Patents Examined by Matthew Gitlin
  • Patent number: 9382706
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting a home includes providing a structural base on a ground surface adjacent to and outside the outer walls, the structural base comprising one or more air passages; installing insulation adjacent to an outer surface of the outer walls, the insulation being supported by the structural base; and installing siding material on an outer surface of the insulation, the siding material and the existing outer walls enclosing the insulation and defining a flow path, a top of the flow path comprising one or more air passages into the attic space such that air flows along the insulation in the flow path between the structural base and the attic space. A plurality of new trusses may be supported at an apex of the existing roof that overhanging the existing outer walls and the insulation, the trusses sloping direction of the slope of the existing roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Keith Warren
  • Patent number: 9376037
    Abstract: A car configured to support a child is provided that includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a harness to secure a child in the car seat. The seat bottom and seat back are blow molded. The seat bottom includes a cup holder received within an aperture formed in the blow-molded seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Baby Trend, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley James Mattarocci
  • Patent number: 9366020
    Abstract: A modular unit connection system for joining together a plurality of box-shaped modular units to form a single or multistory building. The modular building units have elongated hollow structural framing members at their vertical corners and four substantially perpendicular vertical side walls extending between their vertical corner members. The side walls are topped with horizontal framing members extending between the vertical corner members. The vertical corner members lie within the planes formed by the side walls of the modular units, and their vertical corner members and their adjacent side walls abut with no significant space between them. The modular units may be connected at their vertical corner members with generally flat connection plates. Threaded tension rods may extend through the hollow vertical corner members and may be coupled to tension rods running through the hollow vertical corner members of vertically aligned modular units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FC MODULAR, LLC
    Inventor: David Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 9359739
    Abstract: A reinforcing system and/or means for reinforcing guyed structures or guyed construction techniques by supplementing or retrofitting the current anchoring system with a revised anchoring system which attaches or adapts to the current anchoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Delhaven, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Clements
  • Patent number: 9359774
    Abstract: Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 9360052
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a shaft collar having a two component structure defined by a first component having a central bore for receipt of a shaft or axle and a second component positioned partially within the first component. The second component also having a relatively harder stiffness than the first component. The second component further includes a pair of opposing ribs positioned within the first component and about the central bore and a pair of C-shaped caps separately positioned against upper and lower ends of the pair of ribs and wherein the pair of opposing ribs have a height such that the at least a portion of the pair of C-shaped caps protrude from the upper and lower faces of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Innovation First, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Culver, David Anthony Norman, Robert H. Mimlitch, III, Paul David Copioli, Aren Calder Hill, John Edward Vielkind-Neun, Arthur Philip Dutra, V
  • Patent number: 9340948
    Abstract: A controlled pressure release vault panel assembly is capable of functioning as a second, or auxiliary, relief port to allow the escape of fluid from the vault in the event of pressure build-up inside the vault or in an explosion event. The vault panel assembly may define an opening that includes a manhole cover assembly. The manhole cover assembly may also be vented, and may function as a primary vent. The vault panel assembly may include a retention assembly extending from the vault panel underneath a portion of the vault, enabling a limited range of motion of the vault panel for the escape of fluid and allowing the reseating of the vault pane on the vault once the pressure inside the vault approaches ambient pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: EJ USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson, Kevin J. Wright, Dean W. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9334652
    Abstract: A paneling system (100) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The paneling system (100) comprises a panel (101) and one or more fastening elements (102). The one or more fastening elements (102) are coupled to the panel (101). The one or more fastening elements (102) extend from a first edge (110) of the panel (101) to a second edge (111) of the panel (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventors: David Plath, Neal Bunce
  • Patent number: 9333887
    Abstract: A vehicle headrest assembly includes a headrest member operably coupled to a seatback. The headrest member is moveable between upright and folded positions relative to the seatback. A support assembly includes first and second linkages which are pivotally coupled to the headrest member and the seatback at opposite ends thereof. First and second latch brackets are coupled to the first and second linkages respectively and operable between latched and unlatched positions for moving the headrest member to the folded position from the upright position when the latch brackets are in the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph S. Talamonti, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Yalie Yan-rush, Steven Carnago, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 9322185
    Abstract: A tile lippage removal system preferably includes a spacer post, a threaded cap and an anti-friction protection plate. The spacer post includes a base member, a spacer member and a threaded shaft. A bottom of the spacer member extends from a top of the base member. A break away connection is made between the spacer member and the base member. A bottom of the threaded shaft extends from a top of the spacer member. A plurality of grip extensions extend from an outer surface of a substantial inverted cup to allow rotation of the threaded cap. A female thread is formed in a center of the substantial inverted cup to threadably receive the threaded shaft. The anti-friction protection plate includes a round outer perimeter and a spacer opening, which is sized to receive the spacer member. The anti-friction protection plate may be used to improve existing tile lippage removal systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: William P. Russo
  • Patent number: 9301617
    Abstract: A one-piece office chair made of plastic with an adjusting apparatus comprises a middle axle seat, a seat frame, a back frame, and two armrests which are formed in one-piece to complete the entire chair frame. Furthermore, an adjusting apparatus is applied to provide supports and elasticity for the chair frame, enabling the back frame to adjust the angle in accordance with users' movements, featuring the present invention as an ergonomic design of comfortable seating with easy assembly and light weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Yung-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 9290960
    Abstract: A combination cremation/burial system that is specially designed to allow multiple burials on small, single plots of land. Design intent is to provide a unique means in which families can be interned together while saving both space and money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Richard McHale
  • Patent number: 9284734
    Abstract: A drip edge preferably includes an anchor bar and a cover plate. The anchor bar includes a base portion, an offset leg, a cover flange, a clip flange, a drip flange and a sealing flange. A plurality of fastener openings are formed through a length of the base portion. An offset leg extends from a bottom of the base portion and the cover flange extends from a bottom of the offset leg. The sealing flange extends inward from a top of the base portion. The drip flange extends outward from the top of the base portion. The clip flange extends outward from the base portion, below the drip flange. A retention projection extends upward from an end of the clip flange. The cover plate includes a top clip end and a bottom clip end. The top clip end includes an inward extending snap lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph A. Inzeo, Brad D. Van Dam
  • Patent number: 9284744
    Abstract: A pole base provides a secure mounting structure that can easily be adapted for use with multiple configurations of poles. The pole base may include a body having an upper portion and a pole attachment device disposed on or within the upper portion of the body. The pole attachment device may be a plate configured to removeably receive a plurality of fasteners such that each of the plurality of fasteners may be received in the separate plate in a plurality of locations. Alternatively, the pole attachment device may be a plurality of recesses formed within the upper portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Oldcastle Precast, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Patterson, Isaac Anthony, Robinson Usagani, Jackson Bishop
  • Patent number: 9277821
    Abstract: A tilt mechanism is configured for adjustment of a tension applied by a chair back. The tilt mechanism includes a base, a back bracket tiltably supported on the base, and a rocker coupled to the back bracket so as to be moveable relative to the back bracket. The rocker has a pivot axis and pivots about the pivot axis when the back bracket tilts relative to the base. An energy storage mechanism is coupled to the rocker to exert a force onto a portion of the rocker. An actuating mechanism is coupled to at least one of the rocker or the energy storage mechanism and is configured to alter a distance between the pivot axis and the portion of the rocker at which the force is exerted onto the rocker, thereby altering a length of a lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Mark Grant Jones, Alessandro Slongo, Massimo Costaglia
  • Patent number: 9279259
    Abstract: A tile lippage removal system preferably includes a spacer post, a threaded cap and an anti-friction protection plate. The spacer post includes a base member, a spacer member and a threaded shaft. A bottom of the spacer member extends from a top of the base member. A break away connection is made between the spacer member and the base member. A bottom of the threaded shaft extends from a top of the spacer member. A plurality of grip extensions extend from an outer surface of a substantial inverted cup to allow rotation of the threaded cap. A female thread is formed in a center of the substantial inverted cup to threadably receive the threaded shaft. The anti-friction protection plate includes a round outer perimeter and a spacer opening, which is sized to receive the spacer member. The anti-friction protection plate may be used to improve existing tile lippage removal systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: William P. Russo
  • Patent number: 9279256
    Abstract: A tread module (10) for a walkway or stairway includes a body of material which defines a load-carrying surface (14), the tread module including at least two sub-module sections (20,21,22) which are formed integrally with one another and inter-connected by at least one severable formation (23) whereby the tread module may be reduced in size by severance of the severable formation(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KEE SAFETY LIMITED
    Inventors: John Greaves, Martin Roberts-Jones
  • Patent number: 9255418
    Abstract: A retractable curtain system including a first curtain region, a motor assembly and a mounting arm assembly. The first curtain region is capable of substantially covering the at least one opening when in an unrolled configuration. The motor assembly operably is attached to the first curtain region for moving the first curtain region between the unrolled configuration and a rolled configuration. The mounting arm assembly includes at least one mounting arm for pivotally mounting the motor assembly with respect to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: RUSH COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jerry Dimmer, Troy Knouse
  • Patent number: 9249565
    Abstract: A deployable truss with modified primary orthogonal joints. The construction of these joints causes the center-hinged primary chords on opposite sides of a truss bay to fold inward in a plane orthogonal to the folding planes of the side diagonals while the two secondary chords fold in planes orthogonal to the plane of the in-folding primary chords. This provides for stiffness and stability during deploy and retract. The unique joint configuration permits the truss to deploy one bay at a time in a stable manner while having lateral bending stiffness, and the truss thus can extend and retract in a sequential manner. It can deploy integral flat panels nested between the secondary folding chords, or use cross bracing in lieu of panels. The truss can be triangular, square or rectangular in cross-section. A powered support frame may be used in conjunction with the truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Donald V. Merrifield
  • Patent number: 9248760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking and inclination-adjustment assembly for locking and adjusting the inclination of a part, especially a pivotable backrest (R, R1, R2) of a vehicle, comprising a lock striker (30) arranged on the car body and a lock (S) arranged on the part, said lock (S) being joined to the lock striker (30) when in a locked position (I, II) and being detachable from the lock striker (30) when in an unlocked position (III). It is provided that the lock (S) arranged on the part has rotary catches (10, 20) with corresponding locking pawls (15, 25), whereby the part can be moved and locked in several reversible latching positions (I, II) on the lock striker (30) that engages with the lock (S), and the part can be moved into the unlocked position (III) separately from the lock striker (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, WITTE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Boy, Robert Wagels, Reinaldo Mensch