Patents Examined by Jeffrey O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11977421
    Abstract: A foldable hinge includes a base and two folding assemblies on both sides of the base and coupled to the base. The two folding assemblies are foldable relative to each other. Each folding assembly includes a rotating arm and a support member; a first end of the rotating arm is rotatably coupled to the base; the support member is rotatably coupled to a second end of the rotating arm away from the base; a side of the support member close to the base is rotatably coupled to the base and the support member is slidable in a direction approaching or away from the base. A distance between portions of two support members coupled to the rotating arms is smaller than a distance between portions of the two support members coupled to the base in response to bringing the two folding assemblies together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jieming Yang
  • Patent number: 11974670
    Abstract: An swivel glide includes a metal screw stem, a hemispherical plastic connecting seat and a hemispherical plastic base; the lower end of the metal screw stem is connected to the top of the hemispherical plastic connecting seat; the hemispherical plastic connecting seat is formed by injection molding of plastic parts, wherein the bottom of the hemispherical plastic connecting seat is provided with a cavity, a side wall of the cavity is provided with a concave arc-shaped spherical surface, wherein an outer side wall of the hemispherical plastic base is provided with a convex arc-shaped spherical surface, wherein a convex arc-shaped spherical surface is clamped in the concave arc-shaped spherical surface, and diameter of the concave arc-shaped spherical surface is 1 mm larger than diameter of the convex arc-shaped spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ningbo Hyderon Hardware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lifeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11965369
    Abstract: An adjustable hidden or invisible hinge for mounting a door-panel or window sash to a frame is provided that is useable for either rebated or flush mount applications using the same hinge. This is possible due to the use of two different types of arm systems that connect the frame part of the hinge to the sash or door part. These include a rotational lever arm system that allows for 180° guided rotational movement which is combined with a translational arm system that at the same time superimposes a translational movement of the sash movable body relative to the sash body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SFS Group International AG
    Inventors: Matteo Ferrari, Matia Ius, Stefano Cusin, Mauro Giust, Massimiliano Pitussi
  • Patent number: 11965376
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly and a vehicle and apparatus including the assembly, for maintaining a vehicle door in an open position may include at least one rod member configured to connect at a first end to the door and at a second end to a vehicle frame. A tab may be connected to and extend in at least one direction from the rod member. A plunger may be configured to be anchored in the door and including a pin configured to extend from and retract into the plunger. The pin may be configured to engage the tab when extended and disengage from the tab when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Savithramma Narayanappa, Vitthal Vishnuthreeth Arakeri, Bobby Howard Mosier
  • Patent number: 11944225
    Abstract: A track hanger (100) includes a hook (103) and an extension (104), a base member (102), and a key (403). The key is detachable from the hook, and the base member is detachable from the extension. The key can include a first major surface (401) and a second major surface (402). The first major surface can define one or more barbs (404) that facilitate one-way insertion of the key into a track (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Medline Industries LLC
    Inventors: Paige Wexler, Joshua Bobo, John Piazzi
  • Patent number: 11946304
    Abstract: A hinge for furniture or the like, which comprises a hinge arm, a hinge box that can be fixed to a door and connected, so that it can oscillate, to the hinge arm by an articulation system, that comprises a first, inner rocker which is connected, so that it can oscillate, with the hinge arm and with the hinge box by a first and a second articulation axis respectively and a second, outer rocker which is connected, so that it can oscillate, with the hinge arm and with the hinge box by a third and a fourth articulation axis respectively; the hinge further comprises a stressing lever supported so that it can oscillate by the first articulation axis of the first rocker and functionally connected to the first rocker, or supported so that it can oscillate by the third articulation axis of the second rocker and functionally connected to the second rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARTURO SALICE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Salice
  • Patent number: 11920401
    Abstract: A sliding door includes a frame and a slow close assembly. The frame is positioned along at least a portion of the sliding door and includes a protrusion configured to slide along with the sliding door. The slow close assembly is repositionable between an outward position and a compressed position. The slow close assembly includes a slow close mechanism, a spring, and a soft close latch. The slow close mechanism is laterally positioned within the slow close assembly. The spring is positioned at an end of the slow close assembly and provides an outward force onto the slow close assembly in an outward direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral direction. The soft close latch is configured to engage the protrusion as the protrusion slides along with the sliding door. The spring biases the slow close assembly into the outward position when the latch is not interfaced with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Nameer Shaaban, Andrew McClure, Riley Baggett, James Leland Marlowe
  • Patent number: 11913265
    Abstract: A vehicular door device includes an inclinable lever provided at an open-side end portion of a door opening being opened and closed by a door, based on an operation of a link mechanism formed of first and second link arms, a biasing member that biases the inclinable lever and holds the inclinable lever in an erect state, and a check mechanism that engages with the inclinable lever in the erect state by movement of the door to a full opened position, and holds the door at the full opened position. The first link arm is provided at a position close to the open-side end portion of the door opening by an opening operation of the door, and the check mechanism is provided integrally with the first link arm. Then, the inclinable lever is stored in a clearance between the door and the open-side end portion of the door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiichi Sumiya
  • Patent number: 11905745
    Abstract: Disclosed is a door hinge limiting assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a pillar bracket, a door bracket, and a flexible check strap. The pillar bracket is configured to fit on the aft-side and interior-side of the door pillar and to complement the pillar's nonplanar profile. Rather than being secured to the door pillar, the pillar bracket is secured to the forward wall in the footwell region, with the aforesaid configuration producing an interference fit with the door pillar. The strap may be comprised of nylon webbing or similar material, and in some embodiments may comprise an elastic strap to promote convenient folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Michael A Papoulias
  • Patent number: 11905750
    Abstract: A releasable hinge assembly includes a mounting bracket, a hinge bracket, and at least one spring biased locking mechanism. The mounting bracket having a first mounting plate and two pin tabs extending therefrom, at least one of the pin tabs defining a through hole therein. The hinge bracket having a second mounting plate and a knuckle extending therefrom. The knuckle defining at least one cutout that is being L-shaped. The at least one spring biased locking mechanism having a pawl arm and a pin. The at least one locking mechanism positioned within the a channel of the hinge bracket with the pawl arm positioned within and projecting from the at least one cutout. The pawl arm configured to move within the at least one cutout to push the pin beyond a second end of the knuckle and through a through hole defined in the pin tab of the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Teijin Automotive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeannette Young, Timothy Young, Daniel Edmunds
  • Patent number: 11898386
    Abstract: A door stopping system comprises a mounting member, a supporting member, a leg member, a spring member, a sleeve member, a first pin member and a second pin member. The mounting member is pivotally connected with the supporting member via the first pin member, the leg member is pivotally connected with the supporting member via the second pin member, the mounting member and the leg member are oppositely located to each other along the supporting member, the spring member is biased in between the supporting member and the leg member, and the sleeve member is slidably sleeved on the supporting member. The mounting member is configured to be removably attached to a door. The leg member is configured to contact a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Mitchell, Jordan James McCaffrey, Scott Russel Dawson, Quenten Harold Martin Rouse
  • Patent number: 11859427
    Abstract: In embodiments, a hinge includes a first hinge element for arrangement on a closing element and a second hinge element for arrangement on a frame, the first and the second hinge elements being connected to each other to pivot about a hinge axis, and at least one actuating element for adjusting the spacing of the hinge axis relative to at least one of the first and the second hinge elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: EMKA BESCHLAGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Florian Wardi
  • Patent number: 11859424
    Abstract: A counterbalance system that is set into the guide track of a tilt-in window. The counterbalance system utilizes a brake shoe that is attached to a ribbon spring. The ribbon spring has a shaped head that is retained by the brake shoe. A flexible tab is formed in the ribbon spring near the shaped head. A protrusion extends from the brake shoe. The brake shoe has a receptacle that receives and retains the shaped head of the ribbon spring, therein interconnecting the ribbon spring to the brake shoe. A cam is supported within the brake shoe. The brake shoe expands when the cam is turned. This causes the protrusion on the brake shoe to be biased against the flexible tab in the ribbon spring. This, in turn, causes the flexible tab to flex and extend away from the ribbon spring at an inclined angle. Within the guide track of the tilt-in window, the extended flexible tab acts as a barb and engages the side wall of the guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: John Evans' Sons, Incorporated
    Inventor: John R. Kunz
  • Patent number: 11851922
    Abstract: A door stopper and holder device for a door and having a distal part for anchoring to a structure adjacent the door when in a door open position, and a proximal part movably mounting onto the distal part. The proximal part is movable between an operating configuration, in either stopper mode or holder mode with the proximal part either being in abutment with the door or capturing the door therewith in the door open position, respectively, and a switching configuration in which the proximal part allows the door to be moved relative to the device which switches between the stopper and holder modes of the operating configuration. A device axis is generally perpendicular to a door plane when the door is in the door open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Amélie Major
  • Patent number: 11840861
    Abstract: A pair of foot-contacting components are magnetically coupled on both sides of the bottom frame of a corner of a sliding screen door. The magnetic coupling holds the components to one another about the frame and near to the door's lower corner. The components have foot or toe contact surfaces so that either component can be contacted by a foot or toe in such a manner that lateral movement of the user's foot or toe against the component will slide the door open or closed in its trackway. The components are shaped to facilitate contact with the user's toe/foot and are easy to put onto the door and selectively removed. The magnets are molded into components (preferably made of silicone, rubber, hard plastic, etc.) and can be quickly placed onto the door and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Theresa Harper
  • Patent number: 11834882
    Abstract: Systems and methods for swiveling a panel in relation to a panel frame are described. An exemplar panel swivel system includes a swivel support member, a housing subassembly, and a shaft. The swivel support member includes a base portion that has a first terminating end, a second terminating end, and has defined therein a shaft receiving aperture. The swivel support member further includes a raised surface extending from the first terminating end of the base portion and is designed to contact a top support structure and a securing edge extending from the second terminating end of that base portion, which is designed to contact a side support structure. The housing subassembly extends an elevated distance above the base portion. A central aperture defined in the housing subassembly aligned with the shaft receiving aperture. The shaft extends a shaft length and at least some of the shaft passes through the central aperture and the shaft receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Jon Erwin Eccleston
  • Patent number: 11834877
    Abstract: A hinge assembly to couple a door with a cabinet, for movement between open and closed positions about a vertical axis, includes a first hinge plate coupled with the cabinet and a second hinge plate coupled with the door. The second hinge plate is moveable relative to the first hinge plate about a pivot pin that extends between the first and second hinge plates. One of the first and second hinge plates includes a step with a first surface vertically offset from a body of one of the first and second hinge plates and the other of the first and second hinge plates includes a second surface that engages the first surface when the door is in the closed position. When the door is moved into the open position, the second hinge plate travels downward relative to the first hinge plate such that the first surface becomes disengaged from the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paulo Henrique Alves Manara, Ledimara Mascarello, Vinicius Simm
  • Patent number: 11834883
    Abstract: An actuating arm drive for driving a movably mounted furniture part of a furniture item, includes at least one arrangement consisting of a compression spring and at least one guiding device for guiding the compression spring. The at least one guiding device has an at least partly variable diameter in order to compensate for a radial clearance between the compression spring and the guiding device, taking into account the change in diameter of the compression spring when the compression spring is loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Krammer
  • Patent number: 11828093
    Abstract: A door chock device, including: a connecting rod having two ends and two sides; and a first and second wedge, slideably attached to opposites sides of the connecting rod through a hinge bracket attached near the long base of each wedge, the first and second wedges have opposing slopes adapted to secure a portion of a base of a hinged man-door between the first and second wedge when the first and second wedge slide toward each other. Also disclosed is a method of applying a coating to a hung hinged man-door using the man-door chock device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Erik Russo
  • Patent number: 11820170
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising a housing and one or more guards at least partially disposed in the housing. The one or more guards are independently movably coupled to the housing. The retractable guard assembly further comprises corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to the one or more guards and to the housing for biasing the one or more guards towards a fully deployed state. When the one or more guards are in the fully deployed state, contact between a fixed object and a portion of the one or more guards disposed outside the housing causes the one or more guards to transition into a retracted state, and when the contact is removed, the corresponding one or more biasing elements cause the one or more guards to transition into the fully deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon L. Spoelstra