Patents Examined by Patrick Maestri
  • Patent number: 9498066
    Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly (100) can comprise a seat, a back support (114), and a frame component (110). The frame component can extend from a bottom portion (118), positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion (120), configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion (1670) to a right edge portion (1672) and can include a spring member (122) at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or arc (1674) providing integrated rated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism (408), engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs (424) and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly (426) can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cramer LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Christianson, Jean Francois Gomrée, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Jeffrey Weber, Shawn Monitor
  • Patent number: 9482008
    Abstract: A gutter cover heater (30) for a gutter cover comprises a shield (31), a base plate (32), and a heat cable (33). The shield (31) is a longitudinally extended sheet that covers the heat cable (33), is curved over the heat cable (33), has apertures (34), a first long edge (35), and a second long edge (36). The base plate (32) is a flat longitudinally extended sheet under the heat cable (33) and the shield (31), with a first long edge (37) and a second long edge (38); wherein the first long edge of the base plate (35) is debossed. The first long edge (35) of the shield wraps under the debossing of the first long edge of the base plate (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Anthony M. Iannelli
  • Patent number: 9482011
    Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a transverse depth extending in a z-direction. The panel can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Steffes, Robert D. Shaw, Brian W. Kirn, David J. Stucky
  • Patent number: 9484243
    Abstract: A processing chamber having a chamber housing with a top and sidewalls is provided. The processing chamber has a seal for connecting the sidewalls of the chamber housing to a top of a lower chamber below the processing chamber. A substrate holder is attached to the sidewalls of the chamber housing. Further, a wafer lift ring supported by a side arm extending through the sidewalls has at least three posts each having at least one finger, the top of the fingers defining a first wafer handoff plane. The lower chamber has at least one lowest wafer support that defines a second wafer handoff plane where the height between the first wafer handoff plane and the second wafer handoff plane is not greater than a maximum vertical stroke of a transfer arm that is configured to transfer a wafer from the first wafer handoff plane and the second wafer handoff plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Dean J. Larson, Jason Augustino, Andreas Fischer, Andre W. Desepte, Harmeet Singh
  • Patent number: 9476647
    Abstract: A production line oven includes a product gripping mechanism mounted above one side of the production line oven, a plurality of fixtures, a fixture gripping mechanism mounted under the product gripping mechanism, a lifting mechanism, and a conveyor mounted in other side of the production line oven. The product gripping mechanism includes a first guide rail, a support arm mounted to the first guide rail in sliding, and mechanical gripping members connected to the support arm. The fixture gripping mechanism includes a second guide rail and a clamp mechanism mounted to the second guide rail in sliding. The mechanical gripping members are configured to grip of a product. The fixture gripping mechanism is configured to grasp each the fixture to assemble or dismount the fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Lu Yang, Ya-Dong Zhang, Jing-Ping Zheng
  • Patent number: 9476178
    Abstract: System and methods for waterproofing a below-grade wall of a structure. The system comprises a waterproof membrane mounted directly or indirectly to an excavation wall within which the wall of the structure is to be constructed. A plurality of elongate waterstops are affixed to the waterproof membrane and arranged to form a plurality of compartments. A plurality of distribution tubes having apertures are affixed to the waterproof membrane to allow an injectable sealing grout to be injected through the distribution tubes and out of the apertures into a corresponding compartment. A plurality of supply tubes are installed in fluid communication with the plurality of distribution tubes with each of the supply tubes extending to a location on the interior of the wall to be constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HYDROGARD, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Troyer
  • Patent number: 9469025
    Abstract: A tool for setting an anchor at an elevated overhead position over a horizontal structural member wherein the anchor includes a length of webbing with a ring at each end. The tool includes a vertically extending adjustable length pole having a handle at the bottom and an elongated adapter at the top. The adapter has one end connected to the top of the pole and is movable between a position where it is in axial alignment with the pole and a position where it is perpendicular to the pole. A hook extends from the free end of the adapter and is capable of engaging the rings. A pair of spaced apart pins extends outwardly from the adapter to support the webbing when the adapter is perpendicular. With the webbing in place, the adapter is positioned over the support and maneuvered by lowering or tilting the same so that the webbing comes off of the pins and onto the support. Using the hook, one ring is then drawn through the other to provide an anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Meyer Ostrobrod
  • Patent number: 9464435
    Abstract: Disclosed are a metal curtain wall system of a monolayer structure and a construction method thereof. The metal curtain wall system comprises a plurality of composite material curtain wall units (1) that are produced in a numerical control manner and have complex models. The plurality of composite material curtain wall units (1) is spliced to form an inner-outer wall body model. Embedded members (2) are arranged in the composite material curtain wall units (1). Lead-out parts of the embedded members are oriented towards the inner and outer wall bodies and are fixed to inner and outer wall bodies. The composite material curtain wall units (1) in vertical adjacency are arrayed in a staggered manner. An elastic structural adhesive (3) is coated on surfaces of the composite material curtain wall units (1). Thin-type metal sheets (4) are covered on the elastic structural adhesive (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Evergrow International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuan Hul Ku, Wen Hao Ku
  • Patent number: 9464476
    Abstract: A wall entry tunnel for use with a pet door. The wall entry tunnel extends through a structural feature and forms an enclosed passageway connecting the interior and exterior frames of a pet door. The length of the wall entry tunnel adjusts to fit walls of various thicknesses. The wall entry tunnel includes modular components that facilitate compact packaging and are readily assembled to construct the enclosed passageway with a perimeter sized to match the size of the pet door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Ward, Marc E. Brush
  • Patent number: 9457999
    Abstract: A pallet picking adapter (100) is adapted for use with a forklift truck (102). The pallet picking adapter (100) includes a bulkhead (130) attached to a frame of the forklift truck (102). The adapter (100) further comprises a deck system (178) having a pair of deck assemblies (180). The deck assemblies (180) can be stored with the bulkhead (130) in the vertical, upright position. For use, the deck assemblies (180) can be individually lowered so as to rest upon forks (120, 122) of the truck (102). In these operable positions, the deck assemblies (180) can be utilized to transport CooLift pallets (320, 322). When the deck assemblies (180) are in the stored, upright position, the adapter 100 can be utilized to transport conventional pallets of standards sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Magline, Inc.
    Inventors: John Belotti, Mark A. Romo, Greg Ecker, James Gage, Christopher J Guoan, Stuart J Shellenbarger
  • Patent number: 9455663
    Abstract: A modular solar panel roof system comprising a plurality of interconnected square-shaped modular tiles. Each modular tile comprises a circular AC solar cell on an outward facing surface of the modular tile and a housing with an outward facing surface designed to support the weight of a human without breaking. Contours located on at least two sides of the modular tile are designed to mate with identical contours on an adjacent modular tile so as to define a water tight seal between the modular tiles. Electrical terminals located on at least two sides of the modular tile are conductively coupled with the AC solar cell in the modular tile. The electrical terminals are designed to mate with identical electrical terminals on an adjacent modular tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Carrington
  • Patent number: 9447587
    Abstract: Semi-floating floorboards/building panels having mechanical joint systems, a core with curved edge portions so the surface layer on top of the core will be located below the panel surface, and where the edges of the floorboard have a bevel such that in which the joint system, when two floorboards are joined and pressed towards each other, the surface layer 31 and a part of the core 30 of the joint edge portion 19 in the second joint edge 4b overlaps the surface layer 31 that is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the first joint edge 4a of the other floorboard. Further, floorboards/building panels are produced by machining the surface structure with a plurality of core grooves 20, 20? and applying the surface layer 31 on the upper side of the core 30 to at least partly cover a floor element. A pressure is applied and the surface layer 31 forms around the core grooves 20, 20?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventor: Magnus Wallin
  • Patent number: 9441390
    Abstract: The storage tank construction method includes a step of forming a side wall while a temporary opening is provided, a step of fitting precast concrete slabs into respective inner and outer wall sides of the temporary opening to close the inner and outer wall sides of the temporary opening, and a step of pouring concrete between the precast concrete slabs using the precast concrete slabs as molds to block the temporary opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Saori Ijichi
  • Patent number: 9440805
    Abstract: A seed container rack system for dispensing a selected variety of seeds from a plurality of seed containers. The seed container rack system generally includes a support frame having a lower frame for supporting at least one lower seed container and an upper frame for supporting at least one upper seed container above the upper edge of the lower seed container. A lower conveyor is positioned within a lower portion of the support frame to receive seed from the lower seed container and the upper seed container. A chute having an upper end and a lower discharge end extends from beneath the upper seed container to a side of the lower seed container to transfer the seed from the upper seed container to the lower conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Mathew G. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9428954
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a corner pad for an entryway. The corner pad may have a mounting surface configured for attachment to a frame member. The corner pad may also have a sealing surface opposite from the mounting surface. At least a portion of the sealing surface corresponds with a sealing region designed to seal against a stile of a door panel. A profile of the sealing surface within the sealing region is non-linear. Thus the profile creates a varied thickness of the corner pad within the sealing region to provide varying levels of compression when sealing with the stile, and to accommodate variations in a margin between the frame member and the stile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Endura Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Jaskiewicz, George Heid
  • Patent number: 9416547
    Abstract: A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MP Global Products, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Chad A. Collison
  • Patent number: 9416535
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting ceiling accessories in a designated opening in a t-bar ceiling structure, includes a plurality of support braces, each support brace configured to bridge an accessory locating region alongside a corresponding boundary of the designated opening. Each support brace is configured to provide support for at least one ceiling panel alongside the accessory locating region in the designated opening, so that the accessory, and the ceiling panel complement a finished ceiling presentation provided by the t-bar ceiling structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Axis Lighting Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Yaphe, Jody Arsenault, Andrew Miles
  • Patent number: 9410312
    Abstract: A shelter has a packaged configuration and a deployed configuration. The shelter has four panels, each with four edges and two faces. The first and fourth panels have a rectangular shape, and the second and third panels have a quadrangle shape. The relationship of panel edge lengths and angles of the quadrangle shelter panels create a sturdy enclosure that is easy to erect, manipulate, and reconfigure. Furthermore, the shelter may be erected by rotating the panels into place via pivotal connections between the panels and optionally through the use of a lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: University of Notre Dume du Lac
    Inventors: Ashley P. Thrall, Angelene J. Dascanio, Chad P. Quaglia
  • Patent number: 9409731
    Abstract: Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example dock apparatus disclosed herein includes a curtain to be suspended from a support panel and configured to be engaged by the vehicle. The curtain has a plurality of pleats overlapping a plurality of loops such that the plurality of loops is positioned between a vehicle-engaging surface of the curtain and the plurality of pleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Digmann, Gary Borgerding, Timothy J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9399869
    Abstract: An duct coupler apparatus for sealing a bore of an anchor includes a coupler having an inner wall and a sealing mechanism affixed to the inner wall of the coupler. The sealing mechanism includes a shaft and sealing element affixed adjacent an end of the shaft. The sealing element is selectively movable between a retracted condition and an extended condition. The extended condition is adapted to be in sealing relation with an inner wall of the bore of the steel structure. The apparatus includes a nut threadedly affixed to the shaft so as to bear against the sealing element. The nut is rotatable on the shaft so as to urge against the sealing element so as to cause the sealing element to be in the extended or expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventor: Felix Sorkin