Patents Examined by W. Glenn Edwards
  • Patent number: 5802772
    Abstract: A releasable joint for joining two construction elements of a transportable construction. Also a construction element adapted for use in making the releasable joint, and a construction, such as a portable building or stage assembly, comprising a plurality of construction elements joined by the releasable joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Edwin Shirley Trucking, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Richard Burke, Oliver Charles Watts
  • Patent number: 5803428
    Abstract: A Sanding Fixture for use with a portable electric belt sander to adapt such a hand-held sander into a table sander. Two parallel spaced plates are used with the top plate having a cut-out corner to allow the portable electric belt sander to be placed on the base plate with the sanding belt of the portable electric belt sander adjacent an edge of the top plate and extending above the top plate. Removable pegs are placed in selected openings in the base plate to permit use of sanders of varying manufacture and to hold the sander in place adjacent the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Dino Marello
  • Patent number: 5802779
    Abstract: A termite shield according to the present invention provides a physical barrier between a foundation and a wooden building structure, a detection mechanism for detecting termite presence, and a chemical termiticide in the form of a bait block. The termite shield includes a sill plate barrier which is positioned between a masonry foundation and a sill of a wooden structure. An interior bait block holder is removably attached to the sill plate barrier on an interior side of the foundation, and an exterior bait block holder is removably attached to the sill plate barrier at an exterior side of the foundation. The bait block holders may be provided with a block of wood which is inspected periodically to detect the activity of termites. If termites are detected, the block of wood may be replaced with a bait block of cellulosic material containing termiticide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Hulls, Kathy D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5802801
    Abstract: A locker door and frame assembly including a one-piece locker door having integral box beam supports at the extreme side edges of a central rectangular panel of the door and including hinge means directly connected to one marginal area of one of the integral box beam supports and to an adjacent side frame member of the frame for pivotally connecting the locker door to the frame through one of the integral box beam supports. A single-point latch system is located adjacent the side edge of the door remote from the hinge side for use in locking the door to the frame at only a single point spaced intermediate the opposed end edges of the door. The box beam supports can be of a number of different cross-sections, and most preferably the box beam support adjacent the hinge side of the door is wider than the box beam support adjacent the latch side of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Charles D. Hohns, James Benenson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5797234
    Abstract: A flexible corner connector is provided for use in holding frame members of a structure together. The flexible connector includes a first rigid end portion having threaded surfaces adapted for receiving a threaded nut. A second rigid end portion has an enlarged head at a distal end thereof. An elongated flexible member is attached to and extends between the first and second rigid end portions. A spike washer is engageable on the first rigid end portion. The first rigid end portion and spike washer are shaped and configured for mated engagement with one another to prevent rotation of the first rigid end portion. The spike washer has at least two projections outwardly extending for engagement into a frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Antonis Theodorou
  • Patent number: 5797232
    Abstract: A gripping element for attaching a roofing membrane to a roof includes a generally planar plate having a generally central opening and an oblong peripheral edge. The plate includes a top surface facing away from the roofing membrane, an upwardly projecting rib, and a plurality of gripping formations for preventing slippage of the roofing membrane relative to the plate. Preferably, the central opening is larger in diameter than the diameter of a corresponding shank portion of a threaded fastener so that the plate is permitted a specified amount of rocking when subjected to a membrane uplift force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Larson
  • Patent number: 5797236
    Abstract: An auxiliary bottom insert apparatus for a container includes first panels, each of which includes a first panel top edge, a first panel middle portion, and a first panel bottom edge. Each of the first panels includes first keyways spaced at predetermined first increments along the first panel top edge and extending from the first panel top edge to the first panel middle portion. Second panels are provided, wherein each of second panels includes a second panel top edge, a second panel middle portion, and a second panel bottom edge. Each of the second panels includes second keyways spaced at predetermined second increments along the second panel top edge and extending from the second panel top edge to the second panel middle portion. The second panels are inverted with respect to the first panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventors: John T. Posey, Jr., Julea Ruth Posey
  • Patent number: 5794390
    Abstract: A structural covering that is attachable to a rail of a railing that has a top, a pair of sides, ends, and a bottom, and that is attachable to a floor board of a deck that has a top, a pair of sides, ends, and a bottom, while covering most of the rail of the railing and any exposed ends thereof and covering most of the floor board of the deck and any exposed ends thereof so as to prevent splinters, hide knots, splintered wood, discolored wood, and cracks in the wood, and give a uniform look that will not rot. The structural covering includes a general covering component, a connecting component, an end cap component, and a corner component. The general covering component covers most of the floor board of the deck and covers most of the rail of the railing. The connecting component joins facing ends of the general covering components that are adjacent and collinearlly-aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventors: Paul S. Oliveri, Camilo P. Messina
  • Patent number: 5794897
    Abstract: A hanger for attaching a length of a transmission line, such as, a coaxial cable or a waveguide to a supporting structure, such as, a crossbar on an antenna tower, includes two gripping elements. The elements have posts and openings to facilitate aligning of them with respect to each other. The posts and openings are arranged so that the posts in one element fit into the openings of the other element to help align the two elements when they are placed around a transmission line. Once aligned, the two elements are brought toward each other until they snap together to form a clamping structure which loosely grips the transmission line. The clamping structure can then be slid to the desired location on the transmission line. A bolt or a screw is then inserted through the aligned bolt or screw openings in the two elements and through the supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Jobin, Randall L. Grigoletti, James R. Gentile, Hugh R. Nudd, John Williamson
  • Patent number: 5791115
    Abstract: A frame leg for a rack of a switchgear cabinet having two partial profile strips produced from material strips in a stamping and bending process, wherein the partial profile sections overlap each other with partial sections in connecting areas and are fixedly connected with respect to each other. The stability, the torsional stability and sealing of a frame leg of this type can be improved with negligible outlay. Prior to or during the stamping and bending process of the two partial profile sections, the partial sections included in the connecting areas are provided with a curable adhesive layer at least in one of the partial sections, and that the cured adhesive layers connect the partial sections of the two partial connecting sections included in the connecting areas in a fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Nicolai, Georg Vogel
  • Patent number: 5791113
    Abstract: A structural connecting and sealing member is provided for making a structural connection between two structural members along an elongate interface without the need for any additional fasteners. The member includes two attaching members for attaching the connecting member to each of the structural members, and further includes a sealing portion which provides a seal along a joint between the two structural members thereby eliminating the need for caulking or sealant to be applied to the joint. The member is particularly suited for use in the construction of door frames where it is used to join a door jamb to a brick mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Inkster Park Millwork Ltd.
    Inventors: Terry J. Glowa, Michael D. Glowa, Dennis F. Pickerl
  • Patent number: 5784846
    Abstract: A roof structure and method for reducing uplift on a roof resulting from a wind blowing over the roof at a rooftop wind speed. The roof has a membrane overlying a deck. An air permeable and resilient mat is installed over the membrane. The mat has openings of a size to reduce the wind velocity passing through it to the membrane while the openings being of a size that the mat is not lifted by a pressure differential therein reducing uplift on the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Building Materials Corporation of America
    Inventor: Raymond D. Godschalx
  • Patent number: 5778620
    Abstract: A construction block comprises parallel faces joined by four side edges. Two side edges have outer spacing flanges while the other two side edges have inner spacing flanges. The inner flanges are received within a recess defined by the outer flanges. Hook receptacles located on the lower portion of the outer spacing flanges receive hooks located along the length of the inner spacing flanges when two blocks are interconnected, holding the two blocks firmly to each other. The interfacing flanges provide spacing support and integrity and a location for flange to flange ultrasonic spot welding. A structural bar is positionable within the recess of the inner spacing flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Myles Fisher
  • Patent number: 5775046
    Abstract: Construction member panels have an array of engaging elements and cooperating receiving spaces, such as dovetails and dovetail shaped keyways. The engaging elements are relatively closely spaced such that a pair of such panels can be meshed together, and will be locked against motion in two directions. The construction member panels can be used alone, with one planar member being fixed to a support and the other to an item to be supported, or they can be connected to each other to form units, such as L-shaped units, U-shaped units, or rectangular parallelepiped boxes. Shapes other than dovetails can also be used.Specially located engaging elements along the length of construction members, or the sides of the units made therefrom allow mated construction members to be translated relative to each other as desired, even if one construction member is mated with and bridges across two facing construction members, thus exhibiting translational symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David J. Fanger, Richard E. Seubert, Byungho Han, Darcy M. Ytterdahl, O. John Bourg, III
  • Patent number: 5775649
    Abstract: A free-standing, one-piece bag holder made up of a resilient rolled metal. The base of the bag holder consists of two parallel base members of the rolled metal. A crossbar that is perpendicular to the base members is fixedly attached at the ends thereof to the respective base members at points on the base members which are midway between the ends of the base members. Portions of the base members extend upwardly at an angle from the opposite ends of the base members towards the mid-portions of the base members. Four legs respectively extend upwardly at right angles relative to the portions of the base members so that the sides of the bag holder diverge outwardly from one another when the bag holder is in a bag removed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Dennis S. O'Leary
  • Patent number: 5768830
    Abstract: A support for construction material provides for the temporary support of elongate materials during construction projects or storage of the materials. The device comprises a generally U-shaped frame having a flat, planar base and opposite parallel planar arms extending upwardly and generally normal to the base. Each arm includes an elongate slot therein, with an axle having a series of rollers thereon, adjustably installed in the slots. One of the arms includes an additional roller at the uppermost end thereof, with its axis normal to the adjustable rollers extending between the arms. The opposite arm includes at least two nail slots, adapted to receive partially driven nails so the device may be temporarily suspended during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Kevin J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5765333
    Abstract: A high strength insulated building structure. The building structure uses a rigid foam building panels having kerfs on each side. The kerfs on the rigid foam building panels are complementary in shape to pre-cured jacketed concrete posts. The pre-cured jacketed posts have a mounting attachment foot adapted for mounting on a substructure, and the building panels are securely and sealingly mounted between adjacent, substructure secured, jacketed concrete posts. The jacketed concrete posts are also provided with top attachment members which are secured to beams which run horizontally above the rigid building panels. The building panels are also provided with furring strips recessed to be flush with their interior and exterior surface, for permitting fasteners to be used for fastening other structural components thereto, such as gypsum board on the interior and siding on the exterior. The building structure provides a high strength, highly insulating structure with quick building time in the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Dale W. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5765323
    Abstract: A drainage pipe for use with a basement waterproofing and drainage system includes a U-shaped lower section, the lower section having a base, first and second side portions, the first and second side portions angling away from a line perpendicular to the base and outward and away from the base. The edges of the upper section are folded over and downward to receive and hold the side portions of the lower section. A substantially L-shaped cover plate is bent upwards at an angle of about 90 degrees and has attaching means for attaching the second section to a basement wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph Bevilacqua
  • Patent number: 5761875
    Abstract: A concrete pole includes an attachment mechanism which provides a structurally sound means of attaching to the pole and permits the use of short, inexpensive bolts. It also eliminates the labor usually required for drilling or casting a hole through the pole to attach structural appurtenances to the pole with long through-bolts. The attachment mechanism includes annular members which are tied to the vertical reinforcing rods, a base plate, which is fixed to the annular members, nuts which are fixed to the base plate, and pipes, which provide a path from outside the pole, through the concrete, to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Newmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley J. Oliphant, Leo Licon, Jr., Douglas C. Sherman
  • Patent number: 5758461
    Abstract: A lightweight, prefabricated building structure is assembled from panels having positive attachment means for attaching each of the panels to a suitable foundation. Each of the panels has friction lock means for interlocking one to another. Roof panels are provided which are joinable to the edge on the upper surface of the panels by the same type of friction lock means. Panels consisting of polyurethane can be easily shipped to a building site and erected with a minimum of cost and manual labor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Robert D. Holmes
    Inventor: Frank J. McManus