Patents Examined by Stephen Gordon
  • Patent number: 9302607
    Abstract: Strap holders for palletized cargo include one or more blocks, each having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front face and a vertical rear face. The front face includes an arcuate cavity that is dimensioned and configured to tightly conform to the upper rim of a given storage container. The vertical rear face includes a notch that is dimensioned to receive a cargo strap. As the strap is tightened around a container, each block cavity tightly grips the container rim while the notch prevents the strap from shifting or releasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Alfred B. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9302608
    Abstract: A roof-mountable retractable cargo securing system for cargo positioned in an open bed of a pick-up truck, the system may include two roof-mountable base tubes interconnected with a connecting plate so that longitudinal axes of the base tubes are separated by a distance that exceeds a width of the cargo to be secured. Securing members concentric with and slidably engaged with the base tubes may be selectively enclosed within the base tubes or partially extended from the base tubes to positions at sides of the cargo to be secured. Contact arms may be pivotally coupled to ends of the securing members and rotationally positionable to interconnect the securing members with the cargo to be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Dorina Tamaddon-Dallal, Artin Tamaddon-Dallal, Saied Tamaddon-Dallal
  • Patent number: 9296554
    Abstract: An expeditionary module comprises one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, to provide a self-contained mission support system, such as in remote and austere environments. The exterior structure of the expeditionary module may to preferably comprise a standard shipping container. One or more MCP carts are stowable within the exterior structure, such as on a U-channel track and I-Beam rail system that runs longitudinally along the floor and ceiling of the exterior structure. The expeditionary module typically comprises a suite of standard equipment, to provide general-purpose functionality. Prior to deployment, one or more MCP carts may preferably be selected for an operation, and are loaded into the expeditionary module, via the U-channel track and I-Beam rail system. Upon arrival at the operation location, personnel readily unload the MCP carts. Additional structures allow personnel to configure one or more MCP carts and containers in a variety of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MINDS, LLC
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Patent number: 9296329
    Abstract: An adjustable strap system is configured to join a load bar to a wall. The adjustable strap system has a strap sewn to itself creating a first end tab. A hook fastener and a loop fastener are sewn to a first side of the strap creating a strap space therebetween. A ring pocket is sewn within the strap. A rectangular ring has a first side in the strap space and a second side in the ring pocket. A clip pocket is sewn with in the strap. The clip pocket is adapted to accommodate a fixed clip. The fixed clip and a movable clip on the strap are operatively connected to the wall such that a load bar surrounded by the strap is tethered to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Matthew John Sopel
  • Patent number: 9296328
    Abstract: A movable strap securement system for moving and positioning the strap securement member as needed. The movable strap securement system includes a bracket adapted to be movable along a transport and having a strap securement member for securing a hook attached to an end of a strap and also includes a rail adapted to extend along a side of the transport and having a top wall and flanges extending along and depending from opposed side edges of the top wall to form a channel between the top wall and the flanges with the bracket slidably received in the channel and supported by the rail with the flanges received in the slots to support the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventors: Landon Jerome Dewald, Kenneth Valentine Axtman
  • Patent number: 9296482
    Abstract: A track fitting assembly having an engaged position and an unengaged position. The track fitting assembly may include a lower track fitting, a cam member, a button, and a biasing member. The lower track fitting may define a recess therein and at least one retaining feature. The retaining feature may be configured to hold the lower track fitting within a track if the track fitting assembly is in the engaged position. The cam member may have a cam main body that defines an aperture. The button may have an indicator surface. The button may be selectively retained within the recess of the lower track fitting. The biasing member may be configured to exert a biasing force. The biasing member may be retained within the recess of the lower track fitting and positioned relative to the button to exert the biasing force against the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy M. Jones
  • Patent number: 9283830
    Abstract: A vehicle body cover formed by a front cowling covering, from a front direction, a front-head part of a vehicle body, meter panels, and a front panel, which are mutually coupled, covers the front part of the vehicle body. A windscreen capable of being vertically moved by a varying mechanism is disposed at a position above the front cowling. A traveling air taken in at a front part of the vehicle body cover via an air introduction part is exhausted from air-exhaust parts at proper places on the meter panel or the front panel, and an overlap area between the windscreen and the air introduction part in front elevational view of the vehicle changes in accordance with an aspect of the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Takahashi, Yuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9283973
    Abstract: A hand-truck pouring stand including a base frame with parallel horizontal forward and rearward stands, a connection member disposed perpendicularly therebetween, and wheels on the horizontal rearward stand. Leveling feet are disposed on the horizontal forward stand. Parallel vertical front and rear frames are perpendicularly disposed on the respective horizontal forward and rearward stand. A bucket support frame, pivotably attached between the horizontal forward and rearward stands, includes a U-shaped lower portion and an annular upper portion attached to lower portion front and rear outer slats. A crossmember slat, disposed on a central lower slat of the lower portion, has stop arms on each outer edge. The annular upper portion and lower portion receive and secure the bucket therein. A threaded set screw, engageable through a threaded hole through the vertical front frame to the front outer slat, selectively secures the bucket support frame in the upright or tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Roger Stone, Jane Stone
  • Patent number: 9272657
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a mounting system for attaching a container to a vehicle adapted to resist loads imparted by the container to the mounting system in sequential stages. In one exemplary mounting system a first spring is configured to elastically compress when subjected to an initiation load that exceeds a load imparted to the first spring by the container under static conditions. The first spring may have a useable load range from the initiation load to a maximum load at which the first spring is fully bottomed out. A first deformable member is disposed serially with respect to the first spring, and configured to remain substantially un-deformed until subjected to a first deformation threshold load that equals or exceeds the maximum load at which the first spring is fully bottomed out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Armorworks Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Perciballi, Ken-An Lou
  • Patent number: 9266459
    Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Heil Trailer International Co.
    Inventor: Bryan Yielding
  • Patent number: 9266463
    Abstract: An immobilizing device for limiting movement of a cargo container in a cargo area may include a tubular member configured to be inserted into an aperture of a cargo deck. The immobilizing device may further include a stop member extending at least partially across a hollow interior of the tubular member, wherein the stop member is configured such that extension of the tubular member into the aperture is limited by contact between the stop member and the portion of the cargo deck located in the aperture. The immobilizing device may also include an extension associated with the tubular member and configured to engage a lower edge of the cargo container, such that movement of the cargo container is limited upon receipt of the tubular member in the aperture and engagement between the extension and the lower edge of the cargo container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Abdelrazak Hindy
  • Patent number: 9254780
    Abstract: Aspects for rigidly positioning a load-bearing bar are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes positioning a bar between two surfaces so that one end is oriented towards one surface, and the other end is oriented towards another surface. The method also comprises rotating a crank to facilitate having each end make contact with its corresponding surface. Here, rotating the crank extends an extension shaft away from a control shaft, whereas rotating in an opposite direction inserts the extension shaft into the control shaft. An apparatus is also disclosed, which includes a control shaft comprising a crank that rotates a gear assembly, and an extension shaft coupled to the control shaft. Here, the extension shaft extends away from the control shaft when the gear assembly rotates in a first direction, and retracts when the gear assembly rotates in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Gabriel Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9242588
    Abstract: A tow bar for selectively securing a pivotable container assembly of a dump cart includes a tow bar rotatably connected to a frame of the container assembly. A latch is adjacent to a receiving surface of the tow bar, and includes a slidable member, a biasing element and a lever. The slidable member is configured to selectively engage an arm which extends from the container assembly and for latching the container assembly in a loading condition. The biasing element is configured to urge the slidable member into engagement with the arm. The lever is coupled to the tow bar, slidably coupled to the slidable member and includes an actuation plate spaced apart from the receiving surface. When actuated, the lever moves the actuation plate toward the receiving surface and urges the slidable member away from the arm, enabling release of the engaged arm from the tow bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: OHIO STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Martini, Patrick Montag, Michael Podrosky
  • Patent number: 9242730
    Abstract: An aircraft cargo handling system has a pair of load restraining rail assemblies, each of which has a shaft assembly running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The shaft assembly has a plurality of lock pawls, each of which comprises a body having a cylindrical pallet-engaging surface. The pallet engaging surfaces of the lock pawls have increasing included angles at stations moving toward the front of the aircraft (or vice versa). This enables the pallets to be locked in place sequentially by rotating the shall assembly a predetermined angular rotation each time a pallet is loaded. Unloading of the aircraft is carried out in the reverse order, by rotating the shaft assembly in the opposite direction in steps to unlock each pallet individually as the aircraft is unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wallace H. Larson, James R. Brown
  • Patent number: 9242593
    Abstract: A triaxially braided strap includes a plurality of axial strands and a plurality of longitudinal strands including a first boundary strand and a second boundary strand. Each strand of the plurality of axial strands is routed, in a repeating pattern and in the following order: under the first boundary strand; around the first boundary strand; between respective portions of a pair of axial strands that are routed between the first boundary strand and the second boundary strand; under the second boundary strand; around the second boundary strand; and between respective portions of a pair of axial strands that are routed between the second boundary strand and the first boundary strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Atkins & Pearce, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Sester
  • Patent number: 9238430
    Abstract: A locking device for locking a container on a loading surface. A locking head of the mechanism protrudes through a standardized reception opening and projects above the loading surface to engage and behind a wall of a corner fitting of the container to lock the container on the loading surface. A grooved bushing is disposed below the standardized reception opening. The locking device is guided in the grooved bushing so that it can be lowered to a first position below the loading surface. The locking device is supported on the grooved bushing, protruding upwards beyond the loading surface, in a second position. A securing ring holds the locking device below the loading surface in a mounting opening in the first position. The locking device has a (semi-) automatic locking mechanism in a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing is guided through the grooved bushing, the mounting opening and the securing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Neuland Beton H. Burgis KG (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventor: Heinz-Ruediger Metternich
  • Patent number: 9227756
    Abstract: A collapsible intermodal transport platform and methods for its operation are disclosed. The invention comprises first braces that rotate about a mounting point on the frame that supports a cargo loading surface. The first braces are positioned along the platform so as to provide lifting and stacking fitments at the standard overhead crane lifting points when in a lift configuration. The first braces may be rotated inboard down to the loading surface, thereby presenting stacking blocks at the crane lifting points for stacking several platforms together. Second braces attach to the first braces to assist in load distribution. The frame may comprise center feet extensions to further assist in load distribution. Other features and aspects disclosed lend to the invention's low weight and high carrying capacity, as well as its unique load securing features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: RAILDECKS (2009), INC.
    Inventors: Murray Crane, Simon Hann, Ben Van Liere
  • Patent number: 9227545
    Abstract: A self-propelled dump trailer comprises a frame, a first wheel driven by an engine, a second wheel, a steering mechanism, and a dump bed that may have its front end elevated by a lifting mechanism. The frame includes a coupler so the dump trailer can be selectively coupled to a vehicle and uncoupled from the vehicle. Further, the dump bed includes a rear gate and a separator gate that divides the dump bed into two sections, wherein the separator gate is operable to place the dump bed into a first dumping position and a second dumping position. As such, the forward section of the dump bed acts as a counterbalance during a dumping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: AXIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew C. Oldiges, Thomas N. Oldiges
  • Patent number: 9227552
    Abstract: A cargo strap launching device is provided. A catapult frame is mounted on a trailer stake pocket bed rail. A lever arm has an upper and a lower end. The lower end is connected to the catapult frame. A coiled strap bucket is connected to the lever arm upper end. The bucket has a generally rectangular ejection opening so that the bucket is capable of retaining and then releasing a coiled cargo strap by pushing upwardly on the lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: David McCullough
  • Patent number: 9221381
    Abstract: An adjustable magnetic tie down includes a plate having an upper and lower surface, a tie-down, a fastener attached to the tie down, and a magnet attached to the lower surface of the plate. The tie down has a first end and a second end. The first end of the tie-down is attached to the plate, and the second end of the tie-down is attached to the fastener. The fastener is adapted to releasably engage the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Nathan Flud