Patents Examined by Laura A. Saladino
  • Patent number: 6076307
    Abstract: A guttering cleaning system for cleaning of spouting and guttering in building structures includes water outlets (15) mounted to rain water guttering (12) to direct water into the guttering to flusb debris. An outlet connector (21) is provided for each water outlet (15). A supply connector (22) for releasable connection to any one of the outlet connectors (21) supplies water to the outlet connectors (21). A water supply line (25) and a connector support (45) enables remote connection and disconnection of the supply connector (22) from the ground adjacent the building, the connector support (45) comprising a support pole (46) provided with the supply connector (22) at its upper end, the supply line (25) extending up the support pole (46) to the supply connector (22). The system further includes a connection release means (50) enabling selective release of the connection between the supply connector (22) and an associated outlet connector (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Spoutmate PTY LTD
    Inventor: Anthony Frederick Kean
  • Patent number: 5724774
    Abstract: A building unit for providing shelter, storage space, and the like generally includes a floor panel, two side wall panels, two end panels, and a roof panel. The floor panel has a pair of floor supports extending along its exterior surface. The floor supports define a passageway therethrough for receiving air. Side brackets releasably mount the two side wall panels to the floor panel and roof panel. Roof brackets matingly engage upwardly extending flanges of the roof panel to stabilize the building structure and seal the interior of the building unit against leaks. The roof brackets also interlock with the side brackets to stabilize the building unit. A building unit may be erected adjacent to other building units to form a modular building assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: James W. Rooney
  • Patent number: 5706616
    Abstract: A system for operating a transportable cinema room including a truck for carrying a trailer or body, hydropneumatic pistons with sufficient support to convert such body into a projection cinematographic room incorporating enough seats for a number of attending spectators, a candy shop with an electronic device to dispense different kinds of food or similar products, men and women toilet rooms, an illuminated marquee with collapsible sign, both illuminated access stairs and handrails which are also collapsible, independent air conditioner, distributing water reservoir for the toilet rooms, easily operated film projector, collapsible projection screen with adaptable outside viewers, a demountable electric power plant, a water hydropneumatic pumping, an emergency exit accommodation ramp including handrails and a ticket office with an electronic ticket dispatcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Hector Raul Lopez Fernandez
  • Patent number: 5704182
    Abstract: A modular plastic shutter assembly that includes an injection molded panel that has been cut to length to accommodate the particular shutter assembly. A die cutter having an appropriately shaped cutting blade cuts an end of the panel to the desirable length. A separate injection molded panel end piece is secured to the cut end of the panel to form a complete panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Tapco International
    Inventor: Charles E. Schiedegger
  • Patent number: 5704184
    Abstract: A refractory brick that has a rear portion with a geometrical concavity on one side and a corresponding convex projection on the other side, the concavity and projection being matched so that the concavity mates with the corresponding projection of a similar refractory brick when the two are disposed in side-by-side relationship. Extending perpendicular from the base portion is a generally rectangular projection such that when a plurality of bricks are disposed in a side-by-side array, they are locked together by the mating concavities and projections, and the generally rectangular projections extend inwardly to form a thicker lining to withstand the force of a tap stream of molten metal for a longer duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Indresco Inc.
    Inventor: Walter D. Meloy
  • Patent number: 5704177
    Abstract: A glass block wall 10 having a curved section 11 between a straight block 12 and a straight bull nosed end block 13 employs a lower run of blocks 14 and an upper run of blocks 15 shown in phantom to expose an arrangement 16 of separation means between the runs of blocks. The curved section 11 includes a number of curved separation plates 19, 20 and 21 each formed to the shape of an upper end face of the respective blocks. A corner block 22 has a corresponding plate 21 whereas the plates 19 and 20 are formed to the shape of bend blocks 23 and 24, forming a compound curve in the curved section 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventors: Randolf Andrew Wirkus, Michelle Wirkus
  • Patent number: 5701707
    Abstract: A transition apparatus for a bonded slab post-tension system including a diverter member having a first end and a second end and a tendon port support affixed to the second end of the diverter member. The first end of the diverter member is attached to a duct. The tendon port support has a plurality of tendon ports opening at an end opposite the diverter member. The second end of the diverter member has a greater area than the first end. Each of the tendon ports is of a tubular configuration opening at one end to an interior of the diverter member. A plurality of tubular members are affixed to the plurality of tendon ports and extend outwardly therefrom. A plurality of anchors are attached to the plurality of tubular members at an end opposite to the plurality of tendon ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Felix L. Sorkin
  • Patent number: 5699639
    Abstract: An anchorage device for keeping a truss in place with respect to a poured concrete body having an elongated housing including a longitudinal slot and anchorage members rigidly mounted to the elongated housing thereby permitting the anchorage device being anchored in the poured cement. The anchorage device also having a connecting plate assembly with a strap including several openings for fastening a truss to the plate assembly. A lifted spacer area with two slots or cuts allows the strap through. The plate assembly is slidably mounted along the slot for its proper positioning after the truss are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Roger Fernandez
  • Patent number: 5697195
    Abstract: A security barrier system which includes a security lath assembly having a layer of mesh material and a backing material attached thereto. The mesh material is of a gauge and configuration to provide a security barrier. The security barrier system includes application of plaster or stucco directly to the security lath assembly. A surface coating is applied to the plaster layer to prevent the formation and propagation of cracks through the surface. Also included in the barrier system is an uplift control mechanism and expansion and contraction elements which prevent a ceiling structure from being displaced and accommodates structural expansion and contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Alabama Metal Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Joseph Maylon
  • Patent number: 5697198
    Abstract: A method of supporting loose fill insulation in a wall cavity with a flexible netting. The netting is secured to the wall cavity frame by fastening the upper and lower edges of the netting to the upper and lower wall joists with a multiplicity of spaced apart fasteners, and gluing the two side edges of the netting to the left and right vertical studs with a flowable adhesive. A small slit is made in the netting to accommodate the insulation nozzle, which is preferably angled at its end to facilitate reaching into small spaces and cracks. Loose fill insulation is blown into the cavity behind the netting after inserting the insulation hose through the slit in the netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Regal Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Ponder, Dean Birch
  • Patent number: 5697194
    Abstract: A modular seal assembly for sealing a circular opening through a wall, usually with one or more conduits (i.e., telecommunication cables) extending through the seal. The assembly includes an outer pressure annulus and a thick inner pressure disc, both of natural or synthetic rubber, EPDM, urethane, or other elastomer. In the outer annulus the elastomer is an annular series of interconnected blocks of length L1 having a central opening of radius R2; a series of pressure bolts compress the blocks axially, expanding the annulus both outwardly and inwardly. The inner disc, which has an outer radius of about R2 and is interlocked with the elastomer blocks of the outer annulus, has a multiplicity of circular layers, much like an onion; the layers are concentric about an opening through which a conduit usually extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: PSI Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gignac, Edward L. Kwiatkowski, Carl R. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 5692341
    Abstract: A wall panel support member adapted to reinforce a wall and to support the weight of structures such as shelves, cabinets, and sinks which are attached to a wall. The wall panel support member includes a support panel which is mounted between adjacent wall studs by brackets or other mounts. One embodiment of the invention includes a support panel with a groove formed at one end of the support panel which accommodates a lip of a metal stud, thus allowing the surface of the support panel to engage the stud. A bracket which is comprised of a plurality of generally perpendicular angled surfaces is mounted on the opposite end of the support panel from the groove for securing the wall panel support member to an adjacent stud. The bracket includes slots in the surface mounted to the support panel to allow the position of the bracket to be adjusted along the longitudinal axis of the support panel in order to accommodate variations in width between studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: FGE Backerboard Co.
    Inventor: Fred G. Erlandson
  • Patent number: 5692342
    Abstract: An open but secure kiosk, anchored in the ground, for a full service travel center in an indoor commercial public area is, in one embodiment, substantially rectangular with a small square area removed from each corner and has vertical corner beams, an upper wall portion defined by at least two parallel double upper cross-beams running along the entire upper perimeter of the kiosk, a lower wall portion along the entire lower perimeter of the kiosk directly below the upper wall portion constructed of continuous solid block roughly three feet in height and including the upright side wall of customer counters that form the two longer sides of the kiosk. There are also ceiling cross-beams. Movable grates above the counters close downward and seal the long side walls and there are bright signs at the top of the long walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Catherine F. Devlin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5687523
    Abstract: To assist in rapid taping of seams between adjacent drywall units, a tape is provided in rolls. The tape has a first layer of flexible paper material with an inwardly facing pressure-sensitive adhesive coating thereon. A second layer of reinforcing woven fiber material overlies the first layer. A third layer of flexible material overlies the woven fiber material to encapsulate the fiber material between the first layer and the second layer. The third layer has an outwardly facing release coating such that the first layer adhesive will releasably engage the third layer for manual separation of the tape when rolled upon itself. The adhesive is formulated to maintain adhesion even when wetted by an overlying layer of drywall mud. Furthermore, the release coating on the third layer accepts and allows the adherence of drywall mud. The tape may be used in fire wall applications. Perforations may be provided in the tape to facilitate adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: E-Z Taping System, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Stough
  • Patent number: 5685513
    Abstract: A suction chamber is provided in the rear portion of a pad body remote from an external pad supporting surface. The fore end portion of the pad body facing the pad supporting surface is divided into a plurality of sucking compartments for communication with the suction chamber. An air flow passage is provided for communication with the suction chamber. Valve mechanisms are provided in air flow paths between the respective sucking compartments and the suction chamber and are closable by a sucked air flow occurring during vacuum suction. Further, an automatic switching valve is provided in a part of the air flow passage in such a manner that the switching valve is caused to open in response to abutment against the pad supporting surface of the pad body. The air flow passage is formed in such a manner that a direction of force acting to cause the automatic switching valve to open differs from a direction of counteractive force against a spring structure that normally urges the switching valve to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nihon Biso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadaaki Tsukushi
  • Patent number: 5685112
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pollution abatement apparatus for use during a polluted window frame (or other polluted structures) removal in order to prevent toxic material from entering the inhabited areas of the building. The apparatus includes a rigid unitary member adapted to fit against the polluted structure within the interior of the building and to surround the polluted structure in an air-tight manner as the polluted structure is being removed from outside of the building. The rigid unitary member is capable of being height adjusted and clamped between the floor and the ceiling after the "rough" and "fine" height adjustments have been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Mark C. Fara
  • Patent number: 5680733
    Abstract: In outdoor equipment having at least one supporting body (S) for mounting the outdoor equipment body thereon and for fixing the same to the surface of the ground, a floor or wall, it is characterized in that the supporting body (S) is composed of a plurality of body plates (1) which have been machined beforehand in given shapes, and mounting plates (3) which are fixed to the body plates (1) by way of bolts (4) and to the outdoor equipment body, the wall or the ground. As a result, it is possible to provide outdoor equipment which is improved in the problems of maintenance, manufacturing labor, product accuracy, moving and exchanging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: A and E Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoi Mitani
  • Patent number: 5678371
    Abstract: A vapor barrier panel is designed specifically for application to the area between the floor joists and under the sub floor and in front of a concrete basement wall. The panel body includes a flat panel section with a flange at the top edge at right angles to the top edge and two flanges down each side. The panel body is thus applied so that the top flange engages against the underside of the sub floor and the side flanges engage against the sides and bottom respectively of the floor joists. The panel is semi rigid so they can be applied in place simply by sliding into position and abutting against a bead of sealant applied to the floor and floor joists or pre-applied to and carried on the outside surface of each flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Mark E. Wills
  • Patent number: 5675947
    Abstract: An astragal formed as a part of an extruded door sash is described. The astragal is formed integral with the door sash as an elongated forwardly projecting member constituting an astragal base. An elongated detachable cap is releasably secured to the base member and extends forwardly thereof. A core member is disposed internally of the door sash and projects along the outer end edge portion of the sash and at least in part within the astragal. The astragal base member and the door sash form a unitary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Materiaux de Construction 2 plus 2 Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Yane
  • Patent number: 5673520
    Abstract: A diversion device for a skylight and/or chimney on a shingled pitched roof in a building comprising a substantially flat base, a structure integral with the base for diverting rainwater and an upstanding flange integral with the rainwater diverting means. The base can be positioned under a portion of the shingled pitched roof, while the upstanding flange can be positioned over the flashing of the skylight and/or chimney. The rainwater flowing down along the shingled pitched roof will be deflected away from the skylight and/or chimney by the rainwater diverting structure, to prevent the rainwater from entering the building and causing damage thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Alfred Yannucci, III