Patents Examined by Matthew J Smith
  • Patent number: 8720135
    Abstract: The pane module is composed by a border element (2) molded around the pane element (1) encasing it on the edge and interior faces. The frame may be of a rectangular configuration, but it is to be understood that more complex configurations may be necessary for achieving a water proof connection to the structure in which the window is mounted or to a surrounding window frame. A fitting (42) is embedded in the border element (2) during its manufacture and is subsequently or simultaneously connected to the frame (3). When using a wooden or extruded frame the fitting may be driven into the finished frame member and when using a molded frame the fitting may be embedded therein during molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: VKR Holding A/S
    Inventors: Peter Sønderkær, Kristian Ørnsvig Nielsen, Lars Kristensen
  • Patent number: 8695155
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly, and a steering mechanism for steering the cleaning appliance as it is maneuvered over a floor surface and for pivoting the separating apparatus relative to the rolling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: James Dyson, Peter David Gammack, David Robert Sunderland, Stuart Lloyd Genn
  • Patent number: 8689491
    Abstract: A low cost method and device for diverting water away from a flat roof's low spots, thus preventing it from puddling there during a rainstorm. Such puddles, if allowed to stand, can damage a roof deck structurally. The device includes a flexible membrane, an air valve mounted thereon, and mechanical fasteners for attaching the membrane along its periphery, to both the roof deck and its existing covering. Ideally, the membrane can be heat welded, taped or glued to the roof covering and joined thereto to form an airtight seal, thus simplifying construction of inflatable barriers for the roof's low spots. For each such barrier, a membrane, sized and shaped to cover at least one low spot, substantially overlaps the latter's edges and defines, in combination with the roof covering, an air pocket which, when inflated via the air valve, causes the membrane to protrude upwardly, effectively elevating the covered spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Henry Lee Hamlin, III
  • Patent number: 8650821
    Abstract: A multi-story tall building structure consisting plurality of three or more towers which are the primary structure enclosing a space longitudinally and transversely therein which are multiple floor/ceiling assemblies for multiple use occupied spaces including condos, military areas, observation, hotels, restaurants, retail, and offices. Each of the three towers has three or more vertical structural elements such as solid or hollow columns, or steel, concrete, or masonry constructs vertically extending. As an alternative occupied space including an aircraft landing deck or platform is attached to the top of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Donald A. Ely, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8650829
    Abstract: A prop assembly has interior and exterior members. Each member includes a plate with distal and proximal surfaces and attachment components on the distal surface of the interior member. The distal surface of the interior member is adapted to be secured to a support surface. The interior member includes a cylindrical tube with threads. The exterior member includes a cylindrical tube with threads. The threads of the tubes are rotatable with respect to each other. In this manner the distance between the distal surfaces is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: H. Bushnell Clarke, Susan J. Clarke
  • Patent number: 8635826
    Abstract: An insulation insert panel for use with an ICF block having a pair of opposed panel members and a plurality of tie members extending transversely therebetween, the insert panel including a plurality of spaced apart slots extending along the length thereof for mating with the tie members associated with the ICF block into which it is being inserted, each slot including at least one notch located in the vicinity of its terminal end portion for receiving at least one crossbar member associated with each tie member when the insert panel is fully positioned within the ICF block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Reward Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry E. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8635812
    Abstract: The present invention provides a throating that enables temporary affixing and facilitates construction work. The throating of the present invention includes a rear plate part that is fixed to a building frame, a throating plate part bent obliquely downward and frontward at a lower end of the rear plate part, and a front plate part bent downward from a front end of the throating plate part. The throating has an adhesive layer on each of a front face and a rear face of the rear plate part, and has a release paper on the surface of the adhesive layers. A top end portion of the rear plate part is covered by an adhesive layer and/or release paper. Preferably, the release paper has a cutting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nichiha Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Sawada, Yoshinori Hibino
  • Patent number: 8627627
    Abstract: Concrete casting elements for forming an expansion joint in concrete including: a pair of expansion joint members each having a gasket mounting formation to which a gasket may be mounted in operative interposition between the expansion joint members for sealing the joint; a flange extending from a remaining portion along one side of the expansion joint member and retainer mounting means formed onto or into said remaining portion for mounting one or more retainer elements to protrude from the opposite side of the expansion joint member from the flange; the flanges of each one of the expansion joint members being formed to engage one with the other; the flange of one joint member at least partly overlying the flange of the other to provide an expansion joint upper face and such that the remaining portions may be spaced from one another when the flanges are so engaged; the flange of the other expansion joint including a lip formed to be substantially coplanar with the expansion joint upper face; and the flanges
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: DB & BA Finn Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald Bruce Findlay
  • Patent number: 8622639
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a support (1) in the form of a prismatic hollow body and a support. The walls of the support (1) are formed by assembling top belt modules (2), bottom belt modules (3), front wall modules (4) and rear wall modules (5) respectively one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the support. Disposed in the interior of the support (1) at distances apart are transverse webs (6) and at least one guide track (7, 9) is provided on the support (1) extending in its longitudinal direction for a unit mounted so that it can move along the guide track. In order to obtain a high precision of the guide tracks (6, 7), the latter are formed by machining regions of the modules (2, 3, 4, 5) to remove material after the modules und transverse webs have been assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Weingartner
  • Patent number: 8615951
    Abstract: A slat wall assembly comprising a first slat, an attachment assembly, and a second slat. The first slat includes a body and a lower flange. The body includes an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower flange emanates from the lower edge of the body. The attachment assembly is associable with the lower flange of the first slat and facilitates attachment of the first slat to an existing wall. The second slat includes a body and an upper flange. The body includes an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper flange emanates from the upper edge of the body. The upper flange is configured to be insertable into the lower flange of the first slat and retainable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Koschco, LLC
    Inventor: Paul James Kosch
  • Patent number: 8607511
    Abstract: A technology of enhancing drainability of a hollow member of a frame without reducing strength of the frame is provided. A solar cell module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a first frame that includes a first hollow member having a first space therein and has a first drain port through which the first space and an outer space are communicated with each other; and a second frame that is connected to the first frame and includes a second hollow member having a second space therein. An opening that is open so as to overlap part of the first drain port is formed at an end part of the second hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Kitae Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8595995
    Abstract: An unitized curtain wall unit houses energy conversion devices (such as photovoltaic modules), and includes integrated raceways/wireways for routing signal and power cables within a building façade or exterior shell structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Architectural Glass and Aluminum Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe Brescia
  • Patent number: 8595992
    Abstract: The invention provides a high-visibility roof-drain cover comprising a roof-drain cover, a marked, reversible, elongated flag, and coupler means for mounting the flag to the roof-drain cover, wherein the flag extends upwardly from the roof-drain cover a sufficient distance that a top portion of the flag will remain visible above an accumulation of wind-blown debris and snow. The invention provides a first group of high-visibility roof-drain cover embodiments, each of which includes a novel roof-drain cover. The invention provides a second group of high-visibility roof-drain cover embodiments for retrofit, each of which includes a prior art roof-drain cover. The invention provides a third group of sub-assemblies for retrofit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Scott Arthur May May, Linda May
  • Patent number: 8584410
    Abstract: A window or door system includes a frame adapted to be received within a window or door opening. A window or door unit is disposed on the frame, and a retainer is received by interference fit on either the frame or the window or door unit. The retainer has a portion that extends to engage the other of the frame and window or door unit, and to hold the window or door unit on the frame. The frame can be rectangular, for example, and the retainer may be linear extending along at least one edge of the frame. The frame can include an outwardly opening slot, and the retainer may be received by snap fit in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: David Furgerson, Julian Giggs, James Potthast, Geraint Krumpe, Wayne Philip Baker
  • Patent number: 8572921
    Abstract: The invention provides a one piece shingle for use on roof ridges and hips. Shingles of the invention are preferably formed from synthetic materials and preferably comprise a blend of high and low molecular weight polyethylene resins. The unique blend of materials provides a shingle that is both strong while retaining sufficient flexibility to permit the shingle to bend to accommodate a variety of pitches at a ridge or hip. Unique features of the shape and structure of the shingle also make it particularly suited to hip and ridge applications. Furthermore, methods of manufacturing hip and ridge shingles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Davinci Roofscapes, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Ward, Ray Rosewall, Timothy Gentry
  • Patent number: 8572912
    Abstract: A cover profile (1) for floors for adaptation to different applications is described, having at least one cover flange (10), having a fastening attachment (9), which divides the cover flange (10) into two legs (12, 13), on the bottom side of the cover flange (10), and having at least one bending groove (14), which is parallel to the profile axis, on the bottom side of at least one of the legs (12, 13), which are preferably of different widths. In order to provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the cover flange (10) carry a coating (11), which forms a film hinge (16), on its outer side opposite to the fastening attachment (9) in the area of the bending groove (14), and the two leg sections on both sides of the bending groove (14) be supported against one another by a hinge block (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Franz Neuhofer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8555579
    Abstract: An air tight panel support assembly for an access floor having a plurality of panels (12) includes a pedestal (60) for supporting at least one panel of the access floor, and a stringer (66) supported by the pedestal. In use, the stringer (66) extends from one pedestal to another pedestal and supports the underside edges of adjacent panels (12) so as to close any gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Zlatar
  • Patent number: 8534008
    Abstract: The invention comprises a transparent/translucent panel system including two spaced flat panels and a series of elongated, abutting, rotatably mounted transparent/translucent light-controlling members disposed between the panels in which the light-controlling members are at least partially tubular or have annular members along their length to facilitate rotation of the light-controlling members and include a light-blocking surface whereby differently sized light-controlling members may be used and the light-controlling members, when rotated by a simple drive mechanism, can vary the light passing through the panel system from clear to opaque and can effectively block light between adjacent light-controlling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Konvin Associates Ltd.
    Inventor: Moshe Konstantin
  • Patent number: 8528874
    Abstract: A hybrid contoured load-spreading washer is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the washer includes a washer body having a composite layer and a metal layer bonded to the composite layer and a fastener opening extending through the washer body. A floor beam seat track attachment assembly and a method of transmitting a load from a seat track to a floor beam web in a seat track attachment assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul S. Gregg, Jack Esposito, Lee C. Firth, Kenneth J. Hunziker
  • Patent number: 8522487
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: SafePro, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard J. Whiting, Timothy Edward Rainey