Patents by Inventor Charles Porter

Charles Porter 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: 12188501
    Abstract: A clip linkage is disclosed comprising clips to restrict relative parallel displacement between a panel and a back surface. The clip linkage is set intermediate the panel and the back surface so as to be hidden. The clip linkage is particularly useful for holding a panel to a back surface having a corner such as a corner of a wall or ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 11987987
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inset for a panel in the form of a pad or disk for holding supporting the weight of the panel and holding it against a back surface without any means of support for the panel being visible. The insert comprises; one or more spiral shape arms which spiral(s) radially inwards from a perimetral rim inwards toward the center of the insert where the arms have a connector to connect to mounting screw, bolt or rivet. Also disclosed is a panel wall assembly covering a back surface with a panel, comprising: the panel held face to face with the back surface by an out-of-sight insert inset in the panel; a mounting screw/bolt/rivet with a head-flange which protrudes from the back surface; and the insert comprising a connector connected to the head-flange of the mounting screw, bolt or rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20230400048
    Abstract: A clip linkage is disclosed comprising clips to restrict relative parallel displacement between a panel and a back surface. The clip linkage is set intermediate the panel and the back surface so as to be hidden. The clip linkage is particularly useful for holding a panel to a back surface having a corner such as a corner of a wall or ceiling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20210404182
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a lock for securing clips used to hold a panel to a wall or ceiling. It includes a panel assembly covering a back surface of a ceiling with a panel, comprising: the panel held face to face with the back surface by a link between a first clip and a second clip; a lock for securing the clips linked together comprising a shim and a flexible wedge connected together; at least a first fastener which connects the wedge to the back surface at a location outside the perimeter of the panel; wherein the shim intermediate the wedge and the back surface is movable to a first position outside of the perimeter to unlock the link to remove the panel from the back surface and in a second configuration the shim is located inside the perimeter where the link is locked to prevent removal of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20210388621
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inset for a panel in the form of a pad or disk for holding supporting the weight of the panel and holding it against a back surface without any means of support for the panel being visible. The insert comprises; one or more spiral shape arms which spiral(s) radially inwards from a perimetral rim inwards toward the center of the insert where the arms have a connector to connect to mounting screw, bolt or rivet. Also disclosed is a panel wall assembly covering a back surface with a panel, comprising: the panel held face to face with the back surface by an out-of-sight insert inset in the panel; a mounting screw/bolt/rivet with a head-flange which protrudes from the back surface; and the insert comprising a connector connected to the head-flange of the mounting screw, bolt or rivet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 9765529
    Abstract: A panel fastener for removably flush mounting a wall panel to a wood furring. The panel fastener includes a mounting body adapted for being inserted into a complementary opening in the wood furring. A hanger slot is disposed in the mounting body for receiving a hanger member carrying the wall panel. A slot flange is disposed within a portion of the hanger slot and defining a narrowed hanger channel receiving and securing the hanger member. A crush ridge is disposed on a rear side of the slot flange for engaging the hanger member. A slot cap disposed in a rear side of the hanger slot and including a locking arm engaging the hanger member when inserted into the narrowed hanger channel of the slot flange for resisting removal of the hanger member from the narrowed hanger channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20170073961
    Abstract: A panel fastener for removably flush mounting a wall panel to a wood furring. The panel fastener includes a mounting body adapted for being inserted into a complementary opening in the wood furring. A hanger slot is disposed in the mounting body for receiving a hanger member carrying the wall panel. A slot flange is disposed within a portion of the hanger slot and defining a narrowed hanger channel receiving and securing the hanger member. A crush ridge is disposed on a rear side of the slot flange for engaging the hanger member. A slot cap disposed in a rear side of the hanger slot and including a locking arm engaging the hanger member when inserted into the narrowed hanger channel of the slot flange for resisting removal of the hanger member from the narrowed hanger channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 9376812
    Abstract: A plurality of carrying bars defining a suspended mounting grid. A bracket having a U-shaped central portion defining a mounting channel receiving a portion of said carrying bars. The bracket has a first support arm extending laterally outward from a first side of said central portion, and a second support arm extending laterally outward from a second side of said central portion. A keyway is disposed in each of said first and second support arms. A ceiling panel having a ceiling panel connecting member engages said keyway in either of said first support arm or said second support arm of said bracket so that said ceiling panel is carried by said bracket on said carrying bars. A securing clip carried on each of said first and second support arms engaging said ceiling panel connecting member to resist removal of said ceiling panel connecting member from said keyway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20160053478
    Abstract: A first clip and a second clip each having a housing including a top and bottom wall interconnected by side walls defining a hollow interior socket, a connector insert carried in the socket including a base portion having a series of laterally spaced prongs extending parallel with the length of the socket, the prongs having a distal end portion extending outward beyond the housing; the distal end portions of the prongs on the first clip are adapted for engaging the prongs of the second clip in interlocking engagement; the distal end portions of the prongs on the first clip are received into the socket of the second clip, and the distal end portions of the prongs on the second clip are received into the socket of the first clip so that the housing of the first clip is disposed flush against the housing of the second clip to resist movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20160053489
    Abstract: A plurality of carrying bars defining a suspended mounting grid. A bracket having a U-shaped central portion defining a mounting channel receiving a portion of said carrying bars. The bracket has a first support arm extending laterally outward from a first side of said central portion, and a second support arm extending laterally outward from a second side of said central portion. A keyway is disposed in each of said first and second support arms. A ceiling panel having a ceiling panel connecting member engages said keyway in either of said first support arm or said second support arm of said bracket so that said ceiling panel is carried by said bracket on said carrying bars. A securing clip carried on each of said first and second support arms engaging said ceiling panel connecting member to resist removal of said ceiling panel connecting member from said keyway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 9169653
    Abstract: A clip having a plurality of locking ribs disposed on a front surface for engaging a mounting surface; a mounting channel disposed in a rear surface; the mounting channel adapted to receive a securing member for securing the clip to the mounting surface; a flange extending outwardly from a side surface, wherein the flange includes an engaging surface having a ridge portion and a recess portion; whereby the ridge portion of the flange is received into a complementary recess portion of a flange on a second clip, and the recess portion receives a complementary ridge portion of the flange on the second clip for interlocking engagement between clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20150275527
    Abstract: A clip having a plurality of locking ribs disposed on a front surface for engaging a mounting surface; a mounting channel disposed in a rear surface; the mounting channel adapted to receive a securing member for securing the clip to the mounting surface; a flange extending outwardly from a side surface, wherein the flange includes an engaging surface having a ridge portion and a recess portion; whereby the ridge portion of the flange is received into a complementary recess portion of a flange on a second clip, and the recess portion receives a complementary ridge portion of the flange on the second clip for interlocking engagement between clips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 8720156
    Abstract: A panel hanger for flush mounting a wall panel to drywall. The panel hanger includes a cylindrical mounting body adapted for being inserted into a drywall sheet. A control member is rotatably carried by the mounting body. A clamp arm is rotatably carried by the control member. Rotation of the control member draws the clamp arm toward the mounting body and rotates the clamp arm to extend beyond a diameter of the mounting body for engaging the drywall sheet to secure the mounting body to the drywall. A hanger slot is disposed within the mounting body for receiving a hanger member carrying a drywall sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20140075882
    Abstract: A panel hanger for flush mounting a wall panel to drywall. The panel hanger includes a cylindrical mounting body adapted for being inserted into a drywall sheet. A control member is rotatably carried by the mounting body. A clamp arm is rotatably carried by the control member. Rotation of the control member draws the clamp arm toward the mounting body and rotates the clamp arm to extend beyond a diameter of the mounting body for engaging the drywall sheet to secure the mounting body to the drywall. A hanger slot is disposed within the mounting body for receiving a hanger member carrying a drywall sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Charles Porter
  • Patent number: 7691340
    Abstract: A catalytic converter having a pair of catalytic converter members disposed in a housing. A pair of catalytic converter members is disposed within the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing. A annular structure is disposed within the housing between the pair of catalytic converter members, such annular structure having a hollow inner region disposed along the longitudinal axis to enable exhaust gases introduced into the housing to pass from a frontal one of the pair of catalytic converter members, though the hollow region of the annular structure, to a rearward one of the pair of catalytic converter members. The annular structure terminates at a front edge and rear edge. The front edge engages a rear, outer peripheral portion of the frontal one of pair of catalytic converter members and the rear edge engages a frontal, outer peripheral portion of the rearward one of the pair of catalytic converter members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyadeo Sinha, Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20080041042
    Abstract: A catalytic converter having a pair of catalytic converter members disposed in a housing. A pair of catalytic converter members is disposed within the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing. A annular structure is disposed within the housing between the pair of catalytic converter members, such annular structure having a hollow inner region disposed along the longitudinal axis to enable exhaust gases introduced into the housing to pass from a frontal one of the pair of catalytic converter members, though the hollow region of the annular structure, to a rearward one of the pair of catalytic converter members. The annular structure terminates at a front edge and rear edge. The front edge engages a rear, outer peripheral portion of the frontal one of pair of catalytic converter members and the rear edge engages a frontal, outer peripheral portion of the rearward one of the pair of catalytic converter members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Satyadeo Sinha, Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20070130131
    Abstract: A system for searching a network for network based content related to a search query, such as multimedia and streaming media, includes an adapter for formatting the search query, a first database containing previous search results and a second database for storing currently returnable metadata, a search processor, and at least one search engine kernel comprising a search engine inherent database. The search engine coordinates searching of the first database and the second database, and provides the formatted search query to the search engine kernel. The search processor also provides and receives search results to and from the first database and the second database, and provides search results to the adapter. The system stores a predetermined amount of previous search results in the first database, such that search results for a current search are retrieved from the database, avoiding a search through search engine kernel comprising searchable metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Charles Porter, Jonathan Reich Hold, Eric Rehm
  • Publication number: 20060177359
    Abstract: A support seal for use with a catalytic converter having a housing, which includes an inlet end cone, an outlet end cone, and a shell forming an internal chamber, and catalytic substrate disposed within the internal chamber. The support seal has an ā€œLā€ shaped cross-section including a radial portion and an axial portion, at least one portion for supporting and retaining the catalytic substrate within the internal chamber. The axial and radial portion of the ā€œLā€ shaped seal can be preloaded to provide support to the substrate in the axial and radial directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Satyadeo Sinha, Charles Porter
  • Publication number: 20050038809
    Abstract: A method and system for utilizing metadata to search for media, such as multimedia and streaming media, includes searching for the media, receiving results, extracting metadata associated with the media, enhancing the extracted metadata, and grouping the search results in accordance with attributes of the enhanced metadata. Enhancing and grouping include adding related metadata to the database of metadata, iteratively using metadata to search for more media related data, removing duplicate URLs, collapsing URLs that are variants of each other, and masking out superfluous terms from URLs. The resultant metadata and media files are available to users and search engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Aram Abajian, Robin Alexander, Scott Lee, Austin Dahl, John Derosa, Charles Porter, Eric Rehm, Jennifer Kolar, Srinivasan Sudanagunta
  • Patent number: 4405509
    Abstract: Compositions which releases fragrance without burning and which comprise a petroleum wax base, 2 to 7 weight percent butyl rubber, 1 to 5 weight percent ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and 9 to 15 weight percent fragrance are described. The compositions can be molded or otherwise formed into durable fragrance-emitting articles.The preferred compositions comprise 73 to 88 weight percent paraffin wax, 0 to 10 weight percent microcrystalline wax, 0 to 10 weight percent petrolatum, 1 to 5 weight percent ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, 2 to 7 weight percent butyl rubber and 9 to 15 weight percent fragrance. Such compositions may be flush molded into hollow shells which may be filled, preferably with a foamed wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Avon Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack M. Rogers, Richard Tokosh, Charles Porter, James Martine