Patents by Inventor Lawrence D. Kilpo

Lawrence D. Kilpo 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: 9085944
    Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The grapple attachment is able to be used on all pipe surface types, including pipe surfaces that are dirty, snow or ice covered. The gripping members are configured to prevent damage to the pipe and to adjacent pipes, and will not crush the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: LAVALLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Roger LaValley, Marvin Larson, Lawrence D. Kilpo, Michael Burgess
  • Publication number: 20140042207
    Abstract: An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of construction equipment. The attachment includes a pair of grapple mechanisms mounted on a main beam. Each grapple mechanism includes opposing grab arms mounted to a grab arm housing. The grab arm housings of the grapple mechanisms are each individually adjustable separate from one another relative to the main beam in one or more directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main beam. The attachment can fine adjust the positions of the pipe ends relative to one another until the ends align with each other, at which point the pipe ends can be welded or otherwise secured to each other while being held in position by the grapple mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: LAVALLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LAVALLEY, Daniel LARSON, Jesse KILDE, Michael BURGESS, Lawrence D. KILPO
  • Publication number: 20140028042
    Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The grapple attachment is able to be used on all pipe surface types, including pipe surfaces that are dirty, snow or ice covered. The gripping members are configured to prevent damage to the pipe and to adjacent pipes, and will not crush the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Roger LaValley, Marvin Larson, Lawrence D. Kilpo, Michael Burgess
  • Patent number: 8590769
    Abstract: An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of construction equipment. The attachment includes a pair of grapple mechanisms mounted on a main beam. Each grapple mechanism includes opposing grab arms mounted to a grab arm housing. The grab arm housings of the grapple mechanisms are each individually adjustable separate from one another relative to the main beam in one or more directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main beam. The attachment can fine adjust the positions of the pipe ends relative to one another until the ends align with each other, at which point the pipe ends can be welded or otherwise secured to each other while being held in position by the grapple mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Daniel Larson, Jesse Kilde, Michael Burgess, Lawrence D. Kilpo
  • Patent number: 8567836
    Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The gripping members are used at least in pairs and are mounted on a common main beam structure so that they are separated from each other. The gripping members are interchangeable with other gripping members to permit the grapple attachment to grasp different sized objects, thereby providing modularity to the grapple attachment. In one embodiment, the gripping members include a support member having a main beam structure opening extending laterally therethrough that is configured to receive a main beam structure of the gripping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Roger LaValley, Marvin Larson, Lawrence D. Kilpo, Michael Burgess
  • Patent number: 8328071
    Abstract: An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of construction equipment. The attachment includes a pair of grapple mechanisms mounted on a main beam. Each grapple mechanism includes opposing grab arms mounted to a grab arm housing. The grab arm housings of the grapple mechanisms are each individually adjustable separate from one another relative to the main beam in one or more directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main beam. The attachment can fine adjust the positions of the pipe ends relative to one another until the ends align with each other, at which point the pipe ends can be welded or otherwise secured to each other while being held in position by the grapple mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Daniel Larson, Jesse Kilde, Michael Burgess, Lawrence D. Kilpo
  • Publication number: 20120213937
    Abstract: An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of construction equipment. The attachment includes a pair of grapple mechanisms mounted on a main beam. Each grapple mechanism includes opposing grab arms mounted to a grab arm housing. The grab arm housings of the grapple mechanisms are each individually adjustable separate from one another relative to the main beam in one or more directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main beam. The attachment can fine adjust the positions of the pipe ends relative to one another until the ends align with each other, at which point the pipe ends can be welded or otherwise secured to each other while being held in position by the grapple mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Daniel Larson, Jesse Kilde, Michael Burgess, Lawrence D. Kilpo
  • Publication number: 20100308609
    Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The grapple attachment is able to be used on all pipe surface types, including pipe surfaces that are dirty, snow or ice covered. The gripping members are configured to prevent damage to the pipe and to adjacent pipes, and will not crush the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: LAVALLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Roger LaValley, Marvin Larson, Lawrence D. Kilpo, Michael Burgess
  • Patent number: D645062
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Roger LaValley, Lawrence D. Kilpo, Michael Burgess