Patents by Inventor Ernest Craig Abney

Ernest Craig Abney 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: 11753828
    Abstract: Machines and related methods are disclosed for dispensing a rolled fabric over spaced support beams of a roof and for holding the fabric firmly in place over such beams to protect workers from falling through the gaps between the beams. The machines may include one, some, or all of several different components and features to enhance the system's overall operation and effectiveness. One aspect relates to a hub brake used to help prevent unwinding of the fabric roll in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a magnetic brake to help keep the machine from sliding across the support beams in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a guide assembly that engages a support beam with a one-directional bearing to also help keep the machine from sliding in the event of a fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bay Insulation Contracting, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Eric Lewis, Ernest Craig Abney, Mark Alan Gerard, David L Tomchak
  • Publication number: 20230027708
    Abstract: Machines and related methods are disclosed for dispensing a rolled fabric over spaced support beams of a roof and for holding the fabric firmly in place over such beams to protect workers from falling through the gaps between the beams. The machines may include one, some, or all of several different components and features to enhance the system's overall operation and effectiveness. One aspect relates to a hub brake used to help prevent unwinding of the fabric roll in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a magnetic brake to help keep the machine from sliding across the support beams in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a guide assembly that engages a support beam with a one-directional bearing to also help keep the machine from sliding in the event of a fall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Bay Insulation Contracting Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Eric Lewis, Ernest Craig Abney, Mark Alan Gerard, David L Tomchak
  • Patent number: 11414872
    Abstract: Machines are disclosed for dispensing a rolled fabric over spaced support beams of a roof and for holding the fabric firmly in place over such beams to protect workers from falling through the gaps between the beams. The machines may include one, some, or all of several different components and features to enhance the system's overall operation and effectiveness. One aspect relates to a hub brake used to help prevent unwinding of the fabric roll in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a magnetic brake to help keep the machine from sliding across the support beams in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a guide assembly that engages a support beam with a one-directional bearing to also help keep the machine from sliding in the event of a fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Bay Insulation Contracting Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Eric Lewis, Ernest Craig Abney, Mark Alan Gerard, David L Tomchak
  • Publication number: 20210070575
    Abstract: Machines are disclosed for dispensing a rolled fabric over spaced support beams of a roof and for holding the fabric firmly in place over such beams to protect workers from falling through the gaps between the beams. The machines may include one, some, or all of several different components and features to enhance the system's overall operation and effectiveness. One aspect relates to a hub brake used to help prevent unwinding of the fabric roll in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a magnetic brake to help keep the machine from sliding across the support beams in the event of a fall. Another aspect relates to a guide assembly that engages a support beam with a one-directional bearing to also help keep the machine from sliding in the event of a fall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Bay Insulation Contracting Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Eric Lewis, Ernest Craig Abney, Mark Alan Gerard, David L. Tomchak
  • Patent number: 8713884
    Abstract: A metal roofing system includes at least one roof clip including a base portion secured to the upper portion of the at least one purlin, and flanged legs extending from opposite sides of the base portion, and a thermal spacer washer assembled between the at least one roof clip and the at least one purlin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: David Eugene Musick, Ernest Craig Abney
  • Publication number: 20130047543
    Abstract: A metal roofing system includes at least one roof clip including a base portion secured to the upper portion of the at least one purlin, and flanged legs extending from opposite sides of the base portion, and a thermal spacer washer assembled between the at least one roof clip and the at least one purlin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: OWENS CORNING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL LLC
    Inventors: David Eugene Musick, Ernest Craig Abney
  • Patent number: 6233894
    Abstract: A guardrail assembly movable along a roof structure is disclosed. The guardrail assembly is used in cooperation with a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement and sheets of roofing material fastened to the purlins. The sheets have ends which define an edge of the roof structure extending in a first direction. The guardrail assembly is movable along the roof structure in the first direction. The guardrail assembly includes a railing positioned above the sheets of roofing material and extends generally in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Craig Abney, Don Albert Neifer, Dennis K. Wenrick, Clinton Alan Plant
  • Patent number: 6195958
    Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a carriage along a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, and method of using same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage movable along the length of the purlins for dispensing a support sheet from a roll for support of insulation material as the carriage travels along the length of the purlins so that the support sheet depends from the top portion of adjacent purlins. The apparatus further includes a puller assembly attached to the carriage. The puller assembly includes a driven wheel frictionally engaged with a surface a purlin, and a drive mechanism for rotating the driven wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Albert Neifer, Ernest Craig Abney, James Allen Martin
  • Patent number: 6101782
    Abstract: A controller for propelling a carriage along a plurality of purlins, and method of using same are disclosed. A plurality of carriage sections are joined to form a continuous carnage spanning a plurality of purlins. A plurality of puller assemblies are attached to selective ones of the carriage sections. A controller is connected to the plurality of puller assemblies. The controller can be actuated to a master control mode which simultaneously engages the plurality of puller assemblies, thereby propelling the carriage along the purlins. The controller can also be selectively actuated to a selective mode which engages one of the puller assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Craig Abney, Don Albert Neifer, Mark Richard Waugh
  • Patent number: 6041568
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a carriage along a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, and method of using same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a grappling member mounted for movement along the length of a first one of the plurality of purlins. The grappling member is adapted to be temporarily placed into a locked position so that the grappling member is fixed with respect to the first purlin. A tension member operatively connects the grappling member to the carriage. A pulling device is used to pull on the tension member so as to shorten the distance between the grappling member and the carriage, thereby advancing the carriage along the length of the purlins in a direction towards the grappling member when the grappling member is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Alderman, James E. Taylor, Ernest Craig Abney, Ernest Abney