Patents Issued in February 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9890516
    Abstract: The revolving device for a work vehicle is such that a support ring is disposed on the second pinion shaft at a position between an output pinion and a second bearing component, and comes into contact with the second bearing component and the output pinion to support the output pinion above the second bearing component. A seal member has a mounting component that is disposed on the outer peripheral face of the support ring, and a lip component that is formed protruding outward in the radial direction from the mounting component and seals the upper side of the second bearing component. The support ring has a protrusion protruding outward in the radial direction from the lower end of the support ring. The mounting component is disposed higher than the protrusion, and the lip component protrudes further outside than the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Shunji Doi
  • Patent number: 9890517
    Abstract: A hybrid wheel loader includes a control device (200) that estimates output power of an engine (1) and an electricity storage device (11) when the hybrid wheel loader is inferred on the basis of output values of detectors (62, 63) to be traveling towards an object of excavation in order to perform an excavating work, and then, if the output power is less than target power considered necessary for the excavating work, accelerates the engine (1) to a target revolution speed while increasing the electric power supplied from the electricity storage device to a traveling motor (9). Accordingly, power necessary for excavation can be drawn from the engine even when the engine revolution speed is low and there is a fear of power deficiency occurring at the time of the excavating work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KCM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Kaneko, Takashi Ikimi, Noritaka Itou, Satoshi Sekino
  • Patent number: 9890518
    Abstract: During boom-midair lowering operation in which a front work implement 130 can be turned under the self-weight of a boom 131, a hydraulic pump/motor 7 is operated as a motor to operate a generator/electric motor 10 as a generator. Power generation operation is performed by the hydraulic fluid discharged from a bottom-side chamber 5b of a boom cylinder 5 to recover positional energy. During jack-up in which the front work implement 130 cannot be turned under the self-weight of the boom 131, the generator/electric motor 10 is operated as an electric motor to operate the hydraulic pump/motor 7 as a pump. The jack-up is performed by supplying the hydraulic fluid from the bottom-side chamber 5b to rod-side chamber 5a of the boom cylinder 5 without supplying the hydraulic fluid from the main pump 2 to the rod-side chamber 5a of the boom cylinder 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MAHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Sato, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kouji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9890519
    Abstract: A fluid-powered tool actuator usable with a vehicle having an arm and a rotation link for rotation of the tool actuator in a first plane and being laterally tiltable in a second transverse plane. In some embodiments pressurized fluid is communicated using distribution channels and passageways internal to the actuator to limit use of external hydraulic lines. In some embodiments the tool actuator has certain components in a compressive pre-loaded state to reduce their fatigue failure during operation of the tool actuator under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Helac Corporation
    Inventor: Dean R. Weyer
  • Patent number: 9890520
    Abstract: A water capture device for installing in an elevated location on a building. The water capture device comprises a plurality of exterior walls, an input opening, a main chamber, a release opening, an overflow channel, and an overflow opening. The plurality of exterior walls defines a cavity. The input opening allows for allowing water to enter the cavity. The main chamber is within the cavity configured to fill with water. The release opening is for selectively releasing water from the main chamber for use by a user. The overflow channel within the cavity is for receiving excess water from the main chamber that rises above a threshold associated with the overflow channel. The first overflow opening is for allowing excess water within the overflow channel to freely exit the water capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DrainCube LLC
    Inventor: David W. Brucker
  • Patent number: 9890521
    Abstract: A pit assembly can include a pit liner defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior of the pit liner, the inner surface and the outer surface further defining a pit opening proximate to an upper portion of the pit liner; a pit connector positioned in the interior of the pit liner; a removable cartridge positionable within the interior of the pit liner, the removable cartridge comprising a chassis, a cartridge connector mounted to the chassis and configured to operatively couple in fluid communication to the pit connector, and a piping system in fluid communication with the cartridge connector and mounted to the chassis; and a locking mechanism selectively movable about and between a locked position and an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Thomas Mosley, Timothy J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9890522
    Abstract: An overflow drain for a tub includes a bracket configured to be located against an inside surface of the tub and connected to an overflow elbow. A first elongated slot is disposed through the bracket. A faceplate is configured to be attached to the bracket. A second elongated slot is disposed through the faceplate. A first knob is movably connected to the faceplate. An elongated seal plate is disposed on the inside of the faceplate and connected to the first knob. The seal plate is configured to move between an open position and a closed position by a movement of the first knob, wherein in the closed position the seal plate is configured to create a watertight seal around either the first or second elongated slots, and wherein in the open position the seal plate is configured to drain a fluid through the first and second elongated slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Max Homami, Michael Gerard Rohlfs
  • Patent number: 9890523
    Abstract: A wastewater strainer is provided that includes a strainer body that has at least one opening that enhances fluid flow through the strainer body and the wastewater plumbing to which it is interconnected. The strainer body includes a flange for engagement to the inner portion of a bathtub and a hub that is spaced from a lower edge of the strainer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: William T. Ball
  • Patent number: 9890524
    Abstract: A plunger device includes, but is not limited to, a shaft; a plunger suction cup coupled to the shaft, which plunger suction cup flares from the shaft to a perimeter edge to define a concavity; and a receptacle centrally positioned within the concavity on an underside of the plunger suction cup for removably retaining one or more disposable plunger bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: REVELATIONIST, LLC
    Inventors: Karen Law, Chris Corrigan
  • Patent number: 9890525
    Abstract: A device for controlling the filling of a cistern in a main reservoir of a toilet flushing system includes a water inlet controlled by a valve. The closing of the valve is controlled by a float that is movable from a high position to a low position. The float is contained in a float housing in the high position. The float housing connects to the main reservoir by at least one siphon having two tubes: a suction tube linked to the float housing; and a discharge tube being linked to the main reservoir and opening into an auxiliary reservoir. There is a control mechanism provided with a mechanism for priming the siphon, wherein shifts between an initial position and an actuated position of the control mechanism result in overpressure or underpressure at the siphon so as to control draining of the float housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Etablissements Dubourgel Grange
    Inventor: Hubert Magar
  • Patent number: 9890526
    Abstract: A flush valve system is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve element adapted for transition between a closed position and an open position is disclosed. The flush valve further includes a control chamber in communication with the inlet, and a vent outlet in communication with the outlet. The system includes a solenoid for establishing communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to establish a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The system also includes a power supply for energizing the solenoid, a deployable actuator in communication with the power supply, and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the main valve element. The microprocessor is adapted to determine a valve opening time, calculate fluid pressure based on the valve opening time, and deliver a predetermined quantity of fluid through the valve based on fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9890527
    Abstract: An operating device includes a rotary shaft, an operating handle, an operating wire, and a drive unit; wherein this drive unit includes: a rotary member, a rotary windup member, a locking device for mutually locking the rotary member and the rotary windup member until the rotary windup member rotates in the forward rotational direction from a first operating position and reaches a second operating position, a lock release device for releasing the lock between the rotary member and the rotary windup member so the rotary windup member rotates in the reverse rotational direction and moves to the first operating position regardless of any operation of the operating handle when the rotary member and the rotary windup member reach the second operating position, and a biasing device for restoring the rotary member to an initial position at which a toilet flush operation can be started from the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama, Makoto Abe
  • Patent number: 9890528
    Abstract: An automatic toilet flush device including a weight sensor between a toilet bowl rim and a toilet seat and a capacitive touch plate disposed on the toilet lid, both of which are configured to automatically flush a toilet either when someone sits on the toilet seat or touches the capacitive touch plate, respectively. The weight sensor is in operational communication with a sensing module transmitter which in wireless communication with a flush module receiver in operational communication with a microprocessor disposed within a housing inside the toilet tank. The capacitive touch plate is also in operational communication with the microprocessor, to which a timer is connected to permit flushing after a pre-determined time. When the microprocessor activates the flush module receiver, the flush motor activates an arm on a flush lever which, in turn, controls the flush valve to flush the toilet and to re-fill the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Kendall Ashby
  • Patent number: 9890529
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved sanitary toilet bowl capable of protecting a human body against bacteria and giving a comfortable environment to a toilet by sucking and removing bad smell and bacteria. The sanitary toilet bowl includes a valve unit mounted to open or close a top of the overflow tube according to a water level in the water tank, an air suction tube installed to communicate with the overflow tube through the valve unit, a circulating pump installed in water of the water tank and having a circulating water suction tube and a circulating water discharge tube respectively provided at both ends thereof to suck the water stored in the water tank and discharge the sucked water for circulation, and a Venturi tube installed on the circulating water suction tube or the circulating water discharge tube and connected to the air suction tube perpendicularly to generate an Venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Sang-Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 9890530
    Abstract: An underlayment for supplementing one or more physical properties of wall, ceiling, and floor construction components is used to in a wall, ceiling, or floor assembly that may be fabricated on site. The assembly includes: first and second wall, ceiling, or floor construction components which each have physical properties and an underlayment component which has at least one supplemental physical property for supplementing the physical properties of the first and second construction components. The construction components may or may not be secured together with the underlayment sandwiched between the second and first construction components to form a wall, ceiling, or floor assembly with the supplemental physical property or properties of the underlayment. The supplemental physical property or properties of the underlayment may include, but are not limited to, latent storage of thermal energy, sound transmission reduction, and/or burn through resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Patrick Tierney, Ralph Michael Fay
  • Patent number: 9890531
    Abstract: A modular building system is provided which includes modular wall sections. Each wall section has a concrete support column reinforced within by metal rods and at least two wall panels which are formed of concrete. Spline panels are attached to the wall panels at one or both ends of each wall section to connect the wall section to an adjacent wall section. The spline panels are formed of concrete and have a width less than half a width of any of the wall panels. The spline panels are positioned so that a portion thereof extends further in a longitudinal direction of the wall section than the respective wall panels to which the spline panels are joined, so that the spline panels cover joints between wall panels of adjacent wall sections when the adjacent wall sections are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Barnet L. Liberman, Aaron Liberman
  • Patent number: 9890532
    Abstract: A structural component for use in building construction including a first support material member, a second support material member, an insulating material, and a first securing member. The first support material member may have a first length and a first edge. The second support material member may have a second length and a second edge and may oppose the first support material member. The insulating material may be disposed between the first support material member and the second support material member. The first securing member may be adapted to contact the first edge and the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9890533
    Abstract: A construction system includes a metallic stud definable in terms of an X, Y, Z coordinate system. The system includes a Z-axis elongate substantially rectangular integral web within a YZ plane, the web having a stability elements along a Z axis line of dependency with a first edge of the web, the elements defining an L-shaped element having a foot occupying a YZ plane substantially parallel to the web. The system also includes a second and opposite Z-axis edge of the web defining a series of trapezoidal cut-outs having openings at a minor base of each trapezoidal cut-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Lakdas Nanayakkara
  • Patent number: 9890534
    Abstract: Shingle blanks including a first fold region, a second fold region, a third region, a lower edge and an upper edge are provided. The shingle blank has a length. The first and second fold regions extend substantially across the length of the shingle blank. The second fold region is positioned between the first and third fold regions. A first perforation line is positioned between the second and third fold regions. A second perforation line is positioned between the first and second fold regions. A reinforcement material is positioned over the first perforation line and configured to reinforce the first perforation line. The reinforcement material includes apertures configured to allow an asphalt coating to bleed through the reinforcement material. The first and second perforation lines facilitate folding of the first and second fold regions on top of the third region to form a three layered stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: OWENS CORNING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Grubka
  • Patent number: 9890535
    Abstract: A gutter debris barrier system for preventing debris from entering a gutter includes a frame that is attached to a fascia of a building and a filter screen. The frame may include a floor with slots punched therein, with ribs on either side of the slots that form channels. The channels may be tapered to improve the speed and efficiency of heat transfer, and also to funnel water down into the gutter. The ribs may have planar upper surfaces or tips lying in a common horizontal plane and supporting a flat filter screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: All Weather Armour, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Breyer, David Catherman
  • Patent number: 9890536
    Abstract: A universal fit flexible tree trunk guard fabricated from a medium to high density silicone rubber material for protecting the trunk of a tree or an ornamental shrub from strikes from lawn care equipment or from interactions with wildlife. A plurality of hole members are provided along the upper and lower edges of the trunk guard. This rectangular sheet can then be wrapped around the trunk, the diameter of the thus-formed cylinder adjusted to fit the tree or ornamental shrub to be protected. Mechanical fastening means can then be used, at registering hole members, to secure the trunk guard in a cylindrical form. Additionally, the interior surface, i.e. the surface that is facing the trunk of the tree or ornamental shrub, can be provided with a plurality of spaced bosses that maintain an air space between the surface of the tree trunk and the trunk guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas W. Lolio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9890537
    Abstract: A panel for attachment to a mounting surface includes a plurality of raised faces formed and extending between an upper edge and a lower edge of the panel, and a plurality of recessed keyways defined between each of the raised faces. The panel may have a recessed base at the lower edge of the keyways defining a fold lip adjacent the mounting surface, and a full base formed at the lower edge of the raised faces and extending beyond the recessed base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Martin, James C. Parks, Matthew M. Jackson, Richard C. Kruyer, Michael W. Maurer, Daniel B. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9890538
    Abstract: A panel configured for attachment to a mounting surface includes raised faces extending between upper and lower edges thereof. The raised faces define a face plane. A shoulder is defined on the raised faces adjacent the upper edge and is spaced from the mounting surface by a shoulder offset. The face plane is also spaced from the mounting surface by the shoulder offset. Keyways are defined between the raised faces and recessed from the face plane. The keyways are spaced from the mounting surface by a bottom keyway offset adjacent the lower edge. The bottom keyway offset is substantially equal to the shoulder offset. Therefore, the face plane of the raised faces at the upper edge of the panel is spaced from the mounting surface by substantially the same distance as the keyways are spaced from the mounting surface at the lower edge of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Maurer, Clyde G. Allen, Daniel W. King, James C. Parks, Jeffrey B. Martin
  • Patent number: 9890539
    Abstract: A wall panel system is provided that includes a series of interlocking wall panels with a pressure-adherent backing. The wall panels are configured to be placed on a wall in interlocking fashion, with the interlocking attributes contributing to the overall appearance of the panel. In one aspect, surface features are provided on the wood panels that add surface texture to the panel by laser burning into the surface of the wood panel. The width of the surface features can be changed by adjusting the properties of the laser, such as beam focus. The wood panels are conveniently sized so that they can be easily manipulated for interlocking placement on the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Michael T. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 9890540
    Abstract: Surface laying unit (100) for laying with other surface laying units (100) on an underlying surface (300), wherein the surface laying unit (100) has a useful layer (102) and a connecting structure (104) which is provided directly on an underside of the useful layer (102) and which is designed for connecting to the underlying surface (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Weitzer Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Weitzer
  • Patent number: 9890541
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor board having connection geometries corresponding to each other and made of plastics, wherein the first connection geometry is provided along two abutting side surfaces and has a groove which is open toward the bottom and is bordered by a lip toward the outside, and the groove has an undercut along its walls. The second connection geometry is provided along the abutting side surfaces and has a groove which is open toward the top and is bordered by a lip toward the outside, and the groove has an undercut along its walls. The lip of the first connection geometry and the lip of the second connection geometry each have at least one slot at least in sections. The invention also relates to a floor board having a connecting element that is made of a multi-component material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HÜMA PARKETTSYSTEM GMBH
    Inventors: Felix Hüllenkremer, Manuel Mannheim
  • Patent number: 9890542
    Abstract: Floor covering, made of floor elements, which, at least at two opposite sides, comprise a male and a female coupling part, which allow that two of such floor elements can be interconnected at the respective sides at the respective sides by pushing one of these floor elements with the associated male coupling part, by means of a downward movement, home into the female coupling part of the other floor element, wherein at least one of said coupling parts, either the male coupling part or the female coupling part, is made as least partially in a filled synthetic material composite, such as extruded wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 9890543
    Abstract: A surface coating structure adapted to be quickly installed and removed includes a plurality of parallel sections (1), a multiplicity of connecting members (2) and of slats (3) which engage the connecting members (2). Each connecting member (2) is provided with a pair of mutually opposite central angled hooks (4, 4) and a pair of side angled hooks (5, 5). Each slat has an undercut side groove (10) formed in each longitudinal edge (11) of the slat (3) to engage a central angled hook (4) and a bottom prismatic groove (12) in a part opposite to a part in sight near each longitudinal edge (11) of the slat (3). Each bottom prismatic groove (12) has, with respect to the longitudinal edge (11), a proximal side (14) provided with a series of parallel knurls (17) adapted to retain the side angled hook (5) of the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: I DECK S.R.L.
    Inventor: Enrico Aquilani
  • Patent number: 9890544
    Abstract: An automatic scaffold for reaching buildings during construction, repair, dyeing, coating, and maintenance. The automatic scaffold includes a scaffold module which has a stack of module layers. Movable columns open the scaffold modules by a drive unit so as to generate a distance between the module layers, wherein the distance is approximately of 2-meter height in which one person can comfortably work, and wherein the movable columns are respectively an outer carrier column which carries the scaffold module upwardly with the movement generated by the drive unit, and an inner movable column which is located inside the outer carrier column and linked to the outer carrier column via a control rod of the drive unit. Each module layer has vertical and horizontal rods, a carrier plate, and guide elements for fixing the vertical rods to the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Abdurrahman Murat Fenerci
  • Patent number: 9890545
    Abstract: An erection system for one or more elongated elements, such as structural columns, pre-fabricated reinforcing cages or tower-like structures includes one or more longitudinal lifting bars running parallel with the elongated element's longitudinal direction. The lifting bars are installed within or onto the elongated element through apertures in the element's upper and lower support pieces. A rigging system supports the upper portion of the lifting bar. The lifting bar's lower portion includes external threading to receive an internally threaded load bearing nut. The load bearing nut supports the elongated element's weight onto the lifting bar's lower portion. The upper and lower support pieces stabilize the elongated element with lateral restraint. Removing the load bearing nut and raising the lifting bar up through the support piece's apertures extracts the lifting bar from the elongated element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Steven James Bongiorno
  • Patent number: 9890546
    Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are presented for reinforcing and/or repairing columns, towers, pylons, and the like, constructed from various materials including concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. One or more tensile bearing bands/rebars of material, such as fibrous material, are longitudinally/axially adhered or attached to the structure followed by wrapping of a semi-flexible or a semi-rigid sheet of material, at a relatively small distance, around the column. Subsequently filler material is poured in the cavity created between the wrapped sheet material and the column. Optionally, multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be wrapped around or be attached to the primary wrapped sheet. Appropriately chosen reinforcement bands/rebars, reinforcement sheets, and filler material can provide any desired additional tensile, compressive, shear and flexural strength to the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Mohammad Reza Ehsani
  • Patent number: 9890547
    Abstract: Mounting arrangements for pool skimmers, methods for mounting pool skimmers, pool skimmer adapter plates, and pool skimmer installation kits are provided that provide unique opportunities to overcome the limitations of the prior art. Aspects of the invention include an external adapter plate having an internal cavity sized to receive an inlet of a pool skimmer assembly and an internal adapter plate having an internal cavity positioned to at least partially align with an inlet opening of the inlet of the pool skimmer assembly. The use of the adapter plates allows the pool designer and installer broad latitude in selecting a proper skimmer assembly with minimal if any impact upon the design of the pool wall or panel used. Aspects of the invention are uniquely adapted to panel-type pool construction, but may be adaptable for any pool skimmer installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Trojan Leisure Products, LLC
    Inventor: Collin J. Sirco
  • Patent number: 9890548
    Abstract: A distribution valve of an in-floor pool cleaning system is provided. The distribution valve includes a housing having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. A turbine within the housing rotates about a shaft in response to fluid flowing through the inlet port. The turbine is releasably coupled to a gear mechanism, and the gear mechanism is releasably coupled to a distribution valve disk, the disk having an aperture therein. As the turbine rotates, the gear mechanism also rotates and drives the rotation of the disk around the shaft. The rotation of the disk sequentially places the aperture over one of the plurality of outlet ports, thus allowing fluid to flow out of the outlet port over which the aperture is positioned, but restricting fluid flow into any of the outlet ports that are covered by the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Blue Square Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Gerald Malinasky, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9890549
    Abstract: Storage system for vehicles, in particular two-wheeled vehicles, bicycles or motorcycles, having a substantially closed housing with a storage region which is not accessible from the outside and with at least one closable loading and unloading station (2) of the vehicles, a transportation system (3, 4, 5) for conveying the vehicles from the at least one loading and unloading station (2) into the storage region and within the storage region, wherein the vehicles can be stored and conveyed in mutually separate containers (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KAIROS INDUSTRIAL AG
    Inventors: Riccardo Gambarotta, Alessandro Gambarotta
  • Patent number: 9890550
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system for storing commodities is provided. The system may include a tarpaulin. The tarpaulin may further have an internal strapping. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for storing commodities is provided. The method may include providing a tarpaulin. In one embodiment, the method for storing commodities may include configuring the tarpaulin to provide internal strapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: J&M Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Gaudet, Jr., Aaron Gummer
  • Patent number: 9890551
    Abstract: A tubular holder with a circular base, a central column, spokes attached to the central columns and ground spikes attached to spokes or bottom of the circular base. In some variations the spokes have orifices for engaging a cup with a cup spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Delao, Mark Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9890552
    Abstract: A hunting blind with an adjustable opening is provided to increase the flexibility of the hunting blind when the hunting blind is used in various activities. One or more covers at least partially cover the adjustable opening to produce a modified opening. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise fasteners, cords, and other components to arrange the one or more covers in different configurations. Various embodiments of the invention may also have a pass-through feature in an exterior wall of the hunting blind that provide access to the external environment. This may be advantageous for objects such as tripods where one of the tripod's legs may extend through the pass-through feature so that the tripod may be positioned closer to the exterior wall, which saves space in the hunting blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PD2F, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Schneider, Jerrod R. Lile
  • Patent number: 9890553
    Abstract: A protective enclosure provides patient privacy and protection from inclement weather to a patient on a mattress on a stretcher. The enclosure includes a pair of slidable base portions and a cover connected to, and extending between, the base portions. The base portions are movable toward and away from each other in a transverse common plane underneath the mattress along a transverse axis that extends widthwise of the mattress. The cover bounds an interior space in which a body part of the patient is received. The cover has an overhead structure that extends along the transverse axis above the transverse common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: A & V Equities LLC
    Inventors: Abraham J. Esses, Victor Sutton
  • Patent number: 9890554
    Abstract: Hanging structure includes a structure frame, the structure frame having a substantially convex polyhedron shape, the structure frame comprising at least one facet, at least one level and a ratio; a plurality of compressive members being disposed to align along a substantially horizontal alignment on the structure frame and configured to absorb a compressive force, the plurality of compressive members further being disposed to delineate each of the at least one level; and a plurality of tensile members carrying the plurality of compressive members, the plurality of tensile members being disposed to align along a substantially vertical or diagonal alignment on the structure frame; and a plurality of moment resisting nodes defining attachment points between the plurality of compressive members and the plurality of tensile members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Richard J. Duncan, III
  • Patent number: 9890555
    Abstract: A structure, which can be used as a portable shelter or tent, has a cover and structural elements disposed therein to permit the cover to lay flat or stand erect. The cover has two layers, one layer being thermally reflective and another layer being thermally absorptive. Similarly constructed removable panels can be attached to standoffs incorporated into the cover. The structure is reversible, so that the structure can either reject or absorb ambient heat. The standoffs are provided on each side of the cover and connections for attaching the removable panels to the standoffs are provided on each side of the removable panels. In this way, the removable panels can be attached to the interior or exterior of the structure with either side of a removable panel facing towards the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Woodall, Felipe Garcia
  • Patent number: 9890556
    Abstract: A handle (100), having: an escutcheon (106) having a recessed area (300); a lever (104) pivotally mounted toward the top end of the escutcheon and at least a portion of the lever is disposed within the recessed area when in a lever closed position (102); a first gear (310) operatively connected to a top side (312) of the lever and a portion of the first gear including gear teeth (320) extending through an opening (360) in the escutcheon; a second gear (324) mounted on a back (130) of the escutcheon and having cam teeth (322) that mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear; a cam latch (140) operatively connected to the second gear to rotate when the second gear rotates; and, a lock assembly (146) mounted to a bottom end (202) of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FATH, INC.
    Inventors: Armin Fink, William Kenneth Williams
  • Patent number: 9890557
    Abstract: Leaf (4) of a sliding window (1) or sliding door, whereby this leaf (4) has a horizontal profile (13) and an upright side profile (12) perpendicular to the horizontal profile (13), whereby the horizontal profile (13) is provided with a lock plate (10) for a lock (9), whereby the leaf (4) is equipped with an adjustment mechanism to be able to adjust the position of the lock plate (10) in the direction (P) in which the horizontal profile (13) extends and to be able to secure the lock plate (10) to the leaf (4), whereby the adjustment mechanism can be operated from the side where the side profile (12) is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Reynaers Aluminium NV
    Inventor: Stefan Vandervelden
  • Patent number: 9890558
    Abstract: Disclosed is an encoding tool used to encode a programmable combination locking cap. The encoding tools disclosed have an angled blade and alignment mechanisms so that a combination cap is easily encoded and placed on a container that optionally has an angled blocker so that the angled blocked efficiently blocks the combination of the programmable combination locking cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SECURE MEDICATION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Sean Serell
  • Patent number: 9890559
    Abstract: A dual locking padlock having a code locking mechanism and an overriding mechanism is disclosed. The housing has a top body, a stack of dials and clutches mounted on a bottom body, and a spindle engaging with the clutches. The spindle has a channel to store the heel of a shackle. An upward movement of the spindle allows the shackle to be pulled upward to unlock the padlock. Each dial has a plurality of teeth with slope-like surfaces to engage with the wave slots of a clutch. Clutches are rotatable relative to the spindle only when the lock is in the locked mode along with the dials. In the opened mode, a dial can be turned relative to a clutch by disengaging the teeth from wave-slots. The spindle is allowed to move upward either when a correct combination code is used or when a key activates the overriding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Sun Lock Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Lai
  • Patent number: 9890560
    Abstract: A locking apparatus includes an actuating hub rotatably mounted on a base, a handle connected with the actuating hub, a control plate provided adjacent to the actuating hub and formed with a plurality of teeth, two locking tumblers, and a series of button engagement disc clutch plates and coding disc clutch plates mounted on the locking tumblers, whereby pressing a selected group of buttons rotates their respective button engagement disc clutch plates and coding disc clutch plates such that cut-out apertures formed on the coding disc clutch plates align with the teeth of the control plate, thereby allowing movement of the control plate and rotation of the actuating hub when the grip handle is rotated. The apparatus also includes a code change button and a reset button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Stephman Company Limited
    Inventors: Ngai Kwong Wong, Joe Charnley
  • Patent number: 9890561
    Abstract: A pressurized chemical theft deterrent device includes a locking portion and a shackle. The locking portion includes a locking mechanism. The shackle includes a shackle wall. The shackle is configured to house a chemical deterrent within the shackle wall. The chemical deterrent is pressurized while being housed inside the shackle such that a breach in the integrity of the shackle wall causes an aerosolized release of the chemical deterrent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SKUNKLOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Yves Perrenoud, Daniel Idzkowski
  • Patent number: 9890562
    Abstract: This invention relates to a locking arrangement 10 which includes a body 12 and a locking member 14 which is displaceable relative to the body 12. The locking member 14 defines at least one striker element engagement formation 18.1, 18.2 which is configured to engage a striker element 100 for part of its displacement relative to the locking arrangement 10 along a predetermined displacement path. The locking member 14 is displaceable between first and second spaced apart positions in each of which the engagement formation 18.1, 18.2 is positioned such that a said striker element 100 is releasably engageable therewith and between which a said striker element 100 is in engagement with the engagement formation 18.1, 18.2. The locking arrangement 10 further includes a securing mechanism 16 which is configured to secure the locking member 14 releasably in at least one of the first and second spaced apart positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Piotr Leonard Kowalczyk
    Inventor: Piotr Leonard Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 9890563
    Abstract: A central access control system (10) includes a plurality of doors (44), a plurality of door locks (20) respectively mounted to the doors (44), a control device (33) connected to the door locks (20), and an unlocking device (40) for setting the control device (33) to be in an enabling state or a forbidding state. When the control device (33) is set to be in the forbidding state, the control device (33) outputs a forbidding signal to all of the door locks (20) to set the door locks (20) in a locking state. When the control device (33) is set to be in the enabling mode, the control module (33) outputs an enabling signal to all of the door locks (20), and a locking state or an unlocked state of a locking mechanism (24) of each door lock (20) remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: I-Ting Shen
  • Patent number: 9890564
    Abstract: An interconnected lock for use on a door, where the lock has adjustable offset spacing between a deadbolt and latchbolt. The lock includes first and second shafts for actuating the deadbolt lock mechanism, at different offset spacings. A linkage arm connected to and moveable by the latchbolt actuator is alternately connectable to rotate either the first or second deadbolt-actuating shaft. The linkage arm has first and second upper positions, for alternate connection to rotate the first and second deadbolt-actuating shafts, respectively. Upon operation of the interior actuator, the linkage arm moves the deadbolt along the second axis from the latched to the unlatched position at the same time that the operation of the interior actuator moves the latchbolt along the first axis from the latched to the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wai P. Wong, Pavel Farias, Gregg Krehel, Brian Fournier, Todd Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9890565
    Abstract: A lock structure includes a case, a first latch, a second latch, a transmission member, a transmission module, a swaying plate and a driving plate, wherein the transmission module is rotated to drive the swaying plate and the transmission member to perform swing action for making the swaying plate driving the first latch being hidden into the case. In addition, the driving plate moves upwardly by swing action of the transmission member, and the driving plate drives the second latch in operation for making the second latch being hidden into the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN FU HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiun-Nan Shiu, Shih-Min Lu