Patents Examined by M. Horton
  • Patent number: 7222467
    Abstract: A frame assembly for at least partially enclosing a raised floor structure includes a bottom frame member positioned adjacent an associated raised floor structure. A pair of spaced apart side frame members are connected to and extend upwardly from the bottom frame member. A top frame member is spaced from the bottom frame member and connected to the pair of side frame members. At least one picket extends between and is connected to the top and bottom frame members. The at least one picket is oriented approximately parallel to the side frame members. A screen is selectively mounted to at least one of the top and bottom frame members and the side frame members. The screen is located adjacent the at least one picket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Patio Enclosures Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Nowell, Jerry D. DeLiberato, Tony P. Bouquot
  • Patent number: 7197853
    Abstract: A demountable and remountable wall assembly for partitioning room space between an overhead and a floor, the major elements of which are reusable. The assembly provides one or two walls, at lease one of which has an outer fastener-free surface. Additionally, the fastener-free surface may be made substantially smooth and seamless. The walls are arranged in planar congruence, separated by internal spacers or studs, and vertically positioned between the overhead and floor of the room space to be partitioned. Removable tracks or spacers at the top and bottom of the wall assembly serves to interface the wall assembly with the floor and ceiling of the space. The walls are constructed of either finished or unfinished wall panels (e.g., fabric covered or sheet rock panels) which are incorporated into the assembly using a combination of removable fasteners and releasable adhesives. The finished or exposed area of a wall surface includes no fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: W. Frank Little, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7188452
    Abstract: A buckling restrained brace includes an elongate, hollow sleeve, an elongate yielding core extending substantially through the length of the sleeve, and a buckling constraining element between the yielding core and the inner surface of the hollow sleeve and spaced apart from at least one surface of the yielding core, leaving a gap therebetween. The buckling constraining element may be spaced apart from and, thus, the gap may exist between two or more surfaces of the yielding core. Additionally, an inner sleeve, or liner, may be positioned between the buckling constraining element and the yielding core, with the liner being spaced apart from at least one surface of the yielding core. The buckling restrained brace is useful in absorbing loads, such as seismically induced loads, that are exerted upon a steel frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Benne Narasimha Murthy Sridhara
  • Patent number: 7185472
    Abstract: A concrete-based mortar is prepared for application on the exterior of a concrete building or other structure. The drying time of the concrete-based mortar is reduced by addition of an accelerant compound. After the concrete-based mortar sets on the building or other structure, an exterior portion of the concrete-based mortar is removed. This provides an even and attractive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Eduardo Ramírez de Arellano
  • Patent number: 7174681
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for securing a building foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane. The method includes the steps of positioning one end of a concrete form stake in a mating structure of a plug, penetrating the moisture barrier membrane with a tip end the plug, and forming a seal between a flange extending around a periphery of the plug and the moisture barrier membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Vista Investments and Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Wilson, Gregory S. Foster
  • Patent number: 7174688
    Abstract: A filter assembly is provided that has a filtering screen and a skeletal structure, the skeletal structure being attached to the filtering screen. At least one of the filtering screen and the skeletal structure form a plurality of downward extending channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Edward A. Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 7174686
    Abstract: A bracket for use in retrofitting building panels to a structure is provided with forward, rearward and top walls which define a channel therebetween. The channel is sized and shaped to substantially enclose existing fasteners on the structure to substantially prevent lateral movement of the bracket along the existing building panels. The lower end portion of the bracket is shaped to marry the profile of the existing building panels. A single series of fasteners secure the new building panel to the bracket, the existing building panel and preferably the frame of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Arnold G. Legband
  • Patent number: 7174682
    Abstract: A transition support for flooring extending between a floor area of a high height and a floor area of a low height, said support being in the shape of a wedge which is generally unnoticeable by persons walking across the support and which does not jostle wheeled vehicles crossing the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Johnsonite Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Pelosi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7168212
    Abstract: A cable support apparatus for a raised floor system comprising at least one support member. The at least one support member is configured to be mounted to a pedestal of the raised floor system and connect with portions of cable trays. The support member, in one preferred embodiment includes a first member and a second member, each defining a slot for positioning on the support pedestal. The support member also includes a plurality of holes for the securing of the first member and the second member together as well as for connecting with cable trays. The cable trays are attached to the support member with an attachment mechanism such as a threaded stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Roger Jette
  • Patent number: 7168437
    Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring a device or for carrying articles on a device includes a ring structure and at least one container attached to the ring structure. The ring structure includes a container holder and a shaft holder. The at least one container is attached to the ring structure via the container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Barbara Bigford
  • Patent number: 7168219
    Abstract: A support structure such as, for example, a door jamb and a window jamb. In one embodiment, the jamb is formed from a first stud that has a web and two first flanges and a second stud with a second web and second flanges. The first stud has at least one first hole through the first web and the second stud has at least one second hole through the second web. The first and second studs are oriented such that at least one first hole is aligned with at least one second hole and a stud engager is inserted through the aligned holes to retain the studs in abutting contact to form the jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Dietrich Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Elderson
  • Patent number: 7165367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite profile and to a method for the producing a composite profile. The profile is configured as an assembly with at least one metal profile and at least one insulating profile, wherein a tolerance-compensating gap is located between a metal profile and an insulating profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Schüco International KG
    Inventor: Siegfried Habicht
  • Patent number: 7165369
    Abstract: A building, comprises sheets of wooden material with the external walls (10), internal walls (1), floor and/or roof boards (20) each made of wooden sheets and of a double- or multi-skinned form, thus comprising at least one inner sheet (2, 12, 22) and at least one outer sheet (3, 13, 23) which are separated by spacer elements (4, 14, 24) and connected to each other by the same. Cavities (5, 15, 25) are provided between the sheets (2, 3; 12, 13; 22; 23). The sheets forming the inner walls (1), the outer walls (10), the floor or roof boards (20) are, at least in one direction, in one piece throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Adolf Jandl
  • Patent number: 7165373
    Abstract: A non-slip, nocoat drywall finishing system for finishing inside and outside corners of any angle, the finishing system being a pre-formed, continuously extruded trim piece comprising a semi-rigid member that can be relatively thick in the center and tapers laterally to a thin edge. An outer finishing layer of fibrous material that directly receives paint or texture. A pattern of protrusions, ridges, or grooves on the inner surface of the semi-rigid member to avoid the need for an inner material layer. To install one of the pieces, it is selected from stock and cut to length. A flat coat of mud is applied to both sides of an exterior or interior angle, and the trim piece is placed over the mud and smoothed into place. Once, the piece is in place, the edges are feathered once with a small amount of mud and a wide blade. At that point the corner is complete except for drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Structus Building Technologies, Inc
    Inventor: Timothy D. Smythe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7165361
    Abstract: An adjustable building construction shore has an inner tubular member extending internally of an outer tubular member and displaceable longitudinally of the outer tubular member, the inner and outer members having projecting and recessed longitudinal portions slidably interengaged and preventing relative rotation of the inner and outer tubular members. Openings extending transversely through the inner and outer tubular members are spaced apart longitudinally of the inner and outer tubular members, and retainer members extend through the openings for securing the inner and outer tubular members against relative longitudinal movement. A screw jack supports a lower end of the shore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Vanagan
  • Patent number: 7162840
    Abstract: A window assembly comprising an elongated transparent pane, at least one lighting assembly and at least one opaque covering, the elongated transparent pane having the opaque covering associated with the interior surface thereof and having the lighting assembly mounted adjacent the interior surface of the opaque covering, the opaque covering having at least one aperture disposed therethrough wherein light emanating from the lighting assembly is visible from the exterior surface of the window assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Executive Coach Builders, Inc.
    Inventor: Bud H. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7159369
    Abstract: A stud bridging/spacing member generally having at least three longitudinally spaced apart notches for receiving and engaging therein a web of a metal stud. At least one of the notches has opposing notch sides which are oriented such that when a portion of a web is received therein, one of the notch sides contacts the web at a first portion of the web and the other notch side contacts the web at a second portion of the web such that the first portion of the web and the second portion of the web are not located on a common longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Dietrich Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Elderson
  • Patent number: 7155874
    Abstract: This invention relates to an elongated hollow non-deformable structure that can be used as beams and pillars of modular building structures. The structure includes first and second elongated C-shaped channels (20) with inwardly bent flanges (25) and means for holding the two channels (20) together so that the flanges (25) contact each other. The first and second C-shaped channels (20) may be formed without flanges (25). L-shaped (42) and T-shaped (40) and H-shaped flanges of appropriate design are provided with holes in the flanges at predetermined locations to correspond to the holes in the end portions of the beams and pillars. There are plugable holes (21) provided in the end portions of the beams and pillars so that workers can easily access inside the hollow space to use nuts (72), washers, and bolts (70) to couple the elongated hollow structures together. Instead of the C-shaped channel (20) structure two identical L-shaped channels (20b) may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Dae-Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 7155869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing element for maintaining a composite glass pane. Glass components are assembled and a fixing element is provided for fixing by force or positive engagement to a support structure. The safety elements form a receiving plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Klaus Wildenhain, Ralf Linden
  • Patent number: 7155870
    Abstract: A shingle system, mountable to a support surface, includes overlapping shingle assemblies. Each shingle assembly comprises a support bracket, having upper and lower ends, secured to a shingle body. The upper end has an upper support portion, extending away from the shingle body, and an upper support-surface-engaging part, engageable with a support surface so that the upper edge of the shingle body is positionable at a first distance from the support surface to create a first gap therebetween. The lower end has a lower support portion extending away from the lower surface. The support brackets create: (1) a second gap between shingle bodies of the first and second shingle assemblies, and (2) an open region beneath the first shingle assembly fluidly coupling the first and second gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Powerlight Corp.
    Inventor: Charles Almy