Patents Examined by Laura Callo
  • Patent number: 6230465
    Abstract: A precast concrete modular device using thin coffered sections reinforced preferably with carbon and/or glass fiber scrim grids, in between steel reinforced ribs is provided. The thin reinforced sections stiffen the steel reinforced precast frame. The thin sections preferably have a thickness less than about two inches, preferably less than about 1½ inch, and more preferably less than about 1 inch. The resultant modules have an areal weight of less than about 40 lbs. per square foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Oldcastle Precast, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold G. Messenger, Gordon L. Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6230466
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a held member to a holding member the hanger having a connection member for holding the held member, a back member which connects to the holding member and a unique connection flange which is used to strengthen the connection to the holding member. The connection flange can either wrap around or under the holding member, and in the preferred embodiment it wraps around the holding member to the side opposite the back member of the hanger. This allows each of the fasteners that connect the hanger to the holding member to be received by the hanger at two points, which better distributes the load throughout the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Pryor
  • Patent number: 6230470
    Abstract: A wall for the booth of a coating plant is composed in a known manner of individual wall elements (1, 2). Each wall element (1, 2) comprises a load-bearing frame (3), which is formed from vertical posts (4, 5) made of sheet-metal sections and horizontal crosspieces (6, 7, 8, 9). The zones spanned by the posts (4, 5) and the crosspieces (6, 7, 8, 9) are covered by plates (10, 11, 12). At least the vertical posts (4, 5) have a section whose basic geometric shape is rectangular, although two of the sectional legs (15, 16), namely in each case the outer leg which is vertical to the associated plate (11) and the outer leg (16) which is parallel to the plate (11), do not extend over the entire length of the corresponding side of the rectangle. The interior of the posts (4, 5), in which fixtures and fittings can be installed, is thus accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Walter Kimmerle, Rainer Benzinger
  • Patent number: 6226957
    Abstract: A joint is formed between adjacent sheets of wall board, particularly in the fabrication of ceiling assemblies in manufactured housing, by applying a pressure-sensitive imperforate paper tape, burnishing it, wetting it, and then applying flexible joint compound over the tape. The flexible joint compound rapidly forms a skin which will receive paint, texture coating, or other finish prior to the complete curing of the flexible joint compound. The retained flexibility of the flexible joint compound, which lasts for at least twenty-four hours, permits the joint to be tolerant of displacement, such as the racking and twisting imposed on a ceiling assembly in transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: E-Z Taping System, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Stough
  • Patent number: 6226946
    Abstract: An unperforated base layer has a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side, and a release layer on the other to form a tape which may be applied from a self-wound roll to the seam between two fire-rated gypsum wall board panels to form a fire wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: E-Z Taping System, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Stough, Edward A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6226950
    Abstract: A modular cladding element cooperates with an assembly of cladding elements to clad a surface of an underlying structure. The cladding element includes a cladding panel having opposed inside and outside major surfaces, first and second opposed sides, and first and second opposed ends. A removable male fastener is integrally formed along the first side of the panel, and is adapted for entering a complementary fastener of an adjacent cladding element when positioned on the first side of the panel. The male fastener is removable in the absence of a complementary cladding element positioned on the first side of the panel. A first female fastener is integrally formed along the opposed second side of the panel, and defines a first opening adapted for receiving a complementary fastener of an adjacent cladding element positioned on the second side of the panel. A second female fastener is integrally formed adjacent the male fastener on the first side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: L.B. Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Harry H. Davis
  • Patent number: 6224031
    Abstract: A tie includes an elongated strap with an end plate pivotally connected at each end of the strap, permitting the end plate to be pivoted from a position generally orthogonal to the strap, to a position generally parallel to the strap. Once an end plate is pivoted to a position parallel to the strap, the end plate can be pushed through a polystyrene form panel to project therefrom. The end plate is then pivoted to the position orthogonal to the strap, and pulled into engagement with the outward face of the form panel. The second end plate on the tie is pivoted, pushed through a second form panel, pivoted to the orthogonal position, and thence the second form panel is pulled outwardly into contact with the second end plate. In this way, the tie will interconnect a pair of parallel form panels in spaced apart position, to receive poured concrete therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Patrick E. Boeshart
  • Patent number: 6219979
    Abstract: A threshold assembly comprising a sill and a pair of lateral brackets which are upwardly extending and oppositely facing. Each lateral bracket is attached at the lower, outside part of each jamb of a door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Helmut Lohr
  • Patent number: 6216417
    Abstract: A glazed element having a high insulating power provided with a plastic profile, especially intended to be fastened to a bearing structure. The glazed element having a high insulating power includes at least two glass sheets between which a vacuum has been created, these being separated from each other by mounts distributed over the entire surface and being joined together around their periphery by an inorganic seal. At least part of the external surface of at least one of the inorganic seal and the at least two glass sheets covered by at least one plastic profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Claude M. Morin, Yves M. Demars
  • Patent number: 6216410
    Abstract: A wall member with a first side having a tongue extending therefrom, a second side having a headed tongue extending therefrom, a third side having a groove defined therein for receiving a tongue of an adjacent panel, and a fourth side having a groove and cavity defined therein for slide-lock receiving of a headed tongue of an adjacent panel. The wall member may have a surface with a recess defined therein, and ribs extending from the recess. Also, the wall member may have a generally square, trapezoidal, hexagonal, or octagonal planar shape. Apertures may be defined in the tongue and grooves for aligning and receiving a dowel to lock panels together. A first corner section is defined by longitudinally extending the profile of the tongue through the profile of the headed tongue. A second corner section is defined by longitudinally extending the profile of the third side groove through the profile of the headed tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Kurt Evan Haberman
  • Patent number: 6216406
    Abstract: A baseboard infrastructure system is described having baseboard members and premise hubs. The baseboard member is formed to conceal and protect cables or wires installed within a channel region formed between the baseboard and a wall the baseboard is mounted against. The baseboard member has an integrated connector assembly ICA for connection of external wires and cables with the wires and cables contained within the channel region of the baseboard member. An ICA having an ICA plate with jacks or connectors mounted thereon is formed to allow vertical connection of wires or cables. An ICA cap formed to match the shape of the top of the baseboard mounts in the ICA when the ICA is not used for connection of cables or wires. Multiple baseboard members are mounted within a room or rooms to a building, thereby concealing the wiring of the room and providing ICAs for connection of wires and cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Herb Hauser
  • Patent number: 6212835
    Abstract: A surround molding assembly for a doorway or window of a structure such as a residential home or a commercial building. A mantle molding member is provided and fixedly secured over a top portion of the doorway without the need for external fastening elements. An installation support member is arranged within the molding member to support the outer surface of the molding member. An internal corner member is positioned adjacent each end of the mantle molding member and each directs water running onto the mantle molding member away from the doorway. Another trim assembly, including a base having a decorative portion and a ring are used to conceal a base flange. The trim assembly may be used in conjunction with a mantle assembly to provide a decorative molding that directs water away from a door or window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Schiedegger, J. Richard Logan, Richard J. MacLeod, Aundrea Nurenberg, Michael C. Clark, Clyde G. Allen, Dean Dennis
  • Patent number: 6212850
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a post-style poultry house to a clear span style poultry house. The apparatus includes a truss assembly including a center truss section adapted to be mounted to the roof beams and first and second outer truss sections adapted to be secured to the center truss section. The out truss sections each comprise substantially upright portions and an inclined portion extending therefrom. The trusses are installed without the removal of the roof or beams of the existing post-style poultry house. In installing the trusses, first the center sections of the trusses are attached to the roof beams and then the upper ends of the outer sections are attached to the center sections. Then the lower ends of the outer sections of the trusses are secured to the poultry house footers. Once the truss sections are all secured to each other and secured to the footers, the posts are cut away and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: John Branson
  • Patent number: 6209273
    Abstract: A partition wall system providing for lay-in of cables, includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections. Each panel section has a base surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base surface and a plurality of covering skins. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections so that a passage is formed between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section to allow the cables to travel through each panel section and between interconnected panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber
  • Patent number: 6205740
    Abstract: An elongate supporting element has a cross section with a web (9) and two side flanges (10, 11) for the supporting of building panels or the like. The web (9) has an elongate, stress-equalising zone (4) which extends wholly or partly between the two outer ends (8a, 8b) of the supporting element and by means of which the supporting element (8) is reinforced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Lindab AB (Publ)
    Inventors: Bengt Ekerholm, Hans Larsson, Ingmar Svensson
  • Patent number: 6205741
    Abstract: A unitary protective bumper rail for protecting a substrate comprises a resilient, longitudinally-extending mounting member having a substantially planar mounting surface for flush attachment to the substrate, a resilient, longitudinally-extending protective strip, and a hinged connector attached to the mounting member and protective strip along the adjacent longitudinally-extending sides threof. The connector permits pivotal movement of the protective strip relative to the mounting member between a first position in which the protective strip overlies the mounting strip and a second position in which the protective strip is pivoted from the mounting member. The mounting member includes a latch mounted along the longitudinally-extending side thereof opposite the side thereof that is hingedly connected to the protective strip, and the protective strip includes a connector mounted along the longitudinally-extending the thereof opposite the side thereof that is hingedly connected to the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Boston Metal Products Corp.
    Inventors: Heraldo Couto, Leonard J. Lapenta
  • Patent number: 6205725
    Abstract: An interlocking corrugated fluted panel for use in constructing a foundation wall for a building where a plurality of the panels are attached to a presupported building member and the panels hang downwardly into a foundation support opening. At the bottom portion of each fluted panel, the flutes extending outwardly from the building are cut along a bend line and the bottom portion of the panel is bent inwardly approximately 90°, the bent portion forming an anchorage when concrete is placed around the bottom of the panels. At the lower edge of each panel a cut flute is bent into either an interlocking male or female shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Butler
  • Patent number: 6202369
    Abstract: An anchor system for alternate types of signage includes an elongated anchor member and an attached, lowermost formation engageable with an underlying foundation to firmly support the anchor member in a substantially vertical disposition. A bore within the anchor member slidably receives the lower portion of an elongated sign pole or marker device, with a stop element within the anchor member serving to limit the length of the sign pole inserted therewithin. Secure attachment of the sign pole relative the vertical anchor member is achieved by the application of a compression element comprising a collar and having a tapered, inner surface engageable with the upper portion of the anchor member. The inclusion of a plurality of slots in the upper portion of the anchor member provides individual segments which are subsequently deflected radially inwardly upon the tightening of the compression element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventors: Stanley E. Partee, Mike Conner, Donnie L. Reagan
  • Patent number: 6195957
    Abstract: The specification describes a wall base which is preferably provided by an elongate strip of carpeting with a pair of spaced-apart strips of double-sided adhesive tape on the back of the strip of carpeting covered by a release liner. For a 3 to 6 inch wide carpet strip, the strips of adhesive tape are preferably spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches, one being positioned close by adjacent the top edge of the carpet strip and the other spaced from the bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bind-N-Stix Twin Track, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis G. Schlisner
  • Patent number: 6196242
    Abstract: A hanging sun umbrella includes a column; an umbrella frame including a hanging arm; a movable hanging arm holder for movably attaching the hanging arm to the column; a pull arm extending from the column above the hanging arm holder, wherein the hanging arm, the hanging arm holder, and the pull arm provide a cantilevered shape to the umbrella frame; a crank lift provided on the column to move the movable hanging arm holder up and down along the column for opening and closing the umbrella; and an umbrella cloth fitted on the umbrella frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Zhen Miao Xu