Patents Issued in August 10, 2010
  • Patent number: 7770298
    Abstract: An end cap feature for a level includes a frame having a gauging surface and a web which extends at an angle relative to the gauging surface. The web includes a recess adjacent to an end of the frame. The web recess opens onto the end of the web and extends inwardly therefrom. An end member includes a web-receiving such as a slot defined between a pair of side members, each of which is formed with an opening. The web recess and the end member openings are in alignment with each other when the end of the web is received within the web-receiving structure. A retainer member is positioned within the web recess when engaged within the opening of the end member, and the retainer member and web recess are configured such that engagement of the retainer member within the web recess maintains the end member in engagement with the web. Engagement of the retainer member within the opening of the end member prevents movement of the end member relative to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Level & Tool Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Wojciechowski, William G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7770299
    Abstract: An anchoring device for a mason's line and method for its use includes a first and a second spaced apart parallel rail. Each rail includes a belaying nub to provide a protuberance upon which to tie the mason's line and a leg in opposed relation to the belaying nub. A bight spans between the first and the second rail. The bight joins each rail assembly at a junction between the belaying nub and the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew Clancy
  • Patent number: 7770300
    Abstract: The chalk line comprises a housing that supports the spool having a string or line wound thereon in a chalk chamber. The transmission for rewinding the spool is located in a separate compartment. The chalk filled chamber is isolated from the transmission such that the components located in the chamber are the spool, line and chalk. A door for allowing access to the chamber is opened by manually operating a latch. A safety interlock is also provided such that the latch cannot be inadvertently unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventor: Douglas Johnson
  • Patent number: 7770301
    Abstract: A portable system for documenting the height of one or more children during their growth. The system comprises an elongated frame that can be disassembled into segments for travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Lee A. Grandberry, Sandi R. Grandberry
  • Patent number: 7770302
    Abstract: To provide a sensor having a long operational life. A sensor which senses contact with an object through tilting of a probe having a rod shape, the sensor including: a housing having a hollow columnar shape; the probe arranged to project from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing, and capable of reciprocating and tilting with respect to the housing; connectors fixed to a part of the probe, which is located inside the housing; terminals fixed to positions inside the housing that come into contact with the connectors, and which conduct electricity through the contact with the connectors; a probe biasing unit configured to force the probe along a direction of the reciprocation so that the connectors come into contact with the terminals; and a releasing unit configured to release the contact between the connectors and the terminals brought upon by the probe biasing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7770303
    Abstract: A marking template comprising a planar body portion having a central aperture, and a plurality of sets of apertures in the body portion, each set of apertures located a predetermined distance from the central aperture which enable rectangular patterns to be marked on a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Kym Joanne Graham, Ann Margaret Duncan
  • Patent number: 7770304
    Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a code and a scanning unit. The code includes a sequence of code elements arranged one after the other in a measuring direction, at least two successive code elements in each case forming one code word having position information. The scanning unit includes a lighting unit for emitting directed light in the direction of the code for imaging at least the code elements forming code word onto a detector unit, the detector unit having in measuring direction at least two detector elements per code element forming code word, as well as an evaluation unit in which the code word having the instantaneous position information is ascertainable from the detector signals of the detector elements. The scanning unit and the code are arranged in a manner allowing movement relative to each other in measuring direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Oberhauser, Thomas Schuermann
  • Patent number: 7770305
    Abstract: A portable collapsible clothes dryer kit including two clothing article dryer units for engaging and spreading different articles of clothing, one of the units being supported by spaced, elongated flexible elements and the other of the units being supported by a coat hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Leonard Krauss
  • Patent number: 7770306
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a custom article of footwear, a method of making the same, and a method of conducting retail and Internet business. In particular, the components of the custom article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and they can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Robert M. Lyden
  • Patent number: 7770307
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Meschter
  • Patent number: 7770308
    Abstract: Described herein is a covering for an elasticized band for a shoe provided with a tongue; the shoe is of the type in which the upper, in a position corresponding to the instep of the foot, has a tongue contained between two sides flaps of the upper, and, inside the shoe, an elasticized band extends between the two flaps of upper in a position facing the tongue; the covering is constituted by a lining, which lines in bridge-like fashion the elasticized band from inside the shoe, and is fixed, on one side, to the upper, in the proximity of the edge of attachment of the tongue and, on the other side, to the end edge of the tongue itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Loro Piana S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Leoncini
  • Patent number: 7770309
    Abstract: A removable insert for footwear has a slot placed in its medial edge which extends below the arch. An insert placed into the slot has a height which establishes how much the arch protrudes above the remainder of the top surface of the insole. Multiple inserts are provided having different thicknesses so that the height of the arch can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: DashAmerica, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Scofield
  • Patent number: 7770310
    Abstract: A fastening assembly (1) for releasable securement of first and second components. The assembly includes: a nut (2), having a threaded bore and a shaped outer surface; a retainer (3), associated with said first component, including a slot which is of complementary shape to said outer surface of said nut (2), and which is adapted to receive and retain said nut (2) therein; and, a bolt (4), having a head and a threaded shaft, which is adapted to engage said second component, and be secured to the nut (2) to thereby fasten the first and second components together. The fastening assembly (1) is particularly useful to secure a wearable edge to a bucket of a mining, earthmoving, agricultural or like machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Keech Castings Austrailia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Garth Alexander Keech
  • Patent number: 7770311
    Abstract: A mounting system for excavator attachments or implements (10) having a pair of spaced mounting ears (12, 13) extending from implement includes a mounting pin receptor (19) engaged in each of at least one aligned pair of holes (14, 16) in the ears (12, 13), the pin receptors (19) each having an eccentric pin receptor hole (23) adapted to receive one of the mounting pins (17, 18). The pin receptors (19) are rotatable about their axes to vary, relative to the ears (12, 13), the position of the engaged mounting pin (17, 18). A locating plate (24) engaged with the mounting pin (17, 18) has one or more locating surfaces (32) to engage a cooperating surface on the ears or the attachment. The locating surfaces (32) and their engagement with the cooperating surfaces determines the relative position of the mounting pin (17, 18) engaged with the pin receptor holes (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Craig Arthur Hahnel
  • Patent number: 7770312
    Abstract: A flame simulating assembly for providing one or more images of flames. The flame simulating assembly includes one or more light sources for producing the image of flames and a screen with a front surface and positioned in a path of light from the light source. The screen is adapted for transmission of the images of flames through the screen. The assembly also includes one or more simulated interior fireplace walls positioned behind the screen, a first simulated fuel bed positioned in front of the screen and a second simulated fuel bed positioned behind the screen and at least partially viewable through the screen. The screen is adapted to permit observation of at least part of the simulated interior fireplace wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Dimplex North America Limited
    Inventors: Kelly Stinson, Kristoffer Hess
  • Patent number: 7770313
    Abstract: A display for tradeshows and the like, the display having a framework configurable between erected and collapsed configurations, wherein when in the erected configuration, the framework includes a front, opposed ends, and vertical elongate members presented with the framework proximate the ends. A pair of resiliently flexible end panels can be removably wrapped around the ends of the framework in a flexed position. The panels having a vertical end panel magnetic strips operably magnetically engageable with one of the elongate members. Front display panels, also with magnetic strips, can be engaged with vertical elongate members. The end panels can be secured in place by being at least partially sandwiched between the magnetic strip of front panels and the vertical elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Skyline Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 7770314
    Abstract: An outdoor advertising system to support and selectively display an inside panel assembly or an outside panel assembly comprising a substantially rectangular outer frame having a plurality of interior support members attached thereto, a plurality of stringer coupling assemblies to couple a plurality of stringer members to the plurality of interior support members and a plurality of adjustable attachment panel assemblies to attach the inside panel assembly and the outside panel assembly to the substantially rectangular outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Irvin Steel, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Dean
  • Patent number: 7770315
    Abstract: A system for mounting a frame (e.g., a mirror frame) allows the frame to be easily installed, securely mounted and readily replaced without damaging the mounting surface (e.g., the surrounding wall or mirror) or the frame. No tools are required to mount or unmount the frame. The mounting hardware is concealed within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan M. Bauer, Viorel Berlovan
  • Patent number: 7770316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for firing a cartridge for firearms or a method and an apparatus for securing the firing of a cartridge for firearms. The present invention provides a cartridge comprising a securing mechanism. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the firearm reads an identity from the cartridge and calculates a cartridge password from said identity together with further data. Said cartridge password is transmitted to the cartridge. The cartridge itself decides whether it fires or not. Thus, the present invention provides apparatuses and methods with which a securing of a firearm against accidental and/or unauthorized use is provided. Furthermore, the apparatus and method according to the present invention not only allow a securing of the firearm, but also a securing of the cartridge against accidental, improper and/or unauthorized firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Armatix GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Meyerle
  • Patent number: 7770317
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a handguard system with clamp device for use on a firearm. The firearm has a barrel, an operating member and a receiver. The barrel and operating member are joined to the receiver. The handguard system includes a barrel nut, a tubular handguard, a clamp device, and a low profile rail gas block. The barrel nut secures the barrel to the receiver and has an outer surface which lies inward of the operating member and engages the inner surface of the handguard. The handguard inner surface includes a groove for providing clearance to the operating member and gas block. The clamp device attaches to the handguard and includes an actuating screw and a spring loaded clamp pad which engages the barrel nut outer surface. The low profile rail gas block permits both interfacing accessories and rapid installation and removal of the handguard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Jerome Benedict Tankersley
  • Patent number: 7770318
    Abstract: A recoil reduction system for the front end of a firearm, such as a shotgun or a rifle. In a first embodiment, the recoil reduction structure is mounted in a handgrip member secured to the bottom surface of the forend member. Various types of springs and cylindrical elastomer members can be utilized in various handgrip members. In a second embodiment the recoil reduction system is mounted in the forend member. In a third embodiment, the recoil reduction structure is utilized with a rifle having a long gun stock. The long gun stock has a butt portion, a middle portion and a front portion. The front portion is located forwardly of the receiver. A primary recess is formed in the bottom wall of the front portion and the recoil reduction structure is mounted therein. A cover member positioned over the primary recess hides the recoil reduction structure from view. A handle member may be secured to the bottom surface of the cover member and it may retractable or rigidly positioned upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Blackhawk Industries Product Group Unlimited LLC
    Inventor: James K. Bentley
  • Patent number: 7770319
    Abstract: The invention is a device that allows a marksman to easily rotate and position a gun from the elevated position of a deerstand. The invention utilizes displaced parallel axes of rotation so that the marksman can maximize the mobility of the gun during shot selection while at the same time minimizing both noise and personal bodily displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel E. McDonald
  • Patent number: 7770320
    Abstract: A bipod rifle support which may be incorporated into the stock of the rifle itself or which may be incorporated into a body member which is attachable to the forward end of the rifle stock. Support legs are normally stowed within the elongated bores with the same being removable therefrom and inserted into sockets or bores so that the support legs extend downwardly and outwardly from the stock for engagement with a supporting surface such as the ground or the like. The support legs have elastic cords secured thereto which maintain the support legs in their stowed position and in their rifle support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Bartak
  • Patent number: 7770321
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a fishing pole includes a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end receives a grip and the distal end includes at least one line guide for receiving a fishing line. The grip of certain embodiments includes a flexible mounting tube that engages the proximal end of the rod and a sheet including a polymer outside layer and a fibrous inside layer. In some embodiments, the sheet has a configuration corresponding to the exterior shape of the flexible mounting tube, being wrapped about and adhered to the mounting tube, with the side edges of the sheet abutting one another to define a substantially longitudinal seam extending from the interior surface of the sheet to the exterior surface of the polymer layer. In some embodiments, the grip includes a tube and a strip that is spirally wrapped around the tube to form a substantially helical seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Ben Huang
  • Patent number: 7770322
    Abstract: A process for cultivating photosynthetic microbes comprising Closed Systems for continuous cultivation and Open Systems for batch cultivation, in which (a) the Closed System Area occupies no more than 20% of the Total Land Area of the cultivation facility; (b) batch cultures in the Open Systems are initiated with an inoculum from the Closed Systems containing a cell biomass of no less than 5% of the carrying capacity of said Open System; (c) the doubling rate of said photosynthetic microbe is no less than once every 16 hours; and (d) the residence time of the batch culture in said Open System is no more than a period of 5 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: HR Biopetroleum, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Huntley, Donald G Redalje
  • Patent number: 7770323
    Abstract: Disclosed is a prefabricated type flowerpot block. It can be assembled in a simple manner, it can perform root-balling for a predetermined period and it can allow a plant to be transplanted to thus be conveniently moved. Accordingly, it eliminates the trouble of planting a plant to be transplanted in the ground during a transplanting process, and thus it prevents the roots of a plant to be transplanted from being damaged while the plant is moved to a transplanting place. The prefabricated type flowerpot block can also function as a flowerpot to plant therein any size of plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Jung-Hoi Kim, Youn-Ja Jen
  • Patent number: 7770324
    Abstract: A planter system includes an adjustable height and angular orientation planter and an optionally adjustable irrigation system for controllably supplying water to the planter and/or surrounding terrain. The planter is configured to controllably travel up and down a vertical support, such as a section of a planter pole or other suitable vertical support structure, from a highest to a lowest position using a pulley and winch, block and tackle, rotating shaft, continuous pulley driven belt, continuous sprocket driven chain, lead screw, ball screw, a ballast, hydraulics, pneumatics, spring or other lifting subsystem. The irrigation system may be configured to supply water to the planter and or to the surrounding terrain. The planter is carried along the pole, allowing it to be controllably rotated at any height along the travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: James Hogan
  • Patent number: 7770325
    Abstract: A method for planting a living fence of different lengths with a height or design which varies, from saplings of different species. The fence can be transported ready for planting in an intended location, with the transport device provided as an integral part of the growth apparatus, and with the transport device intended to protect the fence from damage during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Yoav Kadosh
  • Patent number: 7770326
    Abstract: A safety door, door lock and door lock release mechanism for preventing a child from opening a door while permitting an adult to do so includes a weight sensor and a height sensor for unlocking a locked door. An alarm is used to indicate a child's attempt to open the door and a sensor for sensing a dangerous condition such as smoke or carbon monoxide is also provided for unlocking the door in the event of a dangerous condition and activating a more discernable alarm at that time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Sadeq Ahmed Al-Qassem
  • Patent number: 7770327
    Abstract: If a supply voltage for a motor drops below a predetermined level during movement of a windowpane, a controller of a power window system outputs a stop signal instructing the motor to stop rotating, and stores in a memory a first position and a motion direction of the windowpane derived from a first signal generated by a transducer (signal generator). The controller compares a second position of the windowpane derived from a second signal generated by the transducer when the supply voltage for the motor is restored to the predetermined level or higher with the first position of the windowpane stored in the memory. If the second position is different from the first position, the first position stored in the memory is corrected toward the motion direction by an amount corresponding to a difference between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Noro, Kenji Shioiri
  • Patent number: 7770328
    Abstract: A cable (11) is provided comprising a steel cord (12) and a polymer material (15). The steel cord (12) has a diameter less than 2.5 mm, and is coated with the polymer material (15). The cable (11) has a permanent elongation of less than 0.05% at a permanent force of 50 N, after being subjected to a force of 450 N. Further, a window elevator system (300) comprising such a cable (11) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
    Inventors: Bert Vanderbeken, Paul Bruyneel, Luc Dalez, Albert Somers, Daniël Mauer
  • Patent number: 7770329
    Abstract: A door roller system is disclosed. The door roller system comprises a first housing including at least one generally vertical side member having at least one slot; a base slidably coupled to the first housing and having at least one projection that extends at least partially through the slot; and at least one wheel coupled to the base. The projection on the base is configured to slide within the slot on the first housing as the base is moved relative to the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: Steve Peter Hutnik, Steven Michael Gwozdek, Nirav Raj D. Parikh, John Tremble
  • Patent number: 7770330
    Abstract: A method of opening an appliance door includes translating the door up and away from a unit so as to clear a lower edge of a physical constraint, thus allowing for gaps to be minimized, further translating the appliance door out so that its handle would not make contact with an adjacent door should the adjacent door be closed or opened while the appliance door is opened, thus allowing the appliance door to be lowered when the same is fully opened in order to increase the usable height and to reduce the gaps below and above the appliance door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin T. Brown, Brian Henninger, Philip Ames Barber, Vern Alden Neal
  • Patent number: 7770331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stand alone system for generating electrical power using hydraulic supports on which a weighted object is mounted. A pump injects fluid into the supports to raise the weighted object and thereby store energy in the elevated object. A valve can be opened to deliver fluid under pressure to a turbine or hydraulic motor driven generator to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: John J. Halloran
  • Patent number: 7770332
    Abstract: A construction object (a structure) that enables access to high altitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Muhamed Semiz
  • Patent number: 7770333
    Abstract: An adapter for a tank, having a bottom with one or more adhesive-receiving channels formed therein, an inner wall, structure for supporting a riser component on the adapter, and wall reinforcement structure. The adapter is particularly suited to providing pre-cast concrete tank lids with structural, interengaging support for a column of stackable riser components to form a passageway to facilitate access to the tank from a higher elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Tuf-Tite, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore W. Meyers
  • Patent number: 7770334
    Abstract: A modular enclosure, such as a shed, may include a door assembly. The door assembly may include a door constructed from blow-molded plastic and a hinge member receiving portion may be disposed on one side of the door. Advantageously, the hinge member receiving portion may be integrally formed with the door as part of a unitary, one-piece construction. A hinge member may be disposed within the hinge member receiving portion and the hinge member may pivotally connect the door to the shed. The door may include a reinforcement member, which is preferably constructed from metal and disposed proximate the second side of the door. If desired, the reinforcement member may be at least partially exposed on an outer surface of the door. In addition, the door assembly may include a flange that is sized and configured to prevent water from unintentionally entering the shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Mower, Brent Steed, Jay Calkin, Neil Watson, Robert A. Astle, L. Curtis Strong, Rich Howe, David C. Winter, Kent Ashby
  • Patent number: 7770335
    Abstract: A roof jack apparatus for sealing openings in roofs through which penetrating conduits may pass. The apparatus includes an inner jack and outer jack. The inner jack may include an inner collar, a first flange, and an inner door. The outer jack may include an outer collar, a second flange, and an outer door. A portion of the inner jack may be inserted into at least a portion of the outer jack. The inner and/or outer jack may be rotated about each other. When rotated so that the first door is aligned with the second door, a passageway may be opened that allows the roof jack apparatus to be slid across the sides of the conduit and into position. The passageway may then be closed by rotating the inner and/or outer jack so that the first and second door are no longer aligned, thereby closing the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Evensen
  • Patent number: 7770336
    Abstract: A multi-tiered rotary workstation comprises at least two rotary work spaces supported at different levels, with associated workstation floors, substantial increasing the amount of work space available within a fixed floor space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Martinrea International Inc.
    Inventor: Federico Guillermo Jaekel
  • Patent number: 7770337
    Abstract: A modular enclosure, such as a shed, may include a number of components. For example, the enclosure may include roof panels, floor panels and wall panels that are connected to the roof and/or floor panels. Preferably, the wall panels span the seams disposed between the roof and/or floor panels. In addition, the wall panels are preferably offset from the roof and/or floor panels. Further, the roof panels, wall panels and floor panels desirably have a substantially similar width. The enclosure may also include one or more corner panels and the corner panels may have a living hinge that generally divides the corner panel in half. Advantageously, the offset connection of the roof panels, wall panels and floor panels may facilitate construction of an enclosure with increased strength and functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Mower, Brent Steed, Jay Calkin, Neil Watson, Robert A. Astle, L. Curtis Strong, Rich Howe, David C. Winter, Kent Ashby
  • Patent number: 7770338
    Abstract: Triangular elements for forming geodesic structures each have three elongated leg members arranged end-to-end to form three apexes. At least one of the apexes is formed with a curved-shaped indentation which extends along an outer surface and perpendicular to the opposing side surfaces. The legs of each triangular element also include one or more outer grooves extending longitudinally along the outer surface. Each outer groove is sized to receive a seal member. An inwardly raised shoulder extends longitudinally along the inner surface. An inner groove is formed along a side edge of the raised shoulder and each inner groove is sized to receive a seal member. Panels are positioned over the opposing sides to form double-walled triangular element. Channels extend through the outer surface and raised shoulder of the inner surface. The triangular elements are arranged to form a geodesic structure and fasteners extend through the channels to secure adjacent triangular elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Abdessatar Nefzi
  • Patent number: 7770339
    Abstract: A modular enclosure, such as a shed, may include sidewalls and a roof. The roof, for example, may include first and second roof panels that are separated by a seam. The roof may also include a truss that is sized and configured to support the roof panels. The truss may include a channel that allows any moisture entering the shed from between the roof panels to be removed from the shed. In particular, a portion of the first roof panel and a portion of the second roof panel may be at least partially disposed within the channel. Advantageously, the truss may be constructed from metal, which may allow a strong and sturdy shed to be constructed, and the roof panels may be constructed from blow-molded plastic, which may allow a lightweight and generally weather resistant shed to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Mower, Brent Steed, Jay Calkin, Neil Watson, Robert A. Astle, L. Curtis Strong, Rich Howe, David C. Winter, Kent Ashby
  • Patent number: 7770340
    Abstract: A modular egress window well structure which is constructed of structurally identical walls that interlock and attach to the foundation of a building via a termination strip. The identical wall members allow for ease of manufacturing and installation of the egress window well. The method of installation comprises removing soil away from the foundation of a building, securing the termination of strips to the foundation, assembling the egress window well and then backfilling the soil around the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy P. Heady, Charles W. Heady
  • Patent number: 7770341
    Abstract: An electrical conduit encasement including a top section and bottom section secured together by mortar and adjacent encasements by mortar. A pair of vertically extending threaded rods suspend the concrete encasements with the rods extending through members attached to plates embededly attached to the encasements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ductcrete, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Fox
  • Patent number: 7770342
    Abstract: A stress-optimized structural support which may be utilized as a beam or assembled with similar supports to form a building floor or roof panel or a bridge deck utilizes an open core element, made preferably of suitably treated fluted paper, upper and lower thin skin sheets, preferably steel skins, and a layer of concrete poured over the top skin. Modules comprising the hollow core element and the upper and lower skin sheets are fabricated to lengths required for building floor, roof or bridge spans and, when joined by welding or otherwise joining the upper and lower skin sheets of adjacent elements along their full lengths, provide a floor or roof deck structure of a large span with horizontal stresses distributed omnidirectionally. A post-stressing tensile system redistributes and reduces the load on the roof deck by about one-half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 7770343
    Abstract: Prefabricated modular tower of the kind used as a support for wind generators and other applications uses reduced-thickness prefabricated elements which are reinforced with an internal structure of horizontal and vertical stiffeners, preferably made of reinforced concrete. The elements are tensioned both horizontally and vertically by flexible metal cables. The main advantages of the invention are that it enables fast construction of very high towers using a limited number of elements. The elements are not heavy and are easy to transport, all of which leads to savings in manufacturing, transport and installation costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Structural Concrete & Steel, S.L.
    Inventors: Jesús Montaner Fragüet, Antonio Ricardo Mari Bernat
  • Patent number: 7770344
    Abstract: An under-floor cable support system comprising a first plurality of free-standing cable stands positioned on a sub-floor and movable independent of the floor-supporting pedestals. Each cable stand comprises a cross bar on a pair of spaced apart legs for supporting a cable tray at an elevation above the sub-floor and below the floor. Holding mechanisms are provided on the cable stands for holding a second plurality of cable stands stacked on top of the first plurality of cable stands. The second plurality of cable stands may be stands with two legs or cantilever cable stands with one leg. In other aspects, the legs of the cable stands are movable to adjust the spacing between the legs and to collapse the legs for compactness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Jason F. Betz
  • Patent number: 7770345
    Abstract: A floor tile for a raised floor. The floor tile is defined by a shallow upwardly-opening metal pan defining a shallow compartment in which a main preformed one-piece concrete block is secured. The main concrete block is preferably formed from a plurality of one-piece preformed concrete sub-blocks which are adhesively adhered in sideward abutting relationship to define a plan profile corresponding to the main concrete block. The main concrete block is then adhesively secured within the compartment of the metal pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony McConnell, Ronald H. Brown, Bryan R. Gingrich, Robert L. Tuttle, Randolph Woellper, X. Shawn Yu
  • Patent number: 7770346
    Abstract: A shear panel for constructing underlayments for floors and roofs of buildings includes a first rectangular layer of fire-resistant material, such as cementitious board, bonded to a second rectangular layer of thin high-strength material, such as galvanized steel. The length of the second layer is longer than the length of the first layer. The additional length of the second layer forms a tab extending from one end of the panel. During construction, a first panel is attached to a set of beams (floor joists or roof rafters) with the tab spanning between adjacent beams. A second panel is positioned on the beams with at least a portion of the second panel overlapping the tab of the first panel. The overlapping portion of the second panel is fastened to the tab of the first panel to form a continuous shear diaphragm for the floor or roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Specialty Hardware L.P.
    Inventor: A. Carleton Elliott
  • Patent number: 7770347
    Abstract: A building frame has multiple bars and two brace assemblies. Each bar is a straight rectangular bar and has a top surface and bottom surface and two mounting surfaces. The mounting surfaces may be indented surface respectively formed in the top and bottom surfaces of the bar. The brace assemblies are parallel with each other and each brace assembly has a primary brace and a secondary brace leant against the primary brace. The primary and secondary braces both have multiple mounting recesses being separately formed therein. Each mounting recess on the primary brace aligns with one mounting recess of the secondary brace. The mounting recesses of the primary brace and secondary brace correspond to and are engaged respectively the mounting surface of the top and bottom surfaces of one bar when the primary and secondary are alternatively moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Rong-Jun Huang