Patents by Inventor Ike Walker

Ike Walker 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: 6770855
    Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Howard, Jimmy L. Sherrill, Ike Walker
  • Publication number: 20030192876
    Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Keith Howard, Jimmy L. Sherrill, Ike Walker
  • Patent number: 6596974
    Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Howard, Jimmy L. Sherrill, Ike Walker
  • Patent number: 6509554
    Abstract: A clip for connecting one or two insulators to a rail (preferably a T-bar member) of an electric heater including at least one bendable metal clinching member, where the clip is securable to the rail by bending the clinching member around the rail. Preferably, the clinching member is one or two T-shaped end members disposed on transverse ends of the clip. Opposite end sections of the ridge of the T-shaped end member constitute clinching flaps which, in use, are clinched around a stem of a T-bar of an electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Howard, James Sherrill, Ike Walker
  • Publication number: 20020036199
    Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Keith Howard, Jimmy L. Sherrill, Ike Walker
  • Publication number: 20020023918
    Abstract: A clip for connecting one or two insulators to a rail (preferably a T-bar member) of an electric heater including a main body, a means for securing an insulator to the main body, and at least one bendable metal clinching member extending from the main body, where the clip is securable to the rail by bending the clinching member around the rail. Preferably, the clinching member is one or two T-shaped end members disposed on transverse ends of the main body. Opposite end sections of the ridge of the T-shaped end member constitute clinching flaps which, in use, are clinched around a stem of a T-bar of an electric heater. The clip is not welded to the T-bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Keith Howard, James Sherrill, Ike Walker