Patents Examined by Derek J. Berger
  • Patent number: 5950545
    Abstract: A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the lower sheet main body portion. The upper sheet is positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the upper sheet main body portion spaced above the lower sheet main body portion to define a twin sheet platform structure. The lower sheet further includes a tower structure extending upwardly from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to each upper sheet leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Lyle H. Shuert
  • Patent number: 5950972
    Abstract: A container apparatus is provided for use a top step of a ladder. The container apparatus incudes a support platform with upper and lower surfaces, a lower skirt extending from the lower surface, and a strap. The lower skirt includes front and back sides each including a mounting slot therethrough in general alignment with one another. The strap extends through the mounting slots and includes opposite ends configured to selectively fasten together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: C.D.I. Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles D. Irish
  • Patent number: 5950976
    Abstract: A glass holding device of the invention is provided for easily attaching and positioning a glass plate to an upper flange. The glass holding device includes a stopper base to be attached to the upper flange, and a stopper to be attached to the glass plate. The stopper base includes a fitting hole for receiving a rising wall of the upper flange therein, a first engaging portion situated at a side near the fitting hole, and an abutment portion situated at a lower side of the fitting hole to support a lower side of the upper flange when the stopper base engages the upper flange. The stopper includes a base portion attached to the glass plate, a leg extending downwardly from the base portion, and a second engaging portion formed at a distal end of the leg. The second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion to hold the glass plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yuuji Shibata
  • Patent number: 5950977
    Abstract: In the operation of a construction machine, various forces are exerted on a seat which are dampened by a shock absorber. A seat suspension mechanism is provided between the seat and the shock absorber for coordinating the movement of the seat. The seat suspension system has first and second pairs of link arms arranged on opposite sides of the seat. The first and second pairs of link arms each have a controller and follower arm which are pivotally joined substantially at a midpoint therealong. A first end of the controller arms are fixedly mounted for pivotally movement to the front portion of the base with a second end fixedly mounted for pivotally movement to the rear portion of the seat to provide movement along an arcuate path in response to the plurality of forces exerted during operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventors: Frederick D. Proksch, Lyle E. York
  • Patent number: 5947430
    Abstract: A tripod has an adjustable top plate that supports an equipment foot. The support legs each comprise paired plates. Interposed between the paired plates is a damping material. The damping material damps the tripod and inhibits resonance from passing through the tripod to the supported equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Technical Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Steven T. Ryan, Ulf B. Heide
  • Patent number: 5947439
    Abstract: A cantilevered bracket (10) suspends one component (14) of a magnetized element (14/22) and a magnetically attracted element (22/14) pair, while the other element (22) of the pair is embedded in one major surface of the bar of soap. The edges (32) of the element extending downwards into the bar of soap may be made relatively smooth, with gradual transitions along the edge (32) to eliminate jagged protrusions. The exposed major surface area (18) of the element (14) suspended by the bracket is made substantially greater than the exposed surface area (26) of the element (22) embedded in the major surface area of the bar of soap (30). After using the bar of soap (30), the bar is turned with the embedded element of the pair facing vertically upwardly beneath the suspended element of the pair, while the bar (30) is moved to enable the exposed surface (26) of the embedded element (22) to touch the major surface (18) of the suspended element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Maxine Florey
  • Patent number: 5947426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a holding element made of plastic, with at least one dish-shaped holding area 2, 2', 2"and 2'", for at least one tube-shape element, with an attachment area 3 with engagement parts 4 for fastening to a support, such as a body of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the attachment area 3 is connected with a frame 6 by at least two elastic connection areas 5, 5', arranged at spaced axial distances from each other. The frame 6 includes cross-pieces with at least one of the cross-pieces of the frame constituting part of the holding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Willibald Kraus
  • Patent number: 5947425
    Abstract: The holding device is intended to allow more rapid, secure and simpler height-adaptable pipe mounting, which is intended to reduce the number of types required up to now for different pipe diameters and to be produced inexpensively. For example, a C- or L-shaped pipe support (10) is essentially designed as a plate, in whose lower area a pipe bed (12) is formed. At least on the side towards the pipe bed (12), the pipe support (10) is designed for the releasable connection with a holding element (6), which can project upwardly, laterally or downwardly. A pipe hold-down (20), which is vertically adjustable for receiving pipes (1) of different diameters, is fixed resting flat against the pipe support (10). The, as a whole very flat, construction of the holding device also allows a perfect heat insulation of the pipe, since no or only narrow gaps are created between successive insulating shells (4) laterally resting against the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Zurecon AG
    Inventor: Max Gerster
  • Patent number: 5947424
    Abstract: A beam clamp retaining strap has a beveled locking slot for securing to a threaded hanger rod or set screw of a pipe support assembly mounted to an I-beam. The assembly further comprises a C-type clamp, and the strap may be positioned in any of four possible locations with respect to the clamp, rod, and set screw. The slot edges securely engage between the major and minor thread diameters of the rod or screw. The beveled locking slot provides additional assurance that the clamp grip does not loosen such that the pipe assembly is dislodged, and, thus, the need for an additional nut for the retaining strap is thereby eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tolco, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard W. Heath
  • Patent number: 5947440
    Abstract: A flat-panel display apparatus including a variable flat-panel display unit for multi-directional display of images in accordance with a supplied video signal; a stand unit for supporting the variable flat-panel display unit; and a balancing element of a predetermined mass in the stand unit, for maintaining stability in the apparatus. The balancing element is mounted to the bottom cover of the stand unit and is made of a metal having a high density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 5944290
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable column, in particular for chairs or tables, includes a pedestal tube having a coaxially arranged lengthwise adjusting element, e.g., a gas spring, and a rotational fixation profile engaging a counterpart profile extending parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the pedestal tube. The rotational fixation profile and the counterpart profile are operatively arranged between the pedestal tube and the lengthwise adjusting element, and one of the profile parts is arranged in series with the lengthwise adjusting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Castor Fuhrmann, Peter Thurmann
  • Patent number: 5944293
    Abstract: A bracket assembly (13) includes a first bracket (19) adapted to be attached to a display fixture (10) and a second bracket (18) adapted to be attached to a sign (11, 12). The second bracket (18) includes lugs (26) positionable in a loop (31) formed in the first bracket (19) to permit both lateral and pivotal movement of the second bracket (18) relative to the first bracket (19). The second bracket (18) is also provided with an aperture (24) to selectively receive either a first hook (37) to hold the sign (11) in one position or a second hook (30) to hold the sign (12) in another position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Darko Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Loy
  • Patent number: 5944291
    Abstract: The device of the invention comprises an adjuster 6 having a supporting end 6a in contact with a floor F to support a foldable table 1 in restrained condition, a caster 7 movable between a retracted position A where the supporting end 7a thereof at least contacts the floor F simultaneously with the supporting end 6a of the adjuster 6 and a projecting position B where the supporting end 7a projects toward the floor F beyond the supporting end 6a of the adjuster 6, and an urging mechanism 80 for urging the caster 7 toward the floor F with a force greater than the gravity acting on the foldable table 1 when the caster 7 is at or adjacent the projecting position and with a force smaller than the gravity acting on the foldable table 1 when the caster 7 is at or adjacent the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kato, Hiroyuki Fukutani
  • Patent number: 5941484
    Abstract: The invention is an arrow rest attachment for a tree stand comprising a pair of identical elongated beams, each having a clamp at one end and concave arrow supports along the top surface. Both supports are clamped to the frame of a tree stand's seat, allowing arrows to rest horizontally between them. They may also include a slot at the end opposite the clamp, dimensionally suited to tightening and loosening the nuts normally used on a tree stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: William H. Stepney, III, Nelson Ryan Dube, William H. Stepney, IV
  • Patent number: 5941400
    Abstract: A frame collapsible and extendable by means of a turning movement, which frame comprises a number of supporting frames (1) and a number of rod-like upright elements (2, 2'), each upright element being connected to a supporting frame via a pivot (3) for pivoting through at least 90.degree. and being connected to at least one end via a hinge joint (4) and to one end of a further upright element connected to a further supporting frame for swinging and turning about its longitudinal axis, in such a manner that in a first collapsed position the supporting frames form a compact stack with upright elements and in a second extended position the supporting frames are spaced with the upright elements mutually resting on each other surface-to-surface as positioning means, while a spring force in the hinge joint must be overcome to bring the frame out of the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Laarhoven Design International B.V.
    Inventor: Raoul Andre Lemaire
  • Patent number: 5941498
    Abstract: A pin secured at one end of a link is inserted into an L-shaped groove of a ock lever pivoted to the upper surface of an upper guide rail and the other end of the link is connected to an actuator by way of a wire. The hook of the lock lever can be inserted into the hook hole of the flange of the lower guide rail. Rotating of the lock lever and thus rotation of the upper guide rail relative to the lower guide rail by an accidental external force to the lock lever can be prevented in the rotatable seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha & Kanto Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Takayuki Ohta, Akira Yamakoshi, Tsutomu Matsubayashi
  • Patent number: 5941600
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting an article such as a child seat tether to a vehicle floor comprising a mounting bar, first and second mounting brackets connected to the mounting bar, the brackets capable of connecting to preexisting seat attachment points of a vehicle floor, a plurality of tether attachment points on the mounting bar, and a mounting bar attachable to any of the attachment points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William Mar, Adrian L. Ashcroft, Gary Bityk, Gregory A. Beecher
  • Patent number: 5941496
    Abstract: A lightweight, folding music stand is provided which is also of use as a copy holder or a book holder. The stand is comprised of a plurality of panels and hinges arranged such that the stand is folded or erected with a minimum of steps and with desirable rigidity. The stand is also returned to a folded position with minimal effort and with a minimum of steps. The plurality of panels and hinges form a support member, a shelf, an angular portion, and feet members when the stand is in its operation configuration. The angular portion and feet members are integrally formed. When closed, the support member and shelf fold to form two panels and the device folds to approximately one-half the size of the support member. The folding support member encloses the feet members which nest within the closed stand. In its closed configuration, the stand is smaller and lighter in weight than a typical magazine, and consequently can be easily transported and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel Martin Banner
  • Patent number: 5938160
    Abstract: A cupholder apparatus for attachment to a surface including a base member, a support member, a finger member and an attachment member. The support member extends upward from the base member. The finger member is associated with the support member and includes a first end capable of selective positioning. The attachment member is frangibly associated with the cupholder apparatus. The frangibility facilitates temporary or permanent attachment to, or onto, a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Cobbs Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jerome Hartmann, Thomas R. Steinhagen, Charles A. Haas
  • Patent number: 5938167
    Abstract: A Christmas tree stand for positioning and securing a tree. The stand includes a tree holder, which has a substantially spherical portion and a fastening portion for affixing the holder to the tree, and a base which has at least three pivotable legs for securing the holder and a receiving portion for receiving the holder. Each of the legs is positioned in such a way that the tree's intrinsic weight causes the legs to press against the holder, thereby securing the holder and the tree. The receiving portion and the legs are constructed with mutually cooperating parts to allow the legs be positioned in an intermediate position when the stand rests on a support, and to allow the holder, which is secured to the tree, to be inserted into the receiving portion of the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Skovbunden Aps
    Inventors: Bernt Johan Collet, Peter Ferdinand Collet