Patents Examined by Jennifer I. Thissell
  • Patent number: 7107728
    Abstract: The invention provides a stabilizing device for inclusion in a stack of containers in which hazardous waste is held, wherein the stabilizing device comprises a table for supporting a container in the stack, and a base, the table being movable relative to the base so as to aid stability of the stack when the stack is subjected to external forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels Plc
    Inventor: Andrew Ronald Whitley
  • Patent number: 7017315
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for insulating a building roof involves the use of a rigid thermal insulating panel supported between roof rafters. Brackets fastened to the rafters are used to support the rigid thermal insulating panels at a predetermined distance from the roof to provide an appropriate ventilation gap between the roof and the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas N. Corwin
  • Patent number: 7017309
    Abstract: The subject invention is a sealing system for a building structure to protect the building foundation from moisture penetration, said system comprising a layer of waterproof lining placed under the foundation and adjacent to the outer walls of the foundation or the basement structure, such lining being basically a covering over and around the foundation to protect the walls and bottom of the foundation from infiltration of moisture and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas J. McNett
  • Patent number: 6990780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting structure which is arranged at two abutting structural panels (1, 2) so that said structural panels are connected with each other, comprising two pairs of clamping plates, with one of said pairs of clamping plates being fixed to one structural panel (1), and the other pair of clamping plates being fixed to the other structural panel (2). The two pairs of clamping plates abut against each other with one of their clamping plates (3, 4), and the two abutting clamping plates (3, 4) are provided with mutually aligned, undercut longitudinal slots (5) which receive a connecting plate (6) connecting the abutting two clamping plates (3, 4) with each other and being fixed to the two clamping plates (3, 4) by means of fasteners (7) which extend through said connecting plate (6). Thus, a mounting structure is provided whose manufacture is relatively easy and cost-efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Casma S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mirko Marinoni
  • Patent number: 6918219
    Abstract: A patch for patching holes in roofs, particularly holes left when roof vents are removed, includes a polymeric tray having extending peripheral flanges and an attachment plug (preferably made of lignocellulosic material such as plywood) depressed within the tray so that its upper surface is flush (or nearly so) with the flanges. The attachment plug (and the portions of the tray floor below it) may be fit into a roof hole, with the flanges resting on surrounding areas of the roof. The flanges may then be affixed to the roof so that the tray forms a supporting web which maintains the attachment plug in the hole. Shingles or other roof coverings may then be fastened to the attachment plug, and to the surrounding flanges and the roof beneath them, so that the hole is patched and the prior presence of the hole is no longer visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventor: Knute S. Olson
  • Patent number: 6912814
    Abstract: A roof edging system for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the periphery of a building roof is provided. The system includes an anchor bar releasably engageable with an anchor cleat having any desired width. After the anchor bar and anchor cleat are engaged with one another, the anchor bar and anchor cleat are secured to the exterior of the building using fasteners inserted through a number of apertures in the anchor bar and anchor cleat. The engagement of the anchor bar with the roof provides a waterproof seal between a roofing membrane placed on the roof and the anchor bar. A durable cover plate of a desired size may then be engaged with the anchor cleat and anchor bar to obscure the anchor cleat and anchor bar and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the periphery of the roof of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Metal-Era Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Inzeo, Scott A. Kittilstad
  • Patent number: 6907702
    Abstract: Siding panels and intermediate articles of their manufacture are provided. The siding panels include a central portion including an aesthetic pattern and a pair of lateral edge portions which are molded while the polymeric material is still hot or molten. One exemplary aesthetic pattern provided is a cedar shake siding pattern. Adjacent cedar shake shingle impressions have substantially the same lengths, but a plurality of bottom edges of the individual shingle impressions are beveled to give the appearance of shingles having different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Certainteed Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Gilbert, Kenneth David Bosler, Steven Craig Booz
  • Patent number: 6892506
    Abstract: The present invention provides a door with an adjustable height and an adjustable width. The door of the invention comprises a central unit, a bottom unit overlapping with the central unit to define a bottom overlapping region, a side unit overlapping with the central unit to define a side overlapping region, and a corner unit overlapping with the side unit and with the bottom unit. The height of the door may be adjusted by changing the size of the bottom overlapping region. The width of the door may be adjusted by changing the size of the side overlapping region. The corner unit is attached to the bottom unit and to the side unit in a manner ensuring that the shape of the door as a whole is rectangular at any height and width to which the door is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Mifalei Karmiel Ltd.
    Inventor: Avi Skublevitz
  • Patent number: 6889480
    Abstract: A multi-paned fenestration unit in which the glass panes are manufactured directly into the support structure without first manufacturing an insulated glass unit. The support structure is designed to provide the structural support for the glass panes without a separate spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: James Curtis Guhl, Steven Matthew Johnson, Neil Ranger Fredrick
  • Patent number: 6880298
    Abstract: A building structure (10 or 10?) has a wall (16) including a plurality of wall elements (12 or 12?). Each wall element is connected to a plurality of other wall elements so as to form the wall. Each wall element includes a connecting means for connecting the adjacent wall elements together to form the wall. The wall is formed at least three consecutively connected rings (15 or 15 and 17) of interlocking wall elements. Each of the wall elements in each ring being of the same size. Each of the wall elements in a first ring of the consecutively connecting rings being larger than the wall elements of a second ring of the consecutively connected rings and each of the elements in the second ring being larger than the wall elements of a third ring of the consecutively connected rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Brian Investment Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Davies
  • Patent number: 6877290
    Abstract: A plurality of building blocks (1) form a retaining wall (300), which may be curved, with respective side edges (6, 7) providing pivot points and a stepped base (5) of an upper block (1) being positionable on the upper surface (4) of a lower block (1). The gaps between the blocks 1, and their permeability, being made from permeable concrete, can avoid hydrostatic build up behind the wall (300). The permeability of the concrete used for the blocks (1) is in the range of 10?2 m/s to 10?4 m/s and may be in the region of 6.00×10?3 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fletcher Building Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Brett Kerry Mason
  • Patent number: 6877286
    Abstract: A thermal window insert includes at least two substantially parallel, substantially transparent sheets of flexible polymer material having a gap therebetween. The two sheets are bonded together at deformations formed in at least one of the sheets, and have a size approximately corresponding to the dimensions of a window opening in a building. A strip of resilient material is directly bonded to the sheets around the perimeter thereof, so as to seal the gap between the transparent sheets and to provide a seal between the window insert and the window opening. The invention is similar to storm windows, but is of a simpler and less expensive construction, and is easy to install, remove and store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Clearview Windows Mfg. L.L.C.
    Inventor: Terry L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6871467
    Abstract: A decking system and clip apparatus used therein are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the clip apparatus typically includes a top portion and a pair of lateral projections extending from opposite sides of the top portion. Each lateral projection is configured to contact a respective decking member, thereby maintaining a predefined distance between the decking members. The clip apparatus further typically includes a pair of spaced-apart downward projections extending downward from the top portion, the downward projections being separated by a void sized to receive the joist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Hafner
  • Patent number: 6862847
    Abstract: The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a portable building with a plurality of interconnected walls defining an interior space therebetween, a floor on which the walls are positioned, a roof structure connected on top of the walls, a layer of sprayed-on urethane material on at least one of the floor, walls, and roof structure, and a layer of force-resistant material on at least one of the floor, walls, and roof structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: William H. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 6860069
    Abstract: A building component for forming a roof. The component includes an ETFE foil cushion comprising sheets of ETFE foil which are held in a frame about their periphery, and which are inflated. The cushion includes a liquid retaining means to suppress rain noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Benedict George Morris
  • Patent number: 6857240
    Abstract: A cinderblock alignment clip comprising a center plate having a first end and a second end. A first retaining arm having a first portion and a second portion, both the first portion and the second portion are connected to the first end. The first portion extends in a direction on a side of the center plate opposite the second portion. A second retaining arm having a third portion and a fourth portion, both the third portion and the fourth portion are connected to the second end. The third portion extends in a direction on a side of the center plate opposite the fourth portion. The first portion and the second portion are pivotable about the first end, and the third portion and the fourth portion are pivotable about the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventor: Lawrence R MacAlister
  • Patent number: 6843032
    Abstract: The present invention provides a siding boards attachment structure having excellent ventilation characteristics and a high structural strength and a starter fitting used therewith. The siding boards attachment structure includes a starter fitting for supporting a siding board in the lowest portion, a ground sill flashing disposed in a lower portion of the siding board in the lowest portion, a furring strip for fixing the starter fitting, and the siding board supported by the starter fitting. The starter fitting includes a base plate portion having a planar rear side surface that is configured to be fixed to the furring strip, a supporting portion for supporting siding boards bent forward from the base plate portion, and spacing portions formed at left and right end portions of the base plate portion to have the cross sectional shape of a squarish letter U.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Nichiha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hikai
  • Patent number: 6840015
    Abstract: The fall arrester according to the present invention includes a plurality of upright standards which are spaced apart along the sill plate of a wall of a building under construction. The upright standards extend above the sill plate and netting is attached to the upright members to span the space between adjacent upright standards. A ledge bracket is provided on each of the upright standards which extends inwardly from the wall to which the upright standard is secured. Planks are then placed on the ledge brackets of adjacent upright standards to provide a working platform for workers installing roof trusses and sheathing. At the gable end of the building, a gable-end pole is mounted to a truss and lifelines are installed between the pole and the upright standards to prevent workers from falling from the gable-ends of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Steven M. Ashley
  • Patent number: 6837006
    Abstract: A prefabricated home covering designed to protect a prefabricated home as it is being transported. The prefabricated home covering has a generally rectangular sheet of tarpaulin material used to cover an open middle section of a prefabricated home half being transported. There are also two generally trapezoidal sheets of tarpaulin material used to cover the ends of a prefabricated home half being transported, with the generally rectangular sheet of tarpaulin material and the two generally trapezoidal sheets of tarpaulin material being attached from the bottom of a trailer frame transporting the prefabricated home half with a plurality of rubber straps and D-rings with S-hooks. A plurality of strap buckle assemblies attach the generally rectangular sheet of tarpaulin material to the two generally trapezoidal sheets of tarpaulin material and a plurality of grommets attach the prefabricated home covering to the prefabricated home being transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: James T. Deskin
  • Patent number: 6826875
    Abstract: A temporary stairway rail support for erecting a temporary stairway rail for use and safety during the construction phase of the building, the temporary stairway rail support having planar base member in contact with a portion of the stair tread, an L-shaped open stringer/riser engaging portion formed of two planar adjacent, depending side walls having formed therein a nosing/tread edge engaging portion which is C-shaped in cross section and engages the lower face of the nosing, the outer edge of the nosing and a portion of the tread at the corner of a step above an open stringer, and a tubular upright member secured to the upper surface of the planar base member portion, said tubular upright member dimensioned to support a temporary newel post or temporary baluster upon which a temporary hand rail can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen J. Hasse