Patents by Inventor Lawrence P. Tocha

Lawrence P. Tocha 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: 5832692
    Abstract: A hollow panel for use in making furniture and other products. The panel includes a plurality of side rails and interior blocks positioned vertically and adhesively secured to outer sheets. The blocks and the side rails are made of offal or scrap products. Preferably, a template is used to manufacture the panels and a vacuum is used to attach one of the panels to the side rails and blocks. Also disclosed are a method and a device to make the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Bush Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Opferbeck, Donald J. Krug, Lawrence P. Tocha
  • Patent number: 5816013
    Abstract: A curved panel for use in furniture. The curved panel includes a sheet which in a free state is flat. A plurality of pins are secured to opposite ends of the sheet. One or more members are provided for engaging the pins to maintain the sheet in a curved state. The curved panel can include two spaced apart sheets and a frame defined by a plurality of curvable rails or spaced apart blocks and non-curvable rails that extend about a perimeter of the sheets. The frame is positioned between the sheets so that the curvable rails or spaced apart blocks and sheets are curved about an axis of curvature. Each curvable rail includes a slotted rail having a plurality of ribs defining slots therebetween. A plurality of pins are secured to the non-curvable rails and pass through holes defined in one of the sheets so as to maintain the sheets in a curved state. The curved panel can also be formed by a sheet having pins secured thereto, where the pins are received by template guides to maintain the sheet in a curved state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bush Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Opferbeck, Lawrence P. Tocha