Patents Examined by Laura Callo
  • Patent number: 6629395
    Abstract: A method of forming a wall unit having a veneer face is disclosed. Initially, a pair of side wall panels and a pair of end panels are mounted substantially upright. Stones or other suitable material are set sequentially in a horizontally disposed course using at least one of the panels. Additional courses of stones or other material may then be stacked upon the initial layer until the desired height is attained. The interior volume of the apparatus is left substantially empty, and is then filled with a binding material. The binding material binds the courses' components together and integrates the individual courses into a single cohesive unit. The wall and end panels are removed and the unit is removed for subsequent installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Terry Karanikas
  • Patent number: 6625941
    Abstract: A removable lineal and finishing system for framing doors or windows. The removable lineal includes a cover portion and a channel portion. The channel portion includes a latch portion for detachably mounting the lineal to a J-channel. The latch portion of the lineal is inserted between a hook portion of the J-channel and a siding material. A gap in the J-channel receives and secures siding materials. The J-channel is mounted to a wall of a building and abuts a frame for a door or window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Shaw
  • Patent number: 6622437
    Abstract: A load-moment support for an attachment element to be secured one end of a longitudinal aluminum profile, includes a frame structure which embraces four outer sides at the end of the longitudinal aluminum profile in a without play manner. The frame structure has lower abutment surfaces to rest, respectively, against a first pair of opposite outer sides at a level with an end face of the longitudinal aluminum profile, and two tilting edges arranged, respectively, on a second pair of opposite outer sides and extending flush with the end side of the longitudinal aluminum profile. The attachment element arranged at the end face of the longitudinal aluminum profile abuts without play against the end face of the aluminum profile as well as against the tilting edges and the lower abutment surfaces of the frame structure and is secured at least to the abutment surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Nerger
  • Patent number: 6615563
    Abstract: A metallic stud for use in a framing structure, the stud definable in terms a x, y, z coordinate system. The stud includes the z-axis elongate substantially rectangular integral web within a yz plane and further includes a series of xz plane tabs projecting in an x-axis direction, the tabs alternating in x-axis extent between interdigitating greater and lesser dimensions, in which a z-axis line of dependency exists between a common xz plane of all of the tabs in a first major rectangular base of the yz plane of the web of the stud. The stud further includes a z-axis elongate L-shaped element integrally dependent from a second major rectangular base of the web, the elongate element parallel to the first base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Lakdas Nanayakkara
  • Patent number: 6615554
    Abstract: A helice pier coupling system used for used for soil stabilization, supporting building structures and similar applications. The coupling system provides a way of adding one or more pier shaft extensions to a helice pier shaft of a helice pier for extending the length of the pier. The pier shafts may have lengths of 5 feet or greater. The coupling system includes a first helice pier. The first helice pier having diagonal cuts at a lower first end and an upper second end of a pier shaft. The lower first end of the pier shaft can be used as a lead point when the pier shaft is driven into the soil surface. The upper second end of the pier shaft can be used with a shaft coupling for engaging a lower first end, having a mating diagonal cut, of a pier shaft of a second helice pier or the pier shaft extension. The first helice pier includes one or more helice plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Stan Rupiper
  • Patent number: 6612079
    Abstract: In the present invention, there is provided a removable cover for retaining off-gases inside a clarifier. The cover comprises trusses extending across the clarifier and a flexible sheet laid across the trusses. Structural angles enclose the clarifier and constitute a kick plate on the walkways around the clarifier for improving the safety of workers. One side of the flexible sheet is permanently affixed to a first wall of the clarifier. A series of pullers are mounted inside the structural angles for pulling and releasably sealing the three other sides of the flexible sheet against the outmost trusses and against a second wall of the clarifier opposite the first wall. Each puller has a cable-deflector bar extending substantially at a same level as a mounting surface of the puller for increasing an angle of downward pull on the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is rolled-up along the trusses to expose machinery inside the clarifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventors: Claude J. DeGarie, Brent M. Howe, Brian R. MacLean
  • Patent number: 6612085
    Abstract: Reinforcing bars for concrete structures, are made from a composite of a depolymerizable and repolymerizable thermoplastic resin and longitudinally oriented reinforcing fibers. These reinforcing bars provide excellent tensile reinforcement, and do not exhibit the corrosion problems of conventional steel reinforcing bars. The rebars are readily formed into a great many shapes that are adapted to many specialized reinforcement requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Edwards, Edward L. D'Hooghe
  • Patent number: 6594965
    Abstract: A roll-form spacer product providing air space and drainage passageways within a building structure. Preferably, the spacer product is a corrugated web of material having undulating front and rear faces and serpentine-shaped longitudinally extending edges. The faces include alternating arrays of grooves and ridges which extend perpendicular to the side edges and parallel to an axis of a spiral roll of the spacer. Thus, when the spacer is unrolled and applied to a building structure in a plurality of horizontally extending rows, the ridges and grooves are substantially vertically-disposed to form a plurality of unobstructed passageways for the drainage of moisture. Preferably, the web is made of an openwork mat of randomly convoluted polymeric filaments, and thus, enables ready circulation of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael S. Coulton
  • Patent number: 6594964
    Abstract: A construction beam defining a pair of lateral surfaces and a pair of abutment surfaces. The beam defines a set of alternating grooves and intermediate segments extending between the grooves. When the abutment surfaces are abuttingly positioned against other surfaces, the grooves being filled with air provide vibration dampening and thus reduced noise transmission. The air-filled grooves also provide thermal insulation. The configuration of the grooves allows trough flow of air reducing the risks of trapping moisture that could lead to rotting. The intermediate segments are optionally made of resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Gilles Charland
  • Patent number: 6581898
    Abstract: Modular concrete form components which, when assembled into large wall form assemblies are sufficiently strong to resist the bending forces applied during picking and placing of the wall form assemblies without the need for the attachment of additional or external stiffening members. A bearing block is secured to a stiffener that runs along the back side of the form component adjacent a perimeter flange of the form component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Wilian Holding Company
    Inventor: Robert McCracken
  • Patent number: 6568149
    Abstract: A joining strip is provided by which sheet metal may be formed into a hollow tubular panel. The joining strip provides a seam between panel edges that acts as a thermal break between inner and outer faces of the panel. The joining strip may also carry a resilient tubular cushion which extends into the joint between the side ends of two panels that are connected by a hinge. This cushion contributes to providing an air seal within the joint between the two panels. Applications include roll-up garage doors and roll-away, articulated walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Francis Lacasse
  • Patent number: 6564521
    Abstract: Rigid structural members, profiles, joints, and forms added to structural sandwich panels to provide higher strength, integral joining joint, and single facing sheet manufacturing. Facing sheets (20) and (22), rigid structural members (24) and (26), latch side and pin side cam-locks (34) and (32), fabricated wire truss assembly (48), and rigid structural headers (28) and (30) and an integrated top plate (29) are positioned into containment form assembly (58) in the proper position. Facing sheets (20) and (22) are placed in position in the containment form assembly (58) forming a structural sandwich panel assembly. A foam resin core material (40) is injected into the structural sandwich panel assembly and allowed to cure. The resultant structural sandwich panel includes rigid structural members (24) and (26) and elongated recesses (36) and (38) which also form a joint for joining abutting structural sandwich panels together and cam-locks (32) and (34) used to secure adjoining panels together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Paul A. Brown, Andrew Bennett Hansen
  • Patent number: 6560937
    Abstract: The present invention involves a foldable bay window for mobile living quarters, such as recreational vehicles, is movable between an extended position, in which the bay window projects from a wall of the unit to a folded position, in which the components of the bay window assembly are substantially flat against the outer wall of the unit. The bay window assembly includes a pair of side panes which are slidably and pivotally mounted on horizontally extending tracks on the wall of the unit, and a center pane connecting the side panes. A bottom panel is pivotally connected to the wall or center pane and is constrained for movement along vertical tracks, to thereby force the panes into the folded position as the bottom panel is moved from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. As the panes are folded against the wall of the vehicle, a hinged roof panel drops into a substantially vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Bay View, LLC
    Inventors: Stewart E. Gardner, Dennis B. Vance
  • Patent number: 6550192
    Abstract: Molding systems are described that include molding strips releasibly insertable into a mounting strip or track. The molding systems act as a transition between tile, both with and without backerboard support, and a floor or various floor coverings, including carpet, or wood flooring. Other molding systems are used to form a transition between tile, with or without backerboard and door threshold plates. In another embodiment, a molding system is provided for covering an edging strip used to secure the edge of a carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Richard C. Nelson, Roger C. Jones
  • Patent number: 6550213
    Abstract: A system for forming concrete slabs has been developed for commercial buildings having a steel moment-frame structure. This system utilizes the cold-formed-steel framing members, such as the wall girts shipped with a particular building package, to be first utilized as slab foundation forming elements before being framed into the building. The system defines foundation geometry upon simple assembly of the forming elements, and efficiently provides for placement of anchoring hardware which corresponds exactly to the connections of the structural frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Michael G. Butler
  • Patent number: 6546684
    Abstract: A knock-down partition panel frame includes a pair of spaced apart generally upright posts, each having at least one receptacle defining a tapered surface. The partition panel frame further includes at least one generally horizontal member extending between and interconnecting the posts. The horizontal member includes fastenerless connectors at opposite ends thereof, each having at least one connecting element engaging with the tapered surface to thereby securely interconnect the posts and the horizontal member to define a rigid partition frame having an interior space. A cover panel is secured to the partition frame, and closes off at least a portion of the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Waalkes, Marcus K. Pressnell, Mark T. Slager, Michael R. Shields, Brian J. Kane, Robin Christopher, Dennis J. Boyle, Peter N. Skillman, Charles A. Seiber, Joseph Chang, Richard S. Hand, Douglas L. Scheerhorn
  • Patent number: 6536175
    Abstract: An assembly of panels and jointing elements, in particular for the technical field of building, wherein each panel (11, 12), taken in section, comprises an alveolar structure, determined by a plurality of ribs (14) and arranged between two main outside surfaces (10, 28, 29), extensions (15, 16) obtained at opposed ends of each panel (11, 12), and a jointing element (13, 113) adapted to receive an extension (15, 16) of each of two adjacent panels (11, 12) firmly engaging them, wherein both each extension (15, 16) and the jointing element (13, 113) are provided with reciprocally engaged inclined surfaces (20, 21, 24, 25) facing inwards and facing each other, and wherein the jointing element (13) is U-shaped and is provided with a pressing element (19) that centrally extends inside it and arranges in wedged engagement between outside facing walls (17, 18) of the two extensions (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Politec Polimeri Tecnici S.A.
    Inventor: Cosimo Conterno
  • Patent number: 6536172
    Abstract: An insulating construction form consisting of a pair of spaced apart panels and a plurality of ties is applied to the building of structural walls. The tie members include pairs of resilient retainer arms, which define a series of adjacent receptacles. A reinforcing bar is typically inserted into the receptacles and its displacement therefrom is inhibited by abutment surfaces. Markings are positioned on each panel to guide the attachment of a cladding. In one aspect, the construction form serves for the formation of a corner, wherein a vertical rod is positioned for the attachment of the cladding. In another aspect, the panels includ a plurality of openings made at the time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Victor A. Amend
  • Patent number: 6513290
    Abstract: A connector for attaching a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fasteners and an anchor member to resist forces on buildings imposed by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other similar cataclysmic forces is made with a strap and a standoff base. The standoff base receives the anchor member, and bears upon the strap. The strap is connected to the first building structural member by means of the fasteners. The first building structural member bears upon the standoff base while being lifted above the anchor member by the standoff base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Leek
  • Patent number: 6510665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards (1, 1′) which have a body (30), a lower balancing layer (34) and an upper surface layer (32). A strip (6) is integrally formed with the body (30) of the floorboard (1) and extends under an adjoining floorboard (1′). The strip (6) has a locking element (8), which engages a looking groove (14) in the underside of the adjoining floorboard (1′) and forms a horizontal joint. A tongue (38) and a tongue groove (36) form a vertical joint between upper and lower plane-parallel contact surfaces (43, 45) and are designed in such manner that the lower contact surfaces (45) are on a level between the upper side of the locking element (8) and a plane containing the underside (3) of the floorboard. The invention also relates to a floorboard having such a locking system, a floor made of such floorboards, as well as a method for making such a locking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Valinge Aluminum AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan