Patents by Inventor Michael O. Hickman

Michael O. Hickman 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).

  • Foam insulating a water heater
    Patent number: 5263469
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is for foam insulating a water heater where the water heater has an outer shell and an inner tank with tank fittings, the outer shell having tank fitting openings and the inner tank and outer shell being separated by an insulation space. The method comprises locating foam flow barriers between the inner tank and the outer shell around the periphery of each of the tank fitting openings and then spraying foam forming material into the insulation space with the foam barriers preventing the foam from escaping outwardly through the tank fitting openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: GSW Inc.
    Inventor: Michael O. Hickman
  • Foam insulating a water heater
    Patent number: 5213728
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is for foam insulating a water heater where the water heater has an outer shell and an inner tank with tank fittings, the outer shell having tank fitting openings and the inner tank and outer shell being separated by an insulation space. The method comprises locating foam flow barriers between the inner tank and the outer shell around the periphery of each of the tank fitting openings and then spraying foam forming material into the insulation space with the foam barriers preventing the foam from escaping outwardly through the tank fitting openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: GSW Inc.
    Inventor: Michael O. Hickman
  • Method for molding products with undercut regions
    Patent number: 5102607
    Abstract: A method provides a mold for producing a product where the product includes material over an undercut opening in the product. The mold comprises first and second mold sections which open and close relative to one another and the first mold section in itself includes mold parts which open and close relative to one another. The mold is arranged such that when the first and second mold sections are closed, the mold parts of the first mold section are also closed to define a mold cavity between the mold sections and further including a cavity region for forming the material over the undercut opening between the mold parts of the first mold section. The mold then opens in a manner in which the first and second mold sections are opened which then allows the mold parts of the first mold section to open for releasing the product from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: GSW Inc.
    Inventors: Michael O. Hickman, Jack F. Campbell