Patents Examined by Donald M. Gurley
  • Patent number: 5615451
    Abstract: A stage or other structure having support legs includes rollers which are mounted so as to be supporting the stage in a first position and having the stage legs support the stage in a second position. A lift mechanism includes actuating pedals near the ground for raising and lowering the assembly. A linkage pivots the roller mounting member between a raised and lowered position relative to a cross member on the frame. A second pedal is selectively engageable by a single foot for retaining the roller assembly in either the raised or lowered positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Sico Incorporated
    Inventors: Virgil D. Peterson, Gary W. Andert, Rollin D. Botts
  • Patent number: 5615450
    Abstract: A skirt system for caster wheels to prevent a rolling caster from colliding with floor debris. A skirt assembly is fastened to a caster having a swiveling housing in which is mounted a caster wheel on an axle. The skirt thus swivels with the caster. The skirt assembly includes a circular skirt housing fastenable to a caster housing and having a central opening through which the caster wheel extends. Skirt material, such as brush fibers, is secured in a split ring which is removably held to the skirt housing by ring spring tension. The skirt may extend entirely around the caster or a segment may be portioned in front of the caster wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Robert Butler
  • Patent number: 5615452
    Abstract: A guard guide surface for the lift-off slot of a tilt sash shoe is disposed obliquely above the lift-off slot to engage the head of a sash pin rising directly vertically from the slot. This prevents accidental withdrawal of a sash pin from a shoe when the sash is tilted. When the sash is slanted, however, for intentional withdrawal from a window, the sash pins can be lifted from their slots in off-vertical motions that clear the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John I. Habbersett
  • Patent number: 5606772
    Abstract: The present invention features a universal primary hand grip device for use with tools and utensils. The primary hand grip has multiple angles by which the hand can grip the shaft of a tool or utensil, thus making the grip ergonomically efficient. When used in combination with a secondary cross-handle, a tool or utensil can become quite easy to use and comfortable to operate. The primary hand grip device of this invention has a grip that slides over, or is made integral with, the end of the shaft of a tool or utensil. The hand grip has a multiply-angled surface, in which the primary hand can assume a substantially straight-angled position (180.degree. angle) with respect to the axis of the wrist. The correct hand position varies with each tool and with each work surface. The proper grip angle for a particular task allows the hand to maintain a straight angle with respect to the wrist axis, while also imparting the driving force of the arm into the shaft of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Dragan Ilic
  • Patent number: 5594975
    Abstract: A handle for a tool such as a lobby dustpan is provided. The handle is preferably mounted on a vertical shaft of the tool. The handle may be placed in either a locked position or an unlocked position. In the locked position the handle is rigidly connected to the shaft. In the unlocked position the handle moves freely with respect to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: White Mop Wringer Company
    Inventor: Jack P. Christen
  • Patent number: 5594974
    Abstract: A releasable caster for use with a moveable structure having a bottom wall wherein the caster has a swivel connected yoke and stem with the yoke supporting a plastic wheel. The stem includes a manually operable spring biased rod that has an indentation between its ends and co-acts with a ball detent. A shell with a flange at its outer end is adapted to be received in an opening in the wall. The shell has an abutment, prefereably in the form of a groove with the upper edge forming an abutment which copperatively locks the ball detent or releases the ball when the rod is moved longitudinally or rotationally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: James P. Wattron
    Inventors: James Wattron, Walter E. Lisowski
  • Patent number: 5593461
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a caster includes the step of integrally forming a caster horn having a web portion with a bearing cup and a pair of opposed leg portions. The web portion and the leg portion define a U-shaped, wheel-accomodating space. The bearing cup is disposed on a surface of the web portion opposite from the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space. A first end of a stem is then pressed into a bearing assembly such that the stem is vertically rotatable with respect to the caster horn. The bearing assembly is seated in the bearing cup. The bearing assembly may be secured to the bearing cup by means of a retainer and a plurality of fasteners. The fasteners engage the caster horn, covering the bearing cup while allowing access to a second end of the stem. A wheel is rotatably supported within the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Reppert, James A. Kinion
  • Patent number: 5590441
    Abstract: An automotive lift-off type door hinge is provided which includes a body side hinge having a vertical leg for attachment with a body opening frame, the body side hinge having joined to the vertical leg a horizontal leg which has a stop pin aperture and spaced therefrom a pivot pin aperture; an upper door side hinge having a vertical leg extending upwardly for attachment to a door, the upper door side hinge having joined to the vertical leg a horizontal leg having a pivot pin aperture; a lower door side hinge having a downwardly extending vertical leg connected to the door by a removable fastener, the lower door hinge having joined to the vertical leg a horizontal leg sandwiching the horizontal leg of the body hinge between the horizontal legs of the upper and lower door side hinges, and the horizontal leg of the lower door side hinge having a pivot pin aperture; a pivot pin providing a thrust bearing for the upper door side hinge loosely fitted in the upper door side hinge pivot aperture to allow upward door
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5590558
    Abstract: Draw processing flat-rolled sheet metal substrate preselectively precoated on each surface with organic coating and draw lubricant into one-piece can bodies ready for assembly into sanitary can packs free of any requirement for applying organic coating or adding organic coating for repair purposes after fabrication and before such direct usage. Cupping of precoated flat-rolled sheet metal can stock using preselected tooling configurations and clearance avoids any increase in side wall metal thickness gage. Tension elongation during redraw is controlled over side wall height by clamping solely between planar clamping surfaces, tooling configurations and preselected clearances to decrease thickness gage uniformly over side wall height between flange metal open end of can body and curved transition zone at closed end. Surface area of the cavity entrance zone for each die is fabricated about multiple radii forming sharp edge about which coated can stock is drawn into each die cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Saunders, deceased, William H. Dalrymple
  • Patent number: 5590231
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ferrule including a sheath holding portion (11) and a core wire holding portion (12) which have inner diameters slightly greater than the outer diameters of a sheath portion (a) and a core wire portion (b) of a plastic fiber (A), respectively. The sheath holding portion (11) is provided with a flange portion (11a) which contacts a coiled spring when mounted in a connector housing, and the core wire holding portion (12) includes a large-diameter portion (13) at a front end thereof for receiving a front end portion of the core wire portion (b) of the plastic fiber (A) softened by hot plate treatment. The large-diameter potion (13) has a tapered inner surface such that an inner diameter thereof increases toward the front end, and the angle of flare thereof is 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Kawamura, Takehiko Yamamura
  • Patent number: 5586364
    Abstract: A fastening element for fastening hardware elements (31) to parts of furniture units (14) comprises an expansion plug (11) having an axial through housing (17) which can receive an expanded pin (23), which can rotate between a position in which the plug is not expanded, to enable it to be inserted in a hole (16) in the furniture unit (14), and a position in which the plug is expanded to anchor it in the hole. The walls of the axial housing (17) and of the pin (23) have reciprocal contacting surfaces in the expanded position which diverge in the direction of insertion of the plug. A cam plate (32) provided centrally with a polygonal hole (33) for coupling with a protrusion (30) of the pin (23) and peripherally with a raised edge (34) for guiding fingers (22, 22') of the plug (11) for reversibly guiding the expansion of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Franco Ferrari
    Inventors: Franco Ferrari, Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 5584098
    Abstract: An operating knob-mounting structure in an air-conditioner for vehicle includes a support shaft provided on an equipment and an operating knob having a boss provided with an axial hole formed therethrough, the operating knob being rotatable and supported on the supported shaft fitted in the axial hole. The support shaft has an engagement portion formed thereon and engageable with an outer end face of the boss of the operating knob. The axial hole of the boss has an insertion recess formed in a periphery thereof and allowing the engagement portion to pass therethrough in a direction of an axis of the support shaft when the operating knob is mounted on said support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Koyama, Hiroshi Suyama, Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5584100
    Abstract: The hinge comprises a first hinge member (11) and a second hinge member (12). The first hinge member comprises a cylindrical housing (16) having first and second open ends (17 and 18 respectively). The cylindrical housing (16) is located between flange members (26 and 27) of the second hinge member (12). A torsion spring (20) is provided inside the cylindrical housing (16) and one end (21) fits into a recess (22) at end (18) of the cylindrical housing (16) and the other end fits into a recess (36) in a coupling element (30) which is located at the other end (17) of the cylindrical housing (16). The coupling element (30) has a hexagonal engagement surface (39) which engages a matching engagement surface in flange (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventors: David Doyle, Neil Dunne, Mark Cumming
  • Patent number: 5581845
    Abstract: A handle for a garden tool includes two side walls having a depression formed in the upper and front portion. A sleeve of resilient materials is engaged on the handle and includes a recess formed in the upper and front portion and located above the depression of the handle. A number of projections are extended upward from the recess and located above the depression such that the resilience of the projections are increased for engaging with the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Syh-Yn Yang
  • Patent number: 5581847
    Abstract: A handle device of a wheeled trunk includes an elongated frame member mounted on a side wall of the trunk, and a handle member mounted telescopically in the frame member. The frame member has an opening formed through an upper portion thereof, and a receiving space formed in the frame member in communication with the opening. The handle member includes a handle exposed to an exterior of the frame member, an elongated unitary plate connected securely to the handle and inserted movably into the receiving space of the frame member, a spring-loaded upper push button installed to an upper portion of the unitary plate and engaged within the opening of the frame member to prevent movement of the unitary plate in the receiving space, thus locating the handle member at a retracted position relative to the frame member, and a spring-loaded lower push button installed on a lower portion of the unitary plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Dick M. Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5581844
    Abstract: An improved doorstop comprising a block member. A structure is for securing in a removable manner the block member against a leaf of a hinge on a doorjamb, so as to stop a door from closing completely into the doorjamb and preventing fingers of a hand of a person getting caught and damaged between an edge of the door and the doorjamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Robert Raheb, Walter Raheb
  • Patent number: 5577295
    Abstract: A three diameter hinge pin for a vehicle door hinge assembly including a door bracket and a body pillar bracket. The three diameters include successive large upper diameter, small lower diameter, and an intermediate diameter, wherein the latter diameter permits the hinge pin to drop further downwardly through two openings in the upper legs of two hinge brackets, wherein the openings must closely approximate the pin's large upper diameter, thereby allowing the lower end of the pin to enter the opening in the lower legs of the two brackets, rather than being positioned somewhere above the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Papke, Chean W. Ng, Raymond B. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5572768
    Abstract: A rotary friction damper in a device for connecting a door to an adjacent structure such that the door pivots about an axis during opening and closing of the same and including a torsion spring operatively connected to the door and to the structure for movement about the pivot axis to store energy during opening of the door and to release energy to provide closing during closing of the door. The rotary friction damper is operatively associated with the torsion spring and has an axis of rotation disposed substantially parallel to the pivot axis for controlling the door closing speed. The rotary friction damper is adjustable and variable. A mechanism operatively associated with the damper varies the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring to produce a controlled uniform closing speed of the door and for reducing the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring when the door nears the closed position to allow the torsion spring to close the door in an unrestricted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Enidine Incorporated
    Inventor: Terrance E. Daul
  • Patent number: 5570498
    Abstract: A lift-off type door hinge for pivotally and detachably connecting a door to a vehicle body is provided including a body strap with a base for connection to the vehicle body with generally horizontally projecting upper and lower arms projecting therefrom, the upper and lower arms having generally aligned apertures with first and second pins extending therethrough, the body strap also having a reaction surface, a mid-strap, the mid-strap having a main body with generally horizontally projecting upper and lower arms, the mid-strap arms via the first and second pins being pivotally attached with respect to the body strap, the mid-strap lower arm also having a door aperture, and the mid-strap also having a reaction surface, a spring extending between the reaction surfaces of the body strap and the mid-strap to bias the mid-strap to a hold open position with respect to the body strap when the door is open, and a door strap, the door strap having a main body fixably connected to the door and the door having first,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur S. Hipkiss, Charles R. Fain, Cheryl L. Barr
  • Patent number: 5570917
    Abstract: This security system will prevent the door casing from failing upon a forced entry attempt into a home by forming a rigid connection from the door casing with said security system to the wall interior structure. It will enable the wall interior structure to become the strength of the door and not the door casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Robert E. Cutrer