Patents Examined by Katherine Mitchell
  • Adjustable-width flexible stair barrier
    Patent number: 9567797
    Abstract: An adjustable-width barricade for removable installation at the bottom of a staircase includes a flexible, frameless, planar, and generally-rectangular barrier member that extends between two posts on either side of the staircase. The barrier member is installed in a banister-to-banister configuration, a wall-to-banister configuration, or a wall-to-wall configuration. The barrier member has a front and back surface that forms an interior space therebetween. The adjustable-width barricade further includes a plurality of fasteners extending from one or both sides of the barrier member for tensioning engagement between one or both posts that maintains the lateral or horizontal integrity of the barricade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Better Options, LLC
    Inventor: Janelle Fitzpatrick
  • Hydraulically operated overhead tilt-up door
    Patent number: 9567789
    Abstract: There present invention relates to a single panel, hydraulically driven door system. The door and hydraulic cylinder are mounted to the door frame so the door and door frame can be easily installed to a building rough opening. From the door closed position, the hydraulic cylinder raises the door slightly to release a locking mechanism, before the door is rotated to its open position. A control arm and guide track guide movement of the door between its open and closed positions. A variable frequency drive controls the speed of the hydraulic cylinder extension and retraction to provide a smooth transition of the door when moving between its open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Phillip A. Crown
  • Cabinet door with retractable panel
    Patent number: 9567792
    Abstract: A cabinet door assembly is moveably mounted to a cabinet to selectively close a cabinet. The cabinet door has a substantially planar first panel and a substantially planar second panel in a planar parallel configuration. The second panel may retract relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel. A stop member may be incorporated to limit the downward movement of the second panel. Ramp surfaces and a guide member cooperate to facilitate upward and/or inward directional movement of the second panel relative to the first panel upon application of an impact force to the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph D Maresh
  • Swing door having an impact protection device
    Patent number: 9567796
    Abstract: A swing door is provided that includes a frame, a door leaf with a door leaf edge, and an impact protection device. The impact protection device has a push rod, a lever, and first and second biasing arrangements. The impact protection device is mounted on an end face of the door leaf and is configured to pivot in an opening direction of the swing door and in a direction opposite to the opening direction. The lever is arranged in a gap between the front side and the frame as the swing door is closed. The lever has an outer lever arm protruding from the front side to protect the door leaf edge from an impact as said swing door is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Andrae
  • Deck curtain system and method of use
    Patent number: 9567800
    Abstract: A deck curtain and mounting system using vertical posts attachable to a deck rail or decking form a structure supporting curtains hung from cross members positioned between the vertical posts to surround or encompass a deck area. The method of shading or securing the privacy of a deck area includes attaching vertical posts to a rail cap of a deck structure surrounding a deck area and attaching rotatable horizontal connectors to the vertical posts so that cross members may be connected between the vertical posts for hanging privacy curtains from the cross members around the deck structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Deck Dressings, LLC
    Inventors: Cheryl Newport, David D. Heilman
  • Intelligent window covering incorporating climate control features
    Patent number: 9562390
    Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a gearbox assembly configured to electromechanically operate a window covering. A controller, incorporated into the window covering, is provided to control the gearbox assembly. A temperature sensor communicates with the controller and monitors temperature proximate a window associated with the window covering. The temperature sensor may monitor the temperature of the window, temperature external to the window, temperature internal to the window, temperature within a headrail of the window covering, or the like. The controller is further configured to relay at least one of commands and information to an HVAC controller to regulate room temperature in accordance with the monitored temperature. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: David R. Hall
  • Door bottom system for an entryway system
    Patent number: 9562387
    Abstract: A door bottom system is used with an entryway system having a door panel movable between open and closed positions. The door bottom system includes a door sweep movable with the door panel between first and second positions corresponding with the open and closed positions, respectively. The door bottom system includes a threshold assembly including a sill that defines a channel adapted for accepting a fluid. The threshold assembly includes a seal extending downwardly toward the sill to a distal end and movable between initial and sealed positions. The door sweep selectively engages and moves the seal from the initial position in the first position to the sealed position in the second position. The seal extends over and covers the channel in the initial position. The seal at least partially uncovers the channel in the sealed position such that the distal end of the seal is positioned above the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: QUANEX HOMESHIELD LLC
    Inventor: James W. Meeks
  • Vehicle door assembly
    Patent number: 9555694
    Abstract: A vehicle door may include a door outer panel defining an exterior surface of the vehicle door; a common door inner panel located inboard of the door outer panel and configured to mount door hardware, with the common door inner panel having a periphery; and a panel extension extending around essentially all of the periphery of the common door inner panel, the panel extension being attached to the periphery of the common door inner panel and attached to the door outer panel to secure the common door inner panel to the door outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James C. O'Kane, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Safety gate apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9556673
    Abstract: A safety gate apparatus is provided which couples as a cost efficient and reliable gate for preventing falls and injury as well as a gate that can easily be opened by existing equipment such as a fork lift. The invention comprises a vertical sliding gate configured to move in a path of motion having at least a closed position and an open position. The vertical sliding gate remains in a closed, default position by an applied counter force created by one more elastic means. The sliding gate slides down to an open position by a downward force created by a fork lift or other machinery. The gate will automatically return to the default position when the downward force is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Diverse Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Lee Stover, Craig T. Jones, Dennis R. Weber
  • Waterproof lockable door and pressure adjusted plug thereof
    Patent number: 9560782
    Abstract: A waterproof lockable door and a pressure adjusted plug thereof are provided. An electronic device is formed with an opening having an annular wall. The waterproof lockable door includes a cover member having at least one through hole and a pressure adjusted plug including a waterproof member and at least one fastening unit. The waterproof member includes at least one fastening hole. The fastening unit is formed with a head portion and a rod portion, and the rod portion is received in the through hole and moves relative to the cover member, thereby driving the outer periphery of the waterproof member to be tightly adjacent to annular wall. Accordingly, the tolerance of the annular wall and the waterproof member and the air pressure inside an opening both force the waterproof member to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Cheng Lee, Juei-Chi Chang
  • Method and apparatus for establishing an environmentally isolated volume
    Patent number: 9556667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William Robert Clos
  • Rolling windbars for roll-up doors
    Patent number: 9556672
    Abstract: Example roll-up doors are disclosed. An example roll-up door includes a track system and a curtain. The curtain blocks a doorway when a leading edge is at a closed position and unblocks the doorway when the leading edge is at an open position. The roll-up door further includes a track roller to vertically travel along a track system. The track roller is to be rotatable relative to the track system. The roll-up door also includes a windbar to be coupled to the track roller. The windbar is closer to the lintel when the leading edge of the curtain is at the open position than when the leading edge is at the closed position. The windbar is to be vertically movable with the track roller and to be rotatable relative to the track roller and rotatable relative to the track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Adjustable cable manager
    Patent number: 9556972
    Abstract: A cable manager includes a first portion and a second portion that cooperate to retain at least one cable. The first portion of certain types of cable managers is configured to be held in one or more rotationally fixed positions relative to the second portion. For example, the second portion may include at least one retaining arm that extends at least partially over a cable cradle of the first portion when the second portion is rotated to a closed position and that allows access to the cable cradle when rotated to an open position. The first portion of certain types of cable managers is configured to be held in one of a plurality of axially fixed positions relative to the second portion to accommodate cables of different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Gordon John White
  • Cushion for shading system
    Patent number: 9556669
    Abstract: The invention describes a cushion for shading system of the type comprising a piece of cloth slidingly fastened to a section bar of an upright. A raceway with a substantially C-shaped cross section serves to fasten the cushion to a section bar edge, and a flexible plastic tongue, having an end on the raceway and an opposed end spaced therefrom in order to contact the upright, serves as a spring between the section bar and the upright, allowing the section bar to come nearer to the upright in a compression phase or to be spaced in a predetermined way in the absence of compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: PLASTEX SA
    Inventor: Marco Lombardini
  • Hand grip assembly
    Patent number: 9550092
    Abstract: A hand grip assembly for climbing a tree includes a handle grip portion. A handle bracket is attached to the handle grip portion. At least one mounting bracket is attached to the handle bracket. The mounting bracket includes an angled shape for engaging a surface of the tree. A harness is attached to the handle bracket. The harness cinches about the tree and secures the hand grip assembly relative to the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hurricane Safety Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy P. Squires
  • Joint seals for flexible wall panels
    Patent number: 9551181
    Abstract: Example room dividers are disclosed herein. An example room divider includes a first panel and a second panel. A first seal between the first panel and the second panel is to provide a first line of contact with at least one of the first panel or the second panel. A second seal between the first panel and the second panel is to provide a second line of contact with at least one of the first panel or the second panel. A touch-and-hold fastener connects the first panel and the second panel. The touch-and-hold fastener is positioned between the first line of contact and the second line of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan Withrow
  • Electronic interior door release system
    Patent number: 9551166
    Abstract: A powered door latch may be actuated by a capacitive sensor or by movement of a mechanical release device. A controller may be utilized to prevent unlatching of the powered latch unless the vehicle is in Park and/or certain operating conditions are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Patel, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Hunting stand and firearm rest therefor
    Patent number: 9549545
    Abstract: Firearm rests for hunting stands are provided. A firearm rest includes a first arm and a second arm. The second arm is spaced apart from the first arm along a lateral direction. The first arm and second arm each include a body extending between a first end and a second end, the body including a fixed portion and a rotational portion that is rotational between an extended position and a retracted position. The firearm rest further includes a cross-beam extending generally along the lateral direction between the first arm and the second arm. The cross-beam is coupled to the first arm at the first end and coupled to the second arm at the first end. The cross-beam has a position along a vertical direction in the extended position that is above a position of the cross-beam along the vertical direction in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Garrett
  • Gas turbine engine cover
    Patent number: 9550581
    Abstract: A protective cover for an aircraft engine comprises a lower portion mountable to a corresponding lower portion of an opening of the engine, and an upper portion articulated to the lower portion. The upper portion is deployable from a collapsed position to a deployed position in which the upper portion extends upwardly from the lower portion. A handling tool may be used to operate the panel from a remote location on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Carlos Adelino Marques Santos Loureiro
  • Adjustable overhead door hinge
    Patent number: 9546511
    Abstract: A hinge for a multi-panel door includes a first bracket, a second bracket pivotally coupled to the first bracket, and a carrier link carrying a roller adapted to engage in a door track. The first bracket is adapted to be operably attached to a first panel of the multi-panel door, the second bracket is adapted to be operably attached to second panel of the multi-panel door, and the carrier link is pivotally attached to one of the first bracket or the second bracket. The carrier link is selectively positionable in a plurality of pre-defined positions, such that at each of the pre-defined positions, the roller is disposed at a different position relative to the first bracket and the second bracket so that the roller can be spaced apart a variety of different distances from the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Jay S. Dittmer