Patents Examined by Justin B Rephann
  • Patent number: 11187023
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aircraft piston assembly, having: a piston housing fluid port formed in a piston housing; a piston shaft, disposed within the piston housing, configured for translation in either forward or aft directions when fluid is respectively supplied to or removed from the piston housing; a screw shaft, disposed within the piston housing, that includes a first gear that rotates without translation while the piston shaft translates; and a slider, disposed within the piston housing, that includes a second gear, and that is configured for translation without rotation, wherein: the slider moves between a first position where the first gear and the second gear are separated from one another to allow the piston shaft to translate and a second position where the second gear surrounds the first gear so that the first and second gears are engaged with one another and the piston shaft is prevented from translating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vishwith Vishwanath Mapari
  • Patent number: 11180942
    Abstract: A window vent stop is disclosed having a housing with a peripheral flange defining an opening, and a body depending from the peripheral flange. A stop block is mounted within the body of the housing for movement between an open position wherein a portion of the stop block protrudes above the peripheral flange and a closed position. A spring leg is located on a bottom end of the housing and flexes toward the housing when under compression, providing compressive force along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing when the window vent stop is inserted into an opening in a window sash. By applying force to further compress the spring leg, the vent stop can be readily removed from the window sash without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Barry G. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11174675
    Abstract: The present soft barrier includes sheeting and a frame. The frame includes longitudinal and lateral support members. The sheeting is in a relaxed state when the lateral support members are in a retracted state. The sheeting is in a taut state when the lateral support members are in an extended fixed state. The sheeting may be in either the relaxed state or taut state when the longitudinal support members are in a retracted state or an extended state. A first adjustment mechanism for increasing or decreasing the longitudinal length of the barrier is a quick slide mechanism. A second adjustment mechanism for finely increasing or finely decreasing the longitudinal length of the barrier is a rotatable mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Michael P. Lane
  • Patent number: 11174672
    Abstract: An emergency entryway system that provides for the detection of occupants in a room, fires outside of a door, and sealing the entryway during a fire emergency is disclosed. The emergency entryway system includes a door enclosed by a door frame, at least one display unit mounted in one side of door and at least one camera mounted in the door frame on the opposite side of the door, whereby the display unit in the door displays an image transmitted from the camera from the other side of the door frame and door. The door frame of the emergency entryway system may include at least one of a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, or a radon detector, at least one fire extinguisher, an oxygen sensor, an alarm, a gas inflator canister, and an inflatable tubing configured to seal a space between the door and the door frame during a fire emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas P. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11162300
    Abstract: A keeper apparatus engaged to the lower free end swinging corner portion of a gate, not to either of the upper and lower corner portions having the axis on which the gate swings, and not to the upper free end swinging corner portion where the gate has a main latch. The keeper apparatus joins the shortened ends of a horizontal gate support member and a vertical gate support member where, prior to engaging the keeper apparatus on the shortened ends, such intentionally manufactured shortened ends are free and spaced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Gary T. Schultze, Nicholas E. Beattie, Michael P. Lane, Matthew A. Willms
  • Patent number: 11149475
    Abstract: A door device for a vehicle includes a latch drive device configured to unlatch a swing door by driving a latch mechanism, a door hold-open device configured to hold the swing door at an opened angle by applying a braking force to the swing door, a door open switch issuing an operation request of the latch drive device to open the swing door; a door stop switch issuing an operation request of the door hold-open device, and a grip portion including the door open switch and the door stop switch to issue the operation requests of the door open switch and the door stop switch in a state where an occupant of the vehicle holds the grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Kito, Eiji Itami, Ryu Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 11142939
    Abstract: An exemplary method relates to operating a door closer assembly including a closer body, a pinion rotatably mounted to the closer body, a motor including a motor shaft, and a bidirectional clutch connected between the pinion and the motor shaft. The method generally involves permitting, by the clutch, rotation of the pinion in each of a first direction and a second direction without transmitting rotation of the pinion in either direction to the motor shaft; sensing, with a sensor, a rotational position of the pinion; comparing, by a controller, the rotational position of the pinion with a desired rotational position; based upon the comparing, driving the motor to rotate the motor shaft; and by the clutch, coupling the motor shaft with the pinion in response to rotation of the motor shaft, thereby transmitting torque from the motor shaft to the pinion and urging the pinion toward the desired rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brady Plummer, Subashchandra G. Rai, Brian C. Eickhoff, Benjamin L. Miller, Prajna Poojary
  • Patent number: 11131129
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle a pivotable door, a door check mechanism including a bar, wherein the door check mechanism is configured to hold the door open in a fully open check position, and a retarder assembly configured to oppose opening of the door beyond the fully open check position by applying a force generated by a non-linear surface of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
  • Patent number: 11124998
    Abstract: A reversible door assembly is provided which allows for easy changing of a door swing direction without the need for any additional swing change kit and without the need for rotation of the door. The present embodiments provide a frame which utilizes removable pocket hinge elements which may be moved from one side of the frame to the other side in order to easily change the door swing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Mark Raymond Fazi, Adam J. Warble, Mark L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11111719
    Abstract: A two unit barrier or three unit barrier. The two unit barrier includes a first end frame portion and a second end frame portion as a first unit and a gate as a second unit. The three unit barrier includes a first end frame as a first unit, a second end frame as a second unit, and a gate as a third unit. In each of the barriers, the gate is swingably engaged and swingable over a lower connection arrangement. The lower connection arrangement may include one or more of a mortise and tenon connection, clamp connection, swinging connection, flush and hidden connection, and telescoping connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Brian M. McMahon, Caleb Summers
  • Patent number: 11105133
    Abstract: A high-speed sectional overhead door covers a door opening with panels stacked in a single plane and lifted from the bottom-most panel. As panels are lifted, each rolls in its own individual track. As the panels move into the head area, they run through curved tracks and are nested there. The stored panels stacked horizontally one atop another with the door open. This design utilizes a dedicated panel-track pairing as well as a unique hook/cam device which allows for the upper panel to be both locked in the closed position and pushed away for separation and storage in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Clopay Building Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Sauve, Muhammad J. Akbar, Daniel V. Jones, Brian M. Magill, James O. Rogers, III
  • Patent number: 11098511
    Abstract: Example aspects of a sliding door assembly and a method for using a sliding door system are disclosed. The sliding door assembly can comprise a track assembly comprising a track assembly comprising a first track and a second track; a pivot assembly comprising a pivot carriage and a pivot mechanism engaging the pivot carriage, the pivot carriage configured to move along the first track; a locking carriage configured to move along the second track; and a sliding door comprising a door body and a locking pin, the locking pin removably engaging the locking carriage, and the door body configured to pivot at the pivot assembly relative to the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PGT Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Vander Bent, Jr., Kurt Karussi
  • Patent number: 11098514
    Abstract: Example aspects of a sliding door assembly, a sliding door system, and a method for using a sliding door system are disclosed. The sliding door assembly can comprise a track assembly defining a track surface and a slot; and a sliding door comprising a door body and a locking pin, the door body defining a left side and a right side opposite the left side, the locking pin proximate the right side, the locking pin removably engaging the slot, and the door body configured to pivot relative to the track assembly proximate the left side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PGT Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Vander Bent, Jr., Kurt Karussi
  • Patent number: 11091945
    Abstract: A roller carriage arrangement for a door or a window of a building, wherein the window or the door has a fixed frame and a leaf which can be released from the fixed frame and which can be displaced relative to the fixed frame together with the roller carriage arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ROTO FRANK AG
    Inventors: Stefan Fingerle, Thorsten Issler, Markus Peter, Tamas Nyikos, Gyoergy Kiss
  • Patent number: 11085221
    Abstract: A car door opening mechanism includes a connection structure that is selectively mounted to a car-door opening/closing side, a car-door bottom side, a car-body opening/closing side, or a car-body bottom side and a first coupling member correspondingly mounted to a car-body opening/closing side, a car-body bottom side, a car-door opening/closing side, or a car-door bottom side. When a car door is at a closed position relative to a car body, the first coupling member and the connection structure are coupled to each other and in opening the car door, the car door is constrained at a non-fully opened position due to the connection structure and the first coupling member being coupled to each other. When the first coupling member and the connection structure are detached from each other, the car door is allowed to open from the non-fully opened position to a fully opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Yao-Kuo Lin
  • Patent number: 11085205
    Abstract: A sliding door locking system includes a sliding door having an inner surface that slides over a doorway opening when the door is slidably mounted above the doorway opening, and an outer surface. A lock housing is mounted in the sliding door, the housing having an aperture extending through the inner surface of the sliding door. A latch is hingedly mounted in the aperture such that the latch is moveable from a retracted position, in which the door is slidable along the door opening, and an extended position, in which the latch engages a catch opposite the inner surface of the door and adjacent the doorway opening. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the sliding door includes an actuator that, when moved from a first position to a second position, moves the latch from the retracted position to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Accurate Lock & Hardware Co. LLC
    Inventor: Francis Colligan
  • Patent number: 11085223
    Abstract: An opening and closing system for an item of furniture, which has at least one movable furniture part and a movement fitting. The opening and closing system has an ejection apparatus having a loadable mechanical force store and a loading device for loading the mechanical force store. The loading device is supplied with energy from an electric energy store. The ejection apparatus is configured to move the movable furniture part into a partly opened position when the mechanical force store is unlocked. The movement fitting has a retraction apparatus and a damping apparatus, which move the movable furniture part from a further partly opened position lying within a predefined area of action, in a damped manner into a closed position, and the partly opened position of the movable furniture part achieved by the ejection apparatus lying within the predefined range of action of the retraction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HETTICH-ONI GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Oestermann, Ulrich Ermler
  • Patent number: 11078703
    Abstract: A sliding wall arrangement includes at least one wing and a running rail that can be sunk in a building floor and has at least one guide channel in which the at least one wing is displaceably mounted at the lower edge. At least one covering element is provided, which serves for covering the at least one guide channel if the guide channel is freed from the at least one displaceable wing. The at least one covering element has a raised state in which it covers the guide channel freed from the wing, and a lowered state in which it is lowered into the at least one guide channel, with the result that the at least one wing can be displaced across the at least one covering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SOREG AG
    Inventor: Marcel Ritzi
  • Patent number: 11078697
    Abstract: A home appliance is provided. The home appliance includes a main body having an accommodation space, a first door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close the accommodation space and having an opening, a second door rotatably coupled to the first door to open and close the opening, and a locking device configured to fix or separate the first door to or from the main body or fix or separate the second door to or from the first door. The locking device includes a main ring unit, an operating lever configured to separate the second door from the first door by pressure, and a dual opening preventing member configured to maintain a fixed state of the second door with respect to the first door when the operating lever is pressed in a state in which the first door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-kwen Ham, Hyeon-kyu Lim, Nam-soo Park, Sang-jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11072269
    Abstract: A tailgate subassembly for a vehicle includes a tailgate and a flexible elongated pulling element. In an open position of the tailgate, the flexible elongated pulling element extends downwardly at least partially from a starting region on an inner face of the tailgate and on the end side comprises a grip portion for a user. In order to provide improved means for closing a tailgate of a vehicle, the elongated pulling element is coupled to a retraction device which is designed to pull up the grip portion in the direction of the starting region when the tailgate is moved into a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Guenter Hans Grosch