Patents Examined by James Buckle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10094403
    Abstract: A device which can be fixed to the edge of a panel, for example a sound-absorbing panel formed by heat-bonded synthetic fibers, is disclosed. The device includes a body with a longitudinal through-hole and two walls which define a cavity for enclosing the edge of the panel. The through-hole communicates with the cavity. The through-hole is configured to guide a threaded element (screw or the like) towards the cavity so that the threaded element engages at least with the edge of the panel so that it expands towards the walls of the cavity and is firmly retained by them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Caimi Brevetti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caimi
  • Patent number: 10094109
    Abstract: An interlocking construction block system comprising a family of blocks that interlock along three axes, including a left/right axis, a front/back axis, and an up/down axis. The family of blocks are self-aligning and do not require skilled labor or mortar to create a structure of any length, width, height, or shape. Each block comprises a specific geometry that allows all blocks in the family to interlock in a woven pattern that not only locks the blocks in place but also allows even distribution of structural weights and stresses. The disclosed blocks can be manufactured in different sizes to conform to any building code requirement and to create wall lengths to a one-inch measurement. The blocks may comprise channel openings to allow for plumbing, electrical, and structural reinforcements in the structure and may each be reinforced with an internal mesh cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GOUDA-TORGERSON BUILDING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Hazem Hosny Gouda Mohamed
  • Patent number: 10094164
    Abstract: A corner key for a fenestration trim assembly includes a sloped bearing surface configured to bias a first lineal toward a second lineal about the longitudinal axis of the second lineal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MILGARD MANUFACTURING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Victor Massey
  • Patent number: 10072437
    Abstract: Magnetic straking can optionally be temporarily attached to a ferromagnetic structure or other structure capable of magnetic attachment thereto, allowing observation or testing of the structure's performance before optional permanent attaching of such straking to the structure, such as by welding or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sabre Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Leo Dan Padron
  • Patent number: 10066435
    Abstract: A modular rail assembly for securing a panel in a door or window, comprising a rail framing member having vertically-oriented sides interconnected by a partition plate to form first and second receiving channels on opposite sides of the partition plate, the second receiving channel defined at a top side by the partition plate and on opposing sides by receiving channel walls, and a rail base extension slideably secured within the rail framing member second receiving channel. The rail base extension includes vertically-oriented sides interconnected by a partition plate, the rail base extension sides having mating surfaces on opposing external surfaces thereof for mating with internal surfaces of the rail framing member second receiving channel walls. A fastener secures the rail base extension to the rail framing member, and a panel is secured along a longitudinal axis thereof in the first receiving channel of the rail framing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Conrtols Group, Inc.
    Inventor: William Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 10047534
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately modifying a concrete slab on subsided ground by injecting an expandable resin below the concrete slab more than once, which also allows for easy control of the work process. The method of the present invention as a means for resolution includes performing the following steps: on a concrete slab in an area including a region where ground subsidence has occurred, determining points to drill injection holes for injecting an expandable resin at a pitch of 0.5 to 2.0 m in a grid pattern; injecting an expandable resin below a point where the subsidence of the concrete slab is severest and expanding the expandable resin to push up the concrete slab at most 30 mm more than once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: UPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobukazu Matsudo, Koji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10041263
    Abstract: A system for fixing an opening within a structure includes a planar front member including an opening, a rear member including first and second outer portions and a central portion connected at a pivot point. The first and second outer portions include first and second hooks, respectively, adjacent to the pivot point. A spring extends between the first and second hooks. The first and second outer portions includes first and second elongated slots and the central portion includes a slot. The system further includes a handle including a body, and the body of the handle is threaded through the first and second elongated slots and the slot of the rear member and the opening of the front member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventors: Chris Vicious, Jorge Ordonez Maluf
  • Patent number: 10034473
    Abstract: A below ground blind assembly for concealing a hunter below ground includes a box that is selectively positioned in a hole in the ground thereby facilitating a hunter to sit in the box. A cover is removably positioned on the box to conceal the hunter. In this way game is inhibited from seeing the hunter. The cover having an opening therein and a weapon is selectively extended outwardly therefrom. In this way the hunter may shoot the game from the box. A power supply is coupled to the box and the power supply selectively supplies power to an extrinsic electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Douglas Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 10030809
    Abstract: A beam-receiving masonry unit bears an outdoor condenser component of a split air conditioning system. The masonry unit generally includes first and second faces each having at least one opening defined by one or more structurally supportive edges. The first face, the second face, and the space between them are sized to incorporate the unit into a block wall or foundation. The openings are positioned to receive a condenser support beam, and the structurally supportive edges in the faces bear the condenser support beam. The unit resists rotation of the beam after the unit is incorporated into a block wall or foundation. A fill opening allows cementitious fill to enter into the unit to bond the unit to a block wall or foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: J.F.R. ENTERPRISES
    Inventor: Jay F. Rowland
  • Patent number: 10030405
    Abstract: A pushing-out apparatus for an extendible mast includes a mast storing unit, a mast pushing-out unit and a mast pushing-out driving unit. The storing unit stores an extendible mast including stages of foldable trusses in a state that the stages are folded. The pushing-out unit is stored in the storing unit around the stage-folded mast stored in the storing unit. The driving unit moves the pushing-out unit to a projecting position in an outside of the storing unit while the stages of the mast are folded, sequentially extend out the folded stages of the mast stored in the storing unit by the pushing-out unit from the storing unit and push out the extended stages from the pushing-out unit of the projecting position in a side of the pushing-out unit opposing to the storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Jun Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10020773
    Abstract: Photovoltaic mounting systems and coupling assemblies for mounting photovoltaic modules are provided. The mounting systems may include short extruded base members that are mounted onto the supporting surface at approximate locations on the supporting surface, and coupling assemblies that may slide along the length of the base members during installation and be locked at particular positions on the length of the base members. The coupling assemblies may be coupled to connectors that in turn couple to two photovoltaic modules. In operation, the installer may first determine approximate locations on which to mount the base members and mount all required base members, and then, place the coupling assemblies at desired locations, lock the coupling assemblies at the desired locations, position the photovoltaic modules in the connectors of the coupling assemblies, and move to the next set of coupling assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: David Molina, Tyrus Hudson
  • Patent number: 10011994
    Abstract: A flat roof washer and heat welding installation system (1) for securing rigid roofing panels and overlaying membranes to a flat roof truss system comprising one or more wheeled carts having a plurality of screw guns (12) and/or heat welding heads (16) arranged in grid patterns to allow for quick and even installation of screwed washers and heat welds on a flat roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Bradley D. Market
  • Patent number: 9982427
    Abstract: A concrete insert for metal deck formed concrete includes an elongate, generally planar body having opposite upper and lower faces, and opposite first and second longitudinal ends. A rod opening is located between the first and second longitudinal ends and extends through the upper and lower faces of the elongate, generally planar body. A female screw thread extends at least partially about a perimeter of the rod opening and protrudes at least one of above the upper face and below the lower face. The female screw thread is configured to threadably mate with a male thread of a threaded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Robert Grahek, Abbas A. Moiyadi
  • Patent number: 9923508
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting unit for solar panels that simplifies the complexity of storage, transit and in-field installation of solar electric generation systems. According to one embodiment, the mounting unit comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and a pair of panel guides, each formed integral with and adjacent to an opposing side of the top panel. Each panel guide includes a horizontal portion for supporting a solar panel and a vertical portion for providing an air channel between a bottom surface of the solar panel and an upper surface of the top panel. The air channel enables natural convection to cool the solar panel and optionally a power conversion device used within the system, thereby improving the solar conversion efficiency of the system. An improved method for installing a solar electric generation system is also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cowatt Energy, LLC.
    Inventors: Cole Brady, William Tolhurst
  • Patent number: 9874016
    Abstract: A wedge assembly for post tensioning concrete includes one or more wedges and a wedge ring. Each wedge includes an outer surface having a circumferential groove formed thereon. The wedge ring is adapted to fit into the groove of the wedges and retain the wedges to a strand. The wedge ring including a gap adapted to allow the wedge ring to be installed from the side of the wedges. When installed to the strand, the wedges may form a clearance fit maintained by the wedge ring. At least one wedge may include a guide adapted to assist with the separation of the wedges when installed to the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Felix Sorkin
  • Patent number: 9856644
    Abstract: A reconfigurable modular partition system having a plurality of different types of interchangeable (wall or ceiling) modules with different types of compatible connection components, each connection component being configured to align with another connection component at an interface to form an interface connection (e.g., channel) for securing the connection components together with one or more universal connection interface members. The interface is configured for on-demand reconfiguration without laborious alteration to aspects of the partition system, modules, and components thereof. Reconfiguration of modules is facilitated by removing the universal connection interface member from the channel, thereby releasing the attachment mechanism and allowing rearrangement of the module(s). Replacement of the universal connection interface member secures the reconfigured modules in place in the rearranged partition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DIRTT Environmental Solutions, LTD
    Inventors: Geoff Gosling, Mogens F. Smed, Patrick John Harris
  • Patent number: 9834924
    Abstract: Seismic damage reducing system for partitions. A seismic protective structure (100) for forming part of a board partition (190) and for limiting damage to the board partition (190) when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, is described. The seismic protective structure (100) comprising a breaking mechanism (107) introduced near an upper corner and/or lower corner of board partition (190), wherein the breaking mechanism (107) is adapted for, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, intentionally causing damage of the board partition (190) thereby releasing stress from the remainder of the board partition (190).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Etex Building Performance International SAS
    Inventors: Pauline Lopez, Roger Arese, Emmanuel Vial, Crescenzo Petrone, Gennaro Magliulo
  • Patent number: 9822521
    Abstract: An assembly outdoor balcony are made up of a plurality of columns, cross beams, beams, adjustable hanging elements, wall-assembled hanging elements and balcony panels, wherein the columns are disposed at interval to form the whole periphery of the balcony; the cross beams can be quickly assembled onto the columns through a beam hanger; the adjustable hanging element allows the joint angle between two beams to be different depending on the environment and needs. All component elements are aluminum alloy materials, which are assembled by mutual engagement. Therefore, the assembly outdoor balcony can be assembled, disassembled and adjusted quickly based on the on-site environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventors: Chingyao Kuo, Norman William Liefke
  • Patent number: 9803329
    Abstract: The expansive soil resistant foundation system includes a foundation frame having footings forming a grid pattern. The grid pattern contains a plurality of spaces within the pattern. Each space defines a main swell duct. Each main swell duct may be provided with one or more sub-swell ducts. The swell ducts permit free expansion and contraction of the expansive soil. A vent extends from each swell duct to expel trapped air. A drainage system is distributed throughout the foundation frame to eliminate accumulation of underground water. The swell ducts, vents, and the drainage system alleviate potential pressures that can be exerted on the foundation from the expansion and contraction of the expansive soil, which can lead to cracks and structural failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Refat Ahmed Ibrahim El-Sheikhy, Mosleh Ali Al-Shamrani
  • Patent number: 9797135
    Abstract: Building structures can be fabricated at an offsite, and then assembled at the construction site. The building structures can include beams and wall panels having metal attachments. The beams and wall panels can be assembled by coupling the metal attachments, for example, by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Tai Dung Nguyen, Trung Quoc Tran