Patents Assigned to Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6170886
    Abstract: A quick connector (10) has a pair of waist segments (76 and 81), a shoulder segment (163), a body segment (72) with an aperture (156) therein, and a leg segment (78). The leg segment (78) is defined by a pair of projecting elements (163) which are at least partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments (76 and 81) to move toward one another. Thus, a swivellable connection is made which has the equivalent length and diameter of a convention non-swivellable threaded coupling. The quick connector (10) may be released by hand or a snap ring tool inserted into holes (410).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 6092442
    Abstract: A double-ended wrench is described having a movable wrench grip which may be positioned at either end of the double-ended wrench, thereby providing a user with improved comfort, torque and continuous use capabilities at both ends of the wrench. The wrench includes a movable wrench grip which may have one or more seams extending the entire length thereof to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the movable wrench grip to the double-ended wrench. Also, the movable wrench grip may have means to temporarily fix the grip at different locations along the extended central portion of the double-ended wrench, or to increase friction between the movable wrench grip and the double-ended wrench. In one preferred embodiment, there is a double-ended wrench, having a movable wrench grip thereon which has a single, wide seam extending the entire length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 6086113
    Abstract: A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 6085618
    Abstract: A hand wrench is described for attachment with various sockets and other hand tool attachments to control the rotation of fasteners. The hand wrench has a main member with dimensions of length greater than width, and width greater than thickness such that it has a thin stamped form; and, a driving element fixed to and protruding out from the main member and formed to engage with sockets and other hand tool attachments. In some preferred embodiments, the main member is wider at one end and is bent offset with an obtuse angle of about 170 degrees. Because this hand wrench has a thin stamped form without a ratcheting mechanism, the present invention can access and engage fasteners under certain limited-access situations where a ratchet wrench (or any other known wrench) cannot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 6082228
    Abstract: An open end wrench head is described having four principle internal engaging surfaces arranged about an imaginary central axis with the first and second internal engaging surfaces positioned on a first jaw and the third and fourth internal engaging surfaces positioned on a second opposing jaw. The first and third internal engaging surfaces are substantially flat and parallel to the imaginary central axis. The second internal engaging surface diverges outward from the first internal engaging surface and fourth internal engaging surface diverges outward from the third internal engaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 6062607
    Abstract: A quick connector-male conduit assembly embodying both primary and secondary latching functions for use in a conduit coupling. The assembly incorporates a hand-releasable, self-centering snap ring-like retainer and a combination secondary latch and seating indicator bracket to form a male conduit assembly matable with a female receptacle. The female receptacle includes an engaging surface defined by either a radial ridge or at least a pair of outwardly extending studs. In its preferred embodiment, the bracket includes a body and a flange portion generally defined by two flanges extending outwardly from the bracket body. Each of the flanges includes an aperture for selectively engaging said engaging surface of the female receptacle. The retainer includes a pair of tabs for easy manipulation by hand or tools for removal. The quick connector assembly is on either a plastic or a metal male conduit, and can be as short as a threaded connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 6014884
    Abstract: A method for bending metal tubing which minimizes the collapse of a tube wall through lowering material stress achieved by reducing the rate of bending. The method includes the steps of selecting a bend radius less than a standard bend radius, determining a rate of bending of a length of tubing so as to minimize material stress, and bending the tubing at the selected determined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 6010160
    Abstract: In its preferred embodiment, a quick connector (10) for connecting a male conduit (12) to a female receptacle (14) has a pair of waist segments (60 and 62), a body segment (56), and a pair of leg segments (68). Each of the leg segments (68) are defined by a pair of projecting elements (76) which are at least partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments (60 and 62) to move toward one another. A confirmer ring (114) is provided on the pair of projecting elements (76). Confirmation that the quick connector (10) is properly locked in place is made when the confirmer ring (114) is fully seated within a portion of the opening (18) of female receptacle (14). An alternate embodiment provides for use of the confirmer ring (114) as an installing tool when connecting the male conduit (12) with the female receptacle (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 6003413
    Abstract: A wrench tool which has a head and connected handle formed as a lever. The head has a ratcheting mechanism and a distinctive shape different than the connected handle. The ratchet type wrench also has a gripping means with dimensions of length greater than width, and width greater than thickness. The gripping means encompasses a substantial portion, if not all of the handle, and at least a small portion of the ratchet head. In some preferred embodiments, the gripping means is formed with a "V" shaped or semi-circle shaped cut-out adapted to accommodate the shape of the ratchet head so that the gripping means does not obstruct the upper or lower surfaces of the ratchet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 5992903
    Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seal disposed in the bore for providing a fluid-tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the locking wall upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 5964484
    Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seat disposed in the bore for providing a fluid-tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the locking wall upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 5953968
    Abstract: The present invention involves a wrench for tightening and loosening bolts, nuts and fasteners having n number of equal length outside working surfaces. The wrench has a handle and a working wrench head with an orifice which contains at least two pairs of flat inside working surfaces. The pairs of inside working surfaces are arranged about and equidistant from an imaginary central axis through the orifice, and the surfaces of each pair form a surface contact angle a with one another. Additionally, each pair of flat inside working surfaces having a first working surface with a predetermined angle C relative to the imaginary central axis and a second working surface with a predetermined angle D relative to the imaginary central axis, wherein the angle C and the angle D differ from one another, and whereby the first working surface of a given pair of inside working surfaces is non-parallel to the second working surface of an opposing pair of inside working surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: 5931509
    Abstract: The present invention relates to connector assemblies (10, 110, 210) including a secondary latching mechanism (48, 148, 220) which engages a second annular projections (26, 126, 226) provided on a tubular conduit (12, 112, 212). The latching mechanisms (48, 148, 220) extend outside of the female housing (14, 114, 214) which receives the conduit thus allowing for an inspection of the assembly to insure that a complete connection has been accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: 5927761
    Abstract: A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: D437536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: D411791
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: D411792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: D412819
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: D414996
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor
  • Patent number: D434956
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Proprietary Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Macor