Patents Examined by Matthew Gitlin
  • Patent number: 8578662
    Abstract: A window well enclosure including a front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall that engage each other. At least one step is attachable to the window well enclosure using a channel formed in at least one of the front wall, the first side wall and the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Raeanne Monk
  • Patent number: 8578658
    Abstract: A gutter cover apparatus configured to fit the top of a conventional roof gutter is characterized by an elongated sheet member having a longitudinal front edge portion, a longitudinal rear edge portion, and a substantially planar intermediate portion therebetween. The intermediate portion, in turn, is characterized by at least one upstanding longitudinal ridge defining multiple drainage zones each containing a pattern of staggered rows of openings. The forward longitudinal edge portion of the sheet member is raised upwardly with respect to the drainage zones and together with the ridge retards the flow of water transversely with respect to the front edge of the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Todd Snell
  • Patent number: 8572925
    Abstract: A frame assembly supports an article. The frame assembly comprises a frame member having a plurality of walls extending between a first end and a second end. The walls define an interior of the frame member. The frame assembly also comprises at least one foldable cornerlock. The foldable cornerlock has first and second body portions movable relative to each other. A method of manufacturing the frame assembly comprises the steps of forming at least one notch in the frame member spaced from the ends of the frame member, inserting the foldable cornerlock into the notch, and bending the frame member about the notch of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Quanex Building Products Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff V. Sawyers, Ron J. Pich
  • Patent number: 8544234
    Abstract: Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge locking system has a tongue made in one piece with the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Marcus Nilsson Ståhl
  • Patent number: 8544218
    Abstract: An acoustically insulating product for acoustically insulating a building structure includes a base entangled net material, and an acoustical nonwoven material. The acoustical nonwoven material is on at least one side of the base entangled net material. The acoustical nonwoven material has an increase in impact insulation class of 6 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Dell SeVen, Inc., Maxxon Corporation, Southeast Nonwovens, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Marcus Dellinger, Patrick H. Giles, Steven F. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8528293
    Abstract: A foldable cornerlock is used in a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes first and second ends. The walls of the frame member define an interior of the frame member and also define at least one notch. The frame member is bendable at the notch to form a corner of the frame member. The foldable cornerlock is disposed in the notch and extends into the interior of the frame member. The foldable cornerlock comprises first and second body portions each configured to mate with the interior of the frame member. The body portions are movable relative to each other for inserting the foldable cornerlock into the notch of the frame member. The foldable cornerlock also comprises a hinge portion coupling the body portions together. The hinge portion defines an axis extending in a longitudinal direction through the hinge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Quanex Building Products Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff V. Sawyers, Ron J. Pich
  • Patent number: 8511015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile partitioning wall with several wall elements suspended at running rails. In order to provide a mobile partitioning wall, which is designed to be simple to manufacture and to mount and to be universally applicable, and offers simple and variable possibilities to be optionally completed with add-on parts, the wall elements are formed without supporting frame, and mounting elements are horizontally and/or vertically disposed at the edge sides of the wall elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Jan-Gerd Behrens
  • Patent number: 8505256
    Abstract: A compliant insert for flexibly supporting a synthetic floor tile above a ground surface that includes one or more elongate bodies, with each elongate body having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a top surface of the floor tile, a top face having an attachment interface for coupling to a tile support structure extending downward from an underside of the floor tile, and a bottom face of having at least one contact flat for contacting the ground surface and at least one upwardly-directed recess for allowing liquids to flow underneath the insert. Each of the elongate bodies also has a thickness and stiffness sufficient, in an unloaded state, to elevate the support structure a distance above the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Connor Sport Court International, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald N. Cerny, Dana L Hedquist, Michael A. Buerger, Gary L. Day
  • Patent number: 8495838
    Abstract: Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example dock seal includes a backer to couple the dock seal to a wall and a resiliently compressible member supported by the backer. A pliable cover encases the compressible member. The pliable cover has a first end overlapping a second end to define a separable joint that is to be disposed between the backer and the wall when the dock seal is coupled to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Digmann, Timothy J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8490340
    Abstract: The end of a transversely extending beam mates to a wall structure by a self-releasing structural assembly. It has a first portion anchored to the wall. A second, fireproof and non-thermally degradable, portion sticks out from the wall. It defines a seat for receiving vertical shear loads from the beam. The assembly also includes a thermally degradable member keyed to the second portion. Both portions have slots for beam end fasteners. The beam fasteners squeeze the end of the beam, the support bracket seat, and the consumable, thermally degradable member in compression. When exposed to heat or flame the consumable, thermally degradable member softens, releasing the tension in the beam end fasteners, and releasing the compression in the parts. The end of the beam can then move away from the wall. The consumable member can be inspected, replaced, and the beam fasteners re-tensioned, without unseating the beam end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Hatzinikolas
  • Patent number: 8490341
    Abstract: The end of a beam is joined to a wall structure by a self-releasing structural assembly. The self-releasing structural assembly has a first portion that is anchored to the wall. A second portion sticks out from the wall. This portion is fireproof and non-thermally degradable. It defines a seat for receiving the beam end. The assembly also includes a thermally degradable member mounted to the second portion. In normal use the beam fasteners squeeze the end of the beam, the support bracket seat, and the consumable, thermally degradable member in compression. When exposed to heat or flame the consumable, thermally degradable member softens, releasing the compression in the structural sandwich of parts. The end of the beam is then able to translate away from the wall structure. The consumable member can be inspected, replaced if necessary, and the beam fasteners re-tensioned, without removing the beam end from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Hatzinikolas
  • Patent number: 8479474
    Abstract: A shingle installation device comprises a body that maintains an alignment stop and a positioning stop that are parallely spaced by a predetermined distance to provide suitable overlap of successively installed shingles. The body also maintains a retainer that forms a gap that is configured to receive and retain the position of a shingle that is being installed. Thus, when the installation device is positioned such that the alignment stop rests against an edge of an installed shingle, an edge of the shingle to be installed is placed within the gap where it is retained in its correct position until the shingle is fastened to the surface being covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: John P. Chestnut, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8469342
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate suction apparatus which has a vacuum suction mechanism and an electrostatic attraction mechanism, and improves planarity of a subject to be processed by improving uniformity in vacuum suction power. A method for manufacturing such substrate suction apparatus is also provided. A substrate suction apparatus (1) is provided with a base board (2), a dielectric body (3), an electrostatic attraction mechanism (4) and a vacuum suction mechanism (5). Specifically, the dielectric body (3) is composed of a downmost dielectric layer (31), an intermediate dielectric layer (32) and a topmost dielectric layer (33). The electrostatic attraction mechanism (4) is composed of attraction electrodes (41, 42) and a direct current power supply. The vacuum suction mechanism (5) is composed of a groove (51), a suction channel (52), a porous dielectric body (3) and the porous attraction electrodes (41, 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tatsumi, Kinya Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8464482
    Abstract: An assembly of precast concrete units matingly assembled on top of one another to form a whole deck footing, capable of supporting a deck, shed, porch, addition or other structure. The individual units are of manageable weight and can be moved by one person, not unlike a bag of unmixed cement. The units interlock to prevent shifting, separating, frost damage by water infiltration and heaving when placed under ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Brice C. Raynor
  • Patent number: 8453402
    Abstract: A frame unit of a curtain wall has a mullion, a beam and a connecting device. The mullion has a mullion recess and a mullion channel. The beam is substantially the same as the mullion and has a beam recess and a beam channel. The connecting device has a first group and a second group. The first group has a plate, two chunks and two bolts. The plate is mounted in the mullion recess. The chunks are mounted in the mullion channel. The bolts are mounted through the plate and are respectively screwed into the chunks. The second group is the same as the first group and is similarly connected with the beam. Because one beam can be connected with and spreads forces to multiple mullions, a structure of a curtain wall can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Rong-Jun Huang
  • Patent number: 8439338
    Abstract: A rotary table device includes a cooling structure and a rotary bearing provided with a cooling structure. A rotary table device provided with a cooling structure includes a hollow motor as a drive source, a table rotated by the hollow motor, and a rotary bearing supporting rotational motion of the table, in which the rotary bearing includes an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface to which a rolling surface is formed, an inner ring having an outer peripheral surface to which a rolling surface facing the rolling surface of the outer ring is formed, and a number of rolling members in a rolling passage formed by the rolling surface of the outer ring and the rolling surface of the inner ring, and a heat sink is formed to either one of the inner and outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Taniguchi, Toshiyuki Aso, Toshiya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8438808
    Abstract: Disclosed are frame members and mullions for a window frame that comprise a reinforcing member that is surrounded by an outer plastic layer. The outer plastic layer is held securely to the reinforcing member as a result of a waist banding effect that comprises an inward force created by the outer plastic layer as it cools and contracts around the reinforcing member. In addition, lobes are formed in the reinforcing member that assist in holding the outer plastic layer to the reinforcing member. Window inserts can be removed and replaced using adapters and removable brackets. Frame members and mullions can be built sufficiently strong to provide structural support. The frame can also be used to hold photovoltaic cells and protective coverings for photovoltaic cells. Structural members are also disclosed that have reinforcing members with apertures, debossing, scarification and/or indentations that secure the thermoplastic layer to the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: TAC Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Carlson, Jason Underhill
  • Patent number: 8407960
    Abstract: An article of flashing for a deck includes a channel with a back leg, a first side leg, and a second side leg and further includes an attachment flange fixedly connected to the channel where the channel is adapted to receive decking. A deck flashing system includes a deck with a surface and at least one edge, decking forming the surface of the deck, and flashing extending along the at least one edge, the flashing having a channel adapted to receive the decking. A method of trimming a deck includes erecting deck framing, installing decking on the framing, and installing flashing on at least one edge or the entire perimeter of the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Everflash, LLC
    Inventor: Mark William Morsching
  • Patent number: 8387327
    Abstract: Floor panels (1, 1?) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system consisting of a flexible locking element 15 in a locking groove 14 which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 8387337
    Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to decrease labor involved in waterproofing via flashing and termination of a pliable membrane roofing system at its perimeters and vertical junctures. As opposed to a standard two piece membrane flashing, the invention provides for a single piece of membrane to be used. The single piece of membrane would be taken from that which has already been installed on the flat portion of the roof. The loose section would be folded and the folded section would be anchored to the roof or vertical junctures. The piece now left loose would be folded over the anchoring device and terminated on the roof or vertical juncture. There are 3 devices disclosed which are intended to serve the purpose of anchoring the folded portion of roof. Elimination of the two piece flashing will greatly decrease the labor involved in roof installation with no loss in roof performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Henry Lee Hamlin, III