Patents Examined by M. Safavi
  • Patent number: 7527453
    Abstract: A ribbed module is provided having a ribbed exterior surface defining a plurality of grooves and channels along the surface for receiving water and directing the water in a direction different from that in which it is received to reduce wave energy. The module is formed as a single integral unit, or as a pair of halves having complementary mating locking elements which when engaged join the halves to form the ribbed module. A buoyancy system is also included to adjust the buoyancy of the module for positioning of same at a select position in the water. A plurality of modules are connected to provide breakwaters which reduce the effects of wave action on the shore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis G. Smith
  • Patent number: 7473053
    Abstract: An injection molded plastic corrugated leaching or storm water chamber has a peak corrugations segment with a flattened and thickened web. The web is the portion of the corrugation which runs from the peak to the floor of the adjacent valley. Preferably, flattened web segments are at the apexes of adjoining corrugations, to create an increased thickness band region, running lengthwise along the chamber from an injection nozzle location or sprue. The flattened web segments enable better melted plastic flow during molding, without increasing nesting height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Infiltrator Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Brochu, James J. Burnes
  • Patent number: 7469433
    Abstract: A patient support including a frame and a patient support portion supported by the frame. The patient support includes a release mechanism configured to move a portion of the patient support from a raised position to a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Ruehl, Jeffrey R. Welling, Brian Wiggins, Matthew W. Weismiller, Sandy Richards, Brent Goodwin
  • Patent number: 7467777
    Abstract: Devices for supporting horizontally oriented reinforcing bars in a form for concrete and devices for supporting vertically oriented reinforcing bars are disclosed herein. The devices for supporting horizontally oriented reinforcing bars (horizontal reinforcing bar) engage the side walls of a form, spans the space between the walls, and remains securely in position. The device includes guide members for guiding reinforcing bar sections into a desired position, and members that secure the reinforcing bar in position. The devices for supporting vertically oriented reinforcing bars (vertical reinforcing bar) are used with a generally L-shaped section of reinforcing bar and secured to two parallel sections of horizontal reinforcing bar. The devices can be constructed from any material having properties that make the material satisfactory for use with concrete and provide sufficient strength to support the form side walls against deformation under hydrostatic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Quick Formz, LLC
    Inventors: Donald G. Huber, Terry Hartman
  • Patent number: 7419332
    Abstract: A molded plastic corrugated arch shape cross section leaching chamber has a dome end for forming a pivotable joint with a like chamber. The dome of the dome end has one or more preferably trapezoid shape shallow surface depressions, for strength. The depressions are specially placed so that soil cannot enter the interior of the chambers, regardless of the angle between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald P. Brochu, James J Burnes
  • Patent number: 7415804
    Abstract: An insulating concrete form with two opposing panels, each panel having on each end thereof both a tongue and a groove for interconnecting with a similar form, the tongues and grooves positioned such that a similar form may be reversibly positioned and still interconnected, the opposing panels on each form joined by a plurality of metal wire ties with both horizontal and vertical members, preferably welded one to another, with each horizontal wire bent to form a right angle on each end with a metal attachment strip disposed within such right angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: Jerry D. Coombs, Andrew M. Horgan, David W. Watson, Patrick C. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7412802
    Abstract: A wall and buttress construction for swimming pools in which deck support extensions can be secured to the top of the buttresses. The wall includes a plurality of panels having end flanges at the sides of the panels, and a double slotted peg is provided. One of the slots is shorter to receive a wedge when a peg is placed through two abutting panel end flanges, and the other slot being longer to accommodate a wedge when the peg is being used to join a brace as well as two abutting end flanges. The end flanges have elongated openings therethrough for receiving the pegs that are oriented diagonally, rather than either vertically or horizontally. The elongated openings, pegs and wedges are easily visible/accessible for inserting pegs as a result of the diagonal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Caravelle International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Kantor
  • Patent number: 7412738
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inflatable device or a body support device, and, specifically, to an inflatable device including two or more fluid chambers. One embodiment of the device includes a first fluid chamber comprising a first outlet, and a second fluid chamber comprising an inlet, wherein the second fluid chamber is fluidly connected to the first fluid chamber by a one way valve arranged to allow fluid to pass from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber. The invention is also directed to a method of providing adjustable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Chaffee
  • Patent number: 7409801
    Abstract: A foam block concrete form including a pair of opposing foam panels spaced parallel from each other, a plurality of ties positioned transverse to and between the pair of opposed panels for holding the panels in spaced apart parallel relationship to each other, a single row of alternating teeth and sockets positioned and located along opposing horizontal longitudinal edges of each panel to enable the panels to be removably engaged with either opposed horizontal longitudinal edge of an adjacent vertically positioned panel having a substantially identical array of teeth and sockets formed along its opposed horizontal longitudinal edges, and a substantially flat planar surface located adjacent the single row of alternating teeth and sockets thereby providing a mechanism for facilitating the removal of water and other debris which may accumulate within the sockets or spaces formed between the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: TriTex ICF Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry E. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7407341
    Abstract: A floating barrier wall includes a number of individual barrier units each comprising a housing formed in the general shape of a highway barrier having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls, and, opposed side walls interconnected to form a hollow interior which is preferably partially or completely filled with a foam material. A ballast weight is secured to each barrier unit, either along or beneath the bottom wall, to maintain them in an upright position in the water. Cables, couplers and/or other connectors are employed to mount adjacent barrier units end-to-end to form a barrier wall which can encircle a vessel or otherwise isolate an area within a seaport to provide security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Leo J. Yodock, Jr., Leo J. Yodock, III, Guy C. Yodock
  • Patent number: 7395566
    Abstract: A flexible seat cushion, such as a wheelchair cushion, has an upper surface with a support contour for establishing relatively less pressure on skin adjacent to the bony prominences of the person's pelvic area and relatively more pressure on skin covering adjacent tissue masses. A support member is attached to the rear corner of the cushion. The support member has relatively less flexibility than the seat cushion. The support member is retained to a longitudinal and/or transverse side of the cushion to cause the support member to resist deformation of the support contour from contact with the pelvic area of the person when seated on the seat cushion. Connector member may be connected to the support member to extend along longitudinal and/or transverse sides of the cushion to deform and thereby adjust the support contour for better support of the pelvic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aspen Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hetzel, Aaron D. Pierce, Steve Maurus
  • Patent number: 7373678
    Abstract: A flexible support structure of a seat cushion, such as a wheelchair cushion, has an upper surface with a support contour having relief areas for establishing relatively less pressure on skin adjacent to bony prominences of a user's pelvis and having a support area for establishing relatively more pressure on skin covering a tissue mass spaced from the bony prominences. A slit is formed in the rear corner of the support structure and an insertion member is inserted into the slit to change a position of the support area to thereby adjust the support contour for better support of the pelvic area. A cover encases the support structure to resist outward deformation of the support structure. The cover has an extension portion that expands the cover at the rear corner to increase a dimension of the cover to encase an increase dimension of the corner caused by the insertion of the insertion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Aspen Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hetzel, Joseph S. Bieganek, Steve Maurus
  • Patent number: 7373680
    Abstract: A transfer mattress is provided including a top sheet having a width, a length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a bottom sheet having the same width, the same length, longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a plurality of perforations. The longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets are sealingly fastened to one another often by heat sealing. A plurality of baffles, each having a width and a length, are attached to an inner surface of the top sheet and an inner surface of the bottom sheet so as to be transversely oriented between the top sheet and the bottom. The baffles along with the widths of the top and bottom sheets define a radially-outwardly curved perimeter wall that is disposed between an edge of the baffles and the sealed peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Woodlark Circle, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Davis
  • Patent number: 7360341
    Abstract: A column mounted shoring bracket has a support sub-assembly attached to a column or other supporting surface, a jack sub-assembly attached to the support and a head sub-assembly attached to a part of the jack that varies in height relative to the support. The head has a head base that supports one or more rollers for moving a form. The head also has a supporting plate for supporting the form. The supporting plate is connected to the head base so that it may be slid upwards and fixed in a position where the top of the supporting plate is above the top of the rollers, for example to carry the weight of a slab being built, or slid downwards so that the top of the supporting plate is below the top of the rollers which do not have to carry the weight of the slab being built. The angular position of the rollers may be aligned with an external reference such as the side of a column, a wall, or a jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventors: Barry W. Jackson, George W. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7353641
    Abstract: To render a formwork (10), having a hollow (11b) defined therein and embedded in the elongated concrete member (40) during casting of a concrete material, to be lightweight, environmentally friendly and inexpensive and to have a sufficient strength, the formwork (10) includes a tubular member (11) formed by bending an oblong plate of corrugated cardboard (5) made of paper. The corrugated cardboard plate (5) includes a plurality of corrugated cardboards (3) laminated together and each formed by bonding liner sheets (2) to surfaces of a corrugated sheet (1). The corrugated cardboards (3) are laminated together with flutes of the corrugated cardboards (3) oriented in a direction (P) across a thickness of the corrugated cardboard plate (5), and a sheet (4) is bonded to front and rear major surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignees: Ecoboard Co., Ltd., P.S Mitsubishi Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisafumi Yoshii, Yoshinori Hikasa
  • Patent number: 7350760
    Abstract: There is provided a clamp for concrete forms which has improved durability compared with a conventional P-clamp, and can withstand vibrations necessarily produced by a vibrator when the concrete is placed. This clamp for concrete forms comprises a substantially U-shaped clamp body which rivets end parts of a pair of L-shaped clamp arms to each other so as to be rotatable and holds a connection part of the concrete forms, and a clamp lever body which presses one clamp arm toward the other clamp arm to press both clamp arms against each other by riveting ends of a pair of arm parts with respect to the other clamp arm so as to be rotatable, and rotates them toward the clamp arm, and engages an opening part formed between the pair of arm parts with the L-shaped bent shoulder part of the other clamp arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaura Corporation
    Inventor: Hayao Yamaura
  • Patent number: 7351006
    Abstract: Arch shape cross-section leaching and stormwater chambers are connected together so that swiveled angling is obtained at the joint. Angling is accomplished by means of an integral or detachable dome end comprising a conical section. A like chamber with an ordinary end mates by overlapping the dome. Or a like chamber may have an opposing and overlapping end, which also comprises a dome. A coupling for connecting two ordinary end chambers is comprised of two spaced apart conical domes spaced apart by a connector. The connector between the domes is optionally straight or angled. The couplings enable chambers to be connected at diverse angles to each other, as well as to be connected parallel with offset, i.e., with zigzag path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Infiltrator Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Burnes, Ronald Brochu, Bryan A. Coppes, Donald Crescenzi, Michael J. Ambrosino
  • Patent number: 7351008
    Abstract: A number of individual barrier units form a floating barrier wall each comprising a housing formed in the general shape of a highway barrier having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls, and, opposed side walls interconnected to form a hollow interior which is preferably partially or completely filled with a foam material. A ballast weight is secured to each barrier unit, either inside or outside of the hollow interior, to maintain them in an upright position in the water. Cables, couplers and/or other connectors are employed to mount adjacent barrier units end-to-end to form a barrier wall which can encircle a vessel or otherwise isolate an area within a seaport or other body of water to provide security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Leo J. Yodock, III, Leo J. Yodock, Jr., Guy C. Yodock
  • Patent number: 7347029
    Abstract: A concrete form unit includes opposing sidewalls which are preferably made of foamed plastic or other insulating material. Articulated spacers extend between and connect the sidewalls, and are capable of folding about themselves both at an elbow situated between the sidewalls, and also at their junctures with the sidewalls. The folding ability of the spacers allow the sidewalls to convert between a collapsed state wherein the sidewalls are in close adjacent relationship and the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls, and an expanded state wherein the sidewalls are in distant spaced relationship with the spacer links being oriented at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls. The collapsed form unit therefore assumes an overall box-like shape, and therefore the collapsed form units are easily stored and shipped with minimal lost storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventors: Terry K. Wostal, Steven J. Paske
  • Patent number: 7338563
    Abstract: A combination of parallel processes is disclosed to provide optimal re-mediation operations for contaminated soil. Soils with high levels of heavy petroleum hydrocarbons are directed to a thermal process for destruction in a combustion process. Carbon dioxide generated and recovered in the thermal process is employed as a solvent in a solvent process to clean other soils of petroleum hydrocarbons and certain chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. In the solvent process, contaminated soils are run through a closed soil separator where the soils are washed with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then dried from the soil and the soil is sent for segregation. Soils with the lightest forms of hydrocarbon contamination (gasoline, etc.) are subjected to a vaporization process utilizing heat energy generated in the thermal process to heat the soil, under a partial vacuum, and the vapors generated are captured, condensed, and recovered as product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Steve L. Clark