Patents Examined by Jeffrey O'Brien
  • Patent number: 12263699
    Abstract: A multi-pedal-controlled caster and a method for using the caster are provided. The multi-pedal-controlled caster includes a main body support, a connecting rod, an orientation mechanism, a braking mechanism, a reset mechanism, a first inner tooth member, a second inner tooth member, a pair of wheel members and three elastic members, where the main body support is relatively rotatable and is combined with the connecting rod, and the first inner tooth member and the second inner tooth member are fixedly mounted on the connecting rod. A multifunctional pedal is treaded to push a first warping plate to make the first warping plate clamped into a first recess portion of the first inner tooth member, so that the caster can run in an orientated manner; and the multifunctional pedal is treaded again to push an auxiliary braking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Fujian Secure Medical Technology CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yebing Jie, Xiaolin Shen
  • Patent number: 12264520
    Abstract: An anti-ligature door system that utilizes an anti-ligature hinge to operatively couple the door to the door frame. The anti-ligature hinge has an assembled leaf portion formed from a pair of leaves that are operatively coupled together using one or more pins. The anti-ligature cap that is operatively coupled to the leaf portion has a body with one or more projections extending therefrom. The one or more projections may comprise a leaf projection that is configured to be located between the first leaf and the second leaf and operatively coupled to the first leaf or the second leaf. The one or more projections may further comprise a knuckle projection that is configured to be operatively coupled to a knuckle of the first leaf or the second leaf, such as by being inserted into a knuckle aperture formed by the inner surface of the knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Danilo Favero Gomes, Betty Kay Ward
  • Patent number: 12258803
    Abstract: A hinge element for a large domestic appliance contains a main body as well as a functional body which includes a plastic material. Accordingly, the main body and the functional body are connected to one another non-releasably. Ideally, a large domestic appliance, in particular a large domestic refrigerator, contains a housing in which a receiving space is formed. The domestic appliance has a closure element by which the receiving space can be closed, and the hinge element hingedly attaches the closure element to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Gerstmayr, Johannes Köpf, Christian Schmid, Helmut Steichele
  • Patent number: 12258805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-part hinge device for a door or a window, comprising a first housing part (20) and a second housing part (30), which in the assembled state form a door hinge housing (19), and a rod (15) which extends in the first housing part (20) and second housing part (30) along the axial direction (60) thereof, wherein the rod (15) has at least three successive—a first, a second and a third-rod sections (16, 17, 18). The first rod section (16) is supported in the first housing part (20) by a clamping element (50), and the third rod section (18) supports the second housing part (30). In the region of the second rod section (17), the rod (15) is adjustable relative to the first housing part (20) in two directions at an angle to each other and independently of each other, and the two directions at an angle to each other are arranged transversely to the axial direction (60) of the rod (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Jansen AG
    Inventors: Martin Hofmann, Julian Sturm, Dominik Eggert, Nico Spinelli, Uwe Werner, Marco Zäch, Stefan Brunnschweiler, Ivo Lenherr
  • Patent number: 12252900
    Abstract: A hardware assembly is provided with a threaded handle for a drawer or door. A threaded rod is provided for threaded engagement with the threaded handle, with a length to extend through the drawer or door. A threaded fastener is sized for threaded engagement with the threaded rod to engage the drawer or door spaced apart from the handle to fasten the handle to the drawer or door. At least one weakened region is formed in the threaded rod to permit separation of an unused portion of the rod from an installed portion of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG. CORP.
    Inventor: Michael Glaser
  • Patent number: 12241298
    Abstract: A hinge system for use with frameless glass shower doors is presented. The hinge system is self-closing or self-centering and includes angular adjustability in two planes to aid in door alignment. The door hinge system further includes drop-in pivot pins which aid in shower door installation and also includes adapter plates that allow for installation to glass walls and further includes adapter plates that allow door panels equipped with the hinge system to be installed as fixed panels at various angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: C.R. LAURENCE CO., INC.
    Inventor: Marco Gaebel
  • Patent number: 12226007
    Abstract: A detachable shopping handle device includes a handgrip, an arm and a clamp for gripping shopping cart handles. The clamp may be sized and configured to snap onto the handle or the clamp may open to fit over the handle and close to grip it. The device arm may telescope or fold. The device may include two spaced-apart clamps. The clamp may be detachable from the arm. The arm may include a hook for carrying a shopping bag. The device may include a rechargeable battery and a connection for charging a phone. A carrying case may be used to hold the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventor: Paul L. Williamson
  • Patent number: 12227985
    Abstract: A damping apparatus for glove compartments, includes the following: an elastic element designed so as to be stretched by a relative movement of two components that are movable in relation to one another, whereby a damping effect of the relative movement of the components is produced; a stopping apparatus designed so as to contact the elastic element during the relative movement of the two movable components and to deform such that, from the start of the contact, there results a change in the damping effect caused by the elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Florian Düll, Christian Statt
  • Patent number: 12213405
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an accessory attachment apparatus for use in conjunction with a handle mounting apparatus. Each of the accessory attachment apparatus and the handle mounting apparatus are configured to be coupled to a main shaft of a weed trimmer. The accessory attachment apparatus may include a shaft collar clamp configured to be coupled to the main shaft and including at least one attachment hole for receiving a coupling rod extending from an accessory attachment member of the accessory attachment apparatus. The accessory attachment member may be coupled to a mounting portion of the handle mounting apparatus. A receiving portion of the handle mounting apparatus may be pivotally coupled to the mounting portion and may be configured to receive a shaft of a handle accessory designed for improved control and ergonomics of the weed trimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Robbie Hamilton
  • Patent number: 12209449
    Abstract: A power-assist device (1) with a piston rod (8), which is mounted movably in a housing (7) and has a first position and a second position, and with a preferably elastic return element (12), which can be arrested by a positionally variable arresting part (10) and which, in the unlocked state, can transmit an assisting force to the piston rod (8) and, in the arrested state, is decoupled in terms of force from the piston rod (8), such that, in the unlocked state, as a result of the piston rod (8) being moved into the first position, the arresting part (10) is moved out of an unlocking position into an arresting position, which enables arresting of the restoring return (12) only within a limited time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventor: Johannes Geng
  • Patent number: 12209446
    Abstract: An adjustment system comprising: a pivot nut comprising a pivot nut aperture feature configured to accept the lower portion of a pivot bolt; a floor mount having a slot in which the pivot nut is slidingly engaged so as to have a movement including forward-backward, side-to-side and rotational, the floor mount having a floor mount aperture that aligns with the pivot nut aperture; and a cover configured to mount over the floor mount and engage with the pivot nut so as to move with the pivot nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: 3B Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Haney, Johnny W. Brown, Jr., William W. Brown
  • Patent number: 12202417
    Abstract: A grommet includes: a small-diameter cylinder portion through which a wire harness is inserted; a large-diameter cylinder portion including a harness draw port provided at a tip of the small-diameter cylinder portion and configured to draw the wire harness to an inner side of a panel, and an annular attachment recess fitted into a mounting hole of the panel; and a harness regulator protruding inward from a peripheral edge of the harness draw port of the large-diameter cylinder portion and configured to regulate a routing path of the wire harness by directing the routing path to either a left side or a right side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Hanashima
  • Patent number: 12203306
    Abstract: A guide system includes a guide rail and a guiding device, and is movably supported between a retracted end position and an extended end position along the guide rail. A cover can cover a front face of the guide rail, and is movable between a first operating position, in which the cover at least partially covers the front face of the guide rail, and a second operating position, in which the cover at least partially reveals the front face. An actuating device can move the cover from the first operating position into the second operating position, and a coupling device can releasably couple the guiding device to the actuating device in a partial section of the guide rail. When coupled, the actuating device can be entrained by the guiding device so as to move the cover from the first operating position into the second operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Duer
  • Patent number: 12188291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a prevention device that is installed on a door frame of an opening/closing door to prevent sudden closing of the opening/closing door, and more particularly, to an impact noise prevention device for an opening/closing door which is configured to install wings on one side of a hinge fixed to the door frame, allows the wings to rotate around the hinge by the force of the wind passing between the opening/closing door and the door frame, i.e. the wind force, thereby reducing the impact and noise caused by the sudden closing of the opening/closing door, and is installed in the door frame to conveniently perform its installment and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Joong Bo Yun
  • Patent number: 12181932
    Abstract: A foldable device may include a foldable layer and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include at least one gear module that provides for synchronized movement of the hinge mechanism about a central plane of the hinge mechanism. A lock module may be coupled the hinge mechanism. The lock module may include a cam and a plate including a plurality of recesses. The lock module may selectively lock the hinge mechanism, and the foldable device, in one of a plurality of positions, based on a position of the cam in one of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Hsiang, Hung-Wei Wang, Ching-Chih Yen, Po-Kai Lai, Jeng-wen Lin
  • Patent number: 12180774
    Abstract: A hinge includes a hinge body, a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, and a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body. The hinge body has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion between an open position and a closed position. The self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from a first angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the closing force urging the first portion to the closed position. The slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from a second angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the damping force slowing a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Cosmetal Fab LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Fisher, Jeff Davis, Mason Rhine
  • Patent number: 12158034
    Abstract: A furniture drive for moving a furniture part includes a housing to be located on or in a furniture panel, and an actuating arm mounted movably relative to the housing and on which the movable furniture part can be fastened, and the housing has an end face through which the actuating arm protrudes in a relative position. A spring can exert a force onto the actuating arm, an adjustment bar can adjust the force that can be exerted onto the actuating arm by the spring, and a display can display the force adjustment carried out by the adjustment bar. The display is formed separately from the adjustment bar and can be read in an installed position of the furniture drive, in which position the housing is located completely, except for the end face, in the furniture panel of the furniture body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Gabel, Marcel Schneider
  • Patent number: 12146357
    Abstract: A fire protection securing apparatus for securing a door actuator includes a retaining plate, designed for being secured to an assembly surface, in particular door, frame or wall, wherein, perpendicular to the retaining plate, an assembly axis is defined. The fire protection securing apparatus further includes an assembly plate which is secured to the retaining plate and which is designed for receiving the door actuator, and at least one closed reaction chamber arranged between the retaining plate and the assembly plate. The apparatus also includes a drive element of thermally intumescent material which is arranged in the reaction chamber and which is designed to push the assembly plate away from the retaining plate upon thermal activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: DORMAKABA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Salutzki, Thomas Pabst, Alexander Hellwig, Volker Bienek
  • Patent number: 12134928
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a jacket defining an axis, and a rod having an end cylinder tightly slidable within the jacket and an opposite end sliding between a rest position and a working position. The end cylinder divides the jacket into a first and second variable volume compartment fluidically independent from each other, one of the first or second variable volume compartment being fluidically insulated and under vacuum, the other one fluidly communicating with the outside environment. The jacket has an abutment member having a non-return valve mechanism adapted to discharge ambient air that may be entrapped between the end cylinder and the abutment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Inventor: Luciano Bacchetti
  • Patent number: 12133605
    Abstract: A metal curtain glide includes a spherical metal core coupled to a cable and having a polymer cup formed to fit a base of the metal core. The polymer cup includes a central opening for the cable to extend therethrough. An eyelet having a circular member with a connecting member is coupled to an end of the cable. A first member of a fastener assembly is coupled to the eyelet and configured to be removably secured to a second member of the fastener assembly that is coupled to a curtain. The curtain glide remains functional if the polymer cup fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan John Luedeke