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).

  • Publication number: 20230392426
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Vinay N. Patel, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Ronald Laliberte, James Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 11555344
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Allegion Access Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vinay N. Patel, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Ronald Laliberte, James Cavanaugh
  • Publication number: 20200011109
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Vinay N. PATEL, Thomas M. KOWALCZYK, Ronald LALIBERTE, James CAVANAUGH
  • Publication number: 20190309538
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Vinay N. PATEL, Thomas M. KOWALCZYK, Ronald LALIBERTE, James CAVANAUGH, Daniel R. SEYMOUR
  • Patent number: 8756864
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Hamaker, Prasad Sahasrabudhe, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8627604
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Seymour, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8443549
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8365469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Michael S. Tignor
  • Publication number: 20120159851
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Seymour, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20120073205
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.
    Inventors: Larry Hamaker, Prasad Sahasrabudhe, Michael A. Zabbo, Vito A. Spinelli, Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20110214350
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20080236048
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Michael S. Tignor
  • Patent number: 6786006
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
  • Patent number: 6588153
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20030097793
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
  • Patent number: 6553717
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6530178
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Brian D. Hass
  • Publication number: 20030005639
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 6481160
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Thomas M. Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20020026750
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen