Patents by Inventor Jerald A. McRoberts

Jerald A. McRoberts 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: 6430779
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for an invisible hinge of an operable wall includes upper and lower end portions for attachment of the bracket to the edge frame of the operable wall. The end portions include vertical slots to allow for vertical adjustment of the wall. Holes for locking screws are also provided the secure position of the wall after adjustment. The mounting bracket, includes a recessed portion to receive the main body of the invisible hinge. The bracket may also include an acoustic coating or an optional hinge encapsulating acoustic boot to provide improved sound barrier characteristics for the operable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Goldsmith, Reanus Jones, Jerald A. McRoberts, Shannon B. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6393772
    Abstract: A movable wall panel system with panels that automatically plumb to account for slope or rotation of the overhead track. The system includes a cross beam within an interior volume of the wall panel that is connected to at least one trolley movable along the overhead track. The cross beam is pivotally connected to the frame of the wall panel such that the panel can pivot relative to the cross beam, for example within the plane of the panel width. At least one biasing member, such as a compression spring, is located between the frame and the cross beam to resist pivoting motion. In a preferred embodiment, a pendant of each trolley is provided with a pivot surface that engages an underside of the cross beam in weight supporting relationship. The pivot surface and the cross beam underside are complementarily structured and arranged to permit pivoting about the pivot surface of the cross beam and the connected wall panel frame, such as in a direction generally perpendicular to the panel width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald A. McRoberts, Amy M. Meadows, Melvin W. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 6374456
    Abstract: A track and trolley system for an operable wall panel which provides for linear motion. The track is mountable to a ceiling of a room and includes first and second surfaces. The trolley is attachable to the operable wall panel and includes first and second rotatable wheels that respectively engage the first and second track surfaces. The outer radial peripheries of the rotatable wheels and the engaged track surfaces are complementarily structured and arranged to limit movement of the first and second rotatable wheels relative to the surfaces of the track in the direction in which the axis of rotation of the track extends, while allowing the wheels to rotate about their axes of rotation and roll along the track surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Fort, Jerald A. McRoberts, N. Douglas Owens, Melvin W. Tompkins
  • Publication number: 20020023314
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for an invisible hinge of an operable wall includes upper and lower end portions for attachment of the bracket to the edge frame of the operable wall. The end portions include vertical slots to allow for vertical adjustment of the wall. Holes for locking screws are also provided the secure position of the wall after adjustment. The mounting bracket, includes a recessed portion to receive the main body of the invisible hinge. The bracket may also include an acoustic coating or an optional hinge encapsulating acoustic boot to provide improved sound barrier characteristics for the operable wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas L. Goldsmith, Reanus Jones, Jerald A. McRoberts, Shannon B. Richardson
  • Patent number: 5551499
    Abstract: An operable partition seal assembly for use with an operable partition to provide an air-tight seal between the operable partition and a carpeted floor. The seal assembly includes a first sealing strip attached to an underside of an operable partition drop seal. The seal assembly also includes a second sealing strip installed in the carpeted floor beneath the operable partition when it is in a wall forming position. The second sealing strip includes a thin, upwardly extending sealing portion which is disposed within the carpet and which sealingly engages the first sealing strip to provide a sound barrier seal. The second sealing strip also preferably includes a mechanism for retaining the upwardly extending sealing portion in an operational alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Modernfold, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jerald A. McRoberts