Patents by Inventor Michael T. Cole

Michael T. Cole 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: 8242365
    Abstract: A cover assembly for use on a recessed in-floor fitting. The cover assembly includes a flange configured to be mounted along the surface of a floor and a cover rotatably connected to the flange and configured to be moved with respect to the flange from a closed position covering the interior of the in-floor fitting to an open position allowing access to the interior. The cover includes a gasket that forms a radial seal along an inner wall of the flange when the cover is in the closed position and at least one door that is movable from a closed position that covers up an egress passageway in the cover to an open position that exposes the egress passageway. The door is configured to slide under a top surface of the cover when moved between the open and closed positions and is biased toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Wiremold Company
    Inventors: Marc D. Galasso, Timothy S. Bowman, Peter Currier, Michael T. Cole
  • Patent number: 7281355
    Abstract: Ceiling panel assemblies are conventionally suspended from a building structure, and each panel assembly has a core panel provided with dividers and spacers, and panel bridging members to allow cables to be strong in the ceiling as required to accommodate the power and low voltage requirements in the space therebelow. A decorative panel completes each panel assembly. A fire retardant panel may be provided also, to enclose the cables in wireways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Wiremold Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Cole
  • Patent number: 7183503
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an in-floor fitting for providing access to an underfloor electric distribution system. The in-floor fitting includes a cover configured to move between open and closed positions and being moved to an open position to allow a cable to pass therethrough. The in-floor fitting includes a receptacle positioned below the cover and configured to operatively connect to a cable comprising at least one of an electrical cable and a communication cable, wherein the cover is substantially flush with a surface of a floor when the cable is operatively connected to the receptacle and the cover is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Wiremold Company
    Inventors: Timothy S. Bowman, Michael T. Cole
  • Patent number: 7166798
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an in-floor fitting. The in-floor fitting includes a trim ring and an internal housing. The internal housing includes at least one of an electrical and communication receptacle and is configured to be positioned in an open position in which the at least one of an electrical and communication receptacle is positioned above a surface of a floor, and a closed position in which the at least one of an electrical and communication receptacle is positioned below a surface of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Wiremold, Co.
    Inventor: Michael T. Cole
  • Patent number: 7082729
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the fitting and is adapted to support at least one receptacle within the fitting. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange includes access doors for selectively covering and exposing the receptacles. A first seal member is interposed between the cover plate and the trim flange for sealing against water infiltration therebetween. The first seal may be in the form of a planar gasket or O-ring. A second seal, in the form of at least one compressible gasket, extends around the perimeter of the floor opening and is adapted to be compressed between the trim flange and the surface of the floor. The cover plate may also include top and bottom portions and a third seal member interposed between the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Tim Bowman, Stephen T. English, John Kohaut, Joe Young
  • Patent number: 6854226
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the fitting and is adapted to support at least one receptacle within the fitting. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange includes access doors for selectively covering and exposing the receptacles. A first seal member is interposed between the cover plate and the trim flange for sealing against water infiltration therebetween. The first seal may be in the form of a planar gasket or O-ring. A second seal, in the form of at least one compressible gasket, extends around the perimeter of the floor opening and is adapted to be compressed between the trim flange and the surface of the floor. The cover plate may also include top and bottom portions and a third seal member interposed between the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Tim Bowman, Stephen T. English, John Kohaut, Joe Young
  • Publication number: 20040128927
    Abstract: Ceiling panel assemblies are conventionally suspended from a building structure, and each panel assembly has a core panel provided with dividers and spacers, and panel bridging members to allow cables to be strong in the ceiling as required to accommodate the power and low voltage requirements in the space therebelow. A decorative panel completes each panel assembly. A fire retardant panel may be provided also, to enclose the cables in wireways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: The Wiremold Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Cole
  • Publication number: 20040069516
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the fitting and is adapted to support at least one receptacle within the fitting. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange includes access doors for selectively covering and exposing the receptacles. A first seal member is interposed between the cover plate and the trim flange for sealing against water infiltration therebetween. The first seal may be in the form of a planar gasket or O-ring. A second seal, in the form of at least one compressible gasket, extends around the perimeter of the floor opening and is adapted to be compressed between the trim flange and the surface of the floor. The cover plate may also include top and bottom portions and a third seal member interposed between the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Tim Bowman, Stephen T. English, John Kohaut, Joe Young
  • Patent number: 6612081
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The fitting includes an internal compartment which is accessible through an opening in the surface of the floor. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the floor opening. The trim flange supports at least one receptacle, such as a power receptacle, within the fitting such that the receptacle can be interconnected within the inner compartment with source cables that enter the fitting from below the floor, and can be interconnected from above with a connector such as a male electrical plug. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange and overlies the receptacles carried by the fitting. The cover plate includes a plurality of access doors. Each of the access doors is movable between a first position at which it overlies an associated receptacle to prevent access thereto and a second position at which the associated receptacle is exposed and accessible from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Timothy Bowman, Stephen English, Joe Young, John Kohaut
  • Patent number: 6545215
    Abstract: An access cover for an in-floor receptacle fitting includes a door mounting member connectable to the fitting at a location that overlies the receptacles carried by the fitting. A pair of access doors are slidably connected to the door mounting member for movement between closed positions at which the doors abut one another and overlie the at least one receptacle, and open positions at which the doors are laterally spaced from one another and the at least one receptacle is exposed. A seal member is adapted to seal against moisture infiltration between the access doors when the access doors are at their closed positions. The seal member may include a compressible seal carried by at least one of the access doors. Preferably the compressible seal members are carried by each of the access doors and are positioned to abut one another when the doors are at their closed positions. The compressible seals may be formed from a compressible polymer that is co-molded with the access doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Young, Michael T. Cole, Stephen T. English
  • Patent number: 6462277
    Abstract: A cover assembly for an in-floor fitting of the type having an interior compartment which is accessible through an opening in the surface of the floor includes a bracket and a pair of access doors. The bracket is connectable to the fitting and defines an access opening which aligns with the floor opening. The access doors are pivotally connected to the mounting bracket for selectively exposing the access opening. When the doors are at their closed position, they define a cable opening between their free ends. The cable opening is sized to permit at least one cable to pass between the doors and into the interior compartment of the fitting. The access doors carry compressible seal members in their free ends which abut with one another when the doors are moved to their closed position so as to seal the cable opening around any cables passing therethrough. Egress covers are slidably connected to the access doors for selectively covering and exposing the cable opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe A. Young, Michael T. Cole
  • Publication number: 20020116883
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the fitting and is adapted to support at least one receptacle within the fitting. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange includes access doors for selectively covering and exposing the receptacles. A first seal member is interposed between the cover plate and the trim flange for sealing against water infiltration therebetween. The first seal may be in the form of a planar gasket or O-ring. A second seal, in the form of at least one compressible gasket, extends around the perimeter of the floor opening and is adapted to be compressed between the trim flange and the surface of the floor. The cover plate may also include top and bottom portions and a third seal member interposed between the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Tim Bowman, Stephen T. English, John Kohaut, Joe Young
  • Publication number: 20020096350
    Abstract: An access cover for an in-floor receptacle fitting includes a door mounting member connectable to the fitting at a location that overlies the receptacles carried by the fitting. A pair of access doors are slidably connected to the door mounting member for movement between closed positions at which the doors abut one another and overlie the at least one receptacle, and open positions at which the doors are laterally spaced from one another and the at least one receptacle is exposed. A seal member is adapted to seal against moisture infiltration between the access doors when the access doors are at their closed positions. The seal member may include a compressible seal carried by at least one of the access doors. Preferably the compressible seal members are carried by each of the access doors and are positioned to abut one another when the doors are at their closed positions. The compressible seals may be formed from a compressible polymer that is co-molded with the access doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Joe Young, Michael T. Cole, Stephen T. English
  • Publication number: 20020095887
    Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The fitting includes an internal compartment which is accessible through an opening in the surface of the floor. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the floor opening. The trim flange supports at least one receptacle, such as a power receptacle, within the fitting such that the receptacle can be interconnected within the inner compartment with source cables that enter the fitting from below the floor, and can be interconnected from above with a connector such as a male electrical plug. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange and overlies the receptacles carried by the fitting. The cover plate includes a plurality of access doors. Each of the access doors is movable between a first position at which it overlies an associated receptacle to prevent access thereto and a second position at which the associated receptacle is exposed and accessible from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, Timothy Bowman, Stephen English, Joe Young, John Kohaut
  • Publication number: 20020092664
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a floor box of the type having an interior compartment which is accessible through an opening in the surface of the floor includes a bracket and a pair of access doors. The bracket is connectable to the fitting and defines an access opening which aligns with the floor opening. The access doors are pivotally connected to the mounting bracket for selectively exposing the access opening. When the doors are at their closed position, they define a cable opening between their free ends. The cable opening is sized to permit at least one cable to pass between the doors and into the interior compartment of the fitting. The access doors carry compressible seal members in their free ends which abut with one another when the doors are moved to their closed position so as to seal the cable opening around any cables passing therethrough. Egress covers are slidably connected to the access doors for selectively covering and exposing the cable opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe A. Young, Michael T. Cole
  • Patent number: 6316725
    Abstract: An housing is configured for connection to the raceway panels by removing the concrete above the raceway panel, cutting a hole in the raceway panel, and securing the housing in the hole in the raceway panel. Alignment clips allow the afterset housings to be ganged together to form an integral afterset assembly. Each alignment clip is configured to slidably engage with a pair of the afterset housings. In one embodiment, the afterset housing includes a preset housing that is normally configured for connection to the raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor, and an adapter connectable to the preset housing and being constructed to reconfigure the preset for use as an afterset housing which is adapted for connection to the raceway panel following pouring of the concrete floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, John P. Penczak, Thomas R. Russo, Joe Young
  • Patent number: RE40069
    Abstract: An housing is configured for connection to the raceway panels by removing the concrete above the raceway panel, cutting a hole in the raceway panel, and securing the housing in the hole in the raceway panel. Alignment clips allow the afterset housings to be ganged together to form an integral afterset assembly. Each alignment clip is configured to slidably engage with a pair of the afterset housings. In one embodiment, the afterset housing includes a preset housing that is normally configured for connection to the raceway panel prior to pouring of the concrete floor, and an adapter connectable to the preset housing and being constructed to reconfigure the preset for use as an afterset housing which is adapted for connection to the raceway panel following pouring of the concrete floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: The Wiremold Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Cole, John P. Penczak, Thomas R. Russo, Joe Young