Patents by Inventor Charles R. Norton

Charles R. Norton 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: 8276886
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, a safety barrier incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure may include a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables may be releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the at least two cables may cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts may also spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A box beam guardrail beam may be attached to the plurality of guardrail posts. The at least two cables may operably extend from the cable posts to engage respective cable anchor brackets attached to the box beam guardrail beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard A. Sikkema, Brian E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8157471
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, the present invention teaches a safety barrier including a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables are releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the two cables cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts are spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A guardrail beam is fixedly coupled to the plurality of guardrail posts and including slots. The two cables extend from the cable posts through respective slots formed in the guardrail beam permitting each cable to engage a respective cable anchor bracket securely fastened to a portion of the guardrail beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Bergendahl, Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard Sikkema
  • Publication number: 20110253961
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, a safety barrier incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure may include a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables may be releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the at least two cables may cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts may also spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A box beam guardrail beam may be attached to the plurality of guardrail posts. The at least two cables may operably extend from the cable posts to engage respective cable anchor brackets attached to the box beam guardrail beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: DON J. GRIPNE, CHARLES R. NORTON, ELZARD A. SIKKEMA, BRIAN E. SMITH
  • Patent number: 7988133
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, a safety barrier incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure may include a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables may be releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the at least two cables may cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts may also spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A box beam guardrail beam may be attached to the plurality of guardrail posts. The at least two cables may operably extend from the cable posts to engage respective cable anchor brackets attached to the box beam guardrail beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard A. Sikkema, Brian E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100140577
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, the present invention teaches a safety barrier including a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables are releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the two cables cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts are spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A guardrail beam is fixedly coupled to the plurality of guardrail posts and including slots. The two cables extend from the cable posts through respective slots formed in the guardrail beam permitting each cable to engage a respective cable anchor bracket securely fastened to a portion of the guardrail beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Bergendahl, Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard Sikkema
  • Patent number: 7686535
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, the present invention teaches a safety barrier including a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables are releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the two cables cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts are spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A guardrail beam is fixedly coupled to the plurality of guardrail posts and including slots. The two cables extend from the cable posts through respective slots formed in the guardrail beam permitting each cable to engage a respective cable anchor bracket securely fastened to a portion of the guardrail beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Bergendahl, Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard Sikkema
  • Publication number: 20080272352
    Abstract: A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, a safety barrier incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure may include a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables may be releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the at least two cables may cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts may also spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A box beam guardrail beam may be attached to the plurality of guardrail posts. The at least two cables may operably extend from the cable posts to engage respective cable anchor brackets attached to the box beam guardrail beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Don J. Gripne, Charles R. Norton, Elzard A. Sikkema, Brian E. Smith