Patents by Inventor Brad E. Smithburg

Brad E. Smithburg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6167601
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing interlocking sheet metal floor members for use in a grain storage bin or like application requiring passage of fluid through the floor members without permitting passage of granular material therethrough. The method comprises the steps of forming a first interlocking section on a first side edge of a strip of sheet metal and a second interlocking section on a second side of the strip of sheet metal; shearing, opening and corrugating the strip of sheet metal in one roll forming stand which utilizes a pair of shearing and corrugation rollers, wherein the shearing step includes shearing rows of slits across a width of a central portion of the strip of sheet metal, wherein the opening step includes opening the slits to permit fluid flow therethrough, and wherein the corrugating step includes corrugating the strip of sheet metal along each of the series of the slits; and cutting the strip of sheet metal at selected transverse locations to form the sheet metal floor members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Conrad American
    Inventors: David Gollhofer, Brad E. Smithburg