Patents Examined by James M Ference
  • Patent number: 10975563
    Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections or chains. The linked sections include a plurality of individual segments linked end to end. As the linked segments are extended, each of the individual segments of the linked chains engage individual segments of adjacent linked sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual segments of the linked sections disengage from the individual segment of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up into a multi-sided form for compact storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Tower Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David George Kensinger, Steven George Kensinger, Eric T. Ohme, Dale A. Ohme
  • Patent number: 10968683
    Abstract: A door include a first skin, a second skin, and a glazing unit. The first skin includes a first skin body portion, and a first flange portion extending inward from the first skin body portion. The first skin body portion has a first tip. A second skin includes a second skin body portion, and a second flange portion extending inward from the second skin body portion. The second skin body portion has a second tip. A glazing unit has an edge disposed adjacent to and between the first tip and the second tip. The first flange portion and the second flange portion provide an interlocking structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Plastpro 2000, Inc.
    Inventors: Shirley Wang, Jared Andrew Garrett, Scott Evert Johnson, Sungste Lin
  • Patent number: 10967224
    Abstract: A functional training rig kit includes a box and a plurality of components adapted to fit within the box. At least some of the components and the box include elements by which the components are adapted to be attached to the outside of the box to provide at least one functional training rig attached to the outside of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Beaverfit Limited
    Inventors: Tom Beaver, Jim Beaver
  • Patent number: 10961705
    Abstract: There is provided a ceiling baffle system having at least one ceiling support member and at least one baffle extending transversely relative to the at least one support member. The baffle has a baffle body portion with a baffle upper edge portion. At least one receiving slot extends from the upper edge into the body and receives the ceiling support member therewithin for coupling and suspending the baffle from the ceiling support member. At least one spacer extends parallel relative to the support member and has a spacer member body portion and a spacer member lower edge portion. At least one baffle retaining slot extends from the lower edge portion into the spacer member body portion. The baffle retaining slot receives at least the upper edge portion of the baffle to position, angularly orient and retain the baffle relative to the spacer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ivekter Inc.
    Inventors: Le Yu, Douglas G. Barlett
  • Patent number: 10954669
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing a grout space provided between a backing wall and a veneer layer. The grout space sealing apparatus includes a deflector that is installed at an intersection of a backing wall and a horizontal surface and a sealing member that is positionable over the deflector and extends onto the backing wall above the deflector and/or across the horizontal surface in front of the deflector. The grout space sealing apparatus causes water that has permeated the exterior veneer to run down an exterior surface of the sealing member. The water is directed along the exterior surface of the sealing member away from the backing wall and towards weep holes provided in the veneer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Scott W. Sander, Ronald Glaze
  • Patent number: 10954670
    Abstract: An improved fire-blocking gasket profile for a fire-rated joint, such as a head-of-wall assembly. Fire-rated joints are aimed at inhibiting or preventing fire, heat, or smoke from leaving one portion of a building and entering another portion of a building. Fire-rated joints can also accommodate movement between adjacent building structures, such as between a ceiling and the top of a wall. The improved fire-blocking gasket profile includes a first layer formed of an intumescent material, a second layer formed of a foil lining and a third layer formed of the vinyl profile. The vinyl profile includes an air gap with the intumescent material positioned therein. A vertical portion of the vinyl profile is positioned between a header track and a wallboard in the fire-rated joint. A horizontal portion of the vinyl profile is positioned at least partially within a deflection gap and sealingly engages with the ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: California Expanded Metal Products Company
    Inventor: Donald Anthony Pilz
  • Patent number: 10947762
    Abstract: An articulating bracket for a hanging door. The articulating bracket is a two-part structure having a top piece and a bottom piece rotatably coupled together. The bottom piece attaches to a door, and the top piece extends upward from the bottom piece, with a roller wheel attached to the top piece and adapted to roll along a rail mounted above the door. The articulating bracket is particularly advantageous for a pair of doors that are coupled together at their proximal edges. With a first articulating bracket attached at one extreme top position of the first door and a second articulating bracket at the other extreme top position of the second door, one of the articulating brackets is affixed to a supporting structure and the other is free to move with the roller wheel along the rail. As the roller wheel is moved, both of the brackets rotate to follow the outward rotation of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Monadnock Millwork, LLC
    Inventors: Gregg Vincent Summers, Alwin Golosinda Guittard, Peter C. Delaney, Derek Delaney
  • Patent number: 10948002
    Abstract: A mounting assembly disposable on a nail strip seam rib of a building surface includes a mounting body having an exterior, which in turn comprises a slot configured to separately receive a plurality of different nail strip seam rib profiles. The mounting assembly also includes an insert that is at least partially disposable in the slot, and a threaded fastener that extends through the mounting body, into the slot, and engages the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
    Inventor: Dustin M. M. Haddock
  • Patent number: 10934724
    Abstract: A tile levelling device (10) includes a base portion (12) having an upper surface (14) and an opposing lower surface (16), the lower surface (16) being substantially planar; two stems (20) each having a proximal end frangibly connected to the base portion (120) and a distal end connected to a body (32), a generally rectangular hole (34) being defined by the stems (20) the base portion upper surface (14) and the body (32), the hole (34) being adapted to receive a wedge (50); and a stiffening formation (70) located at or near the interface between each stem (20) and the body (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: LEVTEC SYSTEMS PTY LTD
    Inventor: Michael Gorton
  • Patent number: 10937344
    Abstract: In one general aspect, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a display case door that includes an insulated panel assembly that is transparent to visible light. The door further includes a door frame extending about and secured to a peripheral edge of the insulated panel assembly, an electronic display overlaying the insulated panel assembly, and at least one display retainer secured to the door frame and having a coupling end that mates with the electronic display to releasably secure the display to the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Anthony, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Artwohl, Jeffery W. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 10934721
    Abstract: Floor panels which are provided with a mechanical locking system including tongue and grooves provided with protrusions and cavities which are displaceable in relation to each other. A set of floor panel provided with a locking system including a displaceable tongue in a displacement groove in a first edge of a first floor panel, cooperating for vertical locking of the edges with a tongue groove in adjacent second edges of a second floor panel, the locking system further including a locking strip with a locking element in one edge which cooperates, for horizontal locking of the edges, with a locking groove in an adjacent edge, the displaceable tongue includes a protrusion and the displacement groove a cavity, the protrusion is slideable against a wall of the cavity to obtain a displacement of the tongue in a first direction perpendicular to the edges and thereby the vertical locking of the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Christian Boo
  • Patent number: 10933569
    Abstract: A method of forming a headrest assembly includes providing a first mold that encloses a first cavity in a closed condition. A support is positioned in the first cavity. A first material is blow molded into the first cavity and around a portion of the support to form a core part. The core part and support are removed from the first mold. A second mold encloses a second cavity in a closed condition. The core part and the support are placed into the second mold in an open condition. A fluid is injected into the core part through the support. The second mold is converted to the closed condition. A second material is injection molded into the second cavity and around the core part to form an outer shell around the core part. A fluid is withdrawn from the core part through the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 10932581
    Abstract: A metal seat stretcher that is configured for easy mounting to the seat box, and furniture items including the same. The disclosed stretcher may be mounted in such a way so as not be directly mounted to the forward or rearward rails, thus preserving the strength and integrity of the rails by not subjecting them to perforation from a multitude of staples. Instead, the front end of the metal seat stretcher mounts to a clip rail that is secured to the inside of the front rail, and back end of the stretcher is secured to a seat back upright. In some embodiments, securing of the disclosed seat stretcher is done with a single screw at the front end and a single self-tapping bolt at the back end (though more fasteners may also be utilized). This provides for rapid and easy assembly of the furniture item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hawkins, Jason Lambert, Joe Kushner
  • Patent number: 10927591
    Abstract: A door frame is comprised of extruded door frame elements, each coupled with an extruded molding, and each including a compartment for containing an elongated light emitting element that is coterminous with the extruded door frame element and emits light evenly along its length and away from a wall. The compartment includes a back wall and an outer side wall with a flanged end. One or more light sources supply light to the lighting element. A controller and a sensor activate the light source upon detection of a stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Joseph Brychell
  • Patent number: 10914071
    Abstract: A construction product described herein includes a fiber core that includes a plurality of entangled glass fibers. The fiber core also includes a binder that bonds the plurality of entangled glass fibers together and an Aerogel material that is homogenously or uniformly disposed within the fiber core. In some instances, the fiber core includes between 40 and 80 weight percent of the Aerogel material. The construction product has an R-value of at least 6.5 per inch, a flame spread index of no greater than 5, and a smoke development index of no greater than 20 as measured according to the ASTM E-84 tunnel test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Guodong Zheng, Luke S Weith, Malay Nandi, Lance Wang, Jawed Asrar
  • Patent number: 10907376
    Abstract: A self-building tower comprising a plurality of tower sections adapted to be connected in a sequence to form a modular tower, and a tower feeding system having a feeder sleeve block. The feeder sleeve block is elevated above a horizontal surface by a support column, and has a feeder aperture which allows tower sections to be positioned between the feeder aperture to be fed upwardly through the feeder sleeve block. The feeder sleeve block supports the modular tower in a position perpendicular to the horizontal surface. The tower feeding system has a hoist mechanism for raising each tower section through the feeder aperture, allowing additional tower sections to be attached to the lowermost tower section in the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Anthony J. Bonilla
  • Patent number: 10900231
    Abstract: A building element is provided which comprises a panel of non-metallic material having a pair of flat and parallel faces, namely a top face and a bottom face, and a plurality of lateral faces extending between the flat and parallel faces, at least one beam of metallic material, having a pair of opposed faces, namely a proximal face and a distal face, and a plurality of connection elements of metallic material that rigidly connect the at least one beam to the panel. Each beam is arranged along a respective lateral face of the panel with the proximal face in contact with the lateral face. Each connection element is a plate element comprising a first portion, which is inserted into a respective seat provided on a respective lateral face of the panel and is fixed therein by an adhesive, and a second portion which protrudes from said respective lateral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ADIGE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Cristiano Loss, Sergio Raso
  • Patent number: 10893751
    Abstract: A chair back (2) comprising an upper back rest section (2), and a lower section (30) adapted to support the back rest section (2) relative to a chair seat (14), wherein the lower section (30) comprises a pair of resiliently flexible arcuate bands (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Perch Dynamic Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Simon Dennehy, Philip Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10883279
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10882427
    Abstract: Seat assemblies and methods for fabricating seat assemblies are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat base portion. A seat backrest portion is configured to extend substantially upright from the seat base portion. An armrest sub-assembly is configured to move between a stowed position that is one of substantially within and laterally adjacent to the seat backrest portion and an extended position that is generally forward of the seat backrest portion. At least a portion of the armrest sub-assembly translates along an incline relative to the seat base portion during movement from the stowed position towards the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Allen Davis, Salvador Gonzalez, Timothy O'Hara