Patents Examined by Laura A. Callo
  • Patent number: 6493994
    Abstract: A gutter assembly is formed from a series of identical sections, each between twelve and eighteen inches in length. Each section is attached to one or two adjacent sections at the ends, and the final assembly attached to the eaves, soffit, or fascia of the house in the same manner as the prior art rain gutter. Each section has a section body, with an interior surface. Within the interior surface is a water-permeable screen, disposed in close proximity to the section outer housing. A discharge handle is provided to raise the screen from the interior surface, and rotate the screen in a manner such that any debris captured by the screen will be expelled from the gutter section. The handle is accessible from the grounds by means of a rod with a hook which engages a loop at the end of the handle. Each section contains a discharge passage on each end, except that the two extreme ends of the assembly contain an outer end which is sealed off, and further contain provisions for downspouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Lucas
  • Patent number: 6488257
    Abstract: A structural attaching plate bracket system for use to temporarily support the forms used to construct concrete walls, slabs, or foundations. The structural attaching plate bracket system includes a linear plate affixed to a support member with removable fasteners. The attached plate bracket is positioned long the full length of the support member. Mounting devices included attach surfaces which are provided along the full length of the support members. A series of brackets are positioned intermediate along the attached plate brackets for attachment of a load bearing member into the concrete wall construction. The brackets can be positioned intermediate along the attached plate brackets for the attachment for two or more load bearing members in the concrete wall construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory A. McSwain
  • Patent number: 6487830
    Abstract: A method for constructing a ballasted roof system (20) includes the steps of installing a roofing membrane (14) onto a roof structure (12). A ballast (16, 32) is disposed on the roofing membrane, wherein the ballast has applied thereto a reflective paint (21) to improve the solar reflective properties of the ballasted roof system. The improved roofing system has solar reflective properties at least 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: BFS Diversified Products, LLC
    Inventor: Ross H. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6487822
    Abstract: A invention relates to a ceiling element (1) for a ceiling (D) consisting of several ceiling elements, comprising a lower metal support (4) which is divided up by links (7) and has holes; and an active sound layer (5) which is arranged in the metal support. The layer is a sound insulation layer or a sound absorption layer for example, especially in the form of an open-pore foam such as a melamine-resin foam. The active sound layer (5) is bonded to the metal support (4). According to the invention, the adhesive (6) is only applied to the link areas (11) and only the inner surfaces of the link areas (11) are bonded. This guarantees a simple, economical construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventors: Jörg Haack, Andreas Gradinger
  • Patent number: 6481801
    Abstract: The present application pertains to a seat pad particularly for motor vehicles seats, with a core portion made of expanded plastics material. The upper side of the core portion facing the seat surface is provided with channel-like grooves, so that the geometry of the remaining core portion allows an optimum distribution of the seat pressure because of the good adaptation to the human anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmale
  • Patent number: 6481175
    Abstract: A structural member including a web portion having a plurality of triangular regions to provide additional strength and stiffness. The triangular regions are recessed from the web and may have a floor area or the floor may be cut out to provide apertures with lip portions. An additional element secures a flanged bracing panel in the opening between the studs and the top and bottom plates of a building frame and clads both sides of the braced frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Rocheway Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Graeme George Potter, Peter Anthony Ryan, Cecil Benjamin Appleton
  • Patent number: 6481163
    Abstract: A partition frame includes vertically spaced apart upper and lower horizontal frame members. The partition frame also has a pair of horizontally spaced apart vertical frame members extending between and interconnecting the upper and lower frame members to form a generally rectangular frame. The vertical frame members have a vertical row of openings configured to support hang-on accessories, and the upper frame member includes a horizontal row of openings configured to support hang-on accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan J. King, Alan E. Rheault, John S. Malnor, Daniel R. VanDyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Errol S. Pearsons, Bruce W. DuVall, Jr., William K. Hofman, Daniel N. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6474034
    Abstract: Shutter for windows, and relative method to fit said shutter, comprising a rim (12) consisting of vertical uprights (14) and horizontal cross-pieces (13), an outer assembly box (11) suitable to be anchored at the sides (20) of a window opening, and a plurality of blades (15) attached transversely between the vertical uprights (14) and suitable to selectively obstruct the light filtering through the rim (12), wherein the assembly box (11) consists of a plurality of profiles (17) of equal section and substantially quadrangular comprising, on one side, a coupling tooth (16) defining substantially plane supporting surfaces (19a, 19b) able to cooperate with mating surfaces of the sides (20) defining the window opening and/or with mating surfaces of the profiles (13, 14) defining the rim (12) of the shutter (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Emilio Antonini
    Inventor: Liliana Dronigi
  • Patent number: 6470645
    Abstract: A method for making a tower for a wind generator made up of a plurality of cylindrical segments, a plurality of transition rings with at least one being frustro-conical, a plurality of L-shaped flanges and a T-shaped flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Beaird Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard P. Maliszewski, Patrick C. Lashley
  • Patent number: 6470630
    Abstract: Amusement equipment can be easily installed in a building at low cost. Also, desired amusement equipment can be renewed easily and at low cost. In a building, an amusement facility is provided by installing a container provided therein with amusement equipment. The building is formed with an opening portion for carrying-in-and-out the container therethrough. A container supporting portion for permitting carrying-in-and-out the container is provided in the building. Accordingly, the container is placed on the container supporting portion through the opening portion to install the amusement equipment in the building. Also, by replacing the container in the building, the amusement equipment can be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6467234
    Abstract: A prefabricated stairway module (10, 11) comprises a first step and a second step, each step (14) having a tread member (13) and a riser member (15). The stairway module further has fixing means (31) for fixing the module to a sloping surface on which it is laid. The steps in a module may be connected to each other by a rigid or flexible bridging member (19), and the tread member (13) may be curved. Different designs and configurations of the prefabricated modules may be combined into a stairway assembly, the modules which can be chosen according to the gradient of the underlying surface on which the stairway is to be constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Nicholas James Marshall
  • Patent number: 6467230
    Abstract: A structural interconnection device for attachment of an elongate member to a rigid frame includes at least one flange portion adapted for attachment to the rigid frame and a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes a locking mechanism for selectively releasably securing thereto an end portion of an elongate member. The flange portion has a location surface for bearing against the rigid frame. The location surface lies, in use, in a plane which is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of an end portion of an elongate member secured to the receiving portion. The plane of the location surface lies, in use, in a plane displaced from the longitudinal axis of the end portion of the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Kee Klamp Limited
    Inventors: Simon Perkins, Peter Ralyea
  • Patent number: 6463706
    Abstract: A multi-paned fenestration unit in which the glass panes are manufactured directly into the support structure without first manufacturing an insulated glass unit. The support structure is designed to provide the structural support for the glass panes without a separate spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: James Curtis Guhl, Steven Matthew Johnson, Neil Ranger Fredrick
  • Patent number: 6463707
    Abstract: A surround molding assembly for a doorway or window of a structure such as a residential home or a commercial building. In one embodiment, first and second pilaster bases receive first and second cover plates in recesses, wherein the recesses have a lip along at least two sides and the cover plates are mounted flush with the pilaster bases and covering the lips. Further, a mantle base having a central portion comprising regularly repeating reinforced sectional structural receives a mantle cover thereover such that the mantle base in generally obscured from view. The pilaster and mantle bases each include decorative ends integrally formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Tapco International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Schiedegger, J. Richard Logan, Richard J. MacLeod, Aundrea Nurenberg, Michael C. Clark, Clyde G. Allen, Dean Dennis
  • Patent number: 6457288
    Abstract: A prefabricated concrete panel for building floors in civil or industrial structures, comprising a concrete body with a reinforcement provided with portions which protrude from one of the larger faces of the body of the panel which constitutes extrados of a floor and are designed to be embedded in the casting of the topping of the floor. At least one first shaped sheet is provided inside the body of the panel, is made of thermally insulating material, is interposed between the two larger faces of the panel body and forms, between the two larger faces of the panel body, a ventilation chamber which is composed of a plurality of mutually connected cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventors: Sergio Zambelli, Benito Zambelli
  • Patent number: 6457290
    Abstract: A laminated shingle has a rendered shadow design when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlap portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more tabs separated by cutouts. The underlay member is coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form vertically and horizontally-oriented shading areas. In one embodiment, one or both vertical edges of each tab are generally parallel to the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the vertically-oriented shading area to expose a portion of the shading area. In another embodiment, the width of each tab is randomly selected and the width of the vertically-oriented shading area is a function of the width of the adjacent tab. In yet another embodiment, the intensity of the shading areas can increase from the bottom to the top of each cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bert Whitmore Elliott
  • Patent number: 6453630
    Abstract: A deck plank cover made from a plastic material, such as a wood composite, wherein the deck plank cover is designed to be affixed to the top surface of a preexisting deck plank. The deck plank cover is useful for repairing or protecting mildly deteriorated or deteriorating wooden deck planks of typical wooden decks. The deck plank cover may be affixed directly to the top surface of the existing wooden deck planks, and serves to substantially protect the wooden deck planks from further exposure to the elements. The deck plank cover of the present invention may also be applied to non-deteriorated wooden deck planks to prevent the onset of deterioration and to alleviate the need for treatment of the subjacent wooden deck planks with chemical preservatives. The deck plank cover preferably simulates the look of real wood, and may be produced in various cross-sectional shapes and sizes and from a variety of plastic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Buhrts, Kevin Troy Burt
  • Patent number: 6449910
    Abstract: An improvement in a pitched hip roof construction of a building construction is provided wherein the building construction has at least four wall sections, the roof construction comprising roof decking portions joined at at least the exterior hip junctures thereof, the outer edge of the roof construction overhanging the walls of the building construction and comprising in a roof edge plate affixed to the ends of roof rafters which are adapted to support the decking portions and the subsequent exterior roofing materials. The improvement in the roof construction further comprises having a roof drip edge applied over the terminal end of the decking portions and the roof edge plate, wherein the end of each juncture has means for covering affixed thereto prior to applying the exterior roofing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Calvin M. Budd
  • Patent number: 6446414
    Abstract: A utility shed is disclosed comprising modular side panels (30) which are connected together by corner connectors (26) and in-line connectors (28) to form sidewalls. The connectors (26, 28) have an I-beam cross section and comprise U-shaped ends (106, 80) which engage relatively wide channels (62, 64) to securely hold the wall panels together. A door assembly is provided for engaging the corner connectors (26) and include pivot pin members (202) which attached to the vertical channel (114) of corner connectors (26) and allow pivotal door panels (164) to be suspended therefrom. Floor panels (116, 118) and lid panels (154) are provided compatible with the I-beam edge configuration of the side panels (30) such that the lid, floor and sidewalls mutually interlock with high structural integrity. The modularity of the side panels (30) allow for enclosures of larger or smaller size to be created using the same panel componentry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Hoke V. Bullard, III, William F. Croft, Gregory S. Floyd, Jonathan N. Mandell
  • Patent number: 6446412
    Abstract: There is provided a glulam wood beam comprising planks having a width substantially smaller than the width of the beam, assembled into snips. The beam is characterized by the presence of flash in the interior by external surfaces made essentially of duramen. There is further provided a method for making the wood beam of the instant invention wherein the strips are derived from panels and in which the cutting of the panels into strips is programmed to ensure that the subsequent assembly of the strips will result in beams having external surfaces comprised essentially of duramen, thus providing a beam with enhanced mechanical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mathis Tech Inc.
    Inventor: Paul-Henri Mathis