Patents by Inventor Charles H. Pate, Jr.

Charles H. Pate, Jr. 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).

  • Patent number: 5401122
    Abstract: An excavation shield apparatus (10) and method prevent the collapse, or cave-in, of soil about a hole in the ground having one or more utility apparatus. The excavation shield apparatus (10) comprises a longitudinal body (11) having a lateral perimeter wall (12) surrounding a longitudinal throughway (13) adapted to be placed substantially vertically within the hole. A bottom end (11a) of the longitudinal body (11) is placed below the ground level and a top end (11b) is placed in close proximity to the ground level. The longitudinal throughway (13) is of sufficient size to permit passage of a person therethrough and has sufficient strength to endure forces imposed by the surrounding soil without substantial deformation. One or more apertures (16a-16d) are situated in the lateral perimeter wall (12) approximately at the bottom end (11a) for receiving utility apparatus therethrough so that a worker can operate upon the utility apparatus within the longitudinal throughway (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Gwinnett Enterprises, Limited
    Inventor: Charles H. Pate, Jr.