Patents by Inventor Herbert L. Mitchell

Herbert L. Mitchell 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: 6463645
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a hookplate to a bedrail, including a device that transports bedrails into a hookplate receiving position, a hopper that stores hookplates, a first hookplate pusher sliding under the hopper and pushing a fallen hookplate, a second hookplate pusher clamping onto the hookplate and pushing the hookplate into a hookplate mounting position, a pin supply chamber, pin drivers to determine whether the apertures in the bedrail and hookplate are properly aligned, a holding plate temporarily holding pins, the pin drivers then driving their respective pins into the apertures in the bedrail and hookplate to securely fasten the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: B and H Panel Company
    Inventors: Herbert L. Mitchell, James A. Morton, Joseph Nalevanko
  • Patent number: 6381777
    Abstract: A method of installing a bedrail slat system includes engaging two bed side rails with a bed headboard and footboard, and telescopically engaging a first slat member to a second slat member to form a telescoping slat. The ends of the telescoping slats are then connected to the side rails. The first and second slat members are not secured together, but a downwardly extending support is attached to the telescoping slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Herbert L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6349435
    Abstract: A hook and fastener assembly for hooking engineered wood bed rails to the bedpost of headboards and footboards. Includes a bed rail hook configured to slide into the end of a bed rail made of engineered wood. Engineered wood may include any type of man made wood material, including particle board, medium density fiberboard, oriented strand board, and the like. Rivets extend through the bed rail and through apertures in the inserted portion of the bed rail hook in order to securely fasten the bed rail hook in the bed rail end. The same or similar rivets used to secure the bed rail hook may also be oriented in the bedpost in a manner allowing downwardly extending hooks of the bed rail hook to engage the rivets and securely hold the bed rail to the bedpost. The rivets are semi-tubular rivets and include a head and a shank. The ends of the shank are clinched during assembly to secure the rivet and provide substantial removal resistance. Preferably, the ends of the shank form a rolled clinch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Herbert L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6173460
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bed rail hook and fastener assembly for hooking bed rails to the bedpost of headboards and footboards. The invention includes a bed rail hook configured to slide into the end of a bed rail and fasteners configured to extend partially through the bed rail and through apertures in the inserted portion of the bed rail hook in order to securely fasten the bed rail hook in the bed rail end. The same or similar fasteners used to secure the bed rail hook may also be oriented in the bedpost in a manner allowing downwardly extending hooks of the bed rail hook to engage the fasteners and securely hold the bed rail to the bedpost. The fasteners include a head, insertion end and a shank extending therebetween having annular ridges. Preferably, the annular ridges are frusto-conical and slope inwardly towards the insertion end. Additionally, a longer version of the hook fastener may be used to fasten a cleat for supporting bed slats along the lower side of the bed rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: B & H Panel Company
    Inventor: Herbert L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6115858
    Abstract: The invention is a telescoping bed slat easily assembled for beds of various widths and heights. In particular, the invention includes a telescoping slat, one or more telescoping supports and securable mounts at terminal ends of the slat for anchoring the slat to respective bed rail cleats. Each slat includes two telescopically joined tubular sections. Preferably, the tubular sections are rectangular and include coinciding, longitudinally extending slots. The supports include a mounting head portion adapted to slideably engage the coinciding slots and extend downward from the slat toward a floor.The supports may include two telescoping tubular sections. An upper section attaches to the mounting head portion which slideably engages and extends within the slat via the longitudinally extending slot. A lower section attaches to a threadably mounted fine adjustment that permits fine adjustments in the height of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: B&H Panel Company
    Inventor: Herbert L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5815860
    Abstract: The invention is a telescoping bed slat easily assembled for beds of various widths and heights. In particular, the invention includes a telescoping slat, one or more telescoping supports and securable mounts at terminal ends of the slat for anchoring the slat to respective bed rail cleats. Each slat includes two telescopically joined tubular sections. Preferably, the tubular sections are rectangular and include coinciding, longitudinally extending slots. The supports include a mounting head portion adapted to slideably engage the coinciding slots and extend downward from the slat toward a floor. The supports may include two telescoping tubular sections. An upper section attaches to the mounting head portion which slideably engages and extends within the slat via the longitudinally extending slot. A lower section attaches to a threadably mounted fine adjustment that permits fine adjustments in the height of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Herbert L. Mitchell