Patents by Inventor Eric W. Smith

Eric W. Smith 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: 8690485
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sealable rock bolts that prevent water leakage through the bolt, a kit containing portions of such bolts prior to assembly, installation, and use, and a method of using such sealable rock bolts. Such rock bolts are fastened in place in a roof, wall, or bottom of an underground region via pressure fitting or the like. The rock bolt contains a sealing unit that contains a liquid water activated, expandable hydrophobic pre-polymeric resin. The sealing unit has side, top, and bottom portions that are degradable by water to permit the resin to expand upon contact with water and to seal the bolt to prevent water passage through the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Patent number: 8585328
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an underground opening that is filled and sealed with grout comprising an aggregate coated with water-activated, expanded hydrophobic polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Publication number: 20130236251
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sealable rock bolts that prevent water leakage through the bolt, a kit containing portions of such bolts prior to assembly, installation, and use, and a method of using such sealable rock bolts. Such rock bolts are fastened in place in a roof, wall, or bottom of an underground region via pressure fitting or the like. The rock bolt contains a sealing unit that contains a liquid water activated, expandable hydrophobic pre-polymeric resin. The sealing unit has side, top, and bottom portions that are degradable by water to permit the resin to expand upon contact with water and to seal the bolt to prevent water passage through the bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Publication number: 20100322719
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for filling and sealing underground voids and the like with use of a grout comprising aggregate coated with a water-activated expanded hydrophobic polymeric resin, such as polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Patent number: 7806631
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for filling and sealing underground voids and the like with use of a grout comprising aggregate coated with a water-activated expanded hydrophobic polymeric resin, such as polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Publication number: 20080260473
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for filling and sealing underground voids and the like with use of a grout comprising aggregate coated with a water-activated expanded hydrophobic polymeric resin, such as polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Patent number: 6955277
    Abstract: A dispensing device and method, especially adapted for use in sealing high pressure fluid leaks, is disclosed. Such use requires high pressure dispensing of sealant. Such sealants are formed by an exothermic reaction of at least two liquid substances that generates high pressures within the dispensing device. Such pressures could potentially harm the feeding system of the device due to pressure backflow. This problem is solved by providing a check valve in the mixing and reaction chamber of the device to protect the feeding system. A static mixer is disposed within the chamber to enhance mixing and reaction of the substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventors: Eric W. Smith, Homer D. Libengood
  • Publication number: 20020123936
    Abstract: A community partnership portal enables a specific town's residents to shop stores in an on-line version of their town. Other links provide access to community related information. Using a map such as a graphical representation of the specific town, residents can “enter” a store by selecting the store's location on the map. The system enables town residents to benefit from local store familiarity with Internet convenience while supporting the economic health of a local community.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Celeste K. Hansen, Thomas A. Douglas, John J. Ellwood, Feng Guan, Barri Klingaman, John R. Larkin, Charles M. Schwartz, Eric W. Smith, Sonney Taragin
  • Patent number: 5778160
    Abstract: A liquid ink printing method having region dependent image processing for printing a color image with a liquid ink printer, having a printhead, from image information generated by an image source. The method includes generating a plurality of bitmaps from the image information, examining a corresponding portion of each of the plurality of bitmaps for color information, and applying color image processing to only the examined corresponding portion having color information. The method of printing, including region dependent image processing, improves performance of complex image processing operations by detecting and tagging portions of an image which require the complex image processing operations. Only those regions that require complex image processing operations are processed according to those processes and other information, such as text, are not processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric W. Smith