Patents Examined by Justin Rephann
  • Patent number: 8443549
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a track, a track header, a fixed door panel, at least two sliding door panels, a pivot mechanism, and a lock arrangement. The sliding door panels are slidably movable on the track between (1) a closed position wherein the sliding door panels are extended across the track, and (2) an open position wherein the sliding door panels are constructed and arranged to be in a compact, overlapping relationship with each other and the fixed door panel. The pivot mechanism is constructed and arranged to enable pivotal movement of the track with fixed door panel and the two sliding door panels mounted thereon about a pivot axis from a normal configuration to a breakaway configuration. The lock arrangement is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the track with respect to the track header to prevent pivotal movement of the track away from the normal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Arthur Salvietti, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Dwight Edward Reed, Daniel R. Seymour, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Ronald Bohigian
  • Patent number: 8443551
    Abstract: A sliding door with a door leaf, which is suspended from two carriages and displaceably guided along a roller rail profile, which is disposed at a wall or at a ceiling, the sliding door having at least one closing device, which is suitable to displace the decelerated door leaf into a closed position. The at least one carriage has a carrier, at or in which the closing device is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Oliver Walhorn
  • Patent number: 8438782
    Abstract: An arched shutter configured for automated, simultaneous control of a plurality of louvers, the arched shutter comprises the plurality of louvers, a frame, a portion of which forms an arch, a base, wherein the plurality of louvers are installed between the base and the portion of the frame that forms an arch via a plurality of rod arms, a motor configured to drive one of the plurality of rod arms and therefore one of the plurality of louvers, and a plurality of linking apparatus connecting the plurality of louvers such that all of the plurality of louvers operate when the one louver is driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Harmonic Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Scharf, Roger Heald
  • Patent number: 8438783
    Abstract: An opening mechanism (1) includes a longitudinal guide (3) fixed to the frame of a furniture unit and, for each door (2), a first slide (4) sliding along the longitudinal guide (3), a second slide (5) which carries the door (2) and which slides transversally on the first slide (4) from a retracted position to an extracted position and vice versa and return elements to bring the second slide (5) back to the retracted position. The second slide (5) is able to rotate with respect to the first slide (4) and presents a curved space (8) in which guide elements (7), integral with the first slide (4). The first slide (4) further includes holding elements (10), controlled by a control surface (51) situated in the longitudinal guide (3), able to lock the second slide (5) in the extracted position when the door (2) is open to prevent the second slide (5) from being brought back to the retracted position by the return elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Effegi Brevetti S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti
  • Patent number: 8438784
    Abstract: An automated vehicle cargo door system comprises a cargo door comprising a plurality of panels hingeably assembled to one another, a pair of door tracks, a plurality of wheels rollingly assembling the door to the door tracks, a drive motor, a linear motion controller operably engaged with the drive motor, and a linkage removably engaging the linear motion controller and the cargo door. A release mechanism comprises an operational component located external to a vehicle cargo area. The release mechanism is in operative communication with the linkage, wherein the linkage can be disengaged from the linear motion controller by the release mechanism, thus allowing a user to open the cargo door should the motor become inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Vittorio Marinelli
  • Patent number: 8434264
    Abstract: Described is an animal door for enabling an animal to pass through a structure and for having an adjustable height. More specifically, the animal door is capable of being installed at the structure at multiple orientations, whereby the orientation at which the animal door is installed governs the height of the door. Additionally, the animal door is removably installed at the structure such that the orientation, and thus the height, of the door is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Bosserdet, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8429855
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of window seals to be encased in a frame, in general a motor vehicle door frame. The seal is intended to be in contact with part of the perimeter of a window and comprises a guide slot strip consisting of two upward segments and an upper segment, and a sealing strip extending between a low part of one of said upward segments and a high part of the other of said upward segments. The sealing strip is molded in a single piece and comprises an upward curved part, and is attached at least at its upper end to one of the upward segments of the guide slot strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper-Standard Automative France S.A.
    Inventor: Didier Stefanelli
  • Patent number: 8424244
    Abstract: Simultaneous displacement device for sliding doors, being a first sliding leaf (7) joined to a first cogged belt (9) established between a first set of cogged pulleys (11) and (12) which rotate freely on a first axis (13) and second axis (14) respectively, and a second sliding leaf (8) joined to a second cogged belt (10) established between a second set of cogged pulleys (15) and (16) which rotate freely on said first axis (13) and second axis (14) respectively, said device comprising clutching means (2) which enable to adopt a first position where the first cogged belt (9) and the second cogged belt (10) move independently, and a second position where the first cogged belt (9) and the second cogged belt (10) move integrally to enable the simultaneous displacement of the first sliding leaf (7) and of the second sliding leaf (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Klein Iberica, S.A.
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Tarrega Lloret
  • Patent number: 8418406
    Abstract: In an acceleration and deceleration device which includes at least one energy storage device and a cylinder with at least one piston movably disposed in the cylinder and moved therein by a carrier element and a sliding door including a slidable door panel provided with an acceleration and deceleration device, a second carrier element is provided guiding either the first piston or the second piston for movement in the cylinder so as to control the movement of pistons and of the sliding door near its end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8418408
    Abstract: In a vehicle door structure, a beam member (21) having a S-shaped cross section and extending in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle body is attached to an inner panel (15), and the upper edge of the inner panel (15) is formed by the beam member (21). Thereby, a crash load of a frontal crash is transmitted in a favorable manner, and energy of a side impact is adequately absorbed without incurring a cost increase or a weight increase owing to the use of the door beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Yasuhara, Shingo Segawa, Masatoshi Horino, Masami Kominamidate
  • Patent number: 8413383
    Abstract: An adjustable door sill assembly can include a threshold. A threshold cap can be on the threshold and have at least one opening formed therein. A carriage can be beneath the threshold cap and positioned proximate the at least one opening. At least one adjustment element on the carriage is capable of causing the threshold cap to move vertically with respect to the threshold. The adjustment element can be accessible through the opening on the threshold cap. A cap plug can cover the opening, the cap plug being removably attachable with the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Endura Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Van Camp, Andrew Krochmal
  • Patent number: 8413381
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device having a component (1), in particular a door, and having a mounting unit (3), in particular a door frame. The invention is based on the object of providing a device that by the use thereof, the mounting of the component on the mounting unit is simplified, and which has a construction such that a good aesthetic impression can be achieved. For this purpose, the device has at least one component (1), at least one mounting unit (3), on which the component (1) can be mounted, and at least one fastening unit (4, 17), which is disposed on the component (1), wherein said fastening unit (17) has at least one first joint element (18) and at least one second joint element (19), wherein said fastening unit (17) is disposed articulated on the component (1) using said first joint element (18), and wherein said fastening unit (17) can be mounted articulated on said mounting unit (3) using said second joint element (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: KL-Beschlage Karl Loggen GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Theisen
  • Patent number: 8413382
    Abstract: A second hinge plate supported pivotally on a first hinge plate using a shaft member so as to open and close. In the second hinge plate, a bracket is molded integrally at the upper edge of the end opposite the shaft member. A vertical shaft of a hold-stay rod is loosely fitted into a shaft hole of the bracket so as to move rotationally and slide in a vertical direction. A horizontal shaft of the hold-stay rod is inserted into a guide hole of a guide plate welded to the first hinge plate and slidable, and a stopper is folded and formed at the leading end of the hold-stay rod. The stopper is inserted into an engaging hole by movement from a guide to a receiving plate due to the opening movement of the second hinge plate and can be taken out from the engaging hole by a pushing-up operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Ryoji Uto, Keitaro Yokogawa, Takahiro Goto, Shigemi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8407941
    Abstract: A driving device for driving two door panels to synchronously move has a rail rod, an endless cord and multiple clamping assemblies. The endless cord is parallel to the rail rod and is mounted at a position at inner sides of the door panels. The clamping assemblies are securely connected to the cord, are moveable relative to the rail rod and clamp the door panels. Each clamping assembly has a front clamping panel and a rear clamping panel. The front clamping panel is mounted on an outer side of a corresponding one of the door panels. The rear clamping panel is mounted on the inner side of the corresponding door panel and is connected securely to the front clamping panel and the cord. Accordingly, the conjunction positions between clamping assemblies and a cord are hidden by the inner sides of the door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Door & Window Hardware Co.
    Inventors: Wei-Hung Chang, Sung-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8407942
    Abstract: A door jamb reinforcing device includes a first face member configured to engage with a face of a stop rail of the door jamb and a second face member interconnected with the first face member and configured to engage with a face of a latch-engagement portion of the door jamb. A first side member may be attached orthogonally to the first face member. A second side member may be attached orthogonally to the second face member. The first and second side members may be spaced apart from one another by a distance that corresponds to a width of the jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Frederick Jones
  • Patent number: 8408275
    Abstract: A modular track system for hanging a curtain, the track system consisting of modules or sections with attachments and accessories designed to adjust to varying environments and specifications. Track shape and length are adjusted by specifying various combinations of the specialized components created as part of the system. Complementing the track system is a curtain with integrated loop fasteners which allows the curtain to be attached and removed without removing the track. The system further preferably includes a side support for use in attached the track to a fixed support in the environment, and a guiderail on the side of the track on one or more track sections, the track and curtain all being coordinated to form an efficient and improved curtain hanging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Zahner Design Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Stuart DeWees, David Zahner
  • Patent number: 8402693
    Abstract: A window made from a transparent material is designed to fit through a slat of a accordion type of storm shutter that is capable of being mounted when the storm shutter is mounted to the window, door and the like of a premise. The window includes a large diameter portion that is larger than the cut-out in the slat and a smaller diameter portion with outside threads fits through the cut-out. A ring on the other side of the slat engages the threads to thread the window to the slat. Other fitting on the window are contemplated by this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Tracey Trefzer
  • Patent number: 8387310
    Abstract: A sliding door carriage for a vehicle includes a first point for fixing a first cable strand for driving in a first direction, and a second point for fixing a second cable strand for driving in a second direction. Each fixing point is offset toward a rear of the sliding door carriage relative to a direction of driving by the respective cable strand. The sliding door carriage can be included in a sliding door driving system, and the sliding door driving system can be included in a vehicle. The bulk of the sliding door driving system in a body of a vehicle can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Inteva Products France SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Robalo, Michel Mounie, Francois-Paul Meurou, Franck Rivoiret
  • Patent number: 8381443
    Abstract: A sliding door with a sliding panel and a fixed panel allows for the sliding panel to pivot with respect to the fixed panel regardless of the position of the sliding panel and allows both the sliding panel and fixed panel to pivot with respect to an outer frame in which the panels are mounted when the sliding panel is fully open or nearly fully open without requiring a floor track. The sliding panel may move linearly with respect to the fixed panel and outer frame along the length of a header, and a guide bracket cooperatively engaged with the sliding panel may be partially positioned in a guide track formed in the fixed panel bottom rail. A floor plate may be secured to the floor surface adjacent the bottom end of a first jamb to provide support/stability to the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Smith, Jason P. Sabotta
  • Patent number: 8371069
    Abstract: A fastening strip (10, 30) and seal (40) arrangement are described. By use of a plurality of individual retention elements (20) that are coupled—either integrally or separate—to the fastening strip it is possible to effect inter-engagement of the seal and strip. The retention elements are received into the seal, which is deformable and engages with the retention elements to effect the retention of the fastening strip to the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rainforest R&D Limited
    Inventors: Tony O'Sullivan, Tom Hyland