Patents Examined by Daniel Kenny
  • Patent number: 9771725
    Abstract: A first floor panel is provided that is connectable to a second floor panel in an array having a contiguous channel for retainably housing a cable. The array includes repeating units, each including one or more floor panels. The contiguous channel is formed through, between or through and between respective units. The first floor panel includes a body having a generally planar top surface, a bottom surface defining a bottom plane, and a first side. The first side includes an upper cable-retaining lip and a lower interlocking support. The interlocking support includes an interlocking support that is shaped to interlock with a corresponding side of the second floor panel to form a channel segment between the first side and the corresponding side of the second floor panel. The channel segment is adapted to retainably house the cable, spaced apart from the bottom plane. A modular flooring system is also provided involving a plurality of interconnectable floor panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: John Bradley Matchung
  • Patent number: 9765541
    Abstract: The present apparatus and method relates in general to sealing a hole in a floor with a precast plug. A precast plug is created by pouring a wet aggregate mix into a form mold and thereafter inserting a pre formed rod into the uncured mixture, positioning it such that the center of the rod rests in the center of the form mold and the ends of the rod extend outward near the top of the form mold. The mix is then cured. The precast plug may then be transported to the hole that it is destined to fix. Grooves may be carved on either side of the hole to accommodate the rod' s ends. The interior of the hole and the exterior of the plug may then be covered with a sealant, after which the plug may be inserted into the hole. Once the sealant cures, the hole is fully repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald R. Gray, Robert W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9765563
    Abstract: A door assembly comprises a rectangular door frame that has a first, second, third, and fourth frame member. The first frame member has an outer surface that has a first pair of parallel slots. A first parallel flange protrudes from and perpendicular to the outer surface between the parallel slots. A vane extends from the first frame member to the second frame member between the third and fourth frame members. The vane has a first end that includes a pair of parallel flanges fitted into the parallel slots such that a rear surface of the first planar flange is arranged between rear edges of the first parallel flanges. A bar is mounted to the rear surface of the first planar flange and configured to hold the rear edges of the first parallel flanges in substantially the same plane as the rear surface of the first planar flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. LaPree, Stephen P. Mroz, Michael D. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9762177
    Abstract: A seal includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end, an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a hole extending from the first end to the second end. The hole defines the interior surface of the body. The seal further includes a first flange disposed adjacent the hole on the first end of the body and a second flange disposed adjacent the hole on the second end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bamboo Industries LLC
    Inventor: Chad Robinson
  • Patent number: 9758963
    Abstract: A bearing wall includes a pair of vertical members that are joined to upper and lower horizontal members of a building so as to be spaced apart in a horizontal direction; and a wall surface member that includes a first joint portions joined to one of the vertical members, that includes a second joint portions joined to another of the vertical members, and that includes circular-shaped opening portions that are spaced apart in an up-down direction between the pair of vertical members so as to be disposed in a single column. A separation distance between a center of one opening portion and a center of an opening portion that is adjacent to the one opening portion in the up-down direction is shorter than a horizontal separation distance between the first joint portions and the second joint portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, NS HI-PARTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Kawai, Shigeaki Tohnai, Shinichiro Hashimoto, Kazunori Fujihashi, Atsushi Sato, Tetsuro Ono
  • Patent number: 9751728
    Abstract: A method includes plumbing an elevator shaft, installing a lowermost first section of guide rail elements manually to walls of the shaft, arranging an upwards and downwards in the shaft with a first hoist movable lifting frame, arranging an upwards and downwards in the shaft with a second hoist movable installation platform provided with a guide apparatus, an installation apparatus and an alignment tool, drilling holes and fastening support brackets to the walls of the shaft with the installation apparatus, lifting guide rail elements with a third hoist from the lifting frame and guiding said guide rail elements into position with the guide apparatus, joining consecutive guide rail elements with the installation apparatus, and aligning opposite guide rail elements with the alignment tool and locking the support brackets with the installation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Antti Mertala
  • Patent number: 9745747
    Abstract: An adapter for securing a cross beam to a main beam in a suspended ceiling. The adapter includes a first leg having a ramp portion on a top edge of the first leg and a hook portion on a bottom edge of the first leg, a second leg attached to the first leg on a first side of the first leg. The second leg includes a larger portion which extends above the first leg to a second side of the first leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Worthington Armstrong Venture
    Inventors: Brett W. Sareyka, Joshua L. Neal
  • Patent number: 9744687
    Abstract: A process for forming an artificial reef includes forming a form having a geometric shape, applying at least one blockout onto a surface of the form such that the blockout extends outwardly of the surface of the form, applying a sprayable concrete over the form and over a portion of the blockout, curing the sprayable concrete on the form for a period of time such that the sprayable concrete adheres to the blockout, and removing the cured sprayable concrete and the blockout from the surface of the form. The blockout is of a cast concrete material such as a cinder block. The blockout has openings therein so as to open to an interior of the artificial reef.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ATLANTIS MARINE HABITATS, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hilton, Wayne Bauer
  • Patent number: 9739085
    Abstract: A spacer for insulated glazing units having at least one polymeric main body with a wall thickness d having a first pane contact surface and a second pane contact surface running parallel thereto, one first glazing interior surface, one second glazing interior surface, one outer surface, one first hollow chamber, and one second hollow chamber. A groove for receiving a pane runs parallel to the first pane contact surface and the second pane contact surface between the first glazing interior surface and the second glazing interior surface. The first hollow chamber adjoins the first glazing interior surface and the second hollow chamber adjoins the second glazing interior surface. The lateral flanks of the groove are formed by the walls of the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber, and the wall thickness d? in the region of the lateral flanks is less than the wall thickness d of the polymeric main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Marc Maurer, Walter Schreiber
  • Patent number: 9732887
    Abstract: A twist-locking fitting for securing a strut to a rod includes first and second fitting pieces. Each fitting piece includes a half-nut portion having an interior surface defining an axis extending through first and second axial ends of the half-nut portion. Each fitting piece includes an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the half-nut portion and an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the half-nut portion. The inner flange is spaced axially apart from the outer flange to define a clearance gap. The fitting pieces are positionable on the strut in an unsecured position in which the fitting pieces are movable relative to one another. The fitting pieces are rotatable relative to the strut to move from the unsecured position to a secured position, in which the fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Zhihui Zhang, Christopher Lee Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 9732889
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing at least one flange by first rotating a tubular element and two sheet elements with respect to one another until a radially enlarged portion and adjacent hub section have been formed on the tubular element. The sheet element is impregnated by a thermosetting resin. When the resin has cured, the radially enlarged portion is cut along a cut line, thereby also dividing the tubular element in two parts and generating at least a first flange having a first flange section and a first hub section. Optionally, a second flange having a second flange section and a second hub section, is generated. In a preferred embodiment, the cut line is arranged in the middle of the radially enlarged portion, whereby two similar flanges are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Flowtite Technology AS
    Inventors: Gudmundur Palsson, Tomas Andersson
  • Patent number: 9725909
    Abstract: A system and devices to clean a rain gutter include a selectively openable end cap provided at an end of a gutter that is configured to be selectively positionable between a closed state and an open state to access an interior of the gutter, and a plurality of debris collecting members configured fit inside the gutter and to be selectively inserted and removed from the gutter in a sliding manner, wherein each of the debris collecting members is configured to be coupled to another of the debris collecting members such that an entirety of coupled debris collecting members may be moved along the gutter by force applied to one end of the coupled debris collecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Gary Lynn Ward
  • Patent number: 9719242
    Abstract: A space frame includes a plurality of support structures and a node member configured to couple with the plurality of support structures. The node member includes a base portion, a plurality of coupling members extending from the base portion, each of the plurality of coupling members configured to couple with each of the support structures, and a plurality of clamping members configured to couple each of the plurality of coupling members with each of the plurality of support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob W. Bell, Glenn A. Forthofer
  • Patent number: 9719258
    Abstract: A seamless sheet installation system preferably includes a seamless sheet and a plurality of sheet retention devices. The seamless sheet is retained on a tube. A pair of rotating retention devices may be inserted into ends of the roll. Each rolling retention device includes a tube plug and a rotating handle. An end of the seamless sheet is secured to the top eave flange. The seamless sheet is held against a bottom of the eave purlin web with one of the plurality of sheet retention devices. The sheet retention device may have any suitable design. The seamless sheet is rolled out to successive purlins, wrapped over the top flange and anchored to a bottom of the vertical web with one of the plurality of sheet retention devices. The seamless sheet wrapping process is terminated at an opposing eave purlin or a ridge purlin. Insulation is then inserted between adjacent purlins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Daniel J. Harkins
  • Patent number: 9718628
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a clamp assembly having a clamping zone configured to circumscribe, at least in part, a pallet load received, at least in part, in the clamping zone. The apparatus also includes a pallet receiving assembly having a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting the pallet load, and, the pallet-receiving zone having a vertical height dimensioned marginally higher than the vertical height of the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Redman
  • Patent number: 9702181
    Abstract: A decorative insert for a garage door panel comprising a multiplicity of decorative shapes, each respective decorative shape having exterior retaining taps extending transversely to an exterior surface of each decorative shape. The garage door panel includes a transparent sheet of material affixed to the back of the garage door panel by a frame member and a garage door frame is affixed to the front surface of the garage door panel with a gap between an interior surface of the garage door frame and the transparent sheet of material so that at least a portion of the retaining tabs of the decorative insert can be retained within the gap between the interior surface of the garage door panel frame and the transparent sheet of material to retain the decorative insert at spaced apart locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Robert A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 9695586
    Abstract: Technologies for making self-erecting structures are described herein. An exemplary self-erecting structure comprises a plurality of shape-memory members that connect two or more hub components. When forces are applied to the self-erecting structure, the shape-memory members can deform, and when the forces are removed the shape-memory members can return to their original pre-deformation shape, allowing the self-erecting structure to return to its own original shape under its own power. A shape of the self-erecting structure depends on a spatial orientation of the hub components, and a relative orientation of the shape-memory members, which in turn depends on an orientation of joining of the shape-memory members with the hub components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew W. Reading
  • Patent number: 9689171
    Abstract: A staging transport assembly comprises a base plate, an L-shaped attachment piece, a fastener to couple the base plate to the L-shaped attachment piece, a support plate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface where the second surface is coupled to the base plate, and at least two wheels coupled to the first surface of the support plate. The base plate comprises a first edge having a first protrusion and a second opposing edge having a second protrusion and further comprises a first surface and a second opposing surface. The L-shaped attachment piece includes a short side comprising a cavity configured to receive the first protrusion of the base plate, a first end terminating in a lip, and a second opposing end coupled with a long side disposed along a portion of the first surface of the base plate when the cavity is mated with the first protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: STAGING CONCEPTS ACQUISITIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Dale William Cartwright, Travis William Raida, Jonathan M. Chase
  • Patent number: 9683361
    Abstract: The present invention includes prefabricated assemblies which are assembled on a construction site to provide a permanent concrete mold with integrated structural reinforcement and structural splices for cast-in-place concrete structures. The invention enhances the quality of the cast concrete structure while lowering the cost of construction and construction time. Described herein is a column form assembly, a column closure panel assembly, a beam form assembly, and a slab form assembly which are used to construct cast in place structurally reinforced concrete columns, beams, and floor slabs with minimal form work and construction site logistics. Also described herein are a method of assembly of said structures and a method of fabricating said assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KT-INDIA, LLC
    Inventors: James Timberlake, Billie Faircloth, Taylor Medlin, Rob Schaeffer, Jon Morrison, Chris MacNeal, Peter Curry
  • Patent number: 9683590
    Abstract: A strut fitting for a strut includes a fitting body having opposite ends and a length extending between the opposite ends. First and second opposite faces extend along the length of the body. Opposite sides are disposed between the first and second faces and extend along the length of the body. The first face and at least portions of the opposite sides adjacent the first face define a first cross-sectional shape of the fitting body that is generally dovetail-shaped. A catch is secured to and extends outward from the first face of the fitting body. The catch is resiliently deflectable relative to the fitting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Zhihui Zhang, William Edward McCarthy