Patents by Inventor Donald Edmund Fabula

Donald Edmund Fabula 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: 8083448
    Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the pallet includes openings, interface fittings aligned with the openings, respectively, and sized to fit into openings of identical sizes and configurations as the first and second openings, respectively, locking components operatively connected to one another, and an actuator for moving concomitantly the locking components into and out of the openings, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Heinrichs, Donald Edmund Fabula, Eric Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 7739965
    Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including automatic interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the automatically locking pallet includes a pallet frame including a forklift tine opening, a pallet platform, a locking component movable into and out of a locking arrangement with an interface fitting of a storage assembly when the automatically locking pallet and the storage assembly are stacked, and an actuator operatively connected to the locking component. The actuator may be activated by a forklift tine entering the forklift tine opening to move the locking component out of the locking arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Heinrichs, Donald Edmund Fabula, Eric Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 7726496
    Abstract: Shipping and storage systems convertible between containers and racks are provided. Collapsible shipping and storage systems are provided, which include pallets with novel locking mechanisms. An embodiment includes a first pallet having an interface fitting and a locking component, a second pallet having a second interface fitting and a second locking component, and structural support members positionable between the pallets for supporting one of the pallets in spaced relation over the other pallet. The structural support members may include frame members and walls interchangeable with one another. The frame members may be combined with the pallets to establish a rack system having an open storage area. The walls also may be combined with the pallets to establish a storage container having a compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Heinrichs, Donald Edmund Fabula, Eric Robert Boyd
  • Publication number: 20090120332
    Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the pallet includes openings, interface fittings aligned with the openings, respectively, and sized to fit into openings of identical sizes and configurations as the first and second openings, respectively, locking components operatively connected to one another, and an actuator for moving concomitantly the locking components into and out of the openings, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Heinrichs, Donald Edmund Fabula, Eric Robert Boyd
  • Patent number: 7491024
    Abstract: Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the pallet includes openings, interface fittings aligned with the openings, respectively, and sized to fit into openings of identical sizes and configurations as the first and second openings, respectively, locking components operatively connected to one another, and an actuator for moving concomitantly the locking components into and out of the openings, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Heinrichs, Donald Edmund Fabula, Eric Robert Boyd