Patents by Inventor Grady F. Smith
Grady F. 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).
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Publication number: 20240383588Abstract: A boat stand includes a base that stacks compactly when not in use. The base comprises a vertical support column, a first pair of support legs extending from the support column in a first direction relative to a transverse plane of the boat stand, and a second pair of support legs extending from the support column in a second direction relative to the transverse plane. The first pair of support legs connect to the support column at a first distance from a top end of the support column. The second pair of support legs connect to the support column at a second distance from the top end of the support column greater than the first distance so as to enable compact stacking of two or more boat stands.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2023Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, James Alan Gell
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Publication number: 20240328176Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a safety rail system for a scaffold that is designed to break down for shipment and storage. The breakdown safety rail system enables more compact packaging so as to significantly reduce shipping and operational expenses for manufacturers and sellers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: October 3, 2024Inventor: Grady F. Smith
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Patent number: 12044022Abstract: A side rail assembly useful for securing a deck of a scaffold comprises a side rail configured to be supported between two ladder frames in first and second orientations. The side rail includes first and second support surfaces for supporting the deck in the first and second orientations, respectively. First and second vertically aligned slots are formed in respective opposing surfaces of the side rail. The side rail assembly further comprises a locking pin assembly comprising a shaft, a locking tab, and a biasing member to bias the locking tab into engagement with the deck and secure the deck against one of the support surfaces of the side rail depending on the orientation. The locking pin assembly is configured to be removably engaged with the first and second slots of the side rail in both the first and second orientations.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2022Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: GRADY F. SMITH & CO., INC.Inventor: Grady F. Smith
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Publication number: 20240159066Abstract: The claimed invention relates to a folding utility scaffold that greatly reduces the space requirement for shipment when the utility scaffold is in the folded configuration while maintaining or increasing stability. The scaffold includes first and second ladder frames and a hinge assembly interconnecting the ladder frames. The scaffold comprises first and second ladder frames and a hinge assembly interconnecting the ladder frames. The hinge assembly enables movement of the scaffold between an unfolded configuration in which the ladder frames are spaced apart and a folded configuration in which the ladder frames are disposed side by side, i.e., with the ladder frames touching. The ladder frame and hinge assembly are designed to avoid interference between components of the hinge assembly and components of the ladder frame in the folded configuration so that the ladder frames can be disposed in side-by-side relation in the folded configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventor: Grady F Smith
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Publication number: 20240149988Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. For smaller units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia less than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 5 rpm/s or greater. For larger units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia greater than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 2.5 rpm/s or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Publication number: 20240140567Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is rotationally fixed relative to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating coolant along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Publication number: 20240110395Abstract: A utility scaffold is designed to be repeatedly broken down into straighter components to reduce the space requirement for storage and shipment. The scaffold has first and second ladder frames, each comprising a plurality of vertical supports, a plurality of horizontal supports, and a plurality of releasable connections. The horizontal supports are releasably connected to the vertical supports by the releasable connections to form a rigid ladder frame structure. The releasable connections include a male wedge protrusion and a female receiver configured to receive the male wedge protrusion. The female receiver has a passage therethrough, with the passage having a tapered interior surface. The male wedge protrusion and the tapered interior surface are configured to abut when the vertical support and the horizontal support are mounted together via the releasable connection. A fastener is optionally used to secure the releasable connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, Jon Benavides
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Publication number: 20240059381Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling one or more bearings supporting the flywheel. The bearing cooling system enables heat generated by the bearings to be transferred through the flywheel shaft to a heat sink disposed within a cavity in the end of the flywheel shaft, and then external to the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Patent number: 11891157Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. For smaller units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia less than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 5 rpm/s or greater. For larger units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia greater than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 2.5 rpm/s or greater.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Publication number: 20240035291Abstract: A scaffold includes first and second ladder frames. Each ladder frame includes a first and second vertical supports, a center support, rung(s), and upper and lower horizontal supports. The upper horizontal support is formed of tubular material, and has a central section and flattened end sections mounted to corresponding vertical supports. The center support and/or rungs advantageously have coped and slightly flattened end sections. Recesses formed by the flattened end sections provide space to partially receive vertical or horizontal supports of another ladder frame when the frames are stacked, thereby reducing overall stack height.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventor: Grady F. Smith
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Patent number: 11873064Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is affixed to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating cooling fluid along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Patent number: 11873065Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. For smaller units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia less than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 5 rpm/s or greater. For larger units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia greater than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 2.5 rpm/s or greater.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Patent number: 11846107Abstract: A utility scaffold is designed to be repeatedly broken down into straighter components to reduce the space requirement for storage and shipment. The scaffold has first and second ladder frames, each comprising a plurality of vertical supports, a plurality of horizontal supports, and a plurality of releasable connections. The horizontal supports are releasably connected to the vertical supports by the releasable connections to form a rigid ladder frame structure. The releasable connections include a male wedge protrusion and a female receiver configured to receive the male wedge protrusion. The female receiver has a passage therethrough, with the passage having a tapered interior surface. The male wedge protrusion and the tapered interior surface are configured to abut when the vertical support and the horizontal support are mounted together via the releasable connection. A fastener is optionally used to secure the releasable connection.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: GRADY F. SMITH & CO., INC.Inventors: Grady F. Smith, Jon Benavides
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Patent number: 11801923Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. The bearing cooling system enables heat generated by the bearings to be transferred through the flywheel shaft to a heat sink disposed within a cavity in the end of the flywheel shaft, or to a liquid coolant circulating within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Publication number: 20230272627Abstract: A lightweight, multifunction scaffold comprises first and second ladder frames, and an adjustable height platform configured to be supported between the first and second ladder frames at a user selected height in an adjustment range. The adjustable height platform comprises a pair of spaced-apart side rails extending between the ladder frames and a deck supported on opposing sides by the side rails. The deck includes at least one recess in a top surface of the deck adjacent each of the opposing sides of the deck. The scaffold further includes at least one latch rotatably mounted to each side rail and including a catch element for engagement with the recess in the top surface of the deck to secure the deck on the side rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventor: Grady F. Smith
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Publication number: 20230234683Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. For smaller units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia less than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 5 rpm/s or greater. For larger units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia greater than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 2.5 rpm/s or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Publication number: 20230234684Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. For smaller units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia less than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 5 rpm/s or greater. For larger units, the bearing cooling system is effective to enable a flywheel with a moment of inertia greater than 40,000 lb in2 to be accelerated at a rate of 2.5 rpm/s or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Grady F. Smith, David Holden, Jeffrey Peterson
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Patent number: D1010270Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, Lennart Hans Carlsson
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Patent number: D1010969Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, Lennart Hans Carlsson
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Patent number: D1013318Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Inventors: Grady F. Smith, Lennart Hans Carlsson