With Relative Pivotal Motion Preventing Means Patents (Class 160/233)
  • Patent number: 8857497
    Abstract: A rolling shutter assembly for covering an opening of a facility. A rolling shutter housing is mounted to the facility and connects with first and second shutter rails. A rolling shutter cover forms part of the rolling shutter housing and contains a rotating axle with a drive mechanism or gear assembly engaging the rotating axle positioned between side caps that close the sides of the rolling shutter cover. A plurality of single wall shutter slats are contained in a rolled up configuration within the rolling shutter housing and deployable to form a protective curtain, with a first single wall shutter slat connected to the rotating axle and additional single wall shutter slats connected in series to the first shutter slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rollac Shutter of Texas, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter M. Konrad, Stefan A. Poetsch, Eva L. Konrad
  • Patent number: 8668001
    Abstract: Movable partitions and systems are provided and may include accordion-style folding doors or partitions having sheets of folding panels. In one embodiment, the movable partition may include at least two hinge panels indirectly connecting adjacent folding panels. The hinge panels may have laterally spaced apart the adjacent folding panels from one another such that a compartment is formed upon retraction or folding of the sheets of folding panels. One or more control devices, such as an actuation device or a display panel, may be mounted on at least one of the hinge panels, or on the panel disposed between hinge panels such that, when the movable partition is in a retracted or folded state, the actuation devices are housed within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: R. Scott Smart, E. Carl Goodman
  • Patent number: 8555948
    Abstract: A multipurpose window having various functions including ventilation, lighting, and security is provided. The multipurpose window includes: a frame; a plurality of doors configured to be arranged in a row in the frame; and a pair of link assemblies configured to be installed on both sides of each of the doors, configured to link the doors and configured to open or shut the frame by being folded or unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Jeong-won Park
  • Publication number: 20110259532
    Abstract: Movable partitions and systems are provided and may include accordion-style folding doors or partitions having sheets of folding panels. In one embodiment, the movable partition may include at least two hinge panels indirectly connecting adjacent folding panels. The hinge panels may have laterally space the adjacent folding panels from one another such that a compartment is formed upon retraction or folding of the sheets of folding panels. One or more control devices, such as an actuation device or a display panel, may be mounted on at least one of the hinge panels, or on the panel disposed between hinge panels such that, when the movable partition is in a retracted or folded state, the actuation devices are housed within the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: R. Scott Smart, E. Carl Goodman
  • Patent number: 6742563
    Abstract: A rolling grille having a set of horizontal bars, the bar set divided into a lower bar sub-set with a top bar and an upper bar sub-set with a bottom bar. The grille has a row of end plates on each side, the end plates joining the ends of the bars in both bar sub-sets together. Each end plate joins two adjacent bare together, each bar connected to two adjacent plates, the plates aligned when the grille closes an opening. Each end plate has a panel with an inner surface facing inwardly when the grille closes the opening. Bar mounting sections are provided at the top and bottom of each panel. At least one of the top and bottom bar mounting sections in the plates in the lower bar sub-set have a flange comber located to abut on the inner surface of the panel of an adjacent plate when the grille closes an opening. The flange member flange forms the lower bar sub-set into a relatively rigid assembly when an attempt is made to raise the lower sub-set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Dynamic Closures Corp.
    Inventor: Michael B. Belanger
  • Patent number: 6574837
    Abstract: A three point pivoting 360° articulable pinchless hinge connects two members which may pivot 360° with respect to each other. The hinge has two opposing couplers, each having a toothed semicircular portion meshed with the opposing coupler toothed semicircular portion. Each coupler is adapted to be connected to one of the members to be pivoted with respect to each other. A pin is in each coupler extending along an axis of the semicircular portion thereof. A link connects each pin to maintain the meshed engagement of the couplers through 360° of coupler pivotal rotation with respect to each other. The link has a sufficient width substantially that of the width of the coupler body as to block and prevent the meshed semicircular portions from pinching an individual's finger or object. The hinge may also have a locking mechanism or detent which locks the two members at 180° from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Versare Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Jantschek
  • Patent number: 6098696
    Abstract: A sectional upward-acting door, particularly adapted for use with mobile cargo containers and the like includes extruded door panels or sections which are hingedly connected to each other by hook-like hinge members integrally formed along a top edge of one section and an arcuate channel defined by a bottom wall and an integral pintle on an adjacent section. An elastomer seal and bearing member fits within the channel formed along the bottom edge of a section for engaging the hinge member and for aiding in forming a weather and light seal at the hinge joint between sections. The sections are laterally assembled by engagement of the hook-like hinge member in the channel of an adjacent section and are retained in assembly by a releasable retainer and seal member which may be formed as a co-extruded dual durometer part. Door side edge seals are insertable in a space formed between door side edge guide tracks and an inner surface of a rear wall of the cargo container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: Ludger Styra
  • Patent number: 5740850
    Abstract: The opposite vertically elongated edges of a series of pivotly connected slats forming an accordion type folding shutter are provided with integral tubelike connector members. The slat integrally joins its outer member along a plane which is tangent to the outer surface of the outer member so that the extended adjacent pair of slats form a roughly ninety (90.degree.) degree angle when the shutter is extended. Thus, the forces of impact applied against the shutter is absorbed by the crushing of the outer member towards and against and then with the inner member, in engagement between the adjacent inner and outer member beads and the partial transmission of forces through the adjacent portions of the slats for resisting separation of the adjacent slats and penetration of the force applying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5613728
    Abstract: A vehicle cab with a roof hatch (12) which comprises front and rear hatch sections (14) and (16), the rear section (14) being over an escape hatchway (26) and the front section (16) being over an equipment access hatchway (28) of a roof compartment. The front hatch section (16) is mounted on a front roof section (10a) along its forward edge by hinges (18), and releasably latched to a middle roof section (10c) along its rearward edge by secondary latches (22). The rear hatch section (14) is mounted on the rearward edge of the front hatch section (16) by hinges (20), and releasably latched to the rear roof section (10b) by a primary latch (40). The primary catch (40) may be released and the rear hatch section (14) may be partially opened and retained with rear stays (64) to provide ventilation. The rear stays (64) may then be automatically released when the rear hatch section (14) is pushed past the retention point to fully open the escape hatchway (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Massey Ferguson Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Derek J. Smith, John C. Higgins
  • Patent number: 5566739
    Abstract: The opposite, vertically elongated edges of a series of pivotly connected slats forming an accordion-type folding shutter are provided with integral tube-like connector members. One of the connector members is of a smaller diameter than the other to form an inner member which co-axially fits within the next adjacent outer member of the next slat. The inner members are connected to their respective slat edges by a narrow strip, extending the full length of their respective slats and arranged at an obtuse angle to the remainder of their slats, with the narrow members fitting through a slot in the adjacent outer member. The strip pivots within the slot of its outer member and engages beads integrally formed on the edges defining the slot in the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5549148
    Abstract: An accordion storm shutter assembly includes a frame for installation in an opening in a building wall and a pair of folding shutters which can be drawn together across the opening. Each shutter is formed from a number of blades articulated along vertical edges so that the blades can fold flat when the shutter is open. When the shutter is closed, the blades make a substantial angle with one another, so that the shutter has a corrugated configuration for high impact resistance. Neighboring blades are interconnected by continuous extruded linear hinges, each including a socket which is substantially an arc of a cylindrical shell having a lengthwise gap, and a knuckle adapted to turn within the socket and having a blade arm extending therefrom through the gap. The shutter is intended to provide protection against winds and debris in tropical storms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Wrono Enterprise Corp.
    Inventors: Pedro Figueiredo, Larry Verdon, Norberto Valea
  • Patent number: 5477903
    Abstract: An accordion storm shutter assembly includes a frame for installation in an opening in a building wall and at least one folding shutter supported by the frame. The shutter is made up of plural blades articulated along their vertical edges so that the shutter can fold from a closed position in which the blades made a substantial angle--about 75.degree.--with one another so as to have a corrugated configuration blocking the opening, to an open position in which the blades are substantially parallel to one another. Neighboring blades are interconnected by continuous, extruded linear hinges, each having a socket which is substantially an arc of each cylindrical shell having a vertical axis. A knuckle formed along one edge of a neighboring blade pivots in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Wrono Enterprise Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro Figueiredo, Larry Verdon, Norberto Valea
  • Patent number: 5411782
    Abstract: A plurality of plastic panels or planks (12) are connected to each other in side by side relation by interfitting male and female connectors (28, 30) to form a planar structure such as a cover (10). The male connector (28) has opposed outer planar surfaces (32, 34) in contact relation to opposed inner planar surfaces (46, 48) on a female connector (30) to minimize any relative pivoting or articulating movement between adjacent panels (12). Adjacent panel sections (15A, 17B) are hinged to each other about hinges (35E) to permit the panel sections (15A, 17B) to be folded against each other for stacking. Alternatively panels 14C, 14D may be linked together for stacking. A side support (16) is secured to the sides of the cover (10) to cover and to support a side of a panel where such side is not connected to another panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventors: Barry M. Jarvis, Carolyn E. Morse
  • Patent number: 5319905
    Abstract: Apparatus for deploying an articulated panel array comprises a spring motor between adjacent panels and a latch between adjacent panels. The latch between a given pair of panels is released by an abutment on the panel which is adjacent to the pair and toward the proximal end of the array only when the more proximally disposed panel of the pair moves to its fully deployed position. With this arrangement, only a single group of panels of the array moves at any given time providing an accurate deployment envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Spar Aerospace Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Szirtes
  • Patent number: 5125193
    Abstract: A graphic display panel system formed in sections, wherein a graphic display image may be affixed to each section, the sections respectively having transparent edge caps and/or hinge connectors and/or locking pin assemblies for selectively interconnecting the sections to form an overall surface. The individual panel sections may be formed of a lightweight honeycomb structure or spaced apart plastic sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Skyline Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan J. Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 4456050
    Abstract: A hinge lock mechanism for lockingly joining two panels together at any angle comprising top and bottom arms with a slanted flat surface thereon. These arms are secured into the panels by clamping means that has a set screw therein that is urged against the slanted flat surface of the arms. This hinge lock mechanism forms a continuous edge at the junction of the two panels and cannot be seen from the desired side of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: Robert Rivers