Patents Examined by Michael Safavi
  • Patent number: 7654058
    Abstract: A connector for coupling a veneer panel to a back-up wall includes a veneer connector and a support member. The support member includes a mounting flange. The mounting flange is adapted for securing the support member to the back-up wall. The support member further includes a first support member side wall and a second support member side wall. The first and second support member side walls extend outwardly from the mounting flange, and are connected to the mounting flange along a generally vertical line. The veneer connector is adapted to support a generally horizontal edge of the veneer panel. The veneer connector is connectable with respect to the support member for support by the first and second side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Hatzinikolas
  • Patent number: 7644846
    Abstract: Apparatus for restricting movement of a lawn implement shaft, for use in a lawn implement support system in cooperation with a vertically upstanding support member for horizontal support of shafted lawn implements during storage or transportation thereof including a support post for supporting a first end of a shafted lawn implement in conjunction with the vertically upstanding support member for supporting a second end of the shafted lawn implement. Further the apparatus includes a shaft support hook mounted to the support post, and projecting outwardly therefrom for a predetermined distance, the support hook being curved generally vertically and at a predetermined angle away from a first generally vertical plane defined by the support post, with a distal end of the shaft support hook being curved back toward a second vertical plane defined by the support post and perpendicular to the first vertical plane to define a shaft support region intermediate the hook and the support post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Jungle Jim's Accessory Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James Thomas Hafendorfer, Blake Thomas Whitley, David William Schardein
  • Patent number: 7640871
    Abstract: The system used to form slabs on large surfaces includes a grid structure comprised of vertical braces, support bolsters, primary beams and cross beams, all of which rest on the bolsters, with the cross beams closing the grid and providing a stiffness to the structure that allows assembly of the entire grid structure and the later positioning of the formwork panels. The bolsters provide support so that the beams can descend to a stripping position allowing to recover, before the concrete sets, both the beams and the panels. The longitudinal beams are provided with supports for the panels, constructed such that they allow the panels to hang vertically during the stripping operation. The cross beams end at a profile made of rubber or the like providing a means for sealing the grid, as well as for absorbing any possible clearances originated during the assembly of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ulma Cye., S. Coop.
    Inventor: Alberto Arozena Bergaretxe
  • Patent number: 7636963
    Abstract: A sleep system, for providing a bed, includes a frame with cross support members coupled with a first and second panel assembly. A sleep support mechanism operationally engages the first and second panel assemblies with one another and further engages a pad to provide adjusting support to the user. The sleep support mechanism employs a cone coupled with a first and second spring, the first and second spring further coupling with the first and second panel assemblies, and the cone engaging with the pad to provide the adjustable support capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: W. Gene Cretsinger, Steven R. Kunert
  • Patent number: 7632437
    Abstract: A device and method for creating a support structure. The device includes a pair of L-shaped form members connectable on their outer edges thereby producing a forming region therein. The form includes chamfer members disposable within the corners within the inner periphery of the form member. Also included, are sealing members for sealing the formable material placed in the form, wherein the sealing members include a chamfer member on one of their ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: Jon Michael Gullette
  • Patent number: 7632561
    Abstract: Floor covering, consisting of hard panels, with a laminated structure, whereby at least at the upper surface a printed decorative layer with a wood pattern is present, with thereupon a transparent layer of synthetic material in which impressions are formed, wherein the impressions substantially follow the wood pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl
    Inventor: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7621097
    Abstract: A system and method for building foundational bases for a post frame building. The system includes a plurality of foundational base molds which are positionable in individually dug holes, defining the foot print of the building, where the molds are positioned spaced off the bottom of the holes. The molds can be rigidly tied together to allow for uniform alignment of the individual molds. Upon alignment, concrete is poured into and through the molds. Once sufficiently hardened, the molds are removed, revealing the foundational bases, which include an integrated footer and column base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Weston Wilhour
  • Patent number: 7611306
    Abstract: A molded plastic arch shape cross section corrugated leaching chamber has opposing perforated sidewalls running up from feet. Each foot comprises a horizontal flange, an outer-edge fin, and transverse ribs, which define compartments on the flange surface. Drain holes through the flange within each compartment enable water from nearby sidewall perforations to flow downwardly into the soil during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Infiltrator Systems
    Inventors: Dennis F Hallahan, Ronald P. Brochu, James J. Burnes
  • Patent number: 7584862
    Abstract: A shelf device for mounting on an inside surface of a cooler door comprises a bottom panel and left and right mounting flanges connected to the bottom panel along left and right side edge portions thereof. Each flange has a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device. A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and divides the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments. Vertically extending ribs are attached to the partition panel at junctions of adjacent compartments. A display panel is spaced from the bottom panel and attached to the ribs. The display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert. Ventilation openings in the partition panel increase air circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventor: James David Robertson
  • Patent number: 7581900
    Abstract: Pre-cast curbside access ramp and methods of making and installing the same. In a preferred embodiment, the pre-cast ramp is a quasi-trapezoidal member shaped to include an integrally formed curb portion, a trapezoidal central portion disposed behind the curb portion and a pair of generally triangular side portions disposed behind the curb portion and seamlessly transitioning from opposite sides of the central portion. The ramp is made using a forming apparatus comprising an inner form positioned within an outer form. The inner form, which is more shallow than the outer form, is filled with gravel. A steel grid is then positioned within the outer form and over the inner form. The outer form is then filled with concrete, which is then shaped, screeded, edged, grooved, troweled and allowed to harden within the outer form. When removed from the outer form, the bottom of the cast is provided with a weight-reducing recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventor: Edmund T. Kochling
  • Patent number: 7581709
    Abstract: A system of interconnecting structural components for supporting and forming suspended concrete slabs that allow removal of form panels without disturbing the slab support posts (shores). Additional features of the system accommodate changes in suspended slab thickness, horizontal slab dimensions that are not multiples of the basic component dimensions, slab edge cantilevered form panels, attachment to walls and remote manipulation of form panels from the floor below using an erection staff. The primary system components are panels, support posts, telescopic beams, adjustable hanger connections, wall hangers, wall beams, raking shore assemblies and erection/stripping staffs. Form panels are directly supported by the shores without the use of an intermediate member (usually a beam) that is common practice in the concrete forming industry. The system reduces the number of required components that in turn reduces the capital cost to the user and improves his labor efficiency and quality of the concrete surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Gillespie Practical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gillespie, Charles Wood
  • Patent number: 7571888
    Abstract: A slab formwork comprising vertical props, fixed bolsters mounted on the upper end of the props and shuttering panels supported on the bolsters. In correspondence with the four corners of a planar, horizontal and upper surface of the bolsters, some diagonal protuberances project outward with their upper surface inclined downward toward the interior and with two slopes defining individual inclined planes convergent in a common and longitudinal edge, the upper surface defining the support for the corresponding shuttering panels, the latter having on their corners some reinforcements. There are also defined complementary inclined surfaces to the two slopes of the upper surfaces of the protuberances, those reinforcements being supplemented with lateral flanges by means of which it is possible to hang the shuttering panels, both for carrying out their erection and for their dismantling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ulma Cye., S. Coop.
    Inventor: Alberto Arozena Bergaretxe
  • Patent number: 7568676
    Abstract: The form panel for placing concrete of the present invention is a form panel (30) comprising a hollow sheathing section (32) made of plastic, one side of which forms a concrete placing surface (31), and hollow side panel sections (33) bent out at right angles from both side edges of the sheathing section (32) on an opposite side of the sheathing section (32) to the concrete placing surface (31), wherein projecting sections (40) which extend in a vertical direction are provided on an outside surface (38) of the side panel section (33), and one of the sides of one of the projecting sections (40) is coplanar with the concrete placing surface (31) of the sheathing section (32), and on the projecting sections (40), notches (41) are formed at respectively the same position and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the projecting sections (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Fukuvi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Senichi Takagi, Toshihiko Hosono, Toshiya Tanaka, Morihisa Otsuka, Michihiro Miyagoshi, Satoru Mita, Kazuhiko Kise
  • Patent number: 7568582
    Abstract: Medicine caddies store and organize medicines. A bottom tier with a first shelf, a first wall, and a first divider is slidably and rotatably mounted on a base. A second tier with a second shelf, a second wall, and a second divider is attached to the first wall. Barriers enclose the sides of the first and second walls. Cutouts present in the middle of the first and second walls allow divider hooks on the dividers to be slidably and removably attached to the first and second walls. Barrier slots in the top of the barriers slidably and removably receive barrier hooks attached to the dividers. A second embodiment has a rotation joint between the first and second walls and has its dividers slidably attached to only the first and second walls. Tabs are provided as a perforated sheet and are attached to the barriers by tab holders to identify medicines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Stuart Berger
  • Patent number: 7556159
    Abstract: A shelf device for mounting on an inside surface of a cooler door comprises a bottom panel and left and right mounting flanges connected to the bottom panel along left and right side edge portions thereof. Each flange has a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device. A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and divides the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments. Vertically extending ribs are attached to the partition panel at junctions of adjacent compartments. A display panel is spaced from the bottom panel and attached to the ribs. The display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert. Ventilation openings in the partition panel increase air circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventor: James David Robertson
  • Patent number: 7546714
    Abstract: A metal building includes a joist system having upper and lower longitudinally extending chords, the upper and lower chords being substantially parallel, and a plurality of web members interposed between the parallel chords. Each of the chords includes an upper chord segment, opposed parallel side walls, inwardly extending lower chord segments, the lower chord segments being parallel to the upper chord segment, and a pair of flanges extending downwardly from the innermost edges of lower chord segments, the flanges defining a longitudinally extending continuous web receiving aperture traversing the length of the chord, the upper chord segment, lower chord segment, parallel side walls and flanges, the web receiving apertures of the upper and lower chords being positioned in opposed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: NCI Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Masterson, Leonard George
  • Patent number: 7527156
    Abstract: A tool caddy for use with a workroom storage system that can include slotwall panels, slot tracks, a modular workbench and a power strip. The tool caddy can be movably and removably mounted to the slotwall panels, slot tracks, or to horizontal or vertical surfaces of a workbench or other structure. The tool caddy can be removably attached to one or both ends of a power strip. A power strip with one or more tool caddies attached can be mounted to a modular workbench, slotwall panel or slot track. The tool caddy can include a hollow body having an elongated horizontal top surface with a plurality of tool receiving openings, a pair of end surfaces, a front surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface can have a plurality of tool receiving openings that can substantially correspond to the tool receiving openings in the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Wisnoski, Wyatt A. Cline
  • Patent number: 7527455
    Abstract: A system and method for installing a pile anchor (75) using an anchor installation system (100). The anchor installation system comprising an elongated hollow anchor element (75) that is releasably attached to an installation element or installer (50). The installer can be used repeatedly for multiple installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Raines
  • Patent number: 7516584
    Abstract: A baseboard for covering an expansion gap located at an intersection of a vertical wall and a floor. The baseboard is formed of thermoplastic elastomer and has an L-shaped body having a toe portion and a wall portion. The back side of the wall portion has a plurality of spaced-apart ventilation channels extending from the upper end of the wall portion to the lower end thereof. Each ventilation channel has a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section. The back side of the wall portion further includes a plurality of wall contact surfaces extending between each ventilation channel and a plurality of adhesive gripping grooves formed therethrough that function as a catch element when the baseboard is adhesively secured to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Jim Louis Valentine
  • Patent number: 7494299
    Abstract: An in-situ pile apparatus 10 includes a helical anchor to which a plurality of elongated generally cylindrically shaped sections can be added. Each of the sections has a specially shaped end portion for connecting to another section. An internal drive is positioned in sections inside the bore of each of the connectable pile sections. The internal drive includes enlarged sections that fit at the joint between pile sections. In one embodiment, the internal drive can be removed to leave a rod behind that defines reinforcement for an added material such as concrete. The rod also allows for a tension rod connection from the anchor tip to an upper portion attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Whitsett