Patents by Inventor Fred S. Romero

Fred S. Romero 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: 7073213
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa includes a mounting bracket disposed near a top of the spa, a support arm which is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about an axis of rotation, and a spring member disposed between the mounting bracket and the support arm. The spa cover is movable between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The support arm is attached on an outside surface of the spa cover at a vertical offset from the axis of rotation when the spa cover is in the fully closed position. The spring member, which may be a gas spring, forms an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees with respect to the top of the spa when the spa cover is in the fully open position. A metal plate may be affixed using a double sided tape on an outside surface of the spa cover, and then anchored to the spa cover. The metal plate may be used to attach the support arm to the spa cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventors: Carlos Duarte, Fred S. Romero
  • Patent number: 7010833
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for coupling a spa cover to a spa includes a mounting bracket, a slide bracket and a support arm adapted to be attached to the spa cover. The mounting bracket is adapted to be installed near a top of the spa. The slide bracket is slidably coupled to the mounting bracket. The support arm is pivotably coupled to the slide bracket at a pivot point on the slide bracket. A metal plate may be affixed using a double sided tape on an outside surface of the spa cover, and then anchored to the spa cover. The metal plate may be used to attach the support arm to the spa cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventors: Carlos Duarte, Fred S. Romero
  • Patent number: 6442799
    Abstract: A hinge comprising a base and a plate rotataby coupled to the base about a turn axis fixed in the base. The hinge further includes a swing member rotably coupled to the plate about a pivot axis fixed relative to the plate and a spring coupled between the base and the plate which urges the plate to rotate about the turn axis in a first direction. The plate has limited rotation in the first direction about the turn axis as the swing arm has limited movement relative to the plate about the pivot axis in a second direction, opposite of the first direction. The limited movement of the swing arm is defined by a pivot limit. Movement of the swing arm toward and away from the pivot limit occurs about the pivot axis without effect of the spring on the arm. During contact of the swing arm with the pivot limit, the arm and the plate can move about the turn axis against the effect of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventors: Carlos Duarte, Fred S. Romero