Patents by Inventor George Bontus

George Bontus 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: 11774025
    Abstract: A fitting for connecting a branch conduit to a liner installed in a main pipe is configured to mechanically connect to the branch conduit as it is inserted into the branch conduit from inside the main pipe. The mechanical connection is established without rotating the fitting. The fitting can include a body having an outer shaft section for being received in the branch conduit and an inner flange section for opposing the liner within the main pipe. The fastener include one or more teeth that extend radially from the exterior of the shaft section. The teeth can be secured to the shaft section by deforming portions of the fitting body against the teeth. The flange section supports a gasket for sealing against the liner when the fitting is installed. The flange section can include a rim that maintains the gasket in the proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: George Bontus, Rick Baxter, Benjamin Lagosz-Sinclair, George Lohr, David Antanavige, Dennis Semet, Steven McKeefrey
  • Patent number: 11079055
    Abstract: A fitting for connecting a branch conduit to a liner installed in a main pipe is configured to mechanically connect to the branch conduit as it is inserted into the branch conduit from inside the main pipe. The mechanical connection is established without rotating the fitting. The fitting can include a body having an outer shaft section for being received in the branch conduit and an inner flange section for opposing the liner within the main pipe. The fastener include one or more teeth that extend radially from the exterior of the shaft section. The teeth can be secured to the shaft section by deforming portions of the fitting body against the teeth. The flange section supports a gasket for sealing against the liner when the fitting is installed. The flange section can include a rim that maintains the gasket in the proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: George Bontus, Rick Baxter, Benjamin Lagosz-Sinclair, George Lohr, David Antanavige, Dennis Semet, Steven McKeefrey
  • Publication number: 20200248857
    Abstract: A fitting for connecting a branch conduit to a liner installed in a main pipe is configured to mechanically connect to the branch conduit as it is inserted into the branch conduit from inside the main pipe. The mechanical connection is established without rotating the fitting. The fitting can include a body having an outer shaft section for being received in the branch conduit and an inner flange section for opposing the liner within the main pipe. The fastener include one or more teeth that extend radially from the exterior of the shaft section. The teeth can be secured to the shaft section by deforming portions of the fitting body against the teeth. The flange section supports a gasket for sealing against the liner when the fitting is installed. The flange section can include a rim that maintains the gasket in the proper position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: George Bontus, Rick Baxter, Benjamin Lagosz-Sinclair, George Lohr, David Antanavige, Dennis Semet, Steven McKeefrey
  • Publication number: 20200173599
    Abstract: A pipe rehabilitation system and/or robot can be used inside a pipe to measure characteristics of branch conduits, install plugs into branch conduits before the pipe is lined with a liner, remove portions of plugs and liners after lining to restore fluid communication between the pipe and branch conduits, and/or install fittings into the branch conduits to connect the liner to the branch conduits. A probe can measure characteristics of a branch conduit. A tool can install plugs and/or fittings into the branch conduits. A linkage can connect a tool to a robotic tractor so that the connected elements can navigate through a main pipe. A visualization system can aid in aligning a robot with a branch conduit. Height-adjustable braces can support robotic tools in a pipe. A plug can include integrated locating features and/or movable parts that enable expanding the plug to seal with the branch conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Rick Baxter, Robert Kodadek, Hermann Herrlich, Steven McKeefrey, John Webster, Brian Lynn, John Jayne, Ryan Goldband, Michael Hauser, George Bontus
  • Publication number: 20200132234
    Abstract: A fitting for connecting a branch conduit to a liner installed in a main pipe is configured to mechanically connect to the branch conduit as it is inserted into the branch conduit from inside the main pipe. The mechanical connection is established without rotating the fitting. The fitting can include a body having an outer shaft section for being received in the branch conduit and an inner flange section for opposing the liner within the main pipe. The fastener include one or more teeth that extend radially from the exterior of the shaft section. The teeth can be secured to the shaft section by deforming portions of the fitting body against the teeth. The flange section supports a gasket for sealing against the liner when the fitting is installed. The flange section can include a rim that maintains the gasket in the proper position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: George Bontus, Rick Baxter, Ben Sinclair, George Lohr, Dave Antanavige, Dennis Semet, Steven McKeefrey
  • Publication number: 20170002969
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for lining a host pipe in which a liner is positioned on a carrier tube at a work site. The liner and carrier tube are separately positioned at the work site near a first access point to the host pipe. Ends of the liner and carrier tube are fed through a folding die, and the liner and carrier tube are pulled conjointly through the folding die into the host pipe. As the liner and carrier tube are pulled, the folding die folds the liner to wrap the liner around the carrier tube. In some embodiments, the folding die includes an inner slot for receiving the carrier tube and an outer slot for receiving the liner. The outer slot includes first and second overlapping sections. Portions of the liner received in the overlapping sections are positioned in overlapping engagement as the liner is pulled through the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: George Bontus, Charles W. Free, Jon Whitledge, Timothy Hann, Rudy Loera