Patents Examined by Katherine Chu
  • Patent number: 9593454
    Abstract: A barrier system for alternately shutting and opening the vehicle entrance or pedestrian entrance of two lines or transport paths which cross one another and of which one is at least twice as wide as the other. On the four corners of the lines (15, 16) which cross one another, in each case one barrier system (17) with in each case one barrier boom (1, 18) which can be pivoted horizontally out of the vehicle entrance of one line (15) into the vehicle entrance of the other line (16) is installed. Two of the barrier systems (17) which lie diagonally opposite to one another and have in each case one barrier boom (1) which can be folded lengthwise from an elongate position. The two other barrier systems (17) which lie diagonally opposite to one another have in each case one conventional barrier boom (18) which is rigid over its entire length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNETIC AUTOCONTROL GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Bürgin
  • Patent number: 9587366
    Abstract: A multi-part reusable levee bag. The reusable levee bag includes a top bag section and a bottom portion removably affixed to the top bag section. The combined top bag section and bottom portion define an in interior space within which fillable material may be received to form a levee bag for use in flooding and other installations. The bottom bag section is made of a biodegradable material while the top bag section is made of an alternative material. The reusable levee bag, once filled, may be disassembled and the top bag section reused while the bottom bag section may remain in place while still being environmentally friendly due to its biodegradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Beau G. Adams
  • Patent number: 9587368
    Abstract: A repair bracket that provides a substitute for one or more broken anchoring tabs of a manhole base. The repair bracket is an expansible bracket that has a frame member with a central manhole access passage through the frame member. The frame member has threaded holes transversely through the frame member and located at positions corresponding to positions of threaded holes in the original unbroken anchoring tabs of the manhole base. The threaded holes are used to connect the frame member to a manhole cover by threaded bolts extending through the cover and into the threaded holes. Expansible actuators are mounted to the frame member and are capable of moving a part of the expansible bracket outward into engagement against the inner wall of the base or a sleeve or casing attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Robert T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9574309
    Abstract: A concrete dowel device including a sleeve and plate in which the sleeve includes break-away alignment tabs at the opening of the sleeve to ensure proper alignment of the plate within the sleeve during field installation. The tabs are positioned at the sleeve opening, rather than along the length of the socket, to avoid misalignment of the plate in the sleeve, simplify use and reduce manufacturing costs of the product. The sleeve and plate may include additional alignment surfaces on the plate, at the rear corners, or along the rear side of the plate and sleeve. To facilitate manufacturing, the break-away alignment tabs may be formed as molded components rotated and snapped into position. Alternatively, the break-away alignment tabs may be formed as part of an insert plate manufactured apart from and attached to the flange of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EZ Form, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9567715
    Abstract: An adjustable width trail paver comprising a prime mover, an adjustable width paver, moveable and controllable materials conveyor, a controller, a base mold, and a trimmer; the control having pivot, tilt, raise, and fold features to move or control the materials conveyor around obstacles along the path to be paved; a prime mover with hydraulically telescoping frame; an adjustable width paver having interchangeable molds or hydraulically expanding pressure compensated side plates; and, methods for achieving continuous paving near or around obstacles along a path to be paved utilizing the adjustable width trail paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GOMACO Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Pedersen, James Hayward
  • Patent number: 9567717
    Abstract: A pavement marker includes a plastic base having an exposed upper surface, a reflector supported by the plastic base, and a metal rub rail coupled to the plastic base. The rub rail has an exposed rub surface positioned above the exposed upper surface of the plastic base. Methods of making and installing a pavement marker are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Intagliata
  • Patent number: 9546456
    Abstract: A slip dowel tube and elongate dowel are disclosed herein which allow for transverse and longitudinal movement of two adjacent concrete slabs and also limit vertical movement of the two concrete slabs. The slip dowel tube is housed within a sheath that provides a void to allow for transverse movement of the slip dowel tube when the first and second slabs move transversely with respect to each other. The elongate dowel is slidably disposed within the main tube to allow for longitudinal movement or movement which brings the two slabs closer to or further away from each other. This system also limits vertical movement between the two adjacent slabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Shaw & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Shaw
  • Patent number: 9528231
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a traffic control assembly, which includes a base selectively mountable adjacent a roadway, a flexible tubular member coupled to the base, a reinforced retaining member, and a retaining pin. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the reinforced retaining member, when positioned in a recess in the base, is configured to secure the flexible tubular member to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Robert K. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9517902
    Abstract: The present invention is a vertically stored dock leveler with a telescoping lip that selectively extends and retracts through a range positions relative to the deck. The lip is held and guided by a deck frame carriage. When the deck is raised and lowered, the lip is extended and retracted by an electro-hydraulic control system. When the deck reaches a preselected incline position, the lip is fully extended. Sensors on the underside of the deck determine the incline position of the deck and when the lip is retracted. The leveler is then lowered until the lip engages and rests on the bed of the trailer. Similarly, when the deck is raised for storage and reaches the preselected incline position, the lip is fully retracted prior to returning to its stored position. The telescoping lip is selectively moveable to a range of partially extended position to facilitate end loading a trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nordock, Inc.
    Inventor: David Harrington
  • Patent number: 9518365
    Abstract: A pavement marker is disclosed that includes a base member, two opposite resilient members and an upright member that includes a reflective surface. The resilient members, comprised of polyurethane receive opposite arms that extend from the upright members and allow for pivotal motion when force is applied to the reflective surface of the upright member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Byron Dixon
  • Patent number: 9506264
    Abstract: A ramped garage draining system is provided having a parking area that is designed to receive a vehicle or other moveable object that may drip liquids. The draining system is designed to reside inside a garage or other structure and direct the liquid outside of the structure. The parking area is bordered on three sides with walls that extend above the parking area to contain the fluids. The ramp slopes toward a draining portion to direct the liquid towards a seal in the door to the structure. Seal interrupters extend under the seal and displace the seal upwards, creating a gap for the liquid to drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Melvin Hyman
  • Patent number: 9499945
    Abstract: Methods for the construction and repair of concrete pavements. The methods comprise forming, along each joint between adjacent slabs, parallel to the vertical plane thereof, a plurality of surface recesses (23, 43) in adjacent slabs (41, 21), alternately on either side of the joint (11), the maximum height of the recesses being smaller than the thickness of the pavement, and a plurality of holes (27, 27?; 47, 47?) at the edges of adjacent slabs (21, 41) with, at least, one part shared with said surface recesses (23, 43), and filling said plurality of surface recesses (23, 43) and said plurality of holes (27, 27?; 47, 47?) with concrete so as to form a plurality of connectors (22, 42) in the form of teeth (25, 45) for transferring loads between adjacent slabs (21, 41) and columns (29, 29?; 49, 49?)for supporting said teeth (25, 45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: José Ramón Vazquez Ruiz Del Arbol
  • Patent number: 9481968
    Abstract: A system providing environmentally friendly pathway tunnel utilizes bridge units having a bottom configuration with multiple elongated beams and slots. One or more of the beams includes upstanding sedimentation members that are spaced apart along a span of the tunnel. The system interacts with the flowing water and earthen material in the flowing water such that capture and settling of the earthen material at locations along the tunnel occurs to produce a more natural water flow pathway along the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CONTECH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Aston, Michael A. Blank, Edward H. Zax
  • Patent number: 9481966
    Abstract: A paving machine includes a hopper assembly movable between a lowered position and a raised position and a conveyor frame. A first hopper is pivotally connected to the conveyor frame at a first hopper axis and a second hopper is pivotally connected to the conveyor frame at a second hopper axis. A first apron is connected to the first hopper about a first apron axis. A second apron is connected to the second hopper about a second apron axis. The first apron axis and the second apron axis are respectively perpendicular to the first and second hopper axis. A central apron is pivotally connected relative to the conveyor frame about a central axis that is inline to the first and second apron axis in the lowered position. The first and the second apron axis are planarly translated to the central axis from the lowered to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Toby A. Frelich
  • Patent number: 9476167
    Abstract: A semi-permanent walkway construction comprising multiple sections of walkway decking configured to be longitudinally connected by rail and splicer structure on lower surfaces of the decking. The rail and splicer structure is generally U-shaped and mates in a male/female fashion, with the rails downward-facing, and the splicers upward-facing with perforated bottom walls so that the rail and splicer structure buries itself in soft terrain to anchor the joined walkway sections. In a further form, a junction rail is provided to create a welding shelf to connect walkway sections in lateral and parallel configurations in addition to the longitudinal configuration provided by the rails and splicers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Gregory P. Welch
  • Patent number: 9428869
    Abstract: An adjustable width trail paver comprising a prime mover, an adjustable width paver, moveable and controllable materials conveyor, a controller, a base mold, and a trimmer; the control having pivot, tilt, raise, and fold features to move or control the materials conveyor around obstacles along the path to be paved; a prime mover with hydraulically telescoping frame; an adjustable width paver having interchangeable molds or hydraulically expanding pressure compensated side plates; and, methods for achieving continuous paving near or around obstacles along a path to be paved utilizing the adjustable width trail paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GOMACO Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Pedersen, James Hayward
  • Patent number: 9410654
    Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Sanexen Environmental Services Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Gagnon, Charles Gervais-Dumont, Jason Duff, Pierre-Hugues Lanneville-Vezina
  • Patent number: 9404604
    Abstract: A device for laying a pipe in an expanse of water includes a tower (30) intended to protrude along a tower axis (B-B?) in a floating laying structure (10), and assemblies (34A, 34B) for gripping and moving the pipe (12) in order to guide the movement of the pipe (12) towards the expanse of water (11) along a laying axis (C-C?). Each gripping and moving assembly (34A, 34B) is borne by the tower (30). The tower (30) is formed by a barrel (32) extending along the tower axis (B-B?), each gripping assembly transversely protruding from the barrel (32) relative to the tower axis (B-B?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: René Maloberti, Sébastien Legeay, Didier Bonnemaison, Yannick Thibault
  • Patent number: 9394655
    Abstract: A manually operated, lightweight and portable three-wheel device that includes an airless piston pump paint-spraying system for the striping of parking lots and other paved surfaces. The device may also feature a laser-line system to ensure accurate striping, while eliminating the need for snapping chalk lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9371619
    Abstract: A delineator system includes an anchor having an end portion and a post extending along a longitudinal direction and having an end portion overlapping with the end portion of the anchor. The overlapping end portions are coupled together with an engagement member. A protective collar is moveable relative to the post and the anchor along the longitudinal direction from a non-installed position to an installed position. The protective collar is disposed over and covers the overlapping end portions and the engagement member when in the installed position. Methods of manufacturing and installing a post, and other delineator systems and delineator posts are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ENERGY ABSORPTION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Intagliata, Kevin Newton, John W. Higgins, Kent Kekeis