Patents by Inventor Gregory J. Merz

Gregory J. Merz 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: 7731115
    Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of low speed shredders, an agitator and a discharge mechanism. The agitator is mounted for rotation and rotates toward the discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism includes a side inlet configured to receive the blowing insulation from the agitator. A baffle is disposed between the agitator and the discharge mechanism. The baffle is configured to partially obstruct the side inlet of the discharge mechanism. The baffle allows finely shredded blowing insulation to enter the side inlet of the discharge mechanism and directs heavy clumps of blowing insulation past the side inlet of the discharge mechanism for eventual recycling into the low speed shredders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Gregory J. Merz, Jeffrey W. Servaites, Keith A. Grider
  • Patent number: 7712690
    Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber having an outlet end, a plurality of shredders configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation, and a discharge mechanism mounted at the outlet end of the shredding chamber and configured for distributing the blowing insulation into an airstream. The discharge mechanism includes housing and a plurality of sealing vane assemblies mounted for rotation. The sealing vane assemblies are configured to seal against the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate. The housing includes an eccentric segment extending from the housing. A blower is provided and configured to provide the airstream which flows through the discharge mechanism. The sealing vane assemblies become spaced apart from the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate through the eccentric segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Gregory J. Merz, Charles R. McKean
  • Publication number: 20090189009
    Abstract: A holder appliance suitable for axially supporting a rolled product is disclosed having a holder and a rigid or semi-rigid root section. The holder includes a body having first and second ends and an engagement surface disposed therebetween contactable with a planar end surface of the rolled product, and a protrusion extending from the engagement surface toward the rolled product, the protrusion being engageable within an opening in the planar end surface. The root section is disposed at the first end and a tab disposed at the second end of the body. The tab extends radially away from the axis of the rolled product and axially away from the engagement surface. The tab has a greatest radial portion displaced from a plane defined by the engagement surface in a direction opposite to a direction in which the protrusion is extended. The tab has a contour that mirrors a user's thumb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS LP
    Inventors: Timothy C. Rothwell, Gregory J. Merz, David Kisela
  • Publication number: 20080087752
    Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of low speed shredders, an agitator and a discharge mechanism. The agitator is mounted for rotation and rotates toward the discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism includes a side inlet configured to receive the blowing insulation from the agitator. A baffle is disposed between the agitator and the discharge mechanism. The baffle is configured to partially obstruct the side inlet of the discharge mechanism. The baffle allows finely shredded blowing insulation to enter the side inlet of the discharge mechanism and directs heavy clumps of blowing insulation past the side inlet of the discharge mechanism for eventual recycling into the low speed shredders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Gregory J. Merz, Jeffrey W. Servaites, Keith A. Grider
  • Publication number: 20080089748
    Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation from a bag of compressed blowing insulation. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end and is configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing insulation, a plurality of shredders mounted at the outlet end of the chute and configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation and a discharge mechanism for distributing the blowing insulation into an airstream. The chute has a cross-sectional shape that approximates the cross-sectional shape of the bag of compressed blowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Hugo E. Eccles, Jeffrey W. Servaites, John B. Youger, Gregory J. Merz, Joseph M. Sexton, Jeffrey D. Accursi, Christopher H. Kujawski, Robert O'Grady, Keith A. Grider
  • Publication number: 20080087751
    Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber having an outlet end, a plurality of shredders configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation, and a discharge mechanism mounted at the outlet end of the shredding chamber and configured for distributing the blowing insulation into an airstream. The discharge mechanism includes housing and a plurality of sealing vane assemblies mounted for rotation. The sealing vane assemblies are configured to seal against the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate. The housing includes an eccentric segment extending from the housing. A blower is provided and configured to provide the airstream which flows through the discharge mechanism. The sealing vane assemblies become spaced apart from the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate through the eccentric segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Johnson, Michael E. Evans, Agustin Hernandez, Robert J. O'Leary, Christopher M. Relyea, Brian K. Linstedt, Gregory J. Merz, Charles R. McKean
  • Patent number: 6079803
    Abstract: A closet organization system is provided which includes an apparatus and a method for installing same. The apparatus includes adjustable shelving and an adjustable clothes rod coupled to a console unit, which can further include additional shelving and also drawers. The console unit which includes posts having holes therein for receiving projections on the console shelves, and a drawer assembly, or inserts for use with adjustable shelving, the console shelves, and the drawer assembly. The closet organization system, fabricated from either word or lightweight plastic, is adapted to be easily assembled and easily disassembled. Additional brackets can secure the console unit to a wall, and brackets can be further included with the adjustable shelving to provide additional support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Westerlund Products Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. West, Dale Aberegg, Brian K. Linstedt, Mark W. Groves, Gregory J. Merz, Stephen Bennett Moore
  • Patent number: D568458
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Evans, Michael W. Johnson, Agustin R. Hernandez, Brian K. Linstedt, Hugo E. Eccles, John B. Youger, Gregory J. Merz, Joseph M. Sexton, Jeffrey D. Accursi, Christopher H. Kujawski, Robert O'Grady