Barrier Or Major Section Mounted For In Situ Repositioning; E.g., Rearrangeable Or Rotatable Patents (Class 52/64)
  • Patent number: 5771639
    Abstract: A shelter (1) comprising an array of substantially rigid panels (2, 3, 4) hingedly joined together, the arrangement being such that a central polygonal roof panel (2) is surrounded by a number of wall panels (3) equal in number to the sides of the polygon, each wall panel having an edge hingedly attached to an edge of the roof panel, and a tension element (20) being arranged to extend along the edges of the wall panels remote from the roof panel in such a way that by applying tension to the tension element, adjacent edges of respective wall panels can be brought together to form a three-dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Marcus Bennett Wood, Wendy Margaret Wood
  • Patent number: 5761854
    Abstract: Currently portable industrial camp shelters will be either wood frame construction or fabric tents. The former have restriction on size and require special skills and equipment to install on site. The latter require plumbing and electrical installation to be installed on site. The present invention combines the advantages of frame structures and tents in a portable collapsible shelter by modifying standard shipping container structures to provide fold-down side walls which extend the floor space of the container and are provided with a retractable fabric cover to enclose the extended space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Weatherhaven Resources, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. Johnson, Glen V. Thorne
  • Patent number: 5746237
    Abstract: A portable, expandable protective vehicle cover comprising: a base, the base is sized to support a vehicle thereon and having a substantially flat upper surface; a canopy, the canopy is supported by a telescoping frame, the telescoping frame comprises a plurality of U-shaped ribs extending along outer edges of the base; and a drive structure, the drive structure is positioned along a horizontal central axis parallel to the flat upper surface within the base. A rotating rod is operatively connected to the drive structure, ends of the telescoping frame are pivotally connected to opposing edges on the rotating rod. The drive structure provides power to turn the rotating rod to extend the telescoping frame to open and closed positions thereby opening and closing the canopy and allowing a vehicle positioned on the base to be covered by the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Garlon A. Arnic
  • Patent number: 5740641
    Abstract: A self storage warehouse facility (10) has a plurality of separate insulated self storage rooms (12) each having an exterior foldable door (14) mounted for movement between open and closed positions to permit access to the insulated storage room (12). The foldable door (14) has a plurality of insulated partitions (50, 52, 54) having rollers (66) mounted in guide rails or tracks (42) for movement. In closed position, the lower partition (54) has a lower tubular seal (74) which seals against the foundation (11) and an adjacent ledge (74, FIG. 4). The entire outer perimeter of the door (14) is sealed against a rubber strip (40) along the side edges and upper edge of the door (14). A tubular seal (72) seals along the bottom edge of the door (14). A solenoid operated damper (82, FIG. 7) in a cool air duct (80) is moved to a closed position by energizing of the solenoid (87) upon opening of the door (14). The damper (82) is opened upon return of the door (14) to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Adeline Investment Properties, L.L.P.
    Inventor: Henry J. Oxnard
  • Patent number: 5724778
    Abstract: A furniture system is particularly adapted to support group activities in open plans, and the like. A plurality of columns support an overhead framework on the floor of a building in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation, generally above average user height. A plurality of individual panels are provided, wherein each panel is constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user. A hanger arrangement is associated with the overhead framework, and cooperates with connectors on the panels to detachably suspend the panels at various locations along the overhead framework. The panels are manually reconfigurable between many different arrangements to efficiently and effectively support different group activities. Preferably, the panels are capable of providing a partitioning function to visually divide at least a portion of the workspace, and/or a display function to facilitate group communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Cornell, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, Kurt S. Bodden, Linda K. Zimmer
  • Patent number: 5701704
    Abstract: Dock device (10), particularly for maintaining and overhauling commercial aircraft, having at least two lateral dock parts (28, 29) which are each connected by a suspension device (24, 25) to a supporting framework (23) so as to form a portal which is disposed on a supporting structure so as to be displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, the lateral dock parts each having a movable bridge part (32, 33) such that, when the bridge parts are moved apart from one another, an area of passage (50) is cleared between the lateral dock parts and, when the bridge parts are moved towards one another, a bridge deck is created between the lateral dock parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Mero-Raustuktur GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Albert Landes
  • Patent number: 5689917
    Abstract: A circular stage platform capable of accommodating one to four dancers is cyclically, vertically reciprocable, a distance of about three feet within a cage which encloses the dancers, the latter remaining visible to the spectators. The system is used in nightclubs or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Daniel St-Germain
  • Patent number: 5675946
    Abstract: The privacy screen provides a simple, effective solution to provide visual privacy for the traditional open workstations of office panelling systems. The privacy screen can easily be retrofitted to existing systems without the need for specialized panels or overhead mounting structure at an opening threshold. The privacy screen is mounted to overlap with a face of a panel adjacent a panel and extend there beyond to close the entryway to the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Teknion Furniture Systems
    Inventors: Steve Verbeek, Lorie Marangoni, Harry Ayvazyan
  • Patent number: 5671567
    Abstract: An improved facility for supporting the main landing gear assembly and the nose wheel assembly of a commercial jetliner is quickly adjustable so as to be able to accommodate different aircraft models. The facility includes a nose wheel lift platform system that includes an elongated pit, a support platform that is supported in the pit and is adapted to support an aircraft's nose wheel assembly, and a number of spacer blocks for covering portions of the elongated pit that are not covered by the support platform. The support platform is mounted on a trolley which is equipped to move the support platform up or down as well as lengthwise along the pit. The spacer blocks are slidable along the upper opening of the pit. By moving the trolley beneath a spacer block and engaging the spacer block with the support platform, an operator can move the spacer blocks with the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Uni-Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyril J. Silberman, David E. Carlson, Michael P. Crelly, Gary M. Hassebroek, Mark A. McCorkell, C. Andrew Cheng, Richard H. Eide
  • Patent number: 5661930
    Abstract: Plural flat sections hingedly coupled together from the floor of a building structure such as a house when arranged in an unfolded, flat configuration and form a generally closed container when arranged in a folded configuration. With the floor sections in the folded configuration, the thus formed container is adapted to receive and enclose other building structures and serves as a shipping container for the entire building. Removable metal joining members are attached to adjacent corners of the floor sections and are disposed in the corners of the rectangular container when the floor sections are folded. The metal joining members each include a reinforcing angle to strengthen the container and a conventional coupling bracket to facilitate handling of the container during shipping, permitting the container to be handled as a standard shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: William H. Porter
  • Patent number: 5657589
    Abstract: Swimming pool basin provided with a partition wall, which can be moved essentially vertically up and down, for the division of the swimming pool basin into part-basins, the partition wall comprising an oblong, essentially beam-shaped body, which extends between two mutually opposing, vertical walls of the swimming pool basin, and which partition wall can be brought into a first, operative state so as to lie with its upper limit essentially level with the water level or project above it, in which first state the swimming pool basin is sub-divided into two swimming sections, and into a second or retracted state, in which the upper limit of the partition wall is located at a good distance below the water level, enabling swimmers to swim unhindered past the partition wall along the top, the oblong body of the partition wall being directly attached by means of at least two movable guide arms to the swimming pool bottom or to a wall part of a recess made in the swimming pool bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Polymarin B.V.
    Inventor: Alfred John De Bood
  • Patent number: 5653062
    Abstract: A manufacture to protect a building from destructive explosions, having a number of sliding connectors, each connector comprises a massive housing rigidly coupled to a structural frame of the protected building and a low friction slider fixed to a wall panel. Each housing comprises a grooved track for the slider, and each track is sagged down to its middle where the slider rests under normal conditions. When the blast occurs, the wall panel does not transfer its impulse to the building frame immidiately but, remaining parallel to its initial position, distributes this transferal during a sequence of pendulum type excursions thus considerably mitigating the explosion impact on vital structural elements of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Valentin Shustov
  • Patent number: 5643477
    Abstract: A laser enclosure is provided comprising a housing having an inner cavity in which laser operations are performed. The housing includes a first section having a first opening through which workpieces pass into and out of the inner cavity. Further provided is a first workpiece positioner for alternately moving the workpieces from a first workpiece loading/unloading zone, through the first opening to a first work zone within the inner cavity of the housing. The first workpiece positioner includes a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive at least one of the workpieces and is movable from the first workpiece loading/unloading zone to the first work zone as the first positioner moves from a first loading/unloading position to a first work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Motoman Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Gullo, Stephen James Bolin, James Stanley Kaczmarek
  • Patent number: 5625982
    Abstract: A frameless self-supporting articulated dome is constructed in two opposing halves that overlap at the domes meridian to form a sealed hemispherically shaped closure when the dome is in a closed position. The dome includes a plurality of overlapping flat and flexible fins which are progressively sized and rotatably pinned at their ends along a common horizontal axis whereby said fins are in a stacking relation on opposing sides of the horizontal axis when the dome is in an open position. The dome further includes measured lengths of flexible cord fastened to the center trailing edge of each fin in series for holding the plurality of fins in their relative positions when the dome is in a closed position and further additional lengths of the same flexible cord are fastened to the center leading edges of the top most fins of each half of the dome for manually opening and closing the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Byron N. Foote
  • Patent number: 5622013
    Abstract: A multipurpose arena with a suspended roof and an interior which can be adjusted to accommodate events requiring different space arrangements. The roof is made of sections suspended between opposed supporting pylons and assumes a catenary shape. Rail-mounted, motor-driven, stands can be shifted from place to place depending on the event or events being catered. Partitions divide the arena into separate private compartments wherein separate events can be held simultaneously in each compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Kajima Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Ban, Masaru Ozaki, Arata Yoshida, Masahiro Hanyu, Takeshi Miyazaki, Seiichi Muramatsu, Haruji Tsubota, Naoya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5598668
    Abstract: The invention is an adjustable building frame comprising a plurality of interfitting parts. The frame includes a base having a pair of opposing receiving surfaces and several parallel roof members received and connected by and between the receiving surfaces. The roof members are generally perpendicularly to the opposing receiving surfaces of the base. Each roof member comprises at least two telescoping sections which may be telescoped together or apart to adjust the length of the roof member. Increasing the length of each roof member of the frame increases the height and volumetric area defined by the frame, and decreasing the length of the roof members decreases the height and volumetric area defined by the frame. A flexible cover is attachable to the roof members by a plurality of clasps or a flexible but more rigid cover is attachable to the roof members by a series of bolts. The cover ideally overlaps itself, so that it will expand or retract as the height of the frame is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Fred S. Isom
  • Patent number: 5596843
    Abstract: A rigid structural member for a building in which the member has four sides each provided with a groove having narrow opening. Two of the grooves on two opposite sides be used to assemble structural members together to provide completed building assemblies by the use of screw-threaded members while, in the completed assembly, the other two grooves are used for holding two building enclosure sheets in spaced positions, one on each side of the completed assembly. For this purpose, elongate holding members are located in the grooves to hold the sheets in place. The holding members have a particular design which secures them in place within the grooves. The grooves are preferably T-shaped and are all of the same size and shape to increase the versatility. In addition, the structural member may be formed into building structures which are hinged together such that they may be in a collapsed condition for storage and transportation or may be relatively pivoted into an erected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Robert L. Watson
  • Patent number: 5592779
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a frame assembly which may be readily set up at the edge of a mezzanine floor to provide a safety gate thereat. The assembly has a pair of side walls connected by a horizontally disposed overhead support. A front gate and a rear gate assembly are upwardly and downwardly movable, opposed to one anothers motion, so as to provide a blocking of the edge of the mezzanine floor, and to also define an enlarged work area for fork lift trucks or shipping machinery within that area while keeping it safe from accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: James M. Conway
  • Patent number: 5577348
    Abstract: A mobile partition wall includes several wall elements (1, 1') that are each suspended from a track (2) secured to the ceiling of a room. Each wall element is provided with coupling valves (30, 32) which pneumatically interconnect the wall elements to allow the continuous throughflow of compressed air. The compressed air actuates pneumatic stroke devices to press respective seal bars (8, 9) against the ceiling and the floor in order to achieve good noise insulation and stability of the wall elements. The terminal wall element (1') includes a laterally extendable sliding termination panel (70) that is connected to a pneumatic drive device for extending the termination panel from the wall element (1'). In this manner, any vertical gap remaining between the terminal wall element and a wall of the room can be simply close and sealed by the termination panel. Pneumatic valves are arranged to control the pressurization sequence of the pneumatic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Rosconi AG
    Inventor: Otto Keller
  • Patent number: 5572836
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotational flagpole pivotally mounted to a rigidly affixed base with a tongue and slot combination that enables the flagpoles to rotate around the pivot. The flagpole can also be locked in place to prevent rotation. The rotational flagpole thereby permits rotation of the top end of the flagpole to within a few feet of the ground in order to provide improved access to the top end for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Alton B. Parker
  • Patent number: 5527016
    Abstract: A handrail positioning apparatus for accurately positioning a handrail during the process of installing the handrail in an inclined position on a building wall above an inclined stairway. The apparatus may include two vertically adjustable stanchions positionable at the upper and lower ends of the stairway. Miniature platforms are tiltably mounted on the upper end portions of the stanchions to underlie end areas of a handrail. C-clamps may be used to clamp the handrail to the platforms. The platforms are so tiltable that the platforms can seat flatwise against the handrail, whatever the slope or inclination of the rail, and the stanchions are vertically adjustable to control the rail slope and rail height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Wilborn F. Wilkerson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5524395
    Abstract: A painting booth includes doors at one end through which a vehicle can enter. A dual section ramp always contained entirely within the booth has a fixed grid section located at an end of the booth, opposite the door, and a moveable section connected to the fixed section and located just inwardly of the door. A filter layer is attached to the fixed section for filtering air circulating downwards there through. A protective grate located in a lower wall section, below the moveable section, provides lateral protection against the introduction of foreign matter into the booth. Powered jacks, located underneath the moveable section of the ramp actuates the moveable section between inclined and horizontal positions. A retractable prop connected to an underside of the moveable section supports the weight of a vehicle when the moveable section is retained in the horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Omia
    Inventor: Michel Boiron
  • Patent number: 5522192
    Abstract: A gate girder (5)is provided over the gateway opening of a hangar. To diminish the roof load and working load stressing the gate girder (5), it is supported by at least one girder support (1), which can be combined with a sliding gate plate (1'). On the lower and upper edges of girder support (1), rollers (9, 10) are provided, which are at equal distances from one another. To assure a uniform stress both of the upper support of gate girder (5) and of lower footing (6), in each case pairs of upper rollers (9) are mounted by levers (7) on supports (16), which are guided vertically movable in sliding gate panel (1'). In addition, a freely rotatable roller (15)is mounted on each support (16). A steel cable (18) wound around rollers (15), is placed over each roller (15), which in addition is guided by deflecting rollers (14) mounted freely rotatable on girder support (1), and is fixed with its ends (19) to the girder support (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventors: Erich Frantl, Werner Frantl
  • Patent number: 5517791
    Abstract: A monument comprised of a body, a device for permanently attaching the body to the ground, and a rotatable element rotatably attached to the body. The body contains an exterior surface with an opening; and at least a portion of the rotatable element is disposed within the opening. As the rotatable element is rotated, it displays visual information which varies with the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Inventor: Hali J. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5511348
    Abstract: A furniture system is particularly adapted to support group activities in open plans, and the like. A plurality of columns support an overhead framework on the floor of a building in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation, generally above average user height. A plurality of individual panels are provided, wherein each panel is constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user. A hanger arrangement is associated with the overhead framework, and cooperates with connectors on the panels to detachably suspend the panels at various locations along the overhead framework. The panels are manually reconfigurable between many different arrangements to efficiently and effectively support different group activities. Preferably, the panels are capable of providing a partitioning function to visually divide at least a portion of the workspace, and/or a display function to facilitate group communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Cornell, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, Kurt S. Bodden, Linda K. Zimmer
  • Patent number: 5481834
    Abstract: A fire resistant panel includes at least four parallel vertically extending sheets of gypsum. The sheets are fastened together in a spaced apart arrangement with two outer sheets and two inner sheets positioned between the outer sheets to define a member having first and second opposite vertically extending sides. Vertically extending sheets of steel are in contact with and cover both sides of the member. The upper support for the member defines a circuitous path from one side of the member to the other. A bottom seal is supported by the member and includes a weight mechanism attached to the bottom seal. The weight is pivotally movable and biases the bottom seal downwardly for engagement with a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Hufcor, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Kowalczyk, Todd A. Williams, James D. Petzrick, Charles E. Williams
  • Patent number: 5471791
    Abstract: A mobile partition wall includes a plurality of adjoining wall elements 1. In order to prop and stabilize each wall element 1 between the ceiling and the floor and to provide noise insulation, each wall element includes an upper seal bar 8 and a lower seal bar 9. The seal bars 8, 9 cooperate with a pneumatic stroke or force device 20 via a linkage 16, 16'. The stroke device 20 preferably includes a pneumatic bellows. A pneumatic coupling is arranged on each of the two narrow vertical edges of each wall element 1. When adjacent wall elements are pushed against one another, the respective adjacent couplings engage or couple with one another, whereby a non-return or poppet-type valve is opened to allow the flow of pressurized air. The pressurized air actuates the stroke device 20, which extends the seal bars 8, 9 outwardly to press against the upper support track and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Rosconi AG
    Inventor: Otto Keller
  • Patent number: 5444944
    Abstract: A unit for an enclosure such as a container or a housing unit, kiosk or the like includes base elements of progressively increased heights, each base element having a wall hinged thereto, the walls being foldable into a compact item which is easily transportable and which is unfolded into a container which is secured by pin and socket formations in a roof member and peripheral angle irons which also include panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Malcolm J. C. Roelofsz
  • Patent number: 5398463
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a multiple-unit mobile display pavilion are shown and described. Each embodiment includes a trailer for being attached to a wheeled chassis and a vehicle, solid portions on a first side wall and second side wall that are offset from each other, doors on the first side wall and second side wall that are offset from each other and that each swing down to a slanted position against the ground, a support system on the inner surface of each of the doors for receiving and displaying merchandise, and latches for securing each of the doors when it is closed. The support system on each door is preferably a series of steps that transforms each door into a terraced platform. The two-sided and offset arrangement of the doors and solid portions allows walk-around shopping on two sides of the pavilion and allows two or more businesses to conveniently operate in the pavilion, while also keeping the trailer architecturally strong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Jack R. Wright
  • Patent number: 5381633
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for constructing a building, which can be used to construct a high rise building. A building assembly unit is prefabricated in a factory, and is transported to a construction site. The unit includes a floor member and a pivotably connected wall member, which may be an exterior or interior wall. Electrical wiring, plumbing, ventilation, doorways, windows, and so forth may be pre-installed in the factory. Each unit is configured to be installed on a support structure, which may be a high rise support structure. Each unit is connected to the support structure, and to a proximate unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: John H. Hendrich
  • Patent number: 5373668
    Abstract: A cottage with a rear framed section that is adjacent to a front framed section, wherein the cottage functions to position the roof completely over the rear framed section or the front framed section, and in positions therebetween. A pair of winches are mounted adjacent to one another and act upon cables which are directed by pulleys to facilitate movement of the roof in opposite directions. A pair of track members are positioned along the top of the framed sections and a pair of track engaging members depend from the roof and engage the track members to facilitate movement of the roof. The track members define track channels and the track engaging members include a plurality of wheels that are rotatably attached to a roof engaging member. The wheels partially extend into the roof engaging member and depend partially therefrom to engage and travel within the track channels. The winches, pulleys, cables, track members, and track engaging members are designed to facilitate easy movement of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Inventors: Neil B. Shulman, Ulicer L. Cortes
  • Patent number: 5371982
    Abstract: A portable security wall for isolating an area on the ground includes an enclosure wall comprised of a plurality of sections, a plurality of post members for mounting the wall on the ground, and a plurality of weighted post support members for supporting the post members. The wall can be made of separate rigid sections or, alternatively, a continuous flexible band with a plurality of longitudinally-spaced pockets for receiving the post members. The pockets define the sections of the wall. The wall can also be made of separate flexible sections which may be wound on or unwound from elongated shaft members by applying a rotary force, e.g., through use of a motor. The wall may be made tall to block the public's view of the area and two tall walls may be connected together to form a canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Hopkins International, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Douglas, Robert H. Greene, Jr., Harry Hopkins
  • Patent number: 5369920
    Abstract: A motorcycle garage generally comprises a floor member and an enclosure for motorcycle parked on the floor member. A lid, pivotable from a closed position to an open position, includes a roof portion and a wall portion. The wall portion lower edge is pivotable about a low hinge, thereby facilitating raising of the lid. The left side wall includes a front gate sideways outwardly pivotable from a vertically oriented hinge on its rear end from a closed to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Gary L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5365782
    Abstract: For cooling down a cryogenic model, provided for testing in a cryogenic wind tunnel, to the wind tunnel temperature and for performing mounting work and configurational changes on the cryogenic model, there is provided a working chamber which is supplied with warm air so that working personnel can enter it. The working chamber contains an insulating box, made from heat-insulating material, which has an open top and into which cold air is injected. The insulating box accommodates the cryogenic model under cold air conditions. Persons can perform manipulations on the cryogenic model while leaning over the edge of the insulating box. The cryogenic model is held on a holder which can be lifted upwardly out of the insulating box. Removal of the cryogenic model from the working chamber is possible by opening a top door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: European Transonic Windtunnel GmbH
    Inventors: Xavier Bouis, John Tizard, Ian A. Price, David Wigley, Dieter Schimanski
  • Patent number: 5365704
    Abstract: A multi-activity complex incorporates a plurality of activity floors, each of which has an associated playing surface and is selectively movable between a storage position, located below an event staging or activity area, and an in-use position located in the activity area. A system is provided for alternatively shifting the activity floors between the respective storage and in-use positions. The shifting system includes a lift assembly for vertically moving the activity floors into and out of the activity area and a second mechanism for laterally shifting the activity floors to and from a respective storage area disposed below and laterally outwardly of the activity area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: William W. Ray
  • Patent number: 5355641
    Abstract: A triangulated cable dome roof having a retractable roof portion includes a triangulated cable arrangement for supporting a roof membrane, a roof membrane which is fixed to a portion of the triangulated cable arrangement so that a portion of the underlying area is exposed, and a retractable roof portion movably secured to the triangulated cable arrangement. The retractable roof portion preferably includes one or more retractable roof sections, each of which is movable between a closed position in which the retractable roof sections overlay the uncovered portion of the triangulated cable arrangement and an opened position in which the retractable roof sections nest above the covered portion of the triangulated cable arrangement, thereby exposing a portion of the underlying area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthys P. Levy
  • Patent number: 5353558
    Abstract: A manufactured house unit is provided which includes multiple separable sections which are matingly receivable to form a house at the erection site. One or more common structural members, such as the roof and/or an exterior wall, join these sections during manufacture to facilitate alignment of interior walls and features during final erection. This arrangement also facilitates transportation of the house to the dealer and/or erection site. Each section may be of different length and the towing hitch arrangement is disposed to facilitate installation of a patio or porch platform. Additional carriage elements are included under each section to enable separate transportation of each section after the common structural member is divided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Fairmont Homes, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Shea, Sr., Brian J. Shea
  • Patent number: 5347773
    Abstract: A cover arrangement together with a displacement mechanism for a swimming pool having a basin (1). The displacement mechanism moves the cover vertically inside the basin (1) of the swimming pool between two extreme positions. One position is a bottom (7) and the other position is a surface of the pool. The cover arrangement comprises sealing shutters which are movably supported on a support structure (9) in such a way that they can occupy an open position and a closed position. The support structure (9) is provided with plurality of partitions, each of which can be sealed by at least one shutter. The displacement mechanism is also suitable to position and maintain the supporting structure (9) in at least a third position situated between the extreme positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Albert J. Thil
  • Patent number: 5345730
    Abstract: An expandable structure has a core structure which may be expanded on a selected side into a composite structure incorporating the core structure and a contiguous expanded section. The selected sidewall of the core structure rotates up to become the roof of the expanded section. The sidewall, endwalls and floor section of the expanded section are hinged to the frame of the core structure and stacked vertically against the selected sidewall/roof but do not take up significant floor space within the core section. Expansion is accomplished by power beams housed within the roof and subflooring of the core structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Bruce A. Jurgensen
  • Patent number: 5333420
    Abstract: A modular room extender for recreational vehicles, modular homes and the like utilizing a pair of axially displaceable slide rods having outer ends attached to the extendible room. The slide rods are mounted within a bracket which includes spaced parallel guides wherein the bracket slide rods and guides define a modular unit which may be installed as a complete assembly. The slide rod's inner ends are free and not connected to other structure, and a reversible electric motor operates a gear and rack system for extending and retracting the slide rods. A stamped metal rack of economical construction is attached to each slide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Barker Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Eden
  • Patent number: 5331777
    Abstract: A collapsible folding frame assembly for a collapsible folding vehicle barn including two collapsible folding frame units vertically disposed at two opposite sides, and a bridge frame unit connected between the two collapsible folding frame units at the top, each collapsible folding frame being consisted of a plurality of roller-supported upright tubes connected by folding cross frames, the bridge frame being consisted of a plurality of bridge frames, each bridge frame being consisted of two tubes connected by engaging a spring-supported pin on one tube into a pin hole on the other tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: Huang Chi-Yuan
  • Patent number: 5327691
    Abstract: A transfer pad cover includes a frame structure covered by a water-proof sheet material. The frame structure is supported by bar joists that are mounted for movement along tracks. The entire structure is moved by hand or motor or by a truck from which a liquid transfer will be made to a position adjacent the transfer pad during the transfer operation. When the material and frame structure are sufficiently weighted down so that it is unsafe to move the cover, the joists will rest on a ground surface, preventing movement of the cover. In an alternate embodiment, the rails are sloped and the truck pushes the cover off of the pad. When the truck leaves the pad, the slope of the rails causes the cover to automatically return to protect the pad under the influence of gravity. Other embodiments of the transfer pad cover include covers that fold or pivot vertically to expose the pad. These other embodiments have several additional advantages such as decreased space requirements for the operation of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis N. Eryou
  • Patent number: 5319895
    Abstract: A multi-activity complex incorporates a plurality of activity floors, each of which has an associated playing surface and is selectively movable between a storage position, located below an event staging or activity area, and an in-use position located in the activity area. A system is provided for alternatively shifting the activity floors between the respective storage and in-use positions. The shifting system includes a lift assembly for vertically moving the activity floors into and out of the activity area and a second mechanism for laterally shifting the activity floors to and from a respective storage area disposed below and laterally outwardly of the activity area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: William W. Ray
  • Patent number: 5313747
    Abstract: A playhouse structure arranged to include a front and rear wall in a parallel orientation relative to one another, having first and second end walls. The first and second end walls are hingedly mounted intermediate their width and are hingedly mounted at each of their sides to the associated front and rear walls to permit projection of the first and second end walls intermediate the front and rear walls, with the roof structure having first and second roof plates hingedly mounted to the front and rear walls respectively and to one another. A modification of the invention includes crown trusses having projections projected through the roof plates and into one of the end walls to provide for a rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Donn L. Sakihara
  • Patent number: 5309686
    Abstract: A work space management system for creating work areas including two horizontal elongate tracks attached to a permanent wall with a decorative wall tile disposed therebetween and an office partition panel attached to the tracks at variably selectable positions for defining and partitioning the work areas. Overhead modular storage units and work surfaces may attach alternatively to the panels and tracks at any point and may be removed and relocated as needed. The brackets attaching the modular furniture to the track include an anti-dislodgement tang preventing disconnection of the furniture units from the track by only vertical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Underwood, Jay M. Henriott
  • Patent number: 5297368
    Abstract: A movable wall system for athletic courts makes the same court suitable for both racquetball, handball and squash play. The system disclosed includes a movable wall assembly between the front wall and back support structure at the back. Extensible and retractable side linkage assemblies connect between the movable wall assembly and back support structure that will stabilize the wall during movement. Side rollers and bottom rollers on the wall assembly facilitate sliding movement. Slide bolt catches hold the wall against movement in either the retracted or extended positions and latching mechanisms hold the wall assembly to the back wall in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Paul M. Okada
  • Patent number: 5291699
    Abstract: A roof includes a plurality of rafters each having at its upper end a connection and having at its lower end a fixing section, and a rod for retaining the rafters at predetermined intervals. The roof further includes a reinforcement material provided between the rafters, and an eaves trough extending along the periphery of the lower edge of the sheathing surface laid on the rafters. Accordingly, the labor hours required for, e.g., the positional change of the ridgepole or rafters when remodeling the conventional roof, are reduced, thereby enabling occupancy within the house under remodeling, as well as restraining the remodeling cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventor: Keiichi Fujita
  • Patent number: 5283993
    Abstract: A door system for a stressed fabric structure comprising a stationary arched anchor beam, the ends of which are supported on the base at one end of the structure, a plurality of movable arched beams of similar size and shape on the side of the anchor beam away from the structure and having supporting ends pivotally secured at the ends of the anchor beam, the movable beams to pivot along the same radial path about common pivot points at the ends, between raised, open position adjacent to the anchor beam and closed position in which the beams are spaced progressively from the anchor beam to the structure base. Fabric panels are secured to and extend between each of the anchor beam and its adjacent movable beam and adjacent pairs of movable beams so as to be under similar tension when the beams are in closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Philip D. Sprung, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5233799
    Abstract: An arched building structure comprises an arched coupling body, a still plate and a still, which support the arched coupling body on the ground. The arched coupling body is constituted by coupling two curved members with a plate member formed separate from the curved members. Each curved member is constituted by coupling multiple large steel decks bent with roundness in a wave direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Toko Tekko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sakio Abukawa
  • Patent number: 5233798
    Abstract: Disclosed is an enabling assembly which may be used for a variety of purposes, including walls, room partitions, signs, arched supports, game boards and puzzles, the assembly including a plurality of interlocking pillow elements surrounded by a frame and mounting a plurality of facing elements in a manner enabling the facing elements, if not fixed, to be shifted so as to change the patterns thereon, the facing elements each having a connecting shaft disposed in the interstices between the pillow elements, the facing elements and connecting shafts being movable to momentarily separate the pillow elements so as to enable the facing elements to shift from one interstice to another interstice selectively. The frame includes parking slots where unused facing elements may be stored, or in the alternative, where one or more facing elements may be parked to provide room to move the remaining facing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventors: Clive A. Shaw, Hazel Shaw