Patents by Inventor Howard A. Estes

Howard A. Estes 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: 6915936
    Abstract: A tool for driving and setting nail-pin anchors and anchor bolts into concrete, the tool using the percussive action of a rotary hammer drill. The tool comprises a body member with a spring, a driver, and a ram inserted into the body member's bore. After a hole is drilled for insertion of the anchor, the masonry drill bit of the rotary hammer drill is slid inside the bore of the ram and temporarily locked to the tool. The rotary hammer drill is activated, and the drill bit turns inside the ram without affecting the body member or the anchor. Instead, the percussive force of the rotary hammer drill transfers its impact to the ram and the driver, which impacts the nail of the nail-pin anchor, or the stem of the anchor bolt, setting it into the concrete. A keyed bearing can be installed inside a sleeve of the ram in order to protect the tip of the masonry drill bit from shearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Matrix Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: John Howard Estes
  • Patent number: 6769845
    Abstract: A tool for removing the dome portion of a nail pin anchor, rivet, or other fastener. The tool, which is powered by a power drill, has a drilling end with a slot to accommodate the nail of the anchor. The balanced drill bit has six cutting points. A collar surrounds the body of the tool, allowing the installer to position it properly. Free-wheeling bearings allow the collar to remain stationary while the drilling end is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Matrix Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: John Howard Estes
  • Publication number: 20040033112
    Abstract: A tool for removing the dome portion of a nail pin anchor, rivet, or other fastener. The tool, which is powered by a power drill, has a drilling end with a slot to accommodate the nail of the anchor. The balanced drill bit has six cutting points. A collar surrounds the body of the tool, allowing the installer to position it properly. Free-wheeling bearings allow the collar to remain stationary while the drilling end is rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: John Howard Estes
  • Patent number: 6553640
    Abstract: A tool for driving and setting a nail-in anchor into concrete. The tool has a drive pin which can be locked and unlocked. When the drive pin is locked, the tool, used with a hammer, will drive only the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled hole in concrete. When the drive pin is then unlocked, the tool, again used with a hammer, will nail the nail into the sleeve and set the anchor. The tool can be manipulated using only one hand. The tool typically has a thumb cap which, when rotated, locks and unlocks the drive pin. The tip of the tool is machined to have a concave shape for fitting over the convex-shaped dome of a typical nail-in anchor. The outer surfaces of the tool can have knurls to improve handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Matrix Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Estes, Johnnie Wayne Painter, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030000991
    Abstract: A tool for driving and setting a nail-in anchor into concrete. The tool has a drive pin which can be locked and unlocked. When the drive pin is locked, the tool, used with a hammer, will drive only the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled hole in concrete. When the drive pin is then unlocked, the tool, again used with a hammer, will nail the nail into the sleeve and set the anchor. The tool can be manipulated using only one hand. The tool typically has a thumb cap which, when rotated, locks and unlocks the drive pin. The tip of the tool is machined to have a concave shape for fitting over the convex-shaped dome of a typical nail-in anchor. The outer surfaces of the tool can have knurls to improve handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: John Howard Estes, Johnnie Wayne Painter Sr.
  • Patent number: 6490773
    Abstract: A tool for driving and setting a nail-in anchor into concrete. The tool has a drive pin which can be locked and unlocked. When the drive pin is locked, the tool, used with a hammer, will drive only the anchor sleeve into a pre-drilled hole in concrete. When the drive pin is then unlocked, the tool, again used with a hammer, will nail the nail into the sleeve and set the anchor. The tool can be manipulated using only one hand. The tool typically has a thumb cap which, when rotated, locks and unlocks the drive pin. The tip of the tool is machined to have a concave shape for fitting over the convex-shaped dome of a typical nail-in anchor. The outer surfaces of the tool can have knurls to improve handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Matrix Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Estes, Johnnie Wayne Painter, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6360629
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The pedal is translated by use of a screw that is threadedly attached to the pedal and also pivotally attached to a motion linkage. The position and movement of the motion linkage is uniform irrespective of the longitudinal position of the pedal. The pedal includes a pivot pin that is received by a slot formed in a body structure; translation of the pedal along screw causes longitudinal movement of the pivot pin the said slot. The pivot pin is free to translate within said slot while the pedal is not depressed, when the pedal is depressed the pivot pin becomes fixed longitudinally by a camming formation and locking element arrangement. This allows depression of the pedal to cause the pedal to pivot about the pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John Schambre, David L. Garber, Dwight S. Brooks, Liliana Neag, Michael O. Forker, L. Guy Montford, Jack Soullier, Howard A. Estes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20010013262
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The pedal is translated by use of a screw that is threadedly attached to the pedal and also pivotally attached to a motion linkage. The position and movement of the motion linkage is uniform irrespective of the longitudinal position of the pedal. The pedal includes a pivot pin that is received by a slot formed in a body structure; translation of the pedal along screw causes longitudinal movement of the pivot pin the said slot. The pivot pin is free to translate within said slot while the pedal is not depressed, when the pedal is depressed the pivot pin becomes fixed longitudinally by a camming formation and locking element arrangement. This allows depression of the pedal to cause the pedal to pivot about the pivot pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: JOHN SCHAMBRE, DAVID L. GARBER, DWIGHT S. BROOKS, LILIANA NEAG, MICHAEL O. FORKER, L.GUY MONTFORD, JACK SOULLIER, HOWARD A. ESTES
  • Publication number: 20010000592
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for a vehicle steering system is provided. The hydraulic control circuit is responsive to the rotational position of a steering wheel and controls the actuation of a steering gear assembly in response thereto. The hydraulic circuit includes a first actuator coupled to the vehicle steering wheel and a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the vehicle steering gear assembly. The first and second hydraulic actuators are coupled together by a pair of fluid conduits. Rotation of the steering wheel selectively causes the first actuator to force hydraulic fluid through one of the plurality of fluid conduits to cause the second hydraulic actuator to produce a corresponding output motion. The corresponding output motion is operable for actuating the steering gear assembly in a predetermined direction. The preferred embodiment includes a control system for improved monitoring and control of the hydraulic circuit, as well as an assist pump and compensation valve for gain control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Inventors: Howard A. Estes, James K. Burrell, Steven P. Lyman
  • Patent number: 6151985
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The apparatus includes a pedal pivotally attached to a pivot pin. The pivot pin is threadedly attached to a powered screw to allow translation thereon in response to rotation of the screw. The pivot pin is received in a second longitudinal slot formed in a base formation. An attachment link is pivotally attached to the pivot pin and includes an elongated opening for receiving a driving pin and a pushrod attachment. Driving pin and pushrod attachment are free to slide and pivot with their attachment to the attachment link. A power link is also provided. The power link is pivotally attached to the pedal at an elevation lower than the pivot pin. The power link also includes an elongated opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Garber, John Schambre, Dwight S. Brooks, Liliana Neag, Michael O. Forker, L. Guy Montford, Jack Soullier, Howard A. Estes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4373134
    Abstract: A voting system employing a plastic registration card having a magnetically recordable section thereon. The voter inserts the card in a recording station which may be at any local convenient location, such as a bank, a post office or the like for recording his election selections on the card. He then presents the card on election day to a precinct voting center where a vote-casting machine reads the information on the card, first to verify the identification of the voter, and secondly, if the identification is acceptable, to tabulate the results. The vote casting machine provides a hard copy output for use at the precinct. It is connected through the telephone lines to a central tabulating unit which compiles voting results from several precincts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Inventors: Phillip F. Grace, Howard A. Estes, Jr.