Patents by Inventor James Fletterick

James Fletterick 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: 8051618
    Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
  • Publication number: 20100050554
    Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: USG INTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
  • Patent number: 7637065
    Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Ahren, John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
  • Patent number: 7478787
    Abstract: A clip for accurately and quickly suspending pairs of spaced parallel grid main tees from superadjacent structural channels. The clip works with a separate drop clip that hooks over and depends from the structural channel. The paired main tee clip has a central body region configured like a conventional grid tee bulb thereby enabling the paired main tee clip to mate with the drop clip in the same way the drop clip mates with a conventional grid tee bulb thereby achieving a system that is cost-effective in manufacture and installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Bankston, James A. Fletterick
  • Publication number: 20070101670
    Abstract: A clip for suspending ceiling panels from a horizontal channel having a C-shape formed by a vertical web and integral opposed horizontal upper and lower flanges, the clip comprising a sheet metal body, the body including a vertical web extending between upper and lower portions, the upper portion being configured to overlie the horizontal upper flange of the channel when installed thereon, the lower portion being configured to lie below the horizontal lower flange of the channel, the lower portion including a generally upstanding hook section adapted to be received in a downwardly open channel on the ceiling panel beneath the C-shaped channel to enable the clip to support the panel by transferring the weight of the panel to the C-shaped channel, the hook section being fixed against horizontal movement relative to the body vertical web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Gregory Ahren, John Bankston, James Fletterick
  • Publication number: 20060283132
    Abstract: A clip for accurately and quickly suspending pairs of spaced parallel grid main tees from superadjacent structural channels. The clip works with a separate drop clip that hooks over and depends from the structural channel. The paired main tee clip has a central body region configured like a conventional grid tee bulb thereby enabling the paired main tee clip to mate with the drop clip in the same way the drop clip mates with a conventional grid tee bulb thereby achieving a system that is cost-effective in manufacture and installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: John Bankston, James Fletterick
  • Patent number: 6748712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scalable suspension system for domed shaped ceilings that includes a framework of suspension members interconnected to a central hub. The framework of suspension members are used to support a domed shaped ceiling fabricated from plaster or gypsum wallboard. The suspension members include primary spoke members, secondary spoke members, intercostal members and cross tees. The primary spoke members are attached to the central hub component. The intercostal members are spanned between the primary spoke members. The secondary spoke members are connected to the intercostal members, and extend between the primary spoke members. The primary and secondary spoke members are interconnected by the cross tees to create a unified structure. The hub includes radially indexed integral tabs that facilitate the attachment of the hanger wires and allows for the rigid attachment of the primary spoke members in a precise radial pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Likozar, James A. Fletterick, Alan C. Wendt, David B. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030230043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scalable suspension system for domed shaped ceilings that includes a framework of suspension members interconnected to a central hub. The framework of suspension members are used to support a domed shaped ceiling fabricated from plaster or gypsum wallboard. The suspension members include primary spoke members, secondary spoke members, intercostal members and cross tees. The primary spoke members are attached to the central hub component. The intercostal members are spanned between the primary spoke members. The secondary spoke members are connected to the intercostal members, and extend between the primary spoke members. The primary and secondary spoke members are interconnected by the cross tees to create a unified structure. The hub includes radially indexed integral tabs that facilitate the attachment of the hanger wires and allows for the rigid attachment of the primary spoke members in a precise radial pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Martin E. Likozar, James A. Fletterick, Alan C. Wendt, David B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6374564
    Abstract: A suspended three-dimensional ceiling system of improved appearance and performance that includes closely dimensioned main tees and lay-in panels. The main tees have opposed vertical surfaces adapted to abut the edges of the panels to avoid any noticeable non-parallelism between the main tees and/or panels. The vertical surfaces are provided by a protrusion at the juncture between a panel supporting flange and a vertical stem of the main tee. The protrusion allows the panels to be dimensioned to avoid undue interference with a stiffening bulb on the upper part of the stem and provides an attractive reveal on the visible face of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Fletterick, Martin E. Likozar
  • Patent number: 5201787
    Abstract: A support system for trimming exposed edges of suspension ceilings provides a trim strip mounting clip which mounts on the bulb of an adjacent grid tee member and provides a face portion which snaps into and locks with a channel-shaped trim strip. The connector clip supports the trim strip from the adjacent grid members without any exposed fasteners and provides an uninterrupted finished edge appearance. Several embodiments of connector clips are illustrated, one of which provides a support portion pivotally connected to a face portion so that trim strips can be mounted on adjacent grid members in positions parallel to the adjacent grid members and at angles relative thereto. Also disclosed are splice plates which bridge between abutting ends of trim strips to lock such abutting ends in proper alignment. Such splice plates can be used with straight or curved trim strips and can also be used at inside corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. LaLonde, J. Wesley Sroub, James A. Fletterick
  • Patent number: 5195289
    Abstract: A support system for trimming exposed edges of suspension ceilings provides a trim strip mounting clip which mounts on the bulb of an adjacent grid tee member and provides a face portion which snaps into and locks with a channel-shaped trim strip. The connector clip supports the trim strip from the adjacent grid members without any exposed fasteners and provides an uninterrupted finished edge appearance. Several embodiments of connector clips are illustrated, one of which provides a support portion pivotally connected to a face portion so that trim strips can be mounted on adjacent grid members in positions parallel to the adjacent grid members and at angles relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. LaLonde, J. Wesley Sroub, James A. Fletterick
  • Patent number: 5088261
    Abstract: A horizontally curved grid tee for suspension ceilings is bent in the direction parallel to the plane of the flanges of the grid tee. Such grid tee is provided with end connectors and openings so that the grid tee can be assembled in a suspension ceiling grid combining curved grid tees and/or straight grid tees to produce aesthetically pleasing patterns. When panels are installed in the openings defined by the curved grid tees, appropriate mating curves are formed in the panels so that the panels are supported at their periphery. A method and apparatus for producing such grid tees involves curved tooling which cooperates to confine a straight grid tee as it is bent to the curved shape. The tooling provides grooves into which the flanges project during the bending operation. Such grooves are constructed and dimensioned so that the inner portion of the flange which is subjected to compressive stresses is not buckled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Mieyal, James A. Fletterick