Patents by Inventor Robert Earl Underwood

Robert Earl Underwood 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: 6399172
    Abstract: A hinged panel which is used as the back-panel of ready-to-assemble furniture. A strip of tape is adhered to one side of a piece of hardboard or similar board of material such as medium density fiberboard or high density fiberboard. The hardboard is die cut along a taped hinge line while the tape is present and remains uncut. Further, one or more knock-out areas are die cut through the entire thickness of the hinged hardboard panel at desired locations on the hinged hardboard panel to allow passage of power cords or other wires or cables, or to allow extension of objects. The hinged panel can be folded at the hinge line and put into a small container with other parts of ready-to-assemble furniture for shipment. Since the hinged panel was originally one piece of board, the unfolded hinge line is almost invisible and each half of the knock-out area that straddles the hinge line matches without the need of aligning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Company
    Inventors: Courtney P. Carr, Robert Earl Underwood, Paula Marie Foley, Kelly Marie Lemley
  • Publication number: 20020034609
    Abstract: A hinged panel which is used as the back-panel of ready-to-assemble furniture. A strip of tape is adhered to one side of a piece of hardboard or similar board of material such as medium density fiberboard or high density fiberboard. The hardboard is die cut along a taped hinge line while the tape is present and remains uncut. Further, one or more knock-out areas are die cut through the entire thickness of the hinged hardboard panel at desired locations on the hinged hardboard panel to allow passage of power cords or other wires or cables, or to allow extension of objects. The hinged panel can be folded at the hinge line and put into a small container with other parts of ready-to-assemble furniture for shipment. Since the hinged panel was originally one piece of board, the unfolded hinge line is almost invisible and each half of the knock-out area that straddles the hinge line matches without the need of aligning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Courtney P. Carr, Robert Earl Underwood, Paula Marie Foley, Kelly Marie Lemley