Patents Examined by Jerry Redman
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Patent number: 10017937Abstract: According to one embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a plurality of insulation pieces coupled together to form at least a portion of the flood vent panel. The flood vent panel further includes one or more insulation piece connectors coupled to the plurality of insulation pieces, and configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together. The flood vent panel is configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure. The one or more insulation piece connectors are further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the flood vent panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: SMART VENT PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr., Tom Little, Michael J. Graham
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Patent number: 9919867Abstract: An automatic bin lid opener system is an apparatus used for opening and closing the top hatch of a storage bin from a control box at ground level to allow the user to avoid climbing ladders to the top of the storage bin. The control box may be operated manually or may be programmed to operate automatically as preferred by the user. The programmable control box may also be operated remotely at great distances via a cell phone using a cell phone application.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Inventor: Shawn Poncsak
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Patent number: 9903147Abstract: A motor vehicle door includes a door body and first and second windows carried on that door body. A window drive system independently displaces the first and second windows between closed and opened positions. A related method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Victor Daniel Rojas, Donald P. Iacovoni, Paul L. Heirtzler, Jr.
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Patent number: 9889729Abstract: A hybrid door for an automobile, which can reduce the weight of an automobile while maintaining high strength and dent includes an outside panel configured to have a sandwich structure in which a resin layer is integrated between at least one pair of thin steel plates and disposed outside an automobile interior, and an inside panel bonded to the outside panel and disposed within the automobile interior.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Se Jin Ko, Young Hyun Oh
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Patent number: 9890575Abstract: The invention relates to a movable barrier operator with a removable power supply module for supplying power to the operator from a remote location. The power supply module may be decoupled from a barrier operator frame or housing, and installed in a remote location; the operator may therefore be observed and diagnosed remotely via a user interface that includes status indicators. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface comprises one or more LED indicators to provide a user with information pertaining to the power supply of the operator.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: VIKING ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLCInventor: Ali Tehranchi
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Patent number: 9883741Abstract: A foldable step system includes a cabinet that has a door. A step unit is hingedly coupled to the door. The step unit is positioned in a deployed position when the door is positioned in an open position. Thus, the step unit may support a user thereby facilitating the user to reach an elevated object. The step unit is positioned in a stored position such that the door may be positioned in a closed position. A drive is movably coupled to the step unit such that the drive selectively positions the step unit in the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Inventor: Vincent Demasi, III
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Patent number: 9885207Abstract: An automatic open-close device for use with a fitting, the device may include a rack secured to the fitting; a pinion structured to mesh with the rack; a turn-driving mechanism structured to drive the pinion to turn; and a holding member structured to rotatably hold the pinion. The holding member may be movable between a meshing position in which the rack and the pinion are engaged and a disengaging position in which the rack and the pinion are disengaged. The rack and the pinion may be configured such that, when the holding member is in the meshing position and the driving mechanism drives the pinion to turn, the fitting opens and closes.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki Ando, Shinichi Yoshikawa, Goro Nakamura
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Patent number: 9884541Abstract: There is provided a vehicular door structure that can enhance the effect of noise insulation for a noise gaining entrance from an end portion of a weather strip while ensuring the drainability by the weather strip. The vehicular door structure is provided with a weather strip body that is arranged along a lower edge portion of a door body, that has a hollow interior, that has communication holes communicating with a drainage hole at the lower edge portion of the door body, and that serves as a drainage channel. This weather strip body is provided with partition walls that partition the hollow interior, at a plurality of locations from an end portion of the weather strip body to the communication holes. The partition walls are provided with drainage portions that penetrate the partition walls to enable drainage, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toyoka Ide
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Patent number: 9879481Abstract: A base extending mechanism is provided for a ladder in the form of pivotable lower leg sections which can be independently rotated outwards to provide a wider ladder base. This extension of the ladder base is complementary to and supported by a compatible ladder levelling mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Inventor: Michael Patrick Fitzgerald
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Patent number: 9879463Abstract: The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Andrew Paul Warburton, Robert John Ellis
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Patent number: 9879465Abstract: A power assist device is provided herein. A motor is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle. A controller controls a mechanical resistance applied by the motor to the door to resist door swing. The mechanical resistance applied to the door is a function of an angular position of the door.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Larry Dean Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz
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Patent number: 9879461Abstract: A partition door system includes a partition door, a stile, and a closing mechanism coupling the partition door to the stile, such that the closing mechanism provides a force for closing the door relative to the stile. A first magnet is at the partition door proximate the stile, and a second magnet is at the stile proximate the door. A partition door including a magnet, a stile including a magnet and a method of operating the same are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: BOBRICK WASHROOM EQUIPMENT, INC.Inventor: William Conway
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Patent number: 9874050Abstract: A sliding door module or pivoting sliding door module for a rail vehicle includes a door leaf and a support, which is aligned longitudinally in the sliding direction of the door leaf and is mounted such that the support can be displaced in the horizontal direction in particular transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof. The sliding door module or pivoting sliding door module also has a linear guide for mounting the door leaf, which is fastened to or integrated in the support. The door leaves are moved with the aid of a rack-and-pinion drive. The rack-and-pinion drive has a rack which is coupled only in the first end region thereof to the door leaf, and the floating end of which is engaged with a gearwheel that is mounted rotatably in the support.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNGInventors: Andreas Mair, Heinz Zarl, Andreas Schunke
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Patent number: 9863178Abstract: A two-way soft closing device is mounted in a sliding door and has a sliding door track, two soft closing activation triggers, two roller carriers and a soft closing device. The sliding door track is an elongated member. The soft closing activation triggers are mounted movably in two ends of the sliding door track respectively. The roller carriers are mounted slidably in the sliding door track and are spaced apart at an interval. The soft closing device is mounted in the sliding door track, is located between the roller carriers and is mounted firmly in one of the roller carriers. Therefore, the soft closing device absorbs a collision between a sliding door plate and a doorframe when the sliding door is opened or is closed. Meanwhile, the two-way soft closing device eliminates noise coming from the collision and prevents an elder or a little child from being hit by the sliding door plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Weider Metal Inc.Inventors: Grace Show-Yin Wang, Jennifer Wu, Andy Wu, Jacqueline Wu
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Patent number: 9856691Abstract: A sliding window assembly (35) including a window frame and at least two glass panes (38, 39). At least one of the glass panes (38, 39) slides within the frame between an open position and a closed position, wherein one of the edges of each pane overlaps to form overlapping edges (42, 43). First and second rails (44, 45) are connected to the overlapping edges (42, 43) and cooperate to form a seal between them in the closed position. Each rail (44, 45) is formed from a metal component (46) and a plastic component (51) that are formed separate from each other and are assembled in nesting connection. The seal in the overlap between the overlapping edges (42, 43) in the closed position of the panes (38, 39) is formed between the plastic components (51) of the first and second rails (44, 45). The metal components (51) of the first and second rails (44, 45) are spaced from contact with each other and extend to overlie outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second panes (38, 39).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: JELD-WEN, Inc.Inventors: Lars Søgaard Nielsen, Richard James Mckenna
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Patent number: 9856684Abstract: A sliding door guide system for replacing a traditional floor track for sliding doors includes a first sliding door that is suspended from a support. A second sliding door is suspended from a support. The second sliding door is aligned with the first sliding door. A guide is coupled to the first sliding door. The guide slidably engages the second sliding door. Thus, the second sliding door is retained at a position relative to the first sliding door.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Inventor: William Edward Sidwell
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Patent number: 9855829Abstract: To provide an automobile beltline portion sound insulating structure capable of improving a sound insulation state of an automobile interior at a door glass closed time to a high level and an automobile door glass. An automobile beltline portion sound insulating structure including a door panel having two panel boards facing each other having seal members along the beltline respectively, and a door glass provided between the two panel boards having a main body and a first viscoelastic member having a Young's modulus lower than that of the seal member, in a lower portion of one main surface of the main body, the seal member positioned on the side of the one main surface having two or more lip portions, wherein the first viscoelastic member is positioned between the two lip portions while abutting on at least a part of the seal member at the door glass closed time.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Daisuke Yamada, Atsushi Nakamura
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Patent number: 9849759Abstract: A door system is provided for a motor vehicle. That door system includes (a) a first independently operable first, door, (b) an independently operable second door, (c) an articulating door interface carried on the first door and (d) a guide on the motor vehicle body. The guide displaces the articulating door interface between a door sealing position when the first door is closed and a door opening position when the first door is opened. A related method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lorne Joseph Lovelace, Henry W. Hausler
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Patent number: 9849758Abstract: A component arrangement includes a first sheet metal profile part and a second sheet metal profile, each first and second profile parts having respective flanges and being arranged relative to each other so that the respective flanges overlap, wherein the first and second profile parts are connected to each at the respective flanges via a laser welding connection, which extends over a welding seam length, wherein the laser welding connection is formed by at least two welding seams which extend parallel and at a distance to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Gerhard Gaull, Gundolf Kreis
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Patent number: 9849757Abstract: A connecting device for coupling first and second members includes a body having a first leg and a second leg integrally connected to the first leg. The first leg and the second leg are oriented at an angle with respect to each other. A rigid material core extends through both the first leg and the second leg, the core including a first core member integrally connected to a second core member. The first core member is angularly oriented with respect to the second core member such that the core defines a geometric shape. A resilient material sleeve commonly covers the core of both the first leg and the second leg. The first leg is frictionally received in a first member and the second leg is frictionally received in a second member to couple the first member to the second member.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: DURA Operating LLCInventors: Aaron Brion Stachewicz, Alex Mark Langreet