Patents by Inventor Rick G. Miller

Rick G. Miller 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: 11883692
    Abstract: A top bracket for supporting a safety cable of a vertical climbing fall protection system, the bracket including a base plate and a pivotally deflectable plate that is integrally and pivotally connected to the base plate by a neck. The top bracket may also include an abutment plate with a forward abutment surface that is separated from a rearward abutment surface of the pivotally deflectable plate by an elongate gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rick G. Miller, Keith G. Mattson
  • Patent number: 11813487
    Abstract: Connectors for coupling fall arresting devices to a safety harness. The connectors may include a first pin configured to lock into a first side of a base portion using one or more locking mechanisms. The first pin may be used to engage with one or more fall arresting devices to attach the one or more fall arresting devices to the connector. In some such examples, the locking mechanisms may be positioned within interior portions of the first side of the connector so as to allow the one or more fall arresting devices to pivot freely about the ends of the connector. In some examples, the connectors may include a second pin configured to lock into a second side of the base portion using one or more locking mechanisms. The second pin may be used to conveniently and releasably attached the connector to a safety harness of a worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Matthew S. Stephenson, Rick G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20220088425
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting the condition of a permanent fall-protection safety system. The systems and methods use a sensor to obtain data corresponding to a physical state of at least one component of the safety system, the at least one component and the sensor being at a remote location and/or at an elevated height, relative to a base unit. The systems and methods further include wirelessly transmitting the data to the base unit, processing the data to reach an indication of a change in a physical state of the at least one component of the safety system, and reporting the condition of the safety system based on the indication of the physical state of the at least one component of the safety system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Rick G. Miller, Andrew K. Thomforde
  • Publication number: 20210146172
    Abstract: A top bracket for supporting a safety cable of a vertical climbing fall protection system, the bracket including a base plate and a pivotally deflectable plate that is integrally and pivotally connected to the base plate by a neck. The top bracket may also include an abutment plate with a forward abutment surface that is separated from a rearward abutment surface of the pivotally deflectable plate by an elongate gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Rick G. Miller, Keith G. Mattson
  • Patent number: 10940338
    Abstract: A top bracket for supporting a safety cable of a vertical climbing fall protection system, the bracket including a base plate and a pivotally deflectable plate that is integrally and pivotally connected to the base plate by a neck. The top bracket may also include an abutment plate with a forward abutment surface that is separated from a rearward abutment surface of the pivotally deflectable plate by an elongate gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rick G. Miller, Keith G. Mattson
  • Publication number: 20210046340
    Abstract: A top bracket for supporting a safety cable of a vertical climbing fall protection system, the bracket including a base plate and a pivotally deflectable plate that is integrally and pivotally connected to the base plate by a neck. The top bracket may also include an abutment plate with a forward abutment surface that is separated from a rearward abutment surface of the pivotally deflectable plate by an elongate gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rick G. MILLER, Keith G. MATTSON
  • Publication number: 20200129790
    Abstract: Connectors for coupling fall arresting devices to a safety harness. The connectors may include a first pin configured to lock into a first side of a base portion using one or more locking mechanisms. The first pin may be used to engage with one or more fall arresting devices to attach the one or more fall arresting devices to the connector. In some such examples, the locking mechanisms may be positioned within interior portions of the first side of the connector so as to allow the one or more fall arresting devices to pivot freely about the ends of the connector. In some examples, the connectors may include a second pin configured to lock into a second side of the base portion using one or more locking mechanisms. The second pin may be used to conveniently and releasably attached the connector to a safety harness of a worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew S. Stephenson, Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: 9168402
    Abstract: A rope grab for a vertical fall protection system is provided. The rope grab includes a housing with an elongated member passage. The elongated member passage is configured to receive an elongated member. A locking cam is pivotally coupled to the housing and selectively engages an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A cam biasing member positioned to provide a relatively slight biasing force on the locking cam in a direction towards an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A locking arm, pivotally coupled to the housing, has a first end that is configured to be coupled to a safety harness of a user and a second end that selectively engages the locking cam to lock the locking cam on an elongated member in the elongated member passage during a fall event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Casebolt, John P. Blomberg, Rick G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140020988
    Abstract: A rope grab for a vertical fall protection system is provided. The rope grab includes a housing with an elongated member passage. The elongated member passage is configured to receive an elongated member. A locking cam is pivotally coupled to the housing and selectively engages an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A cam biasing member positioned to provide a relatively slight biasing force on the locking cam in a direction towards an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A locking arm, pivotally coupled to the housing, has a first end that is configured to be coupled to a safety harness of a user and a second end that selectively engages the locking cam to lock the locking cam on an elongated member in the elongated member passage during a fall event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Casebolt, John P. Blomberg, Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D710678
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D710679
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D722487
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D739212
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D746125
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller
  • Patent number: D764258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: D B Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Rick G. Miller