Patents by Inventor David R. Willis
David R. Willis 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).
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Patent number: 8065851Abstract: A composite wood panel having a first and a second longitudinal edge comprising an essentially parallel first surface and second surface, a core, a spacer integrally formed in or attached in the core on at least the longitudinal edges wherein the spacer extends from an edge a pre-determined distance whereby upon placing one panel adjacent to a second panel a spacer of the first panel will abut a spacer of or an edge of a second panel thereby forming at least a first aperture between the adjacent panels wherein an aperture is located between adjacent edges of the panels. A spacer can push into its panel upon linear expansion of a panel. The spacer can be, e.g., a tongue, edge profile, or separate spacing material. Methods for making and using panels are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Huber Engineered Woods LLCInventors: Christopher R. Scoville, Joel F. Barker, David R. Willis, Feipeng Liu, Jeffrey W. Hanna, Nian-hua Ou
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Publication number: 20090169880Abstract: A overlaid panel with an improved coefficient of friction is described which comprises a textured resin top surface layer, an overlay layer, and a bottom panel layer wherein the COF is improved relative to conventional overlaid panels or bare panels without the textured resin top surface layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: Huber Engineered Woods LLCInventors: Christopher R. Scoville, David R. Willis
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Publication number: 20080246330Abstract: A skate wheel for an in-line skate includes a skate wheel hub having an inner hub, an outer rim, and, extending therebetween, a plurality of blade-form spokes. A skate tire is mounted upon an outer surface of the outer rim of the skate wheel hub. Opposed surfaces of adjacent blade-form spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and the outer rim, define airflow passageways through the skate wheel. Each blade-form spoke includes a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a skate wheel face, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed in a region of a center plane defined by the skate wheel, and a body extending smoothly between the first and second spoke-edge surfaces. Also described are in-line skates with skate wheels of the disclosure, and skate wheel hubs for such skates.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: MEARTHANE PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventors: John A. Roderick, David R. Willis
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Publication number: 20080191542Abstract: A skate wheel for an in-line skate has a skate wheel hub with an inner hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of blade-form spokes extending therebetween, and a skate tire mounted upon an outer surface of the skate wheel hub. Opposed surfaces of adjacent spokes, in cooperation with opposed surfaces of the inner hub and outer rim, define airflow passageways through the skate wheel. Each blade-form spoke has a radially-aligned first spoke-edge surface exposed at a first face of the skate wheel, a radially aligned opposite, second spoke-edge surface exposed at an opposite, second face of the skate wheel, and a blade-form body extending smoothly therebetween. The first and second spoke-edge surfaces are offset in a direction of travel of the skater by a predetermined arc of rotation of the skate wheel and hub. Also described are in-line skates with skate wheels of the disclosure, and skate wheel hubs for such skates.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: MEARTHANE PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventors: John A. Roderick, David R. Willis
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Publication number: 20080047212Abstract: A composite wood panel having a first and a second longitudinal edge comprising an essentially parallel first surface and second surface, a core, a spacer integrally formed in or attached in the core on at least the longitudinal edges wherein the spacer extends from an edge a pre-determined distance whereby upon placing one panel adjacent to a second panel a spacer of the first panel will abut a spacer of or an edge of a second panel thereby forming at least a first aperture between the adjacent panels wherein an aperture is located between adjacent edges of the panels. A spacer can push into its panel upon linear expansion of a panel. The spacer can be, e.g., a tongue, edge profile, or separate spacing material. Methods for making and using panels are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2006Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: HUBER ENGINEERED WOODS LLCInventors: Christopher R. Scoville, Joel F. Barker, David R. Willis, Feipeng Liu, Jeffrey W. Hanna, Nian Ou
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Patent number: 6260861Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line skate wheel that includes: (a) a braking portion including a high friction surface material having a hardness from about 75 to about 95 Shore A, and a coefficient of friction from about 0.45 to about 1.5; and (b) a skating portion including a low friction surface material having a hardness from about 75 to about 95 Shore A, and a coefficient of friction from about 0.1 to about 0.45. The skating portion includes a higher proportion of low friction surface material than the braking portion. The wheel delivers variable traction in response to the angle of wheel contact with the ground, without sacrificing a smooth ride or wheel durability. Utilizing the variable traction of the wheel a skater can stop safely and reliably, using known ice-skating maneuvers, wherein the wheel is turned away from the skater's direction of travel.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Mearthane Products CorporationInventors: Albert C. Chiang, John A. Roderick, David R. Willis, Charles Sipes
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Patent number: 5967552Abstract: An in-line wheeled skate which includes one or more rollers located between the wheels and above the ground plane, thereby enabling the skater to jump up on a rail (or other supporting surface) and roll down the rail sideways, as in `extreme skating` maneuvers, by placing the skate on the rail with the rollers bearing upon the rail surface. The rollers may be, for example, cylindrical or spherical, and are preferably located between left and right side planes of the skate wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Mearthane Products CorporationInventors: John A. Roderick, David R. Willis
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Patent number: 5890339Abstract: A pitch break connector is provided. The pitch break connector has an outside and inside rigid member. Each member has a first generally U-shaped channel defined by a spine member between first and second legs. Each member has a first and a second pivot end portion. A hinge pivotally connects the inside and outside members through the pivot end portions in a generally longitudinally opposing position. In this configuration, the first and second end portions of the inside member can be pivotally accepted into a cavity defined by the generally U-shaped channel of the outside member when the members are pivoted about the hinge.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1996Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Alpine Engineered Products, Inc.Inventor: David R. Willis
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Patent number: 5836591Abstract: An in-line wheeled skate which includes a rolling element between the wheels that enables the skater to jump up on a rail and roll down the rail sideways, as in `extreme skating` maneuvers, by placing the skate on the rail with the rolling element bearing upon the rail surface. Adjustable brakes provide control of the speed of sideways motion. The rolling element is provided as part of an attachment or lower structure to be secured to an in-line skate.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Mearthane Products CorporationInventors: John A. Roderick, David R. Willis
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Patent number: 5829757Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line skate wheel that includes: (a) a braking portion including a high friction surface material having a hardness from about 75 to about 95 Shore A, and a coefficient of friction from about 0.45 to about 1.5; and (b) a skating portion including a low friction surface material having a hardness from about 75 to about 95 Shore A, and a coefficient of friction from about 0.1 to about 0.45. The skating portion includes a higher proportion of low friction surface material than the braking portion. The wheel delivers variable traction in response to the angle of wheel contact with the ground, without sacrificing a smooth ride or wheel durability. Utilizing the variable traction of the wheel a skater can stop safely and reliably, using known ice-skating maneuvers, wherein the wheel is turned away from the skater's direction of travel.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1996Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Mearthane Products CorporationInventors: Albert C. Chiang, John A. Roderick, David R. Willis, Charles Sipes
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Patent number: 5816012Abstract: An improved fastener securing framing members to metal studs is provided. The fastener has rigid shank, an integral head, a self-tapping or drilling tip, and a first and a second spaced apart buttress threads. The shank has a generally circular cross-section and a longitudinally extending axis. The head integrally extends a first end of the shank and has a top portion and an underside. The self-drilling tip is extends from a second end of the shank. The first buttress thread is formed in said shank and is adjacent the head and partially traverses the shank, terminating from the shank's second end. The second buttress thread is formed in the shank and sufficiently spaced apart from the first buttress thread such that the first thread does not continue to threadingly feed the shank through an aperture formed by the self-drilling tip, the second buttress thread terminating adjacent the tip.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1997Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Alpine Engineered Products, Inc.Inventor: David R. Willis
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Patent number: 5771653Abstract: An integral, one-piece, metallic chord for use as the top and bottom chords of a roof truss. The chord comprises an elongated member of generally U-shaped, singly symmetric cross-section, having a base terminating at its longitudinal edges in mirror image legs. The base portion is planar with a central depressed rib formed therein and extending the length thereof. Each leg comprises a first planar portion perpendicular to and extending from its respective longitudinal edge of the base, followed by an inwardly sloped planar portion leading to a planar attachment portion which is perpendicular to the base portion and which terminates in a flange portion extending outwardly of the attachment portion and then upwardly and inwardly, ending in a longitudinal edge facing the attachment portion. The flange portions form semi-closed reinforcement members. The legs and their flange portions constitute the sides of the chord.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Unimast IncorporatedInventors: Masoud Dolati, Rahim A. Zadeh, Charles C. Hoover, David R. Willis, John C. Carpenter