Patents by Inventor Eric E. Rice

Eric E. Rice 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: 11135488
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tee has a head that terminates into an elongated shaft. The head has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are joined. The first sidewall has a flat inner surface and an outer surface that angles inwardly from a top edge as the outer surface extends toward the shaft. The second sidewall is cone or bowl shaped and creates a space between the first and second sidewall. The shaft has a first surface, a second surface, a square end and sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Eric E. Rice
  • Publication number: 20200030674
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tee has a head that terminates into an elongated shaft. The head has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are joined. The first sidewall has a flat inner surface and an outer surface that angles inwardly from a top edge as the outer surface extends toward the shaft. The second sidewall is cone or bowl shaped and creates a space between the first and second sidewall. The shaft has a first surface, a second surface, a square end and sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Eric E. Rice
  • Patent number: 7169831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pavement marking composition comprising ceramic fibers. The ceramic fibers are preferably randomly dispersed within a polymeric material. The polymeric material preferably comprises a substantially non-crosslinked elastomer. The pavement marking composition is preferably formed into a sheet material such as a tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Randall H. Helland, Eric E. Rice
  • Patent number: 6841223
    Abstract: Composite pavement markings with improved wear resistance and other advantages are disclosed. The composite pavement markings typically include a unitary retroreflective article attached to a base pavement marking. With the composite construction, different portions of the pavement marking are provided at different heights. The taller portions of the pavement marking may preferably offer some protection to the shorter portions from wear caused by vehicle traffic and/or snowplow blades. By combining two different retroreflective pavement markings to form the composite pavement markings of the present invention, a combination of features and properties may be obtained that is provided by neither of the pavement markings alone. Methods of manufacturing composite pavement markings are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric E. Rice, Thomas P. Heblom
  • Publication number: 20030099512
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pavement marking composition comprising ceramic fibers. The ceramic fibers are preferably randomly dispersed within a polymeric material. The polymeric material preferably comprises a substantially non-crosslinked elastomer. The pavement marking composition is preferably formed into a sheet material such as a tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Randall H. Helland, Eric E. Rice
  • Patent number: 6561309
    Abstract: A gas flow generator for use in a position control apparatus having an oscillating motion driver, a chamber having a side wall extending outwardly from the oscillatory motion generating surface of the driver, a distal end wall spaced from the driver and joined with the side wall, and one or more gas flow orifices provided in the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric E. Rice, Robert J. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20030035927
    Abstract: Composite pavement markings with improved wear resistance and other advantages are disclosed. The composite pavement markings typically include a unitary retroreflective article attached to a base pavement marking. With the composite construction, different portions of the pavement marking are provided at different heights. The taller portions of the pavement marking may preferably offer some protection to the shorter portions from wear caused by vehicle traffic and/or snowplow blades. By combining two different retroreflective pavement markings to form the composite pavement markings of the present invention, a combination of features and properties may be obtained that is provided by neither of the pavement markings alone. Methods of manufacturing composite pavement markings are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric E. Rice, Thomas P. Hedblom
  • Patent number: 6479132
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise pavement marking articles which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The articles comprise a monolayer of exposed-lens optical elements, a spacing layer, and a reflective layer. The present invention also provides a method of making said pavement marking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Terry L. Bescup, Joseph M. McGrath
  • Publication number: 20020146538
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise pavement marking articles which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The articles comprise a monolayer of exposed-lens optical elements, a spacing layer, and a reflective layer. The present invention also provides a method of making said pavement marking articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Terry L. Bescup, Joseph M. McGrath
  • Patent number: 6431788
    Abstract: A pavement marking and methods of making pavement markings are disclosed in which the pavement markings exhibit enhanced wear resistance to, e.g., snowplow blades. The pavement markings include elongated protuberances in which successive elongated protuberances overlap along at least the longitudinal direction and may also overlap in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. Other protuberances are interspersed between the elongated protuberances to improve retroreflectivity. The elongated protuberances are provided to support, e.g., a snowplow blade moving over the pavement marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Curtis W. Meverden, Gregory E. Gilligan, Thomas D. Krech
  • Patent number: 6365262
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise pavement marking articles which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The articles comprise a monolayer of exposed-lens optical elements, a spacing layer, and a reflective layer. The present invention also provides a method of making said pavement marking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Terry L. Bescup, Joseph M. McGrath
  • Patent number: 6247818
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for making retroreflective elements which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The method provides a means for placing optical elements and/or skid-resistant particles on selected surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice
  • Patent number: 6101808
    Abstract: A cryogenic solid hybrid engine with a solid propellant chamber, a first propellant within such chamber in which the first propellant is in solid form in the chamber and is in fluid form at room temperature, a coolant fluid chamber and a coolant fluid in the coolant fluid chamber being maintained at a temperature blow the freezing point of the first propellant. The invention also relates to a method for propelling a rocket and a method for forming a solid propellant grain for use in a cryogenic solid hybrid rocket engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Eric E. Rice, Darin R. Kohles, Christopher P. St. Clair, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Patent number: D1006928
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Eric E. Rice