Patents by Inventor David Latimore Hughes, JR.

David Latimore Hughes, JR. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240189925
    Abstract: A cutting tool which includes a cutter operable to cut a hole defining a first diameter; and a drill bit mechanically coupled to the cutter, the drill bit operable to cut a hole defining a second diameter which can be smaller than the first diameter, the drill bit further includes a tool body having a recess and a detent member mechanically coupled to the tool body which can include a leg extending from the tool body and sized to be received within the recess upon one of deformation and movement of the leg, the leg biased in a radially outward direction by one of a wall of the recess and a biasing element of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventor: David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240189926
    Abstract: A method of using a tool can include obtaining a tool which comprises a tool body having a recess and a detent member coupled to the tool body having a leg extending from the tool body, receiving the detent member of the tool body within the recess of the tool body upon one of deformation and movement of the leg by pushing the leg in a radially inward direction against a biasing of the leg in a radially outward direction with an edge of a hole formed in a portion of a pipe, passing the detent member through the hole formed in the pipe, catching the detent member in a removal direction, and moving a pipe coupon with the tool
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventor: David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 11951599
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11945038
    Abstract: A tool can include a tool body defining a recess defining a recess depth measured in a radial direction from an outer diameter of the tool body; and a detent member coupled to the tool body, the detent member including a leg extending from the tool body and sized to be received within the recess of the tool body upon one of deformation and movement of the leg at least partly in a radially inward direction, the leg biased in a radially outward direction by one of a wall of the recess and a biasing element of the tool, the leg configured to catch upon a portion of a pipe coupon surrounding a drilled hole in the pipe coupon to facilitate movement of the pipe coupon with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller Intemational, LLC
    Inventor: David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240075539
    Abstract: A shell cutter tool can include an arbor; a cutter including a first end secured to the arbor; a second end defining a cutting element; and a wall extending from the first end to the second end and defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an outer diameter of the cutter; and a depth stop secured to the cutter, the depth stop defining a stop surface and an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the depth stop being greater than the outer diameter of the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: David Latimore Hughes, JR., Samantha Ellen Covington
  • Patent number: 11913584
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230150040
    Abstract: A tool can include a tool body defining a recess defining a recess depth measured in a radial direction from an outer diameter of the tool body; and a detent member coupled to the tool body, the detent member including a leg extending from the tool body and sized to be received within the recess of the tool body upon one of deformation and movement of the leg at least partly in a radially inward direction, the leg biased in a radially outward direction by one of a wall of the recess and a biasing element of the tool, the leg configured to catch upon a portion of a pipe coupon surrounding a drilled hole in the pipe coupon to facilitate movement of the pipe coupon with the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230108266
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230016444
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 11549628
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11478910
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes: a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210260739
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes: a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, JR.