Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Kowalczyk
Thomas M. Kowalczyk 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).
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Publication number: 20230392426Abstract: A door system includes a header having a guide rail that has a central portion having a notch. A panel hanger is slidably coupled to the header. A door panel has a handle end portion releasably coupled to the panel hanger and a pivot end portion pivotably coupled to the panel hanger. The panel hanger and the door panel slide in unison between a closed position and a fully open position along a longitudinal plane. An interlock plate is positioned to extend upwardly from the door panel, and has a downwardly extending guide slot that slidably receives the guide rail of the header. When the door panel is in the fully open position, the interlock plate is aligned with the notch of the guide rail of the header in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal plane to facilitate a pivoting of the door panel away from the longitudinal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Vinay N. Patel, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Ronald Laliberte, James Cavanaugh
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Patent number: 11555344Abstract: A door system includes a header having a guide rail that has a central portion having a notch. A panel hanger is slidably coupled to the header. A door panel has a handle end portion releasably coupled to the panel hanger and a pivot end portion pivotably coupled to the panel hanger. The panel hanger and the door panel slide in unison between a closed position and a fully open position along a longitudinal plane. An interlock plate is positioned to extend upwardly from the door panel, and has a downwardly extending guide slot that slidably receives the guide rail of the header. When the door panel is in the fully open position, the interlock plate is aligned with the notch of the guide rail of the header in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal plane to facilitate a pivoting of the door panel away from the longitudinal plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Allegion Access Technologies LLCInventors: Vinay N. Patel, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Ronald Laliberte, James Cavanaugh
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Publication number: 20200011109Abstract: A door system includes a header having a guide rail that has a central portion having a notch. A panel hanger is slidably coupled to the header. A door panel has a handle end portion releasably coupled to the panel hanger and a pivot end portion pivotably coupled to the panel hanger. The panel hanger and the door panel slide in unison between a closed position and a fully open position along a longitudinal plane. An interlock plate is positioned to extend upwardly from the door panel, and has a downwardly extending guide slot that slidably receives the guide rail of the header. When the door panel is in the fully open position, the interlock plate is aligned with the notch of the guide rail of the header in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal plane to facilitate a pivoting of the door panel away from the longitudinal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Vinay N. PATEL, Thomas M. KOWALCZYK, Ronald LALIBERTE, James CAVANAUGH
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Publication number: 20190309538Abstract: A slide latching system for latching a sliding door panel to a door frame includes a jamb strike, a latch assembly, and a handle set. The jamb strike is connected to the door frame. The latch assembly is connected to the sliding door panel, and has a latch member having a latch hook portion configured to engage the jamb strike. The latch hook portion is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The handle set is mounted to the sliding door panel. The handle set is drivably coupled to the latch assembly. The handle set is configured to facilitate both of a moving of the latch hook portion of the latch assembly to the unlatched position and a sliding of the sliding door panel in a first direction in a continuous motion applied to the handle set by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Vinay N. PATEL, Thomas M. KOWALCZYK, Ronald LALIBERTE, James CAVANAUGH, Daniel R. SEYMOUR
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Patent number: 8756864Abstract: A slideable and pivotable door assembly configured to selectively permit passage through an opening between a first side and a second side of the opening. The slideable and pivotable door assembly has a normally fixed door panel arranged to cover a first portion of the opening when in a normally closed fixed position. The door assembly also includes a slideable door panel slidable relative to the fixed door panel. The slideable door panel is slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the door panel covers a second portion of the opening and 2) an open position wherein the second portion of the opening is uncovered. A first pivot structure enables pivotal movement of the normally fixed door panel upon a pivoting actuation and a second pivot structure enables pivotal movement of the slideable door panel at any position relative to the normally fixed door panel while the normally fixed door panel remains in its normally fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Larry Hamaker, Prasad Sahasrabudhe, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Patent number: 8627604Abstract: A door assembly that includes a normally fixed door panel disposed between an ingress opening and an egress opening. The door assembly includes a first sliding door panel slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the first sliding door panel blocks the ingress opening and 2) an open position wherein the first sliding door panel is in an overlapping configuration with the normally fixed door panel so as to permit persons to egress through the egress opening. A second sliding door panel is slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the second sliding door panel blocks the egress opening and 2) an open position wherein the second sliding door panel is in an overlapping configuration with the normally fixed door panel so as to permit persons to ingress through the ingress opening. The normally fixed door panel is pivotable to a breakout open position upon receiving a pivoting actuation.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Seymour, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Patent number: 8443549Abstract: A door assembly includes a track, a track header, a fixed door panel, at least two sliding door panels, a pivot mechanism, and a lock arrangement. The sliding door panels are slidably movable on the track between (1) a closed position wherein the sliding door panels are extended across the track, and (2) an open position wherein the sliding door panels are constructed and arranged to be in a compact, overlapping relationship with each other and the fixed door panel. The pivot mechanism is constructed and arranged to enable pivotal movement of the track with fixed door panel and the two sliding door panels mounted thereon about a pivot axis from a normal configuration to a breakaway configuration. The lock arrangement is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the track with respect to the track header to prevent pivotal movement of the track away from the normal configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Michael Arthur Salvietti, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Dwight Edward Reed, Daniel R. Seymour, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Ronald Bohigian
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Patent number: 8365469Abstract: A door operator operates a door that is rotatable about an axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position. The door operator comprises an output shaft, a closing assembly, and a motor. The output shaft is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and is coupled to the door such that rotation of the output shaft pivots the door about the axis of rotation and rotation of the door about the axis of rotation rotates the output shaft. The closing assembly is coupled to the output shaft to apply a torque to the output shaft, wherein the torque applied by the closing assembly rotates the output shaft such that the rotation of the output shaft by the closing assembly rotates the door toward the closed position. The motor is coupled to the output shaft via a clutch to selectively apply opening and/or closing torque to the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Michael S. Tignor
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Publication number: 20120159851Abstract: A door assembly that includes a normally fixed door panel disposed between an ingress opening and an egress opening. The door assembly includes a first sliding door panel slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the first sliding door panel blocks the ingress opening and 2) an open position wherein the first sliding door panel is in an overlapping configuration with the normally fixed door panel so as to permit persons to egress through the egress opening. A second sliding door panel is slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the second sliding door panel blocks the egress opening and 2) an open position wherein the second sliding door panel is in an overlapping configuration with the normally fixed door panel so as to permit persons to ingress through the ingress opening. The normally fixed door panel is pivotable to a breakout open position upon receiving a pivoting actuation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.Inventors: Daniel R. Seymour, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Publication number: 20120073205Abstract: A slideable and pivotable door assembly configured to selectively permit passage through an opening between a first side and a second side of the opening. The slideable and pivotable door assembly has a normally fixed door panel arranged to cover a first portion of the opening when in a normally closed fixed position. The door assembly also includes a slideable door panel slidable relative to the fixed door panel. The slideable door panel is slidable between a 1) closed position wherein the door panel covers a second portion of the opening and 2) an open position wherein the second portion of the opening is uncovered. A first pivot structure enables pivotal movement of the normally fixed door panel upon a pivoting actuation and a second pivot structure enables pivotal movement of the slideable door panel at any position relative to the normally fixed door panel while the normally fixed door panel remains in its normally fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.Inventors: Larry Hamaker, Prasad Sahasrabudhe, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Publication number: 20110214350Abstract: A door assembly includes a track, a track header, a fixed door panel, at least two sliding door panels, a pivot mechanism, and a lock arrangement. The sliding door panels are slidably movable on the track between (1) a closed position wherein the sliding door panels are extended across the track, and (2) an open position wherein the sliding door panels are constructed and arranged to be in a compact, overlapping relationship with each other and the fixed door panel. The pivot mechanism is constructed and arranged to enable pivotal movement of the track with fixed door panel and the two sliding door panels mounted thereon about a pivot axis from a normal configuration to a breakaway configuration. The lock arrangement is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the track with respect to the track header to prevent pivotal movement of the track away from the normal configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.Inventors: Michael Arthur Salvietti, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Dwight Edward Reed, Daniel R. Seymour, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Ronald Bohigian
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Publication number: 20080236048Abstract: A door operator is configured to operate a door that is rotatable about an axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position. In one embodiment, the door operator comprises an output shaft, a closing assembly, and a motor. The output shaft is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and is coupled to the door such that rotation of the output shaft pivots the door about the axis of rotation and rotation of the door about the axis of rotation rotates the output shaft. The closing assembly is coupled to the output shaft to apply a torque to the output shaft, wherein the torque applied by the closing assembly rotates the output shaft such that the rotation of the output shaft by the closing assembly rotates the door toward the closed position. The motor is coupled to the output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: The Stanley WorksInventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Michael S. Tignor
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Patent number: 6786006Abstract: The present invention relates to automatic door assemblies and swing operators therefor. One aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator that has an opening in the housing thereof for easy access to the operator motor. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for servicing a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a door operator with a spring force adjusting member that moves in the generally longitudinal direction of the spring structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for adjusting the spring force of the spring structure in a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator with an adjustable stop member.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: The Stanley WorksInventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
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Patent number: 6588153Abstract: The present application discloses a door kit for installation across an opening formed through the wall of a building. The door kit has a power-operated door latch and a power-operator door operator.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: The Stanley WorksInventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Publication number: 20030097793Abstract: The present invention relates to automatic door assemblies and swing operators therefor. One aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator that has an opening in the housing thereof for easy access to the operator motor. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for servicing a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a door operator with a spring force adjusting member that moves in the generally longitudinal direction of the spring structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for adjusting the spring force of the spring structure in a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator with an adjustable stop member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: May 29, 2003Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKSInventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
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Patent number: 6553717Abstract: A retrofit power door assembly for installation on a manual door assembly. One aspect is related to a retrofit power door assembly having an axial operator. Another aspect relates to a retrofit power door assembly having a clutch with a manually engageable release member.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: The Stanley WorksInventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen
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Patent number: 6530178Abstract: The present invention relates to automatic door assemblies and swing operators therefor. One aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator that has an opening in the housing thereof for easy access to the operator motor. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for servicing a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a door operator with a spring force adjusting member that moves in the generally longitudinal direction of the spring structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for adjusting the spring force of the spring structure in a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator with an adjustable stop member.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: The Stanley WorksInventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
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Publication number: 20030005639Abstract: The present application discloses an axial operator that is configured for use with a door assembly. The axial operator comprises a rotatable operator output member that rotates about an operator axis, the operator output member being constructed and arranged to be operatively connected within the door assembly such that the operator output axis extends generally vertically. An electric motor has a rotatable motor output member that rotates about the operator axis. The motor is constructed and arranged to selectively rotate the motor output member about the operator axis. A reduction transmission is connected between the motor output member and the operator output member. The reduction transmission is constructed and arranged such that the transmission rotates the operator output member at a lower rotational speed than a rotational speed at which the motor rotates the motor output member and applies a higher torque to the operator output member than a torque which the motor applies to the motor output member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKSInventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Patent number: 6481160Abstract: The present application discloses an axial operator that is configured for use with a door assembly. The axial operator comprises a rotatable operator output member that rotates about an operator axis, the operator output member being constructed and arranged to be operatively connected within the door assembly such that the operator output axis extends generally vertically. An electric motor has a rotatable motor output member that rotates about the operator axis. The motor is constructed and arranged to selectively rotate the motor output member about the operator axis. A reduction transmission is connected between the motor output member and the operator output member. The reduction transmission is constructed and arranged such that the transmission rotates the operator output member at a lower rotational speed than a rotational speed at which the motor rotates the motor output member and applies a higher torque to the operator output member than a torque which the motor applies to the motor output member.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: The Stanley WorksInventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
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Publication number: 20020026750Abstract: The present application discloses a retrofit power door assembly for installation on a manual door assembly. One aspect of the application related to a retrofit power door assembly having an axial operator. Another aspect of the application relates to a retrofit power door assembly having a clutch with a manually engageable release member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2001Publication date: March 7, 2002Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen