Patents by Inventor Michael E. Pepper

Michael E. Pepper 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: 7788863
    Abstract: An astragal boot is mounted onto a lower end of an astragal disposed on a free end of a semi-active door in a double-door set disposed over a threshold. The astragal boot includes a platform and a pair of lateral fins spaced from one another and being flexible and projecting downwardly from the platform to seal against the threshold. Primary fins are flexible and project downwardly from the platform a greater distance than the lateral fins and are joined to and extend between the lateral fins. The lateral fins are joined to the primary fins and hold the primary fins into sealing engagement with the threshold to prevent the penetration of water between the astragal boot and the threshold. The lateral fins hold the primary fins against the threshold because the primary fins are thinner thereby minimizing the effort required to close the semi-active door over the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Pepper, James W. Meeks, Brian S. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 7543860
    Abstract: A slide bolt assembly is slideably engaged in an astragal disposed at a free end of a semi-active door in a double-door set. The slide bolt assembly includes an elongated base that slideably engages the astragal. The slide bolt assembly defines a threaded hole and a screw lock is rotatably disposed in the threaded hole between an unlocked position and a locked position to lock the elongated base within the astragal. The screw lock defines a central portion and a rim portion peripherally surrounding the central portion. The rim portion presents a contact surface that is planar. A nipple protrudes from the central portion further than the rim portion. When the screw lock is rotated to the locked position, the nipple pierces a wall of the astragal and the contact surface of the rim portion frictionally engages the wall to lock the slide bolt assembly within the astragal at any point along the astragal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Meeks, Michael E. Pepper, Brian S. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 7472516
    Abstract: A threshold assembly includes a base defining a channel, a plurality of nuts slideably engaged in the channel, a rail disposed on the base and defining a plurality of holes, and a plurality of threaded fasteners rotationally retained in the holes and threadedly engaging the nuts. The channel has a neck and a pair of opposing sides angling outwardly from the neck into the base. Each nut presents opposing contact surfaces complimentary to the opposing sides of the channel such that the nut is slideably engaged in the channel. The nut also includes an elongated platform such that when the threaded fastener is rotated, the elongated platform and the opposing contact surfaces of the nut engage the opposing sides of the channel such that the height of the rail relative to the base is adjusted in response to rotation of the threaded fastener relative to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Pepper, James W. Meeks
  • Patent number: D541629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Pepper, James W. Meeks, Brian S. Hewitt
  • Patent number: D544337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Quanex Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Pepper, James W. Meeks, Brian S. Hewitt