Patents Examined by Michael P. Ferguson
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Patent number: 11268540Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes a housing configured to receive a motor of the HVAC system, a fan guard coupled to a surface of the housing, and a damping device disposed between the fan guard and the surface of the housing, where the damping device is configured to absorb vibrational energy generated by the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert L. Eskew, Wayne E. Romero
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Patent number: 11261905Abstract: A virtual device for the limited pivoting of an object about a base virtual pivot point by means of a pivoting device, where a limiting device is provided for the pivoting angle. The virtual device is a mechanically stable and yet space-saving limiting device that is rotatable about an outer axis on the base and about an outer axis (23?) rotatable on the object, or on the slide, where the limiting device limits the distance and/or the angular position of the two axes relative to one another, with the proviso that the axes always occupy the same plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: EB-invent GmbHInventor: Franz Ehrenleitner
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Patent number: 11259974Abstract: A dampening system is efficient in dampening vibration through a wheelchair frame. The system allows a lower base frame and wheels to be rigidly attached, while an upper seat frame is joined to the base frame through elastomeric dampening bushings to isolate the seat frame from the base frame. The bushings may be hidden in vertical upright tubes of the base frame. The bushings can also be used for supporting front caster forks and/or a rear axle assembly in isolation to the base frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Ki Mobility LLCInventors: Thomas J. Whelan, Alan Ludovici
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Patent number: 11242696Abstract: A transportable corral includes a plurality of fence panels that are hinged to each other in an end to end manner, manually releasable fence panel latches that are mounted to the fence panels and are arranged to engage and latch together adjacent fence panels so that the plurality of fence panels are able to be folded into a compact fence panel set to facilitate transport. Retractable wheel assemblies that are mounted to the fence panels to facilitate movement of a fence panel set or to facilitate the movement of an individual fence panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Inventor: Jon Davis Mollhagen
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Patent number: 11239577Abstract: In various representative aspects, an apparatus for clamping and grounding solar panel frames to a mounting rail is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a fastener with an enlarged end, and a shank, with the enlarged end having one or more sharp protrusions that resemble teeth, and a washer with one or more sharp protrusions, and an opening. When installed, the shank is inserted through the opening of the washer, the sharp protrusions of the enlarged end penetrate either the lower or upper surface of the mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other surface of the solar panel frames while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Ironridge, Inc.Inventors: Jon Ash, Shawn Meine
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Patent number: 11224963Abstract: Holder (1) for releasably connecting a handle to a tool (2), in which the holder (1) comprises a space (3) in which a handle end is introducible, in which this space (3) comprises a wall surface with one or more projecting cutting elements (5a, 5b) for cutting complementary screw thread by means of which the one or more cutting elements (5a, 5b) are releasably connectable, in which the holder (1) comprises a coupling portion (6) comprising the one or more cutting elements (5a, 5b) and a retaining portion (7), in which the coupling portion (6) is made of a first material comprising plastic and the retaining portion (7) is made of a second material, in which the hardness of the first material is greater than the hardness of the second material.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Inventor: Guy Vande Vyvere
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Patent number: 11220801Abstract: A center pintle hub to be affixed to a base of a machine. The center pintle hub includes a base portion and a support portion. The base portion is formed to be affixed to the base. The support portion extends from the base portion and has a frusto-conical shape that can receive a center pintle shaft. The center pintle shaft can support a frame of the machine and provide rotation of the frame with respect to the base.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLCInventors: Joe A. Rapp, Cheng-Kong C. Wu, Vladimir A. Korchagin, Aruna Kinjarapu, Robin Varghese
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Patent number: 11215220Abstract: A hinge device according to the present invention includes a pivotable member pivotable relative to a fixed member around a first screw member or a second screw member serving as a pivot shaft. A rotation restricting washer is disposed between a movable plate portion of the pivotable member and a bearing face of the second screw member. The rotation restricting washer is disposed non-turnably relative to a support plate portion of the fixed member by fitting a restricting piece disposed on one of the support plate portion and the rotation restricting washer into a receiving portion disposed on the other one of the support plate portion and the rotation restricting washer.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuki Kawabata, Masaya Kawatsuri
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Patent number: 11203874Abstract: A glass windbreaker has a mobile portion and a fixed portion. The mobile portion includes a glass pane secured between two inner vertical profiles, each of the inner vertical profiles having a rod extending within the vertical profile and matching components secured about the rod. The fixed portion includes a second glass pane secured between two outer vertical profiles. Each of the inner vertical profiles are extendable from within a corresponding outer vertical profile, and the glass pane is vertically movable relative to the second glass pane. A locking mechanism, which includes the components secured about each rod, secures the mobile portion in a closed position relative to the fixed portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Inventor: Anargiros Karras
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Patent number: 11204053Abstract: A rear wall/panel connector includes a stud, which has a receiving groove and two walls projecting vertically from the stud on both sides of the receiving groove. The two walls each have an opening configured for screwing in a screw. One of the two walls forms an arm of a rocker which is mounted on the stud wherein it is pivotable between a starting position and an end position about an axis which is parallel or almost parallel to the longitudinal direction of the receiving groove. The inside of the second wall is positioned obliquely outwards with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the receiving groove in the starting position and extends parallel to the longitudinal center plane in the end position. The other rocker arm projects outwards over the stud, at least in the end position.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: HÄFELE BERLIN GMBH & CO KGInventors: Rüdiger Walz, Gunter Nitschmann
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Patent number: 11189941Abstract: In various representative aspects, an apparatus for clamping and grounding solar panel frames to a mounting rail is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a fastener with an enlarged end, and a shank, with the enlarged end having one or more sharp protrusions that resemble teeth, and a washer with one or more sharp protrusions, and an opening. When installed, the shank is inserted through the opening of the washer, the sharp protrusions of the enlarged end penetrate either the lower or upper surface of the mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other surface of the solar panel frames while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: IronRidge, Inc.Inventors: Jon Ash, Shawn Meine
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Patent number: 11181155Abstract: According to one aspect, a releasable roller clutch includes a shaft and a clutch housing positioned around the shaft. The shaft and clutch housing together defining a space there between with rollers positioned in said space. The rollers permit rotation of the shaft relative to the clutch housing when in an unlocked position in which the rollers are not wedged and prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the clutch housing when in a locked position in which the rollers are wedged. A cage extends into the space defined between the shaft and clutch housing. The cage is moveable relative to the clutch housing between an unlocking position and a locking position. The cage has a contact edge positionable to prevent the rollers from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position when the cage is in an unlocking position. The releasable roller clutch permits rotation of the shaft relative to the clutch housing in both directions when the cage is in the unlocking position.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Southco, Inc.Inventor: Eugene Novin
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Patent number: 11174645Abstract: An elbow joint connector includes an elbow portion and a locking mechanism detachably coupled to a distal end of the elbow portion. The locking mechanism including a pair of locking members translatable relative to one another along an interface transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elbow joint connector. Divergent translation of the pair of locking members relative to one another along the interface increases a portion of an outer periphery of the locking mechanism to lock the elbow portion to an adjoining member. The elbow joint connector is configured for detachable coupling to an adjoining elbow joint connector and pivotally rotatable relative thereto from a first configuration in which respective center axes of the connectors form an acute angle to a second configuration in which the respective center axes are collinear.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: THE LANDMARK GROUP, INC.Inventors: Jay Mornan, Quoc Tran
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Patent number: 11168603Abstract: A mounting assembly unit includes a mounting element (12) to be fixed by at least one fastening bolt (30). At least one mounting element passage opening (14, 16) is provided in the mounting element (12) for the passage of the at least one fastening bolt (30). A mounting aid unit (18a, 18b) associated with at least one mounting element passage opening (14, 16) is provided at the mounting element (12). The mounting aid unit (18a, 18b) associated with the mounting element passage opening (14, 16) has a mounting aid unit passage opening (22a, 22b), which is positioned aligned with respect to the mounting element passage opening, such that an edge area (28a, 28b of the mounting aid unit (18a, 18b), which edge area surrounds the mounting aid unit passage opening (22a, 22b), is arranged overlapping the mounting element passage opening (14, 16) in some areas.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Purem GmbHInventor: Véronique Guérin
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Patent number: 11168489Abstract: A fencing material includes a border material including a first polymer and having an interior surface; and a mesh material having a front and a back, a portion of at least one of the front and the back being bonded to the interior surface of the border material.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Cover Care, LLCInventors: Thomas Callahan, Patrick Callahan
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Patent number: 11167434Abstract: A robotic transport system including a drive section connected to a frame, an articulated arm operably coupled to the drive section providing the articulated arm with arm motion in at least one axis of motion moving at least a portion of the articulated arm in a collaborative space, corresponding to the frame, from a first location to another different location in the collaborative space, the articulated arm having an end effector with a workpiece grip having workpiece engagement members engaging and holding a workpiece during workpiece transport, by the arm motion in the at least one axis of motion, wherein at least one of the workpiece engagement members is frangible compliant, having a frangible compliant coupling between a distal portion of the at least one of the workpiece engagement members and a base portion of the end effector from which the at least one of the workpiece engagement members depends.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: HIGHRES BIOSOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Nigel Cochran, Ulysses Gilchrist, Blaine Stevenson, Paul Harper
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Patent number: 11150055Abstract: Various embodiments of an accessory mounting device are disclosed. The device can be adapted to engage an elongated rail. The device can include a body having top, bottom, and first and second side surfaces. Each of the side surfaces can include a rail engagement portion adjacent the bottom surface of the body and an accessory engagement portion adjacent the top surface. The device can also include a locking mechanism including a lever connected to the body at a pivot, and a tab extending from the lever in a direction away from the bottom surface. In one or more embodiments, the locking mechanism can include first and second levers each connected to the body at a pivot. The lever can rotate about a pivot axis in a direction toward the top surface of the body when the locking mechanism is manipulated from a locked position to an unlocked position.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Avon Protection Ceradyne LLCInventors: Thomas R. Gehring, Vasilios Brachos, Kayla A. McGrath, Evan L. Breedlove
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Patent number: 11149445Abstract: 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 resilient compression elements joined with the spacer block. The resilient compression elements can be vertically compressible so at least a portion of it can move from an open mode to a compression mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within, the groove, 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: National Nail Corp.Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Todd E. A. Schwartzkopf
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Patent number: 11137010Abstract: A connection is formed between a held member and a holding member with the use of a connector and one or more fasteners. In one aspect, the connector has a main body that has integral nail prong fasteners. In one aspect, the main body of the connector is attached to the held and holding members by means of double-shear fastening. In one aspect, the main body is formed with a bendable end flange to attach the connector to the holding member. In one aspect, the main body is formed with a nail guide for directing the fastener at an angle to the main body.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.Inventors: Dustin P. Muhn, Thomas G. Evans, Timothy M. Stauffer, Sam Thomas Hensen, Lloyd Shawn Overholtzer
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Patent number: 11130555Abstract: A service door for a cowl for an outboard marine propulsion device that includes a door panel that is positionable in an open position and in a closed position. A first hinge rotatably couples the door panel to the cowl. A biasing device operates in conjunction with the first hinge and biases the door panel towards the open position. A second hinge rotatably couples the door panel to the cowl and at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge provides only one shear of rotation between the door panel and the cowl. A damper operates in conjunction with the second hinge and resists rotation of the door panel towards the open position. The inside of the cowl is accessible when the door panel is in the open position and inaccessible when the door panel is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: David M. Foulkes, Steven J. Amerling, Evan N. Kobman, Bradley R. Stafford