Patents Examined by Bruce A. Lev
  • Patent number: 6874596
    Abstract: A safety harness with a front D-ring includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. A front D-ring is positioned at a front of the upper body portion where a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap cross. A single length of webbing is used to form a first end of the first shoulder strap, form a first end of the second shoulder strap and connect the front D-ring in a fixed position relative to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap. The single length of webbing is wrapped around a cross-piece of the front D-ring and the first end of the first shoulder strap is formed from a first loop of the single length of webbing sewn together and the second end of the second shoulder strap is formed from a second loop of the single length of webbing sewn together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Safety Direct Ltd.
    Inventors: Brett Richard Zeissler, Peter Johnson
  • Patent number: 6871686
    Abstract: An articulated collapsible planar structure (10), including a number of parallel rigid beams (12) of substantially trapezoid cross-section rigidly attached in close formation. The structure (10) is rollable into a compact cylindrical package when the thin sheet faces the center of curvature and forms a curved structure when the beams face toward the center of the curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Yonathan Eshpar
  • Patent number: 6863112
    Abstract: An interior storm or insulating window, kit for making, and system for utilizing, which window is adjustable in length and width so as to fit different sized window frames, and includes rails around the perimeter with a groove for attaching a retainer strip, the rail further including an engaging cavity to joining to other components, corner brackets for joining rails, a flexible plastic film and a retainer for retaining the flexible plastic film within the groove and for retaining the window within a window frame by use of a flexible spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventors: Roger Ayers, Marguerite McCarthy-Ayers
  • Patent number: 6860312
    Abstract: A roll-up shade with cord capture has a headrail, a bottomrail, a panel of window covering material between the headrail and the bottomrail and a plurality of looped cords extending from the headrail down one side of the panel of window covering material, around the bottom edge, up an opposite side of the panel of window covering material and into the headrail such that movement of the looped cords into the headrail will cause the panel of window covering material to roll up and movement of the cords out of the headrail will cause the window covering material to unroll. A rod extends across one side of the panel of window covering material and captures the looped cords between the rod and the surface of the window covering material or in apertures through the rod or in apertures formed by clips or eyelets attached to the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Ren Judkins
  • Patent number: 6854503
    Abstract: The invention includes an unbalanced horizontal blind with a spring means to provide a lifting or retraction force for the slats of the blinds. A brake means prevents undesired movement of the slats that would otherwise result from the continuous retraction force of the spring means when the slats are set in a desired position. Controls for the release of the brake means and tilting are also provided in an embodiment of a blind of the invention. An embodiment of the invention permits the blind to be operated by a single wand that can be used to either raise the slats or tilt the slats. This eliminates the need for a loose cord or bead chain that would traditionally be used as the user interface for controlling the movement of the slats of the blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Rollease, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cross, Joseph W. Zakowski, Martin Balta, Amnouy Athitang, Raymond B. Churchill, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6854505
    Abstract: A retractable screen mechanism is disclosed for covering an opening. The retractable screen mechanism comprises two tracks mounted on opposing sides of the opening. A screen comprises a screen material mounted on a frame having two flexible opposing sides corresponding to and adapted to engage the two tracks. A spool mechanism extends between the flexible opposing sides and engages a third side of the frame. The screen winds up on the spool mechanism. The spool mechanism is biased to the wind up position. The spool mechanism has a speed reducer which comprises a resistance structure moving through a viscous fluid to reduce the speed of the biased screen when moving to the wind up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Clear View Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl L. Grubb, Dennis A. Grubb, Ronald H. Scott
  • Patent number: 6848492
    Abstract: An inexpensive, lightweight, reusable and detachable or removable insulation device for residential and commercial dwellings and similar heated structures. The device has an inner-portion insulating pad adapted to fit inside of a typical entrance or window unit framing. The device further has an outer-portion insulating pad adapted to overlap the window or entrance framing. The outer-portion insulating pad is provided fasteners so as to be secured to the building wall structure outside of the framing and surrounding the window or entrance framing by. During cold weather months, the present invention will greatly restrict warm air from escaping between small crevices in inept window systems by fitting firmly into window framing using a insulating material, thus creating a thermal barrier and improving the efficiency of the furnace by reducing the demand for electricity or fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Donald Lee Thomas
  • Patent number: 6845806
    Abstract: A weighting assembly for a roller shade fabric includes an elongated hem bar having opposite open ends and defining an internal cavity communicating with the open ends. A spline secured to an end of the fabric is slidingly received in a pocket defined within the cavity through one of the ends. The pocket includes an opening communicating with the rest of the cavity for passage of the fabric to an exterior through an elongated slot in the hem bar. After the fabric is wrapped on an exterior surface of the hem bar, a portion of the fabric is fed into the cavity through the slot to form a loop for slidingly receiving an elongated rod through one of the ends. The rod has a diameter that is greater than a width of the slot to prevent removal of the rod through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Scott Gottschall, Mark A. Walker, Joel Elwood Hibshman, David A. Kirby
  • Patent number: 6843300
    Abstract: A door system comprising, a plurality of sections pivotally joined to each other by a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly being pivotally supported on one of the sections and having a leg that extends from the one of the sections to an adjacent section to attach thereto, a stop assembly including a stop member extending forwardly from the leg toward a stop receiver carried on the one of the sections, whereby interaction of the stop member and the stop receiver ensure alignment of the sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Albert W. Mitchell, Thomas B. Bennett, III
  • Patent number: 6843302
    Abstract: An operator for a window or like shade serves to turn a shade roller to a new desired position as a result of a torque applied from a manually operable source, such as a chain operated wheel. The device includes a helical spring that is seated within a fixed bushing with its outer surface in contact with an inner cylindrical surface of the bushing. When torque is applied from the manually operable source, one overlapping end of the spring is moved away from its other end to reduce the spring diameter and hence release any frictional engagement of the spring with the bushing, thus allowing the torque to rotate the spring, which rotation is transmitted to the roller. However, when no such manually applied torque is present, the spring and the roller remain effectively locked in position. Any torque applied from the roller due to the weight of a partly lowered shade acts to tend to increase the spring diameter and thus to ensure a binding frictional engagement between the bushing and the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Frederik G. Nijs
  • Patent number: 6837296
    Abstract: A barrier assembly for protecting an edge of a loading platform includes: a gate reciprocating between a barrier position approximate an edge of a loading platform and an open position away from the edge of the loading platform, and a toe barrier mounted approximate the edge of the loading platform and operatively coupled to the primary gate to reciprocate between a barrier position and an open position. The toe barrier provides a vertical barrier along a floor of the loading platform approximate the edge of the loading platform in its barrier position, and is operative to reciprocate to its barrier position when the primary gate is in its barrier position and to reciprocate to its open position when the primary gate is in its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Midwest Industrial Door, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Kimener
  • Patent number: 6834702
    Abstract: The assembly includes a blind formed of a headrail, a bottom rail, slats, two ladder tapes, and shades detachably fastened to the ladder tapes to cover the gaps between the slats. Each shade has an elongated shade body and a support member inserted into a pocket at one side of the shade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Nien
  • Patent number: 6832667
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted system includes a platform that is attachable to a front and a rear of a vehicle. A main surface of the platform is located above the vehicle. One or more ramps are rotatably connected to the platform. Each of the ramps includes an extending portion located under a top surface of the ramp. A first hydraulic system is configured to incline the ramps relative to the main surface of the platform. A second hydraulic system is configured to extend the extending portions of the ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Patriot3
    Inventors: Steven Kahre, Charles Fuqua, Trevor Tuggle
  • Patent number: 6830128
    Abstract: A temporary ladder tree stand anchor for ladder stand with a ladder portion and a platform with a frame, seat and foot support. The temporary anchor includes a cord with two ends and an intermediate section for wrapping about the tree. The cord anchor is on one side of the platform to secure one end of the cord thereto. A cord catch is on the other side of the platform for slidably capturing the intermediate cord section to permit drawing of the other cord end to pull and temporary anchor the ladder tree stand to the tree while the hunter is one the ground thereby permitting climbing up and down the tree stand safely when the tree stand is not securely anchored to the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: John R. Burgeson
  • Patent number: 6827181
    Abstract: A collapsible and adjustable scaffold unit includes a base frame structure and an upper frame structure. Leg members on the base frame structure are independently adjustable in length and include pivoting feet to compensate for grade change and uneven terrain. The upper frame structure includes a vertical post which removably attaches to the base frame structure to accommodate adjustably positionable brace arms. The brace arms support planks spanning between two or more of the scaffold units to provide an uninterrupted walkway and a continuous workbench above the walkway. Adjusted movement of the brace arms along the vertical post, throughout a range of locked positions, allows the height of the walkway and workbench to be selectively varied according to the needs of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventors: Jack S. Austin, Paul N. Remillard
  • Patent number: 6823926
    Abstract: A cord lock for a venetian type blind or pleated shade has a flange extending from each of the front wall and the rear wall of the cord lock housing. The cord lock fits into a pocket in the headrail. A tab on the upper edge of the pocket is received by a slot in one of the flanges. The cord lock fits into the pocket in only one orientation and can be easily removed from one pocket and placed in the other pocket by an installer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: ITA, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Tyner
  • Patent number: 6823966
    Abstract: A descender apparatus for lowering a person in a controlled manner from a height to a relatively lower height and for use as a safety equipment for workers and mountain climbers comprising a generally cylindrical housing; a rope arranged in the housing about a vertical axis of the housing in a stack of layers of closely wound coils and a friction core at one end of the housing for controlling a rate of descent and uncoiling the coils of rope as they are withdrawn from the housing; and a camshaft in transverse relationship to the axis of the housing for selectively controlling the rate of descent during the lowering of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: American Escape Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Henson
  • Patent number: 6823927
    Abstract: This invention discloses a pocket door. The pocket door is capable of pivoting on hinges between a fame that holds the pocket door and allows it to slide in and out of a pocket to open and close a passageway. More specifically, the pocket door is hinged to the moving frame and also includes a two-part panel, where each panel is separated from an adjacent panel by a hinge that is capable of allowing the panels to move between flush engagement wherein the two panel lie in the same plane and a position where the panels are no longer lying in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventors: Charles F. Steel, Chris Steel
  • Patent number: 6823924
    Abstract: An improved flyscreen to be slidingly deployed across an opening of window or door, the window or door having a static glazing pane or panel and an opening pane or panel, the flyscreen comprising a frame dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of the window or door opening to be covered by the flyscreen and having a mesh screen therein extending thereacross, the frame having a brush or filamentous pad strip extending substantially the full height of an upright of the frame and which when the screen is slidingly mounted adjacent to a window or door to be slidingly moved back and forth across the opening of the window or door, is substantially able to brush over the surface of the static pane or panel of the window or door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Conrad Peter Martin
  • Patent number: 6820675
    Abstract: A sash system comprises a pair of sash doors including an inner sash door and an outer sash door; an upper sash frame and a lower sash frame; and an inner guide rail built in the upper frame and an outer guide rail built in the lower frame, the door front frame and the door end frame corresponding to each sash door being engaged with the inner guide rail and with the outer guide rail, respectively. Each of the sash doors includes a vertical door front frame, a vertical door end frame, and a pair of horizontal divider panels joined by an intermediate locking frame and connecting the door front frame and the end frame. The intermediate interlocking frame being foldable with respect to a vertical shaft thereof, and is engaged so as to be detachable from each guide rail or from an interlocking frame guide rail in parallel to each guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Kazumaro Nakatani