Patents by Inventor Richard W. Heath
Richard W. Heath 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).
-
Publication number: 20130068900Abstract: A pipe brace assembly includes a main clamp body that can be secured to a brace pipe. A cable, or other flexible tensioning member, can be wrapped around a braced pipe and secured to the main clamp body. The pipe brace assembly includes a method or mechanism for tensioning the cable or flexible tensioning member around the braced pipe. In some embodiments, the tensioning method or mechanism involves moving, such as rotating, the main clamp body to tension the cable or tensioning member. The clamping of the main clamp body and tensioning of the cable or tensioning member can occur simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: NIBCO, INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 8376289Abstract: An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape and retains a conduit, pipe, tube or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Cooper B-Line, Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20130020447Abstract: A beam clamp for mounting to a flange of a beam or other support, having a main body and a set screw. The main body has an end wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The first and second side walls each define a slot having an open end and a closed end. The end wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of the main body are formed by a unitary piece of material having a wall thickness. The main body further includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion that extend unitarily from the end wall. A first threaded opening and a second threaded opening pass through the end wall and a respective one of the first and second threaded openings such that each of the first threaded opening and the second threaded opening define a thread length that is greater than the wall thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: NIBCO, INC.Inventors: Richard W. Heath, Scott Beutler
-
Publication number: 20120305723Abstract: A sway brace attachment for firmly connecting to a beam and other flanged structures, and a method for manufacturing the sway brace attachment. The sway brace attachment includes a main body and an insert that is captured within the main body by a pair of set screws which also engage the flange. Preferably, a third set screw is supported by the main body and engages the opposite side of the flange from the pair of set screws. The main body can be generally rectangular in shape, with a top wall, a pair of side walls extending from the top wall and a pair of bottom walls, which extend inwardly from respective side walls in an overlapping relationship. The sway brace attachment can be used for bracing pipes and other loads, suspended below ceilings and floors, against sway and seismic disturbances.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: NIBCO, INC.Inventors: Richard W. Heath, Dallas M. Dworak, JR.
-
Patent number: 8322662Abstract: A clevis hanger has an upper strap and a lower strap. The upper strap can be supported by a hang rod or the like. The lower strap and the upper strap can be snapped open and snapped closed such that the lower strap can be secured to the upper strap without additional hardware.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Cooper B-Line, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Heath, Dallas M. Dworak, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8052099Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Nibco Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20110101678Abstract: A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: NIBCO INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 7887248Abstract: A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Nibco Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20100294895Abstract: An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape and retains a conduit, pipe, tube or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: NIBCO INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 7832248Abstract: A one-piece hanger is formed with a pair of spaced segments or legs joined by an end wall. Each segment has a recess formed in an edge which is open towards the recess on an edge of the opposite segment. The two recesses are aligned so as to create a substantially full opening to receive a pipe. The hanger may be positioned on a pipe with the segments extending substantially parallel to the pipe axis, and the hanger can then be rotated about 90° so that the pipe extends through the substantially full opening formed by the recesses. The hanger end is formed with mounting holes.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Nibco Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 7744042Abstract: An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape. A center axis is defined along the center of the generally cylindrical shape. A first pair of gussets extends from the central retainer portion to the first leg. A second pair of gussets extends from the central retainer portion to the second leg. Each pair of gussets comprises at least two gussets that are spaced apart in the axial direction of the generally cylindrical shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Nibco Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20100146906Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: NIBCO INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20100107518Abstract: A seismic bracing assembly has a first subassembly and a second subassembly that are connected by a sleeve. The first subassembly has a structural yoke used to secure the first subassembly to a structural member. The second subassembly has another yoke used to secure the second subassembly to an anchoring member. The first and second subassembly have a sufficient length to allow rough in assembly of the two subassemblies with the sleeve that couples them together.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: NIBCO, INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 7669806Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: NIBCO Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Patent number: 7654043Abstract: The invention relates to a retrofit connector for fast attachment to an existing system that supports a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor without the need to disassemble or disconnect any components of the system. Advantageously, the connector is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The connector is removably or permanently attachable to a sway brace clamp or attachment to form a pivotable connector-clamp assembly. The assembly is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Nibco Inc.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20100006729Abstract: A clevis hanger has an upper strap and a lower strap. The upper strap can be supported by a hang rod or the like. The lower strap and the upper strap can be snapped open and snapped closed such that the lower strap can be secured to the upper strap without additional hardware.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: NIBCO, INCInventors: Richard W. Heath, Dallas M. Dworak, JR.
-
Patent number: 7606487Abstract: The distortion component of an optical signal received from an optical transmission system, such as an all-optical system, subject to noise and amplitude distortion components, can be evaluated by a method that utilises information derived from analysing the bit error ratio (BER) of the signal as a function of a movable threshold. The analysis is performed in high and low bit error ratio areas of the eye diagram used for data one/zero decision making. The intersections with the threshold axis (where BER=0.25) of extrapolations of the high and low bit error ratio values provide variables V1 and V2 which are divided (V1/V2) to obtain an estimate/prediction of the amplitude closure of the eye diagram resulting from amplitude distortion. The analysis is preferably carried out after Q conversion of the BER values. The method can also be extended to provide indications of Q, bit error ratio and optical signal-to-noise ratio within the signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: Peter J Anslow, Richard W Heath
-
Publication number: 20090236476Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20090224127Abstract: An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape. A center axis is defined along the center of the generally cylindrical shape. A first pair of gussets extends from the central retainer portion to the first leg. A second pair of gussets extends from the central retainer portion to the second leg. Each pair of gussets comprises at least two gussets that are spaced apart in the axial direction of the generally cylindrical shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicant: NIBCO, INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath
-
Publication number: 20090065657Abstract: A one-piece hanger is formed with a pair of spaced segments or legs joined by an end wall. Each segment has a recess formed in an edge which is open towards the recess on an edge of the opposite segment. The two recesses are aligned so as to create a substantially full opening to receive a pipe. The hanger may be positioned on a pipe with the segments extending substantially parallel to the pipe axis, and the hanger can then be rotated about 90° so that the pipe extends through the substantially full opening formed by the recesses. The hanger end is formed with mounting holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: NIBCO INC.Inventor: Richard W. Heath