Patents by Inventor Harold Hess
Harold Hess 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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Patent number: 10330139Abstract: A fastening device includes a fastener, a lock washer, and a lock nut. The fastener has a head portion, a threaded body portion, and a longitudinally extending flat section formed in the threaded body portion. The lock washer has an upper surface and a circumferential surface extending therefrom. The circumferential surface includes an array of radially-extending ratchet teeth. The lock washer also has an aperture with a flat inner surface configured to engage the flat section of the fastener and rotationally fix the lock washer. The lock nut has an upper surface and a peripheral outer surface extending therefrom and defining an axially-extending recessed portion. The upper surface includes an integrally-formed pawl arm having a tapered inner surface defining a tapered slot between the pawl arm and the lock nut in axial alignment with the recessed portion. The pawl arm includes a pawl tooth for engagement with the array of ratchet teeth.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Enduralock, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Logan Thorup
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Patent number: 10323678Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided and includes a fastener member and a washer member. The fastener member includes an end, an opposing head, and an elongated threaded body portion extending therebetween. The threaded body defines a center axis. The head includes a pawl arm having a pawl tooth and a flange. The washer member includes an axial aperture formed therethrough and a lock tab extending therefrom. The lock tab is configured to be received within a recess defined in a substrate member to rotationally fix the washer member relative to the substrate member. The washer member further includes a plurality of lock teeth. The pawl tooth is configured to intermesh with the lock teeth to allow rotation of the fastener member relative to the washer member in a first direction about the center axis, and substantially prevent rotation in an opposite second direction about the center axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Enduralock, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely
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Patent number: 10285739Abstract: An insertion device for deploying an implant includes an elongated main body having a distal locking portion for coupling to the implant and a proximal handle portion. The main body defines a central passage and the distal locking portion has outer ridges and slots to allow the outer ridges to flex radially inward when mounting to the implant. A plunger slides in the central passage for movement between an unlocked position for mounting the implant on the distal locking portion, a locked position for locking the implant on the distal locking portion, and an insertion instrument deployed position for deploying the actuation plunger to move the blades from the stowed position to the deployed position. A spike cap drive rotatably mounts on the main body having a socket end for engaging a drive nut on the implant to, in turn, move the spike cap.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Spinal Simplicity LLCInventors: Melissa Frock, Adam Frock, Todd Moseley, Harold Hess
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Patent number: 10215217Abstract: A locking mechanism for a fastener is provided. The locking mechanism includes a lock nut, a lock member, and a lock washer. The lock nut is releasably coupled to the lock nut for rotation therewith. The lock member includes an annular body having a radially-extending detent member. The lock washer includes an axially-extending wall about a periphery of the lock washer. The axially-extending wall defines an inner cavity for receiving a portion of the annular body of the lock member therein and includes comprising a plurality of radially-extending notches defined therein. The notches are configured to receive the radially-extending detent member.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Enduralock, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III
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Publication number: 20190048919Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a lock nut configured to threadably engage a threaded body portion, and a first lock member including a plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth. The fastener assembly also includes a second lock member including a base portion and at least one tab extending axially from the base portion. The base portion defines an aperture sized to receive the threaded body portion. The at least one tab has a proximal end joined to the base portion and a free end opposite the proximal end. The second lock member is positionable between a locked configuration in which the free end of the at least one tab is configured to engage the plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth and an unlocked configuration in which the free end of the at least one tab is spaced from the plurality of radially extending ratchet teeth. The base portion and the at least one tab are a single piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely, Igor Komsitsky, Deeptesh Selvaraj
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Publication number: 20190003517Abstract: A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventor: Harold Hess
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Patent number: 10125807Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a threaded member, a lock nut, and a lock washer. The threaded member has a pair of opposing flat sections formed in the threaded portion of the threaded member. The lock nut is configured to threadably engage the threaded member and includes a flange having a plurality of axially extending teeth. The lock washer includes a flat central portion with an aperture. The aperture has a pair of opposing flat inner surfaces configured to engage the opposing flat sections of the threaded member to rotationally fix the lock washer. The lock washer also includes at least one outer portion extending upward from the flat central portion at a predetermined angle. The outer portion includes a plurality of locking apertures configured to receive the plurality of axially extending teeth of the lock nut.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Enduralock, LLCInventors: Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely, Harold Hess
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Patent number: 10092336Abstract: A bone fracture plate assembly including female and male plate portions. The female plate portion has a post, a female dovetail, and an extending arm with a group of ratchet teeth. The male plate portion has two upstanding posts, a male dovetail for coupling to the female dovetail so that the plate portions move linearly with respect to each other, a slot for the arm, and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring, coupled to the posts of the plate portions, dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween. The spring has a pair of elongated ears, each defining a slot to allow for relative movement of the plate portions. The ratchet teeth are engaged by the pawl to retain the plate portions together, and the spring mounts on the posts of the plate portions such that the spring biases the plate portions together.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Spinal Simplicity, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Melissa Frock, Adam Frock, Adam Rogers, Todd Moseley, Jonathan Hess, Paul Sand, Carlos Gonzalez
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Patent number: 10094413Abstract: A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: ENDURALOCK, LLCInventor: Harold Hess
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Publication number: 20180252257Abstract: A nut plate assembly includes a plate member comprising an aperture defined therethrough. The nut plate assembly also includes a shell member having a first end joined to the plate member and a second end opposite the first end. The nut plate assembly further includes a bias member disposed within the shell member and a nut comprising a shoulder portion configured to receive a portion of the bias member. The nut is disposed within the shell member and moveable between a first position proximate the shell member first end and a second position proximate the shell member second end. The bias member is configured to bias the nut toward one of the first position and the second position. The nut plate assembly also includes a retention member configured to retain the nut within the shell member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Harold Hess, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely, Igor Komsitsky
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Publication number: 20180252256Abstract: A nut plate assembly includes a plate member, a shell member, a nut, and a bias member. The plate member includes a retention tab. The shell member includes a first end coupled to the plate member by the retention tab and a second end opposite the first end. The nut is disposed within the shell member and is moveable between a first position proximate the shell member first end and a second position proximate the shell member second end. In addition, the bias member is disposed within the shell member and is configured to bias the nut toward one of the first position and the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2017Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Harold Hess, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely
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Patent number: 9907581Abstract: A spinal implant includes an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the head, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Spinal Simplicity LLC.Inventors: Harold Hess, Melissa Frock, Todd Moseley
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Patent number: 9861399Abstract: An interspinous process implant is disclosed that includes an elongated threaded implant body defining a longitudinal axis and having a main body portion with opposed proximal and distal end portions, and a removable body portion operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the main body portion, a distal anchor assembly including two deployable anchor blades mounted for pivotal movement between a stowed position located within an interior cavity of the main body portion and a deployed position radially extending from the main body portion, and a proximal anchor assembly including an anchor collar mounted for longitudinal movement along the longitudinal axis of the implant body between a first position spaced apart from the distal anchor assembly and a second position approximated with the distal anchor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Spinal Simplicity, LLCInventors: Adam Rogers, Melissa Frock, Todd Moseley, Harold Hess, Jeff Slover, Adam Frock, Douglas Snell
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Patent number: 9841046Abstract: A fastener with a locking mechanism includes an elongated bolt member with threaded segment defining a banking feature and generally planar surfaces, a nut member, a washer member, and a lock member. The nut member has a threaded bore for cooperating with the threaded segment of the bolt member and a peripheral edge with a flat side defining an axial slot. The washer member has a central bore with a banking portion that complements the banking feature of the bolt member such that, when the threaded segment is inserted in the central bore, the washer member moves axially and is rotatably fixed relative to the bolt member. The washer member has an axially projecting circumferential wall with radially inward facing engagement teeth for intermeshing with teeth of the lock member. The lock member has a spring finger upstanding from the annular body that is received in the axial of the nut member for fixing the lock member in rotation relative the nut member.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: ENDURALOCK, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore
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Publication number: 20170292558Abstract: A fastening device includes a fastener, a lock washer, and a lock nut. The fastener has a head portion, a threaded body portion, and a longitudinally extending flat section formed in the threaded body portion. The lock washer has an upper surface and a circumferential surface extending therefrom. The circumferential surface includes an array of radially-extending ratchet teeth. The lock washer also has an aperture with a flat inner surface configured to engage the flat section of the fastener and rotationally fix the lock washer. The lock nut has an upper surface and a peripheral outer surface extending therefrom and defining an axially-extending recessed portion. The upper surface includes an integrally-formed pawl arm having a tapered inner surface defining a tapered slot between the pawl arm and the lock nut in axial alignment with the recessed portion. The pawl arm includes a pawl tooth for engagement with the array of ratchet teeth.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Harold Hess, Logan Thorup
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Publication number: 20170268561Abstract: A fastener assembly is provided and includes a fastener member and a washer member. The fastener member includes an end, an opposing head, and an elongated threaded body portion extending therebetween. The threaded body defines a center axis. The head includes a pawl arm having a pawl tooth and a flange. The washer member includes an axial aperture formed therethrough and a lock tab extending therefrom. The lock tab is configured to be received within a recess defined in a substrate member to rotationally fix the washer member relative to the substrate member. The washer member further includes a plurality of lock teeth. The pawl tooth is configured to intermesh with the lock teeth to allow rotation of the fastener member relative to the washer member in a first direction about the center axis, and substantially prevent rotation in an opposite second direction about the center axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III, Zoltan Kalman Furu-Szekely
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Patent number: 9757164Abstract: An interspinous process implant is disclosed that includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions, a pair of anchor wings operatively associated with the distal end portion of the body and mounted for pivotal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the body between a first position housed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position extending radially outwardly from the body, an anchor collar operatively associated with the proximal portion of the body and mounted for axial movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the body between a first position spaced apart from the anchor wings and a second position approximated with the anchor wings, a pair of anchor blades operatively associated with the anchor collar and mounted for movement between a first position housed at least partially within the interior cavity of the body and a second position extending radially outwardly from the anchor collar.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Spinal Simplicity LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Adam Frock, Melissa Frock, Todd Moseley, Adam Rogers, Jonathan Hess
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Publication number: 20170189079Abstract: An insertion device for deploying an implant includes an elongated main body having a distal locking portion for coupling to the implant and a proximal handle portion. The main body defines a central passage and the distal locking portion has outer ridges and slots to allow the outer ridges to flex radially inward when mounting to the implant. A plunger slides in the central passage for movement between an unlocked position for mounting the implant on the distal locking portion, a locked position for locking the implant on the distal locking portion, and an insertion instrument deployed position for deploying the actuation plunger to move the blades from the stowed position to the deployed position. A spike cap drive rotatably mounts on the main body having a socket end for engaging a drive nut on the implant to, in turn, move the spike cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: Spinal Simplicity LLC.Inventors: Melissa Frock, Adam Frock, Todd Moseley, Harold Hess
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Publication number: 20170175795Abstract: A locking mechanism for a fastener is provided. The locking mechanism includes a lock nut, a lock member, and a lock washer. The lock nut is releasably coupled to the lock nut for rotation therewith. The lock member includes an annular body having a radially-extending detent member. The lock washer includes an axially-extending wall about a periphery of the lock washer. The axially-extending wall defines an inner cavity for receiving a portion of the annular body of the lock member therein and includes comprising a plurality of radially-extending notches defined therein. The notches are configured to receive the radially-extending detent member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Harold Hess, Tracy Hockenhull, Warren Moore, Armando Perez, III
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Patent number: 9657766Abstract: A fastening device having a fastener with a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The fastening device also includes a lock washer and a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with the fastener. The lock washer has a lower surface with a plurality of ratchet teeth extending therefrom. The lock washer is configured to couple to the fastener for axial movement but is fixed rotationally. The threaded lock nut has an upper surface defining at least one pawl arm. The pawl arm includes at least one pawl tooth for engagement with at least one of the plurality of ratchet teeth, and a flange extending radially outward from the pawl arm.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: ENDURALOCK, LLCInventors: Harold Hess, Logan Thorup