Patents Examined by Catherine A Kelly
  • Patent number: 10450786
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one vehicle door or vehicle flap which forms a first body, a vehicle bodyshell which forms a second body, and an impact damper arrangement. The impact damper arrangement is configured such that, when the vehicle door or vehicle flap moves toward the vehicle bodyshell, a first movement section is passed through first, and then a second movement section is passed through. The first movement section is arranged such that movement along the first movement section comes to an end when a lock and closing element come into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Koestler, Anton Kieferl, Marcus Knechtel, Markus Springsklee, Walter Widl
  • Patent number: 10443302
    Abstract: A window shade includes a reel and an aperture control module respectively assembled with a head frame, and a panel assembly including transversal vanes respectively connected with two panels. The reel is rotatable to wind and unwind the panel assembly. The aperture control module includes a positioning arm connected with a rubbing roller, and is operable to rotate the rubbing roller relative to the positioning arm and to displace the positioning arm and the rubbing roller between two positions, the rubbing roller being displaced away from a sidewall of the head frame in a first position and pressing the panel assembly against the sidewall in a second position, the rubbing roller being further rotatable relative to the positioning arm in the second position to cause relative sliding between the two panels for switching the panel assembly from a closed state blocking light passage to an open state allowing light passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TEH YOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-Tien Huang, Chien-Lan Huang
  • Patent number: 10443290
    Abstract: A door opening and closing device includes: a door opening and closing drive unit capable of opening and closing a door with respect to a vehicle body; a detection unit configured to detect a plurality of detection objects around the door; a memory part configured to store a detection result of the plurality of detection objects which are detected by the detection unit; and a control unit configured to perform an open/close control of the door by way of the door opening and closing drive unit. The control unit performs an open/close control of the door based on a detection result of the detection unit and a plurality of stored information stored in the memory part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: U-SHIN LTD.
    Inventor: Tetuo Tokudome
  • Patent number: 10435909
    Abstract: Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A panel drain automatically closes when the panel is raised to home position. A releasable latching system between panel and a suspension member holder catches rising panels to hold them in home position. The suspension member may include end keys received in keyed supports so a specific panel faces a specific sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Floodbreak, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Louis A. Waters, Jr., Nick Adam Eastman
  • Patent number: 10435906
    Abstract: Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the underground ventilation duct includes one or more hinged panels closing a ventilation passage between the top and bottom of a support fitting in the shaft to prevent flooding. The panels have handles on their topside and pivotable arms on their underside and are liftable to an upright home position allowing ventilation, using tools to reach through grating covering openings on the shaft and lift the panel handles and after the panels are partially lifted, using reach tools to engage and lift the arms to press them again support sidewalls to exert lateral force on underside of the panels to complete upward rotation to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Floodbreak, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Louis A. Waters, Jr., Nick Adam Eastman
  • Patent number: 10434845
    Abstract: An opening formed in a window glass pane is smoothly opened and closed by a slide panel slidingly driven along a panel surface of the window glass pane and along a direction orthogonal to the panel surface. The guide rail (4) is provided with a pin guide groove (27) including a groove main portion (27a) and a groove extension portion (27b). A slider (20) is provided with a pin drive groove (30) extending in a direction crossing the panel surface. The slide panel is provided with at least one pin (16) projecting into the pin drive groove and the pin guide groove so that the slide panel is positioned in a closed position when the pin is positioned in the groove extension portion, and in an open position when the pin is positioned in the groove main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Murasawa, Tatsuaki Uehara
  • Patent number: 10435908
    Abstract: Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A releasable latching system between panel and a suspension member holder catches rising panels to hold them in home position ready for release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Floodbreak, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Louis A. Waters, Jr., Nick Adam Eastman
  • Patent number: 10435910
    Abstract: Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the underground ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls unobstructively horizontally spanning the passage proximate the top opening and holding one or more hinge connected panels in the passage that manually release to rotationally close the passage and prevent flooding and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. The suspension member is liftingly removable from the support and may include end keys received in keyed supports to allow the suspension member to fit in the supports so a specific panel closes to a specific sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Floodbreak, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Louis A. Waters, Jr., Nick Adam Eastman
  • Patent number: 10435907
    Abstract: Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A panel drain automatically closes when the panel is raised to home position so it is already closed when the panel is released to rotationally close the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Floodbreak, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Louis A. Waters, Jr., Nick Adam Eastman
  • Patent number: 10427510
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle door including a door body portion, a door frame portion and a door window that is retractable from the door frame portion and extendable into the door frame portion. The door frame portion includes an upper portion including a glass run channel that receives an upper edge of the door window with the door window in a closed configuration. A glass run sealing member is located in the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes an exterior side including an interior face that faces toward the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes a hinged sealing projection structure including an inboard sealing member that extends from the interior face into the glass run channel and an inboard sealing sub-member connected to the inboard sealing member. The inboard sealing sub-member rotates into contact with an exterior side of the door window as the inboard sealing member moves with an upper edge of the door window as the door window enters the glass run channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Blaine C. Benson
  • Patent number: 10413106
    Abstract: A garage door includes a package delivery door. The package delivery door is located at an opening through a panel of the garage door. The package delivery door comprises a frame which defines a package delivery opening and a delivery door which is movable between a first position in which it closes the package delivery opening and a second position in which it does not. In the second position, the door may serve as a ramp for sliding package into the garage space behind the garage door. A stop limits rotation of the delivery door to the second position. The package door may be lockable and include a bar code scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventors: Philip Valeriano, Daniel Hennigan
  • Patent number: 10415266
    Abstract: A door with adjustable lock connection hardware is provided. The lock connection hardware is movable to allow desired positioning of lock hardware without the need for drilling extra holes or other laborious action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SPECIAL-LITE, INC.
    Inventors: Markam R. Alexander, Leo R. Flory, Andrew J. Seiser
  • Patent number: 10392841
    Abstract: A door security apparatus includes: a base defining a first anchor point and at least one second anchor point; a storage element carried by the base; and a flexible connector carried by the storage element and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the first anchor point, the flexible connector being moveable between a first stored position within the storage element, and a second extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: LOCKDOWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Kopp, Sr., Daniel Pompei Cedrone
  • Patent number: 10392852
    Abstract: A door opening and closing operating system includes a pressurized fluid source (102), two fluid control push pull valves (144a), (144b), and a double acting cylinder (160) which is mounted to the movable element of a door (66) mounted within its adjacent frame (62) for the purpose of opening and closing the door. This system utilizes two push pull valves connected fluid-wise to opposite sides of the piston. Activating or energizing one push pull valve while deactivating the second push pull valve connects the first cylinder chamber to the pressurized fluid source, and vents the second chamber, thereby pushing the piston in a first direction, which pushes the door in a first direction. Energizing the second push pull valve and de-energizing the first push pull valve has the opposite effect, and moves the piston and attached door in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Louis T. Mastrippolito
  • Patent number: 10385601
    Abstract: A power boost assembly is disclosed that can be used with a door actuator, such as a door closer. The power boost assembly is structured to store an energy during a first movement of a door and release the stored energy during a second movement of the door. In one form the power boost assembly can be structured as a module that can be added to an existing door and door closer installation. In one form the power boost assembly is used to increase a closing force imparted to a door to ensure a latching event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. McKibben, Brian C. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 10385606
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an auto-close door for closing an area (3) at least partially defined by a frame, said auto-close door comprising: A) A motorized driving mechanism (10) suitable for moving a leading edge (1L) of a shutter (1) in a first direction (?) to close said area defined within said frame and in a second direction (?) to open said area; B) Wave detection cells (5) suitable for detecting the presence of an obstacle within the area defined by the frame; and/or C) In addition or alternatively, an impact detector (6) suitable for detecting an impacting event with a leading edge of the shutter, D) A processing unit (CPU) programmed to carry out the following operations: a) Upon opening the area a first time by moving the leading edge of the shutter in said second direction (?), maintain the area open for an opening time (t1), after which b) close the shutter, c) Record whether an obstacle and/or an impacting event is detected by the wave detector or the impact detector, upon closing the shutte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ENTREMATIC BELGIUM NV
    Inventors: Frederic Bostyn, Charles Fauquette, Bruno Viseur
  • Patent number: 10378263
    Abstract: A power swing door actuator for moving a passenger swing door relative to a body portion of a motor vehicle. The power swing door actuator includes a housing rigidly fixed to the swing door, a motor mounted to the housing, a connector link having a first end pivotably coupled to the vehicle body portion and a second end pivotably coupled to a drive nut of a spindle drive mechanism. A leadscrew of the spindle drive mechanism is rotatably driven by the motor for causing relative translational movement between the drive nut and the leadscrew which, in turn, results in pivoting movement of the connector link while the vehicle door swings between open and closed positions in response to selective actuation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Vadym Podkopayev
  • Patent number: 10352089
    Abstract: A jack screw-type fastener with a head defining an interior aperture with a Phillips pattern in the top and in communication with a central channel sized and shaped to receive a fastener therethrough for structurally reinforcing the window jamb of a window frame. The jamb adjuster includes a series of oversized and narrowly oriented threads relative to commercially available threaded fasteners (about 50% larger than average), frictionally engaging a greater ratio of the window frame wall depth than conventional. In use, the jamb adjuster is a self-tapping screw member that renders unnecessary a receiver, reducing component cost and structural degradation, and instead displacing a portion of the window frame material, for example vinyl, during insertion, causing a more structurally secure attachment to the window frame. The jamb adjuster also provides a more robust attachment mechanism for vital weather stripping than other fasteners or adhesive as known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Barry G. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 10350976
    Abstract: Guide rails with which a window regulator is provided are respectively fixed to a module plate. The guide rails are fixed, together with the module plate, to an edge of an opening portion provided at inward frames from an outward side in a vehicle width direction. Attachment portions which are capable of afterward attaching outward frames to the inward frames are provided, and attachment portions which are capable of afterward attaching a door outer panel to a door frame comprising the inward frames and the outward frames are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Moriyama
  • Patent number: 10343506
    Abstract: In a vehicle side portion structure, a vehicle body-side wall surface, which is a wall surface at a side of an aperture lower edge portion of a door lower space, is formed so as to include a first upper surface, a first corner surface, and a first vertical surface that extends substantially downwards from the first corner surface. The door lower space is formed so as to include a corner upper space, which is a space located at a vehicle upper side of the first corner surface, and a first space, which is a space between a door weather strip and the corner upper space. A width in a vehicle up-down direction of the corner upper space is less than a width in the vehicle transverse direction of the first space, and is also less than a width in the vehicle up-down direction of the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichiro Tamao, Masaaki Wakahara, Masayuki Okano, Masashi Komada, Koki Ikeda