Patents Examined by Michael P. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 12234654
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements. The board engagement elements can engage the groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Todd E. A. Schwartzkopf
  • Patent number: 12234647
    Abstract: The present invention relating to a rebar coupler that mutually connects and fixes a rebar in a longitudinal direction comprises: a pair of coupler bodies that are formed in a cylindrical shape through which the inside is penetrated, formed of an inlet in one side through which the rebar is inserted, and formed of a fixing piece contact surface inclined toward the inlet inside the penetrated passage; a connecting unit disposed between the pair of coupler bodies to mutually couple the opposite ends of the inlet of each coupler body; a plurality of fixing pieces arranged radially inside the coupler body, wherein an outer surface is installed to contact the fixing piece contact surface, and wherein a plurality of locking protrusions are formed in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, to fix the rebar inserted through the inlet; and an elastic member provided inside the coupler body to press the plurality of fixing pieces toward the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Young Jae Bae
  • Patent number: 12227958
    Abstract: A fence guard including: an elongated channel-shaped body member having a planar and horizontal bottom, at least two planer sidewalls extending upwardly from edges of the horizontal bottom and forming an open top, where an open longitudinal channel is defined by the horizontal bottom and the planar sidewalls; the planar sidewalls are outwardly angled in a direction extending from the horizontal bottom to the open top; and a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings along the planar sidewalls aligned respective of one another and formed to engage with each other via a connection member; where the connection member secures the planar sidewalls to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventor: Kevin Mullin
  • Patent number: 12228156
    Abstract: The quick connect vehicle attachment as disclosed herein generally includes a bayonet lug having a series of threads that engage a tow hook boss on one end and a locking pin protruding out opposite sides of an interface shoulder on another end for select slide-in reception into a bayonet housing and along a cam slot for locking engagement therewith in a pair of slotted receptacles under a spring-biased preload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Stratos Meccanica LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. McKeirnan, Jr., Arthur Bagumyan, Brandon Keenan
  • Patent number: 12221794
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements. The board engagement elements can engage the groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Todd E. A. Schwartzkopf
  • Patent number: 12215522
    Abstract: An electric control door lock includes an inner operational device, an outer operational device, and a latch bolt operably connected to the inner and outer operational devices. A rotating shaft is rotatably supported in an activation member and includes a driving threaded in threading connection with a driving spring. When the rotating shaft is driven by a motor to rotate, the driving spring moves along a longitudinal axis to actuate the activation member. Movement of the activation member is used to control operation of the outer operational device, thereby permitting or not permitting movement of the latch bolt to the unlatching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: I-TEK METAL MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 12215727
    Abstract: Watertight fastening devices and systems and methods for the employment thereof are disclosed. The disclosed watertight fastening device includes a head, a shank extending away from the head toward a distal end, and a cover extending outwardly and away from the head in the direction of the shank and defining a hollow region between the shank and an inner surface of the cover. The watertight fastening device may be used in conjunction with a solar power installation system that includes a base plate configured to be positioned against an installation surface. The base plate includes an aperture for receiving the shank of the fastener and protrusion surrounding the aperture configured to be received in the hollow region of the fastener, thereby providing an enhanced barrier against moisture reaching the installation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Sunrun South LLC
    Inventors: Greg McPheeters, Andrew Wickham, Geno Viscuso
  • Patent number: 12209439
    Abstract: A novel electronic door lock includes a shell, an outer handle and an elastic sliding tongue arranged in the shell. The elastic sliding tongue is threaded out from a first opening of the shell. The outer handle acts on the elastic sliding tongue to push the elastic sliding tongue back to the shell from the first opening. The shell includes a first clutch device and a limiting member. The first clutch device includes a first motor and a first transmission assembly connected to the first motor in a transmission manner. The first transmission assembly is connected to the limiting member. The first transmission assembly drives the limiting member to move to limit the pushing performed by the outer handle on the elastic sliding tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: Shenzhen Hongzhong Lock Industry Co., Ltd., NOVUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Shitong Liang
  • Patent number: 12209442
    Abstract: This vehicle door handle device includes: a door handle provided to a vehicle door and shiftable between a stored state of being stored in the vehicle door and an exposed state of being exposed from a surface opening of the vehicle door, the door handle being configured to allow an opening operation of releasing a latch of the vehicle door in the exposed state; a door handle actuator configured to shift the door handle between the stored state and the exposed state; an abnormality detection unit configured to detect abnormality of a vehicle; and a control unit configured to control the door handle actuator so that the door handle shifts from the stored state to the exposed state when the abnormality is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Tokudome, Kenichiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 12209621
    Abstract: A connecting member of a universal connector includes a first insertion hole and a second insertion hole formed on from a first end surface toward a second end surface of the connecting member, and a third insertion hole and a fourth insertion hole formed on the second end surface toward the first end surface of the connecting member, whereby the insertion holes will not be affected by and damage other structures of the connecting member in the mechanical process, so as to achieve the enhancement of the convenience of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Triangle Innovative Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Tung-Jie Chang
  • Patent number: 12203296
    Abstract: The application provides a mounting mechanism for a hidden vehicle door handle and a vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of vehicles. The mounting mechanism comprises an outer plate mounting element, a base element and tolerance absorption assemblies; the outer plate mounting element is configured to be disposed on the inner side of a vehicle door outer plate and integrally disposed on the vehicle door outer plate; the base element is configured to be connected with a handle and clamped and fixed to a designated mounting position by the outer plate mounting element; and the tolerance absorption assemblies are fixedly connected with the base element, disposed between mounting holes and bolts on a vehicle door outer plate reinforcing plate, and configured to absorb tolerances between the bolts and the mounting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xinfei Guo, He Song, Xiuquan Xue, Zhijie He, Xi Chen, Fanxiang Meng, Jinzhong Kang
  • Patent number: 12203234
    Abstract: A first pinhole is formed in a first member in a section facing a second member. A second pinhole is formed in the second member in a section facing the first member. A connecting pin is inserted into the first pinhole and the second pinhole from the side of the machine center. A coming-off prevention mechanism includes a coming-off prevention lever. The coming-off prevention lever can abut the inner end surface of the connecting pin. The coming-off prevention lever is supported by the second member to be able to move between an abutting position of abutting the inner end surface of the coupling pin and a non-abutting position of not abutting the inner end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Shigeki Kuramoto, Ichiro Wada, Yukio Miyano
  • Patent number: 12203293
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of daily necessities, and in particular to a lock and a suitcase. The lock comprises: a lock main body, which is provided with an accommodating cavity, an opening, and a first through hole, and the opening and the first through hole both being in communication with the accommodating cavity; an elastic member, one end of which is fixed on the bottom of the accommodating cavity opposite the opening; and a clamping button, which comprises a button main body provided with a groove and a clamping boss obtained by extending from the button main body towards the groove, wherein the button main body is inserted into the accommodating cavity from the opening, the button main body is movable relative to the lock main body, the button main body abuts against the other end of the elastic member, and the clamping boss corresponds to the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: DURAFLEX HONG KONG LIMITED
    Inventor: Man Chak Chan
  • Patent number: 12202713
    Abstract: A system for changing work tools on a loading crane includes a first coupling member on the work tool side or the loading crane side with a receiving opening and a second coupling member on the loading crane side or the work tool side with a guide member extending along a longitudinal axis. The guide member engages in the receiving opening by moving the first and second coupling members toward each other. The first coupling member comprises a support surface for axially abutting the second coupling member and the second coupling member comprises a bearing surface complementary to the support surface and a locking element which is movable by a drive between disengaged and engaged positions. The locking element has a clamping surface for frictionally abutting the first coupling member and the first coupling member has an abutment surface complementary to the clamping surface for zero-play axial clamping of the first and second coupling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: OilQuick Deutschland KG
    Inventors: Martin Stössl, Michael Kollmann
  • Patent number: 12196012
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle movable relative to the base between recessed and deployed positions, an actuator that is operable to move the handle between the positions, and a connection mechanism that pivots relative to the base to move the handle between the positions. The actuator operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle. The connection mechanism, when the actuator is operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle from the recessed toward the deployed position. A biasing element of the connection mechanism biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable. Responsive to cable tension being reduced by a threshold amount, the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Connor G. Cervone
  • Patent number: 12196015
    Abstract: An embodiment structure includes a housing configured to be mounted on a door of a vehicle, a casing configured to be movable in the housing, a striker mounted at one side of the casing and configured to be fixed by being caught by a latch part or released, a casing guide unit connected to the casing and configured to guide a forward movement of the casing, an elastic force providing unit configured to apply elastic force in a rearward direction of the casing, and an operating unit configured to move the casing guide unit forward or rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyong-Don Kim, Chung-Sik Yim, Dae-Hee Lee, Yong-Hyun Nam, Kyu-Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 12195977
    Abstract: A device for securing multiple sections of a guardrail to a pour stop to ultimately form a guardrail about a predetermined surface includes a base member; a stanchion member or pipe integrally secured to a top wall of a top portion of the base member; and an angle member having a side portion and a top portion with a top wall integrally joined to a bottom wall of the top portion of the base member. The stanchion member slidably receives a tube portion of a guardrail section. The side portion of the angle member includes an outer wall disposed substantially parallel to and separated from an inner wall of a second side portion of the base member, thereby forming a gap for receiving a top portion of a pour stop having a bottom portion secured to a surface outside the predetermined surface enclosed by the pour stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Steve M. Stawychny
  • Patent number: 12187105
    Abstract: A vehicular slider door handle assembly includes a base portion configured for mounting at a vehicular slider door, a handle pivotally mounted at the base portion and pivotable between a neutral position and a door opening position, and a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism releasably retains the handle relative to the base portion at the neutral position. With the base portion mounted at the vehicular slider door, the handle is pivotable about a pivot axis of the detent mechanism, and as the handle pivots about the pivot axis via actuation by a person at the vehicular slider door, the detent mechanism allows the handle to pivot from the neutral position toward the door opening position without axially moving the handle away from the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Gorby, James E. Niemiec
  • Patent number: 12180992
    Abstract: A telescopic mast which is automatically extendable and/or retractable comprising a first tubular section and a second tubular section having a locking member mounted thereto. The first tubular section is slideably disposed within the second tubular section, and the locking member is movable in a radial direction relative to the second tubular section to bear against the first tubular section, so that the first and second tubular sections are held together. A third tubular section has a disengaging block mounted thereto. The second tubular section is slideably disposed within the third tubular section, and the disengaging block is shaped to guide the locking member radially outwards and disengage the locking member from the first tubular section when the mast is collapsed. When the mast is retracted or collapsed the second tubular section slides with respect to the third tubular section so the disengaging block guides the locking member radially outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTH MIDLANDS COMMUNICATIONS LTD
    Inventors: James A P Simon, John Buttery, Richard Cole
  • Patent number: 12173737
    Abstract: In order to provide a connecting device which allows reliable pre-positioning without restricting too severely the freedom of movement of the components and/or articles that are to be connected together during the assembly and/or the connecting process, it is proposed that the connecting device comprise the following: a connecting element which comprises a main body that is positionable in a component; one or more spring elements for establishing a connection to a counterpart, in particular for insertion into one or more openings in a mating connecting element, wherein the one or more spring elements each comprise the following: a spring portion and/or a stabilizing portion, wherein the spring portion projects away from the main body and/or wherein the stabilizing portion extends from the spring portion in the direction of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: Lamello AG
    Inventors: Franz Baur, Franz Josef Haser, Philipp Seiler, Patrick Jeker, Samuel Hänni