Patents Examined by Robert J Canfield
  • Patent number: 7913470
    Abstract: An insulating strip is configured to support two profiles or frames in a spaced relationship. The insulating strip includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction and has at least first and second longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges are configured to be connected with the respective frames or profiles in a shear-resistant manner. Openings penetrate through one or more walls of the body and one or more struts separate the openings from each other in the longitudinal direction of the body. The body further comprises at least one attachment structure configured to retain a covering profile configured to cover the openings. The covering profile may be integral with the insulating strip body or may be a separate part. A composite structural unit comprises two frames supported in a spaced relationship by such an insulating strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Technoform Caprano und Brunnhofer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Siodla, Erwin Brunnhofer
  • Patent number: 7913459
    Abstract: A work space system including a plurality of work areas. A work area includes a spine wall, a first wall adjacent to the spine wall and extending from the spine wall, and a second wall adjacent to the first wall and including an entrance to the work area. The height of the second wall is greater than the height of the first wall, and the height of the first wall is greater than the height of the spine wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ball, Leon Goldik, Jeffrey G. Sokalski, Gary C. Smith, Paul Dame, Michael Panse, Joseph T. Iacovoni, Keith E. Foco, Paul S. Gartland, James E. Moon, Jr., Jeffrey D. Roetman, Jeffrey L. Clark, Lawrence W. Kallio, III
  • Patent number: 7913467
    Abstract: The present invention is predicated upon the provision of systems and methods for reinforcement of a structural member. More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon unique carrier configurations and application of reinforcing material thereto. In one configuration, the application of reinforcing material is achieved without the use of fasteners, adhesives, or both, for placement, locating and restrictive movement of the reinforcing material onto the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean J. Schneider, Joseph L. Bolton
  • Patent number: 7908821
    Abstract: Embodiments are described of devices for concealing and/or protecting a portion of a member, such as the base of a post, which devices can be easily applied to the member at any time. These embodiments include a plurality of components adjustably connected to one another so as to provide a snug fit of the device against the member to be protected, regardless of initial variations from the expected dimensions of the member. Further device embodiments are self-adjusting to provide a snug fit regardless of subsequent changes in the dimension of the member over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Prenn
  • Patent number: 7911075
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for capturing and harnessing energy from environmental wind which impinges the outer wall surfaces of a building. The system includes at least one elongated conduit disposed within an enclosure of a building, the conduit having first and second end portions opening to the building outer wall surfaces. A wind deflector mechanism is disposed at each of the first and second conduit end portions. Each such wind deflector mechanism is adapted to direct environmental wind, which impinges against the building outer wall surface proximate the end portion, into the conduit to provide bi-directional air flow passing through the conduit. At least one wind collector device is disposed within the conduit, and the wind collector has air impact elements mounted to a shaft. Each wind collector device is adapted to interact with the bi-directional air flow moving within the conduit originating from either first or second conduit end portions to rotate the wind collector shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert R. Pagliasotti
  • Patent number: 7908799
    Abstract: Concrete wall blocks are described with features facilitating use of the wall blocks to construct each of: a wall section with set back; and, a vertical wall without set back. Wall blocks, kits or sets of wall blocks, and wall sections with various sized blocks are described. Further methods of assembly and use are described. Also, features selectively usable in various types of wall blocks are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmie L. Mugge, Jay J. Johnson, Harrison John Brown, Robert Joel Wolter
  • Patent number: 7908800
    Abstract: A modular columbarium has side panels joined to front uprights by bolts on bent front tabs on the front panels and, respectively, the panels are joined to the rear uprights by L-shaped tabs that can be housed in slot in the rear uprights. The bottoms of the front uprights are extended by height-adjustable legs to adapt to any unevenness of the ground, a lower base panel being fastened between the legs. The front uprights are connected to each other by font crossbars, the crossbars comprising a longitudinal guide, whereon blocking elements are positioned that can move laterally along them. The longitudinal guide has slots for the projecting tabs of the front covers to pass through. The guide has central openings wherethrough the blocking elements can be actuated to block or release the front covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Marcs Urnas Bach, S.L.
    Inventor: Santiago Bach Lahor
  • Patent number: 7908808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roof, ceiling or wall element (1) made of several successive superposed layers of wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b), where the wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b) of the successive superposed layers lie on top of each other with their broad surfaces (3) facing, and the wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b) of a layer are connected to the wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b) of at least the abutting layer by holding elements (4). A cost effective manufacture with small loss of material can be achieved by the fact that the wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b) on the mutually facing broad surfaces (3) are unplaned, and at least the small surfaces (8) of the wooden boards (2; 2a, 2b), which surfaces form a visible side of the roof, ceiling or wall element (1), are stepped at their edges with an upper and lower notch (9, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Hans Hundegger
  • Patent number: 7908797
    Abstract: A gutter cover comprising a sheet having a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between said front portion and said rear portion; said central portion having a plurality of openings for passage of water therethrough, said front portion comprising an upper wall segment, a bend segment, and a lower wall segment, wherein said upper wall segment extends forwardly from said central portion to said bend segment, said bend segment joins said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, and said lower wall segment extends rearwardly from said bend segment and underneath said upper wall segment, wherein a space is formed between said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, wherein a first fastener extends through openings in said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, and wherein a distance between an upper surface of said upper wall segment and an upper surface of said lower wall segment is greater than or equal to an axial height of a head portion of said first fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Graves
  • Patent number: 7908806
    Abstract: A cable molding primarily intended to be installed on a wall structure of a common hallway of a multiple dwelling unit below pre-existing molding, and an overlay molding attachable to the cable molding to conceal both the cable molding and the pre-existing molding. The overlay molding includes a panel member having upper and lower edges and a flange extending rearwardly from the panel member intermediate the upper and lower edges. The flange defines with a lower portion of the panel member a lower channel shaped for attachment to the cable member, and defines with an upper portion of the panel member an upper channel for receiving pre-existing molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Multilink, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7908803
    Abstract: An apparatus for covering an opening of a building comprising a plurality of rectangular panels. The panels are sized such that when they are stacked for storage, the panels nest together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: John Puchniak
  • Patent number: 7900405
    Abstract: The invention is a spherical dome consisting of continuous prismatic members in three layers, an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer. The continuous prismatic members follow great circle arcs. The members of the three layers form a three-way grid, crossing at the vertices of contiguous spherical triangles. Three members, one from each layer, are connected together at each vertex with fasteners, such as bolts, rivets, or welds. The continuous prismatic members of each layer can be spaced as desired to provide structural integrity, economy, and simplicity of construction. A tension ring, when required structurally, is provided at the bottom periphery of the dome to resist the vertical and horizontal forces generated by the supported loads. The combined elements provide a simple and economical spherical dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: John Donald Jacoby
  • Patent number: 7900401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic plate element (1) consisting of a hollow body (3) that can be impinged upon with a pressure medium having overpressure p. Said hollow body is located between two pressure/tension elements (2) that are connected to one another by their ends and is made of a flexible membrane (9). When transversal load is exerted on the plate element (1) placed on two supports (17) with load force F, the top pressure/tension element (2, 7) is subjected to pressure and the bottom pressure/tension element (2, 8) is subjected to tension. Prestressed tension elements (4) placed at a distance a traverse in channels the hollow body (3) between the pressure/tension elements (2, 8). The tension elements (4) are prestressed by the hollow body (3) separating the tension elements (2). The connections (6) operate as fictitious fixed intermediate supports and stabilize the pressure/tension element (2, 7) submitted to pressure in order to prevent buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Airlight Limited (AG)
    Inventor: Mauro Pedretti
  • Patent number: 7900406
    Abstract: A foundation for a structure comprises a plurality of segments. To build the foundation, a foundation bed is excavated, and a stable, substantially level and horizontal subbase is built in the foundation bed. A foundation segment of the structure is set down on the subbase, such that at least three vertically adjustable support poles fixedly attached to the foundation segment contact reinforced points of support on the subbase. A remainder of the foundation bed is then filled with foundation mass to a level above a bottom rim of the foundation segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Patent number: 7900416
    Abstract: A floor tile for use in a flooring system comprises an upper surface operable for use as a portion of a flooring installation and a support lattice operable to support the upper surface. The support lattice includes a plurality of support members extending downwardly from an underside of the upper surface and terminating in lower sections collectively defining a subfloor contact profile and a plurality of interconnecting members laterally interconnecting two or more of the support members. At least some of the plurality of support members extend downwardly at an oblique angle to the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Connor Sport Court International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Yokubison, Troy D. Mohr, Thayne Haney, David F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7900414
    Abstract: A cladding sheet that is adapted to engage one or more than one concealed clip that is connected to an underlying structure is disclosed. The cladding sheet includes at least one lengthwise extending pan (3) and a lengthwise extending rib (5) on each side of the pan. The width of each rib is between 70% and 130% of the width of the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bluescope Steel Limited
    Inventor: John Campbell Seccombe
  • Patent number: 7900409
    Abstract: A timber wall frame for use in building construction has an opening for a door or window defined at each side by a vertically extending prop stud and jamb stud in side by side relation, and the opening is defined from above by a horizontally extending top plate of the wall frame. The prop stud and jamb stud are of the same length and extend to the underside of the top plate. A lintel of sheet metal spans the upper side of the opening, the lintel having a vertical wall and a horizontal flange along the upper edge of the wall. The lintel is applied to the frame so that its vertical wall overlies a face of each stud and a face of the top plate, with the horizontal flange of the lintel being above the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ITW Construction Systems Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Bernard Joseph Kennelly
  • Patent number: 7895801
    Abstract: The present relates to a sidelite assembly having first and second panels and a window. Each of the panels has an inner edge extending outwardly from a major planar portion and surrounding an opening. The inner edge includes a first portion having a ridge extending outwardly from a distal end thereof and a second portion having a channel extending inwardly from the distal end. An outer edge extends outwardly from the major planar portion and adjacent a periphery thereof, and includes a first portion having a ridge extending outwardly from a distal end thereof and a second portion having a channel extending inwardly from the distal end. The ridges of the first panel are aligned with and received in the channels of the second panel. The window is disposed within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew White
  • Patent number: 7895800
    Abstract: Building façade attachable to a building. The building façade includes at least two horizontally adjacent façade panels. Each respective façade panel including horizontal top and bottom edges and two vertical side edges. At least one recess is arranged on a surface of each respective façade panel directed towards the building. The at least one recess is arranged parallel to the two vertical side edges. At least one groove is arranged on the horizontal bottom edge of each respective façade panel. A mounting construction has at least one attachment element extending into the at least one groove of each respective façade panel and at least one guiding projection extending into the at least one vertical recess of each respective façade panel. The at least two horizontally adjacent façade panels are aligned approximately parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Torben Overgaard
  • Patent number: 7891152
    Abstract: A sliding door arrangement includes a plurality of door units; at least one upright post connecting adjacent door units; a lower beam located at the bottom of and connected with the upright post; and a plurality of cross rod assemblies disposed at one side or both sides of the door units respectively to adjust the tightness of the sliding door arrangement. The sliding door arrangement of the present invention can be packaged and transported in separate parts and then quickly and conveniently assembled on site. In addition, the sliding door arrangement of the present invention is perfectly integral and decorative and provides sufficient strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Shenzhen Hongmen Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiahong Yu