Patents Examined by Patrick J. Chavez
  • Patent number: 6347491
    Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a separable fastener system for fixing together an element, e.g. a vehicle window, and at least one other member, such as a brake light. The system includes an intermediate structure such as a gasket made of elastically deformable material; intermediate fixing means; a positioning surface; and a stud with an expansion space around the stud, and an orifice associated with a housing for holding captive a shank without injuring the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: PPG Industries Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Legrand
  • Patent number: 6343453
    Abstract: A wooden I beam comprising upper and lower wooden members each having an outer longitudinal flange secured by glue to an elongated web, upper members of the beam being connected at end joints which are staggered relative to end joints between lower members of the beam, the webs of all members being inwardly projecting and connected together by means including non-metallic pegs or bolts fitting into aligned bores in the webs and/or members connecting said webs. The beam can be produced by continually connecting additional upper members and lower members to one end of the beam, each upper member having its web connected to the web of a lower member already incorporated in the beam, and vice versa. Required lengths of the beam are continually sawn off from the other end of the beam as it is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Jerauld George Wright
  • Patent number: 6341467
    Abstract: A reinforced beam has an internal I-beam structure with opposed adhesive foam layers. The foam layers are extruded, cut to length and placed on opposed surfaces of the I-beam. When the reinforced beam is heated. The adhesive layers expand to secure the I-beam in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph S. Wycech
  • Patent number: 6338461
    Abstract: A support structure for interposition between a base of a sloping base cooler and a roof during installation of the cooler onto the roof. The support structure comprises a transition component adapted to be connected to the cooler and to ducting protruding through the roof to feed cooled air from the cooler into the ducting. The transition component includes a movable prop or flap, separate from or formed with the transition component, to be positioned between the transition component and a horizontal surface such that the transition component, when fitted to a sloping base cooler, maintains the cooler in a vertically upright condition for assembly or transportation or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: FF Seeley Nominees Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Allan Kenneth Wallace, James Robert Harrison
  • Patent number: 6336300
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a sealing device serve to preclude the passage of water and debris between the conventional gaps in a deck. The water sealing device comprises an elongated member preferably formed of natural rubber with weather and ultraviolet resisting additives, but may be formed alternatively of vinyl or other resilient plastic materials as desired. In each embodiment, the seal has a pair of upwardly extending flanges along the top of each opposed edge. The sealing device fits tightly within the gap between the boards of a deck, preventing the passage of water and/or other debris between the boards. The flanges are biased outwardly, creating a watertight seal between the boards and the sealing device. Further sealing may be provided by the use of an adhesive and/or caulking compound at the time of installation of the seals, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Fred M. Babucke
  • Patent number: 6332301
    Abstract: A metal beam includes a top flange; a bottom flange; and an intermediate web joining together the top flange and the bottom flange. The bottom flange includes an upper deck and a lower deck joined at their inner sides to the intermediate web in parallel spaced relation to each other to form a double-deck structure. The space between the upper and lower decks is occupied by tensioning elements embedded in concrete for prestressing the beam. The top flange is of smaller width but of substantially greater thickness than the bottom flange lower deck. In one described embodiment, the intermediate web is of a single wall construction; and in a second described embodiment, it is of a double-wall construction and also receives tensioning elements and concrete for prestressing the beam. Also described is a building structure in which the metal beams are used for supporting horizontal floor panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jacob Goldzak
  • Patent number: 6324804
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a corner joint support for holding forms for casting upright concrete walls, comprising an outer form support an inner form support, the outer form support including inner and outer upright support portions joined by platforms extending therebetween, the inner form support including inner and outer upright support portions joined by platforms extending therebetween, and spacer means for positioning the inner form support relative to the outer form support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Plasti
    Inventor: Jack Hoogstraten
  • Patent number: 6322046
    Abstract: A concrete form panel clamp includes a threaded rod having a first pin mounted at a first end generally perpendicular to the rod. A second pin spaced away from and generally parallel to the rod is slidably mounted on the rod. A nut threaded onto the rod selectively forces the second pin toward the first pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Michael R. Yurick
  • Patent number: 6318032
    Abstract: A longitudinal stabilizing system for a premanufactured building having support joists extending along the length of the underside of the building and being supported above the ground by upright piers. The system comprises at least one foundation plate, a joist connector, a plate connector, and a rectilinear strut. The foundation plate is placed between the pier and the ground. The joist connector attaches to the joist of the building. Plate clamps may be used in conjunction with the joist connector to grasp the joist. The plate connector attaches to the foundation plate. The strut is attached to the joist connector at one end and the plate connector at the other end such that the strut slopes downward from the joist towards the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Charles J. MacKarvich
  • Patent number: 6318035
    Abstract: An IR window frame assembly for use within an aircraft is manufactured at a high temperature with both the window pane and the window frame of the window frame assembly having beveled surfaces. These beveled surfaces are placed in direct contact during manufacture. As a result, the window frame assembly maintains a low radar cross section (RCS) while allowing the window assembly to be small enough to conform with aerodynamic tolerances required in an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Jesse
  • Patent number: 6314690
    Abstract: A high strength window screen frame that includes an extruded metal frame that fits within a window opening in a building. The frame is made up of a plurality of window frame units, each defining an opening and covered with mesh. A standoff leg portion of the window frame units provides a standoff separation of the mesh from a glass pane so that when objects strike the mesh and deflect the mesh, the glass pane is not impacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: CPI Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn T. Lilie, Fred B. Arehart
  • Patent number: 6311444
    Abstract: The lightweight concrete masonry unit of the present invention contains, before being mixed with water, about 11 to 11.5% by weight of cement, about 47 to 47.5% by weight of pumice lightweight aggregate, about 22.5 to 23% by weight of other aggregate, about 18 to 18.5% by weight of sand, liquid color pigment as required to provide a desired color, and liquid admixture(s) as required to meet water impermeation standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Martin Limestone, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Sipe
  • Patent number: 6311446
    Abstract: An assembled hip roof includes a plurality of roofing panels as well as the rafters of the underlying structure that support those panels. Ridge caps preferably extend over the panels at the hip rafters. In a preferred embodiment, a set of metal roofing panels is designed and shaped for use on a specific hip roof configuration, using a minimal number of separate panels. In a preferred embodiment especially suitable for larger area roofs, a plurality of the panels interlock with one another. The panels are preferably coated on one or both sides for protection against scratching during handling and assembly. One or more of the panels preferably include decorative relief, such as the appearance of overlapping wooden boards. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the panels are manufactured from rolled steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: California Acrylic Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Buzz K. Loyd
  • Patent number: 6308472
    Abstract: A roll-form roof ridge vent having alignment means to facilitate ease of installation. The indeterminate-length, single-sheet vent is provided with a pliable medial hinge strip, or a set of expandable live hinges, which enable the otherwise straight vent to be laterally and/or angularly repositioned from its substantially straight configuration. Thus, lateral adjustments can be made to the positioning of the vent as it is being installed so that the vent is centered throughout its length over the roof ridge. The lateral adjustments do not result in buckling of the vent or unwanted distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Benjamin Obdyke, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Coulton, Kenneth L. Laubsch
  • Patent number: 6301839
    Abstract: The shed for a snowmobile or ATV of the present invention includes a rectangular container having opposed rigid planar side walls of generally equal size in parallel spaced apart array, a rigid first end wall mounted to first ends of the side walls, and an opposite second end wall pivotally mounted to opposite second ends of the side walls so as to form a door for the container. A pair of opposed facing, substantially vertical, first arrays of apertures are formed in the side walls, adjacent the first ends of the side walls, one of the first arrays in each of the side walls. Similarly, a pair of opposed facing, substantially vertical, second arrays of apertures are formed in the side walls, adjacent the second ends of the side walls, one of the second arrays in each of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Edwin Brent Chapman
  • Patent number: 6301844
    Abstract: A support for glazing panels for use in constructing pitched glazed roofs comprises a bracket securable to a glazing bar, a peg positionally adjustable relative to the bracket and securable thereby and a buffer mountable on the peg for abutment by a glazing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ultraframe (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Richardson
  • Patent number: 6295778
    Abstract: A modular wall structure comprised of a plurality of horizontally-oriented wall panels which are extruded components that are connected together in a stack. A plurality of modular wall structures of the present invention may be connected by fastening panels. The fastening panels may also be extruded components. In addition, preferred embodiments of the present invention may include a foundation, a roof, and an interior wall section. The roof may be comprised of a roofing panel which is an extruded component. Similarly, the interior wall section may be comprised of a plurality of horizontally-oriented interior wall panels which are extruded components that are connected together in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Crane Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin T. Burt
  • Patent number: 6295787
    Abstract: An outer structure for a refrigerated food storage apparatus includes an outer shell forming a visible exterior of the apparatus; and an inner liner made of molded plastic and coupled to the outer shell, to form an inter-panel space to be filled with a body of foam insulation. The inner liner includes bosses of a predetermined length, integrally formed with the inner liner at regular intervals and extending toward the outer shell, to support and maintain a constant spacing between the outer shell and inner liner; a foam-injection inlet for injecting foam; and vents for exhausting air and gases generated during a foam injection process. A reactive foam completely fills the inter-panel space, to form a consistent body of insulation. The force of the reactive foam filling the inter-panel space closes a hinged first flap for covering the foam-injection inlet and a plurality of hinged second flaps for covering the vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mando Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Young-Kil Lee
  • Patent number: 6272811
    Abstract: A spacer frame is disclosed having a polygonal, preferably mainly square frame where the frame surrounds glass panes of a sealed glass window unit by forming an upper and a lower horizontal part, at least two side parts, all of which form at least one linear listing or frame. The frame additionally has corresponding asymmetric corner keys and symmetric corner keys, each having legs. The upper horizontal part of the spacer frame preferably has a design which facilitates installation of a mechanism for a blind or pleated sheet which can be fixed underneath the spacer frame thereby hanging between respective panes of the sealed glass unit. The asymmetric corner-keys are connected with one leg to spacer elements and the other leg to the upper horizontal spacer listing elements which has two profile elements. In connection with the spacer element permanent magnets are located in two identical sets positioned on each side of an inner glass pane of the sealed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Helge Hagen
  • Patent number: 6263628
    Abstract: Disclosed is a panel building component, method of making same, and method of fabricating a load-bearing, insulating building wall using the panels and concrete pour after the panels are positioned on site. The panel includes at least one foam core, vertical C-studs, a channel shaped foot member in engaging relationship with the bottom edge of the foam core and the bottom end of the C-studs, two siding members, spacers to keep the foam core centered between the siding members prior to filling the panel with concrete, and the concrete itself. The foam core and C-studs are fabricated shorter than the finished height of the panel so that rebar steel reinforcing rods can be laid horizontally such that when the panel is filled with concrete, the top portion will be a concrete and rebar tie beam. The method of making same is simply assembly of the foregoing components, less the concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: John Griffin G. E. Steel Company