Patents Assigned to NESS INVENTIONS
  • Publication number: 20130075943
    Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing concrete blocks in an automated dry-cast block machine. The mold assembly includes a plurality of liner plates which together form a mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates includes an internal network of shafts which is configured to receive and provide a flow path for heated fluid to pass through to heat the at least one liner plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC
    Inventor: Ness Inventions, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120219659
    Abstract: A mold assembly having a mold cavity formed by liner plates, at least one being moveable, an actuator having an actuator axis, and a force multiplier formed by first and second drive elements, the first drive element positioned off-axis from the actuator axis and in mechanical communication with the moveable liner plate, the second drive element operatively coupled to the first drive element, and the actuator configured to provide a first force having a first magnitude in a first direction along the actuator axis to the second drive element which moves the first drive element and the moveable liner plate in an extending direction, wherein a magnitude of a force applied to the moveable liner plate resulting from compression of dry cast concrete in the mold cavity that is required to move the moveable liner plate in a direction opposite the extending direction is greater than the first magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20120187602
    Abstract: A method of operating a mold assembly having a plurality of liner plates forming a mold cavity. The method includes driving a master drive element back and forth in a continuous loop about at least a portion of exterior perimeter sides of the mold cavity to provide a first and second linear forces in first and second directions substantially in parallel with each perimeter side of the mold cavity about which the primary drive element is routed, and driving a secondary drive element, which engages the at least one moveable liner plate, with the first and second linear forces to drive at least one moveable liner plate toward and away from the interior of the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20120117870
    Abstract: A dry-cast concrete planter box including opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls extending between the front and rear walls, a bottom side extending between the front, rear, and side walls, a top side including a rim extending around a perimeter of the top side along an upper edge of the front, rear, and side walls, and at least one interior compartment extending from the top side partially through the planter box toward the bottom side which is configured to hold soil or other planting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20120015067
    Abstract: A mold assembly mold having a mold cavity formed by a plurality of liner plates, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable toward and away from an interior of the mold cavity, and a heater element contacting and heating the moveable liner plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS INC.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20110300252
    Abstract: An automated concrete block machine including a mold cavity, a feedbox driven between retracted and extended positions and depositing concrete in the mold cavity when at the extended position, a cutoff bar, and a drive system coupled to and driving the cutoff bar in a direction of movement of the feedbox such that a distance between at least a portion of the cutoff bar and a top of the mold varies so that the cutoff bar removes varying amounts of concrete deposited in the mold cavity so that a depth of concrete remaining in at least a portion of the mold cavity varies so as to be unevenly distributed in a desired fashion in the direction of movement of the feedbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20110133357
    Abstract: A masonry block molded by a masonry block machine employing a mold assembly having a plurality of liner plates, at least one of which is moveable. The masonry block includes a first transverse face, a second transverse face opposing the first transverse face, at least one aperture extending through the masonry block between the first and second transverse faces, a first end face joining the first and second transverse faces, a second end face opposite the first end face and joining the first and second transverse faces, a first major face joining the first end and second end faces, and a second major face opposing the first major face and joining the first and second end faces. A molded utility opening extends through the first major face to the at least one aperture and adapted to receive a utility device, wherein the first major face and molded utility opening are formed during a molding process by action of a moveable liner plate having a mold element which is a negative of the molded utility opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20100310699
    Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing dry-cast concrete blocks in an automated dry-cast block machine, the mold assembly a plurality of liner plates forming at least one mold cavity, each liner plate corresponding to a perimeter side of the mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable toward and away from an interior of the mold cavity. A master drive element is routed about at least a portion of the perimeter sides of the mold cavity, including the perimeter side corresponding to the at least one moveable liner plate, and forming a continuous loop, wherein the master drive element is configured to be driven back and forth about the loop to provide a first linear force in a first direction and a second linear force in a second direction opposite the first direction substantially in parallel with each perimeter side along which the master drive element is routed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20100308504
    Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing concrete blocks in an automated dry-cast block machine. The mold assembly includes a plurality of liner plates which together form a mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates includes an internal network of shafts which is configured to receive and provide a flow path for heated fluid to pass through to heat the at least one liner plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20100007051
    Abstract: A concrete block machine including a mold having at least one mold cavity, a feedbox driven back and forth between retracted and extended positions, wherein the feedbox is positioned over a top of the mold deposits concrete in the at least one mold cavity when at the extended position, a cutoff bar coupled to the feedbox and including a moveable cutoff element, and a drive system. The drive system is coupled to the moveable cutoff element and moves the moveable cutoff element to adjust a distance between the moveable cutoff element and the top of the mold as the feedbox is driven from the extended position to the retracted position such that the moveable cutoff element removes varying amounts of concrete deposited in the mold cavity so that a depth of concrete remaining in the mold cavity varies in a desired fashion in a direction of movement of the feedbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Ness, Jeffrey A. Ness
  • Publication number: 20090224425
    Abstract: A mold assembly including a plurality of mold components configured to form a mold cavity having a desired shape, at least one of the mold components having a notch configured to form a set-back flange in a masonry block formed in the mold cavity, the notch having a depth. The mold assembly further includes a moveable flange plate and a drive assembly configured to extend the moveable flange plate into and retract the moveable flange plate from the notch within a desired range of distances so as to adjust the depth of the notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: NESS INVENTIONS
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Ness