Patents by Inventor Keith L. Watkins

Keith L. Watkins 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: 7093400
    Abstract: The concrete insert may be positioned in concrete structures for attachment rods or other structural fasteners. A shaft may have a head to form a projecting edge at a first end and a hole at a second end. There may be slots formed in an external surface of the shaft oriented parallel to the shaft longitudinal axis. The external surface may have multiple retaining flats positioned intermediate the slots and approximately parallel to the slots. The retaining flats may not extend to the second end. A plate groove may be circumferentially formed in the external surface intermediate the first end and the second end. A plate may have an aperture that may be the form of a lateral cross section of the shaft, and may have projections to engage the slots or the flats. A spring may be placed on the shaft between the head and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6421965
    Abstract: A seismic brace for fastening to a support rod at one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end. The brace is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it. The brace arm part is bent at an angle of 45° to form a base bracket that connects to the support rod. A locking bracket is hinged to the brace arm to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle, the slots are arranged so that they form an aperture when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket part of the brace arm to completely enclose the support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tomarco Contractor Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20020001501
    Abstract: A seismic brace for fastening to a support rod at one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end. The brace is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it. The brace arm part is bent at an angle of 45° to form a base bracket that connects to the support rod. A locking bracket is hinged to the brace arm to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle, the slots are arranged so that they form an aperture when the locking bracket overlays the base bracket part of the brace arm to completely enclose the support rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6247274
    Abstract: A seismic brace having a brace arm for fastening to a support rod on one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end, is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it by a base bracket hinged to the brace arm and a locking bracket hinged to the brace arm or the base bracket to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle with one slot offset form the other by ninety degrees (90°). The base bracket is bent at an angle of 45° from the horizontal which provides extra strength and resistance to lifting from the horizontal according to I.C.B.O. tests. The locking bracket has a conforming bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Tomarco Contractor Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6240697
    Abstract: An internally threaded insert anchor for use in poured concrete floors having a metal decking or a wood form is described which provides stability against skewing or misalignment due to rough action after being inserted into the metal deck or wood form, prior to the concrete being poured. Once locked into the concrete floor, the threaded insert anchor provides easy attachment for the support rods that carry the racks of utility, piping and ceiling grid systems for the building. Each threaded insert anchor is capable of accepting two different size rods or bolts with different thread cuts. The internal threaded apertures are protected from concrete intrusion during the pour by the plastic or metal sleeve. Moreover, the anchors are designed so that subsequent spraying of the ceiling with fire retardant or insulation foam will not penetrate into the threaded apertures, so as to prevent subsequent entry of the support rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6050035
    Abstract: A seismic brace having a brace arm for fastening to a support rod on one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end, is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it by a base bracket hinged to the brace arm and a locking bracket hinged to the brace arm or the base bracket to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle with one slot offset form the other by ninety degrees (90.degree.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Tomarco Contractor Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins
  • Patent number: RE38075
    Abstract: A seismic brace having a brace arm for fastening to a support rod on one end and a structural portion of a building, on the other end, is attachable to the support rod without disconnecting it by a base bracket hinged to the brace arm and a locking bracket hinged to the brace arm or the base bracket to overlay the base bracket. Both the base bracket and locking bracket have a slot extending from an edge towards the middle with one slot offset form the other by ninety degrees (90°).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Tomarco Contractor Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Thompson, Keith L. Watkins