Patents Examined by Philip C. Kannan
  • Patent number: 5600921
    Abstract: A fiberglass, insulated bulkhead door assembly overcomes the limitations of conventional wooden and metallic storm doors. A preassembled bulkhead door assembly is positioned atop a preexisting concrete foundation. Once in place, the bulkhead forms a liquid tight barrier. As an insulated, lockable structure, the bulkhead door assembly provides a means of ingress into and egress out of a basement of a dwelling structure. The base support and door of the bulkhead door assembly incorporate an insulative layer sandwiched between a pair of molded fiberglass panels, which are then covered by a durable gel coat finish. The combination of insulation and fiberglass maintains an effective thermal barrier between the basement of the dwelling structure and an exterior environment. A pair of pneumatic struts counterbalance the door into an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: William L. Vardaro
  • Patent number: 5600920
    Abstract: The window unit of the invention comprises four peripheral channel members linked with corner members to form a window frame. Two glass panels are spaced by this frame to form an inner chamber, the louver blind structure of the invention being located completely therein. The louver blind structure comprises a plurality of horizontal slats pivotally supported at both their extremities and each having an integral toothed wheel engaging a complementary rack on an actuator bar, the latter positioned adjacent to a side peripheral channel member and being free to move upwards or downwards along it. This upward or downward movement imparts a pivoting movement to the slats. The louver blind structure further comprises a support channel member supporting a reversible electrical motor having a driving shaft. This shaft has an eccentric stud which engages the actuator bar and must therefore be kept properly alined so as to resist radial forces exerted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: UNICEL Inc.
    Inventor: Fernand Roy
  • Patent number: 5601262
    Abstract: A cable locator is provided which includes a base, having a cable-receiving channel formed therein, and a cover which is releasably attached to the base. A locating element forms a part of the base or the cover for attaching the cable locator to an anchor point of a support surface. The cable locator is particularly useful in securing one or more automobile cables to an anchoring point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: John O. Wright
  • Patent number: 5598665
    Abstract: The sliding sash is supported at a guide rail by a sash portion projecting from the floor in a vertical plane and a sash portion ascending in an inclined plane relative to the inside adjoins an additional tipper sash portion which projects up in the vertical plane and is set back. Every sash portion is formed by a section bar arm receiving a glass pane. The upper sash portion is guided at a ceiling rail with two running paths which are arranged at a distance from one another and parallel to one another. In order to secure this guide relative to loading by wind and/or snow, each running path is formed of two inclined guide paths of a web head of the ceiling rail, this web head having a triangular cross section, and support rollers which are supported at an inclination run on the guide paths of every web head at a roller holder which is fastened to the terminating section bar of the upper sash portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Juergen Guddas
  • Patent number: 5598666
    Abstract: A door system for a bathing enclosure which includes a track extending above an opening of the enclosure with the track having a rail with an upper surface having a longitudinal groove. A door has first and second rollers which ride in the rail groove, so that the door is suspended from and slidable along the track. A separate stop is associated with each roller with each stop having a first locking bracket fixed to the door and a member is movably attached to the locking bracket. The members are adjustable between a first position at which the first roller may be removed from the groove and a second position at which the first member strikes the track before the first roller can be removed from the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael J. Kurth
  • Patent number: 5597145
    Abstract: An individual sandbagging accessory apparatus which includes a principal sandbag support portion, a plurality of removable leg members attachable to the principal sandbag support portion, for positioning the support portion above the ground; clip members for securing the upper end of a sandbag through the support system, so that once secured, there is defined an upper bag opening for delivering sand into; and a plurality of ports in the walls of the principal support portion for allowing the legs to be slidably engaged through the support portion, for defining a compact apparatus which could be secured to a backpack and easing transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Metric Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Meyers, Howard J. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5597026
    Abstract: A vertical blind assembly includes an elongate header casing and two sets of louvers movably supported in adjacent channels within the header casing, including a first set of plain louvers structured to be moved horizontally along the length of the first channel, and a second set of louvers which are molded and configured in a decorative, three-dimensional pattern and structured to be moved horizontally along the length of the second channel so that they are positioned in front of the first set of louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventors: Luis C. Fuentes, Niurka E. Gonzalez, Pedro R. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5596842
    Abstract: A sliding element system, wherein the guide wheel sets (8, 9) of the lower side (3) of the sliding element (1) are designed to support the sliding element (1) on a lower guide section (3). To the lower side (3) is connected a vertical wheel set (8) comprising a vertical wheel (15), the diameter of which is smaller than the transverse inside dimension of the lower guide section, the plane of rotation of which is vertical, the peripheral cross section is round-shaped, and the point of contact with the lower guide section (5) is located on the same vertical line as the central axis of the wheel axle (10). The lower guide section (5) comprises a longitudinal, upward open bottom groove (16) the edges of which serve as rolling surfaces for the vertical wheel (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Jarmo Sjoholm
  • Patent number: 5592782
    Abstract: A polymeric sealing/spring strip and method of producing same. The polymeric sealing/spring strip of the present invention has several various embodiments which are based upon the incorporation of silicone rubber. Some of the embodiments are based on the formation of a resilient silicone rubber surface to provide a sealing/spring contact with an opposing surface. Other embodiments of the invention incorporate the silicone rubber in such way as to utilize its resilient properties to produce a sealing/spring strip which has improved mechanical resilience properties.The method of the present invention allows the production of a sealing/spring strip in accordance with the present invention by using extrusion techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Michael K. Scott
  • Patent number: 5592778
    Abstract: A turnstile is disclosed which is easily adapted to operate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction of rotation and which does not permit reverse rotation during operation. Resistance to rotation in the reverse direction is achieved by means of a drag shoe mechanism. As a rotor mechanism rotates about a corresponding stator mechanism it trails a drag shoe by a rigid connecting rod, or drag arm, across a bearing surface. The drag arm is disposed at a non-perpendicular angle. In reverse motion the angularly inclined drag arm forces the drag shoe to jam into the bearing surface and thereby act as a brake. The turnstile is provided with a quick release wrench, an safety release bolt which protrudes beyond the housing of the turnstile mechanism, and emergency release instructions labels clearly visible on the top and pillar of the turnstile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Brascon Architectural Products Inc.
    Inventor: John D. McGuire
  • Patent number: 5592779
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a frame assembly which may be readily set up at the edge of a mezzanine floor to provide a safety gate thereat. The assembly has a pair of side walls connected by a horizontally disposed overhead support. A front gate and a rear gate assembly are upwardly and downwardly movable, opposed to one anothers motion, so as to provide a blocking of the edge of the mezzanine floor, and to also define an enlarged work area for fork lift trucks or shipping machinery within that area while keeping it safe from accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: James M. Conway
  • Patent number: 5592780
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a door suitable for use in association with door closing piston assemblies having a spring-biased reciprocable door closing piston rod and a latch plate transversely slidable along the length of the piston rod. By use of the present invention, a momentary initial rotational bias may be imparted to the latch plate automatically and electronically, thereby causing it to shift the latch plate towards a rotated angle while the door is closing, and to facilitate pre-positioning the latch plate to set into a locking hold-open orientation without any subsequent manual adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Peter Checkovich
  • Patent number: 5588260
    Abstract: A waterproof grommet (16) through which a wiring harness (14) passes is mounted on a side face (15) of an inner door panel (13) to which a door hinge is attached. The waterproof grommet (16) is made of an elastic substance and has a grommet body (17). The grommet body (17) through which the harness (14) passes is brought into contact with the side face (15). The grommet body (17) includes a mounting plate (18) for pressing and fastening the grommet body (17) to the side face (15). Because the elastic grommet body (17) is pressed and fastened to the side face (15) of the inner door panel (13) by the rigid mounting plate (18), the gap around the door can be sealed without additionally using a sealing member and, as a result, the number of constituent parts and the number of processes of arranging then can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemichi Suzuki, Sadahisa Endo
  • Patent number: 5584144
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door has a door main body made up by coupling an inner panel to a door panel and a door lining mounted on the inner panel. The inner panel is provided, in a recessed manner, with containing recessed portions for receiving therein various outfits to be mounted on the motor vehicle door. The inner panel is also integrally provided, in a projecting manner, with a pocket mounting base for fastening thereto a bottom portion of a pocket which is detachably attached to an armrest portion of the door lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya Hisano
  • Patent number: 5581949
    Abstract: A threshold assembly may be installed without requiring wet cement and after a door frame and adjoining wall structure are completed by first securing an inner bushing and securing plate to the ground at the threshold location and securing an elongate threshold base to plate and bushing by engaging outwardly extending flanges of the plate with hooks provided on the inner walls of the base. A cover plate may be secured on the top surface of the base by engaging inwardly extending flanges of the cover plate within corresponding longitudinally extending grooves on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Ming-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 5581940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a two way animal door adapted to be installed in an existing door to allow two way travel of household pets. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a frame which is inserted into a rectangular aperture formed within an existing door. The frame carries a centrally located post which serves to divide the frame into two equal portions. Within the frame are position a first and a second door. The first door is openable only in one direction, while the second door is openable only the opposite direction. Each of the doors is mounted to the surrounding frame by way of adjustable spring biased hinges. The various components of the present invention and the manner in which they interrelate will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Randall R. Peterson
    Inventor: Randall R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5581950
    Abstract: A hollow weather strip which is excellent in an external appearance is provided. The weather strip comprises an extrusion portion having a given width, a mold portion connected to an end side of said extrusion portion. The mold portion has a slot at a back surface thereof and has a width which is larger than the width of the extrusion portion by a width of the slit. The extrusion portion has a substantially V-shape spread slit provided on an end back surface thereof, and the slit is continuous from the slot and is consecutively reduced in a width as said V-shaped spread slit recedes from a position where the extrusion portion and the mold portion are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5581948
    Abstract: The kick resistant door assembly comprises a doorway framed by at least two door jamb segments, a door mounted by hinges to one of the segments and a specialized plate assembly which mounts to both a door jamb segment and to adjacent framing studs. The plate assembly has an opening for receiving a bolt and an extended portion for reinforcing the latch of the door against forcible entry. The assembly may further comprise reinforcing rods attached either directly to the hinges or to an intermediate reinforcing hinge plate. In either configuration, upon installation the reinforcing rods extend into the door as well as through the door jamb segment into the wall studs. The assembly may yet further comprise the use of additional plate assemblies mounted adjacent the hinges of the door with the openings of these additional plate assemblies aligned for receiving the reinforcing rods of the hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Eric A. Simonsen
  • Patent number: 5581942
    Abstract: A connecting assembly for installing the sash of a house skylight to the sides of its casement, has connecting parts that can pivot relative to each other, and the casement has holding elements that have cross sections which will engage therewith. This assembly allows the window sash to be inserted from the interior rapidly and in a simple manner by engagement with the positioning arms on the casement. This is achieved by the connecting parts (3) having a U-shaped cross section (4), which accept swinging positioning arms (5) which serve as the holding elements, and these connections can be locked by self-engaging attachment elements (6) that can be engaged without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Roto Frank AG
    Inventors: Michael Sill, Siegfried Mullerbader
  • Patent number: 5581943
    Abstract: An improved torque window assembly for motor vehicles has a peripheral frame defining an opening, and a moveable glazing pane pivotally mounted to the frame for movement about a pivot axis between an open and closed position. A torque handle is operatively connected to the glazing pane by a linkage assembly, including a torque bar which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A mounting assembly for the moveable glazing pane includes a hinge rail along a peripheral edge of the glazing pane. The hinge rail provides a U-shaped glazing channel to receive the peripheral edge of the glazing pane with a biased interference fit. The linkage from the torque bar to the hinge rail includes a one-piece hinge link having a substantially planar link section perpendicular to the hinge rail and two or more tabs received, one each, into U-shaped hinge channels extending axially along the hinge rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Deren, Darren M. Grumm