Patents Examined by Kevin McDermott
  • Patent number: 6568142
    Abstract: A bamboo floor plate for sound insulation. A bamboo plate is made by forming flat a round bamboo cane. A wide groove is formed on the bamboo plate, and on both sides of a wide groove, narrow grooves are formed. The inside of the wide groove is insulated, and an electrode is embedded thereon to make a heating plate. The narrow grooves on the sides are arranged parallel to each other so that the cross section of the bamboo plate looks like a comb. A foam plastic sheet is placed on the surface on which the grooves are provided to form hollows. To connect the bamboo floor plate to another bamboo floor plate, a pin is inserted between the electrodes of the bamboo floor plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Blower Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6560934
    Abstract: A shim assembly comprises a first shim piece having a generally planar body and a plurality of spaced apart projections extending upwardly therefrom. A second shim piece has a generally planar body and a plurality of spaced recesses. The recesses are slightly larger than the projections and spaced apart similar to the spacing of the projections to receive the projections and maintain the first and second shim pieces in an assembled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Deslauriers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Workman
  • Patent number: 6557313
    Abstract: Heat insulated wall structure includes interior blanket insulation positioned between adjacent ones of studs, interior of the exterior wall board. Reflective sheet material is placed adjacent the blanket insulation, and the interior wall board is applied over the reflective sheet material to the studs. Spacers are applied to the heat reflective sheet material so as to maintain the facing surfaces of the reflective sheet material and the next adjacent surface in spaced relationship, forming a dead air space therebetween. The dead air space adjacent the heat reflective sheet material maintains the high reflectivity properties of the reflective sheet material, giving the enhanced ability to reflect heat away from the interior of the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Robert J. Alderman
  • Patent number: 6553737
    Abstract: A spacer is provided that includes at least one rail of plastic, steel, rebar, or the like that runs along a top surface of a modular construction material such as a brick or block. At least one transverse rail is connected to the length-running rail. The transverse rail is also constructed of plastic, steel, rebar, or the like and runs width-wise along the top surface of the brick/block. Connected to the rails is a number of spacing studs that define a desired mortar depth. The spacing studs may include removable clips that are configured to engage the rails. Accordingly, the clips have a height equal to the desired mortar depth. The present invention may alternatively include a kit comprising the rails, clips, and bricks/blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas J. Berg
  • Patent number: 6553731
    Abstract: A combination partition screen includes at least two upright supports, each upright support having a plurality of longitudinal coupling portions in corners thereof and a plurality of spacers respectively mounted between each two adjacent upright supports to support partition panels, each spacer having a flat base wall, a flat bearing wall and a flat supporting wall respectively extended from the base wall, an upward stop flange extended from the flat bearing wall and adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partition panel on the flat bearing wall, a downward stop flange extended from the flat supporting wall and adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partition panel below the flat supporting wall, a downward locating flange extended from the flat bearing wall and defining with the flat supporting wall an elongated coupling chamber for hanging things, a flat positioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of the flat base wall on the middle, an elongated clamping wall extended from the fla
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Yi-Cheng Hsueh
  • Patent number: 6553732
    Abstract: A corner piece for covering a corner of a structure defined by two mating walls of the structure and for use in conjunction with siding panels attached to the mating walls includes an ornamented central portion having a first and second lateral edges and a first and second side walls. Each of the first and second side walls has an exterior face and an interior face. The first and second side walls are integrally formed with the ornamented central portion and extend from the first and second lateral edges, respectively. The first and second side walls cover a portion of the first and second mating walls of the structure, respectively, and overlap at least a portion of the siding panels when the siding panels and the corner piece are fastened to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Certainteed Corporation
    Inventor: Robert David Shaw
  • Patent number: 6550847
    Abstract: A reinforcement device may include at least one elongated reinforcement body having a longitudinal axis and at least one foamable member that produces a foamed product when heated. The foamable member is preferably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body so that the foamed product will extend along the longitudinal axis of the reinforcement body. Preferably, the foamed product bonds the reinforcement body to a hollow structural member in order to reinforce the hollow structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: NEO-EX Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Honda, Nobuaki Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6550204
    Abstract: A composite door construction for exterior doors having one or more transparent panels is described. The doors include top and bottom rails and first and second side stiles. Each component includes an exterior cap of weather-resistant material. The caps are formed with a C-shaped cross-section yielding an interior cavity and include a supporting ledge extending from the innermost portion of the cap. An interior trim portion is shaped to fit into the C-shaped cross-section and an interior cavity. In doors having multiple transparent panels, one or more muntin bars support the inner edges of the panels. The muntin bars include an exterior cap with supporting ledges of weather-resistant material, an interior trim portion attached to a central groove in the exterior cap, and have drainage and sealant grooves. The outer portions and surfaces of the side stiles meet at an angle over ninety degrees to reduce binding between mating doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Door Project, LLC
    Inventors: Steve G. Herrera, Richard Harry Pangburn, Alex D. Herrera
  • Patent number: 6546685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bracket for securing collector flight support tracks that are used in sludge collectors. The mounting bracket is suitable for use with various types of support track configurations. The mounting bracket is part of an assembly that is adjustable and includes a pair of unitary molded hubs and a connecting member that extends between the pair of hubs. The hubs are preferably constructed so as to facilitate being mounted in one of a number of alternative positions on a wall of a collector tank or to be secured to a variety of commonly used collector flight support tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: United States Filter Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery L. Nordland, Susan M. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6546679
    Abstract: An insulated building foundation protective arrangement includes a multi-layer, reinforced, waterproof, rubberized asphalt, U.V. resistant laminate having a self-adhesive backing attachable to an insulated building foundation without any other mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Todd E. Bushberger
  • Patent number: 6543195
    Abstract: The structural framing system comprises a steel beam that supports flooring components interconnected through the addition of a solidifying material such as poured concrete. A structural framing system is created by anchoring steel beams to vertical columns, spanning floor sections between the steel beams, pouring concrete into the interior of the beams and contacting the flooring components, and then forming a rigid joint between the steel beam, floor sections and columns through the addition of a bonding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Diversakore LLC
    Inventor: Housh Rahimzadeh
  • Patent number: 6543197
    Abstract: A wall panel for a storage building is provided. The wall panel includes a first arcuate ridged region bounded by a first inner clamping surface, and a second inner clamping surface. The wall panel also includes a second arcuate ridged region bounded by a first outer clamping surface and a second outer clamping surface. The second arcuate ridged region of a first wall panel is adapted to securely overlap and snap-fit interconnect with said first arcuate ridged region of a second adjacent wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Arrow Group Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Wetzel, III, Curtis B. Hemann, Jeffrey L. Hall, Frank J. DeBoer, Michael A. Spicer, Steven D. Huegen, Timothy J. Brennan
  • Patent number: 6543187
    Abstract: A conduit housing for enclosing the juncture between a roof and an elongated conduit such as flexible cable or a pipe extending upwardly through the roof is disclosed. The housing may be installed while the conduit remains in situ and without disconnecting the conduit from an external utility to which it is connected. The housing includes first and second base sections, a hood, and a conduit opening extending through a side wall of the housing. The base sections are slidably engageable with each other around the conduit on the roof to form a base assembly. The base assembly has an open top and extends peripherally around an interior region containing a lower portion of the conduit. The hood is engageable with the base assembly to cover at least the open top of the base assembly. The conduit opening is sized to provide a passage for the conduit from within the interior region to an external region outside the housing, and it may extend through a side wall of the base assembly or a side wall of the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Samuel John Menzies
  • Patent number: 6543196
    Abstract: A flooring device for aligning and laying tiles. The flooring device includes a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface. The panel is flexible. The upper surface has a plurality of recesses therein bounded by ridges. A plurality of tiles each has a shape substantially identical to the recesses. Each of the tiles is positionable in one of the recesses. Each of the tiles has an upper edge, a bottom edge and a peripheral edge extending between the upper and bottom edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Manual A. Gonzales
  • Patent number: 6543192
    Abstract: A lintel support brace having a top portion, an opposing bottom portion adjustably coupled to the top portion, and a support arm coupled to the bottom portion, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are configured to be attached to an adjoining header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Homer W. Parker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6532711
    Abstract: A bar connection or splice and method uses a cage of relatively short bars which may be smaller reinforcing bars or threaded bars or rods. The bars of the cage may be joined by rings or wires and clamped to bridge or lap aligned bar ends. In one form, the concrete may be cast directly around to cage and bar ends to form the equivalent of a butt joined lap splice. In an enhanced form, the cage is included in a sleeve and set screws clamp the bars, cage and sleeve together. The sleeve may be filled with a hardenable matrix such as resin or grout, and then concrete is cast around the connection. The number of sets screws and bars of the cage may vary widely to form vertical and horizontal splices of axially aligned bar of the same or transitional sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Erico International Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Gregel, Louis J. Colarusso
  • Patent number: 6526712
    Abstract: A corner assembly for covering a junction between adjacent walls includes first and second members, each formed from an extruded composite material comprising wood fiber and polyethylene resin. The first member includes a tongue extending from one end thereof. The second member includes a groove formed in one side thereof, such that when the tongue is received within the groove, the first side of the first member and the first end of the second member are disposed generally coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Brooks, Michael M. Tull, James E. Roach
  • Patent number: 6526709
    Abstract: A Replacement Window Installation and Flashing System consisting mainly of an Interior Jam Liner and an Exterior Cap. The Interior Jam Liner is of an elongated extruded shape; it is designed for installation around the perimeter of a window opening that has been prepared by collapsing and removing the original window frame. After being cut to the desired length the Interior Jam Liner is installed on all 4 sides of the window opening so that a vertical member on the Interior Jam Liner is positioned in the area that was previously occupied by the original windows nailing fin. An opposed vertical member at the back of the Interior Jam Liner forms a stop with which to set a new replacement window against. After the new replacement window is positioned against this stop and fastened into place, the Exterior Cap, also an elongated extruded shape, is cut to length, assembled as a rectangle, and mated with the Interior Jam Liner by a male-female self-securing connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Rodney Allen Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 6524045
    Abstract: An expanding sleeve of an anchor is arranged around a threaded shank engaged in a plug for expanding the sleeve. The sleeve includes an axially compressible portion which includes portions that can be sheared and which are arranged so that after they have been sheared they allow the sleeve to be shortened axially. The sleeve consists of a cut-out sheet-metal blank rolled up on itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Societe de Prospection et d'Inventions Techniques Spit
    Inventor: Fabrice Pourtier
  • Patent number: 6516575
    Abstract: The device (2), which is used to lock running gear (1) guided in a rail (5) and is or can be connected to the latter, has a body (21, 22) in which a locking pin (23) is displaceably mounted and, by means of a resilient element (24), is held resiliently in a first position, so that the locking pin (23) can be brought by the action of a force from the first position, in which it can engage in a locking element (36, 53) provided in the rail (5) or connected to the rail (5), into a second position, in which it is released from the engagement in the locking element (36, 53). The locking device (2), which is constructed simply and cost-effectively, therefore permits dividing elements (90), such as sliding doors, sliding counters or folding walls, which are guided by the running gear (1), to be closed off securely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hawa AG
    Inventors: Karl Haab, Otto Haab