Patents Examined by James Twomey
  • Patent number: 8881660
    Abstract: A shelf assembly for an appliance includes a shelf panel comprising a generally planar support surface and a rear edge including a raised profile extending away from the support surface. A frame is configured to be mounted to an appliance to support the shelf panel with the support surface extending generally along a horizontal plane. The frame includes an elongated rear support member. A support channel extends at least partially into the rear support member, and is configured to removably receive and capture the rear edge of the shelf panel to inhibit removal of the shelf panel from the frame in the direction of the horizontal plane. The shelf panel is selectively removable from the support channel by tilting a front edge of the shelf panel upwards to a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane. A slide latch can selectively and lockingly engage corresponding support structure of an appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Dale Simpson, Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Jeremy Van Hill, Caleb Gossens, Justin Morgan, Paul Dubina
  • Patent number: 8813957
    Abstract: A positioning frame for socket bits has a track frame and a supporting device. The track frame has at least one baseboard, at least two positioning racks and at least two holding racks. The racks are formed on the at least one baseboard. Each one of the at least two holding racks has a holding recess and an opening. The supporting device is detachably connected to the track frame and has multiple fixing boards and at least two supporting mounts. The fixing boards are movably mounted in the holding recesses of the at least two holding racks. The at least two supporting mount are securely connected to the fixing boards to abut against the at least one baseboard, and each one of the at least two supporting mounts has at least two through holes and at least two screw bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Jui-Chien Kao
  • Patent number: 8816199
    Abstract: A cable routing system includes a longitudinally-expanding body positionable within an IT rack having a frame and two or more NEMA rails coupled to the frame. A pair of mounting brackets are positioned proximate each distal end of the longitudinal-expanding body and configured to directly engage the frame of the IT rack. A cable routing tray is longitudinally affixed to the longitudinally-expanding body and configured to rout cables longitudinally along at least a portion of the longitudinally-expanding body. One or more vertical radiused supports are configured to define a minimum vertical bend radius for cables routed through the cable routing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: F. William French, Scot C. Tata, Wei Jun Feng
  • Patent number: 8800785
    Abstract: A merchandise display device includes a rear cross-bar, first and second side arms, a locking pin, and a front cross-bar that is interoperable with the locking pin to secure merchandise on the display device and to secure the display device to a vertical support member. The locking pin is carried by a side arm and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When occupying the extended position, the locking pin is adapted to engage the vertical support member to secure the merchandise display device thereto. The front cross-bar is mounted to the first and second side arms and is movable between a locked position, engaging the locking pin to prevent the locking pin from being moved out of the extended position, and an unlocked position, spaced away from the locking pin to allow movement of the locking pin out of the extended position toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Midland Metal Products
    Inventor: Andrew Kalafut
  • Patent number: 8800812
    Abstract: A holding apparatus includes a bracket and a receiving case. The receiving case is mounted to the bracket and receives a plurality of products. In addition includes a front wall, a rear wall opposite to the front wall, a bottom wall connected to the rear wall, two opposite sidewalls connected to the front wall, rear wall and the bottom wall. The front wall defines a through hole, and the through hole extends to the bottom wall. An acute angle is defined between the bottom wall and the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Cheng Lin, Zhong-Qun Li, Zhong-Liang Jian
  • Patent number: 8789710
    Abstract: A glass transport rack includes a dual sided frame, a first knee brace, a first stop arm, and a second stop arm. The dual sided frame has a first face on a first side of the dual sided frame and a second face on a second side of the dual sided frame. Each face is operable to sport a glass sheet and a position between about 5 and about 30° from vertical and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the dual sided frame. The first knee brace is operable to adjustably extend from a first longitudinal end of the dual sided frame and has a first face coincident with a plane of the first face to support the glass sheet on the first face of the dual sided frame. The first and second stop arms are adjustable independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Moore Freight Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Moore, Steve Sparks
  • Patent number: 8746646
    Abstract: An end clamp for fastening a framed PV module on a carrier profile includes a first and second part with respective tooth systems corresponding to each other. The first and second parts together comprise a first section which holds down a frame of the framed PV module onto a surface of the carrier profile, a second section which laterally fixes the frame, a third section with an opening to have a screw pass therethrough, and a fourth section which supports the end clamp on the surface of the carrier profile. The first and second parts slide one inside the other parallel to the first and second sections in at least one discrete position corresponding to a specific frame height provided between the surface and the first section. The first and second parts thereby have one respective remaining degree of freedom and a clearance fit in two other degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Schletter GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Fluhrer, Hans Urban
  • Patent number: 8733563
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a free standing display unit having a rotating base, at least one vertical support mounted on the base, and a plurality of shelves supported by the at least one vertical support. Each shelf is interchangeable between a plurality of different configurations, with a first configuration changeable to a second configuration by pivoting movement of one or more portions of the shelf between a stored position and an operational or display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Marketing, Inc.
    Inventor: Marian Fadrowski
  • Patent number: 8701900
    Abstract: A stand for supporting sound amplifiers, wherein the stand has a base for resting on a floor, an amplifier support platform on the base, the plane of said platform being slanted downwardly from front to rear, a back rest pivotally mounted on the base for pivoting between 0° and 90° to the plane of the platform, and cooperating stop means on the base and said back rest for stopping pivoting motion of the back rest beyond 90° to the plane of the platform, wherein the plane of the platform is below the plane of the back rest when the back rest is in a stored position lying adjacent the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Joshua M. Childers, John R. E. Schramlin
  • Patent number: 8678207
    Abstract: A coupling member includes two members that are fitted to each other to hold a post from either side, each of the two members including a first tapered section that gradually increases in diameter in a downward direction, and a second tapered section that gradually slopes inward in the downward direction, and the first tapered section of one member among the two members and the second tapered section of another member among the two members being disposed within the half area of the coupling member in the diametrical direction when viewed from the front side when the coupling member is fitted to the post. An assembly shelf includes the coupling member. Since the assembly shelf is configured so that one shelf board member is supported within the half area of the coupling member in the diametrical direction when viewed from the front side, the assembly shelf can be easily assembled, and a middle shelf board member can be removed from the assembly shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kawajun Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukitomo Shimazaki, Takashi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 8651600
    Abstract: A shelf and a refrigerator having such a shelf are provided. The shelf may include a support frame fixed to an inner surface of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the support frame including body having a plurality of coupling holes formed along a longitudinal direction, spaced apart at predetermined intervals, and a cover coupled to the body to selectively open and close the plurality of the coupling holes. The cover may include a fixing portion for fixing the cover to the support frame body, and a plurality of opening/closing portions extending from the fixing portion, corresponding to the plurality of the coupling holes, to independently open and close the plurality of the coupling holes. One or more of the plurality of the opening/closing portions may be moved by the shelf plate to couple the shelf plate to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minho Cheong, Moonseok Lee, Seonkyu Kim, Daesung Lee, Woonkyu Seo, Youngnam Kim
  • Patent number: 8640894
    Abstract: An outdoor table organizer assembly is provided for storing multiple items commonly used in association with an outdoor table in an organized and easily accessible manner. The assembly includes an elongated pole inserted through an outdoor table. A utensil holder has a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from an outer edge of the bottom. The bottom further has an inner edge defining a hole. The pole is inserted through the hole in the bottom of the utensil holder frictionally coupling the pole to the utensil holder. A napkin holder is coupled to the perimeter wall of the utensil holder for holding napkins and a platform is coupled to and extends outwardly from the utensil holder. A post extends upwardly from the platform for supporting a roll of paper towels when the post is inserted into the roll of paper towels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy Cronin
  • Patent number: 8613365
    Abstract: An upright assembly for a shelving system includes a tubular upper upright section having a bottom end portion, a rail assembly and a base assembly having a top end portion and a tubular lower upright section. The base assembly is adapted to stand on a surface and the top end portion of the lower upright section of the base assembly is connected to the bottom end portion of the upper upright section. An insert blade assembly connector including a blade and an alignment plate is positioned within the tubular upper and lower upright sections. The rail assembly is connected to the upper upright section and the lower upright section of the base assembly to strengthen the connection between the upper upright section and the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: L.A. Darling Company, LLC
    Inventors: Taft O'Quinn, Michael Martin, Val-Jean Duchene
  • Patent number: 8570751
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a removable module in a chassis with a sidewall defining a locking slot includes a locking member, and an operation member. The removable module includes a side plate defining a through slot, and an end plate defining a through hole adjacent to the end plate. The operation member is pivotably attached to an inner surface of the side plate. The locking member includes a mounting piece fixed to the inner surface of the side plate, and a resilient piece slantingly extending from the mounting piece. A wedge extends from the resilient piece. The operation member includes a handle and a pressing portion. The handle is operated to rotate the operation member in to make the pressing portion press the resilient piece toward the side plate, until the wedge extends through the through slot to lock in the locking slot of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8534470
    Abstract: A disassemblable hanging cart for folding chair includes a chassis, two standing poles, two reinforcement sets, and multiple hanging racks, bolts and pad sets. The chassis includes a plurality of caster sets. The two standing poles are vertically and symmetrically erected on opposite positions of the chassis. Each reinforcement set is provided between one of the two standing poles and the chassis for reinforcing the connection strength therebetween. Each hanging rack includes a cross beam, and a plurality of hanging bars for hanging folding chairs. The bolts connect the cross beams with the hanging bars. The pad sets are mounted to the hanging bars to prevent the folding chairs from falling off from the hanging cart. The hanging cart can be easily assembled, and when the hanging cart is not in use, it can be disassembled and packed in a minimum size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Mei Chuen Lin, Tzu Mei Wang
  • Patent number: 8505862
    Abstract: A quick-release retainer bracket for mounting objects to a platform, has a base plate enclosing a pocket in a center thereof, and a pair of retainer plates positionable on top of said base plate on opposed sides thereof, the base plate and retainer plates mountable on a platform with the retainer plates moveable over the base plate from a retracted position in which the retainer plates are partially overlapping a pocket to an extended region in which the retainer plates do not overlap the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventors: Cameron Richard MacKay, Yuerong Wang, Harley Edward Kelsey
  • Patent number: 8499942
    Abstract: A system and method of reinforcement of an extra-wide display shelf for a gravity-fed display system. The shelf includes a front rail, a rear rail and two side rails disposed between the front rail and the rear rail, a plurality of cross-rails extending from the front rail to the rear rail parallel to and between the side rails, and a plurality of horizontal rails disposed under the plurality of cross-rails. The reinforcement system includes a plurality of support rails disposed under and perpendicular to the plurality of horizontal rails, and a plurality of reinforcement rails disposed perpendicular to and under the plurality of support rails. The reinforcement system puts the surface of the shelf in tension or otherwise bends a center region of the surface of the shelf upward when unloaded (or when free of product) to offset downward deflection due to weight of product to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: B-O-F Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Coretti, Jr., Scott R. Hammac, Tracy M. Groholski
  • Patent number: 8479928
    Abstract: A collapsible equipment rack is described. In one or more implementations, a rack is comprised of a collapsible leg assembly and removable shelving that attaches to the collapsible leg assembly. The collapsible leg assembly is configured to form a supportive stand that supports the removable shelving, which extends away from the collapsible leg assembly and is configured to hold equipment upright. In one or more implementations, the removable shelving may be removed from the rack and the collapsible leg assembly may be folded into a closed position. In the closed position, legs of the collapsible leg assembly are drawn substantially together and are disposed substantially parallel, one leg to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Tammy L. Y. Tanabe, Todd A. Tanabe, Carl S. Tanabe, Toni L. Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8448794
    Abstract: A suspension closet includes a closet body that is made of a flexible sheet of fabric and has a top end opening. Two opposite side walls of the top opening of the closet body are respectively provided with fastening elements and form opposing cutouts. To assemble the closet, the opposing cutouts of the closet body are fit with a suspension bar first and a frame is disposed in the closet body to be coupled to the fastening elements. A top cover is then set to cover the top end opening of the closet body. In this way, the closet body can be efficiently and effectively suspended on the suspension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: I-Chen Wang
  • Patent number: 8430250
    Abstract: A friction lock adaptable spacer configured to provide suitable separation between two or more objects. The spacer may be used during the storage, transport, display, and/or use of the objects to separate them and protect them from their surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the spacer is designed to maintain a suitable separation between two or more beverage containers. The spacer has a single piece construction, which reduces assembly and disassembly labor, and also reduces materials required for construction and disposal. The spacer may be constructed from a single piece of material, such as corrugated cardboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Market International, LLC
    Inventor: Austin M. Given