Patents by Inventor Gerald R. Free

Gerald R. Free 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: 5778617
    Abstract: A drywall corner bead which includes a plurality of integral preformed barbs provided at intervals along the length of the corner bead for securing the corner bead to a drywall corner. The corner bead includes first and second longitudinally-extending flanges which are interconnected by a longitudinally-extending rounded nose, and the first and second flange are disposed at an angle of less than 90.degree. with respect to each other. The barbs project inwardly from the flanges in a generally perpendicular direction and have a length of less than about 3/32 of an inch. When the corner bead is applied to a drywall corner, the barbs penetrate substantially only the paper layer of the underlying drywall and secure the corner bead to the corner. The drywall corner bead can be rapidly applied to a corner without requiring additional tools or materials, and the corner bead is securely affixed to the corner by the barbs until the corner is finished with joint compound and paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Gerald R. Free