Patents by Inventor Abraham M. Underkofler

Abraham M. Underkofler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11952775
    Abstract: The invention provides a bracket design for connecting cross and main tees of a suspended ceiling in non-rectangular joints to provide a wide variety of ceiling patterns including rhombic and triangular shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventor: Abraham M. Underkofler
  • Publication number: 20240035276
    Abstract: An integral main tee connector arranged to couple with an identical connector stamped from metal strip material aligned strip-wise with material making a web of the main tee the connector when connected to another identical connector exhibiting at least five locking zones distributed over an expanse of each connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: Abraham M. Underkofler
  • Publication number: 20240035277
    Abstract: The invention provides a bracket design for connecting cross and main tees of a suspended ceiling in non-rectangular joints to provide a wide variety of ceiling patterns including rhombic and triangular shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: Abraham M. Underkofler
  • Patent number: 11608636
    Abstract: An elongate sheet metal body for attachment to the web of a grid tee, the body having a substantially right angle cross-section formed by legs that in use are vertical and horizontal, respectively, the vertical leg having a width adapted to fit against the web between a reinforcing bulb and lower flange of the tee, the horizontal leg having a width at least that of the width of a portion of the flange portion extending from the web to a free edge of the flange, the horizontal leg having at a free edge a plurality of depending lugs spaced uniformly from one another with a common center to center distance, the lugs having a horizontal width sized to fit into U-shaped baffles such that said baffles carried on said lugs have the same center to center distance as the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Eric H. Kremer, Faris Alnakkar
  • Patent number: 10988953
    Abstract: A perimeter pocket system with an inner wall having a brace connecting protuberance and an extended ceiling supporting ledge with grid tee end reference marks or coupling structure for an extension. Grid tee connector clips have cam slots for raising grid tees in a seismic event and features imparting rigidity and vibration resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, Michael P. O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20210054643
    Abstract: A perimeter pocket system with an inner wall having a brace connecting protuberance and an extended ceiling supporting ledge with grid tee end reference marks or coupling structure for an extension. Grid tee connector clips have cam slots for raising grid tees in a seismic event and features imparting rigidity and vibration resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, Michael P. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 10876305
    Abstract: An architectural perimeter pocket assembly having at least a top and an inner side for forming an open bottom pocket, the inner side including an upper section and a lower extension section separately formed from the upper section, the sections having mutual engageable coupling formations horizontally displaced from main portions of said sections that when engaged enable the upper section to support the lower extension section vertically and restrain the lower section from pendulum-type motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Publication number: 20200370310
    Abstract: An architectural perimeter pocket assembly having at least a top and an inner side for forming an open bottom pocket, the inner side including an upper section and a lower extension section separately formed from the upper section, the sections having mutual engageable coupling formations horizontally displaced from main portions of said sections that when engaged enable the upper section to support the lower extension section vertically and restrain the lower section from pendulum-type motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Patent number: 10233639
    Abstract: A utility channel comprising a plurality of channels and accessory components, the channels having a rectangular cross section with a bottom wall and horizontally spaced parallel sidewalls extending upwardly from lateral edges of the bottom wall, opposed inturned flanges at upper edges of the sidewalls, the flanges having notches open at flange edges distal from a respective sidewall, in alignment with the notches of the opposed flange and uniformly spaced along the length of the channel, the accessory components in the channel interior space engage the flanges to maintain their assembled position in the channel interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 10174501
    Abstract: Clips that engage with special top flanges on elongated U-shaped acoustical baffles. One clip form suspends the baffles from grid tees in horizontal or inclined orientations or from cables or rods. Another clip form aligns to and joins intersecting baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen, Kyle S. Carolus
  • Publication number: 20180334803
    Abstract: A linear metal ceiling system having improved carrier and pan geometries that afford improved versatility in pan widths and shapes, and improved pan retention force. Accessories for joining carriers together and for attaching perimeter trim strips are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Publication number: 20180252356
    Abstract: A utility channel comprising a plurality of channels and accessory components, the channels having a rectangular cross section with a bottom wall and horizontally spaced parallel sidewalls extending upwardly from lateral edges of the bottom wall, opposed inturned flanges at upper edges of the sidewalls, the flanges having notches open at flange edges distal from a respective sidewall, in alignment with the notches of the opposed flange and uniformly spaced along the length of the channel, the accessory components in the channel interior space engage the flanges to maintain their assembled position in the channel interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 10011987
    Abstract: A metal splice plate for joining the ends of suspended ceiling main tees of different heights and load carrying capacity, the plate having a bottom edge lying along a straight line and having a tall section adjacent one end and a short section adjacent an end opposite said one end, a formation at each of said ends providing indicia for locating the formation on the respective section on an end of a main tee of a corresponding height longitudinally at a desired position relative to and spaced from a cross runner slot on the main tee of corresponding height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Lehane, Abraham M. Underkofler
  • Patent number: 10006199
    Abstract: In combination, extruded aluminum trim strips joined end-to-end and a splice plate, the trim strips together, the trim strip cross-sections including a web and a pair of opposed angles, the angles and web forming a track for receiving a mid-section of the splice plate with a close sliding fit, the splice plate having lever tabs at opposite ends, notches at sides of the plate, the plate being disposed in the tracks of both lengths of trim strips, the lever tabs and associated edges of the lever tabs formed by the notches being outside of the tracks, the associated edge being arranged in a locking manner with outer surfaces of the angles as a result of the lever tabs being bent in place towards the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9938718
    Abstract: An arched island ceiling system comprising a pair of arcuate frame members, metal panels, and clips for supporting the panels on the frame members, the frame members having a generally rectangular cross-section, the clips having a saddle configuration including a seat and legs depending from opposite sides of the seat and being proportioned to straddle the frame member, lower ends of the legs having feet engageable with the underside of inwardly extending flanges of sides of the metal panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventor: Abraham M. Underkofler
  • Patent number: 9920524
    Abstract: In combination, extruded aluminum trim strips joined end-to-end and a splice plate, the trim strips together, the trim strip cross-sections including a web and a pair of opposed angles, the angles and web forming a track for receiving a mid-section of the splice plate with a close sliding fit, the splice plate having lever tabs at opposite ends, notches at sides of the plate, the plate being disposed in the tracks of both lengths of trim strips, the lever tabs and associated edges of the lever tabs formed by the notches being outside of the tracks, the associated edge being arranged in a locking manner with outer surfaces of the angles as a result of the lever tabs being bent in place towards the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9920525
    Abstract: An acoustical baffle assembly comprising an elongated rigid upper carrier, a rigid panel supported on the carrier and a plurality of clips attaching the panel on the carrier at a plurality of locations along the length of the carrier, the clips each being clinched on an upper edge of the panel and being engaged with the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen
  • Publication number: 20180073247
    Abstract: In combination, extruded aluminum trim strips joined end-to-end and a splice plate, the trim strips together, the trim strip cross-sections including a web and a pair of opposed angles, the angles and web forming a track for receiving a mid-section of the splice plate with a close sliding fit, the splice plate having lever tabs at opposite ends, notches at sides of the plate, the plate being disposed in the tracks of both lengths of trim strips, the lever tabs and associated edges of the lever tabs formed by the notches being outside of the tracks, the associated edge being arranged in a locking manner with outer surfaces of the angles as a result of the lever tabs being bent in place towards the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, Mark R. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9909312
    Abstract: Components for constructing a ceiling grid across a span free of or with a limited number of suspension wires including main runners with a relatively high moment of inertia secured at their ends with brackets to wall moldings on opposing walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Lehane, Lee M. Tedesco, Peder J. Gulbrandsen, John M. Willi, Donald J. Leahy, Abraham M. Underkofler, Yelena Straight, Michael O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 9879424
    Abstract: A suspended ceiling system comprising a plurality of spaced parallel main runners, a plurality of spaced parallel panel support bars intersecting and being fixed to the main runners at an oblique angle, a plurality of rhomboidal panels having angles equal to said oblique angle suspended from the bars, the panels having nominal width dimensions that are equal to or whole fractions of a distance between adjacent runners, the panels having opposed first edges extending perpendicularly to a direction in which a width of a panel is measured and opposed second parallel edges extending in a direction that is at said oblique angle relative to a direction that the first edges extend, the second panel edges underlying respective bars and having attached torsion springs received in slots formed in the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: USG INTERIORS, LLC
    Inventors: Abraham M. Underkofler, Peder J. Gulbrandsen