Patents Examined by Katherine Mitchell
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Patent number: 10415308Abstract: An open latching gate frame configured in a rectangular configuration has upper and lower horizontal segments and two laterally spaced vertical segments. Each segment has an interiorly facing indentation. A panel insert has a rectangular configuration supported by the indentations of the segments. A first and a second vertically oriented, laterally spaced post has a hollow rectangular configuration. Hinges couple the first post to an adjacent vertical segment of the gate frame and panel inset. The hinges are spring urged and functioning to reciprocate the gate frame and panel insert between open and closed orientations.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Inventors: Michael Penhallegon, Gregory May
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Patent number: 10030353Abstract: A cover (1) for manholes or traps is described, equipped with a mechanism for lifting and horizontally translating the cover (1), the mechanism being actuated through actuating means (10, 11, 12), and being adapted to automatically lift and afterwards horizontally translate or rotate the cover (1) to which it is operatively connected in order to completely open the manhole or trap.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apulia Innovative Technologies, S.R.L.Inventor: Giambattista Dalena
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Patent number: 10017985Abstract: A system includes a window treatment adjacent to a window of a room. At least one motor drive unit is associated with the window treatment, for varying the position of the window treatment. A sensor measures a light level (e.g., an outdoor light level) at the window. A controller provides signals to the motor drive unit to automatically adjust the position of the window treatment so as to control a penetration distance of sunlight into the room when the window treatment is partially opened. The controller is configured to position the window treatment in a bright override position if the measured light level is at least a bright threshold value. The controller is configured to select the bright threshold value from among at least two predetermined values. The selection depends on an angle of incidence between light rays from the sun and a surface normal of the window.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Stephen Lundy, Brent Protzman, Brian Michael Courtney
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Patent number: 9879460Abstract: A sliding door arrangement with a sliding door, a rail guiding a sliding motion of the door, and an attenuation and retraction device. The attenuation and retraction device includes a lid with a slot that is open towards the rail. The door includes a pin having an end adapted to enter the slot for interacting with attenuation and retraction device when the pin reaches an entry point of the attenuation and retraction device. The lid includes ramp portion adapted to interact with the pin such that the pin reaches further into the slot after passing the entry point as the door approaches an end position.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Elfa International ABInventor: Peter Nilsson
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Patent number: 9874054Abstract: A threshold having a threshold cap. The threshold cap has an aperture through its top wall. The threshold also includes a pin capture positioned below the threshold cap and corresponding in location to the aperture. The pin capture is positioned to receive a pin passing through the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Endura Products, Inc.Inventors: Mike Mitchell, Tomasz Jaskiewicz
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Patent number: 9868624Abstract: A system and method of operating a scissors lift assembly are provided. The system includes a hollow piston rod including an internal fluid reservoir, a cylinder body that is coaxial with and at least partially surrounding the hollow piston rod, and a fluid pump in flow communication with the reservoir through a suction channel extending from the internal fluid reservoir though a transfer tube to a suction port of the fluid pump. The transfer tube is coaxial with the piston, the piston rod, and the cylinder body and a discharge port of the fluid pump is in flow communication with an extension pressure chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Xtreme Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Don Francis Ahern, Ronald Lee Fifield
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Patent number: 9869119Abstract: A system for closing carriage doors of a vehicle may include first and second carriage doors configured to open and close via respective first and second actuators. The system may also include a controller configured to receive signals indicative of angles of the first and second doors relative to closed positions. The controller may also be configured to determine respective first and second velocity profiles for the first and second carriage doors based on the angles of the first and second doors. In addition, the controller may be configured to control operation of at least one of the first and second actuators based on the first and second angles, such that the first carriage door and the second carriage door stay farther apart from one another than a predetermined threshold distance while closing.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.Inventors: Matthew R. Partsch, Ryan B. Wonfor, Cian J. F. Brogan, Padmanabhan Kumar
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Patent number: 9869115Abstract: A sliding door for use with a rail system, having a rail, which guides a sliding motion of the door, and an attenuation and retraction device, which brakes the sliding motion of the door at a brake position in the vicinity of a door end position and retracts the door to the end position. The sliding door includes a pin, which is slideably attached to the door, slideable between a pin retracted position and a pin extended position, a tip of the pin interacting with the attenuation and retraction device. The door further includes a wheel carried by a wheel holder, which is arranged to move the wheel between a wheel retracted position and a wheel extended position. A transmission mechanism interconnects the wheel holder and the pin such that a movement of the wheel, towards the wheel extended position, urges the pin towards the pin extended position.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Elfa International ABInventor: Peter Nilsson
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Patent number: 9863185Abstract: A retractable covering such as a door or window blind or shade has a top rail, a bottom rail, a covering material extending between the top rail and the bottom rail, at least two lift cords extending downwardly from the head rail to the bottom rail for supporting the bottom rail, a covering operating system for enabling retraction and deployment of the covering, and an adjuster connected to at least two of the lift cords. The adjuster is preferably mounted in the bottom rail. The retractable covering also comprises an individual cord tensioner for allowing at least one of the lift cords to be individually tensioned. The individual cord tensioner operates independently of the adjuster. A method of adjusting the orientation and drop height of the bottom rail of the retractable covering is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INDUSTRIES BVInventor: Johannes Robertus Maria Franssen
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Patent number: 9863187Abstract: An access ladder includes a plurality of sections connected together to telescope between an extended position and a retracted position that has an increasing reactive force to counterbalance the weight of the sections as they extend. A method for accessing a room with a ladder connected to a ceiling including the steps of moving the ladder to a fully extended position subject to an increasingly active force to counterbalance the weight of the ladder as it extends. There is the step of retracting the ladder into a retracted position in the ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Werner Co.Inventor: Thomas W. Parker
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Patent number: 9863179Abstract: A sensing edge for providing a signal to a controller indicating that a forward edge of a door is obstructed during operation. The sensing edge includes an elongate sheath, a first end plug and a first end flap. The elongate sheath has a first end and a second end. A first cavity is located at the first end. The elongate sheath is mounted to the forward edge. The first end plug includes an inner end, an outer end, first engaging structures extending from the inner end and a first vertical groove in the outer end. The engaging structures are positioned within the first cavity in an assembled configuration. The first end flap includes a relatively flat first body and a first flange structure. The first flange structure is positioned in the first vertical groove in the assembled configuration to secure the first end flap to the first end plug.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Miller Edge, Inc.Inventors: Tim Castello, Krishnaraj Tejeswi, Gary Leigh, Jack Provenzano
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Patent number: 9856654Abstract: A collapsible stair with foldable ramp can include a first step, and a second step nestable within the first step such that when the collapsible stair is in a closed position the second step is aligned with the first step and when the collapsible stair is in an open position a lateral offset between the second step and the first step is increased. A third step can be nestable within the first step such that when the collapsible stair is in a closed position the third step is aligned with the second step and is in an open position a lateral offset between the third step and the second step is increased. A ramp can be rotatably coupled to the first step to rotate from a stair position to a ramp position, wherein the ramp position comprises the second step and the third step being covered by the ramp.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Inventors: Wallace Tagart, Yvonne Tagart
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Patent number: 9856696Abstract: A system includes a window treatment adjacent to a window of a room. At least one motor drive unit is associated with the window treatment, for varying the position of the window treatment. A sensor measures a light level (e.g., an outdoor light level) at the window. A controller provides signals to the motor drive unit to automatically adjust the position of the window treatment so as to control a penetration distance of sunlight into the room when the window treatment is partially opened. The controller is configured to position the window treatment in a bright override position if the measured light level is at least a bright threshold value. The controller is configured to select the bright threshold value from among at least two predetermined values. The selection depends on an angle of incidence between light rays from the sun and a surface normal of the window.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Stephen Lundy, Brent Protzman, Brian Michael Courtney
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Patent number: 9856688Abstract: A bi-directional element drive system includes a motor having a drive shaft, a cable anchor and a cable connector. The cable connector is carried on the drive shaft and has two ends connected to the cable anchor. In addition the drive system includes a support and a driven element. The driven element is displaced between a first position and a second position relative to the support by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Larry Dean Elie, John W. Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Jeff A. Wallace
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Patent number: 9849767Abstract: The invention relates to a seal including a body having a built-in chamber in which a switching element is arranged, and a lever for actuating the switching element. The lever can tilt relative to the body in two different directions. The range of movement and shape of the lever and/or the arrangement thereof relative to a wall of the chamber are such that the tilting of the lever, in a first of the different directions, does not deform the chamber, or does not deform same enough for the switching element to switch, and such that the tilting of the lever in the second direction deforms the chamber so that the switching element switches.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Faiveley Transport ToursInventors: Olivier Salles, Damien Morand, Thierry Montanie
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Patent number: 9845631Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drive arrangement for motor-operated adjustment of a closure element in a motor vehicle having at least one drive with a drive motor, and a drive controller. The closure element can be driven in the motor-operated adjustment mode by the drive motor in the closing direction and in the opening direction between a closed and an open position. The drive is non-self-locking and has a sensor, in particular a Hall sensor, for sensing the drive movement. The drive controller monitors the sensor signals for a fault state, and when a fault state is sensed initiates an emergency braking and/or stop mode. The drive arrangement comprises two drives each with a sensor for determining the respective drive movement. To detect drive-fault-induced slamming shut of the closure element, the drive controller correlates the sensor signals of the two sensors, in particular compares said sensor signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KommanditgesellschaftInventors: Jürgen Eggeling, Dirk Hellmich, Klaus Dünne
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Patent number: 9844289Abstract: A ribbon-type device effects undulation of a curtain for gathering the same in the vertical or horizontal direction. A functional unit comprises two tapes of fabric, each of which extends in an undulating manner to form a plurality of alternating positively and negatively curved arcs. An arc of positive curvature of a first fabric tape is set so as to oppose an arc of negative curvature of a second fabric tape and an arc of negative curvature of the first fabric tape is set so as to oppose an arc of positive curvature of the second fabric tape. The two fabric tapes are joined to each other at each transition between an arc of positive curvature and an arc of negative curvature by means of tie-off stitching (tie-offs). A plurality of such tie-offs accommodate a pull cord of a curtain.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Gustav Gerster GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Martin M. Gerster
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Patent number: 9840870Abstract: The present invention provides a reel pipe motor, comprising a casing; a motor and a speed reduction assembly disposed within the casing; an L-shape motor end head having a tubular part and a box part which could be connected with the casing, a switch box disposed on the outer surface of the box part, in which a switch control panel and a bead switch are located; and a power supply plug and a hollow rod. The bead switch is connected with the hollow rod. The bead switch could be operated by pulling the hollow rod. A first end of the power supply plug is electrically connected with the switch control panel, and a second end thereof extends into the hollow rod and is electrically connected with an external power supply. This invention further discloses a rolling curtain positioning control system comprising the said reel pipe motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: NINGBO XIANFENG NEW MATERIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Xianfeng Lu, Jianguo Chen, Mengxu Hu
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Patent number: 9834979Abstract: A drive through bin door having a curved bottom I-beam connected to an inner and outer door frame. The door frames have a curved top member connected to a pair of posts by a plurality of nuts and bolts. A door panel is hingedly connected to one of the door frames.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Sukup Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Tun Ge, John A. Hanig, Bradley A. Poppen
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Patent number: 9834970Abstract: A door opening and closing apparatus includes a rail module including: a rail member extending along a front-and-rear direction; a drive device mounted on the rail member; and a supporting member coupled to one end portion of a closing cable the other end portion of which is connected to the drive device and one end portion of an opening cable the other end portion of which is connected to the drive device. The rail module is provided with the drive device fastened to an outside of a vehicle body such that a part of the drive device goes inside the vehicle body through an opening provided on the vehicle body. At least the opening inversion member is provided at an upper portion of the other end portion of the rail member.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATIONInventors: Naoya Seto, Shuntaro Kimura, Hiroshi Ishigaki