Patents by Inventor Colleen M. Kerkay

Colleen M. Kerkay 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).

  • Reinforcing bar connection and method
    Patent number: 7118299
    Abstract: A high strength reinforcing bar splice uses a contractible jaw assembly bridging the bar ends to be joined. The jaw assembly includes interior teeth designed to bite into the projecting ribs or deformations on the outside of the bar ends which form the overall diameter of the bar but not the core or nominal diameter of the bar. The jaw assembly is constricted from both axial ends by driving tapered locking collars on each end of the jaw assembly with a tool while concurrently causing the jaw assembly to constrict and bite into the bar ends. When the tool is removed, the collars remain in place locking the jaw assembly closed. The splice provides not only high tensile and compressive strengths but also has good fatigue and dynamic strength to qualify as a Type 2 coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: ERICO International Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Gregel, Colleen M. Kerkay, Mark V. Samas, Wilhelmus G. Th. Maas, Louis J. Colarusso
  • Reinforcing bar connection and method
    Publication number: 20040086330
    Abstract: A high strength reinforcing bar splice uses a contractible jaw assembly bridging the bar ends to be joined. The jaw assembly includes interior teeth designed to bite into the projecting ribs or deformations on the outside of the bar ends which form the overall diameter of the bar but not the core or nominal diameter of the bar. The jaw assembly is constricted from both axial ends by driving tapered locking collars on each end of the jaw assembly with a tool while concurrently causing the jaw assembly to constrict and bite into the bar ends. When the tool is removed, the collars remain in place locking the jaw assembly closed. The splice provides not only high tensile and compressive strengths but also has good fatigue and dynamic strength to qualify as a Type 2 coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: John J. Gregel, Colleen M. Kerkay, Mark V. Samas, Wilhelmus G. Th. Maas, Louis J. Colarusso