Patents by Inventor Sterling Kidd Combs

Sterling Kidd Combs 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: 20230392819
    Abstract: A method of insulating a register box in which the register box has a body and a duct. The method includes accessing the register box such that the interior of the register box can be reached, removing existing insulation from the interior of the body of the register box, injecting an expandable polymeric material into the interior of the body of the register box, and allowing the expandable polymeric material to cure for a period of time. The opening of the duct of the register box is blocked during the step of curing. The step of injecting includes inserting a foam gun into an interior of the body of the register box and directing the expandable polymeric material from the foam gun toward a wall of the body of the register box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20230194121
    Abstract: A process for forming a register box has a body formed with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally square or rectangular configuration with a wall extending transverse to the side panels. A plurality of circular areas are cut into the wall. An expandable polymeric foam material is introduced into an interior of the body. The body is positioned in a fixture such that the wall is juxtaposed against a surface of the fixture. A plug is inserted into the interior of the body. The expandable polymeric foam material is expanded in the interior of the body such that the expandable polymeric foam material solidifies across the wall and around the plug. The plug is then removed from the body and the body is then removed from the fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20230160601
    Abstract: A process for forming an insulated register box includes forming an insulation across the interior surface of a register box, placing a locating collar onto an outer surface of the register box, marking the outer surface of the register box so as to present a representation corresponding to an inner diameter of the collar, separating a portion of the outer surface of the register box from a remainder of the register box corresponding to the marked representation, penetrating the exposed insulation with the collar until an end of the collar opens to an interior of the insulated register box, and positioning the flange against the outer surface of the register box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20230121739
    Abstract: A register box for an HVAC installation has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a wall extending in generally transverse relation to the plurality of side panels, and an expandable polymeric material affixed to an inner side of the side panels and across the wall. The wall has a plurality of concentric circular areas cut into the wall. Each of the concentric areas is formed of a first partial circle having ends in spaced relation to a second partial circle. The circular area can be removed from the wall so as to allow a user to cut through the polymeric material at the wall so as to form a hole opening to an interior of the register box. This hole can receive a collar therein. The collar can be connected to the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20220275967
    Abstract: A register box assembly has a body with a pair of side walls and a duct with a flange extending inwardly from the plurality of side walls at an end opposite the duct, and a radius clip disc affixed to the body in spaced relation to the flange. The duct has a first portion extending outwardly of the plurality of side walls and second portion opening to an interior of the plurality of side walls. The radius clip disc has a portion extending outwardly of the plurality of side walls. The radius clip disc is adapted to be received in a rail. An insulating material is affixed to the plurality of side walls extends inwardly of the plurality of side walls. The radius clip disc is positioned adjacent to a corner of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Patent number: 11402121
    Abstract: An insulated register box apparatus with a boot rail adapter has a register box, an insulating material affixed within the register box, a rail affixed to a side panel of the register box, and a rail guide having a slot that receives a section of the rail therein. The rail guide is adapted to be affixed to a supporting surface. The rail is affixed to at least one of the side panels of the register box. The rail is slidable relative to the rail guide. The register box has a plurality of side panels and a duct that opens to an interior of the plurality of side panels. The insulating material extends inwardly of the plurality of side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Publication number: 20210260797
    Abstract: A process for forming an insulated register box having a body and a duct in which an expandable polymeric material is introduced into the interior of the body. The body is placed onto a support, a plug is positioned into an interior of the body such that the expandable polymeric material expands between the back wall of the body and the plurality of side panels and the plug, positioning the assembly between a pair of conveyors such that the pair of conveyors holds the assembly tightly sandwiched therebetween, and conveying the assembly to another position adjacent an opposite end of the pair of conveyors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20210262693
    Abstract: A plug apparatus for sealing an interior of a duct for use in a process for forming an insulated register box has a frame, a shaft extending outwardly of the of the frame, and a plurality of layers of flexible material radiating outwardly of the shaft adjacent to an end of the shaft opposite the frame. The plurality of layers of flexible material are adapted to have an outer periphery bearing against an interior surface of the duct. Each layer of flexible material has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the duct. The flexible material is formed of a neoprene material. The frame is affixed to a support surface having an opening therein. The opening is adapted to receive an outer diameter of the duct therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20210231342
    Abstract: A plug assembly for use in a process for manufacturing an insulated register box has a body having a bottom and at least one side wall extending upwardly from the bottom, a rotatable element at the bottom of the body, and an actuator connected to the rotatable element and positioned above the rotatable element. The rotatable element is adapted to seal an end of a duct in an interior of the box of the insulated register box. The rotatable element is movable between an installation position and a sealing position. The actuator is cooperative with the rotatable element so as to move the rotatable element between the installation position and the sealing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Patent number: 11060756
    Abstract: A register box for an HVAC installation has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a plurality of flanges extending inwardly from the plurality of side panels, an expandable polymeric material affixed to an inner side of each of the plurality of side panels such that the expandable polymeric material has a portion extending across one end of the body inwardly of the plurality of flanges, and a sheet positioned over the portion of the expandable polymeric material at the one end of the body such that the sheet is interposed between the plurality of flanges and the portion of the expandable polymeric material. The expandable polymeric material and the sheet are cuttable so as to open to the interior of the register box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Publication number: 20210190368
    Abstract: A plug for use in a process of forming an insulated register box has a body with at least one side wall, a bottom wall and a top edge. The insulated register box has a box and a duct extending outwardly therefrom. The duct has a portion extending into an interior of the box. The body has a ledge extending outwardly of the top edge thereof. The bottom wall is adapted to abut an end of the portion of the duct. The ledge is adapted to abut an end of the box opposite the duct. A gasket is affixed to the bottom wall of the body. This gasket is adapted to abut the end of the portion of the gasket. The gasket is of a polymeric or elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Patent number: 10995969
    Abstract: A register box for HVAC installations has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a wall extending across the rectangular configuration, a duct opening through the wall so as to communicate with an interior of the body, and an expandable foam polymeric material affixed to an inner side of the side panels. The wall has a surface extending from the opening of the duct to the side panels. The expandable foam polymeric material is affixed to the surface of the wall. The expandable polymeric material is polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Patent number: 10648695
    Abstract: An insulated register box with a boot rail adapter has a register box, an insulating material affixed within the register box, a rail guide affixed to a side panel of the register box, and a rail having a section received in a slot of the rail guide. The rail is adapted to be affixed to a supporting surface, such as a joist. The rail guide is slidable relative to the rail. The rail guide is affixed to an exterior surface of the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: STERLING CUSTOM SHEET METAL, INC.
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Patent number: 10309682
    Abstract: A process for insulating a register box in which the register box has a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular configuration and a duct opening through a wall that extends across the generally rectangular configuration, in which the process includes flowing an expandable polymeric material toward the plurality of side panels, placing the register box into or onto a support structure, introducing a liner over the flowed expandable polymeric material within the register box, and placing a form onto the liner in the register box so as to shape the expandable polymeric material within the register box. The form and the liner are then removed from the register box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: STERLING CUSTOM SHEET METAL, INC.
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Publication number: 20180363942
    Abstract: A register box for an HVAC installation has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a plurality of flanges extending inwardly from the plurality of side panels, an expandable polymeric material affixed to an inner side of each of the plurality of side panels such that the expandable polymeric material has a portion extending across one end of the body inwardly of the plurality of flanges, and a sheet positioned over the portion of the expandable polymeric material at the one end of the body such that the sheet is interposed between the plurality of flanges and the portion of the expandable polymeric material. The expandable polymeric material and the sheet are cuttable so as to open to the interior of the register box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20180320921
    Abstract: An insulated register box apparatus with a boot rail adapter has a register box, an insulating material affixed within the register box, a rail affixed to a side panel of the register box, and a rail guide having a slot that receives a section of the rail therein. The rail guide is adapted to be affixed to a supporting surface. The rail is affixed to at least one of the side panels of the register box. The rail is slidable relative to the rail guide. The register box has a plurality of side panels and a duct that opens to an interior of the plurality of side panels. The insulating material extends inwardly of the plurality of side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20180187919
    Abstract: A register box for HVAC installations has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a wall extending across the rectangular configuration, a duct opening through the wall so as to communicate with an interior of the body, and an expandable foam polymeric material affixed to an inner side of the side panels. The wall has a surface extending from the opening of the duct to the side panels. The expandable foam polymeric material is affixed to the surface of the wall. The expandable polymeric material is polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Patent number: 9951969
    Abstract: A register box for HVAC installations has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a wall extending across the rectangular configuration, a duct opening through the wall so as to communicate with an interior of the body, and an expandable foam polymeric material affixed to an inner side of the side panels. The wall has a surface extending from the opening of the duct to the side panels. The expandable foam polymeric material is affixed to the surface of the wall. The expandable polymeric material is polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: STERLING CUSTOM SHEET METAL, INC.
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd Combs
  • Publication number: 20180003407
    Abstract: An insulated register box with a boot rail adapter has a register box, an insulating material affixed within the register box, a rail guide affixed to a side panel of the register box, and a rail having a section received in a slot of the rail guide. The rail is adapted to be affixed to a supporting surface, such as a joist. The rail guide is slidable relative to the rail. The rail guide is affixed to an exterior surface of the side panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS
  • Publication number: 20170191696
    Abstract: A process for insulating a register box in which the register box has a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular configuration and a duct opening through a wall that extends across the generally rectangular configuration, in which the process includes flowing an expandable polymeric material toward the plurality of side panels, placing the register box into or onto a support structure, introducing a liner over the flowed expandable polymeric material within the register box, and placing a form onto the liner in the register box so as to shape the expandable polymeric material within the register box. The form and the liner are then removed from the register box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Sterling Kidd COMBS