Patents by Inventor Douglas F. Hutchings

Douglas F. Hutchings 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: 11920618
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Douglas F. Hutchings
  • Publication number: 20220136547
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Douglas F. Hutchings
  • Patent number: 11261893
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Douglas F. Hutchings
  • Publication number: 20190055974
    Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Roger A. Vandenberg, Douglas F. Hutchings
  • Patent number: 5444953
    Abstract: An interior corner joint for joining wall board panels, particularly wall board panels simulating tiles embedded in grout, in a corner. The interior corner joint comprises a first base section; a second base section extending upwardly from said first base section and being perpendicular to said first base section; a rib extending upwardly from said first base section disposed adjacent to said second base section and canted toward said second base section, said rib, second base section, and first base section defining a channel adapted to receive a first wall board panel; and a flange at the distal end of said rib extending outwardly from said rib and inclined toward said first base section, said rib, flange and first base section defining a second channel adapted to receive a second wall board panel in substantially perpendicular relationship to said first wall board panel. With the two wall board panels inserted into the two channels the only exposed part of the joint is the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Trayco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Koenig, Douglas F. Hutchings, David W. Gibbard, Richard C. Manwell
  • Patent number: 5263294
    Abstract: An extension joint for use with wall boards simulating tiles embedded in grout. The extension joint is disposed between two adjoining wall board panels and simulates a grout line. The wall joint comprises a long narrow strip of material having two spaced apart base sections and a raised ridge section connecting the two base sections. The top outer surface of the ridge section is concave to simulate a grout line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Trayco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Koenig, Douglas F. Hutchings, David W. Gibbard, Richard C. Manwell