Patents Examined by Leslie Braun
  • Patent number: 6851228
    Abstract: Structures are desirable for storing items in an attractive manner. Persons frequently have a need to store items outdoors, such as lawn care equipment. Structures are aesthetically pleasing by providing a rock-shaped storage enclosure. A pool with a circulation system may be present on the top of the cover of the structure. Additional accessories, such as fountains, birdbaths, weathervanes, bird feeders, birdhouses, and waterwheels may also be attached to the top of the cover as desired. A door hingedly attached to the side of the cover allows access to the interior of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Steve E. Forman
  • Patent number: 6848663
    Abstract: A system for hanging, tying and securing articles, comprising bendable strips with an outer layer of foam rubber material having a plastic-coated flexible wire running lengthwise inside. Protective plastic caps can be placed on each end of the strip. The ends of two or more bendable strips can be joined with one or more connectors. Alternatively, the bendable strips can have complementary threaded ends, and two or more of such strips can be joined together. An adapter can be used to complete a circular configuration. The system can be sold in a package containing bendable strips, connectors, protective caps and cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: ABC Patent Corporation
    Inventor: Gary L. Olive
  • Patent number: 6848660
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an object on a structure is provided. Generally, the structure of the apparatus contains a holding portion that is fabricated so as to allow the apparatus to hold the structure. The apparatus also contains a hook portion that is capable of allowing the object to be set thereon, and a central loop portion that is capable of allowing a second object to be situated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffrey Jackson
  • Patent number: 6848666
    Abstract: A compact shock and vibration isolation system wherein a plurality of shock mounts are cantileverly and symmetrically positioned between an outer member and an inner member which is centrally positioned with respect to the outer member to enable the equipment located thereon to assist in attention of shock and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin
    Inventors: Robert James Monson, Wesley Eugene Revely, Trevor J. McCollough
  • Patent number: 6848661
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjustable basketball goal systems, and methods for setting up such systems. In one embodiment of the invention, a basketball goal system is provided that includes a backboard that can be moved to be substantially vertical, and a rim that can be moved to be substantially horizontal. In other embodiments of the invention, the basketball goal system includes a neck that can be moved to adjust the height of the rim to a desired height above the playing surface. In one embodiment, a basketball goal system includes a shock absorption system that permits the neck, backboard and rim of the system to move downward to absorb severe shocks, and that automatically returns them to their playing position. Other embodiments include a vehicle-mounted support. Some of the embodiments may be attached to a vehicle-mounted support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Alan D. Baldasari
  • Patent number: 6845955
    Abstract: A telescopic stick includes a retaining mount, a supporting sleeve, an inner tube, and an outer tube wherein the retaining mount has a base disposed at one side thereof, a step-wise through hole disposed at the center of the base thereof, a resilient stop block protruding at the upper surface of the base thereof, and a half-tubular abutment plate extending outwards at the lower surface of the base thereof. The supporting sleeve has a circular registration recess defined by an engagement ring and an abutment face of the same diameter at both sides thereof respectively, and a sleeve column with axial flexible ribs distributed thereon to be adapted at the corresponding outer side of the inner and outer tubes therein respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ching Feng Blinds Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ben Hsu
  • Patent number: 6845593
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a window opening includes an elongated frame member made of roll-formed stock material having top and bottom edges, and a first wall extending between the top and bottom edges. The frame assembly includes a latch positioned adjacent the first wall and between the top and bottom edges of the frame member. The latch is slidable between extended and retracted positions. The first wall of the elongated frame member has a hole for accessing the latch. A lift inserted into the hole is engageable for selectively moving the frame assembly relative to a fixed window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Silverline Building Products Corp.
    Inventor: Arthur Silverman
  • Patent number: 6843380
    Abstract: A modular storage support device supports items suspended above a floor. The device rests upon the floor and comprises a vertical member extending upwardly which has an upper end and a lower end. A base member has a base vertical portion which receives the lower end of the vertical member and a U-shaped portion which is oriented perpendicular to the vertical member. The U-shaped portion has two leg portions extending laterally with respect to the sides thereof. Two L-shaped support legs are received in one of the leg portions and extend forward therefrom. A foot portion extends downwardly from each of the L-shaped support legs to rest upon a floor. An L-shaped wall brace is received within the upper end of the vertical member and extends upwardly and then rearwardly from vertical member to engage a vertical wall. One or more supports are sildably secured to the vertical member and the upwardly extending section of the L-shaped wall brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Glenn A. Fickett
  • Patent number: 6843457
    Abstract: A mounting assembly has a base, a sensor support manually pivotal about an axis on the base and carrying a sensor, a plurality of contacts on the base having axially spaced inner ends juxtaposed with the sensor support, and respective cam bumps fixed on the sensor support and engageable on pivoting of the sensor support about the axis with the contacts. The base is provided with a ring in which the sensor support is journaled. This ring is unitarily formed with the base. The support is in fact journaled in the ring of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Lumberg Connect GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Richter
  • Patent number: 6840483
    Abstract: A cable feed bushing and method of installing a cable through a wall or other structure. In one embodiment, the bushing has a conically-shaped body and a head portion formed thereon. Threads or other retainer formations are provided on the exterior surface of the body portion to retain it in a hole provided in the wall. A cable-receiving passageway extends through the bushing to permit one or more cables to be passed therethrough. Installation formations may be provided on or in the head portion to facilitate installation of the bushing in a hole in the wall. The formations may enable a special tool to engage the head portion to apply a rotational force thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Dickens
  • Patent number: 6840461
    Abstract: An adapter clamp that enables a delivery system to be connected to an aerosol can. The adapter clamp includes a pair of body members oriented in a side-by-side relationship having an arcuate cutout in an medial face that combine to form an aperture through which the delivery system contacts the aerosol can. Each body member has an arcuate neck with an outward protruding toe extending from a bottom surface thereof configured to be received in an annular recess of the aerosol can and engage a rim of the can. The adapter clamp also includes at least one connector slidably joining the body members such that the members are adapted to slide between a spread configuration wherein the members have a gap between the body members and a compressed configuration wherein the members substantially abut each other so that the toes may be inserted past the rim and into the recess of the aerosol can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Whitmire Micro-Gen Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence R. Burke, Lee M. White, Jonathan D. Berger
  • Patent number: 6840485
    Abstract: In a support device for supporting an article, particularly in a motor vehicle, wherein the support device comprises a support arm having at one end thereof a clamping element, the clamping element includes a cylindrical bushing of an elastic material for reception in a cylindrical opening and means are provided for expanding the bushing into firm engagement with the wall of the opening for securely supporting the support arm in the cylindrical opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Herbert Richter
  • Patent number: 6840590
    Abstract: A mounting member for a cabinet tray or drawer includes: an elongate body portion having a front mounting surface and a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures located in the front mounting surface. The body portion is a unitary structure and being formed of a polymeric material. This mounting member can be employed in cabinets to mount trays or drawers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Tenn-Tex Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Hightower
  • Patent number: 6837007
    Abstract: A roof support with an integral gutter including a roof support, a panel joint cover, and a gutter for a small storage or utility building or shed having a shallow-pitched roof. In particular, the roof support with integral gutter includes a support web, an exposure surface perpendicularly bisecting the support web, and a collector perpendicularly bisecting the support web opposite the exposure surface. The roof support with integral gutter is made by the pultrusion process, which eliminates the need for additional and separate components to provide rigidity and strength to the roof support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Floyd, Robb Willgohs
  • Patent number: 6837468
    Abstract: A friction control mechanism for an articulating arm including an arm, a pivot connector, an axial washer, and at least one set screw. An axial washer is placed around each side of a center aperture in the pivot connector. The pivot connector is connected to the arm with a pivot pin through the center aperture in the pivot connector and aligned holes in the first and second sides of the arm. At least one threaded hole is located adjacent the aligned hole in the first side of the arm. A set screw is placed through each threaded hole, making contact with the axial washer. This contact creates a friction force between the pivot connector and the axial washer, keeping the articulating arm from drifting away from its set position. The pivot connector may be connected to another device such as another arm or a machine such as an x-ray machine, or to another pivot connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Progeny, Inc.
    Inventors: Arkady Kantor, James W. Kleinschmidt
  • Patent number: 6837383
    Abstract: A vehicle lift rack is provided as a mounted tool organizer for use with a conventional vehicle lift rack of a type having rack arms. A pair of support hooks, for grasping the rack arm in a manner that allows a containment volume to be supported through gravity impingement, without the necessity for permanent fasteners. The main containment volume is formed in a boxlike fashion and includes a hinged, lockable lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Wayne McElhaney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6837470
    Abstract: A holder for beverage containers has a container receptacle for a beverage container, a clamping device provided in the container receptacle, the clamping device including at least one semi-circular retaining clip which is mounted in an upper region of the container receptacle, two radially opposite hinges mounting the at least one semi-circular retaining clip in the upper region of the container receptacle on a circumference so that the at least one semi-circular retaining clip is mounted resiliently and pivotally, the at least one semi-circular retaining clip pivoting out of the container receptacle by a spring action opposite to an insertion direction of a beverage container, and stop members limiting a pivoting angle in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fischer Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pacher, Ulf-Lothar Bastian, Rolf Schaeuffele, Wolf-Dieter Benz
  • Patent number: 6834837
    Abstract: A surgical instrument support device and method for positioning a surgical instrument relative to a surface of a surgical support platform are disclosed. The support device includes a base member, an elongated support member, an extender bar, and a securing mechanism. The base member is fixably mountable to the surgical support platform. The elongated support member has one end mounted to the base member for pivotal movement of the elongated support member relative to the base member within a pivot plane that is nonparallel to the surface of the surgical support platform. The extender bar is adapted for mounting a surgical instrument with respect thereto and is disposed at the other end of the elongated support member. The extender bar projects from the elongated support member such that the pivotal movement of the elongated support member raises or lowers the extender bar and the surgical instrument mounted with respect thereto with respect to the surface of the surgical support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Rultract, Inc.
    Inventors: Janice L. Schilt, William J. Kotelee
  • Patent number: 6834924
    Abstract: A drawer insert, in particular a cutlery insert, which may be adapted to different drawer sizes. The drawer insert comprises a plurality of separate trays (6, 7) each delimiting a receiving space. At least one of the trays (7) is compressible in a resilient manner. The trays (6, 7) are surrounded by a frame (8) whereof lateral delimiting struts (9) are compressible in a resilient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Julius Blum Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Helmut Hollenstein
  • Patent number: 6834839
    Abstract: A device (10) for clamping and unclamping a standing prism pole (11) within a surveying instrument (13). A pair of opposing vise or jaw members (24, 25) are disposed with a geometrical configuration (18) forming a frame (19) having a cavity (20), the one vise (24) within cavity (20) fixedly mounted to frame (19), the other vise (25) within cavity (20) slidably movable towards and away from vise (24), and by which the standing prism pole (11) is clamped and unclamped by the jaw members (24, 25). A spacer arm (34) connects frame (19) to a support leg (37) of instrument (13). At the bottom of leg (37) a carrying handle (39) is connected for ease of moving instrument (13) from one point to another in either collapsed or uncollapsed mode for instrument (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Eldridge W. Wilson