Patents by Inventor Alan Eckel

Alan Eckel 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: 6990772
    Abstract: A double-acting door closure device that automatically returns a double-acting door to a preferred center position comprises first and second members each having a helical end surface extending transversely of its center axis. The first member is secured in spaced relation to a door jamb and the second member is mounted on and secured to a door post that extends through and is rotatable in the first member, with the helical end surface of the second member facing and engaging the helical end surface of the first member. The helical end surfaces coact with one another to gravitationally return a door attached to the door post to a closed position automatically after the door has been pushed opened and then released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Eckel, Bryce Larrabee
  • Publication number: 20040244293
    Abstract: A double-acting door closure device that automatically returns a double-acting door to a preferred center position comprises first and second members each having a helical end surface extending transversely of its center axis. The first member is secured in spaced relation to a doorjamb and the second member is mounted on and secured to a door post that extends through and is rotatable in the first member, with the helical end surface of the second member facing and engaging the helical end surface of the first member. The helical end surfaces coact with one another to gravitationally return a door attached to the door post to a closed position automatically after the door has been pushed opened and then released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Alan Eckel
    Inventors: Alan Eckel, Bryce Larrabee
  • Patent number: 5780785
    Abstract: An acoustic absorption device preferably includes a platform having a rectangularly-shaped top surface and four side surfaces, each of the surfaces comprising a perforated material. A plurality of spires upstand from the top surface, the spires extending from a first to an opposite second of the sides. A first of the spires is provided with a wall surface comprising a continuation of a third of the platform side surfaces to form a device first planar end, and a second of the spires is provided with a wall surface comprising a continuation of a fourth of the platform side surfaces to form a device second planar end. The spires are spaced one from another to form a channel therebetween. The spires are at least in part covered with the perforated material. The platform and the spires each house a body of sound absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 5768723
    Abstract: An audiometric crib for infants includes a housing having a floor and walls upstanding from the floor, and a door connected to the housing and adapted to move between an open position for moving an infant into and out of the housing and a closed position for isolating the infant from ambient noise and for conducting auditory tests on the infant. Ventilators are provided for directing air into the housing and exhausting air from the housing. Means are provided in one or more of the walls for accommodating in an air-tight manner a transmission line for introducing controlled acoustic signals from outside the crib to the infant in the crib, and for carrying signals from a sensor on the infant in the crib to instrumentation outside of the crib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 5459972
    Abstract: A new traffic impact door construction is provided together with a method of making same. The door body comprises an internal frame and front and back door face panels that are ultrasonically bonded to the frame, with the frame being constructed from extruded thermoplastic beam-type frame members. At least one of the frame members serves as a door post mount and other frame members serve as a supporting frame for a window pane. The frame members also are adapted to serve as mounts for flexible and resilient door edge seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 5210984
    Abstract: An audiometric booth made from modular acoustic panels is provided. The panels comprise simple yet effective means for connecting the panels together without need for separate fasteners. The simple connector means permit the audiometric booth to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, except for attaching the hinges of the door that provides access to the interior of the booth. The panels and associated members coact so that the fully assembled booth has no exposed grooves or openings at the ends or junctions of the various panels and so that the door makes an acoustic seal with the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4951351
    Abstract: An improved automatic door closure is provided for a door which has a door post mounted by two or more members attached to a door jamb. The door closure comprises a roller which is mounted on the door jam, a cam which is mounted on the door post so that it will rotate with the door post but is capable of limited movement relative to the post in an axial direction, and a spring for urging the cam against the roller as the door is swung between open and closed positions. The cam is contoured so as to cause it and the roller to coact with spring arranged to cause the door to return from open to closed position without any operator applied force. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door closure apparatus comprises a compression spring for urging the door to close, and an adjustable mechanism for varying the force exerted by that spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4945606
    Abstract: Improved cam hardware for use with a self-positioning door. The cam is attached to the door mounting post by a threaded connection and has a lower surface which is symmetrically inclined about a high point. The lower surface is contacted by a cam follower roller which is rotatably attached to the door jamb. When the door is opened and released, the cam coacts with the cam follower roller to cause the door to return to its original position where the high point is mated with the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4570384
    Abstract: An improved door having a door nose and a door mounting component which attach to the door panel in a manner which minimizes fastener exposure on the outer surface of the door and reduces cost of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4106255
    Abstract: An acoustical wall assembly comprises at least two modular sound absorbing panels. Each panel includes a substantially flat body and a tongue extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one edge of the body so as to form a channel therebetween. The tongue is provided with a flange portion which extends from the tongue away from the channel. A first connector member having two side plates each extending into a corresponding channel of two modularly-aligned panels, and a second connecting member disposed between the tongues of the adjacent panels, are secured together so as to clamp the flange portions therebetween and secure the two panels together in a coplanar relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4074489
    Abstract: Various improvements of a modular wall assembly of the type having panels with channels formed along the side edges of the panels, are described. The improvements include corner connection means for providing a structurally improved corner connection between two panels, a window frame assembly useful with the panels and yet preserving the modular nature of the modular wall assembly and improved ceiling cap members and floor channel members for facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the wall assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 4038796
    Abstract: A novel acoustical wall assembly comprises at least two modular sound absorbing panels. Each panel includes a substantially flat body and an integral tongue extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one edge of the body so as to form a channel therebetween. A double channel connector, comprising first and second U-shaped channel members, is utilized to connect the panels together in a coplanar relation. The side plates of the first channel member fit into the channels of the confronting edges of two modularly aligned panels, and the side plates of the second channel member fit between the panels in tight fitting relationship with the tongues. An L-shaped connector having two side flanges is used to connect the panels together to form a corner wherein the side flanges of the connector fit into the channels of the confronting edges of two adjacent panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: 3961723
    Abstract: A receptacle has a cover therefor with connector plates attached to opposite sides of said cover. Slideway guides are attached to opposite sides of said receptacle and they provide runways for channel members that are connected to said connector plates. Rails are pivotally attached to opposite sides of said slideway guides and said channel members slide on them. A stop member on said receptacle terminates the opening movement of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: Eckel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Eckel
  • Patent number: D378316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Alan Eckel