Patents by Inventor Derek J. SCHEFFERS

Derek J. SCHEFFERS 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: 20260102643
    Abstract: Fire protection systems and methods having piping interconnections for connecting a fire protection device to a fluid source. The piping interconnections include a branch connector connected to a pipe header. The branch connector includes a tubular member and an internal annular seal member housed in an internal gasket chamber of the tubular member. A tool includes a nozzle member and a plunger member is provided for inserting the annular seal member into the internal gasket chamber of the branch connector. The nozzle member has a guidance channel and a plunger member with a handle. With the nozzle member inserted into the branch connector, the handle of the plunger member is axially depressed to eject the annular seal member into the internal gasket chamber of the branch connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2025
    Publication date: April 16, 2026
    Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Derek J. SCHEFFERS, Martin H. WORKMAN
  • Publication number: 20250010114
    Abstract: A helipad fire suppression system includes a helipad having an outer boundary that defines an impervious deck area for at least one of landing or storing one or more helicopters, with at least a portion of the impervious deck area being designated a fire suppression target area. The system includes a nozzle assembly having a spray-type nozzle for spraying a fire suppression fluid in a radial pattern. The nozzle assembly can include a nozzle enclosure for enclosing the spray-type nozzle and can be configured for installation in a surface made of an impervious material. The nozzle assembly is disposed in an interior portion of the impervious deck area so as to provide the fire suppression fluid to the fire suppression target area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Derek J. SCHEFFERS
  • Patent number: 12042681
    Abstract: A helipad fire suppression system includes a helipad having an outer boundary that defines an impervious deck area for at least one of landing or storing one or more helicopters, with at least a portion of the impervious deck area being designated a fire suppression target area. The system includes a nozzle assembly having a spray-type nozzle for spraying a fire suppression fluid in a radial pattern. The nozzle assembly can include a nozzle enclosure for enclosing the spray-type nozzle and can be configured for installation in a surface made of an impervious material. The nozzle assembly is disposed in an interior portion of the impervious deck area so as to provide the fire suppression fluid to the fire suppression target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Derek J. Scheffers
  • Publication number: 20230081536
    Abstract: An apparatus and method directed to aspirated-type high-expansion foam generation having a nozzle manifold configured to receive a foam solution and at least one nozzle assembly. The generator includes a foam generator assembly disposed adjacent the nozzle manifold. The foam generator has a body portion having a first foam generating portion and a second foam generating portion that is connected to the first foam generating portion. The generator is configured with a main header of the nozzle manifold disposed orthogonal to at least one sub-header; less than six nozzle assemblies; a ratio of a diameter of an inlet of a respective nozzle to a distance from an inner wall surface of the header to the inlet of the respective nozzle is 0.8 or less; and a nozzle with a nozzle insert with a crossover path defined by a non-sharp transition member and a cone shaped tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Marc S. FERERE, Derek J. SCHEFFERS
  • Patent number: 11559710
    Abstract: A fire protection containment unit for protection of an intermediate bulk container (IBC) having an internal flame and drain barrier disposed above a basin portion of the containment unit. The barrier includes pans having an impact surface that is angled to drain toward a central grid of the barrier to direct escaped liquid from the IBC into the basin portion of the containment unit. The basin portion includes a base surface on an incline to define a pooling region of the containment unit to collect escaped liquid from the IBC. The containment unit includes containment walls which define various configurations of the containment unit including an open configuration, partially open configuration, a completely contained configuration and a packaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: Viking Group, Inc., Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Martin H. Workman, Shawn J. Feenstra, Derek J. Scheffers
  • Publication number: 20220347503
    Abstract: A fire protection containment unit for protection of an intermediate bulk container (IBC) having an internal flame and drain barrier disposed above a basin portion of the containment unit. The barrier includes pans having an impact surface that is angled to drain toward a central grid of the barrier to direct escaped liquid from the IBC into the basin portion of the containment unit. The basin portion includes a base surface on an incline to define a pooling region of the containment unit to collect escaped liquid from the IBC. The containment unit includes containment walls which define various configurations of the containment unit including an open configuration, partially open configuration, a completely contained configuration and a packaged configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Martin H. WORKMAN, Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Derek J. SCHEFFERS
  • Publication number: 20220023691
    Abstract: A helipad fire suppression system includes a helipad having an outer boundary that defines an impervious deck area for at least one of landing or storing one or more helicopters, with at least a portion of the impervious deck area being designated a fire suppression target area. The system includes a nozzle assembly having a spray-type nozzle for spraying a fire suppression fluid in a radial pattern. The nozzle assembly can include a nozzle enclosure for enclosing the spray-type nozzle and can be configured for installation in a surface made of an impervious material. The nozzle assembly is disposed in an interior portion of the impervious deck area so as to provide the fire suppression fluid to the fire suppression target area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Derek J. SCHEFFERS