Patents by Inventor Ralph W. Dingle

Ralph W. Dingle 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: 5950343
    Abstract: A method of assembling a poster frame made from a plurality of frame sections, each frame section having a base member and cover member rotatably fastened together. One or more flat metal spring biasing members having a first opposed pair of smooth edges and a second opposed pair of sawtooth or irregular edges are positioned between the rotating cover and base members. The spring members are first positioned with the smooth edges in contact with the rotating members until they are aligned, and then with the sharp edges in contact with the members. The projections on the irregular edges of the spring members are preferably pointed and embed in the metal channels of the cover and base members and dig grooves therein, preventing the cover and base member from sliding longitudinally relative to one another. Various configurations of toothed and pointed members can be utilized on the opposed irregular edges of the spring biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Ralph W. Dingle
  • Patent number: 5930928
    Abstract: A front-loading poster display device with a plurality of poster frame sections positioned around and connected to a backing member. Each of the frame sections have a base member affixed to the backing member and a spring-biased cover member rotatably attached to the base member. The ends of the frame sections are mitered at 45.degree. angles. The backing member is preferably connected to the base members of each of the frame sections by "Tog-L-Locs" or other sheet metal joining mechanisms. The ball-type pintle formations in each of the hinge mechanisms connecting the base and cover members together can have one or more elongated slots or recesses therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kantola, Ronald E. Grewe, Ralph W. Dingle
  • Patent number: 5926986
    Abstract: A non-sliding spring mechanism for picture and poster frames. A flat metal spring biasing member having a pair of opposed sawtooth or irregular edges is positioned between a rotating cover member and a stationary base member in each section of the frame device. The projections on the irregular edges of the spring members are preferably pointed and embed in the metal channels of the cover and base members and dig grooves therein, preventing the cover member and base member from sliding longitudinally relative to one another. Various configurations of toothed and pointed members can be utilized on the opposed irregular edges of the spring biasing member. Preferably, the irregular edges have one or more flat areas in order to prevent the spring members from embedding too deeply in the channels in the cover and base members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Marketing Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph W. Dingle