Patents Examined by Jeanette Chapman
  • Patent number: 7856784
    Abstract: Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove (6) and the tongue (7) are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pergo AG
    Inventor: Goram Martensson
  • Patent number: 7849646
    Abstract: A gymnastic floor structure includes an elastic collective floor substrate 30 having a given area formed by arranging a plurality of plywood unit floor panels 3 equipped with a plurality of elastically supporting leg members 2 provided on a bottom surface thereof on a floor surface of a building, and an elastic layer including a flat cushioning air mat 4 and a fiber mat 5 as essential structural elements provided on the floor substrate 30. The air mat 4 includes a linking body 41 in which a pair of textile inner sheets 41a and 41b are linked by a plurality of linking threads 43 and airtight external sheets 42 and 42a entirely covering the linking body 41, and has an airtight space 44 therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: NGC Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Harinishi
  • Patent number: 7850400
    Abstract: The facing element for a stabilized soil structure comprises a body of cast material inside which a path is formed for a reinforcement strip between two points of emergence situated on a rear face of the element. This path includes two rectilinear portions which are respectively adjacent to the two points of emergence and are each arranged so as to position the strip in the same plane of emergence perpendicular to the rear face, two curved portions which respectively continue the two rectilinear portions and are arranged so as to deviate the strip from the plane of emergence, and a connection portion which joins the two curved portions to one another and has at least one loop situated outside the plane of emergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Freyssinet International (STUP)
    Inventors: Nicolas Freitag, Jean-Claude Morizot
  • Patent number: 7845136
    Abstract: A chair has a receiving area and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the receiving area. Each of the plurality of legs has a first portion extending at an angle outwardly from the receiving area and a second portion extending vertically from an end of the first position opposite the receiving area. The second portion extends vertically downwardly. A plurality of pin members are respectively formed at a bottom of the plurality legs. Each of the plurality of pin members extends downwardly from a bottom of second portion opposite the first portion so as to have a pointed end opposite the bottom of the second portion. The first portion has a length substantially longer than a length of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Felix L. Sorkin
  • Patent number: 7845131
    Abstract: A crack inducer controls propagation of cracks in set concrete containing reinforcing bars. The crack inducer has an elongated, rigid core that is relatively narrow in a direction that is parallel to outer surfaces of the concrete. The core has a core width in a first plane that intersects the outer surfaces of the volume, that is at least 20% of the concrete volume width so that a crack in the volume of concrete is induced to propagate from the core and along the first plane. A plurality of spaced cross-plates are connected to the core and a water-stop may be included around part of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Engineered Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Reginald D. Hough
  • Patent number: 7841154
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling multi-piece structural components, such as architectural columns, capitals, and bases, are disclosed. In one embodiment a column assembly is disclosed, comprising a first column portion and a second column portion. The first column portion includes a flange having a first keyed surface on which predetermined surface features are defined. The second column portion includes a second keyed surface that is configured to engage the first keyed surface. The second keyed surface includes a keying material having surface features that intermesh with the predetermined surface feature such that the first and second column portions are desirably aligned when mated. The surfaces features of the second keyed surface are defined in the keying material as a result of compressive engagement between the keying material and the predetermined surface features of the first keyed surface when the column portions are mated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Barney J. Auman
  • Patent number: 7836661
    Abstract: A method of camouflaging a structure against a background having a generally uniform composition of hue, saturation and brightness. In one embodiment, spaced regions on the exterior of a structure are colored with differing colors and regions between the spaced regions are colored with a gradient of the differing colors so as to create a gradual color transition between the spaced regions. In another embodiment, at least one reflector and, optionally at least one color filter, are located on a structure to reflect light in the foreground to a vantage point, and optionally filter such light, so as to effect a blending of at least a portion of the structure into the background when viewed from the vantage point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: John J. LaRue
  • Patent number: 7832165
    Abstract: A subfloor assembly for supporting a floor on a substrate includes a plurality of lower subfloor panels and a plurality of upper subfloor panels. The lower subfloor panels are resiliently disposed over the substrate while the upper subfloor panels are disposed over the lower subfloor panels. Each of the upper subfloor panels has at least one pocket and the pocket is disposed over a void that is provided between adjacent lower subfloor panels. An anchor is positioned in each pocket and is attached to the substrate. The anchor also engages a surface of a shoulder of at least one of the lower subfloor panels that is exposed under the pocket to thereby limit resilient upward movement of the subfloor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Connor Sport Court International, Inc.
    Inventor: Erlin A. Randjelovic
  • Patent number: 7827754
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7823334
    Abstract: The present invention generally encompasses a ridge cap roofing product that is formed from a composite material. The ridge cap has a cross section that is generally in the shape of an inverted V with a rounded apex and includes a front section and a back section. The front section has a straight lower edge. The back section has a lowered edge that tapers both upward and inward. The tapered shape of the ridge cap's back section insures that installed ridge caps lie flat and that a covered ridge or hip does not have a saw tooth appearance. The ridge cap of the present invention is somewhat flexible so that it can be used with roofs that have a range of pitches. In one embodiment, the top surface of the ridge cap's front section is textured or contoured so that it simulates certain conventional shingles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tamko Building Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal J. Jolitz
  • Patent number: 7819377
    Abstract: A foam filling member that can hold a foam sheet in a looped shape stably, without increasing the number of components, to provide improved vibration suppression and sound insulation. The strip-like foam sheet is formed in a looped shape by bending round it, so that both end portions of the foam sheet are overlapped with each other in a thickness direction thereof to form an overlapped portion therein. Then, insertion shafts of a clip are inserted through the overlapped portion, so that the overlapped portion is held in sandwich relation between a base portion and a head portion to form a foam filling member. Then, a supporting portion of the fixing portion of the clip is inserted in a fixing hole of an inner panel and fixed to the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kinpara, Shinji Muto, Shinpei Nishikawa, Takehiro Ui
  • Patent number: 7810297
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: UNILIN BEHEER B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7810291
    Abstract: A drainage tile used on a footing of a foundation to promote drainage of water along the footing and away from a foundation wall. The drainage tile comes in lengths that are less than the length of the footing. The drainage tile can be secured together with other drainage tiles to span the length of the footing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Kevin McPherson
  • Patent number: 7805909
    Abstract: A roofing shingle has low density granules adhered to at least a headlap region on a front surface of the roof shingle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Yishien H. Teng, Sanjay Mansukhani
  • Patent number: 7802799
    Abstract: A method is provided for joining a metallic member to a structure made of a composite matrix material. One or more surfaces of a portion of the metallic member that is to be joined to the composite matrix structure is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting studs. The surface including the studs is brought into engagement with a portion of an uncured composite matrix material so that fibers of the composite matrix material intertwine with the studs, and the metallic member and composite structure form an assembly. The assembly is then companion cured so as to join the metallic member to the composite matrix material structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Edmund B. Semmes
  • Patent number: 7794243
    Abstract: A ground connector including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first member with a threaded post, a second member pivotably connected to the first member, and a pusher on the first member. The second member includes a stepped surface configured to be engaged by the pusher to clamp a pedestal directly between the first and second members. The second section is movably located on the threaded post and configured to directly contact and clamp a conductor towards the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Burndy Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Rzasa, Peter M. Wason
  • Patent number: 7793466
    Abstract: An arrangement for a building (10), in particular a housing unit (18) mobile between two positions, one supported on the ground and the other floating, including a frame (12), floating elements (14) and guiding elements (16), designed to be installed in a flood-risk area. The guiding elements (16) include at least two masts (32) fixed in the ground and arranged in the median plane of the construction along an axis F substantially parallel to the flow direction of the water and collars (34), designed to slide along the masts (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Frederic de Cherance
  • Patent number: 7788879
    Abstract: A structural panel for a building structure includes first and second stud members each including a neck. Openings and venturi bridges are formed in the neck. At least one flange is attached to the neck. A foam panel extends between the studs. The openings in the neck limit the heat transferred from the stud to the edge of the foam panel. The venturi bridges in the neck also limit the transfer of heat from the neck to the edge of the foam panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Global Building Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Brandes, James L. Beavers
  • Patent number: 7779594
    Abstract: A siding panel of a siding assembly has a nailing hem and a first upwardly opening channel connected to the nailing hem. A downwardly opening channel is connected to the first channel. An upper portion of an upper course forms a portion of the downwardly opening channel. An upper shoulder extends inwardly and upwardly from the upper course to an upper edge of a lower course. A lower shoulder extends inwardly and upwardly from a lower edge of the lower course. A planar member extending upwardly from the lower shoulder, the lower shoulder and a portion of the lower course form a second upwardly opening channel. A rib of an insulating panel is received in the first downwardly opening channel. A projection is received by the second upwardly opening channel. A shoulder abuts the upper shoulder of the siding panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Associated Materials, LLC
    Inventors: Jack T. Mowery, James Zechinati, Benjamin L. McGarry
  • Patent number: 7779499
    Abstract: A method for assembly of a stay includes a series of steps that include connecting in the vicinity of an anchoring zone, a new group of N reinforcements to a shuttle located within the sheath of a stay to be installed. The shuttle is driven towards another anchoring zone by means of driving and guiding means. When the shuttle has arrived substantially in the vicinity of the anchoring zone, and as long as entangling is detected between the driving and guiding means in a portion contained substantially between the shuttle and the first anchoring zone, the shuttle is rotated about its main axis in the opposite direction to the said entangling. The group of N reinforcements is then separated from the shuttle. Each reinforcement of the group is tensioned between the anchoring zones. The preceding steps are repeated until the installation of the reinforcements is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Freyssinet International (STUP)
    Inventors: Benoit Lecinq, Sebastien Petit, Francois Bignon, Jerome Stubler