Patents Examined by Richard M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5639056
    Abstract: A unitary merchandise display pedestal having a plurality of tubular co-planar legs of polygonal cross section extending radially from a central hub formed by a pair of horizontal parallel spaced weld plates welded to a vertical tubular sleeve post for supporting a vertical mast; the tubular legs being positioned so that opposite exterior corners of their polygonal cross sections engage raised weld beads on the pair of weld plates whereby to produce efficient resistance welding of the legs and weld plates; resistance welds are also employed to secure the tubular post to the lowermost weld plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Athena Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek N. G. Mecalf
  • Patent number: 5636826
    Abstract: A vibration control device including a bracket, and a vibration control body. The bracket has a stay portion for connection to an engine, a flange portion formed at one end of the stay portion, and a stabilizer portion to damp large magnitude movements of the body. The vibration control body includes an insulator made of anti-vibration rubber or other resilient material, an upper plate, and a stopper portion. The flange portion preferably slidably receives the upper plate in order to couple the bracket and vibration control body together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakagaki, Tatsuo Suzuki, Koushi Ando
  • Patent number: 5628487
    Abstract: A fixture for holding a natural material such as tree branches for the purposes of constructing a camouflage screen, the fixture utilizing a section of metal conduit bent into an acute angle, with a metal fastener crimped at the apex of the bend; the fastener can be an elongate wood screw or an elongate bolt having an angular bend along its length. The fastener is affixed to the apex of the conduit bend by a weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventor: John S. Huber
  • Patent number: 5626317
    Abstract: A replacement mailbox post for mounting onto an old mailbox post. A four sided vertically extending replacement post has a hollow interior sized to mount to the old mailbox post. The internal cross-sectional area of the replacement post is geometrically compatible with the old post. A horizontally extending shelf has a proximal end extending into a pair of internal slots formed in the replacement post. A wall perpendicularly joined to the shelf extends downwardly therefrom at the proximal end covering an opening in the replacement post. Fastening devices extend through the replacement post into the wall. Additional fastening devices secure the replacement post to the old post. A decorative cover is mounted atop an encloses the hollow interior of the replacement post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: William R. Altman
  • Patent number: 5626320
    Abstract: An instrument mounting bracket for the control yoke of an aircraft. The mounting bracket includes a main body having a C-shaped configuration which is intended to receive the yoke. Mounted to the main body is a presser plate which acts in conjunction with the main body to grip the yoke therebetween. The main body also includes a pair of threaded attachment holes, with one hole being normal to the plane of the C-shape and the other being within such plane. Either hole may receive a threaded shaft having an enlarged section. An extension arm which includes a mount for the instrument is provided with a through hole for the threaded shaft. Passing the shaft through the extension arm and tightening it within one of the attachment holes secures the extension arm to the main body, and permits angular adjustment of the arm with respect to the body. The extension arm may thus be positioned such that the instrument mount is located in front of the yoke handles, readily accessible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Garmin Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Burrell, Christopher J. Hanshew
  • Patent number: 5624093
    Abstract: A paint tray assembly includes a ladder clamp to secure the tray to a ladder or scaffold and magnetic holder and swing-away rod providing mechanisms for retaining paint brushes in the tray. A detachable handle attaches to the tray to permit relocation of the tray from one area to another minimizing the possibility of unwanted spillage of paint from the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: R. Wayne Gemmell
  • Patent number: 5618021
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a ride zone protection device is provided for use with a pneumatic seat suspension, comprising a cam in communication with the air suspension actuation means to alternatively allow and prevent actuation of the air suspension based on the positioning of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Cole T. Brodersen
  • Patent number: 5611510
    Abstract: A device for fitting up an auxiliary lamp of the present invention includes a pair of brackets 2 opposite to each other and projecting from an auxiliary lamp body 1, a support plate 4 having one side surface adhered to a surface of an automobile, pivot members 5 for projecting from another side surface of the support plate 4 to be fitted loosely between the brackets 2, pivot members 5 interposing washer and nut members 6 and 7, arcuate members 8 and 9 on both sides of the brackets 2, arcuate members 10 and 11 at the surface of the washer and nut members 6 and 7, respectively, and the pivot, washer and nut members 5, 6 and 7 and brackets 2 that have a horizontally elongate recess 12, a through hole 13, a tapped hole 14 and a through hole 15 at the center, respectively and that are engaged by a bolt 16. Thereby, an illumination direction of an auxiliary lamp can be easily adjusted in the vertical or horizontal directions after the auxiliary lamp has been fitted to an automobile by an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: PIAA Corporation
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5607135
    Abstract: A foldable one-piece tablet stand comprising a base section, a back rest section which can be raised and lowered into the base section, a pair of protrusions which can be raised and lowered into the base and disposed at a front part of the base section so that when both the back rest section and protrusions are in the raised conditions, a tablet will be held by the back rest section with a bottom of the tablet held by the base section and secured by the pair of protrusions, and a holder section which is foldable into the base section and hinged on the back of the back rest section and held on parts of the base section so that the back rest section will be fixed thereby, whereby an inexpensive one piece plastic construction is possible to form the tablet stand with efficiency and economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 5605313
    Abstract: A hanger for suspending an object from a vertical surface. The inventive device includes an object mounting assembly for securing to a rear surface of an object. A vertical surface mounting assembly is provided for mounting to a vertical surface such as a wall or a pane of glass. The vertical surface mounting assembly includes a mounting projection received within a central receiver of the object mounting assembly so as to adjustably and removably couple the object to the vertical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventors: Donald L. Erickson, Linda L. Serna-Erickson
  • Patent number: 5603473
    Abstract: A cover plate is provided for use with a pesticide distributing system having a plurality of tubes disposed within the structures of a building. This cover plate comprises a front surface, a back surface, and a plurality of apertures extending through the back surface. The back surface includes chamfers on the apertures or the like for connecting the tubing to respective ones of the apertures. The apertures provide fluid communication of the pesticide from the front surface to the tubing. The cover plate may include a mounting device such as hinges disposed at the edge of the cover plate for mounting the cover plate to a building surface, e.g., to the exterior wall of a residence or other building. An enclosure also may be provided for selectively enclosing the front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Michael Shotey
  • Patent number: 5601197
    Abstract: A hanger device comprises a plurality of clip assemblies slidable along a support such as a rope or the like. Each assembly comprises a plurality of clamps rotatable about the central axis of the rope by means of a collar rotatably mounted to a base, the base receiving a portion of the rope in longitudinal extension therethrough. Each clamp is further rotatably mounted about a shaft extending from the collar and through a hub associated with the clamp. Each clamp is further pivotal about a pivot pin extending through first and second arms extending from the hub. The plurality of clamp positions, relative to the rope, allows for various articles, such as ball caps, towels, etc. to be displayed in various positions along and about the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Dean Baxter
  • Patent number: 5588500
    Abstract: A scaffolding floor is provided on the upper ends of four expandable and contractible struts. A support frame protrudes downward from the scaffolding floor. An end of a line is connected to the lower end of the support frame and the other end of the line is connected to the fixed part of a hydraulic jack which is provided in the lower part of the struts, so that the scaffolding floor can be elevated or lowered through the line in accordance with the raising or lowering of the hydraulic jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Japan Steels International Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yonahara
  • Patent number: 5586739
    Abstract: A pipe clamp includes a wall part (1) with at least one bracket (3) located on its outside surface. At least one attachment part (2) is engageable in the bracket (3) and projects laterally outwardly from the wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gebhard Gantner, Franz Dengg, Peter Ofner, Herbert Munzenberger
  • Patent number: 5584404
    Abstract: An adjustable double-decker rack including an upper shelf having a pair of fixing members, a pair of brackets each having a body portion engageable with the fixing members, a plurality of plugs each having a conical portion at one end and a collet portion at another end, a plurality of tubular members each connected at both ends with the conical portion of one of the plugs, and a tray adapted to dispose on the tubular members, and a lower shelf having a pair of movable frames each engaged with a lower portion of a corresponding one of the brackets and having a plurality of holes, a pair of main supporting rods each having an end engaged with the female connector of each of the movable frames, a plurality of plugs each having a conical portion at one end and a collet portion at another end, and a plurality of tubular members each connected at both ends with the conical portion of one of the plugs, whereby the lower shelf can be pulled out of the upper shelf in order to increase the capacity of the rack as requ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Hank Tsai
  • Patent number: 5584462
    Abstract: A hanger for adjustably suspending an object from a wall. The inventive device includes a wall bracket securable to a wall surface. An adjustable bracket is slidably positioned through the wall bracket and includes a depending hook for suspending an object. A securing fastener is directed through the adjustable bracket and can be rotatably advanced to lock the adjustable bracket relative to the wall bracket in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas M. Reese
  • Patent number: 5573215
    Abstract: A clip assembly includes a main block with a tapered internal wall confining a receiving space to receive slidably and engageably a pair of clamps therein. The clamps define a gap therebetween. The clamps further define an elongated engaging groove at its upper portion and extends transversely to the gap which receives engageably two connectors with two connecting rods extending out from the engaging groove to connect a circular disc disposed above the clamps. The disc has a centrally located threaded through-hole. A cover member has a through-hole aligned with the threaded through-hole of the disc and mounted securely on the rigid block to cover the receiving space. A regulating screw has a threaded portion engaged threadedly in the threaded through-hole of the circular disc and a head portion engaged rotatably by the periphery of the through-hole of the cover member so as to prevent the head portion from moving axially when the regulating screw is rotated about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventors: Ming-Hwa R. Jen, Weihwang Lin
  • Patent number: 5570866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shock absorbing suspension system supporting a seat on a floor of a vehicle. The suspension system includes a hydraulic bag filled with a liquid and coupled to support the seat on the floor, the hydraulic bag having a valve orifice. The suspension system also includes a reservoir partially filled with liquid, having a lower orifice, an upper orifice, and a baffle positioned adjacent the lower orifice to impede the liquid from escaping through the upper orifice. An adjustable valve has an internal passageway communicating with the hydraulic bag via its valve orifice and the reservoir via its lower orifice to allow the liquid from the hydraulic bag to pass into the reservoir. The passageway can be made sufficiently small to dampen motion of the seat toward and away from the floor. The reservoir includes a supply of gas in direct communication with the liquid, the gas being compressed when the liquid enters the reservoir through the valve, thereby providing a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Paccar Inc
    Inventor: Donald L. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5570865
    Abstract: A restraint device is disclosed comprising a wall bracket, an article bracket, a bridging member and a fastening component. When installed at or near the top of an article of furniture or appliance, the brackets provide an aperture or recess between the brackets and the vertical surface to which they have been fastened in which a pair of legs of the bridging member can be inserted. The bridging member forms a mechanical lock between the brackets which, when necessary, can very simply be disengaged. A method in accordance with the present invention for securing articles to a vertical surface, such as a wall, is provided which includes a few simple unskilled steps. Accordingly, one of the advantages of the restraint device of the present invention is its simplicity and ease of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Godfrey
  • Patent number: 5558308
    Abstract: The invention consists of a ring that surrounds a vertical post or tube extending from a table, at least one, adapter connected to the ring and an extension arm connected to the adapter. At least three arms are rotatably connected to the extension arm proximate the adapter. One arm contains a cup holder, another arm contains arcuate recesses for securing hand utensils and another is a fiat arm for holding a napkin. The extension arm contains a telescoping arm that extends with an arcuate finger to hold a plate. When brought into alignment with the extension arm the arms nest and have the capability of folding up against the vertical post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Warren P. Edris