Pivoted Compression Bar Patents (Class 160/154)
  • Patent number: 6591556
    Abstract: A canopy assembly for sheltering a drive-up ordering station of a fast food restaurant can pivot out of the way when impacted by a vehicle and return automatically to a centered position. A centering feature mounted to a column supporting a roof structure engages a pivotal coupler to bias the roof to a center position. This feature includes a pivot post assembly extending across the cavity and through a pair of helical slots in the coupler. When a leading end of the roof assembly is struck by a vehicle, the coupler is rotated and the pivot post engages the slots so that the coupler translates upward. The coupler is biased by gravity to a centered position in which the top ends of the slots rest on the pivot post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Howard Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Bertheaume, Kenneth R. Bergmann, Maurice Michaud, Matt Dewey
  • Publication number: 20020096265
    Abstract: A canopy assembly for sheltering a drive-up ordering station of a fast food restaurant can pivot out of the way when impacted by a vehicle and return automatically to a centered position. A centering feature mounted to a column supporting a roof structure engages a pivotal coupler to bias the roof to a center position. This feature includes a pivot post assembly extending across the cavity and through a pair of helical slots in the coupler. When a leading end of the roof assembly is struck by a vehicle, the coupler is rotated and the pivot post engages the slots so that the coupler translates upward. The coupler is biased by gravity to a centered position in which the top ends of the slots rest on the pivot post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Paul R. Bertheaume, Kenneth R. Bergmann, Maurice Michaud, Matt Dewey