Patents by Inventor Alex A. Laughlin

Alex A. Laughlin 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: 20150362106
    Abstract: A retainer includes a ring body with one or more protector tabs, one or more flex regions, and first and second pinch features. The ring body lies in a retainer plane and forms a portion of a circular shape with a pinch opening defined between a first ring end and a second ring end. The protector tab or tabs are connected to the ring body and extend inwardly into an interior area defined by the ring body. Each flex region of the ring body may comprise a section along the length of the ring body which is relatively more flexible in the retainer plane than sections along the length of the ring body adjacent to the respective flex region. These first and second pinch features each form a grasping point by which the first ring end and second ring end may be moved more closely together to install the retainer within a circumferential inner groove of a fitting such as the groove between thread crests of a hammer union.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Alex A. Laughlin