Patents Examined by Carl D. Friedman
  • Patent number: 7000360
    Abstract: A self-adhering walkway pad (20) comprises an elastomeric pad having upper and lower surfaces (21, 22) and a 100 percent solids tape (25) pre-applied to the lower surface of the pad, prior to use in the field. A method for applying walkway pads to roofing membranes comprises, affixing a 100 percent solids tape to one flat surface of a walkway pad, prior to use in the field, the opposite side of the tape carrying a protective layer of release paper; stripping the release paper from the tape immediately prior to use; subsequently placing the exposed surface of the tape directly onto the upper surface of the roofing membrane and, applying force directly to the walkway pad to enhance the bond between the pad and the membrane, created by the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: BFS Diversified Products, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Russell, Joseph J. Kalwara
  • Patent number: 6996940
    Abstract: A movable wall module is provided for installation into an opening formed in a building wall structure, such as a room divider wall in a commercial or residential building. The wall module comprises a frame sized and shaped for substantially nested placement into the wall opening, and to support different functional and/or aesthetic components on opposite sides thereof. The wall module is adapted for manual or power-driven displacement to selectively orient and changeably these components relative to the rooms. In one preferred form, the movable wall module may support audio and/or video components on one side and a work surface such as a desk on the opposite side. In another form, the wall module is a partial-height wall such as a kitchen countertop segment or island, and is rotatably movable to selectively and changeably position the partial-height wall relative to adjacent indoor and/or outdoor spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Rex W. Beasley
  • Patent number: 6996939
    Abstract: A room partition system for a room having a central connecting panel and hingeably attached, foldable lateral storage units. Each of the lateral storage units has a bottom-mounted wheel assembly, thereby allowing the partition system to be rolled to various locations within the room. The lateral storage units have a plurality of shelves and provide substantial storage volume for containment of various items of clothing and other accessories. The lateral storage units are attached by hinges to the central connecting panel, thereby allowing a user to fold the storage units partially or fully against the connecting panel. The partition system has an open position, wherein the storage units extend parallel to the connecting panel, and also a folded position, wherein each lateral storage unit is rotated upon its hinges to a position perpendicular to that of the connecting panel, thereby forming a partially enclosed area for use as an entertainment center, a study center, or a work center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Herbert Jackson
  • Patent number: 6996938
    Abstract: Snow stop includes a base member, and a snow-restraining member. The snow stop can have a series of holes for ventilation of adhesive as well as for forming “glue-rivets” with cured adhesive, and can have slots (grooves) to the holes or boundary of the snow stop to assist in ventilating adhesive solvent. The holes and grooves also can provide for increased physical bonding with the adhesive and hence, roof. The base may be round with the snow-restrainer included in intersecting upstanding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Michael J. Mullane
  • Patent number: 6997332
    Abstract: A four piece firewood rack has left-hand and right-band end sections, each section including a horizontal cross-beam welded between lower portions of a vertical beam to be positioned at the front of the rack and lower portions of a second left-hand beam at the rear of the rack, a third horizontal cross-beam, having sleeves members welded to terminal portions of the third cross-beam, are passed over the vertical beams at the front of the rack until they rest upon the cross-beams of each end section without the need for fasteners, and a fourth horizontal cross-beam, having sleeve members welded to terminal portions of the fourth cross-beam, are passed over the vertical beams at the rear of the rack until they rest upon the cross-beams of each end section without the need for fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Alexander Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Don M. Alexander, Michael D. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6993875
    Abstract: The invention concerns a building element[which is a stud (10) having a number of channels (12). Each channel can receive a cooperating means (14) which can be used to mount a panel or bracket on the stud. The invention also concerns a building element which is a joining clip (16) which can be connected to a panel or bracket. The joining clip includes the cooperating means (14) for mounting a panel or bracket on the stud. The invention also concerns a building element which is a joining element (42) which can connect one panel to another. The joining element is hinged (46). The invention also discloses two types of bracket for mounting in the stud. The first type has a screw-threaded shaft (71) and a sleeve (72) with cooperating means (73) at one end of the sleeve. The cooperating means is shaped so that it can be inserted horizontally in a channel of the stud and rotated so that the cooperating means cannot be withdrawn horizontally from the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Telezygology Inc.
    Inventor: Dickory Rudduck
  • Patent number: 6993870
    Abstract: A guard and associated method for rain gutters includes a cap or deflector extending over a gutter of the type having a trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip with a channel and an end flange. A mounting bracket has a rear portion abutting the rear wall of the gutter, an upper portion supporting the deflector, and a front portion with a hook-shaped nose. The mounting bracket nose is configured for insertion under the end flange of the gutter, such that the mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about the nose toward the rear wall of the gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the gutter interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Quality Edge, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McDonald, Tony A. Cobb
  • Patent number: 6990780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting structure which is arranged at two abutting structural panels (1, 2) so that said structural panels are connected with each other, comprising two pairs of clamping plates, with one of said pairs of clamping plates being fixed to one structural panel (1), and the other pair of clamping plates being fixed to the other structural panel (2). The two pairs of clamping plates abut against each other with one of their clamping plates (3, 4), and the two abutting clamping plates (3, 4) are provided with mutually aligned, undercut longitudinal slots (5) which receive a connecting plate (6) connecting the abutting two clamping plates (3, 4) with each other and being fixed to the two clamping plates (3, 4) by means of fasteners (7) which extend through said connecting plate (6). Thus, a mounting structure is provided whose manufacture is relatively easy and cost-efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Casma S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mirko Marinoni
  • Patent number: 6990782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assembling structural members of thin and lightweight shaped steel, the thin and lightweight shaped-steel members to be assembled having at least one joint hole or concave/convex portion at an appropriate position of a flange or web of the thin and lightweight shaped steel member, and temporarily joining portions of the thin and lightweight shaped steel members to each other for easy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shimizu, Yoshimichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6990778
    Abstract: A brick veneer assembly having improved accommodation of brick tolerances, simple assembly, and lower cost relative to the prior art. A plurality of bricks having a tapered locating surface are provided. A support panel includes horizontal rows of L-shaped retainers and corresponding rows of holes. Each L-shaped retainer further includes a leg portion extending away from the support panel, and a foot portion that depends downwardly away from the leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: James K. Passeno
  • Patent number: 6990773
    Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible light conduit having two ends, one end mounted to an outdoor support such as a roof and at it's other end to a ceiling or other support inside a structure such as a house, garage, shed or other structure, said light conduit being of any shape in cross section, preferably square or rectangular and lined with any material or combination of materials for insulation, ornamentation and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Borges
  • Patent number: 6988341
    Abstract: A vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block for use in wall construction includes a single aperture disposed along the lower edge of the plastic block for alleviating pressure within the plastic block and for discharging any condensation within the plastic block that may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventor: Samuel R. Regina
  • Patent number: 6988339
    Abstract: A media window system includes a window unit having a window frame defining a frame perimeter and a glass unit located within the frame perimeter. The window unit includes a display area adapted to receive a display image. A display image source is configured to project an image onto the display surface. The window unit also includes a speaker element disposed on the window. The display are of the window unit is capable of transforming from a first transparent state to a second increased opacity state for receiving the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Pylkki, James B. Libby, Kurt E. Heikkila
  • Patent number: 6988337
    Abstract: The top arch overfilled system defined in application Ser. No. 10/102,921 is formed of precast arch elements which are formed and shipped in a use orientation. The precast arch elements can include arch footings and the system can include a plurality of precast arch elements which can be tied together. The arch elements can also be prestressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: BEBOTech Corporation
    Inventor: Werner Heierli
  • Patent number: 6988338
    Abstract: A lid includes a frame, a window which is transmissive to radiation and has a peripheral edge sealingly coupled to the frame, and thermal insulating structure which thermally insulates the peripheral edge of the window. In one embodiment, the thermal insulating structure includes a ring which is made of a thermal insulating material, and extends around the window. In a different embodiment, the thermal insulating structure includes an annular gap between the window and frame, the gap extending around the window. The lid may be part of a housing with a sealed chamber therein, where the window facilitates travel of radiation between the chamber and a location external to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Shea Chen, Cary C. Kyhl, Donald C. Price, Terry V. Baughn
  • Patent number: 6986556
    Abstract: A multi-media workstation having a master rail system for permitting horizontal adjustment of the various components of the workstation. The workstation generally includes a console having a work surface and a master rail system for supporting various audiovisual equipment. The master rail system includes a rail extrusion connecting at least two frames and having a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of its surfaces. The various components of the workstation each include a finger engaged in the longitudinal slot of the rail extrusion, wherein the component is able to be horizontally translated along a length of the rail extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Forecast Consoles, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Haberman
  • Patent number: 6986227
    Abstract: A stackable riser having a single side wall having a first open end defined by an edge and a second open channel end. A plurality of risers can be stacked on top of one another. The channel end of a riser mates with the first open end of a second riser. The riser includes a plurality of bosses and ribs connected to an interior surface of the sidewall to the edge of the first open end. A channel, on the channel end of one riser is adapted to receive the bosses and ribs of an adjacent riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Norman W. Gavin
  • Patent number: 6981347
    Abstract: A modular emergency shelter system includes a sleeping and storage module having a rectangular box-like structure with curved interior sidewalls defining a sleeping area, and exterior sidewalls extending to an opposing end defining a separate storage area. The box-like structure is preferably fabricated of molded plastic filled with fire resistant and sound dampening foam, and is watertight to keep out the rain and facilitate hosing out after use. Preferably the module includes electronic locking doors operable from inside or outside the module. The module is specially configured for securing together a number of similar structures including additional shelter modules stacked one atop another, or vertically-oriented modular utility units such as toilets, showers and a dressing rooms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Randy Walburger
  • Patent number: 6981351
    Abstract: A fire rated door with a surrounding door frame, consisting of a glass pane, which is embedded between its circumferential metal frame, said fire rated door consists of at least one door leaf realized from two glass panes spaced apart by means of profiles, whereby the glass panes extend almost as far as to the border of the door leaf and a transparent fire protection material is included between the spaced glass panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Degelsegger
  • Patent number: 6978582
    Abstract: A one piece beam means used a post to support a longitudinal impact-resistant member, such as a guardrail along a highway. The one piece, stamped construction simplifies installation because fewer steps and parts are involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Gwynn Alan Bernard