Patents Examined by Curtis A. Cohen
  • Patent number: 5924243
    Abstract: A sash balance brake and pivot pin assembly for a sash window that maintains the window substantially square prior to installation. The pivot pin extends outwardly from the window sash. The sash balance brake is disposed within a track in the window frame and includes a rotor rotatably disposed within an expandable housing. The pivot pin has a collar for lateral engagement with the rotor to prevent the window frame from bowing away from the window sash, thereby maintaining the window frame substantially square. The rotor has a first slot and a transversely disposed second slot defining an inner surface. The inner surface includes an angled surface to resist breakage of the rotor when the window sash in installed into the window frame. The rotor also has a pair of flats at a first end to further resist breakage of the rotor when the pivot pin is positioned at an angle with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Ashland Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Polowinczak, Mark V. Murphy, James G. Prete
  • Patent number: 5924244
    Abstract: A window including a window frame and a casement, the latter being mounted in the frame with the aid of a link-arm mechanism. The casement is pivotable from a closed position within the frame, through 180.degree. to a closed, fully reversed position in the frame. From the latter position, it is pivotable further in the same direction or reversely in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Hans Ohman
  • Patent number: 5921027
    Abstract: A gate for livestock having an adjustable height. The gate has one or more hinges which allow an operator to raise or lower the gate to a number of positions. The hinges are securely attached to a rigidly mounted structure and slidably support the gate. Each hinge has a spring-loaded handle which engages one of a number of holes in the gate. The spring-loaded handle can be preset in one of two positions where a first position allows the gate to be raised but not lowered and the second position allows the gate to be lowered but not raised. Once the gate is raised or lowered to the desired position, the handle is set to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventor: Lyle M. Siebenahler
  • Patent number: 5921308
    Abstract: A barricade apparatus for providing a barrier across the gap between door sections of a sectional door. The barricade is fabricated from a strip of resilient sheet material formed into a generally L-shaped configuration along its length. The horizontal foot portion of the L-shaped configuration is secured to the upper edge of a lower door section to thereby support the vertical leg portion across the gap that opens and closes as the adjacent door sections are moved across the curved portion of the support track of the sectional door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Martin Door Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David O. Martin
  • Patent number: 5916077
    Abstract: A composite fire-proof, heat-barrier door which includes a casing trim and a fire proof door. The door panel of the fire proof door are made from a stainless plate. The inner walls of the door panels are provided with a rigid heat barrier fire proof plate. The central portion of the fire proof door is provided with a heat preserving material. The peripheral edges of the fire proof door is provided with fire proof heat barrier clearance. When a fire accident occurs, the smokes and fire can be effectively prevented from coming in by the novel composite fire proof heat barrier door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Chuan Mau Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Chaun Tang
  • Patent number: 5913763
    Abstract: A method for selective alteration and control of door movement modes utilizing an apparatus that is primarily non-hydraulic and incorporated with a known mechanism which is functional independently from the apparatus in one mode of operation and which includes a piston for controlling door closing characteristics by selected fluid flow within the mechanism. The apparatus includes a motor driven lead screw having a linearly movable shuttle unit mounted thereon, the shuttle unit being positioned relative to the piston of the mechanism to accommodate nonattached contact with the piston to urge the piston, when the shuttle unit is moved, in a direction that will at least provide selective assistance with door opening in another mode of operation. Operation of the apparatus is controlled by programming of a related controller including non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Dorma Door Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Beran, Davide Andrea
  • Patent number: 5906073
    Abstract: Bent portions (28a and 28b) substantially perpendicular to the base plane of a door inner panel (4) are formed by bending at a door inner panel portion near a portion where a door opener handle is disposed, attaching portions (16a and 16b) facing the bent portions (28a and 28b) of the door inner panel (4) are provided in a reinforcement member (12) interposed between the door inner panel (4) and a door outer panel (5) to reinforce the portion where the door opener handle is disposed, and the attaching portions (16a and 16b) of the reinforcement member (12) and the bent portions (28a and 28b) of the door inner panel (4) are joined together in a state in which they are in slidable contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunobu Hori
  • Patent number: 5904002
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motor vehicle. The door assembly comprises a molded door panel having a first side and a second side. The first side of the door panel is adapted to face into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The second side of the door panel supports a belt line reinforcement, a lock and catch assembly, and a window lift assembly. The door assembly is adapted for joining with a door exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Emerling, Steven J. Dimig, Gerald O. Morrison, Carter S. Cannon, Kimberly C. Leshan
  • Patent number: 5896702
    Abstract: An operator for opening and closing pivotal windows comprises at least two pull and pressure transferring, flexible linkage mechanisms (3,4) connected at one end to a fixture (5,6) on a frame member and at the opposite end in engagement with a driving device (12-17) mounted on the opposite main frame member (2). The driving device is common to the linkage mechanisms and is together with the parts of the linkage mechanisms engaging it mounted in a common housing (7) for receiving the entire length of the linkage mechanisms (3,4) and provided with guides (8,9) and lead-in openings (8a,9a) for the linkage mechanisms (3,4). A carrier element (10,11) in connection with the guides is via transmission elements (12-16) in the housing 87,28; 54) connected with a common driving unit (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: V. Kann Rasmussen Industri A/S
    Inventors: Jens Jakob W.ae butted.hrens, Peter S.o slashed.ger, Henrik Vollmond
  • Patent number: 5896705
    Abstract: A rod guide including an elongated strip base for connection with a vehicle door panel and to encircle an elongated control rod mounted adjacent the door panel, the strip base being spaced away from the rod; at least one mesh wing with a base end connected with the strip base, the mesh wing angularly extending from the strip base and the wing having a contact end for encircling contact with the control rod and dampening any transverse movement of the control rod while freely allowing generally linear movement of the control rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Salmonowicz, David C. Camp
  • Patent number: 5890321
    Abstract: A mounting device is provided for mounting a window regulator drive unit on a molded plastic mounting panel. A plurality of flexible tabs are molded integral with the mounting panel and adapted to engage with the window regulator drive unit to retain the drive unit on the mounting panel. A molded plastic cap is adapted to fit over the drive unit and has integrally molded mounting fingers for engaging with complimentary integrally molded mounting fingers provided on the mounting panel so that rotation of the plastic cap causes inter-engagement of the mounting fingers and the drive unit is captured between the cap and the mounting panel. The cap has slots therein which become engaged with projecting lugs of the flexible tabs upon rotation of the cap relative to the mounting panel so that the flexible tabs become blocked and cannot be disengaged from their respective engagement with the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Hale Staser, Dan William Figlioli
  • Patent number: 5887387
    Abstract: A drainage system for horizontally sliding closures, especially horizontally sliding closures having a solid sill such as is typical with patio doors and the like. The drainage system includes a valve assembly having a top wall, opposed end walls and a side wall that defines a drainage aperture. The drainage aperture is normally closed by a flap which permits water to drain through the valve assembly but inhibits the infiltration of outside air. The valve assembly is mounted over a drainage slot cut through the fixed rail. To ensure most efficient drainage performance, the fixed rail must be vented. This is preferably accomplished by replacing the usual end caps for the fixed rail with slotted end caps which maintain the internal air pressure in the fixed rail at substantially atmospheric pressure. The advantage is a simple, inexpensive very effective drainage system which is suitable for new product and the retrofit of installed doors and/or windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Dallaire Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Raymond Dallaire
  • Patent number: 5887385
    Abstract: An improved release mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door, which includes an extension member extending across the doorway opening when the door is in its doorway-blocking positions, the releasing mechanism including a roller mounted for movement with the extension member, and a track including a guideway for receiving the roller and guiding it during normal door operation, the roller and track being movable relative to each other upon application of a breakaway force to the extension member, thereby allowing the roller to escape from the track when a breakaway force is applied to the extension member, the breakaway force being defined as a force that has a component perpendicular to the plane of the door above a certain magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Horner, Tom Jansen, Perry Knutson, Steve Lester
  • Patent number: 5870859
    Abstract: A water-tight structure of a single sliding door capable of ensuring sufficient watertightness without increasing the measurement of a rise provided on a sill so as to apply an entrance. The single sliding door is composed to provide a movable door on a window frame to be able to move in the opening direction of the door and a stationary door and attachments. A pressure-equalized clearance area is formed between the sill of the window frame of the single sliding door and the stationary door and the attachments provided on the sill, and further an air-tight member is provided to divide the pressure-equalized clearance area and an inside clearance area of the single sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Architectural Products Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Kitada
  • Patent number: 5867942
    Abstract: A removable door cassette has a cross member having a lower door frame fixed thereto. The lower door frame has a first frame member fixed to the cross member and a second frame member defining a channel to receive the first frame member. The first frame member is separable from the second frame member. A pivot connection pivotally connects the second frame member to a door housing. A fastener fixedly secures the second frame member in relation to the door housing. A deformable button is preferably used to provide a mechanism to hold the lower door frame into the lower door frame channel and provide a release and locking mechanism between the first and second frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Trim Trends, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 5860464
    Abstract: A retractable blind or shade assembly for covering a polygonal contoured surface area, includes a retractable covering member (2, 16, 36, 37, 55), a movable member (3, 39, 60') and at least one cord member (9, 43, 44, 58). At least one cord member (9, 43, 44, 58) is provided between its terminal ends with a looped connection (10, 10') adapted to engage the movable member (3, 39, 60') upon a predetermined amount of relative movement between the movable member (3, 39, 60') and the one cord member (9, 43, 44, 58) in one direction, while otherwise relative movement between the movable member (3, 39, 60') and the cord member (9, 43, 44, 58) is independent of one another. The assembly enables the engagement of a further element without obstruction to being guided through openings or around deflecting surfaces and pulley wheels, such as are often part of a blind or shade structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Schon B.V.
    Inventor: Siegfried Joachim Schon
  • Patent number: 5857291
    Abstract: An improved astragal assembly for use with a double door installation includes an astragal strip secured along the vertical edge of the inactive door. A lock block is slidably disposed in at least one end of said astragal strip and can be moved between an extended position for securing the door and a retracted position for freeing the door. The lock block has a projecting bolt receivable in a receptacle in the door frame when the lock block is slid to its extended position. A gasket is secured to the end of the lock block and the bolt passes through an opening in the gasket. The gasket engages and seals against the door frame when the lock block is in its extended position. Gaskets are also provided on the sides of the lock block for engaging and sealing against the doors of the double door installation. When the doors are closed and secured in place, the lock block and gasket assembly prevents drafts from flowing under the door installation beneath the astragal thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Headrick Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: J. Charles Headrick
  • Patent number: 5855093
    Abstract: A cable-driven window lift for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, and comprises a drive unit for the cable core (29) of the cable assembly (15), said cable core (29) being guided by deflecting means (16) over at least one substantially vertical path within which it is connected to an lifter (14) holding the window pane (9) preferably at its lower edge zone, the window pane (9) being guided by its side edges (10, 11) in guide rails (12, 13) respectively on the side of the vehicle and of the door. To achieve simple and accurate guidance of the pane at simplified design, the invention provides that the minimum of one lifter (14) shall move up-and-down with the cable core (29) in the absence of separate guides and that the deflection means (16) for the cable core (29) be mounted on the guide rails (12, 13) of the window pane (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Kuster & Co.
    Inventor: Thomas Medebach
  • Patent number: 5855095
    Abstract: A vehicle door has a glass run channel extending vertically to guide vertical movement of a window glass. A bracket is mounted on the door adjacent the bottom of the glass run channel and has an upwardly opening slot therein. A threaded stud is carried by the bottom of the glass run channel. An annular roller of molded plastic construction is threaded onto the stud and has a circumferential groove by which the annual roller may be installed into the upwardly opening slot of the bracket to thereby mount the bottom of the glass run channel on the door. The stud is preferably threadably attached to the bottom of the glass run channel so that rotation of the threaded stud relative the glass run channel will adjust the position of the annular roller to adjust the bottom of the glass run channel relative to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Martin Dedrich, Matthew C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5855094
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door having a basic body (2; 22) and respectively an inside and an outside panel (4, 3; 23, 21; 27, 26), wherein the window-side circumferential edge (9) of the outside panel (3; 21; 26) is provided at least partially with an undercut (10) engaged by the corresponding regions of the circumferential edge of the basic body (2) or the inside panel (4), and wherein the outside panel (3) is provided with a folded section (16) at least at the end (15) of the circumferential edge (8) disposed opposite the window-side circumferential edge. To accomplish easy, quick and cost-advantageous mounting or replacement of the outside panel, the basic body (2; 22) or the inside panel (4; 23; 27) is connected by way of fastening means (18; 24; 28) to the wall region (20) of the folded section (14) of the outside panel (3; 21; 26), which wall region faces the door sill (14) of the corresponding motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: YMOS Aktiengesellschaft-Industrieprodukte
    Inventors: Andraes Baudisch, Manfred Mattutat, Peter Diehl, Gunther Heim