Patents by Inventor Edward Constantine

Edward Constantine 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: 12606962
    Abstract: A track rail fastening system includes a rail cushion positionable laterally between a first fastener assembly and a second fastener assembly. The rail cushion includes a first full-length pad and a second full-length pad, and a pin field formed by a plurality of deformable pins. The first full-length pad and the second full-length pad define a first rail cushioning plane. The deformable pins in the pin field define a second rail cushioning plane. The cushion is deformable between a rest configuration where the cushioning planes are spaced, and a loaded configuration where the cushioning planes are co-planar. Primary, lower load deformable pins are configured to deflect such that under sufficient load both the primary, lower load deformable pins, and secondary, higher load pins engage an underlying substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Gunning, Michael B. Steidl, Jose Ricardo Mediavilla Prado, Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 12595628
    Abstract: A direct fixation track rail fastener includes a rail plate having a first restraint hole and a second restraint hole upon opposite lateral sides of a rail support surface. The fastener also includes a frame including a first vertical protrusion and a second vertical protrusion received through the first restraint hole and the second restraint hole. A non-metallic cushion extends between the rail plate and the frame and vertically upward to surround the first vertical protrusion and the second vertical protrusion within the first restraint hole and the second restraint hole, respectively. The configuration assists in limiting displacement of the rail plate and frame relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20260055560
    Abstract: A direct fixation fastener in a track fixation system includes a track plate forming cutouts in opposite ends thereof, a first end restraint positioned in a first of the cutouts and a second end restraint positioned in a second of the cutouts. Each of the end restraints includes at least one fastener hole therein, such as an elongated fastener hole for lateral adjustment, and an uplift-limiting protrusion including a hook portion extending over the track plate. The fastener further includes a jacket including a non-metallic jacket material attaching the track plate to each of the first end restraint and the second end restraint and extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Applicant: PROGRESS RAIL SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, William T. Gunning, Jose R. Mediavilla
  • Publication number: 20240093434
    Abstract: A track rail fastening system includes a rail cushion positionable laterally between a first fastener assembly and a second fastener assembly. The rail cushion includes a first full-length pad and a second full-length pad, and a pin field formed by a plurality of deformable pins. The first full-length pad and the second full-length pad define a first rail cushioning plane. The deformable pins in the pin field define a second rail cushioning plane. The cushion is deformable between a rest configuration where the cushioning planes are spaced, and a loaded configuration where the cushioning planes are co-planar. Primary, lower load deformable pins are configured to deflect such that under sufficient load both the primary, lower load deformable pins, and secondary, higher load pins engage an underlying substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Gunning, Michael B. Steidl, Jose Ricardo Mediavilla Prado, Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20240068172
    Abstract: A direct fixation track rail fastener includes a rail plate having a first restraint hole and a second restraint hole upon opposite lateral sides of a rail support surface. The fastener also includes a frame including a first vertical protrusion and a second vertical protrusion received through the first restraint hole and the second restraint hole. A non-metallic cushion extends between the rail plate and the frame and vertically upward to surround the first vertical protrusion and the second vertical protrusion within the first restraint hole and the second restraint hole, respectively. The configuration assists in limiting displacement of the rail plate and frame relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20240068173
    Abstract: A direct fixation track rail fastener includes a first clip shoulder and a second clip shoulder each having a clip tunnel formed therein. Each clip tunnel is formed in part by a plurality of clip contact faces defining a first prong contact line and a second prong contact line for a prong of a rail clip. The configuration of multiple line contacts prevents undesired displacement of a rail clip during service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 11732423
    Abstract: A spring anchor assembly for fastening track rail includes a spring anchor having a hook end, a tail end, and a middle section. An insulator is fitted upon the spring anchor and includes a plurality of rib walls extending fore and aft between a first outer insulator wall and a second outer insulator wall. The outer insulator walls form downward depending wall sections extending, respectively, from termination locations of the rib walls to the lower peripheral edges. A channel is formed between the wall sections and receives the middle section, contacted by the plurality of rib walls at the termination locations. The insulator insulates the spring anchor to limit leaking electrical currents from the track rail to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 11396729
    Abstract: A direct fixation track rail fastener includes a fastener body having a top plate, a frame, and an overmolded jacket. A first and a second lateral positioner are positioned in positioner bores extending through the fastener body, and each includes an eccentric. The eccentrics include axially extending external teeth interlocked with axially extending slots within the positioner bores. In an aspect, the eccentrics are dual eccentrics each including tooth and slot interlocking arrangements with another eccentric or the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20210348340
    Abstract: A spring anchor assembly for fastening track rail includes a spring anchor having a hook end, a tail end, and a middle section. An insulator is fitted upon the spring anchor and includes a plurality of rib walls extending fore and aft between a first outer insulator wall and a second outer insulator wall. The outer insulator walls form downward depending wall sections extending, respectively, from termination locations of the rib walls to the lower peripheral edges. A channel is formed between the wall sections and receives the middle section, contacted by the plurality of rib walls at the termination locations. The insulator insulates the spring anchor to limit leaking electrical currents from the track rail to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 11098454
    Abstract: A fastening system for track rail includes a track rail fastener positionable upon a pedestal mount, and including a top plate, a frame, and an overmolded jacket. The system further includes a lateral positioner having an eccentric structured to contact a pedestal mount, and a locating pin extending through the fastener body and the eccentric to couple a lateral location of the fastener body to an angular orientation of the eccentric, such that rotating the eccentric varies a lateral location of the fastener body. A frame in the fastener body includes a plurality of vertically extending finger walls for lateral and rotational stability, with the overmolded jacket extending between the finger walls and the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20210047785
    Abstract: A direct fixation track rail fastener includes a fastener body having a top plate, a frame, and an overmolded jacket. A first and a second lateral positioner are positioned in positioner bores extending through the fastener body, and each includes an eccentric. The eccentrics include axially extending external teeth interlocked with axially extending slots within the positioner bores. In an aspect, the eccentrics are dual eccentrics each including tooth and slot interlocking arrangements with another eccentric or the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20200308773
    Abstract: A fastening system for track rail includes a track rail fastener positionable upon a pedestal mount, and including a top plate, a frame, and an overmolded jacket. The system further includes a lateral positioner having an eccentric structured to contact a pedestal mount, and a locating pin extending through the fastener body and the eccentric to couple a lateral location of the fastener body to an angular orientation of the eccentric, such that rotating the eccentric varies a lateral location of the fastener body. A frame in the fastener body includes a plurality of vertically extending finger walls for lateral and rotational stability, with the overmolded jacket extending between the finger walls and the top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Patent number: 10428468
    Abstract: A track-mounting assembly secures a longitudinally extending rail direction to a substrate and has a frame fixed to the substrate and a track plate fitted in the frame. A vertically throughgoing aperture of the frame has an inner edge formed by a longitudinally extending gauge surface directed transversely toward a field side of the assembly and a transversely oppositely directed and longitudinally extending field surface. The track plate carries the rail and has an outer edge is itself formed by a longitudinally extending field surface spacedly transversely confronting the gauge surface of the aperture and a longitudinally extending gauge surface spacedly transversely confronting the field surface of the aperture. The field surface of the track plate is of substantially greater area than the gauge surface of the aperture. An elastomeric mass fills between the frame and the track plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PROGRESS RAIL A CATERPILLAR COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur F. Osler
  • Patent number: 10240299
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for coupling track rail to a substrate includes a fastener body formed by a metallic base and an overmolded non-metallic coating. Metallic pillars are coupled with the fastener body, and define bores for receiving anchors held fast within a substrate. The coating encases the metallic base and extends peripherally around the metallic pillars to position vibration-attenuating non-metallic material between the metallic base and the metallic pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler
  • Publication number: 20180363250
    Abstract: A track-mounting assembly secures a longitudinally extending rail direction to a substrate and has a frame fixed to the substrate and a track plate fitted in the frame. A vertically throughgoing aperture of the frame has an inner edge formed by a longitudinally extending gauge surface directed transversely toward a field side of the assembly and a transversely oppositely directed and longitudinally extending field surface. The track plate carries the rail and has an outer edge is itself formed by a longitudinally extending field surface spacedly transversely confronting the gauge surface of the aperture and a longitudinally extending gauge surface spacedly transversely confronting the field surface of the aperture. The field surface of the track plate is of substantially greater area than the gauge surface of the aperture. An elastomeric mass fills between the frame and the track plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Edward CONSTANTINE, Wilbur F. OSLER
  • Patent number: 10081915
    Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a track rail to a substrate includes a rail plate and a base plate, where the rail plate surrounds the base plate. An overmolded coating is formed of a non-metallic material and encases the rail plate and the base plate. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20180023256
    Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a track rail to a substrate includes a rail plate and a base plate, where the rail plate surrounds the base plate. An overmolded coating is formed of a non-metallic material and encases the rail plate and the base plate. Related methodology is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Constantine
  • Publication number: 20180023257
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for coupling track rail to a substrate includes a fastener body formed by a metallic base and an overmolded non-metallic coating. Metallic pillars are coupled with the fastener body, and define bores for receiving anchors held fast within a substrate. The coating encases the metallic base and extends peripherally around the metallic pillars to position vibration-attenuating non-metallic material between the metallic base and the metallic pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler
  • Patent number: 9708776
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting a longitudinally extending track on a substrate has a track plate having a top face adapted to carry the track and formed unitarily below the top face with a plurality of longitudinally extending tongues, a base plate at least partially below the track plate, adapted to be anchored to the substrate, horizontally surrounding the tongues of the track plate, and formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending tongues transversely spaced from, longitudinally interleaved with, and horizontally at least partially level with the tongues of the track plate. The track plate and base plate are wholly out of direct engagement with and spaced vertically and/or horizontally from each other. An elastic jacket or liner is engaged between the plates and between the tongues of the track plate and the tongues of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler
  • Publication number: 20160298298
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting a longitudinally extending track on a substrate has a track plate having a top face adapted to carry the track and formed unitarily below the top face with a plurality of longitudinally extending tongues, a base plate at least partially below the track plate, adapted to be anchored to the substrate, horizontally surrounding the tongues of the track plate, and formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending tongues transversely spaced from, longitudinally interleaved with, and horizontally at least partially level with the tongues of the track plate. The track plate and base plate are wholly out of direct engagement with and spaced vertically and/or horizontally from each other. An elastic jacket or liner is engaged between the plates and between the tongues of the track plate and the tongues of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Edward Constantine, Wilbur Osler