Patents by Inventor Michael J. Ricard

Michael J. Ricard 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: 5996298
    Abstract: An adjustable, fastenerless modular shutter includes a pair of side rails, at least one shutter panel and a pair of end rails. A center rail can be provided. The side rails and end rails are mutually connected to form a frame for holding one or more shutter panels and center rails. Each end rails and the center rail has a front wall and a pair of runner portions having locking portions. The locking portions are slidably receivable in the pair of side rails and include interferingly, frictionally engaging projections for engaging the side rails to resist separation of the end rails from the side rails during assembly of the shutter. The side rails include front inwardly directed lips which assist in retaining the shutter panelis), the center rail and the end rails, particularly the runner portions. The end rails and the center rail include front surfaces raised from their respective runner portions to be planar with front surfaces of the side rails when the shutter is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Shutters, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Wenzlaff, Michael J. Ricard
  • Patent number: 5826393
    Abstract: An adjustable, fastenerless modular shutter includes end rails having an end wall and a pair of locking portions extending therefrom. The locking portions are slidably receivable in a pair of side rails and engage the side rails to resist separation of the end rails from the side rails during assembly of the shutter. An adjusting member located on the end rail permits adjustable engagement of a shutter panel to the end rail to permit positioning and retention of the shutter panel relative to one of the end rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Selfix, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Wenzlaff, Stephen J. Schreiner, Joseph P. Creasey, Alan MacGowan, Michael J. Ricard, LeRoy Pohl, David E. May, David A. Bures
  • Patent number: 5524407
    Abstract: A shutter and retention assembly of modular members molded or extruded from a polymeric material includes a pair of side rails, each side rail having a front wall, an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall includes a retaining channel formed therein. The shutter further includes a shutter panel member having a central portion and a pair of runners extending along the sides thereof. Each of the runners includes a projection extending along at least a portion thereof. The projection has a cross-sectional shape complementary to the retaining channel of the side rails for securing the panel member to the side rails. The complementary shapes of the engaged projections and retaining channels resist disengagement of the side rails from the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Selfix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ricard, Dave Bures, Alan MacGowan, Leroy Pohl, Steve Schreiner, John Wenzlaff
  • Patent number: 5265391
    Abstract: Modular shutter constructed of modular components including side rails, end rails, and a central generally planar panel member, and including a stabilizing member disposed between the edge of said central panel member and adjacent end rails and connectable therebetween for maintaining the relative positioning therebetween and including a portion for covering any gap between the edge of said central panel member and the adjacent end rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Selfix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ricard, Alan MacGowan
  • Patent number: 5163260
    Abstract: A multi-panel modular shutter assembly comprised of a plurality of center panels disposed side-by-side between a pair of side rails which include retaining means engagable with the adjacent sides of a center panel for retaining said center panel in place and including a plurality of top and bottom rails for framing said center panels engagable with said side rails and an elongate stabilizing strip disposed between adjacent center panels and end rails for retaining said center panels in place and providing a stable shutter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Selfix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ricard, Alan MacGowan