Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Shreiner

Thomas A. Shreiner 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: 7080491
    Abstract: A modular center plate for a cover that bridges the expansion gap and is supported by frame members of an expansion joint cover is made up of a plurality of formed members, each formed member being rectangular in plan and of uniform cross-section along an axis and having side edges parallel to the axis. The formed members are arranged with their side edges adjacent each other and with their ends overlying the support surfaces of the frame members of the expansion joint cover. End frame members are attached to the end edges of the formed members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: E.M.E.H. Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Howard J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6932328
    Abstract: A rail and wall support installation includes an adapter which mechanically couples a wall support having a rotatable locking cam portion to an undercut groove on the rear of the rail. The adapter serves both as a mechanical attachment point for the rail to a wall support and to transfer the camming action of the locking cam portion to the rail. The adapter allows existing wall supports to be used with rails that are not directly compatible with the locking member, such as pre-existing rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Brian T. Mincemoyer
  • Publication number: 20040227135
    Abstract: A rail and wall support installation includes an adapter which mechanically couples a wall support having a rotatable locking cam portion to an undercut groove on the rear of the rail. The adapter serves both as a mechanical attachment point for the rail to a wall support and to transfer the camming action of the locking cam portion to the rail. The adapter allows existing wall supports to be used with rails that are not directly compatible with the locking member, such as pre-existing rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Brian T. Mincemoyer
  • Patent number: 6675539
    Abstract: A seismic roof motion-absorbing gap cover assembly includes an elongated y-axis slideway affixed to a building unit B on one side of the gap and extending parallel to the gap and a y-axis slider slidably received on the y-axis slideway. Roof support members are secured to the y-axis slider in spaced apart relation against horizontal movements. A roof having one end affixed to a building unit A on the other side of the gap spans the gap and is supported on the roof support members by elongated spaced-apart x-axis slide members for movement along an x-axis perpendicular to the gap. Each x-axis slide member has a length such that it is supported by the roof support member throughout a range of displacements in the x-axis direction of the building units between maximum and minimum design displacements in an earthquake from a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Publication number: 20030205004
    Abstract: A seismic roof motion-absorbing gap cover assembly includes an elongated y-axis slideway affixed to a building unit B on one side of the gap and extending parallel to the gap and a y-axis slider slidably received on the y-axis slideway. Roof support members are secured to the y-axis slider in spaced apart relation against horizontal movements. A roof having one end affixed to a building unit A on the other side of the gap spans the gap and is supported on the roof support members by elongated spaced-apart x-axis slide members for movement along an x-axis perpendicular to the gap. Each x-axis slide member has a length such that it is supported by the roof support member throughout a range of displacements in the x-axis direction of the building units between maximum and minimum design displacements in an earthquake from a neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6625950
    Abstract: A wall protector includes a retainer that is adapted to be attached to a building wall and a cover of an impact resistant thermoplastic polymeric material in the form of a thin web of suitable cross-section attached to the retainer portion of the retainer. The cover includes at least one substantially straight portion of substantially uniform cross section along its length and having a face portion overlying the retainer and an integral transition portion that is integral with the straight portion has an end wall that curves smoothly away from the face portion of the straight portion from a rounded juncture with the face portion and overlies and conceals the end of the retainer. The integral transition portion may be configured as an end cap or a wall return piece that forms a transition between the straight portion and a wall surface or as a corner piece that joins sections of wall protectors mounted on walls that intersect at a corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, James G. Fenstermacher, Richard C. Wallace
  • Patent number: 6601355
    Abstract: A wall protection assembly includes an elongated wall protector member having an impact surface adapted to face away from a wall and a mounting surface adapted to face the wall. At least two resilient mounting clips secure the protector member to the wall. Each mounting clip has a mounting base adapted to be affixed to the wall in concealed relation to the protector member and at least one resilient hook projecting from the base and received in a groove in the protector member in captured relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kreitz, Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6557832
    Abstract: An end member is joined against axial displacement to a handrail by a lock member that is coupled to a mounting flange portion of the end member against axial movement and for rotation relative to the mounting flange portion. A locking cam portion of the lock member is received in an undercut mounting groove of the handrail and is configured to permit the lock member to be moved axially along the locking groove in an unlocked rotational position relative to the locking groove and to frictionally engage walls of the locking groove in a locked rotational position relative to the locking groove and thereby retain the end member against axial movement relative to the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6499265
    Abstract: An expansion joint cover for bridging an expansion gap between first and second building floor members has a pivot frame adapted to be affixed to the first building floor member, the pivot frame including a base portion and a longitudinally continuous bearing of spherical cross-section supported by and located above the base portion, and a slide frame adapted to be affixed to the second building floor member. A cover unit is pivotally mounted in spaced-apart relation to a proximal end thereof on the bearing in cantilevered relation to the bearing, is adapted to span the gap, and has a distal end supported on the slide frame. A plurality of spaced-apart compression spring units engaged between the base portion of the pivot frame and a portion of the cover unit intermediate the proximal end and the bearing bias the cover unit about the bearing so as to forcibly engage the distal end of the cover unit with the slide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Publication number: 20020189181
    Abstract: A wall protection assembly includes an elongated wall protector member having an impact surface adapted to face away from a wall and a mounting surface adapted to face the wall. At least two resilient mounting clips secure the protector member to the wall. Each mounting clip has a mounting base adapted to be affixed to the wall in concealed relation to the protector member and at least one resilient hook projecting from the base and received in a groove in the protector member in captured relation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kreitz, Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6484462
    Abstract: A seismic expansion joint cover includes a bridge panel having one end supported for movement in the y-axis direction and against movement in the x-axis direction relative to a floor A on one side of a motion-absorbing gap and supported at the other end for movement in the x-axis direction and against movement in the y-axis direction relative to a floor B. A recess in floor B receives a portion of the bridge panel in all positions of the bridge panel relative to floor B. A recess cover plate covers the recess, is supported at one end in sliding relation on the bridge panel in all positions of the bridge panel relative to floor B and is joined at the other end to an end member of the recess frame remote from the gap. A resiliently collapsible/extensible honeycomb panel received in the recess in floor B supports the portion of the recess cover plate that spans the recess between the end of the bridge panel and the end member of the recess frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr
  • Publication number: 20020108322
    Abstract: A seismic expansion joint cover includes a bridge panel having one end supported for movement in the y-axis direction and against movement in the x-axis direction relative to a floor A on one side of a motion-absorbing gap and supported at the other end for movement in the x-axis direction and against movement in the y-axis direction relative to a floor B. A recess in floor B receives a portion of the bridge panel in all positions of the bridge panel relative to floor B. A recess cover plate covers the recess, is supported at one end in sliding relation on the bridge panel in all positions of the bridge panel relative to floor B and is joined at the other end to an end member of the recess frame remote from the gap. A resiliently collapsible/extensible honeycomb panel received in the recess in floor B supports the portion of the recess cover plate that spans the recess between the end of the bridge panel and the end member of the recess frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr
  • Patent number: 6430884
    Abstract: A seismic expansion joint cover assembly installed at a motion-absorbing gap between a member A on one side of the gap and a member B on the other side of the gap includes a cover panel spanning the gap and a hinge joining one edge A of the cover panel to the member A for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is spaced apart from the expansion gap so as to enable a stop between member A and the cover panel to prevent the cover panel from pivoting about the pivot axis into the expansion gap upon widening of the expansion gap. A permanent magnet and magnet striker releasably secure the other edge B of the cover panel to the member B. A tensioned cable connected between the cover panel and one of the members A and B limits the pivoting movements of the cover panel and automatically recloses the cover panel over the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr, Nathan Morris
  • Publication number: 20020095881
    Abstract: An end member is joined against axial displacement to a handrail by a lock member that is coupled to a mounting flange portion of the end member against axial movement and for rotation relative to the mounting flange portion. A locking cam portion of the lock member is received in an undercut mounting groove of the handrail and is configured to permit the lock member to be moved axially along the locking groove in an unlocked rotational position relative to the locking groove and to frictionally engage walls of the locking groove in a locked rotational position relative to the locking groove and thereby retain the end member against axial movement relative to the handrail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6386518
    Abstract: An end member is joined against axial displacement to a handrail by a lock member that is coupled to a mounting flange portion of the end member against axial movement and for rotation relative to the mounting flange portion. A locking cam portion of the lock member is received in an under cut mounting groove of the handrail and is configured to permit the lock member to be moved axially along the locking groove in an unlocked rotational position relative to the locking groove and to frictionally engage walls of the locking groove in a locked rotational position relative to the locking groove and thereby retain the end member against axial movement relative to the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Publication number: 20020032997
    Abstract: An expansion joint cover for bridging an expansion gap between first and second building floor members has a pivot frame adapted to be affixed to the first building floor member, the pivot frame including a base portion and a longitudinally continuous bearing of spherical cross-section supported by and located above the base portion, and a slide frame adapted to be affixed to the second building floor member. A cover unit is pivotally mounted in spaced-apart relation to a proximal end thereof on the bearing in cantilevered relation to the bearing, is adapted to span the gap, and has a distal end supported on the slide frame. A plurality of spaced-apart compression spring units engaged between the base portion of the pivot frame and a portion of the cover unit intermediate the proximal end and the bearing bias the cover unit about the bearing so as to forcibly engage the distal end of the cover unit with the slide frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas A. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 5799456
    Abstract: An expansion joint cover installation includes first and second building members defining an expansion gap between them and a cover member spanning and covering the gap and engaging the building members. The cover member is held centered in the gap by a resilient centering system that is coupled between the building members and the cover member and includes a plurality of first tensioned flexible segments connected obliquely between the first building member and the cover member and a plurality of second tensioned flexible segments connected obliquely between the second building member and the cover member. By arranging the tensioned segments obliquely to the axis of the gap, they are relatively long and are able to provide an adequate centering force over a relatively large range of motion between open and closed states of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr
  • Patent number: 5666775
    Abstract: An expansion joint cover for concealing an expansion gap between building members comprises retainers attached to building members on each side of the expansion gap and a cover panel spanning the expansion gap and overlying at least portions of the first and second retainers and a portion of the building member on at least one side of the gap. The cover panel is attached to the retainers by axially releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr
  • Patent number: 5644879
    Abstract: A seismic expansion joint cover includes a floor bridge panel having mutually perpendicular elongated U-shaped bearing receiver guideways adjacent its opposite ends slidably supported by linear bearings affixed to the floor portions on opposite sides of the gap. The receiver guideways are open vertically to allow the floor bridge cover to displace vertically. A cover plate frame defines the boundaries of a floor recess that receives portions of the floor bridge panel in all relative positions of the floor portions as the width of the gap changes. The portion of the floor bridge panel that overlies the gap is covered by a first floor cover plate, and the recess and the remaining portion of the floor bridge plate are covered by a second floor cover plate, which is supported by the cover plate frame and by the portion of the floor bridge panel that it overlies. The second cover plate is resiliently attached to the cover plate frame so that it can lift up and ride over the first cover plate when the gap narrows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr, Howard Williams
  • Patent number: 5611181
    Abstract: A seismic expansion joint cover for concealing an expansion gap between building members comprises retainers attached to building members on each side of the expansion gap and a cover spanning the expansion gap and overlying at least portions of the first and second retainers and a portion of the building member on at least one side of the gap. The cover is attached to the retainers by releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, that enable it to detach completely from the retainers in an earthquake and to be subsequently reattached. One element of each of the fasteners on one side of the gap is attached to a slider that slides along a track affixed to the internal side of the cover to enable normal thermal expansions and contractions of the gap. Tethers keep the cover from falling to the floor and becoming an obstacle to persons moving through the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Shreiner, Roger W. Barr