Patents by Inventor Jack R. Kerr

Jack R. Kerr 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: 9163782
    Abstract: A support bracket for supporting an electrical box between two supports. The support bracket is used with a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes two elongated members each having an end mount. The elongated members are slidably coupled to each other, thereby allowing the mounting assembly to be telescopically extended. The support bracket is affixed to the one of the elongated members for supporting an electrical box and includes a planar surface and a slot having a plurality of extended clamps. The clamps are positioned and deformed within an inner lip of one of the elongated members. The bracket also includes a plurality of perpendicular extensions and a support rod affixed to the planar surface and positioned over at least one of the elongated members. The support rod is also affixed to the electrical box thereby providing support to the electrical box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130199142
    Abstract: A system for replacing a filter of return air vent. The system includes a return air vent grill affixed to a surface. The grill is hinged on a first side to the surface allowing the grill to swing to an open position while still attached to the surface. The system also includes a closing mechanism for attaching the grill to a second end opposite the first end of the grill. In addition, a filter is detachably affixed to a tray located on an inner surface of grill. Furthermore, the system includes an extension tool having a length sufficient to contact the closing mechanism by a user located below the grill. The extension tool enables the opening and closing of the closing mechanism. The tray and filter may be slid down to the user by an extendible track. The user may pull the tray and filter down the extended track, replace the filter, slide the filter and tray back to the grill and close the closing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130075555
    Abstract: A support bracket for supporting an electrical box between two supports. The support bracket is used with a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes two elongated members each having an end mount. The elongated members are slidably coupled to each other, thereby allowing the mounting assembly to be telescopically extended. The support bracket is affixed to the one of the elongated members for supporting an electrical box and includes a planar surface and a slot having a plurality of extended clamps. The clamps are positioned and deformed within an inner lip of one of the elongated members. The bracket also includes a plurality of perpendicular extensions and a support rod affixed to the planar surface and positioned over at least one of the elongated members. The support rod is also affixed to the electrical box thereby providing support to the electrical box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120315789
    Abstract: A quick connect fixture system for an electrical box. The system includes an electrical fixture having a plurality of fixture wires and an electrical box affixed to a structure. The electrical box has an enclosure housing a plurality of structure wires connected to a power source. The electrical box includes a cap having an orifice leading to the structure wires located in the enclosure. In addition, the orifice includes a plurality slots. The system also includes a removable cover covering the orifice and having a plurality of prongs sized and shaped to be removably attached to leads of the structure wires. The system also includes an adapter ring attachable to a shaft of the electrical fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120305743
    Abstract: A fan bracket assembly for supporting a fan assembly from a slanted surface. The fan bracket assembly includes a main body having a peripheral section, an open area sized to hold wiring of the fan assembly and an extension. The fan bracket is affixed to a slanted surface. The fan bracket assembly includes a detachable mounting ball sized and shaped to fit and be retained within the peripheral section. The mounting ball has a surface area extending beyond a horizontal reference line bisecting the mounting ball and a slot extending beyond the horizontal reference line. The extension is positioned within the slot to rotationally restrain the mounting ball. The bracket assembly also includes a down rod attached to the mounting ball for supporting the fan assembly. When the fan assembly is hung from the down rod, the extension remains within the slot to rotationally restrain the mounting ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jack R. Kerr, JR., Fran Hurley
  • Publication number: 20120018603
    Abstract: A mounting assembly having a box. The box includes a plurality of walls and an interior. The mounting assembly also includes a temporary retaining device for temporarily retaining the box upon a support surface. The temporary retaining device includes at least two arms for engaging each side of the support surface for temporarily retaining the box upon the support surface. The mounting assembly also includes a fastener for permanently fastening the box to the support surface. In one embodiment, the fastener is a screw positioned within a fastener orifice. The fastener orifice includes a material for retaining the screw in the fastener orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120018188
    Abstract: An electrical junction box for use with carrying a load from a joist. The junction box includes a pancake housing and an upright side box compartment. The pancake housing is attached to the upright side box compartment to form an L-shaped configuration. The pancake housing also has an aperture for receiving a screw for attaching the junction box to the joist. The junction box also includes one or more tabs located on an upper surface of the pancake housing for temporarily retaining the junction box upon the joist. A screw is used for permanently affixing the junction box to the joist. The tabs may be integral to the junction box or removable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120018600
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for supporting an electrical box between two supports. The mounting assembly includes two elongated members, each elongated member having an end mount. The elongated members are slidably coupled to each other, thereby allowing the mounting assembly to be telescopically extended. Each elongated member also includes an adjustable height gage located at the end of each end mount. A vertical position of the height gage is capable of being adjusted relative to the mounting assembly. Electrical boxes of various standard sizes may be accommodated by adjusting the height gages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, JR.
  • Patent number: 6918726
    Abstract: A lock nut having a locking ring with a spoon-shaped lug. The lock ring includes a nut body having a bore with an interior threaded portion and a substantially cylindrical recess coaxial with the threaded portion of the bore. The recess includes a single notch on a portion of the recess. In addition, the lock ring includes a threaded locking ring positioned within the recess. The locking ring is deformed when threading the bolt onto the lock nut to frictionally grip the bolt. The locking ring also includes a single projecting lug at one side only of the locking ring, which fits into the notch to prevent relative rotation between the ring and the nut body. The lug includes a bowl-shaped nodule for collecting shavings gathering within the threads of the bolt and the interior bore of the lock nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Loc-Mor, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr
  • Patent number: 6071052
    Abstract: A method of forming a lock nut and the product thereof in which a coaxial extension is secured to the end face of a standard nut to receive a locking element therein. The extension is comprised of a concentric metal ring secured at one edge to the end face of a standard nut and at the other edge secures a locking element against the end face of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Lok-Mor, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr
  • Patent number: 5908276
    Abstract: A prevailing torque type lock nut for assembly onto a threaded bolt that affords a substantially 360 degree break loose torque engagement resistance against the standard bolt threads and is comprised of a compressively controlled height reduction as compared to a standard nut of like size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Lok-Mor, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr
  • Patent number: 5860548
    Abstract: A ceiling box construction for supporting a relatively heavy hanging load such as a ceiling fan from the underside of a ceiling and comprised of an electrical junction box having lateral inwardly extending tabs. Coaxially aligned apertures in the tabs and top plate of the junction box accommodate the post of internally. threaded shoulder rivets that are threadedly engaged by upwardly extending load bolts having heads from which a received load is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5762223
    Abstract: An electrical junction box to be used when supporting a relatively heavy hanging load from the underside of a joist/beam at an installation site. In one embodiment a slotted pancake dish internally supports an arcuately displaceable bracket both of which have coincident slots through which to receive fasteners by which the load is to be supported. A removably disposed lead box in which electrical leads are received extends normally upright to the plane of the pancake dish and is adapted to he positioned thereon off center in communication with an opening through the dish. A partially circular shell section can optionally be utilized by being removably secured on the pancake dish opposite the lead box so as to cooperate with the lead box when utilized in forming an externally appearing cylindrical canister-like configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Fan Tex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5720461
    Abstract: An improved hanger assembly for the support of heavy hanging loads at the underside of a ceiling. The assembly is longitudinally expandable via a threaded rod secured between relatively displaceable longitudinal bars in which the rod includes an allthread having a double to triple lead for increasing the expansion rate while teeth at the distal end of each bar are configured to arcuately displace inward of the joists in the course of joist penetration to effect a grasping penetration therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fan Tex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5435514
    Abstract: A hanger assembly for supporting a vertical load at a selected site flush mounted beneath the underside of a drop ceiling. Comprising the assembly is a pair of bars normally intersecting in T formation and mounted onto the T rails of a lattice framework supporting the individual ceiling panel at the selected site. The bars can be variably positioned so as to intersect at any selected site location and by means of a bracket are permanently secured together with a junction box at the underside of the intersection. The bracket in turn is connected for static loading to a depending chain attached to the building structure above the ceiling and adjustably rendered taut to a predetermined tension by means of a turnbuckle attachment. For supporting an attached load, the load bolts have flat heads with canted ends and depend through apertures in both the top wall and ears of the junction box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Fan Tex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4909405
    Abstract: An interjoist hanger assembly for supporting items to be hung is formed of a pair of elongated tubular sleeves interfitting telescopically slidable one within the other. Supported at the distal end of each of the sleeves is an axial screw and a floating collar having circumferentially distributed axially extending prongs or teeth. The sleeves effect an interlock when collapsed whereby they can be rotated in unison for threading one end into an adjacent joist. When the sleeves are expanded, the opposite sleeve end can be similarly threaded into the opposite joist. With each threaded attachment, the prongs of the surrounding collar are drawn into a gripping engagement with the joist surface thereat.A saddle secured snap fit onto the outer sleeve includes side flanges to which an electrical outlet box can be mounted for attachment of an item to be hung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4692077
    Abstract: A self-locking nut has an annular body, an axial threaded bore, and a hexagonal exterior periphery. A small bore is drilled through the body parallel to the threaded bore adjacent to an apex of two peripheral flat surfaces. An L-shaped locking pin has a base leg received in that small bore, and an interference leg projecting into the threaded bore for interference relation with a mating bolt. The distal end of the base leg is provided with an outwardly facing recess, and this distal end is retained within the nut body by cold flowing body material into that small bore and recess. The recess includes two abuttment surfaces which are disposed in planes inclined away from a plane parallel to the base leg and perpendicular to a plane defined by the two pin legs. These abuttment surfaces coact with the nut metal displaced into the recess to allow for rotation of the distal end of the base leg through an arc less than that required for the interference leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Inventors: Jack R. Kerr, Thomas V. Shelton, Jerry L. Dunsmore
  • Patent number: 4682924
    Abstract: A self-locking nut has an annular body, an axial threaded bore, and a hexagonal exterior periphery. A small bore is drilled through the body parallel to the threaded bore adjacent to an apex of two peripheral flat surfaces. An L-shaped locking pin has a base leg received in that small bore, and an interference leg projecting into the threaded bore for interfering relation with a mating bolt. The distal end of the base leg is provided with an outwardly facing recess, and this end is secured relative to the nut body by cold flowing body material into engagement with the pin recess. The pin is fabricated from Type 308 stainless steel welding rod having a uniform circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventors: Jack R. Kerr, Gerald L. Dunsmore, Thomas V. Shelton
  • Patent number: 4110858
    Abstract: A heavy duty press mechanism, whose ram is driven by means of an eccentric crank and pitman, carries a head with four aligned indention punches for distorting thread pitch simultaneously on four axially aligned hex nuts. A feed track system feeds a row of axially aligned hex nuts under the punch head. A reciprocating ejector-stop, synchronized with the punch ram, simultaneously ejects a group of four indented nuts and defines a stop for the following group of nuts at the indention station. A feed system includes an axial feed track for feeding nuts to the indention station, a lateral feed track, and a transfer speed coupler coupling these tracks. A vibrating hopper feeds laterally aligned nuts into the lateral feed track, where a single row of side-by-side nuts is fed by gravity to the speed coupler. The speed coupler effects a transfer from lateral feed to axial feed into the axial feed track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr
  • Patent number: D306254
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Inventor: Jack R. Kerr, Jr.