kuo-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 5584332
    Abstract: A door assembly includes an articulated door with rollers mounted along its edge portions and guide and support tracks for securing the door to a wall with an opening that the door closes. The assembly also includes bracket members for supporting the door when a load displaces the door a predetermined distance in a direction generally perpendicularly to the face of the door when the door lies in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Raynor Garage Doors
    Inventor: Stephen J. Miller
  • Patent number: 5582226
    Abstract: A venetian blind assembly is provided in which each of the slats are provided with at least two pairs of holes, with the pairs of holes being spaced from each other along the lengths of the slats and with the holes of each pair being located across the width of the slat from each other and adjacent to opposite edges of the slats. Each of the holes is connected to adjacent edges of the slat by a slit, whereby the rung cords of the ladder assembly supporting the slats may be inserted through the slits into the holes to retain the slats in a predetermined position. The lifting cords for the blinds are located beyond the edges of the slats, such that when the vertical cords of the ladder assemblies are vertically adjusted with respect to each other, the slats may be moved to a closed position wherein the lower edge of one slat engages the top surface of the other to more completely prevent the infiltration of light or sound or the movement of air therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Voss, Louis G. Valle, Zeki Tuzmen
  • Patent number: 5582302
    Abstract: In order to visibly display products of various types in bulk quantities, while at the same time restricting access to the products to maintain them in a safe and clean condition, a product display rack is provided. The rack includes a frame having a support for a container for products mounted thereon. It also includes structure associated with the frame for mounting the rack on a supporting surface. The rack is formed in such manner as to maintain the container in position on the support. Still additionally, a unique product display rack container is disclosed having a pair of parallel generally polygonal-shaped side walls joined by a continuous perimeter wall having an access-giving opening to define a product-containing enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Ira M. Kozak
  • Patent number: 5582306
    Abstract: A closet organizer including a central shelf tower having openings through its vertical members to support an adjustable length clothes pole, including clothes pole cup supports for holding the ends of the clothes pole to the closet walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Organizers Direct, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Neil T. Balter, Kevin Harrington
  • Patent number: 5579820
    Abstract: A roll-up closure device for typically collapsible vehicle shelters of the type having a structure made of assembled tubular members and cross-members and a complementary covering therefor made of a flexible plastics material and defining at the front end thereof a door opening. The side walls of the shelter are inclined in such a way as to diverge from top to bottom, whereby the door opening has generally a isosceles trapezoidal shape. The device includes a pair of opposed side guide rails mounted at laterally opposite sides of the door opening so as to follow the angled sides thereof, an overhead motor driven roll-up boom extending above the door opening, and a flexible closure shaped like the door opening and having its lateral side edges slidably engaged in the guide rails, whereby the closure device does not substantially reduce the lateral dimensions of the door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventors: Robert LePage, Michel Paradis
  • Patent number: 5579594
    Abstract: The device is distinctive in that tooth (D) and matching adapter (A) are both designed with matching shapes to allow, after assembly, the formation and definition of one or more spaces (V) of variable shape, as appropriate, the adapter and tooth being made with one or more openings allowing the filling and application of a special-purpose material (M) in the above-mentioned space(s), said special-purpose material fulfilling the functions of locking the tooth relative to the adapter by absolute contact between the tooth and adapter by forming a contact cushion that ensures distribution of the stresses and strains in all the areas filled by the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: AFE Metal SA
    Inventors: Charles Pasqualini, Jean M. Pasqualini, Sylvain Pasqualini
  • Patent number: 5579819
    Abstract: A pulling knob for coupling the pulling cords of venetian blind together includes a ring shaped body secured to one of the cords and having two annular flanges oppositely extended from the side portions. A number of caps each includes an annular shoulder for engaging with the annular flange so as to be attached to the ring shaped body. The caps each includes a notch for engaging with the other cords so as to couple the cords together. The caps can be easily disengaged from the body in order to release the cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventors: Wen-Chung Hung, Suy-Po Chang
  • Patent number: 5577395
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic clip comprises a base plate and a cover plate with a living hinge inbetween. In pre-assembly the plates are held widely open by a temporary unitary strut. The bracelet strap is attached to the base plate by having apertures formed in the strap receive bushings in the base plate which are then flared outwardly to "rivet" the parts together. The struts are then sheared away, and the cover plate is freely hinged. In the final assembly the strap encircles the patient's wrist and the cover plate is brought down over the base plate, pointed projections on the cover plate piercing the free end of the strap and entering the bushings, and staggered ribs augmenting the gripping. The cover plate is then latched closed against the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Scovill Fasteners Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis C. Kuykendall
  • Patent number: 5577710
    Abstract: An assembly for extending a vertical height of a fence. The inventive device includes a plurality of mourning posts securable to opposed sides of an existing fence. A plurality of panels extend between the posts and rest upon a top surface of the fence so as to extend an effective vertical height of the fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: George T. Kirby
  • Patent number: 5577856
    Abstract: A beam support system fastens an end portion of a wood beam to a generally upright surface of a beam-anchoring member. A mutually-cooperative interface structure is provided on a beam-fastening member and on the end portion of the beam, respectively. The interface structure forces the end portion compressively against the upright surface in a direction generally perpendicular thereto automatically in response to engagement of the end portion with the fastening member in a direction generally parallel to the upright surface. The fastening member is mounted to a wood beam-anchoring member preferably by a resiliently-deformable spring member which resiliently compresses the beam-anchoring member in a direction generally perpendicular to the upright surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Junichi Tezuka
  • Patent number: 5577858
    Abstract: An apparatus such as a digging bucket has a clevis device pivotably connected thereto by a pin held in place by a pin-retaining structure. The clevis includes a plurality of arcuate, lip-like, outwardly-radially-projecting first retention members and the structure includes a cap portion having a plurality of arcuate, lip-like, inwardly-radially-projecting second retention members. Each second retention member engages and "locks" to a separate first retention member. The cap portion, which interferes with free axial travel of the pin, is well secured so that the pin is retained in engagement with the clevis without welding the pin. Avoiding pin welding permits using a substantially-harder pin, resulting in significantly better wear characteristics. A new method for retaining a pin is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Corporation
    Inventors: Rikos A. Kasim, Darryl R. Immel
  • Patent number: 5577544
    Abstract: An extension spring overhead door system in which the spring may be quickly and easily placed in tension with the door in a closed position. A spring tensioning device is provided which eliminates the need for multiple installers to lift the full weight of the door and then clamp or otherwise prop the door in an open position. An extension spring containment tube is also provided which surrounds the entire periphery of the spring to fully contain the entire length of the extension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Clopay Building Products Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Carper, Alan R. Leist
  • Patent number: 5577859
    Abstract: An arrangement for connecting a rotatable shaft having an end portion with channel toothing formed thereon, and a structural component for transmitting a torque therebetween, with the arrangement including a sleeve fixedly secured to the structured component and having inner channel toothing cooperating with the channel toothing formed on the end portion of the shaft, and a bushing enveloping the sleeve and axially displaceable therealong for providing a backlash-free engagement between the channel toothings of the end portion of the shaft and the receiving sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Etablissement Supervis
    Inventor: Markus Nau
  • Patent number: 5575580
    Abstract: An assembly for joining a generally cylindrical member to at least one other member wherein the assembly includes a pair of oppositely disposed C-shaped connectors that when connected together are in one of two selected conditions. When in the first condition the C-shaped connectors are slidable about the surface of the generally cylindrical member and when in the second condition the C-shaped connectors are secured to the generally cylindrical member at a preselected position on the surface thereof. The assembly includes a component receiver which receives the other member. The component receiver is slidably mounted on a selected one of the C-shaped connectors so as to be in one of two conditions. When in the first condition, the component receiver is slidable on the C-shaped connectors; and when in the second condition, the component receiver is secured to the adjacent C-shaped connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Miracle Recreation Equipment Company
    Inventors: Terry V. Parrish, Duane R. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 5575321
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a security grille system for attachment to screen sliding doors. Many safety features are encompassed in the design of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Ken E. Currier
  • Patent number: 5573050
    Abstract: A roll-up closure for closing/opening a vertical opening such as a window or door, includes vertically spaced, horizontal slats, the ends of the slats being slidable in vertical guide channels. The lowermost slat carries a catch which is biased outwardly to a position preventing the closure from being raised. The catch can be released to permit raising of the closure, by means of a cable, a manually actuable member, or a mechanically actuable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Johann Henkenjohann