Patents Examined by Jessica Laux
  • Patent number: 9976297
    Abstract: An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof is disclosed. The anchor can comprise a clamp body comprising a central surface and a first arm extending from the central surface. The first arm can have a first clamping face. The clamp body can be sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending from one or more solar modules. The anchor can include a rotatable clamp device coupled to the clamp body, the rotatable clamp device configured to press a first web of the one or more webs against the first clamping face. The anchor can also include a rotatable height adjustment member coupled to the rotatable clamp device, the rotatable height adjustment member configured to raise or lower at least the clamp body. The rotatable clamp device and the rotatable height adjustment member can be configured to rotate about the same axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Danning
  • Patent number: 9951525
    Abstract: Floor covering hard panels having at least on two opposite edges, coupling elements made in one piece with the panels, so that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled, whereby these coupling elements provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges and parallel to the plane of the panels, and whereby these coupling elements are made such that the panels can be rotated into and/or out of one another at least along the above-mentioned edges. The panels are provided, at least on the above-mentioned edges, near the top side, with a part from which has been removed an amount of material such as by a bevel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 9932737
    Abstract: A hollow prefabricated masonry lintel made at a fabrication site and configured for transportation to a build site has a base row formed of U-shaped blocks laid end to end with adjacent ends adhered with mortar. A hollow horizontal cavity along a length of the base row is formed of each recess of the U-shaped blocks. A slit is formed in a top surface of each of the two side walls of the U-shaped blocks along the length of the base row, the slit having a width no larger than 20% of a width of the top surface. Provisional reinforcement is fully embedded within the slit with a bonding material, with a size of the slit and the provisional reinforcement providing tensile strength during transportation of the prefabricated masonry lintel from the fabrication site to the build site with the hollow horizontal cavity having no grout and no code-required reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CONSTRUCTIVE , LLC
    Inventors: Dave Muirhead, Jim Gendron
  • Patent number: 9926703
    Abstract: A hollow prefabricated masonry wall panel is made at a fabrication site and is configured for transportation to a build site. The hollow prefabricated wall panel has a base row and an upper row formed of hollow blocks. A slit is formed in the top of each of the two side walls of the hollow blocks of the base row and upper row, the slit having a width no larger than 20% a width of a side wall. Provisional reinforcement is provided within each slit with a bonding material, a size of the slit and the provisional reinforcement configured to provide tensile strength during transportation of the hollow prefabricated wall panel from the fabrication site to the build site. At least one mid-row is laid between the base row and upper row so the hollow cavities are aligned to preserve hollow wall cavities that can accept code required reinforcement once transported to the build site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONSTRUCTIVE, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Muirhead, Jim Gendron
  • Patent number: 9890807
    Abstract: An impaling washer is provided for use in building construction. The impaling washer includes a sealing body having an aperture that is configured to receive a fastener. The fastener penetrates a membrane covering a wall and secures the sealing body to the wall. The sealing body includes an inner surface portion surrounding the aperture that seals against an outer surface of the membrane. At least one impaler extends from an outer side of the sealing body and away from the wall. The impaler is configured to engage a thermally-insulating material and hold the thermally-insulating material at the outer side of the sealing body. A thickness of the sealing body thereby forms a gap between the thermally-insulating material and the outer surface of the membrane for air insulation and drainage along the outer surface of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rodenhouse, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Rodenhouse, Jason R. Wigboldy
  • Patent number: 9869107
    Abstract: A pole arrangement comprising: —a pole (2) with a tubular external wall (4) of sheet metal; —a foundation (5) with a cavity (7) for receiving a lower section (8) of the external wall (4) of the pole; —a wedge element (6) for securing the pole in the cavity by wedging; and —a reinforcement element (23) mounted to a part of the section (8) of the external wall (4) of the pole received in the cavity, in order to counteract buckling of this part. The wedge element bears against the external wall of the pole through supporting projections, wherein there are free spaces between the supporting projections in order to allow parts of the external wall of the pole to be pressed into some of these spaces when the external is buckled in connection with a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Northcone AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Moberg, Peter Larsson, Lars Johansson
  • Patent number: 9863139
    Abstract: A building module. The building module has a rigid inner construction panel defining a planar surface thereon; one or more rigid brackets each affixed by one or more mechanical fasteners to the planar surface of the construction panel; a rigid, closed-cell, spray foam or an adhesive matrix contiguous to and substantially covering the planar surface of the construction panel and contacting and embedding at least a major portion of the one or more brackets. Each of the one or more brackets bears a planar surface facing substantially away from the planar surface of the construction panel. The surface area of the planar surface of each of the one or more brackets is substantially smaller than the surface area of the planar surface of the construction panel to which it is affixed. There are also other embodiments of building modules. There are also other embodiments of brackets useful in building modules. There are also other embodiments for making building modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Darek Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9856651
    Abstract: A roofing system includes a construction board positioned over a roof deck and a plurality of fastening plates positioned on a top surface of the construction board. At least one connector extends between two of the plurality of fastening plates and is positioned on the top surface of the construction board. The construction boards may be insulation or cover boards, and in certain embodiments may be polyisocyanurate boards. Fasteners are driven through the fastening plates and the construction boards and into an underlying roof deck to secure the construction boards in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Firestone Building Products Co., LLC
    Inventors: John B. Letts, Timothy Tackett, Allen Sopko, Michael Hubbard, John Geary
  • Patent number: 9856640
    Abstract: A gusset connection that allows greater relative movement between connected structural members and simplifies erection in the field. The gusset connection can be a first gusset portion moveably or fixedly connected to a vertical column and a second gusset connection moveably or fixedly connected to a horizontal beam. A diagonal brace is moveably or fixedly connected to the gusset connection. The first and second gusset portions are not directly connected to each other to allow relative movement between the column, beam, and diagonal brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Constantine Shuhaibar
  • Patent number: 9850669
    Abstract: Floor covering hard panels having at least on two opposite edges, coupling elements made in one piece with the panels, so that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled, whereby these coupling elements provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges and parallel to the plane of the panels, and whereby these coupling elements are made such that the panels can be rotated into and/or out of one another at least along the above-mentioned edges. The panels are provided, at least on the above-mentioned edges, near the top side, with a part from which has been removed an amount of material such as by a bevel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 9850656
    Abstract: Provided is a construction panel assembly, which is applicable to a detachable method capable of assembling and disassembling a ceiling, a wall or a floor material which partitions spaces of various kinds of buildings. Also, the construction panel assembly allows materials to be reused, so that the generation of construction waste may be minimized. The construction panel assembly includes: a main frame disposed in a mutually opposed arrangement on a wall surface at a predetermined position determined according to design specifications; an auxiliary frame inserted into the main frame to define a structure; a flat panel mounted on the structure to partition a space; and a finishing member for shielding a connection portion of the main frame and the auxiliary frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Chung Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 9853597
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the system includes various couplings having a first engaging portion adapted to engage a first PV module and a second engaging portion adapted to engage a second PV module. At least one of the engaging portions allows variable positioning of the engaged PV module along the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Raymond West
  • Patent number: 9850674
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tower assembly of a wind turbine having a joint assembly configured therein. The tower assembly includes at least one generally cylindrical tower section. The tower section is split into at least a first vertical tower section and a second vertical tower section. Each of the first and second vertical tower sections define an interior wall and an exterior wall separated by a thickness. Further, the tower assembly includes a joint assembly that secures the first and second vertical tower sections together. The joint assembly includes a first L-flange mounted to the interior wall of the first vertical tower section and a second L-flange mounted to the interior wall of the second vertical tower section. The first L-flange faces in a first direction and the second L-flange faces away from the first direction. Further, the first and second L-flanges are separated from the interior walls of the first and second vertical tower sections via an open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ingo Paura, Stefan Voss, Martin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9845637
    Abstract: A cabinet door having a first member with a first recess disposed along a top side of the center panel between a first stile and a second stile, a second recess disposed along a bottom side of the center panel between the first stile and the second stile, and a first veneer having a longitudinally extending grain pattern; a second member with a second veneer having a longitudinally extending grain pattern, and a first rabbet; and a third member with a third veneer having a longitudinally extending grain pattern; and a second rabbet; where the second member fits into the first recess, the third member fits into the second recess, and the longitudinally extending grain pattern of the second veneer is parallel to the longitudinally extending grain pattern of the third veneer and perpendicular to the longitudinally extending grain pattern of the first veneer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DECORE-ATIVE SPECIALTIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jack Laurence Albright
  • Patent number: 9840850
    Abstract: A tile leveler contains: a pressing base, a rotation block, and a pulling member. The pressing base includes at least one first plate and two second plates. Among a central portion of the at least one first plate and the two second plates is defined an elongated orifice. Two ribs are fixed beside two sides of the elongated orifice, and the two second plates has two U-shaped notches respectively. The rotation block is fixed between and connected with the two second plates, and the rotation block includes two coupling shafts, an accommodation chamber, and multiple recesses corresponding to the two ribs. The pulling member includes a head segment, an extension, and an action segment. A part of the head segment is retained in the accommodation chamber, the extension extends out of the cutout, and the action segment extends through the elongated orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Ching-Tien Teng
  • Patent number: 9834928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surface covering system, and, more specifically, to an improved linear surface covering system. The improvement includes each plank of the system having multi-directionally cut grooves. The improvement further includes clip projections which conform substantially to a notch formed by the multi-directional grooves. The system also includes an improved splice plate for stabilizing two adjacent planks positioned in end-to-end relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Nathan J. Baxter, Eric Krantz-Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 9834982
    Abstract: A door, method of making a door, and stack of doors includes providing a door having front and back skins that have differing, but complementary profiles, one for the front side of the door and one for the back side of the door where each allows and fits onto the other, while still providing direct contact in the stile and rail zones of the door permitting conventional door layup practices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Lynch, Robert C. Allen, Gregory J. Wysock
  • Patent number: 9834949
    Abstract: A prestressed concrete roof for a cylindrical tank is provided with a plurality of prestressed concrete (PC) steel members which are disposed side by side in a circumferential direction at an outer circumferential side of a discoid roof and each of which extends in a radial direction, in which the plurality of PC steel members are made up of both arm parts of folded PC steel members that are folded so as to be open to the outer circumferential side of the roof in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Deguchi, Kazuhide Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 9831818
    Abstract: A system and apparatus are disclosed including PV modules having a frame allowing quick and easy assembling of the PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the PV modules may have a grooved frame where the groove is provided at an angle with respect to a planar surface of the modules. Various couplings may engage within the groove to assemble the PV modules into the PV array with a pivot-fit connection. Further examples of the present technology operate with PV modules having frames without grooves, or with PV modules where the frame is omitted altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Raymond West
  • Patent number: 9828761
    Abstract: A building system that includes a modular panel with side members, at least one of the side members having an associated coupling for hooked connection with a corresponding shaped fixture of an adjacent structure, the coupling and fixture being adapted to be held together by a locking device that, when engaged, acts to lock the structure and the side member together and, when disengaged, allows for play between the panel and structure in order to free the panel from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustee for House of Parts Trust
    Inventors: David Pidcock, Caroline Pidcock