Patents Examined by Curtis A. Cohen
  • Patent number: 6185873
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a power window apparatus including an outer panel, an inner panel, a regulator, a window glass, a motor, and a seal member. The inner panel is separated from the outer panel by a predetermined distance and has a through bore. The regulator has a movable arm, which is arranged in a space formed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The window glass is fixed to the movable arm. The motor is connected to the regulator to drive the movable arm and open and close the window glass. At least a portion of the motor is arranged in the inner panel. The seal member is arranged between the motor and the inner panel to close the through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: ASMO Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6185871
    Abstract: A door structure primarily consists of a door leaf, a door frame, a retaining piece, and a retaining mechanism. The door leaf has a wedged side corresponding to a slant side surface of the door frame and a groove formed on the opposite side surface. The retaining piece, disposed in the groove of the door leaf, has a supporting portion on one side and a retaining portion on the other side. The front end of the retaining portion extends to form a mating portion. The retaining mechanism is composed of a latching device and an actuating device. The latching device is provided with a transverse lock rod, an upper lock rod, and a lower lock rod. These lock rods can be urged to move by an actuating rod of the actuating device. When closing the door leaf, the actuating rod of the actuating device is depressed into the door leaf and the transverse lock rod, the upper lock rod, and the lower lock rod of the door leaf and extend into the holes of the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Hui-Tung Wang
  • Patent number: 6185867
    Abstract: An entrance device having at least two barriers to permit entrance in one direction comprising a first barrier manually displaceable from a closed position to an open position and a second barrier manually displaceable from a closed position to an open position when said first barrier is being engaged to achieve said second open position wherein said first and second barriers are presented by said entrance device in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: John Dennis McGuire
  • Patent number: 6186306
    Abstract: An automatic chute closure for covering a chute opening wherein the chute closure includes a frame disposed around a chute opening, a chute door pivotally connected to the frame for movement between an opened and closed position, a door movement mechanism for opening and closing the chute door, a switch mechanism for activating and deactivating the door movement mechanism and a latch mechanism for securing the chute door in a closed position until the switch mechanism is activated to open the chute door. The automatic chute closure allows an operator to conveniently activate a single switch to open and close the chute door and to insure once the chute door is closed it is properly locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Wilkinson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Philip Kamm
  • Patent number: 6185868
    Abstract: A connection wire is connected to a part of a rear door popped up in a door-opening direction by an urging force. A pulley rotates responsive to a driving motor inside a wire-winding device to wind the connection wire thereon. In this manner, the rear door is automatically closed. The pulley is urged in a connection wire-winding direction by a power spring. A clutch is between the pulley and the driving motor. When the rear door is pressed by an operator's hands in a door-closing direction while the rear door is being closed, the pulley is rotated by the power spring, thus winding the connection wire thereon and preventing the connection wire from becoming loose. At this time, the connection between the pulley and the driving motor is cut off by the clutch. Thus, the pulley is rotated by the power spring freely and rapidly. In this manner, the rear door can be closed manually even while it is being closed automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 6178699
    Abstract: An open/close control system for a vehicle slide door includes in one embodiment, a drive source, e.g., a motor, a slide door opening/closing mechanism, a clutch for transmitting a drive force of the drive source to the opening/closing mechanism interruptively, movement signal generator for generating a signal dependent on the moving direction of the slide door, and slide door controller for controlling the drive force to be transmitted to the opening/closing mechanism by controlling the drive source and the clutch. The slide door controller stops the operation of the drive source and thereby stops the slide door, declutches the clutch to allow the slide door to be movable, detects a movement of the slide door caused by its weight by use of an output signal of the movement signal generator, and determines an inclination of the vehicle on the basis of the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kawanobe, Ryoji Shimura
  • Patent number: 6178694
    Abstract: A two section gate assembly restricts access through a wall opening. The two gate sections overlap as determined by the wall opening size. A vertical hinge rail in one gate section forms a hinge side, and a vertical latch rail in the other gate section forms a latch side. A concealed vertical edge of the hinge rail includes two horizontally spaced swing bolts that are adjusted to compensate for a hinge wall that is not perpendicular. The two swing bolts and two wall mounted hinge pin brackets are covered by decorative hinge covers. A concealed vertical edge of the latch rail includes two horizontally spaced latch tabs that are spring biased downward. Upon swinging the gate assembly to a closed position, the latch tabs encounter wall mounted latch receivers having an upward extending ramp, whereupon the latch tabs are forced to move upward against their spring bias. When the gate assembly is fully closed, the latch tabs drop vertically downward into latch recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt P. Wagnitz
  • Patent number: 6176039
    Abstract: An object sensor system is mounted on a garage door controlled by an electric garage door opener. The sensor system senses objects directly in the travel path of the door's leading edge. Each object sensor of the system comprises a mounting plate for permanent attachment to the garage door near a leading edge of the door, an upper hinge plate hingeably connected to the mounting plate, a lower hinge plate hingeably connected to the mounting plate and a connecting hinge plate connected to the upper and lower hinge plates. The plates are connected to move in concert. Each of the object sensors also includes a bracket having a first leg attached to the connecting hinge plate and a second leg extending horizontally towards the mounting plate and under the leading edge of the door. An electronic sensor is mounted on the bracket's second leg at a distal end to transmit or receive a light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Terry A. Craig
  • Patent number: 6176044
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a door automatically operable relative to a floor and further comprises an electromechanical power device disposed beneath the floor and providing a rotary output on a shaft. The support apparatus includes a spindle adapted to receive power from the rotary shaft beneath the floor and to extend above the floor into a coupled relationship with the door. A bearing included in the support apparatus supports the spindle and at least a portion of the weight of the door beneath the floor. The electromechanical device can be of the type commonly used in overhead systems, in which case the power device can be retrofitted with the support apparatus for disposition beneath the floor. A coupling mechanism in the support apparatus can include pulleys, sprockets and gears, and power transfer devices such as belts and chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Pacific Architectural Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Nixon, Edward Preston Murphy
  • Patent number: 6170676
    Abstract: A foldable dish drainer includes a base with first and second sections hingedly joined at adjacent parallel edges to form a dish draining surface and movable into a parallel overlying position in a folded mode. The foldable dish drainer further includes a first dish support member having one edge hingedly attached to a surface of the first base section, a second dish support member having one edge hingedly attached to a surface of the second base section, and opposed edges of the first and the second dish support members movably attached together such that when the first and second base sections are in the open mode the first and second dish support members are in an upstanding position for receiving and holding dishes in a draining position and when the first and second base sections are in the folded mode the first and second dish support members are in a folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Sona Patadia, Joseph Pepe Velasquez
  • Patent number: 6170195
    Abstract: A door assembly which includes a door frame defining an opening and a door. The door includes a first rectangular panel which is rotatably mounted to the door frame and moveable between an open and a closed position. A second panel is connected to and rotatable with the first panel and is disposed generally parallel to, or co-planar with the first panel and moveable thereto in plane of the panels so as to be moveable between a retracted position where the second panel is generally laterally adjacent to the first panel, to an extended position where the second panel is spaced from the first panel in the direction of the plane of the panels. The door assembly is operative to cover the opening defined by the door frame by movement of the first panel from its open to its closed position and movement of the second panel from its retracted to its extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Choo Siong Lim
  • Patent number: 6170196
    Abstract: One end of a connection wire is connected to a rear vehicle door which can be popped up by an urging force from a user. An apparatus for maintaining the position of the upwardly swinging rear door once it is opened at a desired angle includes a pulley for receiving the other end of the connection wire wound around it. A power spring urges the pulley in a connection wire-winding direction. A one-way clutch includes a rotatable outer ring with an input shaft at the center thereof. The input shaft is connected to the pulley. The input shaft is also connected to the outer ring through multiple rollers interposed between the outer ring and the input shaft so that the pulley is allowed to rotate in the connection wire-winding direction. In maintaining the upwardly swinging rear door at a desired angle once it is opened, a solenoid is energized to move a stopper into an engaging groove on the periphery of the outer ring. When the stopper engages the engaging groove, the rotation of the outer ring is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 6170197
    Abstract: A sash/cam channel member is extruded from a plastic (e.g., thermoplastic) material and includes the same cross section whether the member is used in a sash-type application or a cam-type application. In one embodiment, the sash/cam channel member includes a channel formed therein for receiving a coupling member, which is attached to a moveable arm of the assembly, and a pair of opposing fork members. The windowpane is received between the pair of opposing fork members to produce a frictionally fit therebetween. The inner surfaces of the channel have a low friction layer (coating) formed thereon so that the coupling member slidingly travels within the channel is a near frictionless manner. Similarly, the inner surfaces of the pair of fork members have a high friction layer (coating) disposed thereon for increased gripping and coupling of the windowpane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zinovy Tyves, Joseph Frank Carnaghi
  • Patent number: 6170194
    Abstract: A method of blocking passage of a user through a passageway comprising a turnstile with a housing; a drive and a locking element in which a barrier arm is set in motion following verification of the access authorization of a user wishing to pass, rotating the barrier arm from its blocking position into a position out of line of passage. The advance of the user is then detected by a downstream sensor, in particular an opto-electronic sensor, which causes the barrier arm to rotate further in the same direction into the blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Skidata Computer (yesellschaft m.b.H.)
    Inventors: Wolfram Kocznar, Peter Dermutz
  • Patent number: 6167655
    Abstract: A stop device comprising a rectangular elongated member having an attaching member adapted to attach the elongated member within a jamb liner of a window jamb. The elongated member having first and second interconnecting sections telescopingly connected to provide an adjustment in length of the elongated member. The elongated member having an elongated slot having a base and two sides. A support member extending perpendicularly from one side of the elongated member. The support member having a protrusion extending from one end of the thereof which slidably engages the base and two sides of the slot to fixedly attach the support member to the elongated member. The other end of the support member includes a threaded bore which receives a threaded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Edward A. Carwin
  • Patent number: 6164015
    Abstract: A device for automatically controlling the operation of a sliding door for a vehicle, the sliding door being mounted on a side of the vehicle body so as to automatically be operated by a driving source such as a motor and freedom and safety incompatible with each other being able to be controlled, the device comprising a door driving portion having a motor rotatable in forward and reverse directions, motor load detector for detecting the load of the motor, door position detector for detecting a door position within a range from a fully opened position to a fully closed position, door speed detection for detecting the travelling speed of the door, a storage device storing the load of the motor when the vehicle body is in a normal posture as a specific load of the motor associated with the position of the door by correlating the motor detector with the door position detector and motor controller for controlling electric power supplied to the motor while detecting a motor speed, by a deviation between a motor lo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kawanobe, Kouichi Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 6161647
    Abstract: A fall arresting ladder safety device for attachment to a fixed ladder side rail. The fall arresting device is to be used in conjunction with a body harness worn by the climber with a lanyard attached at one end to the body harness and the other end attached to the fall arresting device. The fall arresting device includes first and second arms pivotally connected in an X-configuration with each arm having first and second ladder side rail engaging portions disposed on opposite edges of the ladder side rail. A spring operably attached to the first and second arms biases the first and second arms between a fall arresting position and a climbing position. To ascend or descend the ladder, the handle portion of the first arm is pivoted upward to disengage the ladder side rail engaging portions of the first arm so that the device can be rolled up or down the ladder side rail as the climber ascends or descends the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Pitt-Des Moines, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Michael Braden, James P. Evans, Emory E. Edmiston, David A. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6161336
    Abstract: A hinged and sliding door assembly for vehicles includes a door surround defining an opening, a door configured for mating with the door surround, and a hinge-and-slide mechanism for supporting, and defining movement of, the door relative to the surround. The hinge-and-slide mechanism has an intermediate element connected to the door by a hinge structure which defines an axis of rotation about which the door rotates relative to the intermediate element. A slide mechanism, associated with the intermediate element and the surround, is configured to define a slide path of the intermediate element relative to the surround. The slide mechanism is further configured to support the intermediate element such that this axis maintains a substantially constant orientation relative to the surround, thereby supporting the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Amir Ziv-Av
  • Patent number: 6158549
    Abstract: A peak hook includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongated, hook-shaped members in which each of the hook-shaped members has a rear downwardly-depending leg for extending over a rear surface of a roof and a front downwardly-depending leg for extending over a front surface of the roof. A roof-engaging member having a length substantially equal to a width of the ladder attaches to the rear downwardly-depending legs for engaging the rear surface of the roof. A rung-engaging member attaches to the front downwardly-depending legs for supporting portions of a rung adjacent to opposite sides of the ladder. A slidable rung-engaging member having apertures through which respective front downwardly-depending legs extend cooperates with the rung-engaging member to releasably attach the peak hook to the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Charles N. Hartman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6155441
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a plurality of interconnected beam members and upright members used in a rack or shelf system. For rack assembly, headed lugs on beam ends are slid into selected key-hole slots on the uprights. The locking mechanism uses a spring-loaded, captive pin translatable from a locked position to an unlocked position, and rotatable from an enabled position to a disabled position. When enabled and urged into a locked position, the pin enters an upper portion of the key-hole, vacated by the lug head when the beam and uprights are interconnected. The pin thereby prevents the lug head from being removed from the key-hole. Both automatic and manual operation of the locking mechanism is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: Bob R. Andersen, Raymond Dean Bender, Dennis A. Schimke, Raymond D. Blumer