Patents by Inventor Mark A. Pietila
Mark A. Pietila 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).
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Publication number: 20140363232Abstract: A screeding machine for screeding an uncured concrete surface includes a wheeled unit having a plurality of wheels for moving the wheeled unit over a support surface. A screed head assembly includes a grade setting device and a vibrating member and is movable over the concrete area via the wheeled unit. The grade setting device includes an at least partially cylindrical concrete engaging surface, such as a roller that is rotatably mounted at the screed head assembly and rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis. The screed head assembly may include a wiper element disposed along the roller and configured to wipe or remove excess concrete from the roller during rotation of the roller about its longitudinal axis. The grade setting device or roller plow assembly may be provided as an aftermarket kit for attachment at a screed head assembly of a screeding machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Mark A. Pietila, Philip D. Halonen
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Publication number: 20140294504Abstract: A screeding machine for screeding a concrete surface having a partially cured concrete area and a newly placed concrete area includes a wheeled unit and a screeding head attached at the wheeled unit. The wheeled unit has a plurality of wheels for moving the wheeled unit over a support surface. The screeding head assembly includes a grade setting device and a vibrating member and is movable over the concrete area via the wheeled unit. The grade setting device includes an auger device having a longitudinal body and at least one flighting helically disposed around and along the body. The spacings between respective longitudinally adjacent vane portions of the at least one flighting vary longitudinally along the auger device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Carl B. Kieranen, Philip J. Quenzi, Mark A. Pietila
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Patent number: 8038366Abstract: A wheeled concrete screeding device includes a wheeled unit having wheels for movably supporting a frame portion, and a screed head supported at the frame portion and following behind the wheeled unit when the wheeled unit is moved in a screeding direction. The screed head includes a grade establishing element and a vibratable member. The grade establishing element is generally vertically adjustable responsive to a signal from a laser receiver disposed at the screed head to establish a struck-off surface of the uncured concrete at a desired grade. The vibratable member is adjustably attached at the grade establishing element and the vibratable member at least partially floats behind the grade establishing element on the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete and is at least partially supported at the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete as the wheeled unit is moved in the screeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Halonen, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Michael R. Keranen, Carl B. Kieranen
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Publication number: 20110164923Abstract: A wheeled screeding device is movable over a surface of uncured concrete and is operable to level and smooth the uncured concrete surface. The wheeled screeding device includes a wheeled support having a frame portion supported by at least one wheel, with the wheel defining an axis of rotation. A screed head is mounted to the frame portion and is at least partially supportable on an uncured concrete surface. The screed head is pivotable about a pivot axis generally normal to the axis of rotation and relative to the wheel to adjust an angle of the screed head relative to the axis of rotation. The wheeled screeding device is movable in a direction of travel during screeding of the concrete surface and the pivot axis may be generally parallel to the direction of travel of the wheeled screeding device during screeding of the concrete surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann, JR.
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Patent number: 7909533Abstract: A wheeled screeding device includes a wheeled support having a frame portion supported by at least one wheel, with the at least one wheel defining an axis of rotation. A screed head is mounted to the frame portion and is balanced such that the screed head is at least partially supportable on an uncured concrete surface. The screed head is adapted to impart a force onto the uncured concrete surface. An adjustment device may be operable to adjust a balance of the wheeled support about the axis of rotation to adjust the force imparted by the screed head. The screed head may be pivotable about an axis generally normal to the axis of rotation of the wheel and relative to the at least one wheel to adjust an angle of the screed head relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110064518Abstract: A wheeled concrete screeding device includes a wheeled unit having wheels for movably supporting a frame portion, and a screed head supported at the frame portion and following behind the wheeled unit when the wheeled unit is moved in a screeding direction. The screed head includes a grade establishing element and a vibratable member. The grade establishing element is generally vertically adjustable responsive to a signal from a laser receiver disposed at the screed head to establish a struck-off surface of the uncured concrete at a desired grade. The vibratable member is adjustably attached at the grade establishing element and the vibratable member at least partially floats behind the grade establishing element on the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete and is at least partially supported at the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete as the wheeled unit is moved in the screeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip D. Halonen, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Michael R. Keranen, Carl B. Kieranen
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Patent number: 7854565Abstract: A method of establishing a desired grade of an uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface includes providing a wheeled apparatus having a wheeled support and a plow assembly, which may include a plow member for establishing the desired grade and/or a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete. The down pressure of the plow assembly may be adjusted when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction. The elevation of the plow member may be controlled when a direction signal is indicative of the wheeled support stopping and/or moving in the forward direction. The rearward speed of the wheeled support may be reduced in response to a detection of a surface irregularity of the subgrade, and the frame portion and/or the plow assembly may be controlled to substantially maintain the plow assembly at a desired orientation when the wheel engages the detected surface irregularity.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Halonen, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Michael R. Keranen, Carl B. Kieranen
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Patent number: 7850396Abstract: A method and apparatus for screeding post tensioned concrete slabs includes providing a screeding device having a wheeled support having a frame portion and spaced apart wheels rotatably mounted to the frame portion. The screeding device has a screed head mounted to the wheeled support. The screed head includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to the vibrating member. The vibrating member is at least partially supportable on the uncured concrete surface, and the grade setting device is adjustable relative to the vibrating member to strike off excess uncured concrete in front of the vibrating member to establish the desired grade or level of the uncured concrete. The screed head may be pivotable relative to the wheeled support about a longitudinal pivot axis extending along the screeding device and in the direction of travel of the screeding device.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Pietila, Philip D. Halonen, Jason M. Wiitanen, Jeffrey W. Torvinen
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Publication number: 20100172695Abstract: A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member relative to a grade setting device after the grade setting device is lowered to the desired grade. The control may be operable to delay lowering the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device at least until the control receives an input indicative of at least a portion of the screed head assembly being moved to a position generally over a newly placed concrete area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Frank E. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Mark A. Pietila
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Publication number: 20090175681Abstract: A method and apparatus for screeding post tensioned concrete slabs includes providing a screeding device having a wheeled support having a frame portion and spaced apart wheels rotatably mounted to the frame portion. The screeding device has a screed head mounted to the wheeled support. The screed head includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to the vibrating member. The vibrating member is at least partially supportable on the uncured concrete surface, and the grade setting device is adjustable relative to the vibrating member to strike off excess uncured concrete in front of the vibrating member to establish the desired grade or level of the uncured concrete. The screed head may be pivotable relative to the wheeled support about a longitudinal pivot axis extending along the screeding device and in the direction of travel of the screeding device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Mark A. Pietila, Philip D. Halonen, Jason M. Wiitanen, Jeffrey W. Torvinen
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Publication number: 20090123229Abstract: A wheeled screeding device includes a wheeled support having a frame portion supported by at least one wheel, with the at least one wheel defining an axis of rotation. A screed head is mounted to the frame portion and is balanced such that the screed head is at least partially supportable on an uncured concrete surface. The screed head is adapted to impart a force onto the uncured concrete surface. An adjustment device may be operable to adjust a balance of the wheeled support about the axis of rotation to adjust the force imparted by the screed head. The screed head may be pivotable about an axis generally normal to the axis of rotation of the wheel and relative to the at least one wheel to adjust an angle of the screed head relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann, JR.
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Patent number: 7491011Abstract: A wheeled screeding apparatus includes a vibrating member adjustably mounted at an end of a frame portion of a wheeled support, with the vibrating member at least partially supporting the end of the frame portion. The vibrating member is generally vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion to adjust a level of the vibrating member relative to the wheeled support. A level control is operable to automatically adjust the vibrating member relative to the frame portion in response to an output of a level sensor, with the level control automatically adjusting the vibrating member relative to the frame portion to substantially maintain the frame portion at a desired orientation relative to horizontal as the screeding device is moved over and through the uncured concrete in a screeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090028641Abstract: A method of establishing a desired grade of an uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface includes providing a wheeled apparatus having a wheeled support and a plow assembly, which may include a plow member for establishing the desired grade and/or a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete. The down pressure of the plow assembly may be adjusted when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction. The elevation of the plow member may be controlled when a direction signal is indicative of the wheeled support stopping and/or moving in the forward direction. The rearward speed of the wheeled support may be reduced in response to a detection of a surface irregularity of the subgrade, and the frame portion and/or the plow assembly may be controlled to substantially maintain the plow assembly at a desired orientation when the wheel engages the detected surface irregularity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip D. Halonen, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Michael R. Keranen, Carl B. Kieranen
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Patent number: 7407339Abstract: A wheeled strike-off apparatus is movable over a surface of uncured concrete or subgrade materials and is operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface. The apparatus includes a wheeled support and a plow assembly. The plow assembly may be adjustably mounted to a front frame portion and may be vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion. The plow assembly may include a plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade and/or may include a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after the plow member establishes the desired grade. The apparatus may include a user input that is adjustable by an operator to adjust a down pressure of the plow assembly at the concrete when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Halonen, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Michael R. Keranen, Carl B. Kieranen
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Patent number: 7396186Abstract: A screeding device for screeding a concrete surface includes a support member, a screed head assembly mounted to the support member, and a control. The screed head assembly includes a grade setting device and a vibrating member, and is selectively movable in a screeding direction over and along the concrete surface by the support member. The vibrating member is vibratable to screed the concrete surface as the screed head assembly is moved in the screeding direction over and along the concrete surface. The control is operable to automatically stop vibration of the vibrating member when the support member is not moving the screed head assembly in the screeding direction and to automatically vibrate the vibrating member when the support member moves the screed head assembly in the screeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Carl B. Kieranen, Frank E. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Torvinen, Mark A. Pietila
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Publication number: 20080131205Abstract: A wheeled screeding apparatus includes a vibrating member adjustably mounted at an end of a frame portion of a wheeled support, with the vibrating member at least partially supporting the end of the frame portion. The vibrating member is generally vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion to adjust a level of the vibrating member relative to the wheeled support. A level control is operable to automatically adjust the vibrating member relative to the frame portion in response to an output of a level sensor, with the level control automatically adjusting the vibrating member relative to the frame portion to substantially maintain the frame portion at a desired orientation relative to horizontal as the screeding device is moved over and through the uncured concrete in a screeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Russ E. Stein, Mark A. Pietila, Carl B. Kieranen, Philip D. Halonen, Howard E. Hohmann
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Patent number: 7320558Abstract: A screeding apparatus and method for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating member. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating member and/or the grade setting device. The grade setting device may be vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The level of the screeding apparatus may be automatically adjustable to maintain a desired level and angle of attack of the vibrating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Somero Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Philip J Quenzi, Russ E Stein, Mark A Pietila, Carl B Kieranen, Philip D Halonen, Howard E Hohmann, Jr.
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Publication number: 20070140792Abstract: A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member relative to a grade setting device after the grade setting device is lowered to the desired grade. The control may be operable to delay lowering the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device at least until the control receives an input indicative of at least a portion of the screed head assembly being moved to a position generally over a newly placed concrete area. Optionally, the control may delay lowering of the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device until a period of time has elapsed after an activating event. Optionally, the control may automatically stop vibration of the vibrating member when the screed head assembly is not moving in the screeding direction and may automatically vibrate the vibrating member when the screed head assembly moves in the screeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2007Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip Quenzi, Carl Kieranen, Frank Anderson, Jeffrey Torvinen, Mark Pietila
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Publication number: 20070127985Abstract: A wheeled strike-off apparatus is movable over a surface of uncured concrete or subgrade materials and is operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface. The apparatus includes a wheeled support and a plow assembly. The plow assembly may be adjustably mounted to a front frame portion and may be vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion. The plow assembly may include a plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade and/or may include a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete after the plow member establishes the desired grade. The apparatus may include a user input that is adjustable by an operator to adjust a down pressure of the plow assembly at the concrete when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2007Publication date: June 7, 2007Applicant: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Philip Halonen, Russ Stein, Mark Pietila, Michael Keranen, Carl Kieranen
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Publication number: 20070090203Abstract: A wheeled hose moving device is movable over a support surface and is operable to grasp and lift and move a concrete supply hose at the support surface. The wheeled device includes a wheeled support and a hose grasping device movably supported by the wheeled support. The hose grasping device includes a pair of arms that are generally vertically movable relative to the frame portion and that are movable relative to one another. The wheeled support is positionable generally at a concrete supply hose and the hose grasping device is lowerable to a level generally at the concrete supply hose. The arms are movable to engage and grasp the concrete supply hose, and the hose grasping device is operable to lift the grasped concrete supply hose, whereby the grasped and lifted concrete supply hose is movable over the support surface by the wheeled support.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Philip Quenzi, Mark Pietila, Timothy Ruonavaara, Michael Keranen