Patents by Inventor Michael Douglas Costa

Michael Douglas Costa 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: 11958727
    Abstract: One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure may include a snatch ring pulley assembly including a pulley wheel body and a deformable retention feature affixed to the pulley wheel body. The pulley wheel body includes a rope saddle portion, a first outer wheel portion, and a second outer wheel portion substantially parallel to the first outer wheel portion. The deformable retention feature is affixed to the first outer wheel portion and extends toward the second outer wheel portion. The deformable retention feature extends uniformly around a circumference of the first outer wheel portion and extends substantially perpendicular to the first outer wheel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20210130142
    Abstract: One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure may include a snatch ring pulley assembly including a pulley wheel body and a deformable retention feature affixed to the pulley wheel body. The pulley wheel body includes a rope saddle portion, a first outer wheel portion, and a second outer wheel portion substantially parallel to the first outer wheel portion. The deformable retention feature is affixed to the first outer wheel portion and extends toward the second outer wheel portion. The deformable retention feature extends uniformly around a circumference of the first outer wheel portion and extends substantially perpendicular to the first outer wheel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Douglas COSTA
  • Patent number: 10774469
    Abstract: A fid is made of separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user. In this manner the fid components can be easily stored or transported and then assembled when needed to create a fid of sufficient length to splice a synthetic rope or other types of rope. The fid includes an elongate shaft or needle with a first that tapers to a point. The opposing end of the shaft may be machined to form a connection structure. A coupler may have an elongate form with two opposing ends along a center axis. One end of the coupler removable attaches to the needle at the connection structure. The second end of the coupler permanently attaches to a rope holder, which may take the form of a cylindrical, helically wound braid of thin wire cable forming a wire basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: WARN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Patent number: 10677316
    Abstract: A thimble apparatus for use with a rope has a thimble eye formed as a generally U-shaped shackle defining a center aperture therein with arms on opposing sides of the aperture. The thimble eye has an outer surface, a front face, and a rear face. A groove is formed within the front face of the shackle generally in the shape of a U and has a width. A rope seat is formed within the shackle beneath the groove proximal to the rear face and has a diameter larger than the width of the groove. The groove forms a passage to the rope seat from the front face along the length of the groove. A base connects to ends of the arms of the shackle closing the aperture. The base defines a first feed channel formed as a first bore through the base that connects with a first end of the rope seat and a second feed channel formed as a second bore through the base that connects with a second end of the rope seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FACTOR 55, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Patent number: 10228044
    Abstract: A thimble apparatus for use with a rope has a thimble eye formed as a generally U-shaped shackle defining a center aperture therein with arms on opposing sides of the aperture. The thimble eye has an outer surface, a front face, and a rear face. A groove is formed within the front face of the shackle generally in the shape of a U and has a width. A rope seat is formed within the shackle beneath the groove proximal to the rear face and has a diameter larger than the width of the groove. The groove forms a passage to the rope seat from the front face along the length of the groove. A base connects to ends of the arms of the shackle closing the aperture. The base defines a channel formed as an open-ended groove through the base such that in use the channel permits a rope to extend from either one of adjacent sides of the base to position the thimble apparatus between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Patent number: 10202260
    Abstract: A rigging connector having combination hook and shackle mounting is provided. The rigging connector may include an elongate body having a central bridge portion and opposing first and second end portions extending from the central bridge portion, a securement member formed in the first end portion of the body and defining a throat opening with the central bridge portion, first and second anchor legs formed in the second end portion of the body, the first and second anchor legs defining a gap therebetween for receiving a portion of a support line, a shear pin operable to retain the support line at least partially within the gap, and a shackle mounting hole defined in the first end portion and having a center axis extending transverse to the shear pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Factor 55, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20180119343
    Abstract: A fid is made of separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user. In this manner the fid components can be easily stored or transported and then assembled when needed to create a fid of sufficient length to splice a synthetic rope or other types of rope. The fid includes an elongate shaft or needle with a first that tapers to a point. The opposing end of the shaft may be machined to form a connection structure. A coupler may have an elongate form with two opposing ends along a center axis. One end of the coupler removable attaches to the needle at the connection structure. The second end of the coupler permanently attaches to a rope holder, which may take the form of a cylindrical, helically wound braid of thin wire cable forming a wire basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20170227089
    Abstract: A thimble apparatus for use with a rope has a thimble eye formed as a generally U-shaped shackle defining a center aperture therein with arms on opposing sides of the aperture. The thimble eye has an outer surface, a front face, and a rear face. A groove is formed within the front face of the shackle generally in the shape of a U and has a width. A rope seat is formed within the shackle beneath the groove proximal to the rear face and has a diameter larger than the width of the groove. The groove forms a passage to the rope seat from the front face along the length of the groove. A base connects to ends of the arms of the shackle closing the aperture. The base defines a channel formed as an open-ended groove through the base such that in use the channel permits a rope to extend from either one of adjacent sides of the base to position the thimble apparatus between first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20170122405
    Abstract: A thimble apparatus for use with a rope has a thimble eye formed as a generally U-shaped shackle defining a center aperture therein with arms on opposing sides of the aperture. The thimble eye has an outer surface, a front face, and a rear face. A groove is formed within the front face of the shackle generally in the shape of a U and has a width. A rope seat is formed within the shackle beneath the groove proximal to the rear face and has a diameter larger than the width of the groove. The groove forms a passage to the rope seat from the front face along the length of the groove. A base connects to ends of the arms of the shackle closing the aperture. The base defines a first feed channel formed as a first bore through the base that connects with a first end of the rope seat and a second feed channel formed as a second bore through the base that connects with a second end of the rope seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Factor 55, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20170121154
    Abstract: A rigging connector having combination hook and shackle mounting is provided. The rigging connector may include an elongate body having a central bridge portion and opposing first and second end portions extending from the central bridge portion, a securement member formed in the first end portion of the body and defining a throat opening with the central bridge portion, first and second anchor legs formed in the second end portion of the body, the first and second anchor legs defining a gap therebetween for receiving a portion of a support line, a shear pin operable to retain the support line at least partially within the gap, and a shackle mounting hole defined in the first end portion and having a center axis extending transverse to the shear pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Factor 55, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Patent number: 9388025
    Abstract: A shackle mount that is connectable to a standard recovery winch cable. The shackle mount includes a shackle attachment tab that prevents lateral movement of the shackle mount along the shackle pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FACTOR 55, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa
  • Publication number: 20120280523
    Abstract: A shackle mount that is connectable to a standard recovery winch cable. The shackle mount includes a shackle attachment tab that prevents lateral movement of the shackle mount along the shackle pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Douglas Costa