Patents Examined by Chuck Mah
  • Patent number: 9896872
    Abstract: A tool for enabling opening and closing a screen door of a recreation vehicle system includes a strap member assembly having a first end including a first flat-hooked member; a deformable strap having a proximate end, and a distal end; and a second end having a second flat-hooked member. The tool for enabling opening and closing a screen door of a recreation vehicle system includes the strap member assembly. When used the strap member assembly does not impede normal movement of screens of the recreation vehicle while simultaneously enabling manipulation of the screen door between an open position to allow ingress and a closed position to prevent bugs and debris from entering into the recreation vehicle, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Dusty Requa
  • Patent number: 9897369
    Abstract: A handle assembly for mounting to a door of a refrigerator includes a main body member having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes a cavity adapted to receive an end insert formed of soft material. Each of the end inserts includes an attachment member. The handle is mounted to a front face of the door through interengagment of the attachment members and base members provided on the door without scratching the surface of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Forrest F. Wing
  • Patent number: 9890574
    Abstract: A device for influencing the movement of a first furniture part relative to a second furniture part of a piece of furniture, having a damper for damping the relative movement between the first and the second furniture parts. The damper is made up of a single damping component that includes a container with a housing in which is accommodated a damping fluid which is enclosed by the housing, wherein a portion of the housing is formed from an elastically deformable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Boris Kruedener
  • Patent number: 9884513
    Abstract: A universal rotating module is provided. The universal rotating module comprises a main body including a first portion and two second portions; a main shaft passing through the through groove to pivotally connected to the main body; two bearings sleeved on and pivotally connected to the second portions along the second direction, respectively; two rollers pivotally connected to the second portions along a third direction, respectively; two hemispherical casings fixed to the two bearings, respectively. The first portion includes a through groove extending along a first direction, and the two second portions protrude from opposite sides of the first portion along a second direction, respectively. Each of the hemispherical casing includes a through hole at the top, and a portion of each of the rollers is exposed out of the corresponding through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Yu, Chang-Ru Hsieh, Chang-Hung Chen, Chih-Hung Chuang
  • Patent number: 9883745
    Abstract: A structural arrangement is provided in the form of a bracket for fastening a profile handle, wherein the bracket is constructed and arranged to be fastened by a fastening screw on a top edge of a front wall of a door or a drawer and contains a passing hole able to receive the fastening screw and a pair of side recesses. The pair of side recesses configures a rail for fitting and sliding a pair of tines existing in an inner region of a base of the profile handle, and the bracket includes other features such as having three of four edges of the bracket comprises removable tabs, a rectangular shape, and a configuration wherein the passing hole is positioned in an internal end of the bracket, the internal end being opposite to the edge of the bracket has one of the removable tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: CERMAG COMERCIAL IMPORTADORE E EXPORTADORA LTDA.
    Inventor: José Luis Gonzales
  • Patent number: 9879459
    Abstract: In a combined acceleration and deceleration device with a carrier housing and a carrier element which is movable along at least one guide track of the carrier housing between a force and/or form-locking park position and an end position under the control of an acceleration arrangement and a deceleration arrangement including a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit with a spring return structure. The cylinder-piston unit carries a guide member which is guided by the guide track and has a curved stop surface and the carrier element has a curved push surface with the push surface area and the stop surface area having different radii of curvature so that they contact each other maximally along a contact line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Guenther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9872547
    Abstract: A telescoping handle assembly, a mobile device, and a method of assembling a telescoping handle assembly for a mobile device. The handle assembly may include a first handle section, and a second handle section telescopingly arranged relative to the first handle section. The handle assembly may further include a latch assembly fixed to one of the first handle section and the second handle section and selectively engageable with the other of the first handle section and the second handle section. The latch assembly may include a latch body positioned between the first handle section and the second handle section and a shock-absorbing mount positioned between the latch body and the one of the first handle section and the second handle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthew W. Naiva
  • Patent number: 9874049
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-closing, soft-close compact hinge comprising of a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge body via a hinge arm. A coil spring wrapped around the hinge cup provides the self-closing functionality and biases the hinge to a closed position. A damper is contained within the hinge cup in the path of the swinging hinge arm and guided by a damper cover fixedly attached to the hinge cup. The hinge body is comprised of three separate plates adjustably connected to each other with cam screws. The position of the hinge body with respect to the hinge arm is adjustable in three directions without the need for removal or loosening of mounting hardware used to attach the hinge body to a furniture piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis McGregor, Travis McElveen
  • Patent number: 9869488
    Abstract: A hinged hold-open assembly for roof ventilator lids is provided, comprising a pair of hinged assemblies attached between the lid and a vent base, wherein each hinged assembly includes a hinge member; a retainer bracket affixed to the vent base, wherein the retainer bracket includes an extended member having a plurality of position holes corresponding to a closed position and a plurality of open positions; a position arm affixed to the lid, wherein the position arm includes a locking hole alignable with one of the position holes of the retainer bracket; and a locking device adapted to insert into both the locking hole and the position hole when said holes are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Driploc, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Glenn, Barry Wagner
  • Patent number: 9869114
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for an electronic device includes a joint assembly including joint components hinged one by one. Each joint component includes a first plate, a second plate, and a link component disposed between the first and second plates. Each of the first and second plates has two first slots diametrically extending in a first direction. The first plate has a second slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The second plate has a third slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a third direction mirror-symmetrical to the second direction with respect to the first direction. The link component has an engaging hole and a guide portion. The engaging hole is corresponding to one of the first slots of each of the first and second plates, and the guide portion is formed on a surface of the link component and movable within the second or third slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SHIN ZU SHING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Yu Hung, Jui Lin Chu
  • Patent number: 9856909
    Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a mounting seat and a linkage unit in the mounting seat. A connection member is connected between first and second movable portions of the linkage unit by a linkage spindle. The linkage unit is able to rotate by a resilient unit to a spring-out state from a folded state. When the linkage unit reaches the spring-out state, further rotation of the linkage unit is stopped by a limiting unit. A torque spindle provides torsional resistance only when the linkage unit is rotated further from the spring-out state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: First Dome Corporation
    Inventors: An-Szu Hsu, Hsu-Hong Yao
  • Patent number: 9856693
    Abstract: A corner fitting for a door element, in particular for a glass door element, includes a first fitting element and a second fitting element, which each include, at least sectionwise, a locating portion. The locating portion includes an intermediate layer able to contact the door element. The fitting elements delimit the restraining area, wherein a holding element is in operative connection with a connecting element, which serves for supporting the door element on a center of rotation and/or an axis. At least one variably adjustable distancing element is disposed between the fitting elements outside the locating portions, wherein the distancing element forms a counter-bearing to the locating portions and the door element, which can be restrained in the restraining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DORMAKABA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Herth, Jorg Sunderbrink, Kenan Aykas
  • Patent number: 9856685
    Abstract: An addition to reduce noise made by a garage door hinge by incorporating two Delrin or hard plastic injection molded washers placed between the two halves of the hinges and slide it over the hinge barrel. This provides a friction reducing pivot point and holds in lubricant. An additional improvement is to hold the barrel in place and reduce the problem of the barrel moving side to side. The improvement will stop or at least significantly reduce the extra noise of the garage door hinge as the garage door moves and provide smoother operation of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Robert A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 9845036
    Abstract: A retention grommet has a bottom grommet and a top grommet. A floor cover retention flange extends radially outwardly from an outer sidewall of the bottom grommet. The outer sidewall extends upwardly from the retention flange to a hinge plane of the bottom grommet. Plural fingers are disposed around the bottom grommet axis so as to be angularly spaced from each other and an inner surface of the outer sidewall. An upper end of each finger is joined to the outer sidewall at the hinge plane. Near a free, downwardly displaced end of each finger, a retention bead is formed to have an upwardly and radially outwardly inclined surface. This surface is capable of engaging with any of several types of vehicle floor cover retention posts. The top grommet fastens to the bottom grommet to secure the vehicle floor cover in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MacNeil IP LLC
    Inventors: Frederick W. Masanek, Jr., Allan R. Thom, Judd C. Kaufman, David S. Iverson
  • Patent number: 9840862
    Abstract: A hinge for rotatably coupling an appliance door with an appliance body includes an input arm affixable with the body and a housing affixable within the door and coupled with the input arm so as to be rotatable through a range of motion between a closed position and an open position. The hinge further includes a spring engaged between the housing and the input arm and deformable to apply a balancing torque to the housing relative to the input arm and a first magnet coupled with one of the housing and the input arm and magnetically applying a closing torque between the housing relative and the input arm when the housing is within a predetermined range of the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Sachin Jaganath Kadus, Arunkumar Ramakrishnan Pillai
  • Patent number: 9840864
    Abstract: A damping device is applicable to a hinge. The damping device includes a damper and a blocking member. The damper includes a first movable member and a second movable member movable relative to each other. The first movable member has a first abutting part and a second abutting part. The first abutting part and the second abutting part are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member. The blocking member is movable relative to the damper and configured to abut against one of the first abutting part and the second abutting part of the first movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD., KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Hsiu-Chiang Liang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9840861
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism is described wherein a multi-part device (e.g., dual-display device) can move to a snap-open position. In the snap-open position, the parts lock into place when they approach 180 degrees of rotation relative to one another. The locking force in the open position is sufficient that holding or using the multi-part device does not cause an accidental closing action. An unlocking force is required to unlock the device from the open position. Additionally, the locking force drops off precipitously when the two parts are unlocked and rotating away from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Esa-Sakari Määttä
  • Patent number: 9834965
    Abstract: A multi-link hinge assembly includes first and second link levers, first and second sliding rods, first and second bases, a central shaft, and first and second torque shafts. The first link lever is connected to the second base by the second torque shaft and is slidable along with the first sliding rod within the first base. The second link lever is connected to the first base by the first torque shaft and is slidable along with the second sliding rod within the second base. The central shaft extends through the first and second link levers. When the second base is rotated relative to the first torque shaft, the first and second sliding rods move toward the central shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: First Dome Corporation
    Inventors: Hsu-Hong Yao, Kuei-Shen Chen
  • Patent number: 9828795
    Abstract: A hinge structure may comprise a first assembly including a central post with an outer surface and a first connector element on the central post for mounting on a first structure, a second assembly pivotally coupled to the first assembly and including a ring extending about the central post, a ring connector connected to the ring, and a second connector element on the ring for mounting on a second structure. A braking element may apply a selectable amount of resistance to pivot movement of the second connector element with respect to the first connector element and including a friction pad extending about a portion of the central post, a pressure band for pressing the friction pad against the central post, and a connecting structure connecting the ends of the band and being adjustable to move the ends closer toward each other and to relax the ends away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Wayne W. Ramsdell
  • Patent number: 9827893
    Abstract: A hand pole and socket arrangement (1) for use in a passenger service vehicle includes a hand pole (3) having a first end (2) and a first socket (4) for fitting to a passenger vehicle and for receiving the first end of the hand pole. The first end (2) of the hand pole and the first socket (4) are formed and arranged to prevent rotation of the hand pole relative to the socket when they are fitted together. A passenger service vehicle including the hand pole and socket arrangement (1) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alexander Dennis Limited
    Inventors: David Stott, Jeremy Turner, John Trumper