Patents Examined by Joanne Silbermann
  • Patent number: 8935869
    Abstract: A dual arm sign includes an upstanding panel stretched between resilient arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Dean Aires
  • Patent number: 8925224
    Abstract: A self-supporting sign of unitary construction comprises a middle portion having a first side, a second side, an upper side, and a lower side. A first foldable flap extends from the first side at a first distance beneath the upper side. A second foldable flap extends from the second side at a second distance beneath the upper side. A front foldable portion having a rounded perimeter extends from the lower side. In a use configuration, the middle portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the front portion. A first slit is provided adjacent the first side and a second slit is provided adjacent the second side. The first and second slits are configured to aid in the respective folding of the first flap and the second flap with respect to the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Cecil J. Feagins, Cecil Lee Combs, Dustin Engle
  • Patent number: 8910403
    Abstract: A glowing frame for a hazardous material placard is an apparatus used to illuminate the hazardous material placard during the night or dangerous weather conditions. The apparatus is attached to a vehicle carrying hazardous material and includes a frame, a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) strips, a drain hole, a pair of wires, and a disconnection mechanism. The hazardous material placard and the LED strips are situated in between a front portion and a back portion of the frame. The drain hole allows moisture to be released from within the frame. The pair of wires is used to complete a circuit between the LED strips and the vehicle's side-marker or tail light system. The disconnection mechanism activates the LED strips and locks the placard in place. In addition, the disconnection mechanism deactivates the LED strips and releases the placard from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Pat D. Nimtz
  • Patent number: 8904679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a warped or curved surface with an image visible from a reference point which is not an element of the said surface, where the reference point has fixed position with respect to the said surface, and the image on the said surface is distorted in a way to provide an undistorted view on the said image from the said reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventors: Gerd Ecker, Sandra Schäffler, Klaus Wedrich
  • Patent number: 8898940
    Abstract: An exit sign includes an explosion-proof housing having a first chamber and a second chamber within the housing separated by a divider wall, a bottom plate attached to said housing and defining an interface between said housing and said bottom plate, and a window, disposed in said bottom plate, containing a clear glass or plastic window pane and located proximate to said first chamber of said housing, wherein a volume of said first chamber, a housing wall thickness surrounding said first chamber, a divider wall thickness, and a window pane thickness are arranged and designed according to an expected internal explosion pressure within said first chamber, and wherein a volume of said second chamber, a housing wall thickness surrounding said second chamber, and a divider wall thickness are arranged and designed according to an expected internal explosion pressure within said second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rig-A-Lite Partnership, Ltd.
    Inventor: Syed Q. Hasan
  • Patent number: 8881437
    Abstract: One non-limiting embodiment of the present invention includes an identification marker system including a marker base including a coupling member, wherein the coupling member is configured to couple to a toy piece, wherein the coupling member has a default closed position and the coupling member is substantially curved along its length in the closed position, wherein the coupling member has a cross section having a width dimension and a height dimension, wherein the height dimension is substantially larger than the width dimension, wherein the coupling member has an outer surface an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is opposite the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: David Patrick McGrath
  • Patent number: 8869438
    Abstract: Self-supporting signs and methods of manufacturing are provided. One self-supporting sign includes a generally planar base portion and a generally planar upper portion extending from the base. The upper portion is foldable relative to the base about a fold line for movement between a storage configuration in which the base and upper portions are generally coplanar and a use configuration in which the base is generally horizontal and the upper portion is raised relative to the base. Only folding about the fold line is necessary to move from the storage configuration to the use configuration, and the base and upper portions are sufficiently rigid such that the upper portion remains at the use configuration after being moved to the use configuration. At least one of the base portion and the upper portion has a removable section independently usable for carrying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Cecil J. Feagins, Cecil Lee Combs, Dustin Engle
  • Patent number: 8857083
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a container with one or more secondary objects housed in the container and configured with indicia to communicate a message. One or more secondary objects in communication with a weight are housed in the container. A combination of the weight and buoyancy characteristics of the secondary object(s) supports floating of the secondary object in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Lev Volftsun
  • Patent number: 8850728
    Abstract: A double-sided display structure comprising a light transmitting element comprising a light transmitting material. The light transmitting element has a pair of opposed light receiving faces (22) and a pair of opposed light emitting faces (23) substantially orthogonally disposed to the light receiving faces (22). A light reflecting layer (25) is disposed at an oblique angle to the light receiving faces (22) and the light emitting faces (23), and a pair of light-emitting displays (24) for displaying the same or different still and/or moving images are mounted such that an image from a respective light-emitting display (24) is emitted into a respective light receiving face (22) and is transmitted through the light transmitting element to be reflected by the reflecting layer (25) to a respective light emitting face (23), whereby the images received at the pair of opposed light receiving faces (22) are visible to observers through the pair of opposed light emitting faces (23) of the display structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Oliver Karl Hein
  • Patent number: 8850729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle-display with a carrier-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Manfred Süss, Joffrey Ringenwald, Pierre Henry, Patrick Alliot, Andreas Deubzer, Ingo Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8844180
    Abstract: An electronic sign having slotted frame cabinets whereby each slotted frame cabinet can conveniently be attached to one or more vertically or horizontally positioned adjacent slotted frame cabinets by using connecting components which are generally located around the periphery of one or more slotted frame cabinets. Connecting components, including splice bars, splice plates, and mounting clamps, are aligned in, positioned along and secured to backing bars which are co-located in backing bar slots in one or more of the slotted frame cabinets. Lift eyes can be variably located in one or more lift eye slots. The use of externally located connecting components, which do not extend through the cabinetry, minimize the entry of environmental elements into the interior of the electronic sign. Multiple slotted frame cabinets can be connected without the removal of LED display panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kory D. Kludt, Russell Jon Neyens, Jon M. Mammenga
  • Patent number: 8832978
    Abstract: A label (1) for sticking onto a container for a liquid drug is provided, wherein the label (1) is a single-layer wrap-around label for wrapping around a circumference of a container, wherein the label (1) has a spare label (10) that forms a detachable part portion of the label (1), and a first label portion (11) for covering the spare label (10) and wherein the spare label (10) is arranged in a surface region of the label (1) that differs from the first label portion (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Seidl
  • Patent number: 8832980
    Abstract: An assembly includes a flexurally deformed panel, which is connected to a membrane tie by a linear connector and is tied by the membrane tie to form a geometrically stable pre-stressed structure. More than one panel may be flexurally deformed and tied together in an assembly and more than one membrane tie may be present within an assembly. Panels are typically semi-rigid sheet materials, for example metal sheets, plastic sheets, or sheets of composite materials, such as glass or carbon fiber reinforced plastics or resins. Membrane tie members are typically flexible, for example plastic films, fabrics or nets or arrays of rods or cables. The assemblies have many different geometric forms and many different practical applications. Assemblies may be relatively large, for example demountable and reusable shelters or flat-pack point-of-purchase display assemblies, or may be relatively small, for example a photograph or postcard display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Contra Vision Limited
    Inventor: G. Roland Hill
  • Patent number: 8826572
    Abstract: An illuminated sign having a housing unit with a frame and one or more light emitting arrays to provide visible indicia and a backlight module for mounting a transparent backlight panel which is held in close contact with a reflection panel and optically positions a light emitting unit to emit light through the backlight panel for emission from the front of the sign. The replaceable sign member accommodates the display of visible indicia and is backlit by the light emitting unit. A light sensor is mounted on the backlight module for measuring ambient light. The light emitting unit can be driven by a signal from the light sensor to automatically set a contrast level of illumination to optimize the information presented by the illuminated sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Andy K. F. Kaoh
  • Patent number: 8826573
    Abstract: The present device is a loose-leaf card holder adapted for storing and displaying encapsulated collectible cards. The loose-leaf card holder comprises a frame adapted to mount pockets thereto. In an embodiment, the pockets are mounted rotatably onto the frame so as to be positioned out of the plane of the frame during insertion of a card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Lawrence Morera
  • Patent number: 8819968
    Abstract: A modular solar powered illuminated alphanumeric identification system which incorporates solar power or other alternative power sources to illuminate light emitting diodes. The invention includes a plurality of self-powered aligned modules which is secured to a suitable surface in order to provide for visual alphanumeric identification either nonelectronically or electronically during hours of daylight and during the hours of darkness, respectively. The self-powered modules include a plurality of photovoltaic cells which charges one or more battery packs for the subsequent illumination of arrangements of alphanumerically arranged light emitting diodes during periods of darkness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Allen L. Van Beek
  • Patent number: 8819973
    Abstract: A front loading frame on rail display system includes a support rail assembly secured to a wall and a display frame assembly secured to the support rail. The rail assembly includes a wall rail secured to the wall with a top rail secured thereto and receiving an apron crown molding. The frame assembly includes a frame unit formed by top and side frame members and closed by a back panel. The frame members have notched glass clips which are aligned in a plane. Display materials are front loaded into the frame unit, and a glass pane is slid into the clips. Fasteners extending from the side frame members are received in rotary lock members positioned in the top rail. The lock members are rotated to lock positions to engage heads of the fasteners to removably secure the frame assembly to the rail assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Howard Grayston Mochel
  • Patent number: 8800183
    Abstract: A picture has a paint receiving substrate covered by an array of bowl-shape indentations, each of which is marked around an interior periphery with different colors such that different amounts of said different colors are exposed to spectator view at respectively different angles of view together forming composite visual subject matter which varies in color when viewed from different angles. Some indentations have vertically extending surface portions adjacent their mouths and spaced apart from their mouths which can be round or hexagonal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Brice Belisle
  • Patent number: 8800188
    Abstract: A picture frame tray system for supporting at least one object adjacent a wall is provided. The picture tray system comprises a picture frame having a front side, a rear side substantially opposite the front side, a top edge, a bottom edge substantially opposite the top edge, and a pair of side edges between the top edge and the bottom edge. At least one image positioned on the front side of the picture frame. At least one hinge mechanism is secured between the bottom edge of the picture frame and the wall. The at least one hinge mechanism allows the picture frame to move between a displaying position with the top edge of the picture frame adjacent the wall and the image facing away from the wall and a tray position with the top edge of the picture frame distant from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Aaron Fishelis
  • Patent number: 8789300
    Abstract: An attachable flame simulating apparatus includes a coupling appendage, having a distal end and a proximal end, a housing adjacent the proximal end of the coupling appendage, the housing comprising one or more light sources, and a projection surface extending from the housing. Furthermore, the distal end of the coupling appendage is removably attachable to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: John Rowley