Patents by Inventor Tony Laplante

Tony Laplante 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: 20110248495
    Abstract: A connector (1) for connecting to a tubular member has a body (5, 35, 65) with a bore (7, 37, 67) configured to receive the tubular member, the body having a wedge device (10, 40, 70) within the bore adapted to interact with the body to grip the tubular member (15) when the tubular member is disposed within the bore, wherein the wedge device is at least partially helical, and wherein the connector has an anti-rotation device (23, 53, 83) to restrict relative rotation of the wedge device and the body when the tubular is gripped in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Tony LaPlante, Peter Murdoch, Richard Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 7481461
    Abstract: A device which is expandable to engage the interior of a tube, for example the casing of an oil well, comprises first and second tubular members in partial telescopic engagement with each other, the first tubular member having an end region which is received on the second tubular member and which is expandable radially outwardly to engage the interior of the tube. The second tubular member has tapered regions which, when forced into the end region, will cause radial expansion of the end region. The taper angle of the second tapered zone is less than the taper angle of both the first tapered zone and the third tapered zone. The fourth tapered zone preferably has a taper angle which is greater than that of the second tapered zone and less than that of the third tapered zone. In one embodiment, the tapered zones have respective taper angles of 15°, 1°, 5° and 1.25°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce McGarian, Gary Pape, Tony LaPlante
  • Patent number: 7168492
    Abstract: The invention relates to downhole wellbore apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for use in wellbore cleaning operations. A downhole tool (2) comprises a body (4) having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the tool (2) further comprises a one-way valve (24,26) for allowing a flow of fluid in a first direction through the tool bore and preventing a flow of fluid in a second direction through the tool bore, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. The tool further comprises mandrel (38) for rendering the one-way valve (24,26) inoperable so as to be ineffective at preventing fluid flow; and a shear pin assembly (44,40) for selectively making the one-way valve operable so as to be effective at allowing fluid flow in the first direction and preventing fluid flow in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Laplante, Bruce McGarian
  • Publication number: 20060273584
    Abstract: A device which is expandable to engage the interior of a tube, for example the casing of an oil well, comprises first and second tubular members in partial telescopic engagement with each other, the first tubular member having an end region which is received on the second tubular member and which is expandable radially outwardly to engage the interior of the tube. The second tubular member has tapered regions which, when forced into the end region, will cause radial expansion of the end region. The taper angle of the second tapered zone is less than the taper angle of both the first tapered zone and the third tapered zone. The fourth tapered zone preferably has a taper angle which is greater than that of the second tapered zone and less than that of the third tapered zone. In one embodiment, the tapered zones have respective taper angles of 15°, 1°, 5° and 1.25°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce McGarian, Gary Pape, Tony LaPlante
  • Publication number: 20060118306
    Abstract: The invention relates to downhole wellbore apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for use in wellbore cleaning operations. A downhole tool (2) comprises a body (4) having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the tool (2) further comprises a one-way valve (24,26) for allowing a flow of fluid in a first direction through the tool bore and preventing a flow of fluid in a second direction through the tool bore, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. The tool further comprises means (38) for rendering the one-way valve (24,26) inoperable so as to be ineffective at preventing fluid flow; and means (44,40) for selectively making the one-way valve operable so as to be effective at allowing fluid flow in said first direction and preventing fluid flow in said second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Tony Laplante, Bruce McGarian