Patents by Inventor Howard C. Austin

Howard C. Austin 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: 7661906
    Abstract: A woodpile connector has a tubular body defined by an open-end lower portion and an open-end upper portion. The upper portion and the lower portion are fixedly connected, at their free ends, to a separating plate, which is secured between an inner surface and an outer surface of the tubular body. The open ends of the connector body have beveled edges to facilitate compression of the wood being forced into the connector body. By aligning the connector portions in relation to the pile sections, while forcing the connector portions into the ends of the adjoining pile sections, alignment of the pile sections is achieved even when the pile sections do not have evenly cut connecting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Howard C. Austin
  • Publication number: 20090249735
    Abstract: A woodpile connector has a tubular body defined by an open-end lower portion and an open-end upper portion. The upper portion and the lower portion are fixedly connected, at their free ends, to a separating plate, which is secured between an inner surface and an outer surface of the tubular body. The open ends of the connector body have beveled edges to facilitate compression of the wood being forced into the connector body. By aligning the connector portions in relation to the pile sections, while forcing the connector portions into the ends of the adjoining pile sections, alignment of the pile sections is achieved even when the pile sections do not have evenly cut connecting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Howard C. Austin
  • Publication number: 20020170262
    Abstract: A woodpile connector has a tubular body defined by an open-end lower portion and an open-end upper portion. The upper portion and the lower portion are fixedly connected, at their free ends, to a separating plate, which forms a transverse flange extending outwardly from an exterior periphery of the connector body. The open ends of the connector body have beveled edges to facilitate engagement of the connector portions with abutting sections of the woodpile. By aligning the connector portions in relation to the pile sections, while forcing the connector portions into the pile sections, alignment of the pile sections is achieved even when the pile sections do not have evenly cut connecting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Howard C. Austin