Patents Examined by Katherine J Chu
  • Patent number: 11072904
    Abstract: A cover for a utility vault and a method for making such covers. The cover is formed from fiberglass reinforcement layers and a polymer mix matrix. The reinforcement layers include a bottom reinforcement layer, one or more edge reinforcement layers, and a top reinforcement layer. A first portion of the edge reinforcement layer overlaps a portion of the bottom reinforcement layer and a second portion of the edge reinforcement layer overlaps a portion of the top reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layers are formed from fiberglass fabric and may include fiberglass layers whose fibers are oriented quadraxially. The polymer mix impregnates the fabric layers and forms the bulk of the cover. The polymer matrix bonds the reinforcement layers so that forces applied across the top and bottom layers are communicated to the edge reinforcement layer. The polymer matrix includes a thermoset polymer resin and an expanded glass bead filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Keith Alden Chudley, Lemuel David Fagan, Jason David Estes, Jeffrey Douglas Angelo
  • Patent number: 11060254
    Abstract: A lockable bollard to be anchored into the ground includes a substantially vertical post that is rectangular in cross section, with a base having a base fastening structure extending downwardly to be anchored into the ground to which the post is to be anchored. A control shaft extends substantially the entire length of the post, the control shaft having an operating handle adjacent a top end and having a lower engagement feature adjacent a bottom end designed to selectively engage the base when the shaft is in a predetermined position. A closure is disposed adjacent the top of the post to permit selective access to the operating handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: COLUMBIA CASCADE COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven K. Kirn
  • Patent number: 11047097
    Abstract: A temporary flexible pavement marker comprising a base, a stand and a protective shield wherein at least part of the stand is reflective and the protective shield is configured to prevent materials sprayed down upon the temporary flexible pavement marker from obscuring the reflective part of the stand may be employed in the construction or repair of roads. Since the protective shield prevents asphalt from obscuring the reflective part of the stand during spraying operations there is no need for a technician to remove a protective layer from the markers after a spraying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TrafCo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lesley M. Carey, Lonny E. Daley
  • Patent number: 11047095
    Abstract: A slipform paving machine includes an offset mold, and a mold frame actuator which allows the height of the offset mold relative to the paving machine to be controlled. Internal actuators within the mold allow corresponding control of side form assemblies to control both height and profile of a resulting slipformed concrete structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Engels
  • Patent number: 11035088
    Abstract: An anchorless crash cushion apparatus having a plurality of interconnected water-filled crash cushion elements and a non-water filled forward-most cushion element includes vehicle capture structure resisting upward tilting of an impacting vehicle and ramping of the impacting vehicle and stabilizing structure including a midnose structure resisting relative rotation between crash cushion elements in both vertical and lateral planes during vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Dacayanan Loya, Matthew A. Elmore, Jason T. Lim, Alvaro E. Morales Flores, Gerrit A. Dyke, Jeff M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11008728
    Abstract: A manhole device and corresponding system including a manhole is described. The manhole device comprises a main body having an upper portion, a lower portion and a securing means. The securing means is engageable with the manhole such that when secured to the manhole, the upper portion protrudes above a surface level and the lower portion is retained below the surface level in the manhole. The main body provides means for alignment for construction around the manhole while providing a barrier to prevent access to vehicles, people and debris during the construction process. A method of construction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Caswick Limited
    Inventor: Alan James Turner
  • Patent number: 11001234
    Abstract: A cleaner finger assembly for cleaning compactor teeth on a compactor wheel of a compactor machine includes at least one cleaner finger assembly. The cleaner finger assembly includes a cleaner finger stack and a plurality of fasteners for mounting the cleaner finger stack. The cleaner finger stack includes at least one cleaner finger with a longitudinal axis, a tip for engaging a compactor wheel surface, and a plurality of mounting apertures. The cleaner finger also includes a notch extending from an edge of the cleaner finger toward the longitudinal axis. The cleaner finger failing at the location of the notch when the cleaner finger tip is engaged by debris with a tension force greater than a tip anchor tension capacity of the finger tip anchoring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Guethle, Brian Chandler
  • Patent number: 11001982
    Abstract: A manhole cover assembly includes a manhole cover supportable by a manhole frame. The manhole cover defines a latch bore having a longitudinal axis. A latch housing extends from the manhole cover, and a latch assembly is positioned at least partially therein. A first end of a latch yoke extends through the latch bore and slidably couples the latch yoke to the manhole cover along the longitudinal axis. A latch member is rotatably coupled to the second end of the latch yoke about a first transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The latch member is also rotatably coupled to the latch housing about a second transverse axis spaced from the first transverse axis. The latch member is selectively rotatable relative to the latch housing about the second transverse axis, between a locked position and an unlocked position, via sliding the latch yoke relative to the manhole cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Neenah Foundry Company
    Inventor: Randy Burr
  • Patent number: 10988903
    Abstract: A bollard assembly includes a bottom plate with a forward edge and an aft edge, an elongated member mounted on the bottom plate and extending from a forward end to an aft end in a direction from the forward edge toward the aft edge, a bollard secured to the bottom plate with a bollard section of the elongated member disposed inside of the bollard, flat bars mounted on the bottom plate on opposite sides of the elongated member diverging away from the elongated member in a direction from the forward end of the elongated member toward the aft end of the elongated member, and a top plate having a smaller perimeter than the bottom plate mounted on the elongated member and the flat bars with the bollard extending above the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: William H. Neusch
  • Patent number: 10961675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting assembly (3) for mounting a traffic barrier (1) to a surface, comprising: an attachment base (5) configured to be stationary connected with the traffic barrier; and a ground connecting element (7), configured to be stationary connected with the ground by means of fastening means, such as screws, pins or bolts. The invention further relates to a traffic barrier comprising such a mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Laura Metaal Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Nicky Joseph Gerardus Ramaekers, Michael Sean Van der Vlist
  • Patent number: 10961674
    Abstract: An anchorless crash cushion apparatus having a plurality of interconnected water-filled crash cushion elements and a non-water filled forward-most cushion element includes vehicle capture structure resisting upward tilting of an impacting vehicle and ramping of the impacting vehicle and stabilizing structure resisting relative rotation between the crash cushion elements in both vertical and lateral planes during vehicle impact. A transition weldment is employed to connect the anchorless crash cushion apparatus to a rigid hazard object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Lindsay Transportation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Elmore, Alvaro E. Morales Flores, Jason T. Lim, Daniel Paul Dacayanan Loya, Gerrit A. Dyke, Jeff M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10961673
    Abstract: A retractable speed bump and a method for retracting a speed bump. The retractable speed bump may include a retractile element, a chassis, and a hydraulic mechanism. The hydraulic mechanism may include a hydraulic cylinder including a hollow cylindrical shape, a hydraulic piston including a solid cylindrical shape, a first connecting rod, an oil sealing member, a return spring, a spring retainer, and a floating gasket. Responsive to downward movement of the first connecting rod at a speed higher than a threshold, the hydraulic cylinder may prevent downward movement of the first connecting rod and responsive to downward movement of the first connecting rod at a speed lower than the threshold, the hydraulic cylinder may allow downward movement of the first connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Abbas Nejati
  • Patent number: 10947682
    Abstract: A temporary barrier system that is configured to be placed adjacent a concrete divider on a roadway wherein the temporary barrier system provides an increased vertical barrier so as to inhibit seeing therepast. The temporary barrier system includes a storage container having the body of the present invention stored in its first position therein. The body of the present invention is planar in manner and stored in a rolled position in the storage container. The body is wrapped around a winding apparatus and includes an end that is configured to be secured to a deployment vehicle. The deployment vehicle traverses away from the storage container to deploy the body to its second position. The body further includes a plurality of support members being configured to be perpendicular to the upper and lower edge. The storage container is configured as a towable trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Roy Allen Foster
  • Patent number: 10927514
    Abstract: A concrete jointer tool has a handle pivotally mounted to a float. The float includes a planar portion having a blade removably attached to a bottom thereof. The handle is capable of receiving an elongated pole for operation of the tool from distance. The tool is capable of producing control joints in poured concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Franklin D. Tunis
  • Patent number: 10920377
    Abstract: An interlocking paver system including polygon and spacer pavers. The polygon paver has a longitudinal axis extending from a first to a second side and a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and extending from a third to a fourth side. The spacer paver has a longitudinal axis extending from a first to a second side and a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and extending from a third to a fourth side. Both the polygon and spacer pavers are symmetrical about the longitudinal and transverse axes. The spacer paver is configured to selectively interlock with the polygon paver with either of the third or fourth side of the polygon paver adjacent either of the first or second side of the spacer paver and either of the first or second side of the polygon paver adjacent either of the third or fourth side of the spacer paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Craig Technical Consulting, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Townsend, Matthew Nugent, Thomas Lippitt, Robert Mueller, Nathan Gelino, Jason Schuler, Jonathan Smith, Andrew Nick
  • Patent number: 10914042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for the reinforcement of pavements. The structure is provided at predetermined positions with interruptions or with weakened zones. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a structure and to a method of breaking up a pavement reinforced with such a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NV BEKAERT SA
    Inventors: Henk Cornelus, Peter Goemaere, Geert Braekevelt, Frederik Vervaecke
  • Patent number: 10907315
    Abstract: A tire rupture device that includes a blade attached to a base member that rests on a ground surface when used. Upon activating a lock mechanism of the rupture device, a blade may be revealed and exposed that may be placed in front of a tire of a vehicle so that if an operator of the vehicle attempts to drive off, the blade ruptures and rapidly deflates the tire, thus rendering the vehicle generally immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Porta-Spike Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart G. Foster, Anthony C. Borrell
  • Patent number: 10895045
    Abstract: A screeding machine for screeding an uncured concrete surface includes a screed head assembly movable over the concrete surface via the screeding machine. A pair of elevation sensors disposed at opposite ends of the screed head assembly sense an elevation of the respective end of the screed head assembly. An angle sensor disposed at the screed head assembly senses a pitch angle and/or a roll angle of the screed head assembly. A gyroscope sensor disposed at the screed head assembly senses rotational velocity of the screed head assembly about a lateral axis and/or a longitudinal axis of the screed head assembly. A control uses gyroscope sensor data and angle sensor data to determine pitch angle and/or roll angle of the screed head assembly. The control controls the screed head assembly based on the signals from one or both of the elevation sensors and the determined pitch and/or roll angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew A. Kangas
  • Patent number: 10883232
    Abstract: A pavement striping devices for heating and applying thermoplastic material to a road surface is provided. The pavement striping device includes of: a hopper for holding a supply of particulate thermoplastic marking material in a non-molten state, an air or oil-heat transfer medium melting kettle having a series of coaxial conveyored or unconveyored conduits within, a plastic extruder for transporting the thermoplastic particulate from the hopper to the series of coaxial conveyored or unconveyored conduits with the air or oil-heat transfer medium melting kettle, a heating mechanism for heating the air or oil-heat transfer medium melting kettle and the plastic extruder to a temperature suitable for melting thermoplastic, and a means for driving the stream of molten thermoplastic through the series of coaxial conveyored or unconveyored conduits to a sprayer or extrusion die, all of which form a means by which the molten thermoplastic is directed to the pavement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Waterblasting, LLC
    Inventor: James P Crocker
  • Patent number: 10876259
    Abstract: A cross slope monitoring system for a paver having a screed assembly, a first tow point lift cylinder, and a second tow point lift cylinder. The system includes a first tow point lift cylinder sensor associated with the first tow point lift cylinder and configured to send a first signal indicative of the position of the first tow point lift cylinder, a second tow point lift cylinder sensor associated with the first tow point lift cylinder and configured to send a second signal indicative of the position of the second tow point lift cylinder, and a processor, The processor configured to determine the cross slope of the screed assembly based on the first signal and the second signal, compare the determined cross slope to a cross slope threshold, and generate a response if the determined cross slope is equal to or greater than the cross slope threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brent R. Kleinvachter